Dark Days Pass But Are Never Forgotten
by: LogicalRaven

LogicalRaven here. I'm posting and ON TIME. Hope the wait hasn't been too horrid. I'm really pushed for time right now. As you all you know I'm a very busy Raven. This story is winding down and from the looks of it, the ending should fall right around the month of July.

I know we're all looking forward to the release of the upcoming novel. I set out to write on this story until HBP was released, and so it looks as I shall. The past three chapters have been short, but it was nesssary to end this chapter where I did. It looks like the next chapter will be a much much longer one. There will be some comic relief. I'm going to touch on Padma and Neville again, add some resolution to December and we're going to visit Ginny once again… plus Hermione makes an announcement. Just a little teaser…

Thanks to everybody who is following this story still. I have enjoyed the voyage so far and hope I don't disappoint you as I enter into the twilight chapters of this story. If you would like to be added to my mailing list please e-mail me at

A New Chapter

Cho smiled bitterly as Lavender Brown swirled around with a giggle. She was a beautiful bride and now that the ceremony was over and happy couple married she took to bragging about how muggles would kill for her dress. It was indeed a muggle dress; the one Seamus' mother had worn on her wedding day.

"It's beautiful," Susan Bones said as she pulled Lavender into a bone-crunching hug.

Cho glanced down at her own frail form. She seriously doubted any dress would be to small for her on her wedding day. If anything, she'd never find a dress that would fit properly.

"Isn't Seamus handsome? I can't believe we did it," Lavender raved.

Parvati Patil smirked, "Personally, I think I make a wonderful maid of honor."

"Absolutely gorgeous!" Lavender agreed, "And when you finally decided to get married, I'll make a perfect matron of honor."

The chatter was mind numbing. She had never been close to the girl from Harry's year, but she had always been polite. Now she found her patience running thin. The reception was quaint and nice. It was nothing like Cho had imagined her own wedding, but that dream seemed like a distant wish.

"Hey, you look like you need a rescue?" Harry said as he came up from behind.

Cho smiled lightly as she leaned against his chest. It had been nearly four months since Ron had died. Harry had basically remained silent on the matter, hardly mentioning the Weasleys. Cho knew the symptoms of denial well.

"I was afraid I was going to be too big to wear it. Oh, the diet was just horrid," Lavender explained as Susan touched the soft satin material.

"She practically starved herself… it was absolutely ridiculous," Parvati put in, "not that is mattered much—I mean her and Seamus have been together for nearly a decade it seems. He's basically already seen everything she's been blessed with."

Lavender scowled, but Parvati quickly jumped to a different conversation about how she had perfected a new hair charm to make her plait stay up for hours.

Cho sighed as Harry led her off towards the dance floor. It was a far cry of what they had lived through not but a few months before. A wedding seemed an ironic turn after a funeral.

"You look wonderful tonight," Harry offered as the band slowly started up a new tune.

Cho smiled lightly as she leaned into Harry's shoulder, "We've really been together long enough now that you don't have to flatter me."

"I'm not trying to flatter you," Harry said in a serious tone.

Cho sighed, "I'm sorry, I just really am not into this whole wedding thing—right now."

"You're worried about the Dark Rising?" Harry asked softly.

Cho frowned, "No."

Cho had a terrible temper, and it did have a terrible habit of showing up an inappropriate moments. She quickly pulled herself out of Harry's hold and made a quick dash towards the punch bowl. Harry merely dropped his head in frustration as he decided it was best to follow her and apologize for whatever stupid thing he had said, before she thought of another reason to add to her anger.

"Cho, I didn't mean it," Harry offered.

"Obviously," Cho replied bitterly as she poured herself a small glass of punch.

Harry sighed, "What did I say—or do this time?"

"This time?" Cho said shortly.

"Why are you mad at me?" Harry said a bit more bluntly, "Apparently I said or did something to cause you to storm off."

Cho closed her eyes and turned her back towards Harry, hoping he wasn't as daft as he was appearing to be. Apparently he was as he stood there with a puzzled frustrated look on his face, staring at his shoes as if the answer might have been written on them.

