|
Harry Potter and the Ritual of Love's Memory | ||||||
|
Category: Post-HBP Characters:All Genres: Action/Adventure, General, Romance Warnings: Death, Mild Language, Mild Sexual Situations, Violence Rating: PG-13 Reviews: 259 Summary: After the horcrux hunt implodes leaving most of those Harry loves dead, he starts a new life with a few fellow survivors far away from wizarding Britain. But the discovery of an ancient ritual that promises to send a single memory back in time sparks hope that maybe things can change. Dark ending to DH followed by a tweaked retelling of GoF through DH. Harry/Ginny. Friday updates. Original Timeline Voldemort's Victory - Chapter 1-5 (Feel free to skip if you don't like major character deaths) Tenochtitlán - Chapter 6-9 New Timeline Harry's 4th Year - Chapter 10-28 Harry's 5th Year - Chapter 29-68 Harry's 6th Year - Chapter 69-Current Hitcount: Story Total: 169521; Chapter Total: 1398 Awards: View Trophy Room |
Previous Next |
|
||||
|
Harry shivered slightly, the chill in the air catching the sweat he'd worked up fighting and fleeing the giants. Dusk had been approaching before the giants emerged, but now the last vestiges of the autumn sunset were giving up their fight against the blues and violets of the darkening sky. The streetlamps flickered their warm light into the encroaching darkness, their futile attempt to hold back the cold of night bathing the shops in just enough light to see the damage wreaked by the rampaging giants. He pulled Ginny closer as they walked, coveting her warmth against his side as his arm rested across her shoulders. They had stopped at Honeydukes to check on Hermione while heading back to the Three Broomsticks. Her quick thinking to remember the secret passageway leading through the sweets shop's floor back to the castle had helped the nearly two dozen students hidden inside the building reach safety. When a giant ripped apart a large section of the roof, a number of the students inside were struck by falling debris. The terrified owner of the shop (a middle-aged woman named Marcy) had been shocked to see Hermione open a creaky section of the floor, revealing a yawning passage that she began quickly herding students down. After the surprise subsided, Marcy took over for Hermione and sent her with Blaise to lead the students out of the shop while the last of them squeezed into the narrow passageway. Ginny and Harry didn't remain at Honeydukes for long after confirming all the students had safely made it through the passageway, though the grateful owner had insisted on giving them a heavy bag of sweets as thanks for their help with the giants. Not that Harry had used the passage much in recent years, but a part of him was sad to know that one more means of stealthily leaving the castle's confines was likely to be lost. He doubted the owner of the shop would leave a way for unscrupulous students to enter her shop at any time, even if it had come in quite handy. As they walked, Harry noticed that Ginny seemed more quiet than usual. For a minute or two, he wondered if she was still upset about his failure to relay the news about Bill and the other new members of the group to her. He decided to retry an apology for the oversight, but her easy response and overall demeanor indicated that his communication deficiency wasn't what was on her mind. Before he could unravel the mystery of what she was pondering, they reached the dozens of students and villagers who had congregated around what had once been the Three Broomsticks. Easily visible among the crowd was Hagrid, whose great arm was wrapped around Madam Rosmerta. Even from a distance, it was clear that she was weeping bitterly. Harry thought he could see large tears rolling down Hagrid's cheeks, too. Bill and Fleur stood nearby, quietly discussing something with Ron as Padma, Parvati, and Luna huddled not far off. Without a word, slight pressure from Ginny's hand wrapped around his midsection steering them toward her brothers. Several of the onlookers turned to look at the two of them as they passed the crowd. Murmurs and small conversations bubbled up just quiet enough that Harry could only pick out a few scattered words and phrases, like "took on all three" or "incredibly powerful." He'd endured far more than his fair share of whispers over the years, but it still felt uncomfortable to know that so many people were already beginning to tell stories of what happened and that the gossip and rumors were likely to only grow in the coming days. "Hey, you two," called Bill tiredly as they approached. He glanced at the heavily laden bag of sweets stuffed into Harry's pocket. "Looks like Marcy appreciated the help. Were Hermione and the others able to make it back to Hogwarts alright?" "Yeah, she sent her patronus to let us know she and Blaise had made it with the others just fine," replied Ginny. "What's the plan? Everyone should have been back at the castle