Yay! FINAL CHAPTER! I know, I know, I said I wanted to end with 15, but I jsut couldn't get more than a page of ideas so this is it. I am starting a new story- so look for it :o)
Here's my last and final chapter for Away from the Dark . . . Enjoy ;o)
Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to the thriving Mrs. Rowling.
Hermione had been lying down upon her bed for at least an hour just wondering. She had managed to get Ginny to come home after a while, but the guilt had never left her. Hermione knew Ginny was upset and unsure once again, but she also knew that they would be okay. After their conversation on the train, Hermione understood that what Ginny was doing wasn't for Harry and Ron, it was for her. Hermione realized that Ginny had been contacting them for not only herself but also for Hermione. Hermione, just like Ginny is now, was in denial about Harry and Ron's safety issues, and Ginny was there for her. But now Hermione struggled with the idea of how she was supposed to be there for Ginny.
As Hermione thought about this, Ginny walked in.
"Hello Hermione, I just wanted to tell you that my mum said Dumbledore should be arriving soon." Ginny said with a smile on her face.
"I'm glad to see you in a better mood." Hermione said sitting up and smiling herself.
"Well I was really upset about yesterday when I woke up, but then it came to me." Ginny began, walking over and sitting next to the now upright Hermione "Harry wouldn't want me to be sad. He'd want me to be confident in him. Ron, I'm sure, feels the same." Hermione reached over and hugged Ginny.
As Hermione thought about what Ginny said she smiled at the thought of Ginny being mature. It seemed like Hermione was always the one to help her in her time of need, but when it was Hermione's turn to need help, Ginny stepped right in to help her.
"You're right." Hermione answered "Anyways, we should be happy, it's Christmas eve!"
- - - - - - - -
"So what do you recon we should do?" Ron asked after helping Harry onto a bench in the graveyard.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked puzzled.
"Well, we have two stunned deatheaters and one dead Voldemort. We also have no way to contact the ministry of magic, nonetheless get home." Ron said.
"Well as far as getting home, we're going to have to walk." Harry answered.
"If you haven't noticed, we're not going to be getting very far with that ankle." Ron said looking down at Harry's ankle.
"Oh yeah." Harry said laughing at his own forgetfulness.
"OH MY WORD!" an elderly woman's voice came from in front of them.
Harry suddenly stiffened up hoping that this woman hadn't seen anything as he stuffed his wand behind his back.
"Wow boy, you are a lot more than I expected I'll tell you that right now. Back when I met your parents they thought very highly of you, of course you were only a baby, but they knew you'd be special. And I'm sure you know Dumbledore thinks highly of you also, but I never thought I'd live to see the day the Dark Lord's demise!" The strange woman babbled.
"W-wait . . . who are you?" Harry said looking up towards the woman hovering over him and Ron.
"Oh dear me, here I go babbling again, I'm Margaret Hanson. I may be a squib like Mrs. Figg, I'm sure you know her Harry, but Dumbledore stationed me here to watch out for you and your parents fifteen years ago and I just never left. And it's a darn good thing I didn't! Dumbledore told me to watch out for you two but I never thought I'd have to contact the ministry to report that you've just finished off the Dark Lord! Oh my. What should we do about them? The folk will be up soon and this is the main road through Godric's Hollow." Mrs. Hanson repeated as she looked at what was left of the once most evil wizard alive.
"So you alerted the ministry?" Ron asked expectantly.
"Of course! Did you expect me to just leave you two alone? They should be showing up any minute no-" Mrs. Hanson said as a group of aurors suddenly appearated into the graveyard.
"Mrs. Hanson, what's going on?" Tonks asked looking wildly at the corpse of Voldemort and the two stunned deatheaters "What's happened?"
"I'll tell you what happened." Mad-eye-Moody interrupted as he walked towards Harry. "The boy's done it!" Moody slapped Harry on the shoulder and looked down on him "Knew he had it in him."
"Is that what really happened Harry?" Kingsley Shacklebolt asked just as shocked as Tonks.
"Yep." Ron answered for him as Harry slumped further into the bench.
"Alright well we'll take care of this. Tonks, how about you escort Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley to the burrow?" Shacklebolt asked as he took his wand out of his pocket and griped it.
"Uh, Harry hurt his ankle." Ron said as he pointed to Harry's ankle.
"I'll get that." Moody said with a flick of his wand, Harry's ankle was back to normal.
"Thanks." Harry answered gratefully
"Okay, Come on Harry . . . Ron." Tonks said as she helped Harry up and held each of their arms.
And suddenly, Harry felt the tightening feeling of appearating.
- - - - - - -
As Hermione and Ginny walked down the stairs they heard the ding of the doorbell.
"Hello Professor." Mrs. Weasley said as she opened and gestured for Dumbledore to come in.
