Chapter 7- The final battle
I never really thought in detail how Lily and James felt having the dark lord after them. I knew it would be terrible- but it was their problem not mine. I always managed to for get about it.
Today was Harry's graduation. And I stood as a proud teacher and a proud auntie watching my little nephew, the one I often looked after as a baby, walk up to Dumbledore and collect his wizarding diploma. He was head boy, and he had received the highest defence against the dark arts grade since Tom Riddle. I was proud. DEAD proud.
Remus was in the audience watching too. Tomorrow everyone was leaving Hogwarts, and as much as a lot of my pupils had begged me to stay till next year, I was leaving for good too.
I was going to be starting my new life, and I would be living with Remus. Harry was going to join us at my mansion, till he was sorted.
I snapped back into reality as Harry took the stand, saying his head boy speech.
"Good evening everyone, I'm the head boy, I'm Harry Potter. But most of you will know that. Most people knew whom I was before I even did. Harry Potter, the boy who lived. Since I was little I lived with my aunt and uncle from my mother's side, they were Muggles. They made sure I knew nothing of my parents, nothing of my heritage. And it wasn't until my eleventh birthday, when Professor Hagrid was sent to help me, that I found out. Since then my life has improved greatly. Which can only tell you how bad it was before- as since the first year I have come face to face with the dark lord, Lord Voldemort." There were gasps and shocked faces all around in the audience. I stood holding my head high proud of my nephew. "Five times, and each time I just barley escaped. That is my burden, and it will be my burden until either he of I die. But you know what, I know the key to beat him. My parents knew the key to beat him. And deep down, every single person here knows the key to beat him. Look deep down into your hearts and you will find love, trust, unity, friendship and so on. All these things are a magic in yourself. Their things, which are powerful, and their things, which lord Voldemort, has never known.
When we go out into the world, we must all remember our own ability and the powers we hold within. That way when the time comes that we have to face evil we will know what it is we must do. Thank you."
The majority of the hall stood up clapping. Harry had delivered a hell of a powerful speech. I couldn't have been prouder.
As the clapping died down an evil laugh could be heard, getting louder and louder.
Every head in the hall turned to the back.
Where lord Voldemort stood clapping slowly, laughing at the same time.
"Wonderful speech Potter." He spat his red eyes narrowing snake like.
My blood froze in my veins. This was it. I knew it.
For some reason I knew this was the final showdown. It was either him... or me.
The screams and noise of people running around was unbearable. Apparently they were scared that Lord Voldemort was standing up in front of them, a malicious grin forming across their face.
"Shut up! Everyone just be quiet and keep calm!" I shouted. No one listened. They were more concerned with the mass murderer who was standing before them.
"I wouldn't be so self assured if I were you Potter." He sung menacingly at me.
Suddenly a loud bang was shot up in the air from behind me. I and everyone else in the hall turned to see Professor Dumbledore take control.
"Quiet!" He bellowed. "Voldemort get out of my school!" He said in the deadliest voice I had ever heard him use. He sounded so angry, so vicious, that my blood froze over yet again.
"Stop being such a fool Dumbledore." Voldemort merely said. "You know you can't win. You all thought I was defeated before." He looked at me disgustedly. "You all thought that a small child had defeated me. But here I am. Still at large. Any way ENOUGH!" He clapped his hands and from the people in the audience arose men cloaked in black, the walked wands arisen and took their places by their lord's side.
Dumbledore did not look impressed. He waved his wand and both he and Voldemort disappeared.
The death eaters looked at each other not knowing what to do.
But I knew Ron, Hermione and Ginny knew Remus and Claire knew and somehow the rest of the order knew and had miraculously appeared. We charged forewords and we attacked the death eaters. And in half an hour a few of out men were injured but all of the death eaters had either perished or had somehow escaped.
"Out side!" I bellowed.
We all rushed outside, the bystanders included, to where we found Lord Voldemort standing over Professor Dumbledore.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I shouted.
"Harry, it's ok. You're a strong boy. Tom you can defeat me, but as long as I'm inside those whom are faithful's hearts, I will never be defeated. I don't need to bully them into supporting me. They trust that I am doing whats right." Then Dumbledore disappeared leaving only his cloak where he laid.
"NO!" I said in just above a whisper. I raised my wand anger coursing through my veins, which were not red hot.
"Potter." The dark lord laughed humourlessly. "You think you, a mere 17 year old can defeat the darkest wizard of all times?" He mocked.
I may have been half his size, but I meant business.
"I beat you before didn't I? I beat you when I was just a baby! I escaped you when I was eleven, then again when I was twelve. When you came back when I was 14 I escaped you and I escaped you when I was 15 and 16. This time, this time I know I can win. I know because I am better then you.
You are nothing, you call yourself lord Voldemort, but the only person you will ever be is TOM RIDDLE!"
"THATS ENOUGH!!!" Voldemort bellowed at me. "THAT IS ENOOOOOOOOOUGH!" He was red from anger and his wand hand was shaking. He bellowed the killing curse at me, for once not wanting to mock me. For once I had done what he had done to me soooo many times before. I had angered him, I had used simple truths and played him at his own game.
His curse, however much he meant it was weak and feeble, I cast a simple shielding charm to block it. And successfully so. The crowd was amazed at how strong I had become. I knew it was because of my auntie's help.
We got into a full out duel. It seemed to be drawing to an end, Voldemort was advancing on me. He seemed to have gotten the better of me regardless of what I thought. And the final curse left his mouth.
"Avada Kedavra..." The green light came flashing before me in slow motion. I closed my eyes and I wondered if that was what it felt like when it had been cast on my parents.
I heard a faint "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" and as I opened my eyes, I realised that I was not dead like I feared I would be.
I wasn't dead but someone else was at my feet.
And no it wasn't Claire.
It was Peter Pettigrew. He had taken the curse for me.
It was true, that night back in my third year I had made a wizarding bond with me, I saved his life and now he had saved mine.
Voldemort laughed a cruel laugh.
"Useless peasant." And he raised his wand at me once more.
Suddenly behind me I heard a noise.
And as I worriedly turn to see, everyone who had been watching had formed a circle and held hands.
They began chanting.
They had all closed their eyes and began chanting
"UNITY, COMPASSION, TRUST, LOVE....."
And they began to use the strongest type of magic that they possessed.
The circle of people stunned Voldemort, hell it stunned me.
People of society were suddenly listening to the little guy, they were joining together and standing united in a cause.
As they stood together holding hands a light generated around them surrounding them and surrounding me.
Voldemort didn't know what to do, he started flinging curses at every one. But the light reflected them, making him have to dodge them.
I stepped forewords to face him for the final time.
"One time when we met, you told me that we were very much the same. You were right we are. We share the same power, the same past. However one thing between us differs and that is the choices we have made in life. Even though Muggles abused us both as children, I learnt to accept that some people aren't as good as others. You decided that everyone was the same. Good Vs Evil. You should know by now which side would win. Good bye Tom."
As Voldemort tried desperately to send curses at me, I pointed my wand at him, not saying any thing. The light, which surrounded the circle of people, came out of my wand straight at him.
It surrounded his body and dissolved him.
The blinding light flashed white, then green, then finally red and blue. Then all of a sudden it disappeared and all that was left on the floor was a wand. Voldemorts wand.
I walked over and picked it up.
Then I laid both my wand and his wand on the floor next to each other.
All of a sudden one flashed green, the other red and blue and they combined into one yellow light. The only house with out an heir, Hufflepuff.
I heard a familiar voice say "Hufflepuff's heir will seal the peace." and then the wand disappeared.
Everyone around me suddenly came into focus, all-looking at me.
"He's gone!" I announced.
and suddenly I was surrounded by my friends my family. The smothered me in hugs and that night we rejoiced.
Mcgonagall stood me up and congratulated me, then she made me make a speech.
I started it;
"There is one person, who deserves a hell of a lot more credit then I will ever deserve in defeating Lord Voldemort. He has worked endlessly in the fight against evil, and he's not even here. Albus Dumbledore disappeared tonight. Is he dead? I for some reason don't thing he will ever be back. However I don't believe he is dead. I think he is in a place where he will always be able to guide us into the right way. I believe he lies in each and everyone of our hearts."
I got a round of applause.
Then all of a sudden I realised, it was Dumbledore's voice, he was the heir of Hufflepuff.
I also realised that the Slytherin table was completely empty. And professor Snape seemed to have realised this too.
It was a mystery... or maybe not so much
The circle of people stunned Voldemort, hell it stunned me.
People of society were suddenly listening to the little guy, they were joining together and standing united in a cause.
As they stood together holding hands a light generated around them surrounding them and surrounding me.
Voldemort didn't know what to do, he started flinging curses at every one. But the light reflected them, making him have to dodge them.
