Just Another War
Chapter One - Together Again
The day was sunny and warm. The town of Bristol absorbed the afternoon shine, the buildings seemed to bathe and relax in the warmth. Bristol was a relatively quite town, full of fun and laughter, a very comforting place. However, Bristol was very well known. It was the home of Harry Potter, gladiator of war.
Though not many people saw the man these days, he was still there, living in solitude at the very back of town. He lived in a quite house in the wood. The house had an almost creepy look to it, shadowed by overgrown weeds and trees-children claimed it was Harry Potter's ghost that lived there, not Harry Potter in the flesh.
There were quite a few rumors in the beginning about the Boy Who Lived, but now they had quieted down a bit. He rarely left the house, and when he did it was usually for a walk in the woods near his home, which were said to be haunted. Harry knew they weren't, but he knew so many things that he wished he didn't...
Though still very young, he didn't have much of a life by most people standards. Once a Quidditch hero, the war with Voldemort had taken from his one of his arms, now replaced with a robotic one. Quidditch was impossible, especially which Harry's state of mind. Some said he was insane. Some said he was a cannibal. And some said much worse...
Sadist, rapist, even Dark were some of the things they said, but none of them were. The only thing Harry truly suffered from was depression. He still mourned the loss of his best friend, Hermione Granger, and had lost all contact with the rest of his friends.
However, today was a different day. Draco Malfoy, one of the only one's who came out of the war without injury, had contacted him to say he, Ron, and Ginny would be joining him for lunch that afternoon. Suffice to say Harry was not looking forward to it.
The war had left their friendship in shambles. Harry knew that Ginny had become a healer, and Ron and Draco had joined the Ministry as Aurors. Harry had done neither. Actually, he did nothing. His fortune was more than enough to carry him on his needs.
Harry didn't even try to argue with Draco, he knew much better then that. The last time he argued with Draco his eyes had narrowed in that dangerous way and Harry knew he'd lost. Plus Draco had been a bit pushier for a while. Harry paused to consider that now he was submissive to his former friend but dismissed it, knowing things just happened to be like that.
Harry sighed and curled up tightly in his chair. It was his favorite chair. Behind him there were quite a few books, books that Harry had just because he liked them. He could get lost in books sometimes, and they reminded him of Hermione. Harry closed his eyes tightly and waited for the dreaded noise of footsteps.
His friends probably thought him a bum, and he was. He stayed in his house he didn't leave. Ever. He had no reason to; all had been lost to him long ago; Hermione had taken a part of him with her.
Their souls, all five of them, had been connected to each other's. And win Hermione died, she took a bit of their soul from each of their body's. She just happened to take the happy part of Harry's. Merlin, he missed her; they all did.
Harry struggled not to think too much of Hermione, even though her image was vivid in his mind. But the pain was still too fresh, even after all these years. He didn't really care what they thought of him anymore. He knew what he was and he didn't care. He groaned suddenly, realizing he probably had to make food didn't he? He didn't eat much; in fact he was dangerously thin. But then, why would he care about food?
Harry rose from his chair and walked into what used to be a kitchen. He looked through the pantry and found nothing. When's the last time I ate? Harry wondered silently. He looked around for his wand, which was in his pocket, and magicked up some chicken and rice, then went to lay back down. Harry remembered the first time Draco had first openly admitted he wasn't going to fight with Voldemort.
Harry had been walking back to the Common Room after a particularly hard Potions class with Snape and the Slytherins. He suddenly was lifted off his feet and shoved into an old classroom full of dust.
"Shouldn't you be having teatime with Voldemort right about now?" Harry sneered at him.
"Don't you take me for granted," he had hissed menacingly.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Malfoy."
"Yes, I would be hoping you wouldn't dream of me." Draco smirked and Harry wondered why Malfoy had cornered him here, in this room.
"What do you want?"
Draco grinned, "I overheard you and Dumbledore talking about a 'secret' organization called the Order of the Phoenix. What is it?"
Harry's eyes widened, Draco had heard? Oh well, we've lost now. Might as well tell him. "It's a organization that fights against Voldemort, I suppose you're going to go off to dad-" Harry was cut off.
"I want to join."
"You what? Why? Think Dumbledore will spoil you more then your father?"
