It had been a long year for Harry Potter.
With the war over, and Voldemort dead, life was slowly returning to normal.
Well, as normal as it could get living at the Burrow, raising his two year old godson.
The most pleasant surprise of this past year was learning that Ginny still fancied him. He had been sure that after the way he broke up their relationship three years ago, that she would never want anything to do with him again.
It took a while for them to get comfortable with each other, and now, it seemed they were doing the best to make up for all the time together they had lost these past few years. Needless to say, it was not easy for them to be alone together.
With all the Weasleys living at the Burrow, and those left from the Order stopping in on occasion, he was very rarely alone.
All was not as believed, though. He was having a hard time dealing with what he had done during the war. He had killed. Not just Voldemort, but other people too. Many people also died because of him.
It was not hard for him to imagine seeing looks of loathing coming from some of the people in the house. He blamed himself for Fred's death. Every time he looked at George or Mrs. Weasley, he knew they blamed him for Fred's death.
'If it wasn't for me', he thought, 'Fred would still be alive, and so would Tonks and Lupin.'
He wished there were someone he could talk to about it all. The only father figures he had ever known were all dead. He couldn't bring himself to talk to Mr. Weasley. He was sure he and Mrs. Weasley blamed Harry for the death of their son.
The only two people in that house he felt he could open up to were his godson Teddy, and Ginny, though he couldn't talk to Ginny the way he would have had Sirius or Lupin been there for him.
He needed someone to help him come to terms with what he had done.
"Oi, Harry!" came Ron's voice from outside his door.
Harry got up and yanked the door open.
"Can't you be quiet for once in your life Ron? I just got Teddy to take a nap, and I don't want him woken up." he hissed to a very scared looking Ron.
"Sorry mate, no need to rip my head off though. Mum just sent me up here to tell you that you got a letter. Said it was important." abashed, Ron said.
Closing the door quietly, he brushed past Ron without saying another word.
"Harry dear, you got a letter from the ministry."
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley."
Harry ripped open the letter sitting on the table.
Mr Potter, Your presence is required at the Ministry. Signed,
We will be sending someone to pick you up shortly.
Come alone.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
Senior Auror
Ministry of Magic
Harry went white. Why couldn't they leave him alone?
It had been months since the ministry had tried to contact him. He thought he made it clear that he wanted nothing to do with them.
"Harry, what is it?" Mrs. Weasley asked with concern heavy in her voice.
"Mrs. Weasley, will you watch Teddy for me?" Harry asked quietly.
"Of course I will Harry. What's going on?" She asked.
"It's the Ministry again. They are sending someone to pick me up."
"After all this time? I thought they finally decided to leave you alone. Arthur will go with you dear. Don't worry, everything will be fine."
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley, but I have to take care of this on my own."
They both jumped at what sounded, to Harry, like a gun shot.
Harry spun to the door, wand out, and yanked it open.
Standing in the doorway were two wizards he had never seen before.
"Mr. Potter, your presence is required by the head of the Magical Law Enforcement division."
"What do they want with me?" Harry demanded, his voice full of anger.
"We were only told to escort you directly to the Ministry Mr. Potter. Nothing more. Come with us."
"I'll be back as soon as I can Mrs. Weasley. Don't worry, I can handle anything the Ministry throws at me." Harry reassured her quietly.
As he stepped out of the house, the Ministry wizards fell into step on either side of him. Once they were clear of the house, they turned in step and Harry felt a familiar squeezing sensation as they apparated directly to the Ministry of Magic.
"Wand, please."
Harry handed his wand over to the feeble looking guard, who inventoried it and handed it back to him.
"Where are we going?"
"Level 2, Mr. Shacklebolt wants to see you. This way."
With that, they entered the lifts, and got off at level 2.
"Harry, It's good to see you again." Kingsley Shacklebolt said as Harry walked into his office.
"What do you want, Kingsley?" Harry demanded.
