Epilogue – Number Four Privet Drive

June 25, 1997

Parvati sat quietly alone in the compartment. Her eyes continued to dart from the door to the window. In part out of curiosity as to when the train would actually pull away from Hogsmeade station, and in part as she waited for the door to be pulled open. The anxious moment was finally squelched when the train lurched forward, slowly at first and then breaking into its brisk travelling speed. She sighed heavily as she began to feel that no one was going to try to enter the compartment with her.

"Well," she said hesitantly, "I didn't expect to get away from Hogwarts this easily, but maybe you were—"

"Parvati?" Parvati snapped her head around, looking directly at Hermione standing in the doorway to the compartment. "Who are you talking to?"

"Myself," she answered nervously. "I was just thinking about Harry, that's all."

Hermione slid into the compartment and closed the door behind her. "You haven't heard from him either?" Parvati slowly shook her head as Hermione had a seat next to her not letting on that Harry had in fact contacted her since leaving Hogwarts. She knew what Hermione did not; that Harry hadn't run away from Hogwarts and that Professor Dumbledore had given him permission to leave.

"Well, I don't suppose that I can blame him. He has taken all of this very hard, and I've never seen Harry so emotional," she thought to herself as she reflected on the day he and Snape returned from Egypt. "I just hope that Professor McGonagall doesn't ask to have him expelled. I guess the best thing that we can do is just give him some space. Professor Dumbledore thinks that he will be manageable again soon—"

"Ha!"

Parvati coughed loudly and began patting her chest. "Excuse me. I've had this cough for a few days now. I was hoping that it would go away before we left for holiday, but no luck."

Hermione nodded sceptically at her. "Why don't you come up front with me? Ron, Ginny and Neville are saving us a compartment, and I really don't think you ought to be alone right now."

"Thank you but I'm fine, Hermione, really," Parvati insisted. "If I change my mind I promise to come and find you. I was just thinking about writing a letter to Harry. I think he could use some cheering up right now."

"All right then," Hermione stood and approached the door. "But if you change your mind, please come find us."

Parvati nodded her head as a promise and watched Hermione leave the compartment. The moment she was gone, Parvati turned back to the seat opposite her looking harshly at the unoccupied seat. "You want me to lie for you but you sit there making noises that give your presence away. Why?"

"Sorry," Harry's voice came from the seat. "But Dumbledore assuming that I'll be manageable again is ridiculous. Who does he think he is?"

While Harry had shared with Parvati that he and Dumbledore agreed on Harry's departure from Hogwarts, she did not know that Harry had taken an oath and was now a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Harry didn't think he should share that information with anyone just yet, and so he let Parvati continue to believe that the tension between he and the Headmaster was just as heavy as it had been all year. Though in truth, he knew the relationship was not mended, but he remained hopeful that he could come to trust Dumbledore again.

"You'd better watch it, Harry, he's going to lose his patience with you and expel you."

"I hope he does. What good has Hogwarts done me anyways?"

Parvati looked away from him and resumed her stare out of the window. "Well, it's taught you magic, brought you your friends, and…and—"

Realising what she was trying to say, Harry finished her sentence for her. "And you, I know sweetie. I didn't say that to offend you. I appreciate everything you've done for me this year, and how much I can trust you."

"You'd hardly have figured on that," she giggled slightly, "with the way Lavender and I carry on."

Harry laughed slightly as well. "No, a year ago I would have never guessed that you would be my only confidant, but I'm not sorry one bit."

He switched seats to be next to her so he could caress her cheek. As he did this he remembered why he had first asked her out. That emotion had been lost in the past months, and in the events of his recent exploits. Their relationship had become something he was used to and he never wanted to make her feel that way. He had chosen her, and he realised he probably hadn't made her feel special lately. All of his energy had been consumed by anger and grief.

"I know that I have been distant in the past few months, and I never knew why you wanted to date me…" She opened her mouth to say something but he didn't let her as he continued. "I haven't said it, but I care for you very much, Parvati." If he said he loved her they both would know he was lying. "Never think otherwise. I would do anything to protect you."

"I know, Harry, but I'm not scared of anything happening to me. I fear for you." Her eyes shifted spots as she obviously hoped to lock eyes with him. "I know this is not over, and I know that you will have to continue to fight, and that just tares me up inside."

