WARNING: Please take note of the M rating change, I've decided not to pull punches as much, so please be mindful of any warnings moving forward. Not too much will change, but I'm going to add a bit more of the three sisters' backgrounds as I imagined them for this story.

Chapter 9 - Giants

"What do you mean we are going to the Weasleys'?" Andromeda asked.

Harry sighed, "I did tell you about this."

"But we are going to my sister's tomorrow."

"Yes, but Fleur is having her baby shower tonight."

Andromeda crossed her arms, "Only women are supposed to show up to those."

"That's why you were invited," Harry said dryly as he prepared Teddy's to go bag. "I think she is having two, the 'girly' one she already had back at her parents' house."

"That doesn't explain why you were invited," Andromeda said bluntly.

"Arthur, Charlie, the twins, and Bill will be there," Harry defended.

"You were miserable when you came back from the Weasleys on your birthday," she attempted to persuade him.

"I wasn't miserable," Harry protested.

"You were upset," she insisted.

"Mrs. Weasley can be… overbearing," he conceded.

"Molly Prewitt was always a twat."

Harry sighed, "If you can't be civil, don't bother coming."

He placed Teddy in the baby carrier. Teddy was gnawing on the toy they had given him as if his life depended on it. He had been staying up late at night because of the pain, he didn't cry much but he was fussy from lack of sleep.

"You already said yes on my behalf," Andromeda grumbled.

"You said yes when I asked," Harry said, growing irritated with himself. "And as I said, you don't have to come, I can make up an excuse for you."

"I can watch Teddy," she offered.

"Everyone wants to meet him, Andromeda. I have been living with you two for seven months, I don't want rumours to start that there is something wrong with him."

"Since when do you care about rumours?"

Harry ignored the question, "I'm leaving now, are you coming or not?"

Andromeda sighed, "Fine, to the blood traitors' house we go."

Harry froze, "You're a blood traitor, as was my dad was a blood traitor."

"Molly was a prefect, a year above me," she said as if that explained everything.

It didn't, at least not for him.

"So what?"

"We didn't get along."

"Clearly," Harry stated.

Andromeda's lips tightened, "If she tries anything, I'll flatten her ass."

"You could just stay here," he said, getting a distinctly bad impression of what was more than liking going to happen.

"I am not afraid of her."

They were going to be late at this rate and Harry didn't have any more time to argue about this. Ever since Narcissa had visited, Andromeda had been better, more awake, but she had also been more irritable. Harry had always believed he had a temper, but he had nothing on hers.

"Just try to behave," he said.

They apparated to the Burrow. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione wouldn't be there because they were at Hogwarts.

Teddy announced them with a sharp cry.

Handing the baby carrier to Andromeda, Harry picked Teddy up and began rocking on his feet and rubbing the baby's back to calm him down.

They entered the house and Molly was the first to greet them. Harry was dreading her hug but was saved by Andromeda taking a step between them.

"Andromeda," Molly said with a false smile, coming to an abrupt halt.

Andromeda just stared at her silently.

Seeing the two women squaring off, Arthur hurriedly made his way to them. He put an arm around Molly's waist, angling his wife behind him a step, "Hello, Mrs. Tonks, Harry. Is that little Teddy?"

Harry moved forward so that he was at Andromeda's shoulder, "Yes, he's a little upset from the trip here though."

"Quite understandable. How have things been going?" Arthur asked.

"Really well, Teddy has started to talk with real words and aside from the teething he's been adjusting well-"

"Adjusting well to what?" Molly asked, glaring at Andromeda.

Andromeda eyes narrowed, "To losing his mother, you-"

Harry grabbed Andromeda's hand and yanked her back to his side.

"He's too young to remember his parents," Molly said.

Logically, Harry knew that she was talking about Teddy but 'not remembering his parents' was a wee bit of sore spot. He glowered at Molly and he let go of Andromeda.

