Chapter 6 - Epilogue, Part 1
Harry and Ginny woke late the next day since neither of them had set the alarm and each of them had woke up several times, and then woke up the other, with nightmares from the Chamber of Secrets from when they were younger. They goofed off for most of the day.
They decided to have dinner with the Potters and showed up a little before six.
"Welcome and come in," James told him happily when he answered the door. "We're glad you could make it."
"We hoped you really meant what you said," Harry said hesitantly.
"Of course we did," James told him before he raised his voice. "Lily, we have two more for dinner!"
Lily poked her head out of the kitchen and smiled. "Good, I was hoping you'd come. Please come join me; dinner won't be out of the oven for another ten minutes or maybe less if we're lucky."
They did join her, standing around while she finished up, although it was mostly cleaning and she made short work of that. "I do have a bit of news and it's not really dinner conversation, so now might be better." Lily looked at the two, "We received word that Albus Dumbledore succumbed to his injuries this morning."
Harry looked at Ginny and she didn't really have any more of a reaction than he did. "Err, all right; thanks for letting us know. Is it certain who'll take over Hogwarts?"
James and Lily looked at each other for a moment, seemingly reaching an understanding. "Well," James started, "McGonagall is the 'heir apparent' but that doesn't always mean anything. From those I know on the Board of Governors, it's not certain if she'll get it or not; still, she's the obvious choice. It also depends on if she wants it or not too. I also won't be surprised if we don't hear who has it until early August."
"Does who is Headmaster matter for you returning?" Lily asked.
"As long as it's not Dumbledore, probably not for me," Harry said and looked over.
"I don't think it does for me," Ginny said while returning his look, "but I never saw the Headmaster as much as you did."
"I suppose that's good. James, if you'll set the table I'll bring this out in a moment," Lily told him. "You two go take a seat in the dining room."
When all were in the dining room and they were starting to eat, Harry asked, "I'm actually a little surprised by how you do things here. You seem more like the Weasleys than a normal Pureblood family that has their house-elves waiting on them."
James and Lily looked at each other and smiled. "You'd be correct for my childhood," James answered. "I think that was sort of standard for that time. However, Lily enjoys cooking and she's also influenced me to a more informal standard, not that we don't ask Milli to help out when we're too busy - as you've seen once or twice."
His wife smiled at him. "What did you two do today?"
"Not much," Harry replied. "We got up late because we didn't sleep well." He looked at his fiancée. "Yesterday in the Chamber of Secrets stirred up too many bad memories of the first time we were there … for each of us." Ginny nodded, not wanting to talk about it.
"Oh, yes, I can see how that could happen," the mother said quietly. "Was all of yesterday difficult for you?" She looked more at Harry but glanced at Ginny too.
Harry set his fork down for a moment. "A little, but it was mostly the Chamber. While a little was about me, most of it came from the thought of losing Ginny. I didn't know her as well then, but it really made me think about losing her and losing people in general." He purposefully didn't mention them.
In the pause after Harry's confession, Ginny added, "Most of the day wasn't too bad. I think having Malfoy appear right in front of me when he was the one that gave me the diary did something, even if they weren't exactly the same man. Then, immediately going to the Chamber made it more difficult. I know I was only eleven when it happened, but it was a very … difficult way to grow up. At least I was rescued." She reached over and grabbed Harry's hand and smiled thankfully at him.
"Oh!" Lily perked up and sounded a little desperate to change the topic. "You got a ring! I thought you said you didn't do much today?"
Ginny relaxed with the new topic. "We didn't do much, other than fly around and do some laundry." She giggled. "You should have seen Harry trying to avoid touching some of my things." The three laughed while Harry looked chagrinned.
"Don't worry, Harry," James said and clapped him on the shoulder. "Getting married was a real eye opener for me too. You have plenty of surprises waiting for you." He winked. "Where did you get that? I've never seen anything like it."
"Me neither," Lily said before she hurried added, "not that it's bad, because it's very pretty and interesting. I've just never seen anything like it. It looks like a band of copper."
"It is," Harry admitted. "I know you can't transfigure material into gold or silver, so I summoned a rock that had copper in it so I could work with it. The stone is just a small piece of quartz. I thought that could hold her until we can find a jeweler tomorrow or the next day."
"May I examine it please?" James asked and Ginny held her hand out across the smaller table for four. He did a few spells with his wand before he looked at Harry. "I'm impressed. You did a permanent transfiguration and that's difficult. I assumed you were trying for that?"
