Rating:
PG-13
House:
Schnoogle
Characters:
Harry Potter Hermione Granger Parvati Patil Ron Weasley
Genres:
Romance Drama
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire
Stats:
Published: 05/29/2003
Updated: 06/11/2003
Words: 119,713
Chapters: 25
Hits: 162,459

Dance With Me Harry

Aerie22

Story Summary:
COMPLETED. During the summer after his fourth year, after Uncle Vernon beats Harry, the only thing that keeps him going is thinking about Hermione's kiss at the train station. But once the authorities intervene, he is sent to live among the Muggles, where he learns about life and love. But will this help him win Hermione's heart? Or will Voldemort strike first?

Chapter 25

Chapter Summary:
During the summer after his fourth year, the only thing that keeps Harry going amid the Dursleys’ neglect and abuse is thinking about Hermione’s kiss at the train station. But when the authorities intervene, he is sent to live among the Muggles, where he learns about life and love. But will this help him win Hermione’s heart? Or will Voldemort strike first?
Posted:
06/11/2003
Hits:
7,012

DANCE WITH ME HARRY

By Aerie22

CHAPTER 25

Dance With Me Harry

Harry awoke several hours later to find himself in a bed next to one containing Parvati. He looked over at her. She turned and gave him a weak smile. There was a thick salve covered by a broad bandage on her right cheek where it had been cut and her braid was noticeably shorter. And her left ankle was taped.

Harry noticed that his right hand was covered with some sort of potion, and his fingers were bandaged.

He turned back to Parvati. "You sure know how to show a boy a good time," he said in a whisper.

She began to chuckle, showing the first life anyone had seen from her since they had been brought in.

"Harry," she said quietly. "It's over. Voldemort is gone. I don't know if we killed him. But I heard some of the aurors talking about how bad he was hurt. They saw it all."

Harry closed his eyes and leaned back into his pillow. "Thank God." Then he opened his eyes and looked at Parvati. "And thank you."

She was watching him and breathing heavily. "Oh, Harry. I was so scared," she said, tears now running down her face. "I didn't know what to do. All I wanted to do was run away. I wish I was brave like you."

"But you didn't run, Parvati. You saved my life" he said in wonder. "I was terrified, too," he confessed. "I've been through this before, but you can't get used to it."

They looked at each other and then Parvati smiled and lay her head back down on the pillow. "Still, you are so brave."

Harry sighed. He leaned back into his pillows and stared up at the ceiling. "You know what true courage is, Parvati? It's facing your fears and acting in spite of them."

Parvati sighed. "I know. I read that in Teen Witch Weekly. In an article about girls who ask boys out on dates."

Harry started giggling. Parvati followed suit.

The two heard a commotion and turned toward the door. Madame Pomfrey and a couple aurors who they hadn't noticed before were holding out a crowd of people and letting Professor Dumbledore in. He walked over to the two students. He smiled benignly at the two, and his eyes showed a little amazement when he looked at Parvati.

"Well, now. It looks like you two have more fans and members of the press trying to see you than the National Quidditch Team, Gilderoy Lockhart and Weird Sisters combined," he said with a chuckle.

Parvati smiled, but Harry looked distinctly uncomfortable.

Dumbledore's face turned serious. "First of all, we have reason to believe that Voldemort was severely injured. There has been word that a doctor and three nurses were kidnapped from St. Mungos," he said with a deep sadness in his eyes. "Death Eaters did it. Whether or not he will live is anyone's guess."

Harry looked wearily at the Headmaster. "Where did the aurors come from? Mr. Thomas and Mr. Winslow and the rest?"

Dumbledore smiled. "They were provided by the Ministry of Wizarding Law Enforcement. They were in Hogsmeade watching for any trouble during the Hogsmeade Weekend. When the Death Eaters attacked you, they had unforgivable curse detectors and apparated in almost immediately. But they tell me their curses couldn't get through whatever it was that developed around you."

"Parvati walked through it to me," Harry said quietly.

Dumbledore looked at Parvati with surprise. "Are you all right, my dear?"

Parvati gave a small smile. "We're still here."

The aged Headmaster turned and reached for a chair and sat down.

"It also appears that we have new evidence of Voldemort and his activities. Peter Pettigrew confessed to all his crimes. And he named names. Twenty-seven Death Eaters, not counting Macnair, Avery, Nott and Lucius Malfoy. And Malfoy Manor has been sealed off by the Ministry of Wizarding Law Enforcement. The four captured Death Eaters are now in a safe house. There will be no Dementor's Kiss for them, at least until the aurors are through questioning them. Not this time," he said wearily.

"What about Fudge?" Harry asked quietly.

"He is claiming that Voldemort now definitely is dead, that you and Miss Patil killed him. But Cyrus Thomas and Law Enforcement Minister Masterson have already come out with statements to the press that Voldemort is alive. Needless to say, the press is having a field day," he said with a sigh.

