REVENGE IS SWEET,OR IS IT?

by GiGiFanFic

A promise made, unable to be kept because of dire circumstances, actions of loved one leads to heartache and acts of revenge are begun. Reasons abound, so how will Harry handle this? The way he always does of course. Just do it!

1. Chapter 1

A.N. Any resemblance you find to CANON in this fic is purely coincidental. I only borrowed characters and real estate settings. I began this fic as a revenge type fic, and I changed boats in mid stream. Now there will be some characters seeking revenge throughout the fic. I am rewriting this chapter as I don't want Dumbledore killed off. Beginning chapter 10, I realized his continued existence is necessary to my fic. Storytellers never stick to the straight and narrow path, as that's no fun at all.

REVENGE IS SWEET, OR IS IT?

CHAPTER 1.

Harry opened his eyes and looked carefully around his blurred surroundings. Without his glasses, all he could see was white, white and more white. Oh Merlin no!! He was back in the infirmary and Poppy would be telling him off for getting hurt again. A bed would surely be named after him now, wouldn't it? But wait! How did I get here, how did I get hurt and why don't I hurt anywhere, and what happened? He couldn't think clearly so he closed his eyes and tried to get his thoughts in order.

The last thing he remembered was hugging Ron and Hermione, kissing his Ginny deeply and promising on his life that he would return shortly to her. He had then told them he needed to go somewhere quiet to think about what had just happened and that he would be back. He had just killed someone purposely. He was a murderer. There his memories bogged down and his mind went blank.

Panicking he called out "Help me, please help me!" The door quickly opened and he saw blurred images of people running toward him. "My glasses, I need my glasses. Where are they?" He heard a drawer opening and soon felt his glasses pressed into his hands. With trembling hands he put them on and looked around at his surroundings. He saw two Healers hovering over him. One was running a wand over his body, looking more amazed by the minute. The other was a pretty young Mediwitch.

"Where am I and who are you and what happened to me and how did I get wherever I am?" Harry was speaking breathlessly and becoming more agitated by the minute. He knew instinctively that he was neither at St. Mungos nor in the Hogwarts Infirmary.

The young Healer left and returned with several vials of potions. She handed them to the Head Healer. "Here lad, drink this one. It's a calming draught. You need to calm down so we can find out who you are and what you remember.

Harry requested that only the Head Healer stay and interrogate him, and that he wanted him to ward the room against eavesdroppers. He knew who he was, but wasn,t ready to share the information with just anybody. The Healer agreed and after Harry had swallowed three more potions, he began to calm down.

Once Harry had calmed down a bit more, his memory returned in full force, and he told his story. Words poured forth from his mouth as if they would never stop. He remembered defeating Voldemort, but for some reason or other, he did not tell him he had been the one to defeat the Dark Lord, but told him he had fought in the war where Voldemort was defeated. He related to him as much as he could remember about the battle, and how he had looked around at all the destruction. He told him how devastated he was at the deaths of so many DA members and students. He hadn't been able to withstand the pain and the need to get away where it was quiet so he could think for a while.

"I turned to Ron and Hermione, and hugged them both. I took my fiancée into my arms. I hugged her and kissed her deeply, and said. I have to leave for just a little while or I will break into little pieces. I feel so empty and brittle right now. I promise I will be back as soon as I can. I promise this on my life" Before they could argue with me I Apparated away from them.

"That's all I can remember until I woke up a short time ago. Now where am I and how long have I been here?"

"Well, first how about you tell me your name."

"I will tell you my name after I find out more about where I am and who you are. Please answer my questions"

The Healer sat down and began to speak. "You are in a Medica Center named St. Andrews Medical Clinic, located in a secluded Valley in Scotland.Because of the last great Wizard War, this Clinic is located in a secluded area to protect our patients. You have been here for four years. You were brought here to us by a cleanup crew of Wizards and you were in a deep coma when you arrived here.

He continued. "My name is Healer Glendon Ferguson. I am the Head Healer in this Clinic. The young lady who was here when you woke up is Healer McTavish, and has been your primary caregiver since you arrived here. She was a Healer Trainee when you arrived and you were her first patient. Today is the first day you have been awake and it is nothing short of a miracle. We just cannot understand why someone hasn't been searching for you in all this time. Do you not have any family?"

