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| Copyright © 2007 | www.booksandwands.com | All Rights Reserved Harry Potter belongs to JK Rowling, Bloomsbury, Scholastic and Warner Brothers Entertainment. No copyright infringement intended of any and all source material. No profits were made from this site. |
Rejoicing and Remembering
|
The sounds of weeping, of laughter, of shouts and of cheers
filled his ears; he dropped his wand and pushed through the
crowds, and he could hear and almost feel the sound of her racing
footsteps, and she was in his arms, holding him tightly.
He was kissing her hair; she was not pulling away, and her cheek
was pressed against his chest. Ron was next to them, arms
encircling them both, and he was whooping with joy, and suddenly
they were overwhelmed by a wave of supporters, hands clapping
backs, arms around others, dancing, laughter--
And on the edge of the crowd, Neville and Ginny embraced, sword
lying forgotten. Neville's bruised fingers were stroking Ginny's
long mane of red hair. Harry looked down at Hermione, whose eyes
were shining, cheeks were flushed, and he bent to kiss her cheek
once more.
Ron had clapped him on the back again, and he walked over to
Luna, who was dancing happily with a few of the house-elves.
Harry grinned and jerked his chin; Hermione followed his gaze and
smiled.
Ron bashfully offered to replace the house-elf, ears flaming.
Luna beamed, and soon Ron had awkwardly but enthusiastically
joined her in the celebration, several house-elves dancing at
their heels.
Harry's smile faded then, and Hermione seemed to notice, for she
slipped an arm around his waist and allowed her to lead her to
the opposite end of the hall.
There, Harry stood before the bodies of the Lupins, throat tight,
and together, he and Hermione knelt beside them. Hermione placed
a soft kiss on each forehead before they rose again, and Harry
moved to stand above Fred Weasley, Colin Creevy-- each familiar
face, and Hermione would whisper a quiet thank you when Harry
could not.
They continued to thank the dead, and to comfort the families of
the dead, and Hermione would say all the compassionate, earnest
things to them that Harry longed to say himself but couldn't. He
would simply join her in embracing the parents and grandparents
and siblings. Then they would move on to the next still face, the
next life that had been lost--
They reached the end of the hall and the makeshift hospital in
two hours, and drained as he was, Harry led Hermione to each of
the injured patients. As he looked around, he knew that he had to
show, in some small way, how much he regretted their injuries.
His eyes fell on Firenze, who was lying on the ground. His
gleaming flank was spread with a sticky green substance, which
had congealed around the wound. Cautiously, Harry pulled Hermione
towards the corner where he lay. Immediately, Firenze's head
lifted, and his peculiarly keen blue eyes bored into Harry's.
“You have done a great thing, Harry Potter.” he spoke quietly,
coughing and shifting his hooves slightly. “The stars will
remember you.”
“Thanks, Firenze.” Harry croaked hoarsely. “Can I-- do anything
for you?”
The centaur closed his eyes and smiled peacefully.
“You have done enough.”
Madame Pomfrey came rushing by then, arms full of potions and
bandages, and Harry tugged Hermione on down the row of beds.
A third year girl Harry had never met before lay in the bed. She
had heavy blonde brows and thick blonde hair. She gazed up at
them blearily as they approached, then widened as she saw Harry.
“It's-- it's you.” she said in a thick, hoarse voice.
“Yeah. Just me. How are you healing up?”
She moved her left arm and pushed blankets aside, displaying her
limp right arm.
“All right, I think.” she said rather bashfully, “They took the
bones out of my arm; I had to take Skele-gro.”
“Oh, yeah. Not pleasant, that stuff. I had to take it to fix my
arm once.” Harry said, cringing at the memory.
She grinned.
“Thanks, Harry. I think I'm going to rest a bit now.”
She closed her eyes. Harry glanced around the makeshift ward and
saw with some relief that the third year was the youngest among
the injured. Hermione seemed to notice this too, for she let out
a quiet sigh of relief.
It was nearing noon when they'd finished. The house-elves had
returned the kitchens, presumably to throw together a lunch for
the defenders of Hogwarts, and families of students had come to
Hogwarts by now, searching for relatives among the dead, the
injured, and the living.
No one seemed to notice that all three of the famous trio had
disappeared into the headmaster's office, but the three came back
out to join the group for lunch.
Later, Harry and Hermione found Ron and Luna down by the lake's
edge, watching the Giant Squid splashing about on the lake's
surface. The water was lapping gently on the damp, shell-speckled
shore, and the sunlight dappled the murky waters a pale green.
In fact, had it been any other day, the setting could be
considered rather romantic. Harry and Hermione watched the two
talk quietly with each other for a few minutes, then continued
walking to the right.
