*Author's Note: Hello avid readers of fanfiction! I just want to say thank you for supporting my fic and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Also, I am going to be away from my computer for a while so I might not be able to reach the deadline for the next chapter, but I will post it as soon as it is ready for you. Thanks for supporting me :)*

Chapter 6

The next morning, the trio and Ginny were sitting around the Weasley's table eating some of Mrs Weasley's homemade eggs and bacon (she had immersed herself in cooking since she had returned home, trying to will away painful memories). Just then, they heard the familiar 'pop' of an Apparation just outside the front door and Mr Weasley walked in, "Morning all!" he said, in a rather cheery voice, "Sorry I'm a bit late, the Ministry's coping with a backlog at the minute." He sat down next to Harry at the table as Mrs Weasley placed a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him and he gratefully tucked in, "Oh!" he said, "Before I forget, Kingsley said he would call around this morning to talk to you three," nodding toward Harry, Ron and Hermione, before pulling out a copy of the Daily Prophet, which he read while he ate. Harry looked at the clock on the wall, showing it was half past nine already. He was just about to get up to leave the table when another clock caught his eye.

The Weasleys family clock was standing next to the actual clock, but instead of displaying numbers, it showed the whereabouts of the family. Eight of the hands were pointing towards the 'home' symbol, but one stood out on its own. Fred's hand was pointing towards the 'lost' symbol. Harry left the table quickly, as he was afraid that his friends would see the single tear rolling down his cheek.

He escaped upstairs into his and Ron's room, got dressed and, after composing himself, headed back for the kitchen to see if he couldn't make himself useful. He passed Ron and Hermione on the second floor landing, who were heading up to change in case Kingsley arrived. Harry found everyone had left the kitchen, so went into the sitting room instead. Teddy's cot was sitting next to the sofa (which looked like it had been slept on). He sat next to it, and peered in to see the sleeping baby. Teddy looked so perfect laying there, his little chest rising and falling in time with his breathing. Next to him sat a small toy, a little faded duck. Harry assumed that it used to be white, but now looked a tattered grey colour. It seemed very old, not a new toy that was bought for Teddy, so it must have been second hand, possible handed down to him.

Harry reached into the cot and lifted up the soft, tattered toy. It had a little label attached to the tail, so he looked to see if he could name the previous owner. Just as he did, he heard whimpering next to him. Teddy had woken up and was starting to cry. Harry was going to call for someone, but remembered there was no one on this floor, so he lifted the struggling boy into his arms and rocked him back and forth like Ginny had taught him yesterday. Once again, Teddy stopped crying and started gurgling happily. Soon, footsteps could be heard coming downstairs and Andromeda entered the sitting room.

"Oh Harry, you've got him, good, I could hear him crying," she said. Andromeda looked as if she didn't have much sleep, her hair was sticking out and she had black rings under her eyes, "I can take him if you want?"

"No it's alright, I've got him," Harry smiled, trying to lighten the load Andromeda was clearly carrying.

"If you're sure," she said, and sat on the sofa. Harry continued to play with Teddy, and then remembered about the duck he was still holding. He gave it to Teddy, who happily gurgled and shoved its beak in his mouth, his hair turning the same dirty shade of white as the toy. Andromeda smiled sadly at the duck, "It was Nymphadora's favourite as a child too," she said, "She gave it to Teddy after he was born. It's the only thing he has left of her…"Harry was saddened by this thought and was still guilty that there was another orphan in the world because of him.

"I know what you're thinking Harry, but this is not your fault! You can't go through life blaming yourself for every bad thing that happened during the war, it was Voldemort's fault. You saved so many lives by getting rid of him, but you must know that it wasn't just your war; it was the entire Wizarding World's and everyone knew what was at stake. In every war, there are casualties and deaths, some of people we know, and sadly that has happened here."

"But it was my fault!" stated Harry, "I was the only person who could get rid of him!"

"Maybe," considered Andromeda, "But everyone was fighting for anyway to get rid of him, and they gave you time and effort Harry, it was as much their war as it was yours."

Harry had never thought of it like this before. Maybe it wasn't all his fault. Maybe Andromeda was right…

"I haven't had a chance to thank you for getting our things from home," said Andromeda, not wanting to dwell on the subject of war for too long.

"Don't worry about it," Harry replied, "I hope we got everything you need. Where are you sleeping anyway?"

"Here," said Andromeda, pointing at the sofa.

"Seriously?" exclaimed Harry, "I would have thought Mrs Weasley would fix you up with a room."

"Oh, she tried," Andromeda smiled, "She said she would sleep on the sofa and I could take her bed, but then Arthur would have nowhere to sleep and nothing would work out so I said that I would sleep here next to Teddy."

Harry considered this, and then said, "You could take Ron and my room if you wanted somewhere to stay,"

"Oh no dear, I couldn't," she replied.

"Couldn't what?" asked Ron as he came into the sitting room, still pulling on his jumper.

"I just offered our room to Andromeda," Harry smiled

"You what! I mean… What? Why didn't I think of that," he said, as Harry shot him a warning look.

"Yeah, it would work out. Ron can sleep on the sofa and I can move the camp bed down and sleep on it, that'll give you Ron's bed and we can move Teddy's cot up there so he can stay with you," said Harry, quite pleased with himself for coming up with that on the spot.

"I guess so… but only if that's alright with you two," said Andromeda.

"Fine by me," stated Harry, "Ron?"

