Chapter Text
Absence.
A feeling that Harry now experienced constantly.
The final battle against Voldemort had brought with it many emotions, joy and victory, but also pain and regret. And the only word that came to Harry's mind when asked how he was and how he felt was, in fact, absence. Of any kind of emotion.
He lived in a muffled world, where neither happiness nor sadness could enter. He felt nothing, not even the anguish that this “not feeling” should have triggered.
Months had passed since the end of the war, the eighth year at Hogwarts for the students who had returned to complete their studies had ended without any catastrophic events or threats of death, and the time had come to decide what to do with their lives.
Hermione, as expected, had begun her climb up the Ministry ladder, starting in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, where she had immediately established herself as one of the most knowledgeable and tireless employees.
Ron had considered becoming an Auror, but the time spent on the run during his seventh year had had a stronger emotional impact on him than initially thought. He had found his calling at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, helping his brother George with the management and creation of new jokes.
Harry, on the other hand, was lost.
Having moved to Number 12 Grimmauld Place and left behind the idea of fighting other Dark Wizards or any other Ministry of Magic-related assignments, he didn't really know what to do. He had allowed his relationship with Ginny to fall apart without fighting to keep it alive. While she was cheerful, resolute and determined to face the pain of Fred's loss head-on, he was too apathetic to keep up with her or actively participate in the arguments that inevitably broke out when they talked about their future.
During their final year at school, she had waited for him, standing by him and convinced that together they would solve their problems and find the strength to overcome everything together, but that had not been the case. Now, she had been hired by the Holyhead Harpies and was flying all over the country as their Seeker, while Harry had not yet found the strength to leave the house.
Or so his friends thought.