Harry Potter and the Plight of Pretense
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
Harry Potter sprung to a sitting position, sweat dripping down his exhausted, battered and bruised body. The last twenty-four hours had seemed like the longest, most arduous of Harry's life. The defeat of Voldemort came at a very large cost, one that he didn't know how to deal with. The deaths of Fred, Remus and Tonks were on the forefront of his mind as he remembered walking towards the forest and being surround by destruction and the stench of blood splattered across the battlefield.
Harry shook his head and climbed out of his four-poser bed, sturdily planting his feet on the ground and reaching for his glasses off of the nightstand. Harry looked around with cleared vision and saw Ron and Hermione curled up together on Ron's old bed. He was happy for his two best friends, he had been waiting for this moment for years. Harry had always known that they belonged together. He quietly slipped past them and made his way to the lavatory.
Harry gently took off his clothes and looked at himself in the mirror. Harry noticed the new scar where he had been hit with the killing curse merely hours before, then he noticed the scrapes and bruises running up and down his arms and legs. He still couldn't believe that he was alive. Was it fair that he was alive when so many had died? Could he survive the guilt that flooded through his very being? Who was he? What was he? What would happen to him once everybody discovered the truth? Could he give Ginny what she deserves and did he even want to anymore?
Harry walked into the shower and felt the warm water dripping down his naked body, looking down at the floor he saw all of the dirt and grime being washed away and he realized that the only thing that he was absolutely sure of was that he NEEDED to be the godfather that he never had… He was going to take care of Teddy! Harry hung his head as sobs escaped his throat, tears started rolling down his cheeks and desperation wracked his being. How would he deal with the pressure of once again being the Boy Who Lived?
Harry slowly got dressed, careful to avoid his new cuts and bruises, and readied himself from the on-slaughter of questions that he knew that he was about to face. He walked out of the bathroom and saw Hermione sitting the edge of Ron's bed as he approached her Harry nodded his head and muttered a quiet greeting, "Good morning 'Mione." "Harry!" Hermione jumped off the edge of the bed and enveloped Harry into an enormous hug. "We're alive!" she exclaimed. "You're alive… What happened out there Harry? One minute you were dead in Hagrid's arms, the next you were in a duel to the death with You-Know-Who…"
"Damn Hermione! He was just a man, use his name!" Hermione stared at Harry after his disruption and she heard the fumbling of blankets being thrown off as Ron muttered, "What's with all the noise mate?" Harry looked at Ron and turned back to Hermione before simply stating, "We need to discuss what we are going to say… and who we are going to allow to hear our story."
The Golden Trio sat in a circle, each sitting on a different bed facing one another as Hermione took the lead, "We should create a list of people that we feel deserve to hear our story… and of course, what we are going to tell them. Also, we need to go over what we are going to tell the press whenever the conference is announced."
"I think that we should let Kinsley and McGonagall decide what we tell the press," chimed in Harry, "also, we should create a list of people of whom we are intending on being our audience. Hermione, would you do us the honor?" "Only because nobody can read either of your writing," was her reply.
Ron cleared his throat, "First off, I think that we need to have my family present, Hagrid, Kinsley, McGonagall, and the remaining members of the Order of Phoenix in attendance. Then, I think we should include Neville, Ginny, Luna and the rest of Dumbledore's Army…"
"I think that we should also include the rest of the Hogwarts Professors… Is there anyone else that either of you would like to include," asked Harry.
Hermione's voice was deathly quiet as a hoarse whisper came out of her pursed lips, "I need to tell my parents, but there will be time for that later." Ron and Harry exchanged a look that they both knew meant, don't say a word…
Harry stood up, stretched and motioned for the other two to do the same, "It's time to go face the music." The trio began descending the staircase, passing through the Common Room to a bout of cheers, out the portrait hole and continued to make their way to the Great Hall. As Harry walked in, his gaze passed throughout the Great Hall and his eyes fell on a subdued group of redheads all huddled together, next to them sat a woman with dark hair, holding whom he could only assume was Teddy Lupin, his godson. As the trio neared the group Harry's eyes me the woman's and he was absorbed into them. He could see the depth of emotions swimming in her eyes, the desperation and the same feeling of having lost oneself, although her face showed no signs of emotion. Her eyes never left his.
