Chapter thirty eight

Ron and Hermione walked into Harry's bedroom, Hermione still holding Harllie in her arms as they walked over to the bed.

'Harry, how you feeling mate?' Ron asked as he stood beside the bed.

'Just a little sore, but I'm okay. We never got a chance to call you all in, but I think they bought our story at least.'

'What story Harry?' Ron asked puzzled.

'Brian thought if we pretended to be a couple looking for a quiet place to be alone would, so when the man found us kissing, it seemed to work. When I got the chance I stunned him.'

'At least you got out of there safe Harry?' Hermione said sitting down on Charlie's side of the bed.

'Yeah safe, but Brian's leg was pretty bad and me, man I hurt and they had no idea who we were, just a couple of those blokes he said, but I knew what he meant,' Harry shrugged.

'He called you that Harry?' Rose asked still holding his hand.

'He didn't actually say it, but we knew what he meant, it's fine, there's still people out there that don't like gay men. It doesn't bother me. So how's my daughter Hermione?'

'Quiet now Harry, she was a bit restless before. Do you want me to put her to bed?'

'No, lay her next to me Hermione.' Harry said pointing to the bed. 'Why don't you head home and sleep? You look like you could use it.'

'After Poppy checks you Harry, then we will. I want to make sure you're alright.'

Harry grinned. 'Fine, but I'm okay, really. So my face has another scar now.'

'Not just you're face love.' Charlie said as he walked back into the room. 'You've got a couple of new ones.'

Harry shrugged, 'Got enough now, what's a few more. Did you speak with Poppy?'

'Yeah, she'll be here soon love. Just before you woke up, Harllie was restless and wouldn't stop crying. But the moment you made a noise, she stopped, so I lay her down next to you and she just lay there. I think she knew something was wrong with you.' Charlie said looking down at the little girl.

'You think babe?' Harry said looking at his daughter and noticed her eyes open and was looking at him, 'Hey princess.' Harry said quietly, then he grinned. 'She smiled at me again.'

'That's twice now love, she knows who her daddy is.' Charlie said then saw the look Harry gave him. 'Sorry love, who one of her daddy's is.' Charlie smirked.

'That's right love, so don't forget it.' Harry said then went back to watching Harllie, touching her face gently, then picked up her hand. 'She's got a grip on her.'

'Yeah, she does.' Charlie smiled as he watched Harry with his daughter.

'Alright, you three will need to leave for a few minutes why I look at what he's done to himself this time.' Poppy said as she walked into the room.

'Harry, we'll come back after Poppy's checked you over.' Rose kissed his check.

'Okay mum,' Harry smiled and watched as she left the room with Ron and Hermione.

'Now Harry, Charlie told me you'll need potions and creams. I can see your face, so that's what the creams for. But I need to see you're back, can you lean forward?'

'Sure,' Harry said and moved forward slowly.

Poppy looked at his back, touching a couple of the spots and Harry winced under her hands, 'Tender Harry?'

'Just a bit Poppy, what's wrong with my back anyway?'

'The healer said you got hit by twelve stunners Harry. How in the name of merlin did you stay standing and carry Brian after being hit by one?' Charlie asked.

'I have no idea love, so Poppy, apart from potions and creams, is there anything else I need?'

'Rest, Harry, a lot of rest, so stay in bed today, you could probably get up tomorrow, but no work or anything strenuous for a couple of days and I hope you know what I mean by nothing strenuous.' she looked between Harry and Charlie.

'Don't worry Poppy, I'll make sure he rests.' Charlie smirked down at Harry.

'Thanks for coming here Poppy, I really didn't want to stay in another hospital bed.'

'With the amount of times you were in one of my beds Harry, I don't blame you. But please try and be careful next time.' Poppy smiled at him as she quickly checked his face and he winced again.

'I'll try Poppy. So do you know what potions and creams?'

'Yeah, I've got the list here, do you think you could make them Charlie?' she asked.

'No problem Poppy, we've got a good potions room set up. I knew it would come in handy one day with what Harry gets up to sometimes.'

'I'm not that bad love.' Harry scowled at him.

'Yes you are.' Poppy said before Charlie could answer. 'So how is Harllie doing?' Poppy said looking down at the little girl, picking up one of her hands.

'She's good Poppy, really good and growing fast.'

'I can see that, I can see more of you now Harry.'

'Yeah, she seems to be looking more like me than Lizzy.' Harry said sadly.

'Well, I'll be off, but I'm coming back tomorrow to check on you. Now Minerva's downstairs waiting to see you as well. Just remember, rest and don't get out of bed unless it's to use the bathroom.'

'Yes Poppy, I'll stay right here, I'm too tired anyway.' Harry leaned over and kissed her cheek. 'Thanks for everything.'

