(A/N: Yes, this epilogue does feature Ginny. If you so turned off by her despite the work the author put in make her normal, then please hit the back button and go find something else. It's not like you're paying anything for this to get upset about. That being said, try it, you might like it. :) There are a few duplicate scenes in this epilogue compared to the other; though some may only start the same and then change. Have fun.)
=Epilogue 2 - Part 1=
[Sun, Feb 2]
It was late Sunday afternoon and Harry was playing a game of chess with Ron - badly as usual. He would have already left to go work on his house except that it was snowing lightly outside, not the sort of weather he really wanted to work in. Spending time with Ron seemed a lot more enjoyable.
Harry had just moved his bishop, to Ron's glee, when the portrait opened and arguing grabbed his attention such that he had to look.
"No, Dean," Ginny said forcefully, "don't … just don't."
"Ginny..." her boyfriend returned, sounding a bit exasperated.
"I said don't," she told him as she spun around and glared. "In fact, just don't do anything else. We were good friends before and I liked that. What we have now though, don't bother trying anymore; it isn't working."
With that, she spun around, her long pony tail whipping around her, before she marched up the girls' stairs leaving an opened mouth Dean behind.
"The day keeps getting better and better," Ron announced with a grin as he used a knight to take Harry's bishop. "Check."
"That was interesting," Harry said casually as he returned to the game and looked over the board. Even with his less than stellar knowledge of the game, he could see that he'd let Ron do too well in this game and he was doomed … much like Dean was at the moment.
"It's yours," Harry told him as he stood and stretched. "I can see the inevitable here. I probably need to go as well as I have homework."
Ron started putting the pieces to the game away. "Don't remind me."
"I'll see you next weekend." Harry and saw Neville nearby, so he walked over to say good-bye to his other close friend before walking out the door.
Seamus was trying to help his friend quietly, but it looked like Dean wasn't taking the break-up very well. It was unfortunate that the break-up had been so public, but Harry supposed those things happened sometimes. It's not like this was a surprise based on what he'd seen since he'd returned to school less than a month ago.
[Fri, Feb 7]
Ginny sat in the Great Hall eating dinner and having a casual conversation with her friends. It had been close to a week without Dean and she was mostly enjoying her freedom again. However, a few nights ago, she forced herself to consider what had happened with Dean and her life in general. That time had shown her a couple of things.
First, she owed Dean an apology. It really hadn't been working, but to break up with him that publically had been wrong of her. It had been hard, but she had found him in the common room last night and publically apologized to him for breaking up in the way that she had and that it should have been done privately. She made sure others could hear her say that she was wrong.
Second, while she was enjoying her freedom, it also wasn't necessarily perfect either. She missed having someone to walk with in the halls, hold hands with, and steal the occasional kiss, not to mention the occasional full on snog. She also missed someone holding her close, though honestly she and Dean hadn't fit too well together since he was so much taller than she was.
Lastly, if she was completely honest, Dean was a little boring. She wanted a little excitement or something special from time to time.
This last item caused her to think back to the last boy that had really excited her, one that she'd never dated despite how much she'd wanted to. She was sure her mother would be a little bit scandalized if Ginny was so forward as to ask a boy out, but she considered that perhaps that was just what she should do as she thought the odds of him asking her was pretty low. Perhaps it wouldn't work out, but she wouldn't ever know if she didn't try.
As she consider that, he walked into the Great Hall for dinner, much later than usual. Well, that was all right, she'd ask him later this evening.
"Did you finish your detentions with Sprout?" her friend Patty asked.
Ginny blinked and then had to stifle her groan. "No, tonight's the last night though." She'd been so intent thinking about her personal life that she'd forgotten about her detention.
She'd been having a little too much fun in Herbology and one of the plants had gotten out of hand and attacked Colin Creevey. Sprout had saved him easily and he hadn't even had to go to the hospital wing, but because she'd been so careless by not taking the work seriously, Sprout had given her three nights of detention to clean the green houses. That had been part of the reason she'd had so much time to think about her life when she should have been revising for her OWLs.
"At least Colin's not upset with you," Patty told her.
"No, he's been pretty good about it," Ginny agreed. She finished dinner and headed out to the green houses to find Sprout, who'd left only a few minutes before her.
Three hours later, a tired, sweaty, smelly, and dirty Ginny walked back into the Gryffindor common room determined to go take a shower immediately. She'd never shoveled so much dragon dung and wanted very badly to never do that again.
A quick looked showed "him" to be in a chair over to the side reading near one of his friends. Excellent, a fast shower and then she'd be back down to talk to him.
Twenty minutes later and trying to dry her hair with her wand as she returned to the common room, near the bottom of the stairs she saw that he wasn't alone any more. No, Lavender Brown who was recently separated from her brother, was standing next to him and standing so close her body was touching his arm. He looked a little embarrassed but also had a smile on his face as they talked. The girl with a bust that Ginny could only dream of having was also smiling. No, she wasn't jealous of the sixth year girl she thought sarcastically.
Slowly, she finished coming down the stairs and stood next to the wall and watched the pair, her half-dried hair forgotten. The nightmare went from bad to worse as the buxom blonde squealed lightly and threw her arms around him and hugged him - then he hugged her back. To top it all off, the girl gave him a quick kiss on the lips before she left, leaving him with a dazed look.
Lavender joined Parvati, who'd been watching from nearby, and they hurried towards the stairs allowing Ginny to overhear them.
"I can't believe he told you yes," Parvati squealed herself. "You're so lucky."
"I know," Lavender gushed. "I've been waiting for him to be free so I could ask him. It's like a dream come true."
The two hurried past her and up the stairs. Ginny just buried her face in her hands for a long moment at the missed opportunity. Apparently, Lavender had had the same thoughts as she had.
Pulling her hands away, she looked up and across the room again only to find him gone. Looking around frantically, she finally found him going up the boys' stairs. Ginny hung her head in disappointment and turned to head back up the girls' stairs. Perhaps she'd punish herself by revising for History of Magic.
[Sat, Feb 8]
Still feeling disappointed after last night but more accepting, Ginny got dressed and went down for breakfast. She'd not revised much at all and had gone to bed early, so she was up a little earlier than normal.
Walking into the Great Hall, she spotted him already at the table, Mr Only-a-little-taller-than-her, dark-haired, and handsome … not to mention probably the most mysterious boy in Gryffindor who also happened to be her personal savior and now a missed opportunity yet again: Harry Potter.
She considered sitting near him to talk but didn't really have the heart to do so as she was afraid she'd say something really embarrassing since she wasn't feeling her best. Sitting near where the fifth years normally did, she dished up food and started to eat.
Ginny wasn't even half done when most of the other sixth years walked in together and joined Harry. Lavender and Parvati smiled at him and said hello, but the blonde didn't sit next him. In fact, she sat on the other side of the table and down a few places like normal.
As Patty and the rest of her friends walked in, Ginny continued to process the situation and could only come to one conclusion: she was wrong again. She had absolutely no idea what had happened between Lavender and Harry, but she'd bet the pocket money she had that they weren't going out after all.
She'd barely come to that conclusion when Harry stood and told his friends he'd see them at lunch. Not wanting to allow another opportunity to be missed, Ginny stood hastily too.
"Where are you going? You're not finished yet," her friend pointed out.
"I need to act like a Gryffindor," Ginny told her before walking away quickly.
Fortunately, Harry wasn't in a hurry and she soon caught up with him in the first corridor. "Harry!" she called out, causing him to turn with a surprised look and stop.
