"Legerdemain"
"Chapter Thirteen: The One with the Breakup"
Ginny soaked in the tub, her mind cloudy and her thoughts jumbled from all of the wine. Harry's hurt face kept flashing in front of her eyelids, he had looked as though she had physically slapped him a few times during their spat. Except Ginny hadn't been able to stop herself. The alcohol had made her more snappish and depressed, unable to stop herself from throwing accusations at Harry so easily.
Sucking in a deep breath, Ginny submerged herself into the water. It was hot and uncomfortable but it made her feel something besides dead inside. Between Albus and Remus, she felt like she had been slowly drowning for days, unable to be happy or even smile. She had held it together for as long as she could, being the rock of the family as Harry spiraled downward into yet another obsession.
Except she couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't be the foundation of the family any longer because she was cracking and breaking at an alarming rate. Remus was in the hospital because of her. Albus was arrested because she hadn't been there enough for him. Her lungs burned with the effort of holding her breath underwater, her body jerking as the involuntary panic settled into her bones at not being able to breathe.
Her hands gripped the side of the clawfoot tub and she propelled her body out of the water, her lungs gasping for air. She sat in the tub until the water grew cold and her teeth chattered. The effects of the wine had slowly slipped from her body by the time she actually hauled herself out of the tub and dressed in an old hooded sweatshirt and leggings. She threw her wet hair up into a messy ponytail before she made her way downstairs.
Harry was gone. She sighed as she saw the mess of glass and wine on the floor in the parlor. She grabbed a bin from the half bath and levitated the broken glass into it. She stilled when she saw Harry's leather bracelet. She carefully plucked it out of the wine and held it in her hand. Her fingers coiled around it, her mind reeling with the possibilities of where Harry had actually gone. A lump formed in her throat. Had she pushed him off the edge that he had been teetering on ever since the explosion?
She shoved the bracelet into the pocket of her hooded sweatshirt before she vanished the puddle of red wine from the hardwood floor. A faint stain marred the floor, and Ginny simply stared at it.
Ginny had a quiet dinner at home alone. Harry had not yet arrived back home by the time she was done, and Ginny couldn't help but wonder if she should send him a quick Patronus or see if he had his mirror on him. Except, she couldn't help but feel like he didn't want to talk to her at the moment. It was the only explanation as to why he hadn't returned home yet. She even had the urge to check the map just to make sure he was all right but didn't want to invade his privacy. It was the one rule they had agreed upon when they created the map – they would not invade each other's or their children's privacy. It was strictly for emergency purposes only. Her wondering where Harry ran off too was definitely not an emergency.
Making her way into her bedroom, she felt the ache settle again deep in her arm and her chest. The pain radiated through her entire body at this point, causing her to crave a little more pain potion just to make it through the night without waking up multiple times. The Healer had assured her it would be a slow recovery, but taking pain potions all the time was starting to take a toll on her. Part of her was even wondering if she was craving it, needing it for reasons other than her arm. The thought terrified her.
Her chest heaved, tears pooling in the corner of her eyes as she dug through the potions cupboard looking for her pain potion. Her heart physically hurt from everything going on and she just needed something to help her breathe again, to dull the ache inside of her that echoed in her very soul. It wasn't just her arm that was hurting her at this point. It was… everything and everyone. No one seemed to understand what it was she was dealing with. No one seemed to understand how hard it was for her to always be the rock, to always be the one picking up the pieces.
Ginny reached into the cupboard for the vial and when she realized it was empty, sweat broke out across the top of her lip. When the second was empty as well, anxiety coursed through her. No, she needed the potion. How was she supposed to get any rest if her arm hurt too badly to sleep? The pain in her arm meant she would be awake and if she was awake, she would be fretting and worrying the entire night. With Harry still not home it meant… the empty bottle slipped from her fingers and shattered at her feet. The shock of it surprised her and she stared at it for a moment, unsure of how it had slipped from her grasp. She stared down at the broken glass, watching the light reflect off the shards. The broken glass was a metaphor for her own life. She was in pieces and no one could see it.
Don't worry, Mum will handle it.
Don't worry, Ginny can deal with Harry's obsession on fixing things.
Don't worry, Ginny will be fine, she's a fighter.
Don't worry, you'll be as good as new soon.
Don't worry, Mum will calm Dad down about Lily.
Her fingers clenched around the second empty vial and she hurled it across the bathroom, anger suddenly coursing through her. The small glass bottle exploded and rained down more glass onto the tiled floor. It did nothing to help the tightness in her chest. Jackalope yelped from the doorway, his little nails scratching against the hardwood as he scattered out of the room.
Without thinking, Ginny grabbed another bottle and whipped it across the bathroom, watching it shatter onto the tile and thought it felt dangerously good. It wasn't long before blues, purples, greens, and oranges mixed together, leaving a murky puddle of brown on the floor.
She wasn't done.
Through tears, she threw their shared toothbrush holder. For the first time in her life, her aim was off. The holder connected with the glass shower door, shattering it.
Everything was falling apart.
She clawed at her chest because something was surely sitting on top of her. Her fingers snagged around the silver H and G necklace that Harry had bought for her years ago when they were young teenagers in love, the letters flying off the chain. A sob escaped her lips, her eyes wide as the little charms went flying.
Falling to the ground, she gasped for breath. Remus was going to die. Albus was going to spend the rest of his life in prison. Her and Harry would divorce. How could they not? All of the terrible accusations she had thrown in his face. He loved their children more than anything and she had told him he only cared about himself. He would never forgive her. She wouldn't forgive herself.
Her eyes stilled on the little H that had hung around her neck since she was seventeen sitting in a puddle of potions. Her fingers reached out, grasping at it but she only felt a sharp pain and saw red. She sobbed again, her eyes cloudy with tears that she could barely see as she fumbled for the H charm as though it were a lifeline, like it would keep her and Harry together.
Flashbacks of Harry punching a wall and storming from their home flickered in front of her mind. She remembered collapsing on the floor, sobbing her heart out. Hadn't that been what he had done a few hours ago when she left him in the parlor? He probably stormed out of the house, but left the walls in tact this time, and had left his bracelet.
Her fingers brushed along the H, smearing it with blood. It was slippery. She needed it, her free hand wiping away the tears so she could see a little better. Her thumb and forefinger pinched it.
There.
She clutched the little charm in her hand, desperate not to lose it again. Her entire body raked with a sob as she gasped for breath. She had failed her family, had failed Harry. That was the one thing he had always done so well. Harry had always protected his family. Ginny couldn't even protect their grandson, protect their son, protect anybody. The sobs came out harder. She couldn't stop the tears because when she did, she was afraid to see what she would find left behind. The disappointment in Harry's eyes would finally cripple her and she would never be able to handle that.
Albus opened his eyes, his cell dark and cold. He pulled the thin blanket up to his chin and let out a long and heavy sigh. It was his second night in Azkaban and he was already wondering how the hell he was going to survive another night let along the next few days, weeks, months. Fear gripped him… what if it was years?
Swallowing the lump in his throat, he blinked up at the stone ceiling. He could just barely make out the individual rocks if he squinted hard enough thanks to the moonlight that spilled into the little window at the very top of his cell. He wondered how he had wound up here, where did he go wrong?
It was dark, cold, and lonely. People muttered and talked in their sleep. Albus couldn't help but wonder if the prison had driven them mad. He had heard tales before about wizards going mad in the prison when the Dementors were guards but they had been long gone since before Albus had even been born. Maybe the prison held one too many ghosts from its past within the walls.
There was a loud bark. Furrowing his brow, Albus turned his head to look through the bars to see something creeping along past his cell. It was an animal of some kind, massive and as black as the boundless darkness. He could just barely make out its shape. The thing turned its head, bright gray eyes illuminating in the dark.
Albus slid off his bed, his curiosity getting the best of him. He walked towards the bars, the big figure not moving besides blinking. Albus held out a hand through the bars, the animal sniffing his hand before barking again. The dog slinked away into the blackness.
"Hey!" Albus shouted as he gripped the bars to his cell. "Oi, you stupid mangy mutt! What the bloody hell are you doing here?"
The door to his cell opened with one good rattle and Albus froze. He sucked in a breath as he took a cautious step out of his cell and looked down the dark hallway. There was a low woof and the outline of the animal rounded the corner. Albus jogged to keep up, the prison eerily quiet, as though all the prisoners had been Silenced or Stunned.