They settled underneath the large oak tree. Harry leaned his back
against the trunk of the tree, Hermione beside him with her legs
crossed.
He glanced over at his best friend, noticing how lovely her eyes
looked when the sunlight caught them. Her hair lay freely across
her back, unruly and curly as ever.
Her eyes glowed softly as she gazed out onto the glimmering lake,
a few curls of her hair trailing over her eyes, and the sunlight
coaxing a faint flush into her cheeks.
A soft smile was tugging at her lips, and Harry caught her hand
in his own. She twined her fingers with his instinctively, and
continued surveying scene in front of her.
“I love you, you know.” he said quietly.
She whipped her gaze around, her eyes wide. He smiled at her,
affectionately rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. Then
her look softened, and she returned the warm smile. She looked
down at their hands, moistening her lips before looking back up.
“I love you, too.” she murmured, reaching up and pushing her hair
out of her eyes, her eyes fixing on his. “I love you, too.”
He allowed a pause, content to gaze at her for a little longer,
before he spoke again, this time in a more normal tone of voice.
“Walk with me?”
He helped her up, and they began to walk around the edge of the
lake, careful to avoid Ron and Luna. The breeze had picked up,
and it caught Hermione's hair rather like the wind in the sails
of a ship. The sunlight brightened, and Harry closed his eyes,
breathing in the smell of earth and water.
Hermione halted, smiling as he tilted his head back, allowing the
sunlight to catch his face, and the breeze to race through his
hair.
Suddenly he turned, his eyes opening and regarding her seriously.
“I suppose I should have kissed you.” he said after a pause.
Hermione stifled a laugh, amazed at the feeling of laughter that
had recently been so unfamiliar.
“If it sounds that unpleasant, I won't force you.” she said, her
laughter bubbling over. He grinned sheepishly, blushing.
“Well...” he said slowly, shuffling his feet. “No. I think it
might be-- rather nice.”
A flush crept into her cheeks.
“But I'm not exactly sure...” he trailed off, raising a hand to
her cheek and stroking it lightly. He paused, looking nervous.
“Perhaps you had better do it,” he suggested finally, “I've never
been very good at things like this.”
“Neither have I.” she said honestly, blushing. He smiled.
He gazed down at her softly, his smile slowly changing to a look
of tenderness. “You don't mind if I do it right or not, do you?”
She smiled gently, and Harry felt a thrill go through him.
“It's you, Harry.” she said simply, and he grinned at her. He
raised his hands to either side of her face, and she closed her
eyes, and he allowed his fingers to touch every feature of her
small face, trailing down the bridge of her nose and sliding
along her cheekbones and finally tracing the soft outline of her
smiling mouth...
Before Harry knew exactly what he was doing, or even what
Hermione was doing, they had both moved in the same moment and
kissed. Hermione rose to her toes, and her arms were around his
neck, and her lips were pressed warmly, delicately against his
own. She pulled back slightly, looking startled at her own
actions, and then Harry bent again.
His arms slipped around her waist, and his hand rested at the
back of her neck as she tilted her chin back, allowing him to
kiss her again. He felt her lips curve under his own and held her
closer; he'd never kissed anyone while she was smiling--
He pulled back reluctantly, still holding her waist. Her arms
were still around his neck, and he could feel her breathing
rather quickly under his hands.
They gazed at each other, immersed in the sounds of water and
wind and each other, and finally, Harry spoke.
“I reckon... we're going to be all right, aren't we?”
She laughed softly, hiding her face in his chest and murmuring,
“We'd better be. I think you've had enough trouble.”
He dipped his head and breathed in the smell of her hair, and
smiled.
“I think I've had enough trouble for both of us.”
Suddenly, there was an enormous splash from the lake's edge. The
cool spray of the water reached even them, and Hermione laughed
as she tugged Harry down towards the edge of the lake.
Ginny and Neville were standing knee-deep in the lake, laughing
and holding fistfuls of what looked like clear green seaweed.
Luna was chatting happily to a dazed Ron, whose red hair was
sopping and covered in seaweed as he struggled out of the water.
“What on earth--” Hermione stared at Ron, “Ron, what are you
doing?”
“Blame them.” Ron spluttered, jabbing a finger at his sister and
Neville. “Dumping the stuff down a man's back... just isn't
right...”
Harry felt a laugh begin in his chest, and slowly, Hermione's
face broke into a smile, and she joined him in laughing.
Ron sloshed off after Neville and Ginny, who were sprinting
around the shore, laughing and holding hands. His threats echoed
across the lake, mingled with Luna's serene comments.
Harry turned towards Hermione, who smiled and shook her head
affectionately.
“Let's finish that walk.” he suggested, offering her his hand.
“I don't think we're finishing it as much as starting.” she
remarked thoughtfully.