"Are you upset because I asked you to marry me?" Harry said in a low whisper that had a bit of desperation in it.

Cho eyes widened, perhaps the answer had been written on his shoes.

"I.." Harry started.

"I know why you asked me," Cho interrupted, "It's alright really, I know you were going through a very hard time. You don't have to apologize for it."

Harry frowned as he watched Cho wave him away carelessly as she tried to make her way to the balcony.

"Cho," Harry said as he reached for her arm to stop her, "I asked you to marry me because I wanted to marry you."

Cho stopped as she allowed her eyes to come back and meet Harry's.

"Marry me…" Harry stated, rather than asked.

Cho blinked as she nodded. Suddenly she felt Harry's lips firmly upon hers.

"You really mean it?" Cho asked as she pulled back.

Harry laughed, "Mean what?"

"You really want to marry me?" Cho said in a quick breath as if she didn't believe her ears.

Harry smiled, "I wouldn't asked you twice if I didn't want to marry you."

Suddenly Harry felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, "Hold Merlin! Are you two getting married?" asked Dean Thomas who had a bottle of butter beer in his hand.

Cho laughed lightly, and Harry grinned.

"HEY GUYS!" Dean bellowed as to bring attention to himself; "GUESS WHO'S GETTING MARRIED."

News traveled fast, but good news traveled faster. December sat in Remus Lupin's office with a grin of both delight and disbelief. The new had come straight from the horses mouth, it was official…Harry was getting married.

"It runs in the family," Remus explained.

December smiled as she propped her feet up on his coffee table in a very Sirius fashion.

"I always knew he'd get married sooner or later," Remus continued, "I mean he and Cho have been together for quite a while."

"Cho is a very sweet girl, she'll be good for him," December said in a light voice.

Remus nodded in a very stern way, "I wonder when they'll actually go through with it."

"Spoken like a typical man," December smirked, "After all marriage is a prison sentence."

Remus smiled, "I didn't see you running up to the alter when we were their age."

"So you think Harry's too young?" December asked.

"I didn't say that, after all he's no younger that James was," Remus replied, "It isn't like they're having kids anytime in the near future or anything, it's just marriage."

December gave Remus an appraising look, "Relax, Harry will be fine."

"Do you think he'll come to us?" Remus asked slowly as if choosing his words.

December giggled sarcastically; "For our blessing?"

"Yes," Remus affirmed, "I'd like to think we're an important factor in his life."

"This from the man who said Harry didn't come to him with anything anymore," December commented, "I'm sure Harry will come to both of us with this when he's ready."

"I can't believe how quickly he's grown," Remus grinned.

December groaned, "Oh, you're not going to go all nostalgic on me are you?"

"No," Remus said quickly, "he's the closest thing I've ever known to having a son."

"Me too," December added as she suddenly found herself wandering down memory lane along with Remus.

"I thought James was going to have a heart attack when Lily discovered Harry was coming," Remus started.

"No," December said firmly, "We've been doing nothing but sitting around remembering the old days again, this has nothing to do with Lily and James, or…"

"Sirius," Remus finished.

"We will be happy for Harry, and lets leave it at that," December instructed, "This is a different time, a different place. Harry is a different person that James or Lily, this is a different choice, a difference love."

Remus glanced at December as she spoke, her voice cracking slightly at the end.

"All love is different," Remus whispered.

Lucius Malfoy was unrecognizable. His skin nearly glowed due to its transparency and his eyes glowed so darkly that they barely registered color. His white wispy hair was the only characteristic he carried with him from this past life. He was obsessed with books and potions, the memories of his fallen master.

"Father," Draco said softly as he entered the study chamber.

"Son," Lucius replied, "Is all in order?"

"Our allies are prepared to fulfill their vow," Draco replied, "At your word the Dark Mark will be launched."

Lucius smiled, "Not yet, we have not learned how to control the dark creatures of the night, Grindelwald has left us a blueprint to follow, soon all those who call the darkness sanctuary shall be our allies."

