Summary:  I'm not exactly sure what's going to happen. Sorry!

A/N:  Hey everyone.  I got a review that told me that Ron is a wizard, he wouldn't know about 911.  Thanks for that information, I totally forgot! (hey, I'm not a witch!) And someone else told me that in England, they use 999, now 911.  Sorry about that! I don't know everything, you know. (use your imagination!) But anyway, thank you for reviewing! Oh yeah, this could be important.  It's 8 years later now.  Okay? Good.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter 10

New Lives

By happythoughts

(5 years later …)

            "ARGHHH! NOOOO!"

            Harry sat up in his bed, shaking.  He could feel beads of sweat on his forehead and he was shaking violently.  Trying to remember why he had woken up, he looked around the room fearfully.  No, nothing was out of the ordinary.  Then, he remembered.  He had just had a nightmare. 

            It was about how he had been discovered by Wormtail.  And what had happened afterwards.  Harry shook his head to get the thoughts out.  The guilty feeling returned to his stomach.  He had been nearly caught 3 times during his assignment, and all of them had been very close to death. 

            Slightly shivering, he got out of bed and put his robe on.  Glancing at the clock, he saw that it was 4:30 in the morning.  He knew where he had to go. 

~*~

            "Harry?"

            Sirius was standing with his door open, hair tossled, and in boxers.  He was gazing at the man who was standing at his doorstep.  Harry.  He grabbed him in a bonebreaking hug and said, "Where've you been?"

            Harry just smiled and shook his head.  "May I come in?"

            "OH! Yeah, sure, c'mon in.  Want something to drink?" asked Sirius timidly.

            "No thanks," answered Harry.  He looked around the living room.  Nothing had changed since he had last left.  All the furniture was in the same place … but there was one thing different about the room.  All the pictures had changed on the mantle.

            Harry walked over to it and studied them.   He smiled when he saw that there was still the same one of him and Sirius, who were standing in front of the Whomping Willow and Harry's graduation.  They had sneaked off during the party, because Sirius had still been on the run from the Dementors.  Ron had taken the picture. 

            But Harry's smile faltered when his eyes fell on one of the pictures.  "Their wedding…" whispered Harry quietly.  He took the frame into his heads and felt the picture, as if he would fall into it and be at the wedding.  It was Ron and Hermione's.  A guilty feeling sunk into his stomach as he thought about how he had missed it.  How he had been in Voldemort's hands at the time, and he couldn't come to it.  How he regretted everything he had missed in the past 5 years he had been gone.  The picture was of Ron and Hermione standing with Sirius and Ginny at the alter.  Harry couldn't help but notice how Ron's smile didn't seem to reach his eyes.  His eyes were filled with pain, almost.  Suddenly, Harry realized why.  Because his best man wasn't Harry.  It was Sirius.  It wasn't how Ron had wanted it to be.  Not being able to look at the picture anymore, he placed it back on the mantle.

            He moved over to another picture.  This time, he didn't feel quite as guilty.  He felt more surprised and confused.  It was a picture of Sirius holding a baby in his arms.  Harry didn't understand who it could be.  That is, until he saw that the baby had jet black hair … just like his. 

            "So, you've found the picture, haven't you?" a voice asked, jerking Harry out of his thoughts.

            Harry hastily placed the frame back into its place and turned around, meeting a worried Sirius, who was holding a drink for him. 

            "Er, yeah, I guess I did," replied Harry quietly.

            Sirius took the picture back off the mantle, walked over to the nearest armchair, and sat down.  He motioned for Harry to sit down next to him on the couch.  He began to talk.  "This is one of my favorite pictures, you know.  It was the day of the party Ginny had at her apartment a few days after she and the baby had gotten out of the hospital."

            Harry had a burning question forming in his mind.  "Is it a he? Or a she?"

            Sirius looked up at him.  Then, he smiled broadly.  "It's a he."

            Harry's guilty feelings immediately turned into happy ones … and he smiled … something that he hadn't done in a long time. 

            "I bet you're happy about that," said Sirius.

            Harry merely nodded happily and sighed a breath of relief. 

            "But anyway … that's not the reason you're here, is it?" asked Sirius, changing the subject.

            "No … I guess you could say that," answered Harry.

