Of Firelight and Story Night
The Aftermath
By: Monica
"Harry…" the old man whispered. "Why don't you tell a tale…"
All eyes turned towards him. Harry licked his lips nervously and stared at everyone. "I-I had a dream…a couple nights ago on how…how this war would end…"
Draco and Hermione looked at him curiously. "Get on with it Potter."
Harry sent a glare his way as the old man sighed in despair. "When will those two ever cooperate?" he thought.
"My dream started like this…"
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Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. I watched with disbelief, and yet triumph in my eyes as Voldemort's body began to slowly break to pieces. Time seemed to stand still as his body burned to dust. I let out a breath as the whole process stopped. A cool breeze flowed by, blowing the dust away. I dropped silently to the ground and buried my head in my arms. "It's over…" I whispered to myself. "Finally over…the whole war."
I heard cries in the background, but I couldn't make out the emotion of the cries. Were they happy that the war was finally over or were those cries cries of grief? I pushed myself off the dirty ground and forced myself to go see my friends. Slowly I walked in a daze toward a patch of red hair. I saw my friend, Hermione, as I approached the hair. I choked at what I saw. Hermione looked up in surprise. I nearly gasped at the sight of her face. There were blood-crusted gashes on her face, but the thing that scared me the most were her eyes. They were a shade of a dark, haunting brown, no longer the glowing chocolate color. It seemed to show a broken soul trying to hang on. I tore my eyes away from her face and crouched down near Ron's body. Hermione let out a heartbreaking sob beside me. I whimpered as I examined my best friend's face. His mouth had dropped opened in shock and his eyes were as huge as saucers. I knew that he had been hit directly with the Avada Kedavra curse.
"I-I saw him die Harry…"
I glanced at Hermione's face which was wet with tears. I didn't know what to say. I probably would've killed myself by now if I saw one of my best friends die before my eyes.
"Oh Harry…I don't think I can live with the memory…I see everyone dying…everyone dead!" she exclaimed.
I looked blankly at Ron's body. "I-I honestly don't know what to say…Ron's dead." The impact of those words hit me slowly. "Ron's dead…never coming back…" I let out a grieving moan and closed my heavy-lidded eyes. I couldn't believe it. My first best friend in the whole would was dead…and he would never come back. I would never get to see his friendly smile and hear his cheery laughter. I realized with fury that I had lost a brother because of this foolish war. I got up angrily and strode away from Hermione.
I walked across the battlefield slowly, seeing dead bodies of both Light and Dark scattered around. I stumbled and nearly tripped over a body in a black cloak. I looked down and gasped as I saw Draco Malfoy's face. I crouched down and touched his shoulder hesitantly. Immediately, I pulled out my wand as the body move. Malfoy let out a grunt and his eyes opened in pain. My eyes flashed in anger as I spotted the Darkmark burnt onto his wrist flesh. I raised my wand, ready to finish him off, but his voice stopped me.
"Going to kill me now Potter?" He rasped. "Go ahead…it be nice to end the pain anyways…got nothing left for me in this world."
I pointed my wand at his chest and glanced at my arch-rival's face. At that point, I knew I couldn't do it. I've already killed so many people during this stupid war…and I don't think I can end another one's life without leaving a scar on me. I've knew him ever since first year. I would be killing a classmate. I pocketed my wand and began to walk off, but his arms stopped me. It shot out and gripped my left leg tightly. I gritted my teeth and sent a glare towards him. I blinked in surprise at what I saw in his eyes; desperation and pain.
"Kill me Potter! I can't take the pain anymore. I be happy…much happier dead and somewhere else," he hissed with a plead in his eyes.
I gulped and stared down at him. "I can't Malfoy…I've killed too many."
Malfoy's eyes glittered. "Kill one more then Potter! I SAY KILL ME!"
"I can't!" I roared.
Malfoy's grip tightened on my pants. "Close your eyes and do it Potter for Merlin's sakes! I don't have a wand with me!"
I gulped and pulled out my wand. Closing my eyes, I whispered, "Avada Kedavra!"
Under my eyelids, I could see a flash of green light and then it was gone. I opened my eyes slowly to see a small smirk on Malfoy's face as he lay dead on the bloody grass. I felt bile begin to rise in my throat. I turned my head towards a clean patch of grass and threw up. I wiped my mouth when I was done and looked up at the darkening sky. I spotted another patch of red hair by an old, oak tree and groaned. "Please don't tell me one of Ron's other relative died…"
I crawled over to the body and collapsed near it as I realized who it was. "Ginny!" I moaned. I grabbed her light body and pulled it close. All the sudden, I heard a voice. "No-NO! Harry…don't tell me that's my little sister…I've already lost 2 brothers…"
I winced and slowly turned around to face George with a desperate look on his face. "I-I'm so sorry George…"
Like a hungry animal, George pushed me out of the way and hugged Ginny tightly, muttering words I couldn't understand. I couldn't blame him for pushing me out of the way. I probably would've done worse if it was me. I got up and walked away quietly with my stomach twisting. Slowly, I fell next to the lake and peered into it. This morning, the lake has been a clear, crystal blue. Now it was murky and coated with red, crimson blood. I choked as tears begin to form. Slowly they cascaded down my cheeks as I closed my eyes. War wasn't supposed to exist…it only brought more pain and grief. The ending of a war was supposed to be filled with happiness…so why is everyone feeling so miserable? Killing was horrible…but killing was part of the war. It didn't matter about being on the Light or the Dark because in the end, both sides end up murdering other people. I shuddered as I thought of kids and wives back home waiting for their fathers and husbands to come back. Good or bad…it didn't matter…we all still have a family we need to take care of.
I shuddered and muttered something before falling into a dreamless slumber. "I'll never forget this…forget the aftermath of this bloody war…"
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Everyone peered nervously each other. Was this dream going to become reality? The Dark side growled and shook their heads. They confidently thought they were going to win the war. Ginny whimpered and dropped her head into her arms as Ron gapped at Harry. Draco kept making movements to get up and strangle him, but Pansy kept holding him down. The Weasley clan stared at each other with white faces, wondering who the other brother that died was.
The old man peered at Harry anxiously. "Perhaps…perhaps it's the future…we can only dream now…"
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Author's Note: Ok so I posted another short story for Independence Day in America! Happy Fourth of July to all Americans reading this! So…sorry that the story was sad. Hehe…
Out of the 176 something people who came here, these people were nice enough to give a review: hbanana108, Amaranthine.Amour, Ariana the musical genius, Dear Me, and Anime4u2
Personal Replies:
Amaranthine.Amour – Good idea but I prefer not doing that so I leave you readers in suspense while you read! Also I updated a chapter on Under the Mask changed to It's Only the Beginning. You might've read it already
Anime4u2 – Hehe, Blaise will be next. I promise. Except it's a different pairing told through Blaise.
I hope to get more reviews! hands chocolate chip cookies to all those who reviewed My posting of chapters will be random!
Until next time,
Monica