Left Behind
Chapter Two
Harry Potter found himself strolling through the lush backyard of his beautiful three story house. After leaving London, where he and Hermione had been living in a quaint flat seven years prior, Harry had looked into the properties he owned through the Wills of Sirius, Dumbledore, and his parents. Finally, he settled on the incredible and huge mansion, which sat unplottable and at least two hours away from the public. Dobby had transferred over to his house to help him around the large area, bringing with him the trustworthy Winky. Since Harry never left his property, he found the backyard to be a sanctuary of types.
Lush trees and blooming flowers surrounded him, late March brought out the sweet scent of spring. He had spent hours creating this hidden palace away from the house. Needing a place where he could sit and relax, somewhere deeply peaceful, he had set out to create it all himself, with his very own hands. Growing up in the Dursley house had provided him with an understanding of weeds and some gardening, but he brushed up by reading every possible book on it. There was a handmade waterfall on one end, spilling into a pond filled with the most incredible fish. Exotic plants and flowers were woven through everything, creating a masterpiece equal to heaven itself.
Dobby often asked him why he needed his garden when the house was empty; sadly, that was the problem. While Harry needed somewhere quiet and away from everything, he hated being in such a huge house and hearing nothing but the echo of his feet. He had always wanted a family, and now it was as if he had missed out on it completely. It seemed absurd to think that, given that he was only twenty-four years old, but there was a part of him that blatantly yelled at him for his stupidity seven years before.
He had it all, but he had been far too thick to realize it. That wasn't to say he didn't love his life at the time; he had enjoyed almost every minute of it. Whether it was being able to play an innocent game of Quidditch with Ron, without worrying about an aerial attack of Death Eaters, or simply holding Hermione while she read one of her many tomes. The only part that bothered him was that he was never allowed to have that life; he was forced to explain himself everywhere. People all over wanted to know his every move, his every thought. It was just too much for him and finally he couldn't take it anymore.
Sweet and perfect Hermione, she had been his everything. All through seventh year, as he realized that whatever he had with Ginny had been his way of grasping at some sort of normality, he began to realize exactly what it was he had been blind to. The bright and beautiful witch standing by his side, willing to fight and even die for him, had always been right there. The only girl to ever see him as just Harry, and not Harry Potter - the boy-who-lived, had been his best friend and somewhere along the way his feelings for her changed. Whether it was during the Horcrux hunt, or during the final battle, he didn't know. But at one point, everything clicked.
Voldemort had him cornered, had him standing all alone and unable to escape. He laughed in his face, bringing up every horrible memory that could shatter Harry in every possible way. But as he stood there, listening to the Dark Lord taunt him continuously, he realized exactly what it was Dumbledore had been trying to teach him. Love was the key; it was supposed to unlock the power he knew not. He thought of his parents, tried to conjure up something that would be enough to truly kill the man who had ripped them away. He thought of the Weasley family and how all of them had played such a huge part in his life, shaping him to be who he was. And he remembered Sirius and every moment he shared with his sarcastic and witty godfather; including the pain that had consumed Harry over his death. Then, he settled on Hermione, and he found himself swimming in the deep emotions that connected him to the girl who had held his hand through the worst of times. And while the Killing Curse should've been fueled by hate, he used love instead, getting a much more powerful result.
He won that day, he saved every person that mattered to him and avenged those he would never get the chance to know. And while everyone cheered for him, while the people patted his back and cried out for his triumph, he was left standing with the two friends that had always been there. Ron had Luna, which Harry was happy for, considering he had been worried that perhaps Hermione and he would get together. Instead, Harry was left holding his best friend in his arms, as she sobbed with happiness, repeating over and over that she knew he could do it. He hadn't given it a second thought before he kissed her with everything he had in him. She tasted sweet, like strawberries and sugar. He never wanted to let her go; he wanted to hold onto her, cradling her in his arms as he kissed her for all eternity.
Had it not been for the overwhelming media attacks, he likely wouldn't have left. It became so bad that he couldn't even leave their flat though, which drove him completely nutters. It was the smallest thing that finally sent him over the edge though. Walking down the street, he was going to drop into the flower shop around the corner and pick up a few of Hermione's favorites, but became sidetracked. A girl about his age lept out at him, holding a piece of paper and a pen, asking for his autograph. When he kindly told her that he was in a huge hurry and on his way to pick something up for his girlfriend, she began crying. Not just a few tears either, she was outright sobbing and he had no idea why. She screamed at him then, telling him that he was her hero and she was muggleborn and that all she wanted was to meet the boy who had saved her and her kind. Before he could say anything, she turned around and told him she hated him, running off into the crowd, not hearing his apology. That was all it took; from ecstatic love to raging hate, they could turn so quickly. He just needed to get away; for how long, he didn't know. When he got back to the flat, he pulled out a couple sheets of parchment and tried his best to explain his reasoning to his best friend and then his girlfriend.
