Revenge

Chapter 18: Closure

Hermione woke up, her eyes fluttering when the light hit her, she sighed as she looked at the window and saw him sitting on the ledge, looking out of it, lost in his thoughts. Hermione noticed that he looked so much like the young boy she first met on the train nearly seven years ago, he were so innocent now look at him, he had seen far too many death and been through so much that it would have made people break down and gave up ages ago.

Hermione got up and moved toward Harry, she wrapped her arms around his body and rested her cheek on his back; he stiffened at first but relaxed as he held one of her hand.

“What you thinking about?” Hermione as she pulled away from the hug and stood next to him, looking into the green eyes that she loved so much. Harry sighed.

“I guess I’m thinking about what’s going on, everything has been happening and I can’t help but feel that it’s my fault.” Harry started and Hermione cut him off.

“Harry, listen to me.” Hermione commanded as she placed her hand on his cheek and turned him to look at her. “It’s not your fault, we all knew what we were getting into when we became friends with you, the Weasley’s knew what they were getting into when they took you in to their family, the school knew what they were getting into when they accepted you to Hogwart, I knew what I was getting into when I fell in love with you, Hagrid knew what he was getting into when he came and rescued you all these years ago, your parents knew what they were getting into when they gave birth to you. Harry, we all accepted it and we still love you, it’s not anyone fault but Voldemort, he made the choice to become evil, he had two paths to go down and he chose his destiny.” Hermione admitted, willing Harry to believe her.

“But if you weren’t with me…” Harry started off.

“I would be dead Harry!” Hermione snapped, cutting him off which caused Harry to look at her, wide –eye.

“What?” Harry asked hoarsely.

“Voldemort is after muggle born, think about it Harry, even if I wasn’t your friend, he would still kill me, it doesn’t matter if we are together or not.” Hermione stated softly and Harry looked out of the window.

“I still can’t help but blame myself.” Harry whispered and it hit Hermione. She couldn’t believe that she had been so blind all these years since she first met him, it all flashed in her mind, why he was so willing to accept the blame, how easy it came to him.

“Harry, why do you blame yourself?” Hermione asked cautiously, not wanting him to blow up like he did in fifth year. Harry looked at her confused.

“What do you mean?” Harry asked.

“Harry, ever since I met you, you willing took the blame for everything you couldn’t prevent or couldn’t have known.” Hermione said.

“And your point is?” Harry asked curiously.

“Don’t you see? While living with the Dursley, they put the blame on you for everything that happened to them, they didn’t blame themselves; they just blamed you. This is what making you accept the blame for everything that you can’t prevent!” Hermione exclaimed and Harry stiffened.

“No they never.” Harry said looking out of the window.

“Harry, why don’t you say anything about the Dursley? I mean, all of the years I’ve known you, you’ve never said a word about the Dursley to any of us.” Hermione asked curiously and Harry pulled himself off the ledge.

“I don’t want to talk about it.” Harry said gruffly.

“I mean, everything that happens, you don’t talk to anyone about it, like what happened in the chambers, what happened when you met Voldemort in forth year. Harry you didn’t even tell me about the damn prophecy till nearly two years after it was told to you!” Hermione snapped.

“I said I don’t want to talk about it!” Harry snapped and he stormed out of the room.

Hermione sat on the bed, anger racing through her body then sadness swept her over.

“Why can’t he just let me in?” Hermione sobbed as she buried her face in the pillow once more, Hedwig was watching from her perch, she hooted softly then flew out of the window to find Harry.

Hedwig found Harry sitting on a log in the wood, she hooted when she settled herself down on the branch across from Harry. Harry sighed, refusing to look at her, Hedwig hooted demanding which caused Harry to roll his eyes and tap the chain on his neck.

“What do you want Hedwig?” Harry hooted.

“Why won’t you tell Hermione what you went through with the Dursley?” Hedwig demanded back.

“I can’t Hedwig.” Harry sighed.

“Why? What good reason do you have?” Hedwig asked with a pointed knowing look that he had no good reason.

Unknown to them, Hermione was standing behind a tree, watching and listening to the exchange with amazement.

“Okay you are right I don’t have a reason, I guess that I’ve kept it inside me for so long that it’s hard for me to share.” Harry burst out, glaring at Hedwig who glared back.

“Right now Hermione is up in your room, sobbing her heart out because you won’t let her in.” Hermione glared which caused Harry to be stunned.

“I didn’t know.” Harry whispered and Hedwig rolled her eyes.

“For a bright boy, you are certainly dense when it comes to Hermione.” Hedwig snapped and flew over to the tree and started tugging behind the tree.

“Hedwig, what are you doing?” Harry asked, confused and concerned about his pet.

“Hedwig, leave me alone.” Hermione hissed, tugging her arm back but Hedwig was determined; she sat on the ground.

“Hermione is behind the tree.” She hooted to Harry and Harry groaned as his head slumped into his hands. Hermione knew that Hedwig had given away her presence. She stepped around the tree and moved toward Harry.

“What did you think you were doing?” Harry asked.

“I just needed to see that you were okay, I followed Hedwig.” Hermione admitted as she sat down next to Harry then looked back at Hedwig, who was pacing in front of them. “You can talk to her?” Hermione asked and Harry looked at Hermione, whose eyes were big and bright with curiously and chuckled lightly.