            "What is the reason, then?"

            That's a good question thought Harry to himself.  He didn't even know why he was there.  He just shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't know."

            "Right then.  But my burning question is, where've you been all these years, Harry?  You've missed a lot you know.  The baby, quidditch … and Ron and Hermione's wedding, most of all," said Sirius quietly.

            "I know … I know, don't make me feel even worse.  I hate to think what Ron thought about it," said Harry.

            "I don't think you want to know, anyway, so I'm not going to tell you.  But the only reason he feels the way that he does, is because he doesn't know why you weren't there," said Sirius smartly.

            "I'd feel the same way, I guess."

            "Okay then.  Are you going to tell me why you're here? Or are you going to let me find out for myself?" asked Sirius, taking a sip from his drink.

            Harry took a deep breath.  He decided it was time to finally tell someone why he had left everyone for 5 years.  After all, it was for a good cause, wasn't it?  When he had returned, he had a special talk with Dumbledore.  Dumbledore had told him that if he wanted, and whenever he wanted, he could tell people why he had left if they asked.  And this is what Sirius was asking of him.

            Harry began his story.  "Do you remember when we had that meeting a long time ago, and Dumbledore gave us all an assignment?"

            Sirius thought for a moment, and then said, "Yeah, go on."

            "Well, he assigned me with the most difficult one out of all of them.  I became a spy for us, and I had to follow Voldemort everywhere he went … recording his every word, capturing his every move."

            Sirius took a sharp intake of breath. 

            "Yeah, and plus I was under this spell that Dumbledore performed on me, something called Disguism, and I would change into someone different every time he went someplace else."

            "So that's why you've been away? You were a spy for us?"  asked Sirius seriously.  (A/N: Haha! Nice pun there, eh?)

            Harry nodded his head and continued.  "I was caught 2 times.  And Voldemort held me in prison for about 5 months each time.  Finally, Dumbledore worked out a plan that would let me be caught by him, purposely, that way I would send out a signal to him and other people, to come rescue me, and capture Voldemort. And, well, it worked.  Finally, after 5 years later, it worked.  And here's where I am now." 

            Sirius was quiet for a moment, taking everything in.  He finally clapped his hands and said, "It all makes sense! You've been gone for 5 years, and whenever I confronted Dumbledore about you missing, he would just say, 'All I know is that Harry is probably somewhere for a good cause,' that's what he would always say. Always."

            Harry just shook his head and said, "So tell me … what've I missed?" 

~*~

            Ron woke up the next morning feeling particularly drowsy.  He had taken a sleeping draught so he could get some rest.  Hermione and his baby had kept him for the past 2 weeks, and he had only gotten about 4 days of sleep during that period of time.  And they had another toddler to take care of, Ginny's kid. 

            It was weird for Ron to call it "Ginny's kid," when really it was biologically hers and Harry's.  Whenever Ron thought about this little fact, he was filled with fury.  He knew that he shouldn't be mad, for Harry had no control over his assignment, but it was just a reflex.  He just thought that Harry shouldn't have left Ginny to take care of a baby all by herself.

            As Ron looked at the clock, he read that it was 6:00 in the morning.  Groaning, he took Hermione's head off his chest and let her get more sleep.  He went downstairs to make some coffee, thinking happily that it was a Saturday, which meant no work.  Whistling loudly as he turned on his favorite radio station, he read the newspaper. 

            There were more articles reading headlines that said things like more death eaters taken into prison, or more people being rescued … stuff like that.  The kettle started going off, saying that Hermione's tea was finished, and Ron jumped out of his seat to get it ready.  When he turned back around, he let out a yelp.

            "Harry?!" he exclaimed.

            Harry was sitting right as Ron's kitchen table, grinning sheepishly.  He must have apparated, assumed Ron.

            "W-what are you d-doin' here?" Ron asked wondrously.

            "Nothin' much," said Harry, still smiling.

            Ron padded over to him and gave him a big brotherly hug.  "Where've you been, man? It's great to see you, man!"

            "It's great to see you too," said Harry, pulling away. 

            "You want something to eat? Drink?" asked Ron hurriedly.

            "No, no, it's okay.  I just came for a bit, I just wanted to let you know that I'm back and everything," answered Harry.

