After the War by Erin

Disclaimer: - I am making no money, some characters belong to me, others sadly belong to JK. Rowling.

Chapter Seven – Fun and Home truths.

Harry's eyes roamed over Hermione slightly looking for a weakness. She had hardly changed, he decided upon seeing the burning hope in her eyes wishing for him to accept the invitation.

"No, I'd rather not Granger; I'm not feeling particularly charitable towards you at the minute. Go and meet the Weasley's. I'm sure they would like to know what a bastard I am." Harry turned away sharply urging his children to walk away, his temper was simmering.

"Harry you're forgetting what I've just done for you're wife, I am the only healer here trained to put her into a lethargic state, and it's the only thing that truly lets her rest." Hermione shouted. Harry turned his head and looked at her sharply.

"You still don't get it do you? Not everything can be sorted out by looking in a book! Don't you think I've tried to help her myself? I spent every free period and lunch break I had off work in the Library off Diagon Alley! I spent a great deal of time in the Knockturn alley library too, four years exactly! I know very well what can and can't be done! I know that she is unreachable Granger! Her mind is like a sieve, her short term memory span is half what it should be! HALF! Muggles call it amnesia! Ginny lives in the past, by tomorrow she will have forgotten what she ate today for lunch, so don't try to feed my children false hope, you won't get your claws into them! You do your job and stay the hell away from my private life Granger, I'm warning you!" He snarled pointing at her.

James placed his hand onto his fathers shoulder watching him warily. He then turned to Hermione. "If you've quite finished doctor, I believe its time we left you to your job. Remember my message. Dad lets floo home." He tugged Harry out of the door.

Hermione rubbed her eyes tiredly as she watched Harry's small family leave the hospital, she had worked a double shift today, and all she wanted was to go home and crawl into bed. However it wasn't to be so, first she needed to see her in laws.

Grabbing a coat she quickly made her way to the apparition point, without paying much attention she was startled when someone walked into her. Looking up sheepishly she noticed that in actual fact, she had been too intent on leaving and the bump was her fault.

"I'm terribly sorry." She began, bending over to pick the mans dropped papers. "There's no need I assure you Mrs. Weasley." The aged voice told her flicking his wand. All of the papers flew back into his hand leaving Hermione to blush a deep red.

"God, it's been a long night." She mumbled, the stranger smiled, "Ah, yes I'm afraid I couldn't help but overhear your troubles a little earlier. Harry's children have grown up rather a lot since I last saw him." She finally looked up and met the stranger's eye. Albus Dumbledore smiled at her, his eyes twinkling.

"Headmaster." She said, "I didn't expect to see you hear today." She rubbed her eyes again, shaking her head. "Harry's a lost hope, tell me headmaster, why didn't you contact Harry before? He assumed you died in Peru." She asked quizzically, he smiled apologetically. "It was rather difficult Hermione; you see Harry simply did not want to be found. He went to great lengths to conceal his whereabouts from us all. Remus was able to trace him yesterday, it was the first lead we've had in eight years. Harry you see, apparently lost his temper, Remus managed to track him through accidental magic."

"Oh." Was all she managed to say, she was thinking about Harry and his children. The old headmaster smiled at her, "I am sure in time Harry will come round. I believe a little visit is in order for myself don't you agree?" He asked stroking his beard, Hermione smiled politely.

"I think you'll have a job finding him, Remus owled me earlier, Harry's moved away again." She sighed. His twinkle became more pronounced, and if possible his smile became wider. "Yes but I believe I know where he's currently residing, between you and I Mrs. Weasley, Harry never did sell his old family home." The headmaster winked, "And I happen to know where that home resides, however I shall ask you not to question me about his whereabouts any further, he will come to you when he is ready."

Hermione stared at the old wizard incredulously, a small smile graced her lips, he was still a crafty sod in his old age. The smile vanished when she realized that she didn't know where Harry used to live.

"I'll be leaving now, but I daresay the best things come to those who wait, but for now I have a long and overdue conversation that needs to be attended to." He smiled and walked away.

