The Raven

A/N: I’ve had this storyline in mind for awhile, and I needed a break from Shadows so I started this. Wrote it all in one afternoon, and it’s definitely darker than anything I’ve done.

Also, I know that Kai_Lun_Mau has a Crow fanfiction going… they’re bound to be similar seeing as how they’re following the same plot. But we’ve already chatted about this, and both of us are going to continue writing it our own way, so any and all similarities are coincidental.

Please read and then review when you’re done!

This story is based on the wonderful movie The Crow.

I believe that sometimes, love is a more powerful thing than magic. I believe when two people love one another; it can stretch across boundaries, across time, across anything for those two people to be together.

My name is Ginny Weasley. I used to know two people who loved each other so much they couldn’t bear to be parted for more than hours at a time.

This is their story, more than mine. I am still alive, and therefore someday may have a real story of my own to tell. Harry and Hermione were more than my friends, you see. After my family was killed, they took me in, cared for me, sheltered me, and gave me the love I so desperately craved. I was going to be Hermione’s maid of honour at her wedding to Harry.

And then… it was all gone.

Chapter 1: The Raven

Sirius Black shielded himself from the sharp cold rain as he pushed his way into The Leaky Cauldron. The weather was chilly and the dark clouds blocked out any sort of sunlight.

It was never sunny anymore.

Sirius pulled back his hood and sat down at the bar. Old Tom, the bartender for so many years now, looked at him with sympathy.

“Your regular?” Tom asked and Sirius looked up with red, weary eyes.

“Sure,” he answered as Tom set a glass down in front of him and next to it, a bottle of Ogden’s Best FireWhisky. “Thanks,” he slumped back on the stool and poured some of the alcohol.

Tom simply nodded, but didn’t move from where he was standing in front of Sirius. “Been a year now hasn’t it?”

“That’s right,” Sirius answered, brushing back his long, wet black hair.

“Damn shame what happened to them,” Tom wiped another glass and set it on the bar. “He was a good kid. So was she.”

“That they were,” Sirius replied. “Had the whole world in their hands.”

Tom opened his mouth to reply when the door opened again, and a slim figure with long red hair came rushing through.

Ginny Weasley struggled to shut the heavy door behind her, but she finally pushed hard enough and it latched. Breathing rapidly, she approached the bar and sat next to Sirius.

“Hi Tom, Sirius.” She said, pulling off her cloak and setting it on the stool next to her.

“Hello Ginny,” Tom replied as Sirius got up and gave her a hug.

“How are you?” Sirius asked as Tom went to attend to some other patrons.

“I’m all right,” Ginny replied, shaking out her wet red locks. “I just…” she sighed. “I can’t believe it’s been a year already.”

“Me either,” Sirius said grimly. He pushed the bottle of whisky over to Ginny, who in turn took a long sip. “I think you miss them more than any of us did.”

Ginny nodded, trying to keep her eyes from tearing over. “They were going to let me live with them, you know.” She said. “Said I could stay as long as I wanted to, especially after the Death Eaters wiped out the rest of my family.”

Sirius said nothing; just put his arm around the younger girl.

“Harry rescued me from my house when the Death Eaters came and ransacked it.” Ginny couldn’t help her tears now. “And then…”

“It’s all right,” Sirius said quietly. “I know.”

It was October 14^th, the year 2002. A year ago to the day, Harry Potter and his fiancée Hermione Granger were killed in a surprise Death Eater attack at their home.

It had been a quiet night. Ginny had been on her way home from work, Harry had run out to the store to get some butterbeer and Hermione was busy decorating the house for the holiday. They were celebrating the fact that the very next day, Hermione and Harry would be exchanging vows. They were celebrating the fact that Voldemort was gone forever, and none of them would have to live in fear from that day on.

Ginny always figured that Death Eaters had been waiting for a moment that was least expected. Ten minutes after Harry left, they swarmed the house, taking Hermione by complete surprise. They gagged her, did unspeakable things to her body, took away every last shred of innocence she had.

And then Harry came home. Ginny had arrived around the same time he had, and Harry pushed her to the side as he gripped his wand tightly and strode into the house, his green eyes flashing dangerously.

What happened next, Ginny was never positively sure of. All she heard was a loud scream, and then the whole house filled with a sickly green light and Harry was flying through the front window. Ginny jumped away in terror and then ran down the street to do what she should have done right away.

Running down the neighbourhood, Ginny screamed at the top of her lungs for anyone, anyone to help. Wizards and witches streamed out of their houses, going to help the famous Boy Who Lived, but it was too late. She could tell when she got back to the yard that Harry was already gone. Someone had alerted the Ministry already, and she could see Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather and one of the top Aurors watching her from across the yard.

“Her…Hermione…” Ginny said, her voice cracking as she held Harry’s head between her hands. “She’s still inside…” Sirius stared at her for another moment before rushing into the vandalized house.

They brought Hermione out on a stretcher that lingered in midair. Ginny rushed over to her and was astonished to see that her friend was still alive.

“Hermione,” Ginny grasped her hand.

“Gin!” Hermione seemed happy to see her, even though her beautiful face was bruised and her eyes almost swollen shut. “I’m so glad you’re okay… I didn’t know if they hurt you…”

“No, I’m all right, they didn’t see me.” Ginny replied. “They’re going to take you to fix you up, okay?”

“Tell Harry I’ll be back soon,” Hermione was tired, she could tell. “Is he all right? He drove them away from here…”

Ginny couldn’t speak past the lump that suddenly swelled in her throat. Sirius appeared at her side as Hermione was taken away to St. Mungo’s. His large hand clamped down on her slim shoulder as they looked at one another.

“Harry’s dead, isn’t he?” Ginny asked, although she already knew. Sirius only looked down at her. “And Hermione’s not going to make it either is she?”

“She’ll be fine,” Sirius said, but there was something odd about his voice.

Hermione died later that night at the hospital. She had fallen unconscious as they had brought her in and never woke back up.

Ginny felt raw inside at the new loss. After the deaths of her family members, Harry and Hermione had been there at the funerals, holding her up between them so she didn’t fall to the ground in a faint. This time she had to stand by herself as she watched the last two people she loved be lowered into the earth.

Sirius stood somewhere behind her, exactly where she couldn’t tell. Ginny knew he was there and she had always liked Sirius, but he wasn’t family.

Since that time, however, he had become her friend, someone she could turn to when the days were almost too rough to handle. He had lost his family that night as well.

“Sorry,” Ginny said, wiping away at her eyes.

Sirius looked misty eyed as well as he thought about his godson. “We’ll get through it.”

Ginny nodded and slid off the stool. “I just stopped in to say hi. I’ve got to get going.”

“Where are you off to tonight?” Sirius asked.

“Nowhere special.” Ginny said. “Back to my flat…”

“You know you can stay at my place should you need company, right?” Sirius asked gently.

“I know,” Ginny nodded, blinking tears back furiously. “Thank you Sirius. I’ll see you later.” She pulled her cloak back around herself and left the comfort of the old tavern.

Sirius turned back to the bar where Tom was standing. “I don’t like her out on those streets alone. Too many thugs and Death Eaters still wandering about.”

Walking quickly down the street, she soon left Diagon Alley behind and was nearing the lane where Harry and Hermione’s house once stood. The ceiling had caved in partway and some of the walls were starting to crumble, and most of the windows were broken and boarded up. It hurt Ginny deep inside to see the house like this, the house that all three of them had once cared for standing in ruins.

Tucking her head down against the wind, she went around the side of the house and towards the backyard, where two solitary gravestones loomed. They were protected by magic, and therefore were unscathed from any sort of vandalism. Ginny dropped down to her knees, not caring anymore if she was wet.

Reaching inside her cloak, Ginny pulled out two white roses that she had taken from a florist’s cart earlier that day in Muggle London. Pressing each one briefly to her lips, she laid them carefully over the slight mound of earth in front of each stone.

“I miss you guys,” she said. “I keep hoping that someday you two will come back to me but I know that will never happen.” Ginny bowed her head. “I love you both.” She trailed her fingers along the top of the gravestones then left, pulling her cloak back over her head as she left.

She had only been gone for a few minutes when a Raven flew down from a tree and perched on the top of Harry’s headstone. Letting its cry echo into the night, it began to use its sharp beak to peck away at the smooth rock.

*** *** ***

A round of laughter rose from the men sitting at the table in the middle of the pub. It was late, nearly midnight, and the only people left skulking about Knockturn Alley were the toughest of the tough, namely the Death Eaters.

When Voldemort was killed by Harry Potter, they saw no reason to stop doing what they did. In fact, the Death Eaters grew even worse than they were before, now that they had no one to control them.

Lucius Malfoy raised his small glass and drained the Absinthe from it. “To us, one more year that we’ve been the leaders of this place.” The other men sitting with him sneered and drank their alcohol as well.

It was still raining hours later when the group of them left the pub. Going past Harry Potter’s house, they made it a ritual to damage anything that was left standing. Tonight it was one of the few upright walls, the wood and plaster was already so weakened it only took a few spells to topple the thing over. As it fell, the smashing of glass could be heard and Lucius turned to his group.

“Think there was something valuable on that wall?” he jeered. Bellatrix Lestrange sidled up to him and he gripped her leather clad body.

“Lucius, darling…” Bellatrix purred in his ear. “It turns me on when you do this…”

Lucius turned and grinned at her, moving his hand up over her breasts. “We’re finished here,” he bent down and let his lips move over her ear. Laughing, the Death Eaters turned and made their way off into the night.

Near the back of the property, the undisturbed earth of a year began to crack, mud and grass sliding as something underneath pushed up, wanting to breathe the fresh air and feel the rain.

An anguished cry broke through the wind as two pale hands broke free of the ground and began to pull. Harry Potter lifted himself up out of his own grave and collapsed upon the bothered earth, huddling into a fetus position while crying out as the lightning flashed into his eyes.

After a long time, Harry managed to lift himself up. Immediately the Raven was there, perched on his shoulder. He drew strength from the large black bird, and stumbled over to his house.

A cry ripped from his throat as he looked upon his once beautiful home. It had been reduced to ruins… the home that Hermione had so lovingly decorated, the home where they had made love twice a day sometimes…

Hermione…. A voice echoed through his head. Hermione….

“Hermione!” he screamed, falling to his knees. He felt as if his very soul was being pulled apart as he thought of her. Harry buried his face in his hands as his sobs forced him to double over.

The Raven stayed by him, its beady black eyes boring into his head. After awhile his sobs began to go away and a new emotion took its place.

Anger.

Raw, unadulterated anger began to pulse through his veins where blood once flowed.

Harry got up and went into the house, ignoring the rain falling through holes in the roof. Using the lightning as his guide, he made his way into what used to be their living room.

“Mudblood…” the sneering face of Lucius Malfoy spat at Hermione then threw her to the ground.

Harry saw them from the yard. He pushed Ginny aside, telling her to stay safe until he called her in.

“No…” Harry’s face crumpled as he fell onto the floor, his stomach heaving.

