Please note the world of Harry Potter belongs to JKR. I'm only playing with her creation. Also the story image was a free download I found. Thank you to whomever it belongs. I will remove it immediately if asked.

Author's note:

As with all my older works this is being posted from my old site to help tide people over till my new works are ready. I would say this story represents a clear step forward in my writing. It is better structured and is much better at getting my point across than any of my other old works. It still has a number of things I would do differently if I were to write it now, but again I am past the point of editing these old works. Still I hope you all find it enjoyable to read and I hope it is worth a review or two from you. Because while your thoughts won't help this work, they will help my next works. I thereby challenge anyone who reads, like it or loath it, to leave a review. I will do my best to respond to all signed reviews.

Also, I'm perfectly aware that with the title of the story and a quick google search you can find the whole thing. Certainly I can't stop you from doing so. Just know that I while I have not taken my works down from the old site, I no longer check anything there. If you want an answer to a question you're going to have to contact me here.

Hope you like it.

Authors' note#2:

I suppose I should have expected this as my old work is going up. It was a very different life and more than five years since I said I was done with fan fiction. Now I'm back writing again. I'm on a new site with a new penname. A simple google search of the titles of my old work will direct you to mugglenet and the penname of huskers. So, I might as well say that yes, I use to post on mugglenet under the penname of huskers. Please read the bio there that directs you to find any new work as well as my old work here under the new penname of Sorcerer's Muse. Yes, I am one in the same. If you have any doubts that I am the same person and that all the work posted here is indeed mine, please go to mugglenet. Look up huskers' page and send an email with an appropriate code word of your choosing. I will then post that code word on my profile here to prove that I am the same person. Note, I will not post anything vulgar or inappropriate.

As always, thank you for reading my work.

Sorcerer's Muse

And one more: When trying to hide from the past, it just seems natural to me for Harry to use the name James Black. Hiding is one thing. Completely dishonoring his parents and Sirius is altogether another.

Broken

Chapter 11: June 2019

Ron picked up his youngest son and tossed him high into the air catching him on the way back down. "How's my little, Mikey?" he asked as the toddler howled in laughter.

"Again, Daddy," he demanded. Ron tossed him into the air again, eliciting another howl of laugher from the boy. "Again!" Ron tossed him up again.

"Ronald Weasley, you put him down right now," Mrs. Weasley shrieked at her youngest son.

Ron managed to catch the boy in his surprise and turned sheepishly to face his mother. "Mum, we're just playing," he replied. Turning his attention back to Michael he blew a raspberry on the boy's cheek.

"I just feed him, Ronald. You're going to make him sick," Hermione snapped at her husband, joining Molly's tirade.

"Now go get cleaned up, Harry will be here soon," Molly said to Ron.

"I still don't see what all the fuss is about. It's not like Harry hasn't been to the Burrow before," he grumbled.

"Ronald, it's been almost a year since we've seen him and more than two since he came to the burrow, and he is bringing someone. A female someone, I might remind you," Hermione growled at him.

Ron stopped playing with his and Hermione's youngest child and turned to look at his mother and Hermione, a nervous expression on his face. "There is that, isn't there?" he commented. The three of them looked at each other and their faces broke into broad smiles.

"He hasn't told you who she is?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"No, Molly," Hermione replied. "Like I said, we haven't seen him in close to a year now, and he hasn't mentioned a thing in any of his letters until this last one.

"Honestly, I'm surprised he's coming to Harry's graduation. He knows that Ginny will be here because Stephanie is graduating also," Ron said quietly.

"We'll just have to make sure to watch them. They will only have to be in each others presence for a few hours," Mrs. Weasley said shaking her head sadly. Hermione scowled and took her youngest son from her husband.

"Come on sweetie, let's get your nappie changed before uncle Harry gets here," she said to the child as she headed for the stairs.

"Mum, do you have any idea where Ginny has been living since Geoffrey was killed?" Ron asked.

"No, she won't tell me, and I haven't been able to get anything out of Stephanie in any of her letters either."

"Well," Ron said glancing at the stairway to make sure his wife was out of earshot, "she better steer clear of Harry. Hermione still hasn't forgiven her for making her be the one to tell him. She'll hex Ginny into next year of she does something to upset him."