Harry and his children exited St. Mungo's, Harry couldn't shake off the feeling of being followed as they walked around Muggle London. "Dad? Where are we going?" James asked. Harry peered down at him, they had only been walking for ten minutes and already James's eyes were watering with the cold. He mentally slapped himself for being a bad parent. He looked at the twins who were both in a similar state.

"Why didn't you bring your coats?" He snapped rubbing his temples; they looked at him slightly uneasy. Ebony put her hand on his arm. "Dad, are you okay?" She asked softly. Harry laughed shortly, "Aren't I supposed to be the parent here? I'm fine Ebb. Where are your coats?" He asked again.

"Dad, they were in the cloak room at school, you told us that you would get them another day. Remember?" James told him hugging himself.

Harry nodded, "Yes I did didn't I? Well no matter, come on." He pulled them into the nearest Muggle subway and bought four tickets. "I had though a walk would do us good, no matter. We're going to Charing Cross Road." He told them. The twins looked at him confused; James however smiled widely and watched his sisters bemusedly.

"What's there?" Lily asked taking her ticked from her father and went through the barrier. He smiled at her softly, "You'll see soon won't you, James don't spoil it for your sisters."

James nodded and hopped from one foot to another excitedly, as they climbed into the train Harry watched the twins try to drag the truth out of their brother, he smiled. The children were usually a complete handful; however they seemed to have sensed that Harry wasn't in the mood to talk about Ginny, so they left the subject alone.

As they reached their destination Harry smiled and led them up the street, he could see the Leaky Cauldron on the left. James smiled and pointed to the pub, and smirked as he watched his sisters bound off in front of him.

"Hey! Hold on you three." Harry shouted, his children stopped and looked at him sullenly. "Hope I'm not cramping your style but you will need to stay close to me." He remembered that not all of the death eaters had been accounted for in the last battle. The children seemed to sense his anxiety. They did at they were told.

Harry walked into the Leakey Caldron, his children walked behind him. Miraculously he thought, it had hardly changed a bit and Tom stood at the bar, like usual, the only difference was that he had aged considerably.

"Are you hungry?" He asked them, they nodded looking around. Harry approached Tom at the bar. "What can I do ya' for?"

Harry smiled, "I'd like a private room, and something to eat if you'd please Tom. Four butter beers would be much appreciated also."

Tom looked up, recognizing Harry's voice. "Well bless my soul, Mr. Potter you've returned!" Tom said quietly, he looked down and noticed Harry wasn't alone. "And children, well I never." Harry smiled and beckoned his children closer.

"This is my son James, he's ten, and my twin girls Lily and Ebony, they'll be nine next week." He introduced them all. They smiled politely at the man. "The names Tom, known your father since he was eleven, a frequent visitor he was." He smiled at them. "Now if you'll just follow me." He led them into a separate smaller room.

"Will a fry up be alright for you all? We're still cooking breakfast at the moment." Harry nodded, and Tom left.

They ate there food and when Harry tried to pay Tom he was refused. Tom smiled at him, "Nonsense Harry, its nice to see you again after all these years, some people thought you died when you disappeared but I knew that was all nonsense. Just do me a favor and come back sooner, don't disappear again." Harry smiled and they left. The children were enthralled with Diagon Alley.

They visited all of the shops; James's personal favorite was Gambol and Japes which was still there even though the Fred and George's business had stolen many of their customers. However Harry avoided the Junk shop and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Ebony's favorite was the Quidditch store and Lily it seemed was torn between the Magical Menagerie and Flourish and Blotts. Harry smiled wryly, Ginny and himself had bred a varied and interesting group of children.

The last shop Harry decided would be Madam Malkin's. He smiled and ushered his children into the robe shop. "Dad, what do we want with clothes?" James asked itching to be back in the Joke shop, he even reckoned that if he could shrug Harry off he could have a peep in his uncle's shop.