Hermione's letter had been much harder than Ron's, as he could really tell him the truth and apologize without having to get too emotional. With her though, he felt he owed her the entire truth. He could remember exactly what he wrote to her and even if he didn't, he had a copy of the letter which he kept tucked away in the pocket of his jacket. It took him an hour to scrawl out all that he had to say and still he felt it wasn't worthy of her. He regretted ever leaving, but after a couple years it became apparent that he couldn't just return. He had promised her though; vowed that he would return as soon as he felt things were right again. The words ran through his mind, repeating over and over, as if he was speaking them to her.
Love,
Don't panic, this isn't some kind of morbid suicide note. I guess in some sense it could be considered a goodbye, though I never really wanted to say that word to you. What we have, Hermione, I swear to you that it is all that truly matters. Growing up, I never understood the true power of love, but when I'm with you, it's as if everything bad in the world is null. I wake up some mornings and I see you sleeping there beside me, with a wisp of your hair laying across your cheek. I thank Merlin everyday that he gave me the chance to know you, let alone love you.
If I could live this life with you, I would. I would give anything for you and I to have the solitude and perfection that I think we deserve. If I knew that we could have our own lives, I would ask you to marry me this very moment. But we can't. We can't even walk out of door for bloody sakes. I need it to end, Mione, and the only way I think that will happen is if the world just gets over this Potter hysteria. I need to go away, I need to disappear from everything. Never from you though, you will always be kept inside my heart, away from prying eyes.
When this is all over, when I can live the life I've always wanted to, I will return. And I know that it sounds selfish and even conceited, but you must understand. I'm not leaving you and I dearly hope that I won't have to be away long. Please understand this; don't think that I'm trying to get away from you. I wanted us, Hermione. I wanted us to have it all. But right now, that's not a possibility.
I promise you, I will come back.
Forever yours,
Harry
He could only imagine what she had done when she returned home. She had gone to see a healer that afternoon, saying something about having an upset stomach lately. He knew it wasn't anything detrimental to her health, or he would've read about it somewhere. He had kept up with the Wizarding papers for the first while, but gave up when the titles all seemed to blur into one big sign. "Boy Savior Leaves." The people demanded that he be searched for, but his letter to Ron was enough to deter them. He stated that he was leaving for a much needed vacation and that there was no set time as to when he would be back. He didn't want people scouring the Earth for him though, as that would certainly ruin his away time.
Unfortunately, his away time had increased drastically. He didn't believe he would be away long, but one day he looked up to find that it had been years, not just months. The solitude of where he lived made time feel as if it were going in slow motion. So though he thought it had only been gone a couple years, Dobby informed him that it had actually been almost seven. As he sat in his perfect garden, he released a breath, and along with it came a realization. It was time; time for him to leave his quiet, reserved home, to join society again. It only seemed fitting really; seven years of torture from Voldemort as he went to Hogwarts and in return a seven year vacation from the Wizarding world.
Picking himself up from the cement bench he sat on, Harry walked barefoot across the lush grass to the back door of his house. Plucking an apple from the bowl sitting on the island of the kitchen, Harry wiped it clean on his shirt. Calling out for Dobby, around the large chunk of juicy fruit in his mouth, he chewed quickly and swallowed just as the small, trustworthy elf appeared.
"Yes, Harry Potter sir," Dobby said, grinning up at him with excitedly flapping ears. "Did Harry Potter want Dobby to make him some dinner?" he asked.
"No," Harry said, shaking his head. "I was actually hoping you could do me a favor," he explained, kneeling down to Dobby's level. "I want to know the addresses of Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley."
"Oh, is Harry Potter going to send something to his Wheezy and his Miss?" Dobby asked, then frowned. "But why wouldn't Harry Potter just use Hedwig?"
"Actually, Dobby, I'm going to visit them," he told him, smiling rather nervously.
The small elf's face widened with surprise. "But Harry Potter sir, you haven't left the property in seven years!"
"Well, perhaps it's time I do then," Harry said, nodding.
Grinning, Dobby nodded excitedly. "Dobby will go find Wheezy and Harry Potter's Miss right away!" With a pop, the house elf had disappeared quickly.
