Disclaimer: I own nothing. I just enjoy playing with other people's toys. Thank you JKR for sharing.
Chapter 11: Greeting The Future
Number 12 Grimmauld place was bustling with activity when Harry and his party landed with a thud in the kitchen. The other members of the Order who had arrived moments before them, unhurt, were occupied with tending to the wounded. A fire was blazing in the grate lighting the dingy kitchen with emerald green flames as those with serious injuries were carted off the St. Mungo's. Others were helping the newcomers to their feet and extracting the injured parties from the huddled mass of bodies upon the floor.
Harry removed himself from the pile of people with difficulty, still holding Lily tightly in his arms. The small girl still clung to him, her head buried deep in his shoulder. She had remained silent since her rescue save the occasional quiet sob released into her father's broad chest.
Harry withdrew from the crowd finding refuge in a corner clutching Lily protectively in his arms. Lily trembled burrowing deeper into his chest. Harry gently stroked her matted flaming hair as he surveyed the room before him: Fluer was exclaiming over Bill who lay unconscious, Arthur was helping Molly to her feet, Dumbledore and Kingsley were attempting to revive Moody, Tonks was trying to stem the flow of Remus' wound without luck, Fred and Angelina were trying to help a dazed George who had been kicked in the head by his twin on landing, and Brenda was being held by Lyle. Harry craned his neck around searching for Ginny. He saw a flash of red move beneath Hermione's limp body and a muffled voice call out, "Can somebody please help?"
Ron, who had just managed to struggle to his feet with the help of Neville and Luna, turned to Hermione and began to pull her from atop Ginny's body. With assistance from Neville they laid her on a bare stretch of stone floor where Ron, looking stricken, hovered over her. Ginny, freed from Hermione's weight, tried to push herself up off the floor, but cried out in pain clutching her arm and her ribs. Luna gently helped her to her feet and over to where Harry stood with Lily. She grimaced as Harry tried to take her in his arms.
"Sorry Ginny. I didn't mean-" Harry said quickly releasing her.
"It's alright Harry," Ginny replied with a pained look on her face.
"You need to get to St. Mungo's," Harry told her swiftly.
"No. I need to be with Lily," she said firmly.
"I think it would be a good idea if you all went to St. Mungo's," came Dumbledore's calm voice before Harry could reply. "Lily has just been through quite an ordeal and needs to be checked over and Ginny you are in obvious need of some attention. Harry could you please take them?"
Ginny nodded placing a protective hand on Lily's back and allowing Harry to gently guide her towards the fire.
They arrived at St. Mungo's and were instantly barraged by a hoard of anxious healers. It seemed as though every healer had been called to help with the incoming wounded. Harry could see Moody's and Hermione's body's float past on stretchers as he, Ginny, and Lily were escorted into a nearby room by a rather severe looking Healer. Healer Mothgraten, as her green plastic name tag indicated, pulled her wand from her pocket and the door to their room swung shut behind them as a brilliant light flooded a small stark looking bed.
"Please place the child on the bed," the brisk voice of their Healer.
Harry, who was reluctant to relinquish his daughter so soon, placed Lily on the cool white sheets of the bed and attempted to pull away. Lily's small, but strong little arms held on refusing to allow him out of her contact and Harry, who was gratified by this reaction, relented immediately and sat beside her. As soon as Lily felt the bed take Harry's weight she crawled back into his lap without hesitation.
Ginny smiled at the actions of father and daughter and even the hardened look on Healer Mothgraten's face fell away as they surveyed the easy loving connection between the two.
Mothgraten approached the pair and knelt before them addressing Lily in a calm and caring voice, a far departure from her original steely demeanor. "Hello my dear, my name is Healer Mothgraten. What is your name?"
Lily tilted her face towards her Healer uncertainly, but did not reply. Healer Mothgraten did not seem perturbed; instead she pointed her wand at a pitcher of water on a small metal table beside the bed. With a pop the pitcher became a plush purple elephant that the Healer picked up and handed to the small girl. Lily smiled as she received the toy and hugged it to her chest.
Healer Mothgraten began her examination of Lily which after a few diagnostic spells and a couple healing charms ended much easier than it had begun. Ginny was next and within seconds her ribs and arm had healed and the white pallor of pain began to slip from her face as she settled herself next to Harry and Lily. Healer Mothgraten left soon after, glancing back when she came to the door, to view the family cloistered together on the bed.
