The Beginning of My Life

Every day Harry made it a habit to go flying for at least a few hours. With the speed and adrenaline from soaring over the lake and trees, he could forget almost everything. A couple days after the meeting with his friends--including an intense and confusing moment with Ginny--Ginny sent him a package by owl: a Snitch for him to 'amuse' himself with she'd said. He'd take out the Snitch, let it go, and catch it several times. It was wonderful to reminisce about his days as Gryffindor's Seeker and as the team captain. But, when he tired of that practice, he'd explore the terrain.

During his daytime flights he learned much of the landscape and was impressed by the beauty of the mountains and hills. He also learned of a small wizarding town a few miles to the east.

Occasionally, he'd start thinking about Ginny and the awkward tension between them. But, Harry immediately forced these thoughts from his mind. Now is not the time to torture yourself over a married woman...actually, no time is ever a good time to torture yourself over a married woman. And so, he wasted his time away flying--feeling the wind and sun on his face and through his hair, feeling completely free of any responsibility. He had to hand it to Hermione: coming here was a brilliant idea. Though, it did get lonely.

In general, he rarely saw anyone. Every so often someone might walk by along the road, but they'd merely glance in his direction and wave for a moment before continuing on their way.

There is this one witch who walks by and watches him fly for a bit every other day. She's usually too far off to see clearly, but this afternoon she decided to come get a closer look. Harry decided he'd better say 'hello' to his neighbor. She stood by his gate looking at him curiously. Walking toward her, his broom in hand, he noticed that she was rather pretty--a sort of classic beauty: black hair and crystal-blue eyes. She was around his age, probably a year or two younger than him. Her hair was tied back, but the end of her pony-tail hung low by her waist in long, wavy locks. Realizing he was staring at her, he coughed to the side a bit as he approached, a little embarrassed. She reached out a slender, delicate hand and smiled warmly.

"Hi, I'm sorry to bother you." She nodded her head apologetically, still smiling. "It's a bit hard to see the Snitch from back there." She gestured back toward the dirt road farther down.

"Oh, don't worry about it," Harry said shaking her hand. "I'm, um...new here." She walked past him toward his cottage a few steps to get a better look.

"I know. No one's lived there for quite some time. I live a mile down the road--after work I like to go for a long walk and I noticed you fly very well--" she said lightly before suddenly turning around to look at him. "Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Andria...Stone." She laughed a bit at her own forgetfulness. Harry couldn't help but laugh as well.

"Don't worry about it, I forgot too. I'm..." unfortunately, Harry hadn't thought about what he'd say if he did need to introduce himself to people nearby. Should he use his real name? Would he start getting hounded in the countryside by grateful wizards and witches? Or should he make up a new name? But is that pointless? Sooner or later someone's going to know who he is. Harry glanced up at Andria for a moment and saw her looking at him with concerned eyes.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm...um..." He racked his mind trying to think quickly, but failing and probably looking daft in the process.

"Harry?" Andria put in, grinning at the disturbed look on Harry's face. "Sorry, but don't worry. I didn't start watching you fly because of your famous status." she tilted her head to the side knowingly. "As a matter of fact, I didn't know it was you until a few minutes ago. Besides, there isn't a wizard or witch working in the new ministry who doesn't know who you are..." Harry was now leaning back against the wooden gate post, looking mostly worried. She appeared concerned again. "Really, don't worry. The rest of the wizards nearby mind their own business, if they find out who you are they'd most likely say, 'Oh, well that's nice,' before going about their day again." There was a long silence. Realizing she was trying to comfort him, while he was acting like an ass, Harry laughed nervously.

"Sorry," he began, regaining his composure. "You just caught me off guard. I didn't mean to insinuate that you'd tell anyone I was here..."

"I won't," Andria said quickly, not offended by his behavior at all. "I'm just letting you know you don't need to worry about it getting out of hand around here." She walked over next to him and leaned back on the gate, just as he had done. "I suppose it's been really bad for you. I mean, after all, you've come to stay here: nowhere." They both grinned.

