A/N: Yes, I've skipped ahead in DH. Everyone should recognize the first line here and where we are in the story. And yes, I will get to some of the things that happened in between. I've got a plan. So stick with me. :)
Chapter 3: Volcanoes
"I've had enough trouble for a lifetime."
The dark-haired boy stood there, blankly staring at the wands that had ended it all. Hungry, bleary-eyed and sleep deprived, his thoughts were incoherent. His legs were weak, barely able to keep him upright. His body was wobbling from exhaustion. His eyelids becoming heavy, wishing desperately to shut out the morning light that was cascading through the window in the Headmaster's office. 'Or is it Headmistress now?' the boy thought.
Slowly, he turned towards the two people standing behind him, though his eyes didn't focus on them. He placed the three wands, Draco's, the Elder, and the holly and phoenix feather, in his back pocket. Gradually putting one heavy foot in front of the other, he made his way toward the doorway that would lead him to his salvation: sleep.
Gently, one of his companions slipped a hand into his, and guided him out the door. Together they walked hand-in-hand down the spiral staircase, taking one step at a time, knowing that there was no rush. As they reached the bottom, his walking companion gave a slight tug, imploring him to stop. Gazing down at the floor, he did as he was silently asked. He blinked slowly, willing himself to stay conscious, his body fighting him all the way.
He vaguely heard his companion speak, it sounded like a she, and like she was miles away from him. "Ron, I'm taking him up to the tower. You go be with your family. I'll take care of him," he heard her say. He then heard the faint echo of footsteps leading away from him. Feeling his hand being tugged again, he simply followed. 'Step. Step. Step. Step. Step.' It was a struggle, using his legs and feet as they were supposed to be.
As they reached a certain point, his eyes saw something not quite right. The floor in front of him wasn't flat anymore. He blinked. His head tilted up. 'Stairs. Bloody stairs.' He crept up the Grand Staircase, wincing with every step up, his body aching for the sweet relief that awaited him on the seventh floor. 'Up. Ugh. Up. Ow. Up. Ugh. Up. Bloody hell. Up. Ugh.'
Eventually the pair reached their destination, standing in front of a portrait. He heard his female companion whisper something to the portrait, what it was he couldn't make out even if he tried. Once again, he felt his hand tugged, and once more he followed. His unfocused eyes finally found something that his body had been asking for: a nice big comfy couch. His companion, however, kept leading him toward some as yet unknown destination. But his body overruled this decision, and he collapsed onto the sofa, his hand ripping out of his companions. He sunk into the couch, his head resting comfortably, slowly sagging to the left. His eyes were drooping, giving in to his body's desire.
"Oh no sleepy head, not here. The bed will be much more comfortable and private. Come on," he heard her say. His hands were grabbed, and he felt his arms jerk forward, but his body stayed in place.
His eyes drooped shut, eyebrows furrowing. "Noooo…." he moaned. Suddenly, his arms dropped to his side, and the cushion to his left sagged. A warm, soft body snuggled up next to him. His left wrist lifted, and his limp and rough fingers were interlaced with a set of light, warm ones. Soft lips were placed on his cheek, a small but delicate kiss. The lips made their way to his ear, and a shiver rand down his spine from the warm breath.
"I love you, Harry Potter, and I always will. Now rest, you've had a long day," she whispered. She kissed his check once more, and laid her head against his shoulder. Without another thought, his head rested on hers, his eyes finally shut for good. He vaguely felt something cover him, perhaps a blanket. He didn't really care. His body relaxed fully, allowing him to drift off into a world where his aching body was of no concern.
Harry felt heavy. His eyelids did. His arms did. His legs did. His head did. Everything felt so heavy.
He inhaled. And he smiled. His spirits lifted. A very familiar aroma filled his lungs. It was, undoubtedly, the best smell that he could possible wake up to. 'Vanilla. I'll never get tired of that scent. Not in a million years.' Slowly, he peeled open his eyes, which were greeted with the sight of brown, tangled hair. His heart swelled, trying to explode in his chest. He squeezed his left hand, which was still interlinked with her hand, trying to gauge her alertness.
No response.
Harry chuckled, seeing his wonderful girlfriend completely out of it. He looked around the room, trying to guess exactly how long they had been sleeping. He careened his neck around toward the window, and saw that it was dark outside. 'Huh, must have been out for a while.' Thoughts whirled around in his brain, remembering the encounter in the Room of Requirement.
