After the War - By Erin

Disclaimer: - I do not own anything except Harry's 3 children and the plot. The rest that you recognise belongs to the wonderful JK.

Chapter 10: - Between a rock and a hard place.

Harry felt his throat constricting as butterflies swam around in his stomach. He didn't in all honesty know what to do. Hermione, he supposed had never really betrayed him, but did that mean that she was telling him the truth now? Why had Remus suddenly reappeared? Was there really a chance that Ginny could be saved?

It was very dark, midnight had long since come and gone, and Harry sat out in his back yard peering into the sky. He supposed it all started with Sirius's death, and the mystic veil, which haunted his dreams. The intriguing and deadly veil that even after all of these years still had the power to draw people to its unknown identity like a moth to a flame. No one knew what it really was, did, or even who created it. Rumor had it that a curse breaker had tried to unravel its labyrinths of mistruths and misconceptions several years ago. Harry had read about it in the paper, there had been an accident, and the curse breaker had never been seen again. Just like Sirius Black, belated godfather to the one and only man-who-still-lived.

Harry pored himself another whiskey. He had long gotten over the depression of Sirius's death, but guilt still laced at his insides, like acid trying to corrode his bodily organs until the day he drew his last breath and died. Ginny had been the only one who could snap him out of these moods, she was the one that Harry had lent on for support in those few hours when the full weight of the prophecy loomed into view, and the urge to flee became stronger day by day.

She had been his rock for so many years; that he felt he was living in an empty shell eagerly awaiting her return, or his death, with only the thought of their children dragging him from his bed. The only place that Harry could really be with Ginny was in his memories. Why hadn't he believed what they were saying to his from the offset? It was all too confusing, he himself had poured over medical journals for years upon years hoping to see a loophole. Something that could be done to bring his loved one back into his arms. It was a fantasy wasn't it? He knew very well that Hermione and Remus were talking about bringing the impossible to life, and contradicting everything that medical science could offer. However that was magic wasn't it? There were no set rules to play by.

Harry broke off from that train of thought sipping at his whiskey feeling the urge to flee once again, but instead of fleeing he stomped it down into the tiny crevices in his bones viciously and sat it out. On one hand he was being told that his every dream could come true, and that Ginny could be cured. However, on the other hand was it really right to drag his children into this, have their hopes built up only to be shattered into pieces if anything went wrong. It was one hell of a decision, and unfortunately one, which rested solely upon his shoulders.

He did the only thing that seemed at least halfway plausible to him. He gathered his coat, checked that his children were fast asleep quickly leaving them a note explaining where he was going, and when he would come back, and then fingering his wand, he walked away from his home, and apparated away.

On reflection, it probably hadn't been the smartest thing to do. He had, had several drinks, it was approaching one am, and visiting hours stopped at nine pm. Harry listened to an irate woman whom he guessed was a healer lecturing him about the dangers of apparition whilst under the influence of alcohol.

"Are you even listening to me?" The woman said peering at his eyes, which had glazed over slightly in the tirade against him. "Not particularly. You see I would just like to see my wife." He told her desolately. She looked up at him squinting. "And you are?" She drawled lazily, it was obvious to him that she took offense to his last words, but he didn't care, he was too old for a lecture anyway, and adding insult to injury she looked to be around the same age as himself.

"Harry Potter." He said gently, running a hand through his hair agitatedly. He knew the routine, like everyone else her eyes raked over his forehead until they landed on a lightning bold scar. Her eyes widened, she looked away quickly, and flashed back to his forehead as if in shock, that she a mere civilian had, had the pleasure of meeting the savior of the world.

"Right this way Mr. Potter." Instantly any disapproval melted from her eyes and her voice tone changed into one of unwavering politeness. Harry sighed. "My name is Harry." Instantly he knew it was the wrong thing to say, she blushed, and smiled widely.

'Oh hell,' Harry muttered under his breath following her steps to the elevator. "It's okay, you don't have to follow me up there, I know where I'm going." Harry told her firmly when they stepped inside the elevator. "Nonsense Harry, it's a pleasure." And there was something about the way she said that. A small secret smile graced her lips, her eyes twinkled away excitedly and her lips parted slightly and began to look more defined and rosy.

