Jaded

JADED

For Summery, warnings, spoilers and disclaimers see chapter one.

This chapter is actually dedicated to Neb92, who has a brilliant theory of why Harry went into coma- see when Harry took off the amplifying amulet after Voldemort’s death he received quite a shock due to reversing back from so much power to his own and that caused a mighty shock to his magical core which it couldn’t handle and thus sending Harry to shutting down for repairs (i.e. coma).

Hope you didn’t get too confused with the timeline of the war- Harry spent August, September and October training, the final battle took place in Halloween and Harry spent November and part of December in a coma. His memory gap covers the entire time.

And as always, my gratitude goes to my faithful beta- Dragon.

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Chapter Thirty-nine: If you need a friend, I’m sailing right behind
(Title from ‘Bridge over troubled water’ by ‘Simon and Garfunkel’)

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“Hey Harry, how are you feeling?” Harry heaved a great theatrical sigh, returning his gaze slowly from the window, doing his best to look as miserable as possible,

“Bored.” Hermione did her best to avoid rolling her eyes as she sat down next to his bed. Poor Harry stuck in the infirmary like that. Well, it was ‘poor Harry’ a couple of days ago, now Harry’s fishing for sympathy was getting a little old, but still Hermione couldn’t blame him, after all he was still stuck in the infirmary,

“Good, then that means you’re on the road to recovery.” She said briskly, refusing to be dragged into Harry’s game.

“I’m already recovered!” Harry crossed his arms over his chest petulantly, “But Madame Pomfrey insists on keeping me here!”

“Maybe she likes you.” Harry snorted dismissively,

“Maybe she heard what Remus and I had planed and is doing her best to sabotage it.”

“And those plans… do they involve a large bed and lots of lubrication material?” Hermione asked shrewdly and Harry gave her a brilliant smile. “Harry, you are practicing safe sex, are you not?” There was nothing like a good Hermione to ruin the mood completely, stomp on it and bury it.

“Hermione Jane Granger, I did not allow my own mother to give me the ‘safe sex’ talk and I most certainly am not going to let you.” He said in a firm voice, which had absolutely no effect on the girl beside him,

“You don’t have to talk to me about it, but it is really important that you…”

“Do what? This is none of your bloody business and I cannot believe you’re questioning my faithfulness to Remus or his to me! We’re not a couple of slags that go and shag whatever moves!” Harry roared, going red in the face, how dare she? How dare she sit here in front of him, acting like she was a supporting friend and ask him something like that! Andafter she knew about the hand-fastening! Hermione lowered her head, for once accepting the chiding, she hadn’t meant to question Harry’s loyalty, or Remus’ but her ‘mother hen’ nature was something that even Molly would be jealous of and she simply couldn’t help herself most of the times.

“I’m sorry Harry,” She said in a small voice, “I wasn’t really thinking, I was only trying to help.”

“Then tell Madame Pomfrey to let me the fuck out of here!” Harry said in a tight voice, no longer mad at Hermione for her words but still agitated from being cooped up in the bloody hospital wing for so long. It seemed that ever since this summer started he was constantly kept under lock and key. First it was in Grimmauld Place and now here, and frankly, Harry feared he was losing his mind.

In the past week, he had plenty of time to think, being able to do nothing but, and that didn’t fare out too well. He was free, yes, for the first time in his life he was free, free of school, free of the Dursleys and most of all free of the Dark Lord. But this new found freedom was scaring him most of all, it was like being starved and then offered a feast beyond your wildest dreams, and you just sit there at the table, looking at all the bounty you’re offered after so long and having no clue what you wanted to eat first. It felt so overwhelming to him, having all these possibilities that sometimes it literally left him short of breath.

The influx of visitors that were showing up by his bed only made things worse, if possible, because it seemed that everyone’s sole interest these days was what Harry was going to do with his life. The only person so far who hadn’t asked him, nor offered any suggestion was Remus, who could feel the tension and the hurt those questions, caused Harry.

