Disclaimer: Harry Potter does not belong to me. All rights go to JK Rowling/Warner Bros. I do not profit in any way.

Chapter 25

It was eerily silent. There he was; in the Forbidden Forest, surrounded by Death Eaters.

Lord Voldemort raised his wand and hissed an incantation which Harry couldn't hear.

There was a flash of white, a familiar face, but the images flashed by so quickly Harry's mind couldn't register them.

And then he was on the cold floor again, listening to Narcissa Malfoy tell the Death Eaters he was dead.

Dead. That one word had saved him from becoming so.

That was when Harry woke up in a cold sweat.

"What time are we going to 'Meda's again?" Harry asked.

He was sitting at the breakfast table with Ginny, Ron and Hermione. The sun was just appearing over the horizon, and Harry was enjoying the simplicity of just sitting with his friends, eating the breakfast that they'd made together.

Almost a week had passed since Ron had asked Hermione's father for his blessing, and he wouldn't tell Harry when he was planning to propose. "I want you to look surprised," Ron had said – but Harry had an inkling that Ron didn't know when he was going to get the courage to pop the question. It'd come out at some point, nevertheless.

"She said around six this evening," Hermione replied, looking up from the book she'd balanced against the jug of orange juice. Harry smiled when he saw the title.

"Enjoying the Elvin Rebellions?" he asked.

Hermione smiled, "They're fascinating, actually. If only the modern elves would follow the example of their ancestors..."

Ron snickered, and Hermione elbowed him in the ribs.

"Ow!" he protested.

"Don't mess with the elves, Ron," Harry advised seriously, and Ginny laughed.

Hermione cracked a smile. "Oh, shut up."

Harry grinned, and ate the last mouthful of his bacon and eggs, before putting his knife and fork down, and taking Ginny's hand that was rested upon the table.

"So," he said, "What are we going to do until six?"

"Five," Ginny corrected. At Harry's puzzled look, she continued; "Come on, Harry. It's New Year's Eve. We-" she gestured to herself and Hermione, "-need some time to get ready."

"Right," Harry said, although he didn't understand why they didn't just go as they were. They both looked fine. Ginny looked more than fine, actually, in her muggle clothes – skinny jeans and navy V-neck jumper...

"Snap out of it, Potter," Ginny smirked at him, and Harry started. He hadn't realised he'd been staring.

He quickly averted his eyes to the window, but he could still feel Ginny smirking next to him.

Harry considered, looking out at the newly laid snow. It was still falling from the sky lightly, in small white flakes.
"Let's go pick up Teddy," he said finally, "and build some snowmen."
Hermione looked faintly relieved. "I thought you would suggest Quidditch," she said.
Harry pretended to consider it, before grinning. "I don't know if Ginny could handle the extreme conditions.
That comment, of course, resulted in a punch in the stomach which winded him slightly.

"Can you say 'snow', Teddy?" Hermione asked of the almost-three year old, as he ran around in circles in the Weasley's yard.

Teddy looked at her contemptuously. "Snow," he repeated in a monotone, as if a request for a four-letter word was an insult to his intelligence.

Ron chuckled. "How about 'snowman', Teddy? Can you say that?"

Teddy pointed at the half-built snowman that Harry and Ginny were still gathering snow for, and repeated: "Snowman!"

"He really us clever," Hermione said, beaming.

"He is Remus' son," Harry pointed out. "What about... carrot," he said, pointing to the snowman's nose, which was currently on the floor, awaiting a head.

"Carrot," Teddy said impatiently. "I can says words."

"You can say words," Hermione corrected, but upon the glare from Harry, added: "And you say them very well, Teddy."

"D'you want to help me roll the head together, Teddy?" Ginny asked with a smile. Teddy returned it automatically, and his hair changed from an icy blue to red. Teddy adored Ginny.

He toddled over to her in his padded winter coat and thermal trousers, but tripped over the pile of snow.

Luckily, Ginny caught him.

"Careful," she warned, dusting down his coat for the snowflakes which had fallen upon it.

Teddy commenced to do a bellyflop into the pile of snow that Ginny had formed.

Harry fished the giggling toddler out. "Teddy!" he said in what he hoped was a disciplinary voice.

"Hawwy," Teddy responded in the same tone of voice, and started another bout of giggles.

Harry couldn't help smiling as Teddy hugged the arm he was holding him up with.