Harry looked embarrassed. "No, I assumed it'd last a month or so before it reverted."
"If it's going to stay, I think I might want to keep it then," Ginny said, admiring it.
"I wished I had a real diamond though, but I figured it'd be even harder to transfigure," Harry said, thinking out loud.
"You'd be right about that, but l have a thought," James said as he rose. "Let's go into the family room and talk. We can have dessert in there later too." He left them to walk to the side of the house while Lily herded them to the family room.
James returned a few minutes later with a small velvet black bag. He stopped himself from handing it to Harry, then grinned before he handed it to Ginny. "Pick whatever you like the most and use it; you can return the others - no hurry."
Ginny opened the bag and peered in. Not really able to see what was inside, she dumped the contents into her hand. She gasped as a dozen diamonds of various sizes and shapes fell into her palm. "But…"
"Yes, you will take one," James said with a smile. "They've been lying around in a drawer since before I was born so you might as well make use of one of them.
"So you know, Harry, it's part of where the Potter fortune originally came from. Hundreds of years ago, an ancestor bought a mine for the clay and a few ores. We got that, but it also turned out to be a source of diamonds, at least for about a century. The mine doesn't produce many diamonds anymore, maybe a handful a year; but the clay still comes out and is used for pottery. I check on the company a few times a year but it basically runs itself and adds to our income."
"I never knew that," Harry said with astonishment.
"I suspect I have a lot of things to teach you about the family," James said with delight. "In fact, Charles only knows a little, so I can teach you both at once. I should also probably pull Rose into a few of those sessions."
It was Friday after the war ended, at least for them. Aurors were still rounding up a few Death Eaters.
"I'm bored," Ginny said over breakfast. "Laundry is done. We don't need to go shopping for food or anything else really. As much as I like flying and tossing the Quaffle with you, I want to do something else."
"I know, me too," Harry groused. "We've even eaten with my family or yours every evening and I'd still like to have something different to do. I always thought that when I was finished with school it'd be great, sort of like an endless summer, but that's not so."
"Well, after school people normally get jobs, and we probably should do that; but we have enough money from all of the gifts that we don't have to hurry too much. Plus we'll also have more coming in from when they sell the basilisk parts." She brightened. "We could go look for a small house, a real house."
Harry nodded. "We could. Maybe we should answer the question we've both been ignoring though."
Ginny finished her breakfast and pushed her plate back. "That's no fun, but maybe you're right. What do you want to do about it?"
"No fair, I was going to ask you first," he said indignantly. She stuck her tongue out at him. "Is that an invitation?" he grinned.
"Maybe, but what do you want to do? I can see a few reasons to go," she said as she rose and took her plate to the sink and started to clean up.
Harry rose and started helping her clean up. "It would give us almost a year to decide what we want to do. It'd make the parents happy too."
"True," she agreed before she did the spell to started the washing of the dirty dishes. "It would also give us a chance to play Quidditch again and hopefully get noticed by scouts. After you, Ron, and Katie left, the Gryffindor team sucked so us going back to help them out would be good."
"And we do need to go talk to McGonagall anyway," Harry added as he put the last of the uncooked food away back into the cold cabinet. "We have another question we're going to have to prepared to have an answer for."
"What?"
He reached out and pulled her to him as he leaned back against the cabinets, his hands around her waist loosely; she stood between his legs and rested her hands to his chest and waited. "You know I love you since I asked you to marry me, but if we go back to Hogwarts, are you willing to sleep alone again? I'll say I've gotten used to this, even if we've been doing it for only a little less than two weeks. I like sleeping with you, even if we're not having sex yet, and I like sharing a space with you, even if I have to pick up your clothes from everywhere."
Ginny had the grace to blush at the last part. "I know what you mean, I like living with you too. You think that if we're not married we can't share a bedroom at school?"
"Think?" Harry harrumphed. "I know so and so do you. That means if we want to continue this then we'll have to set a date for the wedding and it'll have to be soon after your birthday if you want a honeymoon and I do." He grinned as he squeezed the top of her bum. "Planning a wedding would also give you something to do."
"That is true, but there's not much to do. I only want a small one, family only since that's all we really have. Flowers are easy. If Colin Creevey is at school we could hire him or someone like him for the photos. I'm sure Arthur would let us have it at The Burrow. The hardest part will be finding a dress and I have no doubt Lily would be happy to help me and play mother of the bride."
