A/N: J.K Rowling is the master that created Harry Potter. Not me.

"To forgive takes Love, to forget takes humility" – Mother Teresa

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"The Boy Who Lived." He said very softly before the flash of green light hit him. 'NO!' Harry sat bolt upright in his bed, his heart racing, Hermione rushed from her room to his side 'Harry!' her arms wrapped round him. No words were spoken as she simply held him, giving him an anchor to cling to while he fought to regain control over his demons. It broke her heart to see him like this, for the seventeen years they had known each other, Harry Potter stood tall and taken everything that the world threw at him. He had risked life and limb to do what was right, no matter the consequences and now when the war was long over, payment for all that he had endured was being taken.

#

In the days after Draco and Narcissa we welcomed back to house Black, Harry had arranged for them to meet with Andi and Teddy. It started as a tense affair until Teddy changed his features to look like Draco, this brought smiles to every ones faces and lead to the sisters hugging each other. Harry took his leave and left them to get to know each other. As he walked towards the edge of the wards Draco caught up with him, 'Hey Harry!' Harry turned and said 'Hey Draco, what's up?' Draco looked at this feet a little lost for words 'it's just…' he began, the emotion of the day evident in his voice 'I wanted to thank you Harry, what you've given us…..' his voice faltered, Harry put his hand on Draco's shoulder and said 'all I have given you is a second chance. It's up to you to decide what you want to do with it. Oh before I forget, I've got something for you.' Harry reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope. 'Like I said, it's a second chance for more than us.' He handed it to Draco and walked away; he reached the edge of the wards and turned to look at the former Slytherin before Apparating away.

#

"Draco,

I was a more than a little surprised when Potter got in touch. He told me what has happened and how you and your mother have been given your lives back. He said that I should write you a letter and he would back sure that you got it. I find myself wondering why he's doing all of this, doesn't it strike you as strange that a Gryffindor would go out of his way to help a Slytherin?

Over the years since the end of the war I have thought about making contact with you, just to see if you were alright or maybe to see if I was alright, who knows? I was sorry to hear that your father passed away, it can't have been easy for you both. Again I wanted to make contact but…

What happen to us Draco? The summer before the war started was magical and then when "HE "returned you changed, you became cold and distant. It hurt seeing you like that. Anyway that's all in the past now, I am glad that Potter… Harry has given you and your mother a new lease of life and I hope that you grab it with both hands.

I don't expect anything from you Draco but if you are in need of a friend I would be happy to be friends with Draco Black.

Yours

Pansy X"

Draco stared disbelievingly at the letter in his hand, in the distance he heard the pop of Harry Apparating away and looked up. This really was a second chance for him to do some good, to right a lot of the wrongs that he stupidly bought into. He turned and ran back to the house, not wanting to waste any more time dwelling on the mistakes of his past. He was a Black and this was his chance to prove it.

##

On the outskirts of Ottery St Catchpole, Ginny Weasley sat in the garden of Potter Cottage. If it were not for Greta keeping her busy she would have withdrawn into herself. 'Missus Ginny, Mister Harry wants to see you.' She looked up at the elf, a fading hint of excitement in her eyes 'Is he coming here?' she asked, to which Greta nodded 'Him and hims grangy is coming soon.' Ginny shot to her feet and ran to the cottage, she needed to change. She stopped at the door and said to herself 'No Ginny, what you're wearing is fine.' She sighed and walked back to the garden, if she was to move on then this was the first step.

Harry and Hermione Apparated to the front garden, Ginny heard them arrive but carried on hoeing the flower bed. Harry and Hermione looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders. 'I know that you're there, I'm not deaf you know.' Ginny called out to the pair. 'Greta, would you mind getting us some tea please?' Harry asked the little elf who promptly popped away. Ginny stopped what she was doing and looked at the pair before going in to wash her hands. Harry and Hermione made their way to the patio table and sat next to each other.

