Love is hope: Life after sixth year

***

It was the morning of Harry’s seventeenth birthday... The summer had been quite exceptional. The constant knowledge that it would be the last summer Harry would suffer the presence of his relatives, and vice versa... made things a little extra tolerable. Besides that it was a lot like it had been the previous year: the Dursleys gave him tasks to finish and after that Harry was free to do as he pleased. And Harry found some comfort in the mind-numbing physical work...

Of course the biggest plus this year had been Ron able to visit him occasionally. It’d been nice since they’d all been staying in the Grimmauld Place, which didn’t permit a telephone to work in, so he didn’t have that daily contact anymore: it was back to owl-post. Dumbledore didn’t come nearly as much as before, since he didn’t need assistance for Occlumency anymore. So the total of three visits this summer from the old wizard had been to bring him news from the Order and such.

Harry got up this morning half dreading, half anticipating this day. He had been awake since midnight of course, when the owls of friends had arrived. He was a bit disappointed when he’d seen Dante, this only confirmed Hermione wouldn’t be able to visit him today... He did perk up a bit when he saw Pig carrying packages from Ginny and Mrs. Weasley, and nothing from Ron...

Harry grinned at the possibilities. He hadn’t been able to resist the temptation of trying a bit of magic the second he was permitted to do so, and had already levitated everything in his school trunk and shrunk some items to make it all fit. He’d proceeded to tidy up his room, even when the urge to leave everything as messy as possible was great, he grinned at the expression of his aunt when she realised it was this spotless because he’d used ‘useless magic’...

Harry didn’t know when he was to leave today, but he was leaving, nobody could stop him now: he’d been a little over a month at the Muggle house, which covered the condition for his mother’s protection nicely... Though Harry was adamant about leaving, he did plan to wait for someone of the Order, he wasn’t that stupid! Well...

And anyway, this was a day to revenge himself for the hell he’d been through all these years at the Dursleys... He didn’t plan on doing anything grave... But just letting them know he could use the magic, and have them sweat for a while would definitely be gratifying.

Going downstairs he settled himself at the breakfast table... Determined not to do any chores today, including making breakfast for anyone but himself, he settled on nibbling on the fudge Mrs. Weasley kept sending him...

His fat cousin had quickly joined him, not quite certain what to do or say... This summer, Harry and he had come to a few fights already. Of course never close around the house, but whenever Ron came to visit, the ‘gang’ would look them up and taunt them into fighting. Harry had to admit that for the likes of those brainless overweight troublemakers, they’d matured quite a bit: they didn’t consider it honourable anymore on picking on only one defenceless kid at the time, or kids that were more than three years younger...

Harry decided to pretend to make amends: offering him a sweet... It was a new invention of the twins: a truelove bonbon... It held just a little bit of a relatively weak, and therefore legal, truth serum, and was only activated by one certain question... Harry was able to fight its results effortlessly but he knew Dudley wouldn’t be able to...

Harry justified the action by telling himself he wasn’t really using magic, and anyway, Dudley shouldn’t be so gullible, even if Harry ate one of them in front of him to prove it wouldn’t make his tongue grow unstoppably...

When Harry’d asked Dudley who his true love of the moment was, he hadn’t in a million years expected to hear him blurt out the name of his first crony... Pierce ‘PeePee’ Polkiss! Dudley had squealed like a pig he was, and hightailed out of the kitchen as fast as his huge body permitted him. Harry’d had to fight to keep his breakfast down at the time, but had gotten over it by lunchtime.

Harry used his time waiting for Ron to get all his stuff downstairs and making sure to be careful when he used the Disillusionment charm on the trunk, Hedwig’s cage and his broom and levitated his stuff out the door to Mrs. Figgs. The old lady was just out feeding her cats and she let him in briefly... After one polite cup of tea, Harry made his excuses and left...

