Ministry of Magic

Harry had returned to the Ministry with Kingsley since he had to find more about his roles on the Wizengamot in the immediate future. The Minister also wanted to discuss some things with him.

When they were back in the comfy chairs in the Minister's office, Kingsley asked him, "What are your plans for the future now?

Harry took a few minutes before answering, "You know when the war was over and Voldemort died, I thought that I had seen the last of it and can have a normal life now like I always had."

Kingsley laughed heartily, "Harry, you were never normal to begin with and you won't ever be normal. Can you tell me about a moment since you returned to the Wizarding World when you started at Hogwarts where you might have been treated as normal? I don't know much about your school years but even I know that you never had normal life. I mean a normal student does not find his name tossed in the goblet of fire by someone else. A normal student can't expect to fight a dragon and live through it or kill a dark lord by an expelliarmus spell. I'm sorry Harry but you were deluded when you thought you could be normal."

Harry nodded wistfully, "I think it was too much to wish for. Anyway, I don't think I have anything planned out for me. I'll take everything in stride as it comes."

Kingsley nodded, "I applaud the spirit but what are your plans for the future now. I mean you can live your whole life without working a day. Do you still wish to join the ministry as an Auror?"

Harry said uncertainly, "I would have to see what inheritance entails before I make my decision. When I decided to join the ministry, I did not know of so many things which should have been told to me otherwise. It may be entirely possible that I do not join the ministry at all."

Kingsley hastily said, "Don't rush in making a decision before you think it through, my worthy Gryffindor. I can do a lot with your help in the ministry and the Wizengamot. I'd rather that you join the Aurors and serve for a few years and help me change things. Trust me, even if you hate to be called the boy-who-lived or the man-who-conquered or whatever they name they fascinate suit you at the moment, you have an effect on the people which very few do. I can do with some of that influence and you should use it."

Harry protested, "But I am not the only one who opposed him. In fact Hermione and Ron helped me to destroy the Horcruxes and I would not have been successful at all if they were not with me. They can be as useful as I am."

Kingsley kindly said, "True that they did their own bit but they are not you. The Wizarding World sees you as its saviour and not them. They have helped you bring Voldemort down but it was your wand which finally put him down. The effect they have dwarfs down when it comes to yours."

Harry nodded, "I will think about it Kingsley. What else you wanted to ask?"

Kingsley asked him, "Have you decided where you will stay? I mean you are still living at the Burrow, right?"

Harry nodded, "I haven't yet decided but I have been thinking about it. Are the renovations on Grimmauld Place complete?"

Kingsley nodded, "The crew of magical maintenance reported today that they have renovated the house and they never found the portrait of Wulburga Black but only strips of Canvas on a frame on the wall. Looked like Old Wulburga wanted to give the death eaters a piece of her mind and they did not like it."

Harry grinned, "So they were of some use at least. I'll go over tomorrow and see it for myself. What about the library?"

Kingsley said sombrely, "Destroyed. The books in the library were destroyed beyond salvaging but Sirius once told me that they were on dark magic and he would have burned them anyhow. The crew restored the library room and put in some shelves for you to use. You can line up your own books on it."

Harry nodded and held up the ledgers for him, "And what shall I do with these? I mean I can't make heads or tails of it."

Kingsley chuckled, "I remember Fleur and Bill were working at Gringotts before they went into hiding so maybe you should ask them. They can explain it to you."

He nodded, "Alright I'll do that. What about the muggleborns? What is the progress with them?"

Kingsley took his time to explain, "Many of them were killed, Harry. However we got as many of them back. Even under-age students had been put in Azkaban and they were affected by the foul creatures. They are being treated at St. Mungo's as we speak. St. Mungo's is overflowing with wounded and orphans of war. A lot many students were turned by Werewolves and are being kept under observation at the hospital at all times. Needless to say, St. Mungo's is stretched too thin at the moment with inadequate resources and lack of healers. On top of that, I can't do anything about it."

Harry curiously asked him, "Why? You are the Minister. You can make these decisions, Kingsley."

