Harry Potter and the Sword of the Hero

HARRY POTTER AND THE SWORD OF THE HERO

Chapter 12 - Aftermath

Future years will never know the seething hell and the black infernal background, the countless minor scenes and interiors of the war; and is it best they should not. The real war will never get in to the books...

--Walt Whitman

Harry felt Voldemort's emotion of anger and smiled bitterly, Fudge had touched a nerve. "Dumbledore," he spat, "Dumbledore is an old fool hiding behind the protection of his school. My power far outweighs his. He will die and I will reign! No one can stop me once he is gone. No one would dare stand alone against me!"

Fudge blinked and then, he spoke one final time. He said one word and that was all. "Potter." He said it sincerely, without any doubt in his voice.

Harry cried out from within his mind as his emotion of bravery mingled with that of Voldemort's anger. Fudge had named him, he had named him. He had placed a dying man's final hope for his world with him, and, although Harry could feel himself slipping away again, he wished Cornelius Fudge the best, no matter where he ended up. The last thing he felt was an explosion of anger from within the Dark Lord. And the last thing he saw was the green light that ended the Minister of Magic's life.

*****

Harry awoke several hours later and all was dark. He tried to look around but found himself unable to. It was pitch black and he wasn't wearing his glasses, he was effectively blind, and in unsettled him. It took Harry a moment to realise he was in the hospital wing, he'd recognise that bed frame anywhere, and then it took him another moment to remember why he was here.

In that bittersweet moment of realisation Harry jumped up out of his bed, ignoring the pounding headache he had, and raised his right arm. "Lumos!" he said. Light flared from his hand and lit up the room. He made his way towards the door as fast as possible.

Harry walked, half jogged, through the halls of Hogwarts. He had to get to Dumbledore's office. He had to know what was going on. As he walked he glanced at his watch, it was 10:30 and it was still Saturday. He also noticed that he was wearing a pair of those horrible striped hospital pyjamas. Without a second thought he waved his hand and muttered a small incantation, his pyjamas became a black shirt and jeans.

He arrived at Dumbledore's office ten minutes later and quickly passed the gargoyle and ascended the stairs. He was about to knock when he heard the voices of people speaking from within.

"But, Albus. We have to get someone on our side into power. God knows You-Know-Who is going to try and get a Death Eater as the next Minister."

"I agree, Minerva," said the tired and weary voice of Dumbledore. "But who would take the job now?"

The voices died down and no one seemed to have an answer to Dumbledore's question. Harry took this chance to knock. He did so three times. "Come in," said Dumbledore.

Harry opened the door slowly and stepped through just as slow. As soon as he was in he looked around at the crowded room and recognised several faces of the dozen or so people packed into Dumbledore's office. He saw Moody, Snape, Tonks, McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Remus, Dumbledore of course, and tiny Professor Flitwick. There were also about six people he didn't recognise.

"How are you, Harry?" asked Dumbledore as soon as he entered.

Harry turned to face the headmaster. "I'm fine... what's going on?"

Dumbledore smiled with a small amount of amusement, but it didn't reach his eyes and Snape glared at him for the bluntness of his question. Every eye in the room was also on him, several were staring adamantly at his forehead, which Harry found very annoying and distracting. "Allow me to introduce the inner circle of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry. Some you know, others you don't."

Harry nodded to the room in general but soon found himself looking back into Dumbledore's face. "How bad is it....?"

The silence was immense for a moment but Dumbledore finally broke it. "Two hundred and thirty four dead, including Cornelius Fudge. One hundred and ninety seven innocent bystanders and thirty seven Death Eater's...."

"Only thirty seven! But I counted at least two hundred there?"

Several people in the room gasped and Tonks let out a low whistle. One of the witches Harry didn't know spoke first. "How could you know how many were there?"

Harry swore inwardly. Apparently his connection with Voldemort wasn't even made totally clear, even to the inner circle of the Order. Harry looked at Dumbledore before answering and saw the headmaster give the slightest of nods. He sighed and then turned to the witch that had spoken. "I- Whenever Voldemort-" Most people in the room gasped at the name. Everyone except Dumbledore, Moody, and Remus. Harry had no patience for this. "Oh come on,' he said. "Get a hold of yourselves, it's just a name. Anyway, whenever Voldemort is feeling a strong emotion, or whenever he's hurting someone. I feel it in my scar... or... or sometimes I enter his mind and see through his eyes." Half the room stood with their mouths hanging open in shock. "That's how I knew how many were at Diagon Alley... I saw it all."

