Disclaimer: Harry Potter, most characters and the magical world as depicted belong to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 4:
As always, Harry Potter had to be cautious. There were still occasional attempts to kill him. But he suspected that his attackers may have diminished in number considerably, and he wondered, too, if the spy-ring that had formerly made life so hazardous had become less efficient. He was never subject to attacks now in muggle areas, and appeared to be able to visit private houses with impunity. Diagon Alley was still hazardous, and anywhere that he was expected at a public gathering. But even at those places where he felt himself to be watched as prey, the potential attackers appeared to be very cautious, maybe just waiting for that moment when he would be preoccupied, or rashly expose his back.
Soon after their girls were born, he took on a new role at Hogwarts. It arose from a discussion with Ginny about Julia, his illegitimate daughter. Julia's mother was a muggle, Rachel, a dear friend. Her husband was Edward Moore, and Harry had not even been told at first that he had anything to do with their little girl who had enthralled him when just a small baby. If they hadn't told him, they would have found it very difficult, as all muggle parents of witches or wizards must do. They would have no idea of where to go and what to do. Albus Dumbledore, had explained that arrangements were in place to visit the parents of muggle-borns, and help with the necessary adjustments, but when Harry found that the initial contact came from the Muggle Studies Professor, he did not consider it satisfactory. Dumbledore was a little too blithely optimistic sometimes, he felt.
He didn't like the Muggle Studies professor, as he often spoke scathingly of the muggles - as if they were automatically stupid. When Harry offered to take over the job of initial contact, reminding him that he'd been muggle-raised himself, the professor was pleased to be relieved of part of his tedious duties, even though he still had the job of helping them obtain school supplies. It would be exposing them to danger for Harry to accompany them then.
After that, every year, Harry had a small flock of muggle-borns under his wing. He watched out for them, and ensured, as best he could, that they settled into their new life without problems.
Harry may not have been a political animal, but, while he never particularly thought about it, every year, there were more wizards and witches who thought the world of him. His own contemporaries, who had gone to school with him, and who had regarded him as their hero, were now beginning to move into positions of power. Hogwarts was the only major school of magic in Britain, and as a teacher there, he had contact with almost every young witch and wizard in the country. He was, quite unknowingly, building up a power base.
He was becoming more respected as an influence in wizard affairs too, although he was never adept at the underhanded tactics that are routine in political life. After his role on the muggle law committee, there were other committees, and he found his views sought by some very influential people.
Draco Malfoy was also becoming a force in political affairs, but Draco worked his influence from behind the scenes. His father's being known as a Death Eater had effectively ended the possibility of Draco directly becoming a power. He used the family money to buy influence instead. He always seemed to know what was happening and who was involved, and as he often sought Harry's company at the events where they were both present, they saw quite a lot of each other. It was sometimes a stormy acquaintance, as Draco was still perfectly apt to make him see red with his sniping at his friends, or his attacks on 'muggle-lovers.'
**x**
Once Harry was married, Severus Snape, as he had known he would from the first, saw a lot less of him. His one friend was absorbed in his life as a family man. Seeing his happiness and knowing with what courage Harry had faced a difficult destiny, Snape could not begrudge him his contentment. But he found a lot less to laugh at these days.
Harry did not forget this friend. His other friends were not alone, as Severus Snape was alone. Snape was very widely disliked, and there was reason for the dislike. He was a bitter man, who faced life with a sneer on his face. But Harry had seen behind the facade, found amusement in his acerbic views on life, and enjoyed his company. It was Severus Snape who wound up putting him in a different role for a change.
They were walking together in Diagon Alley. Their presence had apparently been reported to the Ministry of Magic as an auror appeared nearby, as often happened. Harry assumed they were keeping an eye on him, although he never had any faith in their protecting him. At least, he was apparently not expected to tolerate those aurors that he had named as objectionable to him. The assignment of keeping a watch on Harry, if that was what it was, seemed to be given to the younger aurors, although never Ron.
He was wary, as always, but was taken off guard when an unknown woman ran to him, took him by the arm, and looked up at him adoringly, crying softly, "Harry Potter, you're my hero - I love you!"
Instantly, his expression changed from casual happy to cold, and he looked down at her face and used the freezing voice he had copied from Snape. "I beg your pardon," he said dauntingly, and the woman flushed and let him go.
Harry had been distracted, and the next moment, Snape grabbed him and took him to the ground, covering his friend with his own body. It was Snape who took the red streak of light that was the stunner spell, almost instantly followed by two more.
Harry struggled out from under his friend, and was on his feet, wand in hand, ready to fight. There was no longer an attacker in sight. The auror, known to Harry as Bedwin, was swiftly at their side and standing protectively over the pair.
"He took three stunners," he said to Harry. "Is he all right?"