Then and only then did it hit him, that she was flirting with him! "Has my wife calmed down from her earlier seizure?" Harry asked stressing the word wife, he was after all still married to Ginny, and no one else in the world could match the love he held for her. He had no other love to give to any other woman, and certainly not a slightly familiar stranger who just looked like all of her Christmases had come at once, just by knowing his name.

"Hmm, yes. Mrs. Weasley sedated her, and she woke briefly this evening for a few hours, although you wont be able to talk to her because we gave her a dreamless sleep potion. She was very emotionally wrung out." The lady told him, he nodded politely, it seemed that his emphasis on the word wife was not lost upon the other female. Thankfully, she took this hint, but her eyes still sparkled madly, and at any time now she looked like she might spontaneously self-combust.

"Well Harry." She said as they reached Ginny's floor. "I'll leave you now. However I'll ask you kindly not to mention to anyone that I've allowed you in here after hours, it's against regulation. I trust you won't go poking about into any of the other wards." She said sternly, Harry wondered if she had been a Slytherin, she seemed to imply that he owed her a favor.

"Not at all. I wouldn't dream of it." Harry said slightly miffed, "Will you be seeing Healer Weasley soon?" He asked again, wondering if she would relay a message for him to Hermione. The healer smiled knowingly, "Yes. Goodnight Harry." She cut him off and skipped back into he elevator leaving Harry to feel inadequately embarrassed.

Something dawned to him finally, like an explosion in his mind. He stopped the elevator doors from closing, "And I take it that, my being here will not be in Witch Weekly or any other tabloid rag tomorrow, because you operate upon a client confidentiality act?" He asked cottoning on, "And because if you did that you would break your employment contract and I would have to insist to your manager that you be fired for your action, which I really wouldn't like to do to you." He said sternly. He watched as the mad sparkle of excitement vanished in her eyes, and was replaced with a flash of fear.

Harry knew instantly, although he hadn't used it in years, that through unintentional legitimacy that it had been her plan to inform the papers as soon as she had realized whom he was, which was why she had been so excited.

"I would never." She said looking like a child who had been caught with their fingers in a cookie jar. Harry smiled coldly, "Then there is nothing to worry about is there Miss…" Her trailed off mid sentence watching her wince with mild satisfaction. "Bulstrode." She said coloring slightly, 'aha' Harry thought pinning a name to her face.

"Good evening Millicent, it was a pleasure to see you again. I'll be sure to tell Hermione how helpful you were." Harry then strode down the hall and into his wife's private room.

Curbing his anger to furrow back inside his body he went to open the door, but stopped when he heard someone crying from inside the room.

"Why did you have to leave us Ginny?" He heard faintly as an old voice whispered in the darkness. "You could have told us what you were going to do. I wouldn't have approved, I would have forbidden it…" The person cried again. "…And it would have protected you." More heart wrenching sobs filtered through. "And then… then we would never have rowed, and our family would never have broke… and you would still be here with your beautiful children and Harry."

Harry bristled slightly recognizing the voice. "I know it was for a good cause but I can't accept the danger you put yourself into willingly… but… Albus was right in a way you are remarkable, I knew it when I gave birth to you. I always knew that you would do special things. That you… well… you were the heart of our family… and you'll never forgive me for taking Ron's side… but it all seemed so plausible. After Bill died all I wanted was to line up every Death Eater and kill them all… and then… then I found the dark mark on your arm, and even through Harry and Albus tried to tell me the truth… tell us the truth… that you were a spy for the light… I couldn't accept it… to me, no matter how good your intentions were… you still had that, that mark, and that mark likened you to everything I wished dead, wanted to destroy, and you, my baby girl, at only sixteen had become one." More sobs ensured a brief silence.

Even if you were a spy Ginny, it's unforgivable, I know what you would have had to do to make it seem like you were trustworthy and Loyal… I know you would have had to kill, plunder… torture… because Severus Snape did it too, and he hated it… he wanted out of it all… but you… you jumped straight in with both eyes wide open!" She was crying hysterically now, but Harry was distracted, he heard another person's feet walking down the corridor.