Harry turned his face back to the window, trying to pull himself back from the dangerous thoughts and bit his lip. There was one thing he wanted to know, one thing he really wanted to ask Hermione,

“Hmm, has… Has Ron been ill, or something?” Hermione closed her eyes briefly, cursing Ron under her breath for doing this to them, for forcing her to tell Harry what happened and pick up after the red-head, it wasn’t fair really.

“No, he’s as healthy as an ox, last I heard.” She said in a somewhat strained voice, “Why do you ask?”

“Because I’ve been awake for over a week and he still hasn’t been to see me. Even Molly came.” If Harry didn’t know any better he’d say that the woman was under the ‘Imperious’ curse for the better part of summer, but Remus told him that she turned around, 180 degrees after Harry’s ‘bonding speech’ when she finally realized it was more than just teenage fantasies on Harry’s part and a way to relive lost youth on Remus’ part. Harry was so happy that she’d come back to her senses he was even willing to forgive all her meddling in his love life. Too bad Ron didn’t seem to be caught in all the reconciliation atmosphere that was going around, “Is he mad at me?” He asked sheepishly and Hermione swore that if Ron Weasley ever showed his freckly face in her presence again, she’d hex him so that even his own mother wouldn’t recognize him anymore,

“Oh, Merlin, you really don’t remember anything…” She sighed, and Harry let out a frustrated grunt, no he still could remember anything from the time Dumbledore declared war to the time he woke up in the hospital wing and he really hated that everyone kept reminding him of the fact,

“What? I know he was upset about the whole ‘Weasley way of thinking’ but…”

“You punched him.” Hermione declared and Harry’s jaw dropped,

“I what?” Hermione sighed, well, here goes nothing.

“You two were having another row right before the final battle and you punched him, broke his nose too.” Harry stared at her gaping, he had punched Ron? Ron who was three inches taller than him and at least a stone heavier?

“But… Remus said that Ron was there, at the final battle.”

“He was. He just stood as far as possible from you and left as soon as it was over. He’s gone to America to live with some distant relatives of Molly’s.” Hermione explained, and Harry sagged, looking perplexed,

“Damn, and all this over a measly punch… What did he say anyway?” Hermione closed her eyes briefly, trying to work up the guts to tell Harry, because she knew it would send him over the edge all over again,

“He called Remus a ‘Paedophile cradle robber’ and you his ‘Sex toy’.” She said flatly, and Harry’s eyes bulged, his face turning red,

“WHAT? How the fuck does he even dare… Oh, he’s so bloody lucky he’d not here or I’d punch that ugly face of his again! The bleeding twat, what a nerve!” Hermione sighed and rolled her eyes, it was actually funny, that Harry was spewing the exact same lines as he did at the time of the actual action. Deja-vu had nothing on this!

“It’s a real shame that seven years of friendship ended this way.” Hermione mused, and Harry bristled again,

“If Ron can’t accept who I am and who I chose to be with, than I can’t be friends with him!”

“I know Harry.” Still it was a little sad, but Hermione was fully standing behind Harry on this one, Ron needed to grow up, because no matter what Ron thought Harry should do with his life Harry had every right to be happy, and if what made him happy was an older werewolf and an ex-teacher then Hermione was going to do her damn best to accept it and support her friend. It was really a shame not everyone could do the same really.

“At least he’s still got you as a best friend.” Harry said somewhat bitterly, a part of him was feeling a little miffed that Hermione would chose to stay friends with them both rather than choose sides,

“Well… Not exactly…” Harry watched his best female friend squirming a little in her seat, wondering what sort of stupidity Ron had in store for Hermione,

“Oh, no, did you punch him as well?” He asked with a smirk, and Hermione pulled herself up,

“No! I’m above that sort of thing.” She said with as much dignity she could muster at the face of Harry’s laughter,

“Oh, yeah, I bet Draco thinks so too…”

“If he doesn’t stop annoying me, he might just find himself on the wrong side of my fist again!” Harry was holding his side now, howling with laughter and even Hermione cracked a smile,

“So, why is Ron mad at you for then?” Harry asked again, once he calmed down a bit,

“Because I’m friends with Draco.” Hermione stated matter-of-factly, and Harry frowned at her,

“But you just said you hated Draco.”

