Harry Potter and his Life After Hogwarts

[0612]

«Harry Potter - Life After Hogwarts»

=Prologue=
This FanFic is set after Harry leaves Hogwarts. To fully understand this FanFic, you would need to have read Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Also, if you do not own HP:HBP and are afraid of spoilers ;D, this FanFic isn't for you. :P

For those guys who were around about a year ago, you'd know that I wrote a FanFic along these lines too... But I pretty much blew that one, so here's another try. ;D

BTW, Pig, I really love Red Ruby, so don't mind me if I slipped a little bit of it into my story.

Note: I am trying to follow JK Rowling's style as much as possible, so don't blame me if you feel *very* confused at the beginning. :P ;D

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

«Chapter I»
The Beginning of the Beginning

A huge eagle circled the sky as a tall, red-haired teenage boy cheered Harry on, who had his face screwed up in concentration. There was a loud crack, and a handsome lion was standing exactly where Harry was standing.

Ron gave a loud whoop as the eagle overhead swooped down and landed in front of the lion. There was another crack, and a teenage female with bushy hair erupted from the ground where the eagle was standing a moment ago. She too, was applauding Harry.

The scene faded away into blackness. For a moment, everything was black. Then, Harry felt his eyes open.

Harry Potter, 18, was sleeping on a couch in a darkened house. Loud snores, undoubtedly produced by the red-haired Ronald Weasley, filled the room. Even as Harry lay there, smiling slightly, he felt suddenly thirsty and sat up, looking around, before making his way to the kitchen.

This house was in fact a wrecked one, which explains why Harry, Ron and Hermione were all sleeping in the living room. The only two rooms in the house that were left intact were the hall and the kitchen. The rest of this house was destroyed... by Lord Voldemort.

Harry set down his glass of water a little harder than he intended to. In fact, Lord Voldemort lost his powers seventeen years ago under this very roof... The Potters' residence in Godric's Hollow.

Harry sat down on a chair as he thought about the dream he had earlier. It did really happen a few weeks ago, at the Ministry of Magic. Harry, Ron and Hermione were learning Animagi. Hermione could turn into an eagle, while Harry could turn into a lion. Ron, on the other hand, could turn into a bat.

The lights flared on suddenly and Harry found a wand pointing at his throat.

How is it?

[Ginny Weasly]

*claps* So far so good, 0612!

[0612]

Yay! But my suspense is a little lame...

"Hermione!"

She sighed and lowered her wand.

"What's up with you?" Harry asked irritably. "You're getting as paranoid as Mad-Eye Moody."

"Yeah, well... I'm scared, you know."

"Of what? Ron snoring?"

"Look, we destroyed his horcruxes, he'll be coming to get us any time!"

"So you're worried of being murdered in bed? Well... show some faith in your own intruder alarms, would you?"

Hermione stared at him, speechless.

"For goodness sake, what you need right now is some sleep." With that, Harry gave Hermione a pat on the back and left the kitchen.

Voldemort had six horcruxes. Of these six, five have already been destroyed. These were: Tom Riddle's diary, his ring, the one in the locket, the one in Helga Hufflepuff's cup and the snake Nagini.

The last horcrux was the most mysterious of all. Nobody knew anything about it... What it is, or where it is... Or how the hell he's ever going to lay his hands on it.

Harry fell asleep almost immediately upon lying down on the couch.

****

A loud bang rocked the room and Harry leapt off his couch in fright, suddenly wide awake. Looking around, Ron and Hermione were too sitting up with facial expressions similar to his.

"Ron, is that your idea of an alarm clock?" Harry asked, scratching his head.

"You were the one who wanted us awake at six."

Harry whacked his face with his palm before saying, "Fine... Go brush your teeth and we'll be off."

There were only two bathrooms in the house, so Ron decided to wait.

Running over all his teeth with his toothbrush, Harry was thinking about their next destination. They were going to Hogwarts. It turned out the Dumbledore really died, but had decided to return as a ghost. Harry needed his advice and help.

Setting his toothbrush back, Harry stepped out of the bathroom, allowing Ron to slip past him and enter.

****

The trio stepped out into the front lawns of Godric's Hollow and turned a little to see two tombstones. He walked over and knelt down in front of them, speaking in a whisper hardly louder than the whistling wind.

"Mom, Dad... Ron, Hermione and I are going to Hogwarts."

There was a little silence as he watched the two tombstones before he got up to his feet and rejoined his two friends.

