An Open Book

"An Open Book" by Rory

Finally, after what felt like a very long time, the smoke around Harry began to clear. He could make out the dim form of one of the long house tables, lying on its side several feet away. He could hear nothing but the wind, which blew in through the shattered windows. Slowly lowering his wand, he opened his mouth to call his friends' names, and found he had no voice. He tried to move and instead felt his legs give way beneath him.

As he sank towards the hard floor of the Great Hall, Harry suddenly felt a pair of strong hands seize him under the arms. Harry didn't have to look up to know that it was Ron. Ron. He was alive. Harry gasped a staggering sigh of relief and allowed himself to be guided into the Entrance Hall.

"Easy, mate," came Ron's low voice in his ear. "Steady, now."

Another pair of hands, smaller, grasped his arm and helped Ron lower Harry onto the bottom step of the grand staircase. Harry blinked and tried to focus his vision, which was rather blurry at the moment. Hermione's face swam into view. Tears were coursing down her cheeks, but she, too, was alive, and a welcome sight.

"Hermione," he croaked, reaching out to her. "Ron." Ron crouched down next to Harry and put a hand on his shoulder, his eyes strangely red. Harry pulled them both to him, feeling for the first time in his life a desperate, unquenchable need for human contact. The three of them sat tangled together on the bottom step, each marveling that the others were there.

After a long moment, Harry heard a quiet gasp from the main door. He looked up and saw Ginny in the doorway. She was white as a sheet, and trembling from head to foot. Her hand was clenched tightly around her wand. There was a nasty cut near her hairline, and her robes were torn in several places. When she spoke, her quiet voice echoed through the hall.

"Is - is it over?" she asked, as if unable to believe it might be true.

The three of them, still clutching each other for support, stood. Harry took a step towards Ginny and held out his arms.

"It's over," he said simply.

With a strangled sob, Ginny ran towards Harry and threw her arms around him. He gathered her close. Ron and Hermione surrounded them, Ron stroking his sister's hair and Hermione resting her head on Ginny's shoulder.

Harry rested his cheek on Ginny's head and looked back into the Great Hall. He could see an empty pile of robes near the head table; that was all that was left of Voldemort. There would be no rebirth this time. The spell that Harry had cast was even more powerful than Avada Kedavra. Voldemort was no longer of this world, or of any other. He was no more.

But with a heavy heart, Harry remembered others were gone forever, as well. Suddenly he pulled away and looked at Ginny intently. "Gin, is everyone...?"

She nodded. "We're all okay. Didn't lose anyone this time."

Ron, Hermione and Harry all let out audible breaths. They could not bear to lose anyone else, not after Sirius. Not after Neville. And not after Dumbledore.

Ron looked out through the main doors towards the setting sun. "Come on, then," he said quietly. "We should tell everyone the news."

Hermione made a choking sort of noise that was half laugh, half sob. "Yes, they should know it's finally over," she said with a wan smile, leaning on Ron as they walked towards the door.

Ginny began walking after them, but Harry stood where he was, rooted to the spot. "Harry?" she asked worriedly.

He had a hand on his forehead. "I-I think I may be dreaming," he said faintly.

"What is it?" asked Ron in a concerned tone. He and Hermione turned and came back a few paces.

Harry didn't say anything, but merely pushed back his fringe.

The three of them stared for a moment. Then Ginny reached out her hand and ran her fingers over the smooth skin.

Harry's scar was gone.

"Blimey," muttered Ron. "I guess it really is finished, then."

Harry shook himself, coming out of his reverie, and walked purposefully over to the doorway. "Yes," he said, his voice crackling with emotion. "It's finished."

******

In the days and weeks that followed, chaos still reigned in the wizarding world. But the chaos was merry, and the world seemed somehow right to those who had fought so hard, for so long. They were able to meet without fear of attacks or spies. Anything was cause for a celebration.

Late one evening, when the summer was waning, a gathering took place at the Burrow. Harry stayed to help clean up. Through the kitchen window, he saw Ron and Hermione walking through the garden, gnomes occasionally scuttling across their path. Harry watched with interest as Ron paused beneath the old willow tree and grasped Hermione's hand. They were too far away for Harry to hear what was said, but he had a pretty good idea. He smiled to himself and finished drying the dish in his hand. When he turned to put it away, he saw with surprise that Ginny was beside him. She, too, was watching the scene unfolding in the garden. A wistful smile played across her face.

"That's good," she said quietly. "That's right for them. They belong with each other."

Harry glanced back at his two best friends. Hermione had thrown her arms around Ron's neck to kiss him. "I know," he said softly.

Suddenly he felt restless. "Ginny, what are you going to do now that it's over?" he asked. "The twins have their shop, and Ron and Hermione have each other...what do you have?"

Ginny looked thoughtful for a moment. "Well, I've got to finish school, haven't I?" she said matter-of-factly. "But it will be much, much different," she said in a more subdued tone. She looked up at him curiously. "Why? What will you do now, Harry?"

He gave a harsh laugh. "I don't know, honestly. What am I cut out for, other than having arch-enemies and playing Quidditch?" She gave him a look, and he sobered. "I mean, my whole life was about finishing off Voldemort, you know? Now I've done that, and I'm eighteen years old. My whole life's behind me."

Ginny put down her dishtowel and leaned against the sink, eyes on the floor. She didn't speak for a long moment. When she finally raised her gaze to meet Harry's, her eyes were very bright.

"Harry," she said. "Do you think you'd be here tonight if your whole life was about Voldemort? Do you think we'd want to associate with someone who could never do but one thing his whole life?" She paused to wipe a wayward tear from the corner of her eye. "The last few years...the last few months, especially...have proven that you're capable of so much, Harry. You're brave. You're kind. You love your friends. They--" Her voice broke, and Harry reached out to grasp her hand. "We love you," she said, almost in a whisper. "We need you, Harry. You need us. We're going to be with one another for a long, long, time. Your life's not behind you, Harry. It's stretching before you like an open book."

She took a step closer and laid her head on his shoulder. Harry enveloped her in his arms, fighting the tears that threatened to rise as he absorbed the weight of her words.

After a long moment, Ginny pulled away and looked up at him. "Promise me you'll think about what I said?" she asked.

He nodded and leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I promise," he said, his voice hoarse.

He turned to go, pulling his cloak from the back of a chair on the way. "Tell Ron I'll stop by tomorrow, to congratulate him." Harry smiled at his two friends, still visible through the kitchen window. Then he paused, his hand on the doorknob. "Thank you, Ginny."

"You're welcome, Harry," she said, her face suddenly calm. She smiled. "Sweet dreams."

He grinned back at her and opened the door. A warm breeze swept across the yard, and he looked up into the starry sky, marveling at the millions of lights that shone down upon him. Harry suddenly realized that he was entirely free. No more living with the Dursleys. No more Voldemort. He could do whatever he wanted with his life. Happiness welled up inside him, and he laughed aloud. Perhaps, he thought, as he walked through the gathering darkness, Ginny was right. Maybe being the Boy Who Lived was ever so much more than having a scar.