After the War by Erin

Disclaimer: - I own nothing except the plot, Amy, Opal, Miss. Harris, Jane, James (Not Harry's father of course - different James) and the Potter Twins (Lily and Ebony) The Lyrics belong to Limp Bizkit (changed slightly), and the magical world of Harry Potter belongs to…. JK Rowling of course!

No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
to be the sad man
Behind green eyes
And no one knows What it's like
to be hated
To be faded to
telling only lies

But my dreams they aren't as empty
As my conscious seems to be
I have hours, only lonely
My love is vengeance
That's never free
No one knows what its like
To feel these feelings
Like I do, and I blame you!
No one bites back as hard
On their anger
None of my pain woe Can show through

No one knows what its like
To be mistreated,
to be defeated
Behind green eyes
No one know how to say
That they're sorry
and don't worry I'm not telling lies

No one knows what its like
To be the bad man, to be the sad man
Behind blue eyes.

Limp Bizkit – Behind blue eyes (changed slightly)

Chapter Five – Meet your Mother.

Harry's shoulders shook, he had cried for hours, he had cried himself into oblivion, and thus he only just noticed his daughters green eyes boring into his own. Lily had rapped her arms around him and he could smell the strawberry shampoo she used when washing her fiery hair.

"Dad everything will be okay, you'll see, we still have each other." Her young voice reassured him, he smiled slightly. "I know sweetheart, I know." Harry hugged her tightly, "I… Lily what would you say to a change of scenery?" He asked her quietly, "What do you mean Dad? You're world?" She responded equally as quietly.

"No… I don't want to go there until we really have to Lily, you don't know what its like, but you will if James chooses to attend Hogwarts, because then I would make sure we lived close by." Harry paused, "I was thinking near the sea side, get out of London, and explore anywhere I just don't want them to know where we live – not yet." Harry looked at her, she hadn't tensed her muscles which meant that there was a strong possibility that she would agree with him.

"That would be nice." She answered finally.