When Albus rounded the corner, he noticed a door just closing at the end of the hall. He made his way to the door and opened it. Light poured out from the room, causing Albus to squint and shield his eyes.
A tall man stood in front of him. His dark hair tied back into a low ponytail and his face looking worn with deep worry lines etched into his forehead. He smiled, his teeth slightly yellow and crinkles forming around his eyes. Albus only blinked as he took a step forward.
"You're Sirius Black," Albus commented except the man wasn't ghastly white and didn't have the cloudy Inferius eyes like he had at the Department of Mysterious. Instead, he looked like the haunted man in the photo on the table in the entryway of his parents' home.
"Yes," he said.
Albus let out a small chuckle, expecting him just to let out a low growl of Harry like the last time they had seen each other.
"So… you're what? Normal now?" Albus asked. "Is that the new research? Turn an Inferius into a normal human?"
"If a normal human is dead, then yeah I guess I'm normal," he replied with a small smirk.
Albus shifted uncomfortably as he shoved his hands into the stiff pockets of his prison trousers. "You're dead? Did you die in the explosion?"
"After."
"How?"
"Your brother. He knew I was an Inferius and he… you must tell him that he did the right thing."
Albus could hear the blood pumping in his ears. "James killed you?"
"Yes, but I'm glad he did. I wasn't… me. One minute I was in that courtroom joking with James, my James, your grandfather, as we watched Harry and his trial and the next… it was cold. I was surrounded by bodies all scrambling towards this light. It was like climbing clouds, everyone fighting to reach the light first. I remember feeling funny. I wanted to kill, to hurt, to rip flesh off bones," Sirius said before pausing, sucking in a breath of air. "Then I saw you. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you, Albus, but my mind was hazy and I felt disconnected from my body. Part of my brain was screaming to rip you to shreds and the other part kept screaming you were my godson and I loved you."
"You didn't hurt me," Albus felt the need to say. "You saved my life."
Sirius smiled sadly. "I remember. It was like being under the Imperius but harder to shake off and fight. Honestly, I'm glad James killed me. I almost hurt him, I was rushing towards him to rip out his throat and hesitated just a moment. Then a wand was down my throat and fire exploded within me. Then… I was with my James and my Lily again."
Albus just nodded, a lump forming in his throat. "Am I dead? I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if someone poisoned my gruel. Not many people like the Potters in here, not even the guards surprisingly. I thought everyone liked my dad, but I've heard quite a few of them mutter about him under their breath."
Sirius chuckled. "No, you're not dead."
"So… you're haunting Azkaban? Kind of cliche if you ask me."
"Fuck no," Sirius replied. "I bloody hate this place. Though this prison is a lot nicer than the old one. You know, from the moment I died, I watched over your dad. I didn't want to leave him, didn't want to look after anyone but him. Then I saw you in the Department of Mysteries and I knew… I knew I had to watch out for you."
"Why?"
Sirius shrugged. "You reminded me of your dad."
"I fucking hate when people say that," Albus said with a sigh.
"I think Harry enjoyed hearing it for a long while before he grew tired of it as well," Sirius said thoughtfully. "It was different for him though. He craved any information he could get about them, craved to have some sort of connection with them."
"I love my dad. I just hate being compared to him. I'm not him."
"No, you're not him. That doesn't matter to the people who love you," Sirius reasoned. "Your dad is probably happy you're not him. He was dealt a shit hand and somehow managed to come out of it decently all right. Not too damaged."
"I don't know what that means," Albus said honestly. "He seems completely normal and dorky. I mean, all right, he's a broomstick parent and had bloody trackers on us like some paranoid git, but he's normal otherwise."
Sirius let out a low chuckle. "He can help, you know."
"Greengrass will try to implicate him just like he's doing with me," Albus argued. "I'd never live with myself if he wound up in here."
"I don't think you're giving Harry enough credit," Sirius said. "He's managed to do a lot of questionable things and never landed in prison before."
"This is different. Greengrass planned this," Albus argued. "As soon as I showed disgust and resistance, he planned to make me the scapegoat. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to my dad."
Sirius shrugged. "Sounds familiar. Potter men were always so self-sacrificing. I swear all of you have that bloody trait. It drives me mad."
"What am I supposed to do? Let Greengrass battle my clueless dad? Let him take a stab at it. Let him wind up in prison? I don't… we're not dumb, you know. My siblings and I know our dad didn't have a good childhood, didn't have a loving family growing up. We can piece together the context clues enough even if we don't really know any of the sordid details. He deserves better than to rot in prison because I was a pompous git who got in way over my head."
"I guess it's not just Harry who had a strong resistance to asking for help," a new voice sounded as a tall figure stepped out of the shadows.
Albus squinted, the man looking vaguely familiar with some of the features wrong. He blinked, substituting the sandy hair for black, the light chestnut eyes for gray, take away the scars and thin the face a bit and the man looked like Teddy.
"I think they all take after Harry," Sirius muttered. "James was never like that."
"James couldn't help but ask for help," the new man smiled. "Help with a prank, help winning the girl, help inventing things."
Sirius chuckled. "His mind never could rest."
"Are you Remus Lupin?" Albus asked. "Big Remus, I mean."
"Big Remus?" the sandy-haired man raised his eyebrows. "Well, yes, I suppose to you that would be the determining factor of who I am. The Remus you know is just a small child."
"He's a cute fucking kid," Albus said. "Normally I hate kids."
Remus merely smiled before turning towards Sirius. "We need to talk. I don't mean to interrupt but…"
"Is everything all right?" Sirius asked in a quiet tone, turning his head towards the newcomer. "Why are you here?"
"He may need you. He's fine for now, but I think you should go to him."
"Who's fine?" Albus asked. "My Remus? Is he all right?"
"He's fine. Still at St. Mungo's being treated," Remus assured.
Albus gulped. "Is it my dad?"
Sirius blinked, his gaze focusing on the floor. Albus couldn't help but think something had happened. He took a step forward. He wasn't going to be kept in the dark like some small child.
"Tell me," Albus pushed.
"I think it's time for you to wake up, Albus," Sirius whispered. "I have to go. You'll stay with him, Remus?"
"Of course. Dora is at the hospital with Remus and James is with Harry right now."
Sirius nodded before he took a step forward and reached out a hand. Sirius touched his forehead.
Albus gasped, bolting up in bed. His chest heaved, his heart beating fast in his chest as he looked around his tiny jail cell. The muttering of the prisoners around him continued and someone banged on the bars in the distance. Albus reached up his hand and touched his forehead where Sirius had pressed his fingers. It felt warm, warmer than the rest of his cool skin. He blinked before collapsing down onto the lumpy and broken mattress.
What the actual fuck was that dream?
He wasn't sure what had just happened, but he swore he could smell leather and wet dog. For the first time since he'd ran out of the Ministry, he felt safe. He wasn't alone.
Harry's heart pounded so fast and strong in his chest that he could hear the whooshing in his ears. His hand felt warm where the vial pressed against his palm. His head felt light and airy, a small bubble of a giggle rising in his chest. In his head, the calming voice of Felix sang a song of reuniting again.
His eyes darted around Apricity Lane, looking for an alleyway he could slip into and take just one small sip, one small drop. He just needed a hint of it to solve Albus' legal problems, to save Remus, to make his family whole once more.
He spotted an alley two shops down. It would be secluded enough. He only needed ten seconds tops for a small sip. A hand touched his shoulder, momentarily stopping him from continuing on his mission. Harry whirled around, ready to snap at whoever had disturbed him. Except there was nobody even around him. A familiar hint of leather and wet dog assaulted his senses. His eyes darted around, his heart hammering in his chest. He blinked, his lips parting.
No, it wasn't him. His throat narrowed as his eyes darted around Apricity Lane for Sirius Black but he was met with disappointment. He was hallucinating, his stress levels spiraling out of control. It was the only explanation.
Harry let out a low breath and turned to make his way to the alleyway only to collide with someone. He jolted out of whatever trance he had been in. He opened his mouth to apologize when he saw the wide eyes of Luna Scamander staring back at him. Little blue dragons hung from her ears, the mouths chomping on her lobes. She smiled at him.
"Uncle Harry!" Lorcan screeched and little arms wrapped themselves around his waist.
"Uncle Harry!" Lysander yelled and he too flung himself at Harry.
