After The War - DARKNESS WITHIN (HP9)

Chapter 23 - Shattered Dreams

Woosh!

A heavy breeze blew over Hermione who woke up with a jerk after having fallen asleep in the Gryffindor common room. She had been going over her exam papers again. Even though the exams were now over, she knew she couldn't calm her nerves until the results were posted the following month.

"I won't be missing you, peeves!" She called out into the now quiet common room which was slowly filling up with the morning light. A chuckle echoed in the room but poltergeist remained invisible.

It was the last day at Hogwarts. After the feast that evening the seventh years would pack up their trunks for the last time.

She sighed and stuffed her papers into the bag being extra careful not to crush a scroll she had carefully placed in her bag earlier that day. There were suddenly footsteps coming down the stairs from the boys dormitory. Students were now waking up. Hermione quickly zipped up her bag and returned to the girls dormitory hoping to catch a little more sleep before breakfast.

******

"To Potter and Weasley!" Kingsley said happily raising his glass for the toast as everyone repeated after him and drank.

Harry and Ron clanked glasses with everyone, smiling broadly. Another case solved and another deatheater put away in Askaban thanks to them. Kingsley was over the moon because he proved that he was right to trust Harry and Ron.

"Good thing we get to stay home tomorrow, I'm exhausted." Ron whispered to Harry.

"You wouldn't have been if you just waited for me to arrive before entering the deatheater's house." Harry told him. "We could have lured him out and trapped him far more easily than busting in for the arrest."

"Let's just agree to disagree." Ron said sipping his drink. "Enjoy this while you can, once Hermione joins the ministry all this attention will shift to her."

Harry gave him a small laugh. It had been months that Ron and Hermione' relationship had been hanging on to each other by a thread. Harry had been afraid to ask either of them anything incase it causes them to snap completely, but nevertheless, Hermione would be Home the next day and the real tension would be revealed. Harry hoped they could patch things up. He didn't think he could stand another row between them.

"Look at Gregar." Ron said sniggering. Harry turned to the direction Ron pointed to and saw Gregar sulking in the corner, he wasn't talking to anyone but had his arms crossed, staring at everyone else in conversation.

Harry however didn't find this funny. Ignoring Ron's reaction, he made his way to Gregar, handing him a fresh glass of butterbeer.

"Come to gloat, Potter?" Gregar snarled, not moving to take the glass which Harry offered him.

"Why do you have to be so bitter?" Harry said "We are all on the same side, aren't we."

"Ofcourse. You are right as usual." Gregar said sarcastically before grabbing the glass from Harry's hand and stomping away.

"What's that about?" Ron asked suddenly appearing over his shoulder.

"I donno." Harry said frowning at the place where Gregar disappeared. "Come on, we best get back to the burrow. Your dad said Ginny got some upsetting news this afternoon and has locked herself up in her room again."