4. Old Friends

For a long moment neither of them spoke.

"Potter…" Daphne began.

Harry held up his hand. "Stop, Greengrass! I feel sorry for her, but what about Colin? Or Fred, or…"

"I know! I know, Potter." She lowered her voice. "I know you can't help everyone, even if you wanted to. Which, obviously, you don't."

"I'm not blaming you," she said quickly, at the sight of his face.

He shook his head. "Maybe, but others will! No matter what I do, and no matter if I succeed or fail, plenty of people will blame me."

Neither said anything more until they reached the nearest apparation point.

"Uh, Potter…" she began.

"I will think it over," he promised.

"No, it's not about that. It's…do you think you could look after the kitten? See, my grandmother is allergic, and she would never allow it in the house!"

Harry gaped at her. "Then, why on earth did you agree to take it? Him?"

She gave him a reproachful look. "How could I refuse?"

"Oh, all right!" He gingerly took the small fluffy kitten from her. "Let's hope Puck can get along with Crookshanks!"

Master has another pet?" Kreacher eyed the kitten with disapproval.

"It's temporary, Kreacher." Harry hoped that was true. "Could you please feed him, and maybe…pick up a few cat toys?"

Harry dressed for Hannah's party at the Leaky Cauldron: Crisp white shirt, black jeans, dragon-hide boots, green jumper.

His hand closed around his pendant; he hesitated, then fastened it on.

It had been designed by a talented wizard jeweler after the war ended; it was in the shape of a golden galleon, with the initials DA in tiny diamonds.

Only those who'd been members of Dumbledore's Army were permitted to own one, and they had become as much a status symbol as the Order of Merlin. Harry didn't approve of the way certain people exploited them to get various perks, but still felt compelled to wear his in honor of those who fought.

He headed downstairs and found Hermione awaiting him, her own pendant shining against the velvet of her blue dress.

"Ready?" she said brightly. "We really need this!"

"Harry!" Hannah flung herself at him, kissing his cheek. "I'm so happy to see you!"

He realized she'd been afraid he wouldn't show up, and returned her embrace.

"I'm glad to see you too, Hannah." He recognized it was true, and stepped away to greet Neville, Ernie, Padma, and several others who'd been in the D.A.

Hannah followed him to whisper, "I know I said no Weasleys would be here, Harry, and there won't! But I did invite Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, and Oliver Wood, I hope that's okay."

"Of course," Harry assured her. "I don't have a vendetta against all the Gryffindors, Hannah."

"No," she nodded knowingly. "Just the Weasley skank! But she wasn't worthy of you, Harry! You'll do much better now."

"Yes…maybe a Hufflepuff?" Susan Bones took Harry's arm and drew him in the direction of the bar.

"Have anything you like, Harry," Hannah called. "Don't feel you have to stick to butterbeer."

"Actually, I would like butterbeer," Harry grinned. "I need to pace myself, I have no head for alcohol."

"Me neither." Ernie Macmillan clapped Harry on the shoulder. "Harry, do you know Fay Dunbar? We're engaged!"

"Certainly," Harry replied. "Fay's in my house."

The small dark-haired girl gave him a timid smile. "That's right, Harry, but I was usually too nervous to approach you. Even though you were always nice to me," she added hastily.

"I felt that way at first," Neville joined them. "Then I found out Harry's not so scary!"

Harry couldn't help feeling guilty. He knew he'd clung to Ron and Hermione, and hadn't bothered to expand his circle of friends. After his experiences with Dudley's gang chasing everyone off, two genuine friends seemed like a miracle. He hadn't troubled to make others, and he resolved to do better in the future.

"So when is the wedding, Fay?"

"As soon as we graduate," she answered happily.

"I'm hoping you'll be best man?" Ernie put forward.

Harry was pleased and flattered. He liked Ernie, although he sometimes thought the Hufflepuff was a bit pompous. But Ernie been stalwart during the Battle, often acting as Harry's lieutenant, so Harry accepted with pleasure.

"I was planning to ask you too." Neville confessed. "But Hannah wants to wait; she thinks lots of people get carried away during wartime, and then regret it later. As if I ever would!"

No, Harry thought fondly. Neville was as steady as a rock, with an unshakeable loyalty.

He mentioned that to Susan once they were left on their own.

She gave him a long calculating look. "It's not all about Neville, Harry."

Just then there was a commotion at the door. Harry whipped around to see Ginny, accompanied by Zacharias Smith, both smirking.

Hermione strode forward angrily. "What are you two doing here? You were not invited!"

Ginny tossed her mane of red hair. Harry had once thought that hair so beautiful, had buried his face in it on many nights when they lay in bed together. She had been his first lover, and he'd been convinced he'd never need another. He knew now that Ginny hadn't felt the same.

"We have as much right as anybody! We were in the D.A." Ginny's voice was shrill.

"Yeah." Smith caressed his pendant. "You can't keep us out!"

Ginny's brown eyes roved from Hermione to Harry. "And what would my brother say, about the company you're keeping?"

But it was hard to cow Hermione. "What would all your brothers say, about the company you're keeping?"

Ginny's face turned red with anger, but Neville stepped in. "You have the gall to wear that pendant, Smith? When you ran like a rat during the Battle?"

"The Coward of Hogwarts, that's you!" Ernie stood shoulder to shoulder with Neville. "We saw you trampling the firsties to make your escape! Leave now, before we make you!"

For an instant Harry thought Ginny would draw her wand, but Smith's innate cowardice came to the fore, and he pulled her towards the door.

Hannah followed. "I'll just see them out."

"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said in concern.

Harry shook his head. "I'm all right with it, Hermione."

She gave him a look of disbelief, but Harry meant what he said. The Ginny he'd cared for, even fancied he loved, would never have cheated with a man the likes of Zacharias Smith. Harry was forced to the realization that the girl he'd once thought of as the love of his life never truly existed.

What he mourned was the loss of a fairy tale, and fairy tales were for children.