Harry Potter and the Shadows of Life

Bitterness and Forgiving

Harry sat in his hospital room thinking; he didn't want the light on. He was too use to the dark, and he felt somewhat safe in this place, knowing that she would not come to hurt him even more. It made him uneasy to be around people again, especially the people that were supposed to love him. He felt so very safe in the dark room, and only with complete silence. Harry had trouble sleeping though; he would always hear the evil ringing laughter of her.

****

"Harry, Harry, oh what fun it was to see their tormented faces. Each knowing that they'd have to catch their best friend, godson, lover, and student. It was priceless, how beautiful it was to see them all cry. Oh Harry, they all believe that you killed all those dirty mudbloods and that you work for Voldemort. What does it feel like now, being all alone in the dark with the Dementors. All alone..." Cho taunted.

Harry tried to pull himself away, and huddle back into his corner. Cho saw his action and crouched in front of him.

"Harry, don't hide," Cho purred.

She then sunk her nails deep into his chest. Harry cried out in pain. She took her nails out of his chest and licked the blood from them. Blood now flowed freely out of his chest; she could only smile seeing the pain Harry was in. She then raised her hand and slapped him across the face. The sound echoed through Azkaban, before she then grabbed his hair and yanked his head upwards.

"I hate you, and I will make sure you will pay for what you have done to Cedric and me!" Cho hissed.

Cho got up and left Azkaban, leaving Harry to whimper in the corner.

****

Harry glanced at the window, watching the wind blow the leaves from the ground. He had asked her to stop, pleaded with her, but she just kept tormenting Harry. Harry didn't understand why she had believed he had killed Cedric. He felt so alone, and so cold. He learned an emotion, which he hoped that he would never experience again, being lost and without a hope.

****

Ginny was nervous; she hadn't talked or seen Harry in ages. Ginny just wanted to run into the room and hold him tight, never leaving his arms again. She walked into the room and sat down beside Harry, on the chair next to his bed. She fidgeted in her seat, Harry was awake, but his attention was turned the window. Harry was watching the lake and the wind swaying the trees. He wanted to ignore her, Harry was still mad at them. He couldn't help but to be bitter.

"Harry," Ginny whispered.

She took her hand and placed it onto of Harry's. Harry then jerked his hand away from her hand. He placed his hand underneath his blanket. Ginny looked as though she had been slapped, she watched him as he looked out the window.

His attention still remained out the window after some time. The room remained silent for a long time.

"Harry, why are you ignoring me, why are you doing this to me?" Ginny demanded after a long silence.

Harry's head snapped to where Ginny was sitting, he stared at her, and his eyes seemed hollow and emotionless. Ginny flinched at seeing him so cold... so emotionless. She could feel the tears form in her eyes, but she wasn't going to let him she them.

"Do you really want to know?" Harry hissed.

Ginny had never heard him take that tone with her, never. She shivered in fear; Harry had changed.

"Yes," Ginny whispered.

"I'll tell you, Miss Weasley, everyday she came to make sure I was alive. She told me how all of you believed that I killed all those people. Do you know hard it was to sit in that cold cell almost dying while my friends believed that I could even do those things. Do you want to know what the hardest part of it all was?" Harry said, his voice rasped.

Ginny remained silent, tears began to form in her eyes. She shook her head silently; she couldn't look at Harry, so instead she stared down to her feet.

"The hardest part was you changed your last name back to Weasley, it meant that you of all people believed that I did kill all those people," Harry said.

His voice breaking up. He turned his head back to the window, not wanting her to see his own tears. All these emotions had started to form in him. He didn't want to feel bitter anymore, he just wanted to sit on top of bed and cry like a child. He wanted to be free of all this pain and to just be happy. To hold Ginny and to catch up to life, but Harry could only feel the burn in his heart.

Ginny paused. "You think I abandon you? You think it was easy for me when you disappeared without a trace? I wept for 3 days, and now here you are. I changed my last name back was because I didn't want people to be suspicious, I didn't want the press at our home everyday asking about you. It was hard enough to be here without you, it was hard because I was so lonely. You are not the only one to feel at loss and the pain of being alone. Do you think it was easy for me? I know you couldn't have killed all those people, but somehow it was better knowing you were out there than not there at all. It was the hardest for all of us, to think we had to catch our friend, our brother, and my love!" Ginny shouted.

