After the Battle
Summary: It's over. The war is over and now it's time for Harry to reunite with his family and loved ones.
Lily felt like she was in a dream, one that she didn't want to wake up from. Voldemort was gone and her son, her little boy, although he wasn't a little boy anymore, had finally defeated him. She looked around the Great Hall, the bodies of those who were killed were moved to an unused room on the first floor. The severely injured were being transported to St. Mungo's one by one and the others were sitting around the Great Hall, talking.
Her eyes met James from across the room. How this year had been hard. They had to go into hiding, clearing out the house to look like they moved out in October when they deemed it no longer safe to stay where they lived. James had just come back from checking the property with Arthur who went to check on the Burrow.
By some miracle, both places were spared. Minor damage to the door at their house and a few broken windows at the Burrow, but nothing else. Molly was relieved and Lily was for her.
Remus was killed along with Tonks. Teddy would grow up not knowing his parents. Lily made a promise to herself to help Harry and Ginny, his godparents in any and every way she could. She felt it was the least she could do for the son of a beloved friend. She decided that she would love Teddy like he was her grandchild because Harry and Ginny would have the option of adopting Teddy if they choose to later on or when Andromeda was no longer able to care for him.
Sirius walked towards her and they both shared a look of relief.
It felt like hours ago, she was being held up by Sirius and James when they saw Harry in Hagrid's arms. She was hysterical in grief, thinking that her son was dead. It was hard to tell who took it the hardest, Lily or Ginny. But then when Neville confronted the evil wizard, their attention went to a movement in Hagrid's arms.
Harry was alive!
James walked over to his wife and wrapped an arm around her when they got a glimpse of Ron and Hermione, behind them was Harry.
They saw them whispering to each other and then Ron and Hermione walk towards the Weasleys, while Harry approached his own family,
Lily met her son halfway, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. Then in three strides, she was holding her son in her arms, tightly. She kissed the top of his head and then pulled him back in arm's length.
"Don't you ever do that to me again Harry James! Do you understand me?" Lily asked.
"Yes, Mum. I'm sorry-"Lily cut him off.
"No need to, sweetheart. I'm just glad that you're okay." Then Lily pulled him back and said, "Go see Dad, Sirius, and Ginny then meet me in the hospital wing. I know you and you haven't been to be checked."
"Do I have to?" Harry asked, hearing James snort and Sirius chuckling from behind Lily.
"Either come on your own or I will stun you and drag you myself," she warned.
"Half an hour," Harry told her. Lily nodded and pushed her son towards his father.
"I'm sorry about Remus, Dad. I-" James cut him off.
"I'm at a loss of words to describe how proud I am of you. But do us all a favor and don't scare us like that again," James said, repeating his wife's words.
"I won't," Harry promised and then let James engulf him in a tight hug.
"Hi Kiddo," Sirius opened his arms for his godson.
Harry walked into them and said, "I'm glad you all are okay. I was afraid to come home and find you all dead."
James heard his son and pulled him back into his arms. "We were afraid to find you dead," he whispered. He closed his eyes, thanking God that Harry was safe and back in their arms.
Father and son talked for a few minutes before they headed to the room where Remus and Tonks were moved to help Andromeda with the preparations.
Harry noticed that they moved only a few feet and turned around, wearing identical smirks. When Harry turned to head towards the Weasleys he found out why his father and godfather were watching him.
Charging towards him was Ginny Weasley. Harry was quickly reminded as to why he never made her mad or ignited her temper. He had never been on the receiving end of her wrath, but he had witnessed it many, many, many times.
Harry was frozen on the spot, but inside he was panicking. He could see Ron struggling to keep from breaking out into laughter from the corner of his eye. Neville looked torn between staying where he was or saving Harry. But he would likely get hexed and decided that Harry was on his own.
Suddenly Ginny was in front of him. Harry wasn't sure, but he was positive he saw steam coming out of Ginny's nose.
Then in the blink of an eye, Ginny grabbed a hold of Harry and kissed him.