by now." "We were about to start sending zee students back toward 'Ogwarts until Ron suggested waiting so that we all went together," answered Fleur with a nod to her fiance's brother. "It is not a long walk, but 'e thought it would be worthwhile to stick together." "Just in case," added Ron with a shrug. "Dumbledore is away on Order business," intoned Bill a little more quietly. "But McGonagall sent me a roster of how many students were in Hogsmeade today. Did Hermione confirm how many went with her?" "Of course, she did," laughed Ginny, even if her smile was weary. "Twenty-one students, not including her and Blaise." "Exactly what we'd hoped. That means we've got all the students accounted for." Bill's eyes darted back to the crowd to do a quick recount the ones wearing Hogwarts uniforms. It took him a minute, but he seemed satisfied when Fleur came up with the same number as he did. "I'll feel a lot better once everyone's safely in the castle. I'll go grab Hagrid and we can all make our way back together." Harry watched as the eldest Weasley brother trudged to where Hagrid was consoling Rosmerta, placed his hand kindly on his colleague's arm and whispered something. After a great sniffle and a hug that looked like it might break the barmaid in half, the two professors turned to face the students who were nervously milling about in the chilly twilight. "Hey, everyone," began Bill loudly enough that the whole group could hear him. "I know it's been a hard day and that lots of you have had a really bad time. We're all going to head back to Hogwarts together, so let's all stay close. We don't expect any more trouble but we'd rather be overprepared in case we run into anything. Professor Hagrid is going to lead the way and I'm going to be at the back with Miss Delacour. Third and fourth years should stick to the middle of the group and older students can be more along the perimeter. Gin! You and Harry up front with Hagrid; Ron and Padma help out in the middle. "For anyone who thinks this is the time to try to slip away with your girlfriend or boyfriend, let me assure you: I may be a new professor here, but I will rain down the kind of consequences kids will talk about for years to come if anyone attempts to sneak off. Are we clear?" No part of Harry had considered stealing away from the group for alone time with Ginny, but he had to force back a smile as he watched a few oft-amorous couples shrink under Professor Weasley's withering glare. Bill's easy-going nature had evaporated in the face of his stern look of resolve, leading to vigorous nods and a chorus of "Yes, sirs." "Excellent! With any luck, we'll have you all back in the Great Hall in plenty of time to join dinner. Feel free to cast a few Lumos to keep enough light to walk by. Let's go!" The trek back to the castle usually took half an hour, but such a large group slowed their progress considerably. Blustering cold wind sent chills up the spines of the students, none of whom had expected the temperature to drop so precipitously. Overcast skies covered the moon and stars, leaving the light of the students' spells as the only thing staving off the encroaching darkness. Gooseflesh emerged on Harry's exposed arms as he attempted to talk with Hagrid as they walked. "It looked like Madam Rosmerta was having a really hard time. Was anyone hurt during the attack over there?" "There wasn't many customers when they attacked," sighed Hagrid forlornly as they walked against the cold wind. "Most folks got out the back 'fore they really started tearin' the place apart, but a real nice older couple who'd been livin' here in the village fer years didn't make it." Harry's shoulders sagged at the news and he swore under his breath. Ginny's hand found his as they both forced their feet to carry them forward. "An' Rosmerta lives above the tavern," continued Hagrid. He rubbed his eye with the sleeve of his shirt and sniffed back at the emotion in his voice. "Everythin' was destroyed. She had a little kneazle kitten that I'd found fer her, but it seems like too much to hope fer that it made it out." A deep sadness washed over Harry. The combination of the cold night and the depressing news weighed down on him, slowing his pace to almost a standstill. He searched for anything encouraging to say to the kind man who'd first introduced him to the magical world, but nothing positive came to mind. His sigh was drowned out by the howl of the chilly wind rattling nearby tree branches. He started to walk forward again, despite the feeling in his chest that something wasn't quite right. The noise of the wind in the trees grew louder and more unsettling. Several more students cast a Lumos, since the few emanating from the gaggle of third and fourth years didn't illuminate much of the landscape beyond the group. The additional light caused eerie shapes to appear amongst the nearby trees as the shadows shifted ominously. With his