Parvati leaned over. "All this is good, isn't it?"

Dumbledore nodded vaguely. "Yes it is good. But what I fear now is that Voldemort and his minions will lash out to show they are still here. Unless Voldemort dies. No one can predict."

Harry was pondering. Suddenly, he looked up. "Sirius will be cleared! He'll be free!"

Dumbledore looked up with a smile. "Yes. Things are in the works already."

Parvati turned sharply to look at Harry, her eyes wide. "Sirius Black is your godfather?"

Harry nodded. "He's a good man, Parvati, who deserved better. And I'll try to see that he's given a chance to be happy again."

"Once Sirius is formally pardoned, which shouldn't take more than a few more hours, I'll see to it that he can come to see you."

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore."

Dumbledore turned to Parvati. "Miss Patil, your sister Padma is outside and will be allowed to visit with you shortly. The rest of your family should be here by morning," he said with a fond smile.

Parvati smiled back.

"Well," said Dumbledore with a sigh. "I must get back before Rita Skeeter and her crowd tear the place apart looking for exclusives. I'll leave all the sundry details for more informed people than I."

Harry nodded absently.

The old Headmaster looked at the two students with a fond smile. "You both have performed magnificently. So magnificently that I have prevailed on your Head of House, Professor McGonagall not to take house points away for being in the Forbidden Forest," he said with a broad smile.

Harry and Parvati both giggled.

Dumbledore was about to leave when he turned. "By the way, Harry, Parvati. Let me be the first to say thank you to both of you, on behalf of myself, and on behalf of the entire wizarding world." On that note, he left.

Harry leaned back in his pillows and pondered. Suddenly, he began chuckling. He turned to look at Parvati with a smile.

She returned a quizzical smile. "What?" she demanded.

Harry's face split into a mirthful grin. "I guess this makes you 'The Girl Who Lived'."

She made a rude noise at him, but began chuckling herself. "Don't you start, Potter. Don't you start."

Harry and Parvati were still laughing when Madame Pomfrey stepped over to take a look at Parvati, then at Harry. "You look like you're going to be all right. You both will need rest and I'll have to monitor your wounds for the next day or two. And if that crowd out there doesn't thin a bit, I may be forced to keep you in here for few extra days 'for observation'," she said with a rare smile.

"What about our injuries, Madame Pomfrey?" Parvati ventured.

"Yeah, will she get to keep that dueling scar on her cheek? It'll look really cool," Harry said teasingly as Parvati shrieked.

Pomfrey gave Harry a poisonous look. "Sorry, Mister Potter. There will be no scarring," she snapped. "Don't you worry, Miss Patil," she said soothingly and, shaking her head, uttered with exasperation: "Boys!"

She turned again to Parvati. "You should be up and around, if a little unsteady on that ankle, by tomorrow. We'll take a look at your face then, as well. But maybe we should leave the bandage on for a couple extra days until the discoloration fades."

Parvati took Pomfrey's hand and gave it a squeeze. "Thank you," she whispered.

Pomfrey the turned to Harry. "Well, Mister Potter, you have been up here enough over the past few years to be making your own diagnoses," she said with an arched eyebrow.

Harry shrunk down in his pillows.

"Well, the good news is you were out so long simply from exhaustion, not any injury. I've never seen a case where someone expended so much magical energy in such a short time. We will be keeping you here for a couple days just to make sure you are all right. And your hands are actually burned from your wand. The wand is unharmed, don't you worry. And your hand only have first and second degree burns, so there should be no problem with infections."

"And the bad news...?" he said anxiously.

"The bad news is that within the week you will be out of here, free to fall off brooms, wrestle trolls, tickle sleeping dragons, or.." and she cast a glance toward Parvati, who was trying to stifle her giggles, "...get hit over the head by pretty young witches who won't put up with your nonsense, Mister Harry Potter."

Parvati broke into laughter.

Madame Pomfrey nodded. "Well, since your injuries are not imminently life-threatening and you've had a few hours of rest, I suppose you are fit enough for a few select visitors. Do you feel up to it?"

Harry smiled broadly and Parvati nodded vigorously.

Within seconds, Padma and Lavender were escorted in to huddle with Parvati. Harry looked around in disappointment until the door burst open again and Ron and Hermione ran in.

"Harry, thank God..." Ron exclaimed, but was cut off as Hermione flung herself on Harry's chest, crying hysterically.

"Oh, Harry! Thank God! Thank God you're alive! Oh, Harry, I was so frightened that I'd never see you again! I'm so sorry! I was so confused! I've been so stupid! Can you ever forgive me? I love you! Why couldn't I tell you? You were so sweet! And I almost lost you before telling you! I'm so stupid! Oh, thank God! Thank God!"

Harry put his arms around the crying girl and gingerly rubbed her back in circles, trying to soothe her. She felt so good in his arms. He had dreamed for months of this very thing. All the longing, all the pain.

