"Bittersweet"
I. Leaving Home
The rain poured down around him, but he barely flinched. His eyes were locked on the horizon, filled with misery, guilt, and perhaps fear. The hill he stood on was black at first sight, but became lighter as you focused on it. His dark cloak billowed on the breeze, and he turned his head skywards. He needed to go back in soon, they would be worried.
Frankly, he was sick of worrying. He was sick of waiting for Voldemort to come in and kill him at whenever he felt like it. Harry sighed heavily, and closed his eyes.
A moment later, his eyes shot open, the bright green shining with determination, replacing the despair that filled them before. The rain slowed to a stop around him. He knew what he had to do.
Plopping on the ground, ignoring the wetness, Harry scratched out a note, and attached it to Hedwig's claw. With a moment's hesitation, he scrawled out another and attached that too. His snowy owl stood with him wherever he went, whether it is the searing sun or the unforgiving rain. Hedwig gave a small hoot, seeming to push Harry on. The beautiful owl nibbled on his finger, and flew towards the Burrow.
Harry knew it wouldn't be over with Voldemort's defeat. Someone, a Death Eater, would continue it. But it would help. It would help so much.
Hoping on his broom, Harry turned to memorize the Burrow. He was only fifteen. This house had provided more of a home than anything else in his life. Eyes narrowing with determination, Harry steadied his broom. He would come back. Selfish or not, he deserved a life. With a sigh, Harry shot away on his broom, away from fear, letting his instinct bring him to Voldemort.
***
Hermione let out a huff of anger. Viktor broke up with her from some slut a year younger than him. Ron just had to say I told you so. He'd gotten a good right hook for that. Too bad Ginny held her back.
She reached over and grabbed that day's Daily Prophet and flipped through it. It was filled with more casualties from the war. Fudge had figured it out, and declared battle. Unfortunately, he was murdered in his bed two nights later. Arabella Figg had taken over. She'd come over the Weasley's house with Dumbledore. Arabella had known Harry, though he had looked rather confused until she put an aging spell over herself, revealed to be the mysterious protection around Privet Drive, Harry's former babysitter, Godmother, friend and classmate of Harry's parents, and Maid of Honor to his mother. Harry had nearly collapsed.
The real surprise had come when Remus and Sirius had visited. Remus had hugged Arabella, but Sirius had grabbed her waist and kissed her. They had been engaged! That was such a happy day- Sirius's name was cleared! Harry was going to live with them next summer, and he was utterly delighted.
Hermione had a good laugh over Harry's reaction to that. She shook her head. Remus, Sirius, and Arabella had given insight on a few pranks they pulled, and, when Dumbledore was struck by a sudden case of deafness, a few pranks they had planned to pull, but were now passing on to the Trio.
Hermione's train of thought was interrupted when Ron came in. He had a large bruise around his eye, which Hermione viewed with satisfaction. She rarely lost her temper, but relished in it when she did. Ron glared at her, and she didn't break eye contact. She was pleased to see that he looked rather guilty.
A tapping sound from the window broke her out of her thoughts. It wasn't the rain- that had stopped a few minutes ago.
Ron walked over and opened the window. Hedwig swooped in. She dropped the notes she was carrying, and flew about the room as if in a panic.
Hermione rushed to Ron, who had opened the note that was addressed to everyone. The other was addressed to Ginny. They exchanged confused glances. Why would Harry write them when he was staying at the same house as them? Hermione poked her head over his shoulder, and read the note in Harry's familiar untidy script.
Dear Everyone,
Ok, before you panic, I just want to tell you that I'm fine, and I will be fine. I'm sick of waiting for Voldemort to come and kill me when the mood strikes him. I'm going to find him. I know the war probably won't totally end, but this is something I need to do. Everyone thinks I'm something that I'm not. A hero. I'm only a fifteen year old with a scar on his forehead and an unchangeable past. All I am is someone sick of worrying about the people he cares about.
Ron and Hermione: swallow your pride and admit you like each other. I've been waiting since we came to Hogwarts to tell you two to get a room, and when I get back, I fully intend to do so.
Everyone, I don't know how long I'll be gone. I hope you'll still be my family when I come back.
I'm going to drop the act. I may not be able to come back. I'll be honest- I have no idea what I'm facing or how I will defeat him. This letter may be my good-bye. My love to you all.
Love,
Harry.
P.S.
Give the enclosed note to Ginny. No questions, please, I just barely had the nerve to send it.
H.P.
The note fluttered to the ground from Ron's hands. Hermione screamed. Her scream echoed throughout the house, and the Weasleys rushed downstairs to see what was wrong.
Wordlessly, Ron handed the note to his mother, who read it aloud. Hermione started crying, and Ron hugged her. Ginny looked confused. "He wrote me a note?" Ron nodded and handed it to her before Hermione soaked it.