"I know." He answered but he wasn't sure if he was agreeing with him, or the probability that one day in the near future that she would live in the world where she truly belonged.

~~~~~~~~~~

"How could you Remus?" Amy shouted, "Everything I told you was in strict confidence! And Harry, he'll run now – and there isn't a thing we can do, we've just got to just let him go! That's not something you spring on a person, 'Oh yeah by the way Harry your wife, you know the lady you love who has been in a mental institute for nearly nine years, well there's a possibility that your old friend Hermione might be able to cure her! SURPRISE!" Amy shouted in a bitterly sarcastic tone.

Little did they know that three children, outside the door stood listening to their conversation.

"Did she just say what I thought she said?" James asked awkwardly, Kieran and Ebony nodded, dumbfounded, Ebony pushed the door open storming in.

"Maybe you should repeat that last bit about our mother." Ebony said, cool fury radiating around her, she glared. "I… I think its best if you ask your father," Remus told her quietly, she snarled. "I didn't ask you, but I had better warn you now, if you've upset my dad, then I'll hunt you down, like an animal." She hissed.

James through his shock began to laugh, "Oh please Ebb, you've been watching too many films, what are you going to do against a fully fledged wizard?" He asked placing his hand on her shoulder, "However Ebb with the three of us, we might be able to make his life unpleasant, if he is of course the source of Dad's annoyance." James eyes twinkled in the light, he too was angered.

"Remus, they don't know about your condition, they didn't mean offence." Amy reassured him, Ebony stepped forward.

"So, there's even more to this story except the fact that my mother is actually alive, and in a mental hospital! I think that we should go home James, we've overstayed our welcome." Ebony fists clenched.

"Yes your right, if Dad is planning to runaway he'll want us home early I'm sure." James, looked at Remus, "So, you were Granddad's friend, and Padfoots – Dad did say you were good to him once, then again you were obligated as the last marauder I'm sure." James looked Remus in the eye, Remus blushed slightly.

"Come on James I want to see if Dad's okay" Ebony grabbed his arm, "The past is better left alone for a while. We can ask him soon, you know how he is." She looked up to her elder brother.

"Anyway I'm sure Lily knows the story." James grinned, turning to his little sister, "Well Kieran, we'll write to you mate, you understand don't you?" James asked seriously, Kieran nodded.

The two Potters left the house, James still had his arm rapped around his little sister protectively, it had been a shock to them both.

"Think we'll ever get to see her James?" Ebony asked quietly, James nodded "Yes Ebb, one day we might even have her back, but I think at the moment we need to help dad." Ebony nodded, giving her brother a small smile as a single tear ran down her face.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Dad?" A voice shouted from downstairs a while later, it was James's voice, Harry smiled. "We're up here you two." He shouted, and concealed a smile when he heard them bound up the stairs.

"Dad? That Lupin man was around Amy's, they were arguing – are you going to go sort it out? Amy seemed rather angry." James informed him, cocking his head to one side, "Are you going to speak to her?" He asked.

"No." Harry waved his wand packing all of the items they had acquired over the years, nearly by shrinking them and placing them into boxes.

Lily laughed, "Do it again Dad! Look at that bed James!" She pulled a miniature bed out of the brown box and started to laugh. "It's yours!" Harry smiled slightly. "Yes, well now come on we haven't got all day!" He chided slightly.

"Where are we going?" James asked awkwardly, Harry smiled. "That's the beauty of it you see – where would you like to go Son?" He asked James looked bewildered; he couldn't take his eyes away from Harry's wand.

"So it was true then? Everything you told us about your world? About Hogwarts?" He asked, Harry's eye's hardened, "Did I ever give you a reason to doubt me?" He asked coolly, and James shook his head vigorously, "No… No it's just well you wouldn't ever use magic before and I…. well we've never seen you do any magic. I didn't mean to upset you dad, but we're running away from that man aren't we?"

Harry nodded, "Partly, I'll tell you later. The fact is, just because I resent my world I realised something and do you know what that is?" He asked smiling strangely, his children shook their heads. "I realised that I shouldn't forget who I am, and magic is in me, even if a part of me wishes it wasn't, and that even though your mother isn't here she'd still want me to use magic. In fact if she was here she'd have slapped me for being a fool." He grinned, then he looked at his children fully, they all had tears in their eyes – Harry had never spoken of Ginny, not for nearly nine years.

"Can we see her Dad?" Ebony asked, James glared at her, "We agreed you stupid idiot!" He hissed elbowing her in the ribs. Harry's grin faded, he looked sombre.

"So you know too, I….. Yes, yes of course you can, we'll go tomorrow, but she won't know you sweethearts, she doesn't even really know me." Harry said, fighting away tears, his eyes glazed "She was a remarkable lady, your mother, had to be, to put up with me."

James, embraced his father into a tight hug, "Never lose hope Dad, we're not defeated yet." He whispered. Harry shook his head, "I lost hope, years ago James, after your mother left me." He said full of emotion, "Dad, you've still got us, always," James hugged him harder. "I know, son, and I thank God for that every night." The twins also embraced them and they stood there tightly holding each other, comforting each other.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Let him go Remus, he might just surprise you." Amy told the man sternly, "You owe him that, he'll come back eventually." Remus shook his head, "I can't do that, Amy you don't understand."

"Of course I bloody do, who do you think you're talking to Remus Lupin? I know Harry better than you, you forget that! And you'll do what I say, even if I have to tie you to a chair and gag you! Do you hear me?" She shouted.

Remus didn't know if he should run away or kiss her.

~~~~~~~~~~

"Come on Get up!" Harry shouted, "Breakfast is ready," He shouted at the bottom of the stairs, he could hear groans already, they were back at their old house in Ireland, and Harry hadn't been here since Ginny had been taken to St. Mungo's, this had been there family home, the house in which Ginny had been tortured.

He could hear groaning upstairs, he smiled again he knew that James had stayed with the girls last night because they had crept in his room not wanting the boy to be on his own, on the night before they visited their mother.

The girls were the first down; James as usual was reluctant to get out of bed, "James!" He shouted again, "You've got thirty seconds, and then I'll be getting the bucket of water." Harry stifled a laugh; he had resorted to using cold water as a wake up call before.

The twins grinned maliciously, "Can we Dad?" They asked sweetly.

"No you can't!" James said annoyed, slumping into his chair, as usual he was half asleep.

"I thought since I was taking you to see your mother anyway, that we'd stop in Diagon Alley and have a little shop – what do you think?" Harry asked.

The others nodded excitedly, "Can I get a few books Dad?" Ebony asked making Harry laugh; he nodded not knowing how his children had become studious, because he and Ginny had never been.

"You're prepared for the looks then, there might be reporters too, and harsh words against your mother." He asked setting down the sausages and bacon on the table, with the toast and eggs.

He sat down James spoke first, "As long as we're together I don't care." He told his father, and Harry nodded acknowledging his words.

After the food, he sent them to get ready, all the time he shook. One thing was on his mind.

