A/N - Just a short one. It's really just a random scene. It would be after the war; however, as are all of my stories, things are different. In addition to the fact that it has Hermione and Draco married, this one has a government that actually wants to do the best for the people. Granted it's a bit of stretch these days, regardless of your political leanings or personal beliefs, I don't know many people that are happy. Anyway, politic-free zone, sorry for the tangent. Anyway, I think it's pretty clear what is going on. Let me know your thoughts.
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The war was far enough in the past that it didn't haunt the survivors daily. But, it was still recent enough to find more than one wizard grabbing his wand to defend himself when hearing a scream. Or for a witch to disappear when there was an unexpected visitor. Nightmares still stole sleep but not as often. It was long enough ago that people were slowly coming to terms that their missing friends or family were gone and unlikely to be found.
But as happens everywhere, the world moved on. The Ministry attempted to right some of the wrongs and discovered they actually had the ability to help the magical citizens instead of being a mouthpiece for the largest donor. One of the first things done was to review how magical children were monitored. The new Minister had heard from those on both sides of the war and found their home lives ranged from idyllic to tragic. On top of it all was the public realization their savior had been dumped on a doorstep with a family who hated magic.
The Ministry quickly established it couldn't actually watch everyone as that was more invasive than anyone wanted to discuss. In response, the Ministry set up new guidelines to protect the most helpless of the society. These guidelines were widely celebrated and some of the old practices slowly fell out of favor. As the current generation began to have children, they wanted to provide their own offspring with a better home than what they had.
What the Ministry was able to do was monitor magical children raised by non-magical individuals. When a child of muggle origin but with magic was born the Ministry was immediately informed. Muggleborns were monitored to determine when their magic manifested and at what point their parents or guardians identified their talent. At that point someone from the Ministry would inform the family. This practice worked quite well and allowed parents to help their child learn to manage their powers.
The ultimate test for this new procedure occurred when the grandchild of Petunia Dursely had been born and identified as magical. The child, AnnLise, was being raised by her father as her mother died shortly after her birth. While Dudley worked during the day, AnnLise was watched by her grandmother. After what had been experienced by Harry Potter, the life of this particular child was monitored more closely that others. The first time Petunia realized the child was magical she went to strike the devil from the babe. Instead of laying her raised hand on the child, the woman was frozen on the spot. Without any flurish, Harry Potter removed his cloak and settled next to the little girl whose eyes were the same green as his own.
"Hello Aunt Petunia. It's been a long time and I see the years haven't taught you anything. I'm sure this is exactly how you treated me, but I won't allow you to harm this little girl." She remained frozen in the middle of the room until Dudley returned home. The man in question was surprised to see his cousin and daughter playing on the floor and his mother frozen with her hand in the air. It was a position he had seen often as a child.
"She magical isn't she Harry?" Dudley just dropped to the ground when the little girl stood and started to walk slowly toward her father. Harry nodded and watched his cousin with a keen eye. The man licked his dry lips. "I thought I saw her teddy bear flying the other night. I chalked it up to lack of sleep but I think I knew." He blew a raspberry to his daughter's stomach. "So what will happen with her?"
Harry Potter was surprised, he hadn't given his mother's family much thought after the war. He had been told they survived and returned to the house on Privet Drive. For him that was enough. Now it looked like they would reconnect, at least a little. "She'll go to Hogwarts when she is eleven, or she'll have the option. I would recommend it to ensure she can control her magic. After that, she can do whatever she wanted." Dudley nodded and looked to the girl.
"I don't know what you know about her. About us. AnnLise's mum died a few months after her birth. The doctors couldn't figure it out, but they chalked it up to some blood disorder that was exacerbated by the pregnancy and injuries she had before we were together. There were things about my wife that I willingly ignored. After she died I found a letter." Standing, Dudley set AnnLise on the ground and walked to his desk and pulled a large box from the bottom drawer.
