Story Summary – Harry. Weasleys. Hermione. Sirius. Remus. After Hogwarts. Post Voldemort. New Evil On The Horizon. Harry returns after 4 years fighting Voldemort. Everyone happy. To begin with.
The Future
Holds No Limits
Chapter one: And so it begins…
The Untitled Author
Discalimer: This refers to the whole story – It's not mine. I didn't create anything except anything that I did.
And so it begins… Enjoy.
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It was a cold February afternoon as Dumbledore was sitting behind his desk sifting through his many pensieve memories. This was one of a very few highly magical pensieves in the world, not only did it store as many memories as Dumbledore wanted but he was able to wonder, physically though without form, throughout any of these memories as he wanted unlike the usual pensieves in existence in which it was only possible to view the memories from a distance. He was currently searching for his last conversation with Harry Potter…
"Sir, I believe I'm getting close to the secrets"
"That's excellent Harry. I have already sent Remus out to join you and Sirius, I had a feeling it might be time soon." Dumbledore informed Harry, before continuing, "Remember Harry, we need as many to remain alive as possible. Try to get Sirius to refrain from killing anymore of the Death Eaters. We do not want to join their level. Also the more wizards we have giving evidence at Sirius' trial the better."
"Ok Sir. I need to go, this will be over soon though" Harry said hurriedly, as Dumbledore heard some noises in the background. Just as Harry put out the fire the last thing Dumbledore heard was what he thought to be another man's voice… Though he couldn't make out what was being said, nor was he certain who it was, but it sounded like they were worried, and this in turn made him worried, he just hoped he was worried without reason.
Knock Knock
"Come in" Dumbledore said not thinking to look at his enlarged version of the Marauders map that Sirius and Remus had put together for him six years ago as they all realised they would need tighter security at Hogwarts as Voldemort was really back.
"Afternoon Sir" Said Harry Potter nonchalantly as he walked into the room with some what of a forced smile on his face.
"Harry! I was getting worried about you after our last conversation. So tell me, is it over?" Dumbledore inquired of Harry.
"It is."
"Excellent news. Do fill me in on what happened."
"Well, during our last talk, Voldemort somehow wondered into our hideout. We're still not entirely sure why. To be honest it's now mostly a blur of memories, I doubt even a pensieve could sort through this lot" he said tapping the side of his head, "Sirius noticed him first while he was transformed outside and ran in to inform me. We hid as we weren't prepared and we assumed he knew we where there."
"Voldemort didn't know you where there when he walked in?" Dumbledore asked.
"Apparently not. So, anyway, there we were hiding away in this small cavern believing Voldemort had come knowing we were here and to attempt to kill us.",. Harry forced a smile as he said the word attempt "Then we see Remus coming in behind him, luckily we made eye contact and then we silently came to a decision to just attack him there, figuring this was the best opportunity anyone had ever had. Remus stunned him from behind and then we stunned him from the front. Obviously he was much too powerful for this to affect him much but he did seem slightly dazed."
"So how did you defeat him?"
"Well, at this point Voldemort was… Let's just say he was quite angry. Anyway before he had the chance to do anything I hit him with the killing curse which just appeared to knock the wind out of him a bit but at least it also knocked him off his feet. Then Remus and Sirius attacked him with the Destructivo curse. I didn't believe it had any effect on biological bodies, and at first it didn't appear to do anything and then for some reason I said the killing curse again and this time it was amazing... It was not like anything I've ever seen before. The green light seemed to… I don't know… purge his body of his dark defences and then it broke up and then no sooner than the green light had scattered it all came together at a point in what appeared to be Voldemort's chest and he just collapsed."
"Well done, Harry and indeed Remus and Sirius. I assume they are still out there gathering the remaining death eaters?"
"Yes. Although I did bring home one Peter Pettigrew as I didn't want Sirius killing him. I cursed him so he couldn't transform and then handed him into the ministry to look after for a while."
"Well done, Harry. I must say it does help when we have a Minister for Magic who is not blind to the darkness in this world. I can't see that Voldemort would have ever been defeated if Fudge had remained as minister. Anyway, Harry, I think it's time you went and saw your friends. Perhaps try to recapture some of your lost youth." Dumbledore said with a wink.
"Thank you. Oh, before I forget… Er… About letting the wizarding world know of our victory?" Asked Harry before he turned to leave.
"Do not think about it, I will write a letter to the prophet as soon as you have left, explaining everything they need to know."
"Thank you very much sir" Harry answered.
"Oh, one last thing Harry… You haven't been a student for a long time. I think, Albus will suffice." Dumbledore said with the first smile on his face after a long time in a truly dark world.
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Harry wondered down the road to Hogsmeade after his meeting with Dumbledore. He knew he wanted to find Ron and Hermione but he was unsure of how to find them, so he just walked down the road and thought about all that happened to him in the past four years. All that had happened to everyone else. All that he had missed out on, he knew Ron and Hermione where seeing each other as he had had a few sparse conversations with them but he knew he would have missed a lot. As he approached Hogsmeade he decided he would go have a butterbeer before returning to the Burrow for the first time, where he would find out where Ron and Hermione were.