"Spoil?" Draco chuckled uncharacteristically. "You're thick, aren't you, Potter? Never mind, I want to join."
"You can't join if you're going to sell us to Voldemort." Harry snarled and shoved Draco halfway across the room.
Draco stumbled against a desk. He winced and jumped up. He was going paler, which was amazing considering how pale he already was. He looked furious but something in his eyes was scared. Something was wrong...
"I don't work for Voldemort!" Draco shouted, face red from anger. "I'm not evil! My father is and I hate him! Okay? I hate him! I hope we kill him and I hope I can do it! I'm not going to sell you to Voldemort I-I don't want to be a death eater."
Harry had no choice but to believe him. Hermione believed him right away, of course... he could still remember her voice.
Wow, Harry! You think he was serious? You know, I never really thought he was evil per se-stop snickering, Ron, you know what I meant-, just a little on the cruel side. I think it's great he wants to join us!
Harry stopped himself; thinking about Hermione was just too intricate. Ron, however, had taken a little more convincing.
Well, I think its bullshit, Harry. Malfoy-good? No way.
Oh, come on, Ron, came Hermione's voice. What if he was telling the truth?
It's Malfoy, Hermione, what're the chances of him telling the truth. Mark my words; if Malfoy joins the Order, we'll all be dead within the week. It's too risky.
Ron, Harry had chided, risks are part of war. Besides, the way he said it, his voice-he was telling the truth, Ron, I know it!
Dumbledore had refused Draco joining the Order at the beginning, his worries the same as Ron's. But after some convincing from Harry, and an embarrassing interview with Draco, Dumbledore had finally relented.
The war had been a bloody one. Draco had been a great addition to their side-Ron grumbled about it for months. Ron and Hermione had slowly fallen in love with each other while himself, Ginny, and Draco just laughed at them. Then it happened.
Hermione lost her life through Voldemort himself. Ron had almost jumped on Voldemort and strangled him personally. Draco and Ginny stopped him as Harry performed the very spell that would finish him off forever. Ron had cried for months, refusing to talk to anyone, sinking in his own misery. Hell, they all had been affected, but Ron the most.
Dumbledore had also lost his life in the final battle, it was just too much for the old man. He was no match for Voldemort's youth. He had died through the Killing Curse, his last words were "Good luck, Harry!"; words that had touched him forever.
Their funeral had been a beautiful one, they all had seen to that. Held in an enchanting wood, full of flowers of all kinds; Rose's, Black-Eyed Susan's, Tulip's, and Harry's favorite; Tiger Lily's. An old friend of Dumbledore's, Mr. Wilburn Crockford had spoken the ceremonial service. Harry still remembered the service...
"We love those who care for us, we love those who teach us, we love those who fight with us, we loved those who die for us. Love is unbreakable, true love at least. Mister Albus Dumbledore and Ms. Hermione Granger were two of the most loving, caring people I've ever met, and they will be missed.
"Many people fought in the war against You-Know-Who, many people died. But you must look for the purpose. They gave their lives for us, so we could live in peace. They did it for each and everyone one of you.
"Everybody has a purpose in life, some people two or three. Some find it when they are young, other's not until they're fifty. But everybody has a purpose. Albus and Hermione have found their purpose, and they fulfilled it wholly. As Dumbledore used to say, 'death is but the next greatest adventure,' and it is."
Harry's thoughts were intermitted by Draco walking up to the front door-Harry caught his eye through the small window next to the door. Harry looked up at him and sunk back against the chair, closing his eyes. He didn't want to face Draco. He really didn't. He didn't want to face any of his old friends, but Draco especially. Ginny would shut her mouth if Harry told her to drop it, and Ron was so deeply scarred by the war that he didn't talk much, but Draco would tell Harry that he was being an idiot. And Harry was sick of someone caring about him.
Draco knocked on the door. Harry didn't move. Draco knocked again. Harry still didn't move.
"You have to let me in sometime, you know!" Draco called from outside.
"Do not!" Harry called back, smirking and remembering the days when him and Draco fought all the time....
"Potter, you are such a Mudblood lover!" Draco hissed, glaring at his enemy.
"And what if I am, Malfoy?" Harry asked with a sigh. "Look I don't want to fight you-"
A sharp punch on his jaw knocked him against the desk. "Malfoy, go to hell!" Harry shouted and shoved him back. "I said I didn't want to fight!"
