Harry Potter and the New Enemy

AN: I have returned! I'm so sorry for the long wait but i was too lazy. So anyway, here's the next chapter. Again this will be on hiatus until like the end of June because of my trip to Peru. I say goodbye to you all and hope that you'll review. Now on we go

Chapter 4: The Next Day

Harry woke up the next morning, much earlier than the others. As he woke up, he simply lay there on his bed thinking of all that had happened. He couldn't believe it. He had not only defeated Voldemort, but he had also found his godfather. Everyone had thought he was dead, even himself. It was too shocking, all the events that had occurred. He couldn't believe it. When he knew that he wasn't going to fall asleep anytime soon, Harry got out of bed and quietly left the room. He went downstairs, being careful not to wake anyone else. When he reached the bottom of the steps, he saw that he wasn't the only one up at such an early hour. Down in the living room, he saw Hermione curled up on the sofa reading a book. Harry smiled at how innocent she looked curled up there reading. Somehow the light from the window seemed to make her shine even more than usual. Harry never realized just how beautiful Hermione truly was. Especially in her purple robe with the sun bouncing off her hair the way it was. Harry shook his head. What was he thinking? This was Hermione! He thought he'd surprise her so he snuck up behind her and put his hands in front of her eyes. She giggled as she struggled.

“Harry,” she said. Harry only chuckled in reply. He let her go and went around to face her.

“So what's a beautiful girl like you doing up so early in the morning,” he asked teasing her. Hermione blushed softly and smiled.

“I couldn't sleep. So I decided to just read a book I had gotten for fun. And you, Mr. Potter? What are you doing up so early?” Harry only chuckled in reply.

“I couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts in my head. So what are you reading,” he asked looking at the book in her hands.

“It's called Pride and Prejudice,” she said, “ever hear of it?” Harry nodded.

“I think so. Isn't it a muggle book,” he asked. Hermione nodded in reply.

“Yes, it is. My parents gave it to me since I was obsessed over the movie,” Harry smiled. That sounded like Hermione.

“Yeah, I know about it because it was one of the never opened books in Dudley's second bedroom,” he said. Hermione giggled once more as she had heard much about Harry's cousin. Harry smiled over the fact that he had made her laugh. The monster inside growled softly, appreciating the fact that he was the one who made her laugh. His head took a 360° turn. How could he be feeling this way? The last time he felt this was for … Ginny. But that couldn't be possible. He couldn't have a crush on Hermione could he? No, they were best friends nothing more. Right? His thoughts were suddenly disrupted by a hand in front of his face.

“Harry. Harry, are you still there,” she said. Harry shook his head to see his friend's hand wave in front of him.

“Um, what,” he asked. Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled.

“Are you okay? You haven't been listening to a word I've said have you,” she asked. Harry only shrugged in reply. Hermione sighed.

“I asked how you are feeling,” she repeated. Harry sighed. He didn't know if he wanted to burden Hermione with his problems. But she was his best friend after all. Maybe, he could tell her.

“Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel,” he began, “I mean, I feel great that we finally defeated Voldemort but I killed a man. No, not a man, Voldemort could not be considered human. But still. I killed someone. Does that make me a killer, `Mione? Does it make me like him,” he asked staring at her. She had signs of tears in her eyes. She then quickly shook her head.

“No, Harry, no,” she said. Harry shook his head.

“But,” he began, “I k-“He was suddenly cut off by two arms wrapping themselves around him. He looked to see Hermione giving him a hug.

“Listen to me Harry James Potter,” she began, “you are NOT a killer. Voldemort was the killer. He murdered several witches, wizards, and even muggles all for glory. You, you killed him to save everyone. And that is much different from Voldemort. You are not Voldemort. Not even a bit. Just because you killed him does not make you him. You are completely different. You save people. He killed them. Simple as that. You never killed anyone unless they deserved it. In fact you didn't kill anyone but Voldemort. That separates you from him. Okay?” Harry stood still at Hermione's speech. He then wrapped his arms around her and did something almost no one had seen.

He cried.

He sobbed onto her shoulder and Hermione held him. Supported him as he cried for all those who died, for those who sacrificed themselves for him, for his parents, friends, muggles, everyone. For their lost childhood and mentors as well. And Hermione cried too. The two best friends cried together for all that they had lost and all they'd been lucky to gain. Finally, after a time, the tears stopped. They had run out of tears. They looked at each other and smiled. They were done feeling sorry for themselves. Now was a time for peace. It was then that not only Harry, but Hermione too, felt butterflies in their stomachs. Harry didn't know why he felt this way; neither did Hermione for that matter. They separated and looked down.

“Feeling better,” said Hermione. She was shocked she'd managed to get that much out. Harry nodded.

“Yeah, but let's not talk about the war or the bad things in the past. Let's talk about the good times, agreed?” Hermione nodded and smiled. She brought up memories of their years at school and they laughed about them. They remembered every funny thing that happened during Hogwarts, like Fred and George's pranks on Umbridge in 5^th year and Luna's commentary for the quidditch match in 6^th year. There were bad memories but they never crossed their lips. They focused on the good times. The times of innocence. Unbeknownst to them, a familiar face was watching over them from his hiding spot on the stairs. Sirius smiled as he looked on at the two. They had definitely grown up during the four years he'd been away. Sirius was glad to see Harry was opening up more than before. Looking at Harry and Hermione reminded him of James and Lily during their 7^th year when Lily actually became friends with James first. Hopefully Harry and Hermione would be reliving the past in that way. Hermione reminded Sirius a lot of Lily. He decided to intrude as everyone was about to get up soon.

