Inevitable: Chapter 79: The Morning After & Chapter 80: The End

[mhalachaiswords]

Inevitable
A Harry Potter/Anita Blake crossover
by mhalachaiswords

Summary: A late-night run-in with werewolves in the woods outside St. Louis dumps Harry Potter into a whole new world of trouble. Now Anita Blake has to deal with a new charge as well as Death-Eaters come to town.
Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton owns all things Anita Blake. J.K. Rowling owns all things Harry Potter. Only the story is my own.
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Spoilers for Half-Blood Prince, Incubus Dreams. Nothing beyond that.
Note: It's still Oct. 31, the longest day in Harry's life.

Previous parts here.



Warning: Mention of character death.

Seventy-nine: The Morning After

Harry was pulled out of a fitful sleep by someone shaking him. Yelping in surprise, Harry pulled away, putting his hands up in defense as the shaking stopped.

"Harry."

Harry blinked. It was Dumbledore, lit by the early-morning sunrise over the Great Hall. The Headmaster looked so relieved to see Harry that Harry wasn't sure what to say.

Harry sat up, pushing away a blanket that had appeared in the night. Remus was asleep, breathing deeply, some color coming back into his face. Tonks was slumped against the wall, holding Remus's hand while she slept.

Jason and Anita were still out; Jason had reverted to his human form sometime in the night. Reece had also changed back from his wolf form, but the boy was awake and watching the hall with bright eyes, wearing a black Hogwarts robe. When he saw Harry looking at him, Reece grinned with sharp white teeth. "I'm keeping watch," the boy said in a stage-whisper.

"Good," Harry muttered as he staggered to his feet. Dumbledore led Harry a few feet away, so their voices wouldn't wake the sleeping werewolves. "Sir, is everyone all right?"

"There have been some casualties," Dumbledore admitted. "Harry, what happened to Voldemort?"

Harry pulled off his glasses and rubbed his hand over his face. "He's, um." Harry took a deep breath and put his glasses back on. "Voldemort is dead."

Dumbledore looked steadily at Harry. "You are sure of this?"

Harry nodded. "Anita, well, when Hogwarts was attacked I went do see if anyone was after the horcruxes and Anita came with me, and since she's-well, her, she broke the horcruxes with her power and then Voldemort and Lucius Malfoy cornered us with the Dragon's Breath bomb but then Voldemort said he was going to blow up Hogwarts with everyone inside including Draco and Malfoy tried to stop the bomb by Voldemort killed him and the bomb only half went off, and Voldemort got my wand but Anita dropped her gun and I shot Voldemort and he's dead."

Dumbledore let out a long breath. He clapped his hands on Harry's shoulders. "Harry," was all he said.

Harry felt his face heating up. "I'm not sorry he's dead," Harry said. "But…"

"Yes," Dumbledore said heavily. "There is a difference in acknowledging death, and taking joy in that death." He stood back, taking his hands from Harry's shoulders. "I will instruct a team of Aurors to go retrieve the bodies."

"Oh!" Harry said, his sleep-addled brain finally waking up enough for him to remember one salient point. "Draco, he's been trying to kill you all year!"

"Yes, I know," Dumbledore said mildly.

Harry's mouth dropped open. "What?"

"I know that it was Draco who had made the attempts on my life."

"But-He almost killed Tonks! And Reece! And you did nothing?"

"Harry, calm yourself," Dumbledore said in a quiet voice. "There is much you do not know about Draco, nor why he took the actions he did."

"But-"

"Harry, I will handle Draco Malfoy," Dumbledore said, this time with finality in his voice. "Last evening, he and others in Slytherin defended a group of third-year students against the Death Eaters, at great cost to themselves." He straightened up. "Harry, I will return to hear more of your story later, but for now I need you to stay in the Great Hall."

"Yeah, fine," Harry muttered. He was seething with indignation, but what good was fighting Dumbledore on this?

"It is vital that you do not leave the Hall, do you understand?"

"Of course," Harry said. Dumbledore's intensity was unsettling.

"Good." Dumbledore smiled down at Harry. "I will return."

And with that, Dumbledore swept off.

"Why'd you have to stay in the Hall?" Reece asked at Harry's shoulder. Harry nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Don't creep up on people," Harry snapped. Reece just grinned at him.

"I'm hungry," the boy said. "You keep watch now."

And with that, Reece scampered away, his footsteps silent on the stone floor as he made his way to the far wall, where a few people were frying sausages in the Hall's fireplace.

"Brat," Harry said fondly. He glanced over his shoulder, saw that Jason had his eyes open, and went over. "How are you?"

