HP Life after Hogwarts
Chapter 17
Reminiscing
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I know longtime no chapter, but here you go it's a little insight into their sixth year and someone that Remus wants to see six feet under is skulking around...
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Harry, it's going on five in the morning. What are you doing?" Hermione found him working at his desk in the study. He had piles of papers and stacks of books all over his desk and seemed focused on what he was currently typing into the computer's word processing program. "You can finish your brainstorm after you've gotten some sleep. This is becoming a habit with you lately." She reached over and shut off the monitor.
Harry glanced up to look at who had just turned off the monitor and blinked up at her in surprise. "Oh hello Darling, I saw to the girls, then inspiration struck me, and I had to run with it. I'm on what will eventually be chapter ten where you and Ginny tried to normalize Luna." He reached for the mug next to the computer and took a sip of hot chocolate.
"We did not try to normalize Luna. Just tone down her appearance a bit…" Hermione frowned at him. "How could you possibly know all of that? We were in the girl's dorm and it was off-limits to all of you."
"You wrote in your journal, which you gave to me to read for our book. It's so detailed that I just transfer your words to the computer, integrate my thoughts with your own and it's ten thousand times better than anything Jo came up with. Now when I add Ginny, Luna, Ron, and Draco's journals then this will be a masterpiece." Harry pointed to the stack of books all over his desk.
"You mean to tell me that you've been incorporating everyone's thoughts as well as our own?" Hermione wasn't so sure if she was keen on this project anymore. "I thought we were going to write this together that it was going to be the two of us working on this."
"That was the original idea at first, but then I wanted it to portray not only our points of view, but everyone else's as well. I didn't want it to be all about us. Jo is releasing that version of the story. I wanted this to be unique not just echo's of what happened or of what she wrote in her version of the events." Harry had thought that she'd be thrilled about his brainstorm, but gauging the look on her face he was sorely mistaken. She was toasted at him about not running his idea by her first.
"You have everyone's journals from that year…" Hermione picked up a thick book with Albus Dumbledore 2003-2004 inscribed in gold on the binding. "And you didn't tell me?" She set that one down to pick up another, then another. There were journals from nearly every member of the family. "I was under the assumption that we were writing this book together, but it seems as though you have other ideas in mind." She couldn't disguise the venom and hurt in her tone or eyes.
Harry's eyes widened in alarm, because that was the last thing that he had expected her to do and she had it all wrong.
"Now before you get your fur ruffled anymore let me clear-the-air between us. We are writing this book together. This is just a rough draft of exerts from the journals that we can use to integrate into a manuscript that will tell the whole story of our sixth year. I would never shut you out, because you and I are a team." Harry switched on the screen, so she could see that he was telling her the truth. "I've mapped out chapters by date. I'm on our first Hogsmeade visit of sixth year. Ron finally noticed Luna, even though he was currently into chasing Lavender Brown. Obviously, it was also when Draco took notice of Gin. I placed it as chapter ten."
"You were asleep on your feet that day. Now I know that you were sleepwalking, because of your nightly training with Moody, Tonks, and the others." Hermione looked down at the open journals that he had placed all around him. Remus, Moody, Kingsley, Tonks, Charlie, and Bill had all been at The Three Broomsticks that afternoon sharing a pint with Remus. It had floored a few of them that Harry was on his feet, seemingly alert, and unaffected by his nightly jaunts. They had voiced their thoughts on this in their private journals. It also noted that some of them were in contact with Stephen during this time; in fact he was sitting there with them, cloaked by an invisibility cloak. "Your grandpa was there both at the Pub, the Shrieking Shack, and Hogwarts as well."
"Fascinating isn't it. He was there and I never once had a clue. He had been watching over me all of my life from the shadows and I was so caught up with trying to stay alive that I never even noticed him on the map." Harry raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"This is why we need to do this together. All of it is beginning to get to you…This isn't supposed to make you go all dark and broody. I will not allow you to tear yourself apart over something that's in the past." Hermione paced in front of the desk. "Now save where you are, shut it down, and let's go check on the girls."
"It's not that angel…It's the pride that everyone had in me that tears me up. How can all of them have so much faith in a sixteen-year-old kid? I was so scared that I was gonna bungle everything up and cause the downfall of our world because of it. Confused, as hell. These feelings about one of my best friends had started to haunt my dreams and thoughts, for reasons that were far from being innocent. It was terrifying that for the first time in five years I was gonna have to rely on my own intelligence to get me through to the end." Harry it down for the night. "The day of the Hogsmeade visit was like late summer. You came down from the dorms with your hair in a french-braid, in a pink sweater, and jeans that fit you to distraction. My mind shut down for a while and in fact it happened a lot that day."