Kingsley smiled ruefully, "I am temporary named Minister of Magic acting under the emergency powers. I cannot make permanent decisions or sanction funds to the hospital or additional facilities which they need for the time being. And you were right when you said the death eaters bankrupted the ministry. We don't have much to go on for now."

Harry frowned, "Then how can we expect to overcome these problems?"

"My appointment as the Minister can be made permanent only by voting in the Wizengamot which for now is in tatters. We would need an effective Wizengamot to convene to decide upon it and other matters. Only then we can make some headway about it."

Harry's mind was stuck on the Orphans of war and he asked, "Can we not do something about the Orphans or those who were turned? I mean it is not their fault that they are in the position that they are in."

Kingsley sighed, "It again comes down to the same thing, Harry. We do not have the gold and resources."

Harry immediately offered, "I have more gold than I will need. You can take from me."

Kingsley smiled, "Thank you for the offer but I can't take it from you only. I mean I know it would be of immediate help to us but in the long term I want the wizarding world to come together to get over these grim times. It should be a collective effort like it was at the end of the battle when everyone came together against him."

Harry understood what was getting at, "I agree Kingsley but you can take from me until the WIzengamot is functional once again. I don't think that giving a little would burn a hole in my pocket. I however don't want you to tell anyone else. I am well off without all the attention being focused on me."

Kingsley nodded, "Alright, you can donate as much as you want at this time but not again. Also I will try to convene the Wizengamot as soon as I can so we can start rebuilding. I daresay I would need you in the Wizengamot. Also if you are amenable to it, I'd that you give an interview to the Quibbler about Voldemort's origins. May be that would help us in getting over some of the obstacles which we may face."

With that Harry took his leave to go to Shell Cottage. He wanted to talk about his inheritance with Bill and understand the legalese. If it was for him to handle, he may as well put his mind to it.

Shell Cottage

When he reached Shell Cottage, he could hear laughter emanating from inside the house. It looked like Bill and Fleur were having a moment and he did not wanted to disturb them but the ledgers in his hand needed to be tended to.

Reluctantly he rapped the door and it was opened by Bill about a minute later by Bill, who had his wand in his hand and guarded expressions on his face. He however relaxed when he was it was only Harry his shoulder slumped as he let out a deep sigh, "Oh! It's you Harry."

Harry eyed him curiously, "You were expecting someone else?"

Bill shook his head, "No but I guess we all are not yet out of the mindset of war yet. You had not told me that you would be coming and I thought may be some death-eater on the run had come calling."

Harry raised his eyes in questioning glance, "Don't you live under a Fidelius Charm and you are the secret keeper?"

Bill said, "I lived under a Fidelius charm, Harry. I took it down this morning. I guessed normal wards would be sufficient around the place. Please come in."

Harry followed him inside the sitting hall where he had spent days with Ron and Hermione preparing about the invasion at Gringotts. To his surprise, Fleur was there playing with Teddy!

Seeing the toddler, Harry let out mirthful laugh and rushed forward to pick up the child and whirl him around saying jubilantly, "Hey little guy! What are you doing here?"

Fleur who was smiling at his antics said, "I brought him here, Harry. Andromeda wanted some alone time with her grief and I volunteered to look after him. Molly wanted to keep him but I brought him here because I want to learn to care about children."

Harry was thoughtful of what she said. Truth was he had no time to think about Andromeda and Teddy with everything going on and the thought that she might still be grieving had not crossed his mind at once. He himself was grieving yet and hadn't realised. He resolved to make more time for Teddy and Andy from now. They both were alone and being Teddy's godfather, it was his duty to look after him. Hadn't he promised himself that he would try to be the best godfather for Teddy? Something however which Fleur had said stayed with him. He turned to her, "What did you mean by learn to care? Are you... you know?"

Fleur chuckled, "No silly. At least not yet but Bill and I am planning to start a family soon. I wanted to know for myself what it means to care for a toddler."

Bill said proudly, "And I have learnt to see the signs when a baby is hungry or when he is going to need a new diaper or actually how to change a diaper."

Suddenly Teddy started making gurgling noises and making faces. Bill started to say, "Careful Harry, he is about to..." He however could not finish his words before Harry encountered the same smell which he had learnt to connect with soiled diaper at his last meeting with Teddy.

