The Life He Never Knew
Ch. 2- Life After War
A/N: Still not JKR, not rich, not famous, not female, not able to fix the mistake that is Ginny Weasley marrying Harry Potter.
The silence in the Great Hall was deafening, that sad faces of people mourning lost loved ones was too much for Harry Potter to handle. With one last look around and a silent goodbye he turned to leave Hogwarts. He didn't know if he'd ever be able to return to this place and not feel the immense sorrow of this day. The war had ended, Voldemort and the majority of his death eaters were dead or incarcerated, unfortunately the light had lost its share of fighters as well. Harry couldn't shed any more tears, and felt that one more person praising and thanking him for saving the wizarding world and he would likely throw up. As he walked down the stones steps leaving behind the only place he ever called home he stopped. He had spotted Hagrid sitting not far down the path, his first friend in the wizarding world. A slight smile on Harry's face as he remembered his first encounter with the half giant. Harry decided he would go check on Hagrid before reaching the gates and apparatting away.
"Hey Hagrid.", Harry said as he approached him, the large man looked up and for the first time Harry saw the nasty cut across his forehead. "That cut looks bad Hagrid, go see Madame Pomfrey have her fix you up."
Hagrid gave a smile, the twinkle in his beetle black eyes hidden behind the pain he was dealing with, "Nah Harry, I'm fine, Poppy's got her hands full with all those people in the hospital wing. Worst I'll have is a little scar on me head, not that bad a thing eh?"
Harry didn't miss the joke about scars, "Scars can come in pretty handy." HE joked back. The smile that Hagrid gave Harry warmed his heart up some. He took the few steps towards the giant and hugged him as tightly as he could, not caring about the tears now streaking his face. "Thank you Hagrid, I've lost so many friends so many important people but you've always been there for me."
The giant couldn't help but shed a few tears of his own, "Yer family to me Harry, I love ya' like an Uncle loves his favorite nephew. Gave me a right scare playing dead on me in the Forrest."
"Sorry."
"Ah forget it, if you didn't play dead we might not be sitting here right now." Hagrid told him. Harry
could only nod, he knew it broke Hagrid's heart thinking he was dead but it was necessary. "You leaving the
school?"
"Yeah, it's a little to hard for me to stay here right now. I think I'm gonna go to Grimmauld for a few days, hopefully its still livable. Your welcome to come stay for a while if you need to get away." Harry told him. He didn't want to go alone right now but he also didn't wish to bed for company.
"Might stop by for dinner but my place is here, I'm gonna help the staff fix this place up so we can open up next September. Want me the tell the others where yer gonna be?" The half giant asked finally getting to his feet.
"You can tell Hermione and Ron if they ask for me."
"What about Ginny, two of you looked a little cozy to me in yer 6th year. Sure you don't want her around. "
Harry thought for a second. Do I want to be with Ginny right now? Do I really want to try to pick up our relationship where it left off? Can I? Maybe but right now I just need some peace, Ron and Hermione got me through this war, I can have them come with me, other then them I think I'd rather have space. "Can you make it just Ron and Hermione for me, right now I just want to breathe." Harry respond.
"Alright Harry, take care of yer self. I'll stop by in a week or so."
"Thanks Hagrid, I'll see you soon ok. And don't be stubborn go see Madame Pomfrey get that cut healed up." And with a wave Harry turned and left Hogwarts.
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"Kreacher?" Harry called out into the empty house. "Where is that old elf, don't tell me he died at Hogwarts."
"Sorry Master sir, Kreacher was in the kitchen making some tea and sandwiches for Master." The elf said as he suddenly pooped into view.
Harry smiled, Kreacher had definitely changed with the better treatment he received. He also seemed cheerful, which Harry had no doubt was from seeing his former master avenged. "You didn't need to do that Kreacher, I was really going to come in and lie down, but thank you. Maybe I'll stop in the kitchen for something to eat before I try to sleep."
"Does Master wish for Kreacher to tell visitors they is to leave?" The old elf inquired.
"Not all visitors Kreacher, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley are allowed access to this house whenever they please, you remember them right?", the elf simply nodded his reply. "Also Rubeus Hagrid promised he'd be stopping by for a visit, not sure when but if he stops in you can let him come in. Other then that I'd like you to come ask me before you send any guests away. Its ok if you have to wake me alright?"
"Yes Master, Kreacher is doing as you ask."