She shook her head at him. 'It's fine Harry, I'll see you tomorrow,' she looked at Charlie. 'Keep him in bed Charlie, he has no patience for just lying still.'

'Don't I know it Poppy, but I'll make sure he stays there. You can tell the others they can come back in now.'

'I will,' Poppy shook her head at Harry, then left the room.

'Twelve stunners Charlie, really?' Harry asked amazed.

'Yeah, Brian said he saw you get hit but just kept carrying him towards the wards. He was able to drag you through after you collapsed and apparated you both to the ministry.'

'Can we come in?' Minerva's voice said from the doorway.

'Course Minerva,' Harry smiled at her as she walked towards him with Hermione and Ron.

'Harry, look at you.' she said as she sat on the bed near him, taking his hand. 'What have you done to yourself this time?'

'I didn't do it Minerva, a death eater did. I was just trying to get Brian out with his badly bleeding leg.'

'Poppy said you need rest and have to stay in bed. Do you think that's possible Charlie, for him to do that?'

'No, but I'm going to make sure he stays there. I'll keep Harllie with him, that might work. She seems to like being beside her daddy.'

'Merlin she's like you Harry, I hope she doesn't end up like you though. I would hate to see her in the hospital wing the amount of times you were in there.'

'Harry wants to teach her to fly Minerva, so she probably will if she ends up playing quidditch.' Charlie grinned.

'Yes well, let's hope she doesn't have as many accidents as Harry then.'

'Minerva, could you ask Dumbledore's portrait something for me?' Harry asked.

'Of course.'

'Well, Charlie said I got hit by twelve stunner in the back and Brian told him that I just kept running even after I was hit. Could you ask how that might have been possible?'

'Well that is surprising but I will mention it to him. Now, I'm going, but please can you look after yourself Harry. I know auror work can be dangerous, but try and be careful.'

'I will Minerva, you don't need to worry about me.' Harry said and he hugged her, kissed her cheek then smiled.

'Alright, I'll let you know what Albus said,' Minerva said, she touched his face then hugged Charlie. 'Look after him Charlie.'

'I will Minerva, see you later.' Charlie smiled and watched as she left the room.

'Where's mum?' Harry asked.

'She stayed talking to Poppy then said she'd come and see you later. She wanted you to get some rest.' Hermione said.

'Hermione, Ron, stay with Harry and make sure he stays in bed. I've got to go make his potions and cream.' Charlie said looking at Harry.

'We will Charlie, he won't move, even if I have to strap him down.' Ron smirked at Harry.

'I'm not going anywhere, I'm too sore, so go Charlie, you don't have to worry so much love.'

'Fine, I'll be back soon,' Charlie leaned over and kissed him fiercely, then left the room.

'So you got hit in the back by twelve stunners Harry and stayed standing.'

'Yeah, trying to work that out myself,' Harry said then looked back down at Harllie and she was still watching him. 'She is looking like me, isn't she?' Harry said watching her.

'Yeah, she is Harry. But do you realise it's still strange to see you with a baby. I never thought you'd have one until a lot later in life.' Hermione smiled down at the baby.

'I never thought I'd have one at all Hermione. Charlie and I did say we'd discuss having a surrogate, but that was a lot later. Lizzy was one special lady doing this for me even if it did accelerate her disease.'

'She knew she was dying anyway Harry and it was something she could do before that happened.'

'Yeah, I know. It still amazes me what some people will do for others. You two have always been there for me, more than anyone, well until Charlie. But I never saw it that often.'

'We'll always be here for you Harry, just like we've been there for you from the first day at Hogwarts.' Ron grinned, 'and now as we are your daughter's godparents, we'll be there for her as well.'

'I know you will, that was one of the reasons I asked Charlie about you being her godparents. You've stuck by me for so long and helped anyway you could, so I knew you would do the same for Harllie.'

'Okay, got you're potion and cream Harry.' Charlie said walking back in.

'We'll go now so you can get some rest Harry.' Hermione said and hugged him gently, before kissing his cheek. 'Rest please.'

'I will Hermione, don't worry.' Harry grinned.

'Harry, take it easy and I'll see you at the office when you get back.' Ron said and hugged him.

'Yeah, a few days and I'll be there Ron. Tell Brian to let me know what he's going to do about that farm house.'

'I will Harry, take it easy.' Ron smiled, then left the room with Hermione.

Charlie sat next to Harry on the bed. 'Here, take you're potion, then I'll put the cream on your face and the other cuts as well.' Charlie said flatly.

Harry took the vial and swallowed the potion but never took his eyes off Charlie, then watched as he dabbed the potion on his face, making him wince. Then he did on his shoulder then back. He never said a word the whole time he did it.

'Brian told me he mentioned to you what we had to do Charlie.'

'Yeah, he did.' Charlie said as he went to get up, but Harry grabbed his arm. 'I know you had no choice Harry, Brian explained, it's just in my mind right now and I can't get it out, the picture of you two together.'

