Hey, readers. Got majorly stuck with Behind the Mask, so I'm writing a sequel without writing the rest of the story. A bit unorthodox, yes, but I'll catch you up in flashbacks. I was just sick of Hogwarts I suppose.
DISCLAIMER: If I owned Harry Potter, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction.
Chapter 1
It had been four years since Harry Potter had won the war. Voldemort was gone. Finished. Kaput. Camille Gordon-Potter, now 20 almost 21, sat behind her desk and stared out at the beautifully sunny June day outside. It was June 13, 2001, and today was a special day. Camille and Harry's daughter, Cossette, was turning four today. And soon there were going to be a babble of tots running around their house in Ottery St. Catchpole in just a matter of minutes. Not that Camille minded the noise. As the brand new Chief of Trauma at the Ottery branch of St. Mungo's, noise was nothing for Camille; it was mainly the fact that she was going to have to deal with the kids alone. Sure, Ron and Kaylee would be there with their twins, along with Hermione and Seamus, as well as Ginny and Neville, but Harry may or may not be there. Most likely not. It had been weeks since Camille and Cossette had seen Harry, and days since their last correspondence, at which Harry promised to be there. Harry took his job as an Auror way too seriously. Camille had to admit that she was happy Harry had found something he loved to do for a living, but he was searching relentlessly for the one pair of Death Eaters that escaped Azkaban and ultimately, death: Matilda Gordon and Lucius Malfoy. It hadn't always been that way though. In the beginning, Harry was the model husband and father. He was loving, kind, and worked hard to provide for his family. But things had changed. Camille stared at the shining wedding band on her left hand, and let the memories wash her away.
It was the big day. Camille flitted around the bridal suite of the church nervously in her undergarments, a Firewhiskey in her hand. She was getting married. Holy crap. As happy as she was, she was terrified. Her 4-month-old baby girl sat with her Aunt Katie. A knock on the door broke Camille's train of thought.
"Camille?" Kaylee asked opening the door. "Camille!! Why aren't you dressed? And give me that," Kaylee said as she entered the room, in the royal blue strapless bridesmaid dress, and grabbed the bottle. "Now, come on. Let's get you dressed. It's almost show time."
"Okay," Camille smiled. Stepping into her ivory strapless gown, Camille hiked the dress up to appropriate level. The A-line gown fell to the floor, with a sweeping train dusting the carpet. Kaylee zipped the zipper, and Camille fingered the delicate floral pattern that was embedded into the chiffon overlay.
"Honey?" Frederick called from the other side of the door. "We need to get rolling, doll. You too Kaylee!"
The best friends stepped out of the room, to the audible gasp of Frederick and Ron, who was obviously Harry's best man. Kaylee set the blusher veil gently over Camille's face and smiled brightly at her. Ron took Kaylee's arm and began to escort her up the stairs. Frederick smiled.
"You look so gorgeous, Camille. I've never been happier, prouder, sadder, and just a hodgepodge of emotions," he gushed, tearing up a little.
"Dad, don't even start or I'm going to wash my face off before I reach Harry. We're up." The bridal march started to play.
All of the people stood, and turned toward the father and daughter. Camille looked up and caught Harry's face, and couldn't help but smile ear to ear at the look on his face. He looked so handsome, but more importantly, he looked the happiest Camille had ever seen him. Even though her eyes were locked on her soon-to-be husband, Camille scanned the rows of guests for distant relatives and friends. She saw her grandparents, James and Estelle Gordon, Hannah Abbott, the Patil twins, and a face that shocked her; Draco. She cast a sideways glance at him, and he smiled at her genuinely. The two had gotten past their differences after finding out that they would be doing their residency at St. Mungo's together.
The ceremony lasted such a short amount of time. Before either of them had time to think, Camille and Harry were exchanging rings.
"Camille Elizabeth Gordon, do you take Harry James Potter to be your lawfully wedded husband for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Camille almost sang, slipping the platinum wedding band onto Harry's finger.
