Chapter 3 - Letters -
Standard Disclaimer: All story characters and plot devices belong to JK Rowling.
Summary: Last chapter was a bit of an explanatory one describing Harry's banishment. He learned that Voldemort's essence had forged with his own after his parents death. Now with the Horcrux gone, Harry must relearn control of his magic. He penned 6 letters before leaving Britain for experimental treatment.
Molly Weasley woke with a start at the brisk wind blowing across her face. The coming dawn was just cresting over the damaged battlements of the venerable castle and the horrors of the previous night overwhelmed her again. She desperately raked her eyes across her family, Arthur, George, Ron and Hermione, Ginny and sigh Dean. The ache in her heart at the absent Fred was compounded by the guilt she now felt for her unofficial son. Harry wasn't among her family and she hadn't given a second thought about it until now.
Her rising panic turned to a roaring frenzy when she saw Kingsley approach with a despondent face, shoulders slumped in weary defeat. Molly met him halfway across the Great Hall, collapsing into his strong arms, "What's happened to Harry? Oh gods, I can't tell Ron and Hermione, don't make me tell them …" Kingsley let her carry on for a few more moments before easing her out of his hug and looking hard at her.
"Harry is injured but managing; he left early to the Ministry to meet with the Unspeakables. Molly, take your family, go back home, some normalcy will do you and your children some good." The Minister's baritone voice seemed to calm her nerves and remind the matriarch that she needed to be their pillar for now. He handed them an emergency Portkey, a benefit of the Ministry, to use. As the family was cobbled together in silence, she looked over them and prayed they could get through this.
Settled around the table at the Burrow was that dose of normalcy, but was sobering in how abnormal it was. Gone was the lively banter, practical jokes, and boisterous laughter, instead a sense of foreboding and silence blanketed the home. Silent tears fell from George's face as his twin's place at the table and even on the family clock stood empty. Food was almost an afterthought as even Ron's stomach suffered the heavy mood. Almost. When on his second run at the bacon and eggs, his solemn eating was interrupted by a loud crack above the table.
Kreacher, looking younger and more powerful than Hermione could remember, spoke in an oddly deep and formal voice, "A meeting of Master Potter's closest friends will begin at 11 o'clock at Grimmauld Place, Misters Weasley" nodding to Ron and George, "Mistresses Hermione and Weasley, please do not be late." Before the children could question him, he disappeared with a snapping echo. Surprisingly, it was George who was first to rise from the table, and turning to his mother, "We need to be ready; we all need to be ready". Hermione and Ginny questioned each other with a glance at George's ominous words, but Hermione just wanted a chance to see Harry again. What she was actually going to say, she had no idea, but she had to see him.
They arrived five minutes early to Kreacher setting up tea service at the dining room table. He motioned them to take seats and with the faintest nod and wink to George, pulled out a bottle of Firewhiskey that he procured that morning, but only after Master Harry had departed. With a slight frown at the unpleasant memory, Kreacher summoned 6 glasses to the table, and waited for the others. The Floo flared green and Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood tumbled out. Kreacher aided them to seats at the table, and at the stroke of 11, 6 letters appeared on the table addressed to the assembled guests.
"Kreacher? Where's Harry? I thought he would be here?" Hermione asked pitifully, the other DA members nodded as well mirroring her concern. Kreacher wouldn't meet their eyes, but instead gestured to the official Gringotts letters in front of them. She tore into her letter hoping to find some answers there and was surprised by the flowing script, Harry's handwriting was usually atrocious.
Hermione,
We have been through a lot together from the start of our first term at Hogwarts to the end of the Dark Lord and I could not have succeeded without your love and guidance. Of all of my friends, your love was the one that never wavered and always meant the most. I am glad that you have found Ron and I hope this gift can help you both start your futures with a little bit of happiness and security.