"And why do you live nowhere?" Harry wondered aloud. Andria shrugged.

"My parents died early in the war...the attack on Hogsmeade. They left me a small house near there and this cottage down the road here. After what happened with my parents, I thought it best to live out here. It's a bit out of the way," she smirked, "but, apparating everywhere isn't so bad." Harry remembered hearing about the attack on Hogsmeade. Early in the war, they weren't entirely prepared for such an early attack--Harry, Ron, and Hermione were off looking for Horcruxes and the Order was uncertainly led by McGonagall at the time.

"I see..."

"So are you here for the summer?" she asked picking up his broom.

"I'm sort of on a break..."

"--from life?" she interrupted. Andria chuckled playfully, trying to sit on the broom. She hovered for a moment before it jerked upward suddenly, knocking her backward.

She looked very shocked--landing flat on the tall grass, with the broom still grasped in hand and her hair flipped over, covering her face. Harry burst into laughter and offered a hand to help her up. Brushing herself off, Andria handed back the Firebolt slightly red with embarrassment. "Guess I need to work on my flying skills." She noted Harry's amusement. "At least you seem impressed with my wonderful talent." Harry stopped laughing to catch his breath. He was amazed to realize it was the first time he really had a good laugh in a long time.

"When's the last time you flew?"

"Me? I haven't flown since Hogwarts...tried it once, but I never got the hang of it. Of course, I was always a fan of Quidditch. I especially enjoyed the House games...come to think of it, you were pretty amazing..."

"Wait, you went to Hogwarts? What house?"

"Oh, I was one of the many noble and brave Gryffindors of course," Andria gave him a half-smile. "Don't worry! I didn't expect you to remember me. When I came to Hogwarts you were already in your third year." Harry mentally kicked himself.

"I see. Oh, right. Third-year. I was kind of preoccupied that year..." Andria lifted herself to sit on the wooden fence.

"...busy thinking about the notoriously-framed Sirius Black...I heard the stories. I knew you helped him escape that night too..." Harry appeared slightly perturbed. "No, I wasn't stalking you or anything." She smirked mischievously. "It was the way Snape reacted, priceless by the way, and how you seemed rather pleased with yourself later on." She glanced at Harry for a second. "You weren't as skinny as you are now..." Harry took a moment to look at Andria--she was now staring upward, toward the mountains with a faint smile playing on her lips. She seemed lost in memory. "I hope they decide to re-open...Hogwarts, that is. I'd like to go back and visit." Andria became silent. Her gaze dropped down toward the lake and her smile faded. "It'd be nice to see it filled with kids again..."

Andria trailed off into quiet memory once more. Whether it was a happy or sad memory, Harry couldn't tell. Her clear, blue eyes were fixed on the horizon and the wind began to blow wisps of her hair back. The cool breeze seemed to bring her back to the present. "The sun's getting low...I need to head home. I suppose I'll see you another time. Maybe I'll get a broom and you can show me how to fly." She chuckled once more before turning to leave. Harry suddenly didn't want her to go.

"I...well...it was nice meeting you," Harry said as she closed the old, wooden gate. He wasn't quite sure how to convey just how nice it was to talk to someone, how nice it was to laugh with a new friend. Andria nodded, a smile curving her lips.

"It was very nice to meet you too." Harry watched her walk down the road. Andria.

* * * *

Over the next couple weeks Harry went about as usual--flying, catching the Snitch, and visiting the small town. Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley sent him letters as well, to check in and give him news. Hermione explained how work was and how Ron found new ways to behave like an idiot (though she always ended that with how she still loves him 'of course'); Ginny expressed boredom in waiting for McGonagall's reply to her letters about teaching and made sure to ask how Harry was doing 'up there alone'; and Mrs. Weasley sent him short letters asking about his health and appetite. However, none of them seemed to have time to come visit. Hermione and Ron were busy, he knew. But he wondered why Ginny never came to visit if she was so 'bored'.