"Hungry and naked," Jason said with a grin. "I need clothes."

Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out three wands. He removed his from the others, quickly transfigured some blankets into a shirt and trousers for Jason, and slid that wand and one other back into his robe. "I can't help with food."

"Whatever." Jason reached for the clothes.

"I'll be right back," Harry said, standing with the wand in his hand. He looked around the Great Hall, until finally he spotted the person he needed to see, along the far wall. Harry walked over to Neville Longbottom. The other boy had bandages all along his right arm, and some wicked bruising on his face, but his eyes were alert as Harry approached. "Hey, Neville."

"Harry." Neville looked at the wand in Harry's hands. "Is that…"

"Your wand." Harry handed it to Neville. The boy took it in his left hand. "It's not a horcrux anymore."

Neville looked back at Harry. "Did you stop him?" Neville asked.

Harry scratched at a bruise on his jaw. "Yeah," he said reluctantly.

Neville took a deep breath, clenching his hand around the wand. "Good," was all he said. "That's good."

"I know." Harry looked around. "So, how did you…" He pointed at Neville's face.

"Oh," Neville tried to smile, and winced at the pull on his bruises. "Some of the attackers came after us in the gardens; we enchanted the statues to get in their way."

"What he's not saying," came a new voice as Padma Patil joined Neville, handing him a cup of tea. "Is that when some of them got away from the statues, Neville got a stick and went after them on his own."

Neville flushed. "I just did what anyone would do," he said. "What you did with that binding spell on the minotaur, that was pretty cool."

Padma smiled at Neville. "Thank you."

"How's Parvati?" Harry asked, drawing Padma's attention.

"Safe," Padma said. "She's helping McGonagall with the front doors, so are Dean and Seamus."

Dean and Seamus were all right. Harry let out a breath at that. Now all he needed to do was to find Ron and Hermione and Ginny, and things would be okay.

Harry headed back across the floor to where Remus lay. Jason was dressed now, and Anita was sitting up and resting her head on Jason's shoulder. Mornings had never been her strong suit.

Harry smiled in spite of himself. He was almost across the room when something tackled him from behind. His wand was out before he could register that it was Hermione who had grabbed him.

"Hermione!" he exclaimed, giving her a big hug. "You're all right!"

His elation at seeing her died away when she looked up at him, her eyes red. She had been crying. "Oh Harry, you idiot, you're all right!" she said, trying to smile.

Harry gripped her arms. "What happened?" he demanded, trying not to panic. "Ron? Ginny?"

Hermione sniffled. "They're fine, Harry, but…" Tears filled her eyes. "Oh Harry, it's Charlie."

Harry's stomach dropped. "Charlie? Charlie Weasley?" he demanded. He had seen the young man the night before with the rest of the Order of the Phoenix. But that couldn't be right, Charlie was an ace dueler, so full of life.

But Hermione was nodding. "He and Mrs. Weasley were trying to get some first-years to safety when Death Eaters attacked and Charlie was hit, b-but Mrs. Weasley couldn't stop protecting the children and…" Hermione bit down on her lip. "And we didn't know if you were alive or dead or what happened with Voldemort."

"Voldemort's dead," harry said, his stomach churning. It didn't make any sense that Charlie Weasley was dead. "Where are they? The Weasley, are they here?"

Hermione nodded. "They're in the teachers' lounge, Dumbledore let them gather there after…. Well, for now."

"I have to go see them," Harry said desperately, forgetting everything else.

"Come on," Hermione said, turning quickly. "I'll go with you."

They hurried out of the Great Hall. They were both breathing hard when they got to the first-floor teachers' lounge. Hermione looked up at Harry and quickly grabbed his hand for a quick squeeze, and then she pushed open the door.

The room was lit with the morning sunrise, streaming bright through the shattered windows. Fred and George were huddled together on the cold fire hearth, Ginny curled up beside Fred with his arm around her shoulders. Bill sat on an oversized couch, staring blankly at the wall. Mr. Weasley was in an armchair, his hand covering his eyes. He was crying.

Ron sat beside Mrs. Weasley, holding her hand. When he saw Harry, he smiled for a moment, then the expression faltered, as if he'd remembered all over again.

And Mrs. Weasley…

Harry's steps slowed when he saw the expression on Mrs. Weasley face. She wasn't crying, wasn't really anything. She just looked at him like nothing mattered.

Harry stopped, frozen in place. He shouldn't have come here.

"Harry," Mrs. Weasley said. Her voice was flat. "Are you all right, boy?"

Harry nodded. A weird lump was stuck in his throat.

"Good," was all Mrs. Weasley said.

