This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Harry Potter universe, which are trademarked by J.K. Rowling. I do not claim ownership of these characters nor the locations such as Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, etc. that are Rowling's creations. This work also includes Pokémon, which belong to the Pokémon Company, and I again claim no ownership of these characters.

I thank both Rowling and the Pokémon Company for the universes they have created that allows me to do something like this for my own entertainment and, hopefully, the entertainment of the readers.

One week passed. One week of drama and controversy and uproar. Yet for Harry it was unnaturally still. The goings on of the rest of the Pokémon world didn't reach him, not able to penetrate the bubble of apathy he held protectively around himself.

He was in his dormitory again, the room back to how it usually looked but quite bare, four mostly packed trunks sitting at the foot of the other four beds.

His dorm mates had not mentioned Harry's rampage that night, and for that Harry was grateful. Dean and Seamus were far from having the full picture of what had happened but even so they could guess the important parts. Most of it had been in the next morning's edition of the Daily Prophet.

Delores Umbridge had been incensed, beyond angry not only to see Dumbledore return to the school but also by the fact that Hagrid had accompanied him back. And then when the Daily Prophet had started to arrive, loudly declaring the return of You-know-who, she lost it completely, screaming about conspiracies and lies and singling out Harry in particular to blame for being behind it.

At least that's what Harry had heard. He had not been there that morning and had for the most part remained in the safety of his dorm room, only finally starting to emerge and return to the student body once his friends had all been discharged from the Hospital Wing with clean bills of health.

There was a knock on the door. "Harry?"

Remus Lupin stood in the doorway, looking older and tireder than Harry had ever seen him look before. Heavy bags hung from his eyes and his face looked unhealthily pale. He had escaped injury in the battle, one of the few who did, on both sides. Tonks was still in St Mungo's, Harry'd heard, and Moody had gained a couple more scars to add to his collection.

"I thought you knew I was here," Remus said when Harry didn't speak, stepping into the room. "Ron told me you'd be down in a minute."

"I've been packing," Harry told him, pointing to the trunk that sat at his feet. In truth he'd finished packing some time ago and had since been moving things aimlessly from one side of his trunk to the other.

He hadn't wanted to see Remus, not so soon after everything that had happened. Though he liked the man, loved him, even, he could not bare to be reminded of Sirius more than he already was. And though Remus would never blame him he was also painfully aware that it was because of him, Harry, that Remus had lost his best friend.

"Well then, it seems you've been putting the time to good use," Remus commented lightly. Harry doubted he was fooled. "I was just about to head off, I've got to hurry if I want to get down to London by tomorrow."

Harry nodded absently. "Have a safe trip."

Remus was quiet.

"I've actually got something to give you, before I go," Remus told him, walking forwards towards Harry and digging into the bag that hung from one shoulder, pulling out a medium sized square black case. There were no markings but, judging by the way Remus was holding it, it was quite heavy.

"What is it?" Harry asked curiously. He had not expected any sort of gift. He was half convinced Remus was about to play some sort of cruel joke on him.

If it was a joke then Remus was playing it with an extremely straight face. He did not answer Harry's question, instead reaching forward to where he'd placed the box on Harry's bed and undoing the silver latches, pulling the lid open.

"Sirius was hopeful to get both of them before you were due to join us for the summer," Remus told him and his voice shook ever so slightly. "However, time was not on our side and this is all he'd managed to dig up. I assume you know what it is?"

Harry nodded. Though he'd never seen one in person he'd seen enough pictures, and the royal blue orb looked exactly the same in person. Charizardite X.

"I know Sirius was quite disappointed not to get the Y stone," Remus commented as Harry stared down at the Mega Stone on his bed. "That is what James used, back in the day. I will keep an eye out for it but I know Sirius would have wanted you to have this one. Paired with your Key Stone you'll be able to Mega Evolve Charizard."

Harry did not know how to respond. He was overcome, the emotions he'd been trying to suppress rising to the surface. His throat tightened painfully and he swallowed, even as he felt tears start to build up in his eyes. He turned to Remus.

