Days went by at Hogwarts and things continued on.
To some it was a blessing and others a bloody shame that pain and suffering of others could be forgotten and life just go back to normal. But that was Avalon distilled down to its purest element: the ability of its people to move on from tragedy.
Or utterly forget about them and continue on as if they had never happened.
Such skill served them well many times. The Great War had been an utter nightmare for all those that fought in it. Entire stretches of Kalos and Sinnoh had been transformed into pit-filled landscapes of death where the bodies of enemies and allies lay together in twisted piles. The skies had always seemed gray or a muted orange and the only thing worse than the constant blasts of Pokemon attacks upon fortified areas was the silence that would sometimes come moments before the next devastation would occur. Brave men on both sides would resort to the most vile and depraved jokes and jests but that was only because reality was so utterly dark that even their black humor seemed like a child's nursery rhyme compared to the savagery of that conflict.
And it wasn't any better for those left behind. Rich families would sell all they had in order to get a Pokemon that knew Barrier just to protect them should a blitzkrieg strike occur upon their lands. Within the cities women and children toiled away building the weapons of war or drafted to help train Pokemon that they had no hope of forming a lasting bond with for they were destined to be heading to the Front to assist in the war effort. In the beginning they sobbed as dear friends were returned to Pokeballs that were packed by the crateful to head into soldiers' hands; but the end eyes were so glassy and dull from the constant loss that it didn't even register anymore that this went against everything when it came to the partnership of humanity and Pokemon. And then, once one was done toiling on an assembly line or training the next cannon fodder to be sent to their doom, they would trudge home and look in the mailbox to see just which member of their family had been slaughtered now.
The War stretched on so long that it became impossible to tell if it were one grand war or smaller ones that were being lumped together. Soldiers would have a chance to go home, it would seem that all was settled, only for a new conflict to flare up and drag all of existence into its maw. It was little wonder then that many people throughout the world during those dark years, be they soldiers or those waiting back home, would go to bed and simply never wake up again. The agony of those times sapped their strength away.
And yet when the war finally came to an end the soldiers returned home, kissed their sweethearts, got jobs and forgot all about how horrible the war was. They suppressed everything until it was like a bad story they'd read in school that they preferred not to discuss and that was that. Life continued on.
During the Avalon Civil War everyone was afraid to walk the streets. They didn't leave their homes unless they had to. Neighbor would look at neighbor and wonder what side they were on. Could they trust them? Or did they secretly wear the masks and robes of Team Nocturne and long for the day that Voldemort stood within the halls of the Elite 4 and declared that his new age had finally begun? Was a friend one who felt it was the right of all to have Pokemon… or only those deemed 'worthy' by the madman? And it wasn't just neighbors. Brothers. Sisters. Cousins. Aunts and Uncles. Parents. Wives. Children. None could be trust for they never knew who had sided Nocturne. Men would go to bed with Pokeballs clutched in their hands in case their wives attempted to kill them in their sleep for being traitors to Voldemort's grand vision of Elitism. Mothers would kiss their children goodbye and wonder if while at Hogwarts they were being recruited to join a side. A child would emerge from their house with shell-shocked eyes, the blood of their parents on their hands after they had fought tooth and nail against their relatives to survive an attack of conflicting views.
And yet when Lily Potter gave her life to end the threat of Voldemort everything returned to normal. It didn't matter if your neighbor had tortured innocents… the Ministry was preaching forgiveness, Dumbledore was begging for peace, and those on the other side were quick to lie and claim they had o choice; thus the people of Avalon were all too willing to embrace that. They shook hands, invited them for Solstice Dinner, and ignored the old black robe that was hanging in their closet.
The same was true for Hogwarts when it came to moving on. A professor was killed trying to take a legendary Pokeball? People wondered if finals would be canceled. A legendary Pokemon petrified several people? Hand them notes so they could cram before exams. Harry Potter turned into a giant bird to fight the Lord of Sevii's deranged brother? Pass the ketchup, this meatloaf is dry. The Grand Trainer Tournament ended with the Johtoians murdering a bunch of people? Well… that one actually did get remembered because they were foreign scum. Forgive a fellow national, sure, but never those heathens. But everything else was forgotten.
There were classes to take. Gauntlet Matches to watch. People to snog. Pranks to pull. Homework to do. Life continued on.
