Harry Potter Donald Duck Mickey Mouse

by Buddziebaby

AU. Post Hogwarts. One shot. The universe gave Harry another chance, this time he's listening to his gut. Weasley and Hermione fans will not enjoy this story. [Harry x Daphne] Being edited!

Harry looked around the room and sighed, he wondered yet again how different things would have been had someone warned him.

His once beautiful baby girl, Lily, entered the room and made a beeline for the bar. Judging from the scowl that now permanently marred her face and the shadows under her eyes, he presumed that she was abusing potions again.

Her husband, the famous international quidditch player Biaron Pluck sneered at her before roughly pulling her to the side by her arm.

"Don't create a scene Harry." Ginny whispered, flashing a fake smile to the latest arrivals.

He heard the glass in his hand crack but said nothing. He knew that Lily wouldn't listen to him or accept his help, his intervening in her life always ended badly.

"Happy birthday." A new voice cut in. "Care for a refill?"

Harry mumbled a thanks and followed Neville to the bar.

"You are lucky you never had any kids."

"Fortunately I wasn't doused in potions. Unfortunately I was still pumped on adrenaline and let my hormones make my choices. Hannah sends her wishes but she had other plans."

Harry nodded. Like him, Neville had found himself in a miserable marriage. Hannah wasn't aware of all the pureblood customs which had made Augusta very unhappy, Neville had suggested moving away from the manor only for Hannah to proclaim that she would rather leave him than the palatial house. The constant fighting had forced Neville to take a step back, he'd ended up taking up a job at Hogwarts where he spent most of his year. Augusta had passed away the previous year, but the rift in his relationship which had stayed for forty years with Hannah was irreparable.

James stumbled out from a door on the right, as usual he was followed by Ron. They were both laughing about something.

"Aren't you going to do something about them?" A grating voice snapped from behind them. Rose glared at them and shoved past them as she hurried towards her father and cousin trying to usher them back out discreetly.

"Ugh, she sure inherited her mother's superiority complex. It's a pity, Max left her…"

"Yes, he sure was easy on the eyes wasn't he?" Harry replied dryly.

Draco chuckled. "I'll have whatever they are having." He added to the bartender. "How come your lovely mother in law hasn't made her grand entrance yet?"

"She's still upset over Albus' demise…"

"The Greengrass clan feel the same way about Scorpious."

Harry burst out laughing, following his line of vision the other two joined in. Ginny was glaring at Cho, who despite being married herself for well over four decades still managed to bring out all of Ginny's insecurities.

"Little does she know that she should be glaring at you as well!" Neville remarked earning a scowl from Draco.

"It's okay Dray, had I swung the other way I would have been attracted to you as well."

"Don't mock me Potter. At least the thing I would miss most wasn't a Weasel." Draco snapped and stalked away.

"It's truly amazing how you do it. Thirty years later and you still manage to get under his skin."

Harry shrugged. "He'll come around, always does."

"Harry Potter! Ginny just told me that you haven't prepared a speech! How can you still be so irresponsible, honestly I don't know who's worse, you or Ron!"

"Look who it is, our dear old Hermy! Have you managed to obliviate the Queen yet? Or wait! Are you going to obliviate all of Britain? The world maybe? Or are we all going to start serving the muggles?"

"Don't be silly Harry. She gave the Muggle life up when her parents told her to sod off."

"That's right, you weren't even informed of their passing were you?" He sneered.

She shoved a piece of paper in his hand and ran off with tears in her eyes.

"Well at least she didn't hex you."

Harry snorted.

"James will be spending the night at the Burrow, which obviously means that mum will be telling me how I've failed as a mother tomorrow. You could have at least looked sad or happy or something instead of looking all stony faced all the time, with all the camera crew…"

"I'm sure you'll be on the front page tomorrow honey, don't worry. Why you positively nailed the role of the grieving mother. You know, I never understood, why you potioned me when your acting skills are so good!"

"Don't patronize me Harry, it's been a year since Albus' passing but I still hurt…"

"Yes, your constant shopping for the list of endless parties that you have to attend really leaves a lot of room for grieving…"

It took all her willpower to not slap him, instead she slammed his bedroom door and went to her own bedroom instead, yet again silently cursing her mother.

She still remembered the day she decided to follow her wretched mother's advice, vividly.

"What's the matter honey? I thought that we were meeting you tonight at the Longbottom gala."

"Don't worry mum, you'll still get to go to your precious gala…"

"Don't take that tone with me young lady! I've waited a very long time for this. Didn't you see how Andromeda Tonks ate her own words last week? Everyone thought I wasn't good enough, well I'm Harry Potter's mum now…"

Ginny rolled her eyes, her mother was still obnoxious and people still tried to avoid her but out of respect to Harry they'd have to tolerate her presence at their social gatherings. "At the moment he's my problem."

"Ginny, haven't I taught you anything! I knew I should have given you cooking lessons…"

"I have elves!"

"And why don't you get him a mistress as well! All men need, is good food and good sex and you can get him to do anything!"

"I'm not you! I like my career…"

Ginny stopped mid sentence, shocked at what happened next. For the first time in her life, Molly Weasley had slapped her daughter.

"Now you listen to me very carefully, Ginevra Molly Potter, you would be nothing if it wasn't for that boy. You think the Holyhead Harpies hired you because of your skill? The only reason they even let you near their team was because you are Harry Potter's wife. You managed to get married but if you screw this up he can easily denounce you publically, which means that you'll end up living here in the Burrow."

"He would never…"

"Will you risk it?"

"He wants kids! And not just one or two he wants a bloody quidditch team of his own!"

"Then give him kids!"

"I can't ruin my life like that! If I get pregnant now I'll have to quit the team…"

Molly knew exactly how self centered and stubborn her daughter was, she knew she had to tread carefully. One wrong move would ruin years of work.

And so Ginny had left with an additional concoction of potions. Potions that would make Harry do her bidding. The first four five years had been great but slowly and steadily he started becoming immune to their effects.

Then one day much to Ginny's surprise she found out that she was pregnant, something that should have been impossible. However, Harry's lack of reaction to the news had led to their first big row.

"Ginevra, they found the potions in my system a few months ago. So I decided to give you a taste of your own medicine. I want kids, that's all I've ever wanted and now you are going to have my kids. We will act like a perfectly happy family, because I want my children to experience the love of both parents."

"And why would I…"

"Because if you don't, not only will I publicly denounce you but I won't give you a penny."

"You can't legally stop me from…"

"I can when I tell them my reason with proof of course. But if you do as I say then you can carry on living your lavish life I will never question you. Spend as much as you like."

Ginny had thrown a fit in response and had marched off to the Burrow. Harry had fully expected the rest of the family to show up to his house wands blazing for hurting their baby.

Instead, Molly and Arthur had come begging him on their knees. Arthur had reluctantly told Harry the full truth.

Ron would pass his exams and would be made prefect if the Weasley's managed to befriend Harry. Ginny too wouldn't have any problems academically and the twins wouldn't be expelled for all the stunts they pulled. And if everything went according to plan, Arthur would even get the promotion that he deserved Molly had added.

"Harry you have to understand I couldn't afford to have two kids expelled and two kids repeating every year. We didn't have the money to afford tutors like others do but I did come to care for you like a son. We shouldn't have done what we did but if you leave Ginny we will never be able to live through the chaos that it will cause. The dark families considered us blood traitors but even the light families barely spoke to us before, if something like this gets out now… Please Harry, I beg of you."

"I want seven kids."

Ginny who'd been standing silently blanched. "One."

"Three."

"Yes. Three beautiful grandchildren." Molly cut in pulling Harry into a hug sobbing into his shoulder.

That was the day that Ginny became Harry Potter's slave. Sure she was still treated like a queen by her staff and society but she had acted as Harry wanted ever since then. Even their children hadn't realized how screwed up everything was till they were adults.

Of course, her dear mother had managed to get her claws into them. Even though Harry periodically checked everyone for potions as they were growing up he didn't know that Molly Weasley had a way with words. She could have stopped it from happening but watching her mother screw them up was the only way she could get back at him and in all honesty she'd never wanted them in the first place. With time she'd come to care for them but she couldn't make herself love them.

She sighed as she removed her diamond necklace. She'd never say it out loud, but seeing Harry every morning in his Auror robes still made her tingle. It reminded her of the day he saved her, he'd looked so heroic, so perfect, the image of him standing bloody with a sword in his hand had burnt itself into her mind. Yes, that was the man she'd married she reminded herself, a hero, her hero.

Hermione sat in the hideous orange colored room and sobbed into her pillow. She felt like the eleven year old who'd boarded the Hogwarts express, a scared and lonely little girl.

After the battle, she'd finally gone to Australia to look for her parents. She'd found them easily enough and had given them back the memories that she'd initially blocked.

Then all hell had broken loose. Her parents had felt violated. Their barely adult daughter taking away their memories and not even bothering to discuss it with them first hadn't sat well with them. She still couldn't believe how easy it had been for them to turn their backs on her.

