This is the final chapter! I finished a story, for the first time in my
life : - ) we'll se about that sequal, it's a long summer and I might just
write one. I'd like to thank everyone who's been reviewing, I've really
appreciated it because when you know someone is reading what you're
writing, it gives you that push you need to finish the story. Thanks, you
guys : - ) I'm working on the story about the ancient ones, from Melinda's
point of view. I actually have some things written down about them all
already, so it will probably be up soon, for those who are interested to
learn more about them : - ) With all this said, here's the last chapter.
Please review! Oh, and well... I haven't used Dumbledore as much as I said I
would, I changed my mind... Oh, and another thing... It's Lycurgus, not
Lycurgis, I'll change it in the earlier chapters... I've spelled it wrong...
Please, tell me what you think about this ending... Have I missed something?
Been going through the story thoroughly, couldn't find anything... If you do,
please notify me...
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and Co, they're JK Rowlings. I'm just playing around with characters. However, Melinda Atwood and Aidan Gallagher are my own creations.
LIFE AND DEATH
Harry slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He was once more, in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Where he most often landed after facing Voldemort, he thought bitterly and sat up in the hospital bed.. He felt tired and a bit weak still. But it was nothing compared to how he had felt after destroying the book. He lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling for a while..
"Harry?"
He looked up and saw professor Dumbledore walk towards him.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he sank down at the side of Harry's bed.
Harry shrugged.
"Better" he just said. "Was anyone... Is everyone okay?"
Dumbledore looked at him through those half-moon shaped eyes.
"No harm was done that time will not heal" Dumbledore said and smiled faintly. "Professor Snape will be fine, Harry."
Harry just nodded, though he wasn't very fond, or rather really despised professor Snape, he didn't wish him to die.
"He as at St Mungos, and will probably not be back until the next term. Professor Gallagher will take over potions until his return."
The thought of having professor Gallagher in potions lifted Harry's spirits a little.
"Where was Snape that time when professor Gallagher substituted?" he asked.
"Professor Snape was on a mission for the order that morning. He was trying to find out how far Voldemort had come in his search for the book. That was the morning after they'd found Perkins dead..."
It made sense, Harry thought silently.
"Now, Harry... You must tell me, what it was that lured you out last night. Young Mr Ronald Weasley came running into my office, telling me that you'd just run out into the dark forest, for no apparent reason, though I know it must have been something..."
Harry stared at the clean white cover he lay under for a while.
"I saw... I thought it was... A big black dog..." Harry paused, and then he continued. "It wasn't him, was it"
"No, it was not Sirius" Dumbledore said gently. "It was the book. Melinda told me that her brother Lycurgus had found the book in a similar way. He was lured there, by the book. You see, Harry, it explored your mind during dreams, when you were vulnerable. It found out your fears, your every thought. It wanted to be found, by Voldemort, and therefore also by you. And so it chose to lure you there by an illusion, a big black dog. Because it knew that you would follow that dog, without even thinking twice about it..."
Dumbledore laid his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Anyone would have done the same, Harry. I know that you still miss him, it is hard to let go of those who leave us... It takes time, time heal all wounds as they say. Even those that at a time seem to be so deep that you never think you will recover."
Harry looked up at him. Dumbledore suddenly turned his head, Melinda came walking towards them.
"Ah, Melinda" Dumbledore said and smiled faintly.
"Albus" she said and nodded towards him.
"I think I should go and send word to the Weasleys' that you're alright, Harry. I will come back tomorrow."
Dumbledore walked towards Melinda, laid his hand on her shoulder. She smiled faintly and laid her hand on his. As Dumbledore left, Melinda walked up and sat where Dumbledore had been sitting.
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked and looked at him with her violet eyes.
"Yeah..." Harry said and looked at her.
She looked a bit paler than usual, the smile she'd had on her face was gone now, her violet eyes were sad.