"I do. So we're fighting."
Harry spun around and walked out. "I hate you, Malfoy."
"Hate you, too, Potter." Draco called in mock sweetness.
Harry tried to ignore the knocking but it just got louder. "POTTER!" Draco shouted. "Don't make me break the window!"
"Harry please," Ginny's meek voice came. "Please let him in, come on, lets not fight . . . "
Harry wanted to say, "shut up, Ginny", but he knew Ginny was too sweet to be hurt again so he sighed and opened the door. "Happy, Malfoy you whoremonger?"
"Shut up," Draco said, eyes narrowing.
"Where's Ron?" Harry asked, noticing his absence.
"He'll be here in a bit, wanted to come by himself," Ginny said sweetly. Harry knew Ginny still pitied Ron because of Hermione, so he didn't have to ask why he wanted to come alone.
"Why are you here, anyway?" He asked Draco, as he and Ginny stepped inside, "you never told me."
"I'll you when Ron gets here," Draco said with a smirk and Harry fought the urge to growl and snarl. Draco hadn't changed a bit.
"Harry, Draco," Ginny said warningly as they started glaring at each other. "Let's not start this again, okay?"
"Yes, mother," Draco said sarcastically, but saw the look on Ginny's face and added, "okay, Ginny, I'll try not to fight."
One thing Harry had to reluctantly give Draco credit for, was that he minded Ginny. Harry sat back down and picked a book up, then curled into his little ball.
He expected Draco to make a snide remark but he didn't. He was looking at something; he was looking at a picture. A picture of Harry's mother; it was when she was young and Harry was only a few days. She was holding her child lovingly, holding him to her while she sang. There were tears in her eyes and it look Harry a moment to recognize the look in Draco's eyes. Envy. He had it for Dudley when he was young. Harry had always wanted a mother.
"What, your mother can't sing?" Harry asked, still annoyed.
"Harry!" Ginny gasped.
Draco snarled and almost lunged at Harry but stopped himself. He had enough self-control to stop himself. "You know damn well what my mother was like." Draco hissed and set the picture down, and started pacing.
"Is it my fault your mom was too obsessed with your goddamned father to notice you?" Harry snarled cruelly, glaring.
"Harry!" Ginny yelled, "stop it, right now!"
Harry instantly quieted, and thought to himself, why is it we all obey Ginny like we do? Perhaps it was her redhead temper. Perhaps it was her innocence, wanting everyone to like each other. Harry didn't know.
Draco had gone another shade of pale and he looked down quietly. "Potter, I stopped insulting your family along time ago. Think you can get off my back? Lord knows I've had enough and I don't need you reminding me about back then. That was a dark time and I don't need it, okay?"
Harry stopped and looked at Draco and nodded slowly. "Sorry." He said slowly, knowing he was being a bit cruel. Draco nodded and a little, just a little smile came on his lips.
"Thank you." Ginny said softly. "Much better," she added, "I really hate it when you two fight."
"Sorry, Ginny," they both said at the same time. Ginny grinned triumphantly; she still had it.
There was a soft, almost inaudible, knock at the door and the room was silent. They knew it was Ron outside the door. But would his reunion with Draco be as bad as Harry's, or worse?
Harry opened the door. Ron was standing there trembling, his eyes quick and dark. On his face were long scars from battle and Harry nodded him in. "Are we safe here?" Ron asked quickly.
"Safe from what?" Harry asked curiously.
"Everything." Ron hissed and looked around.
"Yes," Draco said in such a firm tone that Ron believed him. "Sit. Everyone."
"I think I'll stand," Harry said sharply.
"Sit, Harry," Draco growled, then looked at Ginny and sighed. "Please?" she asked hopefully.
Harry sat. Ginny smirked.
"So," Draco embarked, "how is everybody?"
Harry glared from his seat next to Ginny, "Draco ... "
"Right. So," he began again, "is everybody feeling well, I hope?"
"Malfoy!" Ron declared loudly, his voice dark and mysterious.
"Sorry, sorry. I forgot how vigorous you two are together."
"We are not," said Harry insolently. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Are too," argued Draco.
"Are not," glowered Ron.
"Are too." Draco repeated.
