Chapter 3 – Belonging

Harry woke in the middle of the night, taking a peek at Hermione. She had her arms wrapped around his chest, her breath hitting his bare chest every few seconds. His hand gently stroked her hair, thinking back to a month and a half ago. He and his Hermione were in Shell Cottage, trying to recover from the death of Dobby, her torture at the hands of Bellatrix and planning their robbery with Ron. A sad smile graced his face as he thought about his friends. How many of them were still alive? Did any of them survive the Battle? He kissed her forehead, quashing the thoughts to the back of his mind. This was his life now. He had to accept that. Hermione accepted him instantly. His grandfather and parents did too. He had to remember that they need him more than his old world did.

She had been surprised when he actually meant all he wanted to do was cuddle. His top may have been off, but the rest of his clothing remained. Harry didn't want his relationship with Hermione to instantly go to physical. He may have plenty of memories of the two of them in sexual ways, but he never experienced it. It was like watching porn, all show but no substance. Her hair tickled against his chin as she moved her position.

He spared a glance over at their son, who was fast asleep in his cot. A smile graced his face as he watched the toddler peacefully sleep. It was the one that cemented his decision to stay in this world. Jason deserved a father who cared. Hermione deserved a partner who loved her unconditionally. As for himself, he deserved to be happy. To stop caring about whatever happened in his old life. They had won. They'd rebuild, create statues to those who fell. They'd manage to fix their world.

He carefully shifted Hermione so he could leave the bed, heading to the bathroom to relieve his full bladder. A glance in the mirror made him really look at the burn mark on his chest. No matter what, it seemed that Harry Potter was doomed to never have a blemish free body. He chuckled to himself at that realisation. A quick freshening later he found himself sitting in the kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee.

The world he lived in now was truly a better one. Not just because the fact that his parents were still alive, or that he and Hermione had their own little family. This world may be under threat from a Dark Lord, but at least the muggle and magical communities were working together to ensure that they could work together against any threat. It was touching to actually a world free of the barrier that divided blood status all those years ago.

He didn't really notice Dan walk in, but the sudden blinding light from the ceiling managed to catch his attention. "Little warning next time?" He frowned.

Dan chuckled softly. "Sorry kid." He poured himself a cup of coffee, sitting across from him. "Couldn't sleep?"

"Probably." Harry shrugged. "Month and a half ago, I used to sleep about two, maybe three hours." He sipped his coffee. "Now, I can't manage six. My old life, in my world…it's still affecting me here." He smirked. "All those months…the planning…" He downed the rest of his coffee with a satisfying sigh. "I had plans for after the war…instead…I walked to my own fucking death."

Dan frowned. "What made you do that?"

"I had a piece of Voldemort's soul bonded to mine. I had to die for that piece to be destroyed." Harry's thoughts instantly went back to that day. "In reality, I realise that Death tricked me. He took control of the Resurrection Stone and made me see what I had to." His expression darkened. "I love this world though, I truly do…but I can't help but wonder how many of my friends didn't make it."

Dan sighed. "I lost friends to a Dark Lord too." He said softly. "Back in '86, I was drafted into the Allied Forces on the Eastern Front. My best friend, Hermione's godfather…he didn't make it. He was an amazing wizard, but even he was discarded with one spell. Sometimes all you have to do is push it away." He shook his head. "I can't believe I'm having a polite conversation with you of all people…"

Harry chuckled softly. "I know." He closed his eyes for a moment. "You and I have had a turbulent history, Dan, and I want to apologise for that." He rubbed his eyes. "I know that wasn't really me, but it was Harry who fucked up Hermione's heart." He played with the cup. "To be honest, I was the same with my own Hermione. I knew she loved me, but I always made sure to push her off to Ron…I didn't want her to be stuck with me." He shook his head. "I didn't think I deserved love."

Dan watched him carefully. "You really aren't Harry." He commented softly. "I keep having to remind myself of that fact. You have the maturity that Harry sorely lacked in his life. Harry had too much of a sheltered upbringing to be fully mature. His parents, his grandfather, they kept him on a pedestal because of his skill. You though, you seem to care about people. You know what you're doing."

Harry nodded. "I didn't have people to shelter me. I had people who put me in the firing line." He checked the time. "I should head back up. I think Hermione deserves to wake up in my arms."

Dan frowned. "She better be dressed!" He warned.

Harry chuckled. "She is. We're just cuddling."

