Fireworks

By AnOrc

Harry Potter EWE [HP/DG]

Does the war end well for child soldiers ? PTSD

OTOH: Maybe, she just likes fireworks.

Harry Potter and the Harry Potter universe are the property of J.K. Rowling and her publishers. It's J.K. Rowling's sandbox, and I'm just playing in it.

Rated M Contains depictions of PTSD, alcohol abuse. May contain lemony scenes.

-==00==-

Chapter One: Falling Pieces

The Burrow. Night. The war is over. The pieces are all in the air. Who knows where they will finally land.

Ron is sitting at the kitchen table, holding Hermione's shoulders. Sobs shake her. She's making a small keening noise.

A tapping at he windows draws Ron's eyes. It's a post owl.

Ron goes over, puts the multiple funeral orders-of-service on the table and opens the window. The brown owl has a letter, sure enough.

Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes is the address, written in neat turquoise ink.

Ron shakes his head. "Smart owl" he says, giving the owl a treat. It coughs gently and flies off.

Hermione is still sobbing gently. "Back in a tick love" says Ron to Hermione and carefully goes upstairs.

Hermione's sobbing slows. She looks up, puffy faced, her hair a veritable owls nest. There's a cup of cocoa, she shakily picks it up and sips slowly.

-==00==-

Ron steps into Fred and Georges room.

One bed is pristine and unused. George is a bundle in the other bed.

"George, there's a letter for Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes"

George doesn't even grunt.

"George, we should reopen the shop" said Ron.

George was as still as Fred had been. No. Don't think that. No. No. No.

Ron waits for a while, hoping George will react, do anything... and then leaves, downcast.

-==00==-

A little earlier, near the Burrow, outside, by the oak tree that's a fair walk from the Burrow.

Harry is sitting against the tree in a hoodie and jeans. Ginny stands, hands on hips, in her Griffindor jumper and grey trousers.

"Well!" she spits "how could you have done that!" she says, shakily.

Seconds pass.

Harry sighs,"Um." he says.

"Fuck you Harry Potter" says Ginny, more angrily. "How COULD YOU GO OFF TO DIE" She screams.

Harry's mouth opens. Closes. "Errr... "He says. "It's kind of complicated." He says.

"You Inconsiderate ARSE" spat Ginny, building up a head of steam.

Harry's eyes narrow, and he tilts his head fractionally. Perhaps He's just realised his girlfriend is Molly Weasleys daughter... The mum with the super powered Howlers.

"Voldemort had used some really evil magic to stay alive-ish" said Harry.

Ginny glared, as if daring Harry to continue.

"I can't say much about the magic- it's just too evil to talk about" said Harry, digging himself deeper.

"And why did you have to get Killed" said Ginny.

"He split off bits of his soul, put them in things." said Harry.

Ginny paled, clutched her mouth. She made slight heaves... as if about to vomit.

"Yeah, that Diary" said Harry, his eyes watering.

Ginny fell to her knees and vomited.

Harry stood up and approached Ginny, unsure what to say next.

"We found all the things and destroyed them" said Harry, "it's why we had to go away."

Ginny sat back and wiped her mouth, she panted, and shot Harry another stare.

"It's just one of the things," Harry paused, "was, well, me." 'shit, that didn't go well' he thought.

Ginny stared open-mouthed at Harry, her eyes filling with tears.

Harry kept talking "When he tried to kill me and died the first time, a bit of him stuck into my scar". He said, finally. He paused, and blinked.

Ginny's head stated to shake as her neck tightened up. She vomited again.

"Then there was this prophecy, and only one of us could live, and die by the others hand, and well, he had to kill me."

"You were part of him!… " said Ginny, getting up from her hands and knees and glaring at Harry.

"I got better" said Harry, weakly, stepping backwards.

There was a long pause.

"HOW" said Ginny, forcefully.

"I had the Resurrection stone" said Harry, rather blandly.

Ginny blinked. "The what?" she said.

"Oh you know, the Deathly Hallows." said Harry, brightly.

"That's a kids story." ground out Ginny.