"You're probably wondering why I cut myself off from you... I was just trying to sort some things out. I tried to contact my brother, Lycurgus. We needed information from him that only he could provide, he knew most of the book's secrets. And to do that I had to be fully concentrated and not be disturbed... Since he couldn't be reached by the use of the mirrors, I had to do a very complicated spell to reach him... It was a mistake though, when I made contact with him a few hours later, he refused to tell me anything. After that I was exhausted, it took a lot to make contact with him, a lot of time and effort. I think I must have fallen into a deep slumber, because I awoke first when professor Gallagher came to the house, telling me you had gone after the book... That house that you were in was the house Lycurgus house. He found the book in there and he later started to live there, when he studied the book and explored what he could do with it..."
She sighed and looked at him.
"What happened in there?" he asked quietly after a while.
Her smile faded.
"I was fighting Voldemort, to keep him from going after you, when I sensed you were in danger, and I sort of lost concentration. And in that moment, Voldemort took the chance to run after you. He disappeared through the portal and it closed, because only two persons had entered and therefore only two could get out. He was so eager to get his hands on the book that he didn't even try to cast a curse on me before he left... I knew Dumbledore was out there, and that he would chase after Voldemort. I had to get professor Snape out, he was badly hurt and he didn't respond when I tried to wake him up. So I started to try and open another portal, it took me some time, and then I helped Snape out of there. Aidan... I mean professor Gallagher found us as we tumbled out of there. He told me he'd met you and that he had told you to get back to the school. Professor Dumbledore had gone after Voldemort, who was now chasing you. Leaving his death eaters behind to stop any members of the orders from running to your aid."
Melinda paused and looked at the floor.
"That was when I heard Lycurgus voice in my head... He told me the book had to be destroyed, and he told me you would need my help, since you wouldn't be able to read the text because it was written in an old language that is rarely used nowadays, if ever. And since the words had to come from you, I had to be inside your mind... So I intertwined out minds, or rather took you over for just a few moments just to read the text... It took all my strength, all my power, to get inside your mind... I must say, you've really mastered Occlumency..."
"Does Voldemort speak that language?" Harry asked.
"Yes... I was told Voldemort had been studying this particular language, the blessed word or the word of the ancient ones as some call it. I haven't figured out how yet though. There are very few people left in the world that masters that language, and it isn't something you just learn. It would take someone who already knows it, someone who speaks the language, to teach another how to speak it and read it... And I intend to find out who it is that has been teaching him."
"So then... You were the one who destroyed the book?"
"No, Harry. It was all you. I can speak through you, but never use magic through you. If I were to try, it would probably cost me my life, or yours..."
Harry nodded slowly. She was quiet for a while.
"I think I know what it was that lured you into the forest, Harry... I've lost people who I loved, people who meant the world to me through the years. It's hard to just let go. You have to give it time, Harry... I would like to say that the pain will go away eventually, but that wouldn't be the truth... And the way you lost your godfather in... I understand, really I do... It makes it even harder to let go. You cling on to the memories, to hope that one day that person will come back..."
Harry felt that numbness he'd felt all summer filling him once more.
"I wish life had been easier on you Harry" she said softly. "I truly do. You've been forced to grow up way faster than anyone your age... Your parents would be very proud of you, Harry... And I know Sirius would be as well..."
"What is behind that veil?" Harry asked after a while and looked up at her.
"It is... A portal, I would say, between the world of the living and the dead. You heard voices coming from that veil, didn't you?"
Harry nodded.
"Is there any way... He could return?" Harry asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
Melinda looked at him.
"Well... Sirius has entered the world of the dead; bringing him back to our world would be cruel..."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Harry... When Sirius entered the world of the dead, he... He died... And bringing him back, he wouldn't be the same; he wouldn't be the Sirius you remembered. "
"But he could come back? There is a way to bring him back" Harry said suddenly hopeful.
She sighed and closed her eyes.
"Death was always Morana's specialty, she knew things about the realm of the dead that I didn't even want to know. I guess she would say that yes, there is a way to bring back those who were lost. If they didn't die out of disease or old age. So yes, there is a chance Sirius could be brought back here... But what you have to ask yourself, Harry, is... Would it be fair to Sirius to bring him back because you miss him?"
"He would want to come back!" Harry exclaimed. "Don't make this sound like it's just me being selfish! He would want to come back!"
"Are you sure about that? I'm sure Sirius would do anything for you, and perhaps he would want to come back, for you. But I was told that to raise a person from the dead... it's not as easy as it may sound. Not for the one who has to do the ritual, neither for the person you bring back. There would be a lot of confusion and pain. If I could bring him back, I would, but I can not be cruel to him." she said calmly.
