Confused Paths
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, just the plot (is there a plot here?) and the OCs (I guess it's the OC now, since one of them died). Don't sue me, JKR; I'm poor and I don't have any money.
Epilogue - Stronghold
Rafaelle's burial took place in the school grounds, at that same night. Only the students who were at the forest, plus the teaching staff and the Minister of Magic, attended the ceremony. Rafaelle's mother refused to come. Johan received a letter from her that said this wouldn't have happened if they had remained muggles.
Harry and Hermione, along with Ginny, Luna and Neville, had been given by Ron a proper explanation of Rafaelle's "suicide". After their battle against the Slytherins, Johan was badly wounded and had stopped breathing for a while. Rafaelle presumed he was dead and changed into the owl form, flying towards the clearing where Harry was fighting Bellatrix. Johan presumed she threw herself in front of the Killing Curse because she couldn't stand her apparent loss. Johan didn't make any more comments on the subject.
Harry was sitting now by the lake, looking at the stars. Despite his short friendship with Rafaelle, he was mourning her death as much as Johan was. He blamed himself for not being able to protect Hermione, and thus, for Rafaelle's death. All of this was a consequence of his careless trip to the Department of Mysteries last year. First Sirius, now an innocent girl. Not to mention Johan's permanent scars, or the torture that Ginny, Luna and Neville had endured. And Hermione's almost-death.
He heard a noise coming from behind him; he turned back to see both Johan and Hermione walking towards him. Johan said something to Hermione, and she stopped. He stepped forward and knelt by Harry's side.
"Hey Harry," he said, trying to sound normal. "You know… I will go straight to the point here, because I do not think Hermione wants to wait," he continued, and smiled uneasily. "I do not blame you for what happened. You can say we were not supposed to be there, and that you were the one that had to save Hermione, but you know that is all a bunch of rubbish. Rafaelle and I were there because we wanted, and there was nothing you could do at that time. Hermione told me everything, and I knew Bellatrix took you by surprise."
Harry opened his mouth to protest, but Johan made a gesture that told him to stop. "I will not argue with you, as I have heard you can be very thick-headed sometimes. I just wanted to give you this," he said, and handed Harry a small black box. "What is it?" Harry asked, looking from the box to the Johan. "There is no better way to find out than to open," Johan answered.
Harry opened the box to reveal a small ring. "You see, I was going to give this to Rafaelle," Johan began, before Harry could say anything. "I am seventeen already, and so was she, and we planned to marry after we left Hogwarts. I was going to ask her at the last day of the term."
"But why are you giving this to me, then?" Harry asked, not really understanding Johan's point. The black boy smiled slightly, and Harry could feel that was his first real smile since the accident. "You see, Rafaelle killed herself because she thought she had lost me," he began, and paused briefly. "I think she thought that saving Hermione's life was an appropriate way to do it, and I can understand her point. You see, Rafaelle, like me, has seen in you and Hermione the same kind of love we shared, and she wanted to protect it for the two of you."
Harry had no answer to that comment. He had never been a love expert, but that was clear what Johan had meant.
"You mean," Harry began, a bit unsure, "That you want me to ask Hermione in marriage?"
Johan smiled broadly now. "You got it quickly," he answered, and Harry's eyes widened. "But I can not do that! You can barely protect Hermione. She would be dead now if Rafaelle had not thrown herself in front of that curse," Harry protested.
"That is not the point in marriage, Harry," Johan replied, sternly. "I could not protect Rafaelle from dying, and yet I was going to propose to her. I wanted to show her that even if I could not do it, I was willing to try my best into it."
Harry could not find anything to say against that. He himself had thought like that, several times. He was willing to do anything to protect Hermione. He even had thought about proposing to her, after they were finished school. Johan was indeed a lot like him. He smiled slightly, and Johan returned.
"I see you have understood it now," Johan said. "I would not be surprised if you said that you have thought that same things before," he added, and Harry nodded. "How did you know that?" Harry asked. "It is like I said, Harry, I could see my love for Rafaelle in your love for Hermione, like I saw Rafaelle's love into Hermione's. I will be going now, because Miss Granger there seems to be having a fit," he said, looking at where Hermione was standing. "See you around," he said, standing on his feet and turning his back to Harry. After a few steps, he stopped.
