After Hogwarts
A/N: Thanks to Eilidh (A Scottish Elf) and Jackie (J.E.A.R.K. Potter) for reviewing the last chapter. Hopefully this one is a bit longer. I used to be Mari G. Potter (like it says in my bio), but now I'm Miranda G. Potter. This thing restarted on me three times today, and I thought of stop writing this chapter because Microsoft Word kept shutting down. Grr…anyways, here's the next chapter.
Chapter 12
Harry banged on Ron's door, Hermione standing behind him. "Open up Weasley!"
Ron slowly opened the door, Lavender coming up behind him.
"Come on, let's go," Harry said, grabbing Ron's arm.
Harry Disapparated with Ron, leaving Hermione to Disapparate with Lavender after Lavender closed the door. Once Harry was in the living room with Ron, he put in one of the Barney tapes. Hermione soon showed up with Lavender.
"Here you Harry, I'm going to take off and visit Ginny. I hope these two don't cause too much trouble for you," Hermione said.
"Don't worry, if they do, I know what to do," Harry replied, pulling out his wand. Ron and Lavender both gulped a bit.
"OK, bye," Hermione said, before Disapparating.
Harry quickly put up the wards around the house before he pressed play and Hermia came to watch as well.
Three Grueling Hours Later
"OK, you two can leave now," Harry said as the last of the tapes stopped.
Ron and Lavender just sat there a moment, with their eyes twitching, before they realized they could leave.
"You'll have to use Floo Powder," Harry told them, pointing to the fireplace.
Lavender went first, Ron leaving right after here. Harry looked at Hermia, who looked like her birthday had come early after watching all that Barney. He smiled at his daughter before taking the wards down.
"Want to visit Grandma and Grandpa again?" Harry asked Hermia, lifting her up.
"Yes, Daddy," Hermia responded.
"OK, let's go," Harry said, Disapparating with Hermia to his in-laws. "Hello Geri, Henry."
"Oh hello Harry and my precious little Hermia," Geri cooed, taking Hermia from Harry. "What brings you two by?"
"Can you watch Hermia for me for a bit? I have some business to attend to," Harry replied.
"Of course we can," Henry said.
"Thanks, I'll be back later to pick her up," Harry said before kissing Hermia's forehead and Disapparating.
He Apparated to the Ministry of Magic to talk to Mr. Weasley, but first he had to go through security before he could talk to the Minister, and that's what he did. Harry went up the lifts as well until the one that stopped at the Minister's office floor came up. He left the lifts and walked to Mr. Weasley's office. Harry knocked and a woman – obviously the secretary – opened the door.
"Hello, how may I help you?" she asked.
"I would like to speak with Arthur," Harry said.
"The Minister doesn't wish to talk to anyone unless they have an appointment. Do you have an appointment?
"No, I don't."
"Please state your name and business, and I'll try to fit you in some time."
"Harry Potter and I'm here to talk to Arthur about his youngest son."
The secretary looked at Harry and her jaw dropped. She quickly ran to another door – it obviously led to Mr. Weasley's office – and went inside. Harry waited two minutes before the secretary came bustling back out.
"The Minister will see you now."
Harry nodded his thanks and went into Mr. Weasley's office.
"Ah, hello Harry, my secretary has informed me that you want to talk about Ron," Mr. Weasley said.
"Yeah, I was wondering if…"
ooo
"Hey Draco!" called Harry into his mirror.
"What do you want Harry?" Draco asked weakly.
"Come to the Ministry – Ron's office."
"Why?"
"I'll tell you when you get here."
"Fine, I'm coming."
"Good," Harry said before closing the mirror. He was standing outside Ron's office; Mr. Weasley had just spoken with Ron and had already gone back to his office.
Draco just got off the lifts and walked over to Harry, "So what's this all about?"
"I got Arthur to transfer the Weasel to Bulgaria," Harry told Draco.
"So you wanted me to come here why?"
"So we can make sure that the Weasel and his little girlfriend don't come back to England."
Draco gave Harry a questioning look.
