"Hey, sir, where's Scorpius?"
Harry feigned deafness as he deflected a Stunning spell and congratulated Dobson on his progress.
"Sir? Sir, he hasn't been here all week — "
"Excellent job, Clark, but it's more likely that in a hostile situation, your opposing partner won't be reading their textbook."
"Sir? Did his dad take him out of school?"
"Pay attention to what you're doing, Mancini. And what you're doing is practising offensive spells, right? Not questioning me about classmates. Ah, excellent work Aaronson!"
"Ah, come on sir, he isn't replying to my letters — "
"Mancini," Harry said warningly, and Leo sighed and shot off a spell without even looking. It hit Dobson directly in the chest, disarming him instantly and sending him reeling backwards several feet.
"Yeah!" hollered Leo, punching the air.
Harry sighed loudly and wearily.
Exams were coming up, and Harry was frantic. He understood now why the teachers were always so uptight about exams. It was a reflection on his teaching; he was being tested too, really. His seventh-years were cool and he loved them for it. Their final class before exams and they were the ones soothing him, not the other way around.
"Don't worry, professor, I feel really confident," a Gryffindor said reassuringly.
"Really? I'm quite nervous about this Patronus, it's the first time it's ever been used in an exam, maybe Professor Potter pushed us a little too hard, no offence sir — "
"Shut up, Gwen," a Slytherin snapped, then turned back to Harry. "It's really awesome, sir, I think the Patronus will come in very handy. And I think you've done a great job teaching it to us all."
"Teacher's pet," someone murmured, but Harry was grateful.
"I have to say you've been an absolutely wonderful class," he said. "I've no doubt that whatever you choose to do, you'll succeed admirably."
Gwen burst into tears.
"My last week here."
"And the last week for the students."
"Yes, but I won't be coming back after the summer. Professor Westbrook will be." Ginny took Harry's hand with a small smile. "What about you, Harry? Will you be coming back next school term?"
"Yes."
"What about us?" Ginny smiled, brushing her hair from her eyes. Harry absently watched the rich red strands gleam in the sunlight streaming through his office windows. Ginny really was quite pretty, he thought. She still had that innocent youthfulness about her.
"Sometimes it's as if nothing ever happened," he murmured. "Like you never went to war."
"Oh, Harry. Don't change the subject," Ginny laughed. "Anyway, these summer holidays, we'll have those together at least. I was thinking we could spend it up here."
"What, Scotland?"
"Yes. We'll have Hogsmeade to ourselves, without any pesky students," Ginny smiled, bringing his hand to her lips. "What do you think?"
"I think...Ginny, why would I want to spend even more time up here?"
"Alright, alright, forget I suggested it," she laughed, shaking her head. "I can see you're in one of your moods. How about a nice walk around the lake? It's been ages since we've been out near the Forbidden Forest..."
"Near the Forest?" Harry stared at her in disbelief. The Forest? He tried to stay away from that place as much as possible. It held nothing but horror-tinged memories.
"Yes. It's so pretty this time of year, and the lake's warm enough to cool our feet at least," Ginny laughed, standing up and reaching across the desk, trying to tug Harry upwards. However, he remained obstinately seated.
"What are you talking about? So pretty?" He remembered the grass bent and withered with curses, the grounds littered with corpses, the lake red with blood...
"Harry, what's gotten into you?" Ginny asked, her smile fading. "Is everything alright?"
"So pretty..." he muttered.
"Yes, you can't deny it," Ginny said, looking bewildered. "You should see the wildflowers, Harry, they're beautiful. Come on, let's not waste the day — "
"I...I don't...feel well, Ginny. I've got to go."
"Harry! Come on, it's your last free period for the day. Let's — "
"I've got to catch up on some assignments."
"What are you talking about, you haven't set any," Ginny smiled, trying to take his hand again. "Come on — "
She was cut off abruptly as Harry's office door was suddenly flung open.
"Hey, sir, I'm back, and McGonagall said to show you my homework." Scorpius held out a roll of parchment expectedly.
"Scorpius," Harry said exasperatedly, "I'm a little busy right now."