They'd both flown back to Britain, sold their home and then left promptly not bothering to tell her where they were going. A year later, once she'd graduated from Hogwarts she'd located them, they were staying in San Francisco. She'd hoped that with time they'd realize that everything she'd done, she'd done for their own good but once again she was left heartbroken. Not only did they refuse to acknowledge her existence but they'd adopted a child, she'd clearly been replaced.

Being completely alone she was glad that she had the Weasley's to lean on. Ron had been her rock, things had been great till they were living in the Burrow. But once they both had jobs they'd gotten married and moved into an apartment and that's when things had gone south fast.

Ron had expected her to cook and clean and serve him like his mother did. Hermione had put her foot down. When Rose came into the picture Ron left the Auror force and started working for George, his change of career caused another row between the couple. Hermione didn't understand his reason, that somebody needed to spend more time with Rose, she just thought that he was once again trying to get by by doing the bare minimum. They couldn't afford the apartment anymore and were forced to move back into the Burrow.

Molly never said it to her face and Hermione suspected that the only reason she stayed quiet was because Hermione made the big bucks, but she could see the change in treatment that she received from the woman. Molly clearly thought that Hermione was a bad wife and mother, eventually things seemed to settle down especially when she became minister of magic.

She however made the mistake of talking about moving again, this time Molly did voice her opinions openly. She claimed that with her new job she'd barely have time to look after Ron and Rose and it was best for everyone that they all carried on living the way they all were.

Forty years later they were all still living in the Burrow. Molly was happily serving her drunkard sons every beck and call while trash talking her daughter in law.

Things had been okay, because even through all the ups and downs she'd had Rose and Harry, but she finally managed to do something that Harry couldn't forgive.

She'd become the Chief Mugwump for the ICW two decades ago after stepping down as minister, allowing her to spend a lot of time away from Britain. Ten years into her new position she'd made the decision to open up the magical world to muggles. She'd argued that with the muggles improving technology on a daily basis it was only a matter of time before they found out and it would be better if it was done on their terms.

Of course, she had refused to consider the consequences of her actions. Things had gotten ugly, very ugly. She'd nearly caused the Third World War, fortunately Aurors, unspeakables and obliviators from all over the world had combined forces and had managed to stop any permanent damage from happening.

She'd obviously been kicked out of her position forcing her to come back to Britain where Harry had lost Albus in a Muggle riot. A shiver went down her spine as she recalled his cold hard gaze, if looks could kill she was certain that she'd have died several times over.

It had been an intense reunion. Molly was screaming at her and crying her eyes out. Ginny was sobbing in Arthur's arms, Ron and James were drunkenly slurring amidst all that Hermione made the mistake of proving herself right.

"If they hadn't been stupid enough to go wands blazing into a Muggle riot they'd still be alive. Just goes to show that we should work something out with the muggles, wands or not they can still take us down."

Utter silence had followed her little outburst.

That was the moment she realized that she was once again completely alone. Rose was having her own problems which somehow Molly managed to blame on her as well.

She heard Rose call her down for dinner, wiping away her tears she slowly made her way down. Life at the moment seemed too long especially now that she had to spend all her time in this infernal place.

Harry went with the motions, somewhere down the line he'd become numb. Minutes turned into hours, hours into days and days into years. He only stopped working when he died, the day he went to bed and never woke up. He'd realized soon after joining the Aurors that he didn't really want to spend his life fighting evil. But things changed when he found out about the Weasley's betrayal and the Auror force became his escape. He eventually became the head of the DMLE and stayed in that position for a good ninety years. He'd of course been offered the position of minister, Chief Warlock and even supreme Mugwump but he deflected everything towards Hermione.

Now at the age of 179 he looked down at his frail body and smirked one last time. He'd made so many mistakes that cost so many people so much; he vaguely wondered if heaven and hell existed as his form gently floated away.

"Oi! Wake up!"

"Oomph." Harry woke up to find a pillow on his face. Shoving his attacker off he rolled out of bed and put on his glasses. A strange feeling rose inside his chest when he saw who was on the floor rolling in laughter.

"Come on mate, today's the big day."

Harry simply nodded, he couldn't risk opening his mouth. Try as he might, he couldn't recall why he suddenly despised his best friend.

A knock on the door made the monster inside him rear its ugly head again.

"You two can come downstairs now, Ginny has started getting dressed so you won't be seeing her till it's time. The boys will be getting dressed in the shed after breakfast."

"Come on mate. What are you staring at? I'm starving."

Harry shook his head, Hermione had left and he hadn't heard a word of what she'd said. All he knew was that he wanted to wring her neck and he had no idea why.

Getting up he followed Ron downstairs still in a daze. He wanted to slap the smug smile off Arthur's face. He even wanted to scream at George.

What on earth was wrong with him. Last he remembered he'd gone out with all the Weasley boys, sans Percy who wasn't into parties, to celebrate his bachelors.

"Drank too much last night? Not to worry, I have the cure over here." Arthur said, handing everyone a vial.

"Aren't you going to eat anything?"

Harry wiped off a bit of spittle off his cheek and took a deep breath. He was very close to blowing Ron into oblivion.

"Honestly Ron, I don't know how you can eat! Last night was crazy. What time did you and Harry get back?" Bill asked massaging his own temples as he took a sip of juice.

"Didn't we all get back together?" He asked between mouthfuls.

"Bill was the first one back around midnight. Then Charlie and George showed up around two in the morning. Percy and I went to bed around four and hoped that we wouldn't be murdered this morning, but fortunately you both are here. You know how upset Ginny was about the whole idea."

"I don't remember much of last night…" Harry replied to the questioning glances. "Excuse me, I need fresh air." He added jumping up and heading out to the orchard.

"Why did we split up?" He heard George's voice as he reached the door.

"We got too drunk too quickly!" Bill replied followed by shushing noises.

He snorted, knowing that Arthur was trying to keep Molly calm. The thought of Molly made his skin crawl, in fact, the thought of Ginny made him want to pull his hair out. What on earth was wrong with him.

He spent the next hour going over the last couple of years and he couldn't think of a single thing that would make him feel this way. Did someone potion him against the Weasley's?

'But you didn't feel any hatred towards Bill and Charlie or even Percy. Besides, Hermione isn't a Weasley.' A little voice in his head whispered.

Before he could try and figure things out someone stuffed a toast in his hand and started ushering him towards the shed.

He was feeling completely numb as he stood at the altar waiting for Ginny. For some unknown reason seeing Neville nod at him with a determined look in his eyes made him feel better. His stomach churned as soon as the music changed and Ginny started walking down the aisle.

She was wearing a strappy ivory lace gown. She stopped next to him and beamed, he gave her a weak smile in return.

'Run' the voice in his mind screamed. It was too hot and the minister seemed to be droning on and on. What felt like hours had gone by when someone nudged his side.

Looking up he found Ginny glaring at him.

"Wha…"

"Do you take Ginerva Molly Weasley to be your lawfully wedded wife?" The minister asked again.

"No." He blurted out not realizing that he'd said it out aloud.

Ginny froze, "this isn't funny Harry. Stop messing around." She said with a forced smile between gritted teeth, rolling her eyes towards the group of paparazzi that she'd invited.

"No, I don't love you." He repeated dumbly.

Ginny threw her bouquet and slapped him. "How dare you! I should have never allowed you to go out! Are you still fucking drunk?"

He heard some other voice or voices screaming, he couldn't really make out what they were saying. Suddenly somebody grabbed him and the familiar feeling of a hook around his navel made his world spin.

He landed on his butt.

"You okay Harry?"

"What's going on?"

"I'm doing what you asked. You sent me a letter this morning around 7 asking me to take you away when you said no. You did want to be taken away didn't you?" He asked worriedly.

"No, I mean yes! Don't worry Nev, thanks… what? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Neville blushed "you've never called me Nev before…"

"Oh…"

Neville put up anti mail wards and showed Harry a room. Harry had been hiding out at Neville's for five days, he'd initially shared his thoughts with him. Neville was equally confused at Harry's sudden dislike towards his friends and fiancé. He'd listened to Harry recount every detail that he could remember, right from after the battle to the day of his wedding and nothing pointed to his sudden change of heart.

On the third day Augusta had dragged him to St Mungos for a checkup. The checkup which had made his blood boil.

"He's been doused with potions since he was eleven. Look, we have a mild love potion and a loyalty potion here, I would guess it started during Christmas…"

"That's impossible, I mean Ginny wasn't even at Hogwarts when I was eleven then why would…"

"Think back, Harry, did you see her before Christmas? Did your feelings change between then and when you next saw her?" Augusta pressed.

Harry was about to shake his head when an image of her at the train station popped into his head. She'd just been an annoying little girl with red hair but then he saw her again at the Burrow the following summer and suddenly she was the girl "with bright brown eyes and flaming red hair." He mumbled.

He repeated his memory for both Augusta and the healer.

Augusta let out an angry growl "what 12 year old boy thinks like that! I will destroy those bastards, line theft will not go unpunished not till I am alive!"

