Spoils of War – Rating M
Chapter 04 – Shocks 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-
Hospital Wing, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
7th May 1998
"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.
"Good to see you are up Mr Potter. We've been really worried about you." Professor McGonagall said, a smile forming at the sight of her brave, loyal Gryffindor's. "First the fight against V-v-Voldemort, then Carrow trying to attack you, we were worried you would be exhausted!"
"It wasn't just me who fought it all. Ron and Hermione helped work it all out, where we needed to go and everything." Harry said, holding onto Ginny. "Neville helped by getting rid of the snake. And Ginny, well, she has helped me in her own way too."
"Yeah, but Harry, if it wasn't for you, it would never have ended. We would still be fighting it all even now." Hermione said, looking at her friend. "You were the one who took that killing curse from Riddle, you were the one who duelled him at the end and you were the one who defeated him."
"Yes, but-" Harry started
"Buts are for ashtrays Harry." Ginny said, looking at Harry with a serious face. "You were the one who did all of this. You were the only one who could finish him off finally, once and for all."
Professor McGonagall turned to Harry and Ginny, passing them two scrolls. "Anyway, as you four are here, I've spoke to the Minister and we have decided that between you, Neville and Luna, you won't need to return to Hogwarts as students in September. However, we need you Harry, Hermione and Ginny. We need you badly.
"I know you wanted to be an Auror Harry, but Hogwarts needs you too. That's why I've awarded all of you your NEWTs now, to enable that." McGonagall said, smiling, "Harry, I need you to teach Defence Against the Dark Arts, but Kingsley needs you as an Auror, that's why we have decided between us, consulting with Gawain Robards, that you will complete your training here, as part of your teaching position."
"But why? I'm barely qualified to teach!" Harry said, his face looking confused, "Why ask me to teach?"
"Because nobody else has had the same experience as you have fighting the Dark Arts." Ginny said, stroking Harry's hair, "You've survived the Killing Curse, twice. You've defeated the evillest wizard that's ever lived, bar none, and I love you."
"Listen to your girlfriend Mr Potter, listen to her or I will take your NEWT awards and rip them all up." Professor McGonagall said, reaching to take the scroll away from Harry. "You taught the DA in your fifth year when that old toad face was here to learn properly, to defend themselves. It's your teaching that caused them to lose only 3 people from there. You taught them how to do the right thing, to always be true to themselves and to help others."
"Do I have any choice in the matter?" Harry asked, looking at Ginny's face. Ginny shook her head with a playful smile. "Alright, I'll take the role on, but only for one year."
"That's all I ask for Harry. Anyway, Ginny, I know you're good at flying and Quidditch, and I know you wanted to play professionally, I've decided I need to put you in charge of the flying lessons and Quidditch matches. Madam Hooch has decided that she needs take a break for a year so I've had to find a replacement for her. Now I know you're not of age yet, so I can't officially let you accept it until then, but do let me know as I plan the timetable for the first years, and have a Quidditch Season." McGonagall concluded. "I want Gryffindor to win the Quidditch Cup again next year. It was dreadful with no Quidditch this last year."
She walked around to Harry and whispered to his ear. "And Harry, don't end up in here again, you seem to be in here once a year!"
"I guess I will try not to Professor." Harry said, trying hard not to laugh. Professor McGonagall left the room, laughing at the response.
Harry looked at Hermione, questioning her face. "Has McGonagall asked you already?" He looked, noticing a change from ordinary to a knowing look. "She's got you doing Muggle Studies hasn't she?"
"How did you guess?" Hermione asked, her face looking confused at how Harry knew. "The only people that know are Minerva, Kingsley, Ginny and Mr and Mrs Weasley."
"Well, Alecto Carrow was the previous one wasn't she?" Harry replied, smiling, "Plus who else would be expert enough to be able to do it properly?"
The quartet kept chatting until Madam Pomfrey tried to bustle the visitors out, however Ginny, with her temperament and stubbornness refused to go.
Harrys Mindscape
"I love you Harry," Ginny said, holding his hand, running out of the Great Hall. "I love you with all of my heart."
"I love you too Ginny." Harry said, pulling her to a halt. He pulled her closer when suddenly a feeling of coldness came across him. Ginny pulled away from him, her face scared. Suddenly his scar burnt badly, crippling him with pain
Ginny looked at him, reaching down to him when she felt a pull from someone behind her. She looked to find it was Amycus Carrow.
"You will die; you blood traitor whore." Carrow said, pulling her away from Harry. He pointed at Harry. "And then he will be killed by the Dark Lord."
"Get off her you scum!" Harry shouted, trying desperately to recover from the shock. He desperately tried to get up, but failed.
"Still protecting her Potter?" Carrow said, pointing his wand at Harry "INCARCEROUS." Suddenly Harry found himself bound, unable to move. Carrow dragged Ginny away from Harry.
Harry reached for his wand, fighting against the bindings. Eventually he found it. "Reslisho" Harry whispered, managing to get away. He ran towards where Carrow was dragging Ginny but stopped when he saw Voldemort aiming his wand at Ginny. Suddenly he turned to find the lifeless forms of Hermione, Ron, Neville and Luna.
"We meet again Potter." Voldemort said, coming closer to Harry. "Your blood traitor girlfriend will die right next to your friends."