"I know dear. We're all waiting for an apology for that," Mrs. Weasley replied pulling Ron into a hug.

Ron returned her hug and pulled away slightly. "It's not us she needs to apologize to, Mum, it's Harry," he replied.

"And Hermione," Molly added.

"And Hermione," Ron agreed.

"Well, we don't have to deal with it now. The graduation isn't till tomorrow, and it will only be Harry and his lady friend here today. I hope she's nice. The poor boy deserves something good in his life."

"If she's with Harry, I'm sure she'll be fine, Mum."

"Has he told you anything about her?"

"Only that she's a witch," Ron replied with a shrug.

Harry apparated with Ginny to the gate of the front garden to the Burrow. "Are you sure you're ready for this, Gin?" he asked.

Ginny squeezed his hand in hers. "Do you love me?"

"You know I do," Harry replied, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"Then I have you and Stephanie. I'll be ok," she replied resting her hand on his chest for a moment.

Harry kissed her again before draping his invisibility cloak over her head. "Come on then. Let's go see who manages to recover their voice first," he said.

Harry walked slowly up to the front door of the Burrow. Taking note, as he approached, of just how little things had changed from the first time he had been there the summer before his second year at Hogwarts. The place still looked like it could fall down at any moment, and the gardens while full of recently sprouted vegetables, still had their share of weeds in them. Harry let a small smile play across his mouth as a gnome darted into its hole. Taking a deep breath he raised his hand to knock on the door.

Before he could, it was flung open and he was tackled by Ron and Hemione's 9-year-old daughter. "Uncle Harry," she shrieked as she bowled into him.

Harry grabbed her up in his arms and twirled her around. "It's good to see you too, Anna," he said before setting her back on the ground. Harry looked down into the smiling face of the red, bushy haired girl, grinning at her fondly. "You grew since the last time I saw you," he said to her.

"You haven't come to see me in almost a year," she scolded wagging her finger at him. Harry gave her a sheepish smile. She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the Burrow. "Hey you lot," she yelled into the house, "he's here."

Harry braced himself as he heard the pounding of feet running through the house. Anna dropped his hand and stepped away from him. Looking up at him she gave him a naughty grin.

"I'll get you for this," he whispered. She stuck her tongue out at him and ducked behind the couch as Hermione jumped into his arms wrapped her legs around his waist and planted a chaste kiss on his lips. Harry held her around the waist and smiled back at her.

"It's good to see you too, Hermione," he said.

"Geez mate, she doesn't even greet me like that," Ron commented from the steps. Harry turned himself and Hermione so they could both see Ron. He kissed her on the cheek and she settled her head in on his shoulder.

"Well, I am better looking," Harry chided him.

"I thought since you were bringing your own girl, I was finally safe from having you steeling mine," Ron remarked as he walked across the room and stood next to them.

"I don't know, Ron," Harry commented under his breath so only the three of them could hear. "She kind of fits nicely. I might just take her yet."

"Well," Hermione huffed indignantly, unwrapping her legs from Harry's waist so he had to support all of her weight with his arms as both Harry and Ron started laughing.

"She does fit pretty well," Ron said waggling his eyebrow at the two of them.

"Ronald Weasley, if you ever want to know how well I fit again, you'll take that back. And put me down you walking hormone," she growled at Harry. Harry set her down and Ron grabbed him in a brotherly hug, which he returned briefly before pulling Hermione into their embrace.

"I've missed you two," he said quietly.

"We've missed you too, Harry," they answered together before letting him go.

"Did I hear, someone saying he was here? Harry!" Mrs. Weasley yelped when she came around the corner. She then rushed over to him, pushed Ron unceremoniously out of the way and wrapped him in her arms.

"First my wife and now my Mum," Ron grumbled. Hermione gave him a quick kiss to shut him up. And Harry caught Anna, her eyes dancing with mirth, giggling at him from behind the couch.

After nearly crushing the life out of Harry, Mrs. Weasley finally let him go. "Now, let me look at you," she said. "I see you're eating well enough, still a little on the skinny side," she remarked fussing over him. "Arthur! Harry's here," she yelled without turning around. "Honestly, where that man gets to, I'll never know," she added under her breath.