"Hi Ginny." When she caught up he started walking again.
Fighting her nerves, she managed to sound normal when she asked, "Do you have a few minutes to talk? There's something I'd really like to ask you about?"
He looked at her in surprise. "Uh, no, actually I don't. I have class with Professor Vector in a few minutes. That will go all morning, but I'm free after lunch."
She groaned. "I have Quidditch practice immediately after lunch."
"I know," he said with a smile. "Ron wants me to come help out your Seeker, you know, give her a few tips."
This might work out, she thought. "Could we talk after that? Please?"
He shrugged. "Sure, I didn't have any other special plans. What did you want to talk about?"
Ginny felt stuck, but decided to go with a form of the truth. "We haven't talked in a while and I'd like to catch up, maybe asked you a few things."
He looked at her and she had to work to hold his gaze and not look down. He chuckled lightly after a moment. "Right, it's your OWL year. Sure, I won't be as good as Hermione, but you won't be stuck with me for as long as you would with her either."
She laughed at his joke because it was funny, but also in relief that he hadn't guessed her real reason.
— — —
Ginny didn't see Harry during lunch, but she did find him on the Quidditch pitch at the appointed practice time. He was already working with their Seeker. Ron called the rest of the team over to start the main practice.
Despite it being fairly cold, as in her fingers felt almost numb and made hit hard to catch and throw the Quaffle, she still felt a little sweaty after practice and wondered if she had time to get cleaned up or not before talking to him.
When Ron ended practice, she looked around and found Harry leaning against the bleachers with his broom and looking at her thoughtfully, but she couldn't tell what he was thinking. Still in her gear, she walked over to him only pulling off her helmet.
"If you were two years older, I wonder if Katie would have made the team or not." He continued to look at her.
Ginny felt a little embarrassed but also thrilled. "You think I'm that good?"
"Yes."
She considered that as well as how he was acting, actually how he had been acting since he'd returned to school after Christmas. "You've really changed since the end of last year." She watched him for a reaction and was surprised at his surprise.
"Yeah, well, I guess we all have to grow up someday," he remarked off-handedly. "I know this place over by the lake we can talk privately, or would you prefer the Room of Requirement? You'll be warm in either place. I'd offer The Three Broomsticks but I'd need to get McGonagall's permission first since you're below my year."
"You aren't seventeen yet," she retorted.
He smirked at her. "I always have permission to leave because I'm not a full-time boarder."
That deserved some explanation, she thought but replied, "I think inside." It'd be easier to slink away if this didn't work out.
"Right, follow me." He grabbed the broom next to him, mounted it, and flew away without looking behind. She had to jump on hers and fly at nearly her top speed to stay even close him. Instead of heading for the front door, he headed over part of the castle and to the Astronomy Tower.
"I thought this would be less walking," he told her when she landed.
As they walked out of the Tower entrance, she saw a couple of younger Hufflepuff girls who looked at the two of them and started whispering to each other before giggling. Great, she thought as she imagined what the two were thinking as she and Harry walked out of the Astronomy Tower together, but it looked like Harry didn't care and inside Ginny hoped what the two girls thought was about to come true anyway.
It wasn't long before Harry was pacing in the correct place and a door appeared. Inside she found a very comfortable looking place with a large fire, two chairs, and a small table between them.
"Dobby?" Harry called.
A house-elf popped in. "Yes, Master Harry."
"Two large hot chocolates, I think. Wait." He looked at Ginny with a questioning look and she nodded as it did sound good. "Go ahead." The elf left and Harry set his broom by the door so she did too. "Make yourself comfortable, I know I was always ready to take the gear off after practice," he told her as he took a seat.
Ginny dropped the helmet next to her broom and took off the pads, dropping them as well. As she sat down, two large cups of steaming hot chocolate appeared on the table.
Harry grabbed a cup and sipped. "Ah, very good after being outside."
Ginny took her own cup and just held it in her cold hands for a moment to help them. The lightly crackling fire and the heat relaxed her, almost making her want to take a nap. "Thank you, this is really nice."
He gave her his carefree smile that warmed her more than the fire did. "How have you been? I don't think we've really talked since before Christmas. I've seen you around the common room and at meals, but I know it's your OWL year."
She sipped her drink and found it very chocolatey, just like she liked it. "Mostly good. You're right though, OWL year is difficult. Why can't they give us a little more in fourth year so fifth isn't so bad."
Harry chuckled a little. "I know, I wondered the same thing." He shrugged. "That's just the way it is."
"What's it like, being out of school and on your own?" she asked - she'd wanted to ask that for some time. "I think it'd be great, and yet I can see where it might not be at times."
He smiled and looked at his cup for a moment before he looked at her. "You have the right of it. It's good most of the time, but there's also a lot of responsibility. I like the independence most of the time, and yet…"
She noticed he left it hanging and seemed to be uncomfortable with the topic. "I can relate." When he gave her a piercing look, she added hastily, "On the last part, I mean. I like being me, free to do what I want, and yet…" she noted his intensity hadn't waned "…and yet there's a price for that too. I suppose it's a little like how I love being part of a large family and yet I also like my private time too."
He relaxed a little and nodded. "Something very much like that."
"Harry, I," she stopped, not quite able to go on as her nerves hit her full force.
"Yes?"
She set her half-empty cup down, afraid she'd spill it. Steeling herself, she started with, "Harry, are you aware that I broke up with Dean?"
He smiled in a teasing way. "Yeah, it was kind of hard to miss that. Dean's not my best friend, but I felt kind of bad for him."
Ginny hung her head for a moment. "I realized that too and apologized to him for how I did it. I did that in the common room so everyone could hear that too."
"Oh, I hadn't heard, but good for you," he said with a hint of admiration.
She looked up and gave him a quiet, "Thank you." She took another deep breath. "I was wondering if you'd consider going out with me." There she'd said it. He looked down embarrassed and she knew she'd failed.
When he stared at and played with his cup for a moment, she couldn't take it and said, "Sorry, I guess I can't do anything right with boys lately."
"No, no! Wait!" he said hurriedly and looked up in alarm. "I'm sorry, this is going badly." Now he took a deep breath. "Actually, yes, I have already considered that."
Ginny blinked for a moment as that sank into her brain. "Wait, how can you have already considered that when I only just asked."
Harry lifted his cup and seemed to drain it before setting it on the table. "Ginny, I haven't really told anyone here everything about why I came back to school."
"You said it was to learn Runes and Arithmancy," she reminded him.
"That's true, but that was my secondary reason for coming. Only Hermione knows my real reason for returning," he admitted.
There was almost a small pang of hurt with that, but she also realized that was stupid on her part. She and Harry were friends, but no where near like it was for her brother and apparently even he didn't know. Or did he? "Ron doesn't even know?"
"No," he told her and shook his head. "Neville might could guess, but I haven't told him either."
"So why then?" she had to ask the obvious after he didn't say anything for a moment. Even after her question, he let the it hang in the air for a long moment.
"Because I was lonely," he finally admitted. "I missed my friends, I missed being around others my age, and…" he hesitated, "…a girlfriend would be nice at times. Yet, as I told Hermione, where do I find a girl who would treat me as Harry and not The-Boy-Who-Lived? Know what she told me?" He didn't wait for an answer, "Consider Ginny. So yes, I have thought about you a little."
Ginny felt her face warm a little and knew it wasn't from the fire. "So it's possible?"
He gave her his casual smile again. "Possible, maybe," he shrugged but didn't look all that happy.
"I don't understand," she told him as she watched him struggle.
