𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬
THE last time you were at Hogwarts, an innocent boy died. Now, you were back on similar terms.
It was eerily windy down by the black lake. Hundreds of golden chairs were set out in even rows. An aisle ran down the center of them. The chairs were facing a marble table in front of the chairs. Hundreds of Wizards and witches all gathered today to pay respects to one of the most brilliant wizards to grace earth since Merlin.
You and your husbands sat close to the back with most of the Order. You could see Harry in front of you. He was accompanied by the three people that never seemed to leave his side. Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Harry all sat together in a row with Harry sitting in the chair closest to the lake. Wizards and witches weren’t the only ones who attended the funeral, centaurs of the forbidden forest and the merpeople of the black lake all came out to pay their respects.
Your hands were clasped together and sat balled up in your lap. You couldn’t help but notice the turnout at Dumbldore’s funeral. He impacted the lives of so many people directly and indirectly. He fought for what was right, not what was easy. He touched the soul of the needy and innocent. Most importantly, he made sure that Harry was safe. Even if that meant he had to stay with your muggle sister in an unloving and uncaring household.
Hagrid, the big and friendly half-giant walked down the aisle carrying what you could only assume was Dumbeldores boy up to the table. Once Dumbledore's body was placed on the table, a little tufty-haired man in plain black robes appeared and stood before Dumbledore's body. He gave a speech that was incredibly underwhelming for the wizard that he was talking about.
Just before the funeral was set to end, bright white lights encased Dumbledore's dead body as it rose higher and higher into the air. Once the flames had subsided and the fog had cleared up, you were finally able to see what happened. In its place was a white marble tomb that finally marked the end of Dumbledore's great adventure that he called life.
Once the funeral was over, wizards and witches alike began to take turns paying their respects at the tomb. Others decided to go around and socialize. You wanted the chance to talk to Harry and see how he was feeling. The last time you really had the chance to talk to him was six months ago at your wedding.
“I’m going to go find Harry,” you said as you walked away from your husband. You didn’t wait for their responses as you ducked and wove your way around people.
Harry was nowhere to be seen. You figured that he ran off after the funeral was over but your search still was not done. You searched half of the Hogwarts grounds before walking inside the castle. You searched every nook and cranny of Hogwarts for Harry. There was only one place to check next. The Gryffindor common room.
“Hello there, I haven’t seen you in a while. Still singing I hope?” you looked up at the fat lady's portrait. You hoped that charming her would allow her to grant you access with the common room password.
“Well hello to you too,” the fat lady portrait grinned down at you, “you bet I am. I reckon I could shatter the windows if I tried hard enough”
“I would love to see you do that but I have a huge favor to ask you,” you clasped your hands in front of you. “Could you possibly let me in? I’m a worried aunt who really needs to talk to her nephew.”
The fat lady looked down at you with an eyebrow raised, “now, you know I can’t do that.”
“Please, I promise I won’t break any rules. I just really need to talk to Harry,” you begged.
“Fine,” the fat lady rolled her eyes. “Since I’m in such a generous mood today,” she said as she opened the entrance to the Gryffindor common room.
The common room was empty as expected due to many students still at black lake. It looked the same since the last time you visited. Harry was sitting on the couch staring into the fire. The flames reflected off of his glasses.
You wearily sat next to him. “Harry,” you said to announce your presence. He didn’t jump or get startled. All he did was continue to stare into the fire.
“Look, I know Dumbledore was your greatest mentor and protector but he wouldn’t want you to dwell on the past,” you put your hand over his. You wanted Harry to know that he had people that cared for him. “I’m here for you. Your uncles are here for you. Your friends are here for you. Ginny is here for you,” you softly smiled at him.
He finally broke his gaze from the fire in front of him, “Ginny and I broke up.”
“Why?” you fixed your brows in confusion. Harry and Ginny seemed like sweethearts. They were practically made for each other. You learned about their relationship from Molly who had been ecstatic that he daughter finally found the ‘right one.’ Molly’s told you stories about Ginny's many past relationships. All of the boys she's dated never really seemed like they were right for her daughter. Molly did not want to force the relationship between her daughter and your nephew but she’s always had a hunch.
Harry sighed and removed his hand from your grasp, “because I don’t want more people to die for me. My parents died protecting me. Cedric wasn’t supposed to die that night. Tonks died because the Order was there to protect my friends and me from death eaters. Sirius almost died that night. Dumbledore died because Voldemort knows that as long as he was alive, I was safe.”
You could hear the hurt and desperation in his voice. It reminded you of his father, James, during the first war. That man was determined to protect the ones he loved. The hurt and pressure Harry was feeling were not fit for a sixteen-year-old boy.
“Harry, listen to me. Your mother and father died protecting you because that’s what parents do. It would hurt them to know that their sacrifices were for nothing if they go out there and put themselves in danger. Promise me you’ll be safe. Promise me you won’t do anything to put yourself in danger. Promise me that I’ll still have a nephew at the end of the day.”
Harry didn’t say anything. He returned to staring at the burning flames.
You could not lose Harry to the war. You could not lose another person that you cared so deeply about to a greedy and power-hungry creature. You could not let your sister down. “Promise me goddammit!”
“I promise! I promise,” he rasped. There were tears streaming down his pale face. Your heart burned for him. He was so young, too young to be fighting a war by himself.
You brought him into a hug. He cried harder into your shoulder and you let him. He needed to cry. He needed to let his emotions out. He was too strong for too long.
“You know, the last time I saw your mother I made a promise. It’s a promise I intend to keep. She made me swear that I would protect you no matter what happens,” you smiled sadly at the memory. The last time you saw your sister was at her baby shower. Before you and Remus and Sirius left, she took you into the kitchen and made you swear that her baby would be safe. You remembered how she looked. Her eyes were glossy as she smiled sadly. It was as if she knew she was going to die. You hugged her for the last time that day. “I intend to keep that promise, Harry. I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Even if it means I must cut off my left arm,” you whispered.
Harry laughed softly, “You won’t have to cut anything off.”
“But, I will if I have to,” you nodded your head as you looked into his eyes, “feeling better?”
Harry shook his head, “Not really. But I have to be strong.”
“You don’t always have to be strong, Harry. It’s okay to be vulnerable. Don’t let pride get in the way of your feeling.” The portrait opened and tons of students started to fill in. Many gave you suspicious looks while others minded their business. “I have to go now but before I leave know that your aunt and uncles love you very much.” You ruffled Harry’s already unruly hair and fixed his glasses that were slightly off-center.
You returned to the black lake. There were a lot fewer people than there once were. You silently joined your husband's side.
“Where'd you go?” Sirius whispered into your ear as the three of you listen to whatever Mad-Eye was saying. You probably should have listened to what he was saying due to him being the new leader of the Order.
“I went to go see Harry,” you said without further information. Sirius and Remus deserved to know what was going on. They were his uncle and godfather for Merlin’s sake but you knew that Harry didn’t need more people worrying about him than necessary.
Sirius nodded his head and returned to the light conversation that a few members of the Order were having. They weren’t talking about anything confidential or important. Talking about official Order business out in public like this would be a stupid move.
Later, when the three of you returned home, the three of you went to bed early. You needed to rest up. You had a feeling that you weren’t going to get much rest until the war was won.