He heard wolf whistles, cat calls, and Sirius groan, "Aw man." He was sure Ginny was going to smack Harry. Ron and Neville whistled the loudest.
Then when they broke apart, Ginny moved her arms around his waist. "I thought I lost you," she whispered, her voice cracking at the end.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. Between your screams and Mum's sobbing, it nearly tore my heart in two." Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny, resting his head on top of hers. "You scared me when you were fighting Bellatrix, for one brief moment…" Harry trailed off.
Ginny looked up at him, noticing the tears in his eyes. She knew she must have scared him when he saw the green light barely passing Ginny's ear, missing her by an inch.
"Ginny, I know I said this a lot when were dating before, but…" Harry paused to lift Ginny's chin and look into her eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too." They kissed one more time before they headed out of the Great Hall.
James and Sirius were waiting for them when they walked out the doors of the Great Hall. "Gryffindor tower is undamaged, many people are staying up there." James took a moment before he continued. Turning to Ginny, he said, "Your Dad and Mum went to the room where they had moved Fred to talk with someone from the ministry about the arrangements of moving Fred to the Burrow. Bill took George up to the tower with Charlie and Percy went with your parents. Ron and Hermione are with George and the others."
Ginny nodded, numbly and smiled softly when Harry pulled her close, giving her a hug from the side.
He turned to Harry and said, "Mum's quarters are undamaged and that's where we're staying. It's up to you if want to be with us or the tower."
Harry looked at Ginny and then back to his Dad. "Let's wait until Mum looks me over before we make that decision. Although, something tells me that she'll make that decision for me."
James chuckled. "You're right."
"I'm coming with you," Ginny told Harry, the tone of her voice told Harry that she was whether he wanted her to or not.
"Alright." They began to make their way to the hospital wing, taking in the damage that the war had done to the castle.
They entered the hospital wing, and Lily motioned for them to follow her into the private exam area.
Once inside, Lily pointed her wand at the door and it shut. Then turned to her son. "Shirt off," she ordered.
Harry turned to Ginny and before he could open his mouth, Ginny spoke. "I've seen you in without a shirt before. Plus, it's nothing that I haven't seen before."
Lily stifled a chuckled. "Once I look him over I'm turning him over to you, Ginny. I know you'll take care of him."
Ginny smiled. "Thanks, Lily. Do you want us to stay in your quarters or Gryffindor tower?"
"Gryffindor tower, my quarters are full with some of the staff and Sirius is staying in my quarters. He doesn't want to go to his own because….."
Ginny nodded, knowing what Lily was talking about. Sirius had shared his quarters with Remus and he didn't want to go back to the place where he and Remus spent a lot of their time when they were at Hogwarts. She knew that it would be hard for her brother to sleep in his own room without Fred.
Lily turned to begin healing charms and diagnostic spells and gasped. "What happened?" she asked.
Harry looked between his mother and girlfriend. "Locket, remember the one that Sirius found when Ron and I were helping him clean Grimmauld Place before the Order started meeting there?"
Lily nodded. "It was a Horcrux wasn't it?" she asked quietly.
Harry nodded, wincing at the movement.
"Are you okay?" Ginny asked, concerned.
"Just sore."
Lily approached her son and realized two things: one was the scar that had graced her son's forehead was now what a sixteen-year-old scar would look like. And the other…..
Once again Lily gasped. "Oh my."
Harry didn't want to look at his mother's face, instead, he looked at Ginny. He jumped slightly when the felt the tingling that signaled a diagnostic charm.
"Lie back," Lily ordered.
Harry obeyed hastily, not wanting to make his mother mad. He watched as his mother scanned his torso with her eyes, stopping when she got the spot on his lower abdomen from where a shard of glass had cut him when they escaped Godric's Hollow, where they went looking for Bathilda Bagshot.
"What happened?" Lily asked, running her finger along the dark pink half healed jagged line.
Harry explained to Lily how it happened, adding that Hermione had brought a kit with her to treat wounds such as this and many others.
