"Thank you, for coming in to see us, Mr. Potter," Officer Nelson.
Harry leaned back in his chair, sipping terrible tea. They were not in
an interrogation room, they were in Nelson's office, but the tea
seemed insult to the United Kingdom, and Harry was offended.
"You left in quite a hurry," Harry remarked, knowingly pricking the
man's pride even though he knew it was an act of magic.
Nelson played it cool, shrugging he said, "I had already given them
the all clear to head out. After we realized she was a widow… well,
no one really wants to confront the grieving."
"Still, I have never heard of the police running away," Harry teased
deliberately. He had fought in a war, been tortured, and he had even
been killed; a little police officer armed with a taser and a can of
mace didn't bother him one bit.
Nelson gritted his teeth, "My partner and I came through the door."
"Did you?" Harry asked innocently, knowing full well that a part of the
ward he had put there encouraged people to stay away. Obviously, it
hadn't stopped them from getting through the windows, but any
muggle who came through the door would have been compelled to
leave. "I still want the money for the windows."
"Your kind don't need the money," he snarled.
Harry went still as Nelson continued "You didn't recognize my last
name, did you, Harry Potter?"
"Should I?"
"My daughter knew yours. Harry Potter , Boy Who Lived, the Chosen
One."
Knew , Harry sucked in a sharp breath, "I am sorry for your loss."
"Oh you will be sorry, Mr. Potter," Nelson growled. "You think you and
yours were the only ones to lose loved ones? Olivia was all I had,
her mum died of lung cancer. Two years later some bitch comes
knocking with a letter. A private school, a full scholarship, except my
little girl would have to live away from home. She got sorted into a
House of Snakes and was bullied because her parents were normal .
I didn't want to send her back, but she begged me, begged to be
able to learn 'magic.'
"And you know how that turned out? She was returned to me in a
body bag! She died in your freakish war. She died for nothing! You
are an evil, evil, corrupt people forcing your unnaturalness on others-
"
"I'm sorry," Harry said in a rush, his heart sinking, "I am so sorry for
your loss-"
"It was your fault! Had you saved everyone sooner-"
Harry stood, "I was only fourteen when that monster came back to
power!"
"My daughter was twelve when she died!" Nelson yelled back. "And
now that I know your kind are out there, I will not rest-"
Harry pulled his wand, glad that Nelson's office was private. He
disabled the cameras first, his wand hidden at his side, before
stunning the officer.
Taking a deep breath, Harry obliterated the man's memories, sifting
through his mind as Snape had done to him -only not so
aggressively. He was careful not to erase the memories of his
daughter, or the idea of a private school, or that she had died in a
terrible accident, but her being a witch, the memory of McGonagall
arriving with a letter, and the conversation they had just been having
about magic, those were gone. He would remember his daughter as
unique, as having been special, he would remember loving her, and
he would remember the grief of losing her.
As much as Harry had learned in school, he had truly learned the
most from Hermione. He revived Nelson and using sleight of hand,
he slipped his wand back up his sleeve.
Nelson came to, sputtering, "Mr. Potter?"
"Officer Nelson," Harry said coolly.
"My apologies, I- I- I'm sorry, what were we talking about?"
"You're the one who called me here," Harry said.
"Oh." He looked down at his desk blankly for a moment, "Oh! Yes, I
remember. I know this is all moot, as you are already raising the boy,
but I need you to sign his parents' will so you can be Edward Remus
Lupin's legal guardian. In case of an emergency, parental rights and
all that, Andromeda Tonks has already signed."
Harry glanced over the will, and signed the dotted line, "I thought
that you didn't know Mrs. Tonks was a widow? You didn't even know
her name."
"The other night was an emergency call, this is a scheduled -
background check."
Harry raised a brow.
Nelson shook his head as if clearing his thoughts, "The papers
would have needed to be signed regardless. This is more expedient
out of convenience of closing a filed neighbourhood complaint."