Counting to three, all of them spun lightly on the spot. There were loud cracks as they disapparated.

****

They apparated into Hogsmeade and began to make their way against the autumn wind towards the school.

I can't come on during the weekend, as usual... Then the 26ths is a holiday too, so I can't come on either... Which means my next post will be on the 27th.

[pig]

 this is realy  gd and i dont mind at alll

[0612]

I won't be here for two days, so I'll post two days' worth

They found themselves outside Dumbledore's office after a surprisingly short amount of time. Harry provided the stone gargoyle with the password ("Lime Coke" ;D) and ascended the steps to Dumbledore's office.

Harry knocked thrice on the door and pushed it open. There, sitting on the headmaster's seat was Dumbledore, pearly white and transparent, hardly visible through the sunlight streaming in through the windows.

"Morning, Harry, Mr Weasley, Miss Granger."

Harry returned the greeting and sat down across Dumbledore.

"I heard that you have destroyed another Horcrux a few nights ago?" Dumbledore enquired, fixing Harry with a penetrating stare, though his smile was evident under that transparent moustache.

"Yes, sir." Harry lifted Helga Hufflepuff's cup out of his pocket and placed it gingerly in front of Dumbledore.

Dumbledore's smile merely widened as, waving his transparent hand, the cup soared through the air and landed inside a glass-fronted cabinet, alongside Salazar Slytherin's locket and Godric Gryffindor's sword.

"I believe the purpose of visiting me today is for help on the last Horcrux?" Dumbledore asked, once again fixing Harry with his penetrating stare.

"Yes, sir."

"There is a legend of a demon who resides in a ruby with the power to end the world. This legend also mentions the Matanat family, who were destinied to keep the stone away from the demon, who attempts to break free every century."

"The legend depicts a girl, who came across the ruby where the demon was sealed, in a shop. She consequently got possessed by the demon, and was liberated with the help of Kenka Lee Matanat, who was one of the stone's protectors."

There was a slightly stunned silence, which was broken by Ron.

"But... how's that supposed to help us?"

"From what I could gather," continued Dumbledore as though there was no interruption, "this tale was very familiar to Lord Voldemort. It would not be surprising if he, too, used a Red Ruby as a Horcrux, turned it into a necklace, and left it in a store."

Harry and Ron agreed that that was a good idea, but Hermione spotted a loophole.

"But that's risky... I mean, the Horcrux could be destroyed."

Dumbledore smiled. "You are indeed the brightest witch I ever met."

Her face turned a brillant shade of maroon.

"Do not forget that Lord Voldemort thinks he has six Horcruxes. In his view, losing one wouldn't matter. And anyway, he probably wanted it in muggle hands, since a muggle accident can hardly destroy a gemstone, can it?"

Hermione nodded.

Each 'page' or daily instalment is about 2000 characters ;D

[0612]

***

The trio walked down the lanes of Hogsmeade, all lost in their own thoughts. It felt a lot colder than their trip here.

Now they knew the Horcrux was a Red Ruby, but thinking about it now, how on Earth were they going to find the correct Muggle shop with the Red Ruby?

They walked past the Hog's Head, watching the severed boar's head creak in the wind. Just then, Harry felt something hard and wet hitting him squarely in the head.

"Ow! It's raining."

"The raindrops are a little too big to be rain... Ow... It's pummelling my head."

"It's hail!" Hermione said, throwing her hands over her head. "Autumn is ending! It's a lot colder already!"

The hail got thicker. Harry, Ron and Hermione decided to take shelter when the sound of the hail hammerring on their skulls started to sound like a drumroll.

There was an old shop that had a sign with missing words, but Harry could make out the phrase "Precious Stones". Hermione pushed the door open and led the way into the shop.

Behind the counter on a rocking chair was an old woman with papery skin. The shop was lined with various gemstones, but one particular one caught the attention of Harry, Ron and Hermione, all at the same time.

It was a magnificent Red Ruby. Threaded through it was a glittering gold chain. The ruby appeared to enmate a faint glow.

"See anything you like, my dears?" the old woman asked in a croaky voice.

"N... Nothing..." Hermione muttered.

"What's up with you?" Ron asked in concern.

Hermione turned her back on the old lady before answering. "This is exactly how the legend of the Red Ruby starts! A girl enters a shop, sees a Red Ruby and buys it!"

Ron's mouth fell open.

"No harm seeing if this is it, is there?" Harry asked.

"The only way is to perform Scarpin's Revealaspell... But it's impolite to do spells on people's stuff!" Hermione snapped.