Dan rolled his eyes. "I'll let it slide. This time!"

-ABL-

Hermione opened her eyes, smiling sleepily at the sight of Harry beside her. She placed a soft kiss on his cheek, hugging herself close to him. "I haven't slept that well in years." She chuckled softly, kissing his other cheek. "So, what's the plan for today, Mr. Potter?"

Harry stroked her hair, thinking to himself what to do. He guiltily realised that he hadn't really spent any time with his parents or siblings since he had been back. Granted, he wasn't actually used to having siblings or parents, so it had been a hard adjustment for him to make. He peeked outside, grinning to himself. "Well, we could go to my mum and dad's house I suppose. I haven't really spent a lot of time with them as of late."

Hermione nodded against him. "That would be nice. I haven't seen Mr. and Mrs. Potter since last Christmas." She whispered, sitting up. She took Jason out of his crib, smiling at their son. "And I know that Nana Potter wants to cuddle and spoil her little grandson." She cooed, holding the baby against her chest. "How are we supposed to get there?"

Harry shrugged. "Maybe we could borrow your Mum's car?"

"She's gone for the day. So's dad."

Harry sighed. "Floo or Apparate then."

Hermione frowned. "I don't really want to introduce Jason to magical travel just yet. His core won't stabilise until he's three." She passed the baby to Harry, smiling as he instantly cuddled the boy close to him.

"The Knight Bus!" Harry suddenly remembered.

"Shut down years ago." Hermione pointed out.

"Flying Carpets?"

"Banned."

Harry sighed again, sitting up on the bed. He kissed Jason's forehead, thinking on his feet. "What if I transfigured the bike into a car?"

"That…could work." Hermione frowned a little. "What if we just used the sidecar?"

Harry blinked, staring down at his bike. "Um…where is it?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "You really need to meld those memories completely together." She chuckled. "It's in the left saddlebag." She took Jason off of him. "Now, I'm going to make our son some breakfast. You set up the sidecar and use the baby attachment that I bought you last Christmas."

Harry smiled, kissing their foreheads. He went down to the bike, taking out the sidecar and the attachments he needed. He magically re-expanded the sidecar, locking the baby seat and cover onto it before attaching it back to his bike. He noticed a few of her neighbours staring at him and gave them a wave. He knew his reputation wasn't the best with them, but he was hoping to change it. He made his way back inside, showering for the day.

Hermione handed him a bacon butty with brown sauce and a cup of coffee. She fed Jason a bowl of mashed banana and oatmeal, smiling at him as he tried to paint his face with the food. "You're as messy as Ron." She shook her head, being careful not to give him a chance to do it. Before she knew it, Harry had the boy strapped into the baby seat, fixing the wind cover over the compartment. He opened the side window slightly so the boy would have fresh air.

She wrapped her arms around Harry as the engine roared to life underneath them. She hadn't been on the bike in so long. She let out a squeal of delight as they drove down the road. It was going to be a long trip, but at least they got to spend some extra time together.

-ABL-

Lily Potter let out her own little squeal as she picked her grandson up. "Look how big you've gotten!" She gushed over the baby. "And so handsome, just like your Daddy and Granddaddy." She hugged Hermione and Harry, ushering them into the kitchen. "It's about time you two came by for a visit." She locked the door magically, noticing that Harry had Hermione's hand in his own. "Oh, are you two back together?"

Harry nodded softly. "Hermione was gracious enough to give me a second chance. One that I'm not going to waste."

Lily was about to say something, until she finally remembered that this wasn't just her son. "Your memories are back. You have my Harry's ones too…" She smiled sadly. "How have you been adjusting? Dad told me to give you time."

Harry shrugged. "I'm getting through it. There's so many things that are different now and I'm just trying to figure out what's the best thing for me." He admitted, hugging her again. "But I can tell you this…seeing you has made my life a million times better." He held her close to him. "Though, you are a lot shorter than I expected."

Lily slapped his head gently. "Cheeky git! I'll have you know that you Potter men are just lanky giants!"

Harry chuckled softly, kissing Hermione's cheek. "As for Hermione. I knew that she deserved better than what I was being, so I made sure to show her just how much she and J mean to me."

Hermione hugged him softly. "And he's finally taking your advice to heart, Mrs. Potter."

"I keep telling you to call me Lily." She replied with a soft laugh. "Mrs. Potter keeps making me look around for my mother in-law."