"Why the anger, Harry? The Ministry is not your enemy. I am not your enemy." Kingsley tried to reassure Harry
"Funny way to show it, don't you think? Someone who claimed to be my friend would respect my wishes and let me live my life in peace. What do you want?" Anger was rising in Harry's voice
"There are many things I want, Harry." Kingsley sighed.
"Don't play games with me, I am not in the mood for it." Harry snapped at the Auror.
"Fine. You're in danger, Harry."
"What else is new? What did I do this time? Not die when someone wanted me to?" Harry laughed.
"That's exactly what you did. I have received word that a small group of Death Eaters are planning on avenging their dead lord. They want to kill you, as well as anyone who's with you."
"You brought me all the way here to tell me something that any first year at Hogwarts could have figured out?" Harry barked.
"This is not the time for games, Harry. I know you have never seen eye to eye with the Ministry, and frankly, I don't blame you. But this is not the time to let your pride take control over your judgment
You are in real danger, as are the Weasleys, and your godson, while you are around them." Kingsley yelled.
"Don't you dare bring my godson into this, Kingsley!" Harry shouted while pulling out his wand.
"I didn't mean it that way, Harry. I just want you to open your eyes. You need protection, and I can provide it for you. We want to increase protection around the Burrow, place a few Aurors there, and provide you with a protector."
"In case you didn't notice, I am fully capable of defending myself, against Death eaters, or against the Ministry if I have to." Harry fumed.
"Don't be a fool, Harry. It does not suit you. This is not a game, the danger is real." Kingsley pleaded.
"Why didn't you discuss this with Mr. Weasley? It's his house, and his family. I won't place this burden on them. They have already gone through enough trouble, and suffered enough because of me. I am sure they would love to finally have a reason to ask me to leave." Harry growled as he stood up.
"What in Merlin's name are you talking about Harry? When have you ever done anything to hurt that family?"
"They have one less son, and many less friends because of me!" Harry shouted.
"Harry, do you honestly think that?" a calm voice spoke up from behind him.
Harry spun around and was eye to eye with Mr. Weasley.
"M-Mr. Weasley! I didn't know you were here." Harry stammered
"I came as soon as Molly told me what happened. Harry, why did you say those things just now?" Mr. Weasley asked in concern.
"Because they're true, Fred would still be alive if it weren't for me. So would Sirius, Lupin, Tonks, and more people than I can count. I don't know how you've been able to stand having me in your house all this time. It's time I stopped fooling myself into thinking I can have a family without putting them in danger. I'll be leaving as soon as I get my stuff packed." Harry admitted sadly.
"Harry, what in the blazes are you saying? You didn't kill Fred or Sirius, or any of them. If it weren't for what you went through, I might not have any of my children or friends left. Voldemort took them from us Harry, not you. You must realize that. You do have a family Harry. We are your family, Me, Molly, George, Ron, Ginny. We are your family. We wouldn't trade you for the world." Mr. Weasley consoled Harry, sadness etched on his face.
"What were you planning on doing? Run off? Go into hiding? You had better not let Ginny find out what you're thinking. She loves you Harry, though I'm starting to wonder why, if you believe what you said. Deep down, you must know, we would do anything for you." he added as he put an arm around Harry's shoulders.
"Mr. Weasley..." Harry began, but was cut off.
"Don't worry, Harry. Everything will be alright. Kingsley, you can place whatever amount of protection around our house that you deem necessary" Mr. Weasley said as he pushed Harry towards the door.
"Thank you, Arthur." Kingsley replied as he pulled out a sheet of parchment.
When they got home that night, Harry went directly to his room without speaking to anyone, and proceeded to lock himself in.
When Harry came out of his room the next morning., he was confronted by a very angry looking Ginny.
Without saying a word, she looked him in the eye, and slapped him so hard he fell through his door.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER WHAT THE BLOODY HELL WERE YOU THINKING?" Ginny shouted pushing Harry back towards his bedroom door.