"You had this far-off glazed over dazed look in your eyes and it took me spraying a cool mist from my wand to snap you out of it." Hermione found herself cuddled in his arms. "You went catatonic just like Wills did when he saw Rory. Oh baby, that's so sweet..."
"Yeah, I did that quite a few times that year." Harry kissed her nose. "The worst times were when I was training with the others or in a session with Uncle Albus. My mind would wander to my favorite moment of you for the day at the most untimely times and they just chalked it up to them working me to hard."
"I'm with you always and that's never changed. You just took a longtime to realize it." She cuddled closer to him. "I love it that I haunted your dreams and thoughts. So Wolfe, when did this epiphany begin to occur in your mind?" She tilted her head back so she was looking into his eyes.
"I think it started in gradual stages, like when you were petrified, or when you were underwater during the second task. Can't forget how smashing you looked at the Yule Ball. It became obvious after you got hurt at the Ministry of Magic. I just didn't see it until later that summer." Harry closed his eyes and in seconds the two of them were back in their bed snuggled under the covers.
"It was the afternoon that Bill and Charlie came to spring me for the last time from the Dursley's. They left my keepers with something to remember them by for calling me rubbish. Charlie set off a Dragon-dung bomb in the parlor. Bill's idea of punishment was to turn Uncle Vernon into a swine. Aunt Petunia grabbed Charlie's wand and used magic for the first time in her life to protect Dudley, with I believe it was a shield charm, but it was useless he was still transfigured into an enormous hog. Aunt Petunia reacted to that by trying to use magic a second time on Bill, but he transfigured her into an ostrich. When I think of it, considering that she had this really long neck, seemed like the perfect choice." Hermione was laughing so much that she had tears streaming down her cheeks, so he paused telling his tale until she had caught her breath. "They completed the scene by conjuring mud for them to wallow in and a pile of sand for Aunt Petunia to hide her head."
"You said that everything went fine when they collected you. Why didn't you tell us about that?" Hermione finally composed herself enough to speak.
"Well…Charlie and Bill had gone above and beyond with their actions, so we kept it quiet, so as not to get them into hot water with the Ministry." Harry sat up, so he could conjure a glass of water for her to drink. "Are you better now, because I'm not gonna continue if you're gonna pass out from lack of oxygen do to excessive laughing."
"No…I'm fine answer the question."
"To my surprise Uncle Albus was in the ministry car with Kreacher and Dobby. He was there to see if all was well with me and to tell me that I would be undergoing extensive training from the others and from him during my sixth year. He was also there to tell me that I had inherited the Black family fortune and with it the ownership of an ornery Kreacher. I wasn't pleased about the situation either, but after a lengthy lecture from Uncle Albus, I decided that reforming Kreacher was the best way to deal with him. I set down the ground rules that eventually made him into what he is today. I ordered him to mind his manners, treat us all with respect, and to never betray us again. It was during this ride through the country that they told me it was decided that I needed time away from number twelve, so everyone was camping out at a secure and safe location. I wasn't in the mood to have any fun, was still smarting over the loss of Uncle Sirius, and the revelation of what I was destined to do that being kill Voldemort. It was then that I got the shock of my life. My pocket was talking to me." Harry chuckled when Hermione gave him a look.
"Your pocket talked to you?"
"Yes Mione, I had the two-way mirror in my pocket and had forgotten all about it. I guess I shoved it into my jacket after I repaired it with my wand. I took it out of my pocket and there was Uncle Sirius's face growling at me to stop kicking myself over something that wasn't my bloody fault. I dropped the mirror in my lap and stared down at it as if it had bitten me. I mean this wasn't possible. Uncle Sirius was gone forever and I'd been told this by everyone. Uncle Albus explained that because Sirius had been carrying the mirror in his pocket that it was now possible for him to communicate with me through it. Now that was the best news that I had heard in weeks and it felt good to know that I still had a way of talking to him again. I guess it never dawned on me that if he could talk to me then so could my parents, so when Dad's face replaced Uncle Sirius' I think my heart stopped and then started again. He told me to focus on the serious stuff later and to try to enjoy the rest of my summer break, because even chosen one's needed R&R every once in a while. He seemed enthused that you and I had found each other again. I told him that we were just friends. And he muttered something like doesn't know a good thing when it's right in front of his face. Mum told me the same thing. Only there were other things besides adventure, like exploring ones feelings or following ones heart. I guess they were both referring to you, but I was too clueless at the time to figure that out myself."