Harry had managed to persuade her to let him handle things. But ever since they'd gotten back he couldn't stop thinking back to every instance that he had been robbed of. The one instance that stood out like a sore thumb was the summer after his fourth year, he couldn't understand why he'd spent all his time cleaning when he could have been spending time with Sirius.

'Compulsion potions' the voice in his head whispered.

"Harry, you need to see this."

"Nev, I'm not interested in what the tabloids have to say."

He'd caught a glimpse of the headlines the past couple of days. Every paper in the country was speculating his sudden change of heart. He just wanted to calm down before talking to the Weasley's, the papers wouldn't help with that.

"Harry, I wouldn't ask you to read it if it wasn't important…"

Harry sighed and extended his arm. The first thing he saw was Ginerva Weasley's face plastered across the front page.

Exclusive interview with the Bride not to be

By Terry Higgins

In a shocking interview Harry Potter's fiancé has opened up about her fiancé's constant internal turmoil. "The wedding is simply postponed, Harry has always had problems controlling his temper. He wasn't brought up in the best of environments…"

Harry let out a growl as he skimmed over the rest of the paper and jumped up. "Don't" he growled at Neville as he stalked upto the apparition point and disappeared.

Everyone was still eating breakfast when their door exploded, the women shrieked whilst Bill, Fleur, Arthur and Charlie drew their wands.

"How dare you, you fucking cunt!" Harry shrieked and made a beeline for his fiancé.

"Harry!" Arthur tried.

"Don't! I have a fucking temper don't I?"

"Now listen here Harry, Ginny has been extremely worried about you we all have…"

"I'd shut my trap if I were you Molly, I'm in no mood for…"

Arthur tried to cut in again only for Harry to glare at him "potions and line theft sound familiar?"

Arthur paled, Molly let out a wail and fell in her chair.

"What are you talking about Harry?" Bill asked, looking at his parents in concern.

"Your lovely parents here whored your little sister out! I want to know why?"

A movement on his right made him turn to see Charlie tying up a red faced Ronald.

"Harry don't…" Hermione whimpered.

"Stay out of it, this doesn't concern you!" He snarled back

The entire room was silent. Days seemed to pass as the silence stretched on and finally Arthur, looking resigned, gave in. "We didn't have the money…"

"Who all knew? Did anyone else ever dose me."

"Harry…"

"Molly it's over!" Arthur said with a tone of finality. "Yes, Ginny did in your sixth year and Ron did when you were all away."

"That's why he came back?"

"Arthur nodded."

"Did you know?"

George's head dropped "we overheard mom and dad talking once but we did feel bad that's why we did that stunt with Umbridge."

"Yes real martyrs you two were."

"Harry, I love you…"

"Don't! Look Ginny you were great, I mean the things you are willing to do to please a man in bed are sick. Did Molly give you lessons?"

"HARRY POTTER!"

With a flick of his wand he sent Molly flying back into the kitchen counter. "I could kill the lot of you and nobody would touch me. But no matter what your reasons, you still helped me escape the Dursley's during my summer break so I'll spare you. If I were you I'd leave Britain." He added to Percy, Bill, Hermione and Charlie and strode out.

He heard all hell break loose as he stepped out of the house and apparated away.

Ginevra Weasley had made him sound like a nut job with a bad childhood. He wallowed in self pity ordering another drink.

"You prefer Muggle single malt as well?"

Harry looked up from the glass that he'd been nursing and found Krum grinning at him.

"Your English has improved. I barely hear the accent."

Krum smirked. "I've spent the last three years in America, now I'll be playing here."

Harry nodded but went back to staring at his drink. He groaned inwardly when he felt Krum take the seat next to him.

"You know two years ago in America I went through something similar. Nearly lost my career over it."

Harry looked up at him again and raised an eyebrow.

"An ex girlfriend tried to slander my name by saying that I am gay."

Harry scoffed "that's barely the same thing."

"Isn't it? They are both true. Being a gay Quidditch player isn't heard of, think about it, we spends hours together with other men and most of the time we are either in physical contact or we're walking around butt naked in the changing rooms."

Harry mulled over it for a while. "What did you do?" He eventually asked.

"I took control. I cut off the snake's head and spoke my own truth. Some liked it others didn't, but to fuck with the ones who were offended."

"But you could have lost your job…"

"I am Victor Krum! I am the hero to Quidditch like you are the hero to Britain. Fame may be fickle but if you know how to play your cards right nobody can stand in your way."

Harry finished his drink and stood up.

"Going already?"

"I have a snake to kill."

Krum smirked, "let's meet again once you've slayed your beast."

Augusta was smiling like a Cheshire cat the next morning. The morning paper once again had Ginny's face plastered on the front page but this time the headline read 'Man-Who-Conquered dumps the girl who allowed You-Know-Who to possess her'. Pictures of the chamber were published using a special pensieve and Harry's oath declaring that everything was true was printed in bold letters.

"Part one of three" Augusta purred. "I'm glad you are finally taking control."

The next day the article detailed Harry's life before and during Hogwarts.

The day after that the bombshell was dropped, the article explained in detail Ginny, Molly, Arthur, the twins and Ron's actions. It ended with Harry challenging them to prove his statements wrong, he even asked the reporter to get an interview with them under oath.

Needless to say, George was forced to close his shop almost immediately.

Ron lost his job in the Auror force even though Harry had already handed in his resignation.

The Holyhead Harpies not only ended Ginny's contract but they got a lifelong Quidditch ban issued against her.

But the worst was that Arthur too lost his job.

Molly in a fit of rage tried to contact every media outlet in the wizarding world to slander Harry Potter. But no matter where she went they asked for an oath, when she would refuse they'd end up printing an article that described how low the family had fallen. Inadvertently Molly ended up making her family's misfortune famous world over.

Bill Delacour née Weasley was forced to visit the Burrow to put up wards that would prevent any hate mail or haters from approaching the house. He along with Percy and Charlie had ended their relationship with the Weasley clan but he didn't want them to get hurt either.

During the rest of the month Harry had carried on staying at Longbottom Manor as he started selling Grimmauld place and all its contents. He only kept a few family heirlooms and the books from the Black library.

He had been pleasantly surprised at the price that he'd been offered for the house, even though the area was now dilapidated the protections cast on the house and the magic imbued in it over generations made it a hot property. He could easily buy an estate in the Muggle world and still have enough left over till he figured things out.

He found a beautiful little cottage near the beach for a steal. The cottage was only two bedrooms and was falling to pieces but it was surrounded in five acres of lush land and even had a tiny path that led to a private little corner of the beach. The portion of beach didn't come with the land but the contractor assured him that they'd put up Muggle repelling charms and none would be the wiser.

Within a week Harry found himself standing in his brand new twenty bedroom manor.

"Look at all this virgin land!" Neville remarked.

"I thought you'd like it. Here."

"What's this?"

"That's the amount that the contractor quoted when I told him that I didn't just want grass everywhere, I want lots of trees and flowers as well."

"I'm not going to charge you."

"Why not?"

"Because we are friends!"

"So what? We might be friends but this could be a really good business opportunity."

"What do you mean?"

"There aren't any magical landscaping companies in Britain, not as far as I can tell…" Harry spent the rest of the day taking Neville to Muggle landscaping companies and showing him their work. By the end of the day Neville was all charged up and ready to pitch the idea to his grandmother.

Harry awoke the next morning to a tapping on his window. Sitting up he put his glasses on and looked around the empty room. The only piece of furniture in his new home was a sleeping bag that he was currently using. He had decided to try every single room before choosing which one he liked best, the tapping made him turn and frown.

It was Pig, he'd forgotten to ask the contractor to put up wards that would stop mail. Still frowning he let the bird in and untied the letter, at least it wasn't a howler he mused as the excitable owl followed him down to the kitchen.

He stopped in his tracks when he saw an assortment of breakfast items lying on the kitchen island. He was about to draw his wand when a tiny elf popped in.

"Tinkle! Jeez, you scared the jeepers out of me!"

The elf's ears drooped "Tinkle is being sorry! Nana be asking Tinkle to be making sure that you is eating proper!"

"Well you've made breakfast for ten so I'm pretty sure I'm sorted for the week." He said with a laugh. "Tinkle, I can cook so you can tell Augusta not to worry."

The elf stood still, looking uneasy.

Harry sighed. "You know what, I can make eggs and bacon but I've never baked and boy does this fresh bread smell delicious. How about we make a deal? You can come here whenever you like and bake me stuff and I'll figure out the rest."

The elf pondered over his suggestion, finally looking up at him and smiling "Tinkle be asking Puffy for more recipes."

Harry shook his head in amusement as he watched the now excited elf pop away. He could foresee a future filled with baked goods.

"Oi, helping yourself much!" He exclaimed at Pig who was happily eating bacon.

Sitting down he poured himself a cup of coffee and unrolled the parchment, the neat handwriting told him who it was from. He still couldn't stand her but he'd hoped that she too had left.