He exhaled sharply. "I'm sorry, I…" He trailed off and looked down. "I guess the problem is that I've never figured out an answer." He gave her a soft smile that warmed her again. "In many ways I think dating you would be brilliant. Yet part of me wonders if we could pull it off. Or…" His intense look returned. "What are your expectations? Are you just wanting to date for a short while?"
Ginny was surprised by this. "Am I trying to get married? No!" she answered emphatically.
He looked down with embarrassment. "Sorry, I'm really mucking this up. Let me try this way. Are you wanting to date short-term only or for longer to see if things go well for us and where that might lead?"
"Is this a trick question?" she asked warily.
"No."
"Harry, I don't know how things will go for us long term. I'd like for us to date because I'm attracted to you and find you interesting; hopefully, you find me attractive and interesting too. If that works out, then it does. If not, then we'll break up; but if so, I hope we can always be friends." She watched him consider her honest from the heart reply.
He finally nodded. "All right, I can do that. Maybe I need to just ask my questions. Let's say that it works for us. We have the rest of this year and I can return next year too. What about the year after that, your seventh year when I've already finished?
"Also, I still get more attention as The-Boy-Who-Lived that I've ever wanted. Snape used to call me a celebrity, which I hated because I don't like standing out. I'm not going to cower at home, but I don't want to always be in the spotlight either. You, however, do."
Ginny sputtered for a moment. "Me, wanting to be in the spotlight? Whatever gave you that idea?"
"So you've changed your mind about playing for the Harpies?" he asked.
She sat there for a moment and blinked as she worked that idea through. It took her a moment but she could see where he was coming from. She would definitely be in the public eye with that job. "No, I'd still like to play for the Harpies. Don't you think we could work something out?"
"That's the problem, I can't think of how to do that," he told her. "It will be obvious that we're together, Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter. So I can't come to your games in disguise as it will appear as if you're with another man; but if I don't come at all then it'll look like I don't support you. I lose either way and probably make you look bad at the same time. I won't do that to you."
Ginny sighed. "Harry, that's at least two or three years in the future. There's time to figure that out."
"What about your last year at school?" he pressed.
"I don't know, come back and learn something else?" she threw out the first thing she could think of.
He looked at her for a moment. "Hmm, that might actually work. I wasn't planning on taking my OWLs for my two extra courses until next year, so I could take it easy and take my NEWTs for them in your last year."
She understood what he was saying but had to ask, "When did you started planning like this? Where's the boy who rashly came after the lost girl?"
He smiled and honestly laughed. "He grew up and got a job that requires him to plan if he doesn't want to get hurt."
"That doesn't sound like fun," she returned with teasing and sarcasm.
"Well, life isn't always fun and games I found out," he told her soberly now.
"Quite so," she agreed, soberly as well thinking of her first year at school. "Where do you work?"
"Sorry, still can't answer that."
She nodded, not surprised, though it did make her wonder. "Back to my question. Can we try it and see? If it doesn't work out, all I ask is to do the break-up in private and I'll make the same promise."
Harry looked at her for a moment before grinning and standing while holding out a hand. She reached out and he pulled her to standing in front of him.
"We can try and see. However, if you want rash, I can do that occasionally," he said before he pulled her closer and kissed her.
This was not like Ginny expected. She thought a kiss with Harry would have been in some romantic setting, maybe with fireworks going off or something. Instead, she felt a surprisingly muscled body, strong hands on her back, and warm lips. Reaching up, she ran one hand through his short messy hair to make sure he didn't pull away too soon.
It wasn't fireworks, but there was something like a hunger between them. She didn't even think about it as she pushed her head forward and they kissed for a second time. She had no idea what it was, but there was a spark of something between them that had never been present between her and Dean.
As the kiss ended, he held her close and trailed kisses on her forehead and temples, just all over her head. "Amazing," she breathed and received a soft rumbling almost-laugh in her ear before he pulled back and green eyes locked onto her brown eyes.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what happens," he told her happily, rubbing her back as he held her close.
That made her think about something. "I know this will sound strange, but can I ask you to do a small favor?"
"Probably," he said still grinning.
"Would you be upset to act like we're not dating until next weekend? I think it could hurt Dean's feelings if it looked like I dumped him just for you and I've already hurt him enough. I promise I didn't do that, but another week would make it all look better. Please?"
She felt a hand come up and pull a few hairs away from her face as he pulled them behind her ear. He still grinned. "I will help with that in return for two smaller favors. You kiss me like that again before we leave here and again tomorrow afternoon before I leave for the week."
Her smile grew. "Deal." She reached up with both hands to grab his head and pull it down to hers for several very long kisses.
When they separated, Ginny decided she had to ask one more thing. "Harry, can I ask a question?" At his nod she asked, "Last evening, I saw Lavender Brown kiss you and I thought she was dating you. Since you're not dating her, can you tell me what that was about?"
Harry looked a little sheepish. "Yes, well, she told me she was wanting to start a clothing business after Hogwarts and wanted to know if I'd help by doing some modeling. I told her I'd stop by her new shop when she was ready to open and let a photo be taken of us together. I'm not sure I should have agreed to that because it's more public than I like, but she was so nice about it and she promised it'd be tasteful and shown only in her shop and not advertised in the newspaper or any magazines. She became a little excited when I said yes and she kissed me."
Ginny stared at him for a moment before she giggled and then kissed him again. "Hopefully mine are better."
"Yes, very much so," he replied.
She smiled triumphantly. "I need to go get cleaned up for dinner."
"I need to find a book in the library," he said. "I'll leave around two tomorrow. Meet me in the Trophy Room near the main entrance then."
"I look forward to it," she said with a grin before turning to get her things. She left as Harry was shrinking his broom down and walking the other way.
Walking into her dorm room, Patty looked at her and asked, "What happened?"
"Huh?"
"You've got that glazed happy look. Who is he?" Patty asked again.
Ginny smiled. "I kissed someone for a few minutes and it got my mind off of Dean. Don't think it'll happen like that again, but it was a nice moment."
"You're normally not that casual about relationships," Patty pointed out as Ginny dumped everything in her hands on the bed and started to undress.
Ginny shrugged. "Call it a weak moment but it won't happen again until my next boyfriend." Looking at her friend, she could tell her friend wasn't totally buying the story, but Patty wasn't arguing any more either.
A few minutes later, the hot water of the shower was running over her. She fantasized about Harry being with her and had to quickly shove that thought away. They weren't even remotely ready for anything like that. They had a relationship that was only a little beyond friendship at the moment - a good start she thought. Still, the fantasy was a pleasant one.
[Fri, Feb 14]
Harry went to Hogwarts a little earlier than usual. The Entrance Hall was empty - thankfully - so he Disillusioned himself and walked slowly into the Great Hall and stood in the back corner, a nice out of the way place. He leaned against the wall in an effort to make his wait a little more comfortable, something that was probably in vain he decided about ten minutes into his wait.
Slowly, the students started to come in for lunch, taking their places without an idea he was there as he was standing very still and therefore invisible. Even a few of the teachers which had walked to the head table had not noticed him. This concerned him a little as it showed how lax the security was.
A few minutes later, the Headmaster walked in and after a quick look around walked over to stand near him, casually looking over the room instead of at him - thankfully. "Is there a good reason you're Disillusioned, Harry?" he asked quietly, still surveying the room.
Harry had been pleased the Headmaster has left him alone after their one conversation, but he couldn't fault the man for asking about this. He was actually doing what he'd been silently accusing the rest of the teachers of not doing. "Yes," he answered in a whisper that still shouldn't have been heard by the nearest student, "I'm going to try to help someone, two people actually. No, you probably won't understand when I do it, but it will help them each in their own way. There might be a little fun involved too."