Arthur caught on to the shift in his mood and spoke before Harry could respond, "Maybe not in memory, but all children understand they have a mother and know their absence if they disappear." It was more diplomatic than Arthur typically managed. "But enough of this, let's join the party, shall we?"

The last was an almost plea.

The two witches glared at each other but they walked into the living room without another word.

Harry whispered in Andromeda's ear, "Behave."

"She killed my sister," Andromeda hissed back.

"I have tried to torture and kill your sister," Harry shot back. "And I am glad your Bella is dead."

"'Arry!" Fleur called from across the room. She came to him as beautiful as ever and Andromeda did not stand in her way. In fact, Andromeda found a chair farthest from the cluster of people and seemed to do her best to disappear in plain view.

Fleur bent forward and kissed both of Harry's cheek, her belly and Teddy not allowing for a real hug.

"How are you?" Harry asked, "How soon until the baby arrives?"

"Bill and I have been wondrous," Fleur gushed.

Bill made a face behind her back that said he hadn't enjoyed the last few months quite as much as his lovely wife had.

Fleur continued, "Another month or two. Veela babies take a bit longer than human ones do to arrive. So there is no official due date."

"Hi Harry," Gabrielle said, coming to stand next to her older sister.

Harry smiled brilliantly at the little girl, "Why hello, how have you been? You've started at the academy, right?"

Gabrielle flushed but said sweetly, "Third year. Things are good. I was let out of my afternoon classes to be here. I am glad I am not at Hogwarts."

"Aren't we all," Harry said.

"Is that your godson?" Gabrielle asked.

Teddy, who had settled enough that Harry could turn him to face the people, blinked at the Veela women and pointed at Fleur's tummy and said, "Pie."

Charlie snorted a laugh eliciting a smack on the back of his head from Bill. The twins lost it, their laughter filling the room making Teddy grin and laugh because there were people laughing at something he had said. It made Harry a little sad that there wasn't as much laughter in their own home.

Maybe he could get the twins to visit more often?

Fleur frowned, "Pie?"

"One of the picture books we read had a character who got fat from eating too many sweets, such as pie," Harry explained.

Fleur smiled and laughed, her laugh was like the tinkling of bells.

Teddy blinked up at the Veela and his eyes turned to match her blue and his hair changed to her blonde.

"Oh, wow," Gabrielle breathed.

Charlie came to his sister-in-law's side, "Takes after his mum, then."

Molly was drawn closer to the group gawking at the baby, she reached out a hand to touch Teddy's cheek and Teddy shrank into Harry's arms. His eyes flashing back to emerald green and his hair back to an inky black. Harry stepped back as subtly as he could from Molly.

No one else had asked to hold Teddy. He wasn't sure why but he was glad of it.

Bill grinned, "Well, he might be Tonks' son but he seems quite taken with you, Harry."

"He picks up people's traits like a chemilain. I put a glamour spell on him anytime we go out in public so he doesn't cause a scene," Harry said.

"You take him out?" Molly said, "But we haven't seen you in months."

"I wonder why," the twins muttered in unison.

Molly glared at them but Harry shifted the conversation to Bill, Charlie, and the twins' work, which was more than enough to distract Molly who was incredibly proud of her sons.

The rest of the night went by nicely. Teddy was a bit on edge with so many new and loud people, but in the safety of Harry's arms, he was alright. Although instead of his toy he played with Harry's fingers as he talked to the grown ups.

The conversation focused mainly on Bill and Fleur. What quickly began to stun everyone and attract Fleur's attention was Harry's knowledge in baby care. Where Andromeda stayed sulkily silent, Harry got into the nitty gritty about babies.

Teddy had been less than four weeks old when Harry had taken over. There had been a substantial learning curve.

The other men in the room were out of their depth, Molly on the other hand was growing angrier and angrier. She was glowering at Andromeda when she cut in midway through Harry's explanation of Teddy violently hating baths with, "And why, Harry, have you been forced to do so much?" She had addressed Harry but was glaring daggers at Andromeda.