He saw the twins coming out of the portal behind painting, much as the trio had done moments before. Then behind them came Ginny. Their eyes met. She flashed her beautiful smile at him. He tried to smile back, but he was sure what appeared on his face was not a smile, but a look of being ill. He didn't want her to come. He broke up with her to keep her safe. But now she was at Hogwarts, that fiery look in her eye, ready to fight along side him.
When he spoke up about needing to find the diadem, Cho Chang offered to take him to Ravenclaw's tower. But Ginny roared in disapproval, wanting Luna to take him instead. Harry's insides turned over, feeling as if Ginny was trying to mark him as her territory, that no other girl should speak to him or interact with him without her permission. Ron's voice rang loudly in his ears, 'She thinks your hers you know.' He felt like a piece of meat, something to be owned, not loved.
Before he left with Luna, Hermione grabbed Harry's attention. She squeezed his hand, and looked him in the eye. Instantly, he knew what she was saying. They had always seemed to be able to read each other's expressions, but now that they were a couple, he could read her like a book. With the simple squeezing of his hand, and the look in her eye, he heard her loud and clear. 'Don't worry about her. I love you.' He smiled, and went with blond Ravenclaw.
Harry was brought out of his thoughts by the shifting body beside him. His eyes were unfocused, looking toward the roaring fireplace. He felt light kisses caressing the left side of his neck, and his eyes closed involuntarily. A small moan left the back of his throat as his head leaned itself into Hermione's soft lips, which completely erased all thoughts of his encounter with Ginny in the Room of Requirement. His head turned, and his nose bumped into Hermione's, causing the two of them to giggle.
"Hey you, sleep well?" Harry asked, a smile creeping across his face for the first time in days. He brought his right hand out from beneath the blanket, and began to caress Hermione's cheek with his thumb.
"I slept ok, my neck's a little sore, but my teddy bear always helps me sleep," she responded, mimicking Harry by bringing a hand up at cup his cheek. After a few more seconds of grazing into each other's eyes, Harry's stomach growled. "Well then, I guess someone here is hungry," Hermione said chuckling. "Wanna go down to the Great Hall and grab something to eat?"
Harry sat there, pondering whether he really did want to leave the sanctuary that he was currently in. He didn't want to go back and be hounded by the throngs of well-wishers again. And in fact, sitting here with Hermione, finally able to look at her with no dark and cloudy future, was all he wanted to do. Another growl from his stomach however, was a reminder that he did need to eat. Thankfully for the two of them, an epiphany hit Harry. His eyebrows shot upward and a wicked grin came with the light bulb over his head.
Harry sat up straight, and called out, "Kreacher!" And with a 'pop', the once despised house elf appeared before them. The servant of the noble House of Black bowed before the couple, the locket they had given his drooped onto the floor.
"How may I serve Master Potter and his Muggle-born lady?"
"Kreacher, thanks for coming. I'd like to thank you for leading the house elves against Voldemort, Master Regulus would be very proud I'm sure, and so am I," Harry said.
"Master Potter is too kind to poor Kreacher. Can I bring Master anything to eat? Master and his Muggle-born lady look famished."
Harry looked at Hermione, silently asking what she wanted. She shrugged her shoulders in an I-don't-care way. Harry turned back to the house elf. "Yes, that would be wonderful. But please, call me Harry. Just some sandwiches and some pumpkin juice please."
"Anything for Master P… Harry," and with another 'pop', Kreacher was gone. Harry sunk back into the couch, his muscles still sore from the battle. The couple sat in silence cuddling for the few minutes that it took for Kreacher to bring them their food, which they consumed quite quickly. Its amazing how much food one can eat when they haven't had a proper meal in nearly a year.
"Harry? I'm still tired, can we go up to your room, so we can sleep on an actual bed?" Hermione asked timidly, not knowing how Harry would react to having her ask to sleep in his bed. He looked at her with a smile on his face, and nodded. They got off the couch, and ascended the steps of the boy's dormitories, walking up hand-in-hand. They found Harry's old bed, and slipped under the covers. Harry snaked his arms around Hermione's waist and pulled her close so that her back was flush against his chest.
After a few minutes of laying in silence, Harry had something he needed to say, something that had been bothering him since it happened. "Hermione, I'm sorry."
Puzzled, Hermione's eyebrows shot up in confusion. "Sorry for what Harry? That you rid the world of an evil person who took pleasure in killing? That's nothing to be sorry for," she said with understanding and calmness.
Harry shook his head. "No, not that. I'm glad about that. I knew it was him or me. And I'm very happy it was him," he said, squeezing her for emphasis. "I'm sorry for what I did to you, to everyone. I left; I went alone into the forest, without saying anything to you. Then everyone saw me in Hagrid's arms, with Riddle proclaiming me dead. I heard you scream. It was the worst I've ever felt in my life," he said, tears streaming down his cheeks, matching the now flowing rivers of his girlfriend.
