If All Hope Were Lost

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Chapter 1

It was a warm early summer afternoon, and the Hogwarts grounds were quite inviting with the large trees offering a large amount of shade over much of the vast grounds. Contrary to what would be expected though, the grounds were almost utterly abandoned of students and teachers alike, not even Hagrid could be seen walking along the grounds or his quaint hut.

If one were to look carefully through the windows of the massive castle though, they could see the slight form of one black robe clad student sitting on the far side of a large lake with their knees drawn up to their chest, looking deep into the lake, but not quite seeing it.

As the figure sat quietly, two others joined it, also clad in black robes. After what seemed like a short conversation, the sitting student got to its feet and walked between the other students back toward the castle slowly, all three apparently lost in their own thoughts. As they drew closer to the castles main doors, their features could be easily identified.

The one on the left was a lanky boy with bright red hair and a grim expression on his pale face. He stood a full head over the student on the right, who was a pretty girl with slightly bushy brown hair.

The girl also had a pretty tense expression on her face and slightly swollen eyes as though she had been crying not long before. The one in between the others though had an expression on her face that was unreadable. She was quite a bit shorter than either of the others and had bright auburn hair that hung to her waist in a loose ponytail and she looked quite stunning even though she had obviously not put much effort into her appearance at all.

As they drew even with the great stone steps that led to the oak front doors, their conversation could be heard even though they were speaking quietly.

"What do you think it is going to be like Hermione?" asked the boy to the bushy haired girl.

"I don't know Ron, probably pretty grand, with lots of people and reporters. I bet just about every wizard and witch in any place of power will be there too." Hermione said in answer.

The girl in the middle just grunted before speaking herself "Knowing Fudge, it will probably be a circus, complete with him saying 'I knew all along that he was special, and I never had any doubts as to his abilities or power' yet, he is willing to give up way to easily in order to get his way, killing two birds with one stone, so to say." She said huffily while keeping her eyes locked straight ahead.

The other two met each others eyes over her head before the boy spoke again, "Gin, I know how upset you are, but it's been three months, it's time to let go, no matter how difficult it is, you need to move on, he wouldn't want you to be miserable at his expense." He said quietly to the small girl beside him.

Suddenly, she spun around to face him, her dark eyes alive with a bright fire that caused the much larger boy to falter under their gaze.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S TIME TO LET GO!!!!!!! TO MOVE ON!!!!!!" she screamed before quieting her voice only slightly "I refuse to believe that he is dead Ron, and you should too, both of you" she said spinning around to face the other girl momentarily before spinning back on the boy. "He has been your best friend for five years Ron, and you too Hermione. I can't believe that after all you three have been through that you would believe that he would be gone, you know as well as I do that he is one of the most powerful wizards of all time, if not the most powerful. He's not like me and you, he's special and you know it. It would take more than what he's been through for him to really be gone, no matter what Fudge says. And before you bring it up, I'm not just saying this because I have been a fan of his for my entire life, or because he is my boyfriend, I am saying this because it is true, and even though you might not like to admit it, you believe it is true too, so stop trying to tell me otherwise. I going to go get dressed" she finished, her face flushed and tears running unnoticed down her freckled cheeks before she pulled the massive doors open and walking hastily into the massive entry hall, leaving her companions behind her in bewilderment.

"She's right you know, about everything" said Ron miserably with his eyes downcast, Hermione nodding in agreement before the two followed Ginny into the deserted entry hall and up the stairs toward Gryffindor Tower to change cloths themselves before the service started. What they didn't notice though was the man watching them from one of the upper stories. He had a sad expression in his blue eyes, and his face was tight and tired, and despite the wrinkles around his eyes that showed he was used to smiling, his face was void of any happy emotion and his eyes were unnaturally dull behind his half moon spectacles as he closed the curtains and made his way down the stairs in his office and toward the great hall to prepare for the moment he had wished he would never have to see during his lifetime, the memorial service for Harry Potter.

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An hour later, Ron met Ginny and Hermione in the common room of Gryffindor tower, where the rest of their house had gathered and were making their way toward the portrait hole.

Walking toward his sister and best friend, Ron noticed that Ginny had plastered the indifferent expression back across her young face. Sighing inwardly, Ron thought about how she had opened up earlier, the first time she had done so for the past three months. Contrary to what she seemed to think most of the time, he really did care for her and the past months she had really worried him.