Harry held him briefly, before putting him down next to Ginny, who was rolling the snowman's head with Hermione, whilst Ron rolled the body round to make it bigger.

"Ron!" Hermione said. "We'll have to make the head even bigger if you keep doing that, or he'll be all out of proportion."

Ron shrugged.

"We're going to end up with a snow-Hagrid!" Hermione protested.

Teddy seemed tickled by this idea. "Snow-Hagrid," he said, laughing.

Ginny smiled. "Come on, Teddy," she said, holding out a handful of snow in her mittened hand. "Make a snowball for me."

Eventually, the snowman (or snow-Hagrid, as Teddy was fond of calling it) was built, and the orange nose put in its place between the pebbled eyes, and the liquorice wand mouth.

It was nearly five, so Harry quickly flooed back to Andromeda's to hand over a sopping wet, giggly Teddy with his sincerest apologies, before returning to the Burrow to get ready.

Not that there was much to do. At half past five, Harry was in his black dress robes, having attempted to tame his hair with a few spells that Hermione had reeled off, but, of course, having failed miserably.

Ron sat with him, in his navy-blue dress robes, looking decidedly nervous.

"They're in Ginny's room," Ron had grunted as he'd sat down beside Harry on the worn-out sofa. "Won't let me in."

"Shame," Harry said. "You look dashing," he added with a smirk.

"Oh shut up," Ron replied, "You know I hate wearing these things."

"Hey, look on the bright side," Harry replied. "They're better than the lace-disaster of nineteen-ninety four."

"...you said they weren't that bad!"

Harry shrugged. "I was lying."

"Thanks, mate," Ron said sarcastically.

"No problem," Harry replied, grinning.

"Hate to interrupt," a familiar voice said from the doorway. "But we're ready."

Harry stood up automatically, and however cliché it was, he could have sworn that his heart missed a beat when she smiled at him.

"You look... amazing," Harry said.

Ginny laughed, tugging at the hem of her short black dress. "We thought we should make an effort," she said, gesturing to Hermione in her floaty powder-blue dress.

"And," Ginny said, as she walked up to Harry, still grinning. "We match."

Harry smiled, and put an arm around her waist.

"Ready to go, then?" he asked Ron and Hermione, who nodded.

"You're sure your parents don't want to come now?" he asked, looking at Ron. "Andromeda said they'd be more than welcome..."

Ron shook his head. "They've got to go round to Great Aunt Muriel's for a few hours," he shuddered. "They should be round at about eight, after they've knocked Muriel out."

"Ron!" exclaimed Hermione.

Ginny grimaced. "We really owe Andromeda one. There's nothing I'd like less than to spend New Year's Eve with our dear Great Aunt."

Remembering the bitter old woman from years before at Bill and Fleur's wedding, Harry couldn't help but agree.

Andromeda welcomed them with open arms when the four of them turned up on her doorstep.

"Glad you could make it," she said with a wide smile, opening the door wide to admit them, whilst keeping Teddy from escaping. "You're the first here!"

Harry smiled as Teddy attempted to break free, and stepped through the doorway.

Andromeda's house was always prettily decorated, with its creamy walls and neutral furniture. There were the bumps and dents in the walls made from years of family life, and it felt really homely. Harry wondered absently whether it had been Tonks or her son who had so artistically illustrated the walls around the skirting board.

It wasn't long before the party was in full swing. The Neville and Augusta Longbottom arrived promptly at six, and Harry was pleased to greet Neville – whom he'd not seen for months. They were accompanied by Hannah Abbott, who hung shyly onto Neville's arm, blushing.

The Lovegoods arrived not-so-promptly after, the two dressed in matching sky-blue robes. Luna was wearing her radish earrings, and greeted them happily.

Soon after the Lovegoods, the Grangers arrived – much to Harry's surprise.

He and Andromeda were getting Teddy ready for bed shortly afterwards, having excused themselves from the party for a few minutes.

"So, how did you get in contact with Hermione's parents?" Harry asked, confused. As far as he knew, the Grangers didn't use muggle communication.

"I didn't," she replied, grabbing a pyjama top out of Teddy's blue-painted chest of drawers. "Ron contacted them – after asking me."

"Why?" Harry asked, even more confused.

Andromeda took a moment to reply, as she grabbed Teddy, who'd made a break for the door – keen to rejoin the party.

"He thought they'd enjoy it, I suppose," she smiled, holding the squirming Teddy firmly under her arm. "They do seem fascinated with magic."

