Warnings: OOC probably, considering what I remember of Death Munchers, Harry as in character as I can make him, character death, cannonish.
I'm putting up warnings according to what's in a chapter.
Disclaimer: I own neither JK Rowling's stories or Mr. Nix.
He arrives home early today. The sun's shinning weakly through the clouds and the birds soar high, high, high in the early evening sky. He envies them their freedom, wishing he could join them even as his spirits start to rise like the birds he watches. He smiles, laughing softly – he is alive and breathing and that… is enough.
The grass is overgrown around their home, but that's okay – they can deal with it later. For now he wants to take her in his arms and tell her we're alive. The stone path underneath his feet is rough and worn and he nearly trips, but that is fine. This house is theirs, she gave him what others had promised but never given him - he has a home because of her. He is safe.
Their house is a short distance away from a small village, easy to get to if they want something. Though Harry admits that he hasn't gone yet himself, and no he's not hiding, Harry Potter – no - a Gryffindor does not hide. He's just avoiding the press. And the villagers. And the Wizarding World in general. But he hasn't been a Gryffindor in… how long now? A year? Ginny says he can't use that as an excuse anymore, (laughing hysterically, because they were alive, so why not?).
He opens the door, adding to the ever-growing list to repaint it at some point and steps inside. Dark hair falls into his eyes, and irritably he brushes it back, deliberately not thinking of someone else who used to do this, though for different reasons. He's tired, though things at the Ministry went well and for that he feels a small bit of triumph – Stan isn't going to prison, just like he promised. He chuckles again, Dumbledore's man.
"Ginny?" He calls, waiting for a response, none comes but that's okay, she said she'd probably be out today.
Just in case she's outback and didn't hear him he decides to go look, and then he might look upstairs too. He wants to tell he loves her, because he does and he wants to let her know – just in case. He wonders how big Teddy has grown since he last saw him.
Here she is, some part of him that had been as taught as a bow relaxing as he sees her. She's sleeping underneath a tree, a book lying open beside her and up above the branches seem to lean over her almost protectively, weaving a leafy canvas over her head. Auburn hair shelters her face teased gently by the breeze, wand cradled loosely in a hand and he is careful approaching her, even in sleep. Just because he had the very real threat of old Tom breathing down his neck, doesn't mean she didn't have one too. There are still things they can't talk about, he more than this wonderful creature.
Gently he kneels down beside her, raising one hand to gently caress a cheek. And his eyes widen and all he can do for a long time is stare, beneath his fingers she is cold. She's been outside too long, her lips are tinged blue – hypothermia. But still excessively cold for someone who burns as brightly as she. And then they are there, bone white masks eerie in the half-light. And he can't pretend any more, she is dead dead dead and how dare they. He remembers raising his wand – the Elder wand -and spells being sent back and fury, how dare they she is his his his. They will pay.
Dimly he realises the spells he's using are devastating. The Death Eaters are dropping like flies. He ignores the damage he's taking. A spell of green hits, he remembers no more.
Authors note:
Sorry it's so short; really this is just an intermission thingy while I straighten out the new chapter. Anyway, yes this is relevant – it's basically getting onto the time travel stuff and padding out the past. So… yeah… we're getting there and yes I did just kill Ginny, oh what a horrible, horrible person I am. Sorry, tired had half a dozen computer problems and tried out a new style in this thingy so… until next time. Bed here I come!