Harry laughed. "I'm sure she would. Hmm, what do we do about attendants, I think they're called. I guess I could ask Bill to be my best man. Heck of a way to meet Charlie. Hi, I'm Evan, but really Harry; have a seat on the first row because I'm going to be marrying your sister in a few minutes."
Ginny laughed and dropped her head to his chest for a minute, still snickering when she stood straight again. "That's really funny, but true. Maybe we can get him back for a weekend before, or else tell him to take a longer holiday. As for maid of honor, I guess there's your step-sister Rose. I do hope she's nice as I'd hate for her to be someone like, oh, Pansy Parkinson."
"Eww," he said dryly. "So are we really serious about this?"
"I guess," Ginny said slowly and thinking it through. "I suppose we should talk to McGonagall first and see what the rules are." She kissed him gently. "I love you, Harry. While getting married this August and before I take my NEWTs seems a little fast, I'm actually fine with it." She grinned wickedly. "It will get you your wish of taking showers with me."
Harry laughed now before giving her a sarcastic, "Right, taking showers together is the best reason to get married." She laughed with him.
— — —
They left word with the Potters they would not be there for dinner before they Apparated to Hogsmeade. They walked around for a little bit, hand in hand. It was like they remembered. They headed for the school, taking their time walking so as not to be there too early.
The young couple walked in the front door just after dinner had started, so there were a few stragglers rushing into the Great Hall ahead of them. The young couple wasn't in disguise, so because they weren't known they gathered attention as they walked through the double doors and went up the middle between the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables. Conversation started dropping and, other than whispers, it was completely quiet by the time they were half way to the head table. Every teacher was looking at them too.
"Professor McGonagall, I'm Evan Potter and this is Jennifer Weasley. We need to speak with you and I believe you wanted to speak with us. May we join you for dinner and speak after?"
"Yes, Mr Potter, that would be acceptable," McGonagall agreed with a healthy amount of interest, as the other teachers wondered about them too. "You're welcome to sit at any of the four long tables wherever there is room."
Harry/Evan looked at Ginny/Jennifer then up at the banners. "I'm partial to red and I see some open seats, so we'll sit there until you're ready." He gave a half bow and she nodded at him.
As it was when they were at Hogwarts, the older students sat nearer the door, so it was the younger students nearest the teachers. Evan walked over and sat down with Ginny next to him. The boy he sat beside looked like a first year that looked so much like Sirius it was uncanny.
"I'm Evan Potter and you look a lot like Sirius Black. Are you his son?"
"Yes, I'm Orion Black; pleased to meet you. That's my sister over there," he pointed, "Altair Black."
Harry snorted and muttered, "Oh Sirius, did you have to continue that family tradition?"
"You know my father and our family?" Orion asked, surprised. "I've never heard of you."
"We've arrived only recently, so I've only talked to him a few times as I visited my Uncle James and Aunt Lily's house," Evan explained.
Orion nodded, thinking that very likely as the two men were school friends, but another boy a few seats down perked up. "Why have I never heard of an Evan Potter? And why do you look a lot like my dad."
"Thanks," Evan murmured to Jennifer for dishing his food while he'd been talking. He looked at the boy and decided his looks were far more mixed than his own were. He also had the advantage having seen pictures of the boy on the wall recently. "Good evening, Cousin Charles. You've never heard of me because one of my ancestors moved away a few generations back. They recently died such that I was the last and I decided to come back here to reconnect with the family in the UK. So I'm not surprised you haven't heard of me before. I hadn't heard of you until a week or so ago."
Charles looked suspicious but didn't question his story.
Evan saw a girl that looked a great deal like Lily walk toward him from further down the table. He'd also seen her picture on the wall too.
She stuck out her hand. "Hello, I'm Rose Potter. I think I heard most of that story. I'm glad to meet you and I look forward to talking with you. Will you be available this summer?"
Evan liked her instantly. She was warm and polite, much like her mother … also no intimidation factor, thankfully. "Yes, Jennifer and I will be around. Uncle James has invited us over frequently for the last week. I'm sure we can make time to get to know one another and I'd like that."
She gave him a blinding smile. "Brilliant, I look forward to that as I do finishing my OWLs soon. Yeah, I really can't wait to get those over with." Rose leaned down to whisper to him, her head between Evan's and Jennifer's. "If Charles gives you any trouble, let me know and I'll smack some sense into him, or at least I'll try as his head is pretty hard." She gave him a wicked grin before she said, "I'll talk to you later," and returned to her friends further down the table.