He set the box on the floor and opened it before sitting next to his cousin again. Slowly and with great care he began to remove items. Harry immediately recognized the first item was a wand box. If Dudley had met a witch, who was she? The second item appeared to be a letter. "There is a lot of this that I just don't understand but I suspect you will." He looked uncomfortable for a moment before continuing.
"Just before AnnLise was born I was looking for some old pictures. We wanted her to have a picture of her parents at the same age. When I flipped through the album I happened to stop on one of my birthday parties I don't know which, it probably doesn't matter. I was telling her something or other when she noticed you in the picture. You were just on the edge. I didn't go into too much detail other than you were my cousin but we weren't in contact any more. I told her about the horrible things I did and my parents did to you. I never told her the real reason Mum and Dad hated you. She would have thought me crazy if I talked about magic. At least I thought she would have. She told me that children do a number of stupid things in an effort to please their parents. She said her friends did worse but I didn't believe it. I was horrible to you. It's something I regret."
Dudley slid the long smooth box between his fingers a few more times. "I would have probably tried to find you in a year or two once I sure. Once I knew beyond a sleep addled mind that my daughter was a witch. I assume you did that to mum because she was going to do something to my daughter. Thank you. Thank you for protecting her. I wish I had been stronger as a child and stood up for you."
Too many things hit Harry at one time; he needed time and more importantly, he needed help. After a slight acknowledgment, the wizard lifted his wand and sent the silver buck toward the one witch who could help him figure everything out. AnnLise clapped happily at the buck and started to ask for it to reappear. A boy who always wanted family had found likeminded friends and they had a makeshift family. But here, before that same boy, were the two closest blood relations he had. Without a thought the buck appeared and pranced around the little girl. She giggled as the large animal settled and pretended to butt his nose to hers. Harry smiled at the pair as he read the letter for the fifth time. It started to make sense just before a small silver otter flipped across the floor. Harry shook his head at the antics of the little animal. Hermione's voice came out of it, "Send me the coordinates and we'll be there."
"Hermione, my friend, and probably her husband have agreed to come they are going to pop in so try not to jump and scare AnnLise." Dudley, remembering the few experiences he had with magic transportation during those frightening times of the war, steeled himself and nodded briskly. Without a second thought, Harry sent another message with his buck. AnnLise's expression was not happy when the silver buck went away after that small other creature. She wanted them both back. As she was getting ready to let out a scream, there were twin pops in the middle of Dudley's small living room. AnnLise's anger was negated by the new visitors. She watched them in wide eyed wonder.
"Draco, I think you might make better sense of this." Without looking Harry handed the wand box, unopened with heavy enough for him to know there was a wand, and letter over his shoulder to Draco. Harry's eyes gazed at what was left in the box Dudley had pulled from the drawer. "Are those…" Harry's whispered question was covered by the grunt of a small child. Looking up Harry saw the other wizard adjusting the small blonde child in his arms and in an effort to keep the wand box and letter out of the toddler's hand.
"Scorp buddy, this is not a toy." The child raised an eyebrow and huffed before trying to subtly reach for the items. After giving her husband a few minutes trying to handle both things, Hermione scooped the almost three year old up from her husband's arms. After receiving a stern glare from her husband, she settled on the ground with Harry.
"You know Harry, he acts like I haven't done this before." She shook her head a bit and adjusted Scorp so he wasn't sitting on her belly. After getting comfortable, Hermione's gaze moved to the others on the floor. She was sure the man was Harry's cousin but the young child was unknown to her. Her eyes finally landed on the box nearest to Harry and the smaller box he had in his hand. She had seen many boxes like that over the years. In fact, she and Draco had quite a few themselves.
Scorp watched his mother until her focus was well and truly off him. At that point, the young boy looked around the room. He recognized his Uncle Harry but not the other man. But it was the little girl that grabbed his attention. He slowly and stealthily (at least in his mind) extracted himself from his mother's arms and sat next to the girl. The children began to babble to each other about animals. Harry heard the words deer and animal before once again sending his patronus to the children. "'Mione send your otter over there, I think AnnLise would like to meet him." Having learned to trust this wizard completely but still question him, she raised an eyebrow.