“Potter, you thought you got rid of us didn’t you...” Lucius had his wand at Harry’s throat as Bellatrix Lestrange held him back.

Harry covered his eyes as the visions washed over him. The Raven sat up on a ledge, always patient as he recovered. He huddled on the floor as everything about that night a year ago came back to him.

And now Harry was hell bent on getting revenge.

With new strength in his body, Harry made his way into their old bedroom.

“Harry!” a laughing Hermione squealed as he chased her around the room. He caught her and spun her around in his arms, then playfully dropped her on the bed.

Harry spun around as old ghosts flitted around him.

Hermione pulled Harry against her; his head resting on her chest.

“I love you,” she said, closing her eyes.

“Say it again,” Harry said, looking up at smiling.

“I love you,” Hermione repeated and Harry raised himself up and kissed her.

Harry collapsed on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. It wasn’t wet in here so the room smelled musty, like it had been closed up.

“Probably has…” he said.

“Surprise,” Harry came up behind Hermione, who was sitting at the dressing table. He reached around her with both arms and held in his hand a tiny box.

“Oh Harry!” Hermione turned and gave him a soft smile. “You’ve already given me a beautiful ring!’ she held up her left hand where the engagement diamond sparkled.

“This goes with it.” Harry replied. She took the box and he kissed the back of her neck as she opened it to find matching diamond earrings inside.

“They’re gorgeous!” Hermione turned and threw her arms around him, kissing him repeatedly.

Harry sat up suddenly and leapt off the bed with shocking dexterity. Shedding his tuxedo (his wedding tuxedo that turned out to be his funeral wear) he ripped open the doors and tore through the few articles of clothing inside to find an old pair of black trousers. He pulled them on, and then found a skin tight shirt that Ginny and Hermione had bought him as a joke one year.

Standing in front of the mirror, he noticed his hair was longer, his face was gaunt, his lightning bolt scar was a slash of angry red across his forehead, yet his eyes, his mother’s eyes, remained the same.

Harry left the bedroom and stood in front of the recently fallen wall. The Raven flew down to perch once again on his shoulder, its feet digging into his skin. Harry actually welcomed the pain.

The Death Eaters were all dead. They just didn’t know it yet.

A/N: Several of you were confused about Harry in the first chapter and I’m hoping to clarify it for you now:

Harry isn’t alive. His soul is at a state of unrest because of the way he died. Therefore, the Raven is like his guide now, because the world he knew isn’t the same anymore.

I hope that answered your questions… if you guys still are confused… then maybe you should watch the movie ;) It’s excellent, I promise.

The Raven: Chapter 2- The First Revenge

Harry had no idea how long he stood in his ruined living room, but the lightning had finally died down as he stepped over broken wood.

A cracking of glass could be heard underneath the wall, and it made Harry retrace his steps and effortlessly lift up the wall. He was amazed at his strength, and looked gratefully to the Raven for this gift. Pushing back the plaster and wood, he looked down to see several broken picture frames scattered across the floor.

Gently, Harry pushed aside the glass and picked up the photos. When he had successfully pulled all of them from under the broken frames, he backed into a corner of the room, the Raven somewhere above him, and looked at all of them.

The first one was taken at Ginny’s nineteenth birthday party, back when the Weasleys were all still alive. Harry was sitting next to Hermione and he had shoved some cake in her face, claiming they needed practice for their wedding. It had been the first public announcement of their engagement.

Harry impatiently brushed away at several tears that rolled down his pale cheeks. Going a few pictures more into the small stack, he came upon another one that brought a slight smile to his cracked, dry lips.

The next one was during a day when he and Hermione had decided to picnic in their backyard. Instead of eating, they had spent the day rolling around on the blanket, snogging and making love. He had brought an old camera out with them and had extended his arm to take a picture. In it Hermione repeatedly kissed his cheek and periodically he would turn to take her lips with his.

Harry let out a low moan as his body ached for Hermione… the way her eyes would warm as soon as he would step into the same room, her soft hands cupping his cheek as they kissed… he let out a loud cry and flew up from where he was crouched on the floor.

The Raven flew behind him, never straying far away.

*** *** ***

Opius Gavet, Death Eater in Lucius Malfoy’s group, strolled down the wet dark streets of Knockturn Alley. In one hand, he held a bag filled with loot from a house they’d ransacked earlier in the evening.

“Get some good money for this shit…” he puffed hard on a cigarette then tossed the butt onto the street. Opius yanked the metal grate and pushed the door open. The inside of Rim Tin’s pawn shoppe was dark, but he could see a flicker of light in the back. Stalking past glass cases of rings and other fancy things, he pounded on the metal fencing that kept Rim Tin separated from his customers.

“Who’s there?” Rim Tin’s gruff voice came from the back.

“Me,” Opius replied shortly, tossing his bag on the counter loudly.

“I’m closed!”

“Not for me you aren’t.” Opius hit the metal grating with his fist.

Rim Tin grumbled as he slammed the door behind him. “You’d better have something good in here tonight.” He yanked the bag and started pawing through it.

Opius lit another cigarette and watched Rim Tin go through the loot. “There’s some excellent stuff in there tonight my friend…”

“You call this excellent?” Rim Tin held up a tiny sparkling diamond ring. “This shit’s so small no one will even see it.”

“Bull shit!” Opius snarled, running a fist through his long straggly hair.

“I’ll give you ten Galleons for all this.” Rim Tin replied.

“Ten Galleons?” Opius was pissed.

“Take it or leave it.” Rim Tin was firm.

“Fucking… I’ll take it.” Opius curled his hand into a fist and dropped his cigarette on the floor, grinding it out with his black boot. He snatched the Galleons and turned to leave. “Cheap ass fucker…”

“Close the damn door on your way out!” Rim Tin yelled.

“Oh I’ll close it for you REAL good!” Opius slammed the door behind him so hard the glass shattered behind the grate.

He stomped off down the street angrily, grumbling about the lack of money he’d gotten for all his hard work. Opius turned down a dark alley filled with garbage and leaned against the wall to light another smoke.

Harry was running- he had an idea of where to find his first victim. It was almost as if the Raven had given him extra senses- he could taste the scent of Opius Gavet and knew when he was getting close. Peering around the side of the building, he saw his target further down the alley.

A malicious grin crossed his face as he opened his mouth and let out a hideous laugh that echoed off the side of the buildings. Once he started, he could barely stop.

“Who’s out there?” Opius shouted.

Harry ceased laughing as he began stalking down the alley towards the other man. His lips twisted in a horrible snarl as he got closer.

“What the fuck you all dressed up for?” Opius sneered as Harry got closer. “Halloween isn’t for another few weeks!”

Harry continued to advance silently, the flickering firelight from dirty windows making his emerald eyes glow. He saw recognition flash across Opius Gavet’s face as the man drew his wand. Harry leapt forward and slapped it out of his hand, grabbing at Opius’s throat.

“Get the hell away!” Opius choked, raising his foot and kicking Harry in the stomach. Harry let go and staggered backwards, realising that it didn’t hurt. He could hear the Raven cry out above him and he felt a surge of rage course through his body.

Harry rushed at Opius again, this time slamming him into the wall. Opius reached for his wand, and realised that it was lying somewhere in the dark alley. Going into his other pocket, he pulled out a long, wicked looking knife and slashed it at Harry.

He leapt back as Opius threw the knife. Harry hit it away and it clanged against the wall. Throwing a punch, he landed it right on Opius’s jaw and he fell to the ground. Grabbing another knife from his pockets (he kept several on him for this purpose) he flung it at Harry, who caught it between his hands, much to Opius’s horror.

Harry flew towards Opius and brandished the knife against his neck. “I want you to tell me a story,” he said in a low, dangerous tone.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about!” Opius choked.

“A murder, one year ago…” Harry said darkly, pushing harder with the blade.

“I never murdered anyone!” Opius claimed.

“The hell you didn’t!” Harry shouted. “A man and a woman in a house, a year ago…” his voice lowered. Opius opened his mouth to say something but Harry continued. “You killed them… tonight, one year ago.”

“Yeah, some man, some bitch. Who cares!” Opius snarled. Harry slapped him hard across the face and nicked his neck with the knife.

“Her name was Hermione,” He said through clenched teeth. “You gagged her…” he almost couldn’t get his next words out of his mouth. “You… you raped her…”

“Yeah, Hermione… I shagged her ass raw and she LOVED it…” Opius snickered and as Harry shut his eyes tight in pain Opius threw him back, then grabbed some piping lying along the wall and brought it down hard on Harry’s back.

Harry was seeing stars as Opius continued to hit him with the pipe- he couldn’t seem to get back up when he suddenly heard the Raven call out- it was like new strength filled him and he swung around and plunged the knife into Opius’s side.

Opius stumbled back in shock, looking at the blade in his side as Harry staggered to his feet, the other knife in his hand.

“That one was for me…” Harry said coldly, his eyes glinting. “And this… this one is for Hermione.” He threw the knife and it embedded in Opius’s chest, directly into his heart.

Opius fell back, gasping as he tried to move his hand to the blade in his chest. He saw Harry stand directly over him.

“And now you’ll stare into my face as you die.” Harry glared down at him.

Opius pulled the blade out of his side and felt something warm gush out. Blood… his blood was leaving his body. His vision began to grow dark and he began to cough up the thick red liquid.

Harry watched emotionlessly as Opius spasmed a couple of times and grew still. He nudged the body a couple times with his foot, and when the other man didn’t stir Harry knew he was dead. He dragged the body over behind a pile of trash, then spotted Opius’s wand a few feet away. Harry scooped it up, figuring he could use it for protection.

Although he didn’t think he needed much- it wasn’t as if they could kill him when he was already dead.

*** *** ***

Bellatrix was in the shower, letting the hot water steam over her long black hair. Lucius sat on the other side of the room, alternating between watching her and looking at an old snow globe.

She wrapped a silk robe around herself and sauntered over to him, sitting on his lap. “You’re thinking about the past again aren’t you.” She leaned over and nibbled on his ear.

“My father gave this to me.” he held up the globe to her, and she saw that it wasn’t filled with white flakes; instead it was filled with drops of blood. “He told me the minute you know you’re going to die, your child hood is over.” A sneer lifted his upper lip. “I would have passed it on to my son, but…” he shuddered as he thought of Draco, the good for nothing child who chose to turn to the other side.

Bellatrix smirked, putting the globe on the nightstand and pushing Lucius onto the bed. “Is our little girl sleeping?” she asked coyly.

“See for yourself,” He responded, motioning towards the motionless body. Bellatrix got up and went over, turning the naked body of the girl on her back. “I like her eyes,” she slid a wicked curved knife from her garter and traced it lightly along the girl’s face. “Can I have them?”

Lucius grinned.

*** *** ***

Rim Tin sat back, counting his good with a satisfactory smile on his unshaven face. His Galleons were stacking up by the day, and he loved the way he dealt with business. Rim Tin bought for less, sold for more. That was the way to go these days, especially when dealing with Death Eaters.

