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HARRY XXV

August 21, 1994. Three days had gone since the events at the Quidditch World Cup. Harry was sitting at the dining table, taking lunch, alone. The last two days had been heavy. Harry was forced to stay inside the apartment, under order of his mother. She spent most of the day at the Ministry, leaving very early in the morning and arriving very late in the night. All the Aurors, and from what Ron could tell since his father was also working around the clock, all employees of the Ministry were solicited to face the consequences of what many now called the events at the Quidditch World Cup.

From what Ron was saying, his father and Percy mostly had to deal with complaints from wizards around the world who asked for compensation for their losses, modifying the memories of Muggles who witnessed, even indirectly, what happened, the critics from journalists and the involvement of other Ministries of Magic around the world and the International Confederation of Wizards who were asking for explanations at the very least, but also for action from the Ministry of Magic of Great Britain and Ireland. His mother had even more pressure on her shoulders, as the Ministry was trying to locate some people who were still missing after three days. There were also rumors that people had been killed, but according to her mother, these were rumors started by journalists who only wanted to bring some attention to themselves.

"Rita Skeeter again!" Harry's mother said, after she came back home the first day after the final. "She wrote that there were rumors that bodies were found. She started those rumours herself by writing this. Now everyone is asking us about it. And yet, we haven't found a single body, only people who remained hiding out of fear."

"No one is dead so?" Harry asked hopeful.

"It doesn't seem to be the case," his mother had replied. "But we're still searching. People are missing, after all. I don't have the impression though that these Death Eaters were looking to kill people. They probably drank too much and decided to have fun. This is their idea of fun. Mistreating and torturing Muggles."

She almost spat the last sentence. She and Sirius told Harry that the people who caused this riot were Death Eaters, the supporters of Voldemort. It had been years since they showed themselves in public like that. Harry was sure now that Draco Malfoy's parents were among them, though it seemed they couldn't catch any of these people for now. They Apparated after they got their fun, and the Ministry couldn't manage to track them down.

When he came back from the woods with Ron, Hermione, Parvati, Padma, Cho and Michael, Harry had managed to find his mother after a few minutes. She had ordered him to go back to their tent, which had miraculously been spared, with Sirius, and to prepare to go. The bus which brought them to the campsite would bring them back to London within two hours. Harry's mother had to stay behind, almost all Aurors being requested to investigate what happened and to find missing people. So, Harry had to say goodbye to Ron and Hermione, who managed to find Mr Weasley on their own, and to everyone else, and indeed, an hour later, he was in the bus that was bringing him back to London.

The journey back to the city was spent in almost complete silence. No one talked much, being exhausted, but also totally unwilling to discuss what happened. Harry and Sirius exchanged a few words. He explained to him a few things about what happened, how he and his mother helped to fight the Death Eaters while doing everything to save Mr Robert and his family, and also discussing why the Death Eaters came out of nowhere this night. However, Sirius clearly needed to sleep, and Harry let him do it. Harry was exhausted as well, but he couldn't manage to close his eyes, not after everything that happened.

He didn't speak much with anybody for the rest of the journey. Parvati came to see him at some point. She tried to speak with him, but truth be told, they couldn't start any meaningful conversation, and just asked if their respective families were alright. When all the answers were given and positive, Parvati just went back to sit with her family, not succeeding to discuss any more than Harry could. Harry didn't know what she thought. Did she really think that she could easily discuss with her ex-boyfriend who broke up with her?

There was also Susan who came to sit next to him, but she said it was because her father was snoring, and she couldn't manage to get some sleep sitting next to him. Harry allowed her to sit where his mother sat during the trip to the final, and Susan spent the rest of the journey with her eyes closed, although Harry highly doubted that she managed to sleep even for a few minutes.

People had been just as silent after they arrived, and they left the bus without saying a single word. Then Harry remained inside the apartment with Sirius for the two days that followed, seeing no one, not doing much.

Sirius had left yesterday in the evening. Apparently, he had some important things to do, and Harry's mother let him go. Sirius didn't want to tell Harry what he needed to do. His godfather was like that. It wasn't the first time he had to leave without much explanation. Truth be told, this time, Harry was almost relieved, since his mother allowed him to go out once more. She was probably no longer afraid that Death Eaters would hide behind garbage cans to attack him in the street.

Harry happened to have a practice of football this morning, so he went there, and he felt good getting finally out. Then he went back home and took a light lunch, which he was in the process of finishing.

