Chapter 33: The Days Following

Harry felt tired as he made his way back to the sleeping area. He had expected someone to stop him on his way to a bed, a student asking questions or maybe a professor wanting to speak with him. He only received looks, however, as he strode across the vast hall in search of an empty cot. Had somebody told them to leave Harry alone? He didn't dwell on the thought; he had enough to consider as it was.

Harry knew that Hermione was right; she always was. He also knew that he had been correct as well. Voldemort had to be stopped, this was true; but maybe this wasn't the right time. Maybe it really wasn't his job. What made some woman he had never met have the right to declare his future before he was even born? Harry shook his head, tossing the question from his mind. In the world of wizardry, divination held a heavy role.

Harry slumped down on top of the blankets in a desolate corner of the room. He wanted to be alone with his thoughts. With his hands behind his head, he stared at the ceiling. There was nothing spectacular about it, just mere gray paint; paint that he could get lost in. The monotony of the color took Harry's mind away from the buzzing of the distant conversations around him, all he could hear was himself. Hermione really had been right, but he would not admit that to her. He knew he should, but his pride told him not to; at least not until she admit that he had a point in wanting to finish Voldemort once and for all.

Harry realized how stupid and immature he was being. He started going over lines in his head: "Hey, Hermione…how ya doing?" Harry almost coughed at even imagining saying something so dumb. "Listen, sweety" Harry chuckled; that would just not do. "Hermione, we were both right and wrong." He knew that this was a good start, but before he could even continue his thought, his exhaustion caught up with him and he drifted off to sleep.

Harry was walking along the lake on the Hogwarts grounds. It was a beautiful day, without a cloud in the sky, but he didn't feel the need to shield his eyes from the glaring sun. This is what made Harry aware that he was dreaming. Nevertheless, he continued his stroll; feeling totally at ease.

"Hello, Harry." It was Dumbledore.

"I'm dreaming aren't I? But you're real," Harry questioned.

"Yes."

"Legilimency?"

"Yes. I've come into your dream, mostly because we are less emotional as we sleep. I figured you would rather talk away from the real world where you would have felt pressured," Dumbledore said.

Harry nodded, not entirely because he wanted to speak with Dumbledore, but because he had a point. Harry did feel relaxed and he also knew that speaking with him outside of a dream would have probably been unpleasant.

"So professor, what…?" Harry wasn't even sure of what he was asking.

"You know Voldemort is alive," Dumbledore said. "You also know that you must face him. Now is not the time, I'm afraid. You may think it is because the Dark Lord must be incredibly weak, but he will be impossible to find."

Harry nodded again, although he somewhat disagreed.

"I know you don't concur," Dumbledore said. Harry looked up. "Legilimency," he added. "I know what you're thinking."

Harry felt uncomfortable, and he knew that Dumbledore understood that.

"I'm sorry if you don't like me imposing on your mind, but there are some things we should cover," Dumbledore said.

"Okay."

"Listen to Hermione and Ron. They are your strongest allies. Not just because of their magical abilities, but because of their indestructible loyalty. Be patient with them and with yourself. The battle against Voldemort shouldn't take place when you're only sixteen. There is so much you still must learn, though you already know so much. I am most surprised by how you captured the essence of Light Magic so early in your life, but do not let that fool you into believing that you have mastered it."

"What happened after I left Hogwarts?" Harry asked. "I mean, with the Serpents of Salazar and the Death Eaters and the Serpents Stone."

"The Death Eaters are in Azkaban awaiting fair trial. The Serpents Stone is safe. The Serpents of Salazar is another issue; they are just students, after all."

"Students fighting against us!" Harry said.

"That may be true. They are against us. But remember that they are just followers of an ideal. Just because that ideal clashes with yours doesn't make it wrong."

"They tried to kill us!" Harry was getting angry.

"As you tried to kill them, Harry."

Harry was struck dumb. Dumbledore couldn't be saying that the Serpents of Salazar would go without prosecution.

"They will be punished," Dumbledore said. "But the punishment is not for me to decide. By the rules of Hogwarts, the only thing they did was use magic against another student outside of the classroom; the same thing you did. They didn't even fight against the teachers. I think they were too afraid to. From what the Minister said, they will most likely be sent to rehabilitation camp over this summer. She believes that most of them were merely afraid to go against the Slytherin House. In part, I think she is right. There are some, however, that I do believe cannot change their ways."

"Malfoy?"

"Perhaps."

"He's clearly dark, Professor. He's tried to kill me, like, three times!" Harry was surprised at how that sound exaggerated, but at the same time, it remained true.

"You've broken your fair share of laws, Harry. As has he. That little battle you two had over Christmas holiday was against many rules of Underage Wizardry. It's hypocritical to persecute one whose offences are the same as yours," Dumbledore said.

"Whose side are you on?" Harry asked.

"I am being fair. I, of course, favor the Light Side, if that's what you mean. Malfoy is lost on his own path. He, like many others, could be saved before it's too late."

Harry didn't know what to say.

"Harry, please don't speak of what happened this evening at Hogwarts to anyone who wasn't there. There is a time and place for everything, Harry, just try not to go looking for this time and place; it will come to you."