"I wanted to cry out that I wasn't dead, but I couldn't. I wanted to comfort you, and tell you I was ok, and I was hoping that you wouldn't do anything to get yourself killed thinking I was already gone. I'm so sorry Hermione. I'm so sorry you had to go through that, thinking I was dead."
Hermione rolled over so she could look at his face. They were both crying, knowing how lucky they both were to be there, alive and healthy, holding each other. She brought her hands up to his face, and cupped his cheeks. She kissed him hard, and he returned it feverishly. When they broke the kiss, she spoke.
"Harry James Potter, I accept your apology. But don't you ever do that to me again. I love you too much. When I thought you were dead, I felt dead inside. I didn't care about living anymore. When me, Luna and Ginny were fighting Bellatrix, I didn't care about dying. I just wanted to kill her, and then Voldemort. I wanted them to suffer like I was suffering. Then Mrs. Weasley came and threw us out of the way and killed her. I turned to face Voldemort, and saw him cast off McGonagall, Flitwick and Kingsley. I wanted to go after him, but then I heard you. I heard you cast that 'Protego' to protect Mrs. Weasley, and...,"
She stopped for a moment, her breath caught in her throat. After several deep breaths, she went on. "I can't even begin to describe what I felt. Mostly overwhelming relief. You were alive. My world literally stopped when I saw you come out from under your cloak. I was so happy. I knew you were ok, and I knew you were going to win. I just knew it."
Harry chuckled through the tears, a small smile cracking his tired face. "I nearly had a heart attack when I saw that Killing Curse buzz by Ginny. I couldn't handle losing any of the three of you. You three girls mean so much to me, I veered off from going after Voldemort to go over to you three. And you know the rest of course," he said, happiness and a tinge of concern in his voice.
Hermione chuckled, "So, the three of us? Is there one girl in particular you wanted to save?"
Harry laughed at the bushy-haired witch. "Well, I don't know. I haven't dated Luna, so it's not really a fair comparison of the three of you, is it?"
"Technically, she's the only one of us who's had a proper date with you. She was your date to Slughorn's party last year, remember? Ginny and I haven't had a chance to go on an actual date with you," she replied smirking. Harry laughed again, and nodded.
"True, true. But if I remember correctly, she's the only one I haven't had a snog yet with."
"Well, that's your fault then isn't it? I'm sure Luna would have loved to have taken you into a broom closet that night had you shown the slightest interest. However, if everything goes how I want it too, neither of them will get another chance at my teddy bear," she said, and proceeded to kiss him once more, which turned into wonderful little snogging session. Eventually, the happy couple drifted off to sleep once more, and a large weight had fallen off Harry's shoulders.
"So, are you ready to face them?" Hermione asked, knowing full well what the answer was. She knew Harry too well. The harmonious couple had woken up early the next morning, happy as can be. Waking up in each other's arms was something they had grown accustom too over the past several months. After showering, they were in the Common Room, getting ready to go down to breakfast. "You'll have too eventually."
Harry walked over to his girlfriend, wrapping his arms around her waist. As usual, she put her arms around his neck, a move the two had perfected over the course of their relationship. It was almost instinctual at this point to move into this particular position.
"Well, the sooner we do this, the sooner we can leave for Australia to find your parents. I'm really looking forward to that, getting away for a while from all this attention. It'll be a nice vacation, plus you'll get to introduce me to your parents all over again, this time as your handsome, wonderful boyfriend," he said smiling. Hermione returned his smile, and stood up on her toes, and kissed him hard - their tongues twirling together, her fingers flowing through Harry's always-untamed hair.
Finally, Harry broke the kiss, his lips still tingling from the wonderful snog, as he heard someone enter the Common Room. He broke their loving gaze, and turned his head towards the portal. There he saw the youngest Weasley, his ex-girlfriend. He tried holding back the smile that was still plastered to his face, but was failing miserably. What stunned him however, was the incredulous look on Ginny's face. 'Did she just see us snogging?' From the looks of it, she did.
"H-Harry? H-Hermione? W-What..." Ginny sputtered out, her eyes looking on in seeming disbelief. "But... Harry..." She covered her wide-open mouth with her hands, her eyes trying to jump out of their sockets, tears slowly coming to the forefront; she was the living, breathing definition of thunderstruck. "Are you two? You know?"