Harry was almost discouraged by the situation. In a lesser way, he couldn't believe that his mother was being forced to work around the clock again when her training just finished. But more than that, he couldn't believe that Death Eaters were active once again. Sirius and his mother, and also Mr Weasley according to Ron's and Hermione's letters, may think that it was an isolated event, former supporters of Voldemort who got drunk and wanted to have fun for this night, Harry wasn't persuaded by it. Voldemort was still alive. He saw him with his own eyes two years ago. Lucius Malfoy still had objects of dark magic in his possession, including Tom Riddle's diary that he gave to Ginny and caused the Chamber of Secrets to reopen. And there had been the escape of Peter Pettigrew too last year. Harry felt that Voldemort was much more powerful than many people might want to admit. It was as if his presence was felt everywhere, despite the fact that he was weakest than a shadow or a ghost. He tried to talk about this with Sirius, but all he got were reassurances that Voldemort was far from them. Well, Harry definitely did not have this impression the night when his supporters decided to show themselves once more.

The plate in front of him was empty, and Harry washed it quickly before he went to the living room where he took the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. On the first page, the newspaper was titled Questions without Answers. The Ministry unable to find the truth? Or unwilling? The truth was that Harry got the impression that the Daily Prophet did not provide many answers either. It put forward all kinds of theories, all more unbelieving than the others. And his mother was right, many articles, especially those by Rita Skeeter, seemed to be about criticizing everybody rather than actually looking for the truth. Harry put aside the newspaper quite quickly and sighed. He wished he could understand what was going on. He knew that his mother was busy and tired, but he would have to ask her questions tonight when she would come back home.

Harry looked at the perch where Hedwig usually was. For now, it was empty. Hedwig was probably carrying back a letter from Ron or Hermione, or both of them, after he sent another one to them yesterday. They exchanged many letters these last few days since the Quidditch World Cup was over. Harry thought it was almost unrealistic to think that within a few days, the three of them would be reunited on the Hogwarts Express to go back to school. But for now, he had no letter from them to read. Harry was just considering to go outside and wander in the neighborhood when someone knocked on the door.

Harry stood up and went to answer. When he opened the door, his heart almost stopped. He came face to face with a girl with about the same height as he was, ebony skin, brown eyes, and dark hair arranged into a ponytail. The latter was probably the aspect of her physical appearance he liked the most, though he took his eyes from it in an instant.

"Hi, Harry," Parvati told him. She sounded very timid, which was unusual for her.

"Hi, Parvati," he said, struggling to swallow.

"Can I… Can we talk, please?"

Harry wasn't sure if it was a good idea. On the other hand, Hermione told him only a few days ago that he should talk with Parvati to make things clear between them. Perhaps it was a good opportunity, since she came to speak with him herself. On the other side, he didn't think it was a good idea to let Parvati inside his apartment. This was the place where they spent a lot of time together, after all, and where she kissed him for the first time.

"Okay," he finally said. "I was going for a walk. You want to tag along?" he asked her.

She nodded, forcing herself to smile. This was by no way the enthusiastic, excited smile she usually displayed.

Harry led her to the nearby park, the one where he usually played football. On their way to the park, they both attempted to do small talk, to no avail. The conversation always went nowhere. This was an accurate depiction of their former relationship. Mostly, they only managed to confirm each other that their families were fine following what happened at the Quidditch World Cup. It was only when they arrived near the football field and that Harry leaned forward, his arms on the vertical bar of the fence surrounding the field, that Parvati broached the subject for which she obviously came to talk with Harry.

"I don't understand, Harry. Why did you break up?" Harry sighed internally. He thought he made it very clear with her when he broke now about a week ago. "I'm trying to understand. I thought things were going well between us. And at the World Cup, you helped me that night."

"I would have helped anybody," he said. Well, not totally anybody. Some Slytherins and Snape were probably off the list.

"But… I don't get it. I thought you liked the times we spent together."

"I did," he muttered, almost mechanically. It was the truth.

"Then why?"

He closed his eyes, then opened them again, looking straight in front of him, not towards her. "I told you, Parvati. I'm just not in love with you."

For a long time, Parvati did not reply. "You only needed a few weeks to not love me anymore? What have I done?"

"Nothing." And then, the words came out. Words Harry dreaded to say, but they were the truth. "I was never in love with you."

For an even longer time, Parvati didn't reply. When she did, her voice was partially strangled. "Then… Why did you… Why did you see me at all?"

"Because…" It was hard to explain. "I made a mistake."

It was stupid, really. How could he explain to Parvati that he began to date her only because she kissed him in the first place? If she hadn't, they would have remained friends, and only friends. Harry would not have even considered the idea of going out with her.

He looked at her. She was looking away from him. His eyes were brought to her beautiful shining dark hair. He remembered untying it and wandering his hand through the black strands as he kissed her. Harry felt good when they did it. Parvati was really pretty, and beautiful. But Harry wasn't in love with her. It was as simple as that.

A long time went on during which neither of them spoke. And again, Parvati broke this silence.

"You know… It had been a few months since I had an eye on you."

Harry couldn't have been more surprised. "Really?"