Your friend,
Harry
Hermione's tears streamed down her face as the succinct note told her everything. Her feelings for him were moot for the time being, his patented selflessness had already moved on to helping her and Ron. It stung that he shifted so quickly distanced himself, but Hermione knew Harry's defense mechanism from what little he spoke of his past with those horrible relatives. It still hurt, a lot, and it was unfair to him, she had Ron and he was left bereft of his happy ending. She noticed another slip of parchment and her eyes widened,
Ms. Hermione Granger, you are bequeathed 4 million galleons for a suitable flat and unfettered access to all Potter and Black tomes within the respective vaults. Please claim your gifts at your earliest convenience.
The note fell out of her shaking hand and she stared around the table at equally stunned faces. Only George was still reading his letter, as it seemed his contained multiple rolls of parchment. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the slight flash that indicated an oath or vow, and George inhaled sharply as he read on. She watched him take a deep breath and immolate the parchment, cautiously look around, and catch her eyes. There was a steely, angered look that belied her flustered but delighted one. What was in that letter?
Ron was the first to speak after some time, "I can't believe it, Harry's mental, he is. Neville what did he leave you?"
His lack of manners was quickly overwhelmed by the teenagers wanting to discuss exactly that, the spoils they each received. The exuberance of victory finally seeping into the grim atmosphere.
"Direct Access to the floor in St. Mungo's via Floo, galleons for a greenhouse addition to the manor, and specialists from America in both Muggle and Magical medicine for .." Neville's choked back a sob as Luna rubbed his back. They all knew of his parents and how costly the first war was for the Longbottoms.
"Harry gave me a substantial amount of money to help rebuild the house, and to become a naturalist after schooling. He asked me to name an animal after him, something small and unassuming", Luna said dreamily. Ginny snorted at her daydreaming, "Knowing that animal, it will turn out to attract trouble and be the most important new animal ever found." Chuckles erupted around the table, with even Kreacher giving a knowing nod to the redhead. "What about you, Ron?"
Ron was practically jumping up and down in his chair, "Some dragon-hide robes for use as an Auror, a new set of dress robes, and a partial ownership in the Chudley Cannons!" The table went silent amongst the gawking faces, as the calculations began in all their minds about how much that last lavish gift was worth. Hermione's thoughts had eclipsed the million Galleon threshold, when the silence and pondering finally was broken as George had enough, "You're kidding, NEW DRESS ROBES? You have to retire the frilled ones? Say it ain't so!"
Ron's face reddened like a tomato but predictably the tension eased out of the room, "Fine then, George, what about you?"
That George's smile dropped momentarily was noticed only by Hermione. She had been watching him since he made that promise and kept reading. "Yes, George, tell us, what world secrets has Harry imparted to you?" He refused the bait and stood, grandly waving his arms and announced, "My patron has found it in his heart to donate his Potter pensieve to me, for designing new products, as well as a generous donation of one thousand Galleons … a week for research and development."
Neville's eyes were wide, "His pensieve? Wow, those are rare, only the oldest families would even have one, much less one whose runes still worked."
Luna piped up, "One thousand Galleons a week means that pensieve should be getting a lot of work, and means you, Hermione, are going to be up to your neck in discipline next year with all those new products. I would hate to see how you and the Head Boy are going to try and contain that."
Hermione's eyes got wide as she stared holes into George's face, "You wouldn't?" She whispered in mock horror. George just shrugged, bowing slightly, and she had the glimpse of a small twinkle in his eye. She smiled slightly, all the rule breaking, pranking, and mayhem would be worth it, to have a little bit of George and Fred back. Playing along, she said conspiratorially, "You know, there is still the ban on all your products at school, so please just rename the new line something else and I won't have to take them on sight."
Ron snorted out his tea, "My girlfriend, the lawyer. I don't even know why you have to go back, you would be brilliant at the Ministry right now." Ignoring the blushing explosion on Hermione's face, he asked the others, "What, you lot don't think she'd be brilliant?"