Draco nodded, he didn't understand his father's plan and nor did he want to. His father obsession was boarding on lunacy. Even the followers were a bit frightened. Draco made a quick bow as his father continued to pour of the endless pages of books.

"What did master say?" asked Luna Lovegood, lowering her head as she spoke in a sign of respect.

Draco sneered, "We wait."

Luna narrowed her eyes, but did not dare to speak. Another cloaked figured standing just to her right did. She knew the consequences of questioning.

"Wait, the allies are ready. The Vampires can take out London tonight! What is he waiting for?"

Draco drew a deep breath, "We do not question! We wait, and that is all you need to know."

"You are not my master!" the Death Eater hissed, causing Draco to raise his wand.

The words escape his mouth before he even realized it, and the Death Eater crumpled to the floor in a shriveled ball of pain. A smirk of pleasure spread across Draco's face. This was the power that the dark side of magic could offer. It was a power to control the pain, a power to control the life of each victim.

Draco finally felt reality tugging at his mind as his wand slowly fell to his side and his father's follower collapsed in a crucified exhaustion.

"Do not ever question the orders the Dark Lord gives you," Draco warned as he brushed by Luna Lovegood.

Luna's eyes followed Draco until the dark corridor engulfed him. Her eyes them fell back upon the Death Eater who was starting to pick themselves off the floor.

The halls of Auror Academy were quite as Noel slowly recited her medical charms over and over again, trying to get the enunciation precise. It was mindless work but the rest of her trainees were gone for the evening. She probably could have tagged along with Harry, Michael and Susan to the wedding of their Hogwarts friends, but she had chosen not to. It wasn't something she really a cared about. Wedding were a complete waste of oxygen in her opinion.

"Emendo Cilratiskato" Noel said slowly before pushing her scrolls off to the side.

The further along in her training she had gotten, the less she had felt like a student. Even when she went to rest in her dormitory, it felt different. With the new dark rising she had seen less and less of her mentor and more and more of the actually Auror field.

When Harry returned, the two of them were penciled in to visit the northern side of Derry to interview some muggles on a disturbance that had occurred a few nights prior. The latest information they had discovered had led them to believe that the vampires were trying to blend in with the locals. The mass amount of dead, bloodless, birds was also a nice sign that their theory held water.

Noel glanced at her watch and sighed. They were suppose to have returned nearly thirty minutes prior, but still there was no sign of the three Auror trainees. In honesty she hadn't wanted to attend the wedding because of the anger she felt whenever she witness Cho and Harry together. It was stupid really, but real at the same time.

In her heart she knew Cho and Harry's was a hopeless relationship, and in was only a matter of time before the two parted ways again. However, this time she was positive she didn't want to be of any part of it. She figured Cho's denial of Harry's proposal was enough to set things into action.

Eros Raymer hadn't made much mention of Cho since the night the Weasley boy had died. She was pretty sure the encounters with the Dark side had led him into his current state of avoiding her. In fact her mentor barely did much to draw her attention when she actually worked with him. It explained his pathetic lie about never having a source outside of the ministry's control. She was pretty sure he did, though his source was a mere peon, not anyone important, or anyone with real power. His source was not the kind of source that was haunting her.

She realized that if it weren't for Raymer's fear of her revealing his true ambition, then he'd probably abandon her. Noel just had to assume that he was working on his own plans of winning over his fair lady's heart. He was a true snake-a snake waiting patiently in the grass for the right moment to strike his prey.

Suddenly the door to the dormitory opened and in stumbled Michael and Susan walking arm and arm with huge grins upon their faces. Susan leaned over and whispered something in Michael's ear and he chuckled.

"I trust you two enjoyed your time tonight?" Noel asked flatly as she watched her two dorm mates make their ways towards their beds.

Susan smiled and grabbed and pillow off her bed, squeezing in into a hug.

"You'll never believe it," Michael said shaking his head before propping his feet up on his bed and pulling a scroll and quill from his bedside table drawer.

Noel rolled her eyes, "Where is Potter? We have an assignment tonight in Derry."

"Saying goodnight," Susan said in a pitch near a giggle.

