Disclaimer: I neither own the characters or the wonderful books written by J.K. Rowling, but I will admit that I own my mind and all of the creative outbursts that follow. Enjoy!
Reviews are of course welcome!
Ch. 3
Harry, staring up at the ceiling through his king size four poster, continued to stew about his life since he left the Dursley's 40 years before. The war had changed many lives, obviously, but Harry no longer resembled the boy who sought revenge from any person who hated him. His enemies had been numerous, even after he had destroyed Voldemort (horcruxes and all). Yet, after his success in ending the war, his lust for revenge remained. He became an auror in the hopes that he would satisfy his thirst. The only problem was, Harry found that his desire to kill the remaining Death Eaters outweighed the Ministry's desire for justice. Actually, it was Hermione who uncovered his obsession. Had it not been for her, Harry's life would have certainly ended very quickly.
Flashback
Harry had been hunting for days now. Finally, he caught up with one of Voldemort's supporters. Unfortunately, someone had also been searching for Harry.
"HERMIONE! GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Harry tried furvently to aim curses at the Death Eater behind her.
"NO! You have got to stop this war path!"
"You should understand just as well as anyone. Damn! Hermione! He apparated! You should have stayed out of this. It doesn't concern you."
"It does concern me Harry! You're my friend. Do you not see the hole you are digging yourself? The Ministry is a hair away from pulling the plug on you. They can't have an auror on their staff who is hell-bent on killing anybody who has a warrant out for their arrest!"
"Nothing you can say will change my mind!"
"Maybe not…but someone I know surely can put a stop to all of this. Ginny?" Suddenly Harry realized that Hermione was pulling out all the stops. To stoop so low! He thought angrily to himself.
Ginny stepped inside the room. Pale, but determined, she looked into Harry's eyes. He shot a glance at her hair, a lock of which had turned grey; her permanent scar from a life threatening dose of the crucious curse. He went numb at the thought of a Death Eater inflicting her with such pain.
"Harry," said Ginny, "Hermione is right. We hear what the Ministry wants to do with you. They say you have a few loose screws. There is talk about sentencing you to a term at St. Mungos. They think you've gone insane!" Tears were flowing freely down Ginny's face. She had not seen Harry in quite some time, and was frightened by what she saw. Harry, who's sharp green eyes had always sparkled vividly, now were dull and tired looking. He seemed frail and worn out. Anger etched hard lines in his face, creating the illusion that he had gone mad. Ginny couldn't help but wonder, what if I had done something sooner?
"Ginny, this does not concern you. Nothing I do should concern either of you!"
"But it does Harry! We care about you. I…I care about you." At this, Harry looked away; he was never sure how long he could push Ginny away like this. "We all suffered because of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. We all understand how difficult it has been for you."
"HA! That's just it! You can't understand me; otherwise you would support my efforts!"
"HARRY!" Hermione admonished. "How dare you say that! Are your losses any more noble than ours? Ginny lost her best friend! I lost my fiance. Are you so quick to forget that Ron died in this war?" Silence fell at the mention of his name. Harry had not forgotten. In fact, Ron's death was fuel added to the flame. Yet, besides the pain now defined clearly in Hermione's eyes, she continued, "Ron took a killing curse for me. He pushed me out of the way saving my life. There isn't a day that goes by…" Hermione choked up; she couldn't stand to talk about it. Hermione pressed her hands to her eyes, unable to stem the flow of hot tears from escaping.
The thick silence swiftly became unbearable for Ginny. "Do you see, Harry?" She motioned towards Hermione. "She lost the love of her life; I don't want the same to happen to me. If you continue on this path, I will not be able to help you. Harry, I don't want to lose you."Though neither had admitted as much, both Harry and Ginny loved each other fiercely. Yet, Harry seemed bent on self-sabotage. It almost was as if he wanted to be killed.
"Ginny," Harry wisperred, "You can't help me. I do not want your help." He gave her a cruel look, a look that horrified her.
"NO! Don't say that! Harry…Harry…" Ginny crumpled to the floor; intense sorrow had weakened her. It was like a dementor was conquering her soul; her very life was tied to Harry's. Everyone but Harry himself knew this. Ginny's strength, sapped from the crucious curse, continued to leave her as Harry fled further into the darkness that surrounded him.
Hermione rushed to Ginny's side, pulling out a tissue and wiping away Ginny's tears. Neither noticed as Harry stood over them. A rushing sensation flooded Harry's entire body. He was fighting the urge to comfort Ginny; he knew that she was better off without him. All Harry wanted was to end their suffering, but he was going about it the wrong way.