Harry sat down with Hermione, glancing around. "Are the kids here?"

Lily nodded. "We told them the situation last night when they got home. Jasmine is worried about meeting someone who can't remember her, but she knows that you've got both sets of memories. The twins aren't sure what to think, but I know that they'll be ok with you." She assured him. She poured three glasses of lemonade, and a small glass of juice for her grandson. "Your Dad's just at the shop with the lads. Sales are going up since all the kids are off school."

Harry smiled. "Sirius and Remus, I can't wait to see them." He played with the glass. "Have either of you heard of someone called Cedric Diggory?" He asked suddenly. He knew that Tonks, Remus, Sirius, Fred, his parents and others had survived, but he had to know. The one death that had plagued him for close to three years now.

"He's the reserve Seeker for the Appleby Arrows." Hermione answered with a scowl. "You slept with his girlfriend after we split up."

"I slept with Cho?!" Harry gulped. "Wow, that actually sounds like something I want to remember." He quickly quashed those thoughts away. "Bad Harry!"

Hermione watched his face. "Yes. Honestly Harry, don't you remember who you slept with?!" She rolled her eyes.

"I haven't fully melded the memories to mine. I use it like a photo album. I skim the memories for the important details, and the only important women to me are in this room." Harry answered softly.

"Nice save." Lily smirked. "You're getting smoother than Sirius."

Harry couldn't help but rub the back of his head with a blush on his face. He still wasn't used to being praised by his parents, let alone speaking to his mother. "Well, I suppose the old dog has finally rubbed off on me." He chuckled softly. He watched his mother holding Jason. "He's happy to see you."

Lily smiled, cuddling the toddler closer to her. "Why wouldn't he be? Nana Potter is soft and cuddly." She cooed softly, making baby noises to the happy toddler. She sat down with them, letting the little lad settle on her lap. "So, how's your integration going?"

Harry shrugged. "It's slow." He admitted, playing with the cup of coffee. "I love this world though. It's got everything I wish my world had. My world had nothing but bigotry and war. Voldemort was trying to kill all non-purebloods. Dumbledore was basically sitting on the fence about things. He ran a vigilante group that used non-lethal methods." He shook his head ruefully. "The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that my Dumbledore was just too complacent when it came to fighting evil. He believed in second chances for everyone." He finished his coffee, staring at Jason. "I've tons more family here too."

"What was your family like?" Hermione and Lily asked together.

"Well," Harry sighed. "I was raised by my aunt and her husband. They were both muggles, and they hated magic with a passion." He didn't mind talking about it with these people. In the month he had been there, he trusted them more than anything. "I lived in a cupboard under the stairs until I reached Hogwarts. I was made to every chore while my cousin sat on his fat arse. I was treated like dirt. Now, I don't even know if they lived or died. And in all honesty…I don't care."

Lily frowned. "What was her name?"

"Petunia Dursley." Harry replied.

Lily couldn't stifle the small laugh that erupted from her lips. "My sister Petunia never married that oaf in this world." She assured him. "Tuni is a bit of an odd duck around my sisters. Violet married a magical zoologist. She currently lives in Ecuador." She explained softly. "My sister Rose lives in London with her wife."

"And Petunia?" Harry asked curiously.

"Tuni never married. She was too much of a free soul. She had a son when you were about ten. I think she's living in Ireland at the moment. She tends to travel around. Petunia made her career out of reporting on the war. She's one of the best war time correspondents in the world." She commented proudly. "Her son lives his father six months of the year and with Tuni the other six." She finished her coffee. "She focuses on the orphans of war." She glanced into Harry's eyes. "You didn't have a good life, did you?"

Harry shook his head. "No. I didn't." He whispered. He hadn't tried to dwell on it a lot, the war had given him a genuine reason not to focus on what his life had been like. "Sirius was arrested for betraying you and dad in '81. He was sent to Azkaban without a trial with the rest of the 'known' Death Eaters who worshipped Voldemort. He escaped when I was thirteen, and tried to be in my life…he died when I was fifteen." He felt Hermione's hand on his back. "Remus died in the Final Battle. He and his wife had only had a son a couple of months previous to that…" He sniffled. "You, Dad, Remus, Sirius, Dumbledore, Cedric Diggory, Fred, Dobby, Hedwig…I lost a lot of friends and family."

Hermione wrapped her arms around him, trying to comfort him. "It sounds like you truly had a rougher life than we thought."