"Hey, boys," he said in a thick voice, his arms wrapping around them.
The vial of Felix was clutched in his right hand. He couldn't keep his eyes off Luna's calm face. He waited for her to yell at him, to pry the vial from his hand, but she didn't do either.
"Hullo, Harry," she said instead, calm and light. "We just arrived this morning from America."
"I didn't know you were coming home," Harry replied as the boys let go of him, giving him some breathing room but it didn't ease the tight feeling in his chest.
"Well, Rolf and I read about what happened. We've been trying to get a Portkey back for a while but, you know, international travel is always more trouble than it seems it's worth."
"I hate it," Harry agreed.
Luna blinked up at him. "It's been what? Thirteen years? That's an impressive streak."
Harry's mouth suddenly dried up. "What?"
Luna nodded to his hand that clutched the vial. Felix growled.
"You wouldn't have been around to meet Remus, Dora, or Henry. You wouldn't have been able to watch Teddy became an Addict Recovery Healer or James become an Auror or watch Albus fall in love with his best friend or even see Lily grow up into the wonderful young woman she is today. I've never been so proud to call you a friend as I am when I think about your beautiful family. I know I wasn't around when everything happened, and I am so sorry I wasn't. I promised myself I wouldn't make that mistake again because you and Ginny mean the world to me. We all make mistakes, Harry, but the best part is we are always given the opportunity to fix them."
Harry swallowed. "Ginny's not talking to me. Remus has been hospitalized. Albus is in Azkaban. Lily's pregnant with a boy she just met. It doesn't look like I'm doing a bang-up job of it, Luna. Everything is falling apart and I need..."
Luna took his hand in hers. "A little help. I know. Why else do you think I've come back?"
Harry stared at her before he slowly opened the hand that was clenched around the potion vial. Luna looked down at the gold swirling liquid. Harry's heart picked up as his mouth watered for a sip, just one small sip on his parched lips.
"It is very pretty, I can see why it would appeal to you. Would you like me to take it, Harry?"
Harry trembled. "Yes. Please, Luna."
Felix yowled in his head, loud and thundering.
Luna carefully tucked the vial into her purse and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "Let's go visit Mitchell together. We'd be happy to take you there on our way to visit Rolf's parents, wouldn't we boys?"
Harry nodded and when Luna wrapped her arms around him, he burrowed his face into the crook of her neck and blinked back tears. He had almost ruined everything. Again. Harry let out a shaky breath and wondered how it was that Luna was always around to save him when he needed her the most. He took her hand in his and for the first time since Albus had been accused of domestic terrorism, he felt a sense of serene calmness as they made their way out of Apricity Lane. He wondered how he could possibly put into words how much she had saved his life by just showing up. He only hoped that Ginny would be as forgiving when she learned what he had almost done.
Harry, Luna, and the boys took the Knight Bus to Haverfordwest. Luna kissed him on the cheek and the boys hugged him before he stepped off the bus in front of Gwenog Jones and Mitchell Payne's home. The bus banged behind him, taking not only the Scamanders with it but also Felix. Sucking in a breath, Harry walked up the drive and up the steps of the front porch. He rapped his knuckles on the door and within moments the door opened to reveal Mitchell.
"I was wondering when you'd stop by," Mitchell greeted, a grim smile on his face. "Let's have some tea."
"I didn't do it," Harry gasped out.
"Nah, I know," Mitchell said as he stepped aside. "You're far too stubborn to do it. Let's talk anyway. There's a meeting tonight. I think we should go."
Harry only nodded as he stepped into the house. Once Harry started talking, he couldn't stop talking. He told Mitchell all about Albus' situation, about Sirius' funeral, about Lily's pregnancy to a man who had a terrible reputation, about his grandson's health issues, about his fight with Ginny, about everything and anything. He talked until his voice was hoarse and Mitchell only nodded and kept pouring him more tea. By the time he had finished, his entire body trembled with fatigue but he had felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
Harry attended the meeting with Mitchell, his eyes glancing around the room at the familiar faces and a few new ones. He drummed his fingers on his thigh, his mind wandering to what exactly he was going to tell Ginny. How could he admit that he had nearly broke? That he had a vial in his hand, that he was going to ruin all of his hard work of staying clean for an easy solution?
Taking a deep breath, Harry stepped up to the podium last. His eyes scanned the crowed and Mitchell gave him a sign of encouragement. Harry's fingers curled around the edges, his eyes staring at a discolored spot on the wood.
"My name's Harry and I was addicted to Felix Felicis. I was hurt and dying. I was scared and wanted an easy solution to fix my problems. I told myself I was doing it for my family, but I really was just doing it for myself. One sip turned into two sips. Two sips turned into a gulp here, a sip here. It was nonstop cravings, nonstop thinking about when I could take a little more. The worst part about Felix is that he's in your head. You can hear him like a little devil on your shoulder. He makes you doubt yourself, doubt your loved ones, doubt everything. He makes you angry and sad and manic all at the same time," Harry started, his tongue peeking out to lick his lip. "I remember trying to cut Felix out by myself without help. I can remember the headaches, the sweats, the shaking. I always succumbed to just a little more to make the worst of the withdrawal symptoms go away. I thought I could just take it later and later, put more time between the sips but that was just foolish thinking. That's not how it works, but I was blind and addicted and in denial. I only sought out help after I punched a hole in my parlor wall, after I screamed at my wife, after I scared my children… I realized that I didn't even recognize myself anymore. I've been clean for thirteen years but today… today I bought a vial and I almost made the biggest mistake of my life," Harry looked up, his body tense and his eyes scanning the crowd. "It had been easy for so long. Nothing had really made me want to go back to that potion. I wanted nothing to do with it, but recently… it's like everything is going wrong and my world is crashing down around me and I, I didn't know what to do. I thought it was a simple fix. Just one sip. What's one sip? That's where it starts. It's just one sip and suddenly it's a gulp every few hours and it all spirals out of control. I haven't been attending meetings in a while. I think I may need to start coming more often again."
Harry stepped down, various people greeting him with encouraging words and pats on the back. He forgot how much he had enjoyed the meetings, how nice it was to be in a room full of people who all understood the struggle and wanted to better themselves as well. The voice of Felix was now just a soft hum in the back of his mind, pushed back and nearly locked away once more. There was just one more person he needed to talk to in order to close the door completely, at least close it for a little while longer. He wasn't daft, he knew the cravings were only just beginning again. He needed to get his stress and anxiety under control if he wanted to remain clean.
Harry had been terrified to go home and admit to Ginny what had transpired that afternoon. He was terrified to see the disappointment on her face, to admit how weak he had been. He entered the parlor to see the wine had been cleaned up, his bracelet gone. He fiddled with his wedding band, twirling it around his finger as his chest tightened. Ginny had seen it, had seen he had taken it off. His throat narrowed as he stared at the faint circle of stained wine on the hardwood.
Jack meowed loudly, his claw frantically scratching against the floor above him. His heart hammered in his chest as he took the stairs two at a time as something shattered. When he stepped into the bedroom, he didn't expect to hear sobs coming from the bathroom. He blinked as he walked towards the cries. The last thing he expected to see was a swirl of murky liquid running out of the bathroom. He bolted forward but froze once he reached the doorframe at the sight of his wife sitting in a pool of watery blood and broken glass, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Ginny? Fuck, Gin!"
Harry collapsed onto the tiled floor behind her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her away from the shards of glass and the puddle. He turned her in his arms, his hands cupping either side of her face. She wouldn't look at him, her eyes screwed shut. He looked down at her hand to see blood.
"You're bleeding!"
His hands left her face as he grabbed her wrist to try to figure out where the blood was coming from. He saw the blood pool on her fingertips, her fist clenched around something. He tried to pry her hand open to get a better look but she frantically shook her head as she gasped for breath. Harry snapped his attention up, his eyes locking with her watery brown ones.
"H-H-Harry," she gasped.
Harry shushed her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear before he scooped her up in his arms, cradling her against his chest. Her fingers brushed along the stubble on his cheeks, smearing blood like war paint across his pale features. He tightened his grip around her as he entered the bedroom and made his way towards their bed.
He sat down on the mattress, adjusting Ginny so she was still in his arms but sitting comfortably on his lap. Her face nuzzled into his neck, her arms tight around him. He cupped the back of her neck, holding her firmly against his chest.
