Episode Eighty Six

            The term was quickly coming to a close. The parents who had been frightened for their children's safety after the attack were quickly placated at a word from Dumbledore. The parents who were furious and wanted to do something about it were recruited for the Order of the Phoenix. The parents in between were sent an extensive letter about castle security (and how it could not be compromised with the talents of the faculty protecting it).

            Castle life returned to normal, or as normal as life can be at a magical learning institution.

            Gwen found Harry wandering the hallways not long after her confrontation with Snape. He was looking disconsolate, but willing to talk. Gwen ushered him into her office and sat him down. Instead of sitting across from him she sat next to him on his level, facing him, her face full of import. But instead of rushing into her idea, Harry looked at her full of worry.

            "What's wrong?" She asked.

            Harry couldn't get out what was wrong. He had the words formed in his head but he couldn't seem to make them come out of his mouth.

            He did not have a place to go after graduation. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia made it very clear that any type of "freeloading" was not to be appreciated. He was going to have to make do on his own. He wasn't too terribly worried, he still had plenty of money in his account at Gringotts; he did have friends he could turn to if times got rough.

            But he was wondering what he was going to do. He hadn't really thought about it before. He'd received the Ministry of Magic packet that all seventh year students did. He perused the contents and threw it away shortly thereafter. He had thought about being an Auror, but the job seemed a lot less lustrous after the imposter Moody was revealed.

            Harry felt divided. He wanted to stay at Hogwarts, it was the only place that felt like home. But he wanted to go out and explore the world, make a difference. But what could he do to make a difference? What job would make him feel worthy? All of his friends had chosen jobs to pursue; Hermione had already been interviewed for her dream job at the Ministry.

            Finally he sighed. "Nothing's wrong." He paused. "And everything's wrong, all at once."

She placed a friendly hand on his. Her dilemma would have to wait. "Want to talk about it?"

His head lowered. "I don't know where to start."

She turned away from him as a thought struck her. She pulled out the volume of poetry her father had given her and turned to the page as if she'd had it book-marked. This particular page was worn all around, as if someone had stroked the thin, aged paper over and over, so passionate about the words that they wanted to feel them under their fingers.

"Over The Sea." She started in an easy rhythm, feeling the words slip from her tongue over her lips and into his open hands.

"I traveled over the sea hoping to find myself

Except that I did not have a destination as I had expected

The waves ignored me

The sun shined and the moon rose no matter what I did

The rain poured and threatened to capsize my tiny vessel

I grew no closer to my arrival, no further from my departure

But the sea was my friend, my only companion

She would show me marvels when I was ready to give up

She would send a whale to blow sprays of water

The sun would shoot a rainbow through the heart of the mist

And I would feel that perhaps I could make this my life

Traveling, journeying the sea

My friend, my guide, my ultimate destination

Myself

I traveled the sea hoping to find myself

And I found something much greater

I found the sea."

She closed the book, slid it onto her desk. "My favorite poem." She said lightly.

Harry looked at her amazed. Here she was, trying so very hard to take care of him, sharing something of her past with him when she herself was obviously struggling. The poem had the effect she had hoped it would. It heartened him, lightened his troubles. No matter what happened next he would discover his path, he would find something he wanted to do. He had the potential, he needed only to channel it.

"Did you have something you wanted to tell me?" He asked, his own worries dissipating.

"Oh, no. It's nothing."

"Come on Gwen, we can talk about my problems later, after I get some food in my stomach."

She shrugged. "Graves is back in town." She said delicately.

"I kind of figured." He said.

She looked at him surprised.

"Well you were getting pretty stand-offish. You only ever acted like that when Graves was around. I knew he'd come back sometime, I just didn't think so soon."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."

"You couldn't, right?" She nodded. "I'm not offended. Just feeling a little left out."

"Could you do me a huge favor?"

"What does it entail?" He asked warily.

She smiled. "Only letting Snape spread a rumor that you helped during the death eaters' siege."

"What?" He asked.

"It was Graves. He helped me, under his invisibility cloak. Except that Snape thinks it was you. If I let him keep thinking that he won't suspect that Graves is still alive. It covers my ass and his. And your ass is already covered. You're a member of the Order, protecting Hogwarts was one of our outlined duties."

Harry grinned. "Is that all? Harry Potter the invisible menace? I think I can deal with the repercussions of that." He stood to leave and turned just before opening the door. "Tell Graves he owes me a rematch."

"For what?"

"For that chess game we never finished a few years back. Our temperamental girlfriend threw a hissy fit and we had to quit playing." He winked at Gwen's grin and set off down the hall with a lighter step.