Bittersweet
A/N: Ahhh, how fun this is. Another Chapter of Flashbacks, I'm sure you're going to be so happy!
IF YOU WANT TO SEE SEQUEL INFORMATION, LOOK AT MY AUTHOR PROFILE!
http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=161344
Chapter 13: In Loving Memory
"Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in."
~*~
Flashback- One Hour Beforehand
Hermione sighed heavily. She was on her way to the Hospital Wing, where Ginny and Ron had already set up camp. But first, she wanted, and often needed, to see the memorial.
The Memorial from the Death Eater Attack.
Blinking back tears, Hermione turned at looked at the memorial. So many lives lost for no reason. Neither side had truly won. It wasn't fair.
The Memorial was a stone slab carved in the likeness of a dove- the symbol of peace. It was across from the Great Hall. Students, still grieving, often placed flowers in front of it. Two candles burned on each side of it. Not even Peeves dared to vandalize it.
It was carved expertly, the words incredibly easy to read.
"In Loving Memory of the Students who bravely gave their lives during the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts on November 14, 1996
Selena Chang, Ravenclaw, Year Two
Cornelia Diggory, Hufflepuff, Year Three
Raye Lena, Ravenclaw, Year One
Ross Singes, Ravenclaw, Year Seven
Alan Parkinson, Gryffindor, Year One
Gonia Zambini, Slytherin, Year Seven
Christian Moerland, Gryffindor, Year Five
They will be forever cherished by family and friends. They are our symbol of decency, love, and happiness, our beacon, showing us the way every human should live. Like there is no tomorrow, like everyone matters.
We'll never forget."
Hermione let out a sob. So pointless! Barely containing the tears threatening to fall, she continued on her way to the Hospital Wing.
Perhaps Harry was waking up.
~*~
Flashback- One Week before the Battle
Dumbledore surveyed the group before him, the true workings of the fight against evil. Spies could be anywhere, but that didn't matter. What mattered was keeping everyone safe. Remus stood up.
"The Order of the Phoenix will now come to order."
Dumbledore couldn't resist the smallest of smiles at this pun. He waited patiently for the noise to die down, and began to speak.
"I am now positive that Harry Potter, and perhaps Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as well, know much more about the Death Eaters then they let on."
There was a small murmuring of interest. Amos Diggory was the first to speak.
"Albus, do you think we should tell them about the Order?"
Dumbledore glanced to his right, making sure Remus and Arabella could constrain Sirius at a moments notice, before beginning.
"No. They have enough burdens. We should wait until at least next year. Harry has had to age four years over the past year, ever since the Tournament. Let them be children for a while. Let them have a little bit of peace."
There was a murmur of consent. Fawkes flew to Dumbledore's knee and let out a quavering note of hope.
~*~
Flashback- MWPP Generation, Having Graduated Hogwarts two years before hand.
Lily walked into Dumbledore's office. She'd been there so many times, but it was still hard not to feel a sense of wonder when she slipped into a chair, and saw the ragged old sorting hat, standing like a soldier to protect the portraits, and Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, happily letting out a note, and landing on her knee. Lily stroked Fawkes and cleared her mind, deciding to let Fawkes begin this conversation.
(*Fawkes's thoughts*, **Lily's thoughts**)
*Ah, Miss Evans. Albus will be here soon.*
No sound was made, but Lily heard him perfectly.
**Thank you, dear Fawkes. I'm still not used to being able to communicate with you and all the other animals will my mind. I jumped ten feet and shrieked when a fox greeted me. James thought I had lost my mind.**
*Ah, Miss Evans, you shall get used to it soon. You have something important to tell Albus?*
**Very important, and I'm scared of doing it.**
*Don't worry, Lily.*
**That's the first time you've called me Lily, Fawkes. It seems this has taken you some time to.**
*Ah, so little time, you only discovered your talent in your fourth year.*
Their silent conversation came to an abrupt end as Dumbledore came in the room and sat down across from Lily.
"Miss Evans, oh, yes, I mean Mrs. Potter, what can I do for you?"
Lily swallowed hard, praying that Dumbledore what tell her how to make sure it was good. She couldn't think of a way to say it, so she just said it.
"I'm pregnant."
Albus's smile was so large it glowed. "Lily, that's wonderful! But, I assume you are worried that something will happen because of the mixed bloodlines?"