"Oh, Harry, it's okay," Ginny said warmly. "We've got time to spare, especially for students like Malfoy here." She leaned across to Harry and lowered her voice. "Merlin knows his father probably doesn't offer any help, the poor boy just needs some attention — "
"My father gives me lots of attention," Scorpius said loudly. "Just last week, he spent a whole hour yelling at me."
"Yelling at you?" Ginny frowned.
"Nah it's alright miss, I did royally piss him off. Shouldn't have got suspended."
"You were suspended?" Ginny's frown deepened; she turned and whispered to Harry. "He clearly needs help, and isn't getting any from his useless Death-Eater father..." She turned back to Scorpius, who glowered. "Scorpius, does your father treat you well?"
"Yeah."
"It's alright, you can tell me."
"I said yeah, he treats me well." Scorpius eyed her as though she was crazy.
"Even when he's really, really mad? Does he ever hurt you?"
"He doesn't fucking hurt me! What are you, fucking deaf?"
"Scorpius, don't talk to Professor Weasley like that," Harry tried to intervene.
"Well, she's talking shit, sir. I don't like people talking shit about my dad."
"No one's saying anything about your father. Now apologise to Professor Weasley," Harry ordered.
"No. She should be saying sorry to me."
"It's alright, Harry," Ginny said. "I can see Scorpius is obviously going through a lot of issues and that's okay. Enjoy your summer, Scorpius." She went to leave and Harry stared so hard at Scorpius that the boy finally squirmed and mumbled something.
"Yeah, thanks miss."
Ginny managed a small smile before she left, closing the door behind her.
"Alright, give me a look at your homework," Harry said wearily.
Scorpius handed it over, chatting away. "See, sir, she's completely mad. Dunno what you see in her. She's definitely high on something — "
"Scorpius, this is just your first assignment with a few words changed," Harry cut in exasperatedly, scanning the parchment. "This is ridiculous. I'm going to have to give you a T."
"Ah, sir, McGonagall will kick my arse, sir — "
"So? What do you want me to do about it? If you didn't want to get in trouble, you should have done the work."
"Yeah, sir." Scorpius kicked unhappily at his chair and Harry sighed.
"Just — make sure you pass your exams, alright?"
Scorpius just grinned and Harry got a sinking feeling.
Graduation day.
It was a happy one, a lovely one. Something Harry never experienced. He'd never had a graduation day, having missed his final year. Although at the end of the year he was presented with an honorary certificate of education, which was nice, and received Dux of Defence Against Dark Arts, despite failing to actually attend any seventh-year classes. Apparently defeating the Dark Lord was a good substitute.
"...Tepple, Bronwyn. Thorpe, Alicia."
The students proudly filed up, receiving their certificates and beaming round. There would be organised photographs afterwards and Harry was determined to get one of his seventh-years. How he would miss them! The wonderful, wonderful seventh-years. They worked hard, they wanted to learn, they wanted high marks, they were quiet, they were respectful, they actually spent time on their homework and handed it in on time. Never an excuse, never a sob story from his serious seventh-years. A dream class.
"Don't they all look so distinguished?"
Harry turned as Ginny squeezed in next to him.
"Where've you been?"
"Oh, you know. I just had to stop in Hogsmeade today, Gladrags had a nice set of designer robes, half-price. Really nice, pale blue. Do you think pale blue suits me?"
"Everything suits you," Harry muttered, not taking his eyes from the rows of Hogwarts graduates.
"Oh, don't be silly. Red looks terrible on me. Remember the scarlet dress?"
"No."
"Total disaster. I remember Auntie Muriel was very nasty to me about it, but then again she hates red. Scarlet woman, harlot, and so on. Oh, what happens after this? Do we form some kind of guard of honour or something? Ouch, there's a nail or something sticking out of this chair, I swear — "
"They have some photographs afterwards. Then we all have the Final Feast and they wander off tomorrow," Harry said shortly.
"Yes. Oh, they're only up to 'T' and I've been gone ages! It's so stuffy in here, they should have had it outside in the rose gardens or something. Come on, let's go have a wander round."
"I don't think so."
"Come on, it's such a beautiful day. And I'll make sure we're back in time for the Feast."
"Ginny..."
"Isn't it beautiful? Come on, you could do with a bit of fresh air. And nobody will think you're rude, honestly, Slughorn's been in and out like a yo-yo, and Penny just discreetly left to have a quick smoke."