A sudden pounding at the door made him jump and spill some of his money. “Shove off, we’re closed!” he shouted, not moving from his seat.

The pounding continued, in a rhythmic pattern. “Go sleep it off somewhere else, wanker!” Rim Tin called angrily, trying to gather his fallen Galleons.

The metal gate suddenly let out a loud shriek as it was lifted up off the hinges and thrown away as if it weighed nothing.

“What the fuck…” Rim Tim stumbled back as he saw the figure raise a booted foot and shove it through the glass.

“Suddenly, I heard a tapping, as if someone gently rapping,” Harry recited coldly as he stepped in the door. “Rapping at my chamber door,” The bird settled on his shoulder. “Quoth the Raven, nevermore.”

“What are you talking about?” Rim Tin was still on the floor. “Who the hell are you?”

Harry ignored the question. “You heard me rapping, right?”

“You’re trespassing.” Rim Tin snapped. “And you owe me a new door!”

“I’m looking for something in the style of an engagement ring.” Harry said, ignoring the other man’s statement. “Gold, one diamond.”

“Don’t sell those here,” Rim Tin lied, fumbling around behind him for his Muggle gun he kept tucked in his waistband. He found it to be a much better weapon than a wand, especially when dealing with assholes like this guy. He tucked his finger against the trigger and pointed it at the guy, firing immediately.

Harry staggered back as the bullet bit through him, but he twisted his lips up in a smile as he straightened his body back out.

“Shit…” Rim Tin’s face grew pale as he watched the wound heal up. “Oh shit…” he scrambled up and Harry flew at him, knocking him back over the counter. Boxes and junk fell on top of him as Rim Tin desperately pushed it off and shook with fear as he scanned his dark shoppe for the figure.

Harry had jumped up above the rafters and now he swung down. “Mr. Rim Tim, you’re not paying attention.” He said calmly with a mocking sneer on his face. He flipped himself down as Rim Tin shook the gun at him. Harry made a fist and smashed the glass casing, then grabbed the knife and swiftly pushed it right through Rim Tin’s hand, pinning him to the wood shelf.

“Now, as I was saying. An engagement right. One diamond in the middle.” Harry leaned closer to the shoppe owner. “A rather large diamond, if I do say so myself.” He began to pace the small area. “You have regular Death Eaters that pawn stuff off here, I’ve known of you for a long time.”

“Over there!” Rim Tin had dropped the gun and was frantically trying to pull the knife from his other hand. “In that box behind the shelves!”

Sirius pulled his cloak tighter around himself as he made his way down the dark alley. His office members had been summoned there a quarter of an hour before.

“Who’s this trash?” his ex partner was standing in the wet street looking down at the dead body.

“Opius Gavet.” Sirius knew who it was instantly. “One of Lucius Malfoy’s Death Eater thugs.”

“Figures you’d know right away,” Chester McMurphy was snide.

“You asked.” Sirius replied shortly. “I’d have figured such a good Ministry Auror would know what dangers there are on the streets these days.

“Spare me.” Chester snapped. “You’re not even a real Auror anymore.”

“And I’m supposed to thank you for that, right?” Sirius said as other Aurors began covering up the body to take back to the Ministry.

Chester narrowed his eyes at him, and then looked past Sirius to the brick wall of the building. “What the hell is that?”

Sirius turned to see the outline of a raven traced in red. “Blood, Chester.” He said simply. “I suppose you’ll just write it up as graffiti.”

“You can leave my crime scene now,” Chester turned his back on Sirius, who smirked in reply and took his time walking back out of the alley.

Harry threw some boxes aside looking for the metal safe where Rim Tin claimed to keep his rings. “I don’t see any rings!” he shouted.

“Under that shelf there!” Rim Tin finally yanked the knife out of his hand and wrapped it in a kerchief.

Harry stopped throwing things and looked down, seeing the grey metal under some papers. Pushing them to the side, he crouched down and unlocked the box.

“No,” he dug through the rings. “No… no….” he closed his eyes tightly as his hand came in contact with the one he was looking for. Harry dropped the box as he doubled over; the pain inside of him at the memory was almost too much to bear.

“Keep your eyes closed,” Harry was leading Hermione into the living room.

“I am!” she said, her lips curved up in a smile. She could feel Harry’s hands softly caressing her bare shoulders as he guided her through the door. “What are we doing?”

“You’ll find out in a minute,” Harry teased, kissing the back of her neck lightly. He sat her down in the middle of the floor and looked around to make sure everything was in its proper place. Harry looked at her for a moment, loving the way she was smiling even though she had no idea what he was up to. “Okay,” he said.

Hermione opened her eyes and gasped as she looked around their living room. Candles floated everywhere, and there was a bottle of champagne sitting on the blanket between them. “Oh Harry, it’s gorgeous.”

“Not nearly as gorgeous as you,” Harry said, his eyes growing soft. He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. “I love you, you know that right?”

“Of course I know that,” Hermione gave him an exasperated yet loving look. “And I love you too.”

Harry grinned at her then, and poured some of the champagne into the glasses. “Here,” he said, passing her one of the goblets. “To us, and how much I love you.” He said.

“I’ll drink to that,” she laughed as they both sipped at the champagne. Hermione started to put the glass down but Harry kept it up to her mouth.

“Keep drinking,” he said. “There’s a surprise for you at the bottom of the glass.” She kept drinking and he knew she’d found the ring when she let out a gasp of surprise.

“Harry!” she plucked it from the glass and held it up to the light. “Is this…”

“Marry me?” he asked taking her hand and putting the ring on her finger.

Hermione’s lower lip trembled and she threw her arms around his neck, knocking him on his back as she repeatedly agreed to become his wife over and over again.

Harry let out an anguished cry as he nearly dropped the ring. Taking a handful of other ones, he kicked over stacks of things that Rim Tin was trying to sell and went back out to the front.

Rim Tin was still nursing his hand as Harry smashed several objects and pulled a wand from his pocket. “You have one chance to live,” he snarled, pointing it at the larger man’s jugular.

“Take anything,” Rim Tin sputtered. “Anything you want.”

“Thank you,” Harry grinned maliciously. “But there’s nothing else I need from you, aside from a little information. He pushed the wand harder against Rim Tin’s throat. “I need to know where Opius Gavet’s little friends play around at.”

“Murdock’s.” Rim Tin gasped out. “They all hang out at Murdock’s… its right down in the main street of Knockturn Alley.” He wound the kerchief tighter around his hand. “All of Malfoy’s cronies hang out there… Anton Storinson… he lives up above it!”

“Storinson….” A glint of hatred shone in Harry’s eyes at the name of one of his other killers. Rim Tin made to move away but Harry shoved the wand back at his throat. Reaching into his pocket, Harry threw the handful of rings at Rim Tin. “See these?” he spat. “Each one of these represents a life… a life you helped to destroy.”

“Please,” Rim Tin was down on his knees. “Please, don’t kill me!”

“I’m not going to,” Harry grinned. “You’re going to do me a favour. You’re going to go to Murdock’s. You’re going to tell all of them that death is coming. Tonight.” He stuck the wand back in his pocket as he dumped the rest of the rings on the floor. “Tell them Harry Potter sends his deepest regards.”

Rim Tin watched him leave, shaking like a leaf. As soon as Harry was out of sight, he turned and ran. As fast as he could.

Harry left the shop behind, walking with measured steps towards Murdock’s. His hands were clenched at his sides, and the look in his eyes would have scared many a person if there was anyone out that late. He was turning down one of the alleyways when another figure stepped out in front of him.

“Don’t move,” Sirius said, pointing his wand directly at the other person.

“Don’t you guys normally give warnings before you stick your wand in someone’s face?” Harry tried to stay in the shadows.

“Don’t move, or you’re dead.” Sirius replied coolly, unaffected.

“Well I think I’ll move, because I’m already dead.” Harry said, moving further back away from the light. He didn’t want to reveal himself to his godfather quite yet.

“What are you nuts?” Sirius couldn’t believe this punk. “I could kill you with one spell, there’s not a chance you’ll get away.”

“You don’t remember me, do you?” Harry asked, now concealed in the shadows. “If you don’t remember me, do you remember Hermione Granger?”

“Hermione Granger is dead,” Sirius replied, an unexpected wave of pain coursing over him at the mention of a girl he’d considered to be like a daughter.

“Did you know someone named Opius Gavet?” Harry asked. “He died a year ago… but I finished off the job tonight.”

“You killed Gavet…” Sirius realised, raising his wand higher.

“He and all the rest of his boys are already dead tonight,” Harry needed to get away. “And Lucius will be the last to go.” He moved quickly, swooping past Sirius like the Raven.

Sirius shouted as he went by, and the figure turned back once. He was able to catch a glimpse of bright green eyes before the figure disappeared. Only two people he had known in his life had eyes like that. One had been gone for such a long time and the other…

“Harry?” he called after him, but the figure didn’t return.

A/N: Thanks to all who took the time to review for the first two chapters.

For Temporary Insanity, who reviewed on portkey: Please refer to the author’s note in the first chapter for the answer to your question!

Chapter 3: People of the Past

“You are very restless tonight,” Bellatrix rolled over on the bed and looked at Lucius, who had just gotten up. She slid out of the sheets and walked naked over to what looked like an extraordinarily large candle holder, where a fire was burning brightly. She stuck her hand into the flames and lifted out one single eyeball.

“Just a little hungry is all,” Lucius pulled a black satin robe on over his body. He turned around and eyed Bellatrix appreciatively as she sidled up next to him. She ran the bloody burnt eyeball over his lips and he licked at it. “Mmm…” he was about to lean over to kiss her when the doors opened roughly.

“Lucius,” Shaitan Shimmer walked into the room, his hard black boots clonking on the floor. “We need to talk.”

“I’m just slightly busy right now,” Lucius didn’t turn around, but he did shield Bellatrix with his body. He wasn’t keen on the idea of his other men seeing her nude.

“One of my guys got himself killed tonight,” Shaitan snapped. He was a man of little patience and one of the only ones to stand up to Lucius.

“Who might that be?” Lucius wasn’t really interested. He moved his hands back to caress Bellatrix as she moved the eyeball over his lips again.

“Opius Gavet,” Shaitan sat down at the long stone table. “Someone used his own knives against him.”

“Well then by all means, I think we should have a moment of silence for poor old Opius Gavet,” Lucius said sarcastically, moving away from Bellatrix as she pulled her robe off a hanger and wrapped it around herself. “You’re working for me tomorrow night right?” he asked.

“I suppose,” Shaitan smirked at Bellatrix.

“Well that’s reassuring,” Lucius sat back as Bellatrix perched in his lap. “Now get out of here,” he snapped.

*** *** ***

Ginny Weasley walked along the wet streets. She wasn’t sure why she had stayed out, but the thought of sitting around in her dismal apartment alone was almost too much to bear. She thought briefly of the invitation that Draco Malfoy had given her in the afternoon as she left work, to meet him at a local restaurant that evening, and a smile came and went on lips that seemed to have forgotten how to do so.

