CHAPTER ONE: Europe United

A loud rapping noise pierced the room. For a moment, Harry Potter thought he was back at the small hut on the rock in the sea, on the morning of his eleventh birthday, when he'd first discovered his identity. That morning, an owl had been scratching on the window to deliver a newspaper, just as an owl was doing now. Harry sat up and smiled. The owl even looked the same, though his memory could be playing tricks on him. What a day for coincidences it would be, for a full twenty years had passed since then, and Harry Potter was now all grown up, and a well-reputed auror at that.

Dropping a sickle into the owl's pouch for payment (inflation was just staggering these days), Harry took the July 31st, 2011 edition of the Daily Prophet and began to read the headlines. The news these days was not good at all, as far as Harry was concerned. However, most people would disagree, saying the news was wonderful. Unfolding the paper, he read the first article:

EUROPE HEALED AT LAST

Healing Hands Brings Nations Together

After a week of amiable negotiations, the Ministers of Magic of all the nations of the Muggle European Union (EU) have signed a treaty uniting all of the European magical community into one nation. Unlike the Muggle EU, the wizarding government will not be a confederacy of independent nations under a decentralized government, but a firm, strong union of peaceful, neighborly friendship.

Miguel Thompson, chairmen of the newly established Congress of Europe, announced the formalizing of what has been hoped for across Europe for over ten years now. "What started as a need to unite against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has now become a reality of peace, not war. No small thanks are to be extended to Healing Hands, for without their moral guidance, our Union would not be nearly as peaceful as it is today, and for that, we all give thanks."

Healing Hands began as a small charity organization, and has since become a name known for its numerous hospitals, orphanages, clinics, and places of worship across Europe, and now overseas as well. After the fall of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, Healing Hands, under the leadership of The Great Healer, started to branch out into the Muggle world. Indeed, The Great Healer has shown us that we are all human, whether we be Wizards, Witches, or Muggles, and that we all share this Earth together. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, of course, gathered followers to 'cleanse' the world of Muggles, but The Great Healer has shown that to be an error most egregious, and with the guidance of Healing Hands, there may never be war again.

Harry reclined and pondered the article from an auror's perspective. According to all available records, Healing Hands had indeed been around for years since before Harry was even born. No one had paid them much notice, save the homeless who were fed and housed at their shelters. Then, almost as soon as Voldemort had fallen, the organization had suddenly leapt into prominence, healing the wounded and becoming an outspoken voice for many political changes to better serve the people.

Harry had thought them a well-intended lobbyist group at first, but he'd no idea how deep their influence had reached. It soon became apparent that the Ministry of Magic was no longer calling the shots, but no one seemed to mind. After the debacles that had been Fudge and Scrimgeour, the change had seemed welcome to almost everyone. It was then that 'The Great Healer' had made an appearance.

Well, 'appearance' was not the right word, as no one had ever seen this personage, or even heard his (or her) voice. At that point, Healing Hands became more religious, starting to become a self-proclaimed moral compass for the 'wayward' peoples of Europe. The people drank it up like nothing else, and whether or not The Great Healer even existed didn't matter.

A soft, crooning sound alerted Harry that he was not alone in bed. Smiling, he remembered that he had indeed not been alone in bed for almost ten years. Ginny Weasley – no, Ginny Potter – had been Harry's wife and companion ever since an hour after she had obtained her auror certification. They had no children, but that was hardly for lack of effort.

Ginny rested her head in her husband's lap. "Why're you up so early, Harry? How's a girl to sleep with the lights on like this?" Her eyes were closed, but her face was wrinkled in a content smile.

Harry smiled back and stroked her long red hair. "The lights aren't on, Ginny. This is what we call morning. You know, when the sun comes up?" He gave a small chuckle.

Ginny opened her eyes and reached up her arms around Harry's neck. "The sun can wait, can't it?" she said with a mock pout. "Did you know, dear husband," she said formally, as she only did when she had mischief planned, "that the most opportune hour for proper bed sport is in the morning hours, rather than the evening?" Reaching over for her wand, she flicked the blinds closed and rolled on top of Harry. "Put that damned newspaper away, you dolt, and make love to me while I'm still in the mood for it!" She laughed playfully.

Harry laughed and kissed his beautiful wife. "Now, Ginny, darling, you really must get a hold on yourself. How am I to keep up with your never-ending energy, in or out of bed?" he said with mock seriousness. "People will wonder what has me so exhausted all the time. What will I say to them?"

Shaking her long hair back, Ginny's eyes glinted impishly. "You'll tell them the truth: that you're trying to produce an heir, no matter how much work it takes!" Looking into his eyes, she said, "Right now, I don't care how long it takes. Do you?" But not another word was said for another hour or so, for their bodies and souls were as one for a time.