Author's Note: The aftermath begins here, and the depth of Harry's actions is starting to be seen. The chapter song is by Adele, I am just in love with her newest album. We're back to normal posting schedule next week. Thanks to my team and to all of you for reading. See you Monday. MNF
Chapter 29:
One and Only
Persephone POV:
I had whisked Harry and me out of the Ministry, dropping him at Grimmauld Place before I went to MMB 2. I'd Apparated directly into my office and then sealed the door. I didn't need my employees hearing me fall apart. I assumed I had about an hour before the Magical Law Enforcement personnel would be here to investigate what Harry had done. My only hope was to convince them it was a youthful indiscretion; a stupid choice by someone who wasn't thinking clearly. I didn't know how extensive the damage he'd done to the archway was. I prayed it could be repaired. I couldn't even begin to contemplate if this weren't the case. Financial reparations might not be enough.
I tapped my watch with my wand, setting the alarm to go off in fifteen minutes; a self-imposed limit on my weeping. I lie down on the couch and let the misery escape me. Seeing him again, having him that close ... it was painful. I was glad to know he knew about Connor and could watch him grow up. He would have made a brilliant father. I was so shocked by his comments about Charlie. I wasn't sure if the tables had been turned I'd be so magnanimous.
I couldn't get a hold on my feelings. I was understandably angry at Harry, as well as disappointed in him. There was longing from seeing Sirius so close, but it was far less overwhelming than I'd anticipated. I was feeling worried as well, uncertain what the future was going to hold for Harry and me. There was something else, however, and I couldn't quite put a name to it.
The charm went off on my watch, and I sat up. Running my fingers through my hair, I calmed myself down. A wave of the wand across my face cleaned up the blotchy skin and swollen and red eyes. When I received Harry's message, I hadn't even bothered to put make up on or finish my hair. I would need to do these things immediately.
"Get a grip, Seph. You need to prepare for what comes next. Harry is going to need you," I told myself. I know speaking aloud to oneself is generally considered a sign of mental illness, but I didn't give it a second thought. Hearing the words aloud cemented my resolve. I stood and went to my desk and pulled out my personal address book to look for Christopher Houghton's information.
Eliza's brother was a well known wizarding barrister, specializing in criminal defense. Harry was going to need his assistance, and he was the only living person who had ever worked on a case like this. We were on friendly terms, often meeting up to discuss his sister's care. Connor and I were friendly with his wife and children, and we came together several times a year to socialize.
Chris had an unusual law office. One side was the Muggle area: a receptionist, computers, telephones. If you passed through his office closet, you entered the wizarding office. He had attended law school at Oxford and at the wizarding law university, Swyn Cyfraith. The majority of his clientele were witches and wizards who found themselves in trouble in the Muggle world, and the crimes could not be entirely reversed with magic. The perpetrators would often need to stand trial in both courts.
I flipped to the page which had his work information and pulled my cell phone from my handbag and called his Muggle office. It was only just past eight, but knowing Chris, he would already be in, especially on a Friday. It was to be a beautiful weekend, and if Chris were true to form, he'd leave his office early, visit his sister and then take his family to Oxford for the weekend. Their second home wasn't far from my farm and the kids enjoyed playing together.
"Houghton and Sekwaf legal offices, this is Arden, can I help you?" the pleasant voice on the other end answered. I always laughed when I heard the name of the offices. Albus Dumbledore had been his "partner", even though Albus didn't have a law degree. He did, however, have a brilliant legal mind. Sekwaf was Fawkes spelled backward, allowing the senior wizard to consult on cases in complete anonymity.
"Hi, Arden, it's Perri Gwynn, calling for Mr. Houghton. Is he in?"
"Sure, Perri, hold on one second," she chirped and put me on hold. I never understood how she could be that perky so early in the morning. Then again, I was a grouch before my shower and caffeine.
"Seph, dear, how are you?" Chris greeted when he picked up his line.
"Okay," I truthfully replied. "I need to put you on retainer, Chris."
"Seph, what happened? Are you in some sort of trouble?"
"It's not me, Chris, it's James and Lily's son, Harry. He tried to bring Sirius through the arch this morning," I explained.
"How in the hell did he get the idea to do that?" Chris sounded as irritated as I was feeling.
"He's been reviewing his father's journals, since he's working at the brewery with me. I tried to dissuade him, without getting into the issue in the past. We all promised we'd never speak about what was done," I explained.
"Yes, the gag order was important at the time. If people knew how easy it was to contact the dead ... you've hired me, both of you are my clients. How successful was he?"
"Sirius was there, but smart enough not to come through. None of us told Sirius the whole story, but he'd gleaned enough snippets to put it all together. He was in Azkaban when we'd first attempted it," I explained and Chris grunted.
"Where are you now and where is Harry?"
"I'm at the brewery, I took Harry home to number 12. The house is still under all its enchantments, so they won't be able to take him into custody from there," I responded.
"All right, we're going to arrange for him to turn himself in. Hopefully we'll be able to do it quietly enough it won't make the papers. Late afternoon on a holiday weekend should ensure the Ministry is mostly empty. Summon him to your home and I'll make arrangements for him to surrender late this afternoon. He's friends with the Minister, isn't he?"
"He is," I confirmed.
"Alright, I'll see you out at the farm in an hour or so. Meanwhile, don't talk to anyone else about this," he directed. "Were you directly involved this time?"