"I'm right behind you, Molly," her husband said. Mrs. Weasley jumped in surprise. While everyone in the room started laughing at her. She turned and swatted him with her dish towel. "You will be the death of me yet, Arthur Weasley," she hissed.

Arthur stepped forward and gave his wife a kiss on the top of her head before he pulled Harry to him. "How have you been, son?"

Harry returned his hug and pulled away. "I'm good. Things have been busy at the lodge and what-not. I'm just glad to be here. I've missed all of you and this place so much; I can't really even believe it."

"Well, you're certainly welcome to visit more often than every few years, Harry James," Molly scolded him. "Letters are nice, but seeing people is much better."

Harry hung his head in contriteness.

"That's enough, Molly. He's here now, lets have a good time with that," Arthur said guiding Harry over to the couch.

The five of them sat down in the living room of the Burrow. And Anna, feeling it safe to come out now that everyone was done mobbing Harry, joined them; squirming her way onto Harry's lap. They sat talking for a little while before Molly got up and brought tea and biscuits in. Finally, Hermione could take it no more.

"Erm… Harry, you said you were going to bring someone?" she asked.

Harry bit his lower lip and took a deep breath. "Right," he said. He then turned his attention to Anna for a second. "Anna, sweetheart, uncle Harry needs to talk to Grammy and Grampy and your parents for a little bit. Would you mind going to play upstairs in the nursery for a while?" Anne gave him a scowl in reply. "Please, Anna, I promise to tell you soon, but us adults need to talk alone first."

"Promise?" Anna asked.

"Promise," Harry replied. Anna slipped off of his lap and headed for the stairs.

"Ok, but I'm not happy about it," she grumbled as she disappeared from sight.

Harry turned back to the others and noticed the looks of concern that had come over their faces.

"Harry, did I say something wrong?" Hermione asked nervously.

Harry gave her a weak, but real smile. "No, Hermione, you didn't. I'm just a bit nervous about this. In fact both of us are."

"So you did bring someone then," Ron said with a grin.

"Yes," Harry replied.

"You seem more than a bit nervous, Harry. You must really like her," Hermione said.

"You could say that. In fact, I've only felt this way about one person," Harry answered quietly. Arthur, Molly, Ron and Hermione all glanced at each other, they all knew who that person was, and then turned their attention back to Harry.

"Sounds pretty serious, son," Mr. Weasley commented.

"Very," Harry replied fiddling with the ring on his finger.

Hermione gasped when she noticed it and grabbed his hand. "You're married!" she stated. The others all looked at his hand and then back to him.

"Well?" Ron demanded.

"Yes, I am," Harry replied.

Mrs. Weasley leapt out of her chair and tackled him back onto the couch in another of her hugs. "Oh, Harry, I'm so happy for you. Of course it would have been nice if you had invited us to the wedding, or even told us before you got here. I mean I have two separate rooms set up for you. But if you're married, of course you're going to want to stay in the same room."

Harry looked across the room to Ron; asking for help in getting his mum to let him go. Finding nothing but a shell-shocked best mate, he turned to Arthur, who had managed to recover enough that he pulled a still rambling Molly off of Harry. Harry cautiously met Hermione's eyes. She smiled weakly back at him.

"Hermione?" he asked softly, reaching for her hand.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she whispered.

Harry moved over and knelt on the floor in front of her. Reaching up with his hand he pulled her by the back of the head so he could whisper in her ear. "I'm sorry, Mione. I think you might understand in a few minutes. I hate to tell you this, but the surprises are not finished yet."

Hermione pulled back from him and looked questioningly into his eyes.

Harry brushed her hair back away from her face. "Hermione, you were there when I woke. You were the one to tell me the truth. You were the one who I took my anger out on. And I know you felt pain for me as I dealt with everything. You were the one who supported me and I don't know how to thank you. I have no right to ask you for anything more than you have given me already, but I have to ask one more thing."

Hermione held his hands tightly in hers. "You are my brother, Harry, ask and if it's in my power to give you, I will."

"Be happy for me, Hermione. Be happy for both of us," he said.