'Charlie, don't alright. We had no choice, I didn't want to, but he had his wand on us and we couldn't get ours without him spotting us.'

'I know Harry, it still hurts thinking of you doing it with someone else, with another man.'

'Now you know how I feel,' Harry said softly looking away.

'Don't, that's over Harry, don't bring that up again.' Charlie said angrily.

'Well, you're angry because I had to have sex with Brian to save us, but you did it just because he wanted to. So don't get upset with me for something I had no control over.' Harry said angrily looking at him.

'Did you really not want to do it Harry, I mean really not want to?' Charlie said softly.

'Yes really. When Brian first said it, then the death eater was coming towards where we were hiding and he started kissing me, I didn't move. But then the man was there and knew I had to make it look good. We we're hoping he'd just see us kiss and let us go. But no, he wanted more, didn't he.' Harry said looking disgusted. 'Saying he hadn't had any for ages and even watching two of those blokes would get him off.' Harry said looking down at his daughter as he felt himself getting choked up.

'He meant more than blokes, we know that love?' Charlie said softly, taking Harry's hand.

'Yeah, he did. That doesn't bother me Charlie, knowing what I had to do bothers me. Well I really didn't have to do anything. Brian knew I couldn't so he did it all to save us, he didn't want to either, but we had no choice.'

'So you never did anything to Brian?' Charlie said feeling relieved.

'No, I couldn't. It was just luck that he was able to get me up or we don't know what the death eater would have done.'

'How, Harry?' Charlie asked softly.

'How what love?' Harry asked looking at him.

'How did he get you up, tell me what he did.'

'Charlie, you don't want to hear that and I don't want to think about it. It was done for a reason, that its, now it's over, leave it alone.'

'Okay, but he did enter you, it went that far.'

'Yes, now please can we drop it Charlie, I don't want to think about that anymore.' Harry shook his head and looked back down at Harllie. 'I think she needs changing Charlie, can you, I'm not really up to it yet.'

'Alright,' Charlie said blowing out a breath, then he stood up and went over to the baby bag, that Ron left inside the room. He brought it over and changed Harllie, then moved her back so she was beside Harry. 'Do you want her to stay there or back in her bed love?'

'Leave her here for now babe, I want to see her for a while.' Harry picked up her hand again, 'When we were running, then when Brian got hit, I was scared Charlie, scared that I'd never see either of you again.' Harry said looking from his daughter to his husband. 'Normally I would have just stayed and fought, but you and Harllie kept going through my mind and I wanted to come back to you both. So I did what I wouldn't normally do and ran.'

'You saved yourself and Brian love, that's nothing to be ashamed of and you did the right thing. You came back to your daughter. She's already lost her mother Harry, she can't lose her father as well. I know I'm her father, but not like you are. You should know more than anyone how it affects kids if they don't have their parents around them.'

'I know, that's why I did it. See before, it was just me. I didn't have anyone, well apart from friends. But no family to think about if something happened to me. But now I do have a family and I have to think about them. In one way it's good so I'll be more careful, but in another it's not.'

'Why not Harry, I don't understand why you would say that.'

'See, because I didn't have to think of anyone before, I just did what I had to do. Now, I have to think of you, Harllie and mum and I think that's why I got hit, because I hesitated instead of just turning and fighting. Does that make sense Charlie, I just don't know. All I know is I'm not going to do anything to risk myself so you and Harllie won't be alone, I don't want that for either of you. So what I want to ask you is, does that mean I can't do my job as well as I should, maybe I should leave and do something else.'

'No Harry, you can do your job. It was the first time you've been in a dangerous situation since Harllie came along. That's only natural that you would want to be there for her Harry. Being an auror is what you were meant to do Harry. You're too good not too and even though I would hate to think of you working with Brian, I do know that if you and him didn't do that, you could have been killed, so I do understand and I'm willing to accept that. With me it was different, we weren't in a life and death situation.'

'I suppose, I really don't know at the moment. I want to be a good father to her Charlie and be around for as long as possible. Auror work can get dangerous, I know that. I'm going to think long and hard over the next couple of days Charlie before I decide if it's worth the risk, but I want to ask you something love and please tell me the truth.'

'You know I will Harry, now what did you want to ask me.' Charlie said leaning down and kissing Harry tenderly.

'If I stay with the aurors, how are you going to feel, knowing I will be working with Brian and maybe have to go out on assignment with him again. Could you handle that love? You know this time was different and won't happen again, so tell me, how would you feel?'

