You've Got to Live!

Hermione was the first one to arrive. As her eyes searched for Harry in the twirling vortex, Dumbledore, Snape, Draco, Ginny, Ron, Lupin, Tonks, Moody and Zephyr arrived to aid her. The moment her eyes found her husband, she ran to him, unheeding of the obstacles in the path that were hitting her painfully.

"Stop it, Harry," she gasped, as she reached him. She was met with a blank stare. She caught hold of his shoulders and shook him, "Snap out of it, Harry! Stop it!"

No reaction. Dumbledore, Lupin, Tonks, Moody, Snape and Draco took out their wands and uttered a spell. The broken things raging about in mid air fell to the ground with an almighty crash.

"What the hell do you think you're doing, Potter?" snarled Snape, as the rest of them made their way towards the couple through the debris.

Harry stared at them, his eyes unfocussed. Then, suddenly, without any warning, he fainted in Hermione's arms. He was carried to the bedroom, while the frightened house-elves started the job of rebuilding the dining room.

"What the hell happened?" Draco asked, "Dobby said something about the Daily Prophet. What's the news that knocked the Dark Defeater off his feet?"

Hermione and Ron suddenly turned very red. Zephyr's face turned into stone.

"Is it true, Mum?"

Hermione faced her son. "Yes, but not in the way that Skreeter cow wrote it."

"I'm sorry again, Hermione. I don't know what came over me," said Ron.

Snape glared at both of them. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled again.

"Were those your finger marks on his cheek yesterday, Hermione?" the Headmaster asked.

Hermione nodded, staring at the floor.

"Wotcher, Hermione!" whooped Tonks. She turned to Ron, "Never expected something of this kind from you though, Ron. It was very wrong of you."

"Will anyone tell me what this is all about?" Draco yelled. Zephyr pulled him away to the dining room, found the battered copy of the cause of his father's wrath and handed it to him. Draco read through it and gasped.

"Holy Merlin! I'll kill Skreeter and banish her to nine hells!" he shouted.

Zephyr nodded his agreement. "I'll help you with it," he said quietly.

They headed back to the bedroom.

Harry was still unconscious. They all hovered over him, wondering what to do.

"What's wrong with him?" Zephyr asked.

"He's spent too much of his magical life force," said Lupin, his voice hoarse. He pointed his wand at Harry's chest and muttered, "Enervate!"

Harry's eyes snapped open. He took in the view in front of him. As soon as his eyes settled on Ron and Hermione, the glass kept on the sideboard exploded.

"Calm down, Harry," said Dumbledore gently. Zephyr put a hand on his arm and gave him a weak smile. Harry relaxed visibly.

"Now listen to the entire story, Potter," said Moody and pushed Hermione to him. Harry turned away as Hermione sat next to him gingerly. She caught his chin and turned his face towards her. His eyes were snapped shut.

"Look at me, Harry," she said sincerely.

Harry opened his eyes and took in her red rimmed brimming eyes, the appearing droplets of blood where the splinters had hit her and her tremulous smile.

"Why?" he asked, his voice cracking, "why did you marry me if you loved him all along? You could have at least let me die in peace!"

Tears fell from his eyes and soaked the pillow on either side of him. Hermione brushed them away gently, her own eyes streaming.

"I married you because I love you, you dolt," she said softly, "and nothing of that sort happened yesterday. Ron came in a few minutes after you left. Heeding your words, I allowed him to apologise. He did. He looked genuinely sorry, so I forgave him. As I hugged him, I don't know what came over him. He kissed me and got a hand print on his cheek for it. And this morning we saw what the Daily Prophet had reported. That's all. You can choose to believe it or not. I love you and that's it."

Harry stared at her for a whole minute. The silence in the room was deafening. Harry closed his eyes.

"I believe you," he whispered.

Hermione flashed him a tearful, but grateful smile and bent forward to kiss his forehead.

"And Harry James Potter," she said, her voice like Professor McGonagall, "don't ever do anything like that ever again!"

"What did I do?" Harry asked innocently.

"Don't you remember?" Lupin asked sharply.

"Not really. I remember reading the article, then something exploding...then..." he screwed his face in an effort to remember, and as the memory came, his eyes widened in horror and he groaned, "someone tell me I dreamt that I destroyed my dining room!"

"Unfortunately, Potter, you didn't dream. It was true. Your scared house-elves ran all over the country to fetch help to keep you from destroying your home," said Snape severely.

Harry bit his lip, an action so uncharacteristic for him that his friends frowned. Ron, shaking, took a step forward.