Then he looked up at Ron, who winked at him and gave him the thumbs up.

But something was wrong.

He had known Hermione for over four years. She had been, with Ron, his closest friend, his only true friend. She was pretty and brave and adventurous. And she loved him now. It had been all he ever wanted.

But his thoughts turned to the girl in the next bed, who now was looking at him with an expression of pain and anxiety. This young woman who he never really knew until four days ago.

She was not as smart as Hermione. Or as mysterious. Or as complicated. But she had shown him the simple things that he had missed throughout his life, even here at Hogwarts. Like the thrill of a well-executed dance move. The warmth of sharing a late night ice cream. The comfort of being able to trade secrets. The beauty of a kiss from a unicorn. The joy of unrestrained laughter. And she had shown him that she was capable of simple acts of courage despite mind-numbing terror that had saved his life.

No, Parvati was not complicated or brilliant. 'But then again,' Harry thought, 'neither am I.' What she was open and warm, caring and loving, mischievous and fun. She may be vain and frivolous at times, but she was self-aware enough to know that and laugh at herself.

Dealing with his emotions about Hermione made him feel like he was handling quicksilver, like his love was the stuff of smoke and shadows. But Parvati was flesh and blood. As Hermione had been there my his side during times of physical danger, so now was Parvati. He now knew that Parvati would always be there to support him, to kick him in the butt when he screwed up and to clean him up when he fell. But he also knew that she would always be there for him emotionally, open and honest, when he needed her, as Hermione could not be.

And he realized now that it was Parvati who showed him that life was something to be embraced and savored, not studied and analyzed. Harry had faced injury and death more times that he wished to recall, but she had shown him what he was risking his life for...what life and living was all about. And now that he was free, he planned to enjoy the gift of life, the gift he was nearly robbed of and the gift that he never thought to open before Parvati came into his life.

Now he was exhausted. All that he wanted now was to be with someone who could be open and caring with no walls, no games, no turmoil, no reservations. He knew he no longer had the strength to fight lonely battles, either physically or emotionally. He had no patience left for angst. He realized that he was simply a 15-year-old boy. He wanted to have fun. He wanted to laugh. He wanted to dance.

It was then that Harry realized that he truly loved Parvati. It might not always be easy, but then, good relationships never are. As Parvati had said only hours before, some things are worth the risk. And so, as her held Hermione, he knew it felt good. But he knew it was wrong.

Gently, he lifted her off his chest so she was looking into his eyes. And with infinite sadness and infinite compassion, he spoke. "Thank you, Hermione. You know I'll always love you as a friend. And I'll always be there for you." And be slowly leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

Hermione rose from the bed, confusion in her eyes. "Harry...?"

But Harry had already turned to Parvati, who was looking at him with tears in her eyes. He reached out across the space between the beds. "Parvati," he whispered. "If you'll have me..."

Under the eyes of her twin sister and her best friend, Parvati closed her eyes to tears of relief. She felt a wave of a pure joy and love wash over her that was beyond her most romantic imaginings. She reached across and gently took his injured hand. "I love you, Harry Potter," was all she could say. It was all she needed to say.

* * *

It was a week later. In the Forbidden Forest, in the meadow where the smoke and screams of Tom Riddle had scattered to the winds, a beautiful white unicorn walked quietly and looked up at the castle in the distance. The unaccustomed lights, celebrations and activity that had been a constant during the past week had finally ebbed as things got back to normal.

She had sensed she was losing the connection with her friend. Snowflake now knew that Parvati was no longer the hopeful young girl she was before. And she would no longer need Snowflake in which to confide her fears, her hopes, her dreams. Now, she had found a good man who would be there for her, to listen and to take care of her.

An equine tear fell. Such were endings. But Snowflake understood that life is full of endings. And for every ending, there's a new beginning. She felt the weight bearing down gently on her neck and playfully turned to nip her new mate Lightning's withers as he rested his head affectionately on her.

She knew that her friend Parvati had found what she had been looking for, just as Snowflake had found what she had been looking for. And she knew that, come spring, there would be another in a long line of Snowflakes to listen to a new generation of young girls' hopes and dreams. She turned and nuzzled Lightning and, under a bright, moonlit sky, the two magical creatures walked off back into the forest.


* * * End * * *

A/N - Thank you all for your reading this. This was the first time I've ever tried writing fiction and it was a wonderful experience. But it also was a strange one. This started out as a shipper and ended up a coming of age story. Don't ask me how it happened. It just did.

I have left the story open for a sequel. I had planned this to be the first story in a trilogy. I already have about a dozen rough chapters written. But, as it took a bit longer than I expected [work does intefere with real life], I don't know how much demand there will be for a A/U sequel to this after 6/21--Phoenix Day. I will keep writing, one way or another.

Hope you enjoyed it.

R&R

Aerie22