THAT SUMMER, Chapter 21
By Reija Linn
Harry
"I love you, Harry," whispered words against my lips, as hot tears fell down my cheeks, I knew not whether they were mine or his. Could this be true? Could Bill, strong and independent as I knew him, feel for me as I felt for him? Could there, after all, be a future for us? Despite his soft lips on mine, I could not believe it, and my answer would not leave my lips, try as I might.
We went back to the castle together, supporting Mitchell on the way, never looking back to the large, dark rift that was the tomb of Lord Voldemort. Once we arrived there, the battle was almost fought. It was a difficult sight to take in... so many dead, so many wounded...
More on the Death Eater's side, but still...
Professor Flitwick. Madam Hooch. Mad-Eye Moody. They were dead. Such terrible losses. They should be the last to go to Voldemort, the Dark Lord, who had once been named Tom Riddle.
Madame Pomfrey was treating Professor Sprout, who had collapsed after invoking a large live plant from the earth - the one that had fought the riders on the winged horses, in retrospect, it *was* a fitting spell for a herbology teacher. Sirius had also been struck, but he smiled at me when he lay sight upon me, and told me not to worry, he'd be alright in one or two days. Remus was staying at his side, and assured me the injuries weren't too serious.
Dumbledore looked wearier than ever I had seen him, when he gathered those of us still alive and up around him, to officially declare the defeat of Voldemort. Yet he was smiling.
Draco had returned from the battle field bruised an battered, but alive, and though we did no more than acknowledge each other by name, I was glad he had made it. We would probably never be friends, but I was glad to have made my peace with him.
Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback was cremated, as the law demanded all dead dragons had to be burned so that muggles would not find their bones and learn of their existence, but his ashes were buried under many tears by Hagrid himself - he actually carved a tombstone, which read "Norbert, 1991-1998... You died as a hero and will always be remembered - Mommie" Ah well, Hagrid and dragons. Though Norbert had, actually. Died as a hero. Normally, when attacked by a Vipertooth, even a dragon would not master enough strength to pull the other dragon into death with him...
Hogwart's was reopened late on the first of October, and though at first the number of students was small, many people returned from they asylums abroad upon hearing of the Dark Lord's fall, and more children returned or were newly admitted to Hogwart's school of Wizardry and Witchcraft.
Dumbledore actually offered me a teaching post at the school, as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I told him I needed to think about it, and put him off a little.
Percy returned to the country and was one of the seven old council members who rebuilt the Ministry of Magic.
Sirius and Remus were mumbling something about enjoying their retirement, maybe buying a pub, but I couldn't believe those two rascals would stay put for long.
Professor Sprout claimed she actually *would* retire, but would remain for one more year to instruct her predecessor - Neville Longbottom. Since his return from the States, I didn't recognize my old classmate, who had once been so forgetful and clumsy... true, he was still nervous and a little shy, but he had a great talent for plants, and through Hermione's tutoring throughout our school time together could at least master a fairly good growing potion.
Hermione was going to continue her career as an auror, even after Voldemort's defeat, there still was enough dark magic around, though she also helped rebuild the ministry with Percy (can you imagine how surprised I was when six months later they announced their engagement?)
Charlie and his friends returned to Romania immediately, though one dragon shorter, promising to owl as soon as they arrived.
Ginny returned to Beauxbaton's for her final year, where she made up with her boyfriend Pierre - she was recovering wonderfully since Voldemort's defeat.
Fred and George had decided to become dragon trainers like Charlie, though Charlie himself doubted they'd last long after the first excitement of working with such large beast had worn off - true to this, they both returned to England after four months, making their childhood dream reality and opening a joke shop in the rebuilt village of Hogsmeade.
Peter Pettigrew's corpse was never found, though we *did* find the dead body of a rat in the old broomshed, torn apart by a cat's teeth, obviously - it had one claw missing, and at least from what was left of the creature, I thought it looked like Scabbers.
And Bill?
One week after Voldemort's downfall, Bill approached me one evening late at night - we'd both been staying at my godfather's place with him and Remus, but since our kiss on the Quidditch field, we hadn't touched in this way or even spoken about it.
"Harry..." his tone was soft, but his brown eyes spoke volumes, and I knew suddenly, without any doubt, that he had meant it when he had told me he loved me. "I'll have to return to Egypt, soon. Tried to get more time, but they need my help with opening a special vault... I could, of course, apply for a job at Gringott's here... but it would take a year at least to get it through with the bosses..."
His voice trailed off, and I recognized the question in his eyes.
"Let me join you to Egypt, then." Said with a strong, unquivering voice - I surprised myself. "I can accept Udschat's offer, and go to the temple there - after all, I can speak with snakes, I ought to make something out of that talent. Besides, with all the time I spent studying, I haven't seen half of the country, yet."
"But... but was is there waiting for you, in Egypt?"
I stood before him, firmly taking hold of his shoulders, gazing deeply into his hazel eyes.
"You, Bill. You are waiting for me in Egypt."
And with this, I pulled him close to me for a deep kiss, tasting his lips on mine, sweet as honey and soft as peaches, his kiss gentle as November rain. His touch, so soft, so scared still on my skin, sending electric sparks throughout my body, or was this, perhaps, just another kind of magic?
I leaned back into his touch as his body lowered itself on mine on my narrow bed, as his touches grew firmer, and my own grew longing, hot skin on mine as we explored each other's body with touch of hands and lips and tongues...
The scent in the air, of hormones and sex and longing and fulfillment, and above all of Bill, who smelled like pine and soap and sandalwood shampoo, and... home, as our bodies joined and our minds acknowledged what our souls had known from the start.