I stepped forewords to face him for the final time.
"One time when we met, you told me that we were very much the same. You were right we are. We share the same power, the same past. However one thing between us differs and that is the choices we have made in life. Even though Muggles abused us both as children, I learnt to accept that some people aren't as good as others. You decided that everyone was the same. Good Vs Evil. You should know by now which side would win. Good bye Tom."
As Voldemort tried desperately to send curses at me, I pointed my wand at him, not saying any thing. The light, which surrounded the circle of people, came out of my wand straight at him.
It surrounded his body and dissolved him.
The blinding light flashed white, then green, then finally red and blue. Then all of a sudden it disappeared and all that was left on the floor was a wand. Voldemorts wand.
I walked over and picked it up.
Then I laid both my wand and his wand on the floor next to each other.
All of a sudden one flashed green, the other red and blue and they combined into one yellow light. The only house with out an heir, Hufflepuff.
I heard a familiar voice say "Hufflepuff's heir will seal the peace." and then the wand disappeared.
Everyone around me suddenly came into focus, all-looking at me.
"He's gone!" I announced.
and suddenly I was surrounded by my friends my family. The smothered me in hugs and that night we rejoiced.
Mcgonagall stood me up and congratulated me, then she made me make a speech.
I started it;
"There is one person, who deserves a hell of a lot more credit then I will ever deserve in defeating Lord Voldemort. He has worked endlessly in the fight against evil, and he's not even here. Albus Dumbledore disappeared tonight. Is he dead? I for some reason don't thing he will ever be back. However I don't believe he is dead. I think he is in a place where he will always be able to guide us into the right way. I believe he lies in each and everyone of our hearts."
I got a round of applause.
Then all of a sudden I realised, it was Dumbledore's voice, he was the heir of Hufflepuff.
I also realised that the Slytherin table was completely empty. And professor Snape seemed to have realised this too.
It was a mystery... or maybe not so much
I sat along the teacher's table. Minerva Mcgonagal had set up all of the tables in that hall. She had also called in the ministry officials, including the minister for magic him self. There were healer seeing to everyone making sure they were all right, really there wasn't much for me to do, but to check on all of the students. We had all the other years down now as well.
They had been put into their houses, out of the corner of my eye I could see Ginny hugging Harry with a tear in her eye. In fact all of Gryffindore seemed to be congregating around my nephew.
I was so proud of him. I couldn't describe my feelings for him.
Just then a pair of arms coming round my waist startled me.
"James'd be so proud wouldn't he?" Remus said leaning into my neck. I smiled as I felt his warm breath tickle me.
"Yeah, and Lily would. I can't believe Peter would do that? I thought he had turned evil." I voiced the one confusion on my mind.
"It was the weighing of the scales, wasn't it. Peter practically handed lily and James over to the dark lord, he basically murdered them. Then Harry goes and saves his life, Peter's never had such a kindness placed over him, and especially not by someone who should have killed him. He balanced his scales by saving Harry tonight. He didn't do it for himself, but because he knew it was the right thing."
"So he'll be rewarded for this?" I spat disgusted.
"No, I expect, he'll go to limbo, neither heaven nor hell. He'll be in- between forever more. Voldemort has definitely perished this time, his wand showed us that by reuniting with its brother and disappearing. And as for Dumbledore, I believe Harry was right, he has not died, but a part of him will live on in each of us... maybe that's how I've suddenly became so knowledgeable?"
I laughed, Remus was weird sometimes.
"Oh dam..." I said, "Now we're going to have to buy Harry a new wand." We both burst out laughing at this ridiculous and random statement.
"Hey he's you nephew!" Remus teased. Then he pulled me into a heart stopping, breath taking, full out sloppy kiss.
I was sure I'd see my brother soon, because I was sent to heaven with this one kiss!
We didn't stop kissing until we heard a loud
COUGH behind us, we both turned to see Harry smiling innocently up at us.
I heard Remus mutter something which sounded strangely like "He is way too much like his father."
"Harry?" I asked a little flustered.
"Auntie Claire, I really need to talk." His tone had turned too urgent, he was worried about something. I wasn't sure what yet.
I followed him outside in an instant.
"Whats wrong?" I asked concerned. "Is it to do with the mysterious lack of Slytherins cause..."
"I BROKE UP WITH GINNY!" He said frantically
"I BROKE UP WITH GINNY!" I heard my own voice say.
"What?" Claire gasped. "After you finally asked her out? After all that preparation? Why?"
"Well it was kind of mutual, I told her I was having concerns about her still being at Hogwarts and I wasn't. She said that she was thinking the same thing and then we agreed just to be friends and to see what we felt like when she left Hogwarts. We agreed to seeing other people, before we got into a serious relationship."
"That is a very adult thing to do on both your parts Harry, I'm amazed. And some how I'm thinking it's the right thing for you to be doing. Your parents had some time apart when they were the same age as you and I think it was one of the best things they ever did." I had to smile inspite of myself. "Your having regrets now though aren't you?" She smiled at me and I knew she could read me like a spell book.
I nodded. "Well it's not that long until she finishes school. And just think you still have Hedwig, so you can keep in touch. And don't even be nervous about the other blokes she'll see- I mean lets face it, You're THE HARRY POTTER, the same Harry Potter that's infatuated with you. Come 'ere." She held her arms out to me and hugged me. It had been quite an emotional night for me, I was just so glad that she was safe and that she was here for me.
I loved her.
Even though in the last few months we had gotten closer. She had been my friend. Now, now I knew that I needed her, and that she was my family, that I loved her like an aunt.
"HARRY, we need to talk!" Ron came up to me, and he looked far from pleased! "What is going on with Hermione? She's been up in my face ALL NIGHT! I mean normally she's stroppy, tonight she's in league with Snape. I mean she had a go at me for not standing straight for heavens sakes!" I looked at him breathless, unsure what to say. I was sure he'd be fighting with me over Ginny.
"May I interrupt?" Claire intervened. We both nodded. "My brother had a friend who had the exact same problem. He fought non-stop with this girl, whom was actually one of Lily's best friends- so they couldn't avoid one another. They fought and fought and fought between themselves, they couldn't help it."
"And what happened?" Ron pressed on.
"They got Married." She replied simply. I felt my mouth drop to the floor, just like Ron's did. "You see, they fought because they didn't know how to stress their feelings. To be honest Ron, I have an outsider's view on your whole relationship. Harry and Hermione you can tell are purely platonic just looking at how comfortable they are with themselves around each other. You and Hermione however are always arguing, always uncomfortable, simply because you want to mask what you have hidden deep deep down." She smiled.
"I Do not have feelings for Hermione!" Ron said turning a little red in the cheeks.
"OH MY GOD!" I laughed. "In fourth year you were dead jealous of Krum, and last year you almost murdered Finnigan in his sleep cause he asked her out! AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN SAY YES!" I was holding his sides due to my laughter.
"Harry can you go and see Remus for a second please." Harry walked away still shaking. "It's true isn't it Ron. You fancy Hermione, you just don't want to admit it." Ron bowed his head blushing.
"I thought that if I just ignored it, it would go away, but it didn't." He said quietly.
"Well I would say that Hermione is feeling along the same lines- she doesn't want to admit it either. Maybe you should ask her out?"
"What if she says no?"
"If she says no, then she's still your friend and will not treat you any differently. Anyway, has Ginny told you about Her and Harry?" Ron nodded. "and how do you feel about it?"
"At first I was angry with Harry, and then Ginny stopped me from going after him, and she told me it was mutual, and it was best whilst she was still in school. To be honest I don't think their separation will last very long." I smiled him.
"I can't say I can see it lasting either."
"Thanks Professor, I needed sorting out." He smiled at me once more and left in the direction of the Gryffindor table, where Hermione was sat glaring at him.
That night I should have been rejoicing over the disappearance of lord Voldemort, instead I was in pain from trying not laugh.
Ron was having a serious break down over what to do with Hermione.
"Come on Ron, Ginny and I worked it out a long time ago. Well Ginny did, she just told me." Ok this subject was stinging a bit... moving on... "You like each other, ask her out."
"It's not that easy... I... she... she's Hermione!" He looked at me helplessly. I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. "Thanks for the support mate!" Ron laughed throwing his pillow at my head.
The next day we shared our last meal at Hogwarts, and we found ourselves standing, waiting for the carriages with very heavy hearts.
As many before us, we were saying good bye to our home for the past seven years.
As I waited beside Ron, I was surprised when Ginny came and leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Gonna miss it aren't you." She said softly. "It'll be no fun without you guys here." I hugged her to me, not sure whether it was her or myself whom I was trying to comfort.
"Spose I'll have to grow up now." I grinned trying to make light of the situation.