At first, he had flat out refused to say it was alright with him if his best friend dated his sister, but that didn't stop them, now did it he reminded himself as he thought back to the misfortunate accident he had had by walking into the empty charms corridor that night only about three weeks into the term to find his baby sister and best friend holding each other close and dancing to a melody heard only in their ears, completely oblivious to the world around him, that was until he had tripped over his own two feet and went sprawling across the floor of the almost empty hallway in his shock.

The happy couple sprang apart instantly and stood open mouthed looking at the sight that was on the floor before him for a few moments before they burst out laughing. Ron had been furious at the pair, how could they go behind his back and date after he had expressly told them he didn't approve of it, and they were laughing at him as he lay there on the floor, they didn't even ask him if he was alright, they just started laughing.

After a short time though, Harry had come over to him and offered him a hand and grudgingly, Ron took it and Harry pulled him to his feet, still trying his hardest not to laugh anymore. As Ron thought back on that day, he realized he must have looked quite hilarious just lying sprawled out in the middle of the corridor like that, and he didn't blame them for laughing at all. Once he was safely back on his feet, Ginny had come up beside Harry and he put his arm over her shoulder protectively before any of them spoke.

"What might I ask is going on here!" he had demanded of his best friend and little sister.

"Well, we were dancing," answered Ginny simply, as though that were the most obvious answer in the world.

"I could see that, but you two, together? I thought we understood each other on this one, Harry!"

"We are in perfect understanding, Ron, you don't approve of your baby sister dating, no matter who she dates, but we decided to follow our own hearts on this one, and they led us to this hallway tonight to dance."

"Honestly Ron, you're worse than Fred and George, when they found out, they congratulated us and said they were happy I found someone they could trust. Besides, would you prefer it if I dated someone you didn't know, or better yet, how about Neville or Seamus, or there's always boys from other houses, you know, Malfoy is kind of a dish," she said, with a mischievous grin on her face.

At her last statement though, both of the boys stared at her in open mouthed shock before Ron gathered his wits enough to speak again.

"No, you misunderstood me Gin, I am happy you and Harry are together, it will just take some getting used to, that's all" he said hastily, trying his hardest to back peddle over his previous statement as quickly as possible.

"I'll just leave you two now, but don't be too long, it's almost curfew and I will not stand for Harry corrupting you Gin and causing you to break the rules, for all you know, you could end up in the forbidden forest with Aragog. I'll see you in a bit" he concluded before turning on his heel and making for the end of the hallway as quick as possible, but before he was out of earshot, he heard Harry speak to Ginny again.

"You wouldn't really date any of those other guys, would you Ginny, not that I have anything against Neville and Seamus, but honestly, you think Malfoy is dishy?" he asked incredulously. Ron had to speed up to get out of ear shot so that he didn't bust out laughing, so he wasn't able to hear his sisters response, not that he really wanted to though.

As he was lost in the memory of happier times, he didn't notice that Hermione and Ginny had reached him until Hermione spoke his name.

"Ron, are you ready to go, everyone else has left" she said gently.

Startled back into the present, Ron looked over to his sister and saw that her head was down and she appeared lost in her own thoughts about happier times. 'She's too young to have to go through this,' he thought angrily to himself, 'why must she be forced to find someone who she cares about and cares about her in return only to have him tragically pulled from her life forever?

Damn you, Voldemort! What right do you have to do this to such an innocent girl!' but then he thought again 'What right do you have to do this to any of us, none of us deserve this, least of all Harry.' He thought miserably before putting on a brave face for his sister and best friends' sake and nodded his head, indicating that he was indeed ready to go, in one sense of the word, he was dressed, but he was far from ready to have to go to a memorial service for his best friend.

They then made their way out the portrait hole, and following a few other students that had not already left, made their way toward the entrance hall, meeting up with several other students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff on the way.

As they descended the stairs into the entry hall, they noticed that almost the entire school was already there waiting to be allowed to enter the great hall. No one was surprised that although the memorial service was not an official function of the school, every student had decided to attend, including the whole of Slytherin house, the last of which were making their way up from the dungeon at that very moment. Everyone of them owed their lives to Harry, if it hadn't been for him, the attack would have resulted in most of their deaths.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny settled themselves against a far wall and waited patiently in silence to be allowed to enter. As they waited, they all noticed the pale face and white blonde hair of a Slytherin student get their attention, and he, noticing their looks, inclined his head slightly toward them, his face breaking into a sad smile, not his traditional smirk, but a true smile.

