A Roll of Black and White Film
AN.
I'm so sorry that I took such a long time updating this. It has been hectic. I am going through a lot of changes and my school work has multiplied. I just hate homework. Grrr… Well, I just gotta say this; THANK YOU SO MUCH for your reviews!! I'm so excited whenever I get one and it has inspired me to write and do better. Love you guys I'm starting this chapter with little sentences from One Tree Hill. It's from the episode 'All Tomorrow's Parties' This chapter is the longest in this story so ENJOY!! I DON'T own OTH and I don't own Harry Potter. I just hope you guys enjoy this last chapter and thank you for sticking with me till the end.
Xo…Always and Forever,
Lorianna Kim
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Chapter Three 'When The Smoke Has Cleared'
Harry had read one Muggle story when he was a kid. The story was from a small battered old book he read in the school's library when he was about eight years old. He had no friends and he occasionally got beaten up. And the only place he was sure Dudley and his gang wouldn't bother to come and find him was the school's library. The small, stuffy little library tugged away at the back of the school, forgotten. He sat in one of the corners, squeezing himself against the shelf, reading a little book that he found nearby. The story was about a girl who had a crush on a guy who died. She imagined him up in the heavens with all the beautiful angels. And she was jealous. Harry's parents and their friends were up there too. But Harry wasn't jealous. He just missed them.
The video had stopped for a long time now but he still sat there. He had no idea what to do, what to say, what to feel anymore. He rubbed his tired eyes. He continued rubbing them, not knowing why. He had got to do something. Anything. If rubbing his eyes was the only thing he could do right now, so be it.
'Harry…' Ginny lift her hand to touch his shoulder. He bowed his head. He didn't want Ginny to see him like this. He hoped that she wouldn't say anything. He couldn't bear to hear what she had to say.
'Harry…' she whispered his name again. Harry stole a glance at her and he saw that she had stopped crying. Her soft brown eyes shone instead with pain. He quickly looked down. He didn't want to see that look. He saw it too many times before.
'Harry, talk to me' said Ginny. She reached out to take his hand. For a minute it seemed like he would let her but then, before their hands clasped, he pulled away.
'Harry… I need you to talk to me' she said. He still couldn't utter a word. He avoided her searching eyes. He kept silent. He didn't want to let her in. Not now. He still couldn't understand it himself.
Ginny never pressured him. All these times they had been together, she never pushed him. Harry knew that. But this time, she sighed. And it was a long tired sigh, a sigh of a person on the verge of breaking. She pulled her hand back and he could hear her drew in a sharp breath. A note of bitterness escaped into her voice.
'I guess this is the way it's going to be. I'm always going to be the one waiting for you'
Silence took place. Harry still didn't look up. He felt Ginny shifted next to him. She stood up. Then something deep inside him make him wanted to shout out, to cry, to reach out for her and pull her back down. A part of him wanted it all to stop; the pain, the confusion. He wanted it all to stop.
But Harry ended up sitting in the same position, his head bowed. He didn't move. He saw a flicker of red hair whipped around in the corner of his eye and he heard Ginny walking steadily to the door. She opened it and got out. The door closed with an unnecessary loud force, and then she was gone.
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'Harry!! Harry!!'
Harry cracked open his eyes. He was still wearing his glasses. His head and his back were aching. He had fallen asleep on the old sofa in the Weasley's little barn. A face with large brown eyes and bushy hair was looking right at him. Those eyes were narrowed in concern.
'Hermione?' Harry mumbled. 'What are you doing here?'
Hermione plopped down next to him. 'Looking for you'
Harry bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from groaning. He busied himself with the task of wiping his clouded glasses. 'Seen Ginny?'
Hermione's answer died in her throat. She shifted and then decided to plunge on. 'Well, yes..but…'
'I bet she's angry with me' said Harry
'Well… not really but..' Hermione fidgeted and she tugged her hair back behind her ears. She looked flustered. 'She's just… a little bit upset I guess.'
'Hmmm…' Harry wiped his glasses one last time and put them on. Hermione's face came into focus. He felt something digging into his insides.
'Harry…' Hermione began in a timid voice.