Everyone turned to Dumbledore, looking at him for confirmation of Harry's story. Which most of them found hard to believe. There were a few that knew of course, Remus for one. Dumbledore spoke directly to Harry, though. "Could you please tell us what you saw, Harry. Did you recognise any of the Death Eater's?"

Harry was silent for a moment as he thought about what he had seen. And then he jumped into the story from the moment he first collapsed in the common room. He told the Order about his slipping between his and Voldemort's bodies, about the innocent people he saw cut down, and he mentioned as much as he could about the Death Eater's. No one spoke as he did, no one dared interrupt him. They had all been and seen the street after Voldemort had left. It was a massacre, and Harry was reciting what they had seen.

"...and then Voldemort laughed and said Dumbledore couldn't defeat him. He then pointed his wand directly between Fudge's eyes and said something like; 'no one would dare stand alone against him....' And then Fudge said that I would. That angered Voldemort and before I slipped again I saw the killing curse hit Fudge...."

Harry finished talking and sat heavily down in a nearby chair, his head in his hands. No one in the room seemed to have anything to say. Harry only looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Remus and he was standing by him. Harry smiled and silently nodded to his father's old friend. He then found new strength and spoke again. "What happens now?"

Every head turned to Dumbledore as he spoke. "We begin trying to piece our government back together. Fudge's death will cause panic and fear. He must be replaced soon, by someone strong and on our side," stated Dumbledore clearly.

Now every head turned back to Harry, it appeared everyone hoped that Harry and Dumbledore would solve this problem for them. Harry ignored them and spoke only to Dumbledore. "I don't think anyone will want the job. Not after what happened to Fudge. Whoever becomes the next Minister is either going to be incredibly brave... or a Death Eater."

Dumbledore nodded solemnly as the Order turned back to him. "There is one who might take the job, if we showed him there was no other way...."

"Who?" asked Tonks quickly.

"Arthur Weasley," said Dumbledore.

There was silence as everyone in the room considered this. Harry was shocked. Could Mr. Weasley be the Minister of Magic...?

"Well he'd have my vote," barked Mood.

"And mine," agreed Kingsley.

"He's perfect for it," said Lupin stepping forward. "He's on our side, he's a member of the inner circle, and what's more he is a good man. And after what he did today he'll have unwavering public support."

"What did he do today?" asked Harry.

Remus turned to look down at him. "He was the only Head of Department who would go to Diagon Alley after the attack; all the others were too scared. Thought of themselves as targets. Arthur was one of the first on the scene helping the wounded and getting everything under control."

"We'll have to be quick," said one of the wizard's Harry didn't know. "Some of the other Heads will soon figure out they can get into power if they act fast enough."

"True," agreed several other people.

"It is unanimous then?" asked Dumbledore. Everyone in the room nodded. "Good. Then I will go see Arthur immediately. Please everyone do what you do best, we have to get some good news in the Prophet."

Everyone said there goodbyes and began to leave the room in two's and three's, until it was only Harry, Remus and Dumbledore left.

"I'll see you soon, Harry," said Lupin. "Take care of yourself."

"You too. Goodbye, Remus."

Lupin left, leaving only Harry and Dumbledore in the office. Harry stood as Dumbledore rose from his chair and walked around the desk to meet him. "Are you sure everything is okay, Harry?" he asked.

"No... But I'll be right. I'm going to go sleep off this headache. Goodnight, sir."

Dumbledore smiled and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Goodnight, Harry."

Harry turned and walked away towards the exit. He stopped halfway though and turned back around. "Do you think Mr. Weasley will try to get the job?" he asked.

Dumbledore appeared thoughtful. "I'm not sure, Harry. I'm going to see him now, so I expect it will be in tomorrow's edition of the Prophet if he did."

Harry nodded and said goodbye again before heading back to the common room. On the way he glanced at his watch, it was gone midnight. He'd been in Dumbledore's office for over an hour and a half. He sighed and tried to clear his mind as he walked. Too many thoughts all jumbled together, and now it was all mixed with an overwhelming feeling of sorrow and anger at what had happened today.

Harry walked into the bathroom as he came to it and the magical lights inside sprang to life as he passed them. He stopped at the mirror and looked at his reflection. He looked tired, tired beyond belief. He tenderly touched his scar but regretted it a moment later as the scab that barely had a chance to heal before it opened again twinged with pain. Harry let out a deep breath and turned the taps on to splash his face. The freezing water was like a new awakening to Harry; he left the bathroom and continued his walk back to the common room.