"I'm sorry, Harry, it's all my fault. I don't know what came over me. I'm very sorry and I swear that something like this will never happen again," he said, his voice trembling. He buried his face in his hands.

Harry looked up at his friend.

"Sometimes I wonder, Ron," he said, his voice soft, but cold, "sometimes I wonder whether we've forgiven you too many times. May be we should refuse to forgive you any more and see whether you've learnt your lesson."

Ron's shoulders slumped. The hopelessness evident in his friend's posture softened Harry's resolve.

"Then again," he said, "that's what friends are for."

Ron looked up, hope shining in his blue eyes. He hugged Harry tightly, but stiffened as Harry winced.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Honestly, Weasley," snapped Draco, "use those eyes of yours. Can't you see that he's severely injured? Can't you see all that blood splattered on his body? Or have you become so blind that you cannot recognise your friend's blood, which would not have flowed if not for you?"

Ron winced at the sharp rebuke. Ginny stepped forward and whipped out her wand.

"Move aside, all of you," she said, "I need to heal up these two lovebirds."

She proceeded to wave her wand expertly at both Harry and Hermione. Snape provided several bottles of potions to her, for which she looked grateful and thanked him, while he merely sneered and muttered, "Where would Saint Potter be without us to save his sorry life?"

When Ginny finished mending Harry and Hermione, Hermione gave her a hug and thanked her profusely.

"Well, I'm a good Healer," Ginny said, and smirked.

"I see Draco has been rubbing off on you," said Hermione. Ginny and Draco both blushed prettily. The others smiled, all except Ron.

"I still don't understand how you can be in love with that git," he told his sister, "this is Malfoy we're talking about, Ginny."

Ginny flushed as red as her hair. Hermione's lips pursed up, reminding everyone of McGonagall. Snape made a mental note to find out if the two were related in some manner.

"He's a good person, Ron. He has been an excellent friend to me all these years in spite of our earlier rivalry, and he is very loyal. And, he's never betrayed me," said Harry softly. It was Ron's turn to colour. Draco, Ginny and Hermione tossed him a grateful look.

"He's a Death Eater's son! For all we know he could have been one himself. Weasley has got an idea, for once. This may all be pretence," barked Moody.

"I think you're mistaken, Alastor," said Dumbledore quietly.

"I agree with Dumbledore," said Lupin and Tonks together.

"I have trusted Draco with my life, Mad-Eye, and I have not regretted it," said Harry, his voice almost a whisper.

Moody looked taken aback. Ron, however, still seemed unconvinced. He stood still for a moment, thinking, then the colour rose up so fast in him that his face and hair seemed to be almost of the same hue. He looked furious.

"Are you trying to say that you value Malfoy more than me? A Slytherin who made your life hell in school? Is that it? Do you trust Malfoy more than me, Harry? I never thought I'd be hearing this in my life!" screamed Ron.

Zephyr could take it no more. He had tried to be calm through the entire conversation, but on seeing Ron accuse Harry, and seeing Harry pale and wince on being yell at by his friend, he could not control himself. He loved Harry very much - Harry, his father, his mentor, his friend, his guardian - and he couldn't bear anyone causing pain to him. He loved Draco, too, for Draco had truly accepted him as a brother in spite of his parentage. Zephyr could not and would not stand Ron's insults of two of the only three people he really cared about. The three people who had taught him that life was not as bad as he had thought it was. The three people who had shown him how to enjoy life, who had transformed him from a pessimistic, bitter, unhappy boy to a shy, quiet but well liked Gryffindor. The people who had made him happy; who had shown him that he was a person worth loving. The first people who had accepted him and loved him despite his history. He spoke up.

"Unlike you, Uncle Ron, Draco values true friendship when he sees it. You see that Dad's rich and famous and has the woman you've wanted since a long time. You do not see that he is ready to give up his life to protect you. You do not see that Mum could not stay with you because you take everything for granted, even her. You are never satisfied with what you have; you always look at what others have and feel bad about it. You had everything - the best girl in the world and the best friend in the world, but you decided to throw it away. Draco does not do that. He cares for Mum and Dad, because he realises the worth of their love and friendship, and he does not take them for granted," Zephyr said, his voice rather hard and mature.

Ron blanched. To be berated by his friends was something different. But being told publicly about his faults from a person half his age...

"Oh, yes. You would support him, of course. Blood speaks in the end, doesn't it? Malfoy bastard," he shot back at his godson.

"SHUT UP!" Harry yelled, sitting up abruptly. His face was deathly pale and contorting with rage. Sheer power radiated from him, and Ron stepped back unconsciously.