He glared at her for a while, she just looked at him calmly.
"He was the only one I had left" Harry said, he felt really angry.
"The last one that you had such a special connection to, perhaps... But that doesn't mean that there aren't any people left in the world that care about you. What about The Weasleys', Albus Dumbledore Remus Lupin, Mad-eye Moody, Hagrid? And what about Hermione and Ron? And, you have me..."
He was quiet for a while, he still felt angry and terribly sad.
"I know it's not the same, and no one could ever replace Sirius. I just want you to understand that there are so many people that care about you. You have every right to be angry and you have the right to grieve... Just don't forget about the people that are here with you. I know how easy it is to forget, I was once in a similar situation as you are now... I'm not saying I know exactly how you feel... But maybe a little at least, if that is any comfort to you..."
He nodded slowly, he felt that calmness again that he had done in the house as she lay her hand on his cheek.
"You're strong, you'll make it through."
Her hand sank and she got up.
"Well, I should go... I'm leaving for Ireland, well I'm on my way right now actually, have some things I have to take care of there... I'll be there for a few weeks. If you want to, you're welcome to stay at my house during the rest of the summer... You know... if you want to... I checked with Dumbledore and he said it was okay..."
"So I won't have to stay at the Dursley's all summer then" Harry said and forced on a faint smile.
"No, dear Harry, you won't have to stay there all summer." She smiled broadly. "I'll send an owl when I get home. Until then, you take care, okay? And don't let them get to you."
She kissed him lightly on his forehead, he blushed a little.
"I'll see you, Harry." She said as she started to walk away from him.
"Bye" Harry said as she left the hospital wing.
The next day, Ron, Hermione, mr and mrs Weasley and Ginny came to visit him. Ron's mother had hugged him so hard and told him over and over again how worried she'd been. Her eyes filled up with tears, and Arthur had to pull her away from Harry. They brought more candy, mrs Weasley had baked him a few pies as well.
Madame Pomfrey announced early in the morning the next day, after a thorough examination, that he was now free to go. Harry hadn't been asking her about it; it would just have been a waste of energy. As he got down, he was greeted by the other Gryffindor students in the great hall, who were hoping he would tell them what had happened that night. He received a hug from Hermione and a hand shake from Ron and they both told him they were glad he was out again. And so he went back to school and buried himself in schoolwork, and tried to keep the thoughts about everything away. He was going to finish this year and get some good grades, and then he would have the rest of the summer to think about it all.
Everyone was overjoyed that they would have professor Gallagher in portions, except for the Slytherin students who all thought Snape was the best teacher of the school. Although, that would probably change their opinion when they learned that Snape wasn't really a death eater. No one seemed to know professor Gallagher's secret, Malfoy didn't exactly have any influence nowadays, since he was an escaped prisoner.
After the last lesson of the term, just a week later, Harry went outside alone. Ron and Hermione had been busy arguing and hadn't noticed it when Harry had left. Since he didn't fancy listening to the two of them arguing, Harry had walked down to the lake, he sat down in the green grass, the sun shined and there was always a certain calmness and peace there. He sat there and stared aimlessly out at the lake for a while.
Harry thought about everything that had happened, not just what had happened now but everything he had experienced through the years, since the day he had learned that he was a wizard. He remembered the day he got his letter from Hogwarts for the first time, when he discovered there was more to this world then he'd thought back then. A lot more. It hadn't all been good though, he thought bitterly as he thought of what Dumbledore had told him last year. He certainly wasn't the same person as he had been back then. But then, who was?
Voldemort was out there, somewhere. Harry was the one who had to defeat him, or he would die. One of them had to. He sighed, and then he reached into his robe and pulled out the orb Melinda had given him. It glowed in his hand; he looked at it for a while. And he suddenly felt that calmness that he'd felt whenever she was around. And he remembered what she'd told him.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him; Hermione and Ron joined him there in the grass. They just sat there quietly for a while, Harry could see that Hermione was moving a little, as if she had something to say but didn't know how to. After a while however, she broke the silence.