"How many times must I tell you to call me Albus, Molly?" Dumbledore asked as he smiled, strolled in, and took a seat near the fireplace "Please excuse my tardiness Molly, I did not mean to be rude." Dumbledore said kindly.
"Oh it's quite aright Albus. I know how busy you are." Mrs. Weasley answered.
"Actually, that is not why I am late. I had received some thrilling news." Dumbledore said thankfully, as he took the cup of tea that Mrs. Weasley was offering him.
"Oh really? What might that be?" Mrs. Weasley said as she smiled at Hermione and Ginny as they also sat down, waiting to hear the news.
"Hello Hermione . . . Ginny. " Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling.
"Hello Professor." They answered excitedly.
"Anyhow, I have news about our Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore said as he looked into everyone's faces to see their expressions "They are quite alright, as to the Dark Lord, he isn't so well."
"You-you mean they're okay?" Ginny said almost jumping up and down in excitement.
"Precisely, they are due to arrive any moment now." Dumbledore said as the ding of the doorbell rang again "Speak of the devil."
Ginny and Hermione raced to the front door opening it to see Ron and Harry's smiling faces.
Out of excitement, Ginny ran up to Harry and lunged at him, knocking them outside onto the ground, set them rolling down a small hill, and where they stayed laughing and hugging.
"Thank god you're alright!" Ginny said as she hugged him tighter.
"Hello to you too." Harry said laughing as he hugged her back.
As they looked into each others eyes, Ginny leaned in and they kissed passionately for the first time. The feeling Harry had felt at Grimwauld Place was back in the pit of his stomach as they lay kissing for a few minutes.
Meanwhile, Hermione although hadn't tackled Ron like Ginny had, she rather just jumped into his arms as he spun her around in circles. Before he kissed her lovingly and hugged some more.
As Harry and Ginny walked back up the small hill holding hands, Hermione walked up to Harry and hugged him as Ginny did the same to Ron.
"I'm so glad you both are okay." Hermione said as she hugged Ron tightly again.
"Same here." Ginny said looking up at Harry, her eyes sparkling.
"Ron! Harry!" Mrs. Weasley said as she walked up to them and hugged them both at the same time.
"Hey mum." Ron said as he gasped underneath his mother's grip.
"What have you done with your hair? We'd better get those cuts taken care of. And when was the last time you've bathed?" Mrs. Weasley said as she made a funny face after smelling their hair.
"To the bathroom!" Mrs. Weasley said as she shoved Harry and Ron inside and they left to get cleaned up.
After getting cleaned up, Harry and Ron met everyone back in the living room.
As they all sat in front of the fire, staring into the flames, they sat silent. Harry and Ginny sat next to each other, while Ron and Hermione snuggled on the right of them.
"So would you care to tell us what happened the entire time you two had been gone?" Ginny asked keenly.
Harry looked up from the fire, to Ron then back to Ginny, while smiling.
"Ginny! Let them rest. They need not be interrogated tonight." Mrs. Weasley lectured.
"No it's alright. We'll have to tell everyone at some point anyhow." Harry said hastily as he set down his tea and took a deep breath. Realizing this would probably be the last time that he'd ever have to explain or tell of his adventures and fights with Voldemort.
So Harry and Ron told the story of what happened over the past weeks that they'd been on the run until coming to the graveyard.
"Then after reaching the graveyard with the group of deatheaters and Voldemort, we dueled, Priori Incantatem happened again, Ron died, and I finished him off. Then we met with Mrs. Hanson-"Harry said before being interrupted.
"W-wait . . . Ron died?" Mrs. Weasley said her eyes wide, and her face pale.
"Not really, Voldemort shot the incantation towards Ron, but some how missed, and Ron faked like he'd been hit." Harry explained casually as if telling a joke. While Mrs. Weasley merely fell back into her chair.
"Harry, might I have a word?" Dumbledore asked as Harry nodded and stood up, following him to the kitchen. Ron's voice could still be heard from the kitchen, his telling in detail of the story.
"I just wanted to tell you how very proud I am of you. As I have told you before, you have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected from you. Your parent's would be just as proud also." Dumbledore concluded with a pat on the shoulder as they resumed their original seats.
Ron and Harry exchanged glances and looked back into the fire as everyone digested the story. Harry suddenly felt as though someone was looking at him as he looked up to see once again, Dumbledore's smiling face and his twinkling eyes. As Dumbledore looked swollen with pride, Harry nodded and looked back into the fire thinking. With the telling of his story, Harry realized this is the end. It's finally over. The feeling sunk in as he relaxed and laid back into the couch, still watching the flames as they danced in the fireplace.
And? Please leave me your final thoughts and critics :o)---- Merry Christmas Everyone (Hanuaka, Kwanza etc. . .)