And Andria hadn't wandered by since the first time they talked. Every once in a while he would catch himself glancing down the dirt road wondering if she'd come strolling down. He couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed when she didn't. Reminding himself that he had come here to spend time alone in the first place was a brief comfort.

Finally, Ron had time to pay him a visit one weekend...

Harry reached into the fridge and pulled out a couple dishes of chicken labeled for Ron and himself.

"Time for dinner...courtesy of your mother?" Harry suggested. Ron nodded eagerly; they had spent the day on their brooms: Harry had given him a nice tour of the area, mountains and all. He set the plates on the table and Ron started on his meal immediately. Harry laughed. "So now that you've had the tour...anything in particular I need to know about the Ministry?" Ron looked up from his drumstick.

"Now? While I'm eating?" Ron looked terribly sad. "Give me a minute. It's been wonderful not thinking about the Ministry for most of the day..."

"Alright, alright--I'm just curious. But I can wait until after you stuff your face." Harry smirked at Ron's grateful, relieved, and extremely exaggerated sigh.

He finished eating before Ron (mainly because Ron went for a second helping). When Ron finally finished he leaned back in his chair appearing sufficiently stuffed.

"I see your appetite hasn't changed..." Harry commented as Ron pushed his plate away.

"We've been working non-stop. I've barely had time to properly keep up my health," Ron said in an overly dramatic tone. Harry did notice his friend looked thinner than normal, but at least his spirits seemed up. "Fortunately, all the hard work's been paying off. All the departments have been reorganized and people are starting to be assigned to fitting positions. Hermione's been concentrating on International Magical Cooperation...actually, she's pretty much leading them. The head of that department leans on Hermione a great deal when making decisions." Not surprising.

"And you?"

"They seem to think I'd be good for Magical Law Enforcement...an Auror," Ron mused.

"I suppose that's well-founded..." Harry donned an unimpressed expression.

"It damn well better be 'well-founded'! Based on all of our dealings with the Dark Arts and mental wizards-gone-wrong...I think we'd both be acceptable Aurors." They both laughed.

"For you? That sounds about right. I've personally had all I can take for a while."

"Yes, well just know that there's always a spot open for you at the Ministry..."

"I'll keep that in mind." Harry reached for his wand to put the dishes in the sink.

"Anyways, most of the departments have agreed on a new Minister unofficially--Artemis Will. Soon it'll be official..."

"And what do you think?" Harry was uncertain when it came to the Minister of Magic. His dealings with them in the past were not very productive and generally turned out to be extremely frustrating. They were useless.

"Actually I have met him a couple times...we had lunch. He's a nice guy," Ron began thoughtfully, "--seems to think things over a lot, and puts a lot of store in what the departments' opinions are. That doesn't mean he's a push-over though. No, Artemis knows what he's doing..." he added quickly. "He wasn't part of the Order during the war, but he did help push back the Death Eaters at Diagon Alley."

"You trust him then?" Harry asked doubtfully.

"Yes, I do. Trust me. When you meet him, you'll see...he really is a great man. Actually, he told me how annoyed he'd been with the previous Ministers...called them 'useless'." Ron and Harry grinned. But then, Harry backed up a bit--

"Wait. When am I going to meet him?" Ron smiled widely.

"Well, after we refine the departments a bit more and Artemis is officially made Minister of Magic, the Ministry is holding an event to celebrate all our work. Everyone agreed it'd be good for the public for us to have a celebration--the wizarding world's putting itself back together, why not have a party?" Ron shrugged.

"Ah, I see." Harry rubbed his right temple.

"And yes, that means we'd really appreciate it if you made an appearance. No speeches or anything of that sort...it's just..."