To say that Harry was in shock would be putting it mildly. Four years of lying in bed sleeping! It took him all of fifteen minutes to gather his wits about him and he looked at the Healer and began to speak seriously to him.

"Was my wand with me when I was brought here?"

"Yes, it's in your bedside table." Harry took his wand out and looking it over carefully, he said. "All the cleanup crew needed to do to find out my identity was to send this wand to the Ministry and they would have known immediately who it belonged to. Once more the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Just a Muggle saying", he told Ferguson after seeing the look he gave him. Harry checked the wards on the room and strengthened them more before he once more began speaking.

"I need a Wizards Oath that nothing I tell you leaves this room. I know about patient confidentiality and all that but I need more than that. This is the only condition under which I will confide in you. Will you do this for me?"

The Healer thought for only a moment before he accepted Harry's conditions. The Wizard's Oath Ritual was performed and Harry settled down to begin his story.

"My name is Harry Potter and I fulfilled a prophesy made about me before I was born. The Prophesy stated quite clearly that either Voldemort or I would die in the final Battle, because neither could live while the other survived. I lived, he died, simple isn't it?"

"But it wasn't so simple. I lived for my last two school years knowing that the weight of defeating the Dark Lord was squarely on my shoulders. While other young teens were having a good time and being normal, I was in training to kill or be killed. Unlike those on the Dark side, I did not want to kill anyone. Kill or murder, they were both the same to me. No matter how many times I was told that it was to save the Wizarding world, I just couldn't actually justify doing it. Some destiny to learn about when you are just fifteen years old isn't it.? Have you ever had to kill someone when you were only a month away from turning eighteen years old? Do you have any idea what it is like to kill even if you are killing the most evil being on the planet? I had to do this or the Entire Wizarding world would be lost.

My Potions Professor Snape, with one of Voldemort,s young Deatheaters, Draco Malfoy, attempted to kill the Headmaster of our school. They had allowed Deatheaters to infiltrate the Castle. Malfoy was the same age as I was, and was a potential murderer. Somehow, Malfoys Death Curse missed Dumbledore and he killed Snape instead. Then the Headmaster flung himself over the ledge and out into space. I was in the Tower covered by my invisibility cloak and in a full body bind. I couldn't do a thing. Malfoy thought the headmaster was done for so like all brave Deatheaters he ran for his life. I never saw him again until he fought in the final battle.

The Deatheaters nearly took over the school but the DA stopped them. I freed myself when I became so angry that my magic erupted and went out of control and I threw off the Body Bind. After that fight, we found the headmaster hanging by his Robes from one of the smaller turrets. He was shook up but alive and well. We found out later that Snape had taken a Wizards Oath with Malfoys mother to kill the Headmaster if Malfoy Jr. couldn't do it himself. Malfoy Jr. had been ordered by Voldemort to kill Dumbledore as his initiation into the Ranks of his Deatheaters. Since he cast the Curse he figured he would be okay with Voldemort. I heard from my spy in Slytherin that Malfoy suffered the Cruciatus Curse nightly for weeks after that for leaving the Headmaster alive. All this happened when I was months away from turning sixteen. Since I've killed once I will kill Malfoy if he is still alive. It will be a welcome closure for me."

He continued. "That's enough about that for now. I've raved on long enough. I do not want the Wizarding world to know that I'm alive until I am ready to tell them myself. I have a surrogate family I want to see first, business at Gringotts to take care of, a Fiancee to find again, if she waited for me that is, and I would like to do all this at my leisure. Can you allow me to be dead for a bit longer?"

Enthralled with Harry's tale but utterly appalled by the events that shaped and ruled this young man's life, without hesitating for a second, the Healer agreed to Harry's request. "You will be free to leave tomorrow. We will do our final Diagnostic tests this afternoon and if everything is as it should be, you will be free to go. I will tell no one of your identity. Can you give me a name we can enter for our Clinic records and your real identity will be in my own private files until you advise me otherwise. We will update the Clinic records then also. Does this meet with your approval?"

Harry thought for a bit, and nodded in acceptance. "Healer Ferguson, I am Evan James. I am very pleased to meet you"

"I am pleased to meet you too Mr. James. I will see you after lunch. Sorry it will be a light one for you, as you haven't eaten solid food in four years. Some light soup and ice cream. Will that do?'

