Disclaimer: Harry Potter and co all belong to JK Rowling. They don't belong to me.
A/N: Hi everybody! How are you all? Good I hope! Anyways, I decided to write yet another fic (I have way too many unfinished ones I know, but I promise I will finish them)! I decided to do an H/H since I haven't written one of those in eons. This fic is kind of a songfic, but not exactly one either. Hopefully, this fic will live up to your expectations!
To Gary Skinner – The Boy Who Waited!
Live While You Can.
By Mithua
Prologue:
The silvery light of the moon slithered over and placed an ethereal glow on the land. Bright white dots littered the sky, like the effect you would get of you ran you finger across a brush with paint. A cool wind whistled through the trees and skated the surface of the lake, creating the most fragile of ripples. At the edge of the lush green trees, a hearty fire could be seen, as the smoke rose up the chimney and the loud singing of the resident gamekeeper could be heard, often with the accompaniment howling from his faithful companion.
As the day slept, the night would awaken. The occasional owls could be seen waking from their slumber and stretching their wings. They would glide quietly in the sky, soundless as they caught their prey. The odd cat would be seen, slinking by the side of the trees, their large yellow-amber eyes shining like headlights in the night.
The once wild Whomping Willow Tree now swayed gently with the wind, as if listening to a sweet and tender tune that only the she could hear. If one looked closely enough – without getting hit by her branches – you could surely see the grandmotherly smile play on the trunk of the Willow. Her leaves, now a vibrant green colour as was of season framed her face and gave her the life we see in her. As winter time was often a rather depressing time for the old tree.
Beyond the tree, a large hoop could be seen shimmering in the light. Glowing in the moonlight and radiating with a familiar excitement one felt when passing by there. The hoops were completely surrounded with pillars. Pillars of different colours. Blue, yellow, green and red. These pillars were enough to occupy everyone in the infamous castle.
Ah, the castle. It stood in all its glory on top of the rocky hill. The silver-black water glided by the side of the castle, and its ripples would sometimes reflect on the old stone which had a mysterious shine to it. The occasional fire from inside the castle would flicker and shine as a golden hue amongst the dark stone latched with green moss. The magnificence of the castle was immense. It had many a tower and on top of everyone, the looming grotesque shapes of gargoyles could be seen. Giving the castle a slight gothic taste to it. The gargoyles were part of the castle and gave it the magical feel that was so blatantly felt when one looked upon the building. On the uppermost tower, a wind vane could be seen – the arrow currently facing to the south.
Yes, this was Hogwarts.
A shadow stood by the edge of the dark Forbidden Forest, contemplating as he looked towards the castle. Many memories running though his head. The happy memories, the sad memories, indeed even the scariest of memories. He lifted his head to a large window at the top of one tower. By that window stood an elderly warlock. White beard running down the length of his body, blue eyes twinkling solemnly behind half-moon spectacles. But as he looked down at the shadow by the forest, he gave a slight nod. With that the figure by the forest suddenly disappeared, as if he had the gift of invisibility. With that, the figure said his farewell to the place he had once called home.
Chapter 1: Eight Years
It had been 8 years since the disappearance of Harry Potter had shocked the wizarding world. In all honesty, the wizarding world was in a peck of panic. The Boy Who Lived had always been their light in the dark. He gave all other wizards and witches courage to be themselves and fight for justice. He had faced of with Voldemort numerous times during his life and survived to tell his tale. Him, a boy who was still training to become a wizard, when so many fully qualified and powerful witches and wizards had died in their first encounter with the Dark Lord.
Many rumours had been spread about The Boy Who Lived. Some of the silly and ignorant wizards had said The Dark Lord had kidnapped him and murdered him. Being as powerful as he was, Voldemort would never traipse into Hogwarts and steal a pupil right under Albus Dumbledore's nose. Some people were suspicious of Dumbledore. He never showed the merest hint of frustration or worry when Harry disappeared. Some people wondered if Harry had gone into secret training to become an Unspeakable. But that was cancelled out when even the Unspeakables proclaimed that they had been searching for him.
Some blame was put, if a little unfairly on Draco Malfoy. It was no secret that Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy had been rivals at school. Draco Malfoy was often interrogated out of school by wizards and witches but he often gave the same reply. "I don't know where the git is." Though many would have liked to see the Malfoy behind bars, there was nothing against Malfoy except a petty school rivalry –which wasn't serious enough to be placed under custody.
But there were only two souls that were worried the most about Harry Potter, their best friend. Ron and Hermione were beyond distressed when they found out that their friend was no longer anywhere near Hogwarts. They don't know how long they had talked to Dumbledore that day. And even he seemed to have lost the mirth that usually came natural to him. But they had been sent home in dismay. That train trip was especially hard, having just finished Hogwarts and with no familiar black haired boy who would laugh and joke with them. That year had been particularly depressing. Ron couldn't be approached as his temperament was unpredictable. Only Hermione seemed to be able to talk to him calmly. But she wasn't any better. Her health was suffering as she hadn't eaten properly in a long time. And the usual shine in her eyes had died.
It had been two year before they had finally managed to pull themselves together by someone they least expected to help them. The bastard of Slytherin himself had personally cracked through their shells and helped Hermione and Ron pull themselves together. Draco had shattered the barrier that had once kept them separated. It came as a shock to all as he had spoken the most effective words Hermione and Ron heard.
"Potter may very well be scarred for life when he sees you two again. And he has enough scars as it is to last a lifetime, so no need to add to it!"
"He's not coming back Malfoy." Ron had replied dully.
"And do you know why it seems that he's not coming back?" Draco asked angrily as his eyes glared as his once enemies.
"It's because you two are wallowing in you own fucking self pity that you're refusing to see any hope. I really don't see how you two can be his best friends if you're even thinking of giving up hope." Draco had seethed and walked away angrily.
That whole night, the two of them never slept a wink. Not that they had seeing as they were in depression, but this time, it was Draco's words that had kept them awake.
Since then, Ron and Hermione shared a mutual understanding with Draco Malfoy, even if they did snipe at each other from time to time.
Having to get their lives back in track was no difficult feat. Fred and George made sure that their brother didn't sink into depression by giving him a job at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. And Mrs Weasley made sure Hermione ate properly again, and Professor Dumbledore was more that willing to offer Hermione a job as The Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher. At first Hermione wasn't sure if she would be able to handle the job back at Hogwarts, but she was soon swayed to agree as Ginny had pleaded for company in Hogsmeade. She worked at The Three Broomsticks and she told her it would be nice to see an old friend every now and again.
The two were now happier than they had been in a long time. The topic if Harry Potter was often a sensitive issue to them and they refused to comment when anyone asked them about him.
It was 6 years before could finally talk about him again.
A/N: Please R/R!