            "What, don't you want to stay here for awhile? I'm sure Hermione would be really happy to see you, you know," said Ron hopefully.

            "Well I don't want to wake her up if she's asleep … I know you guys have been having a hard time with the baby and everything," said Harry slyly.

            "Who told you?!" asked Ron.  He had planned to tell Harry himself… whenever he saw him.

            "Sirius.  Sorry, wasn't I supposed to know?" asked Harry puzzled.

            "No! No, it's okay … I just wanted to tell you myself … but it's okay.  Anyway, how are you? Wait a minute, let me go wake up Hermione so you can tell her too," said Ron as an afterthought.  He wandered back upstairs. 

            Harry smiled.  He didn't know if that meant that he would have to tell them where he had been.  Suddenly, he heard Ron and Hermione arguing upstairs. 

            "Be quiet, Ron! You'll wake her up! Be quiet!"

            "Oh you be quiet! You'll never guess who's here!"

            "Who would be here at this time of the morning? The milkman?!"

            "NO! Harry! Harry's here, Hermione! C'mon, up you get!"

            "WHAT!? Harry's here? Are you joking with me? Are you just trying to get me out of bed, Ron?"

            "No, Hermione. I'm not joking. I'm serious.  Get up, you lazy prat!"

            "Okay, okay. I'm coming.  But I mean it, Weasley, if you're joking …"

            Harry chuckled to himself as he heard Hermione and Ron walking down the creaking chairs.  Hermione was mumbling sleepily to herself angrily while walking behind an excited Ron.  She was just rubbing her eyes … when they popped wide open when they laid on Harry.

            "Harry?!" screamed Hermione happily.  She leaped into his arms as he held them out for her. 

            Harry smiled as he hugged her.  "How are you, Herm?" he murmured.

            "Oh, Harry! You're back! And I thought that Ron was only joking! Oh my gosh, I looked like a mess!" exclaimed Hermione, hurriedly brushing her hair back and wiping the tears away from her face. 

            Harry heard a distinct "Hmph" from Ron. 

            "Ron, get some coffee or something for Harry, will you? You really don't have any manners, do you?" ordered Hermione.

            "For your information--," began Ron.

            "It's okay, Hermione.  He already asked me if I wanted something to eat or drink," finished Harry.

            "Oh, okay.  Sorry, hunny," said Hermione embarrassedly. 

            Harry heard another "Hmph" from Ron.

            For the rest of the morning until noon, they talked.  About everything.  Their new baby, which, by the way, is a girl, and named Andrea.  Their wedding, which Ron waved off Harry's apology for not being there. 

            "Why weren't you there, Harry?" asked Hermione timidly.

            Harry shifted guiltily in his seat.  "Oh, you know, must've slipped my mind or--,"

            "Harry James Potter! You know exactly that that is not the reason you missed our wedding! Slip of the mind, hmph! I'm sure," said Hermione angrily.

            "Okay! Okay. That's not the reason, I'll admit it," said Harry.

            "Then what is the reason, Harry?" asked Ron.

            And then, of course, Harry plunged into the whole story.  When he was finished, Hermione and Ron had shocked faces. 

            "Woah. Woah, I had no idea it was something like that, Harry.  Weren't you," Ron looked like he didn't want to say the word, because he knew that it was not usual for men to be this, "scared?"

            "Er … I guess so.  Some times.  Yeah, I was scared sometimes," answered Harry.

            "Wow, Harry.  That was really brave of you, I'm really proud of you," said Hermione.

            Their conversation was cut short when someone emerged in the threshold of the living room.  It was a red headed someone.  It gasped as it saw Harry sitting there with Hermione and Ron.  The couple looked at each other with frightened faces. 

            Finally, after a few deathening seconds, Ron turned to Harry and asked, "Erm, Harry?  Did we forget to tell you that Ginny was staying with us for awhile?"

~*~

A/N:  Hey guys! Sorry if you are disappointed that the Ginny's baby is a he.  I just wanted to keep the Potter family going on for awhile, ya know? Oh yeah, I need some help.  Harry is going to find out what Ron's and Hermione's assignments were from Dumbledore.  If you have any ideas, email me at Swishmish20@aol.com.  Thanks!