Chapter 2

Many hours passed of Harry answering the press's questions as best he could while still holding back the information he knew shouldn't go public. This proved rather difficult as the media pressed him on everything he had been doing, wherever he had gone, how he'd managed to get inside the castle, inside Gringotts, inside the Ministry when the protection had been at its highest. He'd ended up just saying that with the help of Ron and Hermione, he'd somehow managed. They weren't satisfied.

They also asked Harry about why he'd decided to come to Hogwarts, which he knew he must avoid answering at all costs, for the answer was based entirely on a truth which he knew mustn't be known to everyone, and especially not in front of a wild batch of reporters which were all either going to twist his words if they were too bland or else print off everything he said in precise detail if it included an exclusive secret which would put everyone's theories in speculation. A piece of information so juicy would be exactly what these people thirsted for and would catch on even if he even indirectly hinted at it. This he was very careful not to do.

Even so, Harry still managed to surprise everyone with the facts that weren't nearly as extraordinary in comparison to the things he didn't say, so that eventually, even if slowly, the reporters, after satisfying themselves, dispersed. He was finally able to focus on the after effects of the war and his prolonged absence.

Lying in Ginny's lap on one of the benches, Harry'd declared that they were to leave the repairing of the rest of castle till tomorrow, now was a time for mourning. They were by Fred's body, Tonks and Remus on Fred's other side. The sight of them made Harry inclined to look away and he did, for hours at a time. For George, no-one seemed to exist with him other than Fred, unable to leave his side, he stared into Fred face, his identical features rather expressionless, as though he'd kidded himself into thinking Fred was only asleep. This sight made Harry feel even guiltier for having brought this war on everyone who wasn't expecting it.

'Harry?' Harry heard his name being called out and looked around for the unfamiliar voice, glad for an excuse to turn away. His eyes found the same woman he'd seen at the house of Tonks' parents, the woman who I'd nearly attacked before realising that she wasn't Bellatrix, but her sister, Andromeda.

Harry stood up and fully took in the woman's appearance. She had long light brown hair all behind her back, she was wearing a floor length black travelling cloak, her clothes hidden beneath it, but the one thing he noticed straight away was what she had in her arms, a bundle of patterned fabric, in it he soon came to realise was a baby. He felt his mouth dry and open slightly. He now seemed to recall that the last time he'd seen Tonks she'd hurried off shouting that baby Teddy was at her mother's.

Harry felt his legs stiffly taking him closer to the baby. He let himself relive the moment at Shell cottage when Remus arrived announcing that Tonks had had the baby, and then him telling Harry that he was to be Teddy's godfather; all about an eon ago. It seemed the time had arrived when he needed to fulfil that responsibility.

Harry stared into the face of Teddy Lupin for the first time. Teddy was asleep at the moment, a tuft of bright hair was visible, the same colour of Andromeda's at the tips of the hairs, but a bright Weasly-ish ginger at the roots. His general face shape seemed to remind him of Remus a lot but he could still detect Tonks in his mouth and nose. He was wrapped tightly in a white cloth of stripy pattern. Harry looked up from Teddy and into the sad, slightly aged eyes of Andromeda.

Harry felt his breathing stutter slightly. It was like looking into the face of Bellatrix all over again, after knowing she'd died already, (having witnessed it himself) he still felt a rush of loathing for the woman and was reminded of his own godfather in that instant. But this wasn't that woman; this was an innocent person having not committed any crime other than to have the same ancestors of the evil woman.

'Remus had told me that you were godfather, so he's yours,' she said, she said it without any real emotion. Harry knew that her husband had died right before her daughter and son-in-law followed, leaving her all alone with no-one to accompany her but her grandson; which she was giving away to his rightful guardian.

'Yes,' he spoke, rather gormlessly he now realised, but Harry knew he was being presented with a lot of responsibility by being the guardian of a 3-4 month old baby.

Harry now realised that Ginny and Hermione had got up and had walked up to him, both either staring at Teddy or Andromeda. Ginny looked straight up at him.

'I know Mum'll help you,' she declared, clearly interpreting Harry's silence correctly. She held out her arms for the bundle of fabric in Andromeda's protection, and stared expectantly at Andromeda. She gave Teddy to her mechanically, this Harry caught and he started to pity Andromeda, but made a mental note to try and support her as best he could, she withdrew her arms, he know realised that she was still holding her wand in her gloved hands, and she gave a forced smile before turning away and leaving in the direction of the entrance hall doors. Harry stared after her before he realised that Ginny, looking straight at him again, was holding Teddy out to him.

Harry tried supporting Teddy as best he could, still rather awkwardly, he finally saw the innocence of the baby in his arms and he felt the irresistible urge to making a coo. He refrained himself, half due to the fact that he knew many people were listening even if they were hiding it, and half due to the fact that he knew baby Teddy was asleep anyway. Harry walked back to where he had lain before, but this time decided to sit in his seat rather than lie and take up the whole space. His arms still in an awkward cradle, he saw Hermione give the closest thing to a radiant smile in the current situation as she looked at Harry's godson. She held out her arms and he unhesitantly gave Teddy to her.

She immediately took him in her arms and, her smile more pronounced than ever, she held him up to her face and touched her nose on his. Harry chuckled slightly, thinking that there must just be something about girls that make them more comfortable than boys with babies; it didn't particularly bother him though, he knew that ever since we were very young, Hermione had always been much better about working out emotions and understanding feelings than Ron. He stared at Hermione, and she looked back up at him, her face still bearing small injuries of the recent battle, a cut on her lip and a particularly deep graze on her head that had already been bandaged. However, it didn't stop her looking as though some of her mournfulness had eased off as she smiled at him.

'I'm glad you're alright Harry,' she said with true emotion. He gave a soft grin with true warmth in return, then registering Ginny may feel neglected, he wrapped his arm around her waist and stared into her eyes, the exact same shade as her mothers, and she looked back.

Hermione, realising she was probably better off somewhere else, decided to gently direct herself to where Mrs Weasley happened to be sitting by Fred along with most of the other Weasley's. He had time to register Fleur rushing up to her before he was lost with Ginny.