Draco Malfoy. She hardly knew what to think of him. Back in school he’d been a snivelling daddy’s boy who seemed destined to be one of the Dark Lord’s followers. Yet when the time of the battle had come, Draco had turned and helped Harry and the rest of them defeat Voldemort.

For some reason that Ginny couldn’t fathom, Draco seemed to fancy her. And she was torn about what to do with him- while the idea of a relationship and a companion was nice; she didn’t want to grow attached to anyone only to have them ripped cruelly away from her again.

“I just don’t know what to do?” Ginny sighed to herself as she wrapped her cloak tighter around her body and quickened her pace. She had turned down and was walking past the entrance to Knockturn Alley when she heard some raucous laughter and some dark figures started walking behind her.

“Hey baby!” one of them called out. Ginny closed her eyes and began to walk faster, and to her horror, they began to catch up to her. “I want to take you and shag you till the sun comes up!”

“Go away!” Ginny turned and shouted. It was in that moment that a black figure came from the alcove where she was walking past and pulled her in, back out of sight of the thugs coming for her. Ginny struggled but a hand was clamped over her mouth making it impossible to shout out.

“Where’d she go?” one of them asked angrily.

“I don’t know,” another responded. They stood around debating on whether or not to look for her as Ginny stood frozen in fear, wondering if she was better off with the thugs or in the alcove with the person who currently stood with their hand over her mouth.

Finally, after what seemed like forever, the thugs moved away. Ginny violently jerked away from the person and went back out on the street. “Who the hell are you and why did you do that?”

“They would have hurt you,” the person sounded strangely familiar but Ginny couldn’t place their voice.

“I’d have been fine, thank you very much,” She replied snappishly. “What, you allergic to light or something? Disfigured face?” she didn’t know why she was behaving this way to someone who had most likely just saved her life.

“Something like that,” the figure stepped out of the alcove but faced away from her immediately.

Ginny watched him for a moment, trying to place him in her mind. “I have to go,” she muttered, feeling close to tears for some reason. She began to walk away when the skies suddenly opened on top of her. “Ugh I wish it would stop raining! Just once!” she called out to no one in particular.

“It can’t rain all the time!” the figure called back.

Ginny’s head snapped up. “Harry?” she raced back to the alcove but he was already gone. She looked around wildly for several minutes but the figure was gone. Several tears rolled down her already wet cheeks as she stood still in the pouring rain.

More minutes rolled by and Ginny still waited. It had to be Harry- it had to be! It was one of his favourite sayings…

Ginny and Hermione sat glumly on the window seat, looking out at the fat raindrops pounding on the walls.

“Stupid bloody weatherman,” Ginny said angrily. “Never trust Muggles to do anything right! He said it would be sunny today!”

“I know,” Hermione replied, tracing one of the drops with her fingertip. She and Ginny had wanted to paint pictures of the garden that day, and had been looking forward to it all week long. The two girls had been dismayed that morning to see the rain clouds roll in while they were having breakfast.

“Come on you two,” Harry draped an arm over each of them. “It can’t rain all the time.” He grinned at Ginny and kissed Hermione just below her ear. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll let you two paint me instead.”

Ginny smiled, remembering how she and Hermione had looked at each other and then pushed Harry back on the floor, grabbing pillows from the sofa and pounding him with them. She sighed then, looking around one more time, now reluctant to leave the spot. If it was Harry who had grabbed her, he would have come back by now.

“I’m so stupid,” she muttered as she began to walk away. “Harry can’t come back. It was just a coincidence.” Her steps quickened, not wanting a repeat of the thugs returning to find her again. She reached her flat promptly, and was about to open the door when a hand on her arm surprised her.

“Draco!” Ginny pulled away in surprise.

“I’m sorry,” Draco replied, running a hand through his wet blond hair. ‘It wasn’t so white when it was damp,’ Ginny thought. ‘It suited him better.’

“No, it’s all right,” she answered, pushing a fiery red lock behind her ear and looking down at the floor. “It’s… it’s just been a rough evening. I’m sorry I didn’t show up but…”

“I know,” he answered quietly. “It’s been a year, tonight, hasn’t it?”

Ginny nodded wordlessly, biting on her lower lip as her eyes brimmed with yet unshed tears. Draco stepped forward and she surprisingly but willingly went into his arms.

“I miss them,” she began to bawl. “I miss them so much, and no one understands it.”

Draco closed his eyes as he bent his head to bury his nose in her damp red hair. He cared about Ginny so much yet he couldn’t understand if she felt the same way. They saw enough of each other, but she never let him through the wall she had built up so high around herself.

She had no idea how long she cried in his arms, but he didn’t seem to mind when she pulled back and wiped at her eyes. “I’m sorry Draco,” she murmured.

“I didn’t mind.” Draco replied. “I know things have been hard on you… you’re very strong to take them on like you have.”

“I’m hardly strong,” Ginny searched in her pockets for a kerchief to blow her nose when Draco pulled one out of his cloak and handed it to her. “Thank you,” she looked down again. They stood together in a somewhat comfortable silence. “Um… do you want to come in or something?” Ginny finally asked.

“I’d like that,” Draco replied.

*** *** ***

Harry moved quickly down the streets after leaving Ginny. He’d had a desire to see her, but it wasn’t the right time to reunite with her just yet. Perhaps when all his revenge had been finished, and he had just a few precious moments left on earth, he would see her and tell her not to worry anymore.

Sweeping down the street towards Murdock’s, Harry’s jaw set and his eyes narrowed. He forced the memories of Hermione and Ginny out of his head and concentrated on what Opius, Anton Storinson, Skank Whitmore, Shaitan Shimmer, Lucius Malfoy, and the rest of his group had done, and what would be done to them before the night was over. The Raven flew alongside him, providing the never ending strength that Harry desperately needed. His body ached, he felt as if he’d been severely beaten over the course of several days, but the feel of revenge, the look on Opius Gavet’s face as he died spurred Harry on, spurred him on with the knowledge that his soul would be at rest when he was finished.

He looked up and he could see the Raven perched on a windowsill. With one single cry from the bird, Harry was able to fly up and perch next to it. It looked at Harry with its beady dark eyes and cried out again as it looked at the two people on the bed in the dingy room.

Pansy Parkinson leaned back as her lover (for the night anyways) moved his mouth down her neck. Anton Storinson was a good but slightly messy lover, but he paid well and she didn’t complain. And he always had a good supply of thorphine on hand- the best wizarding drug in the world. She pulled away from him now, eager for another dose.

“What are you doing?” Anton growled playfully as she reached for the needles sitting by the bedside.

“I need another hit,” Pansy gave him her best smile as she filled the needle.

“That’s coming out of your pay tonight,” Anton grabbed it away from her.

“Anton!” Pansy put on her best pleading voice. “Then I’ll just have to get it elsewhere and you know that no one else has thorphine as good as yours,” she let her fingers travel down his arm. “And what if someone gives me bad stuff, I could die and then who would shag you?”

“No one,” Anton replied, pushing the needle into his skin. Pansy made a face at him and took the needle when he was done, refilling the syringe. Shooting the drug through her veins, she leaned back against Anton, letting him kiss her again.

The Raven let out a cry as it watched them from on top of the almost black dresser. Pansy opened her eyes and looked straight at it. “Anton, there’s a big bird over there…”

Anton pulled his mouth away from her skin, turning to look at his bureau. Sure enough, a large black crow like bird was perched on top, looking down on them. As the drug moved through his blood, Anton began to grin stupidly.

“Come here birdie!” he cooed, making Pansy shriek in laughter. “Birdie! Birdie, come here birdie!”

“Here Anton,” Harry drawled dangerously, coming into the window. “Here, Anton, come here!”

“What the fuck?” Anton sat straight up and Pansy shrieked again, although it was in fright this time. Harry grinned and rushed up, pointing Gavet’s wand straight at them.

“Don’t DO that!” Anton yelled. “Get the hell out of here! And take your damn bird with you!”

Harry kicked over a chair from the corner of the room and straddled it, looking straight at Anton, who had grabbed his wand and was pointing it directly at Harry. He leaned into the wand so it was pointing directly between his eyes. “Take your best shot Storinson,” he sneered.

“Crucio!” Anton yelled and Harry fell off the chair, screaming. Anton whooped, jumping out of the bed. “I never miss….” His voice trailed off as Harry’s scream turning into a rather sinister laugh.

“It’ll take more than that to get me down for the count,” Harry stopped laughing and glared at Anton. The other man shot another spell out of his wand and it hit Harry, who barely staggered backwards. Harry kept coming forward until Anton was shooting out another spell, and in one sudden move, pushed the wand down so it was jabbing into Anton’s leg.

“AHHHHH!” Anton Storinson was screaming in pain. He had inflicted the Cruciatius Curse upon himself. Harry didn’t notice Pansy rush off the bed and into the bathroom, locking the door behind her. He was too involved in watching Storinson writhe as the curse took over his body. A grim smile stayed on his lips as Anton’s body started to grow still, with a twitch every now and again.

“Finite Incantatum,” Harry pointed Gavet’s wand at Anton and stopped the curse. Not caring if he banged the other man up, he pulled at Storinson’s ankles, sliding him off the bed.

Pansy was huddled against the opposite side of the bathroom, shivering and crying. She cried out as Harry burst through the door, still dragging Anton Storinson by his ankles. He dumped the body in the tub and turned on the water full blast so it was hitting the other man in the face. She couldn’t stop crying out as Harry turned to face her.

“Potter?” she gasped. “But… but I thought you were…”

“Dead?” Harry yanked her up and pulled the back of her body against him. “You’re right, Pansy, I am. Did you miss me?”

“No!” She struggled to get away but he gathered her long hair in his hand and yanked on it, making her head snap back.

“Thorphine is bad for you,” Harry grabbed her arm and squeezed, and they both watched as clear liquid streamed back out of tiny holes in the front of her elbow. Once he was satisfied he’d gotten all of the thorphine out of her body, he twisted her around, his hand on the back of her neck. “You have a daughter out there Pansy, don’t you?”

“Yes…” she squeaked.

“Living off the streets, waiting for you,” Harry glared down at her. “Go to her. Clean yourself up. And get out of my sight.”

With a strangled cry, she tore herself away from Harry. She looked at the still out cold Anton in the bathtub and covered her mouth, backing out of the room. She grabbed her clothes and left in just her torn negligee.

Shaitan Shimmer was sitting downstairs next to Rim Tin, who had just gulped down his fourth shot of the most potent Absinthe they had behind the bar. “You’d best finish that up soon.” He fingered his wand. “Lucius wants to see you.”

“Should I be honoured?” Rim Tin was bitter. “Should I curtsy in front of him?” they were both startled as Pansy ran through Murdock’s half dressed, crying.

“Wait here,” Shaitan drew his wand and went towards the stairs. He took slow, careful steps in case whatever was up there was waiting for anyone else to show. At a snail's pace, he opened the door and looked in.

Anton Storinson lay in the middle of the room, spread eagle, with about eight needles stuck in his chest, and around those needles were the blood red markings of a raven. A sudden noise made Shaitan turn quickly to his left and he saw a large black clad figure hunched in the window.