Silence followed this. Even Snape was looking shocked. Hermione was the first to collect her wits. She walked up to Ron and slapped him hard.

"This is my son you're talking about. If you cannot respect my son, Ron, you truly don't deserve our friendship!" she screamed.

Zephyr stood up suddenly. His resemblance to the enraged Harry was uncanny at that moment.

"Don't you dare to speak of my blood! What would you know about it? You have had a happy family and perfect parents all your life. Only you're too blind to see it. You wouldn't know what being a bastard means, would you? Oh no, you won't. People like you can only go around the world creating bastards and then hating them! You're a hypocrite!" he hissed, his voice so venomous that everyone except Moody and Dumbledore cringed at it.

"Watch your tongue, young man," said Hermione. Zephyr hung his head.

"Sorry Mum," he said softly, "but I'm not taking it back. It was true. Life's not a chess game, Uncle Ron."

"He's right," said Ron suddenly, "you're right, Zephyr. Thank you. I'm sorry for what I've said and done. I'll understand if none of you ever want to see me again."

"Enough," said an imperial voice. They all turned to look at a very exhausted Harry Potter.

"Ron, you owe an apology to my son and my friend. I believe you owe my wife and your sister an apology as well. Whether they forgive you or not is their discretion."

Ron nodded guiltily.

"I'm sorry, Zephyr," he said softly, "I tend to get cranky when I'm angry...please don't think that I meant any of it. I swear I'll make it up to you."

Zephyr glanced at Harry, an eyebrow raised. Harry nodded.

"Fine. I accept your apology, Uncle Ron."

Ron looked a bit relieved. He turned to Hermione.

"I'm sorry, 'Mione. I was being my stupid self again. I'll try not to repeat it."

Hermione nodded and gave him a half smile. Encouraged, Ron turned to Ginny.

"Gin, I can't promise that I'll ever like Malfoy, but I won't interfere in you life if you're happy with him. I'm sorry for being difficult all these days."

Ginny gave her brother a hug. He turned to Draco.

"Mal- Draco, I am sorry for the baseless accusations. I'll try to be civil to you in the future."

To everyone's surprise, Draco Malfoy held out his hand and the two rivals shook hands, not friends, but no longer enemies, either. Even though they had hung out together in their last days at Hogwarts, Ron had never likes or trusted Draco, and they tended to bicker. But his relationship with Ron's little sister had been too much to accept.

Ron turned to Harry.

"I'm sorry, Harry. I realise that with all the trouble I've managed to create, you have been the worst affected. I promise to try to be good in the future. I haven't been a good friend to you recently, and I apologise for that. I'll try my best that this is not repeated in the future. I hope that you'll be as proud of me as a friend as you once were," he said softly, and tears streamed down his face.

Harry nodded, throat too tight to speak. He held out his hand, and when Ron came to him, he was pulled into a brotherly embrace. All was forgiven, friendship was restored.

"I am proud of you now, Ron. Not many wizards are up to accepting their mistakes," whispered Harry, "you can leave now. I daresay your students will be waiting for you."

Ron nodded, relief written all over his face. He left.

"How are you feeling, Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

"Fine. A bit drained, though."

"Rest, my dear boy. Visit us again soon. Professor Potter, I hope you'll join us tomorrow morning. You too, young Mr. Potter. Alastor, I believe you had some job to attend to. Come, Severus. Au revoir, Ms. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy."

"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. Thank you, Professor Snape. Thanks, Mad-Eye. And sorry for the trouble," said Harry and Dumbledore smiled warmly at him. The ghost of a smile flitted across Snape's face. Moody merely growled and gave a curt nod. They left.

Lupin walked up to Harry, Tonks right behind him.

"Harry," he said softly, "you must learn to control yourself. I know that you have had to deal with a lot, but you should not tax yourself over such minor matters. You know better than anyone else how Rita Skreeter is. Take care, my boy. I don't want anything to happen to you." He gave Harry a quick hug. Harry nodded at the werewolf and said softly, "I'll try, Remus, I'll try."

"I hate to interrupt this, but I have to inform you that the boss gave you the day off, Harry. Your house elf convinced her pretty well, considering that no details were given out. Smart elf," said Tonks brightly, "got to run now, or the boss might get snappy." She left.

"Call on me if you ever need to talk or shout or anything, Harry. You know where to find me," said Remus, "take care, child. I will visit again today evening to check up on you." He gave Harry a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder and left.

Draco, Ginny and Zephyr took their places in chairs around Harry's bed.

"Thank you all, guys. And I'm sorry, Hermione," said Harry.