Lily nodded at the end and handed Ginny a tub of scarring cream, ignoring her son's groan when he saw the very familiar blue tub.
"Put that on it after he gets a shower," she directed and turned back to do the Diagnostic again.
"Just a couple of cracked ribs," she murmured but was heard by the two teens. She smiled as Ginny took Harry's hand in hers before she performed the healing spell. "Might hurt just a bit." And with a wave of her wand, the ribs were back in place.
"Okay," she said when she finished. Harry sat up with some help from Ginny and slipped his shirt back on. Turning to Ginny, she said, "Make sure he eats something and gets some sleep, and a shower. Not necessarily in that order."
"I will," Ginny promised. Harry picked himself up from the bed and began to follow Ginny, but turned around and hugged his mother one final time before heading up to Gryffindor tower.
"I love you, Mum."
Lily tightened her hold on her son for a moment and kissed the side of his face. "I love you too, sweetheart."
Together Harry and Ginny left the hospital wing heading to Gryffindor tower. They took every shortcut they could and soon was standing in front of the Fat Lady.
"Um, we don't know the…." That was all Ginny got out before the portrait swung open.
"Thank you," The Fat Lady said.
Harry entered the portrait hole first and helped Ginny in. Approaching the stairs, they stood at the bottom for a second. "My dorm or yours?" Ginny asked.
"Mine," Harry decided.
They walked up the stairs to the seventh year boys' dorm. Harry found his rucksack he had taken with them.
"Thank you, Hermione," Harry whispered. He opened the rucksack and pulled out a pair of pajama pants and a red shirt.
"I might have some clothes left here," Ginny said.
"Want to check?' Harry asked. Ginny nodded. Together they headed back downstairs and up the stairs to the girl's dorm. The charms on the stairs to the girls' dorm weren't working, so Harry was able to go up with Ginny.
Harry pushed Ginny behind him when they reached the sixth year girls dorm. Using his foot he pushed the door open.
"Homenum revelio," he whispered. A moment passed before he turned to Ginny and said that it was clear. Waving his wand to turn the lamps on, Ginny was able to see that her dorm wasn't touched. She walked to the wardrobe and started to open drawers. She found mostly her uniforms and opening the bottom drawer, she found her some lounge pants she could sleep in.
"I got an idea. Accio Ginny's clothes," Harry called.
A few pairs of socks flew out from under her bed and some tights. The clothes Ginny was holding went to the pile and a couple of jeans from another wardrobe.
"Well, I found some pants to sleep in, but no shirt."
"I think I got something," Harry said. He banished her clothes to his dorm and together he and Ginny returned to the boys' dorm.
"You need a shower," Ginny told him.
"We could get one together," he suggested. Ginny smiled and collected her shampoo and followed Harry to the bathroom.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry climbed on the bed that had been his for six years, waiting for Ginny to join him. They had helped each other bathe, although Harry needed more help than Ginny. Because Harry was too tired to wash his hair, Ginny did it for him. She had washed it multiple times until the water ran clean when she rinsed it and repeated the process on her own. She scrubbed the dirt and grime off of the places Harry couldn't reach.
When they finished a half hour later, they stepped out, helping each other dry off and then got dressed in the clothes they had laid out.
"Wonder if we called a house elf, they'd bring us some food?" Ginny asked.
Pop!
"Dobby!" Ginny exclaimed at the sudden appearance of the house elf.
"What can Dobby do for Harry Potter and his Miss Wheezy?"
"Can you bring us up some food and something to drink?" Harry requested.
"Certainly," Dobby replied, and with a pop, he was gone.
"Why do I get the feeling you're keeping something from me?" Ginny asked once Dobby was gone.
Harry picked up his wand and pulled up his shirt. He waved his wand over his stomach and suddenly a dark pink scar appeared in the middle of his abdomen.
Ginny gasped, reaching out with a shaking finger to touch it. She gently ran her finger down the thin scar.