Finally, after lunch, Ron arrived, to Harry’s relief, since it had been quite dull without chores to do, and no Dudley to pester further... When he told Ron the cause of the mini-whale’s absence though, the youngest Weasley boy turned an interesting colour of green, having met the PeePee in question a few times this summer vacation...

“Yurghh, I’m never going to get that mental picture out of my mind! It’s almost as bad as imagining Crabbe and Goyle!”

Startling himself with the comment, Ron groaned and turned a paler green; Harry just laughed... Quickly changing the subject, though, Ron thrust a package in Harry’s hands.

“Here, it’s not much, mind you! But for once it isn’t something wizard related. You see I was at this store in Diagon Alley, and I didn’t really find something worthwhile, and I was considering just going to get you some Chocolate Frogs or something. But then I saw this shelf with Muggle stuff, and I thought, what the heck... I mean, you never really got something really Muggle, did you?”

They were walking towards the park and Ron was gesticulating madly. Harry considered telling him he was babbling like Hermione, but suspected this would be one of those things Ron would never forgive him for... Keeping quiet he looked at his best friend, amused...

“So this owner comes up to me and starts asking some questions, like what the person I was buying it for was like, what the occasion was, and so on... Obviously I couldn’t tell him the whole truth, ‘suspect last thing you want is knowing from the Daily Prophet what you’ll be getting for your birthday!! So he said this was perfect for a Muggleborn who had interests in law-enforcement or something...”

Ron frowned at that point: “Then he kind of winked and said you could use it with a lady friend too... I didn’t quite get what he meant by that, really. But I reckoned you’d be able to tell me... Go on, open it!”

Though Harry had kept all his other presents unopened, in the hope he could unwrap them in the presence of ‘family’ tonight, he also knew there was no way Ron would let him wait with his. Tearing away the paper Harry saw what was inside. Handcuffs...

Ron was looking at him expectantly, and Harry was thorn between bursting out in laughter, or blushing like mad and being uncomfortable...

Ron, impatient as ever: “Go on! Tell us what it is?”

“Uhm... Well, they’re called handcuffs... Uhmm... Look” seeing a key dangling from one of the locks he explain how Muggle policeman used these to restrain their criminals when they were being moved from one place to another...

A look of understanding flitted through Ron’s features: “Oh, so they’re like shackles but only smaller?”

Harry nodded, and expected Ron to catch on about the fact why they should be embarrassed by now... Unfortunately it was going to take a while, though.

Ron frowned again: “But what did that man mean by using it with a lady fr... Oh!” Ron’s expression was pricelessly red... Then a mischievous grin flitted on his lips: “I’d warn you to put them on Hermione before you ask her to play bondage games... She might scratch your eyes out if you don’t...”

Harry’s embarrassment only grew and he dove after Ron. Though Harry hadn’t said anything to Ron about what happened in the train, Ron seemed to have guessed what had been going on anyway... Harry supposed it was one of the best mates things to know without being told... Well, Ron did pester him about Hermione even before her and him finally got to really talk; but he’d changed from nagging to sort things out, to more playful teasing...

Ron was laughing his head off, and that was the only reason Harry could catch up to him so fast. As much as he’d finally grown the last year, he was still towered over by Ron... Well, at least he was taller then Hermione...

“You’re so going to die if Hermione ever hears what you just said, you know,” Harry said casually.

Ron flinched slightly, but recovered quickly: “Yeah, but you’re my best mate, you’ll never do something that endangers my perfect little bum, would you?” Ron was doing that weird thing with his eyelids, only women knew how to do gracefully; letting them flutter comically, while sticking out his tongue in concentration.

Harry just burst out laughing, and shoved him: “Who’s the mental one, now?”

Ron sobered quickly: “Ok, enough goofing, when are we going to Figgs’ to get back to the Headquarters? I know you’re just dying to go right now, but I gotta tell you mate: you better enjoy the fresh air while you can: we’re gonna be cooped up in that house for the rest of the summer, you know...”

