Rating:
PG-13
House:
Schnoogle
Genres:
Action Drama
Era:
Multiple Eras
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix Quidditch Through the Ages Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Stats:
Published: 01/08/2005
Updated: 06/29/2005
Words: 244,306
Chapters: 66
Hits: 89,703

The War of Shades

quintaped

Story Summary:
Seventh year - The scar connection becomes wide open, giving both Harry and Voldemort ever more detailed views into each other's mind. Harry works on practicing the message he gained in Egypt (Harry Potter and the Goblin Rebellion), but Voldemort launches the Second War to fill Harry with hatred and anger and to strip him of all who are loyal to him. Ever more desperately Harry trains himself and others to fight, but something is making all of his friends fight each other. Harry must find a way to stop the internal warfare or Voldemort will be able to launch an attack on Hogwarts that will destroy all who are capable of resisting him, including Harry. Through all this, Harry must learn for himself how he will finally vanquish Voldemort.

The War of Shades Epilogue 1

Chapter Summary:
The celebration is over and Hogwarts' students have mostly gone home, even before the Hogwarts Express has left. Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione begin to work out what to do without a war to fight.
Posted:
06/01/2005
Hits:
1,406


Epilogue Chapter 1 - Scattered

Harry had simply never given much thought to what he would do when his years of schooling at Hogwarts were over. The truth is that he hadn't even really thought about being alive that long. The problem wasn't so much one of what he would be doing in a couple of weeks or next year - Dumbledore had seen to giving Harry some attractive options about that; rather, he did not know what he would be doing the next day!

When the celebration had finally come to an end, Harry started asking around to see what others were doing, at least among those he could ask. The population had dropped precipitously. The vast majority of students had left with their parents when the celebrations had dwindled. The school was almost as empty as during typical Christmas breaks. Those that were left were exhausted and simply dragged themselves off to bed for a long sleep. Now it was the morning after the celebration and everyone was supposed to leave, whether by the Hogwarts' Express or otherwise.

"Come with us for a while," said Ron, as they packed and sorted their things. "We can just have some fun, and you can help me figure out which way to go now."

"Come with you where?" asked Harry. "Are you going to The Burrow or Grimmauld Place?"

"Oh, right. I don't much even think of my folks living in London. I guess we could go to either one - we know how to fend for ourselves, and besides Winky is at The Burrow."

"I reckon. We could ask Mum anyway. Except ... I was kind of hoping if I'm not here, I would be with Ginny, and I'm not sure your folks would like it if she and I were sharing a house without one of them around."

"I'd be there, and maybe Hermione as well. Let's go see what the girls want to do."

They went down to the common room and called up the girls' stairwell. Soon they heard Ginny and Hermione coming out of their dorms.

"Back away, Ron," said Harry. Harry took a run at the stairs and bounded up about twelve of them in three great strides before they all flattened into a slide, plopping him unceremoniously on the common room floor. He laughed as he laid back. The girls, too, were caught by the stairs' change and came whizzing down the stairs on top of Harry.

"Ha! The stairs don't seem to think I'm anything special," laughed Harry. "I like that!"

"Why should they? You're just another randy boy!" giggled Hermione.

"Hooray for that!" said Ginny, snuggling back against Harry, as he bent down and kissed her.

There was a few seconds pause before Ron pointedly cleared his throat.

Hermione laughed again. "Yeah, you two, get a room."

Ginny hopped up and gave Harry a hand. "Great idea! Harry, let's go to yours since you can't use the stairs to mine."

Ron stepped into the doorway and stared at them.

Harry grinned at him. "You can stand there now, Ron, but next school year Ginny and I will both be here at Hogwarts and you won't - AND I'll have private quarters."

"Besides I'm already an adult, Ronald," said Ginny.

"Aren't there school rules about teachers and students? Just show a little discretion, okay. I'm still the big brother," sighed Ron.

"And it's sweet," said Ginny, patting his cheek, "and remember that I'm still the little sister who can put a world of hurt on big brothers who overstep their bounds."

Hermione stepped in. "You boys called us. I don't think this is what you had in mind."

"Oh, yeah!" said Ron. "We were talking and realized we don't really know where to go. End of term has always meant the Burrow for Ginny and me and Surrey for Harry. I invited him to come with us, but we don't really know if we should go to The Burrow or London."

"Or someplace else," added Harry tantalizingly.

"Ooh, have you got something in mind?" asked Ginny.

"Well, not for today, but I figure I've earned a holiday - if I can figure out how to do it - and I certainly can afford it. I can take us all."