Harry smiled, "Well I thought you'd each want a winter cloak, I don't intend on stepping foot inside Fern Park primary again I tell you, the nerve of your headmaster. He shamed the Dursley's by comparison... and another thing…" He trailed off as he saw a familiar face being measured by the shop assistant. It wasn't his day, he reckoned. Fred Weasley looked straight back at Harry, paling with each second.

Harry ignored him. "You still haven't told me what Lee Fraser said to you." Harry asked tearing his eyes away from Fred's. The twins looked at their feet, "Look at me, all of you." He said softly. "What's done is done, you've already been punished I just want the truth now, and I promise not to get angry with you."

Lily smiled wryly at him, "Oh yes dad, but how many times have you said that to us before and then blow up when we've told you the truth?" She asked smirking slightly, Harry smiled. "Too many to count but you deserved all of it, now out with it, the truth."

"He called us freaks. He said that you were unhinged, and that his parents had said that we are… what was that word… Lily? James?" Ebony asked frowning. James scowled. "'Juvenile Delinquents with a raving lunatic for a father, who's become unhinged and unstable with the death of his wife.' He then made a joke about you being a teacher, and said that it was only a matter of time before we were taken from you by the social." James quoted using a high pitched mocking tone indicating that it was exactly what Fraser had said.

"Blimey." Fred muttered, Harry ignored him totally. "They would say that, Muggles aren't they. I would like them to tell me how to control your accidental magic, I can't help that your naturally very gifted can I?" He asked smiling, letting them know that he wasn't upset. "So I take it that you immediately rushed in to defend my name, without even considering the warning I'd already given you for fighting, when you clearly knew better." He asked them, they nodded sheepishly. "Yes, sounds like my children all over but when you're moved to your new school you will behave, or I will turn you over to the social myself, do you understand?" He asked warningly.

They smiled innocently, "Yes dad." They chorused together making Harry smile. He never intended to ever give his children up.

"That's a hollow threat dad." Lily smiled, "What would you do without us?" He smiled again, "I would sell the house, retire early and cruise around the world without any troublesome children and I would lead a very happy life." He deadpanned. The twins giggled. James raised on eyebrow. "Yeah right, can we get our cloaks now? I want to go back to Gambol and Japes so I can stock up for this new school. They'll never know what hit them." He smiled wistfully. Harry shook his head and grabbed him by the shoulder. "No, you will go to school, do your work, get good grades, play some football and come home. You can prank your sisters all you like but not the other kids okay." He said sternly, James smiled innocently, "Who said anything about pranking kids? I'm in for the teachers." He said smiling widely.

Harry could hear Fred snickering. "If you do that my boy, you will find yourself very unhappy with me. So understand this, you can't go around pranking Muggles using magic, because if you do, you won't be able to sit for a week." Harry threatened, "And I mean that. No magic at school, you want to prank them you will have to do it the Muggle way okay?" James nodded wearily, "Alright, I swear no magic on Muggles; I'll do it all the Muggle way." Harry nodded and smiled, "Good. Now go and chose a cloak."

Harry watched his children being fitted by the shop assistant and he sat down. Fred it seemed had disappeared and Harry was glad that he hadn't tried to talk to him.

All in all it was a good day Harry smiled, the children had been spoiled rotten, each returning home with several books, lots of practical joke items, a cloak each and Lily had also somehow at the last minute managed to cunningly convince Harry to buy her a kitten.

Harry flagged the night bus down so they could get home, and when they reached the destination Harry was surprised to see someone sitting by his front door, asleep.

Hermione was sitting around the table having dinner with the Weasley's. Ron was stuffing his face, her child Megan was sitting down the table with the other youngsters discussing Quidditch and Hogwarts in general. Her other child Ryan had left to join Hogwarts last September, Hermione was already missing him, but she thanked herself that Megan wouldn't be leaving her for another year.