“And what have we here,” he said, “a couple of rule breakers up before everyone else?” He shook his finger.

“Naughty, naughty you two,” he said with a hint of a smile breaking through his serious face. Harry and Hermione looked at each other and back at Sirius before breaking up into laughter.

“Hey, I'm Sirius,” he said using the same joke he used back in school. It seemed to work because Harry and Hermione were still laughing and seemed to be laughing harder after the joke. His serious face went away and he started laughing with the two. It had definitely been too long since he'd been with them. He had missed them all throughout the years, especially Harry. He had already been gone for the first 12 years of his life and then to disappear again, he wondered how Harry didn't hate him. He looked at Hermione laughing and he realized that was the reason. If it weren't for Hermione and the rest of Harry's friends, Harry may have possibly hated him. Sirius was happy Harry had such good friends around. It made him smile in a fatherly way toward him.

“Well, you two better get dressed. Everyone will be getting up soon and I don't think they'd like it if they saw you two in your pajamas,” said Sirius getting up and going back up the stairs. Harry and Hermione joined him up the stairs where they left Hermione to go up to the rooms. Harry entered his room to find Draco up and Ron and Tristan beginning to rise out of bed. He went toward his bed and got his clothes out.

“So where were you,” asked Draco with his eyebrow lifted up. Harry turned back to him.

“I got up early, went downstairs and talked to Hermione,” he replied as though it was the most natural thing in the world. Draco smirked then looked to the other two boys in the room, one who was confused and the other with a similar smirk.

“Really, you were with Hermione,” said Tristan speaking for the first time that morning. Ron continued to look confused as he looked back and forth between Harry, Draco and Tristan.

“Yes, I was. What's so important about that,” he asked. Draco and Tristan looked extremely suspicious to Harry.

“So, it's obvious why it's important,” spoke Tristan. Draco only nodded. Harry understood what they were talking about. They had agreed to not tell Ron as they were afraid he still had feelings for her. Luckily, Ron had stepped out to get dressed.

“Oh lord, not this again,” spoke Harry as he rolled his eyes, “you know this whole `you have a crush on your best friend' thing is getting just a little bit old. She's my friend. My best friend! Nothing more.” Draco and Tristan only shrugged their shoulders and headed for the bathroom trying to get there before the other. Ron, who had just gotten back in, only shrugged his shoulders.

“You ready to go or do you still need to get dressed,” asked Ron. Harry got up off of the bed and walked down the stairs with Ron. As they passed by, they saw Tristan and Draco fighting, trying to get inside the bathroom. They would've continued if it weren't for the fact that Christine managed to stop them by going inside while they were fighting. Ron and Harry laughed as they looked upon the scene in front of them. They shook their heads as they headed downstairs toward the kitchen. They saw Mrs. Weasley slaving away over the stove cooking breakfast magically. They also saw the girls, minus Christine, talking with Sirius and Remus. Harry and Ron took a seat beside Sirius and Ginny, respectively.

“So what are we talking about here,” asked Ron as he tried to grab a piece of toast that was in the center of the table. Unfortunately for him, Ginny slapped his hand causing him to drop the piece he had. He shook his hand before glaring at Ginny who shrugged in reply, acting as though nothing was wrong.

“Nothing much. Hermione's just filling Sirius on all that's been happening to you guys while you were looking for the horcruxes. I can't believe you guys had to do all the stuff she's said,” said Ginny looking at Ron and Harry. They only shrugged as though it were nothing. Soon everyone else came in and Mrs. Weasley served the breakfast. Luckily there was no mail so poor Errol could relax. Everyone seemed to be so much happier than before; it was as though it was a new group of people. Once breakfast was over, the boys, Christine, and Ginny got their brooms and went out to play Quidditch. Since there were only 8 they split up into teams of four. Harry as seeker, Ron as keeper, Sirius as beater, and Tristan as chaser for one team and Draco as seeker, Christine as keeper, Bill as beater and Ginny as chaser for the other team. Hermione looked on with Remus and Tonks, watching the game. It had been so long since they had all played Quidditch that it was probably the best game that they had played/seen. In the end Harry's team won by 10 points. They took a victory lap around before landing next to the others.

“That was one of the best games I've ever played,” yelled out Ron who was still excited about his win over the ferret. Everyone simply ignored Ron and continued on their way back to the Burrow. After that they went their separate ways for the time being. Sirius went up to take a nap since he was still tired, Remus and Tonks went off to only God knows where, Ginny went to Luna's house and the others simply stayed and talked. They talked of old times and memories came back to them all. Soon it was time for dinner and they stayed up eating treacle tart under the stars. At midnight, six teenage figures were seen sleeping in peace under the dark, night sky.

Meanwhile

The dark hooded figure looked on as he saw the teenagers sleeping. He smirked and would have laughed had it not been for fear that it would ruin his plans.

`These brats are too gullible,' he thought. `They have no clue that their problems are just beginning.” And with an evil smirk on his face, he walked off into the distance, the faint noise of apparation hanging in the air.

AN: Hahaha! I bet you're all wondering who this guy is. Well you'll have to review if you wanna find out. So yeah next update is unknown but please review this fanfiction and tell me what you think. However i warn u do not flame me. and yeah, i accept constructive criticism. it helps my writing. so yeah review!