He checked once more to confirm that he did indeed carry the parcels he desired. So September first had finally made it and everyone would be going back to Hogwarts. Hogwarts. He probably had the most fun in his life there. But he knew more than anyone that his innocence was gone. Even if most people didn't think he had killed Cedric, no one would immediately dispel, other than perhaps Hadgrid. He could even see that before Snape could confirm it to Dumbledore, Dumbledore still suspected him. But that was only to be suspected. He supposed it was just bitter irony that the night before, a young squib named Cedric was killed. Too many deaths. Now he finally understood why old aurors were so calm and unmoved by exciting events. Too much excitement in their lives, too much horrid things. Too much blood, too much bone, too much ash upon the stones. An auror had said that once as the reason for his early retirement. Harry never thought he'd go for the "easy" way out. There was no easy way out. He probably deserved it anyway.
He turned his head and watched as bundles of people passed through the stone pillar onto Platform 9 & ¾ . In minutes they would be greeting each other on the train ride to school. He would be counting his sacks of money and probably take a trip to Gringotts to deposit it.
He made sure his face was hidden from view as he passed through the barrier. He only had to see a few people before he would leave. They would demand reasons. He would give them none. They wouldn't understand anyway. He needed a holiday. A very long holiday. And he didn't plan on returning.* But that wouldn't stop him. He had to admit he was becoming good at brushing people off. Probably because of his experiences with Malfoy.
A familiar patch of red hair commanded his attention, and he weaved slowly through the throng of excited students and weeping parents. As he approached the young man from behind, he was cut off by a blond haired boy with and evil smirk.
"Trying to hide from what you did, ehh, Potter? We all make, how do you say it? Mistakes? I'm sure everyone would love to know you've arrived. Why don't I – " A hard wooden object swung out of Harry's cloak and into the stomach of none other than Draco Malfoy.
"Your broom, Malfoy. I do prefer my Firebolt, but I'm afraid I needed to borrow yours. It seems an incompetent Death Eater couldn't prevent me either. You know, I could tell a lot of people about the recent activities at your mansion. Or are you willing to shut your mouth, and walk away?"
The blonde haired boy sniggered and marched away. The look on his face spoke only of revenge. Harry noticed Hermione standing next to Ron, tapping her foot anxiously and checking her watch every two seconds. It was fun to watch. He stepped in front of them, and was surprised to see that they didn't even recognize him. He slipped a wand from his pocket and slowly inserted it into the girl's hand. She finally looked up and did a double-take.
"HARRY! Where in the Sahara have you been?!?! We've been waiting forever!" He made it obvious that he cleaned his ear out with a finger.
"Thank you for the lecture. I expect I'll get another by the time you go. So Ron, how's the family?" Ron cracked an unsure smile.
"Sorry you couldn't visit this summer mate. We would have had a blast. Gred and Forge were impossible as usual. The created so many new things…Mum wants us to keep an eye on Ginny. She's gunna be sought after. I can't believe that Fred and George are in their last year, and Mum told them –"
"Wait a moment!" cried Hermione, "What do you mean, by the time I go? Where am I going?" Ron immediately assumed the confused puppy face.
"To Hogwarts?" Ron said slowly, trying to emphasize the obvious. Harry nodded when she looked towards him.
"Then where are you going?" She said pointedly at Harry.
Harry assumed a sentimental tone, looked into the distance and said very quietly, "home." This seemed to satisfy her, and she quieted down enough for them to hear a loud feminine voice yelling something to the effect of "Get your bloody hands off me!" Ron nearly fell as Harry pushed by him and strode quickly towards the train. Hermione quickly sidestepped Ron as he staggered and ran to catch up to Harry. A circle had formed. In the center Ginny was being held against the Hogwarts express by Draco Malfoy. He was asking, what he so pleasantly titled "the muggle-loving bitch" for a kiss, and despite her struggles, he was too strong for her.
Harry never held back. Despite his short stature, his bony hand landed with a crack on Malfoy's jaw with such force that he fell and hit the ground long before his teeth did. Blood was splattered on Ginny's face and on the side of the train. Parents who had been rushing over to the center of the commotion halted when they saw who was there.