["And this isn't" said Harry]

"Ah", said Harry, and pulled a silver cloak out of his hoodie pocket. "Invisibility cloak... that my father left to me." he Paused. "It's the true cloak." He said, putting over his arm.

"Elder wand" he said, and pulled a long white wand out of the hoodie pocket. When he waved it nonchalantly, every leaf on the ground in the orchard spun away.

He pulled a chain out of his collar and retrieved a small bag, from the bag he took a small dark stone. "Resurrection stone" He said.

"Hmh!" snorted Ginny dismissively.

Harry's face took on a tight expression and he turned the stone in his hand three times forwards.

The night got darker, just as if the moon had gone behind a cloud, and dark shadows rose from the ground.. slowly forming into ghostly likenesses.

"Tonks, Remus, Fred" said Harry "Ginny here needs a message"

A ghostly Tonks smiled sweetly at Ginny "Wotcher Ginny!" she said with a chuckle.

A ghostly Remus shrugged. "Deathly Hallows", he paused "Never did cover that in class" he said with a laugh.

A ghostly Fred looked at his baby sister, tears in his eyes. "Sorry I died Gin" he swallowed.

Ginny looked from one shade to the next, her eyes getting wider and wider. With a squeak she pointed at Fred.

"Waaaa" she said.

Fred nodded.

Ginny turned to Harry. Harry was looking thoughtful. With care, he turned the stone backwards three times. The shades vanished and the moonlight shone brighter.

Harry tucked the stone back into the bag, put the bag back down his collar and put the wand and cloak back in the pocket.

Ginny's head was shaking softly, her eyes unnaturally wide.

Harry didn't look much better; like he'd seen the dead.

He looked at Ginny for a while, then sighed. He pulled out the Elder wand again, pointed at it Ginny and softly said "Obliviate". There was a pink flash on Ginny's face.

"We talked and talked for hours, till finally we agreed that we've just changed too much and we're split up for good," Harry paused, the wand inscribing small widdershins circles.

He paused again, a blue flash on Ginny's face. "Your remember little of Riddles dairy", he continues, the wand spiralling slowly, "You never saw the Deathly Hallows' he concluded.

"Harry's not evil" he said softly, and flicked the wand upwards.

Ginny knelt, her eyes rolling slightly.

"Winky" called Harry.

With a pop, a house elf appeared wearing a smart blue dress.

"Yes Master Harry" said Winky.

"Pop Ginny here back into her bedroom and put her to bed", he sighed "She's had a few surprises and needs a good sleep."

Winky cocked her head, nodded, walked over to Ginny, took her hand and disappeared with another, louder POP.

Harry sat for a long time under the tree, holding the elder wand upright, his hand resting on his knee.

"Oh really, who am I kidding" he said to himself bitterly, raised the wand, opened his mouth, put the tip into the his mouth…

-==00==-

Night-time under the oak tree at the Burrow, far from the house.

Harry sat for a long time under the tree, holding the elder wand upright, his hand resting on his knee.

"Oh really who am I kidding" he said to himself bitterly, raised the wand, opened his mouth, put the tip into his mouth...

"Obliviate" he intoned.

He went limp and rolled to his side.

Some time later he sat up and shook his head. Noticing the wand just fallen out of his hand he picked it up.

"Huh?" he said, then held the wand at right angles to his face. "Prior Incantanten" he intoned and watched the colours flow off the wand.

"Oh," he said to himself and put the wand away. After another half hour he shook his head.

"Why didn't I think of that earlier" he said much more cheerfully, and got up.

He walked back to the Burrow and let himself inside.

He tensed seeing Hermione sobbing at the Kitchen table, an empty mug of on its side in front of her.

He tiptoed across the room, and climbed the stairs almost a quietly as Ron had.

-==00==-

Ron's room. It's still orange. The Chudley cannons posters are a bit ripped. The truckle bed is rolled out from under the bed and a tangle of sheets is on it.

Ron sits on the bed, hunched, holding the letter, turning it around and around.

Harry walks into the room and shuts the door softly. "Ron, mate.." he begins, sitting on the truckle bed, his knees around his armpits.

"Harry, we've got a Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes letter" said Ron looking at Harry, holding out the letter. "George won't open it."