Harry turned his friend onto the back, gently touching the white face, and feeling for the pulse in his wrist. He found the pulse, and was reassured that he was alive. He was not experienced, and could not tell if what he was feeling was normal, or shallow. A stunner to a normal healthy person is harmless. Three stunners, delivered with force, however, can kill. His friend was very pale, and his breathing faint. Harry finally knew what it was to hope and pray for the life of a friend.
Snape was taken to St. Mungo's. Harry was with him almost constantly for the next couple of days, desperately worried.
Dumbledore visited, too, although quite a lot less worried. He thought Harry's concern exaggerated, but being only human, after all, he was a little pleased. How often had Harry's friends held their breath as he had hovered on the verge of death? Now it was Harry's turn to worry for a friend.
When Snape finally regained consciousness a couple of days later, Harry was in a chair beside him, looking pale and tired, and dozing. Snape looked around, took in his surroundings, and remembered the stunner hurtling at Harry's back. He said in a mocking voice, "Well, this is a turnaround! You've frightened the life out of me enough times!"
Harry woke with a start, and was inclined to be emotional. He'd been so frightened that Snape was going to die, and it would have been for his sake.
But Snape only said sneeringly, "And you even braved St. Mungo's!" For Severus Snape had a good idea of the apprehension with which Harry viewed St. Mungo's.
Harry pulled himself together and made a light remark.
Snape recovered fully and quickly, but was never able to tell Harry how much it had meant to him that someone had been so worried for his health.
**x**
Harry's daughter, Julia, was now eight years old. Her younger brothers were five and four. Harry continued to visit them regularly, sometimes taking the whole family out for treats. He was a wealthy man compared to the Moores, and although they had refused to accept any payment for the support of Julia, they did not deprive him of the pleasure of sharing his wealth to this extent.
Ginny didn't like Julia. She saw the way the girl was charming to Harry, but had also seen the cruel pinches she inflicted on her brothers. And sometimes, she thought that Rachel and Edward almost seemed frightened of the girl.
Ginny and Adam often accompanied Harry on his visits, and they were present one day for a trip to a nearby harbour, although the babies had been left with Molly.
They had returned now, and the two families were sitting in the sun outside the Moore's house, when Harry produced his wand. In a casual fashion, he announced that it was a special type of light that would only work if one said the word, 'Lumos', and demonstrated, but that it didn't work for everyone. He handed it to young Paul, and said, "Try it."
Paul said "Lumos," shouted "Lumos," and whispered, "Lumos," but nothing happened. Mark was equally unsuccessful.
Adam tried, son of Ginny's first husband, David Bourne. The wand half flickered, and he tried several times, before finally a gentle light shone.
Julia was watching the wand with a covetous expression on her face, and when her turn came, she almost snatched it. The wand tip flared instantly into a bright light at her word. Harry had confirmed that his daughter had inherited the magical talent, although he had not really doubted it. And to have been so immediately successful, the talent had to be strong.
But there was an unpleasant surprise in store for Harry. His charming and beautiful daughter refused to return his wand, apparently feeling that she only had to put on a tantrum, and her adoring Uncle Harry would give her anything she wanted. Harry stared at her in consternation as she stared back defiantly refusing to return the wand, and screamed whenever approached.
At last, Ginny, daughter of forceful Molly Weasley, intervened. Not taking any nonsense, she took Julia by the arm, and removed the wand from her grasping fingers, giving her a stern slap across the face when Julia tried to hit and pinch at her. Julia's screams reached a crescendo, before she abruptly turned and fled to her room.
Harry was stunned, and Ginny was rather sorry for him. Rachel and Edward were embarrassed. There was a silence. No-one knew what to say. Edward's two little boys had vanished, and Adam was hiding behind Ginny. At last Ginny spoke. "I think it's time you had an honest talk with Edward and Rachel, Harry. It may be that Julia is not the sweet tempered child you think her."
Rachel had been having increasing difficulty with the girl, and knew this to be a colossal under-statement. She agreed that it was time that Harry dropped the blinkers from his eyes. After all, Harry was Julia's real father, and Rachel needed help. It was not going to be long before the child was totally out of her control. It was arranged that Edward would get some time off work, and they would have a serious talk, at a time when Julia was safely out of the way, at school. Rachel would let him know what time to arrive.
The following evening, Harry was playing with Adam, being a horse for Adam to ride. Adam was normally a rather serious child, but right now he was laughing hilariously.
When Ginny announced that it was time for his bath, Harry volunteered for the job. But when washing his tiny stepson, Harry was perturbed to find some very nasty bruises on his arms and asked Adam what had happened. Adam told him, in a perfectly matter of fact tone, that Julia did it - she always pinched. Harry was appalled. He never could understand wanton cruelty, and could not understand how the daughter of Rachel and of himself, could show this trait.