Hermione placed her hands on the sides of his face and looked directly into his eyes. "I am happy for you. It's just, well, I've been there for all the bad things, Harry. I would have liked it if I could have been there for something that was happy."

Harry pulled her tight to him again. "You'll get a chance, Hermione," he said quietly.

"I love you, Harry, if you're happy then I'm happy for you," she replied. "Now," she said pulling away from him, "where is she?"

"Let me go get her," Harry answered. He stood up and walked to the kitchen, going to the back door he opened it. "Gin?" he whispered.

Ginny pulled the cloak off and stood up. Taking his hand in hers, she let him lead her into the house. Harry stood in the door of the kitchen with Ginny behind him. The others looked back to where he was standing.

"Remember, Hermione, I said the surprises were not finished for the day?" he asked.

Hermione nodded in reply. Harry stepped into the room with Ginny staying behind him, hidden from sight. "Before anyone thinks it, I want to say this is not a joke… But I would like you to meet my wife," he said stepping to the side so they could see Ginny.

Four sets of eyes went wide and four mouths dropped open. Harry and Ginny stood holding hands next to each other waiting for a response of some kind. Ginny quickly darted her eyes up to see their reactions and back down again. After a few moments more she looked up at them all still just staring at the two of them.

"Please, somebody say something," she pleaded just above a whisper.

"G-Ginevra?"

"Yes, Mum."

"Y-You an-and Ha-Harry?" Mrs. Weasley stammered.

"Yes, Mum," she replied quietly.

"H-How? W-When?"

"A little less than three months ago, March 15th to be precise," Harry replied.

Hermione, recovered from her shock, stood up glaring daggers at Ginny.

Ron, Molly and Arthur all held their breath and watched her carefully. No one but Ginny had, had any clue that Harry was getting stronger. No one knew that the bond they had gave her knowledge different than what the healers were telling them. And the healers had all given up hope that Harry would wake years before he did. In fact, Ginny was the last of the family to have given up any real hope that he would wake. And she had told no one that Harry was reaching out to her. For the most part, Ginny had isolated herself from her family when she stopped going to see Harry. But the real estrangement by the family had not started then, or even when she had married, it had begun when Harry had woken from the coma and Ginny had refused to tell Harry herself, forcing Hermione to do it instead. They had been waiting for this confrontation for years and now that it was finally here, they knew it was best to stay back and let Hermione go.

"When did she find you?" Hermione demanded without looking at Harry.

"Four years ago this past March," Ginny answered quietly.

"And you have been there this whole time?"

"Yes," Ginny replied forcing herself to meet Hermione's eyes. Hermione closed her eyes tightly, her fists clinched at her sides. Turning her back on Ginny she breathed deeply trying to control herself.

"Hermione…" Harry started.

She silenced him by holding her hand up. "You've had four years to make your peace with her, Harry, and I'm glad you have. But you have to, at least, give me a few minutes."

Harry sighed to himself but didn't say anything more. He and Ginny had talked about this, and knew it had to happen. Ginny had made her bed, now she had to lie in it. All he could do was stand next to her while she did. When Hermione started to speak again, her back was still turned to Ginny and her voice was calm, too calm.

"You were my friend, the only girlfriend I have ever had. I didn't blame you when you married Geoffrey. Even though I was dieing for Harry, if he ever woke up, I was happy for you. I was your Maid of Honor. The only thing I ever asked was, when and if he ever woke up, that you tell him," Hermione stopped and whirled on Ginny. "And you made me do it," she hissed at her.

Ginny flinched, but didn't break eye contact with her. "I'm sorry, Hermione," she whispered as tears started to slide down her face.

"You're sorry?" she retorted waving her hand in the air, her voice airy and full of venom. Ron, Molly and Arthur grimaced at her tone, afraid that this might be even worse than they expected it to be. Hermione stopped for a second taking a deep breath before continuing in a slightly less hostile voice. "Sorry, do you have any idea what it was like to have to tell him that?"

"I only know what it was like for him to hear it," Ginny replied, not bothering to wipe at the tears on her face.

"Please, Hermione, she told me why she couldn't tell me herself. I know it was a horrible for both of us, but she did the right thing and she is sorry for the pain she caused us," Harry said quietly.