As he swung open the door to the small pub he noticed it was unusually empty, not completely empty but just very few people, and of these few people all of them turned to the door and looked apprehensively at this unknown entering the pub. Harry probably should have realised it had been four years since anyone had been able to just walk into a pub. These days it was a lot harder to go unnoticed, especially – as in Harry's case – if you were wearing a black cloak with the hood pulled up. As Harry walked up to the bar every eye in the room followed him, making him slightly uneasy to say the least.
"Er… Afternoon," Harry said to Madam Rosmerta.
"And who exactly are you?" Madam Rosmerta replied?
"Well… My friends call me Harry" He replied as he lifted his hair slightly knowing this would get the job done a bit quicker. The bar lady had a sudden intake of breath and everyone in the pub got very worried about who this unknown was.
"Well, I'll be damned. It must have been at least five years since you where in here. I heard you'd gone to fight, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" She said whispering the last part.
"Well, let's just say I'm back. Could I have a butterbeer?"
"Of course you can." And at this Madam Rosmerta served Harry his long awaited butterbeer; it had been an age since he had last tasted the warmth in one of those. As Harry was given his butterbeer he sensed the atmosphere loosen up a lot and people started returning to what they had been doing, obviously taking the line that if Madam Rosmerta trusts him he can't be here to kill them all.
"Is that alright Mr. Potter?"
"Mmm… that's really good. It's been a very long time since I've tasted anything this good."
Madam Rosmerta seemed to want to ask a question as she eyed Harry while he was drinking his butterbeer. As Harry was half way through his drink, she finally asked. "Do you mind me asking if everything went well with Voldemort…? It's just well… Well, If you're back then that can really only mean one of two things, can't it? You beat him or you left to fight another day – no offence of course Harry, it's what everyone in their right mind would have done from the off, against the darkest wizard of the age."
"I beat him" Harry replied lethargically. "Eventually. Though would you mind keeping that to your self as Dumbledore is in the process of writing a letter to the prophet to explain it all. And I think it's just better everyone find out at once. Just be sure to buy the prophet tomorrow." At this Harry got up and gave Madam Rosmerta the money for the drink and a smile before he turned to leave the bar, "Oh, and thanks very much for the drink"
Harry left the pub working out the best way to get to the Burrow. The only way he could think of getting there was to apparate, however there was one problem with this… He didn't have a license. He'd never needed a British Apparating License before now. In the end he decided it'd be better to risk it and get there quicker.
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Harry apparated just outside the Burrow's boundaries and walked up to the door, and as he approached he saw Molly Weasley come to the door with a wide smile on her face.
"Harry! Harry dear, it's so good to see you again!" Molly Weasley said as she dragged Harry into a welcoming hug, making Harry properly happy for the first time since he'd been back, knowing he was wanted and Molly Weasley would still treat him as part of the family.
"Hello Molly, how did you know I was coming?"
"Ah dear, you remember just before you left we had you put into our clock, I just happened to be looking at it waiting for those awful twins and your hand happened to pop to 'Home' I was amazed to say the least, but didn't waste any time in getting to the door."
"Oh, yes I remember now. Well it's very good to see you; I hope you and Arthur are ok?"
"We're both well, although it's been strange with the empty house after so long with such a full and busy house. I'm still not used to it and it's been three years since Ginny moved out. Anyway come in Harry, come in. I must start work on your welcoming dinner."
"Are you sure? I came looking for Ron and Hermione really; I don't want to be any bother to you at all." Harry said quickly as he thought of all the work he was making for Mrs. Weasley.
"Nonsense Harry, we all agreed you deserved a welcoming dinner when you returned." Molly replied emphasising the 'when'. "You make yourself comfortable in the living room and I'll sort everything out."
So at that Harry walked into the ever familiar living room and sat down. Feeling, for the first time in years, truly safe. He vaguely heard Molly over the fire talking to her children and what sounded like Arthur.
"Alright, Harry. That's all sorted out. Everyone will be here as soon as they can. They're all really looking forward to seeing you again." Molly said excitedly.
Harry could see she was really enjoying this. An excuse to get the whole family together again. "Thank you Molly, this is really kind of you." And just before he finished he heard a pop and what sounded like Hermione's voice from around the corner in the kitchen – "Hello, Molly? Harry?" She said the last word with a hint of a shake in her voice.
"We're in here Hermione." Molly said out to Hermione.
As Hermione came in and made eye contact with Harry she ran towards him and gave him a great hug and Harry felt what he thought was a tear on his shoulder. "Harry! It's so good to see you again!" Hermione said happily, "How are you doing?"
"Well I'm great now and it feels so good to know that in just a few minutes everyone will be here and I'll be back where I belong. With my family." Harry replied enthusiastically. "How are you doing, Hermione? How's Ron?" Harry asked with a smile and a wink.
At which point Hermione playfully punched him on the arm, "Hmm, I'm good… And Ron, well you can ask him yourself in a minute. He just had some things to finish up at home." Hermione replied happily.
"Home? Do you have your own place?" Harry asked.