Harry heard the uncertainty in the officer's voice. Had Harry not
erased the man's memories he would have withheld Teddy's
guardianship. He would have tried to blackmail Harry.
It was suddenly made very clear to him why the Statue of Secrecy
was upheld around the world. Muggles might not have powers, yet
that didn't mean they were powerless. Standing, Harry said, "Thank
you for your time, Sir."
Nelson shook Harry's hand, "You take care of that little family of
yours."
Nodding, Harry got the heck out of there. As if he wasn't paranoid
enough as it was. One thing was for certain, Harry needed better
wards, ones that kept people out.
"Mrs. Tonks," Harry began, kneeling by the fireplace, "do you have
any floo powder?"
No response.
He sighed and began to check around the mental. Relieved when he
found a jar of floo powder. "I'll be back in a bit," he said looking over
his shoulder to Andromeda bottle feeding Teddy.
From red flames in July to green, Harry stepped into those shamrock
flames and walked out into Minerva McGonagall's office at Hogwarts.
Portraits peered at him, Dumbledore winked at him. Harry ignored
the canvases and went to the door to try and find the Headmistress.
The door opened as he reached for the handle.
"Harry!" Minerva exclaimed and before Harry knew what was
happening the tall woman was squeezing him in a tight hug. Pulling
back from him and giving him a firm shake, she demanded, "Where
on Earth have you been?"
"Er- I have been with my godson?" Harry answered, he hadn't been
ready for a second interagition today.
"Godson? Darn, you mean Teddy Lupin, Tonks and Remus's son. No
one thought to check there. Why didn't you tell anyone where you've
been?"
"Sorry, I didn't think anyone would be looking for me, well except
maybe Hermione."
"Well, we saw you in the papers. It is not right what the goblins did,
but their rules are outside our government's laws, even if we could
get your vault back, the money would be gone."
"I understand. Have you heard from Hermione?"
Minerva motioned Harry to take a seat on a sofa that had not existed
in Albus's office. She told him, "Hermione is still in Australia. She
found her parents but… but what she did seems to be permanent.
She is going to stay there for a few more months before- before
returning home."
Harry wondered if Britain was Hermione's home if her family was
elsewhere.
"So if not to announce your presence, may I ask why you are here?"
He shifted in his seat, "I moved in with Mrs. Tonks, to help her take
care of Teddy and I came to ask for yours and Professor Flitwick's
help."
Minerva narrowed her gaze on him, like a cat sighting her prey. "Help
with raising the baby?"
"No!" Harry exclaimed, feeling colour rise to his cheeks for exploding
at her. "No," he said more calmly, "I need help setting wards and
fixing up the second floor of the house."
"What's wrong with the second floor and why can't Andromeda help
you? She was one of the finest witches to pass through these halls.
It is a pity she refused to fight in the war."
"What?" Harry asked, "I thought Mrs. Tonks was a part of the Order."
"No, Ted Tonks was and her daughter, Nymphadora was, but of
course, you knew that. As for Andromeda, she never was, she
refused to fight -for either side. I bet she regrets that choice now."
He felt his insides twist, wanting to defend Mrs. Tonks and not
knowing why. "But why wouldn't she have fought, her husband was a
muggleborn, her place was burned off Sirius's tapestry."
"The Black Sisters were once very close, Harry. They were a force to
be reckoned with, but that was before Bellatrix married Rodolphus
Lestrange, before she was trained by Voldemort. When Bellatrix's
sanity broke so did the Black Sisters. Andromeda eloped with Ted
rather than marry Rodolphus's younger brother, Rabastan. But
marrying outside her family's wishes was partly for show -though I do
not doubt that she loved Ted, at heart Andromeda will always be a
Black, never forget that Harry."
Harry thought of the broken widow he left on the sofa and couldn't
imagine leaving her to her own devices. "Narcissa isn't that scary."