So while the Great Hall filled with some buzz with the knowledge that one of the First Years had tried to kill herself soon she was forgotten, with even those few that felt bad for not being friendly with her forgetting she existed. There was no time to learn a lesson because it was just easier to repress it. And Harry Potter deciding to disappear, not being spotted in Hogwarts for a month? Just the same old, same old.
Thus Prof. Flitwick, on that early spring day, taught his Pokeball making class as he always did. They were learning how to take Pokeballs that had been broken out of by strong Pokemon and rebuild them. Part of it was for a practical sense, as if a ball was rebuilt then it could be reused again, thus saving the trainer money. In fact in many regions trainers didn't even try and retrieve Pokeballs that had failed to capture a Pokemon and an Avalon trainer could make a lot of money during their travels selling off the repaired balls to shops. The other part of it was to better understand the workings of a Pokeball. Seeing how one succeeded taught much; what taught more was to see how it had failed. For Pokeballs didn't break the same and seeing the different types of damage let one understand why a toss might fail and what they could do to prevent it.
The Ravenclaw/Gryffindor mixed class continued on, the final minutes of the class ticking down as Flitwick made the rounds one more time before returning to his desk.
"Alright, time will be up in about 3 minutes. Finish up your work and turn them in for inspection. Don't worry if you didn't complete the assignment… I'd rather have half a job done right than a completed job that won't work. Remember that speed isn't important with Pokeballs, quality is." He paused as Ron walked up and handed him a fixed Pokeball… then another… and another… and then three move. "Well, speed doesn't hurt, I suppose."
The rest of the class slowly came up and passed over their Pokeballs. Neville's was almost done, just needing a few final tweaks, while Hermione was the very last one to come up and hers wasn't even a fourth of the way done but Prof. Flitwick could tell that not only were the pieces she HAD finished done properly they were stronger than they had when first used. On one hand it was rather impressive how dedicated she was to improving upon the ball… on the other he couldn't help but wonder if said dedication translated to everything she did and if that would mean that every Pokemon she encountered would be long gone before she could even send out her first Pokemon.
It was 30 seconds away from class ending when an Alakazam appeared before the professor, handed him a Pokeball, and disappeared with a flash. The first time that had happened a month ago he'd been startled. The second time he'd been annoyed and refused to accept the assignment. Now though? Now he took it without even a second glance and motioned for the students to head on out.
Harry Potter leaping out of the Headmaster of Hogwart's window and disappearing from Hogwarts, turning assignments in via his Alakazam? Just the new normal after a week and a half.
"Okay, this has gone on long enough," Hermione complained as she, Neville, and Ron stood out in the hall, slinging their backpacks over their shoulders, books tucked under their arms and tools safely packed away.
The new normal… except for those few that saw him as their dear friend.
"We need to find Harry and we need to talk to him," she said. "We need to know that he is doing okay and also make sure he knows that we are on his side."
"You're right," Neville said with a firm nod. "We've given him plenty of space but we can't just keep going on not seeing him. It just doesn't… feel right."
"What doesn't feel right?" Ginny asked, her and Luna walking up to the others (or, in Luna's case, "Pinkie Pie Bouncing"). "Is Ron experiencing funny feelings? Do we have to give him The Talk?"
"No you do not!" Ron roared, Ginny cackling.
Luna giggled. "Oooh! Oooh! Let me! Ahem… Ron, the thing you have to understand about the Byrds and the Bees is that the former wrote Turn Turn Turn and the later played Voices Green and Purple."
"Thank you Luna, now we are all confused," Ron said.
"You're not confused you're curious and there is nothing wrong with that!" Luna said. "I'm bicurious myself, especially after this last summer when Fleur and I took a shower together and I asked her to scrub my back and her hands slipped around a bit lower than I-"
"Can we focus on important matters?" Hermione demanded.
Neville though shook his head. "As her betrothed I think that is VERY important."
"We are talking about Harry!" Hermione complained.
"I think Harry would be very interesting in Luna and Fleur showering together," Ginny said with a snicker.
Luna though tilted her head in confusion. "Why would he be curious about that? Harry, due to his lack of having a loving home in his youth, has adopted us as his family and thus sees us all as brothers and sisters, so the idea that I, someone he sees as a younger sibling, doing anything sexual would be rather offputting to him."
The others stared at her.
"Besides, Jasmine is a super freak and will satisfy him easily enough." She paused, tapping her chin. "Of course I can't be sure of that because we haven't seen him in a long time. In fact we should go see him right now and make sure he is okay."