He smiled, taking a deep breath and letting it out.
“I hope that's always the case, Hermione.”
filled his ears; he dropped his wand and pushed through the
crowds, and he could hear and almost feel the sound of her racing
footsteps, and she was in his arms, holding him tightly.
He was kissing her hair; she was not pulling away, and her cheek
was pressed against his chest. Ron was next to them, arms
encircling them both, and he was whooping with joy, and suddenly
they were overwhelmed by a wave of supporters, hands clapping
backs, arms around others, dancing, laughter--
And on the edge of the crowd, Neville and Ginny embraced, sword
lying forgotten. Neville's bruised fingers were stroking Ginny's
long mane of red hair. Harry looked down at Hermione, whose eyes
were shining, cheeks were flushed, and he bent to kiss her cheek
once more.
Ron had clapped him on the back again, and he walked over to
Luna, who was dancing happily with a few of the house-elves.
Harry grinned and jerked his chin; Hermione followed his gaze and
smiled.
Ron bashfully offered to replace the house-elf, ears flaming.
Luna beamed, and soon Ron had awkwardly but enthusiastically
joined her in the celebration, several house-elves dancing at
their heels.
Harry's smile faded then, and Hermione seemed to notice, for she
slipped an arm around his waist and allowed her to lead her to
the opposite end of the hall.
There, Harry stood before the bodies of the Lupins, throat tight,
and together, he and Hermione knelt beside them. Hermione placed
a soft kiss on each forehead before they rose again, and Harry
moved to stand above Fred Weasley, Colin Creevy-- each familiar
face, and Hermione would whisper a quiet thank you when Harry
could not.
They continued to thank the dead, and to comfort the families of
the dead, and Hermione would say all the compassionate, earnest
things to them that Harry longed to say himself but couldn't. He
would simply join her in embracing the parents and grandparents
and siblings. Then they would move on to the next still face, the
next life that had been lost--
They reached the end of the hall and the makeshift hospital in
two hours, and drained as he was, Harry led Hermione to each of
the injured patients. As he looked around, he knew that he had to
show, in some small way, how much he regretted their injuries.
His eyes fell on Firenze, who was lying on the ground. His
gleaming flank was spread with a sticky green substance, which
had congealed around the wound. Cautiously, Harry pulled Hermione
towards the corner where he lay. Immediately, Firenze's head
lifted, and his peculiarly keen blue eyes bored into Harry's.
“You have done a great thing, Harry Potter.” he spoke quietly,
coughing and shifting his hooves slightly. “The stars will
remember you.”
“Thanks, Firenze.” Harry croaked hoarsely. “Can I-- do anything
for you?”
The centaur closed his eyes and smiled peacefully.
“You have done enough.”
Madame Pomfrey came rushing by then, arms full of potions and
bandages, and Harry tugged Hermione on down the row of beds.
A third year girl Harry had never met before lay in the bed. She
had heavy blonde brows and thick blonde hair. She gazed up at
them blearily as they approached, then widened as she saw Harry.
“It's-- it's you.” she said in a thick, hoarse voice.
“Yeah. Just me. How are you healing up?”
She moved her left arm and pushed blankets aside, displaying her
limp right arm.
“All right, I think.” she said rather bashfully, “They took the
bones out of my arm; I had to take Skele-gro.”
“Oh, yeah. Not pleasant, that stuff. I had to take it to fix my
arm once.” Harry said, cringing at the memory.
She grinned.
“Thanks, Harry. I think I'm going to rest a bit now.”
She closed her eyes. Harry glanced around the makeshift ward and
saw with some relief that the third year was the youngest among
the injured. Hermione seemed to notice this too, for she let out
a quiet sigh of relief.
It was nearing noon when they'd finished. The house-elves had
returned the kitchens, presumably to throw together a lunch for
the defenders of Hogwarts, and families of students had come to
Hogwarts by now, searching for relatives among the dead, the
injured, and the living.
No one seemed to notice that all three of the famous trio had
disappeared into the headmaster's office, but the three came back
out to join the group for lunch.
Later, Harry and Hermione found Ron and Luna down by the lake's
edge, watching the Giant Squid splashing about on the lake's
surface. The water was lapping gently on the damp, shell-speckled
shore, and the sunlight dappled the murky waters a pale green.
In fact, had it been any other day, the setting could be
considered rather romantic. Harry and Hermione watched the two
talk quietly with each other for a few minutes, then continued
walking to the right.
They settled underneath the large oak tree. Harry leaned his back
against the trunk of the tree, Hermione beside him with her legs
crossed.
He glanced over at his best friend, noticing how lovely her eyes
looked when the sunlight caught them. Her hair lay freely across
her back, unruly and curly as ever.