"How?" she whispered. "Wait, your Mum hasn't seen this had she?"
Harry shook his head.
"What happened?" she asked.
Harry swallowed thickly. "We were captured and taken to Malfoy Manor. We came across some Snatchers when we disapparated from The Lovegood's house. Ron and I had stopped for a moment to place our stuff back in Hermione's beaded bag when we realized we weren't alone. Ron had walked a few feet away when one appeared out of nowhere. They caught us after a chase and took us to Malfoy Manor. They kept Hermione…." Harry trailed off.
Ginny gasped once more realizing what had happened. "They didn't?" she whispered.
"I wish I could I tell you they didn't. Ron and I were in the cellar. We almost had the wall broke down when Dobby appeared. He took Luna, Dean and Ollivander and disapparated. Then he came back."
Harry told her about escaping the cellar and how he and Ron had rescued Hermione. Dobby had gotten Hermione's beaded bag with their things and helped them escape. They had apparated to Shell Cottage right on the beach in the small area between sand and grass. Ron had carried Hermione to the house and then Dobby alerted him to Harry. He came back and with Bill's help carried Harry back to the house.
Ginny felt tears as Harry finished the story. He told her about the pain he felt, especially when Ron gently pulled the knife out of his stomach. Fleur had studied to be a healer and was able to check and see if the blade of the knife done any internal damage. Luckily, there wasn't. Then she, along with Hermione treated the wound.
Harry admitted sometimes, he would imagine it was Ginny taking care of him.
The only thing Harry left out was right before they escaped Bellatrix had summoned Voldemort.
"The shirt is in my bag."
Ginny picked up Harry's rucksack and found the blood-soaked shirt. Harry took the bag from her and dumped it out. He picked up the seashell he had found when he gained enough strength to walk along the beach.
It had taken Hermione a month to recover and Harry and Ron sometimes would walk along the beach as long as they stayed in the protective barrier and take a moment to be thankful that they had, so far, made it.
"I found this," he said, holding up the seashell. He handed it to Ginny. "I wanted to give it to you as it reminded me of you."
Ginny took it from Harry, looking at it. It was a beautiful shell, perfect with no cracks or pieces missing.
"What are you going to tell Lily when she sees this?" Ginny asked, holding up the shirt.
"I'll tell her," Harry replied.
Dobby returned with food and jumped after Ginny had hugged him and thanked him for saving Harry's life, again. Dobby blushed if that was possible, at the praise and left the young couple alone.
Ginny laid the scar balm on the nightstand. "I'll apply some to that one as well."
Harry didn't argue with her.
They ate the sandwiches that Dobby had brought as Ginny told Harry about her year at Hogwarts.
What happened inside the castle walls to his girlfriend, made Harry's blood boil. He made a note to himself to thank Neville and Seamus for looking out for Ginny. He also needed to thank Professor McGonagall for providing more protection. Ginny then told him about them going into hiding at Muriel's and how Andromeda had firecalled Molly in a panic when Tonks when into labor.
She needed help. Ginny told Harry about being there when Teddy was born and how she got to hold him after Remus, Tonks, and Andromeda had their turn.
She told him about coming here for the battle when they got the news.
"I never thought I'd see the day you would stand up to my mother," Ginny said, hiding a smile.
While Molly would rather that Ginny went and stayed in the Room of Requirement, Harry argued that Ginny was ready and an excellent dueler. Ron, Fred, and George all vouched for that. He said that he would allow her to fight and he silenced any arguments that Molly might have made by reminding her that they needed all the help they can get.
Arthur told Molly that Harry was right and that Ginny wasn't the same little girl they put on the train for the first time.
Before they left the Great Hall where they confronted Snape, Harry pulled Ginny into a long kiss whispering, "I love you."
Here they were, they both made it.
Ginny cupped the back Harry's head and pulled him close to her. "Don't scare me like that again Harry James Potter. I will hex you so bad…."
"I won't. I promise."