Hermione frowned. "Luna, focus! We need to find Harry-wait, what?"
"That's a good idea, Luna!" Ron said, patting her on the back.
"Yeah!" Ginny nodded in agreement.
Hermione gaped at that. "I… I was going to suggest that-"
"Could we please focus on things that matter, like helping Harry?" Ginny asked.
"GAAAAAA!" Hermione screamed, stomping her foot.
Neville scratched his chin. "You do get they are just egging you on, right?"
"Of course I do, I'm mad that it is working!" She held her head in her hands. "This is why we need Harry back. Nevile, him, and I are the mature sane ones, you three are the brats! Without him we are overwhelmed!"
"Especially when I use tales of my shower exploits to get Neville to vote with me," Luna said helpfully. "And guilt you with being my bestest best friend to agree with me. So it all works out! And luckily we all agree that we have to find Harry and make sure he's doing okay."
Ron nodded. "Right! Let's go!" He began to march forward only to stop and spin on his heels, looking back at his friends. "Uh… anyone know where Harry is?"
The five of them all stared blankly at each other.
"Well, this is mission is off to a swimmingly good start," Neville complained. "Ginny, could you track his dex or something?"
The youngest of the Weasleys considered this. "Possibly. I mean, I can get the GPS figured out but that's assuming he's currently in an area where he's getting a signal. If he's hiding somewhere too far out, like at sea or in a cave-"
"You think he'd go that far?" Hermione asked.
"Possible," Ginny admitted.
"I don't think so," Ron argued. "At least not the sea part. Even ignoring the fact that how would he get out there I don't think he'd go that far away from Hogwarts. He's mad about what happened but he's still doing school work… that means he cares about his education and his grades. And some of our assignments require trips to the library. He's probably sneaking in at night to work on stuff."
"Huh," Ginny said. "That's actually a really good point. " She began to pace. "So he's probably near by… can't rule out caves though. We know that the islands are full of them."
"But he's not in the Ice Cavern," Neville said. "I mean, I know that Hedwig is adapted for cold weather and that Harry could merge with her much of the time but I doubt he'd want to do that 24/7."
Ron leaned against a wall. "He'd want someplace warm, safe too. Unless he was posting a guard against all the wild Pokemon."
"We should get maps," Hermione suggested. "Begin figuring out all the places he couldn't be and then narrow down our search field."
"That would make it easier for me to figure out where to search for his signal," Ginny said.
"Or we could ask Ludwig," Luna said, launching her arm out… and squeezing her fingers just as the Chandelure suddenly appeared in her grip.
"…how?!" Ginny cried, waving her hands in Luna's direction.
"Okay, this time it wasn't magic Luna powers," the blond said with a grin. "Veela. Empathy powers. I could sense Ludwig's happiness that we cared so much for Harry."
"So the living lamp knows where Harry is then, huh," Ron said, leaning towards Ludwig. "So we just need Hermione to join minds with him so he can tell us where Harry is and we'll be all set." He grinned only for the Chandelure to begin to flare his flames right in Ron's face. "Eesh!" Ron exclaimed, leaning back to avoid the blast. Ludwig began to thrash about, nearly yanking Luna off her feet, causing the two of them to disappear and reappear at random.
Luna frowned and her skin began to glow a sickly green while her hair billowed in the aura of her Veela power. "Calm... calm..." she said gently. Ludwig settled down but he still struggled in her grasp, but at least he wasn't using his Invisibility Cloak ability to make the two of them disappear. "I'm getting fear and conflict." She frowned, tilting her head slightly and her appearance returned to normal. "Harry ordered him not to say a word." Ludwig quickly bobbed his body in his version of a nod.
"I know what to do," Neville said, walking over to Ludwig and gently reaching out, slowly and allowing the Ghost Pokemon to truly invite him to touch him. "Your loyalty is to Harry and I appreciated that. He needs all the loyal friends he can get. But being a true friend means being loyal to who you know they are, not who they believe they are. To be dedicated to helping them even when they are hurting themselves. Harry thinks he needs to be alone... that's wrong. You know it and I know it. He needs us... he needs his friends. He ordered you to keep quiet and you know that is wrong... so now you need to show us where he is. So we can help him heal. So we can help him fight."