"Oh… go on then," Ron agreed, sitting down on the sofa, "but I'm getting the camp bed," he said hissed to Harry.

Harry looked down at Teddy who had started sleeping again, so he lifted him and set him carefully back in the cot, just as Hermione and Ginny came into the room.

"Aww, did we miss him?" groaned Hermione.

"Just by a few minutes, I'm afraid," replied Andromeda, "Harry just put him down."

"So you managed by yourself this time?" Ginny teased.

"It was easy," Harry said, "Once you know what to do."

Ginny laughed and sat down on his lap, "Do you guys know when Kingsley is coming?"

"Nope, but Dad said sometime this morning so he can't be too much longer," replied Ron.

"But didn't your dad say there was a backlog at the Ministry? Maybe he got held back a bit, being step-in Minister and everything," Hermione pointed out, peering over the side of the cot at a sleeping Teddy, "Are you sure we can't just wake him for a minute…?" she begged.

"No," replied Harry almost too defensively, he didn't want Teddy waking up and crying again.

"Fine," she sighed, "I wish Kingsley would hurry up, I really want to talk to him about Mum and Dad."

"Yeah, but I'm not sure that's the whole reason he's coming, no offence Hermione," Harry said.

"None taken," she replied, "I think he wants to talk again about our time away." Just as she spoke, the doorbell rang, followed by the click of the latch and shoes wiping on the mat.

"Anyone home?" Kinsley's booming voice rang through the house, "I hope you don't mind that I let myself in."

"No matter, no matter," said Mrs Weasley descending the stairs, "I'm glad Arthur warned us you were coming, or you would have had more than a few unexpected hexes flying your way," she joked, "I think everyone's still upstairs, hold on a minute while I call them."

"We're in here Mum!" called Ginny, getting up off Harry and walking to the door, "Hi Kingsley!"

"Hello Miss Weasley! How are you doing today?" said Kingsley.

"Very well thanks! Everyone else is in here," she replied, leading him into the sitting room.

"Good morning everyone! How are you all?" asked Kingsley addressing the room, and was met by a number of nods and 'pretty good's.

"Hello Andromeda my dear. I'm so sorry for your loss, Ted, Nymphadora and Remus were fantastic people taken before their time."

"Thank you. It is hard, but Teddy and I will get through it together, we're fighters," she replied.

"Where is young Teddy?" Kingsley asked.

"Sleeping over there next to Harry," Andromeda replied.

"Well we'll let him sleep," said Kingsley, lowering his voice considerably, much to Harry's relief, "Now, down to business. I've managed to get away from the Ministry for a couple of hours, and by the sounds of your story at the school, we're going to need them."

"Need them for what?" asked Ron.

"I told you that I wouldn't print your story without your help, so here I am. I think I've postponed this meeting for long enough, because the public wants answers, Wizards and Muggles alike. And don't worry; the Muggles will only hear what's necessary."

"Okay…," said Harry, quite shocked about how straight to the point Kingsley was being, "But only if Ginny can come with us," he wasn't sure if he could go through their time away again without her.

"Fine by me," said Kingsley, "Let's get going. Is there somewhere more private we can sit?"

"The kitchen is free, and I can make sure no one goes in, but make sure you're out by 2 because I need to make lunch," said Mrs Weasley, who had been hovering by the doorway the entire conversation.

"Good, thank you. Shall we start?" Kingsley lead he way to the kitchen, where the trio spent the next hour and a half going over the story they went through in Dumbledore's office, editing and changing, until they were left with what Kingsley believed to be a story fit for public ears, "I think that we are finished," he said, rolling up the scroll of parchment, "I will give this to the writers at the Daily Prophet, not Rita Skeeter," he said, seeing the looks on both Ron and Harry's faces, "and we should have the story published in tomorrow's edition. Thank you all for your help, now I really must be going. Ministry to run and kitchens to evacuate," Kinsley joked.

Before he could get up however, Hermione spoke, "Is there any word on Mum and Dad?" she almost pleaded, tugging at the hem of her top. Harry could tell she had been waiting to ask this all day.

"Hermione, you must understand that there is a lot to do at the minute and it may take a while," Kinsley answered slowly as Hermione slumped a little lower in her chair, "But I think I can pull a few strings for one of the three golden heroes of the past few months," he smiled.

"Oh Kingsley, thank you!" Hermione beamed, leaping out of her chair and hugging him.

Slightly taken aback, Kingsley replied, "Not at all my dear, not at all, but it still might take time, Australia's a big place."

"I understand," said Hermione, her eyes glistening with tears of joy, "Can I ask you one more thing?"

"Ask away."

"Can I go to Australia and see them? I know it's a lot on top of everything else, but I really miss them," she said.

"We shall see when the time comes," Kingsley replied, getting up from the table and heading towards the back door, "Tell your mother I let myself out. Goodbye. I hope we can talk again soon."

"Bye Kingsley!" called Ginny, just as he closed the door behind him. Ron got up from his chair and hugged Hermione, who had been hopping from one foot to another in glee, and wiped her tears.

"You'll see them soon," he soothed as Hermione hugged him back.

"Will you come with me?" Hermione asked him, her voice muffled through Ron's jumper.

"Of course I will,"

"I love you,"

"I love you too," and they kissed one another.

"Eww, no PDA in the kitchen," Ginny ordered, "We'd better tell Mum Kingsley's gone, or she'll wonder what's taking so long."

"Alright," said Harry, and they left the kitchen.