Harry leaned over and kissed her. They cleaned up the mess from where they ate and Ginny pulled down the blankets on Harry's bed. They climbed in and Ginny covered them both with the lightweight blanket.
They kissed once more and said I love you once more before going to sleep.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Molly and Lily climbed the stairs to the boys' dorm in Gryffindor tower. Lily opened the door and smiled at the scene. They had met each other as they were heading up the stairs and made some small talk as they walked up the stairs. Molly was in search of Ginny, just wanting to know where her daughter was. She decided to check with Harry first and then return to Arthur.
Lily wanted to check on Harry before she returned to her quarters and go to sleep. James had assured her that Harry was fine, but like all things, Lily wanted to see for herself.
"That is the most peaceful I've seen Ginny in a long time," Molly whispered.
Lily nodded, agreeing with Molly. "Let's let them sleep," she whispered.
"I'll tell Arthur to keep the boys away," Molly said, softly.
They closed the door behind them and headed downstairs. Both of them were thinking about the same thing. Grandbabies with green or brown eyes and with red or black hair.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
When Harry entered the Great Hall with Ginny the next morning, he met his parents and godfather before joining the Weasleys for breakfast. Harry was surprised to learn that instead of being the morning of May 3rd, it was the afternoon of May 4th. He had slept for over thirty-six hours.
He glanced at Ginny, who confirmed it as she had stayed with him, sleeping on and off after sleeping for sixteen hours.
"Your Mum kept checking on you," Ron said, from across the table. "Almost as if to make sure you were….."
Molly smiled at the young couple, knowing how much Ginny had missed Harry over the last year. She sighed when she realized it was time to meet with Kingsley and discuss Fred's arrangements.
Leaning to her oldest son, she asked, "Do I want to know what you were talking to James Potter about?"
"It's Gringotts business," he replied.
What Molly didn't know was that Harry had talked to James that morning when he checked in with his parents. It was decided that they would help with the finances of burying Fred and help Andromeda with the expenses of burying Remus.
The only thing they asked of Bill was to not tell his mother. James and Sirius had talked to Andromeda, who was more than appreciative of James and Sirius's offer to help her with the expenses of burying their friend and the woman he loved.
After breakfast or brunch, as it was called, James told Harry that Kingsley wanted a word with him.
Ginny understood and told Harry to find her when he was done.
"Harry, I don't think a thank you will ever be enough for you did for our world," Kingsley stated. He had watched as Harry grew up into the young man that was before him today. "I understand that you have ambitions to be an Auror?" he asked.
"Yes, that was what I decided when I was a fifth year. Why?" Harry asked.
Kingsley explained to Harry that he was offering anyone who wanted to, join the Aurors without NEWTS, although if they choose to take them he would tell when they would be offered and for a training period starting in September and ending in May.
James chuckled at the shocked expression on his son's face. Harry sobered up quickly.
"I think I may need to talk to a certain Deputy Head, assuming that is still his job," Harry said, glancing in James's directions. "And maybe Mum and Gin."
Kingsley smiled. "I don't need to know right away," he said.
They talked for a little bit longer, scheduling a time for when Harry, Ron, and Hermione could tell him and their families about they had done over this last year.
"Kingsley, Minerva just informed me she knows where the missing Carrows siblings are," James stated.
At the mention of the two Carrows siblings, Harry was reminded of what they did to Ginny, especially Amycus.
"Mind if I join you, Dad," Harry growled, getting up and heading to the Ravenclaw common room without another word.
Ron and Hermione watched from a nearby table, eyes widened as they watched Harry leave the Great Hall, recognizing the look on Harry's face. Whoever Harry was going after was going to get it.
James and Kingsley shared a look before James took off running after his son. He had seen that look on his son before.
"Sirius, follow me," James called over his shoulder.
Sirius jumped up and followed James, asking what happened as they raced out of the Great Hall. They picked up speed when they realized just how angry Harry was. The only thing that came to James's mind was that they had done something to Ginny. From what they had heard from other students, Hogwarts wasn't a picnic.
