Whatever Tomorrow Brings

By: SapphireEyes19

DISCLAIMERS: An avid fan of Harry Potter, I do not claim these characters, settings, places or events that take place. The story is my mere interpretation of what happens after DH. I also of course do not take credit for the passage from the last chapter of Deathly Hallows used to introduce this story.

Without Further Ado...

Chapter One: Induction

Hermione, Ginny and Luna all battling their hardest, but Bellatrix was equal to them, and Harry's attention was diverted as a Killing Curse shot so close to Ginny that she missed death by an inch...

"Harry? Harry!" Harry Potter jerked awake and sat upright, almost colliding heads with his best friend Ron. It took him a moment to realize that he was sweating bullets and breathing heavily. Ron eyed him nervously and stood, stretching to his full 6'5" height while still looking down at him.

"You alright mate? You were muttering something about dodging a Killing Curse," he told him slowly. Harry sat back on his pillows and exhaled. The dream had been a frequent visitor during the nights of his and Ron's five years of Auror training; reliving the night he had defeated Lord Voldemort. Many would think that Harry would sleep peacefully knowing that the greatest dark wizard of all times had been silenced by his hand, but that was not the part of the night that disturbed him. He could never shake off the moment where his girlfriend Ginny Weasley was nearly killed by a misaimed Killing Curse. He always kept telling himself that she had survived; her mother Molly had taken care of the curse caster Bellatrix Lestrange, but in the long lapses in time that he had been able to see Ginny due to harsh Auror training had brought the memory of nearly losing her creeping back into his head. That was all about to change though; today was his and Ron's induction ceremony into the Auror Department at the newly democratic Ministry of Magic, headed by one of their most trusted friends and comrade Kingsley Shacklebot. It had been Shacklebot who had immediately asked Ron and Harry to train as Aurors with him to help reinstate peace and calmness into the ravaged wizarding world. The training was tough, grueling at times, but rewarding. He had been side by side with his friends and trusted classmates such as Terry Boot and Parvati Patil and had traveled the world for training; the Sahara Desert boot camp had been as rewarding as it had been tough.

Harry snapped out of his thoughts as he noticed the burrowing of Ron's red eyebrows and smiled at his friend.

"I'm alright Ron. You know, just that image again.." he said, trailing off, then reached for his new square wire-rimmed glasses; he had finally upgraded to these last year, when he could not seem to keep contacts in his eye for more than five seconds. Ron smiled sympathetically and nodded in understanding.

"You'll see her today Harry, and I'm sure that will be reassuring enough that she's not dead," he said with a short laugh. Harry's muscles immediately relaxed.

"You're right; and Hermione'll be here too," he said, adding the attendance of their best friend and Ron's girlfriend to the mix. Ron's lopsided grin widened, as he too had been missing his other half.

"Yeah, yeah," he said, absentmindedly running his hand through his hair. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the watch his parents had given him for his birthday and looked alert.

"We've only got an hour til the induction ceremony; you should start getting ready," he said, and shuffled over to his own bunk where his new deep purple Auror robes lay ready for him. Glancing down to the end of his bed, Harry saw his own new set of robes waiting for him. He heaved himself out of bed and, grabbing his shower bag, headed into the shower.

--

Just as Ron had said, an hour later Kingsley's magnified voice announced that the induction ceremony was about to commence. Remembering the notice Kingsley had sent out the night before about alphabetical order, Harry got in line behind Parvati and followed her outside where the ceremony was taking place. He stepped up onto the magically built stage and stood to face the crowd of family and friends that had gathered. He scanned the crowd for one person in particular, and finally his emerald eyes met hazel. Ginny Weasley, along with the whole Weasley clan, Hermione Granger and Andromeda Tonk with his godson Teddy was standing on her tiptoes, as her 5'2" height barely allowed her to see over the others. She grinned broadly at the sight of him and waved eagerly, and Harry could swear his heart was getting ready to run a marathon at the rate it was going. He could only manage to smile back at her before Kingsley stood in front of the small group and spoke.

"Honored and beloved family members, allow me to welcome you to the 2003 Induction of Aurors Ceremony," he began, his calming low voice silencing the crowd immediately. The rest flew by to Harry as Kingsley launched into a well prepared captivating speech about the new Ministry and importance of the Aurors, and suddenly a smattering of applause rippled through the crowd. Kingsley nodded at the audience and waved his wand, making a stack of rolled parchments appeared under his free arm.

"My fellow Aurors, it is with great honor, and respect that I present you with your Auror certifications," he told them, and began calling the names of the select few that would be joining that branch of the Ministry.

