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Chapter Nine: Pure and Strong

"Words contain more emotions than anything else."
              
                 

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The walk from the atrium of the ministry to Harry's office took Ron nearly ten minutes. Filled with anxious he opened the door of the auror department. Several aurors were doing some paperwork - the most hated job of being an auror - while others were talking. As Ron walked in, a few of them smiled at him. He returned in kind and approached Dawlish who was sitting with a very silent Neville.

"Hello, Ron. Didn't expect to see you here," Dawlish said with a sympathetic smile. Ron nodded slightly. "Everyone's giving me surprises. First Arthur Weasley and then Harry Potter himself! And now, you, Ron."

"Just trying to keep the thoughts have, Mr Dawlish," Ron said. Dawlish smiled the same smile. "Neville?"

Neville nodded slightly and sighed. A lone tear fell down his pale cheek. "I need to talk," he said tentatively and without waiting for any response, grabbed Ron by his arm and led him out of the office. Several eyes looked at them as they passed by but Ron only felt his eyes widen. He had to find Harry and Neville will not understand that Ginny is still there, with him, in a car.

"Ron, how are you even doing this?!" Neville demanded, leaning against a wall outside the office. Ron sighed to prolong the answer. He never expected Neville to talk to him. "She was my best friend, Ron. She and Luna. . . they were there for me after you three left. . . they helped me build my courage in those darkest times but it was almost always Ginny. . .she was like the sister I never had. . . Ron, how?" Neville asked, almost shaking. Ron hugged him in a brotherly way.

"Mate. You did not just lose a best friend. I lost my s-sister but I know that she lives in our hearts. She always will watch us," Ron consoled though he felt treacherous tears in his ocean eyes. He tried consoling himself as he thought of the Ford Angelia and the dearest person it held in. Neville nodded lowly.

"Harry. . . It looks like he's bottling things up again. Notice the stern and stoic expression he always has? It's like. . . It's like he's wearing a mask. He is not the Harry I knew. Not even after the war was he like this," Neville said, sadly. Ron nodded.

"Agreed. Blimey, he left his kids over at my house for this blasted work! The war, Neville; Ginny was there to pull him out of the great depression. He thinks she isn't there now," Ron said.

"She isn't, is she?" Neville asked, almost comically.

"No but yes. She is with us. With me."

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Five minutes later found Ron standing in front of the canteen door, having just arrived from the auror department. He opened the door and walked in. The raven mess that was Harry's hair was quite clearly visible from the entrance. Ron walked towards him and found Hermione sitting in the opposite chair. However, he could not hear what they were talking. He could only see their lips moving. As he approached Harry's chair, he could very distinctly hear his wife's voice.

"-Can't do that. You will be chucked into azkaban," her tired voice said as she flipped through some papers.

"But they killed my Ginny! I can't liv-" Harry started but interrupted himself. With a swift moment, his holly wand was pointing at Ron's face. Ron narrowed his eyes at the  magical stick. "Ron?" Harry asked and lowered his wand. With a lazy flick, he removed the silencing charm which was around Hermione and him. Ron took a seat beside Hermione. He tried to peep at the paper that Hermione was flipping through but unfortunately, the witch was too observant for her own good. She stuffed the papers into a book and sealed it shut.

"Blimey! What's with the secrecy?" Ron asked.

"What's with you coming here? I thought I told you to take care of James, Ron!" Hermione demanded.

"Believe Ron when he says Jamie is at good hands. Answer my question," Ron replied back with an unwavering voice.

"Auror stuff," Harry muttered.

"Then tell me. I am an auror too and you are no higher than I am, mate!" Ron retorted.

"It is between us and the auror department, Ron. The Magical Law Enforcement sent me to represent us," Hermione tried.

"I am an auror, too, Hermione," Ron reasoned. Hermione opened her mouth to reply but Harry cut her off.

"Leave it alone when I tell you to, Ron!" Harry shouted. Ron stood up.

"Really?! Is this what Ginny meant to you? You aren't, in the least bit, impacted by her nature or her death!" Ron protested. Harry glared at him with fury evident in his emerald eyes.

"You don't know what it's like to lose the love of your life," Harry said, trying to keep his rage in. Ron knew just how Harry will take the letter seriously and so he tried just that.

"Yes I don't know how it feels!" Ron spat. Hermione opened her mouth to protest but Ron held his hand up to stop her. Being the smart witch that she was, she immediately put up a notice-me-not charm and a silencing one. "But do you know how it feels to lose a sister?" Ron asked.

"You know very well I don't, Ron! What's your problem now? Go ahead and tell that!" Harry retorted. Ron crossed his hands over his chest as a familiar déjà vu sat in his heart.