Dear Harry,

This is the 97th letter that I'm writing to you and I won't stop till I get answers. After you left, I went to Flourish and Blotts and bought some books. I found out that healers can misdiagnose potions when they test patients. There is a 57% error margin, Harry Madam Pomfrey could have given you a pain potion which can later show up as a love potion. I have listed the ingredients of two potions as an example underneath as you'll see only one ingredient changes in both…

Harry skipped over everything that she'd copied from the books.

…and before you say anything, I got myself tested as well and I've never been given potions. Why would they sneak potions into your food and not mine? Harry you need to see past everything and focus on the good, I'm not asking you to marry Ginny but don't destroy so many years of friendship. We've all been through so much together, they even lost Fred and now Bill, Charlie and Percy won't even acknowledge their existence. Nobody will give them a job, Mrs Weasley even tried to apply at a pub in Knockturn alley, they told her to send Ginny instead.

Harry snorted, spraying coffee all over the kitchen counter.

Angelina left George and took Ginny's spot on the team. We've been eating eggs, chickens and apples for two weeks now. Please Harry, if nothing else please just publish a public apology so they can at least work. Do you know that Fletcher refused to come to the Burrow? He said he doesn't associate with dirt bags. I know that you are a good person but I also know that research isn't your strong suit, I got a book on wizarding law as well, Harry your accusations are very serious. Line theft is the worst imaginable offense in wizarding society, especially amongst the purebloods…

He stopped reading and summoned a quill and a piece of parchment.

Dear Hermione,

I really enjoyed your essay. I would still suggest that you do the smart thing and leave the Burrow but the decision is yours. If you stay I suggest you keep your last name, it'll help you get a job. I also suggest that Ginny take up the offer at the pub, she'll get paid for services rendered which won't be too different from her parents original plan for her.

Don't write to me ever again and make sure you tell the others the same. As you know line theft is a very serious matter, I haven't asked for legal action yet but bother me again and everyone will be taking a one way trip to Azkaban. I can't be sure, but I believe that there won't be any eggs, chickens and apples there.

Sod off,

Harry.

He was about to get dressed for the day when another owl swooped in. He recognized this one as well, they'd send the same letter every couple of months. He didn't understand why they didn't just seize all his accounts and be done with it, he'd managed to live on cash for the past couple of years refusing to go to Gringotts after the break in that he'd orchestrated. Did they want to kill him? Or would he be arrested? He decided to finally go to the bank and get it over with, he was beyond caring anymore.

But first he needed to do some shopping. If it was his last day he wanted to go out in style. Walking into the pantry he moved a hidden panel and opened the safe. Roughly half a million pounds lay inside.

Around noon Harry walked into Gringotts, he'd expected the guards to pounce on him, no such thing happened. He walked up to a teller and cleared his throat, "I was asked to come in."

The goblin looked at the letter that he was holding out and immediately yelled at a guard in his native tongue. Once again Harry was surprised that no sharp metal was poking him.

"Follow him!" The goblin barked and went back to weighing emeralds.

Maybe they didn't want to stain the white marble floor he mused as he followed the guard to what he presumed would be a dungeon. Instead they entered a lavish office. Harry was certain that the gold veins that ran across the white marble walls and floor were real gold.

An old goblin looked up from his black velvet throne. "Mr Potter, I was beginning to wonder if I would have to employ other means to bring you here."

"You can seize all my accounts…"

The guard growled and Harry felt a blade poke into the middle of his back. The older goblin laughed and said something in gobbledok. The guard reluctantly made his way back out, shutting the gold door behind him.

"I have no use for gold! Why don't you take a seat, tea?"

Harry was now in a complete loss, he'd run through several scenarios in his head that had forced him to take a calming draught before coming but none of them involved him taking a seat and being offered tea.

He took a seat and accepted the cup. 'Maybe it's poisoned' the voice in his head said.

"It's not poisoned. We goblins love blood and gold. But you have something much more valuable to offer. You are a thief."

Harry squirmed in his chair and felt like an apology was necessary. "Yes, I'm sorry about that. It's just that…"

"No, no, don't be sorry. I wasn't accusing you, I was praising you."

Okay now Harry was completely baffled. He'd discussed the letter with Ron and Hermione several times. She'd read up on goblin punishments and told him to stay away from Gringotts because the bank was goblin territory and their law was the rule. Ron had pointed out that neither he or Hermione had received a letter, meaning that they expected Harry, who was the richest of the three, to give up his gold.

The goblin gave him a feral smile. "Never in the history of Gringotts have we even remotely experienced such a feat. A theft in our territory is unheard of…"

Try as he may, he couldn't control himself "Err, actually I remember a theft taking place when I was eleven…"

The goblin frowned "ah yes, but taking something from your own account and filing a report isn't really theft." He said in a distasteful tone.

So Dumbledore had planned the whole thing, Harry thought and realized that he was quite capable of doing such a thing.

"Mr Potter, what you did shook the goblin nation to its core. And so the elders came up with a proposition, you could suffer the same fate as Griphook…"

Harry followed his line of sight and saw a wall lined with golden heads.

"Or you could become a consultant for Gringotts."

"Umm, what do you mean by consultant?"

"Every now and then you will be contacted by me. You will be given a location which is secured by us and you will steal from us. Every time you succeed you will be paid."

"So I'll be a thief for Gringotts?"

"Yes."

He didn't have much of a choice. Either he would be decapitated, dipped in gold and placed on a wall or he could steal. "I think I'll accept your generous offer."

"I thought as much. Of course you cannot tell anyone about it and there will be no written contract, but heed my words carefully if you try to get out of our little arrangement our next meeting won't be this pleasant."

Harry nodded.

"Great, here! This is our branch in France that you will be stealing from anytime during the rest of the year. Keep in mind that if you are caught by local authorities we will negate any supposed deals."

Harry read the name and address of the bank. "But won't they know who I am?"

"Apart from the elders and myself, nobody knows about this deal. They don't even know about this new security check that we have initiated."

A week had gone by since Harry's strange meeting, to celebrate a weight lifted off his shoulders he was meeting Krum and Neville for drinks.

"Harry told me about your new business, tell me could you make a garden on a balcony? I miss the gardens I have back in Bulgaria. I've gotten tired of living in apartments with no greenery."

"Sure." Neville replied enthusiastically.

"Oi, look! It's the cute one!" Krum exclaimed an hour later.

The three men had reached their happy place. Harry turned to see Draco Malfoy standing at the bar with his nose turned up.

"MALFY! DRAYYYY!" He called out and staggered up to the blond.

"Po…?"

Harry pulled the astonished man into a hug. Pulling away he kept his hands on his shoulders and looked Draco straight in the eye and seriously asked "Dray, are you a poof?"

Draco staggered back shoving Harry's hands off "what the fuck Potter!" He exclaimed angrily.

Harry pouted "I'm serious Dray!" He slurred "my friend has a crush on you…"

Draco glared at him "fuck off" he spat and left. He grabbed some dark haired girl's hand and dragged her out with him.

"What'd he say?" Krum asked with hopeful eyes.

"He became all shy about it…"

"Yes! Another round of shots and glenfiddich here!" Krum called out to the server.

"He's the reason I would sit at the Slytherin table everyday but he'd spend all his time staring at you. I'm really glad that you aren't gay, it's hard to find a good looking wizard. Especially one who is willing to accept that he's different."

"But you took Hermione to the ball!" Neville said.

"Yes we went as friends. She had no self esteem so she wouldn't expect anything of me."

"That's cold." Neville said, looking sad.

"She spent the night correcting me instead of having a real conversation. All I can remember is that her name wasn't Hermioninny, besides she used me too. I helped her feel better about herself and she helped me keep my secret."

"So you noticed it too huh? Didn't have to be so blunt about it." A voice from their right said.

"Daphne!" Neville exclaimed "what are you doing here?"

"I live a few blocks down. Golden boy here chased away my company for the night, so I'll be joining you all. What are we having? Ugh what lightweights! Get me a hellfire and some ice cubes please."

The server placed four shot glasses that had a red liquid which was smoking and four tall glasses with clear liquid that was sparkling on the table.

"The owner's a squib so they serve the magical stuff if you ask. You guys sure have great service though." She whispered.

"Viktor tipped the server to keep the drinks coming. I think I'm going to be sick…" Neville replied looking wearily at the glasses.

"Where are the ice cubes?" Harry asked stupidly.

Daphne rolled her eyes "hellfire is the shot that you take first, it really burns when it goes down so you chase it with this drink which has a cooling effect."

"It gets you drunk quickly!" Krum said, lifting the shot glass and nudging Neville to do the same.

Harry thought that Daphne's description lacked the true extent of horror that one experienced from this drink. He could feel the sweat pouring down his back as the drink burnt him from the inside out. His vision blurred as he picked up the tall glass with trembling hands and gulped down a big sip. The effect was instantaneous, it was like a fire inside him was slowly freezing over.

By the time they'd had their third round nobody felt hot or cold anymore. The pub swayed around them and the dim lights shone brighter.