'Things have defiantly changed' thought Ron grimly, returning the gesture to the Slytherin for a moment before their attention was taken to the opening of the doors to the great hall, revealing the form of Professor McGonagall as she pulled the doors silently shut behind her.

She was dressed in a set of plain black robes, and the expression on her face was one of utter emotional pain and loss. As she entered the entrance hall, the few people who had been whispering to one another stopped immediately and gave the deputy headmistress their undivided attention.

It was so unnaturally silent in the room, that the professors' voice rang through the hall and was easily heard by all present as she spoke.

"Students, I am pleased to see that all of you decided to attend on this sad day. In just a moment, you will be permitted to enter, but I must warn you that due to the large number of guests, most of you will be required to stand at the back of the hall. Many of your families are present and you are welcome to join them if the room allows for it. If none of you have any questions, then please follow me." She instructed in a level voice, like she was trying her hardest not to break down in front of her students.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny found Fred and George and followed the twins into the great hall. The first thing that struck Hermione was just how many people were there. The four house tables and the head table were missing, replaced instead by what seemed like thousands of chairs in neat rows across the hall, with several isles running between them.

Hermione's eyes then traveled up toward the front of the hall where a small stage had been erected. There were several bright bouquets of flowers on the stage, as well as a pedestal with a bright golden plaque on it that read: To Mister Harry Potter for outstanding courage and bravery toward Hogwarts School; earned March 4, awarded June 4.

Next to the plaque was a muggle photo of Harry sitting by the lake, Ginny wrapped in his arm and Ron and Hermione standing beside them. They were all smiling broadly and Hermione recognized the picture as one Colin took on Valentines Day that year.

They had all been so happy that day, thought Hermione bitterly, and with a lump in her throat she realized that the photo was taken less than a month before the attack. None of them had any idea that day that their lives were about to be turned completely turned upside down.

They quietly made their way up one of the center isles until they came to a group of red heads a few rows from the front. Mr. Weasley was sitting on the edge, his wife next to him with tears running down her cheeks.

Both stood to give the new arrivals each a tight embrace and the five students took the empty seats, Ginny beside her mother, with Ron, Hermione, Fred and George coming next.

Percy was in front of them with Bill and Charlie on either side of him. All three brothers turned and greeted the young students warmly before turning around to focus their attention back on the Headmaster who had just stepped up onto the stage to begin.

"Students, friends, I welcome you all to Hogwarts, even though the circumstances are less that enjoyable. We are gathered here today to remember the life of perhaps the most powerful young wizard to have ever graced these hallow halls, Mr. Harry Potter.

As you are all well aware, three months ago today, the castle was invaded by Lord Voldemort and an army of dementors and death eaters. All the students fought hard and many sustained severe injuries, but miraculously, all survived. That would have not been the case though if the attack had not been stopped by Mr. Potter. He willingly confronted the dark lord and pulled his attention away from the castle. What transpired next is still a mystery to all involved.

Something occurred that caused the dementors and death eaters that hadn't been restrained or stunned to vanish, as well as Voldemort and Harry. We don't know if they were destroyed or if they merely vanished, but what we do know is that no sign of the dark lord or Mr. Potter have been found, despite the ministries greatest efforts. We can only assume that Harry was able to destroy the dark lord be sacrificing himself."

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In the muggle town of London, far from the wondrous castle and grounds that made up Hogwarts, a large busy hospital was going about it's daily routine when the doors of the emergency room burst open to reveal a terrible sight.

Several nurses and doctors rushed up to the new arrival as he haltingly made his way out of the hospital entrance, only to find himself collapsing onto the floor in a heap.

"Child, what's wrong with you, who are you and who did this?" asked one of the doctors hastily as he got a clear view of the patient lying on the floor in front of him. He had jet black hair that hung in tangled, bloody mats to his shoulders and he was wearing peculiar loose fitting black robes that hung to his wrists and ankles and came all the way up to his neck, effectively hiding all but his face and hands from view. His clothing was caked with blood as well and was very frayed and had tears in several places and even more thin worn patches than could be counted. He had his arms drawn up protectively in front of his chest and the doctor could see that the backs of both of his hands were bruised and bloody. His breathing was very shallow and ragged, and every few seconds he would cough violently, bring up mouthfuls of blood each time.