"I see. You promise no one will get hurt?"
"Not in the slightest."
"See that it's so or I suspect Professor McGonagall will be taking up most of your free time for a while," Dumbledore said easily. "One more thing. Are still sure I can't talk you into a few conversations about Voldemort?"
"Quite, as he seems to have gone away," Harry replied. He noted a few Ravenclaws eying the Headmaster for standing near the back wall and looking around, but there wasn't too much scrutiny.
"While I hope you're correct, it could be just a lull. When he shows up again, I do expect you to come see me." With that said, Dumbledore walked away towards the head table. Harry decided to tell Croaker about the conversation, sure the man would get a good laugh out of it.
He noted the Headmaster said a few words as he sat and almost immediately McGonagall pulled out her wand and did a spell on her glasses before she looked right at him. He slowly lifted his hand and wiggled his fingers at her for a wave. That caused her to frown at him which caused him to smile.
To Harry's good fortune, all of the sixth years walked in first as a group and sat closer to the door. A few minutes later, the fifth years walked in as a group, the boys in front and the girls in back mostly in a line and talking.
As the girls passed, he started walking slowly behind them. When they were near where the sixth years were sitting and continued to walk closer to the front, Harry canceled the Disillusionment, quickly stuffed his wand in his waistband, and then grabbed Ginny by the shoulders from behind and pulled fast. She let out an "Eep" as she fell backward and he caught her with her bent backwards and he with one hand over her stomach and on her waist with his other hand under her shoulders and neck in the classic dip position. He'd wondered if she'd try to punch him before she realized what was going on; fortunately, he'd surprised her too much so she just laid back in surprise as he held her up.
"Weasley, I hear you're single again. True?" he asked in a slightly louder than normal voice. As he stared into her very surprised brown eyes, he was aware of the sound level dropping as people started paying attention to them.
"Yes," she answered in a tone only slightly more controlled than her "Eep".
"Splendid! Want to be my girlfriend?" he asked and grinned.
She looked to be gaining control and there was a bit of fire in her eyes as she realized what he was doing. "Yes."
"Brilliant!" He leaned down the rest of the way and kissed her gently. He pulled back and lifted her up with the needed half twirl so she was standing up, though looking a little dazed and unsteady from the motion. He took advantage and kissed her hard as he held her close, earning a few wolf whistles. He didn't hold it for too long, knowing that McGonagall would probably object if he did. Ginny still looked dazed when he pulled back, causing him to smirk. "Lovely," he said quietly only for her as he pulled his wand out conjured a white rose with a stem in the air that he caught with his wand hand since his other arm was still around her waist, "and Happy Valentine's Day."
"I'll get you for that," she growled softly as she took the rose.
"I look forward to it," he replied with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
"Mr Potter!" McGonagall called to him frostily. "Are you finished with your public display?"
He looked at Ginny who was turning a little embarrassed looking. "Yes Professor, at least for the moment."
His old head of house didn't look like she cared for his qualification. "Then take a seat for lunch. When you are through, I'd like to see you in my office."
"I do have class immediately after lunch," he reminded her, probably a little too cheekily based on her disapproving look.
"I am aware but any consequences if you're late will be your responsibility," she told him before returning to her meal and ignoring the giggling and light laughter at his predicament.
"No good deed goes unpunished," he said jovially. "Would you like lunch, my lady?" He waved at a seat which would put him next to Neville and her next to her dorm mates.
She rolled her eyes but walked over to the table and took a seat with him sitting next to her.
"I'm impressed," Neville said with a grin, "that took guts."
"I was a Gryffindor," he said cheekily, causing Neville to chuckle.
Harry noticed that Ginny's friend was giggling and talking to Ginny rapidly, occupying her attention for the moment. He also noted that Dean was looking at him strangely as if trying to figure it out while Ron was frowning at him.
"Hi! How's the week been going?" he asked his friends in his most friendly manner, causing Ron's frown to deepen.
"Mate, that's my sister you just did that to," Ron said in a threatening manner.
Harry almost replied when he felt movement on his left and looked to see his girlfriend glowering at her brother. "Do you want to take care of him or shall I?"
Her glower turned to a smile. "Thank you for letting me take care of it." Her wand suddenly appeared in her hand to be easily seen. "I'll be happy to have a very pointed conversation to correct the error of his thinking that he gets any say at all in who I date."
He noticed Ron's eyes going wide and his look of displeasure was now one of concern for himself. "Brilliant, he's all yours. Let me know if you need help to hide the body." That generated laughs from everyone around except for Ron … even Dean was laughing now.
As he started to dish up his food, Ginny leaned over and whispered in his ear. "That was a surprise but thank you. Dean doesn't look upset. Where did this Harry come from?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.
"He's always been here, just hidden," he answered quietly. "Being on my own has allowed me to see that it's all right to let this Harry out."
Ginny looked to be having to work to hold her smile in. "How many Harry's are hiding in there?"
"You'll have to find out," he told her mysteriously before he started to eat quickly. Perhaps he could follow McGonagall out and talk to her and then get to class before Professor Babbling became upset, or so he hoped.
They talked a little during lunch, but between Harry trying to hurry through his lunch and Ginny getting pulled into other conversations by her friends, they didn't have much time to talk.
As McGonagall rose to leave, and Babbling was still seated, Harry squeezed her hand and told Ginny "Bye, until this evening" and rose as well.
He met his old head of house as she reached the main double doors out of the room. "What did you need to talk about, Professor."
She glanced at him as she walked briskly. "Really, Mr Potter, did you have to do that? The younger students don't need any ideas for that sort of behavior; I'm sure they see enough as it is."
"Yes, actually I did." He saw her give him a look that said he better be quick about his explanation.
"You see, Ginny and Dean recently broke up a couple of weeks ago and there were some hard feelings at first. They've generally worked it out, but I was afraid that Dean would think badly of her, that she'd broken up with him just for me. So I decided to make it seem like I'd been waiting for her to become single to make him feel better. I thought that dramatic over-the-top act would do the trick and it seemed like it worked. Dean was laughing at the end."
"So it was all an act?" she queried as they neared her office.
"The presentation was, but I really was asking her to be my girlfriend. Oh, that means I'd like to take her to Hogsmeade and such on the weekends, when she has the time. Considering it's her OWL year, that may not be too often," he said with a sigh.
McGonagall stopped in front of her door and looked at him for a moment. "Has this version of you been hiding all of this time? I ask because that act seemed far more like your father than you."
He grinned. "Ginny asked almost the same question. I told her this has always been there, but until I became independent and grew up some it was never needed all that much." He shrugged and turned serious. "The Dursleys abhorred a good sense of humor, along with magic, anyone not from the Dursley side, common sense, and a number of other things."
McGonagall pursed her lips and considered him for a moment. "Don't let me see something like that in the Great Hall again, or anywhere else in the school."
Harry grinned again at his good fortune. "As you wish, Professor." He gave her a bow with a flourish.
"Stop it and go," she told him with exasperation.
As he left, he could barely hear her say, "Just like his father." He couldn't help his grin nor again wishing he could have known his parents.
Walking into his class a few minutes later, he saw Babbling smile and then chuckle at him. "I'm sure Professor McGonagall admonished you for that display," she lowered her voice, "but that was so like your father it was funny. I'll have to tell you about him sometime as my first year to teach was his seventh year here. For now, pull out the homework I set for you…"
— — —
After class, Harry found Ginny in the common room, her nose in a book revising with her classmates. He conjured a chair beside her and sat as Colin said brightly, "Hi Harry!"