“Shhhh!” Harry grinned nastily at him and jumped. Shaitan aimed his wand but the person was already gone.

*** *** ***

Sirius Black sat in his living room, surrounded by old news articles and pictures. He took a sip of FireWhisky from his glass, and jumped when he heard a noise in the kitchen. Grabbing his wand, he slid noiselessly off his chair and crept into the kitchen.

His window over the sink was wide open, the night wind making the dark blue curtains flutter.

“Freeze!” a loud voice came from behind Sirius and he jumped.

“Don’t DO that!” he shouted. The person came closer and he had to stifle his gasp. “Harry…” Sirius was about to reach out. “Are… are you a ghost or something?”

“Boo,” Harry sent him a bitter smile. “Actually Sirius, I don’t know what I am.”

Sirius sat down, not able to take his eyes off the man in front of him, and barely able to breathe. “Harry… I was there when they buried you and Hermione…”

“I need you to tell me what happened to us, Sirius.” Harry sat down but leaned forward.

Sirius looked down, and then reached for his glass. “You uh… you got hit with the Avada Kedavra.”

Harry nodded, knowing what he was about to hear could destroy him again. “And Hermione… what happened to her?”

“Hermione,” Sirius looked up at his eyes. “Oh God Harry… she was beaten… she was raped…”

Harry put his head in his hands and let out a long, shuddering sigh.

“She held on for a few hours, but the pain… they said the pain was just so much that she had to let go,” Sirius felt a tear trickle down his cheek as he remembered. Harry’s jaw was set and his eyes looked cloudy. “I saw it… I was there. I couldn’t do a damn thing for her!”

Harry suddenly lurched forwards out of the chair, putting his hands on each side of Sirius’s head and his thumbs over his eyes.

Instantly, images were flooding over his closed eyelids, images of Hermione laying in a bed at St. Mungo’s, her gorgeous face marred with pain, swollen from beatings… Harry flew backwards and toppled over the chair he had been sitting in, knocking it on its side. He let out several anguished cries as he curled himself up into a little ball.

“What?” Sirius was frantic as he knelt on the floor next to his godson.

“I saw her,” Harry choked out. “I saw her through your eyes… I felt her pain… I felt her die.” He looked up at his godfather’s sympathetic eyes. “You stayed with her until the end.”

“I had to,” Sirius replied, touching Harry on the shoulder. “I wanted to be there if she woke up…”

Harry nodded, staring off into space. “Thank you Sirius.” He turned and wrapped his arms around the older man, who in turn hugged him back.

They stayed together for a long time, until Harry finally pulled back. “I should go,” he said reluctantly.

“You don’t have to,” Sirius replied.

“I know,” Harry turned and smiled at Sirius, his first real smile since he’d come back. “But I’ll see you again.”

“Were you going to vanish into thin air again?” Sirius asked as Harry got up.

“I thought I’d use your front door,” Harry said, pushing his hair back. Sirius followed him down the hallway.

“I’m sorry Harry,” Sirius said quietly as Harry slipped out the front door and closed it behind him.

A/N: Just a note to say, I do not in any way, shape or form encourage drug use… especially the sharing of needles. It was a part in this fic to show how dirty the characters are, but I have never touched drugs in real life so I don’t know how true I wrote it.

Also, I have no idea how long this fic is going to be. I’m writing it along how the movie goes, and I find a place to stop that I think is good in each scene of the movie.

Thanks again to all those who have taken the time to review. Your comments have made this story truly worth writing.

A/N: Thanks for all your reviews on the last chapter everyone. All of them are appreciated! I’m sorry I can’t write more but I’m quite sick at the moment and you can read at the bottom for more info.

Chapter 4: Getting it Together

“I shot that son of a bitch; I watched the fucking hole close back up!” Rim Tin shouted. “And then I GET STABBED!”

“I saw him too,” Shaitan Shimmer replied. “Bastard winked at me before he jumped out of a four story window like he could fly.”

“He winked at you?” Lucius asked as Shaitan nodded. “What else did you see?”

“So far I haven’t seen anything, especially about what you’re going to do about all this shit!” Rim Tin snapped.

“You haven’t lost everything,” Lucius came up on Rim Tin and glared at him.

“Yeah, maybe you’re not such a big shot like you think you are either!” Rim Tin glared back as Shaitan clamped down on the back of his neck.

“Fair enough,” Lucius backed away, and then took something off a table. “Catch!” he tossed the object towards Rim Tim who caught it.

“Ahh!” he threw the burnt eyeball to the floor as Bellatrix laughed from the other side of the room.

“Don’t hurt my pretty eyes,” she scooped the eyeball up and slipped it in her pocket.

“Say hello to the last Death Eater who wouldn’t cooperate with me,” Lucius drawled.

“You mean that’s real?” Rim Tin paled visibly.

“All the power of the world resides in the eyes.” Lucius replied, looking at Bellatrix. “Most of the time, they’re more useful than the people who own them.” He crossed the room and opened a wooden cabinet.

“You’re out of your mind, you know that? Out of your fucking mind!” Rim Tin screamed.

“Yeah,” Lucius grinned as he turned around, brandishing a long, polished sword. “Eyes see. It’s one of the most important things Bellatrix here ever taught me.” He stopped and gently curved his fingers under her chin. She sat on the table in front of Rim Tin and put her booted foot under his chin. “Now, let’s take it from the top, with a lot of detail. What do you say?”

Rim Tin paled even more as Lucius held the sword up to his throat. “He… he had a bird with him… it nearly pecked me clean!” he gulped. “And he told me to tell you guys… that death was on its way… that it was coming tonight!”

“Did he?” Lucius didn’t seem perturbed by that.

“Yeah,” Rim Tin went on eagerly. “And uh… he said his name was Potter. Harry Potter!”

This time Lucius’s eyes went dark. “Potter, you say?” he looked over at Bellatrix who was also wide eyed.

“Yeah, Potter,” Rim Tin replied. “Think you can put that thing down now?” he nodded his head towards the sword.

“And Potter just happened to let you live,” Lucius said slowly. “You’re not making any of this up to save your own ass are you?” he asked dangerously.

“I’m not making anything up!” Rim Tin snarled. “I’m not twisted like you two fucks with those eyeballs!”

Bellatrix narrowed her eyes at him, but took her foot down from under his chin. Lucius looked at him a moment longer, and lowered the sword. “Potter… how touching,” he grinned. Rim Tin began to laugh and Lucius turned around and shoved the sword into Rim Tin’s throat.

He began to gag as blood spurted out of his mouth. He could see Lucius and Bellatrix move into the line of his darkening vision.

“For fuck’s sake, die already!” Lucius motioned to Shaitan. A burst of green light emitted from the other man’s wand and Rim Tin slumped, the sword still stuck through his throat.

“You know, Anton said he saw a big black bird too, right before he choked to death on his own blood.” Shaitan said. “I’ll have someone come to clean him up,” he nodded towards Rim Tin’s dead body.

“Save me the eyes first,” Bellatrix replied, sliding her knife out of her garter.

*** *** ***

“Here you go,” Ginny came into her tiny living room with two cups of tea. She handed one to Draco, who had made himself comfortable on her threadbare sofa.

“Thanks,” Draco took a small sip. Ginny perched herself on the chair adjacent to the sofa and stared into her teacup. She didn’t know what to say or do in Draco’s presence, and was ashamed of her flat, although he seemed completely at ease.

After Harry and Hermione died, Ginny had had to leave their home and move into this rat hole. It was the only thing she could afford, and she had furnished and decorated it as nicely she could. At its best it could be described at drab, and it lacked the home like warmth that The Burrow and Harry and Hermione’s house had.

“So…” Draco’s voice cut through her thoughts and made Ginny jump.

“What?” she asked going immediately on the defence.

“I just was going to ask how you’ve really been doing.” Draco held up his hands.

“Oh,” Ginny was embarrassed. “I’m… all right.”

“Just all right,” Draco didn’t seem convinced. “I’m worried about you Ginny.”

“Well don’t be!” She burst out. “I can take bloody care of myself Draco!”

“I know,” Draco seemed thoughtful. “But I still worry about you.” He leaned forward, so far forward that his face was almost in hers. “Look… I know I used to be a real bastard to you and the rest of the Gryffindors.”

“That’s hardly right,” Ginny replied. “You were downright awful.”

Draco sighed. “It wasn’t until I saw what my life would be should I become one of Voldemort’s followers, that I realised how wrong everything was.” He sat back, taking another sip of tea. “The reason I decided to turn wasn’t because of you or because of Potter… I just knew it was the right thing to do. And that’s the first time in my life I did the right thing.” He looked straight at Ginny. “And because of that, you and I are in the same boat. My mother is dead, and my father… he’s not my father. Not anymore at least,” The last sentence was said while he looked over at the wall.

Ginny sat, her teacup forgotten, her mouth agape. “God… Draco… I’m sorry,” she looked close to tears again.

“It’s okay,” he answered. “I mean, I’ve dealt with it… it’s just nice to have someone else around.” Draco hinted.

“Yeah,” Ginny set her teacup down. “You… you might be right.”

Draco scooted forward so that their knees were touching. “Look… I hope you’re not thinking I’m too presumptuous here…” he ran a hand through his hair. “I… I want…”

He sighed and Ginny looked at him quizzically. “What is it Draco?” she asked.

“Will you go out with me?” he asked. “Not as just friends, like we’ve been doing… but like a real date?” his normally pale cheeks were flushed.

Ginny tried to work her jaw but it seemed to be permanently hung open. “I uh… I suppose that would be all right,” her heart beat faster as Draco grinned. It had been the first time she had ever seen him grin.

“Really?” His grey eyes grew bright. “Is… is tomorrow night too soon? Or do you want to wait for next week?”

“Tomorrow should be fine,” Ginny murmured. “Is around seven all right?”

“Sure,” Draco grinned again and Ginny couldn’t help but smile back.

*** *** ***

The Raven flew smoothly through the cool night air, its subject following by foot on the street below. It could fly if it really wanted to, but it seemed to be happy running through the alleys.

Harry looked up as if to make sure the Raven was still with him. He was attached to the bird now, and knew it wouldn’t leave. His pace slowing, Harry crept up to the side of one of the alleys that now populated Diagon and Knockturn Alley, and watched as two men approached.

“What if we run into that… that Potter…” one of them was saying nervously. Harry grinned as he recognized them.

Skank Whitmore and Shaitan Shimmer… the last of the group before he reached Lucius and Bellatrix… Harry slid further back into the shadows, waiting for the right moment.

“Then we’ll take care of him,” Shaitan snapped.

“But you saw what he did to Gavet- turned him into a fucking voodoo doll!” Skank whined.

“Gavet was a git,” Shaitan grinned. The two of them came to a stop in front of a pub. “Get some Whisky,” he commanded, going over to a junk pile and extracting a shining broomstick. He kept it there for the precise reason it would never be found unless someone knew right where it was.