By Reija Linn
Harry
"I love you, Harry," whispered words against my lips, as hot tears fell down my cheeks, I knew not whether they were mine or his. Could this be true? Could Bill, strong and independent as I knew him, feel for me as I felt for him? Could there, after all, be a future for us? Despite his soft lips on mine, I could not believe it, and my answer would not leave my lips, try as I might.
We went back to the castle together, supporting Mitchell on the way, never looking back to the large, dark rift that was the tomb of Lord Voldemort. Once we arrived there, the battle was almost fought. It was a difficult sight to take in... so many dead, so many wounded...
More on the Death Eater's side, but still...
Professor Flitwick. Madam Hooch. Mad-Eye Moody. They were dead. Such terrible losses. They should be the last to go to Voldemort, the Dark Lord, who had once been named Tom Riddle.
Madame Pomfrey was treating Professor Sprout, who had collapsed after invoking a large live plant from the earth - the one that had fought the riders on the winged horses, in retrospect, it *was* a fitting spell for a herbology teacher. Sirius had also been struck, but he smiled at me when he lay sight upon me, and told me not to worry, he'd be alright in one or two days. Remus was staying at his side, and assured me the injuries weren't too serious.
Dumbledore looked wearier than ever I had seen him, when he gathered those of us still alive and up around him, to officially declare the defeat of Voldemort. Yet he was smiling.
Draco had returned from the battle field bruised an battered, but alive, and though we did no more than acknowledge each other by name, I was glad he had made it. We would probably never be friends, but I was glad to have made my peace with him.
Norbert the Norwegian Ridgeback was cremated, as the law demanded all dead dragons had to be burned so that muggles would not find their bones and learn of their existence, but his ashes were buried under many tears by Hagrid himself - he actually carved a tombstone, which read "Norbert, 1991-1998... You died as a hero and will always be remembered - Mommie" Ah well, Hagrid and dragons. Though Norbert had, actually. Died as a hero. Normally, when attacked by a Vipertooth, even a dragon would not master enough strength to pull the other dragon into death with him...
Hogwart's was reopened late on the first of October, and though at first the number of students was small, many people returned from they asylums abroad upon hearing of the Dark Lord's fall, and more children returned or were newly admitted to Hogwart's school of Wizardry and Witchcraft.
Dumbledore actually offered me a teaching post at the school, as Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I told him I needed to think about it, and put him off a little.
Percy returned to the country and was one of the seven old council members who rebuilt the Ministry of Magic.
Sirius and Remus were mumbling something about enjoying their retirement, maybe buying a pub, but I couldn't believe those two rascals would stay put for long.
Professor Sprout claimed she actually *would* retire, but would remain for one more year to instruct her predecessor - Neville Longbottom. Since his return from the States, I didn't recognize my old classmate, who had once been so forgetful and clumsy... true, he was still nervous and a little shy, but he had a great talent for plants, and through Hermione's tutoring throughout our school time together could at least master a fairly good growing potion.
Hermione was going to continue her career as an auror, even after Voldemort's defeat, there still was enough dark magic around, though she also helped rebuild the ministry with Percy (can you imagine how surprised I was when six months later they announced their engagement?)
Charlie and his friends returned to Romania immediately, though one dragon shorter, promising to owl as soon as they arrived.
Ginny returned to Beauxbaton's for her final year, where she made up with her boyfriend Pierre - she was recovering wonderfully since Voldemort's defeat.
Fred and George had decided to become dragon trainers like Charlie, though Charlie himself doubted they'd last long after the first excitement of working with such large beast had worn off - true to this, they both returned to England after four months, making their childhood dream reality and opening a joke shop in the rebuilt village of Hogsmeade.
Peter Pettigrew's corpse was never found, though we *did* find the dead body of a rat in the old broomshed, torn apart by a cat's teeth, obviously - it had one claw missing, and at least from what was left of the creature, I thought it looked like Scabbers.
And Bill?
One week after Voldemort's downfall, Bill approached me one evening late at night - we'd both been staying at my godfather's place with him and Remus, but since our kiss on the Quidditch field, we hadn't touched in this way or even spoken about it.
"Harry..." his tone was soft, but his brown eyes spoke volumes, and I knew suddenly, without any doubt, that he had meant it when he had told me he loved me. "I'll have to return to Egypt, soon. Tried to get more time, but they need my help with opening a special vault... I could, of course, apply for a job at Gringott's here... but it would take a year at least to get it through with the bosses..."
His voice trailed off, and I recognized the question in his eyes.
"Let me join you to Egypt, then." Said with a strong, unquivering voice - I surprised myself. "I can accept Udschat's offer, and go to the temple there - after all, I can speak with snakes, I ought to make something out of that talent. Besides, with all the time I spent studying, I haven't seen half of the country, yet."
"But... but was is there waiting for you, in Egypt?"
I stood before him, firmly taking hold of his shoulders, gazing deeply into his hazel eyes.
"You, Bill. You are waiting for me in Egypt."
And with this, I pulled him close to me for a deep kiss, tasting his lips on mine, sweet as honey and soft as peaches, his kiss gentle as November rain. His touch, so soft, so scared still on my skin, sending electric sparks throughout my body, or was this, perhaps, just another kind of magic?
I leaned back into his touch as his body lowered itself on mine on my narrow bed, as his touches grew firmer, and my own grew longing, hot skin on mine as we explored each other's body with touch of hands and lips and tongues...
The scent in the air, of hormones and sex and longing and fulfillment, and above all of Bill, who smelled like pine and soap and sandalwood shampoo, and... home, as our bodies joined and our minds acknowledged what our souls had known from the start.