Chapter Seventeen:
Something wet and heavy sat on his forehead. Harry groaned as he opened his eyes. He
shut them at once.
"Kill the lights."
A gasp, and then a shuffle of foot steps.
"They're off."
Harry opened his eyes. Remus stood by the bed- Sirius's bed, where Harry had just sat up.
The towel resting on his forehead slid off and left a moist trail on his skin. Some of his hair was
left matted to his head. There was an awkward silence between the two. Harry's sobs broke it.
"Remus, I'm so sorry," he choked.
"For what?"
"For running away. For– for becoming like this. I saw everything, Remus. He took out
this pensieve and-"
"I don't understand. Who did you see?"
"Voldemort. The pensieve, he– I saw everything. My mum, Quirrel, Ginny dying. I even
saw Sirius. The veil– he told me it was all my fault. He told me I killed Sirius." Harry began to
cry harder.
"Harry, you–"
"I told him I didn't. I know I didn't. Sirius told me. I saw him die again. It felt so real."
Remus hugged Harry tightly.
"It's over now," Remus whispered.
"I'm so sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for hurting everyone."
"It's ok, Harry. It's over with. It's gone."
Harry pulled out of the hug. "I'm sorry, I sort of got your robes wet. I'm so–"
Remus smiled, "I don't care Harry. You're back. Nothing else matters."
Harry rubbed his eyes, which were now red and puffy.
"No, Remus, everything matters."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Hurry up, hurry up! The train is going to leave in three minutes." Mrs. Weasley ran ahead
of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as they struggled with their luggage.
"Now listen all of you. I want no trouble this semester. Fred and George have finally left
and I'm looking forward to a calm and relaxing year. You hear?" The four nodded, and Ginny
touched her pockets to ensure that the Canary Creams were still there.
"Have a wonderful year. Arthur and I will try to make it to the first Quidditch game. Ron,
you've got some jam on the side of your mouth. Let me get that off, dear." Mrs. Weasley spit
into a tissue and began to vigorously rub Ron's face.
"Mum!" Ron pulled away.
"Oh, of course. Too old for that, are we?"
Ron kissed his mother on the cheek and boarded the train. Ginny did the same and
followed. Hermione settled for a hug. Harry did not get away so easily.
"Mrs. Weasley, I-" Harry gasped, "I'm sorry but I can't really breath..."
Mrs. Weasley pulled away from the hug and spoke in a stern, but caring voice."Harry
James Potter, if I catch you blaming yourself for anything that is not your fault, or
drinking any Fire Whiskey, I will personally add another scar to a part of your body that
will make it extremely difficult to sit on a broom with. Is that clear?"
"I...er...yes, Mrs. Weasley. Crystal clear."
Mrs. Weasley smiled, "Right then, off you go."
Harry wasted no time in entering the train. The train began to move as soon as he entered
a compartment where Ginny was sitting.
"Sorry you guys, but we've got the prefect meeting to go to. See you when we arrive." As
Hermione turned around to walk out of the compartment, her pony tail swung back, hitting Ron
in the face.
"Ow!" He paused to rub his eyes.
"Ron, now!"
"Alright!"
Ginny laughed, "Those two."
"When are they going to realize they both like each other?" Harry asked.
"I'm beggining to think they never will." Ginny sat back with a sigh. When she did her
hand accidentally touched his. They both looked at each other for a moment. After realizing what
had just happened, they both blushed and looked away.
"So, um... what do you think this year will be like?" Ginny asked.
"Different."
"Yea, I guess so. Wonder who the next DA teacher will be. Hopefully someone who's
actually human this time."
"Oh, I'm sure part human would work too," Harry smiled secretly.
"What?"
Before Harry had time to answer, the compartment door opened. Neville peeked his head
in.
"Sorry, could we sit here?"
"Sure."
Neville entered, followed by a dazed Luna.