Harry reached the Ravenclaw common room, being let in by the Grey Lady. He found Amycus and with a flick of his wand, the rope was cut and Amycus was tied up with the rope that had hung him from the ceiling. He flicked his wand to silence Alecto and then when Amycus was in front of him, Harry punched him in the nose.
Not even letting him fall back, Harry grabbed the collar of Amycus's robes and growled, quite literally, "If you ever hurt her again, I will kill you."
He let him go and threw him into the arms of the Aurors who had come to arrest them.
Dawlish stepped closer to Harry, cautiously. "Who were you referring to?" he asked.
"I think you know who," Harry replied. The Aurors dragged Amycus out just as James and Sirius entered the Ravenclaw common room. James took one look at Amycus and then to his son.
"You did that?" he asked.
"Yeah," Harry answered. "Will Ginny need to talk to someone?"
Sirius paled. "Yeah, if they did something to her, she will."
James sighed, knowing now why Harry had gotten angry with the Carrow brother. "I can arrange it so you can be with her if she would want that," he said.
"Okay, I'll talk to her about it."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
By the end of Ginny's questioning regarding the Carrows, Harry wished that Amycus Carrow was in front of him so he can punch him again and again. Harry didn't want to think about what all they did to Ginny. After the questioning, they were directed to St. Mungo's so Ginny could be checked more thoroughly for any damage done by the curses that were used on her.
To Harry's immediate relief, there were none.
The Weasleys and the Potters were all back home to either Potter Cottage or the Burrow. Ginny was going home with Harry to Potter Cottage to spend a few more hours with Harry and then she'll head back home to the Burrow.
Molly understood why Ginny wanted to be with Harry. She had someone to be with and help her with their grief. Plus, they needed some time with each other.
Harry walked in the kitchen to find that in the few hours he had been gone, James and Sirius were moving furniture back in the house. James had told Harry they had moved out of the house in October, taking everything to Potter Manor and staying there until the war was over. Harry knew that it was hard for James to go back to the place where he grew up because he still missed his parents.
The kitchen still looked the same way it was when Harry was little. It had been the same as long as Harry could remember. The small table was still against the wall, under the window that looked into the back garden.
Harry chuckled to himself as he remembered Lily poking her head out that window to call for him to slow down if he was on his broom or to get down from there if he was climbing trees. His old tree house was still in the old oak tree. James had charmed when Harry was thirteen. A closer look told Harry that the charms were falling and the tree house was coming apart.
It would be torn down this summer.
The family room was still the same as well, with the old couch, love seat and armchairs. The large collection of VHS tapes was still in boxes along with the VCR and Stereo.
"Harry?" Lily called. She had heard the back door open.
"In here, Mum."
Lily walked into the family room and was surprised to see Ginny with Harry. James had told her a little about what had happened at Hogwarts over the last year. She approached her and gave her a loving hug.
"How are you, Sweetie?" she asked.
"I'm okay."
"Do you need any help, Mum?" Harry inquired.
"No, Sweetheart. Your Dad and Sirius put the furniture back in your room and you can unpack."
"Okay," Harry murmured. Turning to Ginny he asked her if she wanted to help. She nodded and followed Harry upstairs. Lily watched them from the bottom of the stairs. She released a breath and closed her eyes.
She opened them slowly as she whispered, "Thank you, God. For bringing my baby home."
AN: This is the beginning of my second Harry's Life with Parent series, which will cover Harry's life following the events of Deathly Hallows, including Harry and Ginny's engagement and their wedding, some scenes of Harry as an Auror and working with James and Sirius and James and Lily becoming grandparents to James Sirius, Albus Severus (which will include a discussion with James and Lily about why Harry picked the name) and Lily Luna.
As you can see, I kept Dobby alive and you'll need to keep reading to see who else I kept alive in this series.
Please feel free to message me or mention it in a review of what you would like to see in this series. Thanks for reading and loving the series. I hope you've enjoyed reading the series as much as I've had writing it.