Of Love, Lies And Betrayal

Of Love, Lies, and Betrayal

Harry Potter sat under the tree near an old hut. It was almost the end of his 7th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and soon he and his two best friends would be graduating. He glanced at the hut and a tear trickled down his cheek in remembrance of his old friend, Hagrid, who'd died the previous Halloween. Rubeus Hagrid had been his first friend; he'd been the person who had introduced him to the magical world. He had helped Harry in almost every situation that fate had thrown at him in those six and a half years.

Harry's best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley came by and sat beside him. Hermione had changed a lot. Her bushy brown hair had been cut short and she was more of a beautiful young woman than the slightly awkward eleven year old she had been when she'd first met Harry and Ron. Ron had also changed a lot in appearance, going from a gangly young boy to a tall, broad-shouldered, handsome young man. As they sat down, they knew what was wrong with Harry.

"Hey, Harry. What's up?" asked Ron gently.

"What else? You know, I could've saved him," Harry choked, still staring at the abandoned hut.

"Come on, Harry," said Hermione. "You know Hagrid. He never would've wanted you to sit and mourn this long. He would've wanted you to be happy. That's all he ever wanted-your happiness."

"Hermione, we're not talking about detention with Snape or a friendship squabble. Okay? We're talking about death. Hagrid's gone. I sat and watched Lucius Malfoy perform Avada Kedavra. Don't tell me that Hagrid would've wanted me to be happy. I don't know what he would've said. He's not here!" On those last words, Harry began to sob. Hermione and Ron began to try to comfort him, but he jerked away. He stood up and walked off into the castle, leaving Hermione and Ron speechless. Not quite thinking about where he was going, he headed into the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. The professor was Professor Reamus Lupin, however during the full moon, Sirius Black took over. That was who Harry saw when he went in there.

"Sirius, I have to talk to you," Harry sputtered through his tears. One look at Harry's tear streaked face, and Sirius embraced his godson. He had a feeling what was wrong. Harry hadn't been the same since Hagrid's death. As they broke apart, Sirius sat back, expecting an explanation for Harry's behavior.

"I knew Lucius Malfoy was planning to go after me. After Peter Pettigrew's death, Lucius was trying desperately to become Voldemort's right-hand man. However, Voldemort no longer wished me dead. Voldemort had decided I am better suited to be a Death Eater." Harry saw Sirius cringe and remembered his similar reaction when he'd first received the Death Eaters' letter by owl post. "I was visiting Hagrid one day because he'd gotten a new breed of Blast-Ended Skrewts of which he was particularly proud of. That was the day Mr. Malfoy showed up. It was cruel that he'd picked Halloween, the reunion of my parent's death. Or perhaps it was at random; a coincidence. Whatever the case, he cornered me and demanded that I became a Death Eater. Upon my refusal, he threatened Hagrid. I was silent, foolishly thinking he'd never do it, if I was thinking at all at that point. I just.... sat as he performed Avada Kedavra on my first friend ever. Well, Hagrid was more than that. He, you, and Remus are like father figures, you know?"

Sirius hugged Harry. "You are like a son to Remus and I, as well. You keep James's and Lily's memories alive. I wouldn't have anything to live for without you. And Hagrid was more proud of you than of anything in his life."

Harry shook his head. "There's more, Sirius. So much more. No one else knows. I wish I could tell you, but-" Harry broke off and ran out of the classroom, nearly knocking over Ron and Hermione, who were just coming in.

"What happened? What did he say?" asked Hermione.

Sirius slowly told them what Harry had just told him. Ron frowned in disappointment. "That's all we know. We figure that Malfoy told Harry something before he left, something that really spooked Harry. Harry refuses to talk. We're really worried about him, Sirius."

"Ginny's going ballistic," Hermione added, ignoring Ron's glare. He hated any mention of Harry's romance with his baby sister.

Sirius sighed. "I can't get through to him. I think that the only person who can help him now is Ginny."

Hermione smiled weakly. "She's going to talk to him now."

"Harry?" called a soft voice. Harry turned around to see his girlfriend of two years, Ginny Weasley.

"Hey, Ginny."

"What are you doing here? You know being in here upsets you. Come on, let's go back to the castle."

He looked at her, smiling a sad smile. "Ginny, you know I love you," he whispered, slipping his arms around her.

"Of course. I love you, too. But Harry, what is all of this?"

"I won't be going back to Hogwarts. Never again. I'm about to leave. I can't put your lives in danger any more. It has been too risky for the past seven years."

"What do you pan to do?"

"After he killed Hagrid, Lucius Malfoy said that if I do not join the Dark Side, he will go after you. Don't you see how I could never let that happen? I care about you too much. One person has already been killed. It can't happen again."

"You're joining the Dark Side?" Ginny stepped away from him, in shock. "You're going to give in, and let the Malfoys win?" She spit out the name in disgust. "Harry, please. You're trying to protect me, but you're not. I need you. Here. That's the only way you can help me. You love me too much to let me die? Well, I love you too much to let you give up." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. They broke apart, and a tear fell down Harry's cheek.

"Goodbye Ginny. I love you. Please, I'm only doing this for you. Don't hate me."

"No!" Ginny shrieked after him. "Stop! Please don't leave me! Harry, stop!" Harry turned around.

"Ginny, I just want you safe. As long as I resist Voldemort, you are his main target."

She ran up to him and grabbed his hands. "Harry, don't betray me. Stay with me. We'll find a way. What about what your parents fought and died for? What about what Hagrid died for? And all the others who are fighting? Neville's parents? Are you going to let all of those people down? Harry, we'll find a way."

He wrapped his arms around her once again and hugged her tightly. "You do know the risks and-"

"Oh Harry," she laughed. "Why don't you just kiss me all ready and tell me everything will be all right?"

"Every thing will be all right," he said with a serious tone. He then leaned his face down towards her and gave her the most passionate kiss they had ever shared.