“No, I said he annoys me.” Hermione corrected in her condescending tone, the one that both Harry and Ron learned to tune out somewhere during their first year,

“Are you two romantically involved or something?” He asked, somehow getting the feeling this was just another one of those things he couldn’t remember, but Hermione’s reaction was swift and total,

“What? NO!” She cried, and that caused Harry to lift his eyebrow suspiciously, “What ever gave you that idea?”

“Well, you spend most of your time together, you’re constantly at each other’s throats and you don’t shag… Wait, I take it back, you’re not dating, you’re married!” He snorted with laughter at his own joke, causing Hermione to roll her eyes again and look away, doing her best to hide her own smile,

“Oh, ha ha, Mister Potter, very funny.” She snarled at him, as soon as she got herself under check, “Besides, you’re the one to talk.” That halted Harry’s laughter at once, and he turned to his friend, looking quite mad once again,

“Hey, the only reason I’m not having sex is because Madame Pomfrey refuses to discharge me!”

“But will you?” Harry looked at his friend perplexed, was she really asking what he thought she was asking?

“What? Have sex? I should very much hope so.”

“Get married!” Hermione stated firmly and Harry turned his head, suddenly not in the mood for jokes. He took a deep breath and let it out softly

“I don’t know,” He said without looking at her, “It would depend,”

“On what?” Now it was Hermione’s turn to look confused, wasn’t the whole hand-fastening thing just a prequel to him and Remus getting married? Harry shrugged, picking at his blanket absently,

“Remus mostly. I mean, the whole hand-fastening idea was nice and it certainly helped during the war but… I don’t know if…”

“He really wants to marry you.” Harry nodded mutely, his eyes still fixed on the window, even though all he could see was blue sky and the very tops of faraway trees. “He’ll be daft not to.” Harry smiled sadly,

“It’s not that simple, Mione…” He said and returned sad eyes to his friend, “I mean… Yeah we had really great times together, but… We were either both teens or under siege and war, and now…” He sighed, having verbalized the feelings and thoughts that were plaguing him for the last week didn’t help to make them any less intimidating and foreboding than in his head, “Everything has changed. What if we can’t make it under ‘normal circumstances’? What if he decides I was just a nice fuck and now he’ll move on?”

“And what if he decides you’re a keeper?” Harry’s head snapped at the voice of his lover and his cheeks blushed crimson, not realizing that Remus had just walked into the room. As the two stared at each other Hermione got up from her chair and looked at her bare wrist before clasping it with her other hand,

“Blimey, look at the time…” She chirped, feeling so out of place that every atom in her body was screaming for her to leave, “Erm, I’ll, hum, just be on my way then.” She said tightly and practically fled the room, though neither Harry nor Remus paid her any mind. As soon as the door closed behind Hermione’s back, Remus walked over to the place she vacated but instead of taking her chair he opted to sit on the bed next to Harry,

“What’s with the insecurity bout all of a sudden?” He asked in a soft voice, brushing his fingers over Harry’s cheek and neck and smiling a little when his bonded leaned into the touch. Harry gulped, feeling like a complete idiot, in the past week Remus had been nothing but the perfect boyfriend to him, cheering him up when he was down, answering all of his questions, engaging him in heated snogging sessions when Harry got frustrated with boredom, and never pressured Harry with decision making and talk of the future. Which could have been part of the reason Harry was feeling the way he was right now,