Sighing, Harry began walking upstairs to his room, deciding to pack his bags with his hands rather than use magic. Though he knew his wand couldn't be traced, he was still slightly apprehensive. Even if he was reentering the Wizarding world, if he had to leave again, he'd prefer that nobody knew where he was going. Picking out some of his casual muggle clothes and only a few of his Wizarding apparel, he packed them all away in a large suitcase. Grabbing his lavatory accessories, he threw them on top of his folded clothes.
Sitting back on his bed, he leaned over to let his head rest on the comfortable, feather pillow. Upon his night stand, where his gaze lie, he stared at a picture of him and Hermione. Wrapped in a silk burgundy robe, Hermione was sprawled out across their bed, half asleep. Climbing in beside her, Harry draped his arm over her back, playing with a long tendril of her hair. She would then roll over, gracing him with an adoring grin. His hand would graze across her stomach before slipping beneath her robe as he slid in close to kiss her deeply. Just before he pushed her robe off, the picture would restart itself; not letting it get too racy. He had charmed the camera to hover in the air, taking a sweet picture of them together.
Reaching out, Harry traced his finger over the angelic form of Hermione. He wondered briefly if she still thought of him; seeing as he had disappeared on her seven years before, he could only imagine how angry she would be when he walked back into her life. He became scared then, worried that she wouldn't return the feelings that he held tightly over the years. He never once lost any of the deep and strong love he felt for her. There was nothing to say that she hadn't moved on though. Perhaps she had a husband now, or even a family all her own. The idea of Hermione having a family with anyone but him both scared and hurt him. He couldn't blame her though; he couldn't ask her to sit blindly, pining away for him until the day he decided to come back. Even if some selfish part of him wished it was true.
Dobby appeared back in his room not long after, looking a little nervous. "Harry Potter's Wheezy lives in a place called, "The Nest," in Ottery St. Catchpole. Mrs. Wheezy tell Dobby that he is out of town for Quidditch game this weekend!"
"Molly was there?" Harry asked, smiling.
"No, Wheezy's wife Luna tell Dobby," he relied, shaking his head.
"His w-wife," Harry repeated, his eyes wide. "They got married," he said, more to himself.
"Yes," Dobby said, nodding emphatically. "Mrs. Wheezy was getting daughter ready for bed when Dobby arrive."
"They have a daughter!" Harry exclaimed, lifting a hand to his head as if he was taking in too much information for him to process. "How o-old?"
"Fives," Dobby reply, grinning. "Miss Jasmine Wheezy was very nice to Dobby!"
"Her name is Jasmine," Harry said, feeling like an idiot for repeating everything Dobby told him.
"Yes, and Wheezy's Luna told Dobby Harry Potter's Miss's address," Dobby exclaimed, his ears moving quickly. "Miss is going to London tomorrow for meeting but she'll be back by night time."
"T-Thank you, Dobby," Harry stuttered, still shocked.
Dobby's ears feel, as he looked rather upset. "Is Harry Potter still going to go?" he asked, hopefully
"Hmm?" he asked, stunned. "Er, yes, I'm still going. I'll just visit with Molly and Luna until Hermione gets back I suppose. Then I'll wait around until Ron arrives, or maybe go to his game, I'm not sure. I'm sure Molly wouldn't mind visiting with me though, and I haven't seen Luna in ages. The three of us could have a good time catching up."
"And Draco Malfoy," Dobby told him, nodding.
"Why would I visit with him?" Harry wondered, his brow furrowing.
"Because Draco Malfoy will be at Burrow with Wheezy's Luna and Jasmine," Dobby explained, nodding. "Draco Malfoy is wanting to spend time with his goddaughter, Maggie."
Harry snorted with disbelief. "Malfoy is a godfather," he said, shocked.
Dobby nodded with wide eyes. "Yes, Draco Malfoy is godfather to Maggie and to Jasmine! Harry Potter's Miss is Jasmine's godmother," he told him.
"She is?" Harry asked, smiling lightly. His brow furrowed again, however. "Who's this Maggie girl?" he asked.
"She's is-"
Winky appeared then, cutting Dobby off. "Winky must speak with Dobby," she told him, jumping back and forth on her feet. "Winky has done something Dobby usually does and Winky did it bad!"
Dobby stared at her before looking over at Harry, who simply nodded and told him it was all right for him to go. After the little house elf disappeared, Harry laid back down on bed and burrowed into the comfy blankets. Tomorrow he would be well on his way back to his friends; even if both of the important ones were out of town. At least he'd have a chance to brush up on what they'd been up to the last seven years, before he saw them. Inhaling deeply, he hoped that things would turn out good. Trying to quell the nauseous feeling in his stomach, he rolled onto his side, not for the first time noticing that the right side was empty of Hermione.
To Be Continued...
A/N Hope you liked this chapter, please review!