Harry turned to face the redhead, swinging Hermione slightly with him. He took his right hand off of Hermione's hip and brought it up to his forehead. His eyes closed tightly, his hand furiously rubbing his forehead. Eventually it made its way up to his hairline, where he proceeded to run it threw his uncontrollable locks, messing it up even worse than Hermione had. Scratching his scalp nervously, he opened his eyes to look at Ginny, and gave her a simple nod.
And the switch was flipped.
Gone was the somber, sad Ginny Weasley, Harry Potter's best mate's little sister. In her place was the vengeful, scorned ex-girlfriend of the Boy-Who-Lived. The tears in her eyes suddenly receded. Her eyes narrowed, eyebrows sinking into the center of her forehead. Her arms suddenly shot down to her sides, her hands clinched into fists.
"WHAT! How could you do this to me Harry! I loved you! I waited for you! Do you know how many guys were after me this year? Especially after we started the resistance? They saw me as brave and strong! But I told them no! I was waiting for my hero to come back to me!" Ginny shouted at the top of her lungs.
Thankfully no one was in the Gryffindor tower except the three of them. And if the tower weren't soundproof, the entire castle would be privy to the "private" conversation. With Ginny screaming at him, Harry's temper raised itself to her level. He wished with all his might that it wouldn't come to this, but unfortunately it had. Harry let go of Hermione, afraid to do anything while he was still holding her. He turned to face his ex, taking the same posture she did. But once he started yelling back, his arms began to fling wildly, speaking loudly with his body language as well as his voice.
"Your hero? Your HERO!" he shouted. Hermione winced behind him, knowing that Harry despised that title. She knew better than anyone how much he hated it. Wisely, she hung back behind him, letting him continue with his rant. "What am I to you? Some prize to be won? Some Quidditch trophy to be hung on the wall and admired? Some hunk of meat who's famous for surviving the Killing Curse?" Harry's emerald eyes were blazing with fury. He hadn't felt this angry since hearing Hermione's screams of pain at Malfoy Manor.
Ginny took a couple steps backward, not expecting this type of reaction out of Harry. She clearly expected him to cower and let her have the upper hand. But she dug her claws in, determined to let out her frustrations on him. "You're my boyfriend, that's what! Did you really think I believed you when you broke up with me! I knew you were just being a noble prat! I didn't think you actually took that seriously! And besides, you promised you would come back to me! What was it you said? 'I don't think there'll be many dating opportunities where I'm going'?" Ginny then gestured towards Hermione, and said, "Then what the bloody hell do you call this!"
Harry completely lost it at that point. He had always been protective of Hermione, but now, in his current state, he was absolutely livid. He gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tightly, and growled at Ginny. "Its called discovering love, Ginny. It's called opening my eyes to a wonderful, beautiful woman who loves me for me. Not an infatuation with some fan girl who fawns over the bloody Boy-Who-Lived! All you wanted to do was snog and ask me about my oh-so wonderful adventures. You don't even know me Ginny! The real me!"
Harry was breathing heavily, anger pulsing through his veins. Both he and Ginny glared at each other, their eyes locked onto each others. Harry guessed that there was a lot more going on here in this argument than just their relationship. It was a release, letting off the pressure that had been building up inside them from over the course of the year. Neither of them had vented it off apparently, and were now discharging all of it at one time.
Perhaps if Harry took a moment, he could appreciate the fact that both he and Ginny were able to dish out and take each other's best shots. The fiery redhead had always had a temper, just ask her brothers. The Boy-Who-Lived also had a reputation for a short fuse, as evidenced back in the summer before his fifth year, when no one could communicate with him. He exploded at his two best friends when he arrived at Grimmald Place. Now, Volcano Potter was erupting, as was Mount Ginny, and neither was backing down.
The emotions in play were obvious. This argument wasn't just about the two of them. It was about pain, grief, and loss. Harry, going through the emotional rollercoaster that was the hunt for Horcruxes, sacrificing himself in the Forbidden Forest, then only to come back from the dead to defeat Voldemort.
Ginny was going through difficult times herself the past year. Being a co-leader for the DA, nearly stealing Gryffindor's sword, the torture sessions with the Carrows, and now losing her brother Fred.
No, this was no normal argument. This was a release. And all involved knew it.
"Of course I know you!" Ginny screamed back.
"Do you now? Fine, lets play a little game. Let's call it The-Boy-Who-Lived quiz. I'll make it easy. If you can't answer it, Hermione gets a chance. Sound fair?" Harry said, crossing his arms. Ginny looked simply appalled, but straightened up, and nodded at Harry. "What's my favorite dessert?"