Ludwig considered this for several long moments before bobbing his head and turning to Hermione. She smiled, reaching into her bag and pulling out the headband with her focusing crystal, slipping it on before closing her eyes. Ludwig jolted slightly then settled and after a moment Hermione's eyes snapped open, the trace remains of Ludwig's ghostly flames flashing in her eyes.
"Of course," she whispered with a quirk of her lips. "Of course."
"What?" Ginny asked. "Where is he?"
"The Chamber of the Unown."
~MC~MC~MC~
Harry ran, his sneakers slipping slightly on a wet patch of ground but he quickly corrected and was able to get some traction. Three seconds later the spot he had been at was covered in ice. He rolled under a blast of fire and came up with his right hand up, the synthetic flesh already parting to reveal the Pokeball deployer that was in his artificial appendage. But rather than fire he lined up a shot at a target, a red beam like a laser pointer shooting out and striking the electronic sensor. Once he had it steady he began to mentally count.
'One... two... shit!'
He dove just as an ice blast struck. He could feel the cold on his pant legs but at least he hadn't been caught. Still it had cost him a shot and he dove for cover behind the crumbling statue of Salazar Slytherin, catching his breath even as the ice struck its base.
The Unown around him flared with black and green light.
CAREFUL! CAREFUL!
Leon called out, "It's fine! He just hit the base!"
DAMAGE BASE STATUE FALLS! DO NOT HURT STATUE!
"But hurting Harry is fine?" Hedwig snarked from somewhere far up. He didn't bother to glance and check because he knew that would waste precious time. The clock was still running and he was going to beat his score this time.
'I need some way to draw fire and give myself time to hold the beam,' He thought. 'Every time I get a chance to line up the shot Orion is able to take a shot. Even with him giving me 10 seconds pauses between blasts it isn't enough...wait.' He paused, a grin growing on his lips as he concocted a plan...
The Empoleon had stopped shooting the statue by that point, knowing it was useless to just keep attacking it. He was in a small taped off square that Harry had made, able to rotate within it but for the purpose of this exercise unable to leave it. That meant that Harry would be able to hide behind the statue as long as he wanted and, from Orion's position, he wouldn't be able to nick him. His goal was to stop him from tagging the target for 5 seconds, immobilizing him with his Ice Beam. It was good training for him, teaching him how to hit a moving target, but he knew that his own training was second to that of his partner's-
He caught movement to his left and fired, the ice beam shooting out and connecting with Harry's shoe.
A shoe he wasn't even wearing.
Orion turned and could only mentally do his own count as Harry, who'd sneak out from the other side of the statue, locked the laser on the target and recorded a full 5-count.
"And that is five!" Leon called out, padding onto the makeshift arena floor, watching his step lest he slip on patches of ice. "Bulma, the time?"
The Togekiss looked down at Harry's dex and trilled.
"4 minutes and 18 seconds... a new record, Harry!"
Harry nodded, a smile gracing his lips as he accepted a towel Firebolt tossed him. It wasn't often these days his Pokemon saw him smile. "You did good, Orion! That way you split the ice beam the first minute in... that nearly had me. Just need to get the spread wider."
"Pol, poleon," the Empoleon declared.
"Alright, what's next?" Harry asked. Zygarde let out a hiss and he looked to Leon to translate, a bit too winded to slip into the Speaker's Realm.
"Working on your Potions essay." The Beast of Slytherin hissed again and Leon nodded before looking back to his blood brother and partner. "He also said before you whine and complain about school work to remember that a strong mind is just as important as a strong body."
YES! YES! The Unown declared, zipping around Harry. SALAZAR KNEW THIS! WAS NOT JUST GREAT TRAINER BUT GREAT WARRIOR! CLIMBED MOUNTAINS, SWAM LENGTH OF LAKES!
"Yeah, yeah, I know, he was awe-inspiring," Harry said with good natured humor. The Unown had a habit of talking up their last master, thinking he walked on water (and per one of their conversations he actually had). "And I get it too... can't just be a bruiser or an egg-head. Have to be both." He rolled his shoulders. "Besides, could do for a break."
"Think you can take a break from your break?"
Harry turned, fighting the urge to raising his hand and prepare for an attack. That simply wouldn't do, not with who had startled him. Because no matter how amped up Harry was he would always recognize his friends.
"Sure," he said with false casualness, motioning for them to follow him. He looked at the five of them, standing with a nervous Ludwig, and was suddenly struck by the fact that it had been a month since he'd actually seen them. He hadn't sought them out after he'd left Dumbledore's office, so angry and frustrated, and then Jasmine's news about Jack... Harry had just run, first to the Forbidden Islands where he'd attacked the trees and the rocks to burn off his rage and frustration, and then the Chamber itself. It felt like such a short lime and yet such a long one as well.