"No, it's okay. I understand. Of course I'll be there." Harry knew it was good for the public and for a great reason. "Besides, I want to help celebrate all your hard work as well." Ron laughed.

"I'll be sure to let you know when the date is once I find out." Ron stood up. "But now Hermione is probably waiting for me to get back. I'll see you another time, mate. Just remember to relax until then!" He walked over to the fireplace and disappeared in a flash of green flame.

Literally a second later, someone knocked on his door. Harry gracelessly fell over in shock. What? Who could that possibly be?! His mind raced for a moment. He picked himself up and cautiously, wand in hand, walked over toward the door. Taking a deep breath, he opened it.

"Ginny?!" Harry lowered his wand with a great sigh. Ginny stood there looking very nice indeed, and quite nervous. He was overjoyed that she was there, of course, but there was a somewhat foreboding feeling within him. Ginny stepped into the cottage and sat down at his table quickly. Confused, he slowly started to get some tea for her. What brought her here now? She'd seemingly been avoiding coming here.

"I'm sorry to come by without sending an Owl," she said quietly. Her red locks were covering part of her face masking her expression. He grew concerned.

"Is something wrong?" Harry pushed a cup of tea in front of her. She wrapped her fingers around the cup and stayed silent for a moment.

"I just thought we should clear some things up..." She took a sip of her tea; Harry's lungs stopped working. "I want to apologize for not coming to see you more often. I haven't really been that busy, and it's stupid for me not to be able to come visit you. You are one of my best friends..." She seemed to be talking more to herself. Harry sighed.

"Look, Ginny. I'm not upset with you or anything..."

"I know there's this awkward tension between us," she said quickly. Harry didn't know what to say. Of course there's some tension. What did you expect? "I noticed it when we all came to see you and...I just...I want you to know that I still love you..." His mind went completely numb. "...as a friend." Fuck. "We never did get enough closure for our relationship back then. I mean, you made clear it was over. Eventually I learned to love someone else...but I always thought of you as one of my dearest friends--I could never have you out of my life completely." She licked her lips and took another sip of tea. "I want things to be easy between us." Ginny looked up into Harry's eyes, trying to figure out what he thought of all this. He took a moment to process what she was trying to say. I understand.

"Gin, I know what you mean. You and I should be able to hang out as easily as me and Hermione do...and we will. Of course, I love you too," he added with forced casualness, "We've been friends for a long time. The tension...it's because of the time we've been apart. I hadn't seen you in so long...I'm sorry if you felt uncomfortable..."

"No, no. It was me." She relaxed a bit and smiled. "I was so happy to see you..." Harry returned the smile and nodded.

"Let's just both agree that what's in the past should stay there. We're here now, and we're friends." Ginny stood up excitedly to give Harry a hug. He could feel the tension lessen already.

"This is wonderful! I was so nervous about how to bring this up. I thought you'd think I was completely mental." Ginny laughed letting Harry go.

"Oh, no, of course I think you're completely insane. But then, I'm used to dealing with crazy witches..." Ginny slapped the back of his head.

"I'm going to tell Hermione you said that."

"Please do." He grinned. This isn't so hard...being friends is still being something with Ginny.

Over the next couple weeks, Ginny came over to the cottage often to keep Harry company. He was truly happy to have her there as a friend: it was like they were back at Hogwarts before the start of their short-lived relationship.

There was, however, the attraction he had toward her. She was Ginny after all. He forced himself to get used to their new relationship: being friends and allies while they both had no work to do. They even grew comfortable enough to talk about her husband, Thomas, and Harry briefly mentioned Andria while they were out catching the Snitch. Soon he was convinced things were going to be okay.

The next week, Ron sent a copy of the Daily Prophet via Ginny--"The Long-Awaited New Minister of Magic: Artemis Will". Along with the paper, Hermione wrote him a little note--"Ministry Event: June 30^th, don't forget! (One week from now!)"