Hermione turned face Harry , her eyes full of hurt and anger. "How, how could it have been the right thing?" she whispered her voice cracking as she started to cry herself. "How can causing you and me that much pain have been the right thing?"

"Because it was the only way she could be sure of keeping her vows to Geoffrey," Harry replied.

Hermione looked at Harry still clearly struggling with herself. "You trust her?" she finally whispered.

"Yes."

Hermione chewed on her lower lip for a second longer before she moved to him and let him wrap her in his arms. Harry held her for a few moments before she pushed away slightly. Reaching up she placed her hands on either side of his face and pulled his forehead to her lips, kissing him gently. Harry pulled away, and leaned his forehead against hers.

"I'm happy for you, Harry," she said quietly. Harry pulled her tight again for a second before she pushed away. Turning to Ginny she opened her arms to her. Ginny moved tentatively into the embrace.

"I'm sorry, Hermione," she whispered.

"Congratulations, Ginevra," Hermione replied. The two of them broke away from each other, while Molly, Arthur and Ron collectively breathed a sigh of relief before standing up and moving to Ginny. "I'm going for a short walk before dinner," Hermione said and headed for the door.

"Mione?" Ron asked her.

"I'm fine, Love. Just keep and eye on Michael and Anna till diner for me." The door closed quietly behind her.

"Come on son," Arthur said to Ron as he headed for the stairs and the nursery. "Let's go make sure the kids are all right while your mother finishes dinner. We can all talk more later; after we have had time to deal with things."

"Sure, dad." Ron gave Ginny a quick hug and clapped Harry's shoulder before following Arthur up the stairs.

"Well, I guess I better finish dinner then," Molly said, hugging each of them before heading for the kitchen, leaving Harry and Ginny alone in the living room.

"You ok?" Harry asked Ginny after everyone had left.

"Do you still love me?"

"Yes, Ginevra Molly Potter, I still love you."

Ginny reached up with her hand and touched his cheek. "Then I'm ok," she replied.

"I think I better go after her," Harry remarked nodding in the direction that Hermione had gone.

"Actually, Love, I think I should," Ginny said as she stood up and went to the door. "Why don't you help mum with dinner," she said before closing the door behind her.

Ginny found Hermione on the far side of the pond, watching the water as it flowed into the stream and headed off into the distance. She walked over and stood next to her. Hermione looked up as she came up next to her and then turned to face her.

"Tell me why you couldn't tell him yourself," she said.

Ginny closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them again. "Do you want the long or the short version?"

"I know all of it already; I just want to hear it from your mouth, Ginevra."

Ginny sighed and took a deep breath. "I had already been weak, Hermione. I made poor decisions, I didn't trust myself or Harry's love for me, and I gave up on him. I convinced myself he would never forgive me and I married Geoffrey. Don't mistake that I did love Geoffrey, but he was not Harry.

"When Harry woke up, I knew I couldn't go see him, because the part of me that really knew Harry, knew he could forgive me, he could take me back. If he had, I would have left Geoffrey in a second and that would have cost me Stephanie, Geoffrey, and then eventually myself and Harry.

"Harry told me once that the girl he loved died on the day he woke up from the coma. The truth is that was the day she was born again. The girl that decided to live with the choices she had made, that did not allow herself to go near temptation, is the girl that Harry loved. I would never have gone looking for Harry if Geoffrey had not died. I did love him, he was the father of my daughter, and I had vowed to stay with him till death.

"Harry and I were never legally married, but we had made those same promises to each other. I broke them. I couldn't do it again. It would have killed me. That's why I couldn't tell Harry myself. I had to make sure I kept those vows.

"Harry asked me once, if I could go back and change it. If I could go back and come to him the day after I didn't go the first time, but I would loose Stephanie, what would I do? I told him I would leave him again. I would choose Stephanie over him. Harry trusts me now because of that, and because I did what I had to, to keep my vows to Geoffrey.

"I'm sorry, Hermione. I'm sorry I made you tell Harry that I had married someone else while he was in a coma. I'm sorry I did that to you, but if I was put in the same situation again, I would not change it."