"Penny?"
"You know. Penelope Clearwater. She's absolutely fantastic, you should hear her Runes knowledge, it's great. Come on, just say I felt faint because of the heat, and you escorted me out like the gentleman you are."
Harry sighed. Along the staff table, other professors were turning to glare at them, and McGonagall coughed loudly. The heat was rather distracting, and his skin prickled uncomfortably in the warmth, his hair curling damply. He sighed again, then offered an arm to Ginny, who theatrically and vigorously fanned herself as he discreetly left the Hall.
"Oh, so much better! Oh, the moon's already rising. Look, Harry, by the lake. Isn't it lovely?"
It was. The moon glowed palely in the lingering dusk, the lake rippling gently and reflecting the setting sun above them. In the hazy, purplish dusk the smell of heather filled the air and Harry breathed deeply.
"Shall we?" Ginny took his arm and they walked down the gently sloping banks, Ginny choosing a reasonably insect-free spot and sprawling across the luxuriously green grass, laughing as an evening breeze sprung up, dancing with her robes. "Come on Harry, don't worry. You won't get your robes dirty."
Harry however remained upright, sitting against a gentle willow. He watched its graceful branches trail in the lake water, watching the sun set on its surface. The water dazzled for a moment — brilliant orange shot with gold –— and then the sky and water settled into a soft pink. A cheer rose in the distance: the graduates all had their certificates, and were squabbling about photographs.
"I feel like I'm seventeen again," Ginny sighed, her eyes closed, turning her face to the dying sun. "Like we're teenagers again, hopelessly in love."
"I don't feel as though I'm seventeen," Harry said quietly. "I feel as if I'm twenty-nine."
"Well, I feel young," Ginny laughed, holding her arms out to the sky as if she wanted to embrace the whole world. "I feel as though I should be the one graduating today! Nothing's changed, has it Harry? The world awaits."
Harry stood up slowly, frowning.
"I should be in there with them," he said quietly. "I should be in there with my students, celebrating their success. I just missed their graduation, and I'll never see it again." He missed it! He wondered if Gwendolyn walked forwards with tears brimming, if the Slytherins ribbed her about it. If Vivienne Topham-Viney shook with nerves or strode forwards, full of the confidence she should have earned through the year. If George Llewellyn sent his Patronus — a squirrel — darting through the graduation group, as he always said he would.
"I missed it," he said, his voice cracking slightly.
If Ginny heard him though, she made no indication. She lay in the grass, a half-smile on her face, locked in some other world.
He turned his face away, looking towards the lonely moon.
Harry was catching the Hogwarts Express back to London. He'd packed up his office, cleaned out his quarters, and was ready to leave. When Gwendolyn saw him at the train station, she squealed.
"Oh, professor! Are you catching the train with us? You can share our carriage if you want."
"Er," he said, but was spared a reply.
"Hey, sir!" George Llewellyn waved cheerfully. "Where were you at graduation, sir? You missed my Patronus!"
"I'm sorry to hear that," Harry said, and he was. He should not have been with Ginny by the lake. He should have been standing and applauding his students.
"Bit of a fuss sir, but I think McGonagall was actually quite impressed."
"And so she should have been," Harry replied, managing a smile before he turned away to push through the crowd and fight his way onto the train. He managed to find an empty, small carriage at the very end of the train and paused. Had this been the carriage he had sat in so many years ago, when he had pondered over the shabbily-dressed man and his equally shabby luggage, printed with the words 'Remus J Lupin'? Did his thirteen-year-old self ever guess that one day, that man would be dead and he, Harry, would be the godfather of his newborn child? Remus Lupin taught Harry Potter and Harry Potter taught Teddy Lupin. A strange and tragic circle.
The door slid open, and hurriedly slammed shut again. Harry opened one eye and listened to the conversation on the other side of the door.
"Not this one, there's a teacher in there."
"Let's look for another then."
"There aren't any others," a third and rather annoyed voice interjected. "Because you two had to be bloody tossers and play keeps-away, didn't you? And then Dobson went crying off to Clearwater, we got in trouble, arrived late and got the last carriage."
