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Harry Potter and the End of Illusions	By : Christina_Potter_09 Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female > Harry/Hermione Views: 11159 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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- CHAPTER TWO –

At the Burrow

People were screaming around him. Harry was still on the ground, the warm light now over. He was back, alive but… He rose from the ground and looked around him, seeing that the Death Eaters were dead. Voldemort was alive, looking at him with his vicious red eyes. But Harry wasn’t afraid of him. He would die anyway because he was the Horcrux. The reason for his sorrow was the sight in front of him. All his friends were dead, tied up against many trees around the clearing where he and Voldemort were standing.

All the Weasleys, Nymphadora, Remus, Sirius, McGonagall, Neville, Dumbledore and Hermione were dead. Their dead bodies were tied with their heads resting lifelessly on their shoulders.

‘And now what Potter? You thought you won? You destroyed my Horcruxes, but I killed your filthy friends. Who do you think did greater damage?’ Voldemort asked with his voice full of anger and hate.

Harry looked around him once more; He looked at Dumbledore, all the things the Headmaster had said to him some moments before in King’s Cross were lies? His best friends were dead, Ron and Hermione. Harry looked at Hermione, as Dumbledore had said she was the one person who would help him the most. Now she was dead like the rest.

‘It’s over Potter. The Mudblood, the blood traitors, the old man... They’re dead because you were too selfish to fight me on your own. You sacrificed them. I just used spells on them for my entertainment…’

Harry tried to scream in his pain, his anger and sorrow but no voice escaped his mouth. Voldemort rose his hand and pointed his wand at him. A bright green light hit Harry and everything was blur.

Harry opened his eyes with a groan. He was all sweaty and he was shaking a bit. He looked around him finding that the Burrow was still dark. He had known that the move to the house of a mourning family would make his nightmares worse.

He sat on the bed and looked around him. Ron was asleep in his bed, snoring loudly. The quidditch players in the posters were sleeping as well on their broomsticks at the edges of their posters. Harry remembered the week before. He, along with Hermione and the rest of the Weasley family, had moved back in the Burrow. After a year of absence, Harry knew the family would like to know what had happened to the three but nobody asked as everyone was mourning for Fred.

For the last week Harry couldn’t stand being under the same roof with everyone else. He needed to be away on his own but he was trapped in a house full of sad people who were crying when he, the one who had lost the most people and had faced the worst of the battle, couldn’t even tear up. Sometimes he was feeling so frustrated that he couldn’t even breath and other times he was feeling that familiar emptiness and the loss of the hope for tomorrow and for happiness.

He sighed heavily and stood up. He opened the door and moved downstairs. The house was finally silent. No one was crying or mourning for the lost twin. Harry entered the room on his way to the front door when his eyes stopped on the Weasley’s family clock. Almost everyone’s indexes were pointing “Home” except Charlie’s and Bill’s which were pointing “Away” as the eldest Weasley brothers were in Romania and Shell Cottage respectively. Fred’s index was showing “Dead” even if the small moving picture of the index was showing Fred smiling happily.

Harry tore his gaze away from the clock. He couldn’t believe all of this was happening; He couldn’t believe that these were his days after the war. When he was at the Burrow, he was made to hear everyone in every corner of the house mourning. If he was getting out of the house, some idiots took pictures of him or tried ask him how it felt to be the Hero. He was really feeling trapped and nobody could help him. The only comforting memory was Hermione’s hug in the infirmary. Harry had thought alot about that hug. Ginny may have hugged him as well but when he felt Hermione’s hug, Harry knew, he was comforting and had comforted by the only person alive knowing how much he had been through.

Harry hadn’t talked to anyone about the “dream” he'd had after Voldemort hit him with the killing curse in the forest, and to be honest with himself he didn’t know if he wanted to talk about it or who to talk about it with if he chose to. For the previous seven days Harry and Ginny had distanced themselves from each other. Ginny was always with her mother in the kitchen, crying or not talking at all while Harry was in the backyard under a disillusionment charm trying to figure things out. He did the same now and moved out of the house and under the same tree he used to “visit” when things were too much to handle. He used the same charm and sat down, still lost in his thoughts.