Minerva laughed, "Narcissa Malfoy and Andromeda Tonks are two
sides of the same coin, Harry. They both supported their own side
but neither actively fought against the other. I taught them, I
remember how they were. They didn't fight because of the off
chance that their actions might lead to the other's death. I don't think
either counted on losing a child and their spouses because they
played it safe rather than fight for their beliefs."
Harry was startled at Minerva's harshness and even more so at the
idea that Draco was no longer alive, "Draco is alright, I saw him a
few days ago."
"Draco has lycanthropy."
Harry gaped at her, "No."
"It was his father's punishment for failing Voldemort."
Harry's mind spun, "In the sixth year, he- but he-"
"Yes, it was why Severus was being so protective of him. Why they
snuck around, in order to give him the right potions, to keep him
away from the other students. It's why I was so reluctant to pursue
your accusations against him, and I am sorry for that, Harry."
He stared at his professor and wondered how it all had turned so
dark, had they ever been children to begin with? Was there no room
for mistakes in their lives at all?
"It is lucky his father didn't lose his fortune," Minerva said bitterly.
Harry swallowed, clearly coming here had been a mistake. But then
it must be a teacher's worst nightmare to bury their students.
McGonagall must have been heartbroken. He thought of Officer
Nelson and suspected the damage of this war would extend far
beyond what was visible on the surface.
"But what happened to the second floor of Andromeda's house?"
McGonagall interrupted Harry's thoughts.
He coughed, "Mrs. Tonks happened to Mrs. Tonks's second floor.
She stripped the walls and I think it will take more than a repero to fix
and my transfiguration skills are not up to snuff. As for my wards…
well, they helped get people out quicker but the muggle police from
coming through the windows. I don't know how to ward the place
without making it disappear. Which the neighbors will definitely
notice."
"That will be easy enough, I can have it put to rights in fifteen
minutes or in an hour if you would like me to teach you how to do it
yourself."
"I think it will take me more than an hour."
"Nonsense, it is a shame you didn't make it to your NEWT classes, I
think you would have thrived in the upper level magic courses. You
see when you're younger, it is all about control, theory, repetition,
and a structured process. The advanced year is about visualization,
technique, instinct, and imagination. Or at least it is for
Transfiguration and Charms. Potions just gets more technical."
Harry couldn't help but smile at that. "I am sorry I missed it."
"You could always return for a year. A number of students from your
year are planning on returning for their last year. I am sure Miss
Weasley wouldn't mind you in her class."
Harry's heart squeezed. Ginny. He had barely spared Ginny a
thought over the last few weeks. She must have thought him a
monster for not contacting her. The thought of returning to Hogwarts,
the idea was enticing, more so because Voldemort was truly gone
this time around, but that would mean leaving Teddy behind.
Harry sighed, he might only be seventeen- eighteen soon, but his
childhood was over. Returning to classes… there was no way to
pretend the war hadn't happened. Mrs. Tonks and his godson
needed him more than Harry needed to find himself.
"I think I need to get my life in order, but um, is it possible to study
the subjects at home and take the tests-"
"Of course, I will send your books to you," Minerva said, seeing
Harry's conflicted thoughts and not wanting to close the door to him
bettering himself.
"Are you available Friday night?"
"Today is what? Tuesday?" Harry asked, knowing he was free but
not sure what day of the week it was.
"Yes."
"Then yeah, this Friday I am free. Is Professor Flitwick around?"
"No, but I am sure he will be more than happy to help you. I will talk
to him and he will likely tag along on Friday if he can, otherwise, he
will contact you for a better time."
Standing Harry reached out his hand to shake Minerva's. She stood
as well and reached for his hand, though not to shake it, she pulled
him into another tight hug, "You take care of yourself, Harry. Don't
forget to live, nothing lasts forever, not even sorrow."
Harry hugged her back, grateful for her, grateful she cared.
When he left, he made a detour to the Weasleys. Mrs. Tonks could
take care of Teddy a while longer.
