see previous disclaimers
Chapter 7: What Makes You My Hero
"Fred- George- wait a moment."
The twins turned. Harry pulled open his trunk and drew out his Triwizard winnings.
"Take it" he said, and he thrust the sack into George's hands. "What?" said Fred, looking flabbergasted.
"Take it" Harry repeated firmly "I don't want it"
"You're mental," said George, trying to push it back at Harry.
"No, I'm not" said Harry. "You take it, and get inventing. It's for the joke shop."
"He's mental," Fred said in an almost awed voice.
"Listen," Harry said firmly, "If you don't take it, I'm throwing it down the drain. I don't want it and I don't need it. But I could do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long."
"Harry," said George weakly, weighing the money bag in his hands "there's got to be a thousand Galleons in here."
"Yeah," said Harry grinning "think how many Canary Creams that is." The twins stared at him. "Just don't tell your mum where you got it… although she might not be so keen for you to join the ministry anymore, come to think of it…"
"Harry," Fred began, but Harry pulled his wand. "Look," he said flatly, "take it, or I'll hex you. I know some good ones now. Just do me a favor, okay? Buy Ron some different dress robes and say they're from you." He left the compartment before they could say another word.
They were back standing in Harry's study. Ginny put an arm around her husband. "Until I started asking the others for some of there memories, to help me with this project, I didn't know you did that for Fred, George, and Ron. You are a hero to all of those people and to me not because of some great heroic act of bravery and magic but because of whom you are; the way you think and act that is what makes you a hero to us. Not because you save lives but because you help build them. You gave Fred and George a chance at their dream that day; you did the same thing for Cedric Diggory in the maze. You gave Fleur back her family, and you helped Hagrid and Ron reclaim some of their dignity, their pride. You Harry Potter help others to have the confidence to go after their own lives and dreams. That is what makes you a hero to us. But if you still don't believe me that's okay because I still have more memories to show you." Ginny said gently. "I think we will try this one next." And again she added a memory to the pensieve…
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were standing in the changing rooms after a quidditch game.
"You spiked Ron's juice with lucky potion at breakfast! Felix Felicis!" said Hermione shrilly.
"No I didn't" said Harry
"Yes you did, Harry, and that's why everything went right, there were slytherin players missing and Ron saved everything!"
"I didn't put it in!" said Harry grinning broadly. "I wanted Ron to think I had done it, so I faked it when I knew you were looking." He looked at Ron. "You saved everything because you felt lucky. You did it all yourself."
"Not a bad idea" said James. "Maybe we should have tried that once or twice in school, Padfoot." The 3 marauder's looked at each other thinking about the possibilities…
The memory faded.
In this memory Harry and Ginny were sitting in their favorite spot under the beech tree in front of the Black Lake.
"So I heard a rumor that I am dying to know if it is true," said Ginny. "Hermione told me that Ron told her that he thought he saw you getting a tattoo. So do you have one and how come I haven't seen it?"
"Yes I got a magical tattoo at the end of 4th year. And you haven't seen it because it is mood reflective, meaning that it only shows up when I am feeling certain emotions."
"Oh come on, show me."
"Fine, but this is personal to me if I show you it has to stay between us." Then Harry rolled up his left sleeve and concentrated on changing his mood. There on the inside of his left forearm was a tattoo of two dragons paling around. One of the dragons was a Hungarian Horn tail and the other was a Swedish Short snout. Above the image was the name Cedric Alaric Diggory and below the image were Cedric's date of birth and death.
"You put a memorial to Cedric on your arm in the same place the Death Eaters have the Dark Mark branded," said a moist eyed Ginny. She looked like she was going to say something else but then she shook her head and leaned over to give Harry a long, slow, deep kiss.
The memory faded.
In the next memory Harry was in the Great Hall… It was the day after the final battle. Harry stood there looking at the rows of dead and grieving. Professor McGonagall walked up beside him and just stood there with him watching.
"You know Remus once told me that my mum was not just an extraordinarily gifted witch but an extraordinarily kind one. That she could see the best in others especially when they could not see it in themselves. He told me he saw a lot of her in me. I wish he were right. I stand here and there are no words. I have no idea how to comfort these people is it better to talk or not to talk, to be here or leave them alone, to celebrate the end of a war or grieve for the dead. I just don't know what to do for them." He turned around so he was facing the 4 house tables where people were sitting and talking. The entire D.A. was sitting together at the Gryffindor table, no matter what house they belonged to. They were giving each other comfort and support, surrounded by their families, friends, and admirers. "The truth is they are the strong ones," he said pointing out at the D.A. and their surrounding supporters. "They always were."
"I don't think that's true. What Remus said…? I don't think it's true," said Professor McGonagall. "I don't think you have you mother's ability to see the best in others when they can't. I think you have an even rarer ability. I think you have the ability to make others see the best in themselves and achieve it. Those two are a perfect example," McGonagall said pointing at Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood. "Those two were outcasts when they first came here. They were both teased mercilessly and no one could understand why they were put in the houses they were put in. Ms. Lovegood was considered crazy; everyone thought she was stupid for believing in the things she believes in. So why was she sorted into Ravenclaw? A house known for its wisdom. You helped her to come out of her shell. To show people that not only was she not stupid or crazy but she saw more truth and reality than all of them combined. And Mr. Longbottom, you gave him confidence to he himself and the courage to say this is who I am take it or leave it. Those two sitting there are not the same children that walked in here their first year and I think that you had a lot to do with that. You give others the freedom and confidence to be who they are, say what they want to say, do what they want to do, and feel how they want to feel. In being who you are you automatically liberate those in your presence do the same. So honestly, Mr. Potter I don't think any of these people care that you don't have the words to say what you feel. Just as long as you feel it," And with that the older lady walked away.
They were standing back in Harry's study. Ginny's arm was still around Harry but now there were tears streaming down her face. "I noticed that that particular scene is not in the book. I think you ought to put it in… I always knew that Minerva McGonagall was a smart lady and that I liked her for a reason." Ginny smiled with the tears still flowing. "Take me upstairs Harry. I would very much like to spend some time in bed with my husband showing his how great I think he is."
"Did any of the rest of you know even half of this stuff?" asked Remus.
"I knew a little of it but that's it." Said Fred
"Absolutely none of it" said Tonks with a teary smile.
"It would appear that there are more secrets in Harry than I thought," said Dumbledore.
"I suspect there are a great many things that no one person really knows about Harry Potter," said Moody.