DISCLAIMER: If I did own Harry Potter, BEEP wouldn't have died at the end of the 6th book and Harry would have killed BEEP.
A/N: Sigh Almost finished….so sad….
Chapter 29: Finding Love
Raven did not return for the rest of the school year. Harry walked around in a zombie like state. Everyone tried cheer him up but nothing worked. He missed her terribly.
No one questioned him about the events of that fateful night. They did, however, look up on him with curious eyes. Whispers followed him down the hallways of the school. More often than not, he found himself hiding out in Hermione's Head Girl dorm.
Finally the last day of school arrived. On one hand, Harry was sad to leave this place where he called 'home' for the past seven years now. But on the other hand, he was happy to be leaving this place where every eye followed him and memories of her lingered.
He just finished packing when Ron busted into his room. "We're done mate! No more homework. No more Snape. No more Malfoy. No more school."
Harry had to smile. "Maybe no more school, but training will start pretty soon."
Ron's smile fell. "I forgot about that."
"Come on, let's take our trunks down."
"Hermione's waiting on us," Ron told his best friend.
Ron wrinkled up his nose. "She also gave me a chewing out about not being completely packed and prepared. Honestly, you think that Bill would relax her a bit."
Harry laughed. "I don't think anyone could do that."
"Let's just go before she comes marching up here and yells some more."
"Okay."
Harry looked around the room one last time, memorizing every detail. "I'm going to miss this place."
"Yeah, me too." Ron walked out of the room leaving Harry to follow in his wake.
Harry grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage and headed out the door. He looked at everything for the last time, saying a silent goodbye.
Hermione was waiting for them by the front doors. Other students were milling about there, too, waiting for their friends before heading for a carriage to take them to the station to catch the Hogwarts Express which would take them to King's Cross.
The trio headed out the door and towards an empty carriage which was pulled by thestrals. They each cast one last look at the school before climbing into the carriage.
Before anyone knew it, they arrived at Platform 9 ¾. Harry got off the train and looked around for Lupin. He spotted him immediately and walked over to him.
"LUPIN!"
"Hello Harry," his former professor and guardian after Sirius' death greeted him. "How are you? Did you have a nice trip back? Any trouble?"
Harry was about to reply when something caught his eye. A solitary hooded figure stood in the corner watching him. A feeling deep inside his gut made him walk towards the figure.
As he approached the figure, it lowered it's hood. A smiled broke out across Harry's face.
"Raven."
"Hello Harry," she smiled back at him.
He hugged her close, afraid that if he let go, she'd disappear again. She held on to him too. It felt good to be close to him again, she thought.
He pulled back a little, his arms still locked around her, and looked down into her face. "Why did you leave?" he asked seriously, his eyes betraying his feelings.
She pulled back out of his embrace and wiped the hair out of her face. "I just couldn't face you….," she whispered to him, looking down at her clenched hands, "…not after everything I done."
Harry chuckled softly. "Everything can be forgiven Raven."
Raven shook her head sadly. "Not everything Harry."
He put a finger under her chin and made her look up at him. "Yes Raven, everything. It just may take a little while to learn to trust again."
Raven seemed uncertain of his words. She ran her hand through her wild hair and looked away. "And…er…do you think you'll ever be able to trust me again?"
Harry leaned forward and brushed her lips against hers. She was surprised by this but did not pull back. His lips teased hers and she responded.
Harry pulled back just a little so that he could look into her black eyes and smiled at her. "I'm willing to try if you are. But I need to know something first."
"Yes?"
"Why did you decide to save me?"
She smiled a little. "Because Harry, you saw past the mask I put on to protect myself. Behind the mask, I was just a girl in need of love. And because Harry," she paused and stared deeply into his emerald eyes, "I realized that I loved you."
Harry smiled genuinely and kissed her. "Good," he whispered against her lips. He gently nipped her lower lip between his teeth, teasing her. "Because I love you too."
A/N: Now you know where the name came from. Anyways…one more chapter to go and it will sort of wrap it all up. I don't know when it will be up cause I currently do not have internet. I'm begging my dad to get it fixed. Please review!
