A/N: Ok I realised that I mucked up something in their trip to Australia... The time difference! Hopefully it didn't drive many people away!I Apoligise profusely and promise to do better. :/

That said. Lets push on!

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Fallout

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25 June 1999

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"Harry, If you want to keep him for a couple days all you have to do is ask." Harry looked up at her from where he sat on the floor, playing with Teddy. Roughly a week had passed since he lost Hermione for a second time. Drinking became his companion until Andi talked some sense into him and brought Teddy to Grimmarauld Place nearly everyday. While Teddy played she usually coached him about his Head of House responsibilities. She agreed with his plan to give the Black Vault to Teddy when he was of age and was shocked to find just how much more wealthy she had become. As a result, the three of them spent most of their time together, which is what prompted him to say these next few words.

"You both might as well move in either way."

She looked at him over a copy of the Daily Prophet. "You're joking aren't you?"

He watched the toddler play. "No, you both are family to me now. It'll make things easier for the both of us, more for me though, I'm having trouble redecorating this place."

She smiled. "That sounds like a good idea. As I'm your proxy in the Wizengamot, it makes sense for us to be in regular communication."

Harry joined in on the banter. "Yes, purely practical this arrangement. I just want to see my Godson every day."

She sipped her tea. "Aren't your results supposed to be in by now?"

He shrugged. "Must be the extra Mastery I took, it was offered on the day so maybe they fluffed the paperwork."

She frowned at him over her cup. "You didn't say anything about a Mastery son."

"I haven't told anyone about it really."

She watched the toddler shuffle closer to the fire. "And you're not going to tell me which one you went for?"

Harry cast a quick Impervious Charm at the fire to stop Teddy falling into it. "You can just wait."

"Hmph, Did the Sorting Hat think about putting you in Slytherin? That sounds like something Cissy would have said."

"Yes actually." But before he could finish his sentence, a tapping interrupted him. A jet black Owl was pecking at the glass. "Speak of the devil." He opened the window with a wave of his Wand and the bird dropped a thick looking letter on the floor and exited into the night. He snatched it up before Teddy could get his little hands on it and opened it slowly. He'd spent more than a year in Europe for this letter, it read:

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ICW Examinations Board Results of 1999

NEWT Results: Harry Potter

Charms: O

Transfiguration: E

Defence Against the Dark Arts: O (Mastery Achieved)

Herbology: E

Potions: E

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OWL Results: Harry Potter

Ancient Runes: E

Arithmancy: A

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Congratulations for passing all tested subjects and achieving a Mastery in Defence Against the Dark Arts. The characteristics of your Animagus form were recorded and passed onto your local Ministry of Magic. Notable Markings: Lighter circular shapes around the eyes.

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Regards

Jamal Ducard

Head of ICW Examinations Board

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He let out the breath he'd been holding as he read. Hermione would be proud. I think. Andi called out from the couch "Are you quite done? I'd like to read it myself you know." He grinned and handed her the parchment then picked up Teddy and played with him as she read. After a minute she crossed the room and hugged him. "Well done my boy, I knew you were hiding something from me but an Animagus?" He gave her the child and stepped back, he closed his eyes and transformed into a large Stag. Teddy stared wide-eyed at the creature. "Hmph, like father like son I suppose."

He changed back. "Not terribly useful but I had some spare time." He shrugged. Then a knock on the door, drew his attention. "Be back in a sec." Andi nodded and left the room, announcing that it's about time Teddy be fed. It didn't take him long to reach the door, he kept is wand in his right hand as he opened the door slowly with his left.

"Ron! What brings you here?"

Ron only gave a strained smile. "I reckon we need a chat."

"Oh? Come in by the way." He motioned Ron inside and led him to the kitchen. When they entered they found Andi at work, bits and bobs flying all over the place. "Ron, I'm not sure if you met Andromeda?"

She looked up. "It's Andi Ron, I used to visit your parents when you were little."

Ron blushed slightly. "Ah."

She turned to Harry. "I'll be here for a while, use the sitting room."

Harry nodded and called out. "Kreacher."

The wizened elf appeared at his side. "Yes?"

"Could you make tea for two please? We'll be in the sitting room." The elf bowed and Harry led Ron back to were Harry was originally sitting.

When the were seated Harry spoke first. "How's things at the shop?"

Ron had settled himself on the opposite couch. "Good actually, whatever you said to George really did the trick. Thanks."

Harry waved this away. "It's good to see him out and about. Now what brings you all the way to London for a chat?"