"I can't take this." His voice was barely more than a whisper.

"You can, Harry," Remus told him calmly. "I know how you are feeling, I know, I blame myself too." Remus paused, collecting himself. "But no one forced Sirius to fight that night and none of us could have stopped him. Sirius was going to do what he wanted to do."

"It wasn't his fault," Harry choked.

"I'm not saying it is," Remus assured him. "But it wasn't your fault either, and it wasn't even mine. You know what will be our fault?" Harry looked at him. "If we allow Sirius's death to stop us from living. Sirius fought so we could be free and happy and it would be a poor way to repay him by not doing our best to do just that."

Harry didn't say anything. For however nice Remus's words sounded there was still a dull ache in his chest that would not shift.

"Anyway, that's what Dumbledore said to me, fourteen years ago," Remus admitted with a sigh.

"Did it work?" Harry asked. Remus paused thoughtfully.

"After a time," he admitted. "It was not easy. It's good that it's not easy. But eventually you'll start to remember those that remain, those that still rely on you to live. Sirius is in a better place now, and one day we'll meet again." Remus clapped him on the arm. "Until that day comes we must endeavour to live a life he'd be proud of."

"And how do I do that?" Harry asked dryly. Remus favoured him with a long look.

"Live."

Remus left without saying goodbye. He'd see him at King's Cross tomorrow anyway. For a long moment Harry was left alone, staring down at the Mega Stone before him.

A rustling sound by the door caught Harry's attention and he looked up.

Ginny stood in the doorway, looking cautious as though worried she was intruding on something personal. Madam Pomfrey felt Ginny was well enough to recover out on her own but the scar where Bellatrix's knife had dug into her neck stood out angrily against her pale skin. It would fade over time but the scar would never be gone, not the one on Ginny's mind at any rate. It was shocking the horrors that one fourteen year old girl could face.

Ginny took a step forward hesitantly. "I saw Professor Lupin leave," she explained. "I'm not intruding, am I?" After a long moment Harry shook his head. She'd known Sirius too.

"Can I come in?"

Harry nodded.

Ginny moved awkwardly into the room, almost as though she thought Harry might change his mind. But he didn't. He didn't mind her being there. Like Neville, Luna, Ron and Hermione she now shared something with him that was a bond too powerful to ignore.

And yet Ginny was nervous, shifting from one foot to the other and reminding Harry of the way she used to act around him, before realising it was completely different. That Ginny had had a crush on him and her behaviour had been driven by her embarrassment and her fear of making a fool of herself. This Ginny was concerned for him. What had he done to deserve friends like this?

Ginny's eyes fell on the Mega Stone.

"So, eh," she said awkwardly. "Is that a Mega Stone? For Charizard?" Harry nodded. "Is that why Professor Lupin was here? He wanted to give you this?" Ever so slightly Harry flinched, and judging by the look of regret on Ginny's face she'd noticed.

"It's from Sirius," he said roughly, clearing his throat as his voice tailed off pathetically. "He was collecting them before… He was trying to get the other one, the Charizardite Y."

"Oh," Ginny said. She looked lost as to how to respond.

"I'm not keeping it," Harry said, deciding there on the spot that he could not accept the gift. "I'll hand it back to Remus at King's Cross. He'll find another use for it."

"But he wants you to have it," Ginny said pointedly. "That's why he gave it to you."

"I don't deserve it," Harry said hoarsely. "It should go to another trainer. Someone better."

"But it's for you, Harry," Ginny told him. "Sirius got the stone for you."

"And how did I repay him?" Harry shot back. "I went and put myself in danger, risking my own life after I told him it was too dangerous for him to come to Hogwarts."

"You were right," Ginny argued. "What with Umbridge and the cameras… Besides, the reason you went down to London anyway was to try and set him free."

"And instead I forced him to come and save me," Harry retorted. "I walked right into a trap. I trusted Malfoy for goodness sake. If I had just stayed here and left it to the Legion…"

"You made the best decision with the information you had available," Ginny told him firmly. "And remember, I was tricked too. And so were Ron and Hermione."