"Ow you two look real broken up!" Ron smirked.
I grinned at him evilly. The turned to Ginny.
"Hey Gin, guess what Ron's planning to do today..." Ron gasped shocked at what I was saying.
"What would that be then?" Hermione said coming up to us.
"... Nothing!" I laughed. Ron was red from embarrassment.
Just then a carriage pull in front of us.
"Come on!" I said grabbing Ginny's hand and running in it.
"Pay up!" I heard Ron say. I stuck my head out of the compartment and saw Hermione grumpily handing some money to Ron.
"What ya doing?" I asked.
"Hermione said it wouldn't last two weeks, I said it wouldn't last 24 hours. We put money on it." He laughed.
"On what?"
"On how long it would be before you two got back together."
"But we're not back together?" Ginny said putting her head out the other window.
"Right..." Hermione said.
"So what's this prefects meeting about when we get on the train? Surely you can't have set us more things to do?" Ginny asked me and Hermione.
"You'll see." She smiled in reply. "You can come to Ron, if you want."
When we got off the carriages, we headed straight for the prefect's compartment. It only took a few minutes, once the train had started for everyone to gather in there. Obviously they were eager to get back with their friends.
"Ok." I started. "Hermione and I just wanted to say thank you for all of your help this year."
"Yes a good ministry never works well without the people who help them." Hermione added.
"With that said, you're free to go to your friends." I finished. We then stood at the door shaking hands with everyone as they left. Finally we were down to the four of us again.
"Um, do you two mind if I talk to the head boy alone for a second?" Ginny asked the other two.
They both adopter identical grins.
"I suppose so." They said at the same time, then walked out the compartment laughing.
"OW WHY DON'T YOU TWO JUST GO OUT WITH EACH OTHER!" Ginny shouted after them then turned back to me grinning.
"Actually that's what Ron was planning to do today, you know what I said earlier, he's planning on asking Hermione out." Ginny burst out giggling.
"Finally!" She gasped.
"What did you want to ask me any way?" I asked curiously as I leant against the far wall.
"Ow, well you know this 'we're on a break stuff', well I was wondering... we can still go out on dates... and stuff. right?" As she said 'and stuff' she had looked up into my eyes.
I gulped.
"And stuff...?" I asked nervously, hoping it was what I thought it meant.
"And stuff." She repeated smiling at me as she slowly walked towards me. I was catching on as to what she meant.
"What kind of Stuff?" I asked smoothly.
She walked right up close to me and now we were just inches away.
"You know...stuff." She said looking again into my eyes, she was so close now I could feel her breath.
"You're going to have to show m..." But before I could finish her lips had closed the gap between us and were placed firmly on top of mine.
We were kissing even more passionately then we ever had done before. It seemed that absence doe make the heart grow fonder. If this was what happened after 14 hours of separation (most of which I slept through) I couldn't wait until Ginny came home for Christmas.
This is NO one's POV.
"What did Ginny shout?" Hermione turned to an extremely red faced Ron.
"Nothing let's just find a compartment." Ron replied quickly.
They entered and sat down opposite each other. The silence filled the room. An awkward silence, the type, which you only ever experience when you really don't want to.
"Um, want to play a game of Wizards chess?" Ron asked finally to cut the tension.
"Sure" Hermione replied. 5 minutes later she continued. "well this is a stupid game anyway!"
"Just cause I won." Ron grinned stupidly.
"No it's not because of that, it's merely because it is such a brutal game. There is so much unneeded violence."
"You are such a sore loser!" Ron laughed.
"I am not! I don't need to win some game to make me feel better!"
"Well then what do you need?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" She shouted.
"I WAS ONLY ASKING NO NEED TO BITE MY HEAD OFF!" Ron shouted back.
"I WASN'T!"
"YOU WAS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A GO AT ME FOR NO REASON!"
"NO YOU WIND ME UP ON PURPOSE!"
"SO WHAT?"
"WHY THEN, IF YOU ADMIT IT, WHY DO YOU DO IT?"
"BECAUSE I LIKE YOU AS MORE THEN A FRIEND AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TELL YOU!!!"
"THEN WHY DON'T YOU KISS ME YOU IDIOT!"
"FINE!!!!!!!!!" Ron got up from where he was sitting, kicked the chess set over in a temper and kissed Hermione square on the lips. They melted into one another absorbed in the moment.
"Whats all the noise about in her...?" Harry and Ginny had burst into the compartment after a scared fist year had told them it sounded like some one was murdering someone. They quickly ran down to the source of noise, and after it suddenly went quiet the ran even faster.
Harry not worrying about his hair being even messier then usual, nor the lip sick smudge all down his face.
And Ginny not worrying about her robes being messy nor her hair all tangled.
But it was ok because neither Ron nor Hermione even noticed that anyone had entered the compartment.
We stepped out of Ron and Hermione's compartment.
"I take it they're together then." I said, then our shocked faces burst into big grins and we started laughing.
"well if they've been doing that all the time, then where could the noise have come from?" Ginny asked amused.
"Nah I s'pect they had to almost murder each other to get to that conclusion. Seriously I don't know how they're gonna get on!" Ginny started laughing again. "What?" I asked.
"You look cute with lip stick on." She laughed harder.
"Ok... I think I will take a trip to the gents then." I replied glancing in the reflection of one of the doors. "Ow by the way, nice hair." I laughed. And Ginny sped off in the direction of the girl's toilets.
When we got back to the compartment, we stepped in side, hand in hand, to find Ron and Hermione sitting opposite each other talking politely.
"Took ya long enough mate." Ron teased me.
"So are you two together then?" Ginny burst out.
"WHAT?" Hermione jumped. "Where did you get that idea?"
"So your not going out then?" I asked cautiously.
"No we're not." Ron said.
"So you were just giving Hermione a polite, friendship kiss just now then?" I smirked. Hermione blushed crimson.
"And you and Ginny were just TALKING just now were you?" Ron replied menacingly.
"Point taken." I replied. "So what are you doing before Aurour training starts then you two?" I asked turning to Ron and Hermione, changing the subject.
"I'm not going to be an Aurour any more." Hermione blurted out.
"WHAT?" We both shouted turning to her. I squeezed Ginny's hand so she didn't feel too left out.
"I... I got offered a job at a magical research company. They're the most prestigious one out there. The one which Dumbledore himself founded. And I decided that since Voldemort has gone, they wouldn't need as many aurours and I think that this could be for me." She gulped and waited for our reactions.
"Well that's great Hermione, well done. "How did they find you?"
"They scouted me, and apparently I got a very good set of recommendations from my professors."
"Ow theres a Suprise." I grinned. Then I followed her worried gaze and saw she was looking at Ron who did not look at all happy. "Maybe we should go find your mates Gin." I said dragging Ginny out of the compartment with me. There was going to be a lovers tiff and I did not want to get caught in the crossfire.
"Thank Grimwald they're gone!" Ron said happily. "Trust them to butt in before I got the chance to ask you out." He smiled softly and walked towards Hermione, who currently was looking very very confused.
"Huh?" She stuttered. "You're not mad, t...that I don't want to be an Aurour?"
"Of course I'm not. It's your life, you do whatever makes you happy." He grinned cheekily at her. "Well that is of course if you'll be my girlfriend and still come to see me lots." Hermione blushed.
"Well, I er, um... what?" She said for once lost for words.
"Go out with me? Bemygirlfriend?"
"Are you sure?" Ron nodded his head and Hermione smiled. "Thatthatwouldbenice." She spat out.
"Come again?" Ron asked.
"That would be great, I'd love to." She blushed.
Ron walked shyly towards her and wrapped his arm around her as he sat.
"So we're safe to tell Harry and Ginny?" He asked.
"Sure." She smiled looking at her new boyfriend with starry eyes. "They are so still a couple, and I don't care what they will say, neither of them will be happy if the other starts seeing another person." She said going back into her normal self.
"True, very true. But I don't feel like talking about them." She looked up at him, he had a glint in his eye which she found irresistible. Hermione leaned forewords towards Ron and they embraced in their second ever kiss. But this one was more special, now they were together and they knew how the other felt.
They could at least play happy couples at the moment, they both knew that they would still fight like mad hippogriffs. From the train station I went to my auntie Claire's mansion. I reluctantly said good bye to Ginny- I didn't even get to say a proper farewell. I went to give her a kiss, but had to turn it into a peck on the cheek, as I noticed that all of the Weasley's had come to the station to pick Ginny and Ron up and they were watching. I blushed and whispered that I would owl her.
After a quick hello to the Weasley's (With quite a bit of taunting from Fred and George) I set off, and now here I am "Summerset house" my auntie's mansion. I stood in front of it sizing it up. I swear I could have fitted 20 of the Dursleys houses into it, and when I stepped inside the decor was divine. Ginny would have loved it.