Harry takes the letter, rolling his shoulders as if making a swimming motion to stretch. Harry reads the address, nods, the opens the letter with his thumb.

Ron starts "Harry it's "... he says shocked.

"Silent partner" says Harry and pulls out the letter. It's expensive parchment, with an embossed letterhead.

'From the desk of the house of Greengrass

Dear Sirs,

Our house has a requirement to celebrate the end of the war with some fireworks.

We recall that Weaslys Wizarding Wheezes have a line of most excellent fireworks displays.

The fireworks to be exhibited at Diagon Alley on the next suitable night.

Appropriate permits have been secured from the ministry. See attached parchments i-i.

All care to be taken that the fireworks while grand are invisible to muggles outside the Alley.

Perhaps a ten minute display depicting the vanquishing of he-who-shall-not-be-named by the chosen one.

It is required that the display be coordinated with the Daily Prophet.

It is Expected that the display will make the front page on the next morning's edition.

The Greengrass'

Then below this a hastily sketched word 'Greengrass'

A smudged wax seal below the hastily written word; it was evidently a signature.

Harry crinkled his brows. "Why'd they sign 'The Greengrass'" asked Harry, handing the letter to Ron.

Ron read the letter, his jaw moving around thoughtfully.

"Um, okay Harry that's a traditional pure blood thing" explained Ron, " It means that letter is sent from the head of the house, kind-of like a letter from the headmaster instead of Dumbledore" said Ron, blushing and collapsing on himself groaning.

Harry's eyes watered. He sighed. "Lets talk about this in the morning eh Ron ?" said Harry and rolled himself into a sheet.

Ron put the letter on the night-stand and sat for a bit then he suddenly sat up "Bloody Hell!" he exclaimed and dashed downstairs.

-==00==-

The pond at the Burrow. Later

Harry and Ron are sitting looking over the water.

"Harry, how come you're so much, well calmer about everything." asked Ron.

"Ron, can you keep a secret" asked Harry.

"Harry, I'm your best mate" said Ron softly. "I come to save you any time"

"Huh" said Harry "frozen ponds."

"Exactly" said Ron.

"I Obliviated myself of the nightmares." said Harry, swallowing and looking shifty.

"Bloody HELL! said Ron, "You could've wiped your mind like Lockheart".

"But I didn't" said Harry softly.

Ron sat silently looking across the pond.

"Harry, could you , you know, help Herms" said Ron, starting to cry.

Harry turned to Ron, his eyes filling with tears. "I'm not that good at it Ron, and If she ever found out"

Ron nodded, "Yeah she'd start with a pertificius totalis".

Harry looked away guiltily.

There was a long awkward silence.

"What's with you and Ginny" asked Ron suddenly.

"We're over for good." said Harry, turning to Ron and holding out his palms.

Ron sighed, "It's not like you're not good enough for her or anything" said Ron,

"Just that, well, Ginny's my baby sister and all, but, um," Ron stalled.

"She's a bit of a Prewitt" said Harry bluntly.

Ron shrugged. "We are what we are."

Harry laughed "and your Mum duelled Bellatrix LeStrange to death, cos she was protecting Ginny."

Ron blinked, blinked again and nodded. "When you say it like that Mum does sound a bit scary" he admitted.

"Pot, Kettle, Black" said Harry, then suddenly burst out laughing.

Ron shrugged and frowned. "What's so funny." asked Ron.

"I'm the head of Potter and Black" said Harry, giggling like a loon.

"Sorry mate, but the Potters aren't historically funny and the Blacks are well, really bad news so what's so funny." said Ron.

"It's a muggle saying" said Harry, getting a grip. "The pot calling the kettle black".

Ron sighed contentedly, then his eyes narrowed and his face was transformed into a malicious grin. "Sure thing, Kettle!"

"What" said Harry confused, his giggles stopping.

"I'm gonna call you Kettle from now on " said Ron, starting to laugh.

Much later... both still staring over the pond

"Ron"

"Yeah"

"I'm going to need to talk to the goblins."

"Why?"

"They have my money"

-==00==-

Breakfast at the Burrow. Harry and Ron are eating, Mr Weasley is drinking his tea, Mrs Weasley is sitting, waiting.