Ginny nearly knocked the wind out of him, he ducked out from under
her arms before she could steal a kiss. It was awkward but he could
use not wanting to kiss her in front of her brothers and parents as a
good enough excuse.
"Where in Merlin's name have you been?" she demanded.
Ron slapped him on the back, successfully knocking the wind out of
him, "Told you he was okay."
The twins descended on him next and attempted to squeeze the life
out of him. Pulling back George pointed at his ear, "Look, Harry, I got
my ear fixed."
"We're identical again," Fred and George said in unison.
"Though, now that I think of it, Harry has always been able to tell us
apart," Fred said.
"How do you manage it?" they asked together.
Before he could answer Molly called, "Is that Harry?" she emerged
from the kitchen, "Oh Harry!"
Molly finished him off by nearly hugging him to death.
The Weasley family, always trying to destroy him with kindness.
"Mum, let him breathe," Ron said with a laugh.
Molly released Harry and he gasped in a lungful of precious oxygen.
"We've missed having you around," Molly said with tears in her eyes.
"How has everyone been?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Best as we can be. Arthur is at work and Ron's fiance," she said the
last with proud inflection, "is still in Australia, poor dear. But of
course, you'll stay for dinner."
It wasn't a question but Harry was too restless to stay here for more
than another hour.
It was strange to realize that he was missing Teddy, he hadn't been
apart from him longer than thirty minutes ago. He missed Teddy -
who rarely let Harry sleep longer than three hours, Teddy who
needed constant care, but Harry missed the baby. He even missed
taking care of the docile zombie version of Bellatrix.
Sure, it had been awkward taking care of a woman twice his age, but
even the odd intimacies with Mrs. Tonks had become a part of his
life. Yes, it was strange that these two people had become so
necessary to his existence in such a short amount of time. It was
strange and additive that feeling of being needed as much as he was
wanted. Although, he was quite sure that Teddy whose needs
consisted of needing to be changed, fed, and eased to sleep and
Andromeda's lackluster attitude toward life would appear less than
welcoming to most. But somehow, when Harry thought of home, it
wasn't Hogwarts anymore, it was Teddy in his arms in the kitchen
and Andromeda safely asleep on the couch.
Molly had already gone back to the kitchen when Harry plucked up
his nerve to refuse her hospitality. "Um, Mrs. Weasley, I can't stay for
dinner," he said from the doorway.
"Of course, you can, dear," she said, not turning to look at him as
she stirred a soup.
"No, really, I can't stay. I have other responsibilities." She turned
then, her eyes zeroing in on his soul. "What responsibilities could
you possibly have? You won the war and you are returning to your
final year of school. You are a child."
Harry didn't really know how to handle that mental leap. He wanted
to ask how he could be a child and be everyone's hero, but then he
had always been everyone's hero, nothing new there.
"No, Mrs. Weasley-"
Ginny snagged his hand then and pulled him into the backyard
before he could defend himself or Mrs. Weasley could further argue
with him. She pulled him toward the shed. The twins winked at him
and Ron waved good bye pretending like he didn't know what his
sister's intentions were.
Ginny pushed Harry into the falling down shelter and had him
pressed against the closed doors before he could put his thoughts in
order.
His first coherent thought was, Is Ron really okay with me snogging
his little sister?
Then Ron's little sister was doing just that.
Not feeling it, Harry put his hands on her shoulder and pushed her
back. She went from loving to pissed off in a heartbeat, "What's
wrong with you? I thought you would be happy to see me."
"I am happy to see you, Gin, it's just-"
"Just what? We haven't seen each other at all since- you and I
haven't- I have been worried sick and I have missed you so much
over the last year. Then after the funeral, no one hears from you in
weeks, until the Prophet had you plastered all over the headlines for
losing your vaults."
Harry winced, "Yeah, that was… unpleasant."
