When Hope Has Failed

Disclaimer: I do not own anything that comes from the wonderful world of Harry Potter, created by the amazing J.K. Rowling

Summary: It's been a year since the battle between Harry and Lord Voldemort. Unfortunately, Harry cannot handle the guilt that has taken over him and decides to leave those he loves behind. Will those who love him move on and live life the way they should? Or will they wait for the day of Harry's return?

Chapter One: Changes

It was the end of the war. The chaotic rush that he had been feeling while fighting the man with the sinister smile had receded. Now all he could think about, unfortunately, was about all the ones that had lost their lives; the ones that lost their lives to fight alongside him.

Harry Potter slowly kneels down beside the grave of his mentor. As he lowers his eyes an looks at the name etched onto the tombstone, Harry sighs inwardly.

"Sir, I-I don't know how to stop feeling guilty for Remus, Fred, Tonks, Colin, and everyone else who died." The Boy-Who-Lived said as he ran a hand over his mentor's name, "I know it's not my fault. But I can't help feeling this way."

It was the first time in months, since the final battle, that 18 year-old Harry Potter was able to show any type of emotion. His best friends since their first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, tried to understand what he was going through. They tried to understand that all he needed was space. But they couldn't bear to see him like this, someone who has become so apathetic.

But it was now the one year anniversary of the Final Battle and they were beginning to lose hope. They had hoped that the Harry Potter they met eight years ago would return. They hoped they would be able to laugh by his side again and see that brilliant smile of his light up the whole world. They hoped to see those bright emerald green orbs, also known as those famous Lily Potter eyes, sparkle with joy, mischief, and life again; just like they always did back at school. But for the first time, Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, lost hope for the great, courageous Harry Potter.

"Harry?" A figure had appeared behind Harry as tears began to make their way out of his dull green eyes.

"Harry?" the figure said once more, but this time with a tone of urgency in its voice. But Harry just ignored it.

"Harry, please come in." Said the voice that Harry suddenly recognized.

This time, Harry looked up with a tear stained face and he saw the one person he didn't want to push away and be harsh to.

"Go away Ginny. Please, don't make me say something I'm going to regret." Harry said, as he turned around to face the tombstone once again, turning his back on the one girl he's ever loved, Ginny Weasley.

"No, I don't care. You can't say anything that'll hurt me as much as you've already done. Harry, do you know how much this dramatic change of yours is hurting me, how much it's hurting you!" Ginny yelled at Harry. And as Harry flinched at the sound of her angry voice, she thought, Good, he deserves to be yelled at. It's been a whole year since he defeated Voldemort and he's still acting like a prat.

He looked at her and suddenly realized just how beautiful the youngest Weasley had truly become. Since they had broken up in his sixth year, her fifth year, she had physically changed. At the age of 17, Ginny Weasley was surely a beautiful young woman. Her body was a lot more curvaceous than when she was 15. Ginny Weasley soon became the object of many boys' desires at Hogwarts. Even though she was happy at how much she had developed, something her mom would always say, she hated all the attention she seemed to get from men. The only attention she wanted was Harry's.

"Harry, I miss you! We all miss you," said Ginny, "Ron, Hermione, Mum, Dad, everyone Harry! We want you back!"

"What are you talking about Ginny? I haven't gone anywhere. I've been here all the time, where I'm supposed to be," Harry said monotonously, motioning to his surroundings, the grounds of Hogwarts.

"Your body may have been with us for the past year but YOU weren't!" Ginny said, with tears beginning to form at the edges of her eyes. "We want the real Harry Potter back. Not this person that reminds us all of some . . . some damn zombie! Please Harry, won't you come back to us? Please." Pleaded Ginny.

"I don't know what you're talking about Ginny." Said Harry as tears continued to form in Ginny's beautiful caramel colored eyes, "I haven't changed. I've been the same Harry Potter you met back in King's Cross Station when you were 10 years old. I've been the same Harry Potter you dated when you were 15. I haven't changed Ginny."

"But that's it, Harry! You don't realize just how much you've changed. You're NOT the same boy I met when I was 10. You're NOT the same boy I dated when I was 15! YOU'RE NOT THE SAME, HARRY!" cried Ginny, walking closer to Harry as he stood up from the ground and began to back away from Ginny.

Maybe it was because Harry sensed some truth into what Ginny was saying or because he couldn't bear the love of his life cry because of something he's done but Harry couldn't be in Ginny's presence. Not now.

"Leave!" He shouted.

"Harry . . ." Ginny started but Harry shouted with anger in his voice.

"Ginny, leave me alone!"

"But," Ginny said, her voice cracking, lips trembling, and feeling like the world around her just fell apart, right before her very eyes.

"Please Ginny," Harry said, his voice a lot softer now once he realized what his shouting had done to Ginny, "I don't want to hurt you anymore," he said as he grabbed her small hands and looking into her eyes. "Please Ginny. I can't do this anymore. I can't hurt you, or Ron, or Hermione, nor anyone else. Just leave me alone. Forget about me. Please." And with that, Harry leaned down and gave Ginny one last passionate kiss and whispered, "I love you." Then, he apparated to a place she knew she could never find him. A place not even an owl could ever find him.

Author's Note:

09/14/2011 - So, I decided to go ahead and make some changes. According to the poll, it was 2-1, in favor of making the changes. Although I liked how the story turned out, it has been bothering me that it wasn't compliant to Deathly Hallows. I hope you guys don't mind and will love the story either way. I will try to get all the changes done by the end of the week. One more thing, check out my new fanfic, Shuffle! Take care, everyone!