The boy had settled down over time, for which Harry was grateful. "Hello Collin, everyone not named Ginny, and…" he put his arm around her back and smiled, "…Ginny."
"I'm trying to revise here, Potter," she said going for stern while her lips twitched.
"It's only about a half hour until dinner, but continue on and I shall sit here basking in your beauty while I also consider my Runes homework," he told her, earning a roll of the eyes from her while also getting a pat on his leg from her hand under the table.
He pulled his miniature book out and enlarged it before opening it and starting to read with it lying in his lap while his other hand rested on her back and lightly rubbed it. He hoped that was the right thing to do; he remembered seeing older students doing it when he was a younger student. He noted that she didn't complain and she returned to her studies.
When it was time for dinner, they walked hand-in-hand. "What's on the schedule for tonight?" he asked.
"I need to revise tomorrow, I'll do that while you're in class; but I've had enough of that for today." She gave him a mischievous look. "Perhaps we can walk around the castle after dinner and talk. Maybe we can even find some interesting places."
"Ah, a little adventure, both verbal and non-verbal." He nodded. "Sounds like a good plan. Do I get to run my finger through your hair?" he asked hopefully.
She looked at him in surprise. "You want to run your fingers through my hair?" she parroted in disbelief.
"Yes, I've always loved your mane of hair," he admitted.
"Only if you brush out all the tangles after," she told him after a moment.
"Anytime you want," he agreed happily.
She gave him a long look as they neared the Great Hall. "You're going to be very interesting."
"That's a good interesting, I hope?"
"That's up to you," she returned with a smile.
[Sat, Feb 15]
As Harry ate breakfast with Ginny sitting beside him, McGonagall paused behind them on her way to the head table. "Mr Potter, Ms Weasley, please come by my office for a few minutes before you leave on your outing. Or I'm assuming you're leaving as you'd mentioned?"
"Yes, Professor," he answered. "I was thinking of leaving around three and returning around seven - a shorter trip."
"Very well, I shall see you around three."
As the professor walked off, Ginny looked at him. "What is that about?"
"While I have an arrangement to leave school at any time as well as take one person with me, I think she assumed it would be with someone who was my age. Since you're a year behind, I guess she wants to tell us something before we go." He shrugged.
She nodded and they each returned to their breakfast.
At the appointed time that afternoon, after Ginny had put in her self-imposed time to revise for the day, they walked hand in hand to their appointment before leaving.
McGonagall opened the door when they knocked and invited them in. "I'm sure you're wondering why I asked you here. Because Ms Weasley is a little younger, I contacted her parents and they requested you come visit. You may use my Floo connection." She gave them a wan smile as she waved towards her fireplace.
The teens looked at each other and shrugged before they moved to the fireplace. A moment later they came out inside the living room of The Burrow. They noticed Ginny's parents were sitting on the couch together with a tea set in front of them.
Mrs Weasley put her cup down and hurried over to give them each a hug. "It's good to see you. Congratulations on getting together; I was pleased to get your letter this morning, Ginny. Have a seat. Would either of you like some tea?"
Ginny gave her a puzzled look. "Who are you and what have you done with my mother?" That caused Harry to smile and they each noticed her father was struggling to contain his amusement at that. Her mother hid her reaction behind the slightest of smiles as she attended to the tea.
Harry took the seat and a cup of tea when offered, though he only looked at it for the moment; Ginny mirrored him. "I have a feeling there's something going on that we're not aware of." He saw Mr Weasley smile slightly as his wife sat.
"We're wondering why you're not in school," Molly asked with a bit more of a serious look now.
"Since you're expecting us," Harry started, "then Professor McGonagall must have told you our plans, so why don't you ask the question you really want."
The two parents looked at each other for a moment as if in silent conversation before Molly said, "We understand wanting to spend time together and we approve of you dating Ginny, but we're concerned about the her safety and yours away from school."
"It's no worse than a Hogsmeade weekend," Ginny protested.
"If there were teachers there as well as other older students, I'd agree," her mother said casually and seemed to dare them to disagree.
Harry looked at Ginny. "You or me?"
"Go ahead since I can't figure out where this is coming from," his girlfriend said.
"Mrs Weasley," Harry started as respectfully as he could, "I'm sure I can protect Ginny just fine, but if you'd prefer, we can avoid Hogsmeade except on school visit days. However, I really don't understand why you're worried. From what I can see, the war is over."
"But you don't know that," she returned quickly and probably a little more hotly than she first intended as she took a breath and became a little calmer. "Professor Dumbledore says it's just a lull."
Harry now had a feeling for her concern. "So if he says the war is still going than it is?" He sipped his tea and waited.
"Yes," Molly told him finally.
"No attacks in the last seven weeks doesn't matter?" Harry asked and didn't receive an answer. "Mr Weasley, those who claimed Imperious in the first war are fairly well known. Have you seen any of them at the Ministry during the last month?"
Arthur looked surprised to be asked that. "No, I can't say that I have seen any of them this year."
"So," Harry grinned a little mischievously, "no attacks, no Voldemort sightings, no Death Eaters seen … hmm, seems like the war is over to me unless the Ministry and Daily Prophet are being far more competent than usual in hiding the information."
"But you don't know for sure," Molly returned.
Harry wished he could say what he knew. "I think I can say it's over because once Voldemort showed himself, his side has never been able to hide for more than a week. Take Lucius Malfoy. He liked to be in the spotlight, but no one has seen him since last summer. We could all speculate he probably is dead, wouldn't you agree?" He didn't want to tell all he knew for this either in order to protect Hermione's family, but he could tell some.
Molly wouldn't answer, but as Harry continued to wait Arthur finally said, "Yes, I believe I'd agree to that one."
"You couldn't have possibly known, but I can tell you for certain that he's dead." Harry was amused as all three of the Weasleys looked at him.
"How?" Ginny asked, the first to recover from the shock.
"You can't figure it out?" he asked, amusement in his voice.
"How?" Molly asked firmly.
Harry was tempted to draw the question out for fun but decided perhaps not today. "Because he's shown as dead on the Black Family Tapestry while Narcissa is still alive.
"Bellatrix is also gone, as is McNair, Avery, and Rookwood, or so the Daily Prophet said this summer, plus some others that weren't as well known. Oh, we mustn't forget about Snape, who'd definitely be at Hogwarts if he was alive, so we can conclude he's dead too." Harry shrugged, "I don't believe there were ever all that many to begin with. No one is saying what happened, but they all seem to be gone."
"But Professor Dumbledore say it's just a lull," Molly repeated more strongly.
"Professor Dumbledore has said things in the past that were wrong; I believe he'd even admit that," Harry told her. "He also doesn't always tell people everything either. For example, is Grindelwald alive or dead?"
"Dumbledore killed him in the 40's," Molly said quickly.
"I'm sorry, but he's still alive in a prison in Germany." At her intake of breath, Harry added, "I know, it's always spoken of like you said, but I found out otherwise not long ago. Isn't it interesting that Dumbledore doesn't bother to correct everyone thinking otherwise.
"Another example is that he placed me with my relatives to be raised. He told me he knew I would have a difficult time there. I don't like to think of it, but if you do, you'd see that he knew he would be placing me in an abusive environment and still did so anyway. What kind of person does that make him?" He could tell he'd shocked the woman as well as hit her in an area she cared deeply about - children.