"Ickle Ronniekins has a girlfriend? Does Mom know about this? More importantly does Hermione know this?" Ginny could barely talk with how hard she was laughing. Neville and Luna looked at each and laughed even harder when Ron's face lost all color, "Merlin did I say that out loud?" George fell out of his chair and doubled over howling.
Hermione mercifully put an end to it, when she spoke up, "Harry didn't think it so unexpected, he gave me access to all the Potter and Black libraries," everyone smirked at this, Harry knew his best friend too well, "and he gave me money for a flat, for me … and eventually Ron", she finished hesitantly, blushing all the way down her body. She turned to Ginny, praying that she would save her more embarrassment but she was shocked at the resentment and jealousy that was there.
"How about you Ginny?" Neville interjected quickly, and Hermione promised she would buy Neville a round of drinks the next time they all went to the Leaky.
"This." She flung down a snitch on to the table, "all I got was this." Hermione picked it up gingerly and eyes widened in surprise, "Ginny you don't understand", handing it back to her,"This is …"
Ginny snatched it from her hand, "A snitch", she snarled as she threw it against the kitchen wall. She wheeled on Hermione, "You got a home and everything you could have wanted from Harry; what did I get?"
"Dean", Hermione said coldly, "You got Dean". Her face was a mask of blushing fury; she retrieved the snitch and in the shocked silence of the kitchen, placed it reverently on the table. "This snitch was one of the first happy memories Harry ever had at Hogwarts, the first thing that made him feel like he belonged as himself, just Harry, not the Boy who Lived. He carried it with us all last year, while he was checking his map for YOU." If looks could kill, Ginny would be laying cold on the floor. "He loved you and you threw him away", her unflinching gaze spearing Ginny's eyes with anger and guilt. Hermione shouldered past Ron towards the floo as she snarled at the youngest Weasley.
"He deserved better". From both of us.
"Mistress Granger, before you leave, would you not like to know of Master Harry?" Kreacher's gentle rebuke caused a fresh bloom of embarrassed crimson to suffuse her face.
"Please Kreacher, what do you know?" She said falteringly.
"Master Harry has left for America, the fight with the Dark Lord had ... unexpected results which requires experimental treatment. He is unsure if … when he will return", Kreacher finished his announcement in barely a whisper. The silence crashing about the room was deafening, broken only with the soft sobs of both Hermione and Ginny.
Ron sat alone at Grimmauld Place nursing a glass of firewhiskey. Replaying the events of the afternoon, his mind began connecting loose ends. He knew the reason behind Hermione's savage defense of Harry, he would be blind not to see that she had feelings, incredibly deep feelings, for Harry. Jealousy threatened to pour from his heart, but he crushed it quickly, if she loved him it was because Harry was everything he hadn't been: considerate, loving, supportive...there for her when she needed it last year. The overwhelming list quickly grew while Ron held his head in his hands while holding on to a brief glimmer of hope.. But she still chose you.
He had always been jealous of Harry, whether for his fame or money. And it made Ron feel that much more wretched knowing Harry would give all of it away for just one day with his parents, or the life and family that Ron always took for granted. The fact that Harry always forgave Ron's pettiness was just more evidence for his self-excoriation.
But Ron's resentment went far deeper than trappings. Harry was the reason he and Hermione even knew each other at all, the bridge between all the DA members, like when he befriended Luna despite her reputation. People were drawn to Harry because he loved them all of them, more than he loved himself. He was willing to sacrifice anything for them, this rare quality was a power that not many understood, not just Voldemort.
Slugging back the rest of the steaming drink, Ron exhaled slowly.
He was jealous because Harry was simply a better man, in all the ways that counted.
A/N: I know its popular to bash Ron in almost every fic out there, and it is justified for the failings that he does have. However, Ron in this story is a lot less of a foil and more of a person as evidenced by his self-awareness about his own faults. Give him time he will be more than just an eating, comic relief. As far as Hermione, she has been through so much with Harry, that to have feelings for him as well as have him wrenched away possibly for good, caused her to react in crushing Ginny.