Charlie looked at Harry and saw the love he had for him, 'I know you love me Harry and I know why you and Brian did what you did. It will be hard at first, but I will handle it because I know you love me and wouldn't normally do something like that. You said yourself when you slept with Lizzy, you thought of doing a man to hurt me but you couldn't bring yourself to do another man. So I will be fine in time, maybe the first time you and Brian have to be together again, I might get a bit possessive of you, but I really don't want you to give it up love. You belong in the aurors and you're too good not to. Look what happened today, you got hit with twelve stunners and you were still standing. You saved Brian today and saved the aurors at our wedding. If you weren't as good then I'd say leave, but you are, it's what you are meant to be Harry.'

Harry heard everything Charlie said and felt the tears come to his eyes, he pulled him into his arms and just held him tight. Neither of them said anything for the longest time, until Harllie started to move.

'I do love you Charlie, with everything I have inside me. So if you're okay with it, then I will probably go back, but I'm still going to think about it first.' Harry caressed Charlie's face, then looked down at his daughter and saw her looking up at him and she smiled. 'She's doing that a lot more often now.'

'Only to you at the moment Harry, she feels the connection with you, I think that's why. She looks at me when I feed her or hold her, but never smiles at me. But I know she will and I know she loves both of us.'

'Yes, she does, but maybe you're right and she does know why I'm different to you. But never let that hurt you love, you are her father just like I am.'

'I know that Harry, I think she does too. She's just showing you first, that's all. But I did want to ask you something about her and Lizzy.'

'What's that love?'

'Well, at Lizzy's funeral when they played the tap and she sang. Did you know she could sing Harry?'

'No, she never mentioned it, because if she did I would have suggested her do the busking. Her voice is just so amazing.'

'Yeah, it was love. But about Harllie, you can sing and Lizzy can sing. Do you think she might be able to when she's older, a natural talent, not something that she could learn?'

'I wish I could tell you love. I don't know much about my mother or father to know if either of them could sing, Lizzy's mother died when she was young, she never said how young she was and she never really talked about her family anyway.'

'Wonder if Rose can sing, or maybe she might know if James could.'

'Yeah maybe, I'll ask her later love. I'm really tired right now and my back is killing me.'

'Time to put Harllie to bed love, I'll bring her back into you later, I'll be right back.' Charlie picked up Harllie, letting Harry kiss her then carried her out of the room and into her cot. 'You're father loves you very much princess.' Charlie kissed her and walked back into his bedroom and saw Harry asleep still sitting up. He sat beside him, taking his hand. 'I do love you very much Harry and I know you never wanted to do that, I just really wished you didn't have to.' Charlie leaned in and kissed him tenderly, then moved Harry down so he was lying down properly, then covered him up and left the room. He sat down on the couch when Kreacher walked over.

'How is Master Harry, Master Charlie?'

'He's fine Kreacher, just a little sore and tired at the moment, so I left him asleep.'

'But Master Harry will be okay?'

'Yes, he will be fine Kreacher. He just has to rest for a few days that's all.' Charlie smiled at the old elf and wondered if he should talk to him. He thought he might as well as they were alone.

'I will make sure Master Harry doesn't do anything Master Charlie.'

'I know you will Kreacher, but I would like to talk to you about something else though. Could you sit with me for a moment?'

'Of course Master Charlie,' Kreacher said and hopped up on the couch next to his master.

'Harry and I wanted to ask you something but we don't want you to be upset about it and if you don't want us to, we won't.'

'Won't what Master Charlie?'

'Well, we wanted to know if you would like Winky here all the time. See she's a free elf and really doesn't have to stay at Hogwarts. We know you both like each other, so we were just wondering how you would feel about that, about having her live here all the time.'

'I like Winky very much master Charlie and if she doesn't became you're main elf then Kreacher would like her here. Kreacher still has a lot of life in him to do whatever my Masters wishes.'

'We know that Kreacher, and you will always be our house elf first. So do you want Winky here as a companion for you and to help as well?'

'I would like that very much master Charlie, you and Master Harry are too kind to Kreacher.'

'You are part of our family Kreacher, we don't think of you as our house elf in that way, just as part of our family and family are kind to each other.'

'You think of Kreacher as family Master Charlie?' Kreacher looked up with his eyes getting wider.

'Of course we do Kreacher, you are part of our family and always will be.' Charlie said and saw tears come to Kreacher's eyes.

'Thank you Master Charlie, Kreacher is part of the Potter family and I couldn't be happier.'

'Yes you are Kreacher,' Charlie smiled at him. 'Okay, I'll talk to Minerva McGonagall about Winky alright?'

'Alright Master Charlie, I will make a space for her to sleep in.' Kreacher bowed and hoped off the couch and went back to the kitchen. Charlie sat back thinking about everything that had happened in the last year. He's life had gone in a completely different direction that what he thought but he couldn't be happier with his life, especially his life with Harry and Harllie. He knew when Harry did go back to the aurors, he will be a little anxious but he also knew Harry wouldn't have done anything if he any other choice. Harry was not the type to risk his family now he has one and Harry loved him, he knew that by just looking at his husband.