She laughed nervously and stared back into his eyes. "Don't be so surprised. I… I think I began to have a serious crush on you in February, or in March. It was after the game against Ravenclaw. Maybe before. Lavender and I, we used to discuss which boys we would like to date, or to kiss, or to marry." That, Harry had no trouble imagining. "You were one of my choices. And, after what happened at the end of the year, and when we started spending time together, I thought… Maybe I had a chance. And when you let me into your apartment, I thought it was time. I kissed you, and you kissed me as well."

That wasn't really what happened. On the first occasion, Harry let Parvati kiss him, but he didn't really return it. He was confused during the night that followed. When Parvati came to see him again the following morning and initiated a kiss once more, he did return it this time, although he felt clumsy about it. It was only the day after that he actually kissed her.

"I… I made a mistake." That was all he could find to say.

"How? You didn't like it?"

"No," he answered very quickly. "I mean, yes. I mean, I liked it. I did not not like it." He rolled his eyes. "I liked it," he assured in front of her troubled expression.

"Then… What's the problem?"

Harry tried to explain it the best he could. Why was it easier to tell Hermione about how he and Parvati failed than to tell it to the girl he broke up with? Instead, he came up with another, simpler answer, which was true, though it wasn't the entire truth.

"I love someone else." From Parvati's face, he could tell that he hurt her. "I already loved her when we started seeing each other. I just…" Again, he couldn't find the right words. "I shouldn't have started dating you. I was just… It was the first time a girl kissed me."

That was true as well. Parvati had looked away as Harry told her he was in love with another girl, but she looked to him again as his last words.

"Really? I am… I was…"

"You're the only girl I ever kissed, and the only girl I ever dated," he summarized, feeling impatient.

Parvati looked totally taken aback. Harry didn't get why she was so surprised. "Wow. I thought… I was sure that you must have…" She giggled nervously once more. "I was really… the first girl to kiss you?"

"Yes, you were. And you still are the only one."

She smiled stupidly now. "I was sure… You're Harry Potter."

"I know," he said, with a clear point of exasperation.

"I thought… I thought a girl would have been there before me. Another girl."

Harry didn't feel comfortable with the words she used. And somehow, the words spilled out. "I didn't know what to do when you kissed me. I just… I just kissed you back, and from there, it went further." He looked straight. "You're beautiful, Parvati, and you're a good and kind person. You're a good friend." He was sure he sounded stupid by saying that. "I'm just… not in love with you."

To his surprise, she smiled, though there was a clear sad tone to it. "Well… I guess… I could consider myself lucky." He frowned. "I was Harry Potter's first girlfriend."

Harry rolled his eyes. What was there to it? He was fed up with people looking at him with big eyes because of a scar on his forehead.

She giggled. "I wish it had gone differently, but…" She looked at him, and Harry saw that tears threatened to leave her eyes. He hoped she would not cry in front of him. Instead, she extended her hand. "Friends."

"Friends," Harry said after a moment, and he clumsily shook Parvati's hand. Without warning though, she suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace. Automatically, Harry put his arms around her back. His eyes were drawn to her dark hair once again, and he was reminded of the same hair another girl had, another girl he spent time with before and after the Quidditch World Cup.

He pulled out of their embrace after a moment, and Parvati walked away. But she stopped after a few steps. Harry was wary of the next words she might say.

"There's really a girl you love?" she asked him. Harry didn't expect this question. He nodded in reaction. Parvati smiled sadly. "You should tell her, as quickly as possible."

This time, she walked away for good. Harry looked at her back slowly receding as she walked farther away from him, putting more and more distance between them. When she turned along a trail, Harry turned away and went to look again at the football field.

He didn't feel sad. He didn't really feel remorseful, or horrible. In fact, it was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders. It was as if something needed to be done, and he finally did it. At the same time, he felt sorry. He was right. He should never have started to date Parvati. The mere fact that they didn't take time to talk about serious things, such as their feelings for each other, during the whole duration of their relationship, was additional proof to Harry, that their relationship was going nowhere. He really wished he never started going out with her. She wouldn't have suffered if he didn't. Harry would have to make sure this didn't happen again in the future.

He thought about what Parvati told him though, about the fact she was in love with him since March. He was surprised, truth be told. In all this time, Harry never noticed any behavior with Parvati indicating in any way that she was interested with him. Well, now that he thought about it, the day before the evening when she kissed him for the first time, she had followed him almost everywhere. He didn't really mind it. He got along well enough with Parvati at the end of their third year at Hogwarts, after she tried to warn him because of Trelawney's predictions, and after she attended Buckbeak's funerals. She had become a friend, not as close as Ron and Hermione were, but maybe as close as someone like Justin or Ernie or Hannah. Somehow, during that time, Harry saw a side of Parvati's personality that she didn't bring forward before. However, despite her prettiness, her courage, her character (especially when she spat at Malfoy's face then slapped him only a few days ago), even her compassion, he couldn't think of her as more than a friend. Hopefully, they could stay such from now on, though Harry suspected Parvati was likely to keep her distances with him for some time. He couldn't really blame her for that, and he didn't think it would be such a bad thing.

