32) Aftermath


Afterwards, Harry could not exactly tell what happened first. The shock over Ginny's betrayal, possession – whatever it was – ran deep and when the Order members all ascended the way up to Hogwarts, in all the cheer over their victory, the atmosphere was still gloomy. The Weasley's all walked together, numb and quiet. Bill and Charlie held their mother up between them and Percy and Arthur walked together. Dumbledore had his hand on Harry's shoulder and he was sure, without that little comfort, he would have collapsed, his heart too heavy to hold his head up.

When they reached the castle Ron and Hermione came down the stairs. Obviously the teachers had released the students after a messenger had brought the news of their win.

In his mind Harry could not call it a victory, there were too many losses.

Instead of running to him, Harry saw Ron going over to his family. It seemed Ginny's missing had already been noticed. Actually, all students seemed to be waiting on the sides of the hall and on the stairs, watching how the Order and the aurors brought in the long cue of floating stretchers with the lightly wounded and the dead. The former were brought to the infirmary to alleviate the pressure on the healers at St. Mungos, the latter were taken to the great hall, where the house tables had disappeared. In long rows the dead were laid out in state. McGonagall and Flitwick had taken it upon them to identify the dead, what was not an easy feat in some cases. Others were just staring at the ceiling with wide eyes. Just like so many had in the past…

Adverting his gaze, Harry turned to Hermione, whose eyes were just wide and wet. She seemed to be in shock. Suddenly Snape appeared at his side and hovered his wand over Harry, before disappearing again. Looking back at Hermione, Harry saw Percy Weasley hugging her tightly, speaking lowly to her. They both cried.

Ron was standing there, doing nothing. Arthur stood next to him in silent comfort. He was about to turn, when somebody came running down the stairs towards him. With a shrill weep the dark-haired girl threw herself at him. Some of the order members already pulled their wands, but luckily they hesitated long enough for him to close his arms around Daphne.

He tried to ignore the stares, while he carefully caressed her back, while she buried her face in the crook of his neck. He felt her tears on his skin and her moving lips on his clothes.

"Shh," he tried to calm her, "I'm here, it's alright, shh…"

Hugging her as tightly as he thought was wise, he kissed her neck and cheek soothingly, still rubbing her back. With sparkling wet eyes, she gazed at him and swallowed once more, but she seemed better now. He was not sure what he told her, his lips were moving automatically. But when their surroundings came back into focus, he could not help but blush. People, both adults and students, were staring at them. The headmaster cleared his throat with an amused chuckle, and suddenly everybody found the floor or the walls very interesting. Well, everybody but his peers and the older Slytherin girls, Daphne's friends. Looking guilty she pressed closer to him.

"Sorry."

"Sorry what?" he asked.

"I should have restrained myself, I was so worried, but…" She was close to crying again.

"It's okay, maybe it's even better this way…" he thought aloud. Hermione's brains must be smoking, Harry thought, looking at her. Then his gaze fell at Ron.

"You!" The redhead hissed. "How could you?" His face was burning and the brown eyes wide and angry. "We trusted you! How could you?" Ron screamed again.

"Excuse me? Do what?" Harry retorted confused. Daphne turned in his arms to face Ron.

"Don't play innocent with me! You had it all planned! First you act as if you were abducted, and have your fun! And then you sleep with the enemy and laugh behind our backs while my sister despairs over you! And you go fuck that Slytherin slut! You knew she loved you, all the time, and you just made fun of her feelings! Now see what you have done! It's all your fault!" His best friend yelled at him, pointing his wand dangerously.

"I never!" Harry gasped. "How can you say…"

"I can't believe that!" Hermione interrupted them. "Ron, you couldn't possibly blame Harry here-"

"Shut up, you bitch! You were siding with him all along! You of all people, after what her kind did to you! By Merlin, I can't believe I fell for you!" he spat.

"RON!"

"No, you shut up! And YOU!" he turned back to Harry.

"I – have never played with your sister's feeling, you stupid git!" Harry felt his hormones raging high. "How dare you imply I had anything to do with what she did? I never encouraged her silly school-girl crush! Why would I?"

That wouldn't help, he knew that. But he WOULD NOT TAKE THAT FROM RON AGAIN!

"Ron!" Hermione screamed again over the irate muttering in the hall.

"Mr. Weasley, for Merlin's sake, pull yourself together-" Snape lamented from somewhere behind them…

"Harry…" Daphne whispered by his ear. "Let's go, please let's go!"

"Fine," he nodded to her. Waving to Hermione he mouthed to her 'Room of Requirement', before taking his girl by the hand and leading her up the stairs past the assembled people. On the first landing he turned back to face Ron, who was temporarily silent.

"And if I ever think my time worthwhile to address you again, you may reconsider what you say," he reconsidered and added, "And never again offend my love, or you'll regret it!" before walking away from the crowd, Daphne at his side.

In the hall before the Room of requirement he started pacing again, while Daphne tried to speak to him. But he couldn't listen just then. When the door appeared he pulled her with him into 'their room' and banged it shut with a kick.

"HARRY, will you finally listen?" She screamed next to him and he turned to her.

"Yes?"

"Oh Harry…" she sighed and wrapped him into her arms, "Don't believe his stupid words, he was hurt and angry – he will regret it later. Please don't think it was your fault-"

"But…"

"It wasn't. It was HER choice, I think."

"Yeah – and Voldemort's lure… - I'm sorry."

"Don't be. Hush," she cradled his face in her hands.

