The Other Sky
Chapter 1: Never Serene and Fair
Beta: Thanks to Black Lightning Bolt for looking over this chapter and taking words from my mind and writing them in a legible way.
Brief A/N & Disclaimer: First fan fiction story. Hope you enjoy. The title of this fic and of this chapter comes from an Emily Dickinson poem, There is Another Sky. Until J. K. Rowling decides to sell the franchise and I become a billionaire to buy it, I do not own Harry Potter. That concludes it. Enjoy!
It's amazing how lost you can be with the whole world there to point you in the right direction. Well, what they think is the right direction is anyways.
Truth is that ever since the war, nothing in my life has truly made sense. I feel more lost now than ever as the Boy-That-Lived-Twice. Maybe it was coming back from that train station. Despite what anyone thinks about being me, the glory doesn't outweigh the fact that I am irreparable.
After the war, it was expected of me to return to Ginny. That didn't happen. I realized that she only loved the idea of being with me, and I realized I felt the same. The decision to 'break up' was mutual, but the need for romantic closeness remains in me. Remains, and will not shut the hell up.
The worst part about it is that the Ron, Hermione, and apparently the rest of the world still expected us to reconcile and have a horde of children. Evidently, Ginny, that Quidditch bloke she's dating, and I are the only ones willing to accept the fact that Ginny and I are not going to be together.
Now you see why I have reason to be lost. Despite everyone trying to point out the way for me, it's always what they think is the correct path for me. Those paths not only contradict my own wishes, - if I even know what they are- they also point in complete opposite direction of other people trying to 'help' me.
No wonder Voldemort chose me. I'm fucked up.
*O0o-o0O*
"Harry! Are you here…? Hello? Harry!?" That is what I awaken to most mornings: Hermione's 'concerned' shrilly voice. "Harry. Oh, there you are."
Where else would I be? I roll my eyes from my bed, not wanting to look up and see her there.
"Come on, Harry. You can't just lay there. You have to get outside; see daylight, read poetry, sign up for Auror training, or even date. Come on, Harry. The world is waiting for you. The world you saved y'know. HARRY!"
"Hermione, please." I only respond because I know her voice would reach an octave I wouldn't be able to hear in about twenty seconds.
"Please what, Harry. You know I'm right,"- yes, she still thinks like this- "and you need to get off your back and rejoice in the second chance you got."
I do not want to deal with this again anymore. "Hermione, I don't want to hear this. It wasn't an honor. We both know that. You were as much a part of it as I was. Can you please leave me alone? I am going to figure this out for myself and I really don't need you on my back. I am an adult."
"Harry, please, I'm only trying to help. Even Ron's worried. At least come to the Burrow and, eat dinner and think about the Auror program. Molly misses you. Especially around this time of the year, you know that."
I close my eyes. I am yet to really look at her, though I really don't want to. She is trying to guilt me into this, at this point, it is her most common tactic. It has been two years, almost to the day, since the war. Next week is the anniversary of the Battle of Hogwarts and I know I can't refuse Hermione, not this close to the day. She knows it, too.
I sigh and finally sit up. "Fine. Tonight?" I can see in her eyes that she considers this a victory. She doesn't know how wrong she truly is.
She smiles broadly and nods proudly. "Half six. See you there." And without another word, she stands and leaves my room. I honestly hope that she also shows herself out of my home.
Damn Hermione, I know I won't be able to go back to sleep after that, and she knew it when she woke me up. Knowing that trying to sleep would be futile, I make the decision to stand and wander, eventually landing in my kitchen. The silence that meets me when I reach the lower floor, almost makes up for being up at this godforsaken hour. Almost.
It doesn't take much exploration of my cabinets to realize I have nothing to eat. At this point, I'm sorely tempted to return to bed. Food had stopped being the most important thing to my long ago. Instead of returning to bed though, I muster up the will to do something and surprise everyone.
I return to my room and prepare to go to Diagon Alley. As I dress, I cast a quick Tempus Charm to see how much time I had before I had to be at the Weasley's. It was only half nine. I curse Hermione for what feels like the hundredth time today.
I dress in a pair of old jeans and a t-shirt I've probably had since sixth year. As I return downstairs, I debate wearing it tonight just to see how they would react. No doubt the Weasleys would keep their mouths shut, but I know that they would look at me with pity in their eyes. Then I imagine Hermione's shrilly voice going up at least two octaves and wince. I will have to dress decently tonight, if only to convince them to stop pestering me. I even hope that Ginny's boyfriend will be there so they won't bother me on that front. Well, I think that hopefully, though I will not put it above them. It hasn't stopped them before.
When I reach the bottom of the stairs, I grab a jumper hung over the back of the couch, pulling it on before making sure I have everything. Another temptation for me to stay home comes in the form of my wand being missing; I know that I can always find it later, but it is an appealing thought to say that I can't go until I have found it. In the end, I know that it is an immature thought, and if I want to be treated like an adult, it is probably best to just suck it up and act my age. I shudder at how Hermione-esque I sound.
After another moment of contemplation, I allow myself to remember where it is and retrieve from under the couch. I Apparate to Madam Malkin's, and instantly, the eyes of everyone in the shop are on me. I fight my immediate flight response at the feel of all the gazes of the people of the alley on me.I know it is going to be a long day.
*O0o-o0O*
When I'm still shopping a few hours late, I realize how little had actually been in my house. When I think to check the time, I figure that it is time for a break, and a treat. I head to Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour before continuing with my purchases. There is still so much left that I need to buy.
I have almost finished my ice cream when I notice Blaise Zabini walking in the opposite direction to me down the street. Rather than acknowledge his presence, I decide to ignore him and continue walking normally. There was a slim chance that he would even acknowledge me, and I didn't want to be the start of a problem.
Apparently, I wasn't wrong about the slim chance, but Zabini's intentions are on the slim side of it. I scold myself for underestimating, or overestimating, a Slytherin. He steps in front of me, blocking my path and causing a few eyes in our direction. Zabini is, of course, much taller than me, and I immediately think back to my uncle and curse him, not for the first time, for neglecting me.
"Potter, we need to talk." He sounds distinctly civil, this makes me wonder what it is that he wants.
"About what exactly, Zabini?" I snap, not bothering trying to make my tone civil.
"Just come on, I'll explain when we are there." He motions with his head for me to follow and begins to walk away.
I didn't plan on following, but damn it if I am not intrigued. My curiosity is always what gets the best of me. I hurry to follow him, not even pausing when we enter Knockturn Alley. Silently, he leads me into a darkened restaurant-here I do hesitate, but continue into the building, regardless. He seems unsurprised I actually followed him and I wonder if he had known that I would be intrigued enough to follow.
A waiter comes over to the table to take our orders, but Zabini waves him away and I wait to speak until the server has left. In a way, I trust that no one is listening even in a shady place like this. Zabini probably has connections with this scum.
"So, Zabini, what the hell is going on?"
A/N: I won't always put an author's note here, but I just want input. I just want to know thoughts so far? Alright So next chapter probably in a few days! Hope you guys have enjoyed so far.