"You, Harry! You are deserting James and Albus! You are simply fading away just because you are too fallen in your depression of losing close ones! Who the ruddy hell will take care of James and Albus?! Ginny?!" Ron shouted. "Do you know what Ginny wanted you to do? Hell, do you even know her?! Because I am pretty sure she wouldn't want her husband to go dark and become a killer. I am pretty sure that she desires him to raise their children wisely but is this how you remember her? By leaving your children to fade away in the background while you fade away in front of us and turn dar-" Ron was interrupted by Harry shouting.

"Enough! I did not leave my children alo-"

"James doesn't even want to see you just because his daddy lied to him! Did you know that, Harry?" Ron challenged. "Of course you don't. That's because you have left your children to-"

"Ronald Weasley!" This time it was Hermione. He turned and looked at her. Silent tears were running down her chiseled face and her nose was pretty red. "What-"

"What! Hermione, I found this letter in the tales of Beedle The Bard. I was about to read Jamie Babbity Rabbity when this parchment fell out of it," Ron handed the book to Harry. With furrowed eyebrows, he opened the book and flipped through it.

"Where is it?" Harry asked, his voice desperate.

"Err, Babbity Rabbity?" Ron asked confused. He was sure that he placed it in his favourite chapter. Harry flipped more pages and finally started reading something - probably the letter - with misty eyes. Soon a silent tear rolled down his pale face and his hands started shaking. He closed his eyes and nodded, giving the book to Ron. He took the parchment from the book and left without a word. Hermione looked confused and Ron tried his best to keep his face straight.

"What was there in it?" she asked cautiously. Ron shrugged.

"No idea," he lied and left the same way as Harry did to the flying Ford Angelia and his dear sister and godson.

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Ron looked out of the window of his now invisible flying car as he soared through the clear skies, deep in thought. Ginny was controlling the car and he was just seated at the driver's seat in case James woke up. After retelling the events at the canteen of the ministry, Ginny suggested she knew where Harry would go and that was exactly where they were currently flying to.

As they neared the destination, Ron began to see dark clouds beginning to form in the otherwise clear skies. The wind suddenly picked up it's speed, almost tumbling the car over due to turbulence looked at Ginny who was slowly ruffling James' hair.

"Blimey, that turbulence! Should I drive?" he asked, making sure to keep his voice down so as to not wake James. Ginny shook her head.

"I can take care of it."

"Okay."

The drive continued for five more minutes before Ron recognized the familiar setting of Godric's Hollow. He felt shivers run up his body as they passed by the eerie looking Potter Cottage at Godric's Hollow. He now understood where Ginny was taking him.

The sound of the gate creaking made Ron gulp. He never really wanted to revisit this place. Ron looked out of the window and saw several headstones. The path was filled with dust and leaves and he could, with squinted eyes, spot footsteps on the slightly wet mud. The car soared for a while before it came to a stop and Ron saw the familiar figure of Harry standing in front of Ginny's supposedly resting place. Ron turned to Ginny and found her looking at Harry too, so he turned his gaze back to his best mate.

"Won't we be seen?" Ron hissed.

"I have the car under control, Ron," Ginny whispered back. Ron nodded in acknowledgement. He strained his ears and the car lowered down to some extent. He could hear Harry sniffling.

"-know. You knew this didn't you? You, smart witch," Harry chuckled a watery chuckle. "I never really got the chance to talk to you because of the kids. I think I should make full use of this. Ginny, I shouldn't have listened to you. It's all my fault and I know you would say otherwise. I have been too. . .lost in sorrow, I think. Ron was right all along. I did not tend to our children. I've been depressed with no-" Harry broke into sobs and fell down on his knees. Ron would have opened the door to help him but he realized that he was at least five feet above the ground. He looked at Ginny, silently pleading her to take the car away from this melancholic place but he found silent tears running down her face. "You were there with me. You were there with me when the war finished. You helped me out of the self created traumatic pit but now, I am all alone, left in this cruel world without love. I promise, Ginny, to never betray you, even in death. I know this was never our wedding vow but now I do. I will raise our children like Mrs Weasley and Mr Weasley did. They will never feel alone or sad and I give my word for that," Harry said. He stood up and tossed the letter in the air. As it slowly descended, it caught fire, much to the surprise of Ron. Ashes of the parchment were now scattered on the ground. Harry rubbed his tears on his sleeve and suddenly looked up. His eyes were red though Ron could spot a glint of determination in it. Ron almost thought that Harry could see Ginny who was looking out of the back window. "I love you, Ginny."

"I love you too, Harry," Ginny whispered. As if Harry could hear her he smiled at her. Ron was startled by what came next.

"Forever and always," this was not just said by Ginny. Ron was deeply surprised to hear the pair of stranded lovers utter their feelings to each other in unison when one was not even visible to the other. He would never see a love as pure as this and Ron knew that hiraeth is no small word. It was word of deep meaning and indescribable emotions. There was not a single dry blue eye after witnessing this phenomenon and Ron so desperately tried to keep the tears to himself as his journey to his house neared.

That's the end of this rather long chapter. I've been meaning to write this scene for ages. Finally got it out.

Thank you for reading!
Miyoko x