Summer Writing Series Challenge (June 29)
Challenge: Harry & Hermione have a fight and make up.
Title: Through Good Times and Bad
Word Count: 1,000
Different people deal with pain in different ways and loss is one of those rare, few experiences that bring these differences to light. The accident was sudden, few expected or even thought such a tragedy could be levied against such a promising young family.
"Dearest friends and family." Harry said while stifling back his unwanted tears. "What can I say about Ron Weasley? The brother I never had, the loving father I aspired to emulate, and the man I proudly look up to for his growth and achievements." Stifled sobs came from the small group surrounding the twin coffins. Hermione crying freely as she held on to their daughter and Ron's son Percy. Harry stopped to collect himself and felt his heart breaking once again at the sight of his small family with its newest addition.
He took a deep breath and continued. "His wife, Luna, though an outcast in the beginning, became one of the closest friends I could know aside from my beautiful wife. She grounded Ron and he her, bringing them both firmly into the real world." A few sputtered laughs could be heard in the gathering. "I think I speak for everyone here, when I say that you've touched all of our hearts and lives in ways that nobody on this earth has or will again. I love you guys ..." With his eulogy finished, though in not as many words as he felt, Harry Potter walked to his wife and finally broke down in her arms. Percy latched to his waste and Lily sharing in her parents' grief with a hug of her own.
Harry wept in his den, remembering the events that happened more than a month ago. Hermione and the children were sleeping but he couldn't pull himself from the information that he'd uncovered in his unsanctioned assignment to find the truth behind his friends' deaths.
For the past two weeks, he'd pulled every favor he could to get any tidbit of evidence that could prove that what happened wasn't an accident. He spent long hours sifting through recorded Floo conversations, witness testimonies, and he'd even tried to obtain a Time-Turner but was turned down his request.
He looked up from his reading at the soft knock on the doorframe and smiled apologetically at his pregnant wife.
"Are you coming to bed, Harry?" She asked quietly but frowned when he turned back to the paperwork on his desk.
"In a little bit, Love." He said absently, scanning over some new information he'd received via owl scarcely an hour before. "Just some more information that I need to look through."
"You've been searching for the past month, Harry." She said quietly as she crossed the room and laid her hands on his shoulders. "Has anything changed?"
"I refuse to believe it was an accident!" Harry said in frustration. "We've built up so many enemies it's got to be some type of attack! If Ron hadn't known me ..."
"Don't blame yourself for this ... Harry, is-is that's what happened? You blame yourself for Ron and Luna's death?" She asked incredulously, spinning his chair around so he was looking at her.
"How many times have you received death threats?" Harry said angrily. "How many times? And you're my wife!" He stood suddenly, causing the chair to roll back into his desk. "I need to find out who did this, if they were good enough to take down both Ron AND Luna, they could come after you ... or Lily ..." Harry added quietly as he turned from her.
"Don't turn away from me, Harry!" She said evenly. "Everything points to an accident, I've looked over the paperwork with you!"
"DAMN IT! IT CAN'T!" Harry half shouted through gritted teeth. "IT ... JUST ... CAN'T!"
"Don't take that tone of voice with me!" She said angrily as she spun him about. "I've done nothing but be there for you and the children! If you can't accept the fact that they were in an accident on the way to the hospital and you keep pouring yourself into this wild goose chase ... Then don't expect to find us here when you drag yourself away from this room, Harry."
He looked at her as if she were crazy. "W-what?" He asked in a soft whisper, tears streaking down his face as her words sunk in. "You-you'll leave?" He asked incredulously.
"If you're not going to be there for us, Harry." She said with a shaking voice, tears parading down her cheeks freely. "We-we won't be here." She stepped away to make her statement final. Harry took a step towards her but she kept away. "Harry, it's time you figure out what's more important: Comforting your grieving family or hunting down a needle in a haystack!" She said angrily and ran from the room, clutching her belly protectively even though she'd just started to show.
Harry looked after her in dumbfounded silence, not believing that the one good thing that happened in his life was coming to an end. He reached for the papers that he'd just received and started scanning them again but the tears in his eyes blurred the text and he threw the papers to the floor.
He was standing at the doorway to their bedroom, Hermione crying silently on the bed and without a word, crossed the room and sat beside her.
"I'm sorry." He said simply, laying a hand on her back and rubbing gently. "Old habits die hard, Love."
Hermione moved to a sitting position and wrapped her arms around him in the span of a second. He felt her warmth against his body and returned the hug he so desperately needed. "Harry, we've missed you." She whispered into his chest. "Please come back to us ..."
"I'm here, Love, I've never left ... I was blind ..." He couldn't stop the emotions from overwhelming him and he let out a sob. "Please don't leave ..."
"I won't, Harry ... just come back ..."
"I am." He said softly and sealed his promise with a tender kiss.