Ron and Hermione were trying to get on track but Harry had seen Hermione exiting the Burrow many times on the verge of tears, and then moving to sit under some tree or walking away from the building. Harry knew Ron was devastated because of Fred’s death, he also knew Hermione was tired after the year they had spent. His two best fiends seemed unable to find the right path to move on together and, even if he sometimes felt terrible for it, Harry was almost happy with their hardship. When those two were “together” he was feeling left out, and now his friendship with Ron and Hermione was the only thing he knew was still right around him.

He had wondered during his sixth year how it would be if Hermione and Ron eventually got together and even then he was feeling awkward at the thought of it. He wasn’t sure if a household of those two would stand a week without falling apart or one killing the other. Harry knew Hermione was a strong person, she had proved it tons of times during the last several years. He also knew Ron could be very stubborn and some times even rude. Something Hermione never liked. He didn’t know why, but analyzing their hardship was helping him forget his problems and his and Ginny’s own hardship.

The nights with him watching her spot on the map in that cold tent had gone by now. He wasn’t sure why he couldn’t comfort her when he could hear her sobs in the middle of the nights when he was awake after some horrific nightmare. Maybe because he was too tired of helping other people when he had saved the community as the Prophet was saying. Or because it was the same reason for not comforting Hermione back in the tent after Ron’s abandonee, because he didn’t know what to say to a crying girl when he couldn’t even cry for his own problems. When he was the most tired, when he was the most sad, the most guilty…

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw the very familiar form of Luna Lovegood walking down the hill separating her house from the Burrow. Luna was a true and loyal friend. Harry had never forgotten the paintings in her bedroom with the small golden chains connecting them. Luna had been visiting the house for the last several days. She was supporting Ginny as much as she could. She was never irritated with the press people; she was just waving at them and then entering the house. She would spend time with Ginny in her bedroom and talk to Ron when he would join the two girls in Ginny’s room after some fight of his and Hermione’s. Luna was always a smiling person even when, Harry thought with an ache in his heart, she had lost her mother, she had been kidnapped by Death Eaters and now half of her house was destroyed. She was still able to smile and comfort other people.

Harry took a deep breath and looked at the horizon, the sun had started its trip in the middle of the sky. He didn’t know how long he was standing there, but he really didn’t care. He could already hear noises from the inside of the Burrow and he knew almost everyone was awake for another day of sadness. He made himself more comfortable on the grass and frowned as he saw more people from the press apparating at the Burrow’s magical ward and wait for somebody to move outside so they can take new pictures. Harry shook his head in disappointment. Even now all those bloody idiots wouldn’t leave him in peace for one moment.

He remembered McGonagall’s words. He could return in Hogwarts to attend his seventh year. Maybe that was a start to make a future he would be able to live. But how could he find peace in a school full of curious students and people who had lost someone. How could he live in the place he saw so many people dying? He didn’t have answers to that but he also he didn’t have answers to questions like “What else to do except go back at Hogwarts…” he didn’t know how he could be an Auror without his N.E.W.T.s and he was sure not even his name would give him a chance before a dark wizard without Hermione’s knowledge and help. That was proven by the trap he fell into back in Godric’s Hollow, when Hermione saved him at the last moment with Voldemort right behind them.

He had to look after his “future” if he wanted to survive the summer but first he needed peace to think. The Burrow wasn’t an option with people inside crying and people outside taking pictures, asking stupid questions and begging for an interview for their yellow pages. Harry hid his face in his hands. He didn’t know where to go. He didn’t know if he wanted to be alone or with his best friends or Ginny but he was positive of one thing: he needed to live the Burrow at first chance.

Harry didn’t move back in the house the entire day. After a few hours he just cut two apples from the tree he was sat under and ate them. He didn’t want to be around the others at the moment. He was grateful nobody tried to search for him except Ginny moving outside and looking around the backyard and then Hermione checking the place around and then moving inside as many reporters started asking her things from afar.

After even more hours Harry fell asleep under the tree and he felt relieved when he opened his eyes again and saw it was night and the reporters had left. He stood up and stretched his tired body. The Burrow was still full of people and Harry guessed it wasn’t too late for him to return and just run upstairs and fall asleep again. He decided to take a short walk first. He started moving around the backyard, out of the Burrow’s ward and up the closest hill.

He sometimes stopped and looked back. The night was so peaceful. The sky was full of stars and Harry knew up there were his parents and so many people. He felt himself frowning again but even at the thought of his dead parents he didn’t feel tears collecting themselves behind his eyes. He lowered his head quickly and took some breaths to calm himself from the frustration he felt again and kept moving up the hill. He ended the disillusionment charm and sighed as he was able to see his body again. He kept walking until he reached the peak of the small hill.