"ARE NOT!" Harry said, trying to hide a small smile. Draco raised an eyebrow and looked at the two.
"You sound like old married people." Draco said playfully. If Harry hadn't knew Draco was just trying to lighten the mood, he would have punched him. "We do?"
"Yes, you do."
"Men ... " Ginny said gently. "Harry, is there anything to drink here?"
"Probably not," Harry said lightly, trying to avoid the fact that he hadn't eaten in a few days.
"Harry ... " Ginny began with worry. "Have you-"
"Draco," Harry said brightly, ignoring Ginny, "what are you here for?"
"Harry..." Ginny started again, this time Ron and Draco looking at him too. "Why aren't there any drinks here?"
"I haven't gone shopping in a while, okay?"
"Harry..."
"Shut up," Harry said, even brighter.
"Don't tell her to shut up," Draco snapped.
Ginny waved her hand. "He didn't mean it, Draco," she said, and she knew Harry didn't. Both Harry and Draco were gentle with her and she knew Harry didn't mean anything.
"Why aren't there drinks?" Draco asked.
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Because..." Harry said slowly. "I don't get very hungry."
"How long since you last ate?"
"A week, maybe..." Harry said quietly.
Draco punched him.
"Draco!" Ginny yelled as blood spilled from Harry's nose onto the couch. "That was totally uncalled for!"
"If he really wanted to kill himself, I just thought I would help him."
"Malfoy... you ... you... gah!"
"It's his fault."
"Draco, you shouldn't have," Ginny said, pulling out her wand and fixing Harry's nose.
"Out," Harry said menacingly, "now."
"No," Draco growled. "Eat. Now. I only did that because I care-"
"Oh, I only hit you because I care. Yes, London, we're being bombed because, you see, they love us." Ron snarled viciously.
"Oh," Harry laughed, "we're being bombed. I smell cinnamon!"
"Shut up!" Draco roared. He whipped out his wand and for a moment Harry thought he would curse him but all he did was conjure up some food. "Eat, you idiot."
"Please," Ginny begged, her eyes spilling over in tears. Harry wrapped his real arm around her and hugged her, then ate a sandwich.
"Happy, you stupid homosexual ape?"
"Challenge my sexuality again and I'll hit you a whole lot harder." Draco growled and Harry knew to shut up. When he talked like that, well, you just went did shut up.
"That's better," said Draco. "Now, where was I? Oh, yes, how is everyone feeling?"
"Draco," Ginny warned, "just get on with it."
"Okay, fine," he said, knowing better than to argue with Ginny. He took a deep breath and said, "the Ministry's in panic. There have been murders everywhere. No one's been caught yet, but we all know that we didn't catch all the Death Eater's right?"
"You're not saying..." Harry began, having the sneaking suspicion that Ginny and Ron already knew all about this.
"That's right. The Ministry wants you to fight, Harry, as well as the rest-"
"No." All heads turned to him mouths agape. "I won't fight. I left that life a long time ago."
"Selfish bastard!" Draco shouted suddenly. "What would Hermione say? 'Oh, I got hurt like everyone else so I won't help mankind!' "
"Shut the Hell up!" Harry screamed and jumped up. Ginny started crying. Ron looked lifeless. "Don't even talk about Hermione, it was your fault anyway!"
Draco's mouth fell open and a knot came into his stomach. He closed his eyes. "You're right, Harry, it was my fault. I know that. I could have... should have... I'm sorry. But she's dead and-"
Harry punched him.
Ginny just cried harder, and pressed her face against a pillow.
Draco grabbed Harry by the throat and held him to a wall. He squeezed lightly. "Harry, I won't fight you. You used to be my best friend and I won't hit you ever again. Not unless you hurt yourself. I don't care what you do to me. Punch me-go ahead. When I let go you can punch me all you like." Draco said with venom and let go.
Ginny suddenly slapped both of them on the back of the head. "Stop it! Look at Ron," she added so they couldn't hear. Both of their heads turned in Ron's direction; he was sitting on the couch and looking as if he was going to faint any second.
Both Harry and Draco mentally apologized to each other. Harry took his seat on the couch next to Ginny again.... Why had he said the thing's he did? Hermione's death was in no way his fault.