He asked him again who he was and who did this to him as a nurse brought a gurney up behind him, but the stranger didn't answer, just began coughing again, throwing his head forward each time and causing his thick hair to completely obscure his face from view.

Gently, as to not startle or hurt the stranger any further, the doctor brushed the hair from the strangers face and gasped at what he saw. The face was that of a boy no more than fifteen or sixteen, and it was in just as bad of shape as his hands, his eyes were shut tight with pain. "My God, he's just a boy! Quick, let's get him into the exam room!" he exclaimed, but before he could begin to move the boy, his wrist was caught in a surprisingly strong grip and he looked at the child in shock as he began to speak, with the most unnaturally bright green eyes he had ever seen focused on the doctors face without blinking.

"He's.gone.they.all.are.finally gone" he gasped out in a hoarse whisper, looking up at the doctor before uttering one more sentence, those bright green eyes still focused on the doctors face without blinking "Please.sir.I.I.think I.n.need.a.d.doc.doctor." He gasped out before falling unconscious on the floor of the hospital.

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Chapter 2

The memorial service lasted the better part of the afternoon and into the early evening hours, with many different witches and wizards, young and old alike speaking of happier times.

The minister of magic spoke as well as every professor of Hogwarts, and many students, not all from the school, Fleur and Victor came to the castle again to honor the memory of their fellow tri wizard competitor, and many Hogwarts students spoke fondly of good times with or because of Harry.

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny listened to all the speakers with rapt attention and smiled or laughed softly at different stories and remarks made by their fellow students, but all three of them held their seats and never approached the podium themselves.

As Dumbledore listened to Professor Flitwick speak, his eyes drifted toward the three who were the most affected by Harry's disappearance and his thoughts traveled back about two weeks to the day he summoned the three students to his office individually to ask why they hadn't signed up to speak at the memorial service.

Their answers still rang clear in his ears. His eyes traveled to Ron and he momentarily locked eyes with the young Weasley boy as he thought about his words on that day. "I'm sorry headmaster, but Harry was and still is my best friend, and I just refuse to believe that he is indeed gone.
The ministry has found no evidence to support their statement that he is dead, and until they do I will not accept it, and I will not give up that he will return. If that flash of light killed Harry and you-know-who, why did the death eaters and dementors disappear too?
Those who were already stunned were left behind and taken into custody by the ministry, no longer a threat to anybody here, but why were they left at all, surely they would have been taken too if it were all just some strange force that was at work.
So you see, I will attend the memorial service of course, but I will not stand up there and speak like I think Harry will never return, because he will, he's more powerful than any of us and he would never let you-know-who kill him." He had concluded before rising from the chair and leaving the stunned headmaster behind.

His eyes then traveled to Hermione and his conversation with her came back to his mind as well. "Professor Dumbledore, as hard as it may be for the ministry to believe, Harry is still alive, just lost somewhere, I think.
There are no records of anything like this ever happening before, and so we have no right to conclude that that flash of light killed all those people. Only two people know what really happened between Harry and you-know-who besides themselves, they were too far away for anyone else to hear them, and until Draco and Ginny are ready to talk about what they saw and heard in more detail, none of us can assume what we think is the truth really happened.
All we know is that whatever took Harry away left Ginny and Draco unharmed, even though they were just a couple of feet away from them. I know of no strange phenomenon that is able to pick and choose who it takes, all that I've read about either take everyone or no one, so because of that, I refuse to believe that that thing killed Harry." she had finished with her face a mask of unflinching resolve.

Dumbledore sat and thought for a moment about what the two students had each said and he agreed with them whole heartedly on every statement now that he thought about it as Professor Sprout rose to address the gathered crowd.

His blue eyes then fell on the face of Ginny Weasley, who, despite the look of denial on her face, had bright tears shinning in her eyes, though she refused to let them fall onto her face. His thoughts then wandered to his conversation with the youngest Weasley and girlfriend of Harry Potter.

"Miss. Weasley, I have called you here today to ask you a few difficult questions," he had begun, and when she nodded her head resolutely, he had continued "the first of which concerns the reason as to why you refuse to speak at the memorial service for Harry in a couple of weeks."