"Thank you Kreacher, I appreciate that. Why don't you take a little break for a bit, I know you were at Hogwarts helping fight against Voldemort and the Death Eaters." Harry said, he wanted to treat the house elf kindly, knowing the mistakes Sirius made in the past.
The elf looked terrified at being told to take a break, "Kreacher is not needing a break sir. Kreacher can clean upstairs or-"
"No, no cleaning today, and anything else I eat or any of my visitors eat will make for ourselves. Kreacher, you earned the right to relax for a day just like everybody else that fought in this war. Be proud of what you did. Take the day to yourself, go visit Regulus' grave, tell him you helped avenge his death." Harry ordered. While he wasn't fond of the idea of telling the elf what to do he wanted to make sure the elf got rewarded for his effort.
"Yes sir Master, thank you." And with a pop Kreacher was gone. Harry smiled, the old elf might be a bit rough around the edges but with time he was sure that he would be able to bond a little more with his house elf. He had taken a step towards the kitchen when the front doors were thrown open.
"Harry!" He had not trouble recognizing the voice of his best friend Hermione Granger, but if he did her mass of curly brown hair the enveloped his face would have given her identity away.
"Hermione." Harry said with a smile as he returned the hug she gave him. Her much shorter frame left her with her head buried in his chest while Harry rested his chin a top your head. "I'm so glad you and Ron made it out alive. I didn't know what I'd do with out the two of you."
"And you wanted to push us away." She teased as she pulled back looking up into his eyes.
"Where is Ron, I figured after that little pre battle lip lock you two would be attached at the mouth right now?" Harry said with a frown. Why is the thought of Ron and Hermione kissing upsetting? I'm supposed to be happy for them, they're my best friends.
"Want to explain why you sounded so upset about me and Ron kissing? Its not like its gonna break up the trio." Hermione said, she knew Harry to well not to notice the slight pain in his eyes at the mention of Hermione and Ron's kiss. Damnit Potter don't all of a sudden decide you've got some feelings for me, not after Ron finally showed me he cares. I waited 5 years for you to notice me, I gave up cause you and Ginny were an item don't dare go causing me to choose between you and him.
Harry blinked and thought for a second before answering, "I'm not sure, it bothers me, I can't explain it. Lets talk about it over lunch, I was just on my way to the kitchens when you walked in. Maybe I can think a little while I eat and be able to give you a better answer." She gave him a soft smile and headed toward the kitchen. Harry followed a few steps behind staring at her bum as she walked in front of him.
Wow, Hermione does have a nice ass. Wait where did that thought come from?
Came from the fact that your finally realizing that your best female friend is very sexy woman.
But I've always known Hermione was a pretty- no make that beautiful girl.
Please Potter she's a drop dead gorgeous woman and you know it.
Okay so what's that all mean then?
Oh please are you daft man? Add it all up, your upset that she and Ron fancy one another, your staring at her bum which says your attracted to her. Simple math tells me you fancy your best mates girl.
Great, just fucking great, so what do I do about it.
Tell her, get it in the open right away so there aren't any awkward moments.
Not so easy, think I need some Ogden's to stoke the old Gryfindor courage.
"Harry what are you doing in the liquor cabinet, there's perfectly good tea here. I don't want you to start drinking and become an alcoholic or something to deal with the memories of the war." Hermione started on him. Harry didn't mind to much when she went into lecture mode. It was her way of showing he cared. He ignored her and drunk straight from the bottle of fire whiskey draining a fifth of the bottle before the born hit his throat. "Harry stop that."
"Sorry Mione, I needed a little liquid encouragement." He told her as he headed to the table picking up a sandwich from the plate Kreacher left.
"Harry the war is over, what is it you could possibly want encouragement to do?" She asked as she got up and stood behind him massaging his shoulders.
"I needed some encouragement to tell you why I was upset." Harry started. Hermiones fingers stopped working the magic they were weaving on his shoulders. "I think I fancy you Hermione. It's a completely new feeling I don't understand, but I know of all the girls in the world, including Ginny, not one means as much to me as you do. You care about me for just Harry, not some hero. You're my best friend, and your also drop dead gorgeous."
"She's also the girl that a few hours ago was kissing me. Wanna explain what the fuck I missed or should we skip that and go right to me wanting to kill you?"
** Yeah I'm evil I left a cliffy, hope you liked it. Feel free to let me know what's right and wrong, I don't have a beta at the moment so if anyone wants to I'd be more then happy to have one. **