“Yes I can talk to Hedwig, I got this as a present from Sirius in our fifth year, I didn’t know what it was till he told me.” Harry explained while showing the necklace.

“Can it work for anyone else or just you?” Hermione asked, examining the necklace.

“It only works for the person’s pet, no one else’s pet that way secrets doesn’t get out.” Harry explained.

“Handy, I should get one that way I know when Crookshanks is hungry instead of him scratching my door or bed to tell me.” Hermione said and Harry chuckled. “So what is it like? You know, talking to Hedwig?” Hermione asked as she leaned up against Harry.

“It’s nice to have someone to talk to over the holidays and Hedwig helps me out whenever I’m stuck.” Harry admits and Hermione giggles.

“What’s she like?” Hermione asked as Hedwig flew over to Hermione and landed on her lap. Hermione smiled as she stroked Hedwig. “You are a beautiful bird aren’t you?” Hermione cooed and Harry rolled his eyes.

“She’s stubborn sometimes, a bit like you but she is really loyal.” Harry explained as he stroked Hedwig “And she loves the attentions.” Harry added in as an afterthought, which caused Hedwig to nip at him and Hermione to giggle.

“Can she understand us?” Hermione asked and Harry nodded.

“She’s a really smart bird.” Harry explained and Hermione smiled at Hedwig, Hedwig flew off Hermione’s lap and landed on her shoulder, rubbing her face into the side of Hermione’s face. Hermione laughed as she stroked Hedwig. Harry watched the two of them and he heard a meowing noise. “Hermione, is that Crookshanks?” Harry asked and Hermione listened and nodded.

“Crookshanks! Over here.” Hermione called out and soon there was an orange cat making his way toward Hermione. “Hi sweetie.” Hermione cooed as she picked Crookshanks up and looked at Harry. “You know, it just hit me. Crookshanks likes you more than he likes Ron.” Hermione said and Harry thought about and nodded.

“That’s right, I never really thought about that.” Harry admitted.

“That’s because the bloody cat like you better than me.” A voice growled and Harry laughed when he saw their other best friend come through and sat down next to Hermione, Crookshanks hissed which caused Ron sit away from Hermione. “Don’t worry.” Ron snarled at the cat.

“Why he would like me better than you?” Harry asked Ron and Ron rolled his eyes.

“Because you don’t threaten to kill and stuff him all the time.” Ron muttered to himself and Harry groaned as Hermione looked at him with a glare.

“What do you mean you threatened Crookshanks?” Hermione asked

“He kept coming into my room and scratching my bed.” Ron snapped back at Hermione, Hermione geared herself up to snap back at Ron when another voice entered the scene.

“Is this a private party or can anyone join in?” Draco asked in a teasing tone.

“Come on in and bring your pet, it’s seems to be party for them as well.” Ron hollered back. Draco laughed as he joined them with Ginny, they all sat down in a circle.

“Why are we all out here in the first place?” Ginny asked.

“Just felt like getting out of the house in the first place, I thought I would go mad if I stayed in there for any longer.” Hermione said and everyone nodded in understandment apart from Harry, who was wondering why she made that up. Hermione sent him a look saying that she’ll explain it later.

“Do you remember when I tried to curse you only to get a belly full of slugs?” Ron asked Draco and he laughed his head off.

“Oh that was a classic, I honestly thought I was going to wet myself.” Draco admitted and the rest laughed.

“I honestly thought it wasn’t going to stop.” Hermione admitted and Harry laughed.

“What about the time when we went into the wood in our second year Ron, ‘Harry, Harry’” Harry whined in a perfect imitation of Ron who blushed and everyone laughed.

“What did you expect? There were bloody massive spiders in that wood, you kept telling me to be quiet!” Ron said and Harry rolled his eyes.

“I was trying to listen to what the spider was telling me as it was really important, what about before we went into the wood? ‘Follow the spiders? Why can’t be follow the butterflies?’” Harry teased and Ron rolled his eyes as Ginny laughed.

“Oh that was great!” Ginny choked out between laugher, which got everyone else cracking up.

“GINNY! RON! DRACO! GET BACK HERE NOW AND CLEAN UP THIS KITCHEN NOW!” Molly shouted which caused the latter three to groan.

“What did you do?” Hermione asked with amusement.

“We decided to make breakfast.” Ron said as they got up and rushed back to the house before Molly could get more enraged.

Harry and Hermione were laughing.

“What are they like?” Hermione asked and Harry nodded in agreement, he sighed as Hermione leaned against Harry and he wrapped his arms around her.

“So why did you lie?” Harry asked.

“Because I knew that you wouldn’t like it if they started asking why you stormed off.” Hermione retorted. Harry closed his eyes and looked off. “Harry, why can’t you let me in?” Hermione asked and Harry sighed.

“Hermione…” Harry started and Hermione looked up at him.

“Harry, I know its difficult for you, but I just want you to know, whenever you want to talk, I’m right here.” Hermione whispered as she gently kiss his lips. Harry’s hand came up and cupped the back of her head, holding her lips to his.

“I will tell you, just give me time.” Harry whispered when they pulled away. Hermione nodded, they both sat there staring into the others eyes.