"Harry James Potter, do you take Camille Elizabeth Gordon to be your lawfully wedded wife for as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Harry exclaimed, sliding the diamond-encrusted platinum onto her finger.
"By the power invested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride."
Harry lifted the blusher over Camille's head, cupped her face in his hands and pulled her in close, placing his lips on hers. Camille's hands were on his chest, and the thunderous clapping drifted into nothingness. After what was too short of a time, Harry and Camille broke apart.
"It is my pleasure to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Harry Potter."
Camille grabbed her bouquet from Kaylee and she and Harry paraded out of the sanctuary followed by the bridal party. It was such a perfect day; a perfect beginning to the rest of their lives.
Camille continued on her reverie, her fingers running through her shoulder-length curls.
It had been two years since Harry and Camille had tied the knot, and everything was still wedded bliss. The two had their hands full with an almost two-year-old, Camille's residency, and Harry's duties as an Auror. Still, the small family still found time to remain a tight family unit. At least on the surface.
Harry's job had turned into a wild goose chase. Days upon nights, Harry searched for Lucius and Matilda as if the world would end if he didn't find them NOW. Camille had given Cossette to Kaylee and Ron for the night, because it was her and Harry's two-year anniversary.
Camille sat waiting at the dinner table in her red cocktail dress sipping a glass of wine. The dim mood lighting from the fire, danced merrily around and Camille became jealous of its callous disregard to her unhappiness. The time ticked away slowly, and Camille drank more and more wine, and by about 2 o'clock in the morning she had consumed the entire bottle. In her moderately drunken state (Camille seems to hold liquor pretty well), Camille shuffled around the master bedroom, leaving her red dress in a pile on the floor and changed into baggy sweats and a T-shirt. She plopped on the sofa, waiting for Harry to come in. The alcohol got the best of her, and Camille slipped into sleep.
"Camille," Harry whispered, placing a hand on hers.
Camille started awake. "Harry!" She rubbed her eyes, and as her memory cleared, she began to remember her reason for being on the couch instead of in bed. "Where the hell have you been?" she growled.
"Doing my job." He said straightly. "Don't you want your mother and Malfoy to be caught and brought to justice?"
"Yes. Of course I do, but it doesn't exclude you from spending time with your wife on your fucking anniversary." Camille stood, fire in her eyes.
"Oh my God. Camille, sweetheart, I'm so sorry!"
"You forgot?!?!?!?!"
"Camille, please. This assignment has kept me so far out of the loop, I-"
"So out of the loop you forget your anniversary?! It was supposedly the happiest day of your life; something you'd never forget. You know, I manage to raise a child practically by myself and juggle my residency and still managed to clean up nicely, make dinner, and get Cossette to Ron and Kaylee's for the night just to give us time to spend together. Yet for some reason, you can't find time to come home at a reasonable time to spend time with me. You keep saying you want another child, but how the hell are we going to pull that off if you never come home?"
"I know, Camille. You're right. You juggle more than I could even imagine, but I tracked the diabolical duo all the way into Romania today."
"I DON'T CARE! You could've gone to Antarctica for all I care, but you could've done something! You have people who work under you, Harry. Luckily, I was able to get Draco to cover for me. You can make things work, but you have to actually want them to work and try to do something about it."
"Camille, can we please not fight about this? I'll run us a nice relaxing bath, and we can enjoy each other's company. Besides, I'm beat."
"Oh, Heaven forbid we actually confront some issues because Harry Potter is tired! Do you know how late I stayed up for you? Look! It's nearly dawn!" Camille gestured to the window, where the faintest traces of pink were beginning to color the navy sky.
"Please, Camille. I don't want to fight."
"Then fix this. You've got to be around more often. I can't do this. I'm practically a single parent. My mother and Lucius will continue to run, and there is a whole task force devoted to finding them. I'm well aware you head it, but I'm sure they'd understand you coming home to spend your anniversary with your wife, and spending time with your daughter, who constantly wonders where Daddy is. I've got to take a shower. I've got rounds in 45 minutes," Camille glanced at the clock, and pushed past Harry.
"Can I join you?"