Lily nodded.
"Don't worry, dear. The only choice your son will ever have to make is to go into Slytherin or Gryffindor. And I'm sure he'll know which one is right for him."
Lily relaxed, than blinked. "Profess- er, Albus, how did you know it was a boy?"
Albus just smiled.
~*~
Yup, another evil Flashback- Summer, Harry's Birthday
The four friends chattered happily. Well, three of them at least.
It was Harry's fifteenth birthday, and Arthur had magicked a pool for the occasion. But, only Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny could use it. Molly couldn't swim Arthur had to go to work for a bit, Fred and George, excuse me, Gred and Forge, were working on some secret project, Bill and Charlie were fire proofing all the gifts because of Gred and Forge's secret project, and Percy hated swimming with a passion.
Harry wasn't talking much for two reasons. One, he was having the best birthday of his life and was content to walk in peace. Two, Ginny was wearing a blue one piece, and his thoughts were jumbling together. 'Bloody growing up.' he thought bitterly.
They soon arrived at the square eight feet pool. Hermione dipped a toe in and shuddered. Ginny murmured something to her, and they both giggled.
Ron grinned at Harry, and jerked his head toward the two girls. Catching on, Harry smiled back, and nodded his agreement.
With a bounding leap, Ron did a huge canon ball, soaking the girls. Harry jumped in after him, giving them a little after shock.
Hermione was seeing red. She dove in expertly, and, screaming loudly, chased a laughing Ron around the pool.
Ginny put her hands on her hips and glared at Harry. He grinned, and continued to tread water, which was really all her knew how to do, besides doggy-paddle. Ginny shook her head, and did a belly flop- right onto Harry.
Harry dropped under water and came back up, sputtering. Ginny dragged them to three feet so she could stand, and put her arms around his neck. She cocked an eyebrow. He grinned back.
He suddenly realized just how close they were. A flush rose to his cheeks. Ginny came to this notion just as he did, her own cheeks red. She dropped her arms quickly, but Harry had a good grip around her waist. He had a funny feeling in his stomach. Tere eyes were locked.
Spraying water in face, Ginny dipped out of his arms and swam towards the now gasping for air Hermione.
Harry leaned against the side. He'd wanted to kiss Ginny. Where had that come from?
Ron swam up to him, grinning. "We managed to piss them off pretty good." Harry nodded.
~*~
Same Flashback, same time, same place, same pool.
Ginny swam up to Hermione and sat down on the small shelf in the side of the pool. She was still flushed and wondering. Hermione, who had cooled down a bit, looked at her. "What's up, Gin?"
Ginny couldn't fight a smile. She leaned over and whispered what happened to Hermione.
Hermione's eyes widened. "But, that does not sound like Harry at all! Even if he liked you-" Ginny flushed "-he wouldn't do that. There has to be a logical explanation for this-"
Ginny stopped listening. She looked across the pool, where Harry and Ron sat. Harry looked up and she looked right into his eyes.
He didn't look away.
~*~
Back in the present
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ginny looked up, squinting through her tears.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Madam Pomfrey once again bustled around Harry. She looked at the muggle heart rate machine, which was beeping noisily, then at the group.
"He's alive, but, I'm afraid it won't last long."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Dumbledore nodded swiftly. "There is one way."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
He turned and looked at the three. "Only you, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, can save him. But, it will only work if Harry wants to come back."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ron nodded rapidly. "What do we have to do, Professor?"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Dumbledore swallowed hard.
"You have to go inside Harry's mind."
~*~
Thank Yous,
Videl86: Thank you! Don't worry; you don't have to injure Wormtail in any way. I'll take care of that.
BrinDiddy: This is the biggest cliff hanger you've ever seen? You watch FRIENDS and ER, don't you?
Freakyleopard: You're extremely good at capitalization, you know. Just kidding. I hope you'll be able to fall asleep now.
Other people, where are you? I miss you!
~*~
A/N: I AM NOT GOING TO COPY RUSKBYTE! If you have read "Order of the Phoenix", you know what I am talking about. It will not be written in a similar way, and it will not have such an R-rated follow up....that's right, if you are under 10, do NOT read Ruskbyte's "Order of the Phoenix" or his "The Well of Shadows". Gave me a bloody heart attack.
~Merusa
Click that lil button that says go!