Harry sighed, "Do you want the Weasel in England anymore?"
"No."
"Neither does anyone else really. So when he moves to Bulgaria, I want to make sure it's permanent."
Draco just shrugged and followed Harry into Ron's office.
"What do you two want?" asked an annoyed Ron, who was busy putting things into boxes. "Isn't making me watch three hours of Barney today good enough for you?"
"Where are you going?" Draco asked, ignoring Ron's second question.
"I'm moving to Bulgaria, not that you care though," Ron replied.
"Oh we care very much. We actually want you to go to Bulgaria and stay there," Harry said, taking his wand out.
"What do you mean?"
"What I mean is, if you come back to England, and you contact my family, Hermione, or Draco and your sister, then I'm going to have to wipe you off the face of the earth," Harry calmly said. "But you can go ahead and visit the rest of your family though."
"Why couldn't I contact my sister if I came back?"
"Because she hates you because of what you did and said," Draco answered.
"Well things were said and done, and I'm not taking any of it back," Ron said.
"Oh yes, and when you go, take that whore with you," Harry said.
"I was already thinking of taking Lavender with me."
"Good, now remember, if you contact us after you're supposed to be in Bulgaria, you're," Harry moved a finger across his neck.
"Yes, OK, I got it! Now leave my office!" Ron shouted.
Draco and Harry left Ron's office as neither of them liked the sight of Ron very much.
"So how'd the thing with Ron go?" Hermione asked Harry later that night while they ate tacos.
"Good, Arthur's sending Ron to Bulgaria," Harry said.
"Is Ron the one that likes to wear clothes that are like the ones that Mummy wore?" Hermia asked.
Harry laughed, "Yes Hermy-baby, that's him."
"Is it permanent?" asked Hermione.
"Arthur told me it would be."
"Thank God!"
"Exactly what I thought, and he's taking Lavender with him."
Hermione jumped out of her seat and kissed Harry on the cheek and hugged him. "You are the best! Now we won't have to put of with them!"
Harry just hugged Hermione back in response. Hermia got off her seat and went to her father. She climbed up on his lap so she could hug him.
"I want a hug too!" she cried.
Harry stopped hugging Hermione and hugged his daughter. "Are you done eating?"
Hermia still sat on Harry's lap and she nodded.
"OK, go and play then," Harry said, putting Hermia on the ground before he stood to grab the used dishes.
"Madeline's funeral is today, right?" Hermione asked Harry as she grabbed her bag.
"Yeah, I'm meeting up with Draco, Geri, and Henry with Hermia after you leave," Harry replied.
"OK and Harry?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry about Madeline again. I didn't know her – hell, I only met her once – but she seemed like a great woman."
"She was, too bad Voldemort took her life. But a life for a life, I guess," Harry replied sadly, shrugging.
Hermione smiled sadly for Harry, kissed his cheek and Disapparated. Harry then looked at his daughter who was once again dressed in black.
"I'll be right back Hermy-baby, I just have to change then we're gone," Harry said, going upstairs to his room.
Harry found his black robes, threw them over his T-shirt and jeans, and then went back downstairs. He picked up Hermia and Disapparated to the funeral home where the funeral was taking place. Quickly spotting Hermia's grandparents and godfather, Harry went over to them. Geri was crying and both Henry and Draco were trying their best not to either.
"Hang in there Geri," Harry said, rubbing Geri's back. "You're going to be talking about you daughter's life soon, and all these people that are here feel the same thing we do – sorrow and misery."
Geri dabbed her eyes with a tissue she was holding and tried to smile but couldn't. "You're right Harry. And you, you especially should be sad, she was your wife, but you not acting like you are."
"I'm very miserable Geri; it's just that over the years, I've grown to control my grief after I loose someone that I love deeply. If I wasn't used to it though, I'd be balling my eyes out."
Geri covered her mouth after she realized what Harry had been through. "I'm sorry Harry. I forgot…"
"It's OK Geri, you're just upset. Now I think everyone who's coming is here, so you can start."