"What happened? Are you all right?" Harry asked, his voice on edge and frantic.
"I can't…" she gasped. "I can't…"
She shuddered in his arms, her nose pressing uncomfortably into his collarbone. He pressed his lips against her forehead before resting his cheek against her head.
"Shh, it's all right. I've got you," he murmured. "I've got you."
Her fingers gripped the back of his shirt. "I killed him. I'm killing him."
Harry stilled. He blinked into the darkness. The only light seeping into the room was from the bathroom and the sliver of moonlight coming in through the window.
"Who?"
"Remus!" she cried. "He was scratched because I didn't protect him! I'm not like you!" She shook her head, pulling out of his embrace to look him in the eye. "He's going to d-die and it's all m-my fault!"
Harry sucked in a breath, not believing his ears that she still blamed herself for Remus' medical woes. "Remus is not going to die. It is not your fault. Nobody blames you. You saved his life, Gin! You protected him!"
Ginny shook her head, her eyes wide and tear-filled.
"You did," Harry insisted. "Look at what happened to your arm. That could have been Remus. It could have been his arm or his chest ripped open. You saved him. He will get better."
"I'm so sorry!" she sobbed.
"You have nothing to apologize for," he whispered, his hands cupping her face and he couldn't help but feel like if anyone had to apologize it was him. "It's going to be all right."
"I've been awful to you," she whispered back, her fingers wrapping around the collar of his t-shirt and tugging him closer to her. "I didn't mean what I said. Please, don't leave me."
"Leave you?" Harry asked, his brows furrowing. "Gin, I love you." Harry wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to his chest. "One fight in however many years isn't going to make me leave you. It's Harry and Ginny against the world, remember? You and me. A team. The best team in the history of the world."
Ginny nodded against his chest, tears and snot soaking through his thin t-shirt. She trembled in his arms and Harry's heart clenched. He had been so consumed with Albus, Remus, and Lily that he had failed to see just how much Ginny had been hurting. He had ignored the signs of her taking a pain potion more often than not before bed, ignored how her eyes held just a little less light lately, ignored all the warning signs that she had been slipping. He had been a horrible husband, too consumed in other obsessions to notice Ginny had slowly but surely been cracking right along with him.
"You need to rest," Harry murmured as the two of them moved to lay down.
Harry held the cover open for Ginny to slip under as he toed off his shoes and kicked them off. He slid under the covers behind her, pulling her close to his chest and cradling her in his arms. He pressed his cheek against hers, resting his chin on her shoulder. He saw her fingers covered in dried blood open to reveal a little silver H charm smeared in red in her palm.
"I broke it," she whispered. "I lost my charm but I found yours."
"We'll find it in the morning and I'll fix it," Harry whispered back, pressing his lips against her shoulder.
"I love you," she said, her voice breaking just slightly. "I didn't mean… I've just been so stressed lately. I didn't mean any of it."
"Shh, I know. It's fine. We're fine. I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry I left."
"You came back," she said, her fingers intertwining with his. "You always come back."
"That's never going to change," Harry said, his voice slightly hoarse. "I'll always come home to you. Nothing will ever change that."
Ginny let out a shuddering sigh as she sat the charm on her bedside table. Harry reached up to tug his glasses off his face and handed them to Ginny to put them next to the charm. She did so without even being asked, knowing exactly what he wanted without having to utter a word. She pressed back against him, their bodies so close that not even a Sickle could fit between them.
It wasn't long before Ginny's breathing evened out and she relaxed completely in his arms. Harry didn't have the same luxury. His mind swirled around with thoughts and faint hissing voices. His heart twisted painfully in his chest as he stared at the blurry large numbers on the clock.
When the sun peaked through the window, he untangled himself from Ginny and grabbed his glasses. He made his way downstairs, his eyes heavy as he had only been able to doze off for short periods of time the entire night. He made himself some coffee before making his way into the parlor. He grabbed a book of household spells and thumbed through it lazily trying to find out how to take a stain out of hardwood floors. He had been unsuccessful or maybe he was just too tired to fully focus on what he was reading.
It was close to eight in the morning when the fireplace sounded. Bill, Fleur, and little Dora stepped into the parlor. Harry forced a small smile on his lips, forgetting that they had Dora for the day.
"'Arry!" Fleur exclaimed. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Harry replied.
"Where's Ginny?" Bill asked as he hiked Dora up his hip.
"Having a lie in," he replied. "It's been a stressful few days."
"Why don't we take Dora for anuzzer day, oui?" Fleur offered, stepping up and brushing Dora's blonde hair off her forehead.
"We were going to see Albus today," Harry said. "Would you mind?"
"Non! Non! We would be happy too!"
Harry smiled. "Thank you, Fleur, Bill."
Bill cleared his throat. "Fleur, why don't you take Dora home? I'll be home in a few."
Fleur nodded, reaching out for Dora who immediately jumped into her arms and snuggled close. Harry sucked in a breath before taking another sip of his coffee. Fleur waved goodbye, telling him to let her know if they needed anything before she disappeared in the flames.
Harry stood up, nodding at Bill and commenting he needed more coffee. He knew that look on Bill's face. The man had slipped into big brother mode and was surely going to give Harry a talk or a lecture, he wasn't exactly sure which. Bill followed him into the kitchen and lingered by the island while Harry poured himself more coffee.
"What's wrong?" Bill asked.
"I'm fine," Harry said tightly, his throat narrow and eyes burning.
"Look, I know you're not as close to me as you are to Ron and George," Bill started. "But we are still brothers. I love you like a brother, Harry. Just tell me what's going on."
Harry's heart hammered in his chest. He had not told Ginny about his almost slip up with Felix, because he didn't have the heart to pile on any more bad news. She was already so stressed and upset. Telling Luna and meeting with Mitchell had helped, but Harry was still scared. He didn't want to relapse, not after thirteen years of staying clean. The family had to know, they had to help him, he couldn't do it alone.
He'll think you're weak. Pathetic.
Harry licked his dry lips. Bill gripped his shoulders and Harry snapped his attention up. Their eyes locked.
"I bought Felix," Harry said in a rush, his voice cracking on the last word. "I bought a vial. I've been overwhelmed and stressed and…"
"Where is it?" Bill asked calmly, his hands cupping Harry's face and forcing him to maintain eye contact.
"I ran into Luna not long after I left the apothecary," Harry explained, his vision blurring due to tears that refused to fall. "She took it and we went to Mitchell's. Mitchell took me to a meeting last night."
"Is there any more anywhere else?" Bill pressed.
"No."
"Does Ginny know?"
Harry shook his head. "No, she… Bill, I don't think she's handling things very well. She… she had some sort of panic attack or something last night. Smashed up the bathroom. I think, I think she's becoming addicted to pain potions."
It had been subtle at first, the way she always seemed to take a pain potion and rub her arm. He thought it was normal after such an extensive reconstructive procedure on her arm. She couldn't even bear to look at the nasty scar that covered her bicep. Except he would catch her in the morning taking a pain potion, sometimes before dinner, sometimes before bed. All hours of the day. He suddenly started to wonder how much of it was real pain and how much had been a thirst. It had weighed heavily on his mind the entire night.
"I think you need to have Teddy talk to her," Bill suggested.
"No, the kids can't know," Harry said. "I'll talk to Hugh. He'll talk to her and… we'll go from there."
Bill nodded, his hand squeezing Harry's shoulder. They just needed to get through the next few days. Scorpius had been trying his best to cure Remus, working overtime and barely leaving the hospital. Albus was safe and now Harry could finally talk to him in order to help him. He'd take Ginny to a Healer appointment, get her arm looked at again and have Hugh speak to her about the pain potions. It would all work out. Harry just had to keep believing that or else he would be little help to anyone. He had to believe it because for the first time in twenty-eight years, he'd realized something vital: Ginny was the rock of this family and it was high time he lifted the weight from her shoulders. It was time he took care of her because they were a team and together, they could do anything… including save Albus.
James let himself into his parents' house around eleven in the morning. Lily was already sitting in the parlor drinking tea and dressed like it was winter instead of the last day of June. He carded a hand through his unruly hair and plopped down on the armchair across from her.
"Are you going on holiday in the mountains or something?" James asked as he gestured towards her jumper, leggings, and boots.
Lily scowled. "Azkaban is in the middle of the sea! It could be cold!"