"I have the same fear of you facing him or having to fight any of the Death Eaters. I know you've been working hard in D.A. and the group, but maybe we should step up your training," he thought for a moment. "I hope he never comes after you, but you and I both know he'll use you to lure me out if he can."

"Padma too," she pointed out. "He can't tell us apart."

"Yes, he can," Harry said quietly. "He could use Legilimency on you two and know. Somehow I doubt he would care enough to take the time to do that though…no offence," he added not wanting to hurt her feelings. "I just think he'd take you both if given the opportunity and she'd be the…." Harry took a deep breath and swallowed as he thought of Cedric. "The spare."

"How terrible," Parvati looked down into her lap as her concern for her sister raced in her mind. She had never fully considered that Padma had been dragged into the relationship with Harry, but Harry was defiantly right, Voldemort wouldn't distinguish between the two.

Not wanting to linger on the negative thoughts for too long, Parvati quickly changed her though pattern. "Thank you, Harry. You really have made a big difference in my life. You make me feel like a woman."

"You are," he said quietly as he kissed her cheek, and sat back a bit stunned as she obviously suppressed a laugh. "What's so funny?"

"It's just strange to be kissed by someone I can't see—"

"Or you felt the need to prove you're still a girl."

"Harry," she swatted at him, smacking him hard in the chest. "Oh I'm sorry. I just can't tell how close you are to me."

"It's okay," he assured her as he slipped his arm around her. "You really shouldn't be making so many gestures anyway. Someone will think you've gone mad."

She sighed contently as she settled into his unseen arms for the rest of the journey. It was clear that she could endure a train ride of silence as long as she knew that Harry was safe and near.

Harry walked behind Parvati and Padma Patil as they left Platform 9 ¾ knowing that he wouldn't get an opportunity to speak to her again for a while. When they got to their cab, Parvati turned around and felt for Harry. When she touched him he quickly pulled her into the invisibility cloak.

"I'll write, but I don't know if I'll be able to come to visit. I need to take care of some things as soon as I turn seventeen."

"I know, Harry." She kissed him lightly on the lips. "Just take care of yourself this summer and come back to Hogwarts safely next term."

After one more kiss, Harry watched as she and her family left King's Crossing. It was then that he looked around and noticed that neither his uncle nor his aunt had bothered to show up to collect him. Harry wasn't at all shocked to learn that. For a moment he thought that perhaps the incident in Egypt might bring him and his Aunt closer, but he should have known better. Petunia Dursley had no desire to be a witch and despised everything magical now more than ever. He was certain that Uncle Vernon would be absolutely incorrigible now. He'd blame Harry for getting his wife kidnapped, but none of that really surprised him as he returned to platform 9 and saw Dobby sitting on top of his trunk.

"Has anyone seen you?" Harry asked as he approached the elf.

"No, Master."

"Pop us back to Privet Drive then," Harry said with sorrow.

Dobby did as requested and the moment they arrived in his bedroom Harry threw his cloak down onto the bed. It felt nice to finally take it off after hiding in it all day long. He looked out his small bedroom window feeling sad but hopeful somehow. He said nothing as he felt his aunt approach and stand in his doorway.

"Welcome back, Harry," she said tentatively, obviously trying her best to be polite. It was the least she could do after he'd saved her life, and agreed that he would not tell Uncle Vernon that she was a witch, and being left to his own resources to find his way home.

Harry didn't look at her though; he just continued to stare straight forward. "We won't be staying long," he said with no hint of feeling in his voice, "a month or less. I expect that you will be kind to Dobby while we are here." He felt he could insist on this. "I may not be of age yet but he is my servant and he can use magic if I ask him to. If you are polite to him he will help you around the house while we are here. If not—"

"There's no reason to threaten me, Harry. We'll stay out of your way this summer. I presume it will be our last together."

"Yes."

That much he could be certain of. Regardless of what had happened in Egypt, Petunia Dursley was not going to embrace the magical world and Harry had no desire for her to. If he survived another year he and Dobby would find a home for themselves.

He looked down at Dobby once his aunt had gone. "It's only a few weeks, Dobby, I think we'll survive."

Dobby looked up at Harry, his large green eyes beaming with pride. "Master will always survive."