Ginny looked confidently at Harry, and said, "Anything chocolate." Harry cracked a smile, and shook his head. He turned to Hermione, and nodded at her. She looked uneasy, not wanting to be involved in this, but she knew that Harry needed her right now. Her head was down, left arm dangling at her side as her right hand was rubbing her left arm nervously. She knew the answer, like always.
"Treacle tart," Hermione replied quietly. Harry smiled brightly, and nodded in affirmation. Ginny looked furious once more.
"That's not fair! She knows you better than anyone! I know a lot about you! But how am I supposed to compete with Hermione bloody Granger? She's the only one you talk too!"
Harry nodded gently at Ginny. He brought his voice down, no longer mad or angry. He had achieved his goal. "You're right Ginny. Absolutely right." Ginny looked ready to explode again, but when the actual words hit her, she stopped. She blinked repeatedly, processing what he really said. When she seemed to regain her composure, Harry continued.
"That's why I want to be with her. She makes me feel normal, like I can talk to her. I can share things with her because she understands me. She's been through what I've been through. She's been at my side, no matter what I've tried to do. She doesn't see me as some famous hero. She sees me as a moody, sulky, stubborn, insufferable git, and you know what? She loves me for it."
Hermione walked up beside Harry and put her arms around his waist. She was trying not to smile, but she couldn't help it. He put his left arm around her shoulders, pride swelling in his chest. Finally, he continued.
"I'm sorry Ginny. I do want you to know I enjoyed being with you for the short time we were together. But, I was a different person then. Everything I've gone through this year has made me realize that there's only one person who I want to be with. I love Hermione, and I hope in time, you can accept that."
Ginny was again shocked at the outpouring of emotion showed by her former boyfriend. Harry looked down at Hermione as she looked up at him. Ginny saw the sparkle in their eyes when they looked at each other. Her jaw clenched, a shudder went through her body. She never saw that look for Harry, ever. Though she wasn't in Hermione's position, she hoped that perhaps on day, she would be in his arms again.
The young redhead took a deep breath, trying to hide the pain she felt inside, and stepped towards the couple. "Harry, I'm sorry. I wanted to make you happy; I wanted to be the one who gave you that look in your eyes that you just gave to Hermione." Ginny turned her attention to the woman that replaced her. "Hermione, make him happy. He deserves it," she said, trying to give a smile to her at one time best female friend.
Hermione had tears forming in her eyes, and broke apart from Harry. She walked over the closest thing she had to a sister, and pulled her into a tight hug. Ginny reluctantly put her arms around her, but soon hugged back. "You know Ginny, you're the sister I never had. I'm sorry I hurt you. But I love Harry. I know you do too, but I don't think I could go back to living without him." The two girls broke apart, and Harry came up and gave Ginny a hug as well.
After the hug, Harry and Hermione embraced again. Ginny looked at the couple, and smiled, wishing it was her. "We're all leaving to go back to the Burrow in a little while, you both are welcome to come," she said, her voice still creaking with emotion.
"Thanks for the offer, but me and Hermione are going to go and get her parents. I still have to go talk to Kingsley about arranging a portkey to Australia, and we've got a couple other things to do, but thank you for the offer. We need to spend some time alone as a couple, without the sense of impending doom around every corner," Harry said while cracking a smile.
"Ok, well, good luck with that. I should go. We have…" Ginny said, sighing, "Things to take care of." She walked over and gave a final hug to the two of them. "Bye you guys. Have a good trip if I don't see you before you leave." And with that, Ginny walked out of the Common Room.
Harry sighed heavily as he watched his ex walk out. He looked down at the love of his life, and smiled again. "Well, that went well," he said sarcastically.
Hermione chuckled, and kissed him on the cheek. "It could have been a lot worse. She could have hexed you you know. And it doesn't appear that she hates either of us, so that's something, right?"
Harry nodded. "You are, like always." He leaned over and gave her a peck on the lips. "Ok, let's get this over with. I need a vacation." And with that, Harry and Hermione walked out of Gryffindor Tower, arm-in-arm, preparing to enter into the one thing Harry dreaded most: glory and attention.
A/N: Ok, Chapter 3 in the books. Hope it went well and you enjoyed it. I had a hard time trying to figure out exactly how Ginny would react. This seemed to fit. Need a little conflict to spice up the story. I really like Ginny, but her character is vague enough in the books to allow for this type of behavior I think.
And yes, I fully realize that when Ginny quotes Harry from back at the Burrow, it's not ver batem. I don't think anyone could directly quote something like that in the heat of the moment, instead just give a vague idea. Ok, if you have any questions, feel free to ask.