He was prepared for some disturbing revelations when he met Edward and Rachel later in the week. It was difficult to start. They knew for sure now that Julia was a witch, and Harry spoke about Hogwarts, where Julia would be going at the age of eleven. He suggested that before she started there, she should sometimes come to his own place to get to know a little of the wizarding world before she attended. And he told a funny story of his own introduction to the wizarding world, which made everyone laugh.
They couldn't avoid the difficult subjects forever. They all loved the child, and were apt to fly to her defence when she was criticised, which made it hard to admit that there was a problem. The usual euphemisms were brought into play - Julia was 'a free spirit,' or simply 'spirited.' She was 'strong willed.' Harry spoke of bruises on his stepson, and Rachel admitted that her own sons were seldom free of bruises, the result of Julia's spite. And she finally told Harry that the tantrum he had seen on the weekend was not an isolated occurrence. That she was beginning to be worried that she would not be able to control Julia for much longer. She was apt to blame Harry, thinking that the nastier traits that Julia were showing were because she was a witch.
Harry thought of the strange link that he had had with Voldemort, never satisfactorily explained, and the thought occurred to him for the first time, but not the last, that he might carry some sort of a 'bad seed.' But Ginny laughed at him for this. She wanted more children, although preferably one by one in future.
Julia was going to be beautiful. Her hair was jet black and glossy, and her slanted green eyes already had an allure. Her face was still the round face of a child, but she looked on the world with a calculating gaze and she had a penetrating intelligence. Harry knew that he had indulged her too much. At the same time, he did not believe that over-indulgence makes a normal child cruel and spiteful. No-one really knew how to handle Julia, but at least they had acknowledged the problem, which is essential before anything effective can be done to overcome it.
He tried speaking to Molly Weasley about her, as Molly had reared seven children, and he thought that she must be wise. Molly was not too pessimistic. Work on the behaviour problems, she suggested. Use discipline applied with love, and hope that the child will make the right choices as she grew up.
This seemed good advice, and Harry crossed his fingers and hoped. Young Julia found she was subject to a much more stern discipline, whether at home or at Harry's place, where she started to stay now and again. Her young half brothers no longer felt her hard pinching fingers, which was a relief - Julia was learning more subtle methods of getting her own way.
She was not a changed child. When she stayed with them, Adam, three years her junior, was afraid of her and kept right away. On the occasions when their wills crossed, he was quick to concede. The little redheads, however, Harry and Ginny's twin girls, were a different proposition.
Julia was ten, the little girls three, but when screams brought Ginny running one day, it was to find that it was Julia getting the worst of the fight. The girls had found Julia being cruel to Adam, and had raced to his defence. Adam, after his initial confusion, had joined in, and Julia was getting kicked and punched and hit by two furious little redheads, and one determined little boy.
Ginny observed from the sidelines, then quietly slipped away, letting Julia get what she well deserved.
Harry loved Julia. She was still his daughter, and he could not change his love just because she caused him worry. She had so many talents, but she only seemed to think of herself. Once he dreamed of her, and there was an image of a writhing twisting snake, and Voldemort and Julia, intermixing and becoming each other. Julia became Voldemort in his dreams, with Voldemort's desire to make people fear her.
**x**
Harry continued to visit Dudley now and then, and even his aunt and uncle, though more rarely. Often he would take one of the children with him, as Ron had long since passed on his auror's skill of apparating with a passenger. Ginny was especially pleased when he would take along one of the twins, as they were very active children, constantly getting into some startlingly imaginative mischief. They had none of the guile and cruelty of Julia, however, and Harry loved them all without reservation, and enjoyed their company. There was a need for a strict roster system, as Adam, Victoria and Margaret all loved the treat of being the one child who had the privilege of accompanying their father on his visits.
Only when he thought that he might be in danger did he deny them this treat.
Dudley had married early, and now had three children, two boys and a little redheaded girl called Gemme, just the same age as Harry's own little redheads. Gemme seemed to rule the roost in Dudley's household. The two older boys worshipped her, and her parents thought she could do no wrong.
Harry and Dudley were in his backyard one day, sipping beer, and watching the children play. Harry had brought Adam with him that day. Gemme was being a general, and Mark, Simon, and Adam, were all being soldiers for her to command. Celia was in the kitchen, preparing an evening meal.
A thought occurred to Harry. Dudley was his cousin, Dudley's mother was his own mother's sister. "What will you do if any of your children turn out to be witches or wizards?" he asked Dudley. "Try and beat it out of them?" He was remembering the way he himself had been treated growing up in the home of his aunt and uncle.
"They are my children," said Dudley, "I would never do that," and they were both looking at the little redhead, queening it over the boys.