Harry sighed. He looked at Draco with curious eyes. He looked fragile but Harry well knew he had strong muscles that could faintly be seen. He frowned and saw the eyes he used to know by heart were now closed from the world, and Harry. He sighed again.
"What's wrong?" Ginny asked lightly.
"Nothing," Harry said simply. "Draco, Hermione's death wasn't-"
"Yes it was," Draco hissed. "It was entirely my fault and don't talk about it. It was my fault and my fault alone. Now... onto other things."
"It wasn't," Ron said.
Draco would have glared but he was gentle with Ron, too. He was rough with Harry because he knew Harry needed it sometimes, to help himself. Get set on the right track again. But Draco thought what Harry wanted most was to be leader again. He could see it in his eyes.
"It was mine." Harry had never heard three words that were filled with so much pain, anger, and sadness in his life. But Ron's were, those three words made him want to fight again, to kill this evil that was rising up. Why couldn't the world just live without evil?
I'll do it," he said announced Ginny hugged Ron tightly and held him close.
"Do what?" Draco asked, completely forgetting the subject and looking at Ron with unseeing eyes.
"I'll fight."
Everyone looked at him.
"Now we're getting somewhere." Draco smirked widely.
"That happens with you," Harry said absently.
"What?" Draco asked, though not
angry.
"You get things moving," Harry
said.
"Thank you, Potter," Draco said, then added. "I think."
"Harry." He said firmly. "My name is Harry and you know that. I don't like
think called Potter." This wasn't entirely a lie. It was just that being called
"Potter" reminded of his Hogwarts days, and that reminded him of how happy he
was there. Then it reminded him that he wasn't allowed to be happy anymore. So
Harry decided he didn't want to be called "Potter" anymore.
"Sorry, Harry," Draco said with
a bigger smirk. "I'm allowed to use your first name now?"
"Shut up and go on with the
whole fighting the darkness, Malfoy."
"Yes sir, Captain!"
"Ha, ha," Ginny laughed
sardonically, then added under her breath, "some things never
change."
"Like what?" Asked
Harry, though his mind wasn't really in the question. He was staring at Ron,
who still looked incredibly upset, with worried eyes.
" "Like the fact that you two
never stop fighting ever."
"We don't fight all
the time," said Draco.
"Yes we do," argued
Harry.
"Do not."
"Do too."
"See?" yelled Ginny, frustrated.
"Well, well, well." Harry began but
couldn't think of a witty comeback. 'Well, ha! I was right anyway!'
"Shut up, Pot-Harry. Sorry."
"Oh, no, I'll never forgive you."
Harry said threateningly, just to make Ginny smile. She did.
So Draco smiled half way, not a smirk,
a smile. So Harry smiled. Harry shot another contemptuous glance at Ron, but
Ron's eyes didn't meet his. They were staring transfixed at the window.
"Ron?" Draco asked, looking worried.
"What's wrong?"
"There's a Death Eater outside the
window."
Harry looked and there, clad in all black, was the obvious make of a Death Eater. He gulped.
"Do you ever use magic
anymore?" Draco questioned.
"Of course, I used right
before you got here. By the way, there's chicken and rice in the kitchen."
"Harry!"
"What?"
"I've been sitting here,
starving to death, and you've had a perfectly fine meal in the kitchen the
whole time?" The voice was Ginny's, and he hadn't heard her this annoyed
in quite some time. But, hell, he hadn't seen her in quite sometime either.
"Sorry," Harry said meekly. He spun around and saw the doorknob move. His heart stopped. Ginny started trembling. Draco even looked pale. Ron was close to screaming. The door opened.
"Crucio!" Draco and Harry
shouted in unison. They could do what they pleased; the Ministry didn't bother
them. Luckily for the Death Eater, he was quick and dodged both. "What the
hell is wrong with you?' The words were said very fast, very loud, and in a
very familiar voice.
"Sirius?" Harry was
stunned, to say the least. "I'm sorry! We thought you were a death eater-your
pale-and-and"
"Jesus Christ, come to visit your godson and nearly get your balls cursed off!"
"Sirius!" Ginny said, in mock scolding.
"Well, it's true."
"Sirius? What are you doing
here?" Harry was stunned; he hadn't seen Sirius in over a year. And,
suddenly, on this day of all of them, was here on his doorstep. "That's not
quite the greeting I was looking for, but 'hi' anyhow." Sirius took Harry
again by surprise and hugged him. Harry shrunk back instinctively.