"It's really not," James said. "At least not this time of year. I heard back when the Dementors were used as guards it was always freezing, but they're gone now."
"Thank Merlin for that," Lily said with a low breath escaping her lips. "I mean, I know I can produce a Patronus and all but I wouldn't fancy being around them."
"Dad said it was horrible," James said nonchalantly as he cast a glance over to the parlor door. "He said the first year he was an Auror, the Dementors were still there. It took a lot of work to have people agree to ditch them."
James rolled his neck to the right, attempting to relieve some tension but failing miserably. He had been a bundle of anxiety ever since they had found Albus a few days ago. Sleeping in his own bed the previous night didn't calm his nerves. He couldn't even imagine how his parents were fairing with everything.
"How are you feeling?" James asked.
"Good," Lily replied with a shrug. "Saw a Healer, got some nifty potions that help me not puke."
"That's too much information," James told her, his face scrunching together.
"What? Like Riley never puked with Henry?"
"She did, but she didn't tell me about it," James argued. "I think we should have another. Henry and Dora will go to Hogwarts together. Your evil spawn and my potential one could go to school together. It would be brilliant."
Lily wrinkled her nose at him. "As much as I love Henry and I am glad he takes after Riley more than you, I don't want to risk another you coming into this world."
James shot her a rude gesture. "Fuck you too, Lily. You think your little spawn would be much better?"
"Ahh, that's why Albus is godfather and not you."
"You named Albus godfather? He bloody hates kids!" James protested. "I'm fairly certain he only begrudgingly likes you."
Lily shrugged and looked down at her perfectly manicured sparkly purple nails. "I'm pretty certain this entire family only begrudgingly puts up with you."
James let out a little chuckle, a smile quirking on his lips. He was about to retort when he noticed his father step into the parlor. He looked exhausted with large bags under his eyes and his hair even more haphazard than normal.
"What's wrong?" his dad asked.
"Nothing," Lily replied with a shrug. "I'm here to go to see Albus with you. I'm assuming that's what James is doing as well."
Harry sighed. "You don't want to go to Azkaban, Lily."
"Why? I want to see Albus," Lily argued. "Can I take him anything? I swung by St. Mungo's this morning and Teddy had a letter for him since he doesn't want to leave Remus. Scorpius wrote one as well since he's trying a new phage thingy with Remus this morning."
"It's just not a nice place to be," Harry said, a frown on his face. "I don't like the thought of you going."
"Well, get used to it, Dad, because my arse is going to be at Azkaban a lot to pester the living shit out of Albus until he's home. He needs some normal in his life, and I'm going to bring it to him."
Harry opened his mouth, his breath hitching. Except nothing came out. He shook his head before glancing over at James.
"You shouldn't go either," Harry told him. "Reed is looking for an opportunity to fire you, to bury your name."
"You're going," James replied.
"Yes, but I'm also the Head of the DMLE. There's not much Reed can do to me. You, on the other hand, he'll look for a reason to implicate you and ruin your career."
"I need to see Albus at least once," James argued. "I can't have him thinking I don't love and support him. I was scared and nervous when I was in jail-"
"You were literally in a Ministry holding cell. That's hardly jail, Jamie," Lily snapped.
"IT HAD ME THINKING," James said loudly, attempting to speak over Lily. "THAT LIFE IS SHORT AND FAMILY IS EVERYTHING."
Lily rolled her eyes. Harry just sighed.
"All right, look," Harry said with a wave of the hand. "We will all go. I need to talk to you two first though. Your mother is… having a hard time."
James suddenly experienced a strong case of déjà vu. He was thrown back to the kitchen the morning their parents had found out about Rayko Krum and their mother had told them that their father had been severely abused as a child. He hadn't processed the words at the time, as it seemed like bad news was following them around like a plague. He still wasn't sure he had entirely processed it as his dad seemed so normal.
Lily frowned. "What do you mean?"
Harry dropped his voice as he stepped closer to them. "She's having a hard time dealing with everything. She feels dead guilty over what's happening with Remus and she's upset with how Albus is being treated. That means you two need to be on your best behavior. No fighting, no insults, no hitting, no… whatever it is that you all do on a daily basis where you get under each other's skin. She doesn't need to deal with the petty fights you lot are always engaging in."
"First of all, they're hardly petty fights, Dad, Merlin!" James protested. "We don't do petty, but for the sake of my beloved mother, I will play nice if Lily plays nice. The moment she raises her bitch flag, I can't guarantee anything."
Lily rolled her eyes. "You're so bloody dramatic, Jamie!"
James scoffed. "I am not."
"Both of you, stop," Harry hissed, waving a hand between the two of them. "None of this! This is what I'm talking about!"
Lily squinted up at their father, her lips pursed to the side. "We only know how to be ourselves, Daddy. I get that sometimes that's hell for you and Mum, but this is who we are."
"Then you can't come with your mum and me," Harry said in a low voice.
"Fine! I'll play nice with James! I can't control Albus, though, and you know it!" Lily protested, crossing her arms over her chest.
It took another twenty minutes until their mother came down with her hair pulled up into a messy bun and her face red like she had been crying. James bolted from the chair and crossed the room, pulling his mother close to his chest. He hated seeing his mother so fragile. She had always been the strong one in the family, always the one who was calm, cool, and collected.
"It'll be okay, Mum, you'll see," James whispered in her ear.
It was nearly an hour later when they had finally arrived at Azkaban. James waited impatiently as their father cleared them all to visit Albus, tapping his foot at the security desk as their wands were recorded and Lily's and their mum's were confiscated until they were done with the visit. He nearly groaned as the boat seemed to be gliding across the water at an excruciatingly slow speed. James sighed when they had to go through one more security check where his and his dad's wands were taken at the front gate of the prison before they were led towards a visitation room.
James felt his heart fall to the floor upon entering the room. Albus sat at the metal table with his wrists cuffed together from chains bolted to the table. His legs were also chained together to a bolt on the floor. James had seen prisoners in the same position as Albus before, but it was hard to see his kid brother in that position. James swallowed a lump in his throat as his eyes roamed over the gray prison jumpsuit his brother wore.
"Albus!" Lily shrieked as she bolted towards him.
She nearly toppled his chair over as she wrapped her arms around his neck in a death grip. He brought his hands up to grab her elbow, tears welling in his eyes as he held onto Lily tightly.
"I missed you," she whispered. "Nothing has been the same without you. Call me annoying and a fucking bitch, please."
Albus let out a watery chuckle. "Merlin, Lily, you're such a fucking bitch. Can you get your annoying hands off me?"
Lily laughed, sniffing as she pulled away. She cupped his cheeks with her hands and smiled down at him.
"You're a bloody ponce, Albus."
James shook his head at his siblings. When Lily took a seat across from him, Ginny stepped up and wrapped her arms around him. She kissed his cheek and murmured soft words in his ear that James couldn't hear.
"I'm okay, Mum, really," Albus insisted as the two pulled apart.
While his mum took a seat next to Lily, James stepped up next. He pulled Albus into a brief hug, clapping his brother on his back before pulling away. He grinned down at Albus before taking a seat next to his mother and wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Dad…" Albus trailed off.
Harry just shook his head as he stepped forward and was the last one to pull Albus into an embrace. He placed his hand on top of Albus' long hair and the other around his shoulders. Albus shook in his father's arms, his hands clawing desperately to hold onto him. James blinked back tears and looked down at his lap.
"Are they treating you all right?" Harry asked. "The guards, the other prisoners? I can have you put in isolation if anyone is giving you a hard time."
"No," Albus choked out. "I'm fine, Dad, really."
When Harry and Albus finally pulled apart, Harry took a spot next to James. It seemed so awkward to be sitting across from Albus in chains and a prison outfit. It was also odd to see Albus looking full on hipster with his man bun and beard. His brother would have never looked like that voluntarily before. His hair was always cut short with a perfect little coif and clean-shaven.
"Teddy and Scorpius sent letters," Lily started and slid the parchment towards Albus. "Remus has been hospitalized so Teddy hasn't left St. Mungo's in days and Scorpius is his Healer, you know, so he's trying some experimental treatment to get him better."
"What's wrong with Remus?" Albus asked as he fingered the letters. "I saw he was ill in the paper."
"He was scratched by an Inferius," Ginny choked out. "I didn't… I didn't protect him well enough that day we were attacked."