Ginny…please…please just go." She looked up at Harry as if he had delivered a crushing blow to her head. She used every ounce of her strength to rise to her feet. As she made her way past Harry, Ginny grazed his hand with hers. Startled by human touch, he looked down at her. He suddenly realized if he continued to push her away, she would certainly die. Harry didn't know how he had not seen it before. Plagued by this notion, Harry grabbed her hand as he himself fell to his knees. As he wept silently at her feet, Harry felt warmth return to the hand that was once his. Ginny almost instantly began to regain her strength. Kneeling down to Harry, she kissed his forehead, and allowed him to embrace her. They remained in each others arms for what seemed like hours.
Hermione, who was glassy eyed and smiling, coughed lightly, returning her two friends to the present moment. She gave Harry her infamous, I told you so look, and smiled even wider when his face lit up with his own almost forgotten smile.
End Flashback
Ginny and Harry's happiness together always retained the bitter reality from the war, making them cherish their love for one another regardless of the consequences. Since his miraculous turnaround, Harry had given up his life as an auror, and applied for the cursed defense Against the Dark Arts position. Now, here he was 36 years later, and all he could do was think of the past. As Harry let sleep take over, he looked over at Ginny, and thanked for sticking with him. I love you.
Somewhere in London…"Hermione, do you really think what you did today was necessary?" Neville sounded pained as he said this. He knew she was too much of a fighter to let him win this battle.
"Nev, you said it yourself; when out in public I need to act like a muggle. As if I should have to be reminded. I am muggle-born you know." Hermione looked about their tiny flat, desperate fro an escape. She never liked fighting with Neville.
"Yes, but you apparated in front of muggle police."
"That building, until today, was deemed "safe" to use by our Ministry. Because of me other unsuspecting wizards won't try doing the same, unless they are outright insane."
"So now you consider your magical act a duty to our society? Please listen to yourself. You could have gotten into serious trouble."
"I am in serious trouble. Once I stand trial in muggle courts I'll have to face our court system. Do you think that I am proud of that?" In fact, Hermione was proud because she proved to the wizarding community just how dangerous the use of magic is now. Persecution of this sort hadn't occurred for several hundred years.
"That's exactly my point! Why didn't you disapparate when you realized what was happening? There is no protection for you in the muggle world. Who knows what they might try to convict you on." For once tonight, Neville had a point. Hermione didn't know what consequences lay ahead for her, but she would quickly find out. Hermione sat down on the couch and shut her eyes. She had not faced a fight such as this in years. The inevitability of it all brought back painful memories; memories she thought were well suppressed.
Flashback
The day was foggy at best, but it didn't make any difference. In fact, the fog quite possibly matched the mood surrounding the Burrow. Bill, Charlie, George, Fred, Mr. Weasley, and Harry all bore the weight of sadness as they mad their way to the modest family plot. Everyone looked lost as the men lowered their late brother, friend, confidant, fiance, Ronald Weasley, into the ground. Ginny held onto her mother, providing Mrs. Weasley the strength to witness her youngest son's burial. Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood kept a firm grip on Hermione, who was unable to function on her own; she could only look at the engagement ring Ron had given her two weeks before his death. As the ceremony began, Hermione allowed Neville to hold her. He kissed the top of her head and stroked hair, attempting to keep her calm. Harry gave him a sad look; Neville loved Hermione very much, this much he knew. Harry wondered what he was thinking. One of his best friends was being laid to rest, and now Neville was intent on ebbing Hermione's pain. Yet, she seemed too far gone in grief; would Hermione ever allow Neville to make her happy? At that moment, she gave out a loud cry, pulling on Neville's robes. He held her still more tightly, catching her tears before they fell down her waxen face. Everyone's sorrow was beyond comprehension. The ceremony, short as it was, left the entire group considerably more empty. They slowly made their way back to the house; all the while realizing how final Ron's death truly was.
End Flashback
It had been years, but Neville recognized the look on Hermione's face. She seemed neither here nor there, with glassy eyes just ready to spill over. When he touched her arm, she came out if it immediately.
"You know what Nev?" Hermione asked.
"What?"
"Grief, it never really goes away, does it?"
"I suppose not. I still hurt when I think of the war too. I don't think pain like that ever truly goes away. It just hides, and bides its time for when we are weak."
Hemione thought to herself, how is it that this man can be so insightful when he was once so obtuse? Why is he the one giving me advise? Things like Neville's wisdom were why Hermione came to love him. He was gentle and caring. Yet, above all else, he loved her for who she was, a trouble-maker always on the look out for a good fight.