Bill and Fleur were doubling with laughter at the expressions on his face while he tried to look as dignified as possible with the crying toddler in his arms. Finally Bill had mercy on him and summoning a diaper, he called Harry to follow him, "Come my little Gryffindor. Let me teach you the worthy trick of changing diapers!"

Harry followed Bill to one side with Fleur's laughter still following them. Bill led him to the bathroom where he conjured a blanket and asked Harry to lay Teddy gently on it. Harry was very careful with the child and laid him down gently on the blanket.

Bill was guiding him, "Now carefully take off the diaper, Harry. You don't have to take it off as if you are taking off your pants. Just tear it from the sides and then gently remove it."

Harry apprehensively asked him, "Can't I use magic and vanish it? I mean it would be easier?"

Bill eyed him curiously, "You don't know that we can't use a magic on a child until he is 6 months old? His magic is not yet settled and using any foreign magic on him can be harmful. Go on Harry, take the diaper off. I swear it does not stink that much."

Very cautiously Harry tore the diaper and then gently removed it. He however was realising that Bill had lied to him. It was not just stinking but the stench of poo was making him gag. As soon as he had removed the diaper, Bill vanished it smirking, "Thank Merlin we are allowed to vanish it. I'd have passed out if I were to dispose it."

Harry stood gormlessly having no idea what to do next and Bill told him, "Harry his butt needs to be cleaned. Go on, take some water and wash it. You would be used to it the next time."

Harry asked him apprehensively, "Next time? What do you mean by that?"

Bill grinned, "That is part of your duties as a godfather, Harry. In fact changing diapers is up there on the top of the list."

With great reluctance, Harry washed Teddy's butt and eased him into another diaper. He felt squirming at one point but he tried not to think about it... much. When they were safely back in the meeting room, he found Andromeda was there.

When she saw them, she beamed at him, "Harry, how are you?"

"I am fine Andromeda and I am sorry that I couldn't visit Teddy since the funeral."

She waved his apology off, "Think nothing of it. I know you have been busy. You can come over anytime you want to and Teddy would be happy to see you."

Andromeda was talking about something to Bill and Fleur while Harry played with Teddy who had taken a shine to him and would often make faces at Harry or change his hair colour when he felt like it. it was after sometime that Bill asked him, "You wanted to ask something of us, Harry?"

Harry nodded, "Yes. The goblins told me that I have inherited the Potter inheritance from my grand-father and Black Inheritance from Sirius. They also gave me these ledgers and I can't make heads or tails of it."

Andromeada asked him wistfully, "You are the next Lord of Black? I thought that with Bella dead, it would have gone to Narcissa's son."

Harry shook his head, "No. The goblins told me that Sirius had made me his heir in his will so I inherited the title and everything that comes with it. In fact it had happened about a month after… you know."

He still could not bring himself to talk about Sirius's death. He had started to get over it on the run but the war and the losses had opened the old wounds.

Fleur said, "I'll help you understand the ledger Harry but not today. You can come by another day when you have time on your hands to spare and we will discuss it."

Harry asked her, "What shall I do with it till then? I can't just dump it on my table and hope it'd sort it by itself."

Andromeda chuckled, "Of course not. However why don't you take some time to read these ledgers by yourself first? That'd help you understand things a bit easier. If you are still having troubles understanding it, Fleur would help you."

It made sense to him and he nodded, "Alright. Tomorrow is Sunday and I will go over it. Can I come over to your place in the evening to spend some time with Teddy too?"

She nodded, "you don't need to ask Harry. I have told you already that he is your godson and you have as much right over him as I do. I fact I'd appreciate anytime you'd come over to look after him."

With that he bade them good night and made his way to the Burrow. He knew Mrs. Weasley would be up and won't sleep until she was sure that he had been fed.

The Burrow

When Harry returned to the Burrow, Mrs. Weasley was relieved to see him back and hugged him tightly. After a few seconds of ensuring that he was indeed there, she let him go and asked, "Harry dear, what happened with the goblins?"

He found everyone was there on the table and looking expectantly at him. He took a seat beside Ron and announced it to them, "I will discuss it in detail after I had opportunity to put some food in my stomach. Right now I am famished and I want to eat something."