Ron was staring at Harry, his mouth open in a question. It was more for him that Harry blurted out, "Voldemort's dead."

Bill looked up sharply, and the twins exchanged a look. Ginny took hold of Fred's shirt and let out a long shuddering breath.

Mrs. Weasley got to her feet and came over to Harry. She took his hand in hers, holding tightly. "Is he?" she asked, looking up into his face. She squeezed his hands, then reached up to pat his cheek. Her hands were like ice. "Good. That's a good boy."

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered, but she didn't even hear him. Ron stood up and went to help his mother back to the couch. The expression on his face said everything that he could not.

"I'm sorry," Harry said again, backing out of the room. Hermione went with him, closing the door on the Weasley family.

Harry walked along blindly for a few minutes, until he had to stop. He rested his shoulder on a broken stone wall and stared down the corridor.

"It wasn't enough," he muttered. Hermione came over to lean against the wall behind him. "Killing Voldemort, it wasn't enough."

"Shut up," Hermione said fiercely. "You stop that right now."

"Charlie's dead-"

"That is not your fault!" Hermione exclaimed. "You didn't make Voldemort who he was, you didn't make Dumbledore hide the horcruxes at Hogwarts!"

Harry slumped down. "I know, it's just…"

"This isn't your fault," Hermione said again.

Motion down the corridor swung Harry around. It was Jason and Anita, and Anita looked angry.

"Why did you run off?" Anita asked, stalking towards him. She was still covered in last night's dust and blood. "It's still dangerous out here."

"Ron's brother is dead," Harry said. An expression of understanding crossed Anita's face. "I thought I needed to see his family, but… I shouldn't have done."

"It was the right thing to do," Hermione said.

"Thanks," Harry muttered. Standing like this in the corridor, Harry remembered what Dumbledore had said. "I should go back to the Great Hall, Dumbledore said I needed to stay there."

"Sure, we can go," Hermione said, but there was something going on at the end of the hall. Robed Aurors were slowly walking towards them from the end of the corridor.

Harry pushed off the wall, then swung around. More Aurors at the other end of the hall blocked their escape, and all of them had their wands at the ready.

"Harry?" Jason asked, stepping closer to Anita. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," Harry said, tensing up. He felt Hermione at his side and he felt slightly better. Hermione was one of the best duelers in their year.

If it came to that with a dozen Aurors.

"Mr. Potter," came a deep male voice. Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour stepped between two of the Aurors. "Step away from the necromancer."

"What?" Harry demanded. "No! What is this?"

"Last night, in the battle at Hogwarts, the forbidden magic of necromancy was detected," Scrimgeour said. "We are here to take the necromancer into custody, to Azkaban."

"What?" Harry exclaimed as Jason moved in front of Anita. "There's no way you can do this! She saved everyone!"

"Harry," Anita said, the steel in her voice making Harry close his mouth.

"You were witness to this… abomination?" Scrimgeour spat. "Record that for the trial!"

"She's not from the Wizarding World!" Hermione burst out. "You can't do this!"

"She is in the Wizarding World now," Scrimgeour said. "Anita Blake, you are to enter into the custody of the Ministry of Magic, where you will be transported to-"

"No!" Harry shouted, stepping between Anita and the Minister. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of blonde hair. "You can't do this, Dumbledore will never allow it!"

"Dumbledore is not here!" Scrimgeour exclaimed. "And if you do not stand aside, Mr. Potter, you will be charged with abetting necromancy, a change which can have you expelled from the Wizarding World!"

A small blonde witch skipped around the Aurors and down the hall. A few of the Aurors tried to reach for her, but the Minister held out his hands. "Stand your ground!" he demanded. "Child, this is a Ministry matter, come away from there at once!"

"I'm not a child," Elsa sang out without turning around. "And you're not my Minister." She took Jason's hand and made him take hold of Anita's arm. "This is why Dumbledore was trying to keep you in the Great Hall, you idiot," she hissed at Harry. "Now there are Aurors who get trigger-happy around necromancers."

"You could have mentioned this," Anita said vehemently. "Now what do we do?"

"Mr. Potter, stand away now and you may only be sentenced to a few years in Azkaban."

"Harry," Hermione tried to say, but anger erupted in Harry's chest.

"Azkaban?" Harry exclaimed. "Voldemort is dead and Anita saved lives last night and you're turning this back around on us?"

"Law is law, especially in war time," Scrimgeour said. "And Voldemort is dead? Show me his body!"

"Dumbledore's taking care of that," Harry said. "This is mental. We're going back to the Great Hall and when Dumbledore gets back-"

"That is not what will happen, Mr. Potter!" Scrimgeour was going red in the face. "You have been given a direct order by the Minister of Magic! Aiding and abetting the use of necromancy is one of the most serious crimes in our land!"