"What happened, Harry? What on earth made you go into the dark forest all alone?"
Harry hesitated, but then he told them the whole story, slowly. He made pauses sometimes, it felt a bit hard to tell them everything, especially the part about Sirius. But he also felt he had to tell them. They were his friends, after all. And he needed to share some of the burden. After he finished, they sat there once again. Both Hermione and Ron looked a bit amazed, especially about the part where Harry told them about Lycurgus.
"But... The book, it would appear that it was the perfect weapon against Voldemort." Ron said. "Didn't it?"
"I don't know... Melinda told me the book wasn't evil in its self ... But when I felt it the power... I could feel the power that I possessed with the book in my hands. I just... I understood how easily it could make you turn... If Voldemort had gotten to it before we did, he would probably have become unstoppable... I was told that the book wasn't supposed to exist anymore, so I think everything is as it should be now..."
He sighed.
"I haven't packed yet" he just said and got up, leaving Hermione and Ron sitting there looking at each other anxiously.
Harry was very quiet on the way home. Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Luna were talking loudly about something, Harry wasn't paying attention, neither did he join the discussion.
He wasn't looking forward to going home, the thought of getting to leave and stay with Melinda later on did raise his spirits a little. But he would still have to endure staying with the Dursley's for a while.
They were waiting for him outside Kings Cross station; Harry sighed and stopped to look at his friends.
"So... I'll see you soon then" he said and smiled faintly.
Hermione smiled and stepped up and hugged him.
"Have a great summer, Harry. I'll write to you as often as I can. Just... don't let them get to you" she said.
"You have a great summer too, Hermione" Harry said.
Ron shook his hand.
"I'll try and talk to mum, maybe you can come visit soon. Have a nice summer, Harry"
"You too..."
They were joined by mr and mrs Weasley, Mad-eye Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Remus Lupin. They all shook his hand, except mrs Weasley who gave him a hug and told him to take good care of himself during the summer. As she looked at the Dursleys' she looked a bit irritated but smiled at Harry as he picked up his trunk and Hedwigs' cage. The owl hooted at him as he walked towards them, the only family he had left. Then suddenly he felt the warmth from the orb he had in his pocket. And he felt a little lighter at heart as he stowed his things into the Dursley's car. They were still ignoring him, giving him the silent treatment. It didn't matter anymore, Harry thought. This was after all the last summer he would have to stay with the Dursley's. Next summer, he would be an adult wizard. And then things would get better, he told himself as he stared out the window of the car on the ride to number four Privet Drive.
THE END
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and Co, they're JK Rowlings. I'm just playing around with characters. However, Melinda Atwood and Aidan Gallagher are my own creations.
LIFE AND DEATH
Harry slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He was once more, in the hospital wing at Hogwarts. Where he most often landed after facing Voldemort, he thought bitterly and sat up in the hospital bed.. He felt tired and a bit weak still. But it was nothing compared to how he had felt after destroying the book. He lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling for a while..
"Harry?"
He looked up and saw professor Dumbledore walk towards him.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he sank down at the side of Harry's bed.
Harry shrugged.
"Better" he just said. "Was anyone... Is everyone okay?"
Dumbledore looked at him through those half-moon shaped eyes.
"No harm was done that time will not heal" Dumbledore said and smiled faintly. "Professor Snape will be fine, Harry."
Harry just nodded, though he wasn't very fond, or rather really despised professor Snape, he didn't wish him to die.
"He as at St Mungos, and will probably not be back until the next term. Professor Gallagher will take over potions until his return."
The thought of having professor Gallagher in potions lifted Harry's spirits a little.
"Where was Snape that time when professor Gallagher substituted?" he asked.
"Professor Snape was on a mission for the order that morning. He was trying to find out how far Voldemort had come in his search for the book. That was the morning after they'd found Perkins dead..."
It made sense, Harry thought silently.
"Now, Harry... You must tell me, what it was that lured you out last night. Young Mr Ronald Weasley came running into my office, telling me that you'd just run out into the dark forest, for no apparent reason, though I know it must have been something..."
Harry stared at the clean white cover he lay under for a while.