"So you see, Albus Dumbledore is wrong at times. However, if you don't care for my claim that the war is over, I'll also tell you that that I can keep Ginny safe if the need arose, which I probably won't ever need to do because Ginny does quite well in keeping herself safe." Harry saw his girlfriend give him a grateful look.
"Anyone can be surprised," Molly objected.
"True," Harry agreed easily, "look at Dumbledore's blackened hand. I don't know what he did to get it cursed so, but even he can be surprised. However, I heard it was from something he was doing. Since I have no plans to take Ginny into a dangerous place I don't believe you need to worry about her being cursed with unknown spells by some criminal."
"What if we asked you not to?" Arthur asked him.
"If you give me a good reason, I'll certainly try to work with you to find a solution, but I have no plans to bow to fear that there might be Death Eaters no one has seen," Harry explained. "If Ginny asked me not to take her away from the school, I wouldn't." He turned, "Ginny-"
"I've no problem," she cut him off, "in leaving the school for a few hours and I'm not afraid of being hexed by Death Eaters because, as you said, they're gone. Together, the two of us can take care of ourselves in these normal times."
"Well said," Harry agreed with a nod before looking back at the father. "Was there anything else?"
"I'm still not sure," Molly told them with a frown.
Harry sighed. "Do you want to test me in a dual? I'll try not to hurt you, yet that's the problem. If I'm going to try to win, I could hurt you very badly. I've been trained by people whose motto is 'Anything goes' followed by 'It's only wrong if you didn't think of it first'. I don't fight like Dumbledore who tries to only stun his opponents."
While Molly looked to be seriously considering taking him up on the offer, Arthur shook his head. "No, Harry, your word that you'll keep her as safe as possible is good enough. We wanted to make sure both of you understood the gravity of the situation."
Molly didn't seem happy that her husband gave in, but she didn't verbally object either. Her look did seem to say the two would be having a conversation about it later.
"I promise to take good care of her," Harry said. He noticed that Ginny didn't look happy.
"Mum," Ginny spoke up, "would you have tried so hard to talk Ron out of something like this if it was him instead of me?"
Her mother didn't answer and actually looked down.
"I see," Ginny said accusingly and stood. "Let's go, Harry."
Putting the rest of his now tepid tea down, he stood and grabbed her hand and walked her to the back door without saying a word, not sure what to say that wouldn't inflame the situation.
"The Floo is behind you," Arthur pointed out.
"I think Ginny needs some fresh air first and I have my Apparation License," Harry said with a grin. "Cheers."
He closed the door behind them and walked beside his girlfriend in the almost cold air.
"I can't believe her!" Ginny growled.
Harry considered his response for a moment in the tense silence. "I know that wasn't what you wanted to hear and I can't say I enjoyed it either, but it does show that she cares for you and loves you."
Ginny huffed a few times. "I know you're right, but that still wasn't very fair. It's only because I'm a girl."
Harry grinned. "I like that you're a girl." He stopped suddenly and pulled her to him and kissed her soundly. When they separated, he asked, "Better?"
"Maybe in a minute," she returned and kissed him this time.
She looked a little more relaxed when they part the second time. "What did you want to do?"
He started them walking again to get further from the house. "I had planned on going to Hogsmeade, but since we're here, how about ice cream in Diagon Alley?"
"You really have your Apparation License?" she asked in amazement.
"I do," he grinned.
"Hmm, I can see uses for that," she grinned back. "Ice cream and walking around there sounds good," she told him. "Maybe even stop by and see the twins to see if they have anything new."
He pulled her close and Apparated them both to Diagon Alley.
Soon they were sitting down in Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour enjoying their ice cream, the only customers in the middle of a very cool day.
Ginny looked at him before she ate a bite of her Triple Chocolate ice cream. "It's feels really different to be here and the place isn't crowded."
Harry finished his bite of Banana Cream Pie ice cream. "It has been a little different to get used to times like this. I also sometimes take walks around London during my lunch hour when I want to get a breath of fresh air or just see something different. It's easy to get lost in the crowd."
They were silent for a while eating ice cream before Ginny blurted out, "What are we going to do about my parents, or really my mother?"
"We aren't forbidden from going out or from taking trips as long as I don't purposely put you in danger." He grinned. "So no trips into Knockturn Alley."
She rolled her eyes at him. "You're right, Dad didn't forbid anything at the end. Still."
"Still nothing," he replied, "we can date normally until told otherwise. I got the feeling," he smiled conspiratorially, "that she wants us together more than she's really concerned about what could happen to us."
Ginny smiled and looked down demurely for a moment, only glancing at him as she considered it. "I think you might be right about that.
When they finished their ice cream, they walked slowly around Diagon Alley hand-in-hand pointing at things in the store windows and talking. They decided to save a visit to Fred and George until later when they had more time as it was approaching time for dinner.
Harry Apparated them back to the gates of the school and they walked in and headed for the castle.
"Thank you for the lovely day," she told him as they neared the front door, "and for the way you asked me out yesterday. Patty and the other girls really liked what you did, claiming it to be very romantic, which I thought too."
She went up one step and kissed him for several minutes, which he very willingly returned.
Inside the front door they saw Professor McGonagall was near the entrance and nodded an acknowledgement that they had returned before she continued on her way into the Great Hall. They followed slowly.
After dinner they returned to Gryffindor Tower and spent time playing games and having fun with friends for the rest of the evening.
[Fri, Feb 21]
Harry looked at the hole in the ground and then at the plans in his hand. Making his way down on his homemade ladder, he measured and checked against the plans. He smiled when everything matched.
Digging the basement had taken longer than expected, but it was now done. Climbing out of the hole, he looked at the piles of gravel and sand that had been delivered by a Muggle company. The stacks of stone from Tate's company were over near his covered work area.
Dobby popped in. "Is master finished digging?"
"Yes, Dobby, we're done." Harry thought back to Dobby helping him dig. The elf had animated some shovels to dig and buckets to take the dirt out by walking up a ramp and then dumping the dirt in a low area. It had worked well until Dobby had tried to hurry it up by creating and animating more shovels and buckets. It had all gone crazy with the buckets bumping into each other and the shovels fighting over which got to dig a spot of dirt.
Harry had to end all the magic, much to Dobby's embarrassment. They started it back up but on a much smaller and more controllable scale until it was done and Harry removed the narrow dirt ramp with a couple of hours of spell work at the end.
"According to the plans, we need a foot of gravel all over," he told the elf. "While you do that, I'll start carving runes on the stones for the floor and walls." He had all morning before he had to leave for Hogwarts.
He had worked out a warding project with Grace and it had worked on a model. If the runes for the wards worked on this smaller house, he do the same for his big manor house. It was going to be a lot of work, but he'd be proud of the result.
— — —
Narcissa Malfoy put the Daily Prophet down and wondered if it was time. Deciding that no Death Eater activity for two months was a good sign, she decided to go with her plan.
"Tippy?"
The house-elf came out of the kitchen. "Yes mistress?"
"I think it's time. I want you to go back to the manor house and see if anyone is there." Narcissa looked very stern to impress her point. "It is vital you not be seen if someone is there."
"Yes, mistress," Tippy said bowing low before leaving with a pop.
She didn't have long to wait as the elf popped back in less than a minute later.
"Mistress, the house is empty. I do not believe anyone has been there in weeks. There is bad food in the kitchen."
"What about the big snake?" Narcissa asked, hating the thing despite the fact she had been a Slytherin.
"Snake nest is empty too and I don't feel its magic."