"I think I like her," Jenn said in a whisper.
"Yes, I can see that you each have something in common," he whispered back, "keeping brothers in line." She grinned back.
Evan used the remaining time at dinner talking to the first and second years nearby, asking about the school and teachers. Charles paid close attention but didn't participate much. He did mention he and Jennifer were planning to attend seventh year next year.
Jenn nudged him when she saw McGonagall and Sprout rise.
Evan said, "We have to go, but I'll talk to a few of you this summer and probably see the rest of you next year." He and Jenn walked around the front and because the teachers would come around the end by the Slytherin table and walk down the edge of the Great Hall, he headed over there as well.
"We'll go to my office, Mr Potter," McGonagall said, clearly heard by everyone. She waved him forward to lead the way out of the Great Hall.
Evan realized how many of the students he recognized as everyone was looking at him, including a boy with long white-blond hair that he would have rather avoided. Hopefully, McGonagall presence would prevent an issue - except he wasn't so lucky.
The Slytherin stood and blocked his path. "You can't be a real Potter as I know who they all are. You also showed up at the same time my father was murdered and I think you had a part in that," he accused angrily. "Who are you really?"
Evan had a satisfying retort, but couldn't use it since he supposedly didn't know who Draco Malfoy was. "I'm sure our arrival and anything to do with your family is coincidence since I don't know who you are. However, you need to move because you're in our way and the way of the professors." He wondered why McGonagall wasn't saying anything.
"I'm Draco Malfoy and the name Malfoy carries a lot of weight," he said pointedly.
Harry smirked. "Well, if it carries a lot of weight then I suggest you go on a diet because a lot of weight isn't good for your health." He heard a number of snickers, which incensed the Slytherin more.
"You murdered my father." Malfoy pulled out his wand but Harry stepped forward his left hand in motion, slamming the boy's hand to the side and pinning the hand with the wand to the wall.
"Back down and step aside, or else let's step outside to decide this," Harry told him intently. "Since you're running your mouth off, you must be at least seventeen. So am I. So which is it, Malcolm or whatever your name is?"
Malfoy just glared at him for a moment.
"Come on, Mallory, you've made this personal with your accusation; so decide now." Harry glared into the Slytherin's eyes and saw hate coming back at him though he knew not why Draco was doing this now.
"I challenge you to a duel of honor!" Malfoy declared loudly.
"No Unforgivables and to first blood, unconsciousness, or loss of wand; I wouldn't want to hurt you too badly," Harry snarked. "Professor Flitwick can referee; I've been told he has experience when I asked about the professors."
"Accepted," Malfoy said coldly and jerked his hand back. His wand pointed at the floor, he said, "Come on you bastard." He turned to walk to the double doors.
He looked at Jenn who shrugged.
McGonagall hurried to catch up with him as they exited the Great Hall, with all of the students following too. "Mr Potter, you mustn't do this."
"Professor," he said calmly, "you had at least three chances to intervene before the word 'duel' was said. Why didn't you do so?" He didn't stop walking and exited the school a few steps behind Malfoy who was marching with angry steps.
As they left the steps, Jenn put a hand on his arm. "I know you'll win, but be careful."
"Always," he said before he kissed her briefly to go take his place. The students stood on the steps to get a good view.
When Harry stepped into place, Malfoy shouted, "If you're really a Potter, then you can also afford a bet on this too. I also bet you a 1000 Galleons, loser pays the winner."
"I can afford that, Malfoy, accepted."
"Who's your second so I know who to get my winnings from?" Malfoy smirked.
"The redhead with me can make good on it. Who's going to cover for you when I win?" Harry returned.
"Goyle, not that he'll have to do anything."
Harry looked to the side and in front of the crowd stood Professor Flitwick, who didn't look happy to be in this position. "You heard the rules and the bet, Professor Flitwick?"
"I did. Gentlemen, can we call this off?" Flitwick asked.
"No!" each contestant shouted.
"Then this is an honor duel, if death occurs the survivor will be turned over to the Aurors. There will be no Unforgivables cast. The contest is over at first blood, unconsciousness, or loss of wand. Ready?"
Harry shifted, putting his right foot forward like a fencer as his wand came up. Malfoy's wand was already up, although he stood completely facing his opponent.
A male voice whispered, "Malfoy is one of the best here. Can he really beat him?"
Jennifer looked up to see Neville Longbottom sort of towering over her. "Malfoy is going down," she said confidently.