"Where have you been hiding? What have you been doing without
any money?"
His shoulders stiffened, "I wasn't hiding. I just forgot that people
didn't know where I was, and I have been poor before, Ginny, the
Weasleys aren't the only family on the planet who have worn handme-downs."
Her lips thinned, "So where have you been?"
He loved her, and she knew some things about the Dursleys, but
Harry had only ever confided with twins before about it.
"I've been helping Mrs. Tonks take care of Teddy Lupin, my godson,"
Harry answered.
Ginny blinked at him, "Why would you do that?"
Harry frowned at her, "Because he's my godson?"
She waved it away gesturing with a pale hand, "I mean, I get the
connection, but what I don't understand is why you felt like you
needed to be there? Mrs. Tonks raised her own daughter. A baby
isn't that much trouble."
Harry just shook his head, anyone who said a baby wasn't 'much
trouble' didn't understand what taking care of an infant meant. "Not
past tense, I need to be there for them."
"No, you don't," Ginny said as bull headed as her mother.
"Yes," Harry said slowly, "I do."
"So what? For the rest of the summer you are going to help babysit?
Harry, I don't want to wait until the school year starts to be with you
again."
His jaw tightened and he said in a low voice, "Not for the summer,
Ginny. I've decided to move in with Mrs. Tonks and Teddy,
indefinitely."
Her jaw dropped and her voice raised an octave, "You've decided
what!? You were serious! You're not returning to school with Ron and
Hermione? With me? You're going to throw your life away to play
house-elf?"
Harry felt his temper rise, "I am not throwing away my life and I am
not anyone's servant." Which was only partially true, he couldn't
deny he did the weight of work at the Tonks house, and he would
basically do anything Teddy needed him to do, but he didn't do it
because someone was ordering him to, or for money. He did
everything he coulr because it was his home.
"What about us?" Ginny pushed.
Harry's temper rose. She had no right, sure she had been grieving,
but if she had been so concerned to see him or his whereabouts,
she could have owled. Weeks had passed and he had given her
space but today was him reconnecting with her. Yet she was treating
him as if no time had passed, as if he didn't get a choice of whether
or not he would be raising his own godson.
So he snapped back, "I wasn't aware there was an us ."
She slapped him.
The sound -the feel of that sound, reverberated through him. The
pain was nothing, the sensory memory of the Dursleys knocking him
upside the head was something else.
Harry must have looked stupid, standing there, wide eyed, a hand to
his reddening cheek as Ginny glared at him.
"Go turn yourself, Harry Potter, I could have any man I want. I don't
need you."
Harry felt chilled down to his soul, how could she have hit him?
Why? Had she hit him?
She stormed out before he could ask those questions out loud.
He couldn't go back into the Weasley house, not even to say
goodbye to Ron. He was being foolish, he had experienced worse
than a slap on the cheek in the last sixth months, but Harry felt
shaken.
He didn't know what was wrong with Ginny, what she had been
dealing with, or what the bloody hell her problem was.
But what he did know was that he wasn't okay with her, or anyone,
hitting him like that. He disapparated on the spot, back to a place
where he was needed.
Back home.
Mrs. Tonks was exactly where he had left her. Teddy had stirred at
the sound of the front door opening. Harry bent to kiss Andromeda's
cheek before scooping his godson up in his arms.
For once Teddy didn't wake with a cry. He yawned, stretching his
arms out of his blanket, making little fists at the sky before uncurling
his fingers one by one. Harry placed his pointer finger into his grasp,
Teddy immediately squeezed, his grip felt unbreakable. Harry
decided right then and there that he would never be the type of
father to raise a hand against a child. Teddy would not grow up in a
home that could in any way be compared to the Dursleys.
Teddy made a little squeaky noise as he yawned again which
somehow reminded him fondly of Nymphadora. As if Teddy had
heard his thoughts, his baby blue eyes that were staring up at Harry,
shifted to a flawless emerald green.