Mrs. Weasley fondly served him three helpings during the meal and he kept listening to others talk around himself. Percy was talking to Arthur about some very confidential report he was working on and how he felt he should move in his flat in London in a few days. George was talking to Charlie who was coaxing him to eat some food while George was reluctant to. Ginny was helping her mother in the kitchen while Ron and Hermione were talking in low whispers.

He poked Ron in the side, "What are you two talking about?"

"Kingsley told Hermione today that he had contacted the Australian Ministry of Magic who have found her parents in Sydney. He wants her to go over there and restore their memories. He wanted to send some obliviators who are generally expert in these kinds of things but she said that she doesn't need anyone with her. I barely managed to convince her to take me along and took a week off from work", Ron explained patiently.

Harry was surprised and he spoke a bit angrily, "And you two decided to not to tell me?"

Ron pacified him, "We were planning to tell you before we went."

Harry nodded, "Ok. But we will have words about it later."

When the dinner was over, Harry stood up to address everyone at dinner table, "This morning the goblins informed me that I have an inheritance from my family about which I knew nothing. I mean I knew there was a vault and there was gold in it but that was it. They told me that it was a trust vault and that I have much more than that. They also told me that this inheritance comes with a seat on the Wizengamot and Kingsley wants me up there to help him. Also as you all would remember, Sirius had named me his heir in his will so the Black inheritance belongs to me rightfully and it also brings a seat with it which means I will be having two votes on the Wizengamot when it reconvenes."

Arthur beamed at him, "Did you take your Lord Rings?"

Harry nodded, "Yes I did." He realised something almost instantly however, "Hang on! How did you know about Lord Rings?"

Mr. Weasley gave him a small smile, "Even if we don't show it around Harry but the Weasleys are an old pureblood family and we are as old as other Ancient and Most Noble Houses. Due to some feud which my grandfather had about 70 years ago, our title was taken away and we were bereft of our seat on the Wizengamot. Your family had a seat on the Wizengamot as long as it has been in existence however most of the time they chose to let the Ministry nominate someone in their stead and remained in the background. Your family was always very reserved and private and did not venture into the Wizarding World more than was required. No one even knew how many Potters were there actually."

Harry was bit miffed with the Weasley patriarch, "If you knew about it, why you didn't ever tell me? I mean it would have been nice to know about it before the Goblins told me and I stood there looking gormless."

Arthur smiled at his indignation, "Harry, we knew it but there was no reason to speak about it. I mean you couldn't ascend to your seat before you turned 17 and you had gold to meet your requirements all this while. It never occurred to me that maybe I should have asked you. I mean there was nothing lacking for you otherwise."

Harry could see the logic in his point. He could not get his inheritance before he turned 17 so there was no reason for Arthur to tell him about it. He had gold and he had never stayed at any place except Privet Drive, Hogwarts or the Burrow through these years. Still if he knew he had this much gold and the Dursley's knew it may be they would have been more considerate towards him. While emotions might not have mattered to them but may be the hope of some compensation for giving Harry a loving home would have. Well, the ship had sailed years ago and he might never know. He turned to Arthur, "It's alright Mr. Weasley. I guess I should have asked around."

Hermione who had been listening to everything that was being said asked, "What does this seat entails? How does one get a seat on the Wizengamot?"

Arthur turned to her and started explaining patiently, "Being a Lord means he can debate upon the laws which are made, he can make a motion to repeal any laws or can advocate bringing about any change in our world that he desires. You can think of it as the muggle Parliament. The Wizengamot is made up of members from the old families and Order of Merlin winners who are generally nominated in those seats. Dumbledore was nominated for his Order of Merlin before he eventually was elected as the Chief Warlock."

Harry could see Hermione's mental gears were starting to turn and he was immediately wary of her. She was speaking, "It means Harry can bring a motion to free the house elves of their slave labour. He can also make motions about so many things that need to be changed."

Not wanting to engage Hermione in a debate and wishing to see his bed for the night, Harry rose up from the table yawning, "Excuse me but I need to go sleep. I have a long day planned ahead for me tomorrow."

With that he climbed up to his room and crashed into his bed only for the nightmares to recur.