Harry chuckled weakly. "Dumbledore once told me that because of the life I lived, I had become the hero that the wizarding world needed. That I alone had the power to lead us out of the mess that the bigots put us into." He frowned. "As for myself, I just wanted to finish the war, marry the woman I loved and raise a family. Instead, I pushed her into someone else's arms and settled on someone else. Someone who was good to me, but I didn't love her as much as I loved Hermione." He closed his eyes. "I hope she at least survived…her mother lost a son too, she couldn't handle losing her only daughter."

Hermione's eyes filled with tears as she listened to the way he spoke. She kissed his cheek softly, running one of her hands into his hair. "You are a noble person, Harry."

Lily nodded. "More so than my son was…" She admitted with a sad smile. "He was a proud young man. Emotionally, he wasn't as mature as you are. To him, the war was something that his generation were destined to win. James and I tried to tell him that this had been going on since the fucking forties, but he was like his father, pig-headed at times." She took his hand. "I'm glad you have his memories though…I wouldn't have survived losing my son."

Harry squeezed her hand, smiling tearfully. "Thanks, mum." He whispered, kissing her cheek. He took a deep breath, grinning internally. "Now, enough of this crying shite. Let's celebrate. I'm alive and the family is whole." He held Hermione close to him. "Completely whole." He kissed her softly.

"Ew!" A feminine voice called out. Jasmine Potter's nose wrinkled as she walked into the room. As soon as Harry saw her he was shocked. She was the image of their mother. Red hair that fell to her back, soft features on her face and barely reaching his chin. She had their dad's eyes though, hazel and striking. "Why must he suck face when I'm in a room?" She asked sarcastically.

Harry chuckled, walking over to engulf her in a hug. "Shut up! I heard you went Panda eyed when you found out your awesome brother was in hospital." He held her close to him, stroking her hair as he heard her sniffle a little. "Getting emotional, Jazzy?"

Jasmine cried into his chest. "You stupid fucking moron!" She suddenly started slapping his chest. "You goddamned! Pig-headed! Narcissistic! Whore-mongering! Bastard!" She frowned. "You ever try and pull a stupid stunt like that again, and I'll personally shove a Firebolt up your bloody hole! Do you understand me?!" She snapped.

Harry hugged her again. "Shh." He rubbed her back. "I understand…"

Jasmine wiped her eyes. "And as for the new Harry Potter," She tried to keep her frown. "You'll discover, that I don't give idle threats!"

Harry smiled. "I don't doubt it." He kissed her forehead. "Now, you're grounded for cursing so much around your nephew."

"You can't ground me." Jasmine rolled her eyes.

"No," Lily crossed her arms, giving her best 'mother' glare. "But I can. You're grounded for a week."

"Mum," Jasmine whined. "I'm supposed to be staying with Harry! It's the first weekend of the summer." She turned to Harry. "Come on, tell her!"

Harry rubbed the back of his neck. "Um, well…" He chuckled nervously. "I'm turning the spare room into Jason's room…"

Jasmine's eye twitched. "But you promised!"

Harry gulped, turning to his mother. "Help." He mouthed.

Lily sighed. "Fine. You can stay at Harry's for a week, but you have to help them look after Jason and do whatever your brother tells you. Is that understood?"

Jasmine nodded, grinning widely. "I can do that. And Jason and I can share the room." She picked up her nephew. "Don't you want to share a room with your favourite auntie? Don't you handsome?" She cooed, kissing the boy's cheeks. She squealed in delight as the boy hugged her face with his little arms. "See? He wants to share a room with auntie Jazzy."

Harry raised an eyebrow at Hermione. "…This is going to be an interesting week…"

-ABL-

The decision was easy when it came to bringing Jasmine along with he, Hermione and Jason. He had enough time to apparate with her while Hermione and Jason drove over with his mother. He hadn't had many chances to apparate these days. The bosses had given him warnings that he wasn't to misuse the ability, but he didn't really like the idea of travelling twice in order to get everyone home.

He checked the spare room, cleaning it with a couple of spells. Jasmine had quickly made it her own by throwing her clothes into one of the dressers and setting up Jason's cot near to her. She went extremely giddy at the idea of spending the night cuddling up to her nephew. Out of all of his siblings, Jasmine was at the age where everything Jason did was cute and amazing. He tossed a couple of spells around the room to secure it from any dangers. It was paranoia on his part, but both wars had firmly been etched within his head.