"Harry Potter," Kingsley called after several other Aurors received their certifications, and Harry swore through the crowd he could specifically hear Ginny's loud yells of pride. Grinning widely, he took his certification and warmly shook Kingsley's hand, who gave him a satisfied nod and an extra clasp on the shoulder.

"Ronald Weasley," Kingsley called Ron's name last, and Harry applauded and whooped loudly for Ron, whose ears had gone from pink to red in a manner of seconds, shook Kingsley's hand to the roars from his large family, Hermione included. Kingsley once again raised his hands for silence.

"To our new group of Aurors, may they help myself and the Ministry to maintain the peace and tranquility that our society has built from the ashes," he concluded, and set of an array of purple and gold fireworks from his wand, which were barely heard above the congratulatory cheers. Harry couldn't feel his shoulders from them being clasped in congratulations, but saw his world slow down when Ginny rushed towards him, the same fierce look in her eyes she had worn when they had finally shared their first kiss. Now he opened his arms and swooped her up in them, and kissed her with such a fierce passion that time stood still.

"Oi! Let me say hello to my little sister!" Ron shouted, rudely awakening Harry and Ginny from their blissful reunion. Harry took a deep breath, inhaling Ginny's intoxicating floral scent, and put her down gently. Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron's brashness, but hugged Harry tightly and kissed him on the cheek.

"Oh Harry, I've missed you two more than you can imagine; I'm so glad I'll be able to see you more than once every Christmas," she said happily, her eyes shining as she fought back her tears. Harry laughed.

"Of course Hermione, you know it wasn't Christmas without the third part of our trio," he told her reassuringly as George and Percy found their way to the foursome.

"Congratulations Harry...I'm so happy you've found a place with the ministry to help restore and maintain the peace," Percy said warmly shaking Harry's hand. Harry nodded and smiled with Percy, thinking to himself that although he had redeemed himself with his family, he'd always have that pompous manner. George stuck out one arm and hugged Harry.

"Good for you mate; at least someone in our family will have a useful ministry position," he cracked, getting a warning look from Percy. Charlie, Bill, and Fleur found Harry and Ron then, Fleur carrying a wriggling three-year old Victoire.

"Arry we are so pleased we could make eet to zis," Fleur said throatily, kissing Harry twice on both cheeks. Victoire reached out for Harry, making Bill and Charlie laugh.

"I think my daughter thinks if she's with you she'll get more attention," Bill pointed out as Harry reached out and tickled Victorie, causing her to squeal with delight. Finally, Molly and Arthur made their way through the crowd, along with Andromeda and his godson, who was gripping onto his grandmothers hand and looking shyly up at him.

"Congratulations Harry dear," Molly cried, tears streaming down her plump cheeks as she and Arthur grabbed him into a hug. When they moved onto Ron, Harry squatted down so he was eye level with Teddy.

"Did you like the fireworks?" he asked. Teddy's brown eyes widened as he nodded, his dark brown hair, Harry noticed with appreciation, growing noticeably lighter with each nod.

"Oh yes Uncle Harry!" he said delightedly. Harry rumpled his hair and stood up to face Andromeda.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate you being here, the both of you," he said to her. She smiled, and though Harry still saw the resemblance to Bellatrix in her sister, felt warm and content.

"Of course Harry, this means the world to us, as it would if Remus, Dora and Teddy...," she trailed off, tears fighting at the corners of her eyes. He hugged her swiftly.

"I know," he whispered and she shuddered a single sniff and nodded. Whispering something to Teddy about giving Uncle Harry his private time, they went to congratulate Ron, and Harry turned to see Ginny return to his side, looking up at him with her head turned to the side. A slow smile crept up onto her face.

"Yep, same old Potter to me," she said, then pulled down his shirt collar to kiss him. After a moment of electrifying reunion, she broke and looked him square in the eye.

"Don't you dare leave me for that long again," she threatened. Harry laughed and kissed her forehead softly.

"Don't you worry Ginny, I will never find a reason to want to leave your side for this long again, nor do I want to," he said, pulling her into a tight embrace. Ginny buried her face into his robes and breathed deeply.

"That's just the answer I was looking for," she told him in a low whisper, making Harry smile broadly again. He caught Ron's furtive yet approving glance, then a jerk of his head signalling to follow the moving Weasley clan to the Porkey they'd be taking to return to the Burrow for a feast. Reluctantly, he pulled himself slightly from Ginny, and, grasping her hand, he took the first few steps of his new life, filled with purpose and hope.

End Chapter One. I hope you enjoy it; I don't know when I'll have Chapter Two, so any encouraging R/Rs would be greatly appreciated!

xoxo,

SapphireEyes19