"So Luna," Harry began, " any luck finding the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"
"Oh, no luck unfortunately."
"Er, that's a shame. Sorry."
"It's ok. We were hot on the trail of a Swiss Miniature Pixie though. Nearly caught it
too. But then Daddy slipped and fell into a ditch."
"Oh..."
The four friends were quiet after this, only talking to exchange Chocolate Frog cards.
Harry watched the sky become darker as the train traveled on towards Hogwarts. Ginny fell
asleep with her head resting on Harry's shoulders. He did not bother to move her.
"Gin?"
"Hmmm?" Ginny twisted in her seat a little but did not open her eyes. A small smile
escaped her lips.
"Guess she's sleeping. Neville, pass me some Bertie Bott's?"
No answer.
"Neville? Oh, ok. I see how it is," Harry laughed.
He was asleep in Luna's arms.
"Guess that works too."
Harry's smile faded as he once again began to stare out of the window. It was now
completely dark, with only the stars and a luminous full moon giving a soft silver light to the still
countryside. Sure, it was going to be a different year. A difficult year, but he knew he was not
about to face it alone. It was no use pushing anyone away. They were going to stick by his side in
this dark war, whether he liked it or not.
~~~
A/N:
So that's the end. Sorry if it was abrupt or not quite what you expected. I'm not entirely satisfied with this story so I'm working harder on my next one. I've got a few chapters written out, along with a basic plot planned out. Things are sort of hectic with finals and such approaching so I won't have as much time to write, but I'll still keep at it.
A big thanks to every single person who reviewed and encouraged me to keep going. If it weren't for you I'd never have finished this story.
Hunta, Lily and James Potter, LabyLunaSlayer21, Whomping Willow, Invader Zaifae, ILOVETOWRITE456, Ariana, harrycrazy432, PrincessSkywalkerOrgana, Ronandchicken, Fairy, MindyLou, Quacjen, amanda, and UThoughtWrong17- sorry if I forgot anyone!
Something wet and heavy sat on his forehead. Harry groaned as he opened his eyes. He
shut them at once.
"Kill the lights."
A gasp, and then a shuffle of foot steps.
"They're off."
Harry opened his eyes. Remus stood by the bed- Sirius's bed, where Harry had just sat up.
The towel resting on his forehead slid off and left a moist trail on his skin. Some of his hair was
left matted to his head. There was an awkward silence between the two. Harry's sobs broke it.
"Remus, I'm so sorry," he choked.
"For what?"
"For running away. For– for becoming like this. I saw everything, Remus. He took out
this pensieve and-"
"I don't understand. Who did you see?"
"Voldemort. The pensieve, he– I saw everything. My mum, Quirrel, Ginny dying. I even
saw Sirius. The veil– he told me it was all my fault. He told me I killed Sirius." Harry began to
cry harder.
"Harry, you–"
"I told him I didn't. I know I didn't. Sirius told me. I saw him die again. It felt so real."
Remus hugged Harry tightly.
"It's over now," Remus whispered.
"I'm so sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry for hurting everyone."
"It's ok, Harry. It's over with. It's gone."
Harry pulled out of the hug. "I'm sorry, I sort of got your robes wet. I'm so–"
Remus smiled, "I don't care Harry. You're back. Nothing else matters."
Harry rubbed his eyes, which were now red and puffy.
"No, Remus, everything matters."
* * * * * * * * * *
"Hurry up, hurry up! The train is going to leave in three minutes." Mrs. Weasley ran ahead
of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny as they struggled with their luggage.
"Now listen all of you. I want no trouble this semester. Fred and George have finally left
and I'm looking forward to a calm and relaxing year. You hear?" The four nodded, and Ginny
touched her pockets to ensure that the Canary Creams were still there.
"Have a wonderful year. Arthur and I will try to make it to the first Quidditch game. Ron,
you've got some jam on the side of your mouth. Let me get that off, dear." Mrs. Weasley spit
into a tissue and began to vigorously rub Ron's face.
