Chapter 25 – The Aftermath

Voldemort was dead. The body had been burned, the ashes were sealed in a magical jar. The Death Eaters were dead. With the help of the people who love him, Harry had fulfilled the prophecy and killed him. The scar was still on his forehead, but it no longer tingled.  Harry had been allowed to go home to Windy Corner with his Dad and Papa for two days. He had been glad to not have all the eyes at Hogwarts focused on him for a couple days.

Before he had returned to Hogwarts after leaving with the aurors after the battle, Cassius had gone to Malfoy Manor to find Draco. He had found Draco tied up in the basement, heavily drugged. Narcissa Malfoy's cold lifeless body lay a few feet away. Cassius thought she had been killed when she tried to stop Lucius or Voldemort from using Draco in Voldemort's plans. Draco stayed at Saint Mungo's a few days to recover from the shock. Cassius had visited him three times a day.  Draco returned to school after being discharged from hospital and was much quieter.

On the Ides of March, 4 days after the death of Voldemort, The Daily Prophet ran a front page article about the night Voldemort was defeated:

The Real Story of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's Demise.

Auror Malfoy's Secret Love Life Revealed!

Harry groaned as he read the article. As Harry scanned the article he saw it was all there in black and white. How Remus Lupin, known werewolf and former Hogwarts Professor, was Auror Cassius Malfoy's lover. How Auror Malfoy would not give up Harry Potter even when his lover was threatened. How Auror Malfoy killed his own brother avenging what he thought was his lover's death. How Harry Potter had killed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. He noticed whispers all around the Great Hall. He looked over towards the Slytherin table. He watched Draco's face as he read the paper. Surprise, hurt and anger flooded over his face. He stood and stalked out of the Great Hall, not looking at anyone.

"Harry – you live with Professor Lupin, don't you?" Seamus asked tentatively when he had read his own copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry nodded.

"So??" Dean prompted.

"So what?" Harry shot back.

"You knew, then?"

"Of course I did. Do you have a problem with it?" Harry asked, a bit defiantly.

"No!" Dean and Seamus chorused together.

"Auror Malfoy is bloody brilliant! Everyone's scared of him." Seamus said excitedly. "I bet if you ever get it trouble at home, he's dead scary."

"I don't get in trouble." Harry said with a smile.

"But when he was at school, he acted like he didn't know you."  Neville said thoughtfully.

"Well…it was a secret, so he had to act that way." Harry answered. The boys around the table nodded wisely.

The following day, the front page headline screamed

Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Defeated-Voldemort,

lives with Auror Malfoy and Werewolf Lover.

In addition to revealing that Harry Potter had lived with the two wizards as their foster son for almost a year, the article included how Auror Malfoy had managed to keep his mating to a werewolf a secret for over twelve years. The writer had researched and noticed that Remus had not had a place of residence since 12 years ago with the exception of the time he spent at Hogwarts.

"Listen to this!" Ron read from the Prophet. "When asked about his relationship with Remus Lupin, Auror Malfoy refused to comment, and Apparated this reporter to Siberia."

Harry smiled as he imagined the poor reporter shivering in Siberia after his Dad had lost his temper.

Harry had potions that morning with Slytherin. He noticed that Draco wouldn't look at him. He wondered what Draco was thinking. Suddenly the door opened.

"Snape – may I speak with Malfoy?" Harry whirled around, recognizing the cool voice. Cassius stood in the doorway.

Harry turned back and watched as Snape's pale face got even paler. Harry remembered the death threat that Cassius had made towards him the night of Voldemort's defeat. Snape stood up. "We are brewing a very delicate potion..."

"I'll wait." Cassius walked a couple steps into the room and leaned against the wall. Harry looked over at Draco who was studiously watching his potion, not looking at his uncle. Harry looked back over at Cassius. The whole room was watching the three of them like a three-sided tennis match. After a moment, Cassius walked over to Harry's table.

"Hi." Harry said softly, feeling slightly awkward with all the eyes watching him.

