Spoils of War – Rating M
Chapter 03 – Discussions of War
Warnings – Contains Swearing, Scenes of a Sexual Nature, Violence
Inspired by and uses text from After The Battle: The Summer of Romance
-Spoils of War-
Harry's Mindscape
"Your friends died for a weakling like you!" the shadow said, coming closer to Harry. When Harry looked, the shadow turned into the form of Professor Snape. "You're just like your father Potter, arrogant and weak."
"I'm nothing like my father." Harry shouted back, his anger seething.
"It's your fault my brother died." Another shadow said, pointing its wand at Harry. It stepped closer to reveal itself to be Ginny Weasley. "If you surrendered when you were told, Fred would still be with us! I will never love a murderer!"
"I'm sorry Ginny." Harry said, looking into her chocolate brown eyes. He wanted to hug her but she refused to allow him.
"I was happy with Dean, and with Michael too," she said, laughing her head off. "Michael was twice the man you'll ever be! My brother is dead and it's all your fault!" Suddenly, a second shadow appeared, taking the form of Michael Corner. He held Ginny's hand's in his, connecting their lips, forming a kiss.
"You're nothing but a freak Potter." Another shadow said, walking up to Harry. "I wished you were dead. In fact, I wished that you had died instead of your mother and father. I wished that Ronald had killed you after he used the Cruciatus on you!"
Harry looked and noticed that the shadow turned into the form of Hermione Granger. He looked at her and saw that she was angry, angrier than she had been in his sixth year!
"It's all my fault. It's all my fault." Harry said, crying. He fell to his knees, upset about what he saw. How could Ginny love him after everything he's done. He doesn't deserve her. "I should have been the one that died."
"It's not your fault Harry. You need to fight it," he heard. It sounded like Ginny, but Ginny was accusing him. Looking at the Ginny who was snogging Corner, he noticed that she did not utter a word. "I love you!"
Suddenly everything went black as the darkness caved into him once more. A light suddenly appeared and then everything went foggy.
Hospital Wing, Hogwarts School
7th May 1998
Ginny woke up suddenly. She could see Harry but he was shaking violently, his face was as white as a sheet.
"I'm sorry Ginny." Harry said, the shakes getting worse. Ginny felt waves of worry falling into her. She needed to act fast otherwise Harry would fall victim to another nightmare. She moved closer to him, trying to hug him.
"It's all my fault. It's all my fault." Harry shouted. "I should have been the one that died."
"It's not your fault Harry. You need to fight it," she said soothingly. She knew she had her work cut out but Harry was the only one who deserved it. "I love you."
Suddenly Harry stopped shaking. After a few minutes, his breathing became regular again. His face regained colour and his head lifted. "Ginny?" he croaked, his throat dry from the lack of liquid passing through him. "Do you really love me?"
"I love you with all of my heart and soul" Ginny said, weeping into a tissue. "You had me worried. You collapsed the first time and looked like you had pains in your chest."
"I don't deserve your worry. Especially when you know the whole truth about what happened during the lead up to the battle, the Cruciatus I inflicted on Carrow, t-t-the deaths of people during it too." Harry said, trying to shuffle away from her. "In that nightmare, you were in it, you and Corner. You said that he was twice the man that I'll ever be. Then...then you kissed him passionately. Then…then Hermione…she told me that she wished that I was dead!"
"Harry. You are the only one I love. Even when I was with them, you were the only thing on my mind." Ginny said, trying to pull him towards her. "I don't care about what you did to Carrow. I know you had good reasons, and Professor McGonagall said that Kingsley had told her you wouldn't be punished for it. Hermione is your best friend, Harry, and that she would never wish you dead either!"
"McGonagall said it was the Minister who said I wouldn't be punished, not Kingsley. Unless he's the new Minister?" Harry asked, responding to her touch.
"Yes, Kingsley is the new Minister." Ginny said, "McGonagall is now Headmistress too. It's all thanks to you."
Harry turned to Ginny, who was smiling at him. "Gin, I'm sorry," he said, crying, "I'm sorry about Fred. It's all my fault. I don't deserve to be thanked, I don't deserve to be thanked at all. I should have given myself up earlier, quicker to Voldemort. At least then Fred would still be alive. Teddy is going to end up living without his mom or dad. If I had given myself up earlier, Remus and Tonks would still be alive."
"Harry, nobody blames you. If you had given yourself up, Voldemort would have won." Ginny said, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket. "You said it yourself when I woke you in the common room, you fought so we didn't live under the rule of Riddle." Suddenly Harry grabbed Ginny's hand.
"Ginny. I-I need to know something, something important." Harry said, bracing himself in case he was to offend her. "After all this time, after all the upset I put you through, would you ever take me back?"
"Harry, even after Dumbledore's funeral, the Order knew that you still loved me." Ginny said, taking Harry's hands in hers, "Even though the Slytherins kept targeting me because they knew we had been together. I knew that we couldn't really be together until Voldemort was finished, so what I used to do was when I was sad and wanted you, I'd head to the Room of Requirement, the DA Headquarters, and look at that photo of us two kissing.