"Ok so you can go up on the first floor and choose a bedroom, Mine is the third door on the right." Auntie Claire told me all smiles.
"Great!" I smiled back.
"Then we have three weeks before Remus moves in with us..." She paused. "Harry... I was wanting to ask you something, How would you feel about... um any Cousins?" I began to choke, then my face lit into a humungous grin.
"Auntie Claire, you're pregnant?" I gasped.
"No!" She laughed. "No I most certainly am not. As you'll be living with us, I want to explain this, it's very important. The reason we broke up all those years ago was because, well because Remus was a werewolf." My mouth flew open astonished, I wouldn't have thought that she would have been prejudiced about that. "No it's not like that, he broke up with me because I wanted children and as a werewolf his children would have been werewolves. Anyway, now we're back together we have discussed the issue of children and we thought of adopting, I talked to Dumbledore about it and he said that as long as Remus takes the wolfsbane potion and all the children we take in know about it up front, that we are within the law to adopt. And I looked into it further, and they're a lot of children whose homes and families were destroyed by Voldemort. I'm going to convert this house into an orphanage. I just want to make sure that you're ok with it? Are you?" She was so enthusiastic and I thought the idea was great, I had always wanted a little brother or sister.
"I'd love it!" I smiled and I went to give her a hug.
For three weeks Harry and I worked so extremely hard turning the Summerset house into an orphanage.
The rooms we painted blue, pink, yellow, mauve, red, orange, every colour you could imagine. We had over 20 of them, so we did something different in each. We turned the third floor into two separate living rooms, one held a muggle television, a muggle pool table, a few sofas and armchairs. That was to make any muggle born children feel at home. The other room again and a few sofas and armchairs, it had a fancy table set a with wizards chess set. It had many wizarding games in it and it had many magical Items including a fireplace, which was connected to the floo network.
Downstairs was a huge kitchen, which was currently full of house elves. Harry was introduced to Claire's personal favourite. In fact she had taken him from Hogwarts, Dumbledore felt that her home would be more suitable.
"Sir Harry Potter!" It squealed.
"DOBBY?" Harry had gasped. I couldn't help but laugh, Dobby was the son of James' favourite house elf Snuffles, which our father had given to Nacissa. Apparently it was like father like son. And somehow Dobby had been drawn to Harry in the past years as well.
We also had a massive dinning room with a table for at least 30 people. And we had a room for all our house elves and another room for family meetings and such. We also had six bathrooms. One down stairs, 4 on the second floor and 1 on the third.
What can I say My house was big. I had 6 shops all over the wizarding world. And someone had put in an offer for another in Japan.
Well anyway, we were all set up now in the house just putting up the finally piece. Just above the door we attached a golden plaque, it read;
"Our little wolf cubs."
Residence of Remus Lupin and Claire Potter.
It really set the house off nicely.
That day we had to interview a few kids, make sure that they were ok with Remus' condition and so forth. We just had to tell Remus first
Harry had left for the day, something about going to see Ginny, whom he still wasn't dating. But I knew he wanted to give me and Remus some alone time to discuss things.
there was a knock at the door and I got up to find Remus looking at me confused.
"Um... is there something I'm missing he asked." I smiled at him.
"Well I wanted to surprise you." I answered him smiling. "We discussed children before and you didn't think you would be able to adopt, well I sorted it all out and today we will be interviewing children today. Before you say anything we will be telling them up straight what you are and if they have a problem with it, then they can't be with us. We will be educating our children in how to behave and treat others. Remmie, we're gonna have a family, the one we dreamed of." I watched as Remus' eyes lit up, I knew he wanted this as much as I did. He just never thought it could happen.
"Claire I love you so much. No one could ever make me happier. Thank you."
That day we interviewed 10 children all-homeless, parent-less and helpless.
We decided to adopt them all!
Three weeks later (quicker then usual) I was standing next to the love of my life and my nephew whom I loved as a son. And in front of the three of us was 10 nervous and scared looking children.
Miles a three year old boy with dazzling blue eyes and a cute golden mop. His parents were killed by a group of death eaters in the siege of Diagon alley.
Joseph was 5. He had dark brown curly hair.
His sister Sian was 7. She also had dark brown curly hair. Their parents and baby sister were caught in the middle of a fight between the aurours and death eaters.
Isabelle was 8. She had a full head of blonde ringlets. She was raised by her grandfather whom was killed instantly by The dark lord himself.
Rodney was 10 and had a dark afro. Dark skin and gorgeous brown eyes. He would be a heart breaker when he was older. His mother had been a deatheater she had been killed by the dark lord for not following his orders correctly.
Sean was 13, He had started Hogwarts 2 years ago, so he already knew Claire. He had red hair in a ponytail. Claire remembered when His parents had died. They were muggle borns and had been caught in a mass muggle killing.
Karl was 4. He was also a muggle born. His parents had been caught in the same attack. He had Black hair and tanned skin. He was very quite and had problems with his speech.
Finally there were the triplets. They were ten years old and went by the names; Anna, Hannah and Oma. They would finish each other's sentences, wear the same clothes and they all looked pretty much the same. The set of them looked as though they were ready to wreck havoc. Their story was the one, which hit My heart the most. Their mother had been someone I had known, very very briefly. Sirius had introduced me. It had been his friend from the school he taught at. Sasha Dalton. They all looked the spitting image of her. She had died when death eaters attacked the school she taught at. She had saved all of her children by locking them in her classroom and sacrificing herself.
She was a lovely lady. All these children had a devistaing story behind them. It would be our jobs to not let them forget their past, but to get over it.
Harry, Remus and I helped the kids settle into a room each. The triplets insisted they wanted to share a room so we charmed three rooms into one. Anna's third was blue, Hannah's third was purple and Oma's third was Green.
I shook my head, no doubt when they were older they would be fighting over their room space. I would say that was what it was like at my house when I was growing up with Nacissa but we had rooms in separate sides of the house and even if we saw each other we wouldn't talk. Not much has changed.
The kids were all amazed that they got to live with 'THE HARRY POTTER!' well the ones who were old enough to know about us.
Harry however had to leave, he had started his Aurour training and had to get to class. Apparently it was going well, he was still with Ron and they were progressing quite quickly, seeing as they had used a lot of the curses they were being 'TAUGHT' before.
After class I suspected he and Ron met Ginny and Hermione in the leaky cauldron. Ron and Hermione had lasted a total of two weeks before their first break up and now a week and a half after that they were on their third.
Obviously as they turned up at my house hand in hand along with Ginny and Harry, they had gotten back together... again.
They came in for dinner- we were cooking for enough people any way three more people wasn't much.
Over dinner we introduced them to the kids.
They seemed to get on well with them... well Ginny and Hermione did, The kids seemed to think it was a fun game to throw their food at Ron.
It didn't help that Harry had started it.
Well at least our kids felt at home.
This was our family.
Soon enough the Summer holidays were over. It was funny how much faster they flew when I didn't want them to end. How now that I wasn't staying at the Dursleys, the moved quicker. And when I wanted to be able to spend as much time as I could with Ginny, I couldn't.
Even though we still weren't a couple, I went to the train station with Ron, Mr and Mrs Weasley. I gave her a small kiss on the cheek and began to wonder what I would do with out her.
She was head girl this year. I wondered who would be put as head boy. Did I trust him enough not to make advances on MY Ginny? But wait she wasn't MY Ginny, was she? I was thinking of that just as the grand old red steam engine sounded its whistle and started slowly to move.
I saw MY Ginny stick her head out a window to wave. She was MY Ginny.
"GINNY!" I yelled running along with the train. It began to speed up. "GINNY, GO OUT WITH ME AGAIN?" I shouted after her.
"WHAT?" She yelled back.
"BE MY GIRLFRIEND AGAIN!" I repeated, seeing a kid on the platform with a broom and seizing the opportunity and taking it. I jumped on it and rode it until I was neck and neck with Ginny's compartment. "GINNY WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME AGAIN?" I asked.
"YES!" She shouted. "NOW BE GONE I'LL OWL YOU WHEN I GET TO SCHOOL!"
I blew her a kiss and turned round. When I reached the platform, I found a very angry mum trying to comfort her child whom was crying over the loss of his broomstick.
But when I returned it she couldn't help but smile at me sweetly. Had it been anyone else I had a feeling she would beat them with the broomstick. But I was Harry Potter.
"What'd she say mate?" Ron asked although already knowing the answer.
"She said yes." I replied glumly.
"Then why so sad?"
"I won't see her again until Christmas." I replied.
He just hit me friendly on the back laughing saying I'd 'got it bad', it must be hard thinking of someone liking his little sister in that way- especially his best mate.