He'd been training in the main part of the chamber, the area where he'd faced down Voldemort during his second year, and was suddenly struck that everyone might not be as comfortable as he was being in the Chamber. "Nev, Luna... you two okay? I'm staying in one of the smaller rooms but we can head topside if you can't handle this."
Luna smiled, lazily taking out a Pokeball and summoning Luna Jr. "I'm perfectly fine, Harry. Just because Chodemort stabbed me right over there... well, I am in complete control of my emotions." There was a green flash and suddenly Luna Jr. let out a warcry and began to attack a pillar. Harry, mildly curious, slipping into the Speaker's Realm only to quickly depart when he heard the string of curse words the Marowak was spewing. "Completely. In. Control." Luna said firmly, one hand glowing green, a stream of energy leaking from her and into her enraged Pokémon.
"...okay then." He paused, considering what she'd just said. "Chodemort?"
Luna nodded. "Of course!" She began to tick the names off on her fingers. "Quirrelmort. Chodemort. Voldemoody. I think they are catching on and I have a patent application waiting on all three." She thrust her right hand out and made a jerking motion with each word she spoke, as if she were grabbing each one out of thin air. "'I Fought Chodemort And All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt'."
Harry blinked and looked at Hermione. "She's serious. I've seen the mock ups. Get some shirts from Kalos them… real good quality."
"Okay then. Neville?"
"I drove off the bastard my parents' torturers worshiped and made him scream like a little girl." He gave Harry a sinister smile. "This is my happy place."
"Well that's... healthy of both of you," Hermione said, motioning for Harry to continue on. She looked about the chamber, her focus returning to the fact that the chamber was so large and full of history. "So this is where Salazar Slytherin made his home."
"Yeah but not for the reason most think," Harry said. "He wasn't driven out of Hogwarts and then returned here to plot evil schemes to overthrow the other Founders and then expel any student who didn't fit in with his view of strength and breeding. That was his pissant of a son, his youngest." Harry held out his arms. "Salazar created this Chamber so he could train without risking hurting the students. Apparently all the Founders had chambers but theirs were above ground and either fell into ruin or were converted into buildings for Hogwarts as the school grew."
"So sad to think that a good man's name was dragged through the mud because people couldn't remember their facts," Hermione said with a shake of her head.
"How did people mix up Salazar the Older and Salazar the Younger?" Ginny asked.
"Myth became legend, legend became myth," Luna intoned. "And some things that should not have been forgotten... were lost."
Neville patted her on the shoulder. "That reference actually fit well in the discuss. Good job."
"Also I'm pretty sure an ancient pharaoh sealed away the darkness of the past in a puzzle."
"And she's back," Ginny said with a roll of her eyes.
Harry chuckled as they reached the archway that led into the smaller rooms of the chamber. Much like the Hall of Speakers there were smaller areas in the Chamber of the Unown where one could more easily relax without feeling like the sheer scale and size of the space was swallowing them alive. The Unown had informed him that Salazar himself had used these rooms to make potions, grade assignments in peace, and even sleep when he was too tired to return to his normal rooms in what was now Snape's office in the Slytherin rooms. Harry didn't need as much space as Salazar had used and thus kept himself to only 2 of the rooms, using one as a sleeping area as well as a place to work on his homework while the other was where he would cook his meals.
"Hey Harry?" Neville asked. "Whatever happened to Cobalion?"
Harry frowned at that, lips pursed together. "You know… I'm not for sure. The Unown and Zygarde said that Cobalion could move his ball at will, even when he was inside of it. I guess when he was done helping me he returned to where he came. He's the Pokémon of Godric's heir... I'm Salazar's. I could use him with his permission but he was never meant to be mine."
He led them into the dining area because while he cared for his friends greatly he didn't think Ginny, Hermione, and Luna would like to see what a pig pen his sleeping quarters were. Even with Ludwig going hogwild trying to keep it organized he knew that at the moment it was a nightmare, with dirty clothing strewn about, his text books half opened with random pieces of paper all about, and a trash can overflowing with food wrappers to the point that he'd worry about Rattata except nearly all his Pokémon had admitted to enjoying the little 'snacks' that tried to sneak into his room. So instead it was to the dining area, the large stone table where Salazar had crafted his Pokeballs and potions for once having a good number of people around it for the first time in centuries.