"No, he sent for me once his spell had worked. The worst I did was get him out of there," I explained.
"That's good. Are you holding up okay?" Chris would have understood how hard it had been to see Sirius and I was thankful for his concern.
"I'm fine, actually. We said goodbye, he told me to get on with my life."
"Okay, I'm glad. Lizzy would hex me if she knew I hadn't checked up on you. I have some filings to take care of and some calls to make to ensure they haven't already sent a team out to bring Harry in. I'll see you in a short while, okay?"
"Sure, Chris. Thanks for taking the case."
"It's what I do, Seph. Take care and I'll see you at the farm." A click let me know he'd hung up. I stowed the cell phone back in my handbag and flicked my wand to send Harry a Patronus message. Thankfully, he could Floo directly from his home to mine, thereby decreasing the risk of him being arrested.
I picked up my few personal items and the thin cloak I'd put on to handle the chill this morning and opened my office door. I wasn't looking where I was going, and walked right into someone's chest. Peering up, I was happy to see Charlie standing outside my office. His arms encircled me and I leaned against him, so thankful he was here. I couldn't hold the tears back.
"Hey, love, calm down," he softly told me as his hands ran from the top of my head to my waist.
"I'm just so glad you're here," I whimpered. Charlie gently pushed us into my office and closed the door behind us.
"As soon as Dad fire-called and told me what had happened, I knew you'd be upset. Did Harry really collapse the archway in the Death Chamber down in the Department of Mysteries?" he asked even as he settled us down on the sofa. I looked up at him, panicked.
"He collapsed it? Really?"
"Dad said that was the rumor, however given how gossip is around that place, I wouldn't get too upset until we hear something more official," he tried to soothe me, but it didn't really help.
"I warned him, begged him not to do it, but ... oh, goddess this is a mess," I moaned before leaning deeper into Charlie's embrace. He whispered words of comfort while gently stroking my head, face, arms and back. When I'd calmed myself, again, I pulled back to look at him.
"Do you need to go to work, or can you stay with me for a while?" I asked.
"They're not expecting me at the preserve today," he explained. "I've never taken a 'family day' before. No one will say anything at my taking one now."
"I'm so glad. I need to head home. Harry is supposed to meet me there and then his barrister will be coming later this morning."
"A barrister? You really think it's going to come to that?"
"I know it will. This isn't the first time someone has used James' books," I explained. "I can't tell you any more, at least not until I speak with the barrister. Come on, we need to get to my house." I stood and offered him my hand. Together we left my office, quickly telling Susan I would be unavailable for the rest of the day and to say nothing to the press, regardless of how relentless they might become. If she needed to abandon the Floo and phone and lock the doors, she was welcomed to. Susan looked confused, but thankfully just nodded and said she'd follow the instructions.
Back at home, Connor was surprised to see Charlie and me there in the middle of the day, but he thought it was a great treat. Harry's arrival shortly thereafter sent him into orbit with excitement. While Harry chatted with Connor while we awaited Chris's arrival, I pulled Charlie aside. There was something important I needed to tell him. My encounter this morning had actually settled some things for me. We slipped from the rear sitting room into my office.
"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked, looking somewhat frightened by my desire for a private conversation. "Harry said you and Sirius talked."
"We did, and it was good. I hadn't ever had a chance to say goodbye, and I was finally able to do that. I told him about Connor as well, but it turns out he already knew. He's been watching and listening since he passed," I explained.
"I see," he replied, his voice considerably more tense.
"Charlie, there's something I need to tell you," I began, indicating he should sit on the settee I kept in my office for when I was reading. I joined him, leaving some space between us. Charlie was studying the scars on his hands with great interest. "Sirius and I talked, and he's seen me with you."
"Oh."
"He's impressed with how you treat me and how you care for Connor." Charlie's head snapped up at this. "He's glad to know that someone is making me happy."
"He is?" I nodded my response to his question.
"Charlie, as hard as it was to see him, it was a good thing. Sirius was my everything for so much of my life. The love I have for him didn't end when he died -"
"I understand, I -" Charlie sadly interrupted me.
"Let me finish, please," I interrupted him. He nodded, his eyes not meeting mine. "The love I have for Sirius will always be with me, because it's the love which made Connor. But what surprised me was how different it felt. I had no desire to cling to him today. He really is gone and my feelings have changed."
"Er," he looked up, confusion written on his face.
"See, Sirius was my past, and I love him that way. But when I think about the future, I realize there's someone else in my heart," I continued. "Charlie, I've fallen in love with you."
"What?" he mumbled. "What are you saying?"
"I'm in love with you, Charlie Weasley. It took my seeing my dead ex-lover to realize how I feel right now. I'm so sorry I didn't say anything before, I was just -" I didn't finish my thought as Charlie's lips were on mine in a kiss which both stole my breath and curled my toes.
"Seph, I've been in love with you for months now, but I was afraid to say anything," he told me through his panting breath. We both started to laugh out of happiness, unable to contain the mirth we felt. He began to kiss me again, when there was a rapping on the office door.
"Seph," Chris's voice called. "I'm here. We need to get started." I pulled my lips away and sighed.
"We're coming." I called, even as arm in arm Charlie and I were headed back to the sitting room and the very ugly conversation about this morning's events.