Harry watched Skank disappear in the pub while Shaitan mounted his broom. As soon as he saw the other man start to ascend, he leapt out of the shadows and onto the end of the broom. “Fly,” he snarled, pushing the end of Gavet’s wand into his back.

Shaitan sat rigid for a moment before pulling up on the broom sharply. Across the alley, for a split second he saw the large shadow of the Raven against a building.

“Go up further,” Harry held onto the stick with one hand and kept the wand in Shaitan’s back with the other.

Shaitan gritted his teeth but pulled the broom up. They were quickly soaring at about 200 feet. “What do you want, Potter?” he asked.

“Revenge,” Harry replied. “You killed me; I’m here to repay that favour.”

“Not interested,” Shaitan snapped.

“It’s a shame that I don’t care,” Harry sneered. “I’ve already done off two of you… what makes you think you should be spared the same fate?”

Shaitan smirked, but didn’t reply as he stared straight ahead. “For one thing, I’m smarter than all of those idiots put together,”

Harry snorted. “Right,” he said. “That’s why I was able to get you up here so easily.”

Shaitan turned halfway, looking at the pale faced man behind him. “But it’s also why I’m able to get rid of you,” he said mockingly. Before Harry knew it, Shaitan had turned himself around so that they were now facing one another.

Raw hatred burned between them as they stared at each other for several long, tense moments. Shaitan wasn’t sure who moved first, but he was holding Harry’s wrist as he tried to aim his wand at him. His leg shot out and hit Harry’s shin, and the other man stumbled, falling on his stomach.

Harry clutched onto the broom with one hand while he forcefully pulled his fist from Shaitan’s grasp. The Death Eater hit the wand and it went flying into the wet air.

“Not so tough without a wand, are you?” Shaitan grinned wickedly.

“I have power in me that you could not even dream of touching,” Harry said.

“I’m terrified,” Shaitan sneered as Harry pulled himself back up. He swung his fist out and caught his enemy on the jaw. Shaitan slipped off the edge, grasping onto the broom almost a second too late.

Harry laughed manically, knowing he had the upper hand.

“How does it feel, knowing that my face is the last thing you’ll look at before you die?” Shaitan was grinning into Harry’s face as he struggled to get to Hermione.

“So how does it feel?” Harry leaned down, grasping the Death Eater’s hands with his own and squeezing as tight as he could.

“Feels like this!” Shaitan kicked up and caught Harry off guard. He went tumbling off the back of the broom and down into the rainy night.

Harry flattened his body out and the Raven came alongside him, dropping Gavet’s wand into his outstretched hand. Landing smoothly on his feet, he turned angry green eyes up at the stormy sky.

*** *** ***

Harry went back through the rain to the house. It was now early morning, the first rays of light were hidden by the clouds, but it was growing brighter each second. Standing in the ruined foyer for a moment, he looked at the stairs that would no longer take a person to the second level.

“Do you think Ginny will like the decorations?” Hermione finished stringing an evergreen garland along the banister. Harry grinned, looking around. It was the first (and was to be the only) Christmas they spent in this house.

“Of course she will,” He wrapped his arms around her as she stepped down and kissed him. “That’s not a very mistletoe kiss,” Harry pouted, looking above them where Hermione had hung the little sprig.

She grinned then and pressed her lips against his again, this time opening her mouth and their tongues met. Harry moved his hands down her back and through her long, still bushy hair.

“Dammit woman…” he was breathless when they pulled apart. “I love you,”

Harry hit the railing with his fist and strode out of the hallway and into the living room. He stood there just looking around for a few minutes, and then went over to some shelves on the wall.

Most of their things had been ransacked, but Harry had a special shelf fit in back for things he didn’t even want ruined. This place wasn’t seen, and only if you knew it was there would you be able to find it.

Reaching back, his hands closed on a box of photos. Harry sat down in front of the fireplace, which was surprisingly still standing, and lit a fire. He opened the box and began to look through the stack.

A few of them were from their engagement party. They had just bought the house and decided to take advantage of the huge backyard and the lovely early summer weather. It had been right before the Weasleys’ had died, right before they had taken Ginny to live with them.

“We all looked so happy,” Harry said softly to himself. “We all were so happy…”

Ginny Weasley timidly opened the door to Harry and Hermione’s house. The morning skies were still grey, but it had finally stopped raining for a few minutes. She wasn’t exactly sure why she was there, but the thought that Harry had been in the alley with her the night before had kept Ginny awake almost the entire night.

So she was there, stepping inside the house, afraid of what she might find but more afraid of what she might not find. Stepping carefully over loose boards and avoiding nails that were jutting out of the floor, she went into the main room.

“Harry?” she called out softly. She heard some rustling in the corner and spun around but there was no one there. Turning back around, Ginny went further into the room and saw the photos scattered in the middle of the floor. She picked up the first one she saw, which was of herself and Ron during her 19^th birthday party. He had snuck up from behind her and spun her high up in the air, and Harry had managed to catch the moment forever with Bill’s camera.

Ginny looked quickly through the rest of the photos with shaking hands, knowing they weren’t there before. “Harry?” she tried again. “Come on Harry… I know you’re here!”

Still, no one answered. “I knew it was you in the alley last night…when you told me it can’t rain all the time. You used to tell me and Hermione that when we were upset about something.” Ginny sighed. “I miss you and Hermione. I miss you guys so much. It gets lonely…” she trailed off and looked around some more. When there was still no movement or sound, she sighed again. “Fine…” her tone was disappointed and bitter. “To hell with you! I thought you cared about me!” she turned to leave when someone blocked her path.

“I do care, Gin.” Harry replied and with a strangled cry, Ginny leapt forward and hugged him as tight as she could.

“Oh God, Harry is it really you? Are you alive?” Ginny bawled. She could feel him sigh and pulled away.

“It’s really me,” He answered. “But…”

“You’re not really alive.” Ginny finished.

Harry shook his head slowly. “I’m sorry Ginny,” he said moving past her and into the room.

“Why are you here?” she asked. “I mean… Harry I saw you last year…”

“I know,” he motioned for her to sit down next to him on the floor. “I’m so sorry about all this. I told myself when the rest of your family died that I’d take care of you.”

“You didn’t know that was going to happen,” Ginny argued.

“I’m just here to set things right,” Harry said. “Once that’s done… I have no idea what will happen to me.” Ginny sniffed and he put his arm around her. “Tell me about what you’ve been doing.”

Ginny didn’t want to tell him what had become of her since his death, but found herself doing just that. “It’s been really rough, but I’ve been able to make ends meet,” she brushed her hair out of her eyes. “And Draco… you really wouldn’t believe how much he’s changed. He’s been a very good friend to me.”

“More than a friend?” Harry gave her a slight half smile.

“Maybe,” Ginny was shy of talking about this. “He… he’s asked me out and I said yes.”

“That’s good,” Harry said. “I hate hearing that you’re lonely.” He got up abruptly and went over to the box, fishing around inside for something. “Here,” he handed her a key.

“What is this?” she asked. Turning it around in her hand, she saw a number printed on the back of it. “Vault 687?”

“It’s my Gringotts key,” Harry answered. “I want you to have it. There’s money inside… it’s yours.”

Ginny stared up at him, her jaw hanging slack. “Harry I can’t take this!”

“Who else will?” Harry asked, sitting back down next to her. “Ginny, before Hermione and me… I had your name put on my Gringotts account. I never got to tell you before that night.” Harry held up his hand. “Sirius already has everything he needs; otherwise you’d be sharing it with him.”

Ginny leapt forward again and hugged him as tight as she could. “Thank you Harry,” her voice was muffled because she had pressed her face into his shoulder. He held her and stroked her hair.

“I have to go,” she murmured sometime later. “I have to work.”

“All right,” Harry replied.

“Will you come say goodbye?” Ginny asked.

“I don’t know,” Harry said. “I will if I can…” She hugged him again.

“I’m glad I got to see you,” Ginny said. “Thank you for the key… I can’t thank you enough for that key,”

Harry smiled at her, a real smile. “I’m glad Gin, I really am. I want you to be happy again.”

Ginny thought of Draco, and grinned back. “I think I will be.”

A/N: The next chapter will be the last… the big final confrontation between Harry and the remaining Death Eaters and what happens to him after it’s all over.

I am not sure when it will be out- I’ve had a few job offers and I’ve come down with an upper respiratory infection so I’m just trying to get myself better. Hope you enjoy this and see you next time.

A/N: I would like to apologise to those of you that have waited so long for this chapter. I suffered horrible writers block with it, partly because I have such a hard time being nice to Ginny in my fics… as most of you know, she’s one of my least favourite characters, even though I liked her a bit more after OotP.

Anyways, here is the last chapter of The Raven. I hope you will all enjoy it, and if so inclined, please leave me a review with your thoughts.

Chapter 5: Final Confrontation

Ginny sat at the bar at the Leaky Cauldron, waiting for her meal. She almost hadn’t taken a lunch break that day but with the events of that morning, she’d worked up a ravenous appetite. She stirred the straw around in her strawberry fizzy drink and thought about what Harry had given her that morning.

Her life was going to change, that was for sure. She would move out of her current flat and into a nicer one, for starts. Ginny’s excitement over her situation dissipated as she thought about Harry. He would be leaving again as soon as he finished what he came back to do. She sighed as she thought about having to lose him another time.

Sirius opened the door to The Leaky Cauldron and spied Ginny sitting alone at the bar. “Hey,” he said giving her a small squeeze.

“Sirius!” Ginny jumped out of her chair and hugged him tightly.

“Whoa,” he stumbled back, smiling a little. “You’re awful chipper today.”

“Sirius,” Ginny sat back down as he took the stool next to her. “Have um… have you had any… unusual visits from anyone lately?” she bit hard on her lower lip as she waited for him to answer.

“Why do you ask?” Sirius avoided her eyes.

“Please, tell me!” Ginny implored.

He sighed, looking down at his hands. “I don’t know if it was really him… but Harry… he was at my flat last night.”

Ginny let out a breath she hadn’t realised she was holding. “It was really him…”

“Did he come visit you too?” Sirius asked.

“No… I thought I saw him in Diagon Alley last night… so this morning I went back to his and Hermione’s house… and he was there!” Ginny bubbled forth with her story. “Sirius… he gave me his Gringotts key, and he told me he wants me to be happy again.”

“That sounds like Harry,” Sirius replied.

Ginny nodded, a small smile on her face again. “He came back to help, even after he died.”

“That sounds like Harry too,” Sirius said. “Ginny,” he turned to face her. “I don’t want… I don’t want you to think he’s here to stay.”

“I know he’s not,” Ginny replied. “I wish he could, but I know he wouldn’t be happy here without Hermione.”

“No, he wouldn’t.” Sirius said. “I just don’t want you getting your hopes up only to be let down in the end.”

“I know,” Ginny said. “Thanks for thinking of me.”

“I care about you Ginny, I hope you know that.” Sirius replied. “You can come talk to me anytime you need to.”

“Thanks Sirius,” she hugged him and got off her stool. “I have to get back to work, and then I have a date tonight.”