"Remember what I said about a guy who made a lady wait during four years?" The black boy asked, his back still turned to Harry. Before Harry could answer, he spoke again. "Guess who."
When Johan could not be seen anymore, Hermione approached Harry. She was looking very concerned, and Harry smiled at her, trying to look a little better.
"He said he was going to be quick about it, but I was almost going to have a fit there," Hermione began, smiling back at him. She sat down by his side. "What were you talking about?" She asked.
"He just wanted to tell me that I should not blame myself for what happened. He said it was his and Rafaelle's choice to be there, and that I could not do anything to save you," he answered truthfully. She sighed by his side. "He is right, and I hope he has managed to put that into the thick head of yours," she said, somewhat playfully. He held his hands to his heart, pretending to be hurt.
"You hurt me talking like that, love," he said, and winked, before the mood turned serious again. "But yes, he managed to convince me it was not my fault. I still feel bad for her, though. She did not deserve to die, nor did he deserve to lose her," he added. Hermione nodded, and snuggled closer to him. "I feel bad for him too. I had a suspicion they were lovers, as I told you before, and I suppose it must hurt to lose someone you love like that," she answered, and lied her head on his shoulder.
'Yes, it hurts a lot to lose someone like you love like that,' Harry thought, remembering of Sirius. Hermione noticed the change in Harry's expression, and squeezed his hand in reassurance. He smiled at her, and they kissed lightly.
"You know, love, you never explained to me why Bellatrix was not able to read your mind back there at the forest," Harry said. He had wanted to ask her that since everything happened, but shrugged it off due to more important matters. He saw that Hermione chuckled before answering, "Simple, I had Occlumency lessons too." Harry turned to her in surprise, and she raised her eyes to meet his. "When you mentioned last summer that Dumbledore was going to give you Occlumency lessons, I asked him to teach me too. You know, I thought it could be handy some time, and I guess I was right," she said, smiling at his shocked expression.
"But when did he teach you? I mean, I never saw you actually having those lessons," Harry inquired. "He would give me my lessons when he was finished with yours. You would always take a shower after your lessons, and that is why you never saw mine," she explained. Harry nodded, and Hermione rested her head on his shoulder again. Harry slipped his arm around her waist, bringing her closer.
"You are not mad at Ron or Luna because Bellatrix found out about the prophecy, are you?" Hermione asked. Harry could feel she didn't really want to ask him that. "No, not really," Harry answered, truthfully. "Voldemort would come to kill me, anyway; now he just knows that nobody can do it, but him himself. He will not try to use Slytherin students to do his bidding anymore, so I think that narrows some of the Light Side's worries."
"He most definitely will not be using Slytherins again; you see, the ones who were involved were expelled, and had their wands snapped. Dumbledore could not do that before, since they had not done anything yet, but now he did it under the Ministry's orders," Hermione said. "I think no more Slytherins will ever want to join the Dark Side after that," she finished.
Just then, Harry remembered Malfoy. He had betrayed the Dark Side, and refused to join Voldemort. He probably didn't have his wand snapped, but now he would be chased by the Dark Side as a traitor.
"What happened to Malfoy?" Harry asked. "He was not expelled, was he? He helped us in the end," he continued. Hermione laughed. "From the way you are talking one could say you are worried about him," she said mockingly. Harry shook his head forcefully. "No way, I was just wondering here. I mean, he will be chased by the Dark Side now," he explained.
"I suppose so," Hermione answered. "He will remain in Hogwarts," she continued, but was interrupted by Harry. "Damn, I was just hoping I would not have to see his face again," he said playfully. She laughed again, then continued, "He and his mother will be under special vigilance, though. If there is any sign of Death Eater activity around their house, Malfoy is out of Hogwarts." Harry smiled broadly. "Yes! That means I still have a chance!" He said, punching the air. The two of them laughed, then Harry unconsciously pulled Hermione into another kiss. This one was longer, and deeper, as if they were making up for their bad mood around them lately.
Someone cleared his throat behind them, and Harry saw that it was Ron, with Luna by his side. Luna was in her usual dreamy self, looking at the sky, and Ron seemed somewhat embarrassed, having caught his two best friends in such a compromising position.