When Harry got there he could feel the tension in the air, the pain. Something wasn't right. "It's not good," said the Fat Lady sadly as Harry said the password and apprehensively entered the common room.

The first thing he noticed was that it was quiet. That would have been normal on any other night at this time because most would be in bed, but the common room was pretty much full with only a few upstairs in the dorms. Everyone was talking in hushed whispers and some were crying.

Harry saw one of the first years sitting in an armchair by the fire, her arms around her legs as she cried. Hermione was sitting next to her, holding one of her hands and whispering small condolences. Most followed Harry's progress across the room and the whispers increased as he made it to the table that Ron was sitting at and sat down next to him.

"How are you, mate?" asked Ron.

"As well as to be expected." Harry thought he was using that answer way too much. "What's the matter with that little girl....?"

Ron sighed and brushed a hand nervously through his flame red hair. "Her parents were in the crowd.... they both... died." Harry swore under his breath and looked over to the child, she was only little, no more than eleven and now she was an orphan. "She's not the only one. Seamus lost an uncle, he's upstairs in the dorm. And a third year lost his brother, he went home."

"Is anyone with, Seamus?"

Ron smiled sadly. "Dean pulled out some Muggle drink from his trunk. Jim Beam or something like that? He and Seamus are probably passed out by now...."

Harry nodded. "Is that the Evening Prophet?" he asked seeing the paper next to Ron. Ron nodded and passed the paper to Harry. He quickly skimmed the front page. It was all about the attack, and, Harry noticed, some of it complimented Mr. Weasley on showing up when no other Ministry Head would. That could help if he decides to go for the job thought Harry.

Harry sighed and put the paper down. "Why don't you get to bed, Harry. You look like you could pass out at any moment."

Harry nodded and stood up wearily. The last twenty four hours were catching up to him and he was losing the battle to keep his eyes open. He said a brief goodnight to Ron and nodded to Hermione across the room. Ginny smiled sadly as he passed her and he nodded to her as well. Once he entered the dorm he found Dean and Seamus to be asleep, as was Neville. He looked over to Ethan's bed to find it empty, and then wondered where he was because he couldn't remember seeing him in the common room. His thoughts were soon lost though as his head hit the pillow and sleep took him away to his nightmares.

When Harry woke the next day, the first thing he saw was the slow rhythmic fall of fresh snow out of his window. It took him a moment to pass from sleep into awakening and it was those sweet moments that he craved of a morning. The small seconds in between waking up and remembering everything. It was in those few moments of time that he was completely oblivious to the world around him. He didn't have any problems; he just had his mind to himself. Of course it only lasted a few seconds before it came crashing down and he was left with the pain and suffering that is life entailed.

Harry sat up and stretched his arms above his head; he glanced at the clock over on the far wall as he did. He wasn't that surprised to find that he had slept through most of the day and it was now two in the afternoon. He stretched one more time and then yawned. Replacing his glasses and picking up his wand from the bedside table, Harry grabbed some clothes from his trunk and headed towards the showers.

Half an hour later he descended the stairs and entered the common room. It was Sunday and most people were just talking quietly amongst themselves, finishing some homework, playing chess. Trying to get back into a routine of normality that Voldemort had taken away.

He found Hermione sitting in an armchair with a thick tome resting on her legs. He went and sat in the chair next to her. "Hello," he said quietly.

She looked up and smiled slightly, Harry saw her eyes were bloodshot, she'd been crying. "About time you woke up."

"Is everything okay?"

"Yes, Harry. I'll be fine."

Harry nodded and began playing with a small ball of magic he had conjured between his hands. "Where's Ron?"

Hermione smiled genuinely this time. "He's gone to the Owlery. Here, read this morning's Prophet." She handed him the paper from down the side of her chair and Harry took it.

ARTHUR WEASLEY ACCEPTS POSITON AS ACTING MINISTER

Following the devastating attacks on Diagon Alley yesterday, and the tragic death of our Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, the Ministry officials have voted Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, Arthur Weasley as the acting Minister of Magic until such time as a proper public vote can take place. Though most feel confident that Acting-Minister Weasley will win that vote as well.

Arthur Weasley showed tremendous bravery in the aftermath of yesterday's horrible attacks, being the only department Head to rush to the wounded at Diagon Alley. Acting-Minister Weasley has already contacted the French government with a call for aid and some French Aurors to be brought in to train the extra number of new recruits in the division. Many see this move as the first step against You-Know-Who in this Dark War. France's response is expected later today.