"Ginny.." Harry blurted out, but was cut off with a slap to the face.
"Shut it, I'm not done! It's your fault Fred is dead is it? Your the reason Tonks and Lupin died are you? Just going to up and leave were you? You don't have a family do you? I thought you had more brains than that! I thought you cared more for me than that!" Ginny raged.
She slapped him once more, then stormed down the stairs. He heard a door slam.
Harry got to his feet, his head still ringing from the force of her slaps.
As he walked out his door, he walked right into Ron.
"Blimey Harry. I thought she was going to curse you into the next decade. I was just coming up here to warn you, but she put a body bind curse on me. She heard Mum and Dad talking. You had better go after her, mate, or she might not be as charming the next time she corners you."
Harry stumbled down the stairs, rubbing a very sore jaw.
He finally found her sitting at the edge of the pond. From the looks of it she had been crying.
She must have heard him walking up to her, as she jumped up and spun around, with her wand out.
She didn't lower it when she saw who it was.
"What do you want? I thought you had some packing to do. Were you at least going to say goodbye before you walked out of my life?" Ginny seethed.
"Ginny" he started, but she cut him off.
"Save it, Harry. I don't want to hear it. I thought I meant something to you. I guess I was wrong. So what was I? Something to help you take your mind off things by snogging when no one was looking? I thought you loved me, Harry." Ginny pleaded.
"I do Ginny!" Harry claimed.
"Funny way of showing it. How could you be so stupid? None of us blames you for Fred's death, Or Lupins', or Tonks'. You didn't kill them, Harry. You never hurt anybody that didn't force you to. I wouldn't be alive today if you hadn't saved me back in second year. We thought you needed some time alone, needed to sort things out. Apparently we were wrong. Seems like your brain takes a vacation when you hole yourself up in your room. Well that's going to end, Harry. Being an idiot doesn't suit you. From now on, I won't let you have more than five minutes to yourself!" Ginny barked.
Harry did the only thing he could think of, he pulled her close to him and kissed her.
"Well, " she said, breathlessly a few minutes later, "That's certainly better. If you ever get anymore stupid ideas in that head of yours about leaving me, I'm going to put a permanent sticking charm on us. Got that?" Ginny stated, poking Harry hard in the chest.
"Yes, Ginny." he said, a smile playing across his lips.
"Well, where were we?" Ginny asked coyly
"I was just about to tell you that I've been a" he started to say, but was cut off
"Idiot? Moron? Brainless fool?" Ginny finished for him
"Those all sound about right." he agreed.
"And?"
"And, I was going to say," he started, but was cut off again.
"That you'll never do it again? That you're sorry you hurt me? That you want nothing more than to stay here, and be with me?" Ginny finished as she ran her hands up Harry's back, kissing his neck.
"All of those, Ginny. You were right." Harry sighed.
"Of course I was. Now, are you going to kiss me again, or am I going to have to curse you?" Ginny asked, a hint of anger creeping into her voice.
She pushed him down on the ground, and jumped on top of him, kissing him for all she was worth.
"I hope you know that you're more trouble than you're worth Harry." Ginny said with a coy smile.
"What ever do you mean?" Harry asked innocently
"Never mind. We had better get back to the house and help mum with lunch."
Ginny grabbed his hand and practically dragged him back to the house.
When they got back in the house, Harry saw another letter sitting on the table, he looked to see who it was addressed to, and saw his name, with a red stamp saying
"Cleared for delivery – Auror #152"
"Oh, there you are Harry, that just came for you." Mrs. Weasley said as saw him looking at the letter.
Harry reluctantly picked up the letter, holding it like he expected it to bite him.
"To Harry Potter, I would like you to stop by Hogwarts at your earliest possible convince. Yours truly, Minerva McGonagall
There is a matter I would like to discuss with you.
Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry"
"It's from Professor McGonagall, she wants to talk to me. Would you mind watching Teddy until I get back?" Harry asked.