"Good," Neville said, looking like he wished he was the one out there against Draco.
Everything seemed to freeze for a moment, even time, until it was released with, "Begin!"
To the observers, Evan Potter looked like he'd fired two spells at once before a third was cast and he stepped to the left and a fourth was cast, then a final step left. In that time, Malfoy had cast one spell that looked like an Entrail Expelling curse.
Malfoy realized his mistake of picking a curse that took significant time to cast and tried to jump out of the way. The first two spells hit his knees and audible cracks were heard. Because he moved, the third spell hit Malfoy not in the wrist but in the elbow, which also cracked, and started sending his wand flying away. Only for the fourth spell to stop the wand in mid-air to go sailing to Potter's hand.
Malfoy's curse was aimed well; it went right through the space Potter had started in, which was now empty air.
Evan lowered his wand and then put it away since he had Draco's wand and the boy was a bloody mess on the ground, although he was not unconscious but rather howling in pain. Flitwick rendered mercy and cast a voiced, "Stupefy."
It was now completely silent. The unknown Potter had just taken out who most believed to be the best, or at least the most vicious, fighter in the school in less than two seconds with four spells, and he had really needed only two of them.
Evan turned and walked towards Gregory Goyle, stopping a few steps short. "I have a meeting, so I'll see you by the front door in an hour for the 1000 Galleons. That will also give you time to get it. While I know he can buy a new wand for a lot less than 1000 Galleons, I'd think he wouldn't want to do that just before his NEWTs start. Also, if I'm not paid, I'll proclaim that the Malfoys have no honor in the Daily Prophet. I'll see you in an hour."
Evan walked towards Jennifer and then Professor McGonagall. He was congratulated quietly and/or slapped on the back by many; definitely by all of the upper year Gryffindors and many of the Hufflepuffs. Neville Longbottom was especially enthusiastic in his congratulations.
The trip to McGonagall's office was in total silence, although Jenn gave him a smile and a thumbs up since the two professors were in front of them.
In the office, McGonagall took her seat behind the desk while Sprout sat to the side and mostly behind it also - neither looked happy. Evan and Jenn each took a seat in front of the desk. The arrangement made it hard not to feel like they were in trouble and Evan decided that had been done on purpose.
Therefore, he smiled and as friendly as he could said, "Good evening Professor McGonagall and I believe Professor Sprout."
"Mr Potter," McGonagall said frostily, "did you really have to do that?"
He supposed he wasn't going to get out of this part of the conversation after all. "As I mentioned in the Great Hall, Professor, you had at least three times in that conversation to stop that before it escalated. In fact, when he first stood up in our way, why didn't you tell him to sit down and mind his own business?"
"It is not your responsibility to question us; we're the professors," Sprout rebuked him.
Evan looked at her. "Of course I'm going to question you when you aren't doing your job. While my question was directed at Professor McGonagall since she asked it, I'll change the question. Why didn't any teacher get involved and tell Malfoy to sit down and shut up before the word duel was said? Can you give me a good reason?"
He let the silence go for a full two seconds. "If the reason is because Dumbledore, who I've heard some less than pleasant stories about, told you not to reprimand the Slytherins for some weird 'We have to try to reform them' reasons, then I'll tell you that he was wrong and you've failed by listening to him. I'm very willing to bet that no one will mess with me after I just showed Malfoy that there are consequences for insulting a person, accusing said person of murder, and threatening him with a wand.
"Honestly, if you're going to be this way, it makes me wonder if I want to come here at all even if I only have one year." He looked at his companion.
Softly, she said, "I think it's a good question. We could study independently and take our NEWTs next spring."
"Then perhaps you shouldn't be here if you're too good for us," Sprout said hotly.
"Pomona!" McGonagall snapped, bringing silence again. She pulled her glasses off and rubbed her eyes for a moment. As she did so, she said, "We have gone astray of our original purpose here." She put her glasses back on.
"While I do not like to admit it, he has a valid point that we were supposed to be in charge yet we didn't act like it." When Sprout looked like she was about to argue, McGonagall said softly, "You seem rather upset at the moment, so perhaps it would be best if I continued this alone."
Sprout didn't look happy, but she said, "Perhaps you're right," as she rose and left the office, closing the door a little harder that she needed to, but not quite slamming it.
"I also don't like to admit it, but your accusation about Dumbledore's approach to handling the Slytherins and Severus Snape is not far from the truth." She looked at the two. "Since I know who you really are, does this mean that Albus Dumbledore was that way where you came from also?"