Meanwhile, clean up has already been completed in Diagon Alley and a special memorial has been placed in the centre of the square with the names of the dead engraved upon it. Acting-Minister Weasley(Continued page 2)

Harry folded the paper and put it down. "What did Ron say to that?"

Hermione laughed slightly. "First he wanted to be pinched to see if he was awake, then he was in denial, then he was angry, before acceptance came crashing down and he went to the Owlery to send a congratulations note to his dad."

"And Ginny?"

"She went with him."

Harry fell silent and looked around at the sad faces in the common room. No one was really saying much of anything. And who could blame them thought Harry. Yesterday it hit home to most of them that the wizarding world is at war, and some of them have now already lost someone they hold dear. It was a goddamn tragedy.

Looking around the common room again, Harry frowned. "Have you seen, Ethan lately?" he asked Hermione.

She looked up again from her book and quickly scanned the common room. "No... Last time I saw him would have been last night, after he read the evening edition of the Prophet he just stormed out... didn't say a word...?"

Harry clicked his tongue and looked around again before standing up. "I'll be back later. Tell Ron for me."

Hermione nodded and her brow furrowed with confusion. "Where are you going?"

"See a man about his past...." Without any further explanation than that Harry walked out of the common room. Once outside, he began to think about where he would find Rafe. Several possibilities came to mind but there was only one problem; he didn't know Ethan very well... he could be anywhere?

Harry's thoughts led him to the entrance hall of the castle, and his gaze lingered on the solid oak door that led out into the grounds. And then a thought came to him. It seemed the most likely place... but what if he wasn't there...?

Deciding that there was a higher chance of Ethan being there than not, Harry opened the door to the castle and headed out into the grounds, towards the Whomping Willow. The first thing that hit him was the cold. He was wearing black jeans a shirt and a new jumper that he had bought several months ago in Diagon Alley, after the Dementor attack. He needed something extra as the snow was falling heavily and biting at his face. Bringing his hand up to his jumper, Harry muttered a small spell and the jumper transfigured itself into a long sweeping green cloak with a hood. With the hood drawn across his face, it provided enough protection against the cold. After five minutes he came to the willow tree. Harry quickly ducked underneath one of its low hanging branches and kicked the root to stop the tree swaying. He entered the dark tunnel.

It wasn't as cold in the tunnel as it was outside, and obviously it wasn't snowing, so Harry lowered the hood on his transfigured cloak. He moved swiftly along the tunnel, not wasting any time. It was extremely dark most of the way, so, as usual; he lit his wand and ran ahead into the darkness.

After half an hour or so, Harry saw the entrance to the shack up ahead and jogged the rest of the way. He entered quickly, silently, with his wand out, not knowing what to expect. He walked carefully through the old shack, his eyes briefly flickering to the stairs where he had found Wormtail the last time he was here.

Light filtered in through the cracks in the doors and windows, bringing snow with it. Harry approached the 'living' room with caution, a few of the snowflakes hitting him on the cheek as he passed a window. When he entered he realised several things at once. One, he'd been right, and two, Ethan was here.

Rafe was stretched out on the old sofa, his eyes closed in sleep. Harry lowered his wand and walked over quickly, pocketing it as he went. Ethan didn't move as he approached, he was definitely asleep. Harry sighed and reached out towards his shoulder with his hand, to shake him awake. He didn't get within half a metre before Rafe's eyes opened suddenly and locked with his.

Too fast for Harry to see, let alone dodge, Ethan sprang forth from the sofa and knocked Harry to the floor. He landed hard and felt all the air get knocked out of him. It was worsened a moment later as Rafe fell on top of him. Harry struggled to breathe as Ethan pushed his forearm against his throat. With a cry Harry brought his right fist around and knocked it across Rafe's jaw, he fell off and Harry gratefully gulped in some air, his lungs burning the whole time.

Coughing heavily, Harry looked across the floor to Rafe. He was starting to pick himself up and was groaning loudly. "What- the hell were you doing...?" coughed Harry.

Rafe fell back on his knees and looked at Harry. He wiped some blood away from his mouth before speaking. "Sorry," he said.

Harry blinked. "Sorry?"

Rafe sighed and rubbed his face with his hands. "You woke me up, didn't recognise you. Sorry." He yawned.

