Forgotten Yesterday

Chapter 24: Dark Side of the World

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any characters borrowed for use in this story.

A/N: Some bad language in this chapter.

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"They put a fucking dark mark over my home!" Draco pounded his fists on Snape's desk.

"Calm down, Draco. Your family is safe." Harry came over and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"You sodding calm down, Potter." He shook Harry off and began to pace around the office. "They were only feet away from Claudia. They were close enough to have killed us all."

"They wanted you to know that." Snape said quietly from his desk. "They wanted you to know exactly how close they could get to you."

"No, they wanted me to know they close they could get to Ginny and Claudia." he fell backward into a chair. "I can't believe this is happening. How can this be happening?" Something suddenly dawned on him. "Azkaban?"

"Taken care of." the headmaster answered.

He seemed visibly relived as he rested back in his chair. "I want to get pissed."

"I agree." Harry took the seat next to him.

"Yes, that is a wonderful solution to everything." It was now Severus' turn to stand and pace. "Let's all get roaring drunk. Then when the Deatheaters come to kill us we will all be passed out. It will makes things so much easier for them to take over the entire world."

"Your sarcasm is not appreciated." Draco gave him a sideways look then looked at Harry. "Some great hero you are, Potter. Claimed you killed the Dark Lord. And of course everyone believed the Boy- Who-Never-Fucked-Up. Maybe you let him go, made some sort of deal."

"You little ferret bastard." Harry stood and pulled his wand. Draco mimicked the action and they both had their wands back, ready to duel before Snape could step between them.

"That is enough!!" he bellowed. "I am suddenly having flash back to every single year of your schooling. I will remind both of you that Bloody Adults!"

Harry stormed from the room and Draco stood defiantly his arm crossed over his chest.

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"Harry?" Ginny turned and he brushed past her in the hall. "What's wrong?"

He stopped then after a moment turned. "Keep that sodding ferret bastard away from me."

"You two had another row? Honestly, Harry Potter, if I didn't know better I would think you two were still third years."

"I really don't want to hear it, Gin."

"I know. Can you just try to get along with him just till all this mess is over?"

"I can't promise anything."

"All I ask is that you try." She reached up and brushed a piece of hair from his forehead. "I was kind of wondering if you could tell me where Hermione is. I would really like to catch up with her."

"Umm…" he hesitated "That might not be the best idea."

"Why?"

"She isn't exactly… I'm not sure how to word this… She still feels really betrayed."

"Why would she feel betrayed?" Ginny seemed shocked that Hermione would have any reason to be at all angry with her.

"Gin, did you even know her parents died? Did you know she left? Did you even care?" He was slowly becoming amazed at how naive she was.

"Harry, I…" she looked down.

"Maybe you and your husband should both just stay away from us for a while." he stood and walked quickly away.

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Hermione sat silently in the library. There was another blizzard beginning and the snow was almost chocking the view out the windows. She turned when there was a small cough behind her.

Remus stood a polite distance away. "Would you mind if I joined you?"

"No, Please." she gestured to the seat across from her.

They sat in silence watching the storm for several long moments.

"You know," he began, "I still remember the first day I had you in my class. You were so eager."

"I was young."

"Yes, you were. It always amazes me how much children change. One day they are so innocent, the world get to them and…"

"We all were changed by the war. Even if we weren't a part of it."

He looked up at t her. "You were a part of it from the time you were eleven years old. You never really had a choice."

"I had a choice. I chose to so with Harry into that hidden door. Well, second year I didn't have much choice, being a statue and all. I chose to use the time turner and help Harry. I chose to help him with the triwizard. I always had a choice and I made it."

"How can you ever forgive him? People like Snape weren't half as cruel to me and it took me most of my adult life to forgive them."

She thought a moment a small smile spreading across her face. "You know when he came to the states to get me, I had him arrested. I wanted so badly to hate him. I never wanted to forgive him. But he came back. And came back and came back. Then when he finally got me alone he begged me to let him help me, to let him try to save me. And a part of me wanted to hate him even more."

"Why?"

"Because I thought he was just being Harry Potter, the big hero. Come to save the day. But I looked in his eyes and I saw… There was so much pain and regret in him. He hates himself so much that I couldn't bring myself to add to that."

"What about now? How did it get to… well."

"How did I get to sleeping with him?"

"Ummm… yeah. I mean I've forgiven Sev but you won't ever catch me in a tryst with him."

Hermione laughed at Remus' discomfort. "You know, I'm not really sure. One day I just looked up and… I couldn't imagine living my life without him in it. I want to make him stop being so angry with himself."

"You'll have a hard time with that. He still blames himself for things his father did. I know Sirius still thinks Harry is a younger version of James. He has always treated Harry more like a replacement best friend than a godson. When I see Harry, I know he is James' exact opposite."

"How so?"

"Well not exact. They are alike in many ways. But James never regretted a single thing he did. Neither the good things or the bad things. I know now that he's dead he's almost been martyred. James wasn't always the nicest person. He was self-absorbed, and more than a little egocentric. I'm sorry to say it, but James Potter was the stereotypical Gryffindor. Red and gold was good, silver and green bad. The difference between Harry and his father is that Harry was well on that path. He would have become his father but things happened and he saw what he was becoming."

"What happened?"

"War."

She was silent as she looked out the window.

"Actually there was something else I wanted to talk to you about."

She looked back.

"Umm… This is hard. Do you remember Harry's muggle family?"

"Unfortunately."

"Well…ummm…. They're dead. The same spell they used on you."

Hermione's mouth fell open. "How… How is that possible?"

"It seems it works faster in muggles. They didn't suffer."

"Have you told him yet?"

"Sirius is going to."

Hermione stared out at the storm that was growing fiercer by the moment. It seemed to be isolating them from everything outside the confines of the small school.

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