'Not now, Hermione' he snapped and stood up. It was the last thing he needed right now. He didn't want to hear her advice nor did he need her shoulder to lean on. He just wanted out. In his mind's eye he could still see his parents' faces and for the first time since many years ago, he saw the green light flashed and he could hear his mother's screams.
'Harry, please.' Hermione begged.
'You wouldn't understand'
'Then try me!' she jumped to her feet and stood facing him. 'Harry, I know you are upset and that you miss them but that doesn't mean…'
'DO YOU THINK I'M UPSET?!?!' he rowed before he could stop himself. Hermione flinched and he felt a little bit guilty but he pushed that feeling away as quickly as it came.
That's right. She didn't understand. She didn't know what it's like. It was the same as when she knew he was going to see Teddy. She didn't know…
Hermione's expression was shock. Her eyes widened. Her lips trembled. 'Harry, please…'
'I just… I have to go' Harry brushed pass her and went out of the barn. He didn't bother taking the tape. He thought he heard a soft sob before the door closes but he convinced himself it was nothing.
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Harry kept walking and walking. Outside it was late in the afternoon. The cold chill of autumn was beginning to cut into his skin. He zipped up his jacket and folded his arms across his chest. He checked whether his wand was still in his jeans' pocket. It was, so he kept on walking. He walked and walked far from the Burrow. He walked over the hill and walked around the house. He walked into the forest, walked out again and walked in again. He didn't know why he was doing this. He just wanted to make sense out of it all; his feelings, his fear, their faces…
He groaned and clamped his eyes shut. He was in a little clearing in the middle of the forest. Their faces flashed through his mind. Every time they came up, it hit him so hard that he staggered back.
He wanted to know them. He wanted them to know him. So much. Just for a moment…
'MUM!!! DAD!!!!' he screamed and his voice echoed through the stillness.
Someone please answer. Anyone.
Could they see him? Could they see their only son standing in the cold screaming for them? For one dreaded moment, Harry hoped and hoped that they could somehow hear him, that somehow they could see him. Just for a moment….
He stood there with his arms thrown wide open and his eyes tightly shut. Maybe… just maybe… if when he opens his eyes, he might see them again.
He might.
He shut his eyes tightly. He wished hard. Just another minute. Just one more.
He pictured them, standing wrapped around each other like in the video. They were looking at him. He strained his ear. Maybe he could hear them too. Just another minute and then he would open his eyes. Just another minute he would see them again.
Three…. Two… One…
He opened his eyes. But there was nothing. The blade of grass trickled in the cold wind and the tree tops were swaying. The sky was beginning to get dark. There was no one there…
Harry dropped to his knees and for the first time since he watched the video, he cried. He cried until his sobs shook his whole body. He sat there in the wet cold grass for a long time. Tears streamed down his face and his jacket got wet. His jeans' bottom was soaked. He muffled his cries with the sleeve of his shirt. He curled himself into a ball. Without even quite sure why, he continued crying and crying.
And beyond the horizon, the sun was setting.
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Harry opened the Burrow's kitchen door and walked in. Immediately he was engulfed in a strangled hug by Mrs. Weasley. She kissed him firmly on both cheeks and her shaking hands cupped his face.
'Merlin, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!?' she cried. Harry stood stiff in her arms as she brushed his clothes off grasses. 'You're soaked to the skin!! We've been so worried!'
Harry took a quick look around the room. Almost all the Weasleys were sitting around the supper table. Mr. Weasley smiled grimly up at him. George cracked a chuckle and went back to his pudding. Ron gave him a dark look. Percy examined him from behind his horn rimmed glasses which Harry thought made him look like an old scruffy owl. But Harry's eyes searched for only two people in particular. Hermione's caught his and she gave him a pleading look. Harry felt a pang in his heart. He looked at her and he hoped she knew he was sorry.
Ginny was sitting next to Hermione and she immediately dropped her gaze when Harry looked her way. He bit his lips and turned away. He realized Mrs. Weasley was still glowering at him. 'Harry, where have you been? I've been worried sick! I almost sent Arthur to go look for you. Do you know how cold the weather gets at night?'
Harry didn't bother to correct her that he could do a Warming Charm to keep himself from freezing. He just gave her a tiny smile. 'I'm sorry, Mrs. Weasley. I guess I lost track of the time'
'Well, really!' she scoffed. 'I will heat up the food for you. You must eat something. I dare say you look even skinnier than last summer. When you finish, you can go change.'