“Oh? With who?” Sirius was curious.

“Draco Malfoy,” Ginny replied, blushing a little. “We’ve been friends for awhile and he asked me out last night.”

“Well have fun,” Sirius forced a smile on his face, and after she hugged him again Ginny left.

“I don’t mean to eavesdrop, but did she say she was dating a Malfoy?” Tom the bartender asked from behind the counter.

“Yes, she did.” Sirius looked at the door Ginny had just disappeared through. “I’m assuming she means the young one, Draco.”

“I just hope she knows what she’s getting into,” Tom said, setting a drink in front of Sirius. “Those Malfoys aren’t good news.”

“Well Lucius is still the biggest bastard on the face of the earth,” Sirius toyed with a napkin. “But his son… he did help us out quite a lot with Voldemort.”

Tom suppressed a shudder at the name of the former Dark Lord. “Still… bad blood runs thicker than love.”

“I know,” Sirius replied. “She’s got a good head on her shoulders though. I think if Draco has ulterior motives she’ll know it right away.”

He still looked uneasy, long after he’d finished his drink and left The Leaky Cauldron.

*** *** ***

Shaitan Shimmer sat in silence, his arms folded over his torso. “I don’t know what happened to him,” he snapped. “I told you, I kicked him off the broom and he fell down into the clouds somewhere!”

“You had Potter and you let him get away,” Lucius sneered, slamming his fist on the table so hard that Skank Whitmore jumped. “You could have ended all of this and you failed to do so.”

Shaitan glared at him. “I told you, I tried. We were on a fucking broom hundreds of feet in the air. I don’t think you’d have fared much better Lucius.”

Lucius snarled, jumping out of his chair at him. Shaitan stepped back coolly as Bellatrix came forward to calm her lover down.

“Everyone is here,” she said in her low, hypnotic tone. Lucius’s tense body loosened at her touch and he turned to look at her.

“You bring him down,” he jerked his head in the direction. Bellatrix said nothing but moved to take Skank’s arm.

Lucius stalked ahead of the other three, rage boiling beneath the surface. Slamming the door open, he sauntered imposingly to the head of the table where several Death Eaters were sitting.

“I’m sure you have all heard the news of a certain visitor we thought we’d gotten rid of a year ago,” he began, his voice cool and his tones clipped. Several of his men nodded. “He’s already made off with three of you! THREE!” Lucius slapped his hands on the table, making Skank jump in fright again. “You feel that, you worthless piece of scum?”

“Yes sir,” Skank shrank back into his chair, whimpering with fear. Lucius felt nothing but disgust for him and was about to use one of the Unforgivable Curses on him when a noise startled them all.

“Good evening, my fellow gentlemen,” a sarcastic voice cut through the room. Harry Potter strode towards them, his emerald eyes narrowed at Lucius. He kicked away a chair from the end of the table and sat cross legged on top of it. “For now, I just want him,” he pointed to Skank who was positively trembling.

“You can’t have him,” Lucius stated calmly, not really caring about Skank Whitmore but he certainly wasn’t about to give in to Potter’s demands.

Harry eyed him calmly. “Well it seems you’ve made your decision then,” he stood up, spreading his arms to his sides.

“Kill the bastard,” Lucius waved his hand. “He’s the same boring pathetic loser he was when he was alive.

Ten wands came out and were pointed directly at him. Harry felt a large, hideous smile spread across his face as Avada Kedavra was shouted and green light rushed at him from every direction.

His laughter filled the room as the green light blinded everyone, and when they could all see again Harry was gone from the table, and it was eerily silent.

“Well, that was easy,” Lucius laughed as one of the Death Eaters approached the opposite end of the table. “What’s the matter?” he asked when the smile dropped off his man’s face.

“He’s… he’s not here…” the Death Eater reported, his voice shaking. A sudden burst of green light burst straight into the man’s face and he dropped on the floor dead. Several screams came up from different members as the curse ripped through them. Lucius grabbed Bellatrix, who was watching everything with an amused smile on her face, and ran for the door, Shaitan sending the curses back at Harry as he followed them out.

Harry watched with malicious glee as Death Eaters dropped like flies. He spotted his target huddled in a corner, hands over his ears as he rocked back and forth. “You,” he pointed to him through the kicked up dust.

Skank whimpered like a baby and tore over underneath the table. Harry smirked and pulled a sword down from where it was nailed to the wall. “Not really a good day to be a Death Eater is it?” he jeered, plunging the sword through the thick wood of the table. Skank’s weepiness reminded him of Neville Longbottom when they had first started school.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are…” Harry said in a creepy singsong voice as he continued to thrust the sword through the table. As he put it through near the edge he heard a distinct tearing of cloth and an anguished cry.

“Please!” Skank came out from under the table on his knees. “Please man, don’t kill me please…” his begs were fruitless, as Harry hauled him up at his collar. “Hey! I’m not Skank!” his eyes grew wide. “You already killed him!”

“That’s right, I did. One year ago,” Harry said, his eyes glowing. Without another word, he dragged the other man across the room and threw him straight through the glass window.

Skank screamed the entire way down and Harry watched as the body hit the pavement below, not wincing as blood began to seep it’s way out of the Death Eater’s head.

*** *** ***

Ginny sat at her dressing table, combing at her long red hair. She’d used a charm to make it wavy and now she pulled it back at each side, fastening the red locks with combs. Ginny had also gone out briefly that afternoon with some of her new fortune to buy some blue dress robes, her first new piece of clothing in a year. She didn’t think Harry would mind if she used a bit of the money to make herself look nice for her date.

“My date,” she murmured, liking the way the words sounded. Ginny hadn’t had a date in so long she just hoped she knew how to act. A quick glance at the clock made her hurry, she only had fifteen minutes until he arrived.

Draco stood outside Ginny’s flat, taking a deep breath. He was nervous, actually nervous. If someone told him five years ago that he would be terrified of taking Ginny Weasley out on a date, he would have laughed in their face. But things had changed so bitterly since then, and she was the one bright spot in an otherwise dull world.

He raised his hand to knock on her door, which he had to do twice because the first time he rapped so softly even he could hardly hear it. A pounding of feet on the other side made him smile as Ginny finally flung the door open.

“Sorry!” she apologised before he could even say anything. “I didn’t hear you knocking before have you been standing out here long?” Ginny asked in a rush as Draco stepped inside.

“No, not really,” Draco replied. “I just got here.”

“Okay…” Ginny seemed flustered. “I’ll just be a few more minutes, I was running late today.”

“Take your time,” Draco said simply, perching himself on the edge of her sofa. “Your robes are nice,” he commented, eyeing her.

“Thank you,” Ginny blushed. “I’ll um… I’ll be right back okay?”

“Sure,” Draco replied, watching her as she rushed from the room. He felt a smile quirk at the corner of his mouth as he heard her muttering in the next room, perhaps it meant she was as nervous as he was.

“Okay,” Ginny came back several minutes later, looking no different (to him anyway) than she had when she answered the door.

Draco stopped pushing his toe into the worn carpet and stood up. “We have reservations so we’d best get going,” he held her cloak for her as she slid into it.

“Thank you,” Ginny replied, fastening the cloak. Draco offered his arm, his pale grey eyes warming as he gazed at her. “Where are we going?”

‘You’ll see,” Draco smiled at her. Ginny smiled back and hooked her hand into his arm.

*** Later that Evening***

“That was delicious,” Ginny wiped her mouth. “I can’t believe we still have dessert!”

Draco smiled again. She thought he looked so nice when he smiled, it took all the worry out of his eyes and his lips were so finely shaped. Shaking her head slightly, Ginny looked down at her lap, not wanting him to catch her staring.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it,” Draco replied, his hand reaching over the table for hers. Ginny shyly accepted, his fingers curling over hers. She hadn’t had food this good since her family had died, but didn’t want to say so aloud. Draco seemed to sense it, but didn’t indicate whether he had or not.

“So what are you planning on doing for yourself in the future?” Draco suddenly asked.

“What?” Ginny seemed startled by his question. “Oh… I don’t know. I always thought I might go into Healing. It’s just right now… I have to save up some money for the supplies and schooling I need for that.”

Draco nodded. “I can see you being a Healer,” he said, the side of his mouth quirking up.

“And what are you looking to do?” Ginny asked, turning the tables on him as she sat up straighter.

Draco shrugged. “I’m actually not sure,” he replied. “I mean… as long as my father is around no one will even take a chance on me.”

Ginny nodded, looking down at her lap. They were silent until the waiter came back with their dessert, a lovely crème brulee. They dug in eagerly; Ginny tried not to eat so fast but it was delicious.

Afterwards, Draco asked her if she’d like to take a walk. Ginny agreed, surprised to discover that she did not want the evening to end quite yet. They made small talk as they walked along, her hand warm inside Draco’s.

“You’ve been awfully quiet,” he said, pushing his hair out of his eyes with his free hand.

“I’ve got a lot on my mind these days,” Ginny replied truthfully.

“Like what?” Draco asked, squeezing her hand.

Ginny sighed, debating internally on whether or not she should tell him about Harry. It was likely he didn’t know, as Harry had most likely kept a low profile. “Just some visitors,” she replied cryptically.

“Visitors?” Draco felt a heavy pit settle into his stomach. Was she seeing someone else already? If so, why hadn’t he heard about him and why would Ginny be out that night?

He stopped in his tracks, pulling on her hand. Focusing on her face which was staring up at him in confusion, Draco bent his head and kissed her lightly.

Ginny was hardly able to breathe at the first touch of his lips. Of its own volition, her hand sneaked around to the back of his neck, her fingers sneaking between the strands of his hair. His wound around her waist as he deepened the kiss, enjoying every second of her mouth pressed so firmly against his.

She couldn’t believe this was happening. One part of her wanted him to stop; she didn’t want to get close to anyone because of everything that had happened. The other part of her was begging for the kiss to keep going- it had been so long since anyone had held her, so long since anyone had even cared about her like this.

They kissed for a long time, sighing softly into the cool air, until the mist began to settle over them, making their clothes damp. Breaking apart, Draco and Ginny smiled at one another before joining hands and walking again.

It was a comfortable silence, but Ginny was now struggling with whether or not she should tell him now about Harry. “Draco,” she paused. “Can I trust you?”

“What?” Draco looked down at her. “Of course you can.”

Ginny bit her lower lip, which was still tender from their kiss. “Well… I told you I’ve had a visitor lately…” she trailed off as she tried to figure out what to say. “It was someone I would have never expected, but…”

“Who is it?” Draco asked, a flare of jealousy sprouting up again. Her cheeks had turned pink and he was sure it wasn’t from the cool air.

“It’s Harry, Draco.” Ginny confessed in a rush. “Harry’s come back!”

“What?” Draco was dumbfounded. He knew of her crush on Potter from their schooldays but he thought she was long over that. “Ginny…” he ran a hand through his damp blond hair. “How… how could Harry Potter come back? He died last year.”

“Well, he’s not… alive.” Ginny tried to explain.