glasses shielding his eyes from some of the cold wind, Harry peered to their left at a series of dark shapes just beyond where the light shone. He felt a prickle of pain in his scar before a scream echoed in his head. The sound of his mother's terrified cry filled his ears as one of the dark shapes moved closer and into the light. "DEMENTORS!" Ron's shout cut through the sound of the wind and the rattling breath of the dozens of dementors gliding toward the group from among the trees. Shrieks of horror from the students mingled with the screams already in Harry's head as panic overtook them. Most of the light disappeared as frightened students stopped maintaining their Lumoses. Over the din, Harry heard Ron's loud yell above the noise. "ANYONE WHO CAN CAST A PATRONUS, UP HERE WITH ME!" Ron bellowed out the incantation and his silver terrier sprang forward, bathing nearby students in its ethereal glow. Harry and Ginny didn't hesitate, shouting "Expecto Patronum!" as they rushed toward Ron's position. A silvery stag and horse flanked Ron's terrier, pawing at the ground as they faced the dementors. Within moments, they were joined by Padma's stork, Luna's hare, and Parvati's ox. Behind Harry, half a dozen wisps of silvery smoke hovered in the air. From the back of the group, Fleur and Bill sprinted to get between the students and the danger. Fleur's lioness prowled between her and the incoming dementors while Bill's crocodile snapped angrily toward the forest. "What do we do!?" cried out a terrified voice from among the students. Before Harry had time to consider the question, the first of the dementors fully emerged from the treeline. Its rotting hand reached out toward the group as it sucked in a ragged breath that seemed to plunge the temperature by several degrees. "WE'RE ALMOST TO THE CASTLE!" shouted Bill, his wand pointed straight ahead with conviction. "FOLLOW HAGRID AND WE'LL COVER YOUR RETREAT! GO NOW!" The terrified students did not need more convincing. Harry risked a glance over his shoulder to see Hagrid hoist two students over his shoulder while urging the rest to follow him. He shouted for light and several students produced a strong enough Lumos to illuminate the path. With a flick of her wand, Ginny directed her patronus to gallop further to the side. "Spread out! Don't let them get past us!" Harry followed the instructions immediately, pointing his wand to a dimly lit area to their side where some of the dementors had begun to press forward. "Try to keep up with the others!" called Bill, his patronus lunging at a pair of the black-robed wraiths that ventured too close. "We just need to get within the castle grounds' protections!" That was much easier said than done. The eight of them moved steadily while facing the swarm of dementors attempting to breach their protection. It was painstaking work to maintain the charm against so many dementors, each of which seemed intent on getting to their quarry. Hagrid and the other students had been gone for several minutes, and Harry desperately hoped that they'd safely made it to the castle. He hadn't seen any dementors follow the other group, but it was far too dark to be sure. Either way, the roiling mass of black robes held back by the eight patronuses grew bolder by the second, constantly prodding and lurching forward. While stepping backward, Ron's foot caught on a fallen branch, and Harry heard something crack. Ron reached out to steady himself, accidentally knocking Luna off balance and pulling her to the ground in the process. Her wand fell from her hand. Ron's startled swear coincided with both of their patronuses flickering out of existence. A sudden surge of dementors flooded forward through the new gaps at the two of them faster than Harry dreamt possible. Revolting grey hands reached for the two fallen students as they scrambled backward on the ground. The other patronuses were far from their casters, attempting to keep the swarm of dementors at bay. By the time Harry and the others pointed their wands at Ron and Luna, the black shapes had already descended upon them. Harry willed his stag to move faster as Luna's eyes grew wide and Ron flailed his arms and legs out at the oncoming attackers. A massive black shape burst forward from behind Harry, barreling into the dementors as they lowered their hooded faces toward their prey. They were not corporeal enough to be truly scattered by the impact, but the wraiths were still knocked away by the hulking figure that stood over Ron and Luna. "IF YEH WANT 'EM, YEH'LL HAFTA GET THROUGH ME!" thundered Hagrid, his voice dripping with menace and danger. His beady black eyes burned with fury as he clinched his fists. The six remaining patronuses were plowing back toward the group but were slowed by the sheer number of dementors on every side. "Ron! Luna! Get your patronus back up!" cried Harry as his stag skewered two dementors on its antlers. It flung them