Ginny's eyes skimmed the note. As she finished it, her eyes rolled back into her head as she fainted. Fred caught her. "What does Ginny's note say?" Mrs. Weasley asked through her tears as Fred and George lay Ginny down on the couch.
Ron let Hermione go and leaned against the wall, and slid to the ground, knees up, head in hands. His best friend was going through his own personal hell, and there was nothing he could do about it. Hermione sat down next to him, and smiled worriedly at him through her tears. "He said he'd be all right. You know he doesn't break promises." Ron was about to respond when George made a noise of utter disbelief. He was clutching Harry's note to Ginny. Mrs. Weasley grabbed it, and Ron stood up and grabbed it from her, reading it aloud.
Dear Ginny,
Well, I'm leaving. I really don't know if I'll make it back, but I'll do my best. I need to tell you this, though. I can't risk never telling you.
I'm falling in love with you, Gin.
Harry.
"Oh, that's bloody brilliant." said Ron sarcastically. "Going to defeat the darkest wizard ever to exist without help. Bloody brilliant, Harry!" "Ron!" said Hermione in shock. Ron sighed heavily. "I know he has to do this. But- he's going through his own personal hell, and there's nothing I can do about it." Hermione nodded. "It makes it worse because half the things that happen to him are because- well, he's so..." she searched for a word, "Harry." Ron nodded, knowing exactly what she meant, though everyone else looked rather confused.
"Like with Pettigrew. No one else would have stopped Remus and Sirius from killing him." Ron said. Hermione nodded. "And the second task- I bet it never even crossed his mind not to make sure everyone was ok." She added. "And the third task," Ron continued, "He was the one who suggested they take the cup together, when Cedric was walking away-literally." Hermione nodded, as her eyes filled with tears again. "He's our best friend. If he dies-" The tears threatening to fall spilled out. Ron wrapped his arms around her. "Well, according to his note to us in the letter, he has something he has to tell us." Ron muttered. Hermione abruptly stopped crying and looked at Ron, who was grinning at her. She smiled back at him. "And his note to Ginny, it seems they need to have a little discussion." she said. The tears started to flow unbidden from her eyes again, as Ron hugged her tightly. Ginny was still passed out, Fred and George were pacing back and forth, Molly was crying, and Arthur had stuck his head in the fire to tell Sirius, Remus, Arabella, and Dumbledore.
***
A/N: R+R? Bets on what's going to happen? Hurry!
I. Leaving Home
The rain poured down around him, but he barely flinched. His eyes were locked on the horizon, filled with misery, guilt, and perhaps fear. The hill he stood on was black at first sight, but became lighter as you focused on it. His dark cloak billowed on the breeze, and he turned his head skywards. He needed to go back in soon, they would be worried.
Frankly, he was sick of worrying. He was sick of waiting for Voldemort to come in and kill him at whenever he felt like it. Harry sighed heavily, and closed his eyes.
A moment later, his eyes shot open, the bright green shining with determination, replacing the despair that filled them before. The rain slowed to a stop around him. He knew what he had to do.
Plopping on the ground, ignoring the wetness, Harry scratched out a note, and attached it to Hedwig's claw. With a moment's hesitation, he scrawled out another and attached that too. His snowy owl stood with him wherever he went, whether it is the searing sun or the unforgiving rain. Hedwig gave a small hoot, seeming to push Harry on. The beautiful owl nibbled on his finger, and flew towards the Burrow.
Harry knew it wouldn't be over with Voldemort's defeat. Someone, a Death Eater, would continue it. But it would help. It would help so much.
Hoping on his broom, Harry turned to memorize the Burrow. He was only fifteen. This house had provided more of a home than anything else in his life. Eyes narrowing with determination, Harry steadied his broom. He would come back. Selfish or not, he deserved a life. With a sigh, Harry shot away on his broom, away from fear, letting his instinct bring him to Voldemort.
***
Hermione let out a huff of anger. Viktor broke up with her from some slut a year younger than him. Ron just had to say I told you so. He'd gotten a good right hook for that. Too bad Ginny held her back.
She reached over and grabbed that day's Daily Prophet and flipped through it. It was filled with more casualties from the war. Fudge had figured it out, and declared battle. Unfortunately, he was murdered in his bed two nights later. Arabella Figg had taken over. She'd come over the Weasley's house with Dumbledore. Arabella had known Harry, though he had looked rather confused until she put an aging spell over herself, revealed to be the mysterious protection around Privet Drive, Harry's former babysitter, Godmother, friend and classmate of Harry's parents, and Maid of Honor to his mother. Harry had nearly collapsed.
The real surprise had come when Remus and Sirius had visited. Remus had hugged Arabella, but Sirius had grabbed her waist and kissed her. They had been engaged! That was such a happy day- Sirius's name was cleared! Harry was going to live with them next summer, and he was utterly delighted.