That was definitely Teddy speaking. He could not conceal how well-spoken he was, no matter how he tried. Harry groaned and considered trying to slink off to another carriage. He was certain his godson would want a carriage all to himself and his friends. Before he could move, however, the door was flung open again.
"Ah, it's just Professor P, you wanker," Scorpius admonished Leo. "He's alright. Aren't you sir?"
"Mm," Harry said noncommittally, staring out the window.
"May I ask what you're doing here?" Teddy asked, grinning. He knew full well what Harry was doing on the Express: taking Teddy home.
"Shut up, chav," Leo directed at Ted. This was a running joke between them, Harry noticed – as it was between all boys, really. Without a doubt, any thick person would be nicknamed Genius, a short person would be told to watch out for the chandeliers, and a toff would be called a chav.
Harry ignored Leo. He really didn't want to try telling them off as, after all, he had no real power over them now. He was certain they'd work that out quickly.
"I'm going to London, Teddy," he said, still looking out the window.
"Leo's our London lad, sir," Scorpius told Harry, grinning. "He's living the real city life, aren't you Leo?"
"That place is fucking full of chavs, scuse my language sir," Leo said to Harry conversationally. "And hobos. But you know what really gets on my nerves, sir? Them damn charity workers!"
"A charity what?" Teddy asked, puzzled.
"You've clearly led a sheltered life. Don't worry. Hey, sir, you know what a charity worker is, right?"
"Yes," Harry said, still staring at the passing scenery.
"Yeah, well London's fucking full of 'em. If you get a hundred yards down Oxford Street without being stopped by one, you get an award," Leo said, grinning. "My dad hates them, see. He's an executive, right in the middle of London, and he says every lunch break they're out there hounding him. He gets real sick of it," Leon went on.
"You're living in London and your father's an executive? You're the toff then, not me," Teddy sniffed.
"I'm not a fucking toff!" Leo said heatedly and things might have gotten out of hand had Scorpius not intervened.
"Doesn't matter, lots of people in London," he said easily, shrugging.
"Yeah, you don't know much about London," Leo laughed. "Sir, we've got Teddy the Toff and Leo the London Lad, you know what Scorpius is?"
"No," Harry said, finally looking at him.
"He's our fucking country kid, no joke! He lives — hey, Scorpius, where do you live again?"
"Tulip Hill," Scorpius replied without malevolence, leaning back lazily and inspecting a half-melted Chocolate Frog he'd just discovered under the seat.
"Yeah, and where the fuck's that?"
"Kent," Harry muttered, feeling rather dazed. The boys looked at him, surprised. Teddy looked thrilled.
"Hey," Teddy began, "that's where — "
"I hope you're not going to eat that." Harry quickly changed the subject, watching as Scorpius looked at the Frog with a hopeful expression. He put it down and looked at Harry.
"Hey, sir, where do you live?"
"Nowhere," Harry said with forced lightness; Leo howled with laughter, banging his fist upon the seat, his eyes tearing up with mirth.
"Hobo on a train, reminds me of home!"
Teddy and Scorpius burst out laughing as Harry just shook his head and smiled.
"All we need is a wino and a couple of pikeys," Leo said, managing to calm down. "Then we'd have fucking Little London, sir!"
"I sold my home before going to Hogwarts to teach," Harry explained over their chuckles. Scorpius took a bite of the frog, grimaced, and threw it at Leo. "I'm relocating to another place."
"To Tulip Hill!" Teddy burst out excitedly.
The boys looked between them.
"Oh, that's right," Leo said. "I forgot he's your godfather."
Harry was flabbergasted.
"You...you knew?"
"Yeah, you'd make a pretty cool godfather, I reckon," Leo said knowledgeably. Scorpius, however, was apparently thinking along the same lines as Teddy.
"No way! You're fucking joking! Oh, that's fucking wicked, Teddy, we can hang out every day..."
Harry suppressed a scream.
He waited patiently on the Kings Cross platform, watching the joyful reunions of parents and children, brothers and sisters, friends and family. Scorpius had rushed off towards his father, who was waiting with folded arms.
"Don't tell me its summer holidays already," Draco sighed. "I've got to put up with you for two bloody months."
"You could always send me to France. Leo's going to France," Scorpius said jealously. Leo, nearby, stuck his tongue out at him happily.