Andromeda stiffened and ever so slightly hunched in on herself.

But Harry was having none of it.

"Because Molly," he said, tone sharp, "I love Teddy and I love being a father. I am fortunate enough to not have to work and have, therefore, been allowed to monopolize my time with Teddy."

"Is Andromeda the reason you decided not to go back to school with Ron and Hermione?" Molly demanded. "Because she's making you do all this work to live under her roof?"

Andromeda looked at Harry, a soft expression of horror stealing over her features.

Had it been her fault? Had she been the one to hold Harry back from his potential? His friends and loved ones?

"Molly," Arthur warned, "we've been over this."

"No, Arthur," Molly snapped. "I want to know, after all Harry has been through, no one should hold him back-"

Harry stood, hugging Teddy to him, "Stop it! Did you ever stop to think that maybe this is where I want to be? That maybe for once in my life I would like to have a family who needs me? Free from political bullshit and the reputation of my stupid scar. That maybe I enjoy being the one and the only person who gets to dictate my future is me?"

"Your future?" Molly asked. "If you are that child's primary caregiver then your future is never going to be your own. You will never have freedom if you are a parent."

The Weasley kids exchanged looks, he could practically see the whispers of guilt building in their guts. Harry knew that they had always believed that their mum wanted to have them, all of them.

"You don't get it, do you?" Harry asked, his voice staying even so he didn't upset Teddy who seemed close to tears. He had fisted some of Harry's hair at the nape of his neck and was tugging gently, like a cat kneading. "I don't want a life without responsibility, without purpose. I am not trying to claim some fantasy childhood I never had. I survived, I am alive, and all I want to do is move forward."

"Forward is an education, a job, and a family of your own," Molly entoned.

"This is my family," Harry said, voice coming from his chest. "All my blood is dead and I am not ready to pick up a romantic relationship with anyone."

"Girlfriends come before babies."

"You are not his mother," Andromeda said, finally speaking up.

"I am the closest thing he has to a mother," Molly said, turning on Andromeda, who she had been the one she had been trying to pick a fight with to begin with.

"No, Lily is his mother," Andromeda said. "She taught him that you do everything in your power to protect the innocent. Not pride, or selfishness, not even your own life; nothing comes before them. For your child, you protect them and you love them, for as long as you can, and you hold nothing back."

"And you don't think I've shown Harry love?" Molly screeched.

"I don't think you see him," Andromeda said calmly at first. "I don't think you know him. I don't think you know any of your children. You're so busy 'taking care' of them and loving them as your children that you have missed who they are as individuals," she finished with more emotion than she probably intended.

"Don't you lecture me, you drop out. You may have done better than your sisters, but I remember who you are. I think there are reasons Dumbledore didn't let you into the Order," Molly said, voice strident. "Some people are incapable of change. Some people-"

"ENOUGH!" Harry shouted, the windows shook, some of the panes of glass cracking.

He may have been very mature for his age but his power had yet to manifest into its full potential.

Teddy clung to Harry, a little desperately, upset because Harry was upset. Though by the way he clung to his godfather, clearly Teddy didn't think he was the danger to be afraid of.

"Enough," Harry repeated. "Molly, Andromeda and I are Teddy's guardians. Insulting one of us, is insulting all of us. I am not going to come back here if you are going to keep attacking my choices and Andromeda's past. We were all affected by the war, or I suppose wars, we were all subject to our families' backgrounds and the crap we dealt with at Hogwarts. But I am not going to raise my son in it. Grudges, revenge, bitterness; they help no one.

"And stop trying to tell me I need to fend for myself because, for the first time in my life, I am making my own choices. You don't have to like them but you do have to respect them or you will not be seeing much of me."

The Weasley brothers, Arthur, Fleur, and Gabrielle glared at Molly.

Molly apologized, "Harry- you are quite right. I am sorry for making you feel- you feel-"

"Like he's a particularly slow child who can't get ice cream without a hand to hold?" Fred supplied.