"You didn't add enough mugwort." Cassius looked into his cauldron.

"Oh?" Harry looked up at the board, he'd put in exactly what the instructions had said.

"Potions isn't an exact science, you'll need to add a little more. Needs to be silvery purple – not …whatever that color is." Cassius lifted his hand towards Harry and stopped for a moment before brushing his hand over Harry's messy hair. "Ravenclaws are the best potion makers." He smiled down at Harry. Harry added a bit more mugwort and the potion turned a silvery purple. Harry felt a huge sense of accomplishment. He was overcome by the urge to hug his Dad – it might be the first time he'd ever been able to do a potion properly. He restrained himself, trying to act just as cool.

"Mine is done, Professor. May I be excused?" Draco's cool voice, an echo of Cassius', rang out in the room.

"Yes." Snape answered quickly. 

After a wink at Harry, Cassius turned and walked out the door followed by Draco. Harry wished he could have had his invisibility cloak in order to hear what the two Malfoys were discussing. Papa had written that Dad had lost his temper with Minister Fudge the previous day about declassifying the auror report about Voldemort's death. He also wrote that Draco had sent a howler to Dad. He was very angry to have been lied to for so long and to find out that Harry Potter – who was no relation (so Draco thought) – lived with his beloved Uncle, when Draco had never known where his uncle lived, had made him upset to no end.  Harry didn't see Draco the rest of the day.

For weeks there were letters to the editor. There were some from heartbroken witches (and wizards), devastated that Cassius Malfoy was taken. Some were from people happy to hear that Harry was happy at last, as he deserved to be for saving the wizarding world. But most of the letters were from wizards and witches who couldn't believe an auror would mate with a dark creature. Harry was surprised that there weren't more letters from witches and wizards who thought was being homosexual was wrong. Finally  the uproar died down. It seemed there was finally a consensus that as the werewolf in question had helped to defeat Voldemort and since Auror Malfoy was very popular and well known for his intolerance towards dark wizards, almost everyone decided he had chosen well and that Harry Potter deserved to be taken care of by such wonderful wizards. Draco Malfoy did not seem to be not one of those people. Harry watched his face as he read the articles and letters and couldn't believe the emotions on Draco's face. Anger, hurt, and disgust all warred on his pale face. He continued to ignore Harry.

In the middle of the uproar, Harry received a letter from home. He was thankful that the spring holiday was only a week away. The first article had been just over a week ago and he was really looking forward to being away from all the curious eyes at Hogwarts.

Dear Harry,

Tabby is already starting to bake custard tarts in preparation for your arrival.  Dad has been taking time off from his job and is driving Tabby crazy. The garden is starting to grow with the nice weather we've been having and the apple tree is starting to sprout leaves. Buckbeak will be happy to have daily rides with you again.

Dad would like to know if you would be ok with inviting Draco home for the holiday.  He thinks it would be a good way for you and Draco to bury the hatchet…so to speak. And Draco would like to visit.  It's up to you. Write Dad with your decision in the next couple days. 

We will see you next week!

Love, Papa

Harry thought about it for a long time.  He remembered the conversation between Cassius and Draco that he overheard last fall. He remembered how hurt Draco had looked when reading the articles in the Daily Prophet. Draco loved his uncle…and now that his mother was dead…his father was dead…Voldemort was dead.  Draco certainly wasn't powerful enough to hurt Remus without being stopped by Cassius first. He walked slowly up to the Gryffindor common room and saw Hermione.

"Hermione…could I ask you something?"

"Hmm?"  Hermione was reading her DADA textbook on one of the couches in the common room.

"Could you read this and let me know what you think?"  Harry handed her Remus' letter and sat down next to her. She looked down and read it quickly.

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know – if Dad thinks it safe…but he's always been so horrible, Draco, I mean."

"Yes…although who's to say it wasn't his father's influence." Hermione looked back down at the letter.

"You think I should ask him?" He said quietly.

"I think…maybe it wouldn't hurt to give Draco a second chance." Hermione said thoughtfully.