Disclaimer: No real Half-Blood Princes were harmed in the making of this fanfiction.
Regression of a Wizard
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Prologue~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
December 23rd
Harry Potter lay on his back, his eyes squinting into the crystal blue sky. The wind gently ruffled his unruly black hair before rolling over his body like a familiar, warm caress. Above him, white clouds drifted serenely through the heavens while waves of pure, blue water rolled over the white sands and lapped at his feet.
"Merlin, I love Christmas."
Harry lazily rolled his head towards his best friend Hermione Granger as she daintily flopped over on her back. He watched, fascinated, as she began applying more tanning oil to her well defined stomach. His gaze traveled up slowly, taking in her athletic form. His gaze lingered briefly on her face where her eyes were hidden behind a stylish pair of sunglasses. Her normally wild hair was pulled back into a messy bun (into her sexy librarian look, as he liked to call it), but a few unruly strands had made good their escape, playfully framing her face. He saw the corners of her mouth start to crinkle in the beginnings of a smile. Futilely, he tried to peer though the dark lenses to see if she had noticed him looking.
"Like something you see there, Harry?"
Apparently she had.
"Yeah, the scenery is smashing."
Hermione snorted before laying back down, her head facing him. The movement did wonderful things for Harry.
"Mmm...what time is it?"
"What year is it?" he replied lazily.
He turned his head towards his other best friend, Ron Weasley, who lay sprawled on his stomach; half on a towel, half buried in the sand. The water had begun to drag him out to sea fifteen minutes ago, but Harry just could not muster the energy to drag his friend out of the water. In the redhead's hand was a half eaten sandwich that he firmly refused to relinquish, even in sleep. A crab busy was tearing into it.
Ron would be outraged when he woke up, assuming he didn't drown first.
Harry yawned mightily and Hermione giggled at him. "Remind me why we have to leave here again." She asked lightly.
Harry turned over to face her again, propping himself up on one elbow. He grinned roguishly at her. "You know, that whole 'save the world' thing we have to do? Remember?"
"You mean that whole 'save the world' thing you have to do," she retorted, poking him in the arm. "I'm just along for the travel opportunities."
"You groupie." Harry muttered affectionately.
"Me? What about your charbroiled comrade over there? He's twice as bad as I'll ever be!"
"Mmm-mm." Hermione was right though. About the charbroiled part anyway. Ron was way past 'burnt' and well on his way to being thoroughly cooked. Redheads didn't take the sun that well after all.
"He is looking a bit tender. Love you forever if you took him inside."
Hermione glanced back across the white sand towards the alcove of grass huts sitting serenely under the palm tree shaded mainland. It was only thirty yards or so to their rooms. It was much too far to move.
"He can toast," she replied indifferently before plopping back down bonelessly.
"You're all heart, Granger." Harry said. "S.P.E.W and werewolves' rights, vampires and trolls, all put before your best friend's welfare."
She just grinned at him before carefully lifting up and adjusting her red and gold bikini bottoms. The movement was not lost on Harry's Seeker trained eyes.
"You're doing that on purpose," he accused, his best mate's welfare immediately forgotten. He forcefully dragged his eyes back up to her shaded ones.
"So?" she replied easily. "All you have to do is say 'yes' to me, you know. You're doing this to yourself."
"Playing dirty is what it is." Harry pouted, sticking his lower lip out.
She laughed. "What's a little foul play between friends? If you'd just agree to go out with me, you wouldn't have to suffer like this." She propped herself up and leaned back on her elbows, eyeing him over the rim of her sunglasses, one eyebrow arched delicately. Her back arched just so causing Harry to swallow. Hard.
"Damn it, woman. We've talked about this. I'm..." He looked back towards Ron, who was still out like a light, snoring gently in the sand. The water was lapping up to his chest now and making steady progress upwards.