She gazed around the table Charlie was sitting with Fleur, they still hadn't married but all or their children were at Hogwarts except Sophie, who was only five, Fleur was also noticeably pregnant again, three months gone. Percy, who had eventually made up with his family was too busy at the Ministry to leave but Penelope said quietly talking to their son Nathan, who was their only child, he would be seven tomorrow. Fred and George sat opposite her. Fred had married Angelina Johnson, and George had married Alicia Spinnet a few years ago but tonight the twins were talking together in hushed tones, both looking quite serious.

Molly and Arthur sat at next to her, they both looked much other but they happily watched their children. "Guess who I ran into today at St. Mungo's." Hermione said strongly, inside she still felt like a wreck. Everyone stopped speaking and looked at her expectantly; she turned to Molly and Arthur. "I met three young children, and the oldest wanted me to pass a message onto you." She paused, if she had looked at Fred she would have seen the spark of recognition in his eyes, but she didn't she focused on her in laws intently.

"His message was that you can't disown members of your family if you've never met them, and that he hates you for never knowing them because they didn't do anything wrong." Arthur and Molly looked at them perplexed. "Who was it dear?" Molly asked looking at Hermione expectantly. She took a deep breath. "James Potter, your grandson, and if you care to know you also have twin granddaughters. Lily and Ebony." She picked up a picture she had been thumbing; Ginny had given it to her a week before she was attacked. She leaned over and passed in to Molly.

"Ginny gave me that picture almost nine years ago just after the twins were born, there much older now though, and they're wondering why they only have Harry as family, Harry took them to see Ginny today." She watched Molly cry softly, looking at the picture, she also watched Arthur take the picture from his wife and study the photograph carefully.

"Shut up Hermione! Unless you've forgotten Ginny joined the dark lord willingly, she gave up, she betrayed us and Harry followed her. I have no sister, and I sure as hell don't give a crap what her spawn have to say!" Ron snarled standing up. Hermione slapped Ron around the face, "Those spawn have feelings you stupid git! They are children, and they've done nothing to warrant your anger and hatred, and its all your fault he won't speak to me!" She shouted hitting him again.

R/R

Thanks To: - Loopyloony, SillyGillie, Kemenran, athenakitty, PreciousLily, LadyLilyPotter, Pug320, Amy, Kraeg001, eruve tinwen, aalikane, Lil Miss Potter and amanda53.

Queen of Elven City: - Harry wrote a letter to Hermione after Ginny's death, but someone intercepted it and sent it back without telling her, it wasn't Hermione who wrote 'Return to Sender.' – You'll find out who in the next chapter.

Headncloud: - Harry's quite a good parent, just a tad forgetful.

Wytil: - That's a definite possibility; they may just do that, that is if the Weasley's can swallow their pride? They are a bit headstrong.

Ginny1946: - Thank you very much! It was my aim to have all of the children completely different, but similar in a few things. There characters will really show through next though. Oh I have plans!

Coolone007-2: - What you have to remember is that Ginny joined the death eaters, because Snape was caught as a spy. She did this because of the love she felt for her family, and because Bill Weasley died in an attack (she felt responsible for it), she didn't want any other members of her family dying. She also did it to protect Harry; she owed him a wizard's debt for saving her in her second year, and because she loved him. The Weasley's don't know why she joined Voldermort, they are blinded by the prejudice of the whole dark magic thing, and because of this they couldn't accept her actions. They turned their back on Harry because he stood up for her in court, but this will be explained later. Just know that they felt Harry betrayed them too.

Destiny-ruler: - They defiantly care.

Elizabeth Potter: - Thank You (blushes)

CNJ: - When Harry motives for leaving the Wizarding world become completely clearer you will see. Just remember, Harry loved the Weasley's like they were his own family, Sirius isn't there anymore and most of the people turned on Ginny because they believe she wasn't a spy. What would you do if your loved ones became like the Dursley's? And the world in which you loved threatened to send your wife/husband in Azkaban? Would you risk it? And you'll find out who's behind the letter inception next.

Sorry this chapter took so long, Next one out soon.
Erin
R/R