Hermione was thrilled that they had all been on her side the entire time and that in turn may have helped her win him over in the end. "Go on tell me what happened next."
Harry rested his chin on her head and sighed. "I got to chat with them for a while until just before we arrived at the campsite. I got out of the car, looked over at the lake, and there you were coming out of the water in a sapphire blue bathing suit. You looked up and this smile lit up your face when you saw me. I lost all ability to think let alone speak when you raced over to me. Time seemed to stand still when you threw yourself at me, I instinctively caught you in my arms, and you went to hug me. I think Bill, Charlie, and Uncle Albus saw all the signs, but they just stood there and watched it all take place."
"I remember that you seemed not yourself that day, but I chalked it up to you still hurting over the loss of Sirius. That explains why you insisted that it was safer in numbers whenever I tried to get you alone to talk about what was bothering you. It had nothing to do with numbers it had everything to do with not wishing to be alone with me." Hermione giggled.
"Hey, it's not funny. I took like hundreds of cold showers that summer and it didn't help that Aunt Molly, Fleur, or even Tonks commented on how you were blooming into a beautiful young woman then asked my opinion about it. I believe I reacted by agreeing with them then going for a long swim in the lake." Harry cuddled her closer.
"I didn't realize that you were having feelings for me until that time under the tree. You pulled me up to my feet, I lost my footing, you caught me in your arms, and time stood still while the two of us held each other's hands and stared up into each other's eyes." She sighed as she opened the locket that she rarely took off, to gaze down at the picture of the two of them under the tree.
"That was a special moment until those Deatheater's went and spoiled it all by crashing our holiday. Although, that little three wand attack that we did was beyond impressive, after that it was back to number twelve, and then off to Hogwarts." Harry yawned sleepily.
"Oh that and other things," Hermione smiled secretly.
"Hmm…" Harry was just about to sleep.
"Nothing Wolfe, let's get some sleep." She let the subject go for now.
"Night angel…love you…" He was fast asleep.
"I love you to my prince." She settled off to sleep.
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Harry, free of his cast, was off on his morning run when something that hadn't happened in months occurred; his scar was reacting to something or someone nearby.
What the hell! Harry grabbed at his head as hot searing pain shot through it.
"Damn it to bloody hell, I hate it when my instincts are right!" He surveyed his surroundings, but there was no one in sight. He was standing right in front of his Uncle and Aunt's summer home. "This can only mean that, Fenrir Greyback is on the prowl and looking for revenge…" The pain was so intense that he had to sit down on the lawn.
Jenna having seen her nephew in extremes raced out the front door of her home. "Harry are you all right? What's wrong? Do I need to call the others?"
Harry looked up at his Aunt. "That's not necessary Aunt Jen. I just needed to sit for a few minutes." He tried to keep his voice cool and relaxed, but it was difficult, it felt like his head was coming off.
"You look like your suffering from a nasty migraine, now up with you so we can go into the house, and get you something for the pain." Jenn planted her hands on her hips and glared down at him.
"It's not a migraine Aunt Jen…" Harry muttered under his breath.
"What do you mean by that Harry James?" Jenna frowned.
Harry raked his fingers through his hair in frustration revealing his angry red scar. "Does that answer your question? Now please go see to the twins. I have to go have a chat with my Dad." Harry vanished from the lawn.
Jenn ran back into her home and locked it down tight. "His scar can only mean that something very bad is prowling around Godric's Hollow." She ran up the stairs to check on the twins.
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James, Max, and Sirius were trying to get a handle on a problem that was becoming near epidemic in both the Wizarding and Muggle worlds. There were a rash of attacks involving werewolves in the UK and all over Europe many of which resulted in the mutilation or in worse cases the death of the victims.
"This has Fenrir Greyback's signature written all over it!" Sirius snarled.
"So, it would seem and he's amassed a massive amount of followers." James felt that something was up with Harry, but was too caught up in this mess to go find out what. "Hogwarts is going to have to go on lockdown at night again at least until we round them up."