Narcissa hated to base her entire decision on what the house-elf told her for this was very important, yet she had no other information and no way to get it other than going herself.
"All right, we'll return. If I lock down the house, will you still be able to come and go?" Narcissa was cautious.
"Tippy think so, though Tippy may have to go slower."
"Then let's go." Narcissa Apparated to the foyer of Malfoy manor, with the house-elf popping in right beside her. It was eerily quiet causing her to expect the Dark Lord to step out at any moment and punish her. With her heart racing, she strode towards the study.
"Are we still alone?" she asked quietly.
"Tippy can not sense anyone other than mistress."
In the study, Narcissa opened a secret compartment and touched her wand to a rune cluster that lit. She breathed a sigh of relief until she saw her house-elf. "Tippy, try to go back to the other house and bring food and all of our things."
Tippy faded slowly instead of popping, but she was gone. A few minutes later and her trunk of clothes appeared. With a smile she fell into the chair behind the desk. She was in control of the house and wards, much better wards than on her dowry house. She had little doubt the Dark Lord would be stopped by them if he tried hard enough, but she'd have time to escape if he showed up.
Life wasn't all roses though. No, there was at least one or two things she had to do much sooner rather than later. With more than a little resignation, she turned around and grabbed a quill and some parchment from the desk and started writing a letter.
[Sun, Mar 9]
Harry had already said good-bye to his Gryffindor friends. Now he was in an out of the way alcove on the second floor saying good-bye to Ginny with a lingering kiss. "I'll miss you … and that this week," he told her with a grin.
Ginny smiled prettily at him. "I will too. Will you come visit me during our usual extended weekend break at the end of this month? I know Mum will be happy to have you over."
"I can, but I don't see any reason to spend the night. The cot in Ron's room isn't bad, but it's not all that great compared to what I have at the Longbottom's," he told her. "Plus I should spend a little time with Neville."
"If you think time with Neville is better than my kisses," she replied with a sly look.
"Minx," he teased her as he combed his finger through her long hair for a moment. "I'll be there during the day, just not sleeping there," he reiterated with a grin before he leaned down to kiss her again. Before he could do so, a cat Patronus bounded up to him.
"You have a visitor at the main entrance," it announced.
"Wait, that was McGonagall's voice. What does she want now?" Ginny asked confused.
Harry sighed. "I don't know." He kissed her quickly then pulled her with him as he walked towards the entrance to the school. "Let's go see what's going on."
A couple of minutes later he walked up to McGonagall who was standing next Tonks, who was not in her Auror uniform.
"Mr Potter," McGonagall addressed him, "thank you for coming so promptly. Ms Tonks needs a word with you and then I believe you were about to leave anyway. I'll see you next weekend." The woman turned and walked away.
Ginny looked confused as to whether she should leave as well, but Harry held onto her hand and caused her to stay, surprising her.
"Err, wotcher Harry, Ginny," the pink-haired woman said, looking between them. "So, are you two together?"
"Yes," Ginny said brightly. "He asked me to be his girlfriend on Valentine's Day."
Tonks looked like she wanted to snicker. "That's cute." She became a little more serious. "I'm sorry for intruding on your time; however, I do need to talk to you Harry, alone please," Tonks told him. "Sorry," she directed at the redhead.
"I was about to leave anyway." He turned to Ginny and gave her a quick kiss. "See you next Friday."
"I look forward to it; bye," the redhead returned before she left him.
Harry gestured towards the door and started walking. "So, what's up? Or are you here on secret Auror business?"
Tonks closed the door behind them and continued to walk with him towards the gates. "It's family business actually. Mum wants to talk to you since you're considered Lord Black."
"Oh?" He was surprised. "You know, Sirius did say I was his heir and I know that to be true, but I never really gave what that means much thought. Do you know what she wants?"
Tonks shrugged. "I can guess at part of it, otherwise, not really. I'll have to Apparate you there."
"All right. When we're outside the gates," he replied, wondering what this was really about.
A few minutes later, Tonks Apparated him to the gate for a white picket fence around a house in the country. He felt a tingle from the wards as they walked through the gate. "Nice wards," he commented.
"You felt them?" Tonks asked amazed. He didn't answer as the door opened in front of them.
A middle aged man greeted them and held out his hand. "Welcome Mr Potter, Ted Tonks."
"Thank you, it's good to meet you," Harry said as he shook the man's hand and was led in.
"My wife, Andi, though considering this is a more formal occasion, Andromeda," Ted said with a hint of amusement, garnering a quick glare from his wife before she smiled and nodded her head in respect.
"Lord Black, welcome to our home. Can we get you refreshment?" the woman offered. She had a regal look and was very attractive for her age.
Feeling he might be here a while, he said, "Tea if it's not too much trouble." A look from her mother caused Nymphadora to head to another room while her parents took a seat on the couch and Harry was directed to a nice looking chair that had to have been charmed to be that comfortable.
"Thank you for inviting me over, though I will say I'm a little surprised." He almost asked why Tonks had been sent to bring him, but decided that might be considered rude to lead with that. He thanked Nymphadora for the tea as she served it from a tray with a slightly forced smile. That made him wonder even more why he was here.
"Yes," Andi said a little hesitantly. "A family matter came up and technically you're the only one who can resolve it. Since my daughter knew you, I thought that sending her might be the easiest way to contact you since this was urgent. I tried an owl but received no answer."
Harry lowered his teacup. "I'm sorry, but I've received no owl post from you or anyone over the last few days. When did you send it?"
"Two days ago."
"Oh," Harry said with a nod. "My mail is redirected so it can take an extra day or three to reach me. I'll probably receive it tomorrow. However, since I'm here, what I can do for you?"
Andi looked relieved at his answer. "I suppose the easy one first. Are you aware of my situation in regards to the family?"
"I'm aware Walburga Black burned your name off of the family tapestry," Harry answered. "I believe Sirius said his mother wanted to disinherit you, although I'm not sure what happened officially. I say that because Sirius's name was removed from the tapestry too, but he was never officially removed from the family."
Andi looked down for a moment. "She successfully convinced Uncle Orion to do so."
After a long pause, Harry caught on. "I see. Would it be safe to assume that you'd like me to reverse that?"
The woman looked up with a smile. "It would please me to be back in the family now that it's led by someone who's more considerate and understanding." She looked at her husband, who continued to watch the proceedings with curiosity and a hint of amusement. Her daughter looked like she'd rather be elsewhere but was being the dutiful daughter by being there and not looking too bored. Considering the girl's casual attitude towards life and general disdain for formality, he wasn't surprised by that.
"If you'll walk me through how to do that, I'll be happy to, although I don't see the point since you're married," Harry said.
"Hmm, I think I've heard that before somewhere," Ted said quietly with a grin, which earned him another brief glare from his wife.
Nevertheless, Andromeda helped him swear the oath rescinding the dissolution from the family.
After that was done, Harry asked, "You said there was a second bit of family business, something which was urgent?" Because that certainly wasn't, despite the fact that Andromeda had wanted it badly.
"Yes, Lord Black," Andi answered. "Another member of the family has contacted me about being returned to the family."
"Oh? I thought you were the only living family member who had been removed." Sirius and one of his uncles who was now dead were the only other recent ones he could think of that could have this problem.
"She wasn't officially removed, but she married. However, she'd like to use the name Black again and that does requite your permission." Andi looked very hesitant to go on.
As Harry ran through the living members in his head only one came to mind. He froze but noticed Andi nod and lean back in her chair. He also now realized why Andromeda had made her request first … bragging rights and she was the older of the remaining sisters.