They settled in the park in a not too crowded spot. Quickly looking around, Harry conjured up a nice football. He’d been dying to do that since Ron’s first visit. Since it wasn’t very manly to just hang around and talk, and they couldn’t very well play Quidditch, Harry had thought about playing a bit of soccer, since he didn’t want to risk having to play Muggle chess...

The first time he’d had a hard time making Ron conjure up the right type of ball... But in the end, Harry’s first attempt didn’t really seem perfect either... They got around to goofing with that football anyway, while discussing Quidditch tactics... Harry had forgotten how long they’d been playing, but it was really cathartic...

It wasn’t as mind-liberating as chasing the snitch on a Firebolt, but it took his mind of things, and he had a good laugh with Ron... This summer, apart from the ever-present threat of Voldemort, had been a little bit of regaining his childhood back. Though he was more then ever expected to partake in adult affairs concerning the war, he cherished these times when he learned alongside with Ron how to play a bit of soccer in the Muggle park... It was a different magic in its own...

Soon the park emptied, and Ron’s stomach started to growl. It was nearing dinnertime, though the summer sun was still giving enough light, and Harry decided it had been long enough, they’d better get started to depart for the Grimmauld Place... Just when Harry took out his wand to make the football disappear, he heard a blood stopping scream inside his head...

Quickly looking up is when he sensed it! Dementors! Again!

“Ron! It’s Dementors! Get to Mrs. Figgs! Quick!”

“Harry, you can’t do this yourself!”

“Which is exactly why you have to go to her fireplace! Get help! I have to see if there aren’t any Muggles still here!”

After fifth year, all squibs had a Floo-connection to the Ministry installed for emergencies... As they were targets for the Death Eaters the Ministry had to make this show of ‘mercy’...

Harry looked around quickly, feeling the despair rising within him. He didn’t see any Muggles around, but that didn’t change the fact that there could be lives in danger. His fears eating at him he tried to locate the Dementors. There must have been more then one, again, but they seemed to come from only one general direction...

Feeling every fibre in his body screaming at him to get out of there, he instead marched towards the place where he guessed they were... Exiting the park he walked towards the deserted dark street... Harry remembered that the absence of an abundance of light was just the Dementors effect on him.

No sooner that thought raised through him, and he saw three Dementors. Raising his wand he struggled to produce a Patronus, almost guiltily recollecting a dream concerning Hermione that had made him... well, happy... After the Dementors fled, Harry stayed on his guard... this was too easy.

Two years ago, it had been Umbridge to send him the Dementors... Now they didn’t obey the Ministry anymore, they were under Voldemort’s command... So what were they doing here? And how come they’d fled so easily? As much as Harry wanted to think the Dementors feared him because they knew he could produce a corporal Patronus, that couldn’t be it, because then they’d simply would have tried harder, come with more then three...

This was a diversion... Ron! With a hammering heart Harry ran back through the park to catch up after Ron. How could he have been this stupid! They’d separated them... and the guards? Someone of the Order was supposed to guard them! Where had they been? Harry doubted after Mundugus had made the mistake of leaving Harry alone for a while, that any other member would contemplate having Dumbledore’s wrath upon them by doing this again.

In Harry’s mind this could mean only one thing: whoever plans to attack him had managed to take out the guard... Pushing away the worry, he continued to run as quick as possible towards Mrs. Figgs. The street was also deserted, and the front door was wide open... Clutching his wand Harry carefully made his way inside, to the living room...

His stomach flipped over, but definitely not in a good way, when he saw Mrs. Figg, in front of the hearth, her eyes open with a vacant expression on them. The Avada Kedavra... Harry shivered, but quickly flooed the message Mrs. Figg was about to send to the Ministry in the fire. Thrown back into vigilance he heard voices outside... There was cackling... Running as quietly as he could, what he saw made his blood still for a minute...

Ron was there, with a cruel smile in his lips, firing painful hex after hex to someone balled on the grass. With much difficulty, Harry could discern the trademark silver hair... Malfoy... As much as Harry hated Draco Malfoy, he couldn’t believe his best mate was putting him under that much of torture... That’s when Harry comprehended the vacant glance in Ron’s eyes: the Imperius!