"I'm so not in the mood." Camille disappeared into the bathroom, and Harry heard the door slam.
And things had only gotten worse. As Camille was about to let her memories continue, the doorbell broke her train of thought. Camille took a second to compose herself, and went to the door. She opened it to be greeted with Ron, Kaylee, and their three-year-old twins Luke and Jillian.
"Hey guys! So glad you could come!" She hugged Ron and Kaylee, and crouched down in front of the twins. "Hi, Luke! Hi, Jillian! How about you go on out back, and Cossette will be right there." She watched the twins scamper off and squeal gleefully at the miniature carnival set up in the backyard. "Cossette!" Camille called. "Luke and Jillian are here!"
A little porcelain-skinned girl with jet-black ringlets bounded from the back room. Her bright blue eyes glimmered with delight. She wore a pink polo shirt with denim short overalls and white Keds, a big pink bow in her hair. "Thank you, Mummy!" the little girl squealed, making a beeline for the backyard.
"I can't believe how fast she's growing, Cam," Kaylee said, smiling.
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "It seems like just yesterday you told us you were pregnant."
"Time does fly, doesn't it? Go on out back, and I'll join you eventually," Camille said as the doorbell rang again. She answered the door, and saw Hermione with her son, Henry. "Henry, head on into the backyard, pumpkin. Hermione! How is magical law treating you? I feel like I never see you anymore!"
"It's going really well! I just made partner at the firm as a matter of fact," Hermione said hugging Camille. "Oh, Seamus is going to be a bit late. He got a bit held up at work."
"That's no problem, 'Mione. Did you ask him to drag Harry with him?"
"I did, actually," Hermione smiled, walking into the backyard.
Time passed and eventually the backyard was filled with little kids shrieking with delight on the mini Ferris wheel, roller coaster, and scrambler in the magically enlarged backyard. Camille couldn't help but smile at the pure joy on Cossette's face. Cossette had been slightly sluggish and hadn't gained much weight lately, but today eased Camille's mind that something might be wrong. About halfway into the party, the doorbell rang. Camille wondered who it could be, because she knew Harry would just walk in, and Seamus was already there. She walked to the door, opened it, and saw two piercing grey eyes staring at her.
"Draco! What a pleasant surprise! I thought you had to work today!" Camille smiled, hugging him.
"Dr. Graham let me off for the afternoon. And since I forgot to give you Cossette's present from me to you yesterday, it gave me the perfect excuse to drop by."
"And how did you convince Graham to give you the afternoon off?"
"You don't need to know," Draco said, jokingly. "Now, where is the little princess?"
"Out back. Come on out, and enjoy the barbeque and drinks and such."
"Why, thank you." Draco followed Camille into the backyard, and gasped at the sight. "No holding back, huh?"
"Never," Kaylee answered. "Harry and Camille don't call her Princess for nothing. How you been, Draco?"
"Not bad, Kay," Draco said returning her friendly hug. Ron gave a non-committal head nod. Then Draco heard a delight shriek.
"MISTER DRACO!!!!" Cossette screamed, sprinting in his direction. Draco squatted down to her level. Cossette vaulted herself at him, the force of her small impact sending the two of them backwards.
"Cossette!" Camille scolded. "Be careful!"
"It's okay, Cam. She had some cushion to land on." Draco set Cossette on her feet, and straightened her overalls. He had become like family to the little girl, whose father was hardly ever around. "Is it someone's birthday or something?" Draco joked.
"It's mine, Mister Draco. You knowed that," Cossette giggled.
"It's your birthday?"
"Yes!"
"How old are you?"
"I'm this many," Cossette answered, holding up four fingers.
"Four? Wow. You're getting so old I might just have to return your present. I don't know if you'll like it." Draco pulled a small box out of his pocket.
"Oooh! Mister Draco. I not old. You are!" she teased, snatching the box and running off to the growing pile of presents.
"She's so much like you, Camille," Draco laughed, sitting in the empty chair left by Ginny who had gone inside to nurse her newborn.
"I know. Sometimes it worries me."