George whacked his shoulder.

Arthur coughed.

"I'm sorry for my behavior towards you and your-" Molly hesitated, "your family. Teddy seems like a healthy boy. You are doing good."

Bill, Charlie, and the twins rolled their eyes at the understatement of the happy, adorable youth in Harry's embrace.

Harry nodded, "Thank you and I forgive you, but I think it is best we return home for the night."

The relief coming off Andromeda was nearly papabubble.

Kingsley slammed the stack of papers down on his desk.

Lucius Malfoy had been cleared of all charges. All charges.

Kingsley was furious but there was nothing he could do. The position of Minister had lost significant power after the war.

Which had Fudge been in charge still that would have been useful but now- now people were using the lack of order, lack of leadership as a way to skirt the laws.

Veritasium had been used, but only the lawyers had been allowed to ask questions. Lawyers who had no idea how to phrase a proper question!

Had Kingsley asked a question any answer Malfoy might have given would have been dismissed. 'The minister can't overstep his office.'

It was infuriating.

Although Malfoy's description of his time imprisoned in his own home had not been a picnic, Kingsley felt no pity for the scum. Truly, the only good thing about Malfoy's hearing had been the others he had ratted out. Kingsley couldn't help but think that had Severus not been dead, he would have been the one to reveal this information.

Severus Snape had died a traitor to both sides, only the Order listened to his redemption story delivered by Harry. No one else -aside from the devoted readers of the Quibbler, believed it.

For the man who had killed Albus Dumbledore, there would be no medal.

Kingsley shook his thoughts away, shoved his anger down, he had no time for this either. Under the threat of losing their jobs and a pointed speech about if the lawmakers were protesting who would be there to change the laws had put most everyone back behind their desks.

The Ministry was still severely understaffed and many had walked out of their offices with desks packed. Some of those people had been relatives who came to retrieve their dead family members' possessions. There was no doubt that the dark times were far from being beyond them.

Luckily, there was a surge in interns. But those interns needed to be trained and it would be years until their ranks were back to capacity. The Auror office was one of the most severely hit and they had been forced to hire from overseas.

Of course, this was nothing to the problem that ran into his office on the stumbling feet of Rolf Scamander, a freckle-faced lad with wild dark hair. He nearly slammed into Kingsley's desk as he tried to stop his momentum. Extending a shaking hand, a plea for a moment of Minister Shacklebolt's time.

"What is it now?" Kingsley asked, knowing bad news when he saw it.

The boy was sweeting, "Giants-" he gasped.

"What?"

"The giants," he said again more firmly.

"What about the giants?" Kingsley asked, dreading the answer, if they had a break in the Statue of Secrecy-

"The giants are dead."

"What?" Kingsley asked in a hushed tone, his mind reeling as he tried to shift gears. "What do you mean the giants are dead? Which giants?"

"All of them, Sir," Rolf said. "A nameless group of wizards got together and attacked their camp. They left a message, claiming that these 'monsters' could die with their master and that they were never wanted in this world."

Kingsley's mind was reeling, "All of them?"

"It was a slaughter, no one was spared, not the women, or children, or the ones hiding in caves in the nearby mountains. It must have been a huge hunting party and a skilled one at that. No human bodies have turned up, but then, not everyone has been fully accounted for after the war yet."

Giants had existed since the dawn of human magical history. Kingsley had always seen them as a part of the United Kingdom's culture, it was a part of what set them apart from other wizarding communities around the world. "They're gone?" Kingsley asked, sinking into his seat, understanding the travesty that had befallen their world and he understood that many in their world would not care.

"There are the human-giant descendants but the full giants..." Rolf took in a long breath.

Kingsley looked up at the boy, meeting sad hazel eyes with his tired brown ones.

"The giants are extinct."

AN: Yes, I am probably a monster, but if you think war is awful the pick up afterward is... well human history is depressing. Thank you to everyone who reviews! As always these stories are posted for you :D