"Wotcher Harry, Ginny" came a voice into the cozy silence.
Harry looked up to see Tonks framed in the doorway. "We had better be going before the press arrives," she said as she beckoned them to follow her.
However much Harry didn't want to abandon the feeling of sitting holding his daughter and the love of his life he knew Tonks was right. The reporters would be arriving any moment, in truth he was surprised that they weren't there yet. He gathered Lily tightly into his arms and taking a hold of Ginny's hand he followed Tonks from the room.
The group emerged from the fireplace into the kitchen of the Burrow. Ginny starred around and took in her childhood home.
"I've missed this," she said simply.
"Ginny, Harry," Molly called hurrying into the room followed closely by Arthur.
"Is everything alright?" Arthur asked.
"She's going to be fine. She had a few bumps and bruises, but they hadn't done anything to her that couldn't be taken care of," Harry replied.
"Oh Lily," Molly said stroking the child's face with her hand.
"Lily darling, this is your Grandmum and this is your Grandpa," Ginny explained as Lily starred curiously at the two. "Mum, where are Brenda and Lyle?"
"They are upstairs. Turned in early." Molly replied.
"Did they contact Camilla?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, they did dear. They used the telephone box down in the village. I offered to let them use the floo or an owl, but they declined. They seemed to think it might scare Camilla. Odd really," replied Molly.
"How is everyone else? We haven't seen anyone but Tonks since we went to St. Mungo's" Harry asked.
"Everyone is fine. A few injuries, but no lasting damage," Arthur answered.
"Lily are you hungry?" Molly asked.
Lily nodded shyly when Molly addressed her.
"First a snack then a bath. We unpacked some of your things that your mummy brought from your home and I found a pair of your mummy's old pajamas that I think you'll like," Molly told Lily as she placed a plate of biscuits and a glass of milk in front of her.
Four biscuit and two glasses of milk later Lily sat submerged in a bubble bath giggling as Harry charmed the bubbles to race each other around the tub. "Again! Again!"
"After we wash your hair darling," Ginny laughed as she reached for the shampoo and began to carefully remove the filth from her daughter's hair.
Harry continued to charm the bubbles which were now floating around the gas lamp beside the mirror casting rainbow colors on the walls.
"They are all ready," Molly said cheerfully entering the bathroom with a pair of freshly laundered pajamas.
"Funny Mommy," Lilly laughed pointing at the pajamas, her newly found Grandmother was holding.
Indeed the pajamas were funny. They had miniature ponies on them that were prancing around and shaking their heads.
When Lilly was comfortably dressed in her new pajamas Harry carried the now clean child to Ron's old room where George and Fred were placing the last of the real live fairies above the bed. The Chuddley Cannon's bedspread had been replaced by Lily's favorite blanket and the posters that had once covered the walls had been taken down. Along the bookcase several new toys as well as Lily's old favorites were smiling into the room.
"Clearly my family has been busy," Ginny thought to herself.
Harry nestled her down in the bed and Ginny pulled the blanket up beneath Lily's chin. Lily smiled and hugged her new purple elephant and gazed entranced by the fluttering fairies as her eyelids began to droop. Ginny and Harry took turns placing soft kisses on the little girl's forehead as she dropped off into slumber.
Ginny emerged last from Lily's room looking very tired. Her brown eyes were bloodshot and puffy from the tears that had fallen throughout the evening, whenever Lily had not been looking, and her brow was furrowed in concern as she closed the door silently behind her looked around at Harry.
"She's fast asleep," Ginny said, shutting the door behind her.
"Is she going to be alright?" Harry questioned as he looked at the closed door.
"I hope so," Ginny replied. "She seems to be feeling alright now. I just hope-I know she's strong-I just don't want her. . ."
"I know," Harry said pulling Ginny to him. "I don't want her to have to carry this with her either. A good friend told me once, what will come will come and we'll meet it when it does. It's true Ginny. We can't change our destiny, we can't change what happened to Lily, we can't get back what time we lost, but we have to keep living and meeting each new challenge and adventure as it comes our way. This time though, we'll be together."
Harry titled her face upwards to his and captured her lips with his and she knew he was right. In that kiss they shared their future and left behind their past knowing that whatever came their way they would face together, forever.