"Mummy?" Cossette asked, walking over.
"Yes, my sweet?"
"Is Daddy coming? He said he would but he's not, and he's gonna miss ice keem and presents!" Cossette's lips were pulled into a small frown.
"I don't know, sweetie. Daddy hasn't called me today."
"He didn't call yesserday either," Cossette frowned.
"I know, baby. I know. How about you go play, and I'll try to call Daddy, okay?" She smiled at her daughter, kissed on the forehead and sent her on her way.
"Is everything okay here, Camille?" Draco asked.
"Obviously not, Draco," Camille snapped quietly. "I don't really want tot talk about it."
"Camille!" Ginny called from the doorway. "Harry's on the phone!"
"Thanks! Be right back," Camille said, heading inside. She grabbed the cordless phone from Ginny and went straight into the bedroom slamming the door. "Harry?"
"Hey, darling," Harry cooed from the other end.
"Where the hell are you?" Camille demanded.
"I'm at work. What are you talking about?"
"Did you lose you calendar or something?"
"No, I'm looking at it right now."
"Aren't you forgetting what today is?"
"Oh shit," Harry said after a minute.
"That's right. Oh shit indeed," Camille growled keeping her voice low so no one would know what was going on. Draco was the only one who knew how rocky their marriage was. "Cossette keeps asking about you. You promised you'd be here today. Get your ass home as soon as possible. And I'm not joking."
"Cami, sweetheart, I can't."
"What do you mean you can't?! You promised her, Harry!" Camille yelled, catching Draco's attention through the window.
He came inside the house and stood outside her bedroom door. Draco couldn't help the sick twinge of happiness in his heart at the sound of Camille and Harry fighting. He hated seeing Camille in such pain, but he couldn't help hoping that one day, and soon by the sound of things, that she would be free of Potter and be his once again. Over the past 5 years, Draco never stopped loving Camille, and he needed her, just as much as she needed him though she'd never admit it at the moment. His thoughts were interrupted by Camille's explosion.
"AAARGH! I DON'T CARE HOW YOU DO IT, BUT HARRY, GET YOUR SORRY ASS HOME RIGHT NOW!!!!!" Camille hung up the phone, and began to pace around the room cursing in French. "Merde! Rien! Baise! Diable! Merde, merde, merde!! Mon mari est un abruti!"
Draco knocked on the door, startling Camille. He opened it slowly. "Camille?"
"What?" she snapped.
"Cossette wants to know if we can open presents and eat cake."
"Tell her I had to go to the bathroom, and that I'll be there in a couple of minutes," Camille said, magicking three suitcases, and she began to magic all of Harry's clothes into them.
"Camille, what are you doing?"
"What does it look like? I'm kicking Harry out."
"Today? Shouldn't you give him some notice so he can find a place to live?"
"We have another cottage in Hogsmeade. He'll go there."
"MUMMY!" Cossette wailed. "MUMMY!!!"
Camille glanced out the window, and sprinted out the door. Once in the back yard, Camille stood face to face with the most terrifying sight in the entire world: Cossette being held by her grandmother, Matilda. Cossette, squirming to get free, had tears streaming down her face.
"Let her go," Cam growled, wand drawn.
"And what if I don't, Cami?" Matilda smirked. "You gonna curse me? And risk hitting your precious daughter with a stunning curse at the very least?"
"Give me my daughter, Mom."
Cossette froze. "Gramma?" she whimpered.
"Yes, sweetie. This is your grandmother," Camille answered, glaring at Matilda. "Now, I'm going to ask you nicely. Give me Cossette."
"Or what? You going to get your Auror husband to kill me? Oh. It seems he isn't here. And besides, she is my granddaughter. Don't I get to see her?"
"No, you don't. Now, giver her to me!"
"Okay fine." Matilda practically threw Cossette to Camille, who caught her and hugged Cossette tightly.
"It's okay, baby. Mummy's got you," Camille cooed, trying to assuage her terrified child.
"Don't be so sure of that, my dear," Matilda smirked. "Incendio!" she shouted, pointing her wand at the mini-attractions set up in the yard. And then she disappeared with a loud pop.