I never really thought in detail how Lily and James felt having the dark lord after them. I knew it would be terrible- but it was their problem not mine. I always managed to for get about it.
Today was Harry's graduation. And I stood as a proud teacher and a proud auntie watching my little nephew, the one I often looked after as a baby, walk up to Dumbledore and collect his wizarding diploma. He was head boy, and he had received the highest defence against the dark arts grade since Tom Riddle. I was proud. DEAD proud.
Remus was in the audience watching too. Tomorrow everyone was leaving Hogwarts, and as much as a lot of my pupils had begged me to stay till next year, I was leaving for good too.
I was going to be starting my new life, and I would be living with Remus. Harry was going to join us at my mansion, till he was sorted.
I snapped back into reality as Harry took the stand, saying his head boy speech.
"Good evening everyone, I'm the head boy, I'm Harry Potter. But most of you will know that. Most people knew whom I was before I even did. Harry Potter, the boy who lived. Since I was little I lived with my aunt and uncle from my mother's side, they were Muggles. They made sure I knew nothing of my parents, nothing of my heritage. And it wasn't until my eleventh birthday, when Professor Hagrid was sent to help me, that I found out. Since then my life has improved greatly. Which can only tell you how bad it was before- as since the first year I have come face to face with the dark lord, Lord Voldemort." There were gasps and shocked faces all around in the audience. I stood holding my head high proud of my nephew. "Five times, and each time I just barley escaped. That is my burden, and it will be my burden until either he of I die. But you know what, I know the key to beat him. My parents knew the key to beat him. And deep down, every single person here knows the key to beat him. Look deep down into your hearts and you will find love, trust, unity, friendship and so on. All these things are a magic in yourself. Their things, which are powerful, and their things, which lord Voldemort, has never known.
When we go out into the world, we must all remember our own ability and the powers we hold within. That way when the time comes that we have to face evil we will know what it is we must do. Thank you."
The majority of the hall stood up clapping. Harry had delivered a hell of a powerful speech. I couldn't have been prouder.
As the clapping died down an evil laugh could be heard, getting louder and louder.
Every head in the hall turned to the back.
Where lord Voldemort stood clapping slowly, laughing at the same time.
"Wonderful speech Potter." He spat his red eyes narrowing snake like.
My blood froze in my veins. This was it. I knew it.
For some reason I knew this was the final showdown. It was either him... or me.
The screams and noise of people running around was unbearable. Apparently they were scared that Lord Voldemort was standing up in front of them, a malicious grin forming across their face.
"Shut up! Everyone just be quiet and keep calm!" I shouted. No one listened. They were more concerned with the mass murderer who was standing before them.
"I wouldn't be so self assured if I were you Potter." He sung menacingly at me.
Suddenly a loud bang was shot up in the air from behind me. I and everyone else in the hall turned to see Professor Dumbledore take control.
"Quiet!" He bellowed. "Voldemort get out of my school!" He said in the deadliest voice I had ever heard him use. He sounded so angry, so vicious, that my blood froze over yet again.
"Stop being such a fool Dumbledore." Voldemort merely said. "You know you can't win. You all thought I was defeated before." He looked at me disgustedly. "You all thought that a small child had defeated me. But here I am. Still at large. Any way ENOUGH!" He clapped his hands and from the people in the audience arose men cloaked in black, the walked wands arisen and took their places by their lord's side.
Dumbledore did not look impressed. He waved his wand and both he and Voldemort disappeared.
The death eaters looked at each other not knowing what to do.
But I knew Ron, Hermione and Ginny knew Remus and Claire knew and somehow the rest of the order knew and had miraculously appeared. We charged forewords and we attacked the death eaters. And in half an hour a few of out men were injured but all of the death eaters had either perished or had somehow escaped.
"Out side!" I bellowed.
We all rushed outside, the bystanders included, to where we found Lord Voldemort standing over Professor Dumbledore.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I shouted.
"Harry, it's ok. You're a strong boy. Tom you can defeat me, but as long as I'm inside those whom are faithful's hearts, I will never be defeated. I don't need to bully them into supporting me. They trust that I am doing whats right." Then Dumbledore disappeared leaving only his cloak where he laid.
"NO!" I said in just above a whisper. I raised my wand anger coursing through my veins, which were not red hot.
"Potter." The dark lord laughed humourlessly. "You think you, a mere 17 year old can defeat the darkest wizard of all times?" He mocked.
I may have been half his size, but I meant business.
"I beat you before didn't I? I beat you when I was just a baby! I escaped you when I was eleven, then again when I was twelve. When you came back when I was 14 I escaped you and I escaped you when I was 15 and 16. This time, this time I know I can win. I know because I am better then you.
You are nothing, you call yourself lord Voldemort, but the only person you will ever be is TOM RIDDLE!"
"THATS ENOUGH!!!" Voldemort bellowed at me. "THAT IS ENOOOOOOOOOUGH!" He was red from anger and his wand hand was shaking. He bellowed the killing curse at me, for once not wanting to mock me. For once I had done what he had done to me soooo many times before. I had angered him, I had used simple truths and played him at his own game.
His curse, however much he meant it was weak and feeble, I cast a simple shielding charm to block it. And successfully so. The crowd was amazed at how strong I had become. I knew it was because of my auntie's help.
We got into a full out duel. It seemed to be drawing to an end, Voldemort was advancing on me. He seemed to have gotten the better of me regardless of what I thought. And the final curse left his mouth.
"Avada Kedavra..." The green light came flashing before me in slow motion. I closed my eyes and I wondered if that was what it felt like when it had been cast on my parents.
I heard a faint "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" and as I opened my eyes, I realised that I was not dead like I feared I would be.
I wasn't dead but someone else was at my feet.
And no it wasn't Claire.
It was Peter Pettigrew. He had taken the curse for me.
It was true, that night back in my third year I had made a wizarding bond with me, I saved his life and now he had saved mine.
Voldemort laughed a cruel laugh.
"Useless peasant." And he raised his wand at me once more.
Suddenly behind me I heard a noise.
And as I worriedly turn to see, everyone who had been watching had formed a circle and held hands.
They began chanting.
They had all closed their eyes and began chanting
"UNITY, COMPASSION, TRUST, LOVE....."
And they began to use the strongest type of magic that they possessed.
The circle of people stunned Voldemort, hell it stunned me.
People of society were suddenly listening to the little guy, they were joining together and standing united in a cause.
As they stood together holding hands a light generated around them surrounding them and surrounding me.
Voldemort didn't know what to do, he started flinging curses at every one. But the light reflected them, making him have to dodge them.
I stepped forewords to face him for the final time.
"One time when we met, you told me that we were very much the same. You were right we are. We share the same power, the same past. However one thing between us differs and that is the choices we have made in life. Even though Muggles abused us both as children, I learnt to accept that some people aren't as good as others. You decided that everyone was the same. Good Vs Evil. You should know by now which side would win. Good bye Tom."
As Voldemort tried desperately to send curses at me, I pointed my wand at him, not saying any thing. The light, which surrounded the circle of people, came out of my wand straight at him.
It surrounded his body and dissolved him.
The blinding light flashed white, then green, then finally red and blue. Then all of a sudden it disappeared and all that was left on the floor was a wand. Voldemorts wand.
I walked over and picked it up.
Then I laid both my wand and his wand on the floor next to each other.
All of a sudden one flashed green, the other red and blue and they combined into one yellow light. The only house with out an heir, Hufflepuff.
I heard a familiar voice say "Hufflepuff's heir will seal the peace." and then the wand disappeared.
Everyone around me suddenly came into focus, all-looking at me.
"He's gone!" I announced.
and suddenly I was surrounded by my friends my family. The smothered me in hugs and that night we rejoiced.
Mcgonagall stood me up and congratulated me, then she made me make a speech.
I started it;
"There is one person, who deserves a hell of a lot more credit then I will ever deserve in defeating Lord Voldemort. He has worked endlessly in the fight against evil, and he's not even here. Albus Dumbledore disappeared tonight. Is he dead? I for some reason don't thing he will ever be back. However I don't believe he is dead. I think he is in a place where he will always be able to guide us into the right way. I believe he lies in each and everyone of our hearts."
I got a round of applause.
Then all of a sudden I realised, it was Dumbledore's voice, he was the heir of Hufflepuff.
I also realised that the Slytherin table was completely empty. And professor Snape seemed to have realised this too.
It was a mystery... or maybe not so much
The circle of people stunned Voldemort, hell it stunned me.
People of society were suddenly listening to the little guy, they were joining together and standing united in a cause.
As they stood together holding hands a light generated around them surrounding them and surrounding me.
Voldemort didn't know what to do, he started flinging curses at every one. But the light reflected them, making him have to dodge them.
I stepped forewords to face him for the final time.