Greengrass Manor

Daphne Greengrass was having a tough time. When she went to Hogwarts for her 7th year her family was whole. Her father who was the de facto leader of the neutral faction had been giving gold to the Dark side as protection money. You-know-who had tried to intimidate into joining the dark faction for 3 times but Nicholas Greengrass had always been able to elude him. When she started her 7th year, she saw the horror that the Carrows were perpetrating on the foolish Lions mostly and sometimes students from other houses who dared to oppose them. They were torturing students with the torture curse on the name of punishments. Not even firsties were spared and anyone who tried to show weakness would be punished too. Every Slytherin student who had taken Defense in NEWTs year had to do what they wanted of them and that made Daphne glad that she had not taken defense as NEWTs subject. She knew her curses and jinxes but her mind was never trained that way. When she still was a child, she had started to harbour the dream to become a healer and had even started working with Madam Pomfrey in her OWLs year and learnt from her. She was planning to begin Medical School after Hogwarts but the thrice damned 7th year had changed everything.

When she started the seventh year, she had learnt that Tracy was not returning. Tracy Davis a half-blood witch was her best friend and confidante. Her father had taken her out of school after Dumbledore was murdered because he felt concerned for Tracy's safety and had not allowed her to return. She had been Daphne's only friend in school and Daphne felt miserable without her best friend being there for him. Sometime about November, she had read the most troubling bit of information from the Daily Prophet- the Death Eaters had murdered the Davis family without anyone being left alive. The general consensus was that they had tried to make Tracy's father agree to their demands and he had refused to join them. Entire family had been killed in cold blood. With that had come another shocker. Tracy's father had named Daphne as his heir in case everyone in his family had perished in the war. While the Davis family was on friendly terms with the Greengrass family, she had not expected for Robert Davis to do anything like that. The Davis's were not among the elite or the most powerful but they had gold and some real estate which had been left to her.

Her problems however were not the Davis's or the gold left by them but her problem had started when she returned to the castle after Yule. She had a little sister Astoria Greengrass who was two years younger than her and like their mother she had been sorted into Ravenclaw. Astoria stayed out of trouble mostly because she knew how to keep her head down and also because Draco Malfoy had taken a shine to her. She had refuted his advances to her sister and Astoria for herself knew what a pathetic scumbag Draco Malfoy was. For someone who have had lorded his authority on the House of Snakes for 6 years, he had been mostly hated by the students of the school. The Dark Side despised him because he was weak and a coward. He had not been able to kill Albus Dumbledore and his father was losing his standing before you-know-who. Most of them remembered his tirades whenever something happened and he did not like it. Potter had even mocked him once saying something like, "Yeah, your father will hear about it." The light side loathed him because he never considered them to be equal. He was a bully who was left alone at last with no one to support him.

When she returned to the castle after Yule, her father had written to her that you-know-who had threatened to kill the family if Nicholas Greengrass refused to bow to his wishes. Daphne, who had always wanted to be a healer since she was little had studied poisons to enhance her knowledge when Professor Slughorn was teaching them and she knew most of them well enough to be able to brew them with little difficulty. When her father informed her that he was going into hiding with her mother Cynthia, Daphne had prepared two daggers dipped in poison, one of which she had given to Astoria. Nicholas Greengrass had taught them that a Greengrass was not a coward to kill himself but a Greengrass would never let an enemy live. She carried the dagger on a cord which was tied around her waist under her robes and if, Merlin forbid, someone tried to have their way with her, she would have killed them without remorse.

Her trouble exactly started when she had received a letter from the Ministry which said that her father had been killed in a Death Eater raid in Diagon Alley. It was a blow to her and she had no idea what she would do now. She also knew that the ministry was lying. Her father had told her that he was going into hiding in France while Cynthia Greengrass would go to Greece where her maternal grandmother lived. He would have been long ago in France when the supposed raids happened. You-know-who had them killed. She also knew that there was nowhere else safe for her anymore.