"Before Easter, me and Neville raided the Gryffindor dressing room down at the Quidditch Pitch, and we took your flying robes. When we were stuck at Aunt Muriel's, I would hug them as if I was hugging you." she said, pulling him closer to her. "I will always love you Harry James Potter, now and forever." She put her lips firmly on his, sending feelings of love and emotions to him.
After what seemed like forever, Ginny lowered her head to his chest, keeping him in her arms.
"Ginny Molly Weasley, I know that I upset you by allowing Voldemort to kill me, but I was given a choice of moving on or coming back." Harry said, his fingers rubbing the side of her face, "I chose to come back because of one certain red haired, Bat Bogey Hex loving, Holyhead Harpies supporting Weasley named Ginny. I know I owe you a full explanation of everything, and I will give it to you in time, but this last year proved one thing. It proved that I need you."
"Kingsley and Hermione filled in the blanks. Even Professor McGonagall said what you did, helping those Ravenclaw students, and herself, was very noble. Just promise me that you will never die" Ginny said, a smile forming on her, "At least not without my express permission."
Suddenly Harry turned as he saw Ginny look towards the doorway where he saw his female best friend, Hermione Granger, walk in.
"Oh Harry, you have to stop getting yourself magically exhausted!" Hermione said. Looking at her best friend, she frowned. "Have you seen today's Daily Prophet?" Harry shook his head, obviously having been unconscious for most of last week.
"Most I've seen is nightmares or Ginny." Harry said, waiting for Ginny to get back on the bed with him. "What does it say?"
Hermione pulled the paper from her bag. Ginny saw the front page and grimaced at the headline.
"The Chosen One Dead?
By Rita Skeeter
For the past week, neither hide nor hare has been seen of the one they call The Chosen One, or nowadays, The Slayer of You-Know-Who. Since the battle which happened on May 2nd, Harry Potter, The Chosen One, has disappeared. Rumours have since started since his disappearance that, following the alleged cry by You-Know-Who that he was dead, he has since died. These rumours seem to be added credence due to the disappearance of Miss Ginevra Weasley, the last in a long string of partners of the late Mr Potter.
Speculation is rife on the cause of death, but for some, the sight of seeing their Saviour passing will prove crushing for their cause. Ministry officials declined to comment, as well as staff at Hogwarts."
"Bloody Skeeter!" Ginny said, fuming. "I'm going to kill her myself, saying my Harry is dead. I don't care if I get thrown into Azkaban or not, she better run for the hills sharpish or I will get the cow!"
"Pipe down Ginny," Harry said, wincing at the sight of her temper. "I doubt even Kingsley will be able to keep you out of Azkaban. I need you, you and that amazing Weasley salinity, to stay with me. Just let your mother sort her out, or Kingsley."
"Harry, thanks. I would have killed the cow you know." Ginny said, slowly calming down. "By the way, I know you wanted to attend the memorial, unfortunately it was today."
"What do you mean, was?" Harry said, his face turning into one of guilt and upset. "Don't tell me I've missed it?"
"Harry, I'm sorry." Ginny said, looking at his face, stroking his arm, trying to get him calm again.
"Mom wanted me to go, she wanted me to sit with the family, but I insisted…" she moved her head to Harry's shoulder, starting to cry on it. "I insisted on staying with you. She said she understood, but I don't think she forgives me. I miss Fred."
"Ginny, your mother is one of the most forgiving people I've ever met." Harry said, stroking her hair. "I miss Fred too. He made me laugh. When I was in my first year here, I ended up in the Hospital Wing having fought off Riddle from getting the Philosophers Stone, him and George sent a toilet seat to me. Professor Dumbledore kind of objected to it slightly, but even he saw the funny side. Fred would understand everything."
"Even Professor Snape got a mention at the funeral." Hermione asked, confused. "Why?
"Because he didn't do it for Riddle." Harry said, looking at the bushy haired woman. He hoped to tell a condensed version of the truth. "Professor Snape was following Dumbledore's orders. Dumbledore was cursed by one of the Horcruxes, and asked Professor Snape to kill him. That's why Dumbledore had an injured hand, it was all because of a Horcrux. He was on our side ever since the prophecy was released. Dumbledore knew all along what the reason why Professor Snape turned. It was all because of a thing called love. Love with Riddle didn't have."
Suddenly they heard footsteps coming towards them, heavily at first, Hermione and Ginny turned to see who had arrived, hoping it was friend, not foe.
-Spoils of War-
A/N – Coming Up in Chapter 4 - Shocks of War
Disclaimer
This story uses themes and characters from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, whose rights as author are respected.
Just like "GryffindorTom" on Facebook to get all of the latest news, bits I'm working on, story updates and much more. Please remember to review this story as it helps improve the stories that I write for you guys. It's the only payment, along with adding to community's and favourites that I get for writing these, and I admit I enjoy that payment.
Chapter Publish Date - 22/09/2016