"One time when we met, you told me that we were very much the same. You were right we are. We share the same power, the same past. However one thing between us differs and that is the choices we have made in life. Even though Muggles abused us both as children, I learnt to accept that some people aren't as good as others. You decided that everyone was the same. Good Vs Evil. You should know by now which side would win. Good bye Tom."
As Voldemort tried desperately to send curses at me, I pointed my wand at him, not saying any thing. The light, which surrounded the circle of people, came out of my wand straight at him.
It surrounded his body and dissolved him.
The blinding light flashed white, then green, then finally red and blue. Then all of a sudden it disappeared and all that was left on the floor was a wand. Voldemorts wand.
I walked over and picked it up.
Then I laid both my wand and his wand on the floor next to each other.
All of a sudden one flashed green, the other red and blue and they combined into one yellow light. The only house with out an heir, Hufflepuff.
I heard a familiar voice say "Hufflepuff's heir will seal the peace." and then the wand disappeared.
Everyone around me suddenly came into focus, all-looking at me.
"He's gone!" I announced.
and suddenly I was surrounded by my friends my family. The smothered me in hugs and that night we rejoiced.
Mcgonagall stood me up and congratulated me, then she made me make a speech.
I started it;
"There is one person, who deserves a hell of a lot more credit then I will ever deserve in defeating Lord Voldemort. He has worked endlessly in the fight against evil, and he's not even here. Albus Dumbledore disappeared tonight. Is he dead? I for some reason don't thing he will ever be back. However I don't believe he is dead. I think he is in a place where he will always be able to guide us into the right way. I believe he lies in each and everyone of our hearts."
I got a round of applause.
Then all of a sudden I realised, it was Dumbledore's voice, he was the heir of Hufflepuff.
I also realised that the Slytherin table was completely empty. And professor Snape seemed to have realised this too.
It was a mystery... or maybe not so much
I sat along the teacher's table. Minerva Mcgonagal had set up all of the tables in that hall. She had also called in the ministry officials, including the minister for magic him self. There were healer seeing to everyone making sure they were all right, really there wasn't much for me to do, but to check on all of the students. We had all the other years down now as well.
They had been put into their houses, out of the corner of my eye I could see Ginny hugging Harry with a tear in her eye. In fact all of Gryffindore seemed to be congregating around my nephew.
I was so proud of him. I couldn't describe my feelings for him.
Just then a pair of arms coming round my waist startled me.
"James'd be so proud wouldn't he?" Remus said leaning into my neck. I smiled as I felt his warm breath tickle me.
"Yeah, and Lily would. I can't believe Peter would do that? I thought he had turned evil." I voiced the one confusion on my mind.
"It was the weighing of the scales, wasn't it. Peter practically handed lily and James over to the dark lord, he basically murdered them. Then Harry goes and saves his life, Peter's never had such a kindness placed over him, and especially not by someone who should have killed him. He balanced his scales by saving Harry tonight. He didn't do it for himself, but because he knew it was the right thing."
"So he'll be rewarded for this?" I spat disgusted.
"No, I expect, he'll go to limbo, neither heaven nor hell. He'll be in- between forever more. Voldemort has definitely perished this time, his wand showed us that by reuniting with its brother and disappearing. And as for Dumbledore, I believe Harry was right, he has not died, but a part of him will live on in each of us... maybe that's how I've suddenly became so knowledgeable?"
I laughed, Remus was weird sometimes.
"Oh dam..." I said, "Now we're going to have to buy Harry a new wand." We both burst out laughing at this ridiculous and random statement.
"Hey he's you nephew!" Remus teased. Then he pulled me into a heart stopping, breath taking, full out sloppy kiss.
I was sure I'd see my brother soon, because I was sent to heaven with this one kiss!
We didn't stop kissing until we heard a loud
COUGH behind us, we both turned to see Harry smiling innocently up at us.
I heard Remus mutter something which sounded strangely like "He is way too much like his father."
"Harry?" I asked a little flustered.
"Auntie Claire, I really need to talk." His tone had turned too urgent, he was worried about something. I wasn't sure what yet.
I followed him outside in an instant.
"Whats wrong?" I asked concerned. "Is it to do with the mysterious lack of Slytherins cause..."
"I BROKE UP WITH GINNY!" He said frantically
"I BROKE UP WITH GINNY!" I heard my own voice say.
"What?" Claire gasped. "After you finally asked her out? After all that preparation? Why?"
"Well it was kind of mutual, I told her I was having concerns about her still being at Hogwarts and I wasn't. She said that she was thinking the same thing and then we agreed just to be friends and to see what we felt like when she left Hogwarts. We agreed to seeing other people, before we got into a serious relationship."
"That is a very adult thing to do on both your parts Harry, I'm amazed. And some how I'm thinking it's the right thing for you to be doing. Your parents had some time apart when they were the same age as you and I think it was one of the best things they ever did." I had to smile inspite of myself. "Your having regrets now though aren't you?" She smiled at me and I knew she could read me like a spell book.
I nodded. "Well it's not that long until she finishes school. And just think you still have Hedwig, so you can keep in touch. And don't even be nervous about the other blokes she'll see- I mean lets face it, You're THE HARRY POTTER, the same Harry Potter that's infatuated with you. Come 'ere." She held her arms out to me and hugged me. It had been quite an emotional night for me, I was just so glad that she was safe and that she was here for me.
I loved her.
Even though in the last few months we had gotten closer. She had been my friend. Now, now I knew that I needed her, and that she was my family, that I loved her like an aunt.
"HARRY, we need to talk!" Ron came up to me, and he looked far from pleased! "What is going on with Hermione? She's been up in my face ALL NIGHT! I mean normally she's stroppy, tonight she's in league with Snape. I mean she had a go at me for not standing straight for heavens sakes!" I looked at him breathless, unsure what to say. I was sure he'd be fighting with me over Ginny.
"May I interrupt?" Claire intervened. We both nodded. "My brother had a friend who had the exact same problem. He fought non-stop with this girl, whom was actually one of Lily's best friends- so they couldn't avoid one another. They fought and fought and fought between themselves, they couldn't help it."
"And what happened?" Ron pressed on.
"They got Married." She replied simply. I felt my mouth drop to the floor, just like Ron's did. "You see, they fought because they didn't know how to stress their feelings. To be honest Ron, I have an outsider's view on your whole relationship. Harry and Hermione you can tell are purely platonic just looking at how comfortable they are with themselves around each other. You and Hermione however are always arguing, always uncomfortable, simply because you want to mask what you have hidden deep deep down." She smiled.
"I Do not have feelings for Hermione!" Ron said turning a little red in the cheeks.
"OH MY GOD!" I laughed. "In fourth year you were dead jealous of Krum, and last year you almost murdered Finnigan in his sleep cause he asked her out! AND SHE DIDN'T EVEN SAY YES!" I was holding his sides due to my laughter.
"Harry can you go and see Remus for a second please." Harry walked away still shaking. "It's true isn't it Ron. You fancy Hermione, you just don't want to admit it." Ron bowed his head blushing.
"I thought that if I just ignored it, it would go away, but it didn't." He said quietly.
"Well I would say that Hermione is feeling along the same lines- she doesn't want to admit it either. Maybe you should ask her out?"
"What if she says no?"
"If she says no, then she's still your friend and will not treat you any differently. Anyway, has Ginny told you about Her and Harry?" Ron nodded. "and how do you feel about it?"
"At first I was angry with Harry, and then Ginny stopped me from going after him, and she told me it was mutual, and it was best whilst she was still in school. To be honest I don't think their separation will last very long." I smiled him.
"I can't say I can see it lasting either."
"Thanks Professor, I needed sorting out." He smiled at me once more and left in the direction of the Gryffindor table, where Hermione was sat glaring at him.
That night I should have been rejoicing over the disappearance of lord Voldemort, instead I was in pain from trying not laugh.
Ron was having a serious break down over what to do with Hermione.
"Come on Ron, Ginny and I worked it out a long time ago. Well Ginny did, she just told me." Ok this subject was stinging a bit... moving on... "You like each other, ask her out."
"It's not that easy... I... she... she's Hermione!" He looked at me helplessly. I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. "Thanks for the support mate!" Ron laughed throwing his pillow at my head.
The next day we shared our last meal at Hogwarts, and we found ourselves standing, waiting for the carriages with very heavy hearts.
As many before us, we were saying good bye to our home for the past seven years.
As I waited beside Ron, I was surprised when Ginny came and leaned her head on my shoulder.
"Gonna miss it aren't you." She said softly. "It'll be no fun without you guys here." I hugged her to me, not sure whether it was her or myself whom I was trying to comfort.
"Spose I'll have to grow up now." I grinned trying to make light of the situation.
"Ow you two look real broken up!" Ron smirked.