"That's different."

"How?" Ginny asked. "The only reason it's different is because you insist on taking on all the responsibility. I am just as much at fault as you are."

"But you were just trying to help me," Harry argued. "You didn't know."

"I was trying to help Sirius, Harry, and I had just the same information as you did so…"

"Ginny, stop!" Ginny did, her mouth open slightly mid-word. Harry sighed. "How can you do this?" He asked. "How can you try and defend me after what happened? After what happened to you? You almost died, Ginny." Ginny's mouth snapped shut. Her hand twitched unconsciously towards the scar on her neck.

"Yeah," she said softly, catching herself. "Yeah, I almost died." Silence hung in the air between them, Ginny's head bent downwards and her eyes gazed tiredly into the stone floor beneath them. Then she looked up and her chocolate brown eyes met his emerald green.

"What happened to me was terrifying," she admitted. "I don't ever want to feel helpless like that again. But if it wasn't for you I wouldn't have the chance to feel anything at all. You sacrificed yourself for me, which is by far the bravest thing that I have ever seen. How can I blame you for anything when you would willing give up your life for mine?"

Harry had no answer. When she said it like that it seemed so clear. But she was forgetting that it was because of him that she had been there in the first place, because of him that Bellatrix had been forced to take her hostage. He glanced over at the Mega Stone.

"I'll give it to Charlie," he said eventually, his voice clear and focused. "He could use it for his Charizard."

"Harry, no!"

"I should give my Pokémon to the Legion too," he continued, ignoring Ginny's protests. "Charizard certainly would be useful to someone like Mad-Eye or Kingsley. Maybe I could give Pikachu to Remus."

"Harry, listen to yourself," Ginny implored. "You're talking crazy."

"My Pokémon are strong, Ginny, they can help."

"You're strong too, Harry. And your Pokémon are stronger with you."

"That's not true, not true," Harry denied. He was spiralling. "It's too much, Ginny, too much. First Cedric, now Sirius. I'm too weak, I'm too slow, I can't…"

And as he turned himself to face Ginny he was met with a blazing look that stopped him dead. In one moment he fell silent as Ginny stepped forward through the space between them and pressed her lips to his.

It was much like his kiss with Cho, in the sense that it caught him completely by surprise. Like Cho, Ginny's lips pressed against his, almost seeming to demand his attention. But unlike with Cho Harry didn't push back. He didn't respond either. He just stood there, frozen in place.

A moment later Ginny stepped away. Her face was flushed, her breathing fast and ragged, and she nervously glanced up to meet his gaze.

Harry opened his mouth to say something, but no sound came out.

"I've got to go," Ginny blurted out suddenly, her face going completely red, and she bowed her head and strode straight for the door. Harry tried to call out after her, but there appeared to be a disconnect between his brain and his body and instead he just stood there, watching her go.

"Whoa, careful," Ron stumbled, alarmed as Ginny almost walked right into him coming the other way. "Ginny?" But Ginny didn't stop.

Ron turned to the room. "What was that about?"

"Nothing," Harry said, a bit too quickly. Ron was looking at him weirdly now. "She just forgot to pack something."

"Right," Ron said, his voice doubtful. "Okay then. So what's that?" He pointed to the box on his bed. Turning quickly, Harry closed the container carrying the Mega Stone.

"Something Remus gave me," Harry answered and left it at that. He picked up the box and placed it down into his trunk, closing the lid behind it. He didn't want to have to talk about it again.

Ron didn't press the matter.

"So, you all packed then?" He asked. Harry nodded.

"You?"

"Just about," Ron told him, wandering over to his own trunk and glancing inside. "I just need to go visit Hagrid, he said he had some berries for Metang, though how he can actually eat things I can't even begin to understand."

Ron had taken possession of the Metang that had come to their aid at the Ministry. Already the steel and psychic type had taken quite a liking to the redheaded boy. And though Ron commented that Metang turned out 'alright' in the end Harry knew it was an understatement. Ron had caught Metang for one reason and that was because he had protected his sister.