After bowing her head for a moment to compose her answer, her dark amber eyes focused on his face and without blinking, she said the sentence that would always haunt him "Because I refuse to speak of things I know for a fact aren't true, and I don't think anybody else should either." She had answered with almost an accusing note to her words. Shocked by her statement, he had just stared into her eyes for several moments trying to figure out how a fifteen year-old girl had become wiser than himself, for she had succeeded in putting into one sentence what he himself had been feeling about the entire memorial service that was being planned.

Once he had admitted to himself this simple truth, he asked the question that had been hoping for an answer for almost three months, "Ginny, would you please tell me what really happened that day, I know you don't want anyone else to know, and I promise not to reveal anything you disclose to anybody except to two of those who are still looking for Harry, Remus and Sirius.

Perhaps what you know could help them know where to look," He asked in a pleading tone, willing her to explain the truth to him this time. As it was, he had asked more times than he could count, both Ginny and Draco, but both had refused to answer, for reasons that were known to them alone.

Ron and Hermione hadn't even managed to get her to tell the truth, and he knew they had been trying harder that him to get it out of her.

After several moments of silence, he felt resigned to the fact that he would never get an answer and turned his face away from the girl and was about to dismiss her when she began speaking again, much to his surprise and relief.

"I have wanted to tell you the truth Headmaster, Ron and Hermione too, but I know what the truth would do to Harry, and I don't want to hurt him when he comes back, so please don't tell anybody but Sirius and Remus." She said with a pleading expression on her face, which vanished when he nodded his head in understanding, wondering what on earth he was about to hear.

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The young doctor entered the small private room on the upper floor of the hospital to check on his new patient, officially given the name of minor- John Doe.

He grunted at the name that had been assigned to the boy, surely the hospital administration could have come up with something more creative to call the boy until either he awoke or the authorities found out who he was.

He quietly approached the bed and tapped the nurse on her shoulder to alert her to his presence. She spun around and faced the doctor, and upon seeing him, her face broke into a grim smile.

"Doctor Jacobs, I didn't hear you come in." she said in a quiet voice.

"Good evening Mary, how's he doing?"

"Better sir, we got him cleaned up and he's ready for a more thorough exam. What did you find out on the preliminary exam and lab work?"

"Not much outside of the obvious," he said in a sad tone "severe malnutrition and a bad infection somewhere that he's trying to fight, but as far as the physical exam, I couldn't see much because of all the dirt and blood. Has he had any pain killers or sedatives yet?"

"Yes doctor, he is resting comfortably and can't feel a thing, though I think he would still be unconscious even without them."

"I must agree with you on that one Mary, he's certainly in bad shape isn't he?"

"It looks that way, but of course I'm not the doctor" she answered pointedly, looking up at the still unmoving doctor behind her.

"Point taken Mary, let's get started" he said, resigned to the fact that he would at some point have to examine and document the boys extensive injuries.

The pair approached the bed in silence, prepared to begin the examination, but before they could even touch the body on the bed, the unidentified boy began shaking uncontrollably as he pulled himself into a tight ball, obviously in extreme pain, the source of which could not be seen.

As they watched in shock, he clenched his teeth and fists together tightly as though he were trying not to allow his pain to escape from his lips.

The boy continued to convulse for several minutes before his face visibly relaxed as well as his fists before he began to breath again, pulling in several shallow ragged breaths before a low moan escaped from his still trembling body.

He then relaxed immediately, obviously falling back into unconsciousness.

The doctor and his nurse stood there in amazement for just moments before both rushed forward and carefully rolled the boy over onto his back.

"What was that!" exclaimed Dr. Jacobs "I thought he got his pain medication"

"He did, I think he was having a nightmare" answered Mary as she picked the boys left arm to pull the blankets back up to cover his body.

"What's that Mary" asked the doctor suddenly.

"What's what sir" she answered, obviously confused.

"The mark, on his arm there" he answered, grabbing the boy's left arm and rolling it over and pulling his sleeve up to reveal the underside of his forearm.

The nurse gasped when she saw what he was talking about, there, on the boy's arm plain as day was a hideous tattoo of a black outline of a skull with a dangerous serpent slithering out of its gaping open mouth.

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