"I saw... I thought it was... A big black dog..." Harry paused, and then he continued. "It wasn't him, was it"
"No, it was not Sirius" Dumbledore said gently. "It was the book. Melinda told me that her brother Lycurgus had found the book in a similar way. He was lured there, by the book. You see, Harry, it explored your mind during dreams, when you were vulnerable. It found out your fears, your every thought. It wanted to be found, by Voldemort, and therefore also by you. And so it chose to lure you there by an illusion, a big black dog. Because it knew that you would follow that dog, without even thinking twice about it..."
Dumbledore laid his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Anyone would have done the same, Harry. I know that you still miss him, it is hard to let go of those who leave us... It takes time, time heal all wounds as they say. Even those that at a time seem to be so deep that you never think you will recover."
Harry looked up at him. Dumbledore suddenly turned his head, Melinda came walking towards them.
"Ah, Melinda" Dumbledore said and smiled faintly.
"Albus" she said and nodded towards him.
"I think I should go and send word to the Weasleys' that you're alright, Harry. I will come back tomorrow."
Dumbledore walked towards Melinda, laid his hand on her shoulder. She smiled faintly and laid her hand on his. As Dumbledore left, Melinda walked up and sat where Dumbledore had been sitting.
"Hey, are you okay?" she asked and looked at him with her violet eyes.
"Yeah..." Harry said and looked at her.
She looked a bit paler than usual, the smile she'd had on her face was gone now, her violet eyes were sad.
"You're probably wondering why I cut myself off from you... I was just trying to sort some things out. I tried to contact my brother, Lycurgus. We needed information from him that only he could provide, he knew most of the book's secrets. And to do that I had to be fully concentrated and not be disturbed... Since he couldn't be reached by the use of the mirrors, I had to do a very complicated spell to reach him... It was a mistake though, when I made contact with him a few hours later, he refused to tell me anything. After that I was exhausted, it took a lot to make contact with him, a lot of time and effort. I think I must have fallen into a deep slumber, because I awoke first when professor Gallagher came to the house, telling me you had gone after the book... That house that you were in was the house Lycurgus house. He found the book in there and he later started to live there, when he studied the book and explored what he could do with it..."
She sighed and looked at him.
"What happened in there?" he asked quietly after a while.
Her smile faded.
"I was fighting Voldemort, to keep him from going after you, when I sensed you were in danger, and I sort of lost concentration. And in that moment, Voldemort took the chance to run after you. He disappeared through the portal and it closed, because only two persons had entered and therefore only two could get out. He was so eager to get his hands on the book that he didn't even try to cast a curse on me before he left... I knew Dumbledore was out there, and that he would chase after Voldemort. I had to get professor Snape out, he was badly hurt and he didn't respond when I tried to wake him up. So I started to try and open another portal, it took me some time, and then I helped Snape out of there. Aidan... I mean professor Gallagher found us as we tumbled out of there. He told me he'd met you and that he had told you to get back to the school. Professor Dumbledore had gone after Voldemort, who was now chasing you. Leaving his death eaters behind to stop any members of the orders from running to your aid."
Melinda paused and looked at the floor.
"That was when I heard Lycurgus voice in my head... He told me the book had to be destroyed, and he told me you would need my help, since you wouldn't be able to read the text because it was written in an old language that is rarely used nowadays, if ever. And since the words had to come from you, I had to be inside your mind... So I intertwined out minds, or rather took you over for just a few moments just to read the text... It took all my strength, all my power, to get inside your mind... I must say, you've really mastered Occlumency..."
"Does Voldemort speak that language?" Harry asked.
"Yes... I was told Voldemort had been studying this particular language, the blessed word or the word of the ancient ones as some call it. I haven't figured out how yet though. There are very few people left in the world that masters that language, and it isn't something you just learn. It would take someone who already knows it, someone who speaks the language, to teach another how to speak it and read it... And I intend to find out who it is that has been teaching him."
"So then... You were the one who destroyed the book?"
"No, Harry. It was all you. I can speak through you, but never use magic through you. If I were to try, it would probably cost me my life, or yours..."
Harry nodded slowly. She was quiet for a while.