"Harry?" He turned to see Hermione. He shook his head, placing a single finger on his mouth, beckoning her to walk over. "Shhh." She did, and only then did he see that her eyes were swollen, red and scrubbed raw. Her cheeks were tear stained and she looked exhausted. Not knowing why, acting impulsively, he pulled her closer to him and placed an arm around her in silent comfort. "What's going on?" She whispered accepting the comfort as naturally as breathing, because besides her children Harry was really the only family she had left. He pointed to the door and mouthed "Mrs. Weasley."

"And I still can't except it!" Molly screeched. "I know Albus would say you did everything for the greater good, but at what cost? How many children, how many families did you rip apart like ours was when they killed Bill?" Everything went quiet, and then softly, they heard her speak again. "What right did you have to play God and decide who lived and died for the greater good? Did it matter that those nameless and faceless people died because of you? Did it matter even if it was for the greater good? Merlin Ginny, how were you even able to cast the damn killing curse?" The sobs had stopped, but Harry had, had enough.

He opened the door, and saw the woman that he had once considered to be his mother standing by his wife's bed. His wife thankfully was still asleep, which was a miracle in itself.

"I think it's about time that we had a little chat, don't you think Mrs. Weasley? I know the answer to some of you questions. Not that I believe you deserve them, but I'll damn well tell you anyway! We don't need your hysterics in the future, things are about to change Molly, and when they do, I will not have you interfering." His tone brooked no argument. "I suggest we adjourn to the Leakey Caldron, if you don't mind, my wife's has had a stressful day already and it will not help if you wake her up. I see you've tried your hardest however." He commented sarcastically leaving Molly Weasley, for only the third time in her life, completely speechless.

End of Chapter

Authors Notes: - Hey I'm back. Lol, sorry that it's taken so long but I had to find a way to get back into the main plot, which through writers block I almost messed up completely. I hope this clears up a few things that I had been sketchy about. Well isn't Molly Weasley and emotional baggage? Can you understand now why she allowed the Weasley family to split up and why she never talked to Ginny again? Depression and Love can do some really weird things to the brain but to summarize her actions, by taking the dark mark Ginny became the epitome of evil as far as Molly's concerned. Ginny became everything Molly hated because of Bill Weasley's dramatic death (more later) and Molly Merlin bless her couldn't find a way to rationalize it sensibly.

Review Responses: -

(Please not that it is not possible for me to answer everyone's review personally, as there are so many of you now, which makes me very happy, so I'll try my best, but look down the list, your name will be in bold font if I have replied! Thank you all so much).

Thank you to: -

Ms. Realista:- I think it just got even more dramatic (lol) but I like it. Thank you!

LizaGirl: - Was Molly's insight to your delight? Thank you for reviewing.

Bledding black rose: - I have a feeling the Potter children will have a good influence on Sophie when they meet, lol. You'll have to wait and see. Thank you for your lovely review!

SillyGillie: - Ron's part in the story hasn't even begun, it will get better and better. He's hopeless, and you should remember that there isn't always such a thing as a 'happy ever after.' LoL. Thank you for following this fic still even though I'm a hopeless updater, I should however be okay now that exams are out of the way :-)

arochwen rmen: - Do you understand now? Thank you for your review!

Amy: - Did you read any others? What do you think? My fic Trials and Tribulation is a sort of prequel to this fic, but only marginally. It's not finished yet either, its set post ootp. Thank you!

Jesus4eva: - It was very nice of you to ask, but I think once it's finished I'll go back and correct all the mistakes then. So you could help me then if you like? I've tried having a beta. I'm hopeless. Thank you for reading though!

Gershwhen: - Ron's part is only beginning, although your right. I don't think he'll be like this in cannon, but we have seen how jealous he can be of Harry, so you never know. Thank you!

James And Lily 4eva: - True, they are a bit wise for their age but circumstances demand it. I haven't written about their earlier years yet. A few of their memories will creep up soon. Thank you!

torifire126: - No genuine reason for the italics, I use them to emphasis and stress things, I'll stop however if it annoys you, I can see why it would, it is a bit random at times :-) Thank you!

Thank you to: - Captain-alex-obvious, Lil Miss Potter, SiLvErFaTeD, Daughter of Ashes, Katrina, Jennifer, Beth5572, met19, Carmleinak, truffletruffle01, Rsegovia, music213 and harryp123.

Once again, thank you all! I hope you enjoyed this chapter! More Weasley mayhem next!