Hermione regarded her carefully for a few moments before replying. "I knew he never stopped loving you. I also knew even when you married Geoffrey that there was part of your heart he would never have," she said to her.

"Honestly, I had a pretty good idea that you had gone to find Harry. I knew if you did find him that all it would take was regaining his trust for him to forgive you and take you back," she paused before continuing.

"It seems you've managed to do that, but so help me, Ginevra, if you hurt him again Merlin wouldn't be able to save you from me."

"I have not regained your trust?" Ginny asked quietly.

"You have Harry's trust. He has mine, so I will be happy for him and you. Do you see this necklace?" Hermione asked pulling it out of her shirt.

Ginny moved closer to it to see it better. "Harry has one too."

"It is a way for him to communicate with me no matter where he or I happen to be; no matter how far apart we are he can always reach me. It is also a portkey. It will take me directly to him, all I have to do is tap it with my wand and say his name. I have not taken it off, once, since the day he left England. Do you have any idea how many times I spent the night with him in his apartment when he first got to that lodge?"

"No," Ginny replied softly shaking her head, "I don't."

"It's almost funny in a way. I'm probably one of 5 witches on the planet who has never wanted to share Harry's bed, and yet, for the first six months he was there, I slept with him more than Ron. Holding him like a child while he cried himself to sleep. Harry is more than a brother to me. Without being in love with him, without ever having been intimate with him, I can't imagine it is possible to be closer to another adult. Strange as it may be, in many ways he is my oldest child. I picked up the pieces and put him back together as best I could after you destroyed him, Ginevra. There were holes and gaps, but he managed. He could have lived out the rest of his days at the lodge without you, or anyone else, and been in some semblance of peace. I don't think he would ever have found someone else, and to tell you the truth I had my suspicions when he told me he was bringing someone to the house. You have come back into his life and made him truly happy. I can see it, and I believe it. I just want to make sure we understand each other. I won't stand to see you hurt him again," Hermione finished

"I did not go looking for him, to win him back. I went only to say I was sorry. I was prepared to spend the rest of my days waiting until he was ready to hear it. I never hoped for what has happened. But I'm not going to apologize for Harry giving me another chance, Hermione," Ginny replied.

"I don't know how you broke through the walls he put up. But believe it or not I'm glad you have," Hermione said.

"I didn't, Stephanie did."

Hermione looked at her quizzically for a moment.

"She figured out who he was. He took her to his house and gave her the chance to know who he was or to have her knowledge of him erased. They became friends and then he adopted her without either of them realizing it. She showed him how to open his heart and risk the pain of getting it broken again. I'm sure Harry, your son Harry, not my husband, told you there was a dementor attack on Stephanie during her sixth year."

"Yes," Hermione answered.

"That day, before I found out about the attack, was the day Harry first confronted me about our past. Before then, he had spoken maybe 20 words to me in the two years I had been at the lodge. I had just finished giving him my excuses, when Fawkes brought the news of the attack on Stephanie to me.

"Harry apparated both of us to Hogwarts. When we got there, he was the one who saved Stephanie's life. She would have died otherwise. After saving her life, he went into the Forbidden Forest with the aurors and helped them to destroy the last of the Dementors that were still there from the final battle. Stephanie and I were talking in the hospital wing the next morning and she asked to come home to recuperate. I told her I didn't have any of the potions she would need or any way to get her to help if she needed it. Harry overheard us and invited both of us to stay at his house."

"The two of us were there for ten days, and all of the next summer. We were both there again this past Christmas. Harry even allowed David, Stephanie's boyfriend, to come for a few days. When they had both left for school, I went to tell him I was going back to my apartment and he asked me to stay. He asked me to marry him the next day. Obviously, I said yes."

"Harry always did jump into things," Hermione replied with a smile and a faraway look in her eyes.

"I promise you, Hermione, he will not regret his decision this time."

Hermione moved her gaze back to Ginny and held her eyes in hers for a moment before she turned and started back to the house. "We'll see, Ginevra," she said.

Author's note:

I'm still looking for someone interested in doing some art work for me. I would like a cover image for my newest HP fanfic. Please send me a PM if you are interested.

Sorcerer's Muse