"It's already done. Remus was out in the Dark Forest when he caught scent of an all too familiar stench." Max was placing pins on a large map on the wall depicting all the attacks in the UK and in Europe. "I was there talking to Dad when he came stalking into his office ranting the Son of a Bitch was back and how dare he set foot on the school grounds. It didn't help that Bastion, Bree, Alan, Binky, Ami, and Sean are being handfuls and driving them all insane."
"So, I've heard. They really are trying to live up to being the next marauders." Sirius smirked.
"You should never have put that in their heads." James glared at him.
"What's with you Prongs?" Sirius frowned.
"Nothing this whole situation stinks and I can't get this feeling out of my head that…" James didn't get to complete what he was trying to say, because Harry appeared in front of him. It was clear that something was up, because he looked like he was in pain.
"Mental note, next time I'll wait for my scar to stop killing me before trying to go see you. It took me four tries to get the destination correct." Harry collapsed in one of the overstuffed leather chairs.
James was out of his chair and kneeling in front of his son in seconds. "Padfoot go get me some pain potion."
"Got it one pain potion coming right up," Sirius left their office.
"It's no use...no amount of pain potion makes it go away." Harry groaned. "It hasn't acted like this in months... I came to see you to tell you that it flared up to unbearable strength when I was in front of Uncle Remus and Aunt Gene's summer place."
Sirius dropped the pain potion that he had in his hand and swore. "Jen and the kids…"
"Are fine Uncle Sirius, she saw me sit down in the grass, and went to check on me. I got frustrated and she got a good look at my forehead before I vanished…" Harry's stomach felt queasy and he had to race to the private bathroom in their office before he got sick all over the floor.
"Poor kid this takes a lot out of him." Max sighed.
Rory walked in with a dark pink potion and looked around for her brother. "Uncle Sirius took the wrong strength pain potion, so where is he?"
"Getting sick in the bathroom," James wasn't surprised that Rory was there checking on her little brother all of them have links to one another.
"I DID NOT ASK FOR THIS FUCKING CURSE!!" Harry stalked out of the bathroom not miserable, but in a full-blown temper.
"No you didn't, but then one can't change their destiny no matter how much they wish to." Rory handed him the potion.
"It won't work!" He snarled at his sister, but took the potion anyway. "Nothing works it has to…" The pain in his head subsided to a dull ache. "Thank the gods someone came up with pain medicine that actually works on me." His temper vanished.
"Hermione came up with the formula and Dromi decided to make a batch this morning." Rory grinned, "I'm glad it worked."
"It more than worked." Harry was now focused on the map on the wall. "So, it looks as if this new threat has been busy."
"That's putting it mildly." Rory rolled her eyes at him. "They've been on a rampage all over Europe and the UK, not that any of this matters, you're on family leave."
"If it affects me directly and is a threat to what's mine then hell yes it matters." Harry narrowed his eyes at his sister.
"You have the foundation, the book, and your pet project to work on let us handle this one." Rory reached up and patted him on the head. "Besides, you're rusty and would probably end up getting hurt or something."
"Katherine Aurora that is enough." James stopped this before the two of them got into it with each other. "If it affects Godric's Hollow and Hogwarts then Harry is in a need to know situation. The fact that it physically affected him to the point of severely activating his scar makes it personal for him."
"What's personal for who and why's Harry here?" Draco walked into the office with Logan and Mac.
"Fenrir Greyback and his pack are on the prowl. Harry was over by Remus' summer place and his scar went ape-shit on him." Sirius filled him in.
"That's one mean bastard that we're talking about." Draco arched a brow at Harry. "Are we talking like when we were in school bad?"
"We're talking Voldemort level bad, so he must be one sick bastard." Harry nodded. "I've got to get back to Hermione keep me told." He vanished.
"I hope that he's wrong that's one dark thing that I wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley." Logan frowned.
"He and my father were friends or associates. That thing did a lot of the dirty work for the Dark Lord. It looks as if he's trying to exact payback." Draco looked at the map.
"Remus is certain that it's him, but we have yet to positively ID the bastard." Max growled.
"I don't know about you, but Harry's scar is proof enough for me." Sirius growled.
"I'll go to Dad with what we've come up with and up the security around Godric's Hollow. When he does make his move we'll be ready for him." James growled.
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Chapter 18
Dark Moon rising
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I do not claim any of JKR's characters only that I love being able to create my own kind of mischief with her beloved characters. I do not claim any other things that are owned by other companies that I may mention once and a while in the stories...Although the original characters and ideas are mine and I loved creating them. So please review if you wish but try not to flame me too badly.
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Cindra 2004-2008