You Can Always Come Home

by Tatt Skywalker



Chapter Three:

Homeward Bound

Harry Potter dowsed the small cooking fire and watched the smoke rise into the air. Near by, his wife, Ginny, was taking down their small tent. It wasn't barely big enough for four people but it was all they had. Harry packed his family's few belongings and clothes into a large duffelbag.

Ginny folded the tent up into a purse-size bag and called out, "Paul! Paul! We're leaving!"

A little boy of six years old ran up the hill followed closely by a large German Shepherd dog. "Are we going to the castle today, Mommy?" Paul Potter asked Ginny.

"We're heading that way, honey," she told him and kissed him on the cheek. Paul pulled away and Ginny laughed. She slung the tent bag's strap over the little boy's shoulder.

"Come on Nemo!" the boy yelled and the dog walked over to the boy obediantly.

Harry pulled the duffelbag on to his back. He smiled as Ginny slung the piece of cloth that held his daughter over her neck. Despite the hardships they were a happy little family. Lilith Ann Potter had just joined the family three days prior which worked to their advantage. Now they wouldn't be stopping all the time for Ginny to rest. They'd make good time to the castle and most likely make it there in two days like they had said in their letter.

The Potters began walking down the road. It had once been paved but the past five years of war had taken its toll on the road. Bombs left potholes in the once majestic landscape and tank ruts destroyed the road. Along the road were many destroyed structures some still aflame.

"Is it better at the castle?" Paul asked his father as they were walking.

"I'd suspect it is," Harry replied. "I've not been there in ten years, son, but I'm sure it is much better than all this."

"No fire? No bombs?"

Harry shook his head. "No fire, no bombs," he assured Paul.

"Will we live there?" Paul asked. "In the castle?"

"Maybe," Harry told him. "If the others say it is okay."

Paul and Nemo ran up ahead leaving Ginny and Harry behind them. The two adults walked together with out speaking for a while. Lilith cooed in her sling but didn't wake. It was Ginny who broke the silence.

"Do you think we'll be welcome, Harry?"

Harry thought for a moment then shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "Sirius and Ron and the others might welcome us but... from what I've heard Draco Malfoy and Professor Snape are living there too. I can't be too sure about them."

Ginny gave him a strange look. "And if we are accepted do you really think you and Malfoy can live under the same roof without conflict?"

"He fought along side us against his father and Voldemort," Harry pointed out. "I'll wager he hasn't changed since."

Ginny smiled. "You always see the best in people."

"Not always," Harry replied. "My not letting Sirius and Remus kill Peter was a mistake and I regret it now."

"And you'd rather have his blood on your hands?"

Harry shook his head.

"Then what you did was right," Ginny told him. "No matter what happened after that, it was good to keep a man from being killed."

//But I should have let them kill him// Harry told himself. //Then Dumbledore would still be alive and my family could have a normal life.//

Harry and Ginny walked together silently. Lilith was a good baby for a newborn and hardly cried at all. And when she did, the family stopped. Paul and Nemo fell back and played fetch with Harry and then they started on their way again.

At dusk, they set up camp for the night knowing that they would reach Hogwarts the next day.