Since then she tried to be as defiant as she could. She often spotted younger students who would be sporting injuries, or showed signs of being tortured by the Cruciactus curse. When she saw a student in such condition she often healed them or did her best towards them. The Carrows had tried to threaten her and that was the only time when they had realised why Daphne Greengrass was called the Ice Queen. She gave them such a dressing down and reminded them that they were nothing more than the speck of dirt under her shoes. She was a pureblood and on a far higher standing than them. Snape had also stepped in between and restrained them from doing anything to her saying the Dark Lord would punish them most harshly for spilling precious magical blood.

After that time, she had given up the vaunted Greengrass neutrality and she openly advocated for the light. She was not a fighter but she helped them every other way she could. She had also cursed the Carrows with sterile hex once when they were busy torturing some students for defying them. She also used to release the students who had been tied with chains and left in the Dungeons and deliver them to Dumbledore's Army. She never knew where their headquarters was but she always found a way to get students to safety from where some member of the DA would take them.

Her mother had been worried for her and had asked in a letter to leave the school and join her in Greece. Daphne had not joined her but she had contacted Neville Longbottom through one of the Gryffindors and acceding to her requests, Longbottom had whisked Astoria away from the castle and delivered her in Hogsmeade to her uncle who had came all the way from Greece to take her away. Daphne however had refused to go telling that she had to avenge her father.

When Potter showed up in the Great Hall she had been elated to see him back, not because she thought he was Merlin incarnate or something but because she knew the war would go one side or another that night and she would get to avenge her father. She had wanted to hex the pug-faced harlot Pansy Parkinson into oblivion when she suggested to seize Potter and to hand him over to you-know-who. When the Slytherins were being escorted to be evacuated she had refused to go and walked to the infirmary where Madam Pomfrey was relieved to see her.

When the fighting started, she had started to find the wounded, give them first aid and then ask some of the elves to take them to the infirmary. She had been saved by Remus Lupin when he had banished her away from the path of a sinister looking grey coloured curse and then he fought the death eater who had fired the shot. Daphne had never felt more ashamed than she did at that moment. When Remus Lupin taught them, she had heard Draco bad-mouthing him all the year but she had never tried to shut him up. Lupin on the other hand taught everyone fairly and even that day, she could bet that he hadn't cared that she was a Slytherin. She had made a mental note to herself to apologise to the man for her previous behaviour after the battle ended but the next time she saw Remus Lupin, Potter was sitting close to the his body and looking distraught at his and his wife's deaths.

With the war over, it was time to rebuild and she had no idea how to proceed about it. Her father had trained her to be able to take his place on the Wizengamot eventually but she had always counted on him to be around whenever she needed his wisdom. What's worse was that her mother had refused to set a step in Britain for now or may be never. Astoria however was thinking to return in September when the Ministry would conduct OWLs exams for students and then join Hogwarts whenever it reopened.

For now the memories threatened to not to leave her alone for a moment. She hardly ever had a peaceful night since the day she had heard the news about her father's death. She had only ever loved four people in the world and two were dead. She didn't know how she would go out in the world. For one thing, she would have to represent her family on the Greengrass seat in the Wizengamot and that was a task in itself. Her father had taught her about her duties, her decorum and other things which could be useful but she did not have had his charisma. Nicholas Greengrass had a warming personality and he was always confident of himself no matter what the situation was but she would have problems in mostly male dominated Wizengamot. Then there was the family business which she would have to take up now. Greengrass potions, the company her grandfather had established was a franchise which had made it big in the last decade or so and it was part of her father's legacy which she would have to carry forward. She could see that her plans to become a healer were going down the drain.

Her house elf had brought her some fire-whiskey from the cellars of the manor since she had returned and she had taken to it. While she was not a fan yet she had taken it for it dulled the pain which was caused in her heart feeling all the loss she had suffered.

When she woke up this morning, she was groggy and light headed, the signs of a hangover on the horizon but she could not afford it. She had to meet the Account Manager today before she went on to meet Remus Lupin's son. She had promised herself that she would visit the toddler when she could. That was the least that she could do in honour of the man who had saved her life.

She raised her head and called, "Kippy". A small house elf with the trademark ears, green tennis ball sized eyes and pencil nose appeared before her with a loud pop, "What can Tippy be doing for Mistress?"