"I would love to, he's such a delightful little boy." Mrs Weasley replied with a smile.
Harry walked to the front door and started to open it, until he heard someone cough behind him.
"And where do you think you're going? I thought I told you, you are not to be alone for more than five minutes?" Ginny stated as she walked down the stares.
"Sorry, Ginny. It slipped my mind. I'm going to Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall wants to see me. Would you like to come?" Harry pleaded.
"Like you could stop me." Ginny replied with a smile.
Hand in hand, they walked out the front door, but stopped suddenly when a wizard appeared before them.
"Good day Mr. Potter, allow me to introduce myself, I am Trent Jackson, I was sent by the Ministry, as protection for you whenever you leave this house." The young looking wizard stated as he approached the house.
"Do you really think that's necessary? I am fully capable of taking care of myself." Harry demanded.
"I am under orders, sir. Don't worry, I will not get in your way, and anything you do while I am with you is entirely your business, not a word of it will ever pass my lips." Trent replied, a worried look on his face.
"Very well, I'm going to Hogwarts, once we get there, you will have to wait outside." Harry resigned.
"Very good, sir."
Harry and Ginny walked to the hill across the street, as it was the closest place they can apparate from, with the Ministry wizard trailing a few paces behind them.
Once on the hill, the three of them spun on the spot, with a loud crack, they appeared outside of Hogsmead, a short distance from Hogwarts itself.
Harry felt as though a weight had lifted from him, he was back at the only place he had felt happy for the last six years of his childhood.
It had been over a year since he had seen Hogwarts. If he hadn't been there, he would have never guessed that it had been the place where the war had ended. Nearly all the damage had been repaired.
Once inside the school gates, he and Ginny both stopped in their tracks, sucking in a deep breath.
Standing in the middle of the courtyard was something neither of them had seen last time they were here.
A black obelisk had been erected there, with a lifelike phoenix on top of it.
It had writing on it, though it was unreadable from where they were.
Slowly, they approached it, and read what was written.
"In memory of those who
gave the ultimate sacrifice
to protect those they love."
Below that, was a list of names. Everyone who died during the last war was on there.
Ginny reached out her hand, and touched a name. Harry didn't need to look to tell whose name it was.
She buried her face in his chest, her whole body shuddering.
The name she had touched was Fred Weasley.
Harry saw two other names he dearly missed.
"Nymphadora Tonks Lupin
Remus Lupin"
When Harry and Ginny reached the gargoyles outside the headmistress's office, he realized he didn't know the password.
"We are here to see Professor McGonagall."
"Enter, Harry Potter. She is expecting you."
They walked up the spiral staircase hand in hand, and knocked on the door at the top.
"Enter" came a womans voice from the other side.
"You'll have to wait here while we go in." Harry stated to the wizard following them.
"Understood, sir. Just call if you need anything." He said as he walked to the corner of the little entryway
The headmistress's office was much as he had remembered it from his many visits to it during his sixth year. The main exception being the painting of Dumbledore behind the desk where Professor McGonagall sat.
"Harry, It's good to see you again. You as well, Ginny."
"It's good to see you too, Professor."
"Do sit down, you're not in trouble Harry" She said with a smile.
Harry and Ginny each took a seat in front of the huge oak desk.
"So, who's the humorless looking wizard you left pacing outside?" McGonagall asked.
"That's Harry's babysitter." Ginny said, smiling mischievously.
"Excuse me?" McGonagall looked taken aback.
"He's my ministry appointed body guard." Harry muttered.
"Is that so? Who does he think is going to attack you here? A group of giggling first years?
Well, never mind that. I'm sure you want to know why I asked you here. I would like to offer you a job. We are, again, in need of a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. I thought you might like to come back to Hogwarts in a teaching capacity." She went on as she looked at Harry.
"No thank you, Professor. I am trying to get my life settled and raise my godson." He replied apologetically.