"I think I know what it was that lured you into the forest, Harry... I've lost people who I loved, people who meant the world to me through the years. It's hard to just let go. You have to give it time, Harry... I would like to say that the pain will go away eventually, but that wouldn't be the truth... And the way you lost your godfather in... I understand, really I do... It makes it even harder to let go. You cling on to the memories, to hope that one day that person will come back..."
Harry felt that numbness he'd felt all summer filling him once more.
"I wish life had been easier on you Harry" she said softly. "I truly do. You've been forced to grow up way faster than anyone your age... Your parents would be very proud of you, Harry... And I know Sirius would be as well..."
"What is behind that veil?" Harry asked after a while and looked up at her.
"It is... A portal, I would say, between the world of the living and the dead. You heard voices coming from that veil, didn't you?"
Harry nodded.
"Is there any way... He could return?" Harry asked, not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
Melinda looked at him.
"Well... Sirius has entered the world of the dead; bringing him back to our world would be cruel..."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Harry... When Sirius entered the world of the dead, he... He died... And bringing him back, he wouldn't be the same; he wouldn't be the Sirius you remembered. "
"But he could come back? There is a way to bring him back" Harry said suddenly hopeful.
She sighed and closed her eyes.
"Death was always Morana's specialty, she knew things about the realm of the dead that I didn't even want to know. I guess she would say that yes, there is a way to bring back those who were lost. If they didn't die out of disease or old age. So yes, there is a chance Sirius could be brought back here... But what you have to ask yourself, Harry, is... Would it be fair to Sirius to bring him back because you miss him?"
"He would want to come back!" Harry exclaimed. "Don't make this sound like it's just me being selfish! He would want to come back!"
"Are you sure about that? I'm sure Sirius would do anything for you, and perhaps he would want to come back, for you. But I was told that to raise a person from the dead... it's not as easy as it may sound. Not for the one who has to do the ritual, neither for the person you bring back. There would be a lot of confusion and pain. If I could bring him back, I would, but I can not be cruel to him." she said calmly.
He glared at her for a while, she just looked at him calmly.
"He was the only one I had left" Harry said, he felt really angry.
"The last one that you had such a special connection to, perhaps... But that doesn't mean that there aren't any people left in the world that care about you. What about The Weasleys', Albus Dumbledore Remus Lupin, Mad-eye Moody, Hagrid? And what about Hermione and Ron? And, you have me..."
He was quiet for a while, he still felt angry and terribly sad.
"I know it's not the same, and no one could ever replace Sirius. I just want you to understand that there are so many people that care about you. You have every right to be angry and you have the right to grieve... Just don't forget about the people that are here with you. I know how easy it is to forget, I was once in a similar situation as you are now... I'm not saying I know exactly how you feel... But maybe a little at least, if that is any comfort to you..."
He nodded slowly, he felt that calmness again that he had done in the house as she lay her hand on his cheek.
"You're strong, you'll make it through."
Her hand sank and she got up.
"Well, I should go... I'm leaving for Ireland, well I'm on my way right now actually, have some things I have to take care of there... I'll be there for a few weeks. If you want to, you're welcome to stay at my house during the rest of the summer... You know... if you want to... I checked with Dumbledore and he said it was okay..."
"So I won't have to stay at the Dursley's all summer then" Harry said and forced on a faint smile.
"No, dear Harry, you won't have to stay there all summer." She smiled broadly. "I'll send an owl when I get home. Until then, you take care, okay? And don't let them get to you."
She kissed him lightly on his forehead, he blushed a little.
"I'll see you, Harry." She said as she started to walk away from him.
"Bye" Harry said as she left the hospital wing.
The next day, Ron, Hermione, mr and mrs Weasley and Ginny came to visit him. Ron's mother had hugged him so hard and told him over and over again how worried she'd been. Her eyes filled up with tears, and Arthur had to pull her away from Harry. They brought more candy, mrs Weasley had baked him a few pies as well.
Madame Pomfrey announced early in the morning the next day, after a thorough examination, that he was now free to go. Harry hadn't been asking her about it; it would just have been a waste of energy. As he got down, he was greeted by the other Gryffindor students in the great hall, who were hoping he would tell them what had happened that night. He received a hug from Hermione and a hand shake from Ron and they both told him they were glad he was out again. And so he went back to school and buried himself in schoolwork, and tried to keep the thoughts about everything away. He was going to finish this year and get some good grades, and then he would have the rest of the summer to think about it all.