I grinned at him evilly. The turned to Ginny.
"Hey Gin, guess what Ron's planning to do today..." Ron gasped shocked at what I was saying.
"What would that be then?" Hermione said coming up to us.
"... Nothing!" I laughed. Ron was red from embarrassment.
Just then a carriage pull in front of us.
"Come on!" I said grabbing Ginny's hand and running in it.
"Pay up!" I heard Ron say. I stuck my head out of the compartment and saw Hermione grumpily handing some money to Ron.
"What ya doing?" I asked.
"Hermione said it wouldn't last two weeks, I said it wouldn't last 24 hours. We put money on it." He laughed.
"On what?"
"On how long it would be before you two got back together."
"But we're not back together?" Ginny said putting her head out the other window.
"Right..." Hermione said.
"So what's this prefects meeting about when we get on the train? Surely you can't have set us more things to do?" Ginny asked me and Hermione.
"You'll see." She smiled in reply. "You can come to Ron, if you want."
When we got off the carriages, we headed straight for the prefect's compartment. It only took a few minutes, once the train had started for everyone to gather in there. Obviously they were eager to get back with their friends.
"Ok." I started. "Hermione and I just wanted to say thank you for all of your help this year."
"Yes a good ministry never works well without the people who help them." Hermione added.
"With that said, you're free to go to your friends." I finished. We then stood at the door shaking hands with everyone as they left. Finally we were down to the four of us again.
"Um, do you two mind if I talk to the head boy alone for a second?" Ginny asked the other two.
They both adopter identical grins.
"I suppose so." They said at the same time, then walked out the compartment laughing.
"OW WHY DON'T YOU TWO JUST GO OUT WITH EACH OTHER!" Ginny shouted after them then turned back to me grinning.
"Actually that's what Ron was planning to do today, you know what I said earlier, he's planning on asking Hermione out." Ginny burst out giggling.
"Finally!" She gasped.
"What did you want to ask me any way?" I asked curiously as I leant against the far wall.
"Ow, well you know this 'we're on a break stuff', well I was wondering... we can still go out on dates... and stuff. right?" As she said 'and stuff' she had looked up into my eyes.
I gulped.
"And stuff...?" I asked nervously, hoping it was what I thought it meant.
"And stuff." She repeated smiling at me as she slowly walked towards me. I was catching on as to what she meant.
"What kind of Stuff?" I asked smoothly.
She walked right up close to me and now we were just inches away.
"You know...stuff." She said looking again into my eyes, she was so close now I could feel her breath.
"You're going to have to show m..." But before I could finish her lips had closed the gap between us and were placed firmly on top of mine.
We were kissing even more passionately then we ever had done before. It seemed that absence doe make the heart grow fonder. If this was what happened after 14 hours of separation (most of which I slept through) I couldn't wait until Ginny came home for Christmas.
This is NO one's POV.
"What did Ginny shout?" Hermione turned to an extremely red faced Ron.
"Nothing let's just find a compartment." Ron replied quickly.
They entered and sat down opposite each other. The silence filled the room. An awkward silence, the type, which you only ever experience when you really don't want to.
"Um, want to play a game of Wizards chess?" Ron asked finally to cut the tension.
"Sure" Hermione replied. 5 minutes later she continued. "well this is a stupid game anyway!"
"Just cause I won." Ron grinned stupidly.
"No it's not because of that, it's merely because it is such a brutal game. There is so much unneeded violence."
"You are such a sore loser!" Ron laughed.
"I am not! I don't need to win some game to make me feel better!"
"Well then what do you need?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" She shouted.
"I WAS ONLY ASKING NO NEED TO BITE MY HEAD OFF!" Ron shouted back.
"I WASN'T!"
"YOU WAS, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A GO AT ME FOR NO REASON!"
"NO YOU WIND ME UP ON PURPOSE!"
"SO WHAT?"
"WHY THEN, IF YOU ADMIT IT, WHY DO YOU DO IT?"
"BECAUSE I LIKE YOU AS MORE THEN A FRIEND AND I DON'T KNOW HOW TO TELL YOU!!!"
"THEN WHY DON'T YOU KISS ME YOU IDIOT!"
"FINE!!!!!!!!!" Ron got up from where he was sitting, kicked the chess set over in a temper and kissed Hermione square on the lips. They melted into one another absorbed in the moment.
"Whats all the noise about in her...?" Harry and Ginny had burst into the compartment after a scared fist year had told them it sounded like some one was murdering someone. They quickly ran down to the source of noise, and after it suddenly went quiet the ran even faster.
Harry not worrying about his hair being even messier then usual, nor the lip sick smudge all down his face.
And Ginny not worrying about her robes being messy nor her hair all tangled.
But it was ok because neither Ron nor Hermione even noticed that anyone had entered the compartment.
We stepped out of Ron and Hermione's compartment.
"I take it they're together then." I said, then our shocked faces burst into big grins and we started laughing.
"well if they've been doing that all the time, then where could the noise have come from?" Ginny asked amused.
"Nah I s'pect they had to almost murder each other to get to that conclusion. Seriously I don't know how they're gonna get on!" Ginny started laughing again. "What?" I asked.
"You look cute with lip stick on." She laughed harder.
"Ok... I think I will take a trip to the gents then." I replied glancing in the reflection of one of the doors. "Ow by the way, nice hair." I laughed. And Ginny sped off in the direction of the girl's toilets.
When we got back to the compartment, we stepped in side, hand in hand, to find Ron and Hermione sitting opposite each other talking politely.
"Took ya long enough mate." Ron teased me.
"So are you two together then?" Ginny burst out.
"WHAT?" Hermione jumped. "Where did you get that idea?"
"So your not going out then?" I asked cautiously.
"No we're not." Ron said.
"So you were just giving Hermione a polite, friendship kiss just now then?" I smirked. Hermione blushed crimson.
"And you and Ginny were just TALKING just now were you?" Ron replied menacingly.
"Point taken." I replied. "So what are you doing before Aurour training starts then you two?" I asked turning to Ron and Hermione, changing the subject.
"I'm not going to be an Aurour any more." Hermione blurted out.
"WHAT?" We both shouted turning to her. I squeezed Ginny's hand so she didn't feel too left out.
"I... I got offered a job at a magical research company. They're the most prestigious one out there. The one which Dumbledore himself founded. And I decided that since Voldemort has gone, they wouldn't need as many aurours and I think that this could be for me." She gulped and waited for our reactions.
"Well that's great Hermione, well done. "How did they find you?"
"They scouted me, and apparently I got a very good set of recommendations from my professors."
"Ow theres a Suprise." I grinned. Then I followed her worried gaze and saw she was looking at Ron who did not look at all happy. "Maybe we should go find your mates Gin." I said dragging Ginny out of the compartment with me. There was going to be a lovers tiff and I did not want to get caught in the crossfire.
"Thank Grimwald they're gone!" Ron said happily. "Trust them to butt in before I got the chance to ask you out." He smiled softly and walked towards Hermione, who currently was looking very very confused.
"Huh?" She stuttered. "You're not mad, t...that I don't want to be an Aurour?"
"Of course I'm not. It's your life, you do whatever makes you happy." He grinned cheekily at her. "Well that is of course if you'll be my girlfriend and still come to see me lots." Hermione blushed.
"Well, I er, um... what?" She said for once lost for words.
"Go out with me? Bemygirlfriend?"
"Are you sure?" Ron nodded his head and Hermione smiled. "Thatthatwouldbenice." She spat out.
"Come again?" Ron asked.
"That would be great, I'd love to." She blushed.
Ron walked shyly towards her and wrapped his arm around her as he sat.
"So we're safe to tell Harry and Ginny?" He asked.
"Sure." She smiled looking at her new boyfriend with starry eyes. "They are so still a couple, and I don't care what they will say, neither of them will be happy if the other starts seeing another person." She said going back into her normal self.
"True, very true. But I don't feel like talking about them." She looked up at him, he had a glint in his eye which she found irresistible. Hermione leaned forewords towards Ron and they embraced in their second ever kiss. But this one was more special, now they were together and they knew how the other felt.
They could at least play happy couples at the moment, they both knew that they would still fight like mad hippogriffs. From the train station I went to my auntie Claire's mansion. I reluctantly said good bye to Ginny- I didn't even get to say a proper farewell. I went to give her a kiss, but had to turn it into a peck on the cheek, as I noticed that all of the Weasley's had come to the station to pick Ginny and Ron up and they were watching. I blushed and whispered that I would owl her.
After a quick hello to the Weasley's (With quite a bit of taunting from Fred and George) I set off, and now here I am "Summerset house" my auntie's mansion. I stood in front of it sizing it up. I swear I could have fitted 20 of the Dursleys houses into it, and when I stepped inside the decor was divine. Ginny would have loved it.