“It’s just… I keep thinking, I mean…” The words seem to have escaped him, leaving him vulnerable and exposed and his cheeks blushed again, “We’re great and all, but… I just…” Digging up for all the Gryffindor courage he could muster Harry blurted out, “What if there’s someone out there more suitable for you and you decide to leave me?” The last few words were barely above a whisper because the thought of Remus leaving him was making his body shake and his stomach turn. Remus looked at him thoughtfully, he could see that this was serious and Harry had meant every word of it but it still hurt that Harry had so little trust in him that he would think that Remus would up and leave as soon as the last specs of dust and debris from the war settled,

“Someone more suitable for me? You mean someone who would love me and want to be with me despite the fact that they know what I am? Someone who would go on a limb and turn into an animagus just to keep me company during the full moon? Someone who was willing to wait for me when I asked them to, someone whose bloody animagus is a wolf? You know, I’m sure you’re right, where do you think I should start looking?” He couldn’t really keep the sarcasm out of his voice, the hurt was dictating that scalding tone,

“You’re really happy being with me?” Remus took a deep breath, trying to pull the reins on his feelings,

“I think those eight weeks of coma must have meddled with your brain.” He said airily, but Harry was having none of it,

“Don’t make fun of me! I’m serious!” He cried, “I want to know that you’re not staying with me out of some sort of duty…” Remus looked at his lover, yup definitely bonkers; maybe he should call in Madame Pomfrey and ask her to scan Harry’s brain again,

“Duty?” He said in a pondering voice, wondering how he should breach the subject in a way that would penetrate Harry’s thick skull, “I’m staying with you out of duty? Harry, have you gone completely mental?” Remus was shaking his head, hardly able to wrap his mind around this reversal of roles, “You’re eighteen years old, you’re fucking gorgeous and you’re a hero! People are practically lining up as we speak hoping to score a date with you and you ask me if I’m here because I feel like I owe you something? For the love of Merlin, I should be the one to go down on my knees and thank every known deity that you actually gave me a second glance let alone feel insecure about me being with you… And I would, go down on my knees if I wasn’t scared I won’t be able to get back up again.” He finished with a little wink, breaking the tension. Harry let out a relieved chuckle, feeling all the more silly for ever doubting his wolf,

“Alright, alright, you made your point clear. I’m sorry, I just don’t know what came over me…” Remus leaned in and kissed him softly, letting his lover know there were no hard feelings or anything,

“That’s quite alright, my most beautiful lover, this place can send anyone around the bend, which is why I’ve come to take you home.” Harry’s eyes grew wide with eagerness,

“Really? I’m finally getting out of here?” Remus nodded and Harry practically jumped into his arms, raining kisses all over Remus’ face, as if he was the one who actually made the decision. Remus smiled as Harry pulled back and helped his mated to get off the bed and into some more decent clothes. After that the two made their way out of the infirmary and down the corridor towards Remus’ office, from which they’d be flooing home to Grimmauld Place. Harry was practically skipping beside Remus, thoroughly excited by the prospect of going home and being with Remus once again.

Remus took the floo first, knowing all too well of Harry’s tendency to be a clumsy oaf when it came to travelling by floo, and indeed the boy stumbled into his arms shortly afterwards, looking like he just tipped the floo pot over himself. Remus smiled and dusted him off, while Harry was enjoying the attention. Once Harry was clean enough Remus pulled him through the empty house, that was no longer Headquarters but still retained its fidelius charm (in his final letter Dumbledore explained that he was passing the secret keeper duty to Harry so that the young man could decide whether he wished to keep the place hidden or not. Which Harry did, especially when Remus told him about the bags full of fan-mail that were gathering in a deserted classroom in Hogwarts. The last thing Harry needed was for all these people to actually show up at his doorstep).