'To what do I owe the pleasure?' said Ginny as she walked back to the garden, Harry turned and watched her walk towards them. 'When does your leave of absence end?' Harry enquired Ginny smiled at him and said 'I go back in two weeks, why?' Greta arrived with the tea; Harry deliberately took his time to pour the tea on to the three cups. This was a tactic that he employed when he was questioning criminals. It really set them ill at ease. 'Right, what are you not telling me?' snapped Ginny. Hermione said 'nothing has been made public as yet. The Minister and the Chief Warlock wanted a statement to be made on the WWN and a full exposé to be published in the prophet. Harry vetoed that idea completely.' Ginny looked at Harry who was sitting back and staring into his cup, she smiled uneasily at Hermione and asked 'but what are you both not telling me?'

Harry set his cup down and said 'Ollie passed away about three years ago, did you know?' Ginny looked confused 'Who?' she asked 'Ollie, Oliver Wood, we bumped into his widow a few days ago. I'm going to throw him a memorial sometime next month; I would like you to be there.' He explained. Ginny's hand shot to her mouth, she shook her head in disbelief 'that's awful, of course I'll be there. Everyone from Gryffindor will want to be there.'

Harry carefully placed his cup down and said 'that's not the only reason we're here, Gin, I've done something and I thought that you deserved to hear it from me first.' Ginny looked from Harry to Hermione before saying 'You're pregnant already? It's barely been a month Hermione.' 'No, Gin' said Harry, 'You are way off the mark on this, and besides we don't even sleep in the same bedroom. Neither of us is ready for that just now, not that it's your concern.' He said with a little bit of steel to his tone. 'I met with Draco and Narcissa the other day; I needed something from them and in return for their co-operation they have been given a full pardon and I have re-installed them as Blacks.'

'Are you fucking crazy? Why would you do something like that? C'mon Harry tell me that this is a sick joke!' exclaimed Ginny. Harry sat and stared at his former wife, his features emotionless 'Narcissa earned the right when she lied to Riddle; I'm living, breathing proof of her actions.' Said Harry, Ginny countered with 'And Draco? I suppose he was a double agent like Snape, was he?' the vitriol dripping from every syllable she spoke. Harry stood and stared down Ginny; Hermione picked up her tea and left them to it. Harry calmly said 'Draco was nothing more than a pampered, entitled, self aggrandizing prick at school. The worst he did was breaking my nose and say some mean things to people.'

The legendry Weasley temper was beginning to rise in Ginny, 'how can you stand there and defend that slime ball after everything he said and done?' she screamed at Harry from three feet across the table, his response was ended the fight 'you did far worse than he did and I gave you a second chance.' The colour drained from her face, she sat back in her chair defeated. Harry continued 'I gave him and his mother a chance to redeem themselves in the eyes of the public, if they can do it then….'his voice threatened to break as he spoke. Hermione read the signs and quickly reacted to take hold of his hand. 'I …erm... I thought that erm, if…if he could change then… then may…'he closed his eyes, yet the tears still came. His hands began to tremble; he fought to control his breathing. Hermione stood up so fast that her chair was propelled backwards; she got on her knees and held him tightly, whispering to reassure him that he was fine, stroking his hear with her hand.

Ginny had never seen Harry like this before and it scared her. Not because she didn't know what to do but because this was Harry. The strongest man she had ever known was now nothing more than a quivering shell frightened of the world. She was transfixed to the sight before her; Hermione was calming him down and holding him as though he was made from fine bone china and how shatter at the faintest whisper of a breeze. Ginny knew that she could never have managed to bring him down that way Hermione had done. Ginny called for Greta 'in the dresser in my bedroom I have a double strength dose of dreamless sleep potion, can you bring it please?' Greta disappeared and returned an instant later. 'Thank you, Hermione gave him this and he'll at least have a full nights rest.' Hermione took the vial, Harry tried to refuse it but she insisted that he take it. 'Thanks Greta, now could you take Harry home and stay with him until Hermione comes back? She won't be too long.' Greta took his hand as Hermione let go, elf and wizard disappeared.

'Hermione, wha…what just happened?' Ginny asked softly 'He had a panic attack, he gets them now and again. That was a mild one thankfully.' replied Hermione. Ginny, who looked visibly shaken, said 'I need something a lot stronger than tea.' Both women got up and went to the house. Ginny sat on the couch while Hermione went and got a bottle of wine from the fridge. When she returned she poured two glasses and said 'What he was saying before it happened was If Draco can change, then he was hoping that you and Ron could too. He see's you all as his family and this has broken him, Ginny, more than losing Sirius or watching Cedric die losing your three has practically crippled him.'