"Yes as long as I have a cup of tea, I can live with soup and ice cream. Chocolate please", he begged, using the puppy dog eyes on his Healer that got Ginny every time.

The Healer smirked and said he would use Harry's puppy dog eyes to see if it worked on the kitchen staff.

While Harry waited for his lunch to arrive he began thinking about Ginny. He hoped she had waited for him, but didn't think it was a possibility. He decided to not allow his negative thoughts to interfere with his good mood.

By three o,clock, Harry's tests were finished and he just had to wait until morning for his release from the Clinic. It would be difficult to sleep tonight as thoughts of his Fiancée were crowding his mind. He certainly hoped she had waited, but needed to be realistic about the fact that she had moved on thinking he was dead. He prayed to Merlin that she was waiting for him with open arms. Morning finally arrived and Harry was released from the clinic with the good wishes of the Healers who had cared for him for so many years.

He asked to see as many as were on duty so that he could thank them for the many years they had devoted to his care. "I wish there was something I could do for all of you to show my gratitude", he told them.

"We hope to see you as a visitor some day again Mr. James. We would all really like that. It has been our pleasure to care for you, and your waking up is the greatest gift you could give us", said Healer McTavish. She would miss him as he had been in her care for so many years.

"I will try to visit although I can't promise anything at this time", he replied. After shaking hands all around, Healer Ferguson led him to the Apparition center, and waving and thanking them all once again, he Apparated to Hogsmead. He had noticed the absence of his scar that morning while he was shaving. There was still a very faint line on his forehead, but not the angry red scar of former days,so he hoped that he wouldn,t be so noticeable now. He pulled his hood up over his face, and entered Gringotts where he would receive a shock that would quite literally floor him.

Harry always dealt with Griphook, and so he approached the desk and asked to speak with him. As Griphook neared Harry, he appeared to be slightly startled and before he could open his mouth to speak, Harry held his finger to his own mouth as a signal of the need for silence and privacy. Griphook led Harry into his office, and sealed the door.

He turned to Harry and spoke. "Mr. Potter, we were told by the Ministry that you were dead, but we knew that you were still alive. The Ministry does not listen to Goblins or Elves. I am as delighted as a Goblin can be, to be able to prove them wrong, and to welcome you back with us once more". He smirked at Harry when he saw the look of disbelief on his face after this speech coming from a Goblin mo less.

"Harry we are not immune to 'feeling', and I have known you since you were eleven. I,ve served your banking need since you were hardly taller than I am now, although I can see you,ve sprouted up a bit over the years", he added with another smirk.

Harry couldn,t help laughing. "Thank you my friend. No as you can see, you were right I am very much alive. I spent the last four years in a comatose state in a secluded Clinic somewhere in Scotland.I just woke up yesterday in perfect health once again. Now I need to find out what has happened with my money and properties. I know I left a portion of it to my Fiancée but what about the rest?"

With an expression Harry did not like at all, Griphook answered Harry's question. "As you know happens, when the Ministry in all their wisdom declared you dead, the will you left in my care was read, leaving a controlled Trust Fund and two properties, Potter Manor and your Greek Island Retreat to the then Miss. Weasley. Three years ago she married Draco Malfoy, and they and their two children now live in the Manor".

The next thing Harry remembered was being awakened, and helped up from the hard floor of the office where he had landed when he passed out from the shock of Griphook,s disclosure. Griphook pressed a hot cup of tea into his hands and Harry was sure there was a restorative draught in it, but definitely not a Calming Draught. He felt anything but calm.

"Griphook, I think we need to talk, and I know that everything we discuss will stay with you. I trust you implicitly".

Harry sipped his tea slowly while mulling over the news that Griphook imparted to him. His features took on a stony countenance as he thought, yes Ginny had moved on alright, and with his most hated enemy, and not a decent bloke either. An ice cold feeling covered his body and with a cold resolve he looked once again to Griphook.

"So for three years she and Malfoy have been living off my money, have they? I think we can and will put a stop to that immediately won't we? Will you please retrieve the large envelope I left with you before I returned to Hogwarts after Xmas of my seventh year?"