"Harry, what's going on?" The dark haired wizard pulled his attention from the vials that were stored in the unassuming box and away from the shocked and saddened look on Draco's face. Finally he settled on the girl who acted more like a sister than friend for more than half his life.
"Hermione, this is my cousin Dudley and his daughter AnnLise. She is magical and since she was potentially in contact with my Aunt and Uncle the Ministry has been watching her a bit more closely. I was on duty today and when Aunt Petunia saw her summon her blanket she attempted to slap the baby." Harry waved to the still frozen woman. "I stayed until Dudley got home and he started to tell me about his wife. She had been found almost five years ago in a field and was in a pretty bad way. The doctors almost weren't able to save her, she just wouldn't stop bleeding. They found venom in some of the wounds." Hermione gasped and looked to the little girl trying to pick out anything familiar.
"Nagini?" Harry nodded sadly and shut his eyes. That damn snake had done a fair bit of damage over the years and they were still finding new things. "You're telling me all these years the muggles had an antidote to her venom? Fucking unbelievable." Hermione ran her hands down her face. "Draco?" His pale complexion was a suntan compared to what he looked like now. Hermione pulled on her husband's hand until he settled himself next to her and silently handed her the letter as his tears began to fall. Hermione wasn't sure she wanted to know, but like with most of her life, she needed to know.
Dudley,
My days on this Earth are short lived. I should have died before meeting you, but your doctors somehow neutralized the venom coursing through my body. I had watched my mother and sister be destroyed before I faced my fate in the face of a snake. All of this will mean nothing to you, but at some point, in the future, and you will know when, you will share this letter, the small box and everything the larger box. I will ask you to not do anything with the boxes, they contain evidence to convict him who truly failed me. They, and you will know who they are, will know what to do with all I have to say.
I am a witch whose family was shattered by a war that ended at some point while I was recovering in the hospital. As you know, my memories were fragmented and took years to return. It was AnnLise's birth that finally broke my fog and allowed the pieces of my former life to slot back into place. It was then I knew my fate truly was upon me.
My father abandoned us after failing some mission his master had set for him. My mother, sister and I were left to deal with consequences of his inactions. His failure as a father was nothing compared to his failure as a follower of a megalomanic whose main desire was to enslave the world.
My sister and I were both supposed to be boys, heirs to the family name if you will. Shortly before my sister's conception my father's allegiance shifted from family to the villain of my piece. Whatever family ties that existed were destroyed the moment his vows to that monster were made. In reaction to having a second daughter, I was cursed by the man who sired me. The curse would limit me to one child and once the child was born, I would die. He was a vile man and I only wish I had the ability to do something more but I cannot. It's something I have accepted. While I have accepted my lot, I will not go quietly my love. The larger box contains a way for the truth to come out. Memories can be powerful and mine are simply damning.
Do not feel guilty about AnnLise, I chose to her. I chose you. I chose my fate as my sister did for me. She knew we were all as good as dead but got the bastard to swear my torture wouldn't be by anyone's wand but his. I don't know how she did it, but she wasn't the second brightest witch in her year for nothing. She sacrificed herself for me. I was forced to watch, watch them be tortured, be killed and other things no one should have to see. I was not able to help them, but in the end, the vow he made was kept and the half-man sent his familiar to kill me. After torturing me the snake was supposed to finish the job. Apparently, I was dumped in that field and left for dead. My mother and sister didn't get that same outcome. I neither know what became of their bodies nor how long I was in the field before I was found. I thank Merlin everyday that you were the one to find me.
I will love you until the end and will see you on the other side. I will wait and introduce you to my mother and sister. They will be pleased with my selection.
Eternally yours,
Astoria
"Oh Draco." Hermione pulled Draco into a tight hug. The small group of surviving Slytherins had tried to find their missing compatriots and the assumption was they had died, but to see it in writing was difficult. Daphne had been one of Draco's few true friends. Dudley watched and realized everyone in the room knew his wife and their reactions told him the letter was only scrapping the surface of what she had experienced. And that pissed him off.