That much was true. Harry had seen Luna talking animatedly with Hermione's parents, demonstrating spells whilst Hermione was otherwise occupied dancing with Ron.

Andromeda passed the wriggling Teddy to Harry, who stood him on his bed, and Andromeda managed to pull the t-shirt over his head.

Harry picked him up and carried him to the bathroom, Andromeda following behind. She picked the smallest toothbrush from the mug, and squeezed some of his infant-toothpaste onto it.

Teddy refused to let his grandmother or godfather brush his teeth, so, as usual, he got his own way – the small toothbrush clasped in his fist, his hair flicking between colours in his concentration.

"Get the back teeth, Teddy," Andromeda said, miming brushing her teeth, which made Harry laugh.

Andromeda rolled her eyes at him, and continued to point to where Teddy should be brushing.

"Are there any more guests to come, then?" Harry asked, still smiling at the matching faces that Teddy and his grandmother were making. The rest of the Weasleys had arrived around nine, after spending some time with Great Aunt Muriel.

Andromeda rearranged her features into a more acceptable expression, and answered.

"No, that's it. The Lovegoods, Longbottoms, Weasleys and Grangers."

"Not... your family, then?" Harry asked hesitantly.

Andromeda picked up Teddy, turning away from Harry as she walked back to his room. "No."

As they re-entered Teddy's pale blue room, she seemed to realise that she'd been a little blunt, and elaborated. "I've got all the family I need," she added, her tone softer.

Harry was on thin ice here. He knew that. But the dream from that morning haunted him... he wondered whether Andromeda knew the truth.

Harry always had been an impulsive person.

He remained quiet whilst Andromeda put Teddy into his bed. She kissed him on the forehead and placed the jar of blue flames which Hermione had produced as a nightlight on her grandson's bedside table, before stepping aside so Harry could say his goodnights.

"Goodnight, Teddy," Harry said, smiling and kissing his forehead in the same way Andromeda had.

Teddy was exhausted; it was well past his bedtime. His hair was his usual blue, but it was less vibrant than normal.

Teddy's eyelids fluttered as he said: "Goo'night, Hawwy."

Harry crept out of the room after Andromeda. As they left, he could see that Teddy's eyes were closed, the light produced from the flickering blue flames illuminating his face in the dark room.

As Andromeda shut the door behind them, Harry carried on the conversation where they'd left off, he leaning against the banister, she against the opposite wall.

"Haven't you had any communication with them, then?" he asked bluntly.

Andromeda frowned slightly. "No, Harry. What is this about?"

"Not Narcissa?" he pushed, ignoring her question. He could hear the music pulsing from the Wireless downstairs.

A flicker of emotion crossed Andromeda's face, and she hesitated for a moment before answering.

"I... well... I thought about inviting her today – of course I did, I think about it all the time. But it's been so long, Harry. So many years. And now Bella's gone, she's married to Malfoy..."

Harry could hear the distaste in her voice at that.

"...and I married a muggleborn, Harry. You have no idea how much of a taboo that was in the Black Family," she continued bitterly. "I loved Ted dearly, with all my heart. But my family didn't understand that; they disowned me immediately. Cissy didn't even come to our wedding."

"Would she have been allowed to?" Harry asked. Unbelievable: he was supporting a Malfoy.

"Probably not," she admitted. "She was never as straight-up with her beliefs as Bella and I were. However contrasting our opinions, we were similar at least in that aspect." Andromeda's voice was regretful as she talked about her sisters. How was it, Harry wondered, to have estranged siblings – who you knew you loved, but couldn't communicate with?

"She saved me," Harry blurted out. "She... in the forest. Voldemort thought he'd killed me. I was on the forest floor... he thought I was dead. He asked Narcissa to check my pulse..."

"She said you were dead?" Andromeda said, her brown eyes widening. "Let them believe that you'd died so they wouldn't kill you?"

"Yes," Harry replied. "I'm sorry; I should have told you before. It didn't occur to me." In all honesty, Harry often forgot that Andromeda was related to the Malfoys and Lestranges. She had such different attitudes to them.

"So..." he said, when Andromeda didn't say anything. "I suppose you could talk to her. In the end, she made the right decision."

"I will," she said, her eyes lighting up. "Thank you, Harry."

"No problem," he said sheepishly, still feeling awful he hadn't thought of this earlier.