"It's not your fault, Mum," James whispered as he pulled his mother closer to him.
"Is he going to be all right?" Albus asked.
"Scorpius is doing everything he can," Lily replied. "He wanted to be here but he had already booked a treatment for Remus and he said you'd understand that he needed to be there for Remus right now."
"No, yeah, of course. Remus is way more important," Albus agreed.
"So… everyone knows," Lily announced. "Mum and Dad know about Ko and the baby."
Albus let out a small chuckle. "Well, Dad, you didn't have a heart attack, so I'm guessing you took the news better than we anticipated."
"There's no reason to be upset over a child," Harry replied. "I'm still not sure about Rayko Krum, though."
Albus grinned. "He's a bit of a pretty boy, isn't he? What kind of name is Koko anyway?"
Lily merely rolled her eyes. "You liked him. You love his mother. In fact, if you weren't gay, you'd probably try to break up Viktor and Holly's marriage."
"Stop calling her Holly!" Albus protested. "That just sounds so wrong! Speaking of Hollis, what's been happening on Hidden Passions?"
"We have more important things to talk about, Albus," Harry interrupted, his jaw clenching.
"Yeah, like how about James going completely mental during the dinner where everyone met Ko."
"Lily," Harry warned.
"What?" Lily said innocently. "What would you call his behavior then?"
"He was just… being James," Harry said with a sigh.
"So completely mental and neurotic then?" Albus said with a smirk. "Got it. Makes sense."
"Fuck you, Al," James said as he shot Albus the two-finger salute but he couldn't help the smile that tugged on his lips.
"Fuck you too, Jim," Albus replied with a sneer.
"Touché," James replied as he hated being called Jim.
"Enough," Harry said, his eyes catching the gaze of each of his children. "We need to talk about what happened in the Department of Mysteries the day of the explosion."
"I blew up the Veil of Death," Albus said in a deadpan tone.
James blinked. He didn't know what exactly he expected Albus to say but admitting to blowing up the Veil of Death in the Department of Mysteries was not it. He glanced over at his dad to see him pale with a frown etched deep in his brow.
"What?" Harry asked.
"I blew up the Veil of Death," Albus repeated. "I didn't cause the second explosion."
Harry sucked in a breath and asked slowly, "Why did you blow up the Veil of Death? What caused the second explosion?"
"The Inferi," Albus answered like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"The Inferi? Albus, I'm not following."
"They were… climbing out of the Veil," Albus explained as he glanced over at James and gave him an odd look James couldn't read. "I had to do something. It was like a little army."
"Why was there an army?" James asked, his brow furrowed.
Albus looked over at their dad. "Did you follow the money?"
"What money, Albus?" Harry asked.
Albus frowned. "We can't talk about it here."
"Why?" Harry pressed. "I don't understand why you're being so secretive."
"You may not have noticed, but there's quite a few people who hate your guts, Dad," Albus said. "They think you're a git. They'd love nothing more than to overhear what we have to say and use it against you."
"Do you honestly think I care about that?"
"Harry," Ginny whispered.
"Do you remember what I told you, Dad? The walls have eyes and ears and secrets pouring out of the seams," Albus explained. "We need to play this smart."
James narrowed his eyes at his brother. Albus was obviously trying to tell them something, but James didn't exactly understand what. He glanced over at his dad to see him scrutinizing Albus, his brows furrowed as the two seemed to hold some sort of silent conversation that they both understood.
"I told you everything you needed to know when we were arrested," Albus continued.
"All right, this is just crap," James said. "Just tell us what you know because if you're right and we're being listened to, they could still try to implicate Dad in this because he's going to start some wild Hippogriff investigation and not know what the fuck he's looking for."
Albus leaned forward as much as he could in the chains. "The DOM has gone rogue. It's worth looking into what exactly they research and how they use their departmental funds."
"You're not telling me what I think you're telling me, are you?" Harry asked.
"What is he telling you?" James inquired, looking over at his father.
Albus only leaned back in his chair and shrugged. James suppressed a groan.
"How are you holding up, Al?" Harry asked as he changed the subject abruptly, running a hand on his chin.
"I'm fine, Dad," Albus replied, not bothering to correct their dad on the nickname slip up. "Can you catch me up on all the family gossip that I've missed? I could use some more drama in my life."
"Well, I can help you there," Lily said brightly, a look of relief crossing her face as she leaned forward. "So… who do you want to talk about first?"
"Lily," Ginny warned. "Can we focus on more important matters?"
"Mum, this is very important," Albus protested. "If I'm going to survive prison, I need my daily gossip session with Lily. Do you know how hard it's been on the run without them?"
"Okay, but first, I have a question for you that I've been dying to ask," Lily said. "Do you remember someone named Nolan in Slytherin? He would have been a seventh year when you were a third year."
"Nolan what?"
Lily shrugged. "I don't know. He would have hung around someone named Wes, I think. I'm not sure if he was the same year or if they were even friends at Hogwarts."
"Um… I don't know? I mainly just talked to Scorpius and yours and James' friends. People in Slytherin didn't really like Scorpius and me," Albus explained. "Why?"
"No reason. Just curious."
James frowned. "Wait, are you talking about Wesley Flint and Nolan Cummings?"
Lily turned towards James. "Maybe? Did you know them?"
"Wesley Flint was an arsehole. He played Beater for Slytherin. He was a year above me," James explained. "I'm not exactly sure what happened, but when he was a fifth year and I was a fourth year, he was banned from playing on the House team. Something about illegal magic, I think. I'm not exactly sure what. It was before you were on the team."
"What about Nolan? Is he an arsehole too?"
James drummed his fingers on the metal table and shrugged. "I don't really know much about him. He certainly doesn't stick out in my mind like Flint does."
"Why are you asking about a Flint, Lily?" Harry interrupted. "I don't want you associating with a Flint. They're bad news. Is his father Marcus Flint?"
"No… I don't think. I think that's his uncle?" James replied.
"I'm not associating with a Flint," Lily replied.
"Rayko knows him, doesn't he?" Harry pressed. "At the hospital, there was someone who was talking to Rayko about a Wes being hospitalized."
"Ko said they weren't friends anymore," Lily defended. "I was just curious who he was."
"What about this Nolan?" Harry asked as his eyes flew to Albus. "Do you know this Nolan Cummings?"
"No," Albus shook his head. "I don't even think I really knew Wesley Flint. I mean, the name sounds familiar but like I said, Scorpius and I kept to ourselves. We talked to a few people in Slytherin but weren't really friends with any of them. Gabriel Goyle was probably the nicest to us but that's only because Draco and his dad are still on good terms. Of course, Louis' friends were also decent towards us, but we were older and such so maybe they thought we were intimidating."
"Nobody would ever think you or Scorpius are intimidating," James interrupted, a scoff on the tip of his tongue. "You both were and still are extremely dorky. Especially Scorpius! Merlin, he's like a giant talking marshmallow."
Albus scowled. "Talk to Louis. He was friends with Gideon Goyle. I know there were two older Goyles as well. One of them may know Flint or Cummings."
Harry pulled a face. "You want me to go talk to the Goyles?"
"No!" Lily hissed. "Nobody is talking to any Goyles or Flints or Cummings or anybody! It was just a question. Merlin, I'm sorry I even asked. This family meddles way too much."
James snorted. "Says the girl who legit just asked Albus if he wanted to hear all the family gossip that he missed while on the run."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Look, I was just curious why Koko would stop being friends with someone. Obviously, he's a git since Ko says they don't talk anymore. It doesn't matter."
"I don't want you associating with a Flint," Harry repeated.
"Merlin, Dad, I know!" Lily huffed. "Let's talk about how Gastrell is standing Rose up lately and she's going to dump his arse."
"Fuck, really?" Albus asked. "How the hell do you know? You and Rose aren't close."
Lily flicked her ponytail behind her shoulder. "That's what you think, Albus."
Lily launched into her story, pulling the conversation away from Nolan Cummings and Wesley Flint. James glanced over at his father to see the worry lines already creasing in his forehead. He had no doubt that his father would be looking up criminal records for the two people mentioned.
If his father didn't, he would. He looked over at Albus laughing at Lily's story and his lips curved, a smiling Albus was a good thing. He may be stuck in Azkaban and he may be facing criminal charges, but it was nice to hear his brother laugh. He glanced over at his father and knew he was thinking the same thing: how the hell were they going to clear his name?
