Harry and Reg finally left the Quidditch shop with two new brooms: a new Firebolt for Harry and an older model Cleansweep for Reg. Harry had balked at the idea of spending so much of Snape's money on a broom. Surely the man hadn't intended for him to buy the top-of-the-line broom to replace the one that Sirius had bought for him. But the shop owner had insisted, saying that the note from Snape had stated that Harry was to have another Firebolt. After that Harry decided to get Reg a Cleansweep rather than a child's broom so that Snape would not have to replace the broom again in a couple years. Reg could grow into his new broom.
"When can we go flying, Harry?" Reg asked, practically skipping alongside his brother as they headed toward the Leaky Cauldron to Floo home to Grimmauld.
Harry smiled down at Reg. "As soon as they owl our brooms to Grimmauld, I'll Floo-call the Burrow and see if we can go over there. They have a clearing where we've played a lot of Quidditch."
"Do you think I'll be a good Seeker like you and Draco?"
He stopped and knelt down. "Reg, if you really want to be a Seeker, then Draco and I will teach you to be a better Seeker than either of us. But don't be a Seeker just because we both are. Be a Seeker or a Beater or a Chaser or a Keeper because that's what you want to do. We won't love you any less if you decide not to play Qudditch at all."
"You'll really still love me?" the little boy asked, looking at his brother with uncertainty in his grey eyes.
"Of course we will," Harry responded, tapping the boy on the nose. "One of my best friends hates flying, but I still love her. She's a lot smarter than me and probably even smarter than Draco."
"Really?"
"Really. They competed for top grades the whole time we were at Hogwarts. Some people have called her the brightest witch of our age."
"I bet she and Rory would get along great."
Harry nodded. "Aurora reads all the time like 'Mione does. I'm sure 'Mione will be at the Burrow when we go over there."
"You said that you love her. Does that mean that you are gonna marry her someday?"
Harry chuckled. "No. Not Hermione. I love her like a sister."
"Who are you gonna marry? Draco was supposed to marry Pansy, but he's not now. I read it in his journal. But you can't tell Mother and Father 'cause it's a secret."
"Draco already told me, Reg. And it will be a while before I'm ready to get married, but one day I'd like to marry Ginny Weasley."
"Do you love her?"
"Very much so."
Reg nodded sagely. "Good." He bit his lip and glanced at his brother. "Are you gonna tell Draco that I read his journal?"
Harry couldn't help but smile at his brother. "I'm glad you approve. And I won't tell Draco. Are you ready to go home now?"
Reg nodded and they continued on to the Leaky Cauldron. "Does Ginny play Quidditch?"
"She does. Ginny's a good Seeker and Chaser. She played Seeker when I couldn't."
"Did that happen a lot?"
"Sometimes. The last time it was because Uncle Sev gave me detention during the Quidditch game."
"That was very mean of Uncle Sev."
"Not really, Reg. See...I had used a curse on Draco that hurt him very badly. I didn't know what it would do when I used it and I nearly killed him. He would have died if Uncle Sev hadn't come then."
"Why did you do it?"
Harry stopped and found a place to sit, standing Reg in front of him. He didn't really want to tell the boy all of this, but he deserved the truth. "You know how you and the girls had to hide for a long time?"
Reg nodded, slipping between Harry's legs and leaning against his knee. "Because there were some bad wizards who wanted to hurt us."
"That's right. Those same bad wizards, and one in particular who was really bad, wanted to hurt me too. When Draco and I were born, Mother and Father gave me to James and Lily Potter to keep me safe. But that really bad wizard found us and killed them. He nearly killed me too. No one else knew that I was a Malfoy so I was sent to live with some Muggles until it was time for me to start school.
"When it was time for me to start Hogwarts, I met Draco and we didn't like each other at all. We fought all the time. During our sixth year, he tried to use a nasty curse on me but before he could, I hurt him very badly."
"Do you still hate each other?" Reg asked.
"Not any more, Reg."
Reg leaned his head against Harry's shoulder. "Father, Draco and Uncle Sev are gonna be gone for a long time aren't they?"
Harry sighed and put his arm around his brother, hugging him. It still amazed him that he finally had the younger siblings that he had always longed for. "I'm going to do everything I can to get them home, but I may not be able to."
"They're good wizards right? Not like those bad wizards who tried to hurt us?"
"Yes, buddy. They are all good wizards."
"Harry?" came a new voice.
Harry looked up to see Hermione standing in front of them. He stood and quickly pulled his best friend into a hug. "It's good to see you, 'Mione."
"It's good to see you too," she said, as they both sat down.
Reg, who had been jostled aside when Harry stood, quickly reclaimed his place when they sat down, tucking himself close to his brother. Harry had said that this 'Mione person was one of his best friends, but Reg wasn't too sure about her yet.
Harry patted his brother's back comfortingly. "Reg and I came to get new brooms so that I can teach him how to fly," Harry explained to her. He had been forced to explain about the Malfoys to Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys when Draco had tagged along to Fred's funeral. Ron, predictably, hadn't taken it very well, but Hermione had been more understanding. She had given him a hug and told him that she was happy that he finally had a family, before going after Ron.
"Ron came with George to open up the shop today," she told them. "I just came to pick up a few things and I'll Floo back to the Burrow with Ron."
"I was just telling Reg about you, wasn't I, buddy?"
Reg nodded. "Harry said that you're the smartest witch he knows, and he loves you, but he's going to marry Ginny Weasley one day."
Hermione laughed. "Harry's like a brother to me and I love him too."
"Since you're so smart, can you help Harry figure out how to get Father, Draco and Uncle Sev get back home?" he asked her.
She looked at Harry for further explanation.
Harry sighed and explain how Snape had managed to beat death and how the Aurors had come and taken away the three former Death Eaters only a few hours before. He also told her of his conversation with the new Minister of Magic.
"The people are calling for blood, Harry, especially those who lost friends and loved ones," she told him.
"I lost friends and loved ones too, Hermione...Dad, Mum, Cedric, Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Fred...I nearly died myself while killing that bastard to save the Wizarding world! There are still plenty of other Death Eaters out there if the people want blood, but they need to leave my family alone!"
"Harry..." Hermione started.
Reg cut her off. "Don't make Harry mad!" he told her. "If you don't want to help us, just go away." The look he gave her was worthy of his godfather.
"Reg," Harry hissed.
"We need help, Harry," the boy said, tears beginning to fill his grey eyes. "They can't stay in Azkaban. Father said that he nearly went crazy in there and Aunt Bella did go crazy! I heard Mother and Father talking about it!"
"Maybe we should go home," Harry told him, standing and keeping his now distraught brother close. Reg nodded against his side. "If you want to help, Hermione, I'll be at Grimmauld." Harry wrapped his arms around his brother and Disapparated them to Grimmauld Place.
AN: Faithful readers, I need your help. If a godfather is supposed to buy a broom for his godson, what is he supposed to buy for his goddaughter? Let me know what you think.