**x**
Harry continued to fairly casually work out most days, he liked the feeling of stretching muscles, and honest physical fatigue. He had never become fanatical, and had no interest in bulging muscles. But when, on another visit to Dudley's house, again with Adam, Dudley invited him to go to the local gymnasium and boxing rink with him, he was interested, and keen.
Dudley no longer was a competitive boxer. He never had made it to national competition. Although he could hit very hard, he was not quick or clever enough to make it into the top league. But his exercise routine included sparring practice and much use of the punching bag.
Harry's own gym included a punching bag, but oddly, he had never felt the need to use it since he married Ginny. He had attacked the punching bag at Hogwarts a few times, but only when something had made him very angry. It was normally an ignored part of the background. He used to enjoy muggle fighting, too - akin to formal boxing, but with far fewer rules. He was surprised to realise he hadn't done that for years either. Adam wanted to come with him, and Harry glanced at Dudley to see if it was all right for the eight year old to join them. Adam was a well behaved, quiet boy, and Dudley was sure that he'd be no trouble.
Harry was interested in watching Dudley sparring with another man. He thought it sounded a good idea, to be fighting and yet not fighting. When a man more Harry's height and weight asked Dudley who his friend was, and whether he was interested in having a go, he was suddenly alight with enthusiasm.
Dudley, even though they'd worked out together before, still somehow thought of Harry as small and skinny, certainly no boxer. He was very surprised when Harry not only showed willing, but was looking as if he could hardly wait. Harry rummaged in the small kitbag he often carried with him, and came up with some exercise shorts, and Dudley was again surprised as he shortly appeared in them. Wearing only the shorts, it could be seen that Harry had a beautiful build, his shoulders and back strongly muscled, waist and hips narrow, and legs strong.
Dudley helped him into the boxing gloves, which Harry had never before worn. He found them uncomfortable, and was apt to hold his hands out awkwardly at the sides, betraying his total lack of experience at formal boxing.
His opponent, introduced as Dick, was now ready too, and was enjoying the prospect of showing this nobody what boxing was all about! He taunted Harry, "Don't want to back out, do you?"
But Harry's eyes were gleaming, and he just grinned as he ducked under the ropes.
Without formalities, Dick threw a punch, which Harry almost casually dodged. He was still holding his hands awkwardly out to the sides, occasionally even shaking them, as if he thought that the gloves might come off.
Dick continued to attack, Harry to dodge, and Harry's speed of reflex was becoming very obvious.
Dick was getting angry as he started to tire, yet Harry had not yet thrown a punch. Dick suddenly got vicious, and started to fight viciously. Harry still did not use his gloved hands to fend off the punches, but nevertheless managed to avoid being touched.
"I thought Dud told me you were only supposed to hit gently when sparring," he said provocatively, as Dick lost his balance after a tremendous blow failed to land, and he finally, tentatively, lifted his gloved hands, stepped forward, and tapped Dick on the face guard.
His opponent gave a cry of pure rage and launched himself at Harry, trapping him on the ropes for a moment and giving a hard hit to the kidney area. Harry finally forgot the unfamiliar gloves and hit back swiftly, but not very hard, almost casually getting his blows in under and around the guard put up by Dick, who had become stupid with rage.
The bout had attracted an audience. The boxing coach was agleam with enthusiasm, thinking that he had found a potential champion. Dudley watched, mouth open, but Adam was horrified. It was this look of horror that Harry suddenly caught sight of, that ended the bout.
He stepped back, dropping his arms, and circled out of reach, avoiding the blows that became increasingly erratic, as Dick staggered to a standstill. The coach reluctantly whistled.
Harry was ashamed. He had suddenly seen the fight through the eyes of his sensitive stepson, and it really was barbaric, as Severus Snape had once told him. The clapping and enthusiasm of the onlookers he found embarrassing, and he quickly retired to the showers, although he had scarcely raised a sweat.
Even here, he was not left alone, as he had to freeze off the undesired attentions of an older boxer. Harry's sexual attraction was not just for women, as he had learned long since. Not that he had ever had problems, the homosexual men he had met at various times were quick enough to take a hint.
The boxing coach was waiting for him to emerge. Even at Harry's advanced age of thirty-four, he thought that he could have a champion if only he would agree to be managed by him. But Harry was thinking only of Adam's look of sick horror, and was bent on making a swift getaway.
Dudley was still looking half stunned, but almost automatically changed into his own clothes, accompanied Harry and Adam to the car, and drove them the few blocks home.
Harry took his leave, then, walking around the corner with the silent boy, before putting his arms around his shoulders, and apparating. He apologised to Adam, as they reached home. Adam seemed to think that his stepfather should not apologise, but he was looking at him as if he was a stranger.
That night, sensitive Adam woke his mother when he cried out in a nightmare, and Ginny soundly rebuked Harry for exposing him to the sight of grown men deliberately trying to hurt each other.
***chapter end***