"Leave her alone!" Harry said, taking a run at him. Suddenly he rebounded off what was a shield that surrounded Voldemort. "Leave Ginny alone."
"A fighter eh?" Voldemort laughed, "Well, I shall just have to torture her first. "CRUCIO!" Suddenly Ginny started screaming, louder that she had ever screamed before. The feeling of white-hot knives was piercing every inch of his skin came upon her, her head feeling like it was going to burst with pain.
"Stop it" Harry snarled, pointing his wand at Voldemort. "It's me you are after. She doesn't deserve it. Kill me instead."
"Harry, I love you with all of my heart" he heard. Harry looked at her, but couldn't see her lips moving. "You can do this. You can beat him."
"Oh I will. Once I've killed her," Voldemort said, pointing his wand at Ginny, "I will kill you. AVADA KEDAVRA"
"You bastard. You killed her and I'm going to make you pay!" Harry shouted, running towards Ginny's lifeless body. Suddenly he felt a pain in his back and then everything went black.
Hospital Wing, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
7th May 1998
Harry started shaking, forcing Ginny to wake up from her slumber. "He's having another nightmare again. I need to help him." She thought, turning to hold him close.
"Get off her you scum!" Harry shouted, fighting against Ginny's hold. His face was white as a sheet, his hands gripping the bed sheets. Ginny rubbed her hand against his face, hoping to calm him down.
"Leave her alone!" he shouted, shaking more violently. His legs kicked out, getting stuck in the blanket. "Leave Ginny alone!"
Suddenly Harry started jumping and shaking, as though he had been hit by the Cruciatus Curse. "Stop it" he snarled, his jumping stopping. "It's me you are after. She doesn't deserve it. Kill me instead."
"Harry, I love you with all of my heart." Ginny whispered. She kissed him on the lips then held his face. "You can do this. You can beat him."
Suddenly Harry started shaking more violently, "You bastard. You killed her and I'm going to make you pay!" he shouted, making Ginny jump. "He thinks Riddle killed me. He thinks Riddle needs to pay." she thought, stroking his face. Suddenly Harry gasped for hair, sitting up, surprising Ginny.
"Harry, I'm here. I'm here to look after you." she said, hugging him, hoping she could feel the love she had for him flow. She looked into his emerald eyes, taking them in. When she looked into them, she could tell he looked scared "I'm here to talk."
"It was Carrow. Carrow dragged you off and then Voldemort hit you with a Cruciatus." Harry said, his face regaining some colour. He looked into her chocolate brown eyes, noticing the sadness in them. "There were bodies there, bodies of our friends. Hermione, Luna and Neville. Neville had the sword but the snake was still alive. And then…then he killed you."
"Harry, I'm alive and you beat him." Ginny said, holding him closer. "I still have nightmares after…after that night. The key is to focus on the one you love. For me that focus was you, and only you."
"You're right." Harry said, kissing her on the cheek. "I think I need to focus on you more."
"And to do that, the first thing you need to do is sleep my love." Ginny said, laying down, snuggling up next to him. "I love you."
Hospital Wing, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland
8th May 1998
Madam Pomfrey came up to Harry and Ginny. She woke them up and levitated a tray of breakfast over to each of them. "Eat this, then you can go. But please don't use too much magic as you need to recover. And Ginny, keep an eye on him, don't over exert him too much!"
The duo laughed at that statement, with Harry's face going as red as Ginny's hair. "Thank you Madam Pomfrey, and don't worry, I'll try not to give you too much business next year when I come to teach!" Harry said, trying to cut a sausage up.
"You may notice Mr Potter, or now as you will be staff from September, Professor Potter, I've actually put a permanent name plate above your bed as you seem to be in it regularly!" Madam Pomfrey said, laughing, "I know you too much, you'll be in here at least once! Don't make promises you can't keep!"
"I'll try my best!" Harry said, laughing. "I'll try my best!"
While Harry and Ginny were eating, Hermione, Neville and Luna came in, accompanied by Molly Weasley, Neville and Luna carrying a package each.
"We're glad to see you're back with us Harry." Neville said, placing the packet on the bed. "The Minster is going ape over that report in the Prophet that Skeeter put in there. He's put a Warrant out for her arrest!"
"We've brought you some robes that Kingsley has ordered for everyone who's in the DA," Molly said, giving Harry one of her bone crushing hugs. "Kingsley said he wants everyone who was a member to wear them today."
"Kingsley didn't have to do this you know," Harry said, looking down. "None of you had to. People died and here I am getting treated like a hero."
"Harry, I know you too well," Ginny said, looking into the emerald eyes she adored, "It was a young, good looking, honest man that ended it all. If it wasn't for him, it would still be going on now. That man who ended it all was you. You deserve this, you've sacrificed too much of your own life to help others, now it's time to let others help you."
"But-"
"But nothing. We all fought for one thing." Luna said, smiling at Harry. "We all fought because we wanted to do the right thing, to defeat Tom Riddle."
Defeated, Harry got up, motioning for everyone to leave him to get dressed. Ginny just stood there, looking at him.
"I'm going to help you Harry, then you can help me," she said, unbuttoning his trousers. "You've got me for the long haul."
-Spoils of War-
A/N – Coming Up in Chapter 05 - Honours of War
Disclaimer
This story uses themes and characters from the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling, whose rights as author are respected.
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Chapter Publish Date - 22/09/2016