Draco sprang into action. "Auguamenti!" Water shot from his wand onto the increasing flames. Luckily, no children were playing on the rides.
Kaylee and Ron both echoed in unison. "Auguamenti!"
"Auguamenti!" Camille bellowed, cradling Cossette. Smoke billowed from the backyard as the flames were extinguished at last.
"Mummy!" Cossette wailed.
"I know, baby. I know. It's okay," Camille mumbled, holding in a flood of tears. "You're safe. I've got you." Camille stared in disbelief at her torched backyard, oblivious to Kaylee's touch on her arm.
"We're going to get everything together. I'll get this cleaned up and if you need someone to stay for a while, Draco offered."
Camille nodded. "Yes. Tell him yes," she whispered.
Time passed and Kaylee, Ron, Hermione and Seamus got the backyard cleared of the debris, and then took the food and presents back into the house. The sun sank low into the sky, the four said their goodbyes to Camille, who was still in shock, and Draco and left. Draco and Camille stood in silence and watched the last of the smoke fade into the navy blue sky. The exhausted Cossette stirred in her sleep and woke up groggily.
"Time to get you dressed for bed, little one," Camille said, the first thing to break the hour-long silence.
Cossette merely nodded, flopping her head back down onto Camille's shoulder. Camille carried the drowsy child into her new and improved big girl room, and sat her on the bed. Draco followed, standing against the doorframe. Camille quickly put Cossette into her polka-dotted nightie, tucked her in, and kissed her goodnight. She looked back on her sleeping daughter, and then turned out the light, and closed the door. Camille walked past Draco, sinking into the couch, and began to sob. Draco sat down next to her, and pulled her to him and let her cry. Camille had been so strong in front of Cossette, that she deserved this.
"It's okay, Camille. She's gone, and you and Cossette are safe."
"For now," Camille sobbed.
"Well, yes. But I don't think Matilda or Lucius will try anything like this again."
"Harry's going to be so angry with me."
"And why would he get angry?"
"Because he's watching his wife snuggling with her ex-lover on his sofa," Harry snarled.
Camille jumped to her feet, and spun to meet Harry's enraged face. "Harry this isn't what it looks like." Camille quickly cast a silencing charm toward Cossette's room so she would be awoken.
"Oh yeah? And what am I supposed to think? I come home after two weeks of hunting the two most wanted people in the magical world and this is what greets me?!?"
"Harry if you'll just let me explain."
"I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM YOU, MALFOY!!!!"
"Harry," Camille said, her tears dried, and anger boiling in her blood. "This isn't what it looks like!"
"OH SURE IT ISN'T! THAT'S WHAT THEY ALL SAY! 'THIS ISN'T WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, HONEST!'"
"Harry-"
"SAVE IT CAMILLE. I DON'T WANT TO HEAR YOUR PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR WHY YOU'RE HAVING AN AFFAIR!!"
"MATILDA WAS HERE, HARRY!" Camille screamed at the top of her lungs.
"I DON'T—WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!"
"You heard me! My mother was here. Today!"
"And you let her get away?! You didn't kill her? Or at the very least stun her?"
"I WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH GETTING OUR DAUGHTER BACK!"
"But you let her go?!" Harry was consumed by his anger. He brought his hand up and brought it down again across Camille's face with a hard smacking noise. "YOU IDIOT!"
Draco stepped forward placing himself between Camille and Harry. Camille pushed him aside, eyes wide with shock and fear. Then her features changed. She snarled, and magicked all of the suitcases containing Harry's belongings out of the front door. "Get out."
"Camille, what is this?!"
"Get out of this house. You're not welcome here anymore." She began to walk Harry backwards toward the open front door.
"You can't kick me out, you bitch!"
At the door, Camille pushed Harry all of the way out and put a barrier spell so he could no longer enter. "Harry, I want a divorce."
Harry stood there and seethingly shocked look on his face. "What?" he stammered. But his question went unheard as Camille slammed the door in his face.