Rookwood was there, wearing Auror clothing that looked too big on him, pointing his wand steadily at Ron, muttering instructions with obvious glee… Two other Death Eaters stood beside him, but they wore their masks... A couple of paces beside them, Harry saw a motionless body; recognizing the peculiar hat he guessed that must’ve been Dedalus Diggle, his Order guard...

Without much second thought, Harry stepped out of the backdoor, pointing his wand as calm as possible to Rookwood.

“Expeliarmus!”

Of course, it couldn’t be that simple... They must’ve known he was coming, the only thing was that they obviously hadn’t expected him so soon... The short surprise Harry offered though was enough to break Rookwood’s concentration and have his wand sailing through the air towards Harry, and Ron slumped on his knees, cradling his head with both hands, free from the Imperius.

For now...

The two Death Eaters next to Rookwood, however had quickly accio’ed his wand back, before it could reach Harry and almost got his wand with a quick disarming spell of their own, had Harry not rolled out of the way of their spells...

It wasn’t meant to be that easy: the moment he stood upright he felt arms grabbing him from behind. A familiar voice whispered in his ear...

“Ickle Hawwy! Short time no see...”

No, it couldn’t be! She was dead! Harry’s inside were burning and cold as ice at the same time... He’d seen her lifeless body taken away to the Ministry... She’d been dead, Neville had taken her life! She and Malfoy Senior couldn’t be...

“Not glad to see Auntie Bella? Aw, now I’m so disappointed...”

Harry’s determination took over from his paralysing fear... He started to struggle... But found her grip to be much, much too strong, she barely flinched when he tried to get free from her... When he couldn’t turn to see her, his view was that of Ron being placed under the Imperius again, trying, but failing to fight it...

Harry was powerless and frustrated in his helplessness to do something when he saw his best mate, raise his wand at the quivering young Malfoy...

Rookwood’s sinister voice whispered harshly: “Kill him! Use the killing curse! You know you want him dead!”

Harry started to scream at Ron, trying to jolt him out of the hold the mind curse had on him, but Bellatrix, however she managed to pin him down with just one arm, brought up her hand to cover his mouth. Harry tried to bite her, anything to keep Ron from doing the curse, but found with a shock that those hands were almost translucent white, and very cold... and didn’t seem to mind getting almost ripped open by his teeth...

Harry watched with petrified shock Ron Weasley saying the fatal words...

“Avada...”

That’s when he heard a scream and something red flash by him... unable to comprehend why everything else seemed to go in slow-motion except that one image, Harry watched Ron’s wand create a green light:

“Kedavra!”

Harry could now see who had just whooshed past him: it was Mrs. Weasley! The woman screamed again and threw herself in the green light... Harry blinked, and saw Mrs. Weasley’s eyes roll back into her head... The grip Bellatrix had on him relaxed and he was able to free himself. Harry felt empty, almost floating when he shot forwards to the falling woman...

Why?

Harry barely registered that Rookwood had been surprised enough to let go of the Imperius, or maybe Ron had received enough shock to fight it off... His gaze went to Rookwood, the Death Eater seemed almost scared for a moment... Then he heard Bellatrix’ insane laughter... This seemed to galvanise all other Death Eaters into cackling malevolently...

Behind him Harry heard someone yell: “Lumos solem!”

A detached part of his brain questioned why anyone would cast that spell, there were more efficient spells to create artificial light. He heard Bellatrix scream, and to his horror saw her run and jump inhumanly in his side-vision. That’s when everything clicked inside his brain: she was a vampire!

How or why or how?

Harry saw Ministry officials run after her in vain: she was much too quick and they could obviously not continue shooting spells throughout an entire Muggle neighbourhood... Several people started pooling out of the house, Ministry officials and Order members alike... This seemed to be the signal for more hooded figures to come out and an all out battle issued... Harry first seemed petrified, in the middle of curses being shot off...