Harry woke up. He suspected that Dumbledore had let him. Looking around he saw that many of the students were sleeping soundly. Harry glanced at his watch, the one that Hermione had given to him for his birthday that past summer. It was five o'clock in the morning. Harry rubbed his eyes, no longer feeling tired. He got up and walked out of the room, looking for any place that seemed comfortable. He went back to the room that he and Hermione had been in hours before. As he expected, it was empty. Harry sat down and waited for some kind of inspiration to come to him; he didn't quite know what to do with himself.

"Hey, Harry?" came Parvati Patil's voice from behind him. Harry whipped around in his chair to look at her. The Patil twins were renowned in Hogwarts for being beautiful, and Harry had always understood why. Their blond hair was always done in the greatest care, and their make-up was flawless. Tonight, however, Parvati looked a terrible mess. Harry could see that she had slept very little, and had probably not consulted a mirror in many hours.

"Parvati, hi," Harry said. It was all he could muster. After all, he had just led her best friend to her death. Parvati sensed his guilt.

"Listen, it's not your fault. I just wanted you to know that, I guess," she said to her feet. Harry didn't know what to say. "Lavender was always a little…I dunno…zealous. That must sound awful. She really likes to feel needed."

"We did need her," Harry said.

"I'm glad. I'm glad for her, that she…died…doing something she wanted to do."

"What did she want to do after graduation?" Harry wasn't sure what had compelled him to ask that. He just felt curious and interested to know.

"Oh gosh," Parvati sighed. She sat down next to Harry. "She was always changing her mind. At first, she wanted to be just like Professor Trelawney." Harry couldn't help but to chuckle. He had always considered his former Divination professor to be somewhat insane and inept at her job. Parvati smiled as well. "After that, she wanted to be a doctor at St. Mungo's. This past year, she wanted to be a Quidditch player of all things. Then, she even considered becoming an Auror." Harry was surprised to hear that. "You really changed her, Harry."

Harry didn't know whether that was good or bad. At his look of insecurity, Parvati continued.

"I had never seen Lavender so happy than how she was this year. She loved going to the DA meetings. She loved playing Quidditch. She was thrilled at being allowed to go with you to Malfoy Manor to save Ron's brother. She was scared, of course, but afterwards she'd be on an adrenaline high for days," Parvati said, smiling.

Harry felt glad that he had given Lavender a chance to experience her life as she chose, even though it had ended in tragedy.

"I'm really sorry, Parvati," he said. Parvati looked into his eyes.

"Don't be."

Harry could see that she was struggling not to cry. Harry took her hand in his and gave it a small squeeze. Parvati smiled.

"She died happy. I know she did," Parvati said. "I'm sure she wishes that she hadn't died so young, but I know that she'd have rather died young and happy than old and miserable."

Harry could only nod.

"I know you feel awkward," Parvati said. "We should get some sleep. I'll see you later."

Parvati got up and left, leaving Harry alone.

The next few days passed by in a blur. The students knew that something terrible had happened, and word soon spread about Lavender Brown. Nobody was talking to Harry. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville weren't speaking to each other, either. Dumbledore had mentioned that the school would be safe to enter as soon as the Ministry had finished their investigation. Harry was looking forward to returning to Hogwarts; it would be easier to be alone there.

Harry didn't really want to isolate himself. He just didn't know what to say to his friends. He still hadn't spoken with Hermione, but she didn't look prepared to speak to him. Every time he caught her eyes, she'd avert them to the floor. Harry decided that he'd give her space until she was ready to talk.

The students returned to Hogwarts by Floo, going in large numbers by instruction of the teachers. By coincidence, Harry and Hermione were in the same group, forcing them close together.

"Listen…Hermione, I've been meaning to say-" Harry started.

"It's okay, Harry. Don't say anything."

"So are we…still…together? Y'know, like a couple?" he asked. Hermione looked up at him in surprise; she hadn't expected him to ask to bluntly.

"I…need to think on it," she said. Harry respected that.

Hogwarts looked just as they had left it, the only difference being the absence of a number of students. By this point, the entire student body was aware of the Slytherins secret society against the Light, and that they were being sent to camp. The students were divided on whether or not they thought that this was proper punishment against the Slytherins, but at least they accepted it.

That night in Gryfindor Tower, Harry sat with Ron by the fire.

"So, heard you and 'Mione hit a rough spot," Ron said casually.

"Yeah, I guess we did," Harry replied.

"I wouldn't worry about it, mate. Hermione's rubbish without you."

"You really think so?"

"I know so. Speak of the devil, there she is. Better take my leave then. Good luck," Ron said, departing as Hermione arrived. Hermione sat next to Harry.

"I thought on it," she said. Harry tried not to seen too anxious.

"Yeah?"

"Well, the thing is," Hermione said. "I'm rubbish without you."

"So this means…"

"Do I need to spell it out for you, Mr. Potter?" she mocked. "I still kind of like you."

Harry laughed, remembering that those words made up his pick-up line so many months ago.

"Good, because I still kind of like you, too."