"You have some balls Potter," Malfoy began, "assaulting me, when you know that you killed Diggory." Malfoy took advantage of Harry's hesitation and got unsteadily to his feet. Harry broke through his hesitation and used the same tactic Hermione had use on him the previous day. Malfoy let out a girlish squeal, grabbed himself and fell back to the ground.
"I may have balls, Malfoy, but hopefully now, for the sake of all of us, you no longer do." By now, Ron had caught up and was leading Ginny from the semi-circle while Hermione wiped the blood from her face. "If you ever touch her or anyone else ever again, I swear on the graves of my parents, and on my own life, that I will not rest until you suffer tenfold what I have seen in my life." Harry turned away and walked along the edge of the platform to meet up with Ginny, Hermione, and a throng of Weasleys. He was approximately eighty feet away when he heard it. The swearing under the breath. The insults sent toward the Weasley's. Without thinking, purely on instinct he turned and threw a Galleon. The circular disc was thrown too far to the right but it maintained it's spin and slope, until at the last second it dove with it's slope and nailed Malfoy an inch over his right eyes, sending another crack echoing through the platform. Malfoy collapsed unconscious, and Harry turned his attention to Hermione whose eyes were boring into him like a drill press.
"How is she?" He asked as he returned his demeanor to that of a totally unemotional being. She looked like she wanted to say something else.
"She's was frightened, but she'll be fine." Hermione was going to say something else but the whistle blew alerting everyone the train was departing in one minute. Everyone started moving towards the train. Hermione turned as she walked away from him and asked "Aren't you coming?" She could tell from the blankness of his face he wasn't. She let out a gasp of shock. She couldn't hide her deepest pain at this realization. Before she could start yell or crying, whatever the rush of rage and frustration would have her do. But he spoke first.
"Don't, I know what you're going to say, but I don't have the time or the effort to explain my decision to you. If it's comforting at all you can remind yourself that Dumbledore supports my decision. You don't see that if I went back, I'd only end up just like Riddle. You don't see that I would end up betraying you, and even someday perhaps killing you. I made this decision with everyone's well-being in mind. So don't, just don't. It's already done, and you'll only make it harder on yourself. I'll owl you shortly after you arrive, just to check in. I am not leaving you, I am saving everyone, as well as myself. What I am going to do now, is quietly walk away. All I can ask of you, is to forget about me, get on the train, and don't look back. Dwelling in the past makes the future vulnerable. Good-Bye Hermione, I'll see you soon, and I'll be sure to visit." He leaned in and gave her a hug, which she was too shocked to return. He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and glided away until he was hidden in the crowd of parents, as the train gave it's last hoot. She ran to get on, and felt the train lurch a second after her feet landed. In a dull silence she meandered checking every compartment for Ron and Ginny. Near the back she found them with Fred and George.
"Where's –"
"Harry?" Said George, then Fred.
"He's not coming." This brought Ginny very quickly out of her sniffles, and they returned in full force while she blamed herself that Harry wasn't coming. Hermione was seated and surrounded until she told them absolutely everything she knew. Ron was socked to the pointed of disbelief, Fred and George wanted to know more about this weird thing called "marijuana", Hermione was deep in a sulking, and Ginny was crying softly as she curled herself up in a corner. Time passed, and Fred and George went to speak with friends, Ginny fell asleep, and Ron was fidgeting. Finally he looked up at her and was slightly surprised to see her looking at him. He seemed to be deciding whether to do something or not. Finally he began.
"Hermione, can we talk about something?"
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*Adapted from Lord of the Rings. The best book ever written. Credit to J.R.R.Tolkien.
I'm not going to bother you with excuses, and yes Stoneheart, I have returned from the dead. I will only give you my explanation if you people tell me you want one for peace of mind. We can all be happy now, because I got accepted into 2 colleges so far. YAY! I'd appreciate reviews, and I'd appreciate flames. But no use asking, If you aren't going to review then you're not going to review. No point of megetting riled up about it. By the way, Happy New Year everyone.