"Yes Harry. Finish your tea and I will return shortly. He left a fuming Harry behind, and having been privy to the contents of the envelope, he couldn't wait to be a party to the effects this document would have on certain people. Griphook, unlike many other Goblins, had a deep respect, and yes a liking for the young man he was now serving. He had been the first to help Harry when Hagrid brought him into Gringotts at the age of eleven. Even then, the then little boy treated him with respect and had extremely good manners for one so young. From that day on, he had been Harry's personal liason at the Bank. He was angry when Harry,s Fiancée had married Malfoy.. but was forced to accept the situation. At least Harry had been farsighted enough to allow a rather basic amount from the vault on a monthly basis only.

He returned to Harry and handed the envelope to him. Harry withdrew the contents and read aloud the words he wrote so many years ago. "In the event that I return from the battle with Voldemort, unscathed and of sound mind, I shall reassume immediate control of any remaining moneys and chattels and all properties listed in my Vaults and in my last will and testament thus voiding all other bequests." This codicil was signed by Harry, and two witnesses.

He looked once again at Griphook and began, in a steely voice, to outline what he wanted done. As he spoke, the Goblin's face was a study in amazement and almost unbridled glee. Goblins did not smile per se, rather they grimaced, and his grimace was as close to a smile as Harry had ever seen. When he finished outlining what he needed done, he added in a harsh voice, "I do believe I have some very unpleasant surprises for a former Fiancée, and I don't think for one minute she will like even one of the surprises".

Harry made a few other decisions with Griphook and took his leave of his little friend.

"I wish I could be there Harry, but I'll have to wait for details when next we meet. Good-day to you my friend".

They shook hands and after attaining a charge card which allowed him access to his funds, he left the Bank and Apparated to #4 Privet Drive, the hellhole he had been forced to exist in for nearly all his life. He had unfinished business to take care of here and little did he know that his life would take a turn for the better before he was finished.

Harry decided to knock on the door so that his Aunt would not be too shocked seeing him alive and well. Knocking didn't help as when Petunia opened the door and saw him standing there, she fell to the floor in a dead faint. Harry picked her up and deposited her on the sofa. He went to the cabinet where he knew she hid her brandy and poured her a shot. He then enervated her and sat her up handing her the brandy. She opened her mouth to scream but he silenced her. He didn't need any nosy neighbors coming to see what was wrong or worse still calling the Muggle Police. He spoke quickly.

"If I remove the Silencing Charm, will you promise to listen to what I have to say?" She nodded her head yes and Harry did as he promised and related to her what had happened to him four years ago and up to the present, omitting his visit to Gringotts. "He concluded by saying, "I have only come for my trunk and other belongings. I spelled them to return to your attic in the event of my absence or death. They are invisible to everyone but me. I will just take them and leave".

In the stillness that followed this announcement, Harry heard a small whimper. He looked around trying to sense where it was emanating from. It was too close to be upstairs, and not in the room they were presently in, but close by. The sound came again and unwillingly Petunias eyes darted to and quickly away from the dreaded space under the stairs where he had lived for ten years or so. Harry saw where she had looked and his face turned a deathly shade of white. He tore over to the locked door with Petunia's yells of,"No Harry, don't open that door", ringing in his ears.

Ignoring her pleas, Harry's magic rose and with superhuman strength, he pulled the door casing clear from the opening and flung it aside. His heart broke as the memories of living in this small, cramped space overwhelmed him. In the small space, curled up into a Fetal position as he had done for years, was the most beautiful little child he had ever seen. He had a difficult time of it attempting to fit even the upper half of his body far enough into the space to reach her. He gently placed his hands and arms under her legs and head and inched backwards slowly. He tried not to frighten her any more than he possibly could. He finally felt the air around him and stood with the baby in his arms. She was nestling into his chest and clinging to him for dear life. He kissed her little head and hugged her gently.

Turning towards his aunt he glared fiercely at her. How could you do this to your own child? There is no excuse valid enough to warrant punishing a baby this way. "One word Petunia, explanations!! And I want them now!"