back into the trees with a mighty toss of its head before charging back toward Hagrid and Harry's two fallen friends. The wraiths glided forward toward Hagrid, gaping maws sucking air as their hands grasped at locks of his messy hair and beard. He swung his fists at them with all his might but only managed to push some of them to the side as their black cloaks neared him. With horror, Harry watched a dementor slip under the man's furious swipes, its terrible mouth inching closer to Hagrid's face. Below him, Luna grabbed her wand from beside her, pointed it skyward, and shouted the charm. Her patronus rocketed up into the closest dementor, knocking it away as the hare glowed brighter by the second while bounding from one wraith to the next. Ron's terrier followed a moment later, pushing the swarm back from Hagrid as the other glowing animals reformed a small perimeter around their casters. "We're near the castle!" shouted Hagrid, his voice seized with the same fear gripping Harry. The huge man knelt down and grabbed Ron, tossing the lanky boy over his shoulder as easily as if he were a toddler. Despite being carried like a sack of potatoes, Ron kept his concentration and expertly directed his patronus to fight back a pair of dementors before it joined the protective circle. Parvati darted forward and offered her other hand to Luna as she scrambled to her feet, careful to keep her wand trained on her ox. They quickly fell back as the group gave Hagrid enough berth to allow him to slot into their middle with the others backed up against him. From his elevated perch on Hagrid's shoulder, Ron directed the group's movement and called out weak points in their defenses to shore up. Padma's stork patronus protected them from the dementors swooping down at them while Bill, Fleur, and the other students directed theirs around the perimeter. The group moved slowly, all careful not to lose their footing in the darkness illuminated only by glowing patronus light. Harry grit his teeth so hard that his ears began to ring, but it still wasn't enough to drown out the sounds of his parents' last stand and Viktor's final defiant moments. As they neared the castle, the dementors became more agitated. They flung themselves forward and stretched their rotting hands through any spaces they could manage. Cold, rasping breaths that stunk of decay chilled the air around the retreating group. Against the onslaught, Harry noticed several of the patronuses shown more dimly and Parvati's was beginning to flicker. He concentrated on his memory (hugging Sirius after he had been officially cleared of all charges by the Wizengamot) and tried to bolster his own patronus to help cover for the others who were losing strength. "Harry!" exclaimed Ginny from her spot beside him. "Chocolate! You've got a bag full of Honeydukes in your pocket!" Hopefulness surged in Harry's heart as he rummaged in his pocket for the bag of sweets. He pulled it out and held it out to Ginny with one hand, still directing his patronus with the other. She grabbed a Chocolate Frog and squeezed it with her full strength without even trying to unwrap it, covering her hand in sticky brown candy. She shoved it into her own mouth, packaging and all, and began to chew while blindly grabbing for more chocolate. "Purrvatee!" she called out, despite her full mouth. Harry could see her horse begin to glow a little more brightly as she found a candy bar and tossed it. "Eat this, quick!" Harry was glad that the Defense Club had spent time covering dementors instead of solely focused on how to cast a patronus, as Parvati didn't hesitate. She deftly caught the bar and opened it with her teeth. Her ox stopped flickering the moment that the chocolate touched her tongue, even though it still wasn't glowing very brightly. Ginny managed to get some sort of chocolate to everyone in the group, and Harry could tell that the effects of the dementors subsided for them all. Each patronus looked a little stronger now, and the faces of his friends looked more resolved and less frightened, even as the swarm pressed in against their defenses. The next few minutes were grueling and felt like they took hours for Harry, but they soon reached the gates to Hogwarts. The dementors between them and the castle began to thin somewhat as they were unable to cross into the school's territory. A final surge of magic was enough to clear the way as they crossed onto the school grounds, each breathing heavily from exertion and stress. From beyond the castle's protections, the dementors looked like an angry swarm of huge, cloaked hornets against a clear pane of glass that kept them from their sworn enemies, until they eventually glided away back into the night. ~RLM~ When relaying the details of the following week to Sirius via the communication mirror, Harry thought that describing Hogwarts as abuzz with retellings of the flight from Hogsmeade was really a bit of