"That sounds like a lot of fun!" squealed Ginny, then getting more serious. "Ooh, if Mum wouldn't raise too much of a ruckus."

"Well, it sounds like fun, Harry, ..." said Hermione with a reluctance that demanded a further inquiry.

"But what, Hermione?" asked Harry.

"I'd feel kind of funny going as your guest, like I'd be beholden."

Harry laughed. "You goose. I'm the one beholden to you for all the help and friendship you've given me over the years. Besides, having time with you and Ginny and Ron without school or work or a war to worry about would be the best present I could ever give myself. Sirius left me a pile of gold, and I'm sure he would want me to spend some of it unwinding from all this."

"Indeed I would," said the portrait Sirius, smiling from the frame of the picture he had gone to when Harry and Ron had gone downstairs. "Harry is sorely in need of learning to have fun."

"Well, that sounds fine," said Ron, "but where are we going right now. And are we even going to take the Hogwarts Express?"

"Well, there'll hardly be anyone on it," said Ginny. "I doubt if there are twenty Gryffindors left. Most parents took their kids with them after the party."

"I've checked with the other houses, too," said Hermione. "They're just as sparse."

"Well, we're all rated to apparate with our things," said Ron. "Oh, but not pets - but Harry can take Crookshanks and the owls can meet us. Let's not bother with the train. But where are we going?"

"My parents expect me," said Hermione. "They're still brimming with questions about what I've been up to here besides arithmancy and potions. I'm afraid they heard some stories that left more questions than answers."

"I could come, too," said Ron hopefully.

Hermione cocked her head at him. "Maybe in a few days, Ron. I think having you with me might raise even more questions."

"What!?" said Ron peevishly. "You're embarrassed of me around your folks."

She stroked his cheek. "No, Ron, not at all; I'd just be uncomfortable being affectionate with you around my parents, but I couldn't resist you if you were there."

"Ooh, she's good," said Ginny to Harry. "How'd an only child learn to do like that?"

"Ahh, she's a natural. She's had Ron and I wrapped around her finger since first year."

Hermione glared at him, fists on her hips. "Hardly. You two were a handful to manage."

"Then you don't deny you tried to manage us," said Harry, arching his eyebrows.

"Well, not manage exactly."

"Hold on, now," said Ron. "I don't think I like the idea of being controlled."

Harry and Ginny both laughed.

"Of course you don't, Ron," said Ginny sarcastically. "That's why you've fallen for Hermione!"

"Hey, are you calling me controlling?" asked Hermione.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Oh, no! Of course not. Seriously, Hermione, you don't do it in a bad way. You actually listen to Ron, but you do tend to direct things quite a bit."

"Really? I hadn't seen myself that way."

"There you go, Hermione. Instead of getting mad at being called controlling, you give it some thought. That's why it's not too hard to deal with - you're willing to consider things," said Ginny. "You set the initial plan but you listen to other ideas. It's why you were a great Head Girl."

"Was I really?"

"Oh, don't listen to her," said Ron. "That sort of compliment is how she always manipulated us brothers."

"OH! So you're saying I wasn't a good Head Girl, Ron?"

"I didn't say that, I just meant that Ginny, ... oh, bloody hell, how did I get into this?"

"Back to the subject," said Harry, saving Ron, "of where to go. As I think about it, I reckon I'd better spend a few days here, getting situated for the fall so everything will be ready if I can take that holiday."

"Okay, Harry, that makes sense, and you know you're more than welcome to come be with us any time at all," said Ginny. "Well, Ron, how about London for you and me until we can work out plans for the rest of the summer with these two."

Ron nodded. "That'll do. I'll be well-situated to look into quidditch teams."

"Quidditch!?" said Hermione. "After all we've been through this year, you're going to look into quidditch?"

"Well, we'll see. Dumbledore said I'd probably have a good shot, especially with the notoriety from the War. He said they might take me as a reserve keeper, probably second- or third-string to start, or because I'm tall and started to fill out, they might want to try me as a beater," said Ron. "It would give me time to work on making connections through the wizarding world and developing other magical skills I might need for a career after quidditch."

"Wow, Ron," Hermione replied, hugging him from the side, "that's not badly thought out. A sports career before becoming an auror or starting a business or whatever else you might choose makes sense that way."

"Any notion who you'd play for?" asked Harry.

"Well, anyone, really, but you know I've always been big on the Chudley Cannons."

"Oh? Really!?" said Harry, rolling his eyes again. "Well, keep me informed. I'm looking into quidditch as well - pretty much the same reasons."