After the war was over and the Order of the Phoenix once more disbanded, Molly and her brood left to return to the Burrow, Draco returned to Malfoy manor, having inheriting the place after his father was sent to Azkaban and given the dementor’s kiss. Narcissa was still living in the house, having renounced her husband and claiming to have been following Voldemort out of sheer fear. Remus wasn’t in the least bit surprised to see the lady of Malfoy manor coming out of the whole mess unscathed. More than before Lily’s old nickname for the girl ‘Teflon’ seemed appropriate. Draco also took Neville and Hermione with him to ‘help him sort things out’ but Harry knew it was so that he and Remus would finally have some alone time to cement their relationship and for that he would forever be grateful to Draco.

The house still looked the same as Harry remembered, still dark and foreboding, but this time he smiled slightly as they passed the basement stone kitchen and walked up the narrow and dark panelled staircases, this time he wasn’t coming there as a scared little kid seeking shelter and a safe place in the Order’s HQ, this time he was returning as the rightful owner of the property, to start and build his life from there. No matter how much work would be done in the place Harry knew he didn’t want to live his life in Grimmauld Place, the house just hosted too many unpleasant memories that no number of paint coats could cover. When given into his deepest wishes Harry always envisioned himself and Remus living in a small country cottage, surrounded by fields and greenery, just the two of them in their own small corner of the world. The idea was bringing a smile to his face even now. But for the moment they’d have to settle for Grimmauld Place, at least until they were ready to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives.

Only when the bedroom door closed behind him, did Harry lift his head to look at his man. Remus was peering at him, trying to sense Harry's feelings and level of stress, to come and help as soon as the other man showed signs of breaking down. Harry lowered his head a little, watching Remus from under his fringe,

“Harry, what’s wrong?” Harry started a little, averting his eyes from Remus’. He wasn’t at all sure he liked the way his wolf could read him like an open book, he would have loved to place the blame for that on the bonding charms but he knew all too well by now that he was easy enough to read for anyone who actually bothered to care enough.

“Nothing,” He said briskly, leading the way to the bed and sliding just out of Remus’ reach, “I’m fine. So, about this little shag-marathon we had planned…” He tried his best to purr seductively but even to him it sounded a little weak,

“Harry, talk to me…” Remus was almost pleading, because this evasiveness was scaring him. He knew that Harry was feeling insecure, he knew that Harry was having post-traumatic guilt that was reaching to high heaven but he really didn’t want his mated to turn away from him right now.

“Come on, Remus,” Harry said as he sat heavily on the bed, bringing one foot to cross over the other knee as if he was about to unlace his shoes. “I’ve spent five weeks in a coma, plus one more week recovering from said coma and all I want right now if for you to shag me so hard I won’t even be able to remember my own name.” Remus sighed and carefully sat next to the young man,

“And I promise you that I will, just as soon as you tell me what’s wrong.” Harry blinked several times, and averted his eyes again, biting his pouting lip. Suddenly he didn’t care anymore, he felt so drained of energy, and all he wanted all of a sudden was to tell Remus everything, lean against his love and draw strength from him,

“I’m just… I feel so… empty,” He whispered, his eyes coming to rest on his clasped hands, resting in his lap, “Up here.” He pointed vaguely at his head, knowing that Remus would understand. Remus took a deep breath, relived that Harry was finally broaching the subject that was really bothering him. He laid a soft hand on Harry’s knee, silently encouraging him to keep talking, keep unburdening. “I hated it, the nightmares, the visions, knowing that he could get inside my head whenever he bloody felt like and mess about with me… And I fucking fell for it every single time,“ Harry let out a bitter chuckle, “And now he’s gone, and I’m free, and I can’t feel him there anymore and what had been a constant fixture in my life for four years is gone and… Everything is changing, so fast and I just can’t keep track of it all and I’m scared because I don’t know what to do and everyone expects so much of me and I know I’m bound to disappoint them all and I hate myself for feeling like that and…” Harry closed his eyes and took a deep breath, this was stupid, and he knew it, and any second now Remus would start laughing and saying Harry was being silly. And in a way that would have made him feel better, because then he’d know that all his fears were un-based.

