The Imperfectly Perfects

Prologue part 1

May 2, 1998

He waited near the shore of the Black Lack. From his side, the castle he had called home was demolished into pieces with a blaze of fire still erupting from few places. Though clouds of suffering were no more now, it broke his heart thinking of the deaths of witches and wizards took place. Everything was in mess. He was a mess.

"Do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love."

Dumbledore's words rang through Harry's ears. It was true but merely understandable by many. Everyone pity death, like they had pitied him ever since he become the boy who lived. Sure, war was over, the world was safe, but how would he ignore demises caused, just because of him. It would be hard to accept and move on but he knew, one day, he would.

After returning the Elder wand, and listening to Ron as he thought Harry was crazy to abolish such a powerful weapon, they returned to the castle, only to see further destruction. So, Harry ran away from it, now hiding and seeking his salvation near the lake.

Returning his gaze to the lake, he reminisced about Ginny. She did glance at him when he ran out from the great hall but she didn't join him. He knew she wanted him to give some time alone. She understood him so well. Deep inside, he wanted her with him but she would be there and grieving the death of her loved one. After all, she did lose her brother, Fred.

Ron was calm outside but Harry knew he was hysterically upset. He was just not showing it. Hermione was constantly with him, soothing him silently and Harry couldn't be happy, seeing how blissful they both look together. They both deserved this.

One question had been stuck in Harry's mind, that what now? The war was over. Was it the end he wanted?

Of course, yes. That was what he had been wanting for so long, to end Voldemort but currently, it has turned him into thinking what would happen from now on, as the dark ages were gone. What would the future bring him to? More pain or happiness, that question was still unanswered to him.

He could hear the familiar blurry voice of creatures in-depth of the black lake, the same voice which had him tormented back in the fourth year.

Everything was just passing through his mind in a blur. The things he encountered all those years had finally at its end. Starting from that three-headed dog to Horcruxes they mixed all their blood and sweat to find.

"What is cooking in that sweet brain of yours?" Came a voice. It was Hermione. Harry smiled to himself, turning around. Her hair was dumped down, unlaced from her previous braid. She carried a glint of sad smile.

"Many things." Was his simple reply.

She hummed, sitting beside him. Stretching her hands, she inhaled the air, and then looked down, twitching few twigs of grass.

"Where is Ron?"

"He is with his family. They all were mourning for Fred's death so I thought it would be best to leave them alone for some time being."

Harry nodded, quite stiffening at the mention of Fred's name. Looking away from her, he, too started playing with grass, rather nervously.

They both sat there, in that comfortable silence for a few minutes when suddenly the realisation of someone hit him. Harry's eyes widened as he looked at Hermione again.

"Hermione, what about your parents?"

She sighed, tirelessly. "I dunno, Harry." She peeked up with teary eyes. "I have achieved something but the cost of all this was too much for me."