Lily entered the kitchen of the Burrow with Rayko by her side to see her grandmother levitating bowls and plates of food out of the window and to the long table set up in the back garden. She turned around when she heard them enter, a wide smile crossing her face.
"Oh, Lily, darling, how are you?" her grandmother stopped setting the table to greet her with a hug.
"I'm fine," Lily replied. "Grandmum, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Koko. Koko, this is my grandmum."
Rayko smiled, holding out his hand in greeting. "It's just Ko. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Weasley."
Her grandmother batted Rayko's hand away and pulled him into a hug. Rayko glanced over at her with a wide grin on his face. She rolled her eyes.
"It's Molly, dear, and it's so nice to finally meet you!" her grandmother exclaimed, pulling away slightly and putting her hands on either side of his face while she gave him a warm smile before turning to Lily. "Why in Merlin's name would you introduce him with a name he doesn't want to go by?"
"Because it's what I call him. He's my Koko," Lily explained. "It's kind of like how Granddad calls you Mollywobbles."
Molly blushed. "Lily! Honestly! We don't need to announce that!"
"Why? It's cute. I love when he calls you Mollywobbles," Lily said with a smile. "Mum and Dad don't have nicknames like that for each other. Tell him what you call Granddad!"
"So, Ko," Molly said, clearing her throat. "What's your last name, dear?"
"Krum. Ko Krum," Rayko replied.
"Grandmum, you knew his last name," Lily pressed, not being able to help herself. "You pointed him out in Witch Weekly before and said he was a cutie."
"Lily Luna Potter!" her grandmother exclaimed. "Enough! Just… go outside with the others. I need to set the table."
"Ko and I can help," she offered.
"I'm capable on my own, Lily! Run along!"
"If you insist," Lily said before turning to Rayko. "By the way, she calls him Wild Boar."
"LILY LUNA, IF I EVER FOUND OUT WHO TOLD YOU KIDS THAT!"
Lily laughed, grabbing Rayko's hand and pulling him out of the kitchen and into the back garden. She turned around to see her red-faced grandmother in the window looking flustered as she continued to send the serving dishes out of the window.
"It was James," Lily whispered when she was sure they were out of earshot. "He went over one day a few years back to have Grandmum help him hem his Auror robes because he's shit at those spells and he was halfway up the stairs when he heard it. He broke his arm leaving through the fireplace. He was mortified. Then, in true James fashion, he told everyone because he's shit at keeping a secret. Don't tell him anything."
"Noted," Rayko said with a smile. "He was… an interesting bloke at dinner."
Lily rolled her eyes. "He's always like that. That was just him being his normal neurotic se-" Lily hit Rayko hard in the arm, causing him to grunt and rub his arm. "Rose brought that bloke from the restaurant to Friday night dinner!"
There he was, the bloke named Caleb or Calvin or whatever the bloody hell his name was. He had his arm around Rose's waist as they talked to Uncle Bill and Aunt Fleur. She must have dumped Gastrell and immediately started dating restaurant boy… or she had been right and they were playing some sordid sex game that night!
"Oi! Lils! Is this the boyfriend?"
Lily turned to see Louis and Hugo. They greeted Rayko with handshakes before running off to degnome the garden, having claimed they were ordered to do so a half hour ago but never got around to it. Rayko lit up like a child on Christmas morning when he saw the gnomes, telling Lily he had never seen anything quite like them before.
"This is wonderful," Rayko said in awe. "I've never seen a table that big! How many seats is that?"
"Well, I think the most people Grandmum has ever had is probably… thirty-five? That's probably at least thirty set up for tonight. Everyone wants to meet you."
"Merlin! That's fantastic. I love your family already. I'm so happy to finally see what a Friday night dinner looks like! You've talked about them so much!"
Lily smiled. "Just wait until we sit down to eat and they interrogate you."
"Wait… is that Hugh Slughorn?" Rayko asked, his body suddenly tense.
"Yeah, he's dated my Grandmum Andy since…" Lily let out a huff of air. "I don't even know. I've called him Grandpa for as long as I can remember."
"Oi! Hugh-Dog!" James shouted as he entered the back garden.
"Jay-Cat!" Hugh exclaimed, opening his arms. "How are you, m'boy?"
"Albus and I call him Grandpa," Lily continued. "Teddy was a teenager when he started coming around so he stuck with Hugh. Everything Teddy does, James does, so they don't call him Grandpa."
"I didn't know you were so close to him," Rayko said.
Lily's brow furrowed. "Why? Do you know him?"
Rayko shook his head in the negative. "No, but I've heard of him."
Before Lily could question him further, the garden of the Burrow burst out into frantic whispers. Lily turned to see Hanson Gastrell strolling into the back garden, a disgusting smirk on his face as his eyes scanned around at all the various people. Lily bit down the growl that rose in her throat. What the fuck was he even doing there if Rose brought a new boy? Did she conveniently forget to break up with him?
Crossing her arms over her chest, Lily glared at him. He stopped in his stride towards Rose to look down at Lily, his eyes lighting up at the sight of her. He looked over towards Rayko. A grin broke out across his ugly mug.
Gastrell snapped his fingers before pointing at Rayko. "Ah, I know you! I've arrested you before during one of your drunken binges!"
Lily frowned, her eyes flickering quickly to Rayko to see him standing next to her stoic and silent. He wasn't taking the bait. She looked back towards Gastrell and sneered.
"Glad to see the Aurors are giving you all of the drunk and disorderly cases. Can't hack it at any real crimes?" Lily pressed.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her overprotective father walking towards them. She knew Gastrell had been one of the Aurors who had arrested her family. She was also sure her dad wanted to have a few cutting words with him.
Gastrell sneered at them. "Just what I expect from a Potter, dating a petty criminal. Sounds lovely. Excuse me. My girlfriend is over there. Ta, Lils."
Lily shot him a rude gesture as he walked away. She sucked in a breath, her nostrils flaring, as she turned to Rayko.
"You've been arrested by Hanson Gastrell of all people?" she snapped harsher than she intended to.
"I was put in the drunk tank. I hardly think that's being arrested."
"I don't know, Ko, I've never been in the drunk tank before," Lily replied, her eyes squinting behind her glasses. "I'm assuming this had been when you've been out with Nolan and Wes and whoever else?"
"Yes."
"How many times have you been put in the drunk tank?"
Rayko shrugged. "Umm, a few."
Lily wanted to pry more but she couldn't with all of the commotion going on around them. Uncle Ron and Uncle Bill held her dad back from making his way to Gastrell, both of them whispering in his ear. Her father didn't look murderous which was probably a good thing and his wand was nowhere in sight so she wondered if her uncles were just overreacting. Her grandmother whispered frantically to both of her grandfathers to do something. Louis and Hugo pushed James towards the house, their loud voices telling him that Gastrell wasn't worth being arrested again. Rose looked positively murderous as she strolled towards him with her new beau trailing behind her.
"What the fuck are you doing here?" Rose asked.
"It's Friday night dinner," Gastrell replied.
"What? You think that you just have some outstanding invitation to my family's dinners?" Rose asked. "How dare you show up here after arresting my cousins and uncle!"
"Oh, so doing my job is suddenly frowned upon?" Gastrell challenged. "I do what my superiors tell me to do. Simple as that."
"Wait, are you Hanson Gastrell?" Charles or Cooper or Connor spoke up. "You're the bloke who stood up this incredible woman? Wow, I can't believe you'd just let her slip through your fingers. What wanker would stand up someone that beautiful?"
"Who the hell are you?" Gastrell snapped.
"Oh, I'm Colin Creevey."
COLIN! The name clicked in Lily's head and she made a mental note of it. She reached out and grabbed Rayko's arm as James, Hugo, and Louis stepped up next to them. James seemed calmer as he looked at the scene with interest.
"And what the fuck are you doing here, Colin Creevey?" Gastrell hissed.
"Well, when you were off busy arresting Rose's family and standing her up, I was lucky enough to meet her. We've been dating ever since!"
"Wait?" James asked, hitting Lily in the arm. "This is what you were talking about with Albus, wasn't it? I was only half paying attention."
Lily shook her head. "I knew they met but I didn't know she was dating him. Huh, I guess it wasn't a sordid sex game and they did just meet that night."
"I told you it wasn't a sordid sex game," Rayko said.