Once everyone was seated Ludwig, perhaps because he felt guilty about letting Harry's friends down there without permission, or perhaps purely because at his heart he loved to serve others, rushed about and began gathering treats for them to nibble on. Biscuits and water with assorted tea bags for any who wished to make things truly proper. Harry let his Pokémon do so, mostly because he wanted to give himself time to think and consider what he wanted to say and any delay was welcomed.
"I didn't know, mate," Ron finally blurted out.
"What?" Harry asked, confused.
Ron looked at him, features twisted into utter misery as he spoke. "About that trap the aurors set. I swear I didn't know, Harry... you have to believe me. When I found out what my folks agreed to I was so mad... I'm not talking to them right now and neither are Fred and George. Hell, they are so mad they are thinking of quitting Hogwarts all together! Said they were only finishing school because mum wanted it but right now they don't give a lick if she's proud of them. But I swear... I swear mate I didn't know. Jack is a good guy. And I don't mean that he's a heroic guy, though he is, you know that and I know that. I mean I like him. Haven't spent a ton of time around him but he seems like a good egg and I know you care for him. I know that. I would never have sat back and let that happen if I had known. I would have told you right away, I swear. You have to believe me-"
"I never doubted you for a second."
"-because I know you're angry and wait what?" Ron blinked, it his turn to be confused.
"Ron," Harry said softly, "the only thing I am upset about when it comes to you is that I could make you ever think I wouldn't trust you." He gestured weakly, arms held out as he searched for answers to questions he didn't know needed to be solved. "You have been there since the beginning. You, me, Hermione, and Nev. The four of us. And then Ginny and Luna from the moment they got on the train. You were with me the first time I faced Voldemort... you killed him-"
"Quirrelmort!" Luna chimed in. "Patent Pending."
"-to save me. You were there when I confronted Lockhart." Harry swallowed, catching Ginny and Hermione's gaze. "I saw you die and I rewrote time to save you. You believed me that I didn't enter myself in the Tournament. You have always been there for me... how could you ever think I wouldn't be there for you?" He stood up and walked over, Ron rising and smiling slightly before the two of them embraced. "Voldemort took my parents. But you? You are the brother I chose." He released Ron and clapped Neville on the shoulder. "So are you." He looked at the girls. "You are my sisters. We are family... we are the Pride... and no matter what happens we will always stand together no matter what." He returned his gaze to Ron. "Don't ever think again that I would ever doubt you."
Ron swallowed hard, voice warbling slightly. "I won't mate. Never."
"Good," Harry said before returning to his seat. "I'm sorry if I made you guys think that I was running away from you. That... that wasn't my intention." He grabbed his wild unkempt hair and fisted it hard, lowering his head down to stare at the table. "I keep doing that though, don't I? I tried to cut you guys out after the Cemetery and you called me out... I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to do so this time."
"We understand, Harry," Hermione said, reaching over and patting him on the shoulder. "And we get it. Everything that happened, being worried about Jack right after what happened with Ginger... you needed time to process it all. To deal with the pain."
Harry though let out a shallow, haunted laugh at that. "Oh... oh I wish it was that simple." In a quieter voice he said, "I can't do this guys. I can't save Avalon."
His friends looked at each other and finally Neville spoke. "You can Harry. We know you can. I know it looks bad with Voldemort and Nocturne but you can defeat them. This was just a setback."
"We got your message after the whole Ginger thing," Ginny said. "Your source said Voldemort called off the hit on our dad. Looks like he..." she grimaced. "He wanted to nab one of the Pack." She brightened. "So it's bad but... it could be a lot worse."
"And mate," Ron said, "I don't know for sure but I don't think my folks knew everything the aurors were doing. I just can't see them wanting to let... that... happen." It still sickened Ron and Ginny that the forest they'd played in when children had nearly been the location of a lynching. It was a horrible thing, a violation of happy childhood memories and neither of them could believe their father would let that happen. "Dad... he cares about Tor Town. Having it be known for that would... it just wouldn't do."
"I know," Harry said softly. Honestly, in his darkest moments in the chamber he'd clung to the thought that the Weasleys had been victims in the entire fiasco, just like Jack. That the Aurors had taken advantage of them and forced them to act as bait. He needed to believe that to stay sane. If he believed that the Weasleys, who had shown him nothing but kindness, who had given him a glimpse into what a life with a mom and dad as well as brothers and sisters could be like... were capable of such a vile plot... he didn't know what he'd do.