"Why should I care about her, considering who she married?" Harry asked, while noticing Nymphadora taking a little more interest in the conversation now. He also noticed that Andi appeared to be choosing her words carefully.
"She believes ... it's possible and advantageous; beyond that, you'd have to ask her."
Harry snorted. "Ha, I'm more likely to give her the pointed end of my wand. If there was someone I would disown, it'd be her … or at least now that Bellatrix is gone." Bella's demise was no secret, but he realized what that sounded like after the words were out. "My apologies, I don't mean to belittle you through your sister, but Bellatrix was the cause of the death of Sirius."
"No offense is taken, my lord. While she was my sister, Bella left me and probably sanity long ago," Andi said graciously.
Harry nodded his thanks. "I'd talk to Narcissa now if she was available just to get it over with. Is she waiting in your back garden perhaps?"
"No," Andi replied with a hint of a smile at his suggestion, "and there's no quick way to get in touch with her. I'll have to owl her and arrange a time that is convenient for you."
"Allow me, Dobby come!" Harry thought hard about the elf and he popped in, surprising the other three. He could tell Andi didn't know who Dobby was, but knew the recipient would be surprised.
"Master called?"
"Yes, Dobby, I need you to take a message to Narcissa Malfoy, or actually to her house-elf to give to her. Please say that I'll be at Andromeda's house for the next ten minutes if she wants to talk to me. If that's not possible for her, then we'll make arrangements for this summer." Harry smirked and the three Tonks chuckled quietly. "Be safe, Dobby." The elf left immediately.
"I wasn't aware you had a new house-elf," Andromeda said. "Did the old one die?"
"I'll assume you're referring to Kreacher. He is still around, but I keep him confined to the main family house - mostly," he replied. "I don't find him to be all that reliable. I'll give him to you if you'd like."
"I can imagine," Andi said lightly, "and no thank you; I was never that fond of him either."
"Do you expect her to come now?" Harry asked to move from the topic of the somewhat mad old elf.
"Yes," Ted answered while Andi shrugged.
"Why? Harry asked the man who was smiling with amusement again.
"She just Apparated not far from our gate," Ted replied merrily. "I can see her out the window walking this way."
"That was fast, she must really want to talk," Harry chuckled.
"I suppose I should answer the door," Andromeda said rising.
"I'll be in the other room, probably better I'm out of sight," Ted said not looking bothered at all.
Andromeda opened the door when they heard a knock. "Narcissa," she said stiffly before stepping back to clear the way.
Harry rose, wary of this woman. He also noticed she was still attractive too. Either Bellatrix had been the exception or her time in Azkaban had done her no favors - probably the latter he decided.
Narcissa nodded to her sister, barely spared a glance for Nymphadora, but curtsied to him. "Lord Black, thank you for seeing me on such short notice."
"Why don't you have a seat and tell me what's so important?" Harry said evenly, or he tried because she was family. Fortunately, Draco had looked more like his father, so it was easier dealing with the woman. That brought him up short as it caused him to think of Snape's attitude towards him.
"Thank you." Narcissa took Ted's place on the couch, though she sat as far away from her sister as she could. "I'd like permission to use the name Black again."
"A day for family business indeed," Harry said. "I just restored Andromeda and therefore Nymphadora by proxy." The pink-haired girl glowered at him for a moment for using her first name.
Narcissa looked shocked and Andi looked smug.
"Why?" Harry asked simply, though he could guess now that he thought about it.
"Because I no longer want to be a Malfoy and have no reason to be." She looked down. "My husband and son…" She was unable to finish.
"Not to be crass, but they're gone," Harry finished for her, causing her to jerk her head up.
"How did you know?"
"Besides they haven't been seen and each like to be in the spotlight and therefore are conspicuous by their absence? I do have access to the family tapestry which records special dates automatically," he informed her, leaving out his special knowledge of the attack on the Grangers.
"Oh," she said quietly, obviously having forgotten.
"At this moment, I'm more inclined to remove you from the family now that I know how," Harry told her. "I have yet to meet a Malfoy I like, though I suppose you have a chance since you weren't one originally."
Narcissa steeled herself. "I can guess as to the source of disagreement. I'll admit that I believe Purebloods are better, but all of the other non-sense my husband and son spouted in that regard are beliefs I do not hold. We have a better understanding of our world and should be ruling. Killing the Muggle-borns because of their unfortunate ancestry is short-sighted and wrong. We need the others, especially for the jobs we don't want to do. They should be guided, not culled.
"Lord Black, I wish to leave the Malfoy name and ideals behind. I loved my husband, especially when there was not a Dark Lord around, but my former husband's name is tainted with that I do not wish to be associated with. The Black family has had its issues as well, but it still stands proud and I'd like to help you with that if you'll let me."
Harry considered that. "Your statement on Purebloods and non-Purebloods strikes me as arrogant, but from what I know of the older traditions, not all that unusual. I understand the logic even if I do think it's wrong." He sighed. "You know, if your son had said it that way on the train to Hogwarts our first year instead of his arrogant and holier-than-thou insults, there's a small chance we could have become acquaintances at least instead of the antagonists we were.
"I want to say no, but that would make me a hypocrite considering what I've said about Severus Snape and his grudge against my father and me." Harry looked at Andi. "Andromeda, you're part of the family. I'd like your feelings on the matter before I decide."
Andi looked surprised but left his asking her alone. "It's been over twenty years since the two of us have had a conversation, but from the time we were growing up, she's presented her view accurately from what I can remember."
That didn't really answer the question, but Harry realized he wasn't going to get a better answer. There was a possible way around his problem if he could trust her.
"Narcissa," it felt a little weird calling her that, but it was proper in this context, "I'll extend a little trust by allowing you to become Narcissa Black again on the condition that you promote the family name well and fairly. If I find out you've started to act like your husband or son by promoting harm to those just because of their birth, not only will I remove you from the family, I'll take out a full page ad in the Daily Prophet so all will know. Real trust is earned not given." By her stricken look, he could tell he'd found a way to control her behavior.
"Yes, my lord, it shall be as you say. Thank you for the trust you are showing and I shall live up to it," she promised solemnly.
"You may write me if you need me, though it will take a few days before a letter reaches me." He looked at all the women. "Perhaps we can have a family get together this summer to get to know one another better. I'll arrange something."
He considered one more idea. "What do you plan to do with yourself, as in for a job?"
Narcissa looked shocked. "Job? Why would I need a job? I have the Malfoy fortune, or what's left of it, which is still considerable despite what my former husband squandered at times."
"Oh, then I guess I don't need to ask if you'd like to help me with a business I have that could use someone with your knowledge," he said as he stood.
The woman raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow. "I might have a little extra time once I put some things in order. What might you need help with?"
"The Potter wealth is from property and it would be good to find someone to help me with that as I'm quite busy with other tasks. Would you have any interest in that?" He thought this might be a good way to keep an eye on her and she probably knew a lot about the Wizarding World that could be helpful to him. Being Lord Black would probably make it work, especially since Draco was gone.
"Possibly," she allowed with a hint of interest.
"Then take some time to do what you need; I'll contact you this summer. There are also a few tasks in regards to the Black family as well," he added and noted more interest there.
Reaching out with his magic, he could feel that he could leave from here. "If you'll excuse me, it's been a long day."
He Apparated to the Longbottom house, looking forward to a quiet evening. Harry did remember to thank Lady Longbottom for her tutelage on traditions.
(A/N: One more chapter and we're done. I hope to have it out in 2 or 3 days.)