She hurried away to the stove and Harry took a seat next to Ron. He noticed Ron and Hermione kept exchanging eye contacts across the table, and then they both looked down again.
Ron dug into his pudding with an unusual strong effort and caused some of the pudding to drop unto the clean table surface. He scowled and shoved the pudding into his mouth. 'Where have you been?' he asked Harry between mouthfuls.
Mrs. Weasley walked over and handed Harry a plate full of pork pie and mashed potatoes. Harry pretended he hadn't heard Ron's question. He tried to change the subject. 'What's up with you and her anyway?'
'Huh?!?'
'You know,… you two been having a row again, aren't you?' Harry tried to keep his voice steady. He took a bite of the pie. It was delicious but somehow he wasn't very hungry.
'Um…yeah' said Ron. Harry noticed he kept looking towards Hermione and she was trying too hard to ignore him.
'What about?'
'Her parents'
'What?' Harry lowered his fork.
Ron turned his head closer to Harry and lowered his voice. 'She's going to bloody Australia. To reverse her parents' memory… And…' here Ron gulped and his face darkened, and he looked like he had swollen Dungbombs. He took a swig of pumpkin juice.
'And?' Harry urged him on.
Ron moved closer and he said very quietly but clearly. 'And… she wants me to go with her'
'That's great!' shouted Harry and Hermione turned sharply their way. Ron quickly clamped his hand over Harry's mouth.
'Are you bullocks?! Keep your mouth shut!' he hissed.
Harry shoved Ron's hand away. Hermione looked away again and continued her conversation with a very bored Ginny.
'Calm down, for Merlin's sake.'
'Don't. Shout.' Ron said through gritted teeth.
'Very well' Harry muttered and he sipped his pumpkin juice. He lowered his own voice to a whisper 'But what's wrong?'
'What's wrong?' Ron rounded on Harry like his brain had somehow been seriously damaged. His voice raised an octave. He quickly looked around but everyone was busy eating or chatting. He turned back to Harry. 'What if I don't bloody want to go to Australia?'
'Well…' Harry shrugged his shoulders. 'Why not?'
'A foreign country. Filled with jumping bouncing animals and people with weird accent' Ron mumbled and Harry caught something that sounded like 'absurd wizarding traditions'
'What's so bad with Australia?' asked Harry.
'I told you. I hate that bloody country' Ron stabbed his pudding with his fork and a piece of his pudding flew over and landed neatly on George's hand. The other red head quickly took revenge by throwing a spoonful back at his younger brother. Ron ducked and George's magical flying pudding hit the wall behind him. Mrs. Weasley was busy boiling a cup of tea so she missed that particular lovely scene. Ron scowled at his brother but George just grinned back with personal satisfaction. The red head stood up, declared at the top of his voice that he was going to bed and trooped upstairs. He turned to give Harry a small wink before disappearing from view. Harry still thought he looked so strange without Fred by his side. This thought brought a lump to Harry's throat again and he drained his goblet.
'What were you saying?' He asked Ron. He wanted to bring the conversation back to safer ground. But Ron was so annoyed with George that he gave Harry a sickeningly look.
'Whatever' the red head muttered 'I'll tell you when we get upstairs. Bloody pudding…'
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'…I just don't want to go' Ron repeated for the thousandth time from his bed. Harry was lying in his and staring up at the ceiling. He nodded lazily in agreement. His mind was now wandering back to the video tape in the barn and the empty sinking feeling was returning.
'I mean, that country is so… Urgh..' Ron snorted.
Harry scowled. The lights were out and they were now in total darkness. 'Shut up, mate. This is getting nowhere'
'What the bloody hell do you mean by that?' snapped Ron
Harry decided to bring his fist down. 'You don't want to go because you hate Australia or because you don't want to meet Hermione's parents?'
'What?!? What kind of person do you think I am?' cried Ron. 'I am fine with meeting her parents. It's just that….'
Harry heard his best friend sighed heavily in the dark.
'Fine. Okay.' Ron admitted. 'I don't want to meet them. I mean, what am I suppose to say to them anyway?'