"I thought you hated France," Draco frowned.
"Yeah, I do. Full of croissants and shit."
"An excellent summary," Draco said dryly.
"Yeah, well, maybe if you take me there I can tell for myself, yeah?" Scorpius hinted.
"You'd better start saving up, then," Draco laughed, and Scorpius pulled a face.
"Ready to go?"
"Yeah, hang on, I've just gotta say bye to Leo and Teddy. Leo. Leo! LEO! You fucking tosser, come here and say goodbye properly, you shitbag — "
"Fuck you, fucking country boy," Leo retorted, stepping up to Scorpius and punching him lightly on the shoulder.
"Enjoy your hobos on the tube, London lad," Scorpius grinned, before pelting away as Leo gave chase, hurling Chocolate Frogs at his back.
"That's his friend?" Draco asked in disbelief.
"Yes," Harry replied absent-mindedly, looking around. "Teddy, mind the — oh. Oh well."
In the distance, Teddy slid hopelessly around on a squished Chocolate Frog, howling with laughter as Leo and Scorpius desperately tried to grab at him.
"I hope there won't be too many summer visits," Draco said, frowning.
"Oh, Teddy's not so bad. You've got to watch Leo, though. He's Scorpius's partner in crime. But Teddy has the extensive knowledge of Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes."
"Thanks for the heads-up."
"You're welcome," Harry said courteously.
They remained standing for a while, in comfortable silence. Draco was patient, Harry noticed. Never yelling out to Scorpius or dragging him off to the car.
"It's full moon tonight," Harry noted, his thoughts on the night ahead.
Draco looked at him, smiling a little sadly.
"I know," he said. "I never forget."
He held out his wrist, and Harry saw a watch on it — though instead of numbers, there were minuscule moons, all in different stages of waxing and waning. Currently, the hand was a quiver away from where the number twelve should be: a full moon.
"I don't need it anymore," Draco said, dropping his wrist. "I just know."
There was a pause, then —
"Harry!"
Ginny sped over, dressed Muggle-style — a cotton summer dress, her hair spilling over her shoulders, her face shining. She always looked so fresh, Harry thought. Even today, with a blue sky and an uncomfortably warm breeze.
"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry I'm so late! The traffic was absolutely awful, I had to resort to some...tricks." Ginny winked, leaning forwards and kissing him, fumbling with her purse at the same time. "Oh, here they are – the keys! D'you want to drive?"
Harry just shrugged wordlessly, staring at the keys in his hand. Ginny grinned, looping her arm through his and guiding him away from the platform.
"I thought I'd bring in my brand new car. George bought it for me as an early birthday present. He's really spoiling me! Guess what it is?" Ginny said excitedly. "It's a..." she pushed him outside the station, "brand new Jaguar! Dad's insanely jealous."
"Oh."
"Isn't it beautiful?" Ginny laughed. "Isn't it the most interesting Muggle thing you've ever seen? Now you know why I simply had to drive it here today, instead of your little white car!"
"Fiesta," Harry murmured.
"What?"
"A Ford Fiesta."
"Oh. I don't really know about brands and all that. George told me what this one was, oh, it just sounds so exotic! And you know, red is one of my favourite colours. For a car, anyway. Anyway, what are you waiting for? Get in! You'll absolutely love it. Come on!" Ginny opened the passenger's door for him. "It's amazing – oh, look," Ginny suddenly said in a low voice. "It's Malfoy. What a laugh. Here I am in my brand new Jaguar, and he's driving some cheap thing. How's that for karma? All the times he called me poor." Ginny opened the driver's door and stepped in. "Well, I wonder who's laughing now?" She glanced across at him, smiling. "Harry, say something. You haven't spoken a word since you've seen me."
Harry glanced in his rearview mirror at a sullen Teddy, slumped far down in the back seat. Their eyes met and they understood: it was embarrassing. Draco, pureblood (and wealthy) aristocrat, with his discreet and common Audi, Ginny Weasley with her bright red Jaguar.
"Well? Say something," Ginny repeated, smiling. He finally looked at her.
"You're on empty."
"What?"
"Petrol."
"Petrol? Can't we just use magic?"
"Not if the car hasn't specifically been set up for it, no."
Ginny stared at him, confused.
He sighed.