"Fine. We'll buy it, then." Turning to the old lady and holding up the Ruby so she could see. "How much is this?"

"16 Galleons" (That's roughly the equivalent of £50)

Ron and Hermione looked at Harry, half-smiling. Harry, on the other hand, looked as though he seriously regretted the choice.

Whoops! I don't have three days' worth (don't forget we have to add in today's)... That's all I have for the moment. Enjoy and let me hear your comments!

[Ginny Weasly]

*claps* Good, 0612.

[pig]

very good *claps and cheers and chants more more more!!! lol* i realy like how you have used the idea of my story as a legend  good job  ;D

[0612]

>> very good *claps and cheers and chants more more more!!! lol* i realy like how you have used the idea of my story as a legend  good job 
Oh, yeah... I don't have enough ideas, that's why I have to do that ;D

>> *claps* Good, 0612.
Thanks!

They left the shop with the necklace. Harry had little choice under the stares of the shopkeeper and his two friends. The hail had now thinned and they made it into the Hog's Head.

Harry had found the tall and thin barman of the Hog's Head familiar, and now he knew why. This barman was Aberforth Dumbledore, the brother of Albus Dumbledore.

Beside him, Ron was staring at the counter. Hermione, on the other hand, was looking at Ron. She knew too well what Ron was thinking.

"Firewhisky?" she asked shrewedly.

Ron sighed. "You know me too well."

"Yeah... That's probably why you chose me for a girlfriend."

Harry raised his brows. "Oooh... Why wasn't I informed?"

"Oh... So it wasn't obvious enough?" Hermione asked as the barman brought three glasses of firewhisky, which were smoking and bubbling.

Ron turned a little red, said nothing except "Cheers" and downed his entire glass of firewhisky at one go.

Hermione pulled the Red Ruby out of her pocket. "We've got more to do." she declared, going as red as Ron.

"Specialis Revelio"

Nothing happened.

"So I wasted 16 galleons?" Harry asked.

*

The Red Ruby was apparently not the Horcrux after all. Harry had given the Ruby to Hermione, who was now wearing it around her neck night and day.

Harry stepped into his darkened house at Godric's Hollow. He saw a female figure sitting on the couch he usually slept on. Assuming that that was Hermione, he turned to look for Ron.

Ron was at the balcony, kissing Hermione...

Then who's that sitting on my couch? Harry thought.

"Lumos"

The room lit up and Harry saw the silouhette of Ginny Weasley leap up and look at him. Over at the balcony, Ron and Hermione broke apart.

Then suddenly, all Harry could see was a mass of red hair in front of his face, and he felt lips lock onto his as he picked up a trace of the now-very-familiar flowery scent of Ginny.

His wand clattered to the floor.

Gotta post another page to make up for the missing day...

[0612]

Note: The contents of this particular post isn't for kids :P

Something was tickling Harry's nostrils. He opened his eyes wearily to find a red-haired head lying on his chest, its long hair fluttering into his face.

He swept the hair out of his face and consulted his watch. It was 4.30 AM. Cuddling Ginny a little closer, he closed his eyes and slept on.

He remembered two months ago, when he, Ron, Hermione and Ginny went to destroy Lord Voldemort's horcrux in the locket.

Harry remembered opening the locket. A serpent had emerged from its depths and attempted to sink its fangs into Harry. Ron and Hermione had stood frozen, but Ginny pulled off a Bat Bogey charm, causing the snake to free Harry.

It diverted its attention to Ginny instead. Before anyone could react, it had plunged its fangs underneath her skin.

Harry remembered shouting "Evanesco" and vanishing the snake, but he could not reverse the damage. The snake's venom had entered her bloodstream.

Even Ginny knew she was dying, and the last words she could manage to say was "I love you, Harry."

He remembered holding her up, looking around desperately for a cure. Then he spotted it: a dead goat lying on its side.

Almost immediately, he heard Snape's voice ringing in his ears: "A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat, which would save you from most poisons."

Harry lowered Ginny back onto the ground, ran over to the goat and muttered "Diffindo". Its side split open at once.

Harry poked his wand into the slit and prayed hard for a moment before saying "Accio Bezoars!".

A number of shrivelled kidney-like stones flew out of the slit and into Harry's palm.

He walked back to Ginny, picked out a bezoar and pushed it down Ginny's throat.

Ginny shuddered suddenly, turned to her side, and vomited all over the floor. She had been sent to St Mungo's ever since, and the Horcrux was destroyed.