Harry breathed in heavily and got to his feet steadily. He gave Ethan a moment to do the same before turning to talk. "You been here all day?" he asked roughly.

Ethan nodded. "And last night...."

"It would have been freezing!"

Rafe shrugged and muttered something about a heating charm before sitting back down on the sofa, his head in his hands.

Harry didn't know what to say. Ethan was definitely in a bad way. He'd spent the better part of a day alone in the shack and was, from what Harry could tell, only just keeping it together. "What's the matter...?"

It was an obvious question, a simple one as well. Harry really didn't expect an answer but after half a minute or so Ethan spoke.

"What do you know about your parents, Harry?"

Harry hesitated for a moment. "Not much. They were good people, they had their faults... but I was robbed of them before I could get a chance to find out for myself. Why?"

Rafe stared straight ahead of himself, seemingly at nothing. "My mother died giving birth to me," he said, "my father a year later..." There was no emotion in his voice, just a simple statement of the facts.

"I'm sorry," said Harry honestly.

Ethan laughed bitterly. "Don't be. I know what kind of people they were. My father... the world was better off without him...." Harry didn't say anything to this but his brow furrowed in confusion. "And it would have been better for me if I'd never known who he was," shouted Ethan, who jumped to his feet as he said the last few words.

"Who was he...?"

Ethan smiled grimly. "I'm going to Diagon Alley,' he said quietly, and with a nod to Harry he Apparated away with a small pop.

Harry was shocked for a moment before he stood up to and looked around himself. Ethan had gone? Apparently he'd gone to Diagon Alley, of all places. He'd just left, apparated away. Harry withdrew his wand from the inside pocket of his cloak but then hesitated for a moment. Should I go...? he thought. He debated with himself for a few minutes before taking a deep breath and decided to follow Ethan.

He pictured Diagon Alley clearly in his mind. Especially the Apparation point, he'd seen it many times from his many visits to the alley. With every thought on Diagon Alley, Harry closed his eyes and said the word. "Apyraceus!"

It was instant. Harry felt nothing and was sure it hadn't worked when he opened his eyes. But what greeted him were the familiar streets of Diagon Alley. Although they weren't that familiar. One thing he noticed was that the place was practically deserted. He could only see two other people in the street and one of them was Ethan.

"Didn't think you were going to come," he said as Harry stepped away from the Apparation point and drew level with Ethan.

"I don't know why I did?" muttered Harry, pulling the hood of his green cloak over his head so as not to be recognised. Not that there was much chance of that.

Rafe didn't say anything but turned away and began to walk down the street. Neither of them talked as they past shop after empty shop. Some had signs in the window; Closed until further notice. For Sale. Things like that. One or two shops were actually open, but they were empty... no one wanted to shop, they just wanted to hide.

Harry and Ethan passed Weasley's Wizard Wheezes and he briefly wondered if Fred and George were all right, but relaxed a moment later when he realised he would have heard if they weren't. The sound of their shoes against the cobblestone echoed loudly down the street and anyone they passed, and there were a few, looked them up and suspiciously and cradled their wand in their hands. Harry found himself holding his all the more tighter, as was Ethan.

Harry noticed they had begun to pass into the area where the attack happened. He recognised the area; he saw the ashes of all that remained of a once proud shop. There were still some red stains on the stone, and Harry found himself turning away sadly. They entered the square.

It was quiet, horribly so. And Harry could feel the magic in the air, it was still strong, even after a day the amount of magic in the air was incredible. He could almost taste it. Ethan didn't seem to notice it though as he carried on walking over to where the stage had been yesterday. It drew Harry's gaze and for a brief moment he had a sharp flashback of Cornelius Fudge on his knees, surrounded by slaughtered Aurors. But the stage was gone, and in its place was the memorial the Prophet had mentioned.

Harry and Ethan stood there now. It was made of gilded bronze and was attached to the wall behind it. Names upon names were carved into the bronze, Harry recognised one or two. Next to the name was the date of birth, and then date of death. Sadly death was all the same. Across the top of the plaque were a few words;

Here are the names of the brave,

That died, December 7^th 1996, in the

Diagon Alley massacre of the

Second Dark War.

NEVER FORGET

Harry's eyes swept over the one hundred and ninety seven names on the wall. He picked out Fudge from the list and lowered his head slightly, though no one would be able to tell because he was under the hood.

"What did they die for?" whispered Rafe.

Harry didn't have answer. What did they die for...? Nothing... just victims in a war of death... no meaning whatsoever....