“I know how you feel,” Remus sighed and Harry looked at him for the first time in what felt like ages. His lover’s profile was sad, drawn and not in the least bit amused. “Well, to a certain degree anyway, I was feeling the same way when I finished Hogwarts, all those wonderful opportunities open to me, all the world at my grasp and all I wanted to do was go back and pound the gates until McGonagall would let me back into the tower. But then the full moon came and reminded me of what I am, and in a way that was comforting because I didn’t have to make any more decisions.” He lifted his eyes and gave Harry a lopsided smile, which made Harry pull him into his arms,

“It just feels strange, being here. Not in the bedroom, just here in general… I’m not even sure how to explain myself.”

“It’s perfectly understandable,” Remus concluded and Harry looked at him with avid eyes, eager for another explanation other than he was losing his mind, “You’re suffering from a major tension drop.”

“Is that the medical term?” Harry couldn’t resist asking, because that didn’t sound at all like something his Remus would say. Perhaps living in a house full of teenagers for so long has addled his brain as well…

“Ever since you’ve been eleven years old the driving force in your life was that prophecy, made by a complete quack.” Remus explained patiently, refusing to budge from his point until Harry got it fully, “Or whatever rot Dumbledore shoved your way all these years, whether you knew about it or not. I bet you didn’t expect to be sitting here at all.” Harry shook his head,

“No, not really… I mean… it’s… I never actually thought I’d win in the first place.”

“I know. And you’ve been taking onto yourself all the guilt and responsibility for Voldemort’s actions without anyone there to help you.” Remus sighed and massaged Harry’s knee gently, “I admit I haven’t been completely helpful in that aspect either and I’m sorry.”

“What do you mean?” Harry asked with a frown, because thinking back from his third year, Remus had been the only one who actually did help him.

“When I came back to teach when you were thirteen I did it for Sirius. I needed to know the whole truth, and since he was supposedly coming to hunt you in Hogwarts I figured I should as well. I never, not for one second believed he was guilty. Sirius was a hot-headed and brash man, yes, but he wasn’t reckless. He would never have put his personal vendetta over your welfare, and had he managed to capture Wormtail that day he would have brought him in front of the Aurors but never kill him. Unfortunately, Wormtail knew us better than any of us gave him credit for, which is how he managed to get to Lily and James in the first place.

“After Sirius fell through the veil I was lost again, but this time it was worst, this time I had no one left. At least when Sirius was in Azkaban I knew he was alive and I could take comfort from that even if I couldn’t help him prove his innocence. I came back here to teach, returning to the place that held most of my best memories, together with some of the worst. In a way it was like a self-punishment.” Harry felt his heart squeezing painfully, part of him wanted Remus to say that he came back for him, Harry,

“You didn’t want to come back?” He asked quietly,

“Of course not. I hated being under Dumbledore’s thumb without being able to do a damn thing about it. At some point I was sure he called me back in as some sort of suicide watch. Which was completely futile, since the wolf would never let me take my own life, it’s just another little detail that makes the lycanthropy such a curse.” Harry caressed Remus’ hand, over his knee, offering silent support. Remus caught his hand and entwined their fingers together, squeezing it hard, “But despite myself I started to enjoy being here. All this youthful energy was working wonders for me, but you, my sweet Harry… You just took it all on yourself, took it all in- all the pain, the hate and you let it consume you,” Harry averted his eyes, he hated hearing this, people telling him that it wasn’t his fault, because he never believed any of them, but Remus was the only one he was willing to make an effort for, “And now you did what you were trained to do and still you don’t feel any less guilty.” Remus said wisely and Harry snatched his hand away,

“That’s because it was my fault.” He said bitterly and Remus grasped his hand again, refusing to let Harry slip away from this, yet again. This time Remus would not be responsible for not doing enough for the boy. He grabbed Harry’s chin and forced his head towards himself,

“No, it wasn’t! Everything that happened, from your parents to Sirius was Voldemort’s doing and Voldemort’s fault, not yours. You were just caught in the wrong end of the stupid prophecy.”