Harry awoke on the bathroom floor stark naked. His body was sticky with sweat, slowly sitting up he waited for the world to stop swaying and cringed when a pop made his head explode. A vial was shoved into his mouth. The bitter liquid made him gag but someone was holding his mouth shut and pinching his nose forcing him to swallow.

He tried to push the person away but found himself falling face first onto the floor.

"It'll take a minute to work."

"ARGH" He grabbed a towel and covered his naked form "what's wrong with you!"

"Nothing I haven't seen before! Besides, you made your feelings pretty clear last night."

"Wha?" But the blurry figure walked away before he could finish his sentence.

He started feeling normal again as he climbed into the shower and tried to recall what had happened the previous night. From the tenderness around his eye it was clear that he'd been punched but he couldn't remember anything.

Getting out of the shower he got dressed and made his way down. From the looks of it everyone had come back to his place.

"What happened last night?"

"Draco came back to the pub to confront you." Daphne answered.

"So he punched me! Okay that makes sense."

"No, you kissed him!" She corrected him.

Harry choked on the orange juice, Viktor was glaring daggers at him. "So you punched me. Yeah I guess that makes sense."

"No! I punched you!" She said with a huff.

Harry looked at Daphne utterly confused. "Why would you punch me?"

"Because you can't spend the night shamelessly flirting with me only to go and make out with a boy."

"Okay wait. There's a difference between a kiss and a full blown make out!"

"You kissed him and asked him if he liked it, when he was too shocked to respond you grabbed his face and shoved your tongue down his throat. From the moan that escaped his lips I'm pretty sure he'd call it more than a kiss."

Harry paled. "I-no! Why would I do that?"

Daphne shrugged and left without another word.

"Did you like it?" Viktor asked eventually.

"I don't remember it."

"Only one way to find out!" Neville pitched in looking meaningfully at both men. "What?" He exclaimed at the glare that Harry gave him "you sort of owe him, he'd called dibs on Dray." He made sure to use a sultry voice when saying the name.

Harry threw a croissant at him but turned to look at Viktor. "Fine, let's do this."

Saying that kissing Viktor was awkward was an understatement. It was wet and stubbly and weird.

"Well?" Neville asked as they broke apart.

"You are a good kisser." Viktor said.

"It was weird. I mean your technique was spot on but I didn't really feel anything. Maybe I kissed him to prove that he was gay."

"But you said that he liked me back."

"Yeah I may have embellished the truth…but if he moaned he liked it right?"

"You are such a douchebag!" Viktor exclaimed, throwing a roll at Harry but the sullen look had been replaced with a goofy smile.

"Why are there so many baked goods? I wouldn't mind some scrambled…" Neville said looking around the island which had twelve different types of baked breakfast items.

Tinkle popped in and tutted "I is saying I is cooking but no! Master thinks he is doing it all…" she kept on mumbling as she quickly whipped up a batch of scrambled eggs and sausages.

"Which reminds me, I still haven't thanked your gran for sending Tinkle over every morning."

"What do you mean?" Neville asked, looking confused.

"Err, isn't she your elf?"

"No, Tinkle bonded to you. She's yours. Don't you remember when you were balling your eyes out about Ginny she asked if she could look after you and you said yes."

'Oh' Harry mouthed "did I steal her from you?"

Neville shrugged "it's not really stealing. She's barely an year old, elves don't serve the family till they are one and bond to the family. But I'm glad she chose you, Gran wouldn't have accepted her lack of refrain. We have two other elves joining the family this week so there is more than enough help to look after the manor and grounds.

"Tinkle why didn't you tell me that you were bonded to me? And where have you been staying?"

The elf wrung her hands nervously "I is being scared but I is being good. I no lie only fib a little. But I is learning how to bes a good elf."

"I think you are a great elf Tinkle but I want you to always be honest with me okay? Now why don't you choose a room?"

"Tinkle liking pantry."

"We have a lot of rooms."

"Tinkle liking pantry."

"Okay then you can stay wherever you like as long as you are comfortable."

"So what are you going to do about Draco?" Viktor asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You'll have to talk to him especially since he's engaged to Daphne's sister."

"What? Why didn't you say anything last night?"

Neville shrugged "just assumed you knew…"

Harry awkwardly made his way to the Malfoy garden, as luck would have it he'd walked into Draco's engagement brunch. The elf had simply pointed the way and left, he immediately spotted Daphne in the crowd. She was standing with another woman that he presumed was her sister.

"What are you doing here?" Draco hissed from behind.

"We need to talk…"

Draco grabbed him and pulled him into the empty sun room. "What do you want Potter?"

Harry took a deep breath "first off I want to apologize about last night. I'm not gay I was just trying to make you see that you are. You cannot go through with this…"

"Are you always this charming? I could declare a blood feud this very second because of your insult!"

"You could but then you'd end up spending the rest of your life being miserable. I was serious last night, a friend does like you. You might remember him, Viktor Krum…"

Draco's eyes flashed but he didn't react.

"Look, I'm going over to his place for dinner tonight. Why don't you come? Who knows it might just change your life…"

"Get out." Draco hissed and turned his back to him.

Harry desperately wanted to say something else instead he gave him the address and left.

"Won't Neville be joining us as well?" Harry asked when he only saw three plate settings.

"He's having dinner with his fiancé."

"What do you mean fiancé?"

Viktor gave Harry a quizzical look "are you sure you weren't living under a rock the past couple of years? You seem to know nothing about your peers."

Harry made a strange sound and sat down. "The Weasley's weren't very popular so they didn't get any news and I was too busy playing hero to care about anyone other than myself."

Viktor hummed "at least you accept your shortcomings now all you have to do is work on them."

Harry nodded but frowned "I guess I'm just surprised how everyone is tying the knot at such a young age."

"We shall start with drinks and an appetizer… you should buy a book on wizarding etiquette and culture. Heirs of Ancient and Noble houses tend to get married young, it's the only way that they get access to their full inheritance."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's take you for example. You are the heir to house Potter. Your bloodline is an old one which means that you have a lot of accumulated wealth, at the moment you'd be using a trust vault which would give you enough to live a comfortable life not a lavish one. Once you get married, however, you'd come into your inheritance which would be a lot more."

Harry gaped at Viktor, he'd always presumed that he only had what he'd been using all these years he'd never thought that there would be more. "But why wait for marriage?"

"These customs are old but parents didn't want their children blowing up all their money by being irresponsible. They were afraid that people would try to use them for their money…"

Harry scoffed "it doesn't stop people from trying to get the daughter married off to you…"

Viktor shrugged "if there was a parent figure in your life they would have made sure that all the paperwork was uptodate. That's why even muggle borns have magical guardians."

"Paperwork as in?"

"There are special contracts the families sign to ensure that line theft isn't taking place. Basically if either party is trying to defraud the other the consequences are dire."

"I need to find out who my guardian is…"

"You can look it up at the ministry."

The fire flared, startling both men and Draco stepped out.

"I apologize for my tardiness" he said stiffly.

"You are right on time." Viktor replied. Harry noticed that his voice had become deeper.

Draco handed him a bottle of wine and thanked him for the invitation.

"Oh, was I supposed to get something?"

"It is basic etiquette to not show up empty handed to someone's house." Draco drawled.

Viktor laughed, "don't worry Harry, I myself forget these little details often. Thank you Draco."

Harry was suddenly very aware of being a third wheel. A young woman brought out the first course, seeing his opportunity he jumped at it.

"Oh no, is this shellfish? I'm deathly allergic…"

Viktor asked the woman to tell the chef to prepare something else.

"No, I don't want to be a bother. I'll go, fish and chips sound like fun…" he was out of his chair and through the door before anyone could say anything.

A week had gone by since Harry heard from either Viktor or Neville. So he was surprised to find Viktor hammered at his doorstep on Friday evening. Viktor wasn't good looking but the way he carried himself and his roguish looks made everyone in the room turn around to look at him.

Now, however, he was a complete mess. He was angry and heartbroken all at the same time and he couldn't stand on his own two feet.

Tinkle managed to shove a sobering potion into his mouth so that Harry could figure out what had happened.

"He kissed me and it's all YOUR FAULT. His life's changed because of YOU!" He said between sobs and glares.

Harry eventually slapped him. "Will you just calm down, you are not making any sense!"

It took Viktor a couple of seconds to calm down "he kissed me goodbye. He's getting married tomorrow but he'll never forget the week that we spent together. I didn't think it was possible to start caring about someone so fast, I- I think I'm in love with him!"

Harry simply sat there and stared while Viktor cried himself to sleep, he honestly had no idea how to handle an emotional person.

In all honesty everything felt extremely strange to Harry at the moment. He'd spent years with only Ron as a friend, well Hermione was there as well but it had never been the same thing. It had just been a month since he'd started hanging out with Neville and Viktor, yet they had become really good friends really fast. So in a way he understood Viktor's feelings towards Draco, sometimes in life when you meet the right people, time doesn't really matter.