He gasped as he saw a form on the ground sobbing. From the bushy hair he knew that it was Hermione crying, again. He felt for the first time the same need to comfort her like he had done back in sixth year and never done in the tent. He moved closer and sat next to her, putting a hand on her shoulder. Hermione jumped and lifted her head. She gasped and tried to wipe her tears but Harry started rubbing her back soothingly so she relaxed a bit and looked at him.

‘What happened Hermione?’ Harry asked as she didn’t seem ready to start the conversation. She kept her eyes locked with his and then suppressed another sob.

‘We fought, again.’ Hermione said with a broken whisper and Harry nodded, knowing that she and Ron had another row. She took a deep breath and tried to continue. ‘I tried to comfort him and told him that time would heal him like it does with the rest and he suddenly started screaming and-‘ her voice trailed off as another sob escaped her lips. Harry moved closer and hugged her shoulders so she could continue. He didn’t want to see her like that. Not because of stupid rows with Ron, not because of any reason. She didn’t deserve to cry anymore.

‘He said that I don’t know what loss means.’ Hermione went on and Harry rolled his eyes in disbelief for Ron, as Hermione’s head was close to his chest and couldn’t see him. Ron could really be a git.

‘I’m sure he didn’t mean it Hermione.’ Harry said even if he knew he wouldn’t convince none of them, Hermione chuckled sadly.

‘Right, he has every right to say stupid things to me, and when I’m trying to comfort him I’m wrong?’ Hermione asked.

‘No, no I didn’t mean it like that. I meant, you know him..’ Harry said slightly panicked at way she took his words.

Hermione looked at Harry and then hugged him as well. ‘I may not have lost someone, yet. But I changed, no destroyed my parents’ lives by sending them to Australia. I'm just hoping the spells are still working after a year, considering they were cast by a sixteen years old witch. I almost lost you during the last year with Voldemort attacking us in Godric’s Hollow. I was sure I lost Ron when he cast us aside back in the tent and he still believes I don’t know what loss is—why he can’t just understand me? Why can't he just be like---’ Hermione trailed off and Harry thought all the things she said with guilt and anger inside him.

Hermione was right. She didn’t know if her parents were fine. She had been through so many things like he had, and Ron was still opening his fat mouth and blurting stupid things just because his pain and ego had taken over once more. Harry felt so sad for Hermione. He moved closer and kissed the top of her head. She lifted her head and looked at him.

‘Look Hermione,’ Harry started, not sure of how to comfort her. ‘Ron may never understand you, but I want you to know that you are a great person and deserve to be happy. I told you back at Hogwarts and I’m telling you again, we’ll find our way.’ Harry said and Hermione gave a small smile. Harry returned the smile and felt the same small shot of light in his heart like when he had hugged Teddy a week ago, The same light that he hadn’t felt the few times Ginny had hugged him the last week. They stood in the dark for a bit more while Hermione calmed her self. After a few minutes in comfortable silence Hermione spoke.

‘We have to attend the Malfoys’ trials in two days.’ Hermione said and Harry looked at her in surprise.

‘What?’ he exclaimed, feeling his temper rising. The stupid crowd of reporters was enough, he had to show up at the Ministry? For the trials?

‘I know,’ Hermione started. ‘I’m not thrilled either but the ministry sent an order today for all of us to be there and witness about Malfoy and his parents. Bill already told his father about my tortures in the manor and the ministry needs us so they can make the Malfoys’ file and judgment. There is a possibility for Draco to be innocent if his parents say he was under the Imperious by them or if they claim they had made him to be a Death Eater. In my opinion this is not entirely a lie…’ Hermione said and even though Harry felt awful about the news and especially himself attending the trial, he felt nice as he started talking with Hermione like they once did, before the last tormented year.

‘What do you think?’ Hermione asked pulling him out of his thoughts.

‘Malfoy wasn’t under the Imperious. He may have been forced by his father to be a Death Eater but he tried to kill Dumbledore and that may send him in Azkaban,’ Harry started and then stopped as he remembered he had to talk about Narcissa’s help in the forest. If she hadn’t lied then, Voldemort would have finished Harry before he could blink.

‘But Narcissa helped me survive back in the forest,’ Harry blurted out. Hermione looked at him shocked and even dumbfounded;

‘You're kidding me, aren’t you?’ she said in a low voice.

