Posy in his Pocket

Part Eight - Into the Fire


When Harry's house burned down, he was utterly devastated. Luckily, being the Boy Who Lived had some perks and his insurance has panned through.

But it just wasn't the same. They weren't what he remembered, they weren't his memories.What few memories he could remember were destroyed that day and it made it feel that all the good times since then had been worthless. That the who enterprise of moving in, of facing his parent's ghosts was entirely devoid of any purpose.

Luna's hospitality, however generous, couldn't replace the old hominess that he has acquired at Godric's Hollow. It was his, his parents has lived there and -

There were so few things that he had of his parents, he couldn't remember anything practically and it hurt. Knowing that the few memories he did have were clouded my Voldemort.

Remus smiled now, when he mentioned his parents, fondly, wistful but no longer openly mourning. Tonks had helped with that. Time could be a great healer, but people had the possibilities for more.

He missed his home. It had been the first time a place could be wholly his and he had loved it.


Ron was stressing, as he often did, about the baby.

It was at this stage of the pregnancy that Lavender was mainly seen lying on the sofa complaining she couldn't see her feet. Her cheeks, however, with filled with a glow and sometimes her hand would drift to her stomach and she would smile.

Her husband had decided that worrying would be his occupation. It seemed that way to Harry anyway, Ron had been given some rather generous paternity leave, an initiative of Hermione's, and was no biding his time at home until the birth.

To Lavender's consternation, this meant pacing. And more pacing. It was amusing for perhaps ten minutes until you grew bored. Ron had taken up biting his nails. He was making quite a mess out of his cuticles, Lavender had remarked, which somehow unleashed another anxious attack of nerves.

Apparently he was concerned over the state of his nails and how it might affect with the baby's perception of him.

Harry felt disinclined to tell him that babies could only see a small way in front of them and that he doubted that it would figure much on the baby's mind. Food and comfort perhaps.

Lavender, in the first and second trimester had decorated the home mostly in bright colours and some pastels. tastefully overdone, she had decried.

That had been amusing, watching Ron's face as he fingered the ruffles. The pink ruffles.

Harry did not like to comment, since he had Luna's preoccupation with anything unusual. And that included collecting an obscure Norwegian band's song scripts.

Never mention playing the mind numbing lyrics at 4a.m. Harry seriously wondered if their neighbours were deaf. Until he saw Luna having a talk with Mr Miles-Brough about the lead singer. It had been a disappointment some way.

Watching Ron it down next to Lavender, to rub her sore ankles, with a smile of his face, made Harry aware that even if he did stress... it was for a very good cause.


Hermione was stressing in her own way. By over working and snapping at anyone who dared interrupt or appeared happy. Harry had intruded on her, but he looked far from content.

"It's utter stupidity, how they manage to keep the knowledge from Muggles when they're all idiots in mind bending!" She started, "Ha! All they do is wave their wands about, they're little, tiny wands about!"

"Okay... What caused this?" Harry had to speak up this time.

"Just some stupid new law some moron is trying to pass. I will see that it does not," her eyes narrow. "But, Harry, how are you? You look, well, awful."

He shrugs.

"Ah, the house. I thought so. Good thing Luna invited you in. I'm," she looked edgy, and flushed, "A bit short for space myself and Ron has Lavender and the baby to consider."

"I saw them earlier today."

"Really? How's Lavender? I hear she is over due. Poor thing." Hermione shakes her head.

"They're going to induce her soon if she doesn't go into labour soon." Harry replied, as Hermione nods in understanding.

"I see. I suppose that's for the best." She pauses, "I know, this has been hard for you. But do you want to Godric Hollow? We could see, if there's anything - "

"No," Harry shakes his head, "I've been over there a couple times myself. There's something left to salvage. But thanks Hermione."

"Not problem. Have the Aurors caught who was responsible yet? Or any clues?"

"Wish they had. They're certain that someone was responsible for it, probably some pro-Voldemort fraction or something like that. Since I had some pretty powerful anti-fire charms in place."

"It's strange that the intruder alert didn't go off." Hermione comments.

"Yes. That's another thing they're wondering about."

"I'm really sorry Harry." Hermione places a hand over Harry's. "Do want to go to dinner some time? I know this great Chinese place that has the best dim sums."

"Maybe some other time."

She nods, "Okay. see again soon, Harry."


"How was your day?"

"Hmm, the Quibbler's subscriptions are going higher."

"That's..." Harry starts nervously, "Um, great!"

"Maybe, it may commercialise the entire magazine and I couldn't have that! But the advertising bonuses will mean I can go on a spring trek to Sweden."

"This spring?"

"I think so, sightings have been up this year and this might be my best chance. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure." Not. Alone in a house that didn't feel like his and one that he was still getting used to.

"Then again. You could come with me. I would love the company. Ever since dead hurt his back, it's just me and occasionally Mrs Willowmane, but her Hisslesniffs are breeding this year."

"Thanks Luna," his voice sounds grateful as he replies to her offering, "I'll think about it."

She kisses his cheek, her eyes warm. "I'm glad I let you in my house, Harry. Really makes the house alive. I know... that you really didn't like the circumstances, but I'm glad it ended, hopeful, at least."

He smiles at her words.

"And I really wish," she adds, her tone sterner, "That those arsonists get their bottoms bitten by a Ferius Solery. That would teach them." She nods.


AN: And so we all find out what happened.