He checked his watch. "Mum should be here shortly. So, let's lay down the ground rules now."

Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "Such as?"

Harry crossed his arms. "This is my flat, not a party zone for you and your friends. I will not have anyone I don't know here after 11pm." He held up a finger as she began to argue. "And don't give me some spiel that I have no memories of your friends." He tapped his head. "I have all my memories."

"Fine." Jasmine crossed her arms.

"Secondly, you will not be using this place as a crash zone whenever you fight with someone. I don't mind you visiting whenever you want, but don't turn this place into a war zone on me." Harry opened two bottles of butterbeer, passing on to her. "And lastly. No heavy drinking." He warned her. "You're only sixteen. And don't think I don't know about the bottle of vodka in your knicker drawer."

Jasmine frowned. "How?!"

"I have spells that detect anything people bring into my home." Harry smirked. "Better safe than sorry. Always practice constant vigilance!"

Jasmine crossed her arms. "You sound like Dad's old boss."

Harry smirked. "Good. Maybe that'll show you how serious I am." He quickly scanned his memories for a moment. Thanks to the work with his grandfather and the original Harry's own Occlumency skills, he had managed to perfect an encyclopaedia of the original Harry's memories to scan through whenever he needed information. "And your boyfriend isn't staying over either."

Jasmine sighed. "Ex-boyfriend." She corrected him. "He left me for that Italian bird who transferred last year." Her expression told him to drop the subject. If there was one thing he had learnt from scanning memories, it was that Jasmine had picked up one thing from their mother; her famous temper. She sat down on the bed, sighing once more. "I guess I shouldn't have picked a boy who looked up to you so much."

Harry smirked. "Yeah. That tends to be a bad idea." He sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her. "He's just a prick." He gave her a one-armed hug, trying to think of the words to comfort her. "I think the weirdest thing about coming back here had to be having siblings." He chuckled weakly. "It was amazing to see Mum and Dad. Granddad was someone who tried to kill me in my old life, so that was a shock. But, you and the twins…you guys really fucked me up. I could handle the rest, but what scared me was taking someone away from their siblings."

Jasmine turned to him, thinking on his words. It was something that made sense to her. "What was your world like?"

"Lonely." Harry answered honestly. "I had friends, people who thought of themselves as my family…but I was lonely." He repeated the older words. "I didn't have anyone who I considered true family. The Weasleys, they were my family in the sense that they accepted me for who I am. Hermione and Ron, they were my family in the sense that they understood what I went through. Even Sirius, he was someone who saw me as Dad. Not as my own person. Kept calling me James too." He ran a hand through his hair. "This world, it is tons better than my old one." He smiled. "I have loads of family. A son. Friends who don't pity me."

Jasmine smiled sadly at him. "You sound so different than my brother. He didn't bother with that shit." She admitted. "I used to think he was the coolest guy ever. Everyone wanted to be his friend. All the girls in my year wanted him in their knickers." She giggled. "I used to let them into your room when you were asleep during summers." She rested her head on his shoulder. "Mum, Dad, Granddad and Nana told me you were different. That you had something that our Harry lacked. I thought they were bullshitting me. My brother had everything…" She sighed. "Everything except appreciation of what he had. He took his friends and his life for granted."

Harry nodded. "I think that's a fair thing to say." He glanced out at the street, seeing his mother's car. "I hope you don't mind me having his body, Jasmine. I do want to get on with my family. Hey, are Dad's parents alive?"

"You mean Charlus and Dorea?" Jasmine asked curiously. "They're alive. I think Nan's in Italy and Papa's in Greece at the moment."

"I thought their names were Fleamont and Euphemia?" Harry frowned.

"Merlin no!" Jasmine snorted. "What kind of bastard names their son Fleamont?"

Harry chuckled. "My great-grandfather, for one."

Jasmine frowned at that. "Evil man." She stood up, hugging him once more. "I'm glad you're here to be with our family." She whispered, holding onto him. "You're still our Harry. Only now you're not a prick."

Harry hugged her back, kissing her forehead. "And you're part of my life from now on." He glanced over at the door as his mum, Hermione and Jason entered the flat. This was really a good life.

A/N: Last of the family setting chapters. From now on it'll be moving into the darker parts, including Dumbledore's motives and style. Please review and enjoy. I'm sorry it took a couple of weeks longer than the rest of the updates. I'm working on multiple projects, working part-time and trying to live a social life…I need a vacation.