Tinkle gave Viktor another sleeping potion as Harry got dressed in his wizarding finest to crash a wedding.

"Why are you looking so surprised?" Daphne's singsong voice called out.

She was a vision in red "I was surprised that security didn't stop me." He replied honestly, his brain had stopped working for a couple of seconds when she took a step towards him and revealed a thigh high slit.

"Ah, so you didn't RSVP."

"I was invited?"

"You are Harry Potter, of course you were invited. You are invited to things that even I'm not invited to, you choosing to ignore the invitation is your prerogative. Now, do you want to put on a show like you did at your wedding or will this be discreet?"

"Huh?"

Daphne sighed "well you are obviously here to stop this wedding, so tell me how I can help you!"

"Isn't it your sister's wedding?"

"Exactly and I think she's making a huge mistake. Her affections are one sided but she foolishly believes that she can make him love her. It doesn't work like that, you either click or you don't."

Harry couldn't find fault in her logic. "Yeah, I suppose you are right… Umm, maybe I should talk to him in private."

"Come on, I'll show you the way."

Draco blanched as soon as he saw Harry walk into the private suit "What the fuck are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you that very question."

"You know nothing, now leave before I call security."

"I won't leave till you tell me why you are doing this!"

Draco threw a bottle which smashed on the wall behind Harry. "You were a bad seeker but you'd make an even worse chaser."

"What is your fucking problem Potter? I've left you alone! Why are you still after me?"

Harry crossed his arms and leaned back against the dresser.

Draco let out a frustrated yell, "I have to do this for mother. Father was given the easy way out when they walked him through the veil but mother will never survive a five year sentence in Azkaban she's already started losing her mind. And nobody wants to deal with a Malfoy, not anymore."

"So Greengrass will get your mother out early if you marry his daughter. But what does he get?"

Draco flinched "he wants an heir, Daphne can't give him that and most well to do families will only marry their second sons to the younger daughter."

"An heir born of two younger children doesn't carry the same political clout as one born from a first born." Harry said, remembering a chapter in the book he'd bought.

Draco's usual snobbish persona fell as his head dropped and shoulders slumped which angered Harry.

"So you are just going to take the easy way out?" He said, striding towards Draco and shoving him back.

"NOTHING ABOUT THIS IS EASY!"

"THEN STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR FATHERS NAME! YOU ARE STILL A SPOILT LITTLE BRAT WHO NEEDS HIS DADDY TO FIGHT HIS BATTLES!"

"I AM NOT!"

Draco staggered back as Harry's fist collided with his jaw. For a second everything was still and then all hell broke loose. Draco charged towards Harry screaming, they crashed through a window and fell out into the garden.

"ADMIT IT! YOU ARE WEAK!" Harry yelled as Draco grabbed his leg making him fall back down.

"I AM NOT!" Draco screamed, his face flushed as he tried to keep Harry down only to get punched again.

"THEN PROVE IT FERRET!"

"I AM GAY!" He screamed "THERE! HAPPY? I AM GAY AND I LOVE A MAN! I AM A FUCKING POOF! FUCK ME FOR ALL I CARE!" They both stood bloody and panting as they tried to regulate their breathing. The flash of a camera caught their attention, turning around they found Mr Greengrass with his wand drawn.

"Daddy!" Daphne screamed, pulling his attention away long enough for a body to collide against both boys and take them away.

"You have to stop sending me these letters!" Neville said as he helped Harry up.

"I don't have a family portkey, I'll get one made I promise."

"How many more weddings are you planning on ending?" Neville asked, looking genuinely worried.

"Oh for the love of Merlin, not another one Neville!" Augusta exclaimed exasperated as a wedding band rolled out of Draco's pocket "what is this, your side hustle now?"

Neville gave her a sheepish look.

"What happened?" Viktor asked, walking into the living room and seeing Harry and Draco looking like they'd come from war.

"I was an idiot and I'd like to give us a shot if you'll have me." Draco mumbled.

He winced as Viktor pulled him into his arms.

"So who's this fiancé I haven't met?" Harry asked Neville as the other two bonded over their unexpected reunion.

"You are not breaking us up." Neville said "it's Hannah, she was a Hufflepuff."

Augusta had patched both boys up. Draco had left with Viktor and Harry had gone back to his own home only to be re-bandaged and lectured by an irate elf.

The next morning he was at the ministry, he groaned at his bad luck. His magical guardian until his fifth year had been Sirius, after that Dumbledore had taken guardianship only to hand it over to Molly Weasley a year later, thankfully he had become an adult before Molly could have acted upon her role as guardian. Now all she could do was give him advice.

Chucking the copy into the bin he made his way up to Kingsley's office.

"Harry, good to see you. I have actually been meaning to talk to you. Why don't you go first."

"I'm actually here to see if you can reduce Narcissa's sentence."

Kingsley raised an eyebrow.

"She's nearly served three years of her five year sentence. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for her. We all might have been living in a very different world right now if it wasn't for her."

Kingsley nodded, he'd had this conversation with Harry shortly after the battle, that's why she was only given five years. Which only made the news he'd just received that much harder to deliver.

"Harry, I just heard that Narcissa Malfoy committed suicide yesterday morning. In fact the Aurors have just gone to tell her son the same."

Harry blinked several times as he assimilated the news. There really wasn't much he could say. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I actually wanted to talk about Ms Granger, she has applied for a few positions here at the ministry and I just wanted your point of view…"

"What's there to say? I imagine you conduct interviews, if she passes she gets the job, if not she doesn't."

Kingsley squirmed in his chair looking uncomfortable "the thing is, ever since the war we've made a few exceptions. Like Mr Weasley joining the Auror corps even though his grades didn't meet the requirements…"

"Grangers always had good grades if that's what you are asking…"

"No, in her case she's applying for jobs that she normally wouldn't get unless she'd been working for a few years in the department."

Harry shrugged "look if you are asking me if I'd ever vote for her to become minister, the answers no. She's smart but she's too closed minded to even consider another person's opinion. Give a person like that power and you'll have another Dumbledore on your hands. She's really good at research though…"

"Having another Dumbledore actually sounds good…"

Harry scoffed "yes so much good that did us. He used an eleven year old as a ruse to secretly attract a dark lord, he then created a secret group that spent their time guarding a hallway only to leave the future of the wizarding world in the hands of three teens and hoped that one of them would sacrifice himself for the greater good. You order members could have started working on finding Horcruxes, hell he could have contacted Madam Bones during my first year and started working on a plan that didn't involve me. I've had a long time to think about this, Dumbledore said that Voldemort was fixated on the prophecy when in reality it was him! He was the one trying to make the prophecy come true and all because he kept everything secret because he knew best and nobody's opinion mattered. I respect the man but I respect Snape now too, doesn't mean I have to like them."

"That was a lot you got off your chest." Kingsley said looking pensieve "and I'm embarrassed to say that you are right and maybe I need to do some thinking of my own… oh by the way, are you planning on breaking up any more weddings anytime soon?"

He held up the daily prophet that had a photo of Neville crashing into the bloody duo as he whisked them away.

Harry ducked his head making Kingsley laugh louder, he hadn't subscribed to any paper. Life was better without the Daily Prophet.

"You's is having visitor. Master needing to buy furniture, Tinkle is being embarrassed of showing peoples her home."

Harry laughed and apologized to the elf promising to buy furniture soon. He followed her into the kitchen, Daphne was seated on a stool on the kitchen island furiously writing away.

"Hey…" she lifted a finger indicating for him to stop without looking up. He pulled a stool out and took a seat, mouthing thankyou to Tinkle for the iced tea.

Half an hour later Daphne looked up from the papers. "Sorry about that, when I was waiting for you I thought I'd catch up on some work."

"No issues" Harry replied, in all honesty he'd enjoyed the view. For the first time in his life he'd actually managed to not just look but appreciate the female form.

"Well, I know this is a bit last minute and a little awkward but will you have dinner with me tonight? I'd like you to meet somebody, you'd be doing me a huge favor. Of course if she likes you then I'd end up asking for an even bigger favor but… you seem like a nice guy okay! I feel like I can trust you and right now I don't have too many friends around…"

Was Daphne trying to set him up with someone? But why would she do that? Didn't she like him? That actually bruised his ego a little bit and he realized that he'd started crushing on her. "Erm, yeah sure. Where should we meet?"

"McDonald's the one near my place if that's okay?"

"Okay!"

Harry hadn't pinned Daphne as a girl who enjoyed fast food. So he was surprised to find her sitting on a table waiting for him, he'd secretly been hoping that she was messing around with him. She stood out like a sore thumb in her designer clothes in the middle of the restaurant.

They ordered two menus and a happy meal and sat back down on the table. "Again, I'm sorry about asking for such an awkward favor you can say no if you want to, but you are the only one I know who won't take away any of my control!"

"Where's your friend?"

"She's not my friend…" Daphne replied distractedly as she waved at someone "she's my daughter!"