Then he felt arms grab him again. His first reaction was to throw them off, before he saw it was Remus who’d grabbed him. Looking around he saw one of the twins stunning Ron, who seemed petrified and wouldn’t have budged unless his brother stupified and wingarium-leviosa’ed him back into the house. Then he saw Mr. Weasley pick up his wife, moving her away from Harry.

Harry saw one of the masked men advancing on them, preparing to curse Mr. Weasley in the back. He quickly shot a defensive spell against the Death Eater and let Remus take care of him. Harry looked around quickly, everyone seemed to be fighting and duelling. When a few of the Death Eaters started getting stunned and incarcerated, the others Apparated out without much of a fight...

***

Hermione’s POV, again!

Hermione listened to Harry’s story, barely noticing the quiet tears that ran from her cheeks...

“That’s when we were all taken to the Ministry... That pompous git Fudge was there, trying to blame the death of one of his Aurors on me... You see, the Ministry had guards around my house also, and the Death Eaters had taken him out and polyjuiced Rookwood to stand guard. It wasn’t hard to take care of poor Diggle that way...”

Harry’s tone had been oddly devoid of emotion during the whole narration of his tale, but now some sarcasm finally crept back into it... To Hermione’s relief, because anything was better then that cold unwavering voice...

“So Fudge is creating a scene, and no one has the energy to care. It would’ve been quite funny, actually. I mean, I used to get so mad when I was attacked without reason, but now... I mean really: who is he trying to fool...”

Hermione adjusted herself on the bed. Harry seemed a little less immobile now, and she’d been quiet and like a statue through the whole thing, her legs started to hurt. Harry barely seemed to notice her moving, though.

“So eventually Dumbledore arrived... He’d been at a Wizengamot meeting, and the message of what had been going on had been intercepted... And we were able to piece the whole thing together... The Auror Rookwood impersonated had been killed because he was a member of a proud pure-blood family, engaged to a Muggle... who’s been, well... I’ll tell you some other time... So Rookwood gets my address and is ‘scheduled’ to patrol there in the afternoon. Everything’s getting set up, and no one’s the wiser... While I was busy playing hero with the Dementors, Ron got to Mrs. Figg. They must have thought Ron would go up to the Dursley’s and get help there, because otherwise they would’ve attacked her before that...”

Hermione frowned, did that mean his relatives... ? Harry must’ve seen her expression.

“Oh, no. They’re just fine... Apparently there was an emergency with Aunt Marge and they were all gone anyway... They’re going to look into it, but it could’ve been a set-up for me to be alone at the house, without the blood-relative-protection-thing... Though it’s not sure if that would’ve made the protection weaker, since it was still my aunt’s house... Well, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

Harry shrugged. The rest was pretty obvious: they must’ve seen Ron run into Mrs. Figg’s house, and intercepted the message the old lady was about to send by killing her. Then they set up their twisted little game of punishing an already weak Draco Malfoy, torturing Ron Weasley in a sick game of letting him be the cruel one, and having Harry watch...

Hermione listened to the end of the tale stoically. They had been retained in the Ministry until just deep in the night, and upon finally coming to Grimmauld Place Harry’d only heard Snape announce Hermione was there. That’s all Harry’d heard before Ron had stalked off and locked himself in his room...

When Harry had first seen Amélie, there had been something about her that reminded him of the feeling he got when he saw Snape, or was around Death Eaters... Harry had long since linked that feeling to Dark Magic and then Dumbledore’s tone of voice had confirmed his suspicions...

At least Harry had the decency of looking embarrassed to have been jumping to conclusions, but he admitted not being really sure about her, yet... That’s when Hermione remembered something:

“What did she see, Harry? What did she say to you?”

Harry fidgeted uncomfortably... He opened his mouth to answer, but was interrupted when he heard a thumping noise in the corridor...

***

Yes, sorry, a cliff-hanger... Please don’t be too angry? And if you have the time, review?