The Journey

16. Not Easy

Harry had a few others on his list that he needed to forgive and his journey took him to many different places.  Granting forgiveness and in some cases even asking for it.  The first trip of the following week took him to Malfoy Manor, where he spoke for ages with Narcissa.  Telling her that he was sorry for insulting her, that day in the robe shop.  For all the times he did in fact insult her when confronted with Draco and his gang, just to not come across as pathetic for keeping quiet.  He apologized for putting her in the position of having to lie to Voldemort.  

If that evil man had known that he was alive, and she had lied to him, he would have killed her without a second thought.  He thanked her for saving his life, and for being there for Draco.  He told her that part of his journey was going to take him to Azkaban, because there were a few people there that he needed to see.  She was totally in awe of him and what he was doing.  It seemed the world wasn't wrong when they claimed Harry Potter was the epitome of kindness.  

He told her of his feelings for her son, and wanted her to know that he was planning on telling him that soon, but no matter the outcome, he would always be there for them both.  Lucius had been a bastard, and he was even sorry for that, and to please never hesitate to ask for anything.  Also, not to tell Draco I was here, I will tell him.  She agreed and told him that maybe it was time for forgiveness.  If he could forgive all the hate of the past seven years from Draco, well then, the world would definitely be a better place.

Teary eyed, and after a long tiring day, they left each other with their own thoughts.  Narcissa smiled herself to sleep that night, knowing that the future was indeed going to be bright.  

The next stop for Harry was a little cottage on the outskirts of Sheffield.  It was the home of Cornelius Fudge, who everyone had thought died in the war.  When in fact, he had scurried to his hole to hide away like the coward he was.  Knocking on the wooden door, he felt his magic surge through him, and remembered the way he had been treated by the man.  Knowing that he had to calm down, he took a few deep breaths, and tried to focus on one thing.  His future.

The door opened slowly, and when Fudge saw who it was, he tried to close it immediately.  Harry was too strong for that, and held it open.  He looked at the man and said in a deep dry voice, "We need to talk".  He stepped inside without invite, and waited for the man to close his door.  "Or rather, I will talk and you will listen", he said looking at him.  He knew that this wasn't going to be easy.

Fudge had changed.  No longer the snob with his finely pressed robes and his lime green bowler hat, he looked old and defeated.  Wearing an old set of robes, that looked dirty, it almost looked like he was panicking, looking over his shoulder at something that was coming for him.  Weird, thought Harry.  Maybe he thinks I am here to kill him.  Idiot.

"Potter.  What do you want?  And how did you find me?", he asked with worry.

"Don't worry Fudge, how I found you is not important.  What I want is, well let's just say that I am here to make myself feel better", he answered.  Fudge frowned at those words, not knowing what was coming next.  Realizing that he wasn't going to be offered a seat, for which he was thankful, Harry quickly said what he had come to say.

"I almost died in fifth year.  The whole wizarding world almost came to a standstill because you were a frightened pathetic little man who was too scared to face the truth.  Because you had it in your stupid head that Albus Dumbledore wanted your position at the Ministry".  Fudge started to sputter, but Harry ignored him, and carried on talking.

"Appointing Umbridge was probably the worst thing you have ever done in your life, and believe me, you have done a lot of stupid things.  Having her punish me with a blood quill, so that I will bare scars for the rest of my life.  Reducing Hogwarts to nothing but a cold shell, all because you failed to accept the fact that Voldemort was back.  Siding with death eaters, just because they made contributions to your cause, and in my book that makes you a very very bad man.  But I am not here to judge you Fudge, I am here to forgive you.  I know that I was still a child when I made the accusations that Voldemort was back, and I was relying on the fact that a child would be believed.  Stupid of me really, that I wished for that.

Children are just in the way, especially when the 'greater good' is making money and hoping the boogeyman goes away.  I have come to realize that perhaps Voldemort wasn't the only monster under the bed.  Monsters are in our very presence, and the scary thing is that they are the very people that you know.  The same people you work with or go to school with.

I hope you sleep easy tonight Fudge, I will never bother you again.  I am here to tell you that even though you made mistakes and stupid judgements, I forgive you for them.  Hopefully, one day you will be able to do the same to someone who has wronged you.  But then, we can only hope, can't we?  You probably think you are so righteous, that you don't need anyone's forgiveness.

Good day", and with that, he left the cottage and apparated away.  Fudge was astounded at what had just happened.  It was true, his nerves truly were on edge, waiting for his day of judgement, but that was obviously still not here.  He burst into tears and after a while, he swallowed the words that had been on his tongue, put the kettle on and made himself some tea.  Harry Potter had granted him forgiveness, when it was the one thing he couldn't do.  

Forgive himself.