Harry didn't want to look at her at first, but slowly turned his head to Ginny and started at the beautiful red head. He didn't say anything, only stared at her.

Ginny saw his stare; now, instead of emptiness that had previously filled his eyes, was pain.

Ginny whispered, "I love you Harry Potter, and I never, never believed that you could kill all those people and work for Voldemort."

Tears spilled from both Harry and Ginny's eyes. Ginny leaned forward and hugged Harry and Harry held her back tightly as if never wanting to let go.

Harry whispered back, "I love you, too."

For a long time they sat their just hugging each other, Harry felt his bitterness disappear and all he felt now was happiness. He was glad he had Ginny back in his arms and was glad that he could be here. Glad to know that the burn in his heart would heal because Ginny was there now.

****

The group trotted in to Harry's hospital room. Remus, Ron, Hermione, Draco, and Dumbeldore walked in. Ginny told them all it was ok now and that Harry was finally less bitter towards them all. Each person took their turn to go into Harry's room; Draco wanted to go first for some reason. None of them argued they were all nervous and none of them actually did want to go first. So they let Draco slowly walk into the room, he saw Harry, but Harry's concentration was trying to get Madam Promfrey from feeding him another potion.

"Mr. Potter, this is to make sure you have a good night sleep! Now drink it!" Madam Promfrey ordered.

Harry finally relented after saying something about him having good night sleeps already and her threatening that he wouldn't be allowed to have any visitors including Miss. Weasley.

Harry spitefully drank the potion and sighed, only when Madam Promfrey did leave did Harry notice Draco. They stared into each other's eyes before Harry said something.

"A lot has changed," Harry said simply.

Draco nodded; he didn't know what to say. Draco then sat down on the chair beside Harry and handed him something. It was Harry's wand; a brand new one so that the one Cho had used was to be burned.

"Thanks," Harry smiled and took the wand.

Trying out a spell, "Accio" and a lamp came towards him.

Draco smiled back, "Its good to see you back. Rosy had a boy last month; we named him after Sirius. I'll bring them both here tomorrow, I think you'll be happy to know little Sirius takes after Rosy so he has jet black hair, but he has my eyes."

Harry smiled, "Thanks a lot, Draco. Was it hard? To catch Cho that is?"

"I think the hard part was that we thought we had to catch you," Draco responded.

They then remained silent. "I didn't believe you could do those things. You believed in me, and it was hard without you," Draco said.

"I know... so how are things between you and Rosy?" Harry asked

Draco grinned. "Things are a lot better, after the fact I got over my issues on muggle-borns or muggles for that matter. She loves the manor; she redecorated a lot of the hallways and rooms."

"I was glad that I got to be best man at your wedding. You both look really happy, especially you. Its really good to see you again and I hope you do bring Rosy and little Sirius to see me next time," Harry grinned back.

Draco laughed. "Definitely."

Harry nodded, and then smiled. Then Draco and Harry hugged like brothers, before Draco left the room. It was Ron and Hermione's turn to go in. They sighed and looked at Draco, it had seemed to go well with the both of them.

Harry looked at them and gave them both a cold look. "You'll have to forgive me for not congratulating on your wedding, I didn't have the ability to attend. You know being tortured and locked up," Harry said coldly.

They both flinched but then Ron snapped back at Harry. "Well we didn't want to wait, after all you were a murderer and we didn't think that you wanted to be present at a muggle-born and wizard wedding!"

Harry gave Ron the coldest stare and hissed back at him, "Get out."

"Fine!" Ron snapped, "Let's go, Hermione and leave him alone."

Ron took Hermione by the wrist, but she didn't budge. "Hermione let's go," Ron said.

"No, I want to talk to Harry," Hermione said flatly.