Harry stayed there for quite some time, looking at the football field, thinking that in almost a week, he would be missing this place. He had decided to continue this summer, but somehow, he really wondered whether he could resume playing or not before his fifth year. He noticed an old ball in one of the nets, probably abandoned there by someone who didn't want it anymore, and decided to make a few shots with it, jumping over the barrier to enter the field.

He targeted the corners, and also tried to hit the ball to make the most powerful shot possible. Sometimes he hit the bars, and the ball would bounce back towards him, avoiding for him the task to recover the ball from the net. He also practiced his feints after some time and began dribbling as many consecutive times as he could. Then he tried to score some goals with the head, targeting important points of the net, which was more difficult than with his feet.

"Harry!"

He just pushed the ball into the net once more with his head. He turned to see from who the call came, and he saw Hannah Abbott standing near the barrier of the field.

"Hi, Hannah," he said, waving his hand towards her. Then he went to make other shots at the limit of the field. As he prepared for a third one, Hannah approached him. She had jumped over the barrier as well.

"How are you?"

He kicked the ball, which went into the net in the top left corner. "Fine," he replied shortly. "And you? Everyone is fine after what happened at the Quidditch world Cup?"

He went to recover the ball as Hannah replied to him. "Yes. My parents have been shaken a little. I have too. But considering some people have died, I guess we can consider ourselves lucky."

So here was someone else who believed what Rita Skeeter was writing. To Harry, when an article started with the name of this woman as the writer, it was a clear sign that anything in the article could have been invented.

"What about you, Harry? And your mother? And your godfather?"

"We're all very fine." He placed the ball again to kick it. "But my mother is doing a lot of overtime. She's part of the investigation team. Do your parents have a lot of work?"

"No, not particularly. They're not working for the Ministry."

"Good thing for them." He sent the ball high, near the horizontal bar, which it hit before going into the net. "What are you doing here?"

"I had gone to take an ice cream cone," she explained.

It wasn't a bad idea now that Harry thought about it. The day was pretty hot. "I wonder why they don't give us some in June. The house-elves should be able to prepare them."

"I don't know," Hannah replied. "But it is true that it would be a good idea." On that they agreed. "I can't believe that we will go back to Hogwarts in barely a week."

"Let's hope it will be better than last year. We had Dementors all around."

"Yes. But we shouldn't… You don't think they're going to position them again, don't you, Harry?" she asked.

"I hope not." He kicked the ball strong, sending it right in the middle of the net.

"Well, let's try to stay positive. I wonder who our professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts will be."

Hannah just soured Harry's mood. Remus would not be there this year, and this was in large part because of her. But Harry didn't raise the subject. In fact, he didn't reply at all. He didn't want to discuss it again, and especially not with Hannah. After recent events, he didn't want to keep blaming Hannah forever. He still resented what she did, but he was ready to somewhat forgive her on the basis that she behaved stupidly, without any intent to remove Remus from his office.

"You know, Harry, my mother told me that apparently, something great would take place at Hogwarts this year. Do you know anything about it?"

"No." He had no idea what she was talking about. "Did she tell you what it was?"

"No. She didn't know herself. That's why I was asking you." He kicked the ball again. "It's been some time since I played this sport. I think it was back in elementary school."

Harry came back with the ball, then thought of something. "Do you want to try?"

Hannah looked at him, then to the ball, and smiled. "Why not?"

She failed miserably, sending the ball completely left of the net. Harry tried to show her how to make a shot, and after some time, he took pleasure in showing Hannah how to correctly kick a ball. The sun was beginning to fall when they headed back home.

"Are you eager for the next Quidditch season?" she asked him as they approached the Abandoned Tower where their families both lived.

"Yes. I think it cannot be worse than what happened three days ago."

"I hope. But we are in Hogwarts, and this time, the Dementors will not cause us problems. By the way, did you finish your homework for summer?"

"Almost. I think I have Potions to finalize." As always, it was the hardest.

"Susan told me that she's struggling for this one too. If you want, we can try to work over it tomorrow."

"Okay."

A few minutes later, they went separate ways once inside the Tower. Harry dined. His mother would arrive too late for him to dine with her. It was almost midnight when she finally came home, even later than previous days. She looked extenuated.

"Hi, my dear," she said, letting herself fall in the sofa of their living room.

She sighed heavily, and for a moment, Harry didn't think it was a good idea to ask her further questions about the Death Eaters and the events from three days ago. However, he didn't need to consider it for a long time for his mother talked about it on her own.

"We had a murder today. It's going to be announced tomorrow," she said discouragingly.

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