“But the prophecy was true!” Harry insisted, his eyes shining with wetness, this was so unfair, the way Remus was shaking the foundations on which his guilt was built upon,

“I don’t believe in prophecies.” Remus said shortly, “They just tell us what we want to hear. Divination is just a way for people to excuse their actions.” Harry was reminded of what Hermione said when Professor Trelawney deemed she saw a Grim in his tea cup. In a way Grims were just like prophecies, they scared you to death by the sight of a big black hound, regardless what the actual hound did.

“That sound like something Hermione would say.” He chuckled softly,

“Then she’d be right!” Remus insisted, “Dumbledore pushed that prophecy on you so that you would do what he wanted you to without the hassle of you questioning his motives!” Harry clenched his jaw,

“Are you saying that Dumbledore used me?” No matter how much he knew and felt like a puppet in Dumbledore’s hands, it felt wrong for Harry to speak ill of the dead. But Remus didn’t seem to be sharing that concern,

“He used us all Harry,” He said gravely, “He just did it in such a way that left us all powerless to resist.” Gods, there was so many regrets in his life, so many of them related to what happened that night in Godric’s Hollow, and all of them linked to Dumbledore,

“But… What about the servant joining his master?” Harry asked, mostly to deflect the conversation away from Dumbledore, because while Remus must have reconciled his issues with the old man, Harry was still having a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that he was no longer alive, no more trips up the spiral staircase to the headmaster’s office, no more lemon drops and offers of tea. No more twinkling, blue eyes and a kind smile that served to speak more loudly for Harry than a lot of other people’s gestures of kindness. “What about Trelawney’s other prophecy? That really happened!” Remus shrugged,

“Again, coincidence.” He sighed, “This one was actually my fault. I should never have gone after Peter on the night of a full moon. But I couldn’t resist the chance to finally learn what happened. I’m the one who made it possible for him to escape.” Remus looked away, tightening his jaw, part of it was Sirius’ fault as well, because he damn well could have waited a couple of days until Remus was no longer under the influence of the full moon, or better yet, he could have contacted Remus and talk to him before hand so that they could devise a plan together.

“Guess we’re both packing a lot of guilt.” Harry’s soft voice was permitting through his thoughts and Remus turned to look at him again.

“Yes, and it’s time we got rid of it,” He said briskly, “Just like we got rid of Voldemort and Wormtail! What do you say we stock up on food and disconnect the floo and just have this time to ourselves. We can rejoin the world back in time for Christmas and hopefully those two weeks will give you ample time to figure out how you want to move on from here, so you won’t be so overwhelmed with the possibilities. What do you say?” Harry’s face broke into a hearty grin,

“Hmm, spending two weeks just with you… How can I say no to that?” Remus rose to his feet and pulled his young lover with him,

“Great, so let’s go to the market and get stocked!”
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A/N: I think that if you were stuck in the Hogwarts infirmary for a whole week, without any recollection of what had happened in the last eight, except for your boyfriend’s account on things you might go nuts as well. Not to mention, Harry isn’t the sanest person to begin with… Oh, Merlin! Did I say that out loud? Meep….

I don’t really have a lot to say about this chapter… I think I’ve explained most of what I wanted, a little Dumbledore bashing never goes amiss. And this is a good opportunity as ever to question some of what JKR wrote, because there were always certain things that bothered me and I never understood how she got away with, such as- why didn’t anyone come for Harry, even muggle social services, and why is it that no one ever questioned Dumbledore’s motives? Did he have them all under Imperious? There are so many more little things like that (practically at every turn) but that’s how she chose to write it and bloody hell but I can’t argue with the second most rich woman in the UK!