The morning Prophet arrives on a brown post owl. Mr Weasley takes it, and opens it up.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt has been made interim minister" says Mr Weasley, and grins.

"You know what this means" he says to Ron and Harry. "My departmental budget isn't going to get cut"

Harry and Ron look at each other blankly. After a pause; Mr Weasley laughs. "It was a joke" he says.

With that, he gets up, puts on his robe and hat, grabs his satchel and Floos off to the Ministry.

Mrs Weasley looks at Harry and sighs. "Harry" she says.

"Er yes" says Harry.

"Well, it's just that since you've um, broken things off with Ginerva" she continues.

"Yeah" said Harry, going a bit pink.

"Maybe you should go to Grimmauld place, you know" she said apologetically.

Harry nodded.

-==00==-

Harry is standing next to the fireplace with his old backpack. Ron is standing around, fidgeting with knick-knacks.

Hermione is curled up on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, moping.

"Oh well I'm off to Grimmauld place" says Harry. "You guys are welcome to visit any time" He said casually, belied by his expression.

He threw a pinch of Foo powder in the fireplace and left in a green flash.

The backpack sat accusingly next to the fireplace.

-==00==-

Night time, Inside a stone barn, lit by flickering candles on candlesticks around the room.

There are wooden stalls built around the sides of the barn.

The stone floor in the centre of the barn has been cleared off and a chalk circle has been drawn. Around the circles more lines and curves, runic passages are marked.

Outside the circle, in tatty workaday robes stands a trim, blond, middle-aged witch with dark eyes. She's holding her wand out.

"Now remember dear, when the circle changes colour, start the second chant. Not before"

Inside the circle, a young blond woman, is sitting in the centre of the pattern, stark naked. She's covered in runic inscriptions in some kind of dark brown ink. Her figure could be described as neglected. Uncharitably she could be described as podgy. She's clearly cold, she's holding an athame (sacrifical knife) in her right hand.

"Yes Mother, I remember. Does it have to be lambs?" asked the daughter, looking over at the stalls, where bleating can be heard.

"Would you rather we used one or two of your favourite horses?"

The daughter sighed.

"Ready Dear?" asks the Older woman.

"Yes Mother" says the younger woman, and she swallows.

"Remember dear, this is for your own good. You can't come out to society looking so… hefty." said the older Witch.

The older woman turn and waves her wand, "levicorpus" she casts. A young lamb floats up from one of the stalls, bleating. The lamb, all white wooly socks and bleating, floats over and arrives inside the circle. It hovers above the young woman, bleating and confused.

With a look of disgust, the young woman reaches above herself and gingerly cuts the lamb's throat. The blood drips down onto her. She shudders.

When the flow of blood slows, the older witch floats another lamb over and drops the first lamb in the corner of the barn.

The grisly sacrifice continues until a multitude of dead lambs lie in the corner and the young woman is bathed in blood. The area of the circle fills with blood as the ritual continues.

The blood fills the circle, bounded strangely by the chalk lines.

The ritual continues. Grisly death after death.

With a final, jagged cut of the bloody athame the last lamb is sacrificed by the blood-covered woman. She rests briefly, panting, looking ill, cold and covered in blood.

The young woman sits in the pool of blood, covered in blood herself. She takes the athame, raises it into the air and begins to chant.

After a while, the white chalk markings suddenly turn to brownish-bloody stains.

"Now" says the older woman.

The younger woman intones some more words. The pool of blood begins to shrink.

The young woman cries out in pain, and the runes marked on her body flare into magical blue light. They quickly fade, leaving the young woman shrinking.

Her belly shrinks, her arms grow thinner and her thighs thin. The strange effect stops when all the blood is gone.

The now very fit looking young woman shakes and cries. She faints.

After waiting for several long minutes, the older woman approaches the circle and kicks a break into the chalk circle. There is a loud crack and the room shimmers briefly.

The older woman now rushes to the younger, there is a definite family resemblance, and picks the unconscious woman's head up off the floor "Oh darling" she cries. She lovingly cleans the unconscious young woman and summons a robe where' it's folded over the stall wall with a quick "Accio robe".

-==00==-