Ron looked furious, but stormed out of the room. Hermione stood there, away from his bed. Hermione looked a little frightened, but she walked up to Harry boldly. She gently laid her hand on his. Harry turned his head away from the window and looked at her. There were tears in his eyes but Harry shook them away.

"I'm sorry," Hermione said simply.

Harry nodded and pulled her into a hug and she hugged him back tightly.

"So how was the wedding?" Harry asked.

"It was beautiful, we should've waited. We just thought that, well..." Hermione stuttered.

"It's ok. I understand, your going to have to show me some pictures though," Harry grinned.

Hermione grinned back, "Best friends no matter what, Harry Potter."

"Always 'Mione, always," Harry said.

****

Remus came in, after Hermione had left Harry's room she had told them he had went to sleep. Remus waited a little while till Harry was awake. Ginny had finally gotten Harry out of bed and was getting him to walk around the Hogwart's gardens. Remus accompanied them, tagging behind. That is until Ginny said that she needed to get a cloak for Harry. Remus still walked with Harry, but the silence that surrounded them was uncomfortable.

Remus decided to break the silence, "Harry, I don't... I don't know what to say to you."

"It's ok Remus and I'm sorry about before. I lost my temper and it just felt that everything was caving in on me," Harry replied.

"No, Harry I'm sorry. You have every right to be mad at all of us," Remus said.

Harry spun around to face Remus, "No I don't. I understand now and I'm okay with it. I missed four years of my life and I want to make up for it."

Remus nodded and kept on walking, Harry walked with him and glanced at him.

"You're the only other god-father I have left Remus. Let me be your godson," Harry asked him.

Remus looked at Harry and embraced him like a father would; Ginny had finally gotten back and was standing behind them smiling. After Remus let go; Ginny came and draped a cloak on Harry's shoulders. They continued walking, filling Harry in on the past four years.

****

Ron was still furious, though he wasn't mad at Harry. He was mad at no one but himself. He couldn't bring himself to face Harry. He couldn't believe that he thought Harry would betray him like that. Ron was so ashamed of himself.

****

Ron walked into Harry's room, well rather Ginny shoving him at the back. Harry was sitting up reading the paper. He grinned and smiled at Ron as he entered.

"Congratulations to your dad on making minister, though I think I'm three years too late to say that," Harry smiled.

Ron looked at Harry, but quickly looked back to his feet; "I'm sorry Harry. I really am; I can't believe I thought you could do all those things. I'm sorry. I was such a prat!"

Harry grinned, "Ron, its okay. I forgive you, I mean if I didn't Ginny would kill me anyway."

"You don't have to forgive me, and I don't think Ginny would kill you," Ron replied.

Harry rolled his eyes; " Ron I forgive you. You know what you could as a favor to me though."

Ron looked up at Harry. "No matter what the favor is Harry, I'll do it!"

Harry laughed, "All you have to do is name me godfather to your kids."

Ron looked at Harry and laughed "Of course. Who else would I name godfather? Well maybe Draco too, but you're number 1."

Ron and Harry spent the rest of the day, trying to get Harry to get his wand magic working again.

Though Harry was having a lot of trouble with his wand.

****

Harry was finally getting out of the hospital, and was glad to get away from Madam Promfrey's potions. He spent his days at the hospital catching up with everyone, and being a godfather to little Sirius. He practiced his wand magic, finally after a while getting the hang of using a wand again. He told his story to everyone, and though Harry still missed the fact that he didn't see their wedding, Hermione and Ron spent their time showing him pictures and telling him about it. Harry and Ginny were getting re-married in the spring and Harry was getting his job back as an auror. The Ministry gave a full pardon and apologized to Harry. The minister (Ron's dad) apologized to Harry and welcomed Harry back. In fact the whole entire Weasley family was welcoming Harry back, especially Mrs. Weasley; and he was finally catching up with his life.

****

"So I see, my most faithful servant was Cho Chang. Now she is dead. I am going to get Harry to my side or take all those he loved," Voldemort hissed.

Nagini hissed and coiled herself closer to the fire Voldemort was sitting in front of.

"Soon my pet. Either Potter will join me or you shall get the chance to eat him."