Petunia began to cry. "She's a Witch like you and Vernon doesn't want her in the house or anywhere near him or our Dudders. Dudley has moved out now, but he won't even visit us if she is in the house. I keep her mildly sedated when he visits to keep her asleep. We can't allow the neighbors to know she exists. We told them that she died when she was a year old and showed signs of being a freak like you and my sister".

Harry blew up and nearly lost it again. You and your family are the only freaks around here. He was still holding the baby and was amazed at the love he felt for this tiny cousin of his. Yes, she was his family and he'd be damned if she was going to go through the same abuse that was heaped upon him while growing up in this house.

"What do you intend to do with your daughter? Leave her in a cupboard until she gets her letter from Hogwarts like I did? Or will you take her for a ride some dark night and dump her by the roadside like Muggles do to unwanted pets?"

Petunias nerves were cracking. The loathing in her nephew's voice was digging into her very soul, but she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of knowing this. "No, Vernon is off work on Saturdays so we're taking her to a Muggle orphanage. They can have her and good riddance to her"

Harry was livid. "Oh no you will do no such thing! I will take her to Potter Manor with me now. She is my flesh and blood and she will not be dumped in any orphanage, nor will she live in the hole under your stairs for one more minute. I will hire a Wizarding Lawyer and make all the arrangements to adopt her. If you or Vernon object, I will allow the Lawyer to see my memories of this hole with the baby curled up in it, and jail will be too good for the both of you. Don't you fight me on the decision I have made. I will have papers delivered to you personally tomorrow, and you would both do well to sign them without any argument. This baby is too good for the likes of you scum. You are the lowest form of life. Even animals cherish and fight for their children more than you two do. You should feel ashamed but that would be asking too much wouldn't it? Goodbye", and he Apparated to the attic, retrieved his trunk, shrank it, and Apparated to the burrow, his real home.

Landing in the front yard, and still fuming, he, without thinking, stormed into the kitchen and came face to face with Molly causing her to scream and faint into a heap onto the floor.

"Not again", he cried. "What's with me and fainting today? First me, Petunia, and now Molly. He put the baby on the sofa and tucked her in so she wouldn't wake up and fall off of it, enervated Molly and led her to the kitchen where he made her a cup of tea. He could use one too at this point. Once she got over the shock of seeing a very much alive Harry, he began relating the last battle and the decision he made to leave for a little while to collect his thoughts. "My magic was not strong enough after the battle to take me where I wanted to go and I ended up being found by clean up Wizards and taken to a secluded Clinic someplace in Scotland. "I don't even know the location of the Clinic as it is hidden"

He told her about his trip to Gringotts and his findings there minus the news about Ginny, and finally he told her about his visit to Privet Drive and the story of his little cousin. "I don't even know her name, but I intend to adopt her as soon as I can visit the Ministry to prove to them that I did not die in the Battle. Will you take care of my baby for a while?" He knew that Molly was just dying to get her hands on the baby, as her eyes and ears had been attuned to the presence of the baby since he had left her on the sofa. "Oh Harry I would love to care for her, and I am happier than words can say that you are back with us. Now my lost son is back with us again. She jumped up and gave him another massive hug. "I have a lot of hugs waiting for you my dear" You can have Percy's old room for you and the baby. It is the best and neatest of them all"

"It will only be for a while Molly. I plan to make my home in my Manor as soon as possible"

"Harry, I hate to have to tell you this but….. Harry put his fingers over her lips. "Shhh! I know all about it. Griphook told me all the details. I had a Codicil to my will that stated that in the event of my return to the Wizarding World, all my property and money would revert to me. I assure you it is legal. I was planning on sharing my wealth evenly with he, if she had waited for me. Since this is not the case any longer, I now have complete control of all my holdings. I think that the Malfoys are in for a rude awakening".

"Harry, we tried to talk her out of the marriage, but she seemed bent on revenge against your desertion of her. You promised on your life to return to her, and when you didn't return she became very bitter. None of the family can tolerate Malfoy. He is still a bully, and the twins have jinxed him so many times that he hates coming to the Burrow. Ginny drags him here to rub the fact of your desertion in our faces, and that you are not worthy of our love. We never gave up hope and the rest of the family will be delighted at your return"

"Do you still have the family dinners each Thursday? If so the baby and I will attend. There's no better way to let my family know that I am back in the fold, so to speak. Make sure that the Malfoys are here too. I want to be the one to break the news to her in person. I would also like to tell the family myself, so maybe they could come early. Say maybe five O'clock? And could you keep Baby quiet, and not let her be seen till I get here? I'll go to the Ministry tomorrow, but today I need to shop for my daughter. She has nothing. Looking down at his ill-fitting clothes, he grimaced. I guess I need some decent togs too. The last thing I would do was take any of her things from the Dursleys", and he spat the name out distastefully.