"Mum!" Ron pulled away.
"Oh, of course. Too old for that, are we?"
Ron kissed his mother on the cheek and boarded the train. Ginny did the same and
followed. Hermione settled for a hug. Harry did not get away so easily.
"Mrs. Weasley, I-" Harry gasped, "I'm sorry but I can't really breath..."
Mrs. Weasley pulled away from the hug and spoke in a stern, but caring voice."Harry
James Potter, if I catch you blaming yourself for anything that is not your fault, or
drinking any Fire Whiskey, I will personally add another scar to a part of your body that
will make it extremely difficult to sit on a broom with. Is that clear?"
"I...er...yes, Mrs. Weasley. Crystal clear."
Mrs. Weasley smiled, "Right then, off you go."
Harry wasted no time in entering the train. The train began to move as soon as he entered
a compartment where Ginny was sitting.
"Sorry you guys, but we've got the prefect meeting to go to. See you when we arrive." As
Hermione turned around to walk out of the compartment, her pony tail swung back, hitting Ron
in the face.
"Ow!" He paused to rub his eyes.
"Ron, now!"
"Alright!"
Ginny laughed, "Those two."
"When are they going to realize they both like each other?" Harry asked.
"I'm beggining to think they never will." Ginny sat back with a sigh. When she did her
hand accidentally touched his. They both looked at each other for a moment. After realizing what
had just happened, they both blushed and looked away.
"So, um... what do you think this year will be like?" Ginny asked.
"Different."
"Yea, I guess so. Wonder who the next DA teacher will be. Hopefully someone who's
actually human this time."
"Oh, I'm sure part human would work too," Harry smiled secretly.
"What?"
Before Harry had time to answer, the compartment door opened. Neville peeked his head
in.
"Sorry, could we sit here?"
"Sure."
Neville entered, followed by a dazed Luna.
"So Luna," Harry began, " any luck finding the Crumple-Horned Snorkack?"
"Oh, no luck unfortunately."
"Er, that's a shame. Sorry."
"It's ok. We were hot on the trail of a Swiss Miniature Pixie though. Nearly caught it
too. But then Daddy slipped and fell into a ditch."
"Oh..."
The four friends were quiet after this, only talking to exchange Chocolate Frog cards.
Harry watched the sky become darker as the train traveled on towards Hogwarts. Ginny fell
asleep with her head resting on Harry's shoulders. He did not bother to move her.
"Gin?"
"Hmmm?" Ginny twisted in her seat a little but did not open her eyes. A small smile
escaped her lips.
"Guess she's sleeping. Neville, pass me some Bertie Bott's?"
No answer.
"Neville? Oh, ok. I see how it is," Harry laughed.
He was asleep in Luna's arms.
"Guess that works too."
Harry's smile faded as he once again began to stare out of the window. It was now
completely dark, with only the stars and a luminous full moon giving a soft silver light to the still
countryside. Sure, it was going to be a different year. A difficult year, but he knew he was not
about to face it alone. It was no use pushing anyone away. They were going to stick by his side in
this dark war, whether he liked it or not.
~~~
A/N:
So that's the end. Sorry if it was abrupt or not quite what you expected. I'm not entirely satisfied with this story so I'm working harder on my next one. I've got a few chapters written out, along with a basic plot planned out. Things are sort of hectic with finals and such approaching so I won't have as much time to write, but I'll still keep at it.
A big thanks to every single person who reviewed and encouraged me to keep going. If it weren't for you I'd never have finished this story.
Hunta, Lily and James Potter, LabyLunaSlayer21, Whomping Willow, Invader Zaifae, ILOVETOWRITE456, Ariana, harrycrazy432, PrincessSkywalkerOrgana, Ronandchicken, Fairy, MindyLou, Quacjen, amanda, and UThoughtWrong17- sorry if I forgot anyone!