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Author: GryffindorDragon Story: The Hex of Your Life Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-DH Status: WIP Reviews: 7 Words: 16,273
‘Certainly you’ll go back to finish at Hogwarts, now that all this business with Voldemort is over, won’t you?’ ‘Well, I can’t imagine not completing my education. And between you and me, Ron will mostly certainly be back there as well.’ Harry imagined a wicked grin on Hermione’s face. He was about to step into the kitchen, but stopped as he heard Ron’s response. ‘Oi, Hermione, we’ve done well for ourselves the past year. Why ruin it by going back to school?’ ‘Ronald, what future do you have without an education?’ his mother queried. ‘Yes, Ron, you know you can’t even begin to think about being an Auror without doing well on your NEWTs.’ ‘You don’t have to have any NEWTs to play Quidditch.’ ‘Ronald Weasley, don’t be going on about some fantasy – as if there was any future in Quidditch.’ ‘Mum, it’s not just some pipe dream. We won the Quidditch Cup at Hogwarts with my Keeping.’ ‘Ron, even if you could get called for tryouts and then even if you could make it on the team, how long can you play? What are you going to do afterwards? And what if you get injured and can’t play? Don’t you think it’s a good idea to have something else planned? Besides you haven’t played for over a year. The scouts are going to be paying attention to what they’ve seen this year. Going back to Hogwarts gives you another year’s play – another Quidditch Cup. Certainly that’s got to help your chances.’ Harry couldn’t hear what Ron grumbled under his breath. ‘Ronald, watch your language in my house.’ ‘Yes, Mum.’ ‘And besides, Ron, what about us?’ Harry’s ears perked up. He knew Ron and Hermione had grown closer over the last year. Their bizarre dance of words had settled into a steady routine. He was sure many of their more recent arguments had occurred simply for the sake of having an argument. He didn’t think they were arguing anymore because they didn’t know how to handle their feelings for each other or because they were insecure about how the other felt. They knew how each felt about the other. No, they argued now so they could make up afterwards. Harry blushed to think about some of the ‘make up’ sessions he had happened to stumble upon. When he had witnessed Ron and Lavender’s snogging, Harry didn’t think it could get worse. He had found out then how wrong he had been. ‘Us?’ Harry heard Ron squeak. ‘Yes, Ronald, US.’ Hermione’s voice sounded somehow darker. ‘What’s this about you two?’ ‘Tell her, Ronald. You said we would talk to your parents.’ ‘Oi, Hermione. I didn’t think we would be doing it quite so soon.’ ‘Now, Ronald. You had better tell me about this.’ Mrs Weasley’s voice was beginning to sound a bit darker as well. Harry chuckled at Ron’s predicament. He surely didn’t envy him for the position he was in – having to appease angry women. Angry women? Harry couldn’t help but think about Ginny. I guess I’m not any better off. Actually I’m worse off. At least Hermione isn’t trying to hex Ron. ‘Me and Hermione have been thinking about getting married – after we finished at Hogwarts, of course.’ There was dead silence. Harry was certain everyone in the kitchen could hear the thumping in his chest. He shouldn’t be surprised by this. He knew Ron and Hermione had feelings for each other. Then why was his heart racing? Why was there a loud roaring in his ears? Why did it seem his world was falling apart? Why did the aching emptiness in his chest seem to swell larger? He knew why. It had always been the three of them. With them, Harry had a place where he belonged – a family, so to speak. Now it would be over. It wouldn’t be three anymore. It would be two and one, only in this case two and one wouldn’t make three (Well, maybe one and one would make three, but Harry didn’t want to think about that – at least not think about Ron and Hermione and that). Harry felt his chest getting tighter and tighter. Dots began to dance before his eyes. Breathe, Harry, breathe. He forced himself to take slow, calming breaths. Why am I so upset? I should be happy for them. They’re in love. LOVE. That was it, what Dumbledore had kept throwing at him. They had love, and he didn’t. Ginny. Her name came unbidden to his mind, and suddenly the tightness in his chest was overpowered by the crushing ache of the emptiness. He closed his eyes tightly to fight back the tears. He had ruined his chance for love. He had pushed away the best thing that he had ever known – something out of someone else’s life. Suddenly there was a loud clatter in the kitchen and the thud of what must be a chair falling over. ‘Oh, I’m so happy for the two of you.’ ‘Geroff, Mum. I can’t breathe.’ ‘Well, it’s settled then. We’ll have a wedding after you two, and Harry of course, finish Hogwarts.’ ‘Speaking of Harry… I’m worried about him.’ ‘Worried about Harry? Why? He didn’t get hurt at the last battle, did he?’ ‘No, but he seems drained. He was so consumed by the search for the Horcruxes and defeating Voldemort.’ Harry noticed Hermione didn’t stutter the name this time. The Burrow must be having a good effect on her. ‘It was all he lived for the last year. He tried to push everything or everyone who mattered away from himself. I’m not sure he knows how to live for anything else now that that’s over.’ ‘Codswallop,’ Ron muttered. Harry couldn’t help but smile – that sounded so much like Hagrid. He wondered if there wasn’t Prewett blood in Hagrid’s lineage somewhere. Didn’t someone tell me that most wizards were related in one way or another? ‘Harry just needs to remember the things in life that he was fighting for, like you two have.’ ‘Mrs Weasley . . .’ ‘Call me Molly.’ ‘Okay. Molly, what does he have to remember? He never knew his parents. He was raised by relatives that despised him. And even if they hadn’t, they wouldn’t know love if it bit them on the bum.’ Harry wasn’t sure if he should laugh or be angry. Hermione had the Dursleys right enough, but he didn’t think she was right about what he could remember. Ginny. ‘Ginny…‘ Molly didn’t get the chance to finish her thought. Harry was startled to hear his thought echoed and stumbled into the cabinet he was standing behind. A stack of books sitting on it, probably gathered by Hermione, started to fall to the floor. Harry lunged to try to stop them but only managed to sprawl amongst them as he tumbled into the kitchen. ‘Erm, Hermione, have you seen that book Moody was telling us about? I was hoping to do some reading.’ ‘What are you on about, Harry? Are you okay? Are you sure you shouldn’t still be in bed? Here, let me help you up.’ ‘I’m fine, Hermione. I just need to finish my breakfast, that’s all. I don’t remember having eaten very much.’ Hermione chortled. ‘Not if you don’t count trying to snort beans up your nose.’ ‘You’ve got it all wrong, dear. It was the pudding Harry had his nose in.’ The two women doubled up in laughter while Harry’s cheeks tried very hard to match the Weasley red. ‘Well, I’m very glad the two of you could have a bit of fun at my expense. But if you don’t mind, I’d really like some of those sausages you had. I’m really hungry.’ ‘Sorry, Harry. I’ll get some for you right now. I’m sure you’d prefer some you haven’t lain in, wouldn’t you? Harry couldn’t help but join in their laughter. Ron was watching Harry with a mixture of concern and fear. ‘Harry…’ ‘Yeah, mate.’ ‘Erm, I… I mean, Hermione and I have something to tell you.’ ‘What? About getting married?’ Ron’s jaw dropped nearly to the floor. Hermione’s eyes narrowed as she turned to look at Harry in surprise. ‘You were listening, weren’t you?’ ‘Sorry, Hermione; I couldn’t help it. I didn’t mean to. But I just couldn’t bring myself to come into the kitchen just yet.’ ‘That’s all right. Then you heard what else we were talking about, too.’ Harry’s scowled. ‘I don’t need you lot taking care of me. I’m fine.’ ‘Oi, don’t start that now, mate. You’d say you were fine if the Death Eaters had skinned you alive and burned the house down around you.’ Harry looked darkly at Ron. ‘And who was it who took care of that lot of Death Eaters when we got rid of Nagini, huh? I did all right, if I do say so myself.’ ‘Oh, Harry, it’s not like that,’ Hermione interjected. ‘We know you can handle yourself in most any dangerous situation. We’re sorry for being worried about you. We don’t mean to upset you. It’s just that… we care about you.’ Her voice dropped to a whisper. ‘I’ve always thought of you like a brother. With my parents gone, you’re all the family I have left.’ Harry was stunned to silence. Family. He felt a different ache in his heart now, and the emptiness grew a bit lighter. He couldn’t keep the tears out of his eyes this time. Could it be he was wrong? That it wasn’t all over? That he still had a family he belonged to? ‘Did you say family, Hermione?’ Ron looked at Harry and smiled. ‘Of course, you git, you didn’t think that would change with me and Hermione getting together, did you?’ ‘Harry James Potter. You shame me. I thought I’ve always made it clear to you that you have a home here with us. We’re your family, too. You should know how much we care about you.’ Harry felt a different emotion bubbling up inside of him now – joy. ‘I’ve always thought “this is the best house I’ve ever been in.”’ But something was still lurking, the emptiness threatening to squeeze the joy off as it gave rise to fear and doubt. Maybe not all the Weasleys would welcome him as family. Ginny. ‘What about Ginny, Harry?’ Harry started. He hadn’t realized that he had spoken her name out loud. ‘She… she…’ Harry didn’t know what to say. Didn’t they know she was out for his blood? ‘She wants to murder me,’ he blurted out. Ron and Mrs Weasley looked at him as if he were bonkers. Hermione burst out laughing. ‘Oh, Harry, how can you be so thick? I thought Ron was bad when it came to understanding women.’ ‘Hey, now, what are you saying, Hermione?’ Hermione looked at Ron with disdain. ‘Don’t start, Ron, you can’t win this one.’ ‘I don’t know what you mean. I think I understand the fairer sex just fine.’ Hermione’s eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared. ‘Two words, Ron – Victor Krum and Lavender Brown.’ Harry laughed as a brilliant red crept up Ron’s neck and face, almost as if he were on fire. ‘But… but… that’s four words, not two,’ he spluttered. ‘Give it up, mate. She’s got you there,’ Harry advised. Ron settled into to a sulky silence. Hermione watched him smugly for a moment. She gave him a sly wink, as if to say, I’ll make it up later, before turning back to Harry. ‘As I was saying, Harry, before I was so rudely interrupted…’ She smiled sweetly at Ron. ‘How can you be so thick? Ron and I have both told you over and over that Ginny’s only so upset right now because she cares so much. She was hurt, but give her a little time, and she’ll be over it. You haven’t lost her.’ ‘Harry, is that what you think?’ Mrs Weasley chimed in. ‘I know my little girl, Harry. She never got over you. She fussed and fumed these many months because she wanted to be by your side. Even as I put her to bed she kept murmuring your name. She loves you, Harry, very much.’ Love, there’s that word again. Hermione watched Harry a little sadly. ‘Yes, Harry, love. I know you feel it. It may be a four-letter word, but it’s not dirty.’ Harry looked at Hermione sharply. ‘How do you know what I’m thinking so well?’ ‘Harry, it’s written all over your face. You may have tried to bury it inside, but for someone who’s known you so long she’s like a sister, you wear it on your sleeves.’ She watched the confusion on his face. ‘Oh, those blasted Dursleys.’ Harry smiled at her outburst. ‘What about those “blasted” Dursleys?’ ‘The way they treated you. They made it so hard for you to understand love.’ ‘What’s so special about love?’ Harry turned as Mrs Weasley gasped. Ron snorted; Harry wasn’t sure it was laughter or anger. Hermione just sighed. ‘Don’t you get it? It’s how we won. You remember the prophecy – the “power the Dark Lord knows not”.’ ‘Dumbledore was always on about that. He said that I can love – that that was “a power that Voldemort has never had.” He said I was protected by my ability to love.’ ‘He was right, Harry.’ Mrs Weasley had tears in her eyes. ‘Don’t you see that? You’ve loved us so much. And we’ve loved you in return.’ ‘Harry.’ Hermione’s voice was almost a whisper. ‘Why do you think Ron, Neville, and I were standing by your side when we faced Voldemort and the last of the Death Eaters? Why do you think Luna worked so hard in the library to find that Achilles’ Tendon curse? Why do you think Ginny – yes, Ginny – risked her life to steal Voldemort’s socks? Why do you think she stayed until he arrived so she could burn all the socks?’ Then she broke into a smile. ‘Why do you think she was so ready to hex you afterwards? In a word…’ She looked over at Ron. ‘Love, Harry. Love with a capital L.’ Harry felt the doubt and fear retreating and the joy growing stronger. ‘You love her, don’t you, mate?’ Harry looked over at Ron. He smiled. ‘You promise not to go big brother and try to hex me if I tell the truth?’ He remembered how he’d had to shove Ron up against the wall to keep him from hexing Ginny when they’d accidentally found Ginny and Dean snogging. Ron smirked. ‘Well, maybe just this once.’ Harry beamed and whispered shyly, ‘Yes, I think I do.’ ‘Then, why can’t you work it out that she loves you, too?’ Harry looked back and forth at the smiles on Ron’s, Hermione’s, and Mrs Weasley’s faces. Could it really be true? At the happy thought that Ginny hadn’t let herself be pushed away and still loved him, the doubt and fear fled into oblivion. The emptiness plaguing his chest seemed to grow quite a bit smaller, and Harry felt as if he might burst from happiness. A wild thought jumped into his mind – a future with Ginny. ‘Erm, Hermione?’ ‘Yes, Harry?’ ‘Could you help me with a little errand?’ Hermione looked quizzically at Ron. He nodded at her. ‘Sure, Harry. We can leave after you manage to get some of this breakfast into your mouth.’ ********************************************************************** A/N: I want to thank Sherylyn for her hard work in betaing this. Everyone, please give her a round of applause for all she does for PS. I also want to thank hwimsey for again taking the time to read and comment. These two challenged me to make this story much better than I first wrote it. Any weaknesses that remain are due to my own stubbornness and ineptitude. Okay, the death of Nagini happened at Neville’s hand in DH (Did anyone else wonder about the sword? Last we saw, Griphook was running through the goblins at Gringotts with it, and then Neville is pulling it out of a flaming Sorting Hat – miraculously intact in the last chapter. I guess it should be the Summoning Hat.). Just remember this is AU. That goes also for the comments about love and ‘the power he knows not.’ The discussion in Book 5 seems to have been discarded by JKR by the time she got to Book 7. I never quite expected Harry to go back to the Department of Mysteries (Dumbledore, after all, said Harry possessed the power held there in such quantities), but I did expect JKR to tie that off a bit more neatly. I’m guessing it was fulfilled either in the preserved blood magic of his mother’s sacrifice of love or in Harry’s own sacrificial death, which had to have been motivated by love. The only mention of love seems to be in the discussion of Snape’s feelings for Lily. Please Review.
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