"I don't care!" Harry yelled. "Anita's a hero and I'm glad I helped her! I'd do it again!"

"A confession!" Scrimgeour roared. "Aurors, seize Mr. Potter's wand and place him in custody pending immediate expulsion from the Wizarding World!"

Hermione yelped in horror. But Harry was beyond caring at this point. He dug into his robes, pulling the long pale wand free of the fabric. All the Aurors tensed, their wands aimed directly at Harry.

"You want a wand, you can take it!" Harry shouted. Gripping the wand with both hands, he snapped it along its length. The red phoenix feather inside the wand gleamed in the morning sunlight. Harry threw the wand pieces at Scrimgeour. "Go on, attack us now, you coward!"

"Harry, what did you do?" Hermione gasped.

"I'm not going to be a part of a world that tries to kill people who save lives!" Harry said forcefully, loud enough that Scrimgeour could hear.

"But your wand-"

"Time to go," Elsa interrupted. She took Harry's hand and placed it in Jason's. "Say goodbye."

"What?"

Elsa looked over her shoulder at the approaching Aurors. "The only person who could protect you after this show you put on is Dumbledore, and he's off looking for Voldemort's body," Elsa said. "Now I am going to do what Christoff promised to do, and keep you safe."

Harry looked at Jason and Anita, both of whom looked as confused as he did, then at Hermione. Her eyes were full of the realization that hit them both; this was really happening.

"I'll call you," Harry promised. "Your parents, I'll call your parents, just keep everyone safe and tell them I'm sorry-"

Anything Hermione might have said was cut off as Elsa grabbed Harry and Anita at the same time, and Apparated them all away from the approaching Aurors.

Eighty: The End

They landed in a bright open room, surrounded by people. Harry blinked to regain his surroundings, and he realized that they were in the morning room in Christoff's London estate.

Elsa dropped Harry's and Anita's hands, and whirled on the surrounding people. "Fetch the pack leaders!" she shouted, twisting off her robe to reveal her shirt and knee-length skirt. A woman dove for the robe. "Get the brokers on a conference call, and prepare for an emergency meeting of all vampires as soon as the sun sets!"

People ran to do Elsa's bidding, while wererat bodyguards ran into the room. Elsa directed them with a few perfunctory commands, all while Harry and Jason and Anita stood in the room, still holding hands.

"What happened?" Jason asked after a few moments. "Did Harry just get expelled?"

"It is far worse than that," Elsa said, whipping around. Away from Hogwarts, she held herself as a woman, casting off the skin of a child. "Scrimgeour was going to have Harry ostracized from the Wizarding World for his association with the filth of necromancy."

"Hey!" Anita objected. She pushed past Harry and Jason to glare down at Elsa. "It's not-"

But Elsa turned her back on Anita. "The world changed overnight," she said, moving to the head of the table where her people were setting up computers and telephones. "The death of Voldemort will have repercussions across the globe, and we are at the ground zero. Our people, our vampires and our wererats, all others who swear allegiance to Christoff, they are my priority."

"But I have to go back," Harry insisted. "Hermione-"

Elsa stared at Harry. "Harry, you can never go back," she said. "It doesn't matter than you snapped your wand. You killed Voldemort; Scrimgeour was never going to let you walk out of there a hero. Politically, you are too dangerous to let loose!"

Harry's knees went weak, and only Jason's presence at his side kept him on his feet. "But Dumbledore-"

"Albus Dumbledore has a thousand children to keep safe from many dangerous people who no longer have a leader," Elsa interrupted. She waved her hand. "Gerta, escort them to the blue room until we can have them driven to the airport."

"The airport?" Jason said. "Just like that, you're shipping us off?"

Elsa laid her hands flat on the table, and the room instantly went silent. "I am faced with the possibility of civil war," she said, her voice quiet. "You are liabilities, and he," she pointed at Harry, "is the biggest target! You will go home." She sat down. "Everyone is safer that way."

A short dark-haired woman ushered the three of them resolutely down the hall, past the dozens of people rushing to the morning room. She neatly pushed them inside, then closed the doors behind them.

Harry took a few steps into the room, and stopped dead. "That's my trunk!" he exclaimed. "And my broom and everything! Why does Elsa have this?"

"Looks like she thought this would happen, that you might need to make a run for it," Anita said. She sank onto a nearby sofa and put her elbows on her knees. "What the hell is going on?"

"Voldemort's dead and I can never go back to Hogwarts," Harry said hollowly. "I mean, it was my last year anyway, but…."