-Ginny

~~~~~~~~~~

"We'll use floo powder. James, you can go first, and then you two and I'll go last okay? Remember to speak clearly, we're going to St. Mungo's remember?" Harry asked, they nodded.

They all managed to make their way to St. Mungo's without any problems, and as soon as Harry stepped out of the flames, whispering could be heard behind hands as people looked at him, and his scar and then finally to his children.

"How about we get your mum something from the shop?" He asked leading them to the small gift shop that had been built near Reception.

Harry picked up some red roses, Ginny's favourite flower and his children each picked out three single white roses to go with them. Harry smiled appreciatively. They paid and walked out of the shop, the whispering seemed to follow them wherever they went.

"What's there problem Dad? Why don't they go get a life?" Lily asked loudly, satisfaction shown of her face when the people blushed and walked away fast. Harry smiled, "Mind your manners Lily." She looked at him, "But Dad!" He began to laugh slightly, "Come on Darling, you just have to ignore them, it's a part of being a Potter." He led them though the corridors that had become familiar to him. Reaching the door he looked at each of his children in return.

They all looked anxious, but stubborn.

"I suppose there's not much point in asking if you're ready." Harry asked, James snorted, raising his chin a fraction higher defiantly.

"I thought as much." Harry opened the door.

~~~~~~~~~~

A pale woman sat on the single bed looking through the window, her hair was long and curly, it looked darker than Harry remembered. She turned around, "Who are you people?" She asked, looking annoyed that her territory had been invaded.

Harry gazed at her, his children clung to him, "Ginny love, it's me Harry – don't you remember? We spoke a few weeks ago." He asked, pulling his children further into the room.

"I once knew a Harry but you're not him, no my Harry was shorter, younger. I haven't seen him since my second year at that school; he saved my life you know." She said proudly smiling, she looked at the children.

"Well you are pretty children aren't you? You must be proud Harold." She told him smiling, Harry shook his head.

"No Ginny, my name is Harry." He told her again, "Harry." He looked into her eyes. Those eyes that he had loved, they looked hollow, defeated as though life and memory were missing.

"You've got pretty eyes Harry." Ginny said reaching up to stroke the side of his face, "My Harry, his eyes were green too, but so full of life, dazzling in fact. You know I used to say that they reminded me of…" She trailed off as Harry interrupted her, "Emeralds." He answered softly.

Her eyes widened, "Here how would you know that? Have you seen my Harry?" She asked desperately. "Yes, I knew him many years ago." Harry replied.

"Kids, come here darlings." He told his children equally as gently. "Ginny love, these two are my daughters Ebony and Lily, twins you know, and this is my son he's the oldest his names James." Harry introduced them with a heavy heart.

"You have beautiful names, you must be proud Harold, it's very nice to meet you." Ginny beamed, "I don't get many visitors except that busy bossy woman, and she comes almost every day. Reminds me of one of my old teachers, she does, very strict." Ginny rambled on and Harry allowed her voice to wash over him smiling slightly he loved this woman with every inch of his soul.

"Come to think about it she mentioned you Harold, once or twice. You went to school with her, you were best friends." Ginny stated scandalized, "Why on earth would you want to go and do something like that?" She asked perplexed.

Harry laughed, she was talking about Hermione and the irony was that Ginny and Hermione had also become best friends. Sisters in fact when Ron married Hermione.

"She's got nice hair though." Ginny smiled softly, but moments later her face creased up tightly her eyes rolling back into her head, she began to scream. "Get out!" Harry ushered his children away from their mother and in to the corridor calling a nurse.

"YOU'RE NOT TAKING THEM! NOT MY BABIES! IT'S ME YOU WANT!" She screamed high pitched as a nightmare of a past memory resurfaced. "HE'S DEAD! YOUR MASTER IS DEAD!" Harry tried to pin Ginny down, hoping that she wouldn't hurt herself in this seizure.

He breathed a sigh or relief when two nurses ran into the room, but then he noticed a bushy brown haired nurse, and he knew instinctively that it was Hermione.

~~~~~~~~~~END OF CHAPTER FIVE~~~~~~~~~~~

Well, what do you think? All reviews are welcome, and thank you so much to those who have reviewed, it's nice to hear from you all! I hope you'll review again.

Thanks to : - Shannon Snape, Kemenran, wuzup13579, LucyLu4701, Prophetess Of Hearts, amanda53, loopyloony, Sami Potter, coolone007, Nicole_snape21, Rosebeth, D.Torres and Elisabeth Potter!

Dreamon2223: - Well, apparently Voldermort is cruel and sadistic – and it seemed fitting, something he would order possibly to see if Snape was faithful to him? A part of Snape's initiation, I haven't really thought about that side plot in detail yet, but it'll come to me.

Well, I hope to hear from you all again. As promised I delivered you a much longer chapter, so tell me what did you think?

Poor Ginny!

C ya!

Erin