"No, Harry, I'm sorry," said Hermione.

"Stop it, you two," snapped Draco, "now, Hermione, Ginny and I would all like to know about the dying part."

"Dying?"

"Didn't Harry just say that he was dying?"

"Hell, no! I found the cure! But yes, he was dying before that," cried Hermione and launched into the tale of Harry's fatal illness and her cure. She explained everything to them.

"Hey, you didn't tell me the last part!" protested Harry.

"She did well," said Ginny and glared at him. That shut him up effectively.

"Wow. You must be the luckiest guy on earth, Harry!" whistled Draco, his eyes wide in wonder, "what a brain!"

Harry looked at Hermione proudly. She blushed.

"Do we have a pet beetle?" asked Zephyr suddenly.

"Why?"

"Because this one here has been listening to our conversation very carefully. Hmm...looks like an Animagus. I wonder if this is Rita Skreeter?" he held up a beetle with markings around the eyes. Hermione squealed.

"Yes, I believe it is the lady herself," drawled Draco and waved his wand. The beetle turned into a woman - a very unpleasant woman at that. She looked rather nervous at being discovered.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" drawled Draco - reverting back to his vicious self. Harry smiled to himself. He had always wondered at Draco's ability to switch to his 'friend' and 'enemy' modes. While Draco fiercely cared for and was loyal to those he loved, he was totally ruthless about those who tries to harm his near and dear ones. Rita Skreeter was in for a very unpleasant surprise.

"So," sneered Zephyr, recognisable as a genuine Malfoy for an instant, "you are the pest that bugs my parents. Why don't we crush the bug, big brother?"

"With pleasure, li'l brother."

"No."

Draco and Zephyr turned to look at Harry.

"What do you mean, 'no'? This woman has been trying to make your life living hell!" said a very shocked Draco in a rather sharp voice. Harry ignored him and directed his gaze to the reporter. In spite of herself, Rita Skreeter shivered. The calm and penetrating look that Harry gave her unnerved her.

"Why do you insist on ruining my life? What have I ever done to you?" he asked softly, emerald eyes boring into hers.

"This is my job, Harry," the voice was shaky. Hermione smiled inwardly. Rita had not seen Harry's power. In fact, very few had. He was always so sweet and benign towards everyone that they sometimes forgot that he was the most powerful wizard in the world.

"Is it? As far as I know, Rita, reporters are there to report the truth and not print false news," Harry's voice was cold. He appeared calm, but they knew that he was seething with rage.

"I - well, I didn't print anything false. You did have that conversation, and they did kiss!" the reporter shrieked.

Harry smiled. Rita Skreeter stepped back.

"You twisted the truth, Rita. You knew very well that the half truths would cause more trouble than pure fiction, so you turned and twisted the truth so badly that it was no longer recognisable. Why did you do it? Don't you have enough things to print? Have you forgotten that we are the ones keeping you from two months in Azkaban and a heavy fine? I'm afraid you've reached the precipice, Rita. I am a very patient man, but I do have my limits."

That unnerved the reporter totally. Her eyes widened in horror, and she screamed, "It's not my fault that you don't trust your own wife, Potter!"

The blow struck home. Harry slumped forward and lost consciousness.

Hermione, Ginny, Draco and Zephyr turned on her.

"Let me go!" she screeched, "I won't say anything. I'll keep my mouth shut."

"Too right, you will," sneered Draco, an evil smirk lighting up his face, "it's really a pity that the Unforgivables are still banned. But I believe there are wards around this castle which prevent detection, Hermione?"

"Very true, Draco. No magic, not even Unforgivables can be traced here if a Potter permits it. And I, being a Potter by marriage, permit you."

"So, Ms. Skreeter," said Ginny Weasley, "prepare to face thy sins!"

"Please don't kill me!" Rita begged.

"Who said anything about killing you? We will merely remind you that though the Dark Lord and his successors are dead, the legacy continues. The Dark Arts are not dead, and will never be. And it is not only Dark Lords who can use them. My father may be pure Light, but those around him are not necessarily so. It is about time you learnt that even though he does not protect himself from scum like you, there are others who care enough for him to do so, and all those who mean to harm Harry Potter shall suffer," said Zephyr and laughed.

"Hermione! Save me!"

Hermione laughed coldly. "Don't expect me to protect you, you sorry excuse of a woman! You have harmed my husband!"

"It was just a joke. It was such a little thing! You cannot torture me for mere gossip!"

"Oh, can't we? You're mistaken, Skreeter," Draco snarled. Four wands shot out jets of light that hit the unfortunate woman simultaneously as she screamed.