Incandescence
Part Sixteen
Aftermath

Disclaimer: I still, sadly, do not own Harry Potter or Phyrrus would have been around a long time ago in the books. Sorry, folks.

Warnings: This is still slash. If you haven't figured that out by now. . . maybe you should make sure you can read? This is chapter sixteen, after all.

Author's Note: Man, you guys, this has been a long journey! Year four down and still years five, six, and seven to go! In case you can't tell, this is the last chapter of year four, which is sad for me, because I did have a lot of fun writing it and reading your reviews, but fear not! Year five is already being beta'd and on it's way! Well, part of year five. I haven't finished it just yet, that's what I leave the school year for!

I'm sorry this chapter is so short, but I just had to wrap things up with everyone for the begining of the next year! Yay! I'm also working on a cameo from when the boys are nine based off the live journal entry I have. It's called Wife Swap and is basically the LJ entry, but I'm fleshing it out, hopefully a lot. So you can look for that too. I'm not sure when it'll be done, but it should be out this summer. I think.

To Shadow of a Shadow: I realize that chapter fifteen was short, compared to the book, but I didn't see any reason to restate things you already knew and have probably read a million times. I have a tendency to do that in this story, just because I'm sure at least half of you can recite the books by heart. I'm sorry if you didn't like the shortness, but I am glad you're excited for year five!

To everyone: I'm so glad you liked chapter fifteen! I was really excited about Chara's part in it, and Leon's too. I do realize Chara broke the hippocratic oath she probably had to take, since she works in medicine, but it just worked so well for her personality. . . besides, she probably fixed him after (so what if his spleen is now somewhere around his nose?). I'm just so glad for all the reviews!

I BROKE 200 REVIEWS! THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO HELPED ME REACH THAT! I know I don't normally use all caps, but there's too many of you to do a list like I do at 100, and people only ever read the caps stuff, and I wanted to thank you so badly. So thank you!

I hope you enjoy!
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Harry had won the tournament. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that he had won the tournament. But it didn't matter. Fudge left a bag of galleons by his bed table in the hospital wing where he was in the tender care of Madame Pomfry. He'd sprained his ankle and wrist landing back at the school, and had a concussion from the cup. He didn't care. The money wasn't worth it.

"He died saving me," Harry brokenly told his parents, clutching at Phyrrus' hand. "I'm sorry. He was brave. I'm sorry, I should have. . . done something. . . it's my fault--"

"It's not your fault," Mr. Diggory shook his head. "He. . . died a hero's death. He saw something in you to save."

Harry collapsed against Phyrrus in tears, clutching his boyfriend tightly. Phyrrus excused them and left the room. Harry offered the Diggory's the money in compensation. They refused it.

Staring at the galleons in his hand and sighed. He didn't want them. What would he do with them? It was a memory he wanted to forget. "Harry?" Phyrrus wrapped his arms around the smaller male. "Are you okay?"

"No," Harry admitted, turning to embrace Phyrrus. "I'm really not." He bit back his tears. He had been crying every day for the past week. He didn't want to cry anymore. Still, despite his resolve, tears began to roll down his face.

"Talk to me, baby," Phyrrus urged, rocking the smaller gently. "What happened? What hurt you so badly?"

Harry shook his head. "I just can't. . . not yet."

"It'll help, baby, I promise," Phyrrus sighed. "It's. . . terrible. But I promise it'll help."

"I saw someone die!"

"I know. That's why you need to believe when I say talking helps." Phyrrus pressed a kiss to his boyfriend's forehead, still rocking him. "Trust me, please?"

"How would you know?"

"It was a few years back. Accident in class. One of the black belts got a little too complacent with his partner, missed a kick, ducked the wrong way. His opponent snapped his neck, right in front of the entire class." Phyrrus shook his head. "I was nearly hit when he landed, he was thrown so far back. Mom sent me to counseling. Talking about it really did help. I thought the lady was mad. I never told her what happened, but I told Mom, eventually, and she was right. Just talking helped."

"Cedric. . . was just there. He was an innocent bystander! And they killed him!" Harry choked. Slowly the entire story spilled from his lips as his tears dripped down his face, leaving him clutching the elder tightly. Phyrrus held him, and rocked him, and stroked his hair, pressing kisses to the messy locks until Harry feel asleep late in the night.

For the first time in a week, Harry did not dream.
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The train ride back was somber, Harry curled in Phyrrus' lap, Ron and Hermione and the others watching them closely as Harry stared out the window. Phyrrus said nothing, just sat there, cuddling the boy. Hermione sighed. "I'm surprised Skeeter didn't put this in the papers," She commented absently.

River and Rayne grinned at each other. "She can't," Rayne told her, eyes crinkling. "We won't let her."

"And how did you finally manage to stop her?" Hermione raised an eyebrow.

River lifted Harry's golden egg. They had drilled tiny holes in it for air, and Hermione could see a fat beetle sulking inside. "She's having trouble getting out," River was a little too smug for Hermione's tastes.

"You have Skeeter in there?" Hermione gaped.

"Sure," Rayne rolled her eyes. "Her animangus form–illegal animangus form–is a beetle. We offered. . . a deal, you might say. She's. . . stewing it over."

"Meaning she can come out when she agrees." Phyrrus broke in. "Isn't that blackmail?"

"We aren't blackmailing. We're offering an ultimatum." River crossed her arms.

Phyrrus raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Of course. And just what am I going to tell Mom about all this?"

Both twins offered their sweetest smiles, moving to cuddle up to their elder brother. "We got bored," Both told him, making him and Cyrrus groan. Harry guffawed, ruffling their curly black hair, and rose to his feet.

"I'll be right back," He told them, gathering the bag of galleons. With Voldemort back, he knew the world would be a dark place, and he didn't want River and Rayne to loose their smiles. For the girls to keep them, he knew exactly where the money needed to go.
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Stepping off the train, Harry was surprised to see Grandma Carlisle and Grandma Lugovalos both standing nearby, their eyes glittering with happiness as they caught up their grandchildren to hug them and hold them. Harry was more surprised to find he was one of those grandchildren. Looking at Fred and George as he left, the Weasely twins smiled at him. "We'll try to keep everyone smiling, Harry," Fred offered softly.

"Yeah, mate," George agreed, touching his pocket.

Harry linked arms with Phyrrus. They would all need those smiles.
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