‘I can’t really explain what happened yet. I’m not sure I can. But she did and I guess I have to say that at the trial,’ Harry said and Hermione closed her, until-then, opened mouth and nodded.

‘I guess you should, if you think she deserves it of course, and if you want the truth to be told. Just deny to explain further if you can’t,’ Hermione said and Harry nodded and felt his lips forming a small smile again. Hermione had started advising him, things were coming back on track. He then looked at her and the silliest question formed in his head at the sight of her less bushy hair.

‘Hermione, where is Crookshanks?’ Harry asked and Hermione looked at him surprised at the change of subject in their chat.

‘With my parents,’ Hermione answered and looked away again. Harry knew this subject hurt her but he wanted to know if he could help her in some way.

‘What are you going to do? I mean, with your parents,’ Harry said quietly, not being sure if she was ready to talk.

‘I want to bring them back, but I’m not sure how things will be. I kept our house but I sold their dental practice and made them to go to Australia and open a café as my mother always wanted to do when she would retire as a doctor. I’m not sure if they will be able to move away from the lives I made for them again. I first changed everything in their lives when we found out I was a witch. Then I sent them to another continent…. Now am I right by bringing them back here again?’ Hermione asked and Harry could recognize the desperation in her voice.

‘Will they by willing to do that again for me?’ Hermione went on and that time Harry interrupted her.

‘Hermione, they’re your parents! You said it your self. They have already changed so many things for you. They love you, like nothing else in this world I’m sure. If they aren’t willing to return, let them be there with their memories restored. They will love you no matter what,’ Harry said and Hermione looked at him and smiled.

‘I know if their memories are restored they will want to return. I’m not sure if they will forgive me-‘

‘For what?’ Harry cut across her again. “Saving them? Loving them so much and having the strength to send them so far away from you?’ Harry asked and Hermione didn’t respond as she knew he was right.

‘Will you go alone?’ Harry asked, suddenly thinking about that first chance of leaving the Burrow. He would be more than happy to escape for some time, help Hermione with her parents, meet them, tell them how great their daughter was and then come back stronger to face his demons.

‘I wanted to ask for Ron and you to follow me, but Ron can’t afford the journey, I asked him. His parents gave alot of money for Fred's funeral and other things this past year as they tried to hid Ron’s absence and I guess you don’t have the strength for a trip like this-‘

‘I actually have it and I would be more than happy if you wanted me with you. I desperately need to leave this place.’ Harry said and Hermione looked at him even more surprised. Harry smiled at her brightly and added, even if he wasn’t sure if he really wanted it, ‘If he wants, I can afford Ron’s needs and the journey.’ Hermione lowered her head and then looked away.

‘He won’t accept, he is too proud to accept. Plus, I’m not sure I want my parents see me fighting again and again about stupid things when they will be on edge with all the changes in their lives.’ Hermione said and Harry nodded his agreement and understanding. Space and time may help Hermione and Ron to find a way at least to communicate without fighting…

Hermione looked at Harry and spoke. “What about Ginny?’ she asked and Harry looked at her.

‘What about her?’ Harry asked casually and Hermione looked at him with her old Hermione-ish way when someone wasn’t understanding something obvious.

‘Harry, she is your girlfriend…’ Hermione said.

‘My ex girlfriend, Hermione. We haven’t reunite and to be honest I—‘ Harry trailed off as he wasn’t sure of what he wanted to do with Ginny anymore. ‘Never mind, she has her parents, her family, so Ron does. The one without family is you right now and me of course but we can’t do anything about my family, so we have to help you,’ Harry said somewhat dryly at the mention of his family.

‘You have me... I mean me and Ron and the Weasleys,’ Hermione said and Harry nodded.

‘So, how will we set it up?’ Harry asked and Hermione smiled brighter than ever.

‘We can talk with someone in the ministry. If we talked to Mr. Weasley, the entire family will know and they’ll stop us. Death Eaters are still on the loose so it may be dangerous. I don't think anyone will try to hurt us while the entire Order and Ministry are after them. Kingsley will be the Minister as the Prophet announced until the community is back on track and people can vote for the new one. We can talk to him and ask him of not to say a word to anyone. We need money. I have some of my parents’ money turned to galleons in Gringorts. You have money as well—‘ Hermione stopped and groaned.

