Disclaimers: I don't own anything that has to do with Harry Potter, except for some copies of the book, but those don't really count. I also don't own the song "Wherever You Will Go". None of this is mine. Comprenez-vous? So don't sue me.
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Harry wandered into the kitchen at three o'clock, bleary-eyed, and with dark circles under his eyes. The circles were permanent these days, silent testament to the deterioration of the Boy Who Lived. Hermione watched him for a few minutes, before offering him some of the scrambled eggs that she had had for breakfast. Harry shook his head and mumbled "No thanks." Hermione bit her bottom lip, and got a glass of water for her friend.
Harry had almost completely stopped eating over the past six months, and the result was that his weight had dropped drastically. He was nearly a skeleton now, and his old Auror robes hung off him. Hermione had tried time and time again to get him to eat a full meal, but he always told her that he wasn't hungry. Even Mrs. Weasley, who had been like a substitute mother to Harry since very early in his wizarding life, had been unable to get him to eat more than an apple.
Harry sat at the table, staring at his glass of water, for a long time. Eventually, Hermione had had enough. "Look, Harry, he was our best friend.. but please, he wouldn't want you to do this to yourself! You're dying!"
Harry looked up. Hermione looked more worried than he had ever seen her look before. He shrugged his shoulders listlessly. "I'm really not hungry, Herm."
Tears brimmed in Hermione's eyes. "I've already lost one of my best friends, and I don't want to lose you, too." She sat down beside Harry.
Harry kept his eyes firmly fixed to his glass of water. "I'm fine. Really, I am."
Hermione watched him for a few more minutes, before getting up and heading to her room. She pulled out a piece of paper, wrote a quick letter, and tied it to her owl's leg. Sending him off with a murmur in his ear, she turned back toward the kitchen. Harry was still sitting at the table, sipping his water, and staring out the window. Idly, he picked up an orange from the bowl on the table, tossing it up and down a few times before peeling it.
It was the first thing he had eaten in a week, other than a glass of water, or if he was in an especially good mood, milk. Hermione watched him quietly from the doorway, hoping that she would get a prompt reply to her owl.
Lady Luck was smiling on her that day, for within an hour of sending the owl, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin Apparated into the living room. Hermione talked with them quietly, explaining the situation, while Black nodded and Lupin looked progressively more worried. Sirius was the first one to march out and confront Harry about his habits, while Lupin followed, sighing softly about "that horrible temper Sirius has".
Hermione twisted her hands together, listening to the shouting that was going on in the kitchen. Most of it was Sirius, but occasionally Harry's temper got the better of him. Eventually, Harry stormed out of the kitchen, a hard look in his normally empty green eyes. He looked at Hermione, who gulped; she never liked being on the receiving end of Harry's temper.
"Macaroni and cheese."
"What?" Hermione asked, quite confused.
"You were right. I shouldn't be killing myself like this. Do you know how to make macaroni and cheese?"
Hermione vaguely recalled something about it, so she nodded.
"It was my favorite food when I was a kid. Can you make some?"
Hermione's face broke into a big smile. She nodded vigorously, and pulled Harry into a tight hug. Although he seemed to be on the way to recovering, he was still frighteningly thin, and that worried her. Letting go, she walked into the kitchen, and looked at Sirius. "Do you know how to make macaroni and cheese?"
Sirius looked bewildered, but Lupin nodded. Hermione smiled. "Harry wants some. Can you show me how?"
Harry spent the next few weeks regaining his former strength, both physical and emotional. He filled out and began to fit his clothes again. The Ministry was glad to have him back, as there were still a few stray Death Eaters, and Harry had always been one of their best Aurors. He faced each new task methodically, with a concentration that was rare for him to display. Quite quickly, he rose through the ranks, finally becoming the next contender for the position of Minister of Magic.
Nearly ten months after Ron had disappeared, Harry was informed that Cornelius Fudge had decided to retire. He was offered the position, but declined, instead pointing out a candidate that he felt would be far more worthy than him.
Only a month later, Hermione became the new Minister of Magic, which came as a surprise to the entire magical community. It surprised her, as well, but she adjusted quickly and began to organize the Ministry into a more efficient form. She was in her element, and soon the Ministry became a much more well-respected institution.
And Harry continued to work, nearly oblivious to his surroundings.