"Well, we've got a small flat in London. It's not big, but yes, it's home. Oh! Talking of home, you must stay with us until you get your feet back on the ground. If you want that is of course. Just it'd be really nice to be able to catch up. And we can fill you in on everything."
"That'd be great, Hermione. Thanks very much" Harry said still smiling.
"Harry! It's good to see you again mate!" Ron said enthusiastically as he came round the corner.
"Long time no see, Ronald" Harry said chuckling.
"Oi, do you want me to have to beat you up already. You've only been home a few minutes and you're already starting on me?" Ron replied still smiling.
"Aw, you love it really." Harry taunted, knowing exactly how much he hated it.
"Anyway, you're home just in time for…" Ron paused for effect.
"Do continue…" Harry prompted.
"Well, I've got amazing tickets for the next cannons match and I don't think Hermione's really interested all that much, so I'm officially uninviting Hermione," He smiled at his girlfriend who just laughed, "and officially inviting you. What do you say Harry?"
"That's excellent Ron, I'd love to. It's been so long since I've seen any quidditch."
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Dinner that night was a highly buoyant affair, everyone was very pleased Harry had finally returned, and even more so to learn of Voldemort's demise. Harry was disappointed to see though that Percy and Penelope had not bought any of their three children with them. He had been quite looking forward to meeting them after Ron had told him stories about there mischief, it turns out that unfortunately enough for Percy his children are more like Fred and George than him (although only six, four and two years old.)
Later on in the evening they got talking about there lives, as Harry had not been able to ever talk to Ron for long enough to get all the details.
"Well, Harry, as you know I've been married now for just under four years. We've had three lovely children, who are just about behaving themselves" Percy said smiling. "Oh, we didn't think it would be appropriate to bring them here tonight, so we left them with one of Penny's friends. As far as my job goes, the man they hired after the… Er… the Mr. Crouch incident was not anywhere near up to the required standard in this line of work and he quit after a year, and thus I was promoted to head of the department. Quite an honour I must add." Percy said proudly.
"Me and Fred -"
"Fred and I, dear." Corrected Mrs. Weasley.
"Er, yes. As I was saying, Fred and I, set up Weasley Wizard Wheezes to entertain the wizarding masses during the dark times"
"And to make a bit of money" Interrupted Fred.
"Well, yeh of course, that too" George replied smiling. "Well that was about five years ago, and now well it's going well to say the least."
"I think we're the biggest producer of Wizarding Mischief Products in the world" Fred continued.
"Wow, that's impressive. Well done guys." Harry replied.
"Thanks, Harry." Fred said.
"In more ways than one." George said with a wink. Referring to the money Harry had given them at the end of his fourth year for them to set up the business.
"Why don't we all move into the living room, much more comfortable in there." Mrs. Weasley said seeing they had all finished the meal.
At that note everyone got up and headed into to the living room to continue the conversation.
"Bill, why don't you tell Harry, all about your work?" Molly Weasley said sounding proud of her son.
"Well, I've been curse breaking for the ministry for the past few years -"
"I know that much, you've done some amazing work, I've been told you're the one who broke the curses on Voldemort's old house. Which helped us a lot might I add" Harry interrupted smiling.
"Indeed… And ever since that time work has been… incredibly easy to find. People seem to think I'm the best in the business, which isn't true. I mean when you look at all the great curse breakers out there like Gerald Piket and Rosmary Figg."
"Stop being so modest Bill, we know who the best is." Molly replied to her son's statements smiling at him.
Although Bill did look incredibly of put by this praise, Harry guessed Bill didn't like being known as the best curse breaker in the world. After about half a minute silence, Harry spoke to Charlie, the eldest Weasley brother.
"What about you Charlie?"
"Well, Harry… I've been working in the Far East for the last six years working with the dragons there… And, well, now… I'm… I'm moving back to England. Not sure what to do yet, but I've done all I can in the east." Said Charlie.
At this news Mrs. Weasley was overjoyed; she had been waiting for one of her two 'lost sons' to move back for years. "That's wonderful dear, when do you come back?" she asked.
"In about two weeks time. Just got some paper work I need to finish up, and then I'm done. Though I can't say I'll be in the country forever I'll certainly be here for a few months. Just until something pops up." Mrs. Weasley did look a little less joyous but still incredibly happy none the less.
Harry next found out all about Ginny's work for the Daily Prophet, it would appear she was working her way up the reporters ladder as she thought she was getting more decent projects than ever before.
"Originally I was getting all the rubbish no one else could be bothered with, like small incidents in small wizarding villages, that rarely even made the paper, however I'm not sure why, but recently they've started giving me better stories which is great, I'm sure I'll have my first front page anytime now." Ginny said laughing.
As the evening ran on everyone started getting very tired, but it was well after 12 before anyone left, and then by 1:00 Harry, Ron and Hermione were crossing the threshold into Ron and Hermione's flat.
Hermione gave Harry a brief tour before sorting out the sofa bed and the sheets. "Sunday tomorrow Harry, so we'll probably have breakfast at about 10:00. Alright?"
"That's great Hermione, and thanks for letting me stay with you" Harry replied.
"Anytime Harry." Hermione said laughing, before she turned to leave. "Goodnight, Harry".
"Goodnight."
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