What Voldemort Left Behind

Chapter 57 - King's Cross Again

Authors note: So this is it, the last chapter. I feel pretty happy about that, i'm still in the middle of writing the epilogue which i'm excited to post.

"Look over here, Mr Potter!"
"James!"
One reporter thrust his hand through the crowd to put a microphone near James's face.
"Can you tell us why you are going back to Hogwarts when you finished your seventh year in June?"
He could barely see, the steam from the train began to fog up his glasses and they'd pressed him against a solid brick wall near the entrance to the platform. Flashes from the cameras erupted in all directions.
"How are you coping with your dad's death?"
This reporter came a little too close for James's liking, they shoved their wand near his mouth to record his words, but he didn't speak.
Suddenly, the reporter was blasted back, their wand flying fifty feet in the opposite direction. The other reporters turned around in shock, away from James who saw his siblings rushing towards him.
"How did..."
"They're furious, Uncle Ron blasted her back, Mum disarmed," Albus told him.
"Pointing her wand at you was the last straw, Mum's ready to murder someone," Lily added.
James did not envy any of the reporters right now. They may have had the upper hand on him, but Mum's wrath had them all scattering. She hadn't cursed anyone in a while, had even held her wand at the funeral.
"Let's get on the train. See you, Al."
James felt a jolt in his stomach as he followed his sister onto the Express, and noticed Anna, the pretty girl he'd liked last year searching for an empty compartment.
"Hugo, wait up!" Lily waved towards no one, "You two catch up, I'll see you later, James."
Before he could say a word, she was gone.
Anna turned around to face him.
"James! What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.
"Repeating the year. We decided not to make it public until we had to."
Hogwarts students began to push past them to find a compartment, but many stopped as they saw James, blushing and turning back around, but still staring.
"Come and sit with me then," she offered. As James nodded she unexpectedly grabbed his hand to lead him away, dropping it moments later as she realized what she'd done. Her face flushed scarlet and she averted her eyes, James could feel the heat in his own face. He hadn't minded the touch, and he inexplicably liked the thought of Hogwarts seeing him with his hand in hers. Still in a daze, he sat in an empty seat as she slid the door shut.
She looked thoroughly uncomfortable as she took a seat opposite, her eyes darting towards the door.
"I failed my NEWTs," he said after a while to break the silence.
"All of them?" she asked curiously.
"No, I got an E in Defense."
"Well that's still good."
"I've always gotten Os in it. I'm doing it again too," he answered awkwardly.
"Oh yeah cause your dad was Head of Law Enforcement and Head Auror and stuff, you would be good at Defense."
The conversation quickly died out.
"I'm sorry about your dad," she said nervously, waiting for James to explode like he had every other time someone brought up things that were bothering him.
"Er... thanks I guess," he answered, eyes fixed on the floor.
They sat in silence for a minute, he had no idea what to say, but he hadn't yelled either so that was something.
The train ride passed quietly, he wasn't in the mood for much talking and Anna seemed to respect that, but he appreciated having someone there, the only people he'd seen in months were family, so it was a nice change. She was also very helpful sending away the random students who would come to the window and stare, they eventually closed the curtains.
When the train was nearing the castle, Lily returned with their cousin Hugo, she too had been hiding from the stares which had tripled in number and increased in intensity since the last time they'd been at school. They were mobbed getting off the train, eventually Hagrid had to come to their rescue, leading them to a free carriage. He must have alerted the teachers as Professor Longbottom escorted them from the front gates to the Great Hall, they sat at the far end of the bench. All in all, not the best first day.
-
Ginny arrived home at 11:15, it was only 11:15. This was the first day she was alone.
Of course she had days in the past where she was away, or Harry was working, traveling for work or in hospital, but those were temporary situations and she could see an end. Now, this was her life.
"Does Mistress Ginny need anything?" Kreacher popped his head around the door.
"Are you busy?"
"Kreacher can be, if his Mistress wants."
"I wouldn't mind some company," Ginny confessed.
Her eyes were involuntary drawn to the right hand bedside table which held one picture, Harry just days before he died, smiling down at Teddy's son.
She was strong. She could be independent. She could be alone. Was that what she wanted? At the age of eleven, Riddle had drilled it into her that she shouldn't confess, she shouldn't be honest, shouldn't let others in. Since the age of seventeen, Harry had always been there, and his life would run alongside hers, connecting, but never halting her own.

As of today, she lived alone with Kreacher. She was determined to make the most of the rest of her life, watching her teenagers as they grew into adults, spending time with her father and brothers and sisters in law. She had no need for money, Harry had left her more than she could ever want. She had no desire to continue working at her old job, and few commitments. Ginny knew what she had to do.

The End.