Chapter 15 - Jealousy and Green (Prompts)

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Harry sighed before he knocked on Ginny's bedroom door. He really didn't want to enter that room more than anybody else's, save for Fred's. But he felt the need to see Hermione and to talk to her. And her purse was the perfect excuse he had.

Cautiously, Hermione opened the door, her expression one of guarded expectation.

"You left these downstairs," Harry stated as he handed over the beaded purse followed by the rosary.

When Hermione took the rosary from him, a small smile touched her lips almost as if she remembered a distant memory. "Thank you."

Harry stayed awkwardly, wondering if she was going to say anything about what he found or even chastise him for going through that beaded bag of hers. Although, Harry had a good excuse lined up just in case.

Hermione looked at him, probably able to guess what he was thinking. "It was my mother's," she said wistfully, answering his unasked question. She turned her back towards him and went back into Ginny's room, taking a seat on the bed.

Harry took that as an invitation to enter. "Your mother's?"

Hermione nodded, her fingers absentmindedly stroking the green beads. "She always tried to put the fear of God in me."

"And how did that work out?"

She shrugged. "I was too busy learning spells, fighting trolls and finding Sorcerer's Stones," she said with a humorous glint in her eye. "Although, I was always jealous of her blind faith." She shifted a bit on the bed; another silent invitation that Harry accepted without hesitation.

"Did she take it well?" Harry asked as he sat down beside her. He found it curious how she knew so much about his life, but he knew so little of hers. It was almost as if the threat of Voldemort kept the attention on him for seven years and the knowledge he could have had regarding his best friend was one of the many sacrifices.

"Actually, she took it brilliantly." Sighing, Hermione placed the rosary carefully on the bedside table before she turned to face him, pulling her legs under her so she could sit cross legged on the bed. "When I left, I had to take everything that could possibly remind my parents of me."

"I thought you destroyed everything you didn't bring to the Burrow."

"I did. But I couldn't destroy that. It was a way for me to remember her, I guess."

Sitting up straighter, Harry turned towards her. "Aren't you going to Australia soon?"

Hermione looked at him in surprise. "Why would I do that?"

"To get your parents back." What other reason was there?

"No," Hermione shook her head. "It's not safe yet."

"Hermione, we just defeated the greatest Dark Wizard a day ago. I think it's safe."

Hermione looked at him sadly. "The Death Eaters are a group of individuals, Harry. As much as I would love to think that by cutting off the head of the monster it will die, the reality is that we just created an empty space. One that someone else could easily fill."

She had a point. But on the other hand, there was no one who showed the same inclinations as Voldemort. All Death Eaters were followers, not necessarily leaders. They had family who were probably being questioned by the new Ministry for Magic. Many of the key Death Eaters were either killed or imprisoned after last night. "You think someone will take over from Voldemort?" The thought was both laughable and terrifying.

She shrugged delicately. "I don't know. But I do know that I don't want to bring my parents back while aftershocks are still possible. It's not safe yet for Muggles." Harry was just about to disagree when she spoke over him. "We managed to eradicate the leader of the movement, but not necessarily the movement itself. I think we should be cautious, not just celebrate."

Sighing, Harry looked at her tiredly. "So you're saying it's not over?" Honestly, that's not exactly something he wanted to hear. And the thought was even more annoying because he believed what she was saying.

"What I'm saying is," Hermione began slowly, "that we should be careful. Voldemort was gathering an army; he had powerful wizards who believed in his cause. If he had chosen a successor-"

"He wouldn't have." And of this, Harry was sure. "He was too proud. He wanted the power for himself, not for his cause."

She simply shrugged. "But that doesn't mean that angry Death Eaters won't be out for vengeance."

Harry let out a low breath. "That thought should help me sleep at night."

Hermione let out a small laugh. "Sorry. I don't really mean to be so cynical."

"You're just extremely logical," Harry said with a smirk as he stood up. "It's four in the morning. We should really get to bed."

Hermione nodded, her slight smile making him feel infinitely happier that he came to speak to her. "Goodnight, Harry."

Harry just nodded before he stepped out and closed the door behind him, careful to avoid any statement of goodbye. He had no intention of letting her sleep alone, after all.

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