Suddenly he experienced an epiphany. Molly we can't keep calling her Baby, now can we? She's nearly two years old, and she need a new name for her new life. What do you think of the name Lillian Molly for my new daughter?" With tears in her eyes, she said. "Harry, I would be deeply honored to have her given my name as well as your Mums. Thank you son" She hugged him fiercely and wept on his shoulder.

"I am so sorry for your heartache Harry and I am ashamed of my daughter"

Sitting down again, he said. "No Molly. Don't be. There's something wrong with this whole picture and I intend to find out what it is. Until then, I'm keeping an open mind, as hard as I know it will be to do so. When Griphook told me what I needed to know, I died a little bit inside. I feel fine now, and unlike all the times I said I was fine when I wasn't, I am fine now. If she had moved on with someone decent, it would have still been hard to accept, but the way she did it and the one she chose, revolted me and made it easier to move on. I have my little Lily now, and who knows, there may be a nice young Witch out there just waiting for me to find her. I want to concentrate on my new daughter for now. Tell me Molly, how is it possible to fall in love so easily with a baby you've never seen before? I feel as if the Dursleys had her just for me. Does this make sense to you?"

"Yes love, I believe in fate. It's as if you are being rewarded for freeing our world of the Evil which almost took it over. Fate woke you up on just the right day too. Any later and she would have been lost to you and I wouldn't have a new granddaughter to help spoil. She's also better than any Order of Merlin, First Class, that the Ministry will insist on bestowing on you, isn't she? Harry, you have a heart full of love to bestow on your daughter Lily, and she will be your road to healing. I wouldn't expect anything less from you. I love you as if you were my own son. This will always be your home, and please don't ever forget it will you?"

"You've always been a mother to me too, and I will not allow myself and Lily to become strangers. What if I find a new girlfriend, will she be welcome too? he asked smilingly. He was thinking back to a certain young healer and if not her, then he would meet others in time. He couldn't shake the odd empty feeling that settled in his stomach whenever he thought of moving on with someone else in his life.

"Harry, you will pick well, I am sure. Yes she will be as welcome in this home as you are"

Harry stood and said. "Okay thank you for your support. I need to leave now, but I'll be back soon with a few things for Lily". Molly stood also and they went into the sitting room to find a wide-awake angel looking up at them from Harry and Lily Potter's eyes. Her eyes were as beautiful a green as Harry's were. Her hair was a dark brown hair lightly tinged with auburn highlights. She was, in both these adults' opinions, the most beautiful baby they had ever seen. Molly scooped the child up into her arms and Lily burrowed into her neck. She so needed love and she was in the right arms to receive it.

After hugging Molly and Lily together, he took Lily from her arms and covered her little face with little butterfly kisses he soon had her giggling. I bet this is the first thing she's ever been able to giggle about anything Molly thought to herself. Hugging her tightly once more he said, "Daddy loves you heart of my heart. Go to Grandma now and she'll feed you and spoil you to bits. I'm only thankful I rescued her in time", this last in an aside to Molly.

Molly was once more weepy at being called Lily's Grandma by Harry. Remembering the offer of Percy's room, he took what belongings he had, including his shrunken trunk upstairs and deposited them in the room. It was as neat and clean as ever other room in the house was. Returning to the kitchen he reminded her to keep his return a secret.for a while longer.

Harry Apparated to the Leaky Cauldron, and from there he quickly exited into Muggle London. He removed his cloak, shrunk it unobtrusively, and stuffed it in his pocket. Today he was to all intents and purposes, a Muggle, on an ordinary shopping trip for his baby girl. His heart swelled with love when he pictured her little face which held his Mum's eyes. From the first she had settled down into his arms as if she knew this was where she belonged. She was so tiny, but because of the small space he lived in for so many years, he'd been a scrawny titch too. He was sure there was no lasting damage as she had only been kept in the small space for the last year. It was still far too long, and he'd get them back if it was the last thing he did. Now she,d have every chance to grow and flourish in his care.