"Oh my Merlin!" James shouted and turned towards them. "What is wrong with the two of you?"
"You can't be dating her!" Gastrell scoffed. "I'm her boyfriend."
"Shh," Lily hissed and pushed James away from her so she could hear what was going on.
"I told you if you stood me up one more time then we were through!" Rose shouted. "You stood me up to arrest my family! We. Are. Done."
"I didn't know it was a ruddy crime to have a job!" Gastrell shot back.
"You're a self-absorbed arsehole," Rose said. "I don't know what I ever saw in you."
"You tell him, Rosie!" Ron shouted, still keeping a tight grip on Harry who didn't even seem like he was attempting to go anywhere.
"You're bloody shit in bed too!" Rose snapped.
"Ye – wait, what?" Ron asked, looking pale and mortified. "Rosie?"
"Yeah," Lucy hissed as she stepped up to stand next to her cousin. "You're supposed to let the girl finish before you do, you fucking ponce. I heard all about it, Hasty Hanson."
"Or at all," Rose said.
Lily's eyes grew wide, her mouth dropping open at the admission. Good Merlin, Albus would be devastated that he had missed out on this dinner and she couldn't wait until she could swing by Azkaban to tell him all about it.
Roxanne gasped. "Not even once?"
"Not once," Rose confirmed.
Gastrell sputtered, his head jolting back like he had been slapped. "I went down on you!"
"Two flicks of the tongue isn't going down on anyone, Hanson!" Rose protested.
"What in holy bleeding hell is going on?" James whispered. "I feel like I'm in a dream. Lily, pinch me. I want to make sure this is real."
Lily reached out and pinched him hard on the arm, tight enough that it might even bruise. He hissed and slapped her hand away, shooting her a glare.
"So, wait, what was the appeal of him?" Molly demanded. "I mean, if you couldn't even orgasm with him-"
"Molly Gillian Weasley!" Percy shouted. "Honestly! Do none of you have any shame?"
Rose shrugged. "He was charming at first."
"You think that prat was charming?" James hollered across the yard. "We've got to have a talk about standards, Rosie!"
Ron had let go of Harry and stumbled over to where Hermione stood and watched the scene unfold next to Fleur and Audrey. Ron grabbed onto Hermione's arm, his eyes wide and body trembling.
"She's just joking right?" Ron asked. "She's never had sex before. Right?"
Hermione patted him on the arm. "Oh, Ron, don't be naïve."
Well, Lily supposed she should be lucky that her dad hadn't reacted in such a way when he found out she had been having sex. It would have been quite embarrassing to say the least.
"I've never been so invested in Rose's sex life before," James admitted.
"That bitch has been holding out on some good gossip with me!" Lily hissed.
"You two aren't exactly the closest of the cousins," Hugo reasoned.
"Psst!"
Lily turned around to see Riley and Dominique joining the group. Lily motioned for Rayko to move over so they could all stand in a line together. Riley looped her arm through Lily's and they leaned into one another.
"Wait, can we circle back to the two flicks and that's considered going down on a girl?" Riley asked. "How can he be so dense?"
James snorted. "Try working with him. He can't tie his own shoes without a spell written on a cheat sheet."
"I would have held his head down there and forced him to properly pleasure me," Dominique said so casually that all heads slowly turned to her. "What? A girl deserves pleasure too. It's not all about the bloody cock."
"You're right, Dom. A guy should worship us just as much as we worship them," Lily agreed.
"How did he even end up with a girlfriend in the first place?" Rayko questioned.
Lily turned to Rayko, her lips curving. "Maybe you should give him some tips? Tell him exactly how to use his tongue so he doesn't disappoint the next girl."
"Excuse me while I throw up," James said, making a gagging noise.
"It's over, Hanson!" Rose shouted. "I don't understand how you don't understand that! Are you just playing dense on purpose or are you really just that bloody dense?"
"What?" Lily demanded. "Am I not allowed to have orgasms?"
"Rose's terrible sex life is one thing, because it's epic gossip to understand this breakup. Your sex life is just weird," James commented. "You're my sister."
"Roxy and Scorpius are fine talking about my sex life," Lily argued.
"They're not your big brothers!" James protested. "If I hear any more, I'll spontaneously combust! My guts will be all over this back garden."
Lily grinned. "Well, in that case, let me tell you about how he bent my leg and-"
James pushed his fingers in his ears. "Lalalalalalala!"
"Hermione!" Ron's high and squeaky voice traveled across the garden. "Tell me you didn't know she was having sex!"
"Calm down, Ron!" Hermione hissed. "She was safe."
"What if she's pregnant? Spells fail all the time! How do you think Ginny came to be?" Ron shouted in hysterics, grabbing fistfuls of his hair.
"I was not a fucking mistake!" Ginny shouted.
Lily sucked in a breath, her hand fumbling for Rayko's. He squeezed her fingers, but she didn't feel comforted in the slightest. Is that what her family would think about her twins? That they were a mistake? Her heart twisted painfully in her chest.
"You need to leave," Arthur said as he, Hugh, Harry, and Bill all stepped up to Gastrell and Rose. "You are no longer welcome at my home."
James sniggered. "Well, knowing Gastrell, his swimmers probably couldn't find their way to where they needed to go if the spell failed."
Riley giggled as she bumped hips with James. "Definitely not an issue considering he didn't even know he didn't get Rose off."
"I bet he doesn't even know where the clit is," Dominique argued.
"I feel very uncomfortable with this conversation," Hugo said. "I feel a little faint."
"Why? Because it's Rose who didn't get off or because you're now questioning your own sex knowledge?" Louis asked as he slung an arm around Hugo's shoulders. "Don't worry, Hugo, you're only eighteen. I will teach you everything you need to know."
Hugo blushed the color of his hair. "I'm competent! I have a girlfriend, you know."
"What?" James hissed. "Who's your girlfriend? Are you pulling a leaf out of Lily's book lately?"
"Oi! I am standing right here!" Lily hissed.
"I never want to see you near any of my family ever again," Harry hissed in a low voice. "Get the fuck out of here."
Lily snapped her attention back to her dad. Her mum bolted towards him and was by his side in an instant.
"Harry," Ginny said, grabbing a hold of his arm. "Don't. We don't need any more trouble right now."
"This entire bloody family is mad! You're all the most arrogant, pompous arses I've ever encountered in my life!" Gastrell shouted. "YOU HAVE A FUCKING TERRORIST IN YOUR FAMILY!"
"Harry, no!" Ginny shouted as Harry shrugged her off him.
Except her dad didn't make it to Gastrell first. George was in front of him out of nowhere and pulled his arm back and slammed his fist into Gastrell's jaw. A collective gasp echoed in the garden as Gastrell stumbled.
"Stop!" her grandmum shouted. "You're not children anymore!"
Suddenly, Ron and Harry were on either side of George. Lily's heart pounded in her chest, her eyes wide.
"Boys, no!" Andy shouted. "Don't do this!"
James, Hugo, and Louis bolted forward as did Bill and Freddie. Lily looked up at Rayko, her eyes pleading.
"Make them stop!" Lily pleaded. "We don't need any more legal problems!"
Rayko dashed off towards the group. Lily watched as Rayko and James grabbed onto her dad, holding him back. Lily blinked back tears, her entire body trembling as she couldn't remember a time when her father had ever looked so vicious before. Arthur and Hugh stepped forward and escorted a laughing Gastrell off the property.
Riley wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to her. Maybe this wasn't the time to tell her entire extended family that she was pregnant out of wedlock with a wizard she had just met… not after her family had just engaged in Muggle dueling. Lily sucked in a breath, cuddling close to Riley.
At least she had a new story for Albus. In the meantime, the baby would have to stay a secret a little bit longer. It would be okay, she told herself. When Rayko came back over and squeezed her hand in his, she smiled. After all, it wasn't like things could get any worse.
I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter! I'm sorry I didn't get around to replying to reviews this week, but I figured you'd rather have the chapter as soon as possible instead of me taking more time to answer reviews and then post. I promise to reply to all the reviews for the newest chapter so don't forgot to take an extra minute and drop a review. Fair warning, depending on how much writing I get done this week, I may or may not post next weekend. My lead in chapters is diminishing so I really need to get ahead again. So, send some encouraging words to keep me motivated!
Special thanks to Bell for editing. Special thanks to Brie for all of her help, especially with the Ginny scene.