‘What?’ Harry asked impatiently, he was happy everything was getting on for their trip and Hermione’s plan was more than good.

‘We can’t enter Gringorts. Mr. Weasley said you, Ron and I are forbidden to be there after our exit the last time with the Dragon as company. They will probably change their minds and allow us to enter the bank, but we have to ask that from the ministry and now everyone there is busy with the Death Eaters’ trials.’ Hermione said and Harry felt his temper rising again. He was already furious with that darn Goblin, now he couldn’t enter the bank and take his money from there.

‘What if we send some friend?’ Harry asked, trying to think who could do that for them.

‘We can’t. The Goblins won’t allow him just because he or she has the keys of our vaults. I thought of Luna for mine but we can’t. We need some relative or someone banded with us.’ Hermione said and they looked at each other at the same time.

‘Kreacher…’ They said in unison. With a loud crack the elf showed up and made a bow even if it seemed sleepy.

‘Yes Master Harry?’ the elf asked and Harry looked at Hermione.

‘Yes, house elves can take money for their masters. But still—‘ Hermione said and Harry looked at her, his hopes fading again.

‘What is it?’ He asked and Hermione sighed.

‘I’m not Kreacher’s “mistress" so he can't access my vault.’ Hermione said sadly. Harry looked at Kreacher and then at Hermione. He didn’t know alot about house-elves but he could try.

‘Kreacher, from now on, Hermione will be a mistress to you like I am a master to you. This is an order.’ Harry said and the elf looked at Hermione, this time not with disgust as he used to look at her years ago. The elf finally made a bow in front of them and nodded.

‘Yes master, Harry. Mistress Hermini is my mistress.’ The elf said and Hermione looked at him, somehow sad and tired.

‘You don’t have to do that Harry, besides you know I would never use Kreacher for anything. You know my beliefs about elves and having one shared with you is against-‘

‘Merlin, Hermione!’ Harry said and chuckled for the first time in days. ‘Is just so he can access your vault. Relax, I know what you believe about them and I respect that but you need your money for the journey.’ Harry said and Hermione didn’t say anything else.

‘Kreacher, we don’t need anything more right now but is the house OK?’ Harry asked as he remembered asking McGonagall before his move to the Burrow about Grimmauld Place.

‘Yes, master. Everything is fine back at the house. I have cleaned it all and it’s ready for you.’ The elf said and Harry nodded.

‘Kreacher, don’t tire your self,’ Hermione said and Harry smiled at her and her attempt to help the elf.

‘Yes, mistress, whatever you want. Kreacher will be ready to serve you anytime,’ The elf said and Hermione rolled her eyes and sighed at the words of the small, old elf. With a loud crack it was gone. Hermione looked at Harry again.

‘So, we’re attending the trial, asking for help from Kingsley and leaving for Sydney,’ Hermione said and stood up. Harry did the same and looked at the Burrow. Almost every light was off. He had no idea how much time he was on this hill with Hermione. For the first time in quite a while, he had spent a good time with someone and he felt almost happy for leaving for Australia.

‘We’re sending Kreacher to the bank and leaving,’ Harry corrected her and she nodded and smiled again.

‘Right, lets hope it will be as easy as it sounds,’ Hermione said and Harry moved close to her and hugged her shoulders.

‘I’m sure it will.’ He said and they started walking back to the Burrow as Hermione wrapped her arm around his waist.

Harry looked at her as they kept walking down the hill. Hermione’s face seemed so calm, even happy. He was sure his face was held the same happiness as Hermione's for the first time in days of sorrow. Luna exited the building and smiled at the two young people as they met in the backyard.

‘Good night, Harry and Hermione. Sweet dreams,’ Luna said with her dreamy voice, looking at the pair.

‘Good night Luna, see you tomorrow.’ Hermione said smiling and Harry mimicked her by saying his good night to the blonde witch. The girl smiled and started moving up the hill they had just came from.

Harry sighed, that small shot of warm light was fading even if Hermione was still in his embrace. He had to face everyone and he had to attend his enemies’ trials in two days. Yet, he had to be honest and talk about Narcissa and her help without revealing too many things he couldn’t bare to say yet. Then he had to explain to Ron and Ginny about his trip with Hermione.
‘Everything will be fine, Harry,’ Hermione said as if she had read his mind. Harry looked at her and nodded with a small smile. He had his best friend after all and after the trial they would be free to leave for Sydney.
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Harry Potter and the End of Illusions