Work Text:
Harry feels so tired. It has been five years since Voldemort’s defeat, and Harry is so tired. It felt like he’s been tired since the start of his fourth year.
After he had graduated Hogwarts he had become an auror, but had only lasted one year before he had quit. He doesn’t want to fight anymore, but he also doesn’t know what else to do. He’s been fighting for so long, he can’t even remember what he had been like before.
The only thing he had loved to do was quidditch. But he can’t muster up the energy to try and do that professionally.
That’s what Ginny is currently doing, and he can’t help but envy her a little bit. She was able to move on after the war. He still feels stuck, always waiting for the call to bear arms against the Dark Lord. It doesn’t matter that he’s dead. He had been a part of Harry’s life for so long, Harry doesn’t know how to let go.
He lays in bed most days, only going out occasionally to meet with Ron or Hermione. He ignores the owls that come daily still asking for interviews or for him to attend events.
He is tired.
—-
Harry sighs as he follows Hermione through the Ministry. She told him the aurors found a strange object in one of the properties the Dumbldeore had. She said it was wrapped in paper with Harry’s name on it.
He does not care for whatever it could be. Dumbledore is dead, and Harry already fulfilled the old man's wishes. But Hermione asked him to come, so he came.
It is not a very strange object, especially in comparison to all the trinkets that Dumbledore had in his office at Hogwarts. It looks like a rusty old key.
She hands him the paper that was with the object, and letters spill across the page as he takes the note in his hand.
Dear Harry,
In case things don’t work out.
Headmaster Dumbledore
Well then. Did this have some kind of spell in it? Something that could have helped Harry defeat Voldemort?
Harry reaches out his hand.
“Harry, wait!” Hermione calls, but it’s too late.
Harry takes the object in his hand, and the world vanishes in a swirl of golden light.
—-
Harry hears a banging sound, and he opens his eyes. It is dark. There are boards above his head. He shifts, this place seems familiar.
The banging sound comes again. “Time to get up and make breakfast, you ungrateful freak.” comes a high pitched woman’s voice.
That sounds like Petunia. But why would Petunia be in the Ministry?
Then he remembers.
Dumbledore’s note. The strange object.
Ah.
That is why you aren’t supposed to touch strange magical artifacts.
Well, bollocks. What is he supposed to do now?