Hermione had a good laugh over Harry's reaction to that. She shook her head. Remus, Sirius, and Arabella had given insight on a few pranks they pulled, and, when Dumbledore was struck by a sudden case of deafness, a few pranks they had planned to pull, but were now passing on to the Trio.
Hermione's train of thought was interrupted when Ron came in. He had a large bruise around his eye, which Hermione viewed with satisfaction. She rarely lost her temper, but relished in it when she did. Ron glared at her, and she didn't break eye contact. She was pleased to see that he looked rather guilty.
A tapping sound from the window broke her out of her thoughts. It wasn't the rain- that had stopped a few minutes ago.
Ron walked over and opened the window. Hedwig swooped in. She dropped the notes she was carrying, and flew about the room as if in a panic.
Hermione rushed to Ron, who had opened the note that was addressed to everyone. The other was addressed to Ginny. They exchanged confused glances. Why would Harry write them when he was staying at the same house as them? Hermione poked her head over his shoulder, and read the note in Harry's familiar untidy script.
Dear Everyone,
Ok, before you panic, I just want to tell you that I'm fine, and I will be fine. I'm sick of waiting for Voldemort to come and kill me when the mood strikes him. I'm going to find him. I know the war probably won't totally end, but this is something I need to do. Everyone thinks I'm something that I'm not. A hero. I'm only a fifteen year old with a scar on his forehead and an unchangeable past. All I am is someone sick of worrying about the people he cares about.
Ron and Hermione: swallow your pride and admit you like each other. I've been waiting since we came to Hogwarts to tell you two to get a room, and when I get back, I fully intend to do so.
Everyone, I don't know how long I'll be gone. I hope you'll still be my family when I come back.
I'm going to drop the act. I may not be able to come back. I'll be honest- I have no idea what I'm facing or how I will defeat him. This letter may be my good-bye. My love to you all.
Love,
Harry.
P.S.
Give the enclosed note to Ginny. No questions, please, I just barely had the nerve to send it.
H.P.
The note fluttered to the ground from Ron's hands. Hermione screamed. Her scream echoed throughout the house, and the Weasleys rushed downstairs to see what was wrong.
Wordlessly, Ron handed the note to his mother, who read it aloud. Hermione started crying, and Ron hugged her. Ginny looked confused. "He wrote me a note?" Ron nodded and handed it to her before Hermione soaked it.
Ginny's eyes skimmed the note. As she finished it, her eyes rolled back into her head as she fainted. Fred caught her. "What does Ginny's note say?" Mrs. Weasley asked through her tears as Fred and George lay Ginny down on the couch.
Ron let Hermione go and leaned against the wall, and slid to the ground, knees up, head in hands. His best friend was going through his own personal hell, and there was nothing he could do about it. Hermione sat down next to him, and smiled worriedly at him through her tears. "He said he'd be all right. You know he doesn't break promises." Ron was about to respond when George made a noise of utter disbelief. He was clutching Harry's note to Ginny. Mrs. Weasley grabbed it, and Ron stood up and grabbed it from her, reading it aloud.
Dear Ginny,
Well, I'm leaving. I really don't know if I'll make it back, but I'll do my best. I need to tell you this, though. I can't risk never telling you.
I'm falling in love with you, Gin.
Harry.
"Oh, that's bloody brilliant." said Ron sarcastically. "Going to defeat the darkest wizard ever to exist without help. Bloody brilliant, Harry!" "Ron!" said Hermione in shock. Ron sighed heavily. "I know he has to do this. But- he's going through his own personal hell, and there's nothing I can do about it." Hermione nodded. "It makes it worse because half the things that happen to him are because- well, he's so..." she searched for a word, "Harry." Ron nodded, knowing exactly what she meant, though everyone else looked rather confused.
"Like with Pettigrew. No one else would have stopped Remus and Sirius from killing him." Ron said. Hermione nodded. "And the second task- I bet it never even crossed his mind not to make sure everyone was ok." She added. "And the third task," Ron continued, "He was the one who suggested they take the cup together, when Cedric was walking away-literally." Hermione nodded, as her eyes filled with tears again. "He's our best friend. If he dies-" The tears threatening to fall spilled out. Ron wrapped his arms around her. "Well, according to his note to us in the letter, he has something he has to tell us." Ron muttered. Hermione abruptly stopped crying and looked at Ron, who was grinning at her. She smiled back at him. "And his note to Ginny, it seems they need to have a little discussion." she said. The tears started to flow unbidden from her eyes again, as Ron hugged her tightly. Ginny was still passed out, Fred and George were pacing back and forth, Molly was crying, and Arthur had stuck his head in the fire to tell Sirius, Remus, Arabella, and Dumbledore.
***
A/N: R+R? Bets on what's going to happen? Hurry!