' Ummm… Hi I guess' said Harry
'Yeah right.' scoffed Ron sarcastically.
'Hey, they're going to like you, mate. You get to spend some time alone with Hermione, and if you don't go, you have to meet them sometime eventually'
Ron sighed and he pointed his wand to the ceiling. Wisps of coloured smokes erupted from the tip of his wand and swirled around in the dark, illuminating the room with soft rainbow lights. 'I guess so'
'So are you going?' asked Harry
'Maybe…' Ron flicked his wand and the smoke formed a round red smoke ring. Harry saw it and he felt tears stung his eyes. He wiped them away angrily. A scene with a raven haired man making smoke rings to entertain a small dark hair boy escaped into his mind.
'What about you, mate?' asked Ron
Harry swallowed and tried to keep his voice normal. 'What about me?'
'You were kind of strange after you came back from Tonks parents'. I know you and Hermione had a row. And Ginny came into the house this afternoon looking bloody scary. Then she and Hermione chatted together for a long time. She wouldn't tell me what's going on but I guess something's up'
Harry fell silent. 'Yeah… But don't you start on me too'
'Hey, don't jump down my throat' Ron's smoke rings disappeared and he turned on his side to fix Harry with an annoyed stare.
'Sorry, mate' said Harry gruffly. 'Ginny's mad at me, Hermione's mad at me, and… I don't need you to get all mushy over me. I don't… even understand myself. I don't think you'd understand'
'Is it about your parents?'
Harry didn't know why Ron knew but he grunted in agreement. Ron continued.
'I'm not the mushy type, mate. You have to get Bill or Percy for that but… you may be wrong. I might understand what you're going through' Ron's voice shook and dropped. 'I mean, we lost Fred…'
Harry felt his heart skipped a beat with guilt. Yes, Ron was right. The Weasleys lost Fred, just like he lost James and Lily. But at least they had years and years together before he was taken away.
Harry dug his nails into the bed sheets. 'I don't know how to begin, mate'
'Take your time'
He drew in a sharp breath and he told Ron of his visit to Andromeda's. He told of the letters and the tape and when he watched it with Ginny this morning.
'And… I guess, the bad part about it was… when I watched it…' said Harry. 'it felt for one glorious moment that I had them back, you know'
'Yeah, I get what you mean.' Said Ron 'it's the same feeling I have when I go through our picture albums and I see… well,…' this time he couldn't bring himself to say Fred's name and Harry understood.
'And then… it's like they're taken from me again. I lost them again. And I never even got the chance to know them… And I still have so many questions. So many things I still don't know. And I keep wondering what it would be like if they could see me now…'
Ron inhaled deeply and Harry felt the silence between them increased. Something was tightening its hold on his heart.
'I miss them' he whispered so quietly that he thought Ron couldn't hear him but he was surprised when his best friend replied, in a shaking muffled voice;
'Yeah,… I know. I miss him too.'
Harry didn't know why talking to Ron came out so easily. Maybe it was because he was beginning to get drowsy and tired. Maybe Hermione was right. When you are sleepy, you tend to let people in more. Or maybe it was because of the smoke rings Ron was making.
He was making them again now. Ron stared up at the ceiling in an attempt to hide his moist eyes. From the tip of his wand burst rings and rings of colourful smokes. Harry watched as they all floated and popped in mid air. He thought they looked beautiful.
'He used to do that too, my dad' said Harry, more to himself than to Ron but Ron turned, still trying to navigate the smoke rings.
'What?'
'The smoke rings. The night they died. Before Voldemort came. He was conjuring them for me to play with. I saw it when I was at Godric's Hollow'
Harry was glad when Ron didn't let out a Hermioneish 'Oh, Harry!!' Or rush forward to give him a brotherly hug. Ron was being very Ron as he vanish the smoke rings and said 'That sucks'
'Yeah, it kind of does.' agreed Harry.
'But…' Ron frowned in the dark. 'I think they would have been proud of you, mate. Really proud.'
Harry didn't answer him. He felt like he couldn't breathe.
'I never asked them… so many things… I just..'
'You'll know them' said Ron firmly and sincerely. 'Through you. I mean, you'll know them through you… one day'
There was an awkward silence as Harry gaze out the window into the dark night outside. Ron turned and pulled his blankets up.