"Hmm… " he smiled at her and motioned her backwards. Laying down on the downy comforter, he unbuttoned her robes, blouse and skirt that would be too tight once the spell was undone. A long glance was all they needed. She giggled, while he tickled her belly and soon most of her other garments where dispatched around the room. In only her nice, lacy underwear she squirmed beneath him, while he got rid of his shirt and socks. Her agile hands soon freed him from his undershirt and jeans, robes long forgotten on the floor.

Releasing the charm, her belly propped forward and she blushed, while he dragged his lower lip over it up to her bra and over it to her neck. Biting down gently, he wrapped his arms around her midst and she growled, while her nails went down his back with a tingling sensation. After kissing her thoroughly he trailed small kisses all over her belly.

"How long?"

"About a month."

"Wow. Exited?"

"Rather frightened…" she admitted.

"It'll be alright… I'll be there."

"That's not very appropriate, "she hesitated.

"I don't care. It's common in the Muggle world, why not here?"

"Most witches curse their husbands during the birth… some did not survive, or lost their… you know…"

"I see," he laughed lightly. "Well then we've got to take your wand, but anyway – I'm not your… that is…" he swallowed.

"You're not my husband," she completed.

"Does it bother you?"

"A little."

"Oh."

"…"

"Well, then…"

"That kind of killed the mood, didn't it?"

"Yeah, but that's fine. Wouldn't have been good for the kid anyway, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then that's fine," he caressed her sides

"Hmhmm."

"You like that?" he smiled and she sighed, before curling up against him. He happily welcomed her in his arms and pulled the covers over them, before pressing a chaste kiss onto her temple.

"G'night," she mumbled and he smiled into her neck.

"Sweet dreams"


Soft light was falling through the dark velvet maroon curtains onto the floor beyond the bed. Twirling his finger around one of the golden cords, that held the drapes back, Harry smiled into the pillow and adjusted himself to Daphne's back. She sighed in her sleep and moved a bit, but in the lazy afternoon that had followed the more than exciting morning Harry felt anything but compelled to get up. Dropping back to sleep he awoke again when the light outside was dimming.

"What's the time?" he murmured and sat up, pressing his nose into Daphne's tangled hair. She giggled when his hands slipped around her waist to pull her back into the warmth of the bed. Kissing for a few lazy moments, she finally pulled back and got up with a slight push from her beloved. He followed her to the desk, picking up their clothes on the way. She smiled thankfully at him and they redressed, smoothing out their robes.

Dishevelled, they left the Room of Requirement and made their way down for dinner. But just when they passed the gargoyle jumped aside and, taking the hint, Harry led her up to the headmaster's office. The heavy oak door was already open and inside the old wizard sat behind his desk, tea steaming from a pot and six cups nearby. On the other armchairs scattered around the desk sat Pomfrey, Snape and McGonagall.

Nervous, they sat on the last remaining seats, carefully evading their teacher's gazes.

"I has come to my notice," Dumbledore began diplomatically, "that apart from the obvious events, something else ought to be discussed between the here assembled. Don't you agree, Harry?"

The twinkling blue eyes bore into him and Harry automatically tried to close his mind. Blinking, he cleared his throat, but somebody interceded.

"As a matter of fact, yes," Daphne smiled. "We believe you, headmaster, and Madam Pomfrey are already aware of the situation?"

"Indeed Poppy dutifully notified me directly after the occurrence," the headmaster admitted. "However I believe it is time your heads of house were made aware of the whole extent of the situation," he said lightly.

"Could finally somebody explain the meaning of all this?" McGonagall snapped, slightly annoyed. Snape dangerously rose an eyebrow, but did not respond otherwise.

"Maybe you should explain yourself, Miss Greengrass, Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore coaxed gently, serving tea for everyone.

Harry gulped.

"Well, you see, professors, the thing is…that is…"

This wasn't going as planned.

"What I want to say-"

"Yes," McGonagall asked rather impatiently.

"I'm pregnant," Harry said.

"Excuse me, but this is ridiculous, Albus, really, he…"

"No – what I mean is," the teachers turned their faces from McGonagall back at him. "She is," he swallowed and pointed at Daphne, who rolled her eyes.

"Indeed," Snape commented dryly, burying his face in his hand, "Just what we were looking for…"

"Severus," Albus began.

"A pregnant Slytherin, underage, unmarried, and the bastard of the Boy-Who-"

"YOU WON'T CALL MY CHILD A BASTARD!" Harry roared.

"So you admit that you are guilty of this-"

"GENTLEMEN!" Dumbledore silenced them all effectively.

Pomfrey sighed while the professors and children were engaged into a wild staring-match. After some minutes, when everybody had calmed down a bit, McGonagall spoke again.

"So Miss Greengrass' child is yours, Harry? How could you have been so careless?" she shook her head mournfully.

"It doesn't matter anymore, does it?" he replied. "The baby is there, so we will deal with it." Daphne covered his hand with hers and he felt soothed by her gently presence.

"You do realize however, " Snape reminded them, "that the moment the Dark Lord comes to know of this, he will hunt you down?"

"Yes, we were aware of that. That's why we kept it down," Daphne confirmed.

"When?" McGonagall asked the nurse.

"About three weeks, I'd say," Pomfrey filled them in

"So we ought to have old mouldy wart by then?" Harry tried to lighten the mood. Snape glared at him. "What? Would you want your child to grow up with a Dark Lord breathing down its neck?"

"I certainly would not chance that happening by reproducing during a time of war, Potter," Snape said silkily and disappeared through the doorframe, robes billowing after him.

"I never know how he does it," Harry said, looking at the spot the Potions master had just vacated.

"Practise," Daphne snorted and everybody chuckled merrily.


Poor Sev... (meaning my totally AU OOC Sev) His "child" is gone since... quite some chapters now...;-) sorry to all Draco-fans, by the way