A/N: Ahhh, how fun this is. Another Chapter of Flashbacks, I'm sure you're going to be so happy!
IF YOU WANT TO SEE SEQUEL INFORMATION, LOOK AT MY AUTHOR PROFILE!
http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=161344
Chapter 13: In Loving Memory
"Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything,
That's how the light gets in."
~*~
Flashback- One Hour Beforehand
Hermione sighed heavily. She was on her way to the Hospital Wing, where Ginny and Ron had already set up camp. But first, she wanted, and often needed, to see the memorial.
The Memorial from the Death Eater Attack.
Blinking back tears, Hermione turned at looked at the memorial. So many lives lost for no reason. Neither side had truly won. It wasn't fair.
The Memorial was a stone slab carved in the likeness of a dove- the symbol of peace. It was across from the Great Hall. Students, still grieving, often placed flowers in front of it. Two candles burned on each side of it. Not even Peeves dared to vandalize it.
It was carved expertly, the words incredibly easy to read.
"In Loving Memory of the Students who bravely gave their lives during the Death Eater attack on Hogwarts on November 14, 1996
Selena Chang, Ravenclaw, Year Two
Cornelia Diggory, Hufflepuff, Year Three
Raye Lena, Ravenclaw, Year One
Ross Singes, Ravenclaw, Year Seven
Alan Parkinson, Gryffindor, Year One
Gonia Zambini, Slytherin, Year Seven
Christian Moerland, Gryffindor, Year Five
They will be forever cherished by family and friends. They are our symbol of decency, love, and happiness, our beacon, showing us the way every human should live. Like there is no tomorrow, like everyone matters.
We'll never forget."
Hermione let out a sob. So pointless! Barely containing the tears threatening to fall, she continued on her way to the Hospital Wing.
Perhaps Harry was waking up.
~*~
Flashback- One Week before the Battle
Dumbledore surveyed the group before him, the true workings of the fight against evil. Spies could be anywhere, but that didn't matter. What mattered was keeping everyone safe. Remus stood up.
"The Order of the Phoenix will now come to order."
Dumbledore couldn't resist the smallest of smiles at this pun. He waited patiently for the noise to die down, and began to speak.
"I am now positive that Harry Potter, and perhaps Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as well, know much more about the Death Eaters then they let on."
There was a small murmuring of interest. Amos Diggory was the first to speak.
"Albus, do you think we should tell them about the Order?"
Dumbledore glanced to his right, making sure Remus and Arabella could constrain Sirius at a moments notice, before beginning.
"No. They have enough burdens. We should wait until at least next year. Harry has had to age four years over the past year, ever since the Tournament. Let them be children for a while. Let them have a little bit of peace."
There was a murmur of consent. Fawkes flew to Dumbledore's knee and let out a quavering note of hope.
~*~
Flashback- MWPP Generation, Having Graduated Hogwarts two years before hand.
Lily walked into Dumbledore's office. She'd been there so many times, but it was still hard not to feel a sense of wonder when she slipped into a chair, and saw the ragged old sorting hat, standing like a soldier to protect the portraits, and Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, happily letting out a note, and landing on her knee. Lily stroked Fawkes and cleared her mind, deciding to let Fawkes begin this conversation.
(*Fawkes's thoughts*, **Lily's thoughts**)
*Ah, Miss Evans. Albus will be here soon.*
No sound was made, but Lily heard him perfectly.
**Thank you, dear Fawkes. I'm still not used to being able to communicate with you and all the other animals will my mind. I jumped ten feet and shrieked when a fox greeted me. James thought I had lost my mind.**
*Ah, Miss Evans, you shall get used to it soon. You have something important to tell Albus?*
**Very important, and I'm scared of doing it.**
*Don't worry, Lily.*
**That's the first time you've called me Lily, Fawkes. It seems this has taken you some time to.**
*Ah, so little time, you only discovered your talent in your fourth year.*
Their silent conversation came to an abrupt end as Dumbledore came in the room and sat down across from Lily.
"Miss Evans, oh, yes, I mean Mrs. Potter, what can I do for you?"
Lily swallowed hard, praying that Dumbledore what tell her how to make sure it was good. She couldn't think of a way to say it, so she just said it.
"I'm pregnant."
Albus's smile was so large it glowed. "Lily, that's wonderful! But, I assume you are worried that something will happen because of the mixed bloodlines?"
