It's All Just Temporary with a Bit of Necromancy

Chapter 16: Not Today

Not Today

Sunlight streamed through the dark blue curtains and Harry squinted at the light. He had been lying in bed for almost an hour now, unable to get the motivation to move. His mind kept replaying scenes of this day from the past five years. He could easily imagine the movements of his friends. Mrs. Weasley would be calling everyone to bring their luggage down, fussing at Ron for not having finished packing last night. The Burrow would be filled with chaotic noise and shouts.

It was September 1st. So many students would be returning to Hogwarts today, crossing the magical barrier at Kings Cross and entering Platform 9¾. His gut twisted. Harry wouldn't be joining them. He never would again.

To make matters worse, if that could even be possible, Harry hadn't been able to meet up with his friends like he had planned. Now he'd have to wait until the first Hogsmeade trip to see them.

He wondered if it was possible to just not leave bed at all today in order to make the misery end. If he never got up and just slept the day away maybe it would be easier to handle. Easier to accept that he wouldn't return to Hogwarts. Would never enter the Great Hall as a student, never listen to the Sorting Hats song. His throat constricted and Harry found it difficult to swallow as the pain clenched his chest.

"Master Death Master," Tobi's squeaking voice broke him from his spiraling thoughts. "Great Master is being demanding you join him for breakfast."

Harry sighed forlornly, not at all in the mood to deal with that devil creature of a man. It was another poignant reminder of how drastically his life had changed. No longer would he spend his years trying to solve the mystery of how Voldemort would try to kill him and face the adrenaline of actually facing the monster at the end. Now, he was starting the day by sharing breakfast with him and later this afternoon they would have dueling practice, as they had done for the past three weeks or so.

Grumbling, Harry rolled out of bed and dressed in a fog. His movements automatic, brushing his teeth and hair, pulling the robes on that Tobi had laid out. His feet led him to the dining room, his thoughts still reliving his past years. He glanced at his watch. The Weasley's would be leaving for Kings Cross now.

Harry entered the dining room and saw Marvolo sitting pristinely, reading the paper. "Finally decided to leave bed?"

Harry glared but didn't respond. The food while just as delicious as always it just couldn't compare to Mrs. Weasley's lovingly cooked breakfast this morning.

"You're in the paper once again," Marvolo continued. "Ms. Skeeter has decided to print more of your interview with her today. Explaining how you won't be returning to school and the scandal of your scores being kept from you."

Harry again didn't respond. He had figured the journalist would draw out the information he gave her for as long as she could. She had already printed another article about five days ago gushing about the torture Harry had suffered under after his Inheritance, hinting at Dumbledore's involvement.

Glancing at the paper in Marvolo's hands, Harry glimpsed a picture of himself on the front cover. It wasn't one he was familiar with and he wondered who had donated it. It was him looking a little younger, maybe his third year, looking harmless and innocent, his glasses adding to his youthful look.

Anger bubbled in his stomach and mixed with the bitter nostalgic resentment that was building in his chest.

"I'll be having a meeting today."

"Congratulations," Harry quipped dully. He wanted this day to be over. He flicked his fork through the scrambled eggs but didn't eat anything.

"I believe it is time for you to start sitting in on meetings, start learning about the side you have aligned yourself with."