Noel stood up and dusted off her robes, "Oh right, lets not get in a hurry, Potter. Make sure you say goodnight."

"To his fiancé," Michael added.

Noel's face went blank as she looked at Michael; "She said yes?"

"What, did you know Harry was going to ask her?" Susan asked watching Noel's reaction with a mixture of jealousy.

Noel bit her lip, "He asked he awhile ago, but she rejected him."

"WHAT!" Michael said in surprise, "That's impossible, Cho's been in love with Harry since Hogwarts, she'd never have told him no. You must have misunderstood."

Noel narrowed her eyes, "I didn't misunderstand—not that it really matters. It isn't like they'll really make it."

"Miss. Optimistic over there," Susan pointed out, "I think it's romantic. Pretty soon everybody will be married."

"Already scooping out the real estate, Susan?" Michael teased, "Who do you have your sights set for?"

Susan blushed.

"Whoever will have her," Noel replied bitterly.

Susan frowned, "Well, it isn't like they're lining up to break down your door either."

"I've heard…" Michael said clearing his throat, "That Bones here has an admirer."

Susan's eyes suddenly lightened, "Really? Who?"

"Afraid I'm not permitted to reveal," Michael teased, "but I hear he's a pretty good guy."

Noel watched as Michael's color crimsoned a bit before tutting, "Honestly, you are bit pathetic… is there anyone you don't or haven't had a crush on?"

Michael suddenly frowned before glancing back at Susan, who hadn't caught onto to Noel's hint.

Michael was spared embarrassment from Noel when the entrance opened again and Harry suddenly appeared.

"It's about bloody time," Noel snapped.

Harry frowned, but let her words brush over him. Noel's bitterness was something he had finally accepted. It was just the way she was.

"Sorry bout that—I just need to grab my cloak and we can get going. Did Tonks leave us any specifics?" Harry asked as he crossed the room.

Noel darted her eyes at Susan and Michael before responding; "It's a small village on the North side of Derry we're heading to. We're suppose to go under the cover of a young married couple looking at some real estate—you can leave the cloak here, were going in muggle cloths."

Harry nodded before rummaging through his trunk, "Do we have an appointment set?"

"We're meeting a realtor, Mr. Johnson," Noel continued.

Susan smiled, "Sounds like fun, under cover work. Oh, how I love muggles."

"I detest them," Noel answered as Harry pulled a jumper over his head.

"We know," Harry said before tucking his wand into a wand holder that fit over his lower leg. "Shall we get it over with then?"

The muggle village was something similar to what Harry remembered from his childhood. The playground in town gathered a few neighborhood children, seeing how high the other could swing. Harry couldn't help but be reminded of Magnolia Crescent.

"This is it," Noel said in her usual tone.

Harry nodded before offering his arm to her. It was a normal act, though it caused Noel to recoil and snarl.

"I just figured we'd be less conspicuous if we appear to actually be together," Harry explained.

Noel rolled her eyes before reluctantly taking Harry's arm; "Your fiancé won't be upset?"

"This is my job," Harry pointed out, "She doesn't have a reason to be upset."

Harry lifted his finger to the doorbell and soon the door open where a man in a cheap looking brown suit stood with a broad grin.

"Ah, you must be the Kenny's."

Harry nodded, "Yes, I'm Roger and this is my wife Beverly."

"Excellent, a nice young lovely couple. I'm sure you'll love the neighborhood."

Harry allowed Noel to enter before he did, as he noticed her trying to keep the bitterness out of her face.

"Shall we start with the upstairs?"

"Yes," Noel said curtly, "Perhaps the bedrooms?"

"Yes, yes… well, the house has three bedroom, plenty of room for a family," Mr. Johnson said in his salesman like tone.

Harry watched Noel's expression harden at the mention of a family. This must have really pained her.

"Do the two of you plan on having children soon?"

"No," Harry replied.

Mr. Johnson nodded, "Well, you're still young. When you do plan for the wee little ones, you're located close to some very nice schools."

"I'm sure," Noel gritted.