Geri dabbed her eyes once more, kissed Henry and went to the front. Harry took Hermia and sat at one of the chairs at the front, Henry and Draco sitting neat him. Draco was actually the only one from the Malfoy family who came while the rest were friends – like Hermia's godmother, Chelsea – of Madeline's, or family from her mother's side and Henry's side. Harry listened to Geri talk, and he almost smiled because he remembered some of the best times he had with Madeline, like their first date, their wedding, their honeymoon in Hawaii, Hermia being born, their trip to Italy, and many others.
"How'd the funeral go?" Hermione asked Harry later that night.
"As well a funeral can go. Mostly everyone was crying. Why wouldn't they though? Madeline was a great woman," Harry said. "No wait, she was an amazing woman."
"I don't doubt that. Any woman that you would have married would have to be amazing."
Harry smiled a small smile to the other woman he loved deeply. Hermione hugged Harry, and Harry laid his head on her shoulder.
"It'll be OK sooner or later, Harry."
"I know it will be, I just have to convince myself that it will be for sure."
Hermione said and patted Harry's back; it was all she could do for the time being for him.
Friday, February 14, 2003
"God, I can't believe it's been a week since Madeline's death," Harry told Hermione while she was busy gathering her books to put in her bag.
"A week, already?" asked Hermione.
"Yes and today would have been our four-year anniversary too."
"Oh yes, you told me that before. How are you holding up?"
"Alright I guess. I'm going to the graveyard today with Hermia."
"OK, I gotta run though right now, I might be late."
"I still don't know why you go."
"Because I feel obligated too, now good-bye."
"Bye."
Hermione Disapparated and Harry went to go look for Hermia. He found her rolled up in a ball on her carpet floor, starring at the tree that loomed out her window.
"What's up Hermy-baby?" Harry asked, sliding onto the floor next to Hermia.
"Nothing Daddy, I miss Mummy."
"I do too Hermy-baby, but we're going to go and visit her right now."
"Really?" asked Hermia asked, sitting bolt upright.
"Really, but we won't be able to see her."
"Why not?"
"She's in a better place right now. Mummy's probably being taken care of by my parents right now, so don't be sad. You'll get to see her one day again."
"Promise?"
"I promise. Now let's go visit Mummy," Harry said, lifting Hermia into his arms.
He took her downstairs where he had a bouquet of violets – Madeline's favourite flower – to place at her tombstone. Harry grabbed the flowers with his free hand and Disapparated to the gravesite where Madeline was buried. After placing Hermia down, Harry grabbed her small hand and led her to Madeline's tombstone. Her name was inscribed on it, along with some words that Harry, along with Geri and Henry, represented her the best.
"Happy Fourth Anniversary Maddie, too bad you weren't here to celebrate it," Harry said, crouching by the tombstone, Hermia right beside him.
"I miss you Mummy," Hermia pouted.
"Shh, Hermy-baby, it's OK. Remember you're going to see her again one day," Harry said, hugging his daughter. "I miss you too, Maddy. Boy, I think this is almost the longest time that I haven't been able to hold you. I keep wishing that this all a nightmare and you're still here with us, but then I realize that this is reality. But I'm going to try and move on, but I'll never forget you."
"I won't either Mummy."
"Good-bye Madeline, I hope your soul is resting in peace," Harry gave one of the flowers to Hermia so she could place it on Madeline's grave. "Say good-bye Hermia."
"Bye-bye Mummy," Hermia cried, placing the flower down.
Harry kissed the top of the grave; put the flowers against it, grabbed Hermia and Disapparated back home. He felt better now, feeling like he could move on, now that Madeline's soul should be resting in peace.
A/N: Another chapter over and done with, Yay! I told you all that I'd update on Friday or Saturday, turns out that I was right about the Saturday part. I bet no one saw the part about Ron being transferred coming, I bet you all thought that it might be something worse, didn't ya? Wow, I only have one more chapter left to do, and then I'm done! I will be doing a sequel… maybe…I don't know when I'd start it though. Well, that's it.