"Something wrong, Harry?"
Sirius asked.
"Er-no," Harry said in what
he hoped was a comfortable voice.
"Liar," said Ron all of a
sudden. All heads turned in his direction.
"What?" Harry asked.
"When you don't know when the last time you ate; something's wrong. When you don't leave your house; something's wrong. When you can't stand being near people, even if they used to be close to you like a brother," Ron frowned softly, and it was obvious he missed having a best friend; "Something's wrong."
"Harry, when's the last time you ate?' Sirius asked in concern.
"Oh, get off my bloody back
about food!' Harry snapped, but immediately regretted it. Sirius' eyes were
pained and hurt. "I'm sorry, I'm stressed," to make it up, he hugged his
Godfather.
Ron's eyes darkened, secretly
knowing Harry would never be close to him like that again. He knew Harry would
never trust him. He knew Harry hated him.
"Harry..." Sirius was far
from convinced that Harry was all right. Secretly he blamed himself for not
being around more. He had been working with the Ministry for quite sometime and
neither Draco nor Ron had said anything bad about Harry. But it was just then
he realized that Ron, Ginny, or Draco hadn't had anymore contact with Harry
then he had.
"I'm fine, don't worry
about me."
"It's my job to
worry."
"It's your job to work as
an Auror."
"Smart-ass." Harry
smiled as happily as he could.
"I get it from the best. Being a smart-ass is in my blood. I think you're aware of that." Harry said lightly. "Oh, Ginny! I forgot the food! Hold on." He walked into the kitchen, grabbed the food, and put it back down on the small coffee table in the living room.
"How come you don't eat but you
can make great smelling food?' Sirius asked curiously.
"He's a powerful wizard. He's also anorexic." Draco said playfully. Harry chased after him and Draco, who was laughing like a mad man, struggled not to kill any small animals that might live under the carpet.
It was common knowledge that Harry's
house was old and he'd bought it for practically nothing at all. Harry suddenly
stopped and rested his good arm on the table, winded and out of shape. He bent
his robotic arm to his chest and tried to hide it best he could. Though
everyone knew Harry's left arm was robotic, he was still self-conscious about
it.
"Draco..." Harry
coughed. "Stop."
"God, your out of
shape."
"Shut up. Now, can we
finally get back to the subject of this 'evil'?"
"Yeah, yeah." Draco said absently. "Lets eat first."
"The suspense is killing me."
Harry said deadly.
"Harry," Ginny said, taking a
bite. "This is great!"
"Mm-hmm," Sirius said. "And I'm
here, Harry, because Draco said to come."
"And everyone listens to Draco?" Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Pretty much." The blond gave a
grin and continued eating.
"Bastard," Harry muttered.
"No, I'm not fatherless. My
father was a jerk, but I knew him. Unfortunately.' Draco said lightly.
"Oh, shut up," Harry muttered
and nibbled on some rice. "You're as close to fatherless as can be."
"I know someone that's more
fatherless than me."
"Who?" Harry stared.
"You." In a instant, Draco knew
he'd said the wrong thing, for Harry had dropped his fork and was now glaring
daggers at Draco. "Harry," Ginny put a hand on his chest. "He didn't mean it."
"Like hell he didn't!"
"Harry. Stop," the voice was Ron's. Harry stopped instantly, why was Ron protecting Draco? It wasn't natural. "Ron ... has your body been taken over by alien's in the past ten minutes that we were unaware of?"
"Er ... no." Ron looked at him with confused eyes.
"Oh, okay," Harry resumed eating-carefully ignoring Draco but in a way still listening.
End Of Chapter One.
Redfeather's A/N: YAY! Ficness chapter one up. God, these people fight a lot…. A lot, a lot. Don't worry, it's only going to get worse from here! What about this NEW evil? Heh. I know that sounds really cliché but WORK WITH ME HERE!
C.B's A/N: We all know Slytherins are better and Draco's a sexy bitch!!!!
RedFeather: Ignore my friend here. She hurt her head. *winks exaggeratedly* J.K, C.B.
Disclaimer: We don't own it, and if you sue us we'll sue right freaking BACK.