Harry spent the most delightful afternoon buying just about everything he thought a little girl would need or want. He purchased more clothes than she would need in her lifetime, toys, and you name it, he bought it and then some. Finally, when he could carry no more, he donned his cloak once again. He returned to the Leaky Cauldron and flooed back to the Burrow. He took all of his purchases up to his room, and yes he did remember a few items for himself, but only because all the clothing he owned in his trunk were Dudley's old rags. He joined Molly in the kitchen. It would be at least two hours before the family would gather, and Harry and Molly were able to catch up on the happenings of the entire family.

Two pots of tea later, Harry decided to shower and change into a more presentable outfit. Molly offered to take care of Lily and he agreed with alacrity. She would be in her glory bathing Lily and picking through the many outfits Harry had bought for her. She'll never get to wear all these clothes she thought. He really must have had fun shopping. She smilingly informed Harry that she would begin training him on the care of his child as soon as possible. In the meantime, she informed him with a no nonsense look in her eyes that she would care for Lily as often as possible. "After all, she is my Grandbaby, isn't she?" Kissing her cheek, he told her she would be the Grandmother of all the babies he would eventually have, "even if I never marry, I'll adopt a dozen just for you to spoil. This short time with Lily has shown me what family is all about".

Leaving her with Lily, he showered and dressed. It was amazing what decent clothes could do for your self-esteem. He no longer felt like a ragamuffin. Also he couldn't help wondering what would happen when he finally came face to face with the Malfoys. He felt numb when he thought of her and he despised him. Would he see any of his old Ginny in her eyes, or was she lost to all of them forever.

Molly interrupted his thoughts by bringing a smiling and beautifully dressed Lily up to him. "I fed her some milk and porridge. She was as hungry as a little bear. We need to feed her small meals until her little tummy gets used to food again. Harry I do believe she is slightly malnourished".

Harry scowled at her words. "Why am I not surprised? They practically starved me for ten years. When I arrived at Hogwarts I ate so much at the opening feast that I vomited it all back up. My stomach wouldn't take the load. I envied Ron being able to eat so much. It got better as the year passed and soon I was giving Ron a run for his money in the food eating department" Molly threw her head back in laughter. "I'd love to have seen the food eating contests you and Ron had, they must have been hilarious. I know how she shovels the food into his mouth. I mean shovels quite literally. At least that's all behind you now. Relax for a bit now. Silence the room so we can't hear Lily or you for that matter. I know you'll be playing a boisterous game with her sooner or later, and I need to finish dinner. I hope I don't give anything away. I just want to smile and smile, I'm that happy"

Harry relaxed on the bed with Lily. Getting to know her was delightful. Her green eyes fascinated him, as he had never paid attention to his own green eyes, He'd just let Mum and Gin gush over them. She was almost more like him than a child of his own could be. Harry began a game of exploration. First, he took her little shoes off. He checked to make sure she had all ten of her toes. He tickled and nibbled at them, causing her to begin giggling aloud. He loved her little giggle. He put her socks and shoes back on her and checked out her fingers, Yes, she had ten perfect little fingers too and so he nibbled on them also. He kissed each finger in turn pouring out all the love he held in his heart but had never been shown as a child growing up. He would make sure Lily knew she was loved and cherished if it was the last thing he ever did. He kissed her eyes, nose and her cheeks. He was sure she had never known love since she had first shown signs of magic. Thankfully she wasn't long in accepting the love and adoration he was showering upon her. "I love you my little Lily. I'm your daddy now", he told her. She looked into his eyes and he could hear a very faint "Da-da?" His eyes teared up as he hugged her close and replied, "You said Da-da, yes Lily I'm your Daddy".

Hearing the first of the arrivals exiting the Floo, he picked Lily up and made his way slowly towards the stairs. "Baby girl, the next few hours should be very interesting. Are we ready for the family or should I ask if they are ready for us?" Stepping onto the first stair,he firmed his shoulders up and with head held high, he began the long walk down the stairs to his 'family and the rest of his life.

TBC.