'Well, goodnight, mate'
'yeah, goodnight' Harry took off his glasses and put them on the bed side. He settled himself into the pillow and blanket. Another deep silence followed.
After a while, Harry cleared his throat. 'Hey, Ron?'
'Yeah?'
'Thanks, mate'
Ron sniffed. 'No Problem'
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Harry was surrounded by smoke. It was blinding him. Lots of different colours swirling around him. The smoke rings were blocking his path. He planned to keep on going forward but he couldn't see where he was going. The smoke was too thick. He groped around in the dark. He felt so lost. And he hoped and prayed that the smoke would clear and he could see where he's going again.
Then, by an act 0f miracle, his prayer was answered. The smoke cleared and his breath caught in his throat when he saw who was standing on his path. He felt his eyes burn. This wasn't real.
'Mum? Dad?' He called them. His voice came out like a croak. They were so close to him. And they were so real. They weren't like the shimmering memories he saw in the forest that night. They were like real people, breathing and living, and they were standing right in front of him. Lily's emerald eyes he inherited was sparkling so magnificently and James, with his arm around her, was smiling so fully that his features was the most handsomest Harry had ever saw him. Harry looked at them. He looked at Lily's beautiful kind face and looked into her eyes that are so alike to his. He looked at James' messy appearance and looked deep into his father's hazel eyes. He looked and looked. He couldn't look at them enough and he was staring at them like he was fully seeing them for the first time.
'Is this a dream?' Harry finally asked.
Lily smiled and her smile made Harry's eyes filled with tears. 'What do you think?'
'I don't know'
James reached out his hand and it was so close Harry could reach out to touch it. 'Come here, son'
And Harry did. He went to them, blindly and in tears he staggered to them. He reached his father first. James grabbed hold of him and hugged him. And Harry realized this was the first time he had embraced his father. Harry now knew what it felt like. He felt safe for the first time and he let it all go. He sobbed into his father's shoulder and James just held him close. James' own body shook and he tightened his grip on Harry like he would never want to let his son go. And right at that second, Harry knew him entirely for the first time.
Just for one moment…
Then they broke apart and Harry stumbled towards Lily. He rushed into her arms like he was a boy of one or two years old. She held him and kissed him, her own tears running down her cheeks. It was like when he was small. She would pick him up and hold him. She would dry his tears.
Harry knew for the first time what his mother smelt like. Vanilla. Her hair was soft and her touch was kind. And she loved him. He knew.
They broke apart and Lily held Harry off by arm's length. She surveyed him. 'You look so handsome'
Harry smiled tightly and he felt his heart full to bursting. He didn't know what to say.
'You look like your father when he was your age'
He had heard this so many times before but it was somehow special when she said it. The tears started flowing.
James ruffled his hair and Harry felt just like a kid again. 'Don't cry, son'
Harry shifted his feet. 'I just don't want to wake up and lose you again'
'You would never lose us' James put his hand on Harry's shoulder 'Never. We promise you that'
'There's so many things I want to know… so many…and I…' he couldn't go on. But Lily took his hand and James smiled.
'You know what I used to think about every time I board the train to Hogwarts?' whispered Harry. 'I tried to imagine if there was no Voldemort. If there had never been a Voldemort, Mum, you'll be the one kissing me goodbye at the station and Dad, you will hug me and wish me well and stuff. Then you guys would be standing together arm in arm waving me goodbye when the train takes off…. We never got the chance to do that'
Lily's smile was sad. 'Yes, we never did.'
'I miss you so much' Harry looked at both of them
James smiled like it hurt. He said gruffly 'Son, these words are going to break our hearts'
'I don't want you to go' said Harry.
Lily shook her head and her beautiful red hair swayed from side to side. 'It's not us who are going, dear. We're always here waiting for you. But it's you, Harry, who has to go back' She indicated to the path he just traveled through.
'But…'
'We're inside you.' said James. 'Don't look back'
'We're living in you, Harry' said Lily 'Always .'
Harry stared at them. He thought of Ginny, of Ron and of Hermione. He thought of little Teddy. He had to go back. He had never said the things he needed to. But when he saw his parents looking back at him, his heart broke. He stood there looking at them for he doesn't know how long when James said; 'Go, Harry'
Lily smiled encouragingly. James had his arm around her shoulder and he held her close. She clung onto him like in the video tape.
