1 fic ; No Challenge
Chapter Title: The Boy Named Harry
Summary: A few changes in chapter thirty-five of Deathly Hallows creates a new world for Harry and his friends.
Characters/Pairings: : contained in this chapter: Harry & Dumbledore. The rest of the story will focus on Neville and Draco. Luna, Hermione, Ron, & Ginny also appear.
Genre: gen., friendship, drama.
Beta: special thanks to the wonderful and amazing whitestar_alpha !
Rating/Warnings: PG for chapter. It will go up to R later on in the story. However, the R content is related more to the violence of war than to any sexual things. No smut, (mostly) no slash. Major character death.
Medium: written
Word Count: 831
“I can’t go back, can I?” His hands were folded in his lap as Harry pondered the white world before him. Everything seemed as though it were a strange, vivid dream. Even now, surrounded by white fog and what looked to be King’s Cross station, Harry felt as if he were far away. His mind raced over memories of the past. Ron and Hermione would be okay. He was sure of that much. Nothing would stop them from doing what they needed to do. Yet… something was missing. He wasn’t quite finished.
“Harry?” The voice was gentle as it pulled him out of his thoughts. Harry shifted on the bench to face the Headmaster. Dumbledore’s eyes were brimming with tears.
“Professor?” Harry continued, as if he hadn’t heard a word. “Why are we at King’s Cross?”
“We’re at King’s Cross, you say?”
Harry gave a nod. “Sir?” He continued after a pause. “Does it have anything to do with the trains?”
Dumbledore smiled at him. “Yes, Harry,” he said. “The train will be arriving soon. It’s time to make a choice. It’s time to decide.”
Harry’s eyes widened at the comment. “You mean I’ve got a choice?”
“Yes, you do. One always has a choice.”
Harry thought back to the forest, where his parents had greeted him. He thought of Sirius and Remus. They had stayed. Even after all this time, his parents and Sirius had stayed. Even Remus, who surely had someone else he ought to be taking care of first, had stayed with him. Without warning, images of the ghosts of Hogwarts flashed through his mind. Would he be like them? Chained to the castle and reduced to an after thought forever?
“Things work differently for us, Harry.” Sirius had said when Harry asked why they hadn’t shown themselves. So many times, Harry had needed them. So many times they could have given him something. Advice or love. They could have helped him through the dark times. He didn’t have to be alone. His father’s voice echoed in his thoughts. “Even ghosts have rules, Harry. We’ve broken far too many to get away with much more.”
“I think,” Harry murmured, “I ought to go back.”
“I am very proud of you,” Dumbledore said. He reached up to place his hand on Harry’s shoulder and patted it lightly. “You’re a very brave man.” Dumbledore paused for a moment before he continued. “I know you have another question. You can ask it, Harry. I won’t be offended.”
Harry hesitated, uncertain he wanted to know the answer. “Why didn’t you stay?”
“I think you know the answer by now,” Dumbledore replied. “I had meddled too much in your affairs. It was difficult for me to admit that to myself. Some things should have been left to you.”
“- but -“ Harry began in protest, stopping only as Dumbledore raised his hand.
“It is the truth. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Before Harry could respond, yellow lights pierced the white fog, temporarily blinding him. The platform rattled beneath Harry’s feet. As the train drew closer, steam shifted the stance of the clouded fog. Noise was absent until it broke through the white haze. Only as it came to a stop, did the train proclaim its arrival.
“You’re stronger than you know, Harry.” Dumbledore continued once the cry of the whistle stopped. “I put all my trust in you. You, and your friends.” He paused for an instant then added, “Things must happen a certain way. When I was alive, I did not trust myself to -” Dumbledore shook himself out of his thoughts. “It does not matter.”
The train wailed a warning and Harry felt a sense of urgency as the Headmaster rose from the bench to head toward the waiting train. Harry followed Dumbledore and peered into the cars. They were empty. Every single one.
“I have to go now, haven’t I?” Harry desperately wanted more time. He liked it here, with the peace and quiet, and not a care in the world. Harry leaned in toward Dumbledore, trying to get a better look at his face. “Can’t we stay a while?”
“You’ve made your choice,” Dumbledore said. The doors of the train jerked open and Dumbledore placed a foot on the step. “Remember, Harry,” he said loudly over the sound of the whistle. “You always have a choice. The train will always be running.”
“Remember,” Dumbledore shouted, venturing further into the train as it started up again. The wailing whistle continued to sound, as if it was impatient with Dumbledore for taking so long. “Events must unfold a certain way. The dead can only do so much.”
Harry’s surroundings began to fade into the white fog. Dumbledore’s voice seemed far away as he continued, “We must give others a chance.” Then, there was nothing. The train pulled away and Harry was left in a white world.
In an instant, a sharp jerk at his stomach pulled Harry violently back to his body.
Mary/Ravenclaw/Points earned=28
P.S. - Do I get points for making the banner?