"I'm just going down there now," Ron continued, jerking his head in the direction of the grounds and, beyond, Hagrid's cabin. "I actually came up here to see if you wanted to come. Hagrid would love to see you again before we leave."

Harry would love that too but he had other plans. Somewhere else in the castle was somewhere Harry really needed to be.

"I'll catch you later," Harry promised as they split up on their way down the stairs, Ron continuing on towards the Entrance Hall and out onto the grounds while Harry took a right, following the corridor along to the Hospital Wing.

"Mr Potter, I had a feeling I would be seeing you today," Madam Pomfrey commented as he walked in the door. Eevee, who she'd been tending to, turned around at the mention of his name and leapt towards him, Harry catching him instinctively before he could hit the ground.

Eevee had grown a lot since he'd first hatched, now actually big enough to fill up Harry's hands as he carried him, but he was still as young as ever. Every time Harry visited Eevee's ears would perk up in excitement and every time he would leap into Harry's arms, jumping further and feeling heavier each time.

According to Madam Pomfrey he was in perfect health.

"Usually a trainer would have taken over Eevee's care a while ago," Madam Pomfrey told him. "But since Eevee is, technically, a wild Pokémon I have held off until I felt he was ready to face the world at large."

"Is he ready, then?" Harry asked. He'd have to say goodbye to Eevee, although he would be leaving for the summer anyway and Eevee couldn't stay in the Hospital Wing forever.

Madam Pomfrey scrutinised him thoughtfully. "Yes," she said. "However, I am rethinking. It seems to me that it would be a much better idea if Eevee were to find a trainer, more specifically, you."

"You mean for over the summer?" Said Harry.

"Permanently," Pomfrey responded. "The two of you have a bond, one formed through Eevee's hatching and strengthened by your near daily visits. Oh, don't look so surprised, Potter. I wasn't born yesterday."

Harry hesitated. "Are you really sure this is a good idea?" He asked. "Leaving Eevee with me?" Madam Pomfrey understood what he was saying.

"No one will care more completely for this Pokémon than you, Harry," she told him. "Yes, I'm quite sure."

Harry wasn't. Almost exactly a year ago he'd been in a very similar situation and back then he had chosen to say goodbye to Lapras, knowing he wasn't cut out for a life of fighting against Voldemort. And neither would Eevee.

And yet, as Harry looked down at Eevee's hopeful little face, he found himself struggling to say no. Perhaps he needed Eevee more than Eevee needed him. He took a shaky breath.

"What do you think, Eevee?" He asked. "Do you want to be my Pokémon?"

It was a stupid question, Eevee almost bouncing in his hands to show just how much he wanted to stay with him, and for the first time in a week Harry felt a little warmth in his heart.

"Okay then," Harry said with a soft smile. "It's your call." He unloaded Eevee onto the bed, freeing up his hands, and Eevee looked eagerly up at him. Harry grabbed a spare Pokéball from his belt, allowed himself a brief moment of doubt, and then turned to Eevee.

Eevee's tail was wagging ferociously as the Pokéball approached and, not able to wait, Eevee thrust his head forward to meet the Pokéball halfway. He dissolved into red energy, flowing inside the Pokéball which closed around him with a snap.

And with a soft ping it was confirmed. Harry caught Eevee.

A/N: Sorry for the delay in uploading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

The next chapter will be the last of this story so if you want me to list the Pokémon teams for certain characters let me know and I'll have them up at the end of the next chapter.

Thanks to those who answered the question of the day of the last chapter. Given Harry receiving his Mega Stone I think it is the right time to be asking the below question.

QOTD: What is your favourite Mega Evolution?

For me I don't necessarily have one standout favourite but I do have a few I really like. Gallade, Lucario, Lopunny, Sceptile, Beedrill, Rayquaza and Mewtwo's Y form are for me the best Mega Evolutions in terms of design.

So what do you think? What is your favourite Mega Evolution? Let me know in the reviews.