"Hmm… Dumbledore asked me to warn you he wants us to go back to the castle. We will still be having a day free tomorrow, though," he said, and smiled widely at the last part. Harry and Hermione laughed, and she stood on his feet, preparing to leave. Harry held her by the wrist. "Go on Ron, I still have something to say to Hermione," the dark-haired boy said. Hermione looked at him questioningly, and Ron just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, do not stay here all night," he said. "You are already well-known for your late night chats." Before either Harry or Hermione could reply to that, he was off, along with Luna (who was still looking at the sky).
"What is it that you want to tell me, Harry?" Hermione asked, sitting down by his side again. Harry took the box Johan had given him out of his pocket. "Well… I do not know how to say that," he admitted. Hermione smiled gently. "Like you told Ron once, just use your mouth," she said. Harry smiled back. 'I suppose it is easier if I use my heart, in this case,' he thought.
"This may sound a bit sudden to you, but I was thinking about it," he began, stammering. "Along with someone else," he added, trying to give Johan his credit. "And I thought I should do it as soon as I can, because I need to show you how much I love you," he continued. This "use-your-heart" thing sure works well. He saw Hermione's expression change to one of pure love. He could not name it, but he could feel it.
"Harry, you have already shown me how much you love me," she began, and her eyes glimmered with the tears that wanted to fall. "You do not need to anything else about it," she added. She threw her arms around him on a hug, but he held his hands on his.
"You see, Hermione, I… When Bellatrix threw that curse at you, I thought everything was over. When Rafaelle died, and you survived, I thought everything was my fault because I could not protect you properly. I thought I was not showing everything I felt for you, if I could let you be hit by that curse," he began. Hermione tried to interrupt him, but he released one of her hands and made a gesture for her to stop.
"Please, love, let me finish it. I thought I was not showing all my love for you if I could not protect you. But then I realized that my desire to protect you is what counts. If I believe I will do even the impossible to protect you, I am showing all my love for you. And because I want to protect you and have you by my side forever, I need to ask you this."
"Hermione Jane Granger, will you be my wife?" He asked. He saw she broke down on tears, but her eyes never left his.
"I mean, I know this seems too early. We could it after we graduate or something," he continued. He once again didn't realize her tears were of joy, not of sorrow. She interrupted him by kissing him straight on the lips.
"Yes, I will!" She answered, after they pulled out of the kiss. He grinned. "But we will really need to wait until graduation. I mean, I do not even think we can marry at this age," she added. He nodded briefly, then kissed her again. "I can wait," he said, and wiped her tears with his thumb. "But I have something here to make up for that wait," he continued, and winked at her. He opened the box, which had been lying on the ground, and showed her the ring. Hermione gasped.
"Harry, you did not need to buy that," she began, but he interrupted her again. "I did not buy it. This was going to be Rafaelle's promise ring, from Johan," he explained. Hermione's eyes widened again. "He said that he and Rafaelle could see their love reflected on us, and that Rafaelle would want you to have it. Will you wear it?" He asked finally, looking into her eyes. She nodded. "Of course," she answered, and extended her hand to him. She slid the ring in her finger, then kissed her hand.
"Thank you, Mrs. Soon-to-be-Potter," he said, grinning.
"My pleasure," she answered, and pulled him into another kiss. Then, for the first time since Sirius had died, Harry felt complete again. He knew he had a reason to go on. He knew he wasn't walking on confused paths anymore.
- End -
A/N: That's it. I want to thank everyone who stayed with me until the end, and I hope you enjoyed the reading. One more thanks to those who reviewed and gave me opinions (I took them into account, you know). You guys rock, like I always say. I want to thank my beta CaliberKX, who didn't work in all the chapters, but helped me whenever she could; I want to thank my girlfriend for letting me use her looks to build Rafaelle; and I want to thank me for letting myself use my looks to build Johan. :P
Someone asked me last chapter if I had any intentions of writing a real book. You see, I don't trust my skills to that level... Maybe someday I'll try it.
About the sequel, I have a plot waiting for be written, but I don't think it will be done soon. I have some personal reasons I'd rather not talk about. Forgive me. I promise I'll write it someday.