For the rest of the party, Andromeda was happier than he'd seen her in a while. She talked amicably with all of the guests, joked around with George and Angelina, and even danced when Xenophilius offered.

Hermione had enlarged the clock on Andromeda's wall, so that the guests could see how long to go until the new millennium, and George had contributed with the charms, adding sound effects on every hour until midnight, and every quarter hour of the eleventh. Mr and Mrs Weasley had arrived whilst Harry and Andromeda had been talking, and were talking to Audrey – Percy's girlfriend.

Harry was dancing with Ginny to a Weird Sisters song, Ron and Hermione doing the same not too far off, when the clock sounded for the last quarter of an hour – this time the sound a trick wand makes when you try to use it.

Harry grinned at Ginny. "Nearly midnight."

"Goodbye, twentieth century," she smiled.

Harry's arms tightened around her waist, and he was just about to kiss her, when the music stopped.

Ginny frowned at him, her face only millimetres away. He half-smiled, and reluctantly pulled away, to look for the source of the interruption.

Ron was stood in the centre of the room, wand raised, a few metres away from a confused-looking Hermione. He muttered something, pointing his wand to his throat, and then put it away, looking extremely nervous.

"Erm," he said, and his voice was magically amplified. "Hi," he added lamely, before shaking his head, as if to clear his thoughts. Harry watched him look nervously around the room, his eyes pausing on a few places, before he looked at Hermione.

"What are you doing?" Hermione asked, frowning.

That was when Ron stopped looking panicky, and took a step towards her.

"Hermione," he said softly, although it rang throughout the large room. "Surely you could use your logical reasoning to figure out what I'm about to say."

It was strange to see Hermione looked so puzzled. Harry smiled widely, and pulled Ginny close to his side, an arm around her waist. Ron looked over at him briefly, and Harry gave him a small nod. Ron bit his lip, smiled, and turned back to Hermione, one hand in his pocket.

"I love you, Hermione Granger," Ron said, "And I think I always did, from that first day on the train," he paused, judging her reaction. "You're incredible... even if it did take me a while to realise that."

Hermione's eyes were sparkling, and she was smiling as if she'd finally figured out what was going to come next.

He took a deep breath, and brought his hand out of his pocket – the small maroon box in his grasp. Ronald Weasley knelt down on one knee in front of the girl who he'd always bickered with, and spoke his next words clearly and confidently.

"Hermione Granger, will you marry me?"

After a moment of silence, Hermione shook her head, her eyes suspiciously watery.

"Of course I will, you idiot," she said, laughing.

Ron beamed, slipped the ring on her left ring finger, and stood up, crushing his lips against hers.

Harry really would have appreciated it if his best mate had remembered to take the Sonorus charm off first, but he clapped and whistled with the rest of the party nevertheless, grinning from ear-to-ear.

Two hours later, the guests were still gathered around Ron and Hermione; congratulating them, looking at the ring, and in Mrs Weasley's case, crying and holding the two of them together in a bone-crushing hug. Hermione's parents were smiling and congratulating the two of them, and honestly, Harry had never seen Ron or Hermione happier.

Ginny, ever shrewd, said, "so this is what you were hiding from me."

Harry smiled apologetically.

"It's alright," she said, head on his chest, yawning. "I forgive you."

Harry chuckled. "Glad to hear it. We should probably thinking about leaving soon. Ron and Hermione look completely wiped out."

They did – ecstatically happy still – but tired nevertheless.

Ginny didn't protest.

"I'm just going to say goodnight to Teddy again," Harry said, "Make sure he didn't wake up with all the noise... you try and get to the star couple," he added, gesturing to the crowd that was still formed around Ron and Hermione.

Ginny nodded, and Harry set off up the stairs, his mind still buzzing. He was so happy for his best friends it was almost unreal.

He bounced up the stairs, with surprising energy at two in the morning, and walked down the corridor to Teddy's room.

Teddy's blue-flamed nightlight was still flickering faintly in his room when Harry entered it. He walked over to the miniature bed, and reached out to touch Teddy's head.

His fingers found only sheets.

In blind panic, Harry scrabbled desperately for his wand, and the lights turned flicked on, but all there was to see was an unmade bed.

Teddy was gone.

A/N: So... it's been a few weeks, I'm really sorry about that. But, I did write a surprisingly long chapter this time round, so I hope that makes up for it!

Thank you so much for your reviews, they mean the world to me.

Please let me know what you think! Your theories are always welcomed too ;)

Lots of Love,

Abi