Lily nodded.
"Don't worry, dear. The only choice your son will ever have to make is to go into Slytherin or Gryffindor. And I'm sure he'll know which one is right for him."
Lily relaxed, than blinked. "Profess- er, Albus, how did you know it was a boy?"
Albus just smiled.
~*~
Yup, another evil Flashback- Summer, Harry's Birthday
The four friends chattered happily. Well, three of them at least.
It was Harry's fifteenth birthday, and Arthur had magicked a pool for the occasion. But, only Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny could use it. Molly couldn't swim Arthur had to go to work for a bit, Fred and George, excuse me, Gred and Forge, were working on some secret project, Bill and Charlie were fire proofing all the gifts because of Gred and Forge's secret project, and Percy hated swimming with a passion.
Harry wasn't talking much for two reasons. One, he was having the best birthday of his life and was content to walk in peace. Two, Ginny was wearing a blue one piece, and his thoughts were jumbling together. 'Bloody growing up.' he thought bitterly.
They soon arrived at the square eight feet pool. Hermione dipped a toe in and shuddered. Ginny murmured something to her, and they both giggled.
Ron grinned at Harry, and jerked his head toward the two girls. Catching on, Harry smiled back, and nodded his agreement.
With a bounding leap, Ron did a huge canon ball, soaking the girls. Harry jumped in after him, giving them a little after shock.
Hermione was seeing red. She dove in expertly, and, screaming loudly, chased a laughing Ron around the pool.
Ginny put her hands on her hips and glared at Harry. He grinned, and continued to tread water, which was really all her knew how to do, besides doggy-paddle. Ginny shook her head, and did a belly flop- right onto Harry.
Harry dropped under water and came back up, sputtering. Ginny dragged them to three feet so she could stand, and put her arms around his neck. She cocked an eyebrow. He grinned back.
He suddenly realized just how close they were. A flush rose to his cheeks. Ginny came to this notion just as he did, her own cheeks red. She dropped her arms quickly, but Harry had a good grip around her waist. He had a funny feeling in his stomach. Tere eyes were locked.
Spraying water in face, Ginny dipped out of his arms and swam towards the now gasping for air Hermione.
Harry leaned against the side. He'd wanted to kiss Ginny. Where had that come from?
Ron swam up to him, grinning. "We managed to piss them off pretty good." Harry nodded.
~*~
Same Flashback, same time, same place, same pool.
Ginny swam up to Hermione and sat down on the small shelf in the side of the pool. She was still flushed and wondering. Hermione, who had cooled down a bit, looked at her. "What's up, Gin?"
Ginny couldn't fight a smile. She leaned over and whispered what happened to Hermione.
Hermione's eyes widened. "But, that does not sound like Harry at all! Even if he liked you-" Ginny flushed "-he wouldn't do that. There has to be a logical explanation for this-"
Ginny stopped listening. She looked across the pool, where Harry and Ron sat. Harry looked up and she looked right into his eyes.
He didn't look away.
~*~
Back in the present
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ginny looked up, squinting through her tears.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Madam Pomfrey once again bustled around Harry. She looked at the muggle heart rate machine, which was beeping noisily, then at the group.
"He's alive, but, I'm afraid it won't last long."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Dumbledore nodded swiftly. "There is one way."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
He turned and looked at the three. "Only you, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, can save him. But, it will only work if Harry wants to come back."
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Ron nodded rapidly. "What do we have to do, Professor?"
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Dumbledore swallowed hard.
"You have to go inside Harry's mind."
~*~
Thank Yous,
Videl86: Thank you! Don't worry; you don't have to injure Wormtail in any way. I'll take care of that.
BrinDiddy: This is the biggest cliff hanger you've ever seen? You watch FRIENDS and ER, don't you?
Freakyleopard: You're extremely good at capitalization, you know. Just kidding. I hope you'll be able to fall asleep now.
Other people, where are you? I miss you!
~*~
A/N: I AM NOT GOING TO COPY RUSKBYTE! If you have read "Order of the Phoenix", you know what I am talking about. It will not be written in a similar way, and it will not have such an R-rated follow up....that's right, if you are under 10, do NOT read Ruskbyte's "Order of the Phoenix" or his "The Well of Shadows". Gave me a bloody heart attack.
~Merusa
Click that lil button that says go!