"Are you sure, Harry? You can still live a normal life and raise Teddy while teaching here." She explained with a sigh.
"I'm sure. Thanks for the offer though. It means a lot to me." Harry smiled as he replied.
"Very well. I hate to cut this talk short, but I have a class to teach in ten minutes. It's been a pleasure seeing the two of you again. Don't be a stranger."
"Thanks, Professor, it's been a pleasure seeing you as well." Harry and Ginny said as they walked out of her office.
As they were walking out of the main hall, Ginny leaned close to Harry.
"Are you sure, Harry? I thought you would love to come back here."
"I'm sure Ginny. All I want to do is spend time with you, and be the best godfather to Teddy as I can."
*******************
After dinner that night, Harry went looking for Mr. Weasley. He finally found him in his shed, working on a Muggle toaster.
"Mr. Weasley?" Harry asked nervously.
"Ah Harry, what's up?" Mr. Weasley replied, not looking up from the toaster.
"Mr. Weasley, can I ask you something?" Harry was looking at the interesting amount of dust on his shoes as he spoke
Finally looking up, Mr. Weasley saw the look on Harry's face and turned to talk to him.
"You know you can, Harry. What do you want to ask me?" Mr. Weasley stated as he searched Harry's face.
"Well, sir." Harry began, but was cut off.
"Sir? Harry, you're a grown man, and have been a member of this family for years, call me Arthur." He said laughing.
"Okay, Arthur. Well, what I want to ask is... I want to ask your permission to ask Ginny to marry me." Harry blurted out.
"I see." Arthur stated in a cold voice.
Seeing the look on Arthur's face, Harry thought fighting off fifty Death Eaters would have been preferable to the look he was getting.
"How do you feel towards Ginny?" He asked shaking his head.
"I love her more than life itself. She means the world to me." Harry exclaimed at once.
"She means the world to me too. Are you sure about this Harry? If anything were to hurt Ginny" Arthur was asking but was cut off.
"I would rather die than hurt her. I want to make her the happiest woman in the world. She is my life." Harry was beaming as he talked about Ginny.
"I'm glad to hear it. I like you, Harry, I really do. You're like a son to me. I've seen how you and Ginny are when you're together. You look as if you were meant for each other." Arthur finally said, "You have my permission, and my blessing."
"Thank you! You don't know how much that means to me." Harry said, grinning like a madman..
"I'm sure I do. When are you planning on asking her?" Arthur asked smiling.
"Next week. The thirty-first is the anniversary of my parents death. I'm going to introduce her to them, and ask her then." Harry whispered, a tremble in his voice at the mention of his parents.
"That will mean a lot to her. How are you planning on supporting her?" He asked finally.
"I have more than enough money left from what my parents left me, and from what Sirius left me. I'm planning on getting a place of my own somewhere. I still have Sirius' house, but I wouldn't feel right living there. As for a job. I figure I could work for George, help him run his business, he's asked me to before. The Ministry has offered me every position but Minister. I plan on staying as far away from them as I can though." Harry's voice turned to stone at the name of the Ministry.
"The Ministry is not a bad place to work, Harry. It's changed a lot in the past year." Arthur stated calmly.
"I know that, but I can't help but to remember how they have treated me during the last few years I was at Hogwarts. I can forgive them for that, but I will never forgive them for how they treated Dumbledore." Harry hissed.
"That's all right Harry, I won't say anymore about it. Oh, by the way, I believe you dropped this."
Arthur went to hand Harry a sack that he had left on the workbench yesterday.
"No, I didn't. That's yours. To help pay what I owe you for letting me and Teddy live here and feeding us."
"Harry, every time you've tried to give me money, I have explained to you that you don't owe me anything. You're family." Arthur stated it as a matter of fact.
"Will you please keep it? It would make me feel better. I never have liked having anyone support me."
"Alright. On one condition. You don't try to pay me any more. There's more money in there than you could cost in five years." Arthur agreed finally
"Thank you, Arthur."