"Dudley, Astoria was the younger sister of Draco's friend Daphne. We have been trying to figure out what happened to them for years. What else can you tell us?" Dudley spent the next half an hour explaining everything he knew about Astoria's past. He admitted it wan't much, but as they spoke little comments and memories kept coming to him. He was only interrupted when the phone rang. Shaking his head, Dudley answered the call and Harry assumed it was his Uncle based on the surly look on Dudley's face.
"Harry, my father is coming over to pick up mum. I told him she wasn't feeling well and had taken a nap when I got home. If you could do that memory thing to her and make her forget about AnnLise's magic. It's Friday and I'm sure I can come up with some child care that doesn't involve Mum by Monday. Also, if you guys will stay, I still want to talk after they leave." Hermione, Draco and Scorpius stepped outside while Harry unfroze his aunt and wiped her memory of AnnLise's magic and any memories of seeing her nephew. While she was still dazed, Harry also stepped outside with his friends. After about twenty minutes Dudley stuck his head out the door and told them the coast was clear.
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Kingsley Shacklebolt was startled when an otter and buck stood in his office. After lifting an eyebrow, Harry's voice started to explain and was quickly cut off by Hermione's voice. She simply gave him coordinates and asked for a couple of trusted aurors to come along as well. Kingsley sent his lynx with a message to his wife before leaving his office. Hopefully she would be able to put their son to bed without too much hassle.
When Kingsley and the two aurors arrived, they found Harry Potter, Hermione Granger-Malfoy, Draco Malfoy, a muggle and two children in the small living room. The children were settled in the corner surrounded by pillows and multiple stuffed toys. As Kingsley watched the pair, he noted a stuffed deer come flying down the steps and into the hands of the little girl. Scorpius clapped cheered the little girl and was rewarded with the girl, no witchling's bright smile.
Before any introduction the young girl huffed and looked to the only other witch in the room. The brunette smiled and nodded before producing her patronus. The otter skipped and hopped in front of the children causing rounds of laughter. Draco's sadness was quickly replaced with anger at what he had found. But it was the giggles of his son and new friend that brought a smile to his face. "Really woman, you think an otter will entertain them for long?" With a swish of his wand a silver dragon streaked around the room to the sheer delight of his son.
"DWAGON!" Scorpius stood cheering as the animal circled in the air before settling next to the otter. The silvery beast appeared to smirk much like the man who was standing next to his witch.
"Show off. Just because our son has an unhealthy love of dragons." Hermione smiled as she too watch Scorp help AnnLise stand and introduce her to his parents spirit animals. "Hi Kings, seems we've solved the mystery of the missing Greengrass women." Kingsley noted the pained expression that flitted through Draco's eyes. The older wizard accepted the letter and looked to the other items scattered on the floor. It wasn't long before the aurors read the letter and felt it was enough to start an investigation to what exactly Anthony Greengrass was doing in France at the end of the war. When Kingsley opened the wand box they were stunned to find not one but four wands. Each had a small piece of paper wrapped around it to identify the original owner of the wand. With authority as the role of Minister, Kingsley confirmed what didn't need confirmation, the wands belonged to the three lost Greengrass woman and the current head of the family.
The vials of memories were also labeled, some where ones that Astoria wanted her daughter to see when she was older. Some were for Dudley to view, she wanted him to know how much he was loved. One vial was described as 'wands' and showed during her last days she wished for the wands to be reunited and each morning she would wake to find a different wand the bedside table. The final set were wrapped in dark green paper with silver writing. The notes all said the same thing, 'trial'. These would be memories that would give her the revenge in death she was unable to obtain in life.
After learning about the memories, Dudley asked the ones used to convict his father-in-law not be published. No one needed to know what his wife had suffered. What his mother-in-law and sister-in-law were forced to suffer. All that he wanted to be know was what the man that should have given his own life to protect theirs was not worthy of an ounce of respect.