"I'm just not sure. I still don't know what I want...I'm not sure about anything right now. About this war, about you, or about myself." He sounded genuinely wretched and miserable. While she kept her composure on the outside, Hermione's heart broke for him. When it came to his feelings, nothing confused him more than the concept of love. It was something she had strived to fix every single day she had known him.
Hermione smiled a very un-Hermione like smile at him. It was that very slight, but knowing smile; the one that she knew drove him absolutely insane. "You don't have to know Harry. That's what you keep me around for, right? You should just trust me."
Harry shot up as if he'd been scalded by the sand. "I do!" he rushed to assure her, his hands unconsciously reaching out to her. "More than anything, you know that. But..." he was at a loss for words. He looked so lost. "I trust you with my life," he finally managed.
"But not with your heart?"
He looked torn about what to say and Hermione instantly felt guilty for baiting him. "I'm sorry, Harry." She said quietly. "That was out of line and I know it. I really didn't mean it like that and I honestly don't want to pressure you or make things harder than they already are."
It was quiet for a long moment, the silence only filled by the gentle crashing of waves and the calls of the seagulls. Harry reached down and absently adjusted his towel before giving her a half-hearted smile. "I know. I'll have an answer for you one day, I promise. One day, after I get all this," he tapped the side of his head, "sorted out. It's a right mess in here." He suddenly grinned cheekily. "As for making things hard, well, I think you had that in mind when you picked that suit."
She looked properly scandalized a moment before having the grace to blush. Obviously she had been called out. Before she could respond, however, a larger wave crashed against the shore, splashing Ron directly in the face.
"Huhwhuzzit?" He sat up quickly, his expression obviously befuddled, dropping his sandwich in the process. He looked down at it in dismay. "Oh hang it all! It's all soggy and sandy now!"
Harry and Hermione sat up further and looked at each other in amusement. Their 'talk' once again postponed, or as Harry liked to think of it 'another AK dodged.'
"Ca'mon Ron," Harry said, standing then pulling his friend to his feet. He dusted his swim trunks off. "We'll get you another. Dinner is going to start soon. They should just be about done roasting that pork."
Ron's eyes lit up in delight. "Pork...and you say that cook it in that sand pit?" He wondered off towards the huts muttering to himself as Harry bent down and offered his hand to Hermione. She gracefully took it and got to her feet. She watched Ron's retreating form (one half dark red, the other pale white with freckles) before turning back to Harry who was also watching the other third of their Trio hop gingerly across the still scorching sand.
Harry turned, looking across the ocean's horizon, watching as the sun dipped lower in the sky, his gaze turning pensive. The colors were just beginning to change from that deep blue to the beautiful maroon and gold that the tropics were famous for. It was promising to be another glorious sunset. Hermione gently tugged on his hand, guiding him towards their hut. He hadn't even realized he was still holding onto her. She smiled happily at her small triumph when he didn't let go as they walked.
Harry shook his head as they made their way across the beach. It was amazing how much things had changed since their school year started. So much had happened and yet, there was still so much more left to do. Their lives had taken quite a few abrupt right hand turns (and maybe a few left handed ones too) since that fateful day in September. He glanced down at his and Hermione's intertwined fingers.
Three months ago, he never would have imagined himself vacationing on a tropical island out in the middle of the Pacific. He had been all over the world in such a small amount of time, saw so many places and met so many people. Yet here he was, being pursued by both the witch next to him and the most evil Dark Lord of the century. For entirely different reasons, of course, but similar since neither one of them would take 'no' for an answer. It's truly amazing what life can throw at you when you least expect it.
He looked down at the beautiful girl walking beside him, then back towards the setting sun once more. He couldn't help the silly grin that made its way on his face before turning back to where the others were setting up the torches for tonight.
What incredible adventure waited in store for them tomorrow?
Distantly he heard Ron's voice call out. "Hey Harry! What's...Bar-Bee-Queue?"
Maybe, just maybe, everything would turn out alright.
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