Harry took a step backwards, but his eyes still feasted on them. Then he whispered. 'I love you'
'We love you too'
He looked at them for the last time and he turned around. He turned his back on them to the way he had come. His feet felt heavy but he kept on walking and walking. This time he no longer felt the deep pain of losing them again. This time, Harry felt like he's going to be alright…
And with that belief in his heart, he kept on walking and he never looked back.
But if he did, he would see two figures standing together amongst the smoke rings, arms entwined. He would see James kissed the top of Lily's head and he would have heard James said; 'Well, I think he has my Quidditch talent after all'
And if Harry had turned back and listened closely, he would have heard Lily laughed
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Harry had never felt as good in the morning as he was feeling now. He woke up late after Ron and took a long shower. He felt so good that he decided to put on a nice set of clothes and attempted to comb his hair. He thundered down the stairs and welcomed the bright light of morning that streamed into the Weasleys kitchen. He was looking forward to a platter of eggs and bacons when the emptiness of the kitchen caught him by surprise. To his amazement, there was only Hermione there, sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee and reading the Daily Prophet.
'Good morning' said Harry
Hermione's head jerked up. She looked flustered and she quickly took a nervous gulp of coffee. 'Oh, Good morning Harry. Sleep well?'
'I had this really real dream last night.' He sat down opposite of Hermione and pored himself a cup of coffee. 'About my parents'
Hermione could have spilled her coffee all over the newspaper if she hadn't regained her composure in time. She quickly put the cup down. 'Are you sure, Harry?' she asked him in the same timid tone. 'Your parents are…'
'I'm just telling you what I saw' said Harry abruptly and Hermione fell silent. She dropped her gaze and her cheeks reddened. Suddenly she stood up and this time she really upset the cup. The coffee spilled all over the Daily Prophet and soaked the table cloth. But Hermione had her eyes on her best friend. 'Harry, I am so sorry!'
Harry almost choked into his drink. 'What?'
'I'm sorry' wailed Hermione. 'I'm sorry I never believe you and I'm sorry I'm so bossy and controlling. I'm sorry I like to advice you and pry into your life and…'
'Woah, that's enough' said Harry. Hermione's mouth clamped shut and she looked scared.
'Hermione, it's alright' Harry assured her. 'As a matter of fact, I am the one who should be apologizing to you. I was a jerk to you yesterday'
'That's okay, Harry. It was my fault too, actually. I shouldn't have…'
'Maybe…but I was still a jerk'
Hermione's face broke into a smile and she hugged Harry. Harry returned the gesture and patted her on the back. 'Friends?'
They broke apart and she grinned. 'Friends…'
'I'm really sorry, Hermione'
'It's alright, really.' She smiled. 'But go talk to Ginny, alright?'
Harry felt a knot erupted in his stomach. 'She said something yesterday about her being the one who always has to wait for me'
'And she's right' said Hermione firmly. 'she waited for you when she was a kid, she waited for you when you were busy saving the world and drowning in your misery, she waited for you when you had Cho and she waited for you when we went to find the Horcruxes. She waited for you when…. Do I need to go on?'
Harry cracked a smile and somehow felt like slapping himself in the head. 'Yeah, I understand now.' He glanced down at the floor. 'Where's Ron?'
Hermione dropped her arm immediately and took the task of cleaning the mess on the table. 'I don't know and I don't care'
'Common, Hermione. It's just…' began Harry but he was never allowed to finish that sentence. It was at that precise moment that Ron chose to barge in.
'Hermione!!'
'What is it, Ronald?' Hermione asked her voice crisp. She kept her eye on the table.
Ron turned red and Harry wished he could just disappear. 'Well… Hermione, I've been thinking…'
'Let's write this day down in history' muttered Hermione and Ron wisely chose the option of ignoring the comment and continued. 'Well,… the point is…ithinkiwagotaaostralawiu'
'Ronald, you're speaking gibberish'
'I said… I think I will go to Australia with you'
'…and if you don't stop being an immature git you'd… WHAT?!?!' at this last part Hermione had jumped up from her seat and she stood facing Ron. Ron retreated a few small steps.