Ron walked up to his mother and embraced her sobbing form. All that could be understood in what Molly Weasley was saying were bits and pieces of phrases, "Fred," "My darling son," "Why," "Too soon," "A parent should never have to bury their child," as her heartbreaking sobs continued to permeate across the Great Hall. The Weasley's absorbed into themselves and Ron refused to release Hermione's hand and pulled her right along with him. Harry watched as the family that he had grown to love as his own collapsed into the depths of their despair associated with losing someone so dear to them.
Andromeda Tonks watched Harry Potter closely as the interaction with the Weasley's took place. As Harry started to become an outside member of the Weasley clan, their eyes met once again. Harry walked purposefully towards Andromeda and the bundle that she held tightly in her arms. Andromeda opened her mouth to speak to the boy in front of her. No, she corrected herself, the young man in front of her but no words came out of her mouth. Should she hate him for the loss of her family? Should she fear that he would take away her dear Teddy? Thought after painful thought raced through her head. She knew that it was illogical to be mad at Harry for her losses but she just couldn't help herself, her grief over the loss of her family had made her extremely withdrawn from others and skeptical of their motives if they spoke to her. If she lost Teddy too, she couldn't bear to think about what would have become of her.
Harry stared at Andromeda before stammering out, "Hello Mrs. Tonks, my name is Harry Potter. I am so very sorry for your loss. Remus and Tonks mean the world to me, I can't stand losing them, I feel responsible for Teddy's loss." He wiped tears from his eyes as he continued, "I wasn't sure if Remus and Tonks mentioned to you that they asked me to be Teddy's godfather… But, I just want to let you know that I will always be here for Teddy and if either of you ever need anything, please do not hesitate to tell me, I will make sure that you are taken care of."
Andromeda gave Harry a curious look and on the verge of breaking into tears said, "You're not going to take my grandson from me! I don't know what I will do if I lose him. I won't let you take him!" she shouted.
The accusatory sound in her voice was apparent and Harry picked his next words very carefully, "Mrs. Tonks, I meant no offense and there was no hidden meaning, I have no agenda or will to take Teddy from you. I just needed to tell you that I am and will always be here to help and I mean it. I grew up without my parents and I would never wish that on anyone. I loved his parents and I made a promise to them. Please, let me keep my promise. Let me help," Harry pleaded.
Andromeda looked up at Harry's face and gave a solemn nod in response as fresh tears rolled down her face. Harry felt a light tapping on his shoulder and he quickly turned around, pointing his wand into the face of Professor McGonagall, he quickly muttered an apology and was nervous as to the reasoning behind the interruption. Harry swiftly moved to give the sleeping Teddy a kiss on the forehead and gave Andromeda a very brief and gentle smile before turning and following Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall and up the stone staircase.
McGonagall walked at a very brisk pace and Harry was having a difficult time keeping up with her, "What is this about Professor?" he asked. She responded with a stiff, "Not here," in a very final tone. The walk up to the new headmistress's office went surprisingly quickly and as Harry walked into the room he took a seat opposite McGonagall and realized that Ron and Hermione were already seated on the right side of him, still holding each other's hand.
Ron and Hermione maintained their tightly clasped hand holding as if they were afraid that if they let go, they would lose one another forever. Professor McGonagall cleared her throat before saying, "First, I want to say thank you on behalf of the entire Wizarding Community!" The Trio looked up at her speechless. She continued, "You have done the Magical Community a great service in getting rid of Voldemort and I wish to be the first to convey my gratitude. Having gotten that out of the way, I wish to inform you that the interim Minister would like to speak with you about this feat… and I am rather curious as well as to what the three of you have been up to recently." A smile lit up her wrinkled face then just as suddenly, it had disappeared.
Harry thought about what Minerva had said carefully before responding, "Who is the new interim Minister?" As if Minerva knew this would be his response, she nodded and out of the shadows stepped a tall man that the Trio knew rather well, Kingsley Shacklebolt made his way to Minerva's desk and looked at the Trio, "That would be me…"