Harry was glad he wasn't eating or drinking anything, else he was sure he'd have choked on it. Especially when a little girl of around five with big brown eyes and curly blonde hair showed up.

"Darling won't you say hello to mommy's friend?"

"Hi." She said shyly "what's your name?"

Harry smiled warmly "my name's Harry. What's your name?"

"My new name is Ellie!"

"That's a beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

"You're a natural!" Daphne said with a laugh as she helped the girl on the bench. They talked about Ellie's favorite colors and animals as they ate their meal. Once done, Ellie ran off to play in the kids area again.

"You are wondering how I have a kid when Draco told you that I was barren. Well I am barren, during our seventh year one of the Carrow twins hit me with a spell which destroyed my womb."

"I'm sorry." Harry whispered.

"Don't be, that's life. But I always knew that I wanted children so I decided to adopt. I know I'm very young, in fact, I'm still studying but there are so many orphans from the war in need of a loving home that I decided to go ahead and do it. Ellie is a halfblood who was forced to live with her maternal grandparents who are devout Catholics and thought that she was the spawn of the devil. She thought evil was her name…"

Harry hadn't realized that he'd crushed his foam glass, he only realized it when the cold drink spilled out onto his hand.

"Look, she's a really good girl but like I said I'm still studying. There are some days that I need someone to look after her while I'm out. I could ask my parents and they'd do anything for me but they won't love her, I don't want her to be in a hostile environment. Tracey has moved to Italy with Blaise, Neville's great but I don't want Augusta mothering my child… she usually goes to school and daycare after that but some days I have to stay late and the daycare closes at 8. Would you do me the enormous favor of looking after her on the days that I'm late? I promise it won't happen often and I'll always inform you beforehand so you can tell me if it's going to be a problem…"

"Breath Daphne! You are going to pass out, I'd love to look after Ellie anytime."

"I'll do anything you need in return… oh, wait did you just agree?"

"Anything?" Harry asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Daphne blushed and threw a chip at him.

"Is Harry coming home with us?"

"No honey, we are going to drop Harry off at his house."

Harry followed the duo to a car. "You can drive?"

"Of course, can't you?"

Harry blushed and mumbled something as Daphne strapped Ellie into her car seat. He didn't really need to be dropped, he could apparate back home but he didn't feel like ending their 'date' so soon.

It didn't take long for Ellie to fall asleep. "So what are you studying?" Harry asked.

"Medicine."

"Oh, you want to be a healer?"

"No, well yeah. I'm actually already a certified healer. I helped Madam Pomfrey during our seventh year, I then sat for my NEWT's at the ministry and didn't go back when everyone else did. Instead I started taking classes at medical school during the day and practicing at St. Mungos at night. Once I get my medical degree I'll be a doctor and a healer."

Harry let out a slow whistle "that's amazing but isn't medical school really long? I mean with Ellie around…"

"I have near eidetic memory and I understand concepts really easily so I don't need to spend much time studying. I managed to finish all my theoretical work during our first year. Now I'm a resident at the local hospital, that's why the long hours sometimes…"

"That's beyond amazing, I didn't know you were allowed to just sit for every exam in your first year."

Daphne laughed nervously "you aren't but a little Confundus doesn't harm anybody…"

Harry laughed "beautiful, smart, caring and accomplished! You are a package deal!"

"What are you thinking about? You've been awfully quiet…" Daphne said after a while.

"I was just wondering if maybe I could adopt a child as well. I mean I know what it feels like…"

"I read the paper…" she replied softly "but I'm sorry, the laws are antiquated and don't allow single wizards to adopt. In fact most single witches won't either because they will mostly be considered unmarriable and the married couples, well, the concept of blood is so deep rooted that most will consider their inability to sire or bear a child an insult. We really need some young blood in the Wizengamot."

"Thank you." Harry said out of the blue "for doing what you are doing, the world doesn't need another Harry Potter or Tom Riddle."

Daphne reached out and squeezed his hand not asking for any explanations. He didn't let go for the rest of the drive.

Ten days later Harry was in Paris. Gringotts now required all their customers to use blood to access their vault, it would stop anybody from using polyjuice potion. Anyone but Harry, he'd followed his target, an old but affluent lady to her house. She was found unconscious in her home later that evening by a friend.

Three days later Harry walked into Gringotts' London branch.

"What can I do for you Mr Potter?"

Harry placed twenty engraved objects on the table. "I would return these to the owner before she figures out that they are gone."

The goblins eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head "when did you steal these?"

"Three days ago."

"And you are coming three days later? If word got out…"

"You said I had to steal, you never said how fast I had to come to you."

The goblin growled but refrained from further comments "How did you do it?"

"Polyjuice."

"Impossible! We have now placed…"

"Blood verification I know! It was simple really. I took a little syringe and drew out a bit of blood from her arm, injected that into this plastic sachet, stuck this to my palm and covered it with makeup. I then went to the vault, sliced the sachet on my palm and smeared it on the ward."

"Muggle contraptions!" The goblin growled "five thousand galleons have been deposited in your account, now if you'll excuse me I must return these personally."

Harry had been three days late because he'd spent the past three days with Ellie. Daphne had a double shift at the hospital after which she had to go to St Mungos, she had come to pick up Ellie but being awake for 48 hours straight had left her dead on her feet. She'd ended up sleeping in Ellie's brand new princess room at Harry's house. The only room in the house with furniture, which Ellie had picked out herself.

Leaving Gringotts, Harry made his way to Daphne's apartment.

She answered the door in a pair of silk shorts and a strappy top "Harry?"

"Morning, I thought I'd bring breakfast." He followed her into the living room.

"Harry!" Ellie squealed in delight, jumping out of her bed and rushing out.

"What are you two still doing in bed?"

"Just lying in a bit." Daphne replied, stifling a yawn.

"Well I'm here to ask for a favor, you did say you'd do anything…" Daphne looked a little alarmed but nodded wearily "I was hoping you two could help me pick out furniture. I'm pants at deciding color combinations and patterns."

"Not two silly three!" Ellie exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Harry turned to look at Daphne and once again noticed her nightwear, his stomach fell and he was pretty sure that the color from his face drained especially when Ellie called out for Brian.

He barely registered Daphne's words as he focused on his breathing. He was going to apologize and leave when he found a young sleepy boy wrapped in Daphne's arms.

The boy had black messy hair with light blue eyes and was currently sucking his thumb.

"Harry! Are you alright? You look very pale, sit! Ellie, honey, bring one of your juice packets please." She placed the boy on the couch and went to check on Harry.

"I'm fine really. I just need to eat something…" he said feeling extremely stupid.

Ellie brought three apple juice packets while Daphne poured a cup of coffee for herself. Brian was once again clinging onto Daphne…

"Brian, Harry doesn't bite! See?" Ellie said happily as she squished herself next to him.

"Harry, Mrs Lewis gifted us Brian yesterday! He is my baby brother and we will all go shopping today!"

"Come on honey, you've finished your sandwich. Why don't you go get dressed!"

Ellie happily skipped away singing a song.

"Isn't Mrs Lewis the squib at Ellie's daycare?"

"She is, that's why she brought Brian here. He was staying at an orphanage, he had his first bout of accidental magic, it caused one of the kids to split his head open which didn't sit well with the other members of the orphanage so they were going to send him away to a center for mentally disturbed children."

"Let me change quickly, he doesn't have another outfit so I'll buy him something. Can we stop by the ministry first though, I really want to get the paperwork done…"

"Sure."

Daphne went to change with Brian still clinging onto her.

Ellie had kept everyone entertained with her endless talking. Brian had finally warmed up to Harry when Harry bought him a pair of sneakers that squeaked and lit up as he walked. By the time they were done with their shopping spree the children were fast asleep in their car seats.

"You know, at this rate you'll have to end up getting a bigger house."

"Hmm, I was thinking of looking at a few houses. I always enjoyed our grounds when I was little, especially when Cuddles was there."

"Cuddles?"

"Oh right, sorry, Cuddles was my Retriever. A white retriever, he was such a lovely dog. Every kid should have a dog."

"Hmm, you know now that you are considering moving, you could adopt ten more and there'd still be place. I have nineteen spare rooms, I could always add more!"

Daphne swerved but managed to get the car back under control. "Were you always this sassy?"

Harry laughed "no, not really. I just woke up one day and I don't know, everything was different…"

Harry was waiting for Neville to finish getting dressed, Augusta had arranged a cocktail party in honor of her grandson's upcoming wedding.

"What's going on with you? You've been acting weird the last couple of months. Ever since your housewarming."

"It's nothing…"

"Will you just spill it? I'm tired of listening to Draco's conspiracy theories."

Harry sighed "it's Daphne okay, I don't understand what's going on in her mind. She never gives me a clear answer and I don't know…everything is just so blah!" He put a cushion over his face and screamed.

Neville laughed "you have fallen deep my friend."

"What does that even mean?"

"It means that you really like her. Don't you remember our crushes back in school. They constantly kept us on our toes."