Hermione nodded firmly. "You are going to defeat him, Harry. You are going to finally drive him back and ensure he never hurts another person again."
But Harry didn't share their good cheer. "You guys are misunderstanding... this has nothing to do with Voldemort." He could tell they were confused and he clenched his left hand into a fist. "I will beat him. I owe my parents that much. He took... more than their lives. He took all the moments that I'll never have with them. Every hug. Every talk. Every smile and laugh. He stole those from me." He looked towards Neville. "Same as he did with your parents." Then to Ginny and Ron. "Your uncles. All those... moments. He claimed them all and ensured they would never happen. That is something that can't go unanswered. He'll suffer for all this... I swear that." He let out a snort of dry amusement. "When I get depressed I get poetic it seems."
Luna reached out and patted his shoulder only to gasp. He turned and could see the tears gathering in her eyes as she felt his misery, his depression, his sense of... hopelessness. He tried to shrug her hand off but she remained firm even as she began to sob, expressing what he refused to.
"I can defeat Voldemort... but it doesn't matter. Because I can't save Avalon. Not from itself. This region, this stupid petty arrogant stupid region, had already decided what it wants to be. I can't save it from itself and I don't think it's even worth saving anymore."
"You don't mean that," Hermione whispered.
"I do," Harry said. He didn't raise his voice, there was no need for that. He didn't even have the strength to do so. "Look at the papers. They praise me and vilify me. They call me their savior one minute and then the worst demon to ever stomp across the lands. They longed for me to be here, wrote books about my childhood taming Dragons and befriending injured fairy types. But the moment I get here what happens?" He laughed. "They ignore me. 'We'll help you Harry but only when it works for us... but you have to save us whenever we cry for help'." He waved his hand about for no reason other than he had to move in some way, to beat back the tension building in his body. "It's because I'm not what they want me to be. Every single person has this vision of who I should be! McGonagall wants me to be my father rendered small. Dumbledore wants me to be the passive icon. The Ministry wants me to be the good little soldier who parrots out what they say. And when I'm not like that, when I'm... me?" He waved at his chest. "Then they are disappointed and cast me aside. Until they need me again or they feel bad and want to try and make things right. Which will last for a few days or weeks and then they'll shove me aside again." He paused and looked at them all. "Except you guys. You guys and Remus and Sirius and Tonks. Hell, the other Champions care more about me than Avalon and they only knew me a year! But you guys? You're the only ones who love me for being... me."
"...of course we do, mate," Ron said, swallowing back a lump in his throat. "But-"
"And it's only me they do this to!" Harry complained, cutting Ron off before he could offer empty reasons why he shouldn't lose faith in Avalon. "Lucius Malfoy was in that Arceus-be-damned graveyard. EVERYONE saw him there! Saw him leave with Voldemort! But do the papers demand answers? Does the Ministry drag him to a session and have a psychic type read his mind and find out if he really was forced to be there or if he is a murderer and a monster? Of course not! They give him chance after chance after chance! Even those that know he is guilty as sin don't want to stand up and say the words! 'It's just easier Harry. Keep your head down, Harry!' Pathetic.
"And look at Tor Town. Jack was there protecting your parents from Team Nocturne. That was it. Nocturne, that murdered my parents, who destroyed Neville and Ginny and Ron's families. Who do they come at with more force then? Not Nocturne! Because it would be awkward at the neighborhood barbeque if they actually grew a spine and said, "No, Mr. Goyle, I won't pass you the mustard because you like to rape little girls and burn houses down with the families still inside!". GAH!" Harry shoved himself away from the table, his chair clattering to the ground, pacing back and forth. Luna slumped in her chair, worn out from trying to help Harry process his emotions. "No. But they were willing to spray so much Max Repel Remus thinks it make take 2 years before Pokemon return to the forests just to get Jack. They beat him, put a noose around his neck, and were ready to hang him. And then what happens when it turns out one of their own was Nocturne... set up the whole damn this? Do they admit they were wrong? Apologize? Hell no! They cover it up because it is EASIER!" Harry roared and kicked at his chair, only to instantly fall to the ground, wincing in pain. He might have just broken a toe.
"I can't save Avalon," he said softly. "And if I could... why should I?"
His friends didn't have an answer.