'I just… I know this is a big deal for you and I…' Ron's ears turned red and he scratched his head absentmindedly. 'I just want to be there… for you, I mean.'
Harry observed how a smile was beginning to tuck at the corner of Hermione's lips. He decided this was the time he should disappear. He opened the back door into the garden and slipped out. Outside, the sun was shining brightly. The air was cool and all the leaves in the trees were starting to grow brown and red. He thought of his dream last night. Was it a dream? He wasn't sure. But all he knew was he was happy. And that's what matters.
Harry noticed a red head figure standing by the fence. It was Ginny. She was looking at the flowers Mrs.Weasley planted near the wooden fence. Harry made his way towards her, his heart hammering.
'Ginny, can I talk to you?'
She whipped around to face him. Her messy hair was tied back in a pony tail and her face was tired from the lack of sleep but Harry thought she looked beautiful.
'I don't want to talk to you' she turned on her heel and stalked off. Harry followed.
'Gin, I'm sorry'
'Well, so am I'
'I really am. I talked to Ron last night and ...' clearly that was the wrong thing to say, as Harry realized when Ginny rounded on him. Her red hair seemed to be on fire.
'You talked to Ron?!? You talked to Ron and you couldn't talk to me?!?' She thrust her hand towards herself. Her face flushed with anger and her eyes flashed. Angry tears formed in them. Harry had the feeling she was waiting to let this out for so long.
'You think I won't understand, Harry?!?! I have some information for you! I do understand! I was locked in the house while you all are off fighting Voldemort. I was always protected and kept out of things for the reason that I'm too young. I waited for you!! For years!! And you just…' her eyes bore into his and he shrank away. '…you can't even let me in. Not once. And you could talk to Ron. You think Ron is the only one who could understand, but here's another piece of info for you! FRED WAS MY BROTHER TOO!' When she reached this point, Ginny's whole body was shaking with anger and tears were rolling down her cheeks, tears of anger, tears of pain and tears of bitterness. She looked at Harry, really looked at him, and her eyes flashed. She turned her back on him and walked away.
Harry didn't know what drove him but he continued following her. 'Gin..'
Ginny kept on walking but she shouted over shoulder. 'What if I decided not to wait for you anymore?'
This stopped Harry in his track. His heart scampered frantically. He was speechless. 'Then… well, I guess… this time I'll take my turn of waiting.'
She stopped with his back to him. Harry bowed his head and he bit his lips. He wanted her to come back. She had been his rock and his strength for this past year. He didn't know what he would do without her. He thought of his father and it seemed kind of ironic that both of them had fallen for redhead girls.
'You were a jerk' said Ginny shortly
Harry smiled softly to himself 'Yes, I know'
'You are too stubborn for your own good, do you know that?' she said quietly. She still had her back to him.
'Yeah and so are you'
'Maybe that's why we're not going to be good for each other'
'Maybe that's why we are'
Suddenly Ginny whipped around and flung her arms around his neck. Harry caught her by the waist and she buried her face in his neck. Harry's heart soared. He could feel her wet tears on his skin.
'What about me having my share of the waiting?' he whispered.
She looked up into his face. The brown eyes found the green ones again like they did so many times before. She smiled. It was perfect. They were perfect. 'I guess you can have your fair share some other time'
Their lips met and it was heaven. Harry held her close to him. He didn't want to let her go. In that one wonderful moment, his life had turned beautiful again. In that moment, he knew and believed that they would be alright. All of them. The pain would go away and the sun would shine again. Maybe he would take Ginny to see Teddy and have a nice cup of tea with Andromeda. Maybe he would visit his parents' graves again, and maybe this time Fred's too, and Lupin and Tonks'. The path ahead was bright. And all was well in the world…
And in another place, another world, quite different from ours, a young man with raven black hair and hazel eyes stood looking down at this scene with a young woman with red flaming hair and beautiful green eyes. He hugged her close and kissed her. Her eyes shone. She touched his cheek and they both look down at the two young people in the little garden below them.
Lily Potter smiled. 'They look just like us'
James placed a kiss on her forehead 'I told you before, Lily dearest. Our genes are quite something!'
She just laughed. And he joined in.
And their laughter was beautiful indeed.
THE END