an understatement. There were a million little details that cropped up in the retelling that made things seem all the more surreal. For instance, Harry couldn't help but laugh while explaining the looks of consternation mixed with awe that many of the students now had whenever they saw Hermione. She attempted to act as if nothing had changed, still using her best McGonagall impression when scolding older students for teasing the first years. But the fact that she had shattered a window to dive into Honeydukes while it was under attack by giants and led more than twenty students to safety (through a previously unknown secret passageway, no less!) was simply too much for many to fathom. Students sat up a little straighter whenever she came nearby, while a few of the more bold asked if she knew of any other secret passages into the village. Her response (A sly smirk before quipping, "None that I'm willing to tell you about…") further eroded the idea that she was nothing more than a bookish rule follower. The events in Hogsmeade and on the way back to the school affected the perceptions of other students, too. Those who had witnessed Ron, Padma, Parvati, and Luna defending Zonko's spun tales of their powerful stunners knocking out a rampaging giant. Many stories were told of Defense Club members heroically casting their patronuses to defend the students on the path back to the castle. Ron's successful tactics during the stand against the dementors earned him a number of admirers, despite the broken ankle he sustained. Harry noticed that the number of dementors and their size grew with each retelling, but he only corrected the storytellers when the exaggeration became so egregious that it defied all logic. Harry was immensely pleased to hear how Luna's role in the events changed how others regarded her. She kept her dreamy demeanor despite members of her house, other fifth years, and various unconnected students becoming more interested in her. She occasionally used her growing notoriety to discuss various creatures that Harry didn't think actually existed, but she mainly kept enjoying her time with Parvati and other members of the Defense Club who had been kind to her before she'd proved herself to be so adept in a crisis. When pressed by his godfather, Harry admitted that his own status and Ginny's within the castle had grown substantially. Numerous witnesses, both students and villagers, had described their exploits against the trio of giants. Ginny's Bat-Bogey Hex had rapidly become the stuff of legends, and their triumph looked likely to be etched into the collective memory of the Hogwarts student body for years to come. Protecting the students who couldn't cast a patronus from an immense swarm of dementors further cemented them as valuable friends to have for older students and role models for many of the younger kids. Harry still felt a bit sheepish about the whole thing, but Sirius assured him that there were much worse things than admiring someone willing to fight to protect others. Bill had been a relatively well-liked professor since the start of the term, especially among those taking Arithmancy and the students who thought him roguishly handsome. After Hogsmeade, however, he rocketed up in most students' estimation. Descriptions of him alongside his powerful and beautiful fiance saving students while defeating giants and dementors were whispered whenever he was seen strolling through the halls or visiting with his younger siblings at a meal. From what Harry heard from some of the Gryffindor first and second years, he thought there was going to be a surge in students taking Arithmancy as an elective. But what made Harry's heart swell with pride most was the attention Hagrid received. The first students he led back to the castle did plenty to praise him for ushering them to safety, but the description of him barreling headlong into the dementors to stand over Ron and Luna instantly gripped the imagination of the student body. The great man attempted to deflect the praise to the students, Bill, and Fleur for their use of the patronus, but the earnest thanks of those he'd protected had caused more than a few huge tears to fall down his cheeks. Professor Dumbledore addressed the entire school about the ordeal the day after the Hogsmeade trip. Harry was disappointed but unsurprised that the headmaster announced that visits to the village would be halted for the remainder of the term, though there was a chance they might be resumed in the spring, pending additional safety measures. He thanked those who had helped protect their fellow students and awarded a large sum of points to all those who assisted. Harry was sure to cheer loudly when Dumbledore mentioned Blaise's contributions, as did many other members of the Defense Club. The Daily Prophet seemed to be obsessed with telling and retelling the story from every possible angle. Each day at breakfast, Harry