"Ok so you can go up on the first floor and choose a bedroom, Mine is the third door on the right." Auntie Claire told me all smiles.
"Great!" I smiled back.
"Then we have three weeks before Remus moves in with us..." She paused. "Harry... I was wanting to ask you something, How would you feel about... um any Cousins?" I began to choke, then my face lit into a humungous grin.
"Auntie Claire, you're pregnant?" I gasped.
"No!" She laughed. "No I most certainly am not. As you'll be living with us, I want to explain this, it's very important. The reason we broke up all those years ago was because, well because Remus was a werewolf." My mouth flew open astonished, I wouldn't have thought that she would have been prejudiced about that. "No it's not like that, he broke up with me because I wanted children and as a werewolf his children would have been werewolves. Anyway, now we're back together we have discussed the issue of children and we thought of adopting, I talked to Dumbledore about it and he said that as long as Remus takes the wolfsbane potion and all the children we take in know about it up front, that we are within the law to adopt. And I looked into it further, and they're a lot of children whose homes and families were destroyed by Voldemort. I'm going to convert this house into an orphanage. I just want to make sure that you're ok with it? Are you?" She was so enthusiastic and I thought the idea was great, I had always wanted a little brother or sister.
"I'd love it!" I smiled and I went to give her a hug.
For three weeks Harry and I worked so extremely hard turning the Summerset house into an orphanage.
The rooms we painted blue, pink, yellow, mauve, red, orange, every colour you could imagine. We had over 20 of them, so we did something different in each. We turned the third floor into two separate living rooms, one held a muggle television, a muggle pool table, a few sofas and armchairs. That was to make any muggle born children feel at home. The other room again and a few sofas and armchairs, it had a fancy table set a with wizards chess set. It had many wizarding games in it and it had many magical Items including a fireplace, which was connected to the floo network.
Downstairs was a huge kitchen, which was currently full of house elves. Harry was introduced to Claire's personal favourite. In fact she had taken him from Hogwarts, Dumbledore felt that her home would be more suitable.
"Sir Harry Potter!" It squealed.
"DOBBY?" Harry had gasped. I couldn't help but laugh, Dobby was the son of James' favourite house elf Snuffles, which our father had given to Nacissa. Apparently it was like father like son. And somehow Dobby had been drawn to Harry in the past years as well.
We also had a massive dinning room with a table for at least 30 people. And we had a room for all our house elves and another room for family meetings and such. We also had six bathrooms. One down stairs, 4 on the second floor and 1 on the third.
What can I say My house was big. I had 6 shops all over the wizarding world. And someone had put in an offer for another in Japan.
Well anyway, we were all set up now in the house just putting up the finally piece. Just above the door we attached a golden plaque, it read;
"Our little wolf cubs."
Residence of Remus Lupin and Claire Potter.
It really set the house off nicely.
That day we had to interview a few kids, make sure that they were ok with Remus' condition and so forth. We just had to tell Remus first
Harry had left for the day, something about going to see Ginny, whom he still wasn't dating. But I knew he wanted to give me and Remus some alone time to discuss things.
there was a knock at the door and I got up to find Remus looking at me confused.
"Um... is there something I'm missing he asked." I smiled at him.
"Well I wanted to surprise you." I answered him smiling. "We discussed children before and you didn't think you would be able to adopt, well I sorted it all out and today we will be interviewing children today. Before you say anything we will be telling them up straight what you are and if they have a problem with it, then they can't be with us. We will be educating our children in how to behave and treat others. Remmie, we're gonna have a family, the one we dreamed of." I watched as Remus' eyes lit up, I knew he wanted this as much as I did. He just never thought it could happen.
"Claire I love you so much. No one could ever make me happier. Thank you."
That day we interviewed 10 children all-homeless, parent-less and helpless.
We decided to adopt them all!
Three weeks later (quicker then usual) I was standing next to the love of my life and my nephew whom I loved as a son. And in front of the three of us was 10 nervous and scared looking children.
Miles a three year old boy with dazzling blue eyes and a cute golden mop. His parents were killed by a group of death eaters in the siege of Diagon alley.
Joseph was 5. He had dark brown curly hair.
His sister Sian was 7. She also had dark brown curly hair. Their parents and baby sister were caught in the middle of a fight between the aurours and death eaters.
Isabelle was 8. She had a full head of blonde ringlets. She was raised by her grandfather whom was killed instantly by The dark lord himself.
Rodney was 10 and had a dark afro. Dark skin and gorgeous brown eyes. He would be a heart breaker when he was older. His mother had been a deatheater she had been killed by the dark lord for not following his orders correctly.
Sean was 13, He had started Hogwarts 2 years ago, so he already knew Claire. He had red hair in a ponytail. Claire remembered when His parents had died. They were muggle borns and had been caught in a mass muggle killing.
Karl was 4. He was also a muggle born. His parents had been caught in the same attack. He had Black hair and tanned skin. He was very quite and had problems with his speech.
Finally there were the triplets. They were ten years old and went by the names; Anna, Hannah and Oma. They would finish each other's sentences, wear the same clothes and they all looked pretty much the same. The set of them looked as though they were ready to wreck havoc. Their story was the one, which hit My heart the most. Their mother had been someone I had known, very very briefly. Sirius had introduced me. It had been his friend from the school he taught at. Sasha Dalton. They all looked the spitting image of her. She had died when death eaters attacked the school she taught at. She had saved all of her children by locking them in her classroom and sacrificing herself.
She was a lovely lady. All these children had a devistaing story behind them. It would be our jobs to not let them forget their past, but to get over it.
Harry, Remus and I helped the kids settle into a room each. The triplets insisted they wanted to share a room so we charmed three rooms into one. Anna's third was blue, Hannah's third was purple and Oma's third was Green.
I shook my head, no doubt when they were older they would be fighting over their room space. I would say that was what it was like at my house when I was growing up with Nacissa but we had rooms in separate sides of the house and even if we saw each other we wouldn't talk. Not much has changed.
The kids were all amazed that they got to live with 'THE HARRY POTTER!' well the ones who were old enough to know about us.
Harry however had to leave, he had started his Aurour training and had to get to class. Apparently it was going well, he was still with Ron and they were progressing quite quickly, seeing as they had used a lot of the curses they were being 'TAUGHT' before.
After class I suspected he and Ron met Ginny and Hermione in the leaky cauldron. Ron and Hermione had lasted a total of two weeks before their first break up and now a week and a half after that they were on their third.
Obviously as they turned up at my house hand in hand along with Ginny and Harry, they had gotten back together... again.
They came in for dinner- we were cooking for enough people any way three more people wasn't much.
Over dinner we introduced them to the kids.
They seemed to get on well with them... well Ginny and Hermione did, The kids seemed to think it was a fun game to throw their food at Ron.
It didn't help that Harry had started it.
Well at least our kids felt at home.
This was our family.
Soon enough the Summer holidays were over. It was funny how much faster they flew when I didn't want them to end. How now that I wasn't staying at the Dursleys, the moved quicker. And when I wanted to be able to spend as much time as I could with Ginny, I couldn't.
Even though we still weren't a couple, I went to the train station with Ron, Mr and Mrs Weasley. I gave her a small kiss on the cheek and began to wonder what I would do with out her.
She was head girl this year. I wondered who would be put as head boy. Did I trust him enough not to make advances on MY Ginny? But wait she wasn't MY Ginny, was she? I was thinking of that just as the grand old red steam engine sounded its whistle and started slowly to move.
I saw MY Ginny stick her head out a window to wave. She was MY Ginny.
"GINNY!" I yelled running along with the train. It began to speed up. "GINNY, GO OUT WITH ME AGAIN?" I shouted after her.
"WHAT?" She yelled back.
"BE MY GIRLFRIEND AGAIN!" I repeated, seeing a kid on the platform with a broom and seizing the opportunity and taking it. I jumped on it and rode it until I was neck and neck with Ginny's compartment. "GINNY WILL YOU GO OUT WITH ME AGAIN?" I asked.
"YES!" She shouted. "NOW BE GONE I'LL OWL YOU WHEN I GET TO SCHOOL!"
I blew her a kiss and turned round. When I reached the platform, I found a very angry mum trying to comfort her child whom was crying over the loss of his broomstick.
But when I returned it she couldn't help but smile at me sweetly. Had it been anyone else I had a feeling she would beat them with the broomstick. But I was Harry Potter.
"What'd she say mate?" Ron asked although already knowing the answer.
"She said yes." I replied glumly.
"Then why so sad?"
"I won't see her again until Christmas." I replied.
He just hit me friendly on the back laughing saying I'd 'got it bad', it must be hard thinking of someone liking his little sister in that way- especially his best mate.