"What does this accomplish...?" Rafe spoke again. "Hundreds dead because of him...."

Harry looked up as Rafe said this. He saw a sadness in Rafe's eyes that few would ever see in anyone's. A sadness and anger. "Casualties of War..." mumbled Harry, remembering what Remus had said after the Dementor attack. "But it shouldn't happen..."

"No it shouldn't," agreed Ethan with a great conviction in his voice. "Look at them all. Look at the date on that one, she was six!"

Harry sighed and closed his eyes. Twenty four hours ago two hundred people had lain dead on this street, now it was just a memory. The first count in a war that promised to claim a lot more.

"We are all going too die!" said Ethan bitterly, turning away from the wall. "And I might welcome it when it comes...."

Harry didn't turn to face Ethan when he spoke. "You want to die?"

"Better than living in a world where this needless slaughter can take place...."

"Maybe..."

Both of them fell silent, the weight of the world weighing down upon them. Harry looked around the square and had brief flashes of where he'd seen a person die. It haunted him. "Or... or you could fight it?" Ethan said quietly.

"I am fighting it. Trying my best to stop these things from happening... but they still do."

"Then why bother to try at all?"

"Because it's the right thing too, the right choice. At the moment death is the easy choice, carrying on is the right one."

Ethan sighed. "You really believe that?"

Harry didn't answer straight away. "Voldemort has taken away almost everything and everyone I hold dear. But I didn't give up. I look back on some of the bad times now and I wonder how the hell I managed to still be here. It was because I made the right choices, not the easy ones."

"You're getting too damn philosophical on me, Harry," Rafe mumbled, rubbing the bruise that was now forming on his jaw where Harry had hit him. "But I see your point." Harry nodded slowly and then pulled his cloak closer around himself as a cool breeze blew through the alley. "It is just hard to carry on after it all...."

Harry stared hard at Ethan. "I carry on because I owe it to every name on this wall; to everyone who puts there hope in me. I didn't choose to be the goddamn hero... I didn't choose it. But I got it, and I'm stuck with it. So I might as well do my best, save as many as I can before the end."

"You do sound like the hero..."

Harry laughed mirthlessly. "I never feel like it. Just feel like a kid who skipped his entire childhood and ended up as a key figure in a war where there can be no victory without death."

"But you are powerful. Maybe even enough to challenge him?"

"No... My power is a poor insult in the shadow of Voldemort's. But I'm getting there," he said fiercely, and there was a fire in his eyes that no one saw because of his hood.

"You feel you have to fight him?"

Harry sighed. "I know I can't live until Voldemort is dead. And I know I will fight him to the death."

"You could just end up as another name on the wall...."

"A risk I'm more than willing to take," Harry said without any hesitation.

"There you go," said Rafe, "Hero talk again."

Harry laughed slightly, only slightly and then looked at his watch. It was coming up five o'clock. "We should start heading back. Don't want to miss dinner."

Ethan nodded and placed a hand on the wall. He whispered something under his breath that Harry didn't catch and then turned away. "War will kill us all!" he said roughly before Apparating away.

Harry sighed and turned once again towards the memorial wall. With one last glance at the dozens upon dozens of names, Harry pointed his wand at himself. "Apyraceus..."

"It was a really brave thing to do, Ron," said Harry at Dinner an hour and a half later. He and Ethan had just made it back from the shack in time, but it was a very close thing. "Not many would take the job, knowing what happened to the last Minister."

"Yeah... that worries me a bit. But, I still can't believe it. One day stuck in some dingy office with only the teapot for company, next day Minister of Bloody Magic."

Hermione smiled and stroked Ron's shoulder. "And he's doing a really good job already."

"Hmm..." he mumbled through some spuds, his attention devoted entirely to Hermione now.

"He will be a good Minister," said Ginny unexpectedly from Hermione's left.

"Of course he will," agreed Harry.

Ginny smiled thankfully at him, as if his opinion was worth a lot more than he thought. She spoke to him now. "And how are you, Harry. You scared the first year's half to death yesterday, especially when your scar exploded."

Harry grimaced, raising a hand to his scar as he did. "I'm fine. Nothing I can't bounce back from."

Ginny appeared thoughtful for a moment. "Seems to be nothing you can't bounce back from...."

Harry nodded slightly but didn't say anything for a moment. He glanced at Ron and Hermione. I couldn't go on if they were gone... His eyes finally came to rest on Ginny's again. You too... "I have my limits," he finally said simply.

*****