She clutched her head and groaned, "Not so loud Tippy. Can you fetch me some hangover potion please? And please try not to pop loudly again."

Tippy returned a minute later with a little vial sealed with a cork and wax and full of light red coloured liquid. Grimacing, she opened it and throwing her head back she chugged it down her throat in a single gulp. The potion started it's work within seconds and she could fell the splitting headache being reduced to dull throbbing. Wolfing down what little she could manage at breakfast, she left for the Bank.

The Burrow

Harry had not gone to sleep straight away after he had left the dining table. Predictably Ron and Hermione both came up sometime later and Harry was waiting for them. As they entered, Harry closed the door behind them and locking it with a locking charm. After applying some silencing charms around the room, he turned on them, "You both did not think to at least tell me that you were planning to go off to Australia by yourselves?"

Ron looked a little embarrassed, "Harry, we wanted to tell you as soon as you came home but you were late in coming."

He was feeling a bit angry but could understand what they were saying and a little part of him agreed with them. With their grief still being raw, may be they could do with a change of scene. He took a deep breath before he started speaking, "I understand what you both mean and I hate it but I have to agree with it. The thing is that we all could do with some alone time for ourselves. I have to find some answers to a few questions which have presented themselves to me."

Hermione said apprehensively, "What questions? What has happened? Tell me about it. If it is something serious I can postpone going to Australia to find my parents."

Harry chuckled a little, "it is not much of a big deal, Hermione. It is just that Kingsley was asking if I would be living here or taking up residence somewhere else."

Ron asked him, "Why would you leave? You can stay in my room, mate."

Harry smiled wistfully, "Thank you Ron but I feel Kingsley is right. I mean we all will be starting our lives soon and with all the new responsibilities upon me, I am sure there will always be a crowd around. I don't want to impose upon Mr. and Mrs. Weasley."

Ron opened his mouth to protest but Hermione silenced him, "I think Harry is right, Ron. He should get a place of his own especially with his social standing. He will need to show that he is not less in stature than anyone."

Harry smiled in gratefulness to her, "Thank you Hermione. Kingsley had got Grimmauld Place repaired and I think I will see if I can live there. Being the Lord of Black it is my house now, I guess. I will also need your help with these ledgers when you return from Australia. I need to understand them."

He had drifted into sleep soon afterwards and soon he found himself in the Department of Mysteries when Dumbledore had arrived and was tying up the death eaters while Sirius fought with Bellatrix and kept taunting her. Harry knew it was a dream but he could not help but gasp and sit up as he again saw Sirius falling through the veil.

"Same dreams again?", asked Ron from where he was perched on his window.

Harry told him to go to sleep and tried to sleep again. He was also worried. It this continued, how would he ever would be normal. Nightmares had been a part of his life for the most part of the last 7 years but when he had finally killed Tom, he had hoped that he won't have nightmares anymore. May be, it was just his curse that there was no such luck awaiting him. So many people had died for him in the battle so that he could stay alive. If he knew about the horcrux in him sooner, things might have been drastically different than now. May be not so many people would have had died then. Harry drifted into sleep while he kept thinking. When he woke up, it was 8:00 in the morning. He sat up quickly and checked Ron's bed. It was tidied up and there was no sign on his best mate over there. The rucksack which Ron had carried on the run was also missing and he figured that they were already on their way to Australia.

He walked down to the kitchen to find Mrs. Weasley alone taking some breakfast. As she saw him, she stood up, "Harry dear, do you want some breakfast?"

Harry gently caught her by her shoulders and made her sit in her chair, "Mrs. Weasley, don't fret. I can do some cooking by myself."

She protested, "Never! You don't have to cook your own breakfast under my roof."

He shook his head, "No Mrs. Weasley, I am not going to cook. I will ask Kreacher to do it. You please sit and finish your breakfast."

After about an hour, he had left the Burrow to go to Andromeda's. He wanted to see Teddy the first thing this morning before he went to Grimmauld place. Kingsley had told him that the house was bare and he had no idea what went into decorating a house. While he played with Teddy, he could pick Andromeda's brain about it.

When he popped into her backyard, he walked to the front of her home and rapped the door and waited patiently. When the door opened, he exclaimed, "YOU!"