"Hermione." Harry's insides squirmed.

He tried to act cool. "What about her?"

"She got her NEWT results yesterday."

And? Why are you telling me? "Don't tell me she failed a subject."

Ron chuckled. "No, just she invited me to her place to tell me how she went."

Harry was perplexed. "And what's wrong with that? You're the one dating her."

Ron's eyes went wide. "What? No I'm not. Kind of."

You mean I've just assumed.. after all this time!? "What do you mean by that?"

"Well we still haven't got back together properly. It's weird, but that not important."

Bullshit that's not important! "What is then?"

"I would have thought you would have been there. She didn't even mention you."

He felt like someone had just punched him in the stomach. Well, that's that then. "What's wrong with that?"

Ron looked at him in surprise. "She always mentions you, even when you were in Europe. It's like your name's Taboo or something."

He debated whether to tell Ron what happened. Though it would probably ruin his friendship with him. Though he'd already lost his other best friend to his feelings so he decided to try not lose another. "What do you think?"

"Something happened at the party didn't it?"

He sighed. "You could say that, I'm just not sure how much to tell you."

Ron looked surprised. "Why couldn't you tell me?"

It's honesty time. Shame there's no Firewhisky in this house. At that moment Kreacher popped in with a tray of tea, which he laid on the coffee table. "Thanks Kreacher." The elf bowed and disappeared. Harry busied himself with making tea for them while he pondered how to say what he didn't want to say. When they both had their first sip of tea he began. "You're one of my closest friends Ron, I never had any before Hogwarts. Your family took me in and I'll always be grateful to all of them, and you for sitting in my compartment all those years ago." Ron simply looked confused so he continued. "Recently I realised something. And it's already led to losing one of my best friends, I don't want to lose you too."

"Harry, you could tell me you knocked up my sister and I'd still be you friend. I might beat you up and demand you marry her but I'd still be your friend."

Oh great. "I wish this had never happened, I just want the three of us the be friends again."

Ron's eyes narrowed. "Out with it Harry."

"I realised that... I love Hermione."

Silence.

The tips of his ears started to go red but he seemed to fight it. "When?"

"In Australia."

Ron looked away seemingly thinking hard. "Then why were you giving me advice and telling me to get with her?"

Harry stared into his cup and swirled the remaining tea around it. "Because that's what you want. And she doesn't feel the same way of course as she's with you."

His voice was low. "And what makes you think that?"

"Ron, you've kissed her. And look. I told her twice, once when I was drunk and she got mad. The second time she blew me off instantly. I never want to come between you two so I just tried to help you both along... I'll find someone else."

Ron placed his undrunk tea on the low table and stood up. "I have to go, and think about this."

Annnd it's all over. "Sure Ron. I'm really sorry."

"Bye Harry." And he left the room, Harry heard the front door slam and leant back, closing his eyes. No doubt about it. They were both out of his life now. All he had left was Andi and Teddy. Family. They were everything now, he would do everything he could to give them everything. But why was me holding a candle for Hermione even a problem for him? just then something he'd said himself came back haunt him. The more you care, the more you have to lose indeed. He settled for finishing his tea and staring into the fire.

Untill Andi entered the room, now Toddler-less. "Teddy's asleep. What did he want?"

With effort he directed his gaze at her. "To find out what's wrong with Hermione. Not like anything is even wrong with her anyway. Just me."

She inspected him. "And what on earth is wrong with you boy?"

"I fell in love with our best friend."

"Well I'm glad you finally see it, it will just take her longer."

Something about her response didn't add up to him. "What makes you think that she will come round at all?"

She sat where Ron was minutes before, vanished the undrunk tea and banished the cup to the kitchen and made herself some tea. "Because I asked her. And her response furthered my suspicions."

"Which were?"

She surveyed him over her tea. Reminding him of the old man slightly. No half-moon spectacles, just greying blond hair that framed a more beautiful version of Bellatrix Lestrange. "That she's been repressing her feelings so long it's become seconds nature." She cut off his response. "But you'll have to let her come to you, figure it out on her own. That seems to be her type."

He could feel his mouth falling open. "So I have to wait?" Really?

"You had to wait two years after learning that you had to either kill or be killed at the age of fifteen after the death of my cousin. Surely you can wait for the girl of your dreams to figure things out. You should sleep on it yourself." And he did, in Sirius's old room. He needed to get out of the house tomorrow and spent some time coming up with a plan before he drifted off.

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