"Any chance you two could play on the same team?" asked Hermione. "It certainly would make attending the games and knowing who to cheer for easier."

"We'll see," said Harry with a wink, "we don't know that there's a team with an opening for both another seeker and another keeper."

Ginny shoved him playfully. "Yeah, like there's a team in Britain that wouldn't make room for the two of you."

"Maybe, Ginny, but we wouldn't want to make the team just because we're known," said Harry.

"There's nothing wrong with that, Harry," said Hermione. "Fame gets your foot in the door: ability will get you playing time. Just don't get anxious if you don't get to start all the games, thinking it's just because you're a display piece. Remember that you'll be a rookie, so there'll be a much more experienced seeker, or two or three, on the squad."

"Okay, good point. Don't let fame be either a crutch or a disability. How about you, Hermione? What are you going to be doing?"

"Oh, well, you know , ..." she said, trailing off.

Ginny laughed. "She's going to be Hermione, that's what. She applied for the advanced training programs for both healer and the Department of Mysteries - said she had to keep her options open. Well, she got accepted to both, with full fellowships."

"Well, I'm ashamed to say I didn't know that, but I've had quite a bit on my mind these past few months. So which are you going to do, Hermione?" asked Harry.

"Didncha hear Ginny, Harry?" said Ron, with a laugh. "She's going to be Hermione: she's taking both. The schedules are compatible, so she'll double up."

Hermione blushed. "Well, they're both such fascinating programs."

Harry grinned. "Someday, Granger, instead of sending kids to school, they'll just unload your knowledge into a pensieve and then throw the students right on in."

Sirius guffawed from the frame he was in, earning a fierce glare from Hermione.

"Well, if that's settled, then we'd better get moving," said Ginny. "We're supposed to be out of the dorms one way or another by lunch. And we wouldn't want to upset the house elves."

"Sure," said Harry. "So, Ginny, if, ahh, you're packed, do you want to help me get my stuff to my new quarters?"

"I'll help," offered Ron.

"Oh, erm, sure, Ron."

"Ron!" scolded Hermione. "He doesn't really need help. He was trying to get off with Ginny for a good-bye."

Ron grinned. "I know that. As brother and best friend, it's my job to be an obstruction. Besides, I want to see what kind of digs he'll have next year."

"Oh, alright, we'll all go - just don't be surprised if one of the doors gets 'stuck' for a while," said Harry. "Besides, I really could use a hand - I didn't want anyone else but me to handle Sirius's portrait, even the house elves."

"Thanks, Harry," said Sirius. "That means a lot to me."

"Oh, Harry," said Ginny, with a start, "erm, is he going to be - there, erm, all the time?"

"I like that!" said Ron. "Sirius! You are now an adoptive big brother. I'll expect reports."

"Ha! Nothing doing, Weasley," said Sirius. "I'll be out of sight when Harry needs me gone. I'm taking no chances on being consigned to a closet."

"That really won't be necessary, Sirius. I have an office adjoining my residential suite. You'll be there. I'm past being comforted having you hanging over my bed."

"I'm sure it would be quite the contrary at this point," said Sirius with a smirk.

"Well, if we all have our plans set, let's get going," said Hermione.

With the aid of magic, it didn't take long for them all to get each other's things down to the common room. Then they all helped Harry move to his quarters near the Room of Requirement. It had several tall but narrow windows and a balcony with a door that could be secured against the weather. Harry carefully hung the portrait of Sirius in the office over the fireplace.

Next Ron and Ginny were off. They realized it would be easier to just use the common room fireplace connection to the Floo Network to go to Grimmauld Place than to try to move everything out of the castle so they could apparate. They had never found the Floo Network as unpleasant as Harry did, perhaps because they had grown up with it, so they didn't mind.

Hermione and Harry helped take things and chatted a few minutes with Mrs. Weasley before returning to Hogwarts. Mr. Weasley had to coordinate the arrangements for security and eventual trials for all the prisoners from the battle, as well as using the upheaval as an opportunity to secure better relations amongst all the magical beings of Britain. After Harry and Hermione returned to the school, Harry wrote a short note to Ginny and attached it to Pig's leg and sent him on to Grimmauld Place.

Finally Harry helped Hermione take her things out of the castle. They had considered using the Floo back to Grimmauld Place and then apparating from there, but Harry remembered the anti-apparation charms which had been placed. If they had to take things out of a building, they could do so as well at the school and avoid the Floo.