Harry and Ginny had saved each others' lives and, even though they had agreed to break up at the end of Harry's sixth year, they had gotten together again.

[Ginny Weasly]

Nice, your a good writer.

[0612]

Thanks! Since I'm here I'll just post another page ;D

Harry opened his eyes again. Dazzling sunlight was streaming in from the open windows. Ginny was no longer beside him.

He looked at his watch. It was 8am. He sat up on the couch and watched as Ginny brought him a breakfast tray.

"Thanks."

She shook her head and stared at Harry, who understood what she meant immediately. She wanted Harry to brush his teeth first.

He directed his wand at his mouth.

"Scourgify... Evanesco."

His mouth filled with soap bubbles and disappeared in a moment.

Ginny shook her head, half-exasperated, half-amused as she placed the tray across his knees, kissed him on the cheek and sat diwn to watch him eat.

Hermione walked out from the other half of living room where she and Ron were sleeping, the Red Ruby still slung round her neck.

Harry took a gobble of the scrambled egg on his tray, looking up at Hermione, but before he could say anything, there was a loud crash. Three hooded death eaters charged into the room.

Severus Snape's voice issued from under one hood. "Potter, Potter, Potter... Hiding in your pathetic Mudblood mother's home?"

"What about you, coward?" Harry retorted. This was their third encounter, their last two ended with Snape fleeing. "Coming in with only two henchmen? Bet you you're gonna go running with your tail between your legs in ten minutes."

Snape didn't say anything. He simply fired a killing curse over to Harry, who jumped off the couch as it burst into flame.

Hermione screamed "Petrificus Totalus!", slashing her wand in front of her and causing what looked like a wave of red light to rush forwards.

Harry heard Snape yell "Protego!".

As a result the two other Death Eaters fell, rigid as waxwork, onto the ground.

Harry stifled a chuckle. "Voldemort didn't teach you guys shield charms?"

Snape pointed his wand at Harry, but Hermione didn't give him a chance to attack.

Harry heard her bellow "Avada Kedavra!"

Here's another bit of suspense... Better leave it overnight for people to start craving :P

[0612]

Everybody stared. Nobody believed Hermione would use a killing curse.

Everyone watched the ball of green light fly towards and collide with Snape, who was blasted off his feet and he crash into the wall opposite.

Everybody looked back at Hermione. It was only then did Harry realise there was something wrong.

Hermione's pupils were blood red, her teeth bared and her breathing was ragged. Her fist was clenched tightly on her wand, which was still pointing at the limp form of Snape.

Harry's sharp eyes noticed the Ruby on her neck glowing red. He knew it was the cause, and muttered "Diffindo."

The chain broke and the necklace fell off Hermione and onto the floor. It stopped glowing immediately.

Hermione's pupils returned to its usual chocolate brown and she lowered her wand slowly. The expression of rage on her face was replaced by an expression of utmost horror.

"What have I done?" she asked in a whisper.

Harry shook his head and walked towards the Red Ruby.

"There's something funny about this." Harry said, staring at the Ruby.

"But... I did Scarpin's Revealaspell on it already... If something was wrong, I'd be able to tell!"

"That makes it even fishier... Only a powerful wizard like Voldemort can get round Scarpin."

"We should bring this to Dumbledore."

***

They were back in Dumbledore's study a few hours later. Dumbledore closely examined the Ruby, and nodded.

"This looks like a Horcrux." Dumbledore declared. Harry could see him frowning. "But this is not a Horcrux..."

Dumbledore frowned even harder. "I can only conclude that this Horcrux is not whole."

"What? Does it mean like... The other half is in a Blue Sapphire or something?" Ron asked, referring to the sequel to the legend of the Red Ruby, which was concocted recently by a witch called Sarah Eades. (;D)

Dumbledore bowed his head. "It might be possible. But we know one thing: For a Horcrux to function, it must be whole. This means that this Horcrux is broken physically, but is still magically bonded with the other piece so that it can function."

"If this theory holds true, we should be able to find the other piece from this Red Ruby itself."

[pig]

really good story.  great suspense.

noticed you mentioned me lol i was cracking up .

thanks for the free advertising lol  ;D

[0612]

>> really good story.  great suspense.
Thanks... And I thought it was lame... :P

>> noticed you mentioned me lol i was cracking up .
I was gonna say hope you don't mind until I saw your next line :P

UH OH!!! I ran dry!!! Bear with me for a few days please until I cook up more of the story! :P