I have to tell you that this is so sad. I can feel Harry's hurt and it's breaking my heart.
When Hermione gets something in her head, it's difficult to move her or get her to listen. She's so used to being right all the time, she can't conceive of the possibility that she might be wrong. It was a hard lesson for her to learn during the Horcrux hunt.
Gut instinct told Harry to look at Hogwarts and to pursue the Deathly Hallows, but Hermione was convinced the Hallows didn't exist and if there was something at Hogwarts, Dumbledore would have known. Well...she was wrong. She's wrong again and I think she finally realises it. Too late, princess. You've done your damage and it's going to take and act of God and Nature to fix it.
The Weasleys--I'm so disappointed in them. They call themselves Harry's family, but ran him down in the media at every opportunity. They're paying the price too.
Dumbledore--what an arrogant fool! He still thinks he can march up to Harry and make him do his bidding. "What we require of him." I can imagine Harry's answer to that--something involving the back of two fingers in a V formation? I had to applaud Minerva for bringing the old goat back to reality. And Kudos to Ginny for telling them all off, too.
Can I just say I love Mad-eye Moody?
So now Harry's going to have a life--well, it appears that way anyway. Good for him. Brooding never has and never will do him any good. He needs to have some fun; it might help him heal, but I hope Harry keeps in touch with Remus. He's the only one who didn't betray him.
Something about the last paragraph of this chapter intrigued me--the box containing the picture, the journals, and the black box. Hmmm...I wonder what that's all about.
Great job! Happy holidays!
SD
Author's response
Isn't it funny though? Human nature? We put so much trust in the people around us, giving them so much power to hurt us at every turn. Most people don't abuse this power, and some do it accidentally. This is just a way of doing it intentionally in as hurtful a way as possible.
Harry, who has never known true love, is once again justified in his hiding from the world his true self. He's finally at an age where he no longer has to stay in a bad situation.
People who should have had his best intentions at heart have trampled on everything that he held dear. It's difficult to come back from that.
I also intentionally left the end as an image being tucked away, how that'll affect things remains to be seen.
Thanks for reviewing! Happy holidays!