Hermione only needed a couple of trunks: one for her clothing and personal effects and one for books she had accumulated over the years. Harry was surprised she didn't have more, but Hermione said that she had resold most of her textbooks to other students or Flourish and Blotts. She had gotten more comprehensive reference books covering the material, so she did not need the texts. Hermione was to apparate to her room at her parents' house with the cases, but she needed Harry to take Crookshanks.

Hermione apparated first so Harry could guide off of her wand. Crookshanks purred in Harry's arms until Harry apparated to Hermione's room. Whether it was apparating itself or the sudden dislocation of being in a new place, but the process upset Crookshanks, who dug his claws into Harry's arms and chest, then scratched viciously attempting to remove himself as quickly as possibly to a hiding spot.

"Harry!" scolded Hermione, as Harry stood there with bleeding streaks on his arms and chest, "What did you do to Crookshanks?"

"What did I do!?" asked Harry incredulously. "I just apparated. Your cat's just raked half of my body."

Suddenly there was a rapping at the door. "Hermione?"

"Oh, hi, Mum. I guess Hogwarts got you back in one piece," said Hermione as she opened the door.

"Yes, dear. I ... Eep! Hermione, is that you? What's happened to your hair?"

Harry laughed. "I had gotten used to her that way. I forgot it would be a surprise here."

"I, um, sort of lost a bet after you and Daddy left. Don't worry: it'll grow back in."

"Can you ... do something?"

Hermione smiled. "No, Mum, I agreed fair and square. I don't take anything or cover it up."

"But you don't even have eyelashes or eyebrows," said Mrs. Granger incredulously. "Couldn't you at least use an eyebrow pencil and false eyelashes?"

"I'll write a letter to Ginny, Mum, and ask her about it. Anyway you were saying about how Hogwarts got you and Dad back here."

"Oh, yes, I must say your magical transports take some getting used to. They gave us 'muggle' parents a ride in this enormous purple bus, which looked like a lot of fun at first, but got very old very quickly."

"I can imagine. You should try a broom, Mrs. Granger," offered Harry.

"Oh, Harry, no, thank you. I'll have something a bit more substantial between me and the ground. Now, Hermione, dear, you know the rules of the house about having boys in your room."

"Oh, but Mum, it's just ... Harry."

Harry feigned offense. "Well, I like that!"

"Oh, Harry, you know what I mean. There's no more going on with us than between me and Crookshanks."

Harry grinned. "Not even that - if you petted me as much as you do Crookshanks, Ron would turn purple."

Mrs. Granger turned up a corner of her mouth at that. "Still, Hermione, it's not really a matter of trust. If it were, we wouldn't have let you go off to school."

"If you knew the half of it," said Harry under his breath, with a hand strategically in front of his mouth, getting kicked by Hermione in the process.

"It's a matter of proper appearances, dear," continued Mrs. Granger, "Just as when your father and I unwrap the fresh dental instruments in front of our patients rather than in the lab, so that they know everything is sterile. Nice girls don't leave bad impressions."

"Yes, Mum," said Hermione. "Harry was only here to help me bring my things. It seemed better to apparate to my room than the front porch. The neighbors would take to that even less sanguinely."

"I'm just leaving anyway," said Harry.

"Not before we clean those scratches," said Mrs. Granger. "I take it Crookshanks doesn't care for magical transports either."

"Well, he's never been apparated, Mum. It came as a surprise."

"You've mentioned this apparating before - what's it like?"

Harry apparated right behind her and said, "It's great!"

Mrs. Granger jumped. "How did you do that?"

"Erm, magic."

"Well, I know that, but how does it work?"

"I just think intensely about where I want to be, ..."

"It's not quite that, though, Harry," said Hermione, as she apparated right next to him, "you have to believe you are there."

"Yeah, that's more to the point."

Mrs. Granger looked sideways at them. "But how can you believe you are there when you know you're not?"

"Mum, I guess the best way to explain it is to say that if you know it will be so if you believe it is so, then you can believe it is so, because you know it will be."

"Well, that clears it all up," said Mrs. Granger, smiling and rolling her eyes. "Well, come to the bathroom, Harry. Looks like you need to pull off your shirt for us to get at them all."

Mrs. Granger cleaned up all the scratches with antiseptic and checked that none of them were deep enough to require dressings. Every time she would dab an open cut with antiseptic, Harry would twitch and wince.

Mrs. Granger smiled at him. "What's the matter, Harry, can't take a little pain? I need to do this, you know."

"I'm alright, Mrs. Granger. I reckon I'm still just a little jumpy from the battle."

When she was done, Harry thanked her, gave Hermione a hug and a promise to owl her about plans for the summer and disapparated back to Hogwarts' grounds.