“Ginny, you have to let him go!” Draco suddenly turned and braced his hands on her shoulders. “He’s gone. He’s not coming back anymore!”

“Draco!” Ginny pulled out of his grasp. “You just said I could trust you!”

“You can!” Draco replied. “But Ginny… you can’t live your life in the past! Harry Potter is dead!”

SLAP! Draco’s head snapped to one side as Ginny’s palm connected to his cheek. “I’m sorry I said anything to you!” Ginny snapped as tears slid down her face. “You’re horrible!” she turned and ran up the pavement.

“Ginny!” Draco shouted. She didn’t stop as she ran into an old abandoned church down the street. He rushed after her, not knowing if the building was safe or not.

“Ginny!” he called again as he gingerly entered the church. “Ginny come on out! I’m sorry about what I said!” his voice echoed off the rafters. He heard some rustling and went on forward.

Ginny whimpered in fear as Bellatrix pressed her hand over her mouth and wound her arm about Ginny’s neck at an angle so her wand pressed into her skin.

“Shhhh little one. Soon your pretty eyes will see no more,” Bellatrix cooed softly in her ear.

Ginny was terrified as she watched Lucius Malfoy emerge from the shadows. “So he’s done what I wanted him to do,” Lucius said softly, his eyes on Ginny. “We will wait until he finds us,” Bellatrix nodded.

Draco carefully stepped over some fallen stones and wood beams as he tried to concentrate where the rustling noise had come from. “Ginny?” he called out again and a scream erupted from somewhere above him.

“DRACO! HELP ME!” Ginny had bitten Bellatrix’s hand and was now screaming as loud as she could. “HARRY!” she cried, not knowing if he was even around to hear her anymore. “HELP ME!”

“Shut UP girl,” Lucius snarled, pushing her against the wall and grabbing her throat. “Do you really expect your hero Potter to come and save you? We took care of him earlier, yes we did,” he smirked at Bellatrix who curled her lip in reply.

Harry stood at the gravesite, tracing his fingers over the letters on Hermione’s stone. The rain started to fall around him, the cold drops having no feeling on him whatsoever.

“HARRY! HELP ME!” Ginny’s voice suddenly echoed into his head and the Raven let out several cries above him and Harry was on his feet in a flash and was running to her.

He stopped in front of a large run down church; he looked up as the rain started to fall harder and lightning streaked continuously across the sky. Harry shoved the doors open roughly and strode inside.

Draco continued towards the back of the church and started to make his way up the steps. “Ginny?” he called.

“Draco!” a large figure stepped out in front of him and Draco looked up, seeing someone he truly wanted to forget.

“Father,” he returned coldly.

Lucius looked at his son for a moment then smiled. “I must say, you’ve disappointed me greatly, but leading this little bitch to us.”

“Let her go,” Draco said with the same cold tone. “Your issues are with me, not her.”

“Wrong, my son,” Lucius replied. “My business tonight resides with Harry Potter. She is simply bait.”

Draco felt his eyes widen and his gaze trailed to Ginny. She had been telling the truth, he realised, and he fought to keep down the guilt that flooded through him. If he had simply believed her, she wouldn’t have run in here and be put in danger.

“Let her go!” a strong voice came from behind Draco. He turned and saw the person in question come striding towards them.

The intensity of hatred in Harry Potter’s pale face frightened Draco. During their school days he’d had no problem picking a fight with Harry but now… he looked like something out of a nightmare.

“Ah, Potter. Just who we have been waiting for,” Lucius smiled coldly.

“This between us, not Ginny, not Draco,” Harry replied, not taking his eyes off the blond man. “Let them go.”

“Hmm…” Lucius looked deep in thought for a moment, turning to look at Bellatrix and Shaitan. “Why don’t you give me a moment to think about this?” he turned to look out the large stained glass window behind him.

Harry turned his glowing eyes to Draco, trying to convey a silent message. ‘Get Ginny out of here.’

Draco gave a tiny nod and slowly started to move towards Bellatrix.

“I don’t think so,” Lucius snapped around, his wand extended straight out at Harry. “Crucio!” he shouted, and Harry fell off his feet and onto his back.

“GET OFF HER!” Draco took that moment to pounce on Bellatrix and try to pull Ginny away. Shaitan grabbed his arm and Draco threw a blind punch back and hit him square in the nose.

Ginny saw her chance and began to twist around as hard as she could. She grabbed Bellatrix’s arm which was reaching for her knife and smacked it hard against the stone wall, causing her to drop it.

Draco pulled Ginny towards him, drawing her back out of the way of any curses from Shaitan or Bellatrix.

“We have to help Harry!” she cried desperately, clawing at Draco to let her go.

“NO!” Draco held on. “Ginny he’s got to do this without you!”

Harry staggered back up, the weight of the curse pushing down on him. ‘Help me,’ he thought. Closing his eyes, he could hear a shriek and then the curse was suddenly lifted.

The Raven was clinging to Bellatrix’s face and its beak was gouging at her eyes. She was screaming as Lucius tried to pull the bird from her. Harry got to his feet and tackled Lucius from behind.

Bellatrix screamed as the bird flapped its wings wildly and continued to peck her eyes. She stumbled into the railing and the rotten wood gave way.

“BELLATRIX!” Lucius saw her go over and could hear her scream the whole way down. A sickening splat sounded from below and he trembled with rage.

“I’m going to kill you,” Lucius said, his teeth clenched. Shaitan watched from the corner, his fist held over his nose as he searched for his wand to stop the flow of blood.

“You already did,” Harry answered, his eyes flashing malevolently with the lightning. Lucius snarled and flew at him, but Harry was ready for him. He dodged the wand and closed his fingers around Lucius’s throat.

Lucius pushed back on Harry as hard as he could; he jabbed his wand at him again. “Avada Kedavra!” he screamed, forgetting the curse had no effect on Harry anymore.

Harry ducked as soon as Lucius began to curse him, and the green light shot past him and straight at Shaitan Shimmer, who had been sneaking up behind him.

“NO!” Lucius shouted as his last man fell to the ground, dead. He glared back at Harry. “Are you satisfied, Potter? You’ve killed all of us but me.”

“And I won’t stop until you’re gone as well,” Harry replied in a low voice.

“I won’t let you kill me Potter,” Lucius sneered.

“That doesn’t matter,” Harry said, moving forward. Lucius began to back up as Harry advanced on him and then turned and ran up another flight of stairs.

Draco and Ginny came out of their hiding spot as Harry watched Lucius run up to the roof. “Harry,” Draco said, not sure of what to say.

Harry shook his head. “I haven’t got time to talk. I have to kill him.” He looked over at Draco.

“I know,” Draco replied. “He stopped being my father long ago. If you killed him I would feel nothing.” Ginny stepped closer to him as he said this and rested her head on his shoulder.

Harry nodded. “Good luck,” he simply said. Turning his back on them, he raced up the stairs after Lucius.

“We’re not going to see him again,” Ginny spoke up, feeling a lot calmer than she thought she would.

“No, I reckon we aren’t,” Draco answered.

Harry emerged on the roof, rain immediately lashing at him. Lucius was rushing to the other end, where he could rush down another flight of stairs and get away from him.

Lucius grabbed onto the door handle and tugged as hard as he could. “NO!” he screamed as he realised the door was locked tight.

“Oh Lucius,” Harry drawled in a creepy singsong voice.

“Go away!” Lucius shouted.

“Not so big and bad now are you?” Harry grinned. “Now that your whole gang is dead, there’s no one to do your dirty work for you.”

“I was the one who killed you last year,” Lucius snarled back at him.

“I know,” Harry’s smile faded. “And for that, I owe you. I have something for you, something I don’t want anymore.”

Lucius screamed as Harry flew forward, clamping his hands on either side of his head and putting his thumbs over his eyelids. “Hours of pain, the shredding of innocence, the Cruciatus Curse…” he lowered his voice as he pushed his thumbs hard into Lucius’s eyes. “And the Avada Kedavra…”

Lucius screamed as the most intense pain he had ever experienced wracked his body. Harry let go and Lucius stumbled back, catching his foot on a loose stone. With an even louder scream, he went tumbling over the side of the roof and down onto a rusty spiked iron gate below.

“He’s gone,” Draco said as they walked carefully down the stairs. He pulled Ginny close as they passed Bellatrix’s broken body, turning her head so she wouldn’t have to see it.

“I thought you said you wouldn’t feel anything,” Ginny replied.

“I meant remorse,” Draco answered. “Having him dead… it frees me from any obligation I might have had towards him. For once, I owe Potter.”

Ginny nodded as they exited the church. “Draco? I’m sorry I ran in there.”

“It’s okay,” he smiled at her. “I’m just glad you didn’t think I led you in.”

“No,” Ginny smiled back at him. “I know you wouldn’t do that.”

Draco stopped and pulled her close, hugging her tightly. “Thank you,” he said, pushing her wet hair out of her eyes.

“For what?” Ginny asked.

“For giving me a chance,” he replied. “For not blaming me for my father’s actions.”

Ginny looked up at him for a moment, and then kissed him softly. “Take me home, will you?” she asked, her forehead pressed against his.

*** *** ***

Harry stumbled back into the yard. Now that his ordeal was over with, the strength from the Raven was leaving his body.

He fell on his knees in front of his grave, his fingers clutching onto the cold, wet stone. His breath was ragged, and he could feel things growing darker around him.

A slender figure in flowing ivory robes moved noiselessly over the ground, drawing closer and closer to the shivering huddled figure.

“Harry,” her voice was soft, yet he could hear it over the storm. Her hand touched his shoulder lightly, and he turned slowly, not daring to believe what he heard.

“Hermione,” he blinked several times.

“Shhhh…” she caressed his face gently. “I’ve been waiting for you, love.”

“I tried to get there,” Harry turned and sat up straighter.

“I know you did,” Hermione kneeled down, her hands moving over his face and hair. They stared at one another for several long moments, their faces moving closer and closer until their lips met tenderly, for the first time after life.

“Come on Harry,” Hermione pulled back slightly and gazed lovingly at his face. “We’re all waiting for you… me, your mum and dad, Ron, the rest of the Weasleys. We’ve been waiting all this time.”

Harry nodded, a sincere smile crossing his face. Hermione kissed him again and he got up, linking his fingers with hers.

She led him away, away from the pain they suffered there, away from the loss.

And he never looked back.

*** *** ***

I believe that sometimes, love is a more powerful thing than magic. I believe when two people love one another; it can stretch across boundaries, across time, across anything for those two people to be together.

My name is Ginny Weasley. I used to know two people who loved each other so much they couldn’t bear to be parted for more than hours at a time.

No, I take that back. I know two people who love each other so much they crossed the boundaries of life and death to be together.

Since Harry’s return, my life has changed. I live more comfortably thanks to him, and I’m not lonely. I have Draco… sometimes I feel so lucky. I never thought I would have a companion again.

I still see Sirius from time to time. I told him everything that happened that night and I know he’s happy for Harry too, even though he didn’t get to say a goodbye.

Life is better now. And my story? That’s a whole other tale.