Jason came over and pulled at Harry, over to the couch and pushed him down beside Anita. "Just take a minute to breath, okay?"

Harry buried his head against Anita's shoulder, nodding. She hugged him, while Jason pressed against his back. The wolf inside Harry was unhappy, but recognized the comfort of his pack.

"What am I going to do?" Harry asked, his breath hitching.

"You're going to come home with us," Anita said firmly. "You're safer in St. Louis. We'll figure out what to do from there."

"No, I mean…" He let out a breath. "I never thought what I'd do after I killed Voldemort. I don't know what I'm supposed to do next."

"You live," Jason said, his voice rumbling through Harry. "You wake up tomorrow and ever day after that, and that's it. You're alive."

Harry hugged Anita tighter, the panic and pain of the last few months fading slightly. Voldemort was dead, not that it made any difference to anyone who had died before that. His parents, Sirius, Cedric Diggory, Charlie Weasley…

But maybe no one else would die now. Maybe, they could all start living.

Six hours later, they were at the airport, showered and in new clothes, looking nearly respectable. Elsa had somehow managed to acquire Jason and Anita's passports, although she steadfastly refused when Harry asked her to Appartate them directly to St. Louis. Apparently that wasn't the done thing.

"Thanks," Anita had said as the car drove up to the front door of Cristoff's estate.

"Get out of my territory before sunset," Elsa had responded, and slammed the door in their faces.

Now they sat in the airport, waiting for a flight to take them to Chicago, then to St. Louis.

Harry sat slumped, his hands in his oversized hoodie sweatshirt. He had been cold ever since he'd been pulled awake by Dumbledore. Anita was at his side, slurping on a large coffee while Jason read trashy magazines.

"Plane starts boarding in twenty minutes," Anita said, putting her cup down.

"Why am I doing this?" Harry asked, sitting up.

"Because the Minister has it out for you and we can keep you safer in St. Louis?" Jason said, never looking up from his magazine. "It'll be okay, you'll be back some day. That Dumbledore guy, he seems cool, he'll let you know when it's safe to come back."

"I just hope Hermione is okay," Harry mused. "I shouldn't have left her there like that, with all those Aurors."

"She's a smart kid, she'll be fine," Jason said, picking up another magazine. "It's too bad about your wand, though."

"Huh?"

Jason looked over his magazine. Anita was frowning at Harry. "Your wand," Jason said, lowering his voice. "You broke your wand and threw it away. A bit of a statement, but kind of permanent."

"Oh," Harry said. "Yeah, no." He reached into the deep pocket on his loose jeans. "That wasn't my wand, that was Voldemort's."

He pulled his own wand out of his pocket, showing Anita and Jason the smooth brown handle.

Jason gaped at him, while Anita just stared. "You make us worry you threw your whole life away, and here you are just playing magic tricks?" Anita demanded. She punched him on the arm.

He slid the wand away and slumped back in his chair. "It was to distract Scrimgeour."

"Distract, hell, that was epic," Jason breathed. "Nathaniel is going to love that one."

Harry sighed, and Anita poked him. "What?"

"It's just…" Harry pushed his glasses up his nose. "Are we going to be okay?" He lowered his voice. "With the horcrux gone, and what you did last night? That's a lot of weird magic all at once."

"I don't know," Anita said, pulling one leg up to her chest. "Honestly, Harry, with my life, I can never tell. But I'll tell you something." She waited until he was looking her in the eye. "You wake up every day and you do the best that you can."

"What about when your best isn't enough?" Harry asked.

Anita put her hand on his wrist. He could see the pink scars on the back of her hand. The gashes from the previous night's magic had already healed without a trace. "Then you throw a bit of your worst in there." She smiled faintly. "Good and bad, it's human nature. The most we can do is to find our balance in the world."

"You're a good person," Harry blurted out.

Anita smiled at him, and squeezed his wrist. "So are you."

"And I'm invisible," Jason muttered from Anita's other side. Anita rolled her eyes at this, and Harry couldn't help chuckling a little, in spite of everything.

Maybe, in one distant day, everything would be okay. Maybe soon, Dumbledore would fix things so Harry could come back to Hogwarts. And until then, Harry would be in St. Louis with his pack, with his grandfather, and his friends. And he'd just have to figure out what to live for now that Voldemort was dead.

Overhead, the loudspeaker announced the boarding for their flight. Jason bounced to his feet while Anita stood slowly. She held to her hand to Harry. "Come on, Harry," she said. "Let's go home."

The end

And now that that's all over, read my final thoughts on Inevitable!