Drarry One Shots

Don't You Forget About Me (Part Two)

A/N Owing to a couple requests, I've written a short second part... really, it's more of a couple of conversations, though there is a story within the conversations. I apologise for this getting a bit philosophical; the approach emerged because of the questions and ethics raised by the first part and what changing the past potentially means for Harry. And part one undoubtedly set up part two turning darker...

***

'It's bloody ridiculous,' dismissed Harry as he tossed the copy of the Prophet onto the coffee table in front of him, sending Monopoly pieces and cards flying. He sat crossed-legged on the large sofa at Grimmauld Place facing Severus and Remus. Remus waved his wand to fold and move the paper to one side and place everything back on the board in their previous places.

Outside, the rain increased in its intensity again, drumming its pattern against the walls and windows of the house. The torrent had been unrelenting all day and it seemed the sombre mood in the sitting room matched the stormy greyness of the day outside. Harry wandlessly lit the fire in the grate to try and bring some warmth into the room.

'Yes, well, Ronald Weasley never was the brightest wand in the dark,' sneered Severus.

Remus stifled his laughter and took a sip of his Firewhisky to try and hide his amusement.

Harry didn't bother to cover his own laughter at Severus's comment. 'Three bloody years though! Three years since I told him about Dray. You'd think I would have started to show signs of becoming a Dark Wizard before now if he was really corrupting me or keeping me under an Imperius or whatever shitty theory Ron is brooding over now. He still hasn't quite come up with a logical explanation about how Dray has managed to fool Minnie, the Wizengamot, and then the whole world into thinking he was a "Silent Hero" during the war.'

'Ronald is rather like a stuck portrait over this,' said Remus. 'It once again stinks of jealousy and bitterness. This time he's made rather a fuss over your living arrangements, hasn't he?'

Harry smirked. 'Sour grapes, Remus. He's never forgiven Sev for the role of villain that he played before the war, especially towards Mione, and he's only dragging you into it because you failed him on his first year practicals.'

Severus snorted dismissively very loudly. 'Yes, well, that says it all. It takes an utter idiot to fail their first year in the Auror Training Corps. The exams are easier than the O.W.L. in Defence Against the Dark Arts. One presumes it was because Ms Granger wasn't there to hold his hand throughout the practical assessments.'

'How many times do I need to say it?' said Remus indignantly. 'He put his team in danger and nearly killed Auror Rathbone. The man is now blinded in one eye and permanently retired from the field. It was the first year in recorded history any Auror on a training exercise has had to go to St Mungo's, let alone an instructor. Ronald was completely reckless and didn't listen to anyone, especially Auror Rathbone who was supervising him.'

'One presumes he's still pleading his innocence, despite the conviction for GBH and endangering lives in the workplace, and the civil court case for personal injury and financial damages awarded to Rathbone,' said Harry. 'It makes me wonder how much I would've been carrying him if I'd joined the Aurors with him as we originally planned.'

'Undoubtedly all the way,' said Severus. 'And undoubtedly tarnishing your own good name in the process. You would have been viewed as a pair of clowns.'

'I don't have a "good" name in Ron's eyes,' said Harry with a sigh. 'I suppose I'll have to make a big deal out of the next fundraising run.'

'Don't pretend otherwise or try to play it down,' teased Remus. 'We all know you started training months ago and the t-shirt came in the post the other day for the London Marathon.'