Harry finally decided it was time to start asking the more difficult questions, "So, is this a safe neighborhood?"

Mr. Johnson chuckled, "Oh yes, very safe."

"No unusual activities occur, nothing out of the ordinary?" Noel asked.

Mr. Johnson grinned, "Well, you don't have any pets, do you?"

"No," Harry answered, "Why would you ask that?"

The realtor sighed, "People in this town aren't encouraged to have pets, they disappear."

"Disappear? You mean they run away?" Noel asked.

"Well, not exactly… we find them sometimes. There is some kinda beast apparently that likes to kill the domestic pets in this neighborhood. The authorities are searching for it, so it probably won't be a problem for too long or anything. It isn't a threat to humans."

"When you find these animals, are they eaten?" Harry asked.

"Ah, you really don't want to be talking about this. Lets go look at the kitchen shall we?"

Noel suddenly turned, "No, I would like to talk about this. What do their bodies look like?"

Mr. Johnson frowned slightly, "Say, you two aren't from that Newspaper are you? Because if you are then…"

"No, sir," Harry interrupted, "We're here to buy a house. Aren't we darling."

Noel's insides felt like rubber as Harry let his hand slip around her waist.

Mr. Johnson studied the two appraisingly.

"We can wait to get a dog, love. It's a nice neighborhood and all. Let's go look at the kitchen. You love to cook," Harry started pulling Noel a little closer to his side.

Noel narrowed her eyes, "Right, it is nice house after all, and a lovely neighborhood."

Mr. Johnson started down the stairs as Noel quickly pushed her way out of Harry's grasp and mouthed the words 'don't touch me.'

"You'll love this kitchen miss. It has a double oven, and a nice big food preparation island in the middle," the realtor started as he turned to look at the happy couple.

Harry quickly grabbed Noel's hand and smiled.

The three entered into the kitchen and Harry released Noel's hand and started rummaging through the house.

"These cabinets, are they Maple?" Harry asked.

"Yes, they've just been redone," the realtor responded.

Noel watched Harry's acting and felt herself fighting the urge to roll her eyes; "I don't know, Roger dear. I'm still concerned with the animals. What if we have a baby and something attacks it?"

"I thought you said the two of you weren't having kids anytime soon?"

"You know us women," Noel said bitterly, "I'm ready to start popping them out and my dear husband is just a bit nervous about being a father. Do you think this beast is a threat to babies, sir?

"No, no… we haven't had any attacks on people, my dear," Mr. Johnson replied.

"But you have on animals?" Noel asked with a questioning tone.

"Well, yes…" the realtor said in frustration.

Harry quickly grabbed Noel's arm and gave her a stern look, "You'll have to forgive my wife sir. She's just concerned."

"Well, I think I have just cause to be concerned," Noel fired back.

Mr. Johnson suddenly gave the two a questioning look then his face hardened; "I'm afraid I forgot, the house is no longer for sale—already sold. Good day."

Harry took a deep patient breath as Mr. Johnson escorted them to the front door and saw them out. Noel gave the muggle a curt look as he shut the door muttering something about noisy reporters.

"You don't want that house dearies."

An old miss was pruning her garden next door, she barely seemed to notice them, but her voice registered loud and clear.

"Why not?" Noel asked.

"This is a cursed place, it isn't a place for a nice couple like yourselves."

Harry watched the old lady delicately pack down the dirt around an odd looking plant and his eyes widened, "Is that a feathered pea plant?

"I guess the two of you aren't muggles, then," the old woman continued, not looking up once from her chore.

"No, we're not," Noel replied.

The woman nodded, "Well, then don't mind me deary, you don't want the opinion of an old squib. I don't see nothing, I don't know nothing."

"What is happening to the animals?" Harry asked.

The old woman smiled and repeated, "I don't see nothing, I don't know nothing."

Noel frowned and said in a low voice, "Come on, Potter, lets report what we've learned to Kingsley."

"You can run from the dark one, but not even the Ministry can protect you from his wrath," the old woman said in a singsong voice as she rose and entered her house, "no one can protect us now…"


NEXT UPDATE: 03-05-05