Her eyes glowed softly as she gazed out onto the glimmering lake,
a few curls of her hair trailing over her eyes, and the sunlight
coaxing a faint flush into her cheeks.
A soft smile was tugging at her lips, and Harry caught her hand
in his own. She twined her fingers with his instinctively, and
continued surveying scene in front of her.
“I love you, you know.” he said quietly.
She whipped her gaze around, her eyes wide. He smiled at her,
affectionately rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb. Then
her look softened, and she returned the warm smile. She looked
down at their hands, moistening her lips before looking back up.
“I love you, too.” she murmured, reaching up and pushing her hair
out of her eyes, her eyes fixing on his. “I love you, too.”
He allowed a pause, content to gaze at her for a little longer,
before he spoke again, this time in a more normal tone of voice.
“Walk with me?”
He helped her up, and they began to walk around the edge of the
lake, careful to avoid Ron and Luna. The breeze had picked up,
and it caught Hermione's hair rather like the wind in the sails
of a ship. The sunlight brightened, and Harry closed his eyes,
breathing in the smell of earth and water.
Hermione halted, smiling as he tilted his head back, allowing the
sunlight to catch his face, and the breeze to race through his
hair.
Suddenly he turned, his eyes opening and regarding her seriously.
“I suppose I should have kissed you.” he said after a pause.
Hermione stifled a laugh, amazed at the feeling of laughter that
had recently been so unfamiliar.
“If it sounds that unpleasant, I won't force you.” she said, her
laughter bubbling over. He grinned sheepishly, blushing.
“Well...” he said slowly, shuffling his feet. “No. I think it
might be-- rather nice.”
A flush crept into her cheeks.
“But I'm not exactly sure...” he trailed off, raising a hand to
her cheek and stroking it lightly. He paused, looking nervous.
“Perhaps you had better do it,” he suggested finally, “I've never
been very good at things like this.”
“Neither have I.” she said honestly, blushing. He smiled.
He gazed down at her softly, his smile slowly changing to a look
of tenderness. “You don't mind if I do it right or not, do you?”
She smiled gently, and Harry felt a thrill go through him.
“It's you, Harry.” she said simply, and he grinned at her. He
raised his hands to either side of her face, and she closed her
eyes, and he allowed his fingers to touch every feature of her
small face, trailing down the bridge of her nose and sliding
along her cheekbones and finally tracing the soft outline of her
smiling mouth...
Before Harry knew exactly what he was doing, or even what
Hermione was doing, they had both moved in the same moment and
kissed. Hermione rose to her toes, and her arms were around his
neck, and her lips were pressed warmly, delicately against his
own. She pulled back slightly, looking startled at her own
actions, and then Harry bent again.
His arms slipped around her waist, and his hand rested at the
back of her neck as she tilted her chin back, allowing him to
kiss her again. He felt her lips curve under his own and held her
closer; he'd never kissed anyone while she was smiling--
He pulled back reluctantly, still holding her waist. Her arms
were still around his neck, and he could feel her breathing
rather quickly under his hands.
They gazed at each other, immersed in the sounds of water and
wind and each other, and finally, Harry spoke.
“I reckon... we're going to be all right, aren't we?”
She laughed softly, hiding her face in his chest and murmuring,
“We'd better be. I think you've had enough trouble.”
He dipped his head and breathed in the smell of her hair, and
smiled.
“I think I've had enough trouble for both of us.”
Suddenly, there was an enormous splash from the lake's edge. The
cool spray of the water reached even them, and Hermione laughed
as she tugged Harry down towards the edge of the lake.
Ginny and Neville were standing knee-deep in the lake, laughing
and holding fistfuls of what looked like clear green seaweed.
Luna was chatting happily to a dazed Ron, whose red hair was
sopping and covered in seaweed as he struggled out of the water.
“What on earth--” Hermione stared at Ron, “Ron, what are you
doing?”
“Blame them.” Ron spluttered, jabbing a finger at his sister and
Neville. “Dumping the stuff down a man's back... just isn't
right...”
Harry felt a laugh begin in his chest, and slowly, Hermione's
face broke into a smile, and she joined him in laughing.
Ron sloshed off after Neville and Ginny, who were sprinting
around the shore, laughing and holding hands. His threats echoed
across the lake, mingled with Luna's serene comments.
Harry turned towards Hermione, who smiled and shook her head
affectionately.
“Let's finish that walk.” he suggested, offering her his hand.
“I don't think we're finishing it as much as starting.” she
remarked thoughtfully.
He smiled, taking a deep breath and letting it out.
“I hope that's always the case, Hermione.”
| The Ultimate Harry Potter Analysis Source |
| Choosing what is Right over what is Easy |