Harry frowned "not really, I mean I had a crush on Cho but we barely ever spoke and the rest got real awkward real fast. And Ginny well, the potion worked and within a couple of days I had her. It's different with Daphne, we talk like we really talk and I don't know, it's weird. I mean, it feels like I'm talking to my best friend but at the same time she's so much more…"

"That's called building a connection, have you asked her out on a date?"

"I haven't…"

"Then what are you waiting for? Now come on, enough about you, today's supposed to be about Hannah and me."

Harry stayed away from Hannah, she was a nice girl but, whilst, Neville had grown into a handsome young man who shone with confidence. Hannah looked like a little girl in a woman's body, not only were her features childlike but she still wore her hair in pigtails and she had this constant necessity to talk and giggle without pause. He was always reminded of Ellie in her company, but unlike Ellie her sharp voice grated on his nerves.

He sighed in relief when Draco and Viktor showed up. Soon the party was in full swing and according to Augusta, judging from how many drinks had been consumed, it was a success.

"Draco, Viktor I believe congratulations are in order. Neville was telling me that you'll be moving in together." Augusta greeted them both as she passed by and went to mingle with the older guests.

"Oh right, so I was telling Viktor to keep the apartment. He's moving into the Manor but as we all meet up at least once a week in the city it's a good place to crash!"

"That sounds good! We could split the rent three ways."

"What rent?" Neville asked, joining the conversation.

"The apartment in the city, we are thinking of keeping it as a weekend getaway."

"Yeah I was actually going to suggest the same. It's really hard to find a decent place in the city."

"Harry, I've hardly seen you all night. What are you four planning and plotting?"

Harry tried not to flinch, Hannah's voice became unbearable when she was tipsy "nothing I was telling Neville that I've found a great apartment in the city for him to move into."

"What do you mean move into? Nev? What is he talking about? No!" She pushed Neville aside and jabbed Harry's chest "so you yourself are living in a mansion and you want Neville to live in an apartment. I won't have it! NEVILLE!" She turned around and swayed "so help me god I will leave you if you think that I will marry you only to move into some crummy apartment!"

"So you are marrying him for the house?" Harry asked bluntly, getting jabbed in the ribs by Draco.

"Of course I'm marrying him for the house you fool! I have put up with his bloody grandmother for the past three years. And don't even get me started on the stupid hospital visits where his mother keeps on giving me candy wrappers and I'm supposed to keep on smiling! Like why on earth do we have to spend an hour there every weekend? It's not like they know what's happening. After all that, I deserve to be treated like a queen!" With that she swayed once more and puked on Harry's shoes.

"The wedding's off!" Neville announced and walked out.

Draco ran out after Neville as Viktor helped Hannah into a chair. Harry though was looking at Augusta who was positively glowing.

"Harry!" She called out just as he was about to leave. "He can stay with you for a few days but do write to me and let me know that he is okay."

"How did you do it?"

"Do what? Oh, silly old me I keep on dropping things here and there. I might have accidentally dropped some truth serum in the Margarita mix."

Harry couldn't help but raise a glass and drink to her once before leaving.

Draco and Harry were fixing the furniture in the apartment so Neville could destroy it all again once he was done crying; Viktor was making a famous Bulgarian cure for heartbreaks when Daphne walked in accompanied by a beautiful redhead.

"Augusta told us what happened… We brought a lot of greasy food."

Neville passed out after trying Viktor's remedy much to Viktor's amusement. Everyone else opted to stick to firewhisky leaving him to drink his own cocktail.

Susan who'd just left an abusive relationship herself was venting to Viktor and Draco.

Daphne stepped out into the balcony to get some fresh air followed by Harry.

"Daphne, will you have dinner with me?" He blurted out.

"What, now?"

"No, as in a date. Will you go out on a date with me?"

She bit her lower lip and looked away. "I can't."

He ran a hand through his hair as frustration built up in his chest "why not? I don't get it. You know I like you, I've made that pretty obvious and sometimes it feels like you like me too…"

"Of course I like you, what's not to like?"

"Then what is the problem?"

"Me, Harry! I'm the problem. You know I can't bear children, you are the last of your line I'm sure, maybe not today, but someday you'll want to have your own children. And look at my life, if I'm not working I'm spending my time with the kids, if I'm not doing that then I'm sleeping. It's chaotic!"

He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Why can't your kids be our kids? They can all be Potters or Greengrasses or a mix or they can choose their own names and I'll change mine to match there's. I'll become Harry Potter Donald Duck Mickey Mouse if the need arises."

Daphne couldn't help but giggle but tears ran down her cheeks as the reality of her situation finally sunk in. "You're saying that now, but what if things don't work out?"

"Then they won't work out and we'll try staying friends but what if we give it a shot and things do work out? I mean your parents already hate my guts but the kids love me. We are pretty much the living image of every sitcom out there. And you know I barely have to work three times a year, the rest of the year I can be the stay at home dad whilst you do your thing."

"You are already planning our future when we haven't even had our first date yet."

"Well theoretically we've been on quite a few family dates in the past six months, now we simply need to take some time out for ourselves."

She smiled when she felt him kiss the back of her head.

Five years passed and six more children along with four dogs and two elfs joined the Potter household.

Initially Cygnus Greengrass had been reluctant to accept Harry and all the children into his family but the little rascals made a place in his heart and he and his wife spoiled their grandchildren rotten. Little did they know that over the next decade five more would join the family.

Harry with Cygnus' help started his own company, they specialized in security checks. His most notable client thus far had been the Queen who'd hired him to rob the Crown Jewels, of course in that case he'd only implemented Muggle methods along with his team. Over the years tech companies would start hiring him to check the security of their premises. He'd eventually branch out his business and help keep the wizarding world hidden even with all the technological advancement that the Muggle world would achieve.

Daphne became a consulting doctor and healer. She'd only go two days a week to the hospital from seven in the morning to one in the afternoon and two days a week were spent at St Mungos during the same hours. Friday's she'd spend experimenting, by combining Muggle and wizarding techniques. Thanks to her efforts St Mungos saw a drastic improvement in their patient turnover at the Janus Thickey ward.

Astoria fell in love with a Muggle scientist, they bonded over her proving to him that not everything could be explained. She didn't have any children, instead, she followed in her sister's footsteps and started adopting animals who she treated like her babies.

Draco and Viktor became the first homosexual gay wizarding couple to openly live their lives. Viktor eventually started his own Quidditch team while Draco took his rightful position in the Wizengamot and fought tooth and nail to overthrow all the old outdated laws.

They too adopted a boy, a girl and a dog; who much to Draco's irritation was named Dragon.

Neville ended up falling in love with Susan who much to Augustas delight seamlessly took over her duties as lady of the house. Having grown up with her aunt who was a working woman Susan decided to become a stay at home mom. They had one son; thanks to Daphne's research she managed to combine Muggle and wizarding medicine, helping Frank and Alice recover by over 70%.

Frank still slurred a little when he talked and his left leg would sometimes spasm but he managed to talk to his family and recognized them. Alice sometimes forgot things and would occasionally have nightmares but she too could talk once again and recognized everyone.

Neville's landscaping company became so big that he started a franchise which soon became a global wizarding household name.

George ended up committing suicide after one of his pranks went horribly wrong leaving his father bed ridden.

Molly worked herself into the ground as she spent the rest of her days hidden in the Burrow growing all their produce at home.

Ginny who'd read Harry's reply in a fit of rage had gone to Knockturn alley to accept the job. She was hoping that he'd find out and she could use it to hurt him but she never came back.

She was sold off to a clan in Eastern Europe who ran a prostitution ring. When Ron later went to look for he was paid two galleons and told to sod off.

Hermione left Ron and did get the job that she was looking for and became the head of the department of research and development, however, unbeknownst to her Kingsley had hired her on a probation period. Soon her attitude became problematic with her coworkers and other department heads so she was let go.

Unfortunately she found out that she was pregnant at around the same time and with nowhere to go she once again found herself at the Burrow. They had five more children, when Ron wasn't busy playing chess or flying around in the orchard he was spending his time leering at the women in the pub at Knockturn alley where he'd become a regular.

When Hermione wasn't busy cooking, cleaning and looking after Ron and the kids she was busy cooking at the local inn.

Harry stood at the bar and looked around the room, he wondered how different things would have been if he hadn't blacked out that fateful night. He honestly felt like someone had given him a warning which stayed with him even though he couldn't recall the details.

A group of ten children spotted him and rushed towards him all talking simultaneously and trying to hand their present first.

"Grandpa, look I made you a cup!"

"No grampa, mine! I made a dwarwing!"

"I wrote a song!"

Daphne laughed as she joined her husband and placed a peck on his lips. Fifty years later and she could still make him feel all warm and tingly inside. "Come on kids, let's place all the presents on the table and eat cake while grandpa opens each one!"

The children cheered in delight and ran to take their seats next to their parents, older siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles.

Harry stepped behind Daphne and wrapped his arms around her waist. "I wouldn't change a thing" he whispered and kissed the back of her head.