read a new account of what had happened. There was a long article about the couple who died in the Three Broomsticks and several pieces about how so many were able to escape unscathed. Though reporters were not allowed to interview the students, numerous villagers and shop owners supplied their recollections of the events. A full, front page story chronicled Bill and Fleur's part in the tale following their sit down with a reporter, which Harry was glad spent a good deal of time crediting Hagrid. The excited chatter about Hogsmeade died down somewhat over the course of the week as life at Hogwarts began to resume its normal rhythm, only to be upended again on Friday. Dumbledore was absent during lunch, though Harry barely noticed when the headmaster was away from the castle anymore. But at dinner, the old man's bright blue eyes twinkled as he stood at the staff table and called for quiet. "May I have your attention?" boomed his kindly voice through the Great Hall. "I have a matter of great importance that I would like to relay to both our students and faculty." An expectant hush fell over the Great Hall as all eyes fell upon the headmaster. "Madam Bones has spent a good portion of this week investigating the events that occurred at Hogsmeade over the weekend. While much of her concern is for how to bolster security for the village, she also wishes to acknowledge particular heroism displayed in the face of grave danger. Many exhibited quick thinking, shrewd decision-making, steadfast loyalty, and valiant bravery, but she and I agreed that there was one whose willingness to put others' safety above his own merited special recognition. "It is with great pride that I announce that our own Professor Rubeus Hagrid will be awarded the Order of Merlin, Third Class for his selfless dedication to protecting others at any personal cost." The Great Hall exploded with a deafening roar of exultation that seemed to shake the very walls of the castle. Every Gryffindor student was on their feet, and Harry found himself jumping up and down while hugging Ginny as tightly as his arms allowed. Most Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws were just as jubilant, and quite a few Slytherin students cheered along with the rest at the announcement. Hagrid's easy-going nature and unwillingness to assign much homework had certainly made him a reasonably well-liked professor over the past few years, but his defense of Luna and Ron earned him significantly more goodwill. Harry tried to catch Hagrid's eye as the students continued their riotous applause, but the staff surrounding the gamekeeper were hardly any less exuberant than the students. Professor McGonagall sprang up from her seat and squeezed Hagrid's massive arm, lifting his hand into the air. Flitwick was standing on his chair and pumping his fist without any thought of decorum as Sprout clapped so hard that her hands were turning red. Bill threw his head back to unleash a whoop that could probably be heard in the Forbidden Forest. Even Snape was out of his seat, clapping appreciatively. And there Hagrid sat. His eyes stared out unblinkingly as the sounds of the Great Hall washed over him. He squinted as if he was trying to understand what was happening. He peered over at Dumbledore, unsure of what to do. The headmaster stepped back from the podium and gestured to it, his wide smile unmistakable even beneath his long white beard as happy tears streamed down his cheeks. Unsteadily, Hagrid rose to his feet and took tentative steps toward the space Dumbledore vacated, louder applause rising to meet him. Gripping the sides of the podium as if his life depended on it, Hagrid looked out across the Great Hall at the cheering students in disbelief. Someone closer to the staff table (Harry thought it might have been a seventh year or possibly even Professor Sprout) cried out, "Speech!" which was quickly repeated by more and more of the onlookers. Hagrid glanced nervously at the headmaster, who smiled and gave the man an encouraging nod. The noise began to subside as he gazed out across the Great Hall. When it finally got quiet enough for him to speak, his voice quavered. "I don't deserve- I didn't really-" He heaved a great sigh and turned away before his eyes fell on Luna. Despite the redness of his cheeks, seeing her buoyed his resolve. "Yer worth savin'," he stated simply. His eyes shifted from Luna to Ron, who gazed back at him with pride. "Yer all worth savin'. I'm jus' glad yer alright." He gave a watery smile, patted the podium nervously, and turned to return to his seat. A split-second before Harry was going to restart the applause, Luna's voice pierced the room with a jubilant cheer. As the Great Hall descended back into a cacophony of clapping and shouting, he finally caught Hagrid's eye. In all his years of knowing the gentle half-giant, Harry had never seen the man so happy. |
| Reviews 259 |
Previous Next
|