Everyone was overjoyed that they would have professor Gallagher in portions, except for the Slytherin students who all thought Snape was the best teacher of the school. Although, that would probably change their opinion when they learned that Snape wasn't really a death eater. No one seemed to know professor Gallagher's secret, Malfoy didn't exactly have any influence nowadays, since he was an escaped prisoner.
After the last lesson of the term, just a week later, Harry went outside alone. Ron and Hermione had been busy arguing and hadn't noticed it when Harry had left. Since he didn't fancy listening to the two of them arguing, Harry had walked down to the lake, he sat down in the green grass, the sun shined and there was always a certain calmness and peace there. He sat there and stared aimlessly out at the lake for a while.
Harry thought about everything that had happened, not just what had happened now but everything he had experienced through the years, since the day he had learned that he was a wizard. He remembered the day he got his letter from Hogwarts for the first time, when he discovered there was more to this world then he'd thought back then. A lot more. It hadn't all been good though, he thought bitterly as he thought of what Dumbledore had told him last year. He certainly wasn't the same person as he had been back then. But then, who was?
Voldemort was out there, somewhere. Harry was the one who had to defeat him, or he would die. One of them had to. He sighed, and then he reached into his robe and pulled out the orb Melinda had given him. It glowed in his hand; he looked at it for a while. And he suddenly felt that calmness that he'd felt whenever she was around. And he remembered what she'd told him.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him; Hermione and Ron joined him there in the grass. They just sat there quietly for a while, Harry could see that Hermione was moving a little, as if she had something to say but didn't know how to. After a while however, she broke the silence.
"What happened, Harry? What on earth made you go into the dark forest all alone?"
Harry hesitated, but then he told them the whole story, slowly. He made pauses sometimes, it felt a bit hard to tell them everything, especially the part about Sirius. But he also felt he had to tell them. They were his friends, after all. And he needed to share some of the burden. After he finished, they sat there once again. Both Hermione and Ron looked a bit amazed, especially about the part where Harry told them about Lycurgus.
"But... The book, it would appear that it was the perfect weapon against Voldemort." Ron said. "Didn't it?"
"I don't know... Melinda told me the book wasn't evil in its self ... But when I felt it the power... I could feel the power that I possessed with the book in my hands. I just... I understood how easily it could make you turn... If Voldemort had gotten to it before we did, he would probably have become unstoppable... I was told that the book wasn't supposed to exist anymore, so I think everything is as it should be now..."
He sighed.
"I haven't packed yet" he just said and got up, leaving Hermione and Ron sitting there looking at each other anxiously.
Harry was very quiet on the way home. Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Luna were talking loudly about something, Harry wasn't paying attention, neither did he join the discussion.
He wasn't looking forward to going home, the thought of getting to leave and stay with Melinda later on did raise his spirits a little. But he would still have to endure staying with the Dursley's for a while.
They were waiting for him outside Kings Cross station; Harry sighed and stopped to look at his friends.
"So... I'll see you soon then" he said and smiled faintly.
Hermione smiled and stepped up and hugged him.
"Have a great summer, Harry. I'll write to you as often as I can. Just... don't let them get to you" she said.
"You have a great summer too, Hermione" Harry said.
Ron shook his hand.
"I'll try and talk to mum, maybe you can come visit soon. Have a nice summer, Harry"
"You too..."
They were joined by mr and mrs Weasley, Mad-eye Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt and Remus Lupin. They all shook his hand, except mrs Weasley who gave him a hug and told him to take good care of himself during the summer. As she looked at the Dursleys' she looked a bit irritated but smiled at Harry as he picked up his trunk and Hedwigs' cage. The owl hooted at him as he walked towards them, the only family he had left. Then suddenly he felt the warmth from the orb he had in his pocket. And he felt a little lighter at heart as he stowed his things into the Dursley's car. They were still ignoring him, giving him the silent treatment. It didn't matter anymore, Harry thought. This was after all the last summer he would have to stay with the Dursley's. Next summer, he would be an adult wizard. And then things would get better, he told himself as he stared out the window of the car on the ride to number four Privet Drive.
THE END