"Yes, you may assume that," Evan said. Jennifer said nothing but watched intently.
"Perhaps I shouldn't ask, but how was I?" McGonagall asked uneasily.
"The Professor McGonagall that taught me was a very good teacher; beyond that, she was inconsistent and I won't say more than that as it wouldn't be fair to you. I think a lot of the problem is that she was stretched too far with three jobs, just as Dumbledore was."
McGonagall winced slightly. "I see." She considered the situation for a moment. "If I may, can you tell me your thoughts on why you were brought here? I mean, why did magic choose you?"
"Not to be unfair, but I believe it was because Albus Dumbledore wouldn't share his secrets. While I helped with the project, what made me unique was the information I brought," he told her.
"And you, Ms Weasley?"
"I just came along for the ride, but I'm glad I did despite the negatives," Jenn answered.
"Very well, to the main topic," McGonagall told them. "As you have not finished your NEWTs, I thought that you coming to Hogwarts for your last year would be helpful to you, especially to meet people and to integrate into our society. I know you know people, but they won't be exactly the same as the ones you left and these people don't know you at all."
"I can see that," Evan said. "We have other reasons for coming, but I refuse to be looked down on because someone insulted me and my family and I stood up for myself. I was prevented from doing that by Dumbledore and Snape and because I had no family to back me up like Malfoy and the others did. Here, I have a family and no Dumbledore or Snape. I also have a fiancée whom I plan to live with."
McGonagall rubbed one temple this time. "Mr Potter, students can not live together here."
"What if they're married?" he asked innocently with a smile, which drew a giggle from Jenn.
The woman sputtered.
"Perhaps it's not my preferred time to get married," Jennifer said, "but I'll be seventeen in August. My step-father is happy we're engaged. If we need to be married to live together here in school, for example in the Head Boy's or Head Girl's room in Gryffindor Tower, then we'll be married before we arrive."
"What classes would you take?" she asked with tired resignation.
"Defense, Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions if there is a good teacher," he answered.
"There should be five classes," McGonagall told them.
"I was taking Care of Magical Creatures and I know you took that through your OWLs," Jenn told him.
"Right, so add Magical Creatures," he said.
"I'll take the same five," Jenn told her. "Also, we want to try out for the Quidditch team as we'd like to go professional after we leave here. If your Gryffindor team was like ours, it wasn't that great this year and it didn't look to get better next year. I'm a good Chaser and Evan is a very good Seeker."
"A bright spot I suppose, but you should be sorted here," she said stoically. "This will have to be discussed. You should at least plan your wedding, although I don't know if it'll be required or not."
"I can do that," Jenn said brightly.
McGonagall looked at the clock. "Your time is about up. I suppose I should walk you to the front door since you have business there." The three headed to their destination.
Half way there, Rose Potter stepped in beside Evan from a side corridor; she had obviously been waiting for him. "You're very skilled."
"Err, thank you?" he replied.
Rose smiled and seemed happy McGonagall was ignoring her. "I can hardly wait to talk to you and that won't happen until I get home will it?"
"Probably not, sorry."
Rose shrugged. "I'll just have to learn to live with it. I saw you flying out of the castle last Saturday, didn't I? Both of you."
"Maybe," Evan returned with a smile, causing her to smile too.
"You two are together, aren't you? That's a very unusual looking engagement ring which I like." She smiled at Jennifer.
"There's a story behind that," Jenn replied with her own smile, looking down at it with its new diamond.
"Waiting a month is almost going to kill me," Rose said shaking her head.
They arrived at the front door not only to find Goyle there, but Narcissa Malfoy, who looked upset. She tossed a heavy money bag at his chest, which he caught. "There's your bet, Potter."
"Thank you," Evan said politely and he handed Draco's wand over, which she snatched from him. "If I can ask, why are you two so hostile towards me when I've never met you before?" He brought up what Occlumency shields he had.
Narcissa stepped closer so she could whisper, "You were seen in a graveyard where my husband and Draco's father was, as well as Draco's godfather."
Harry raised an eyebrow as he willed himself not to panic. "I suspect you're mistaken, but I think that if the story was true and was shared," he whispered back, "all of his company would have to be mentioned. I also heard that young Vincent Crabbe was given a diary that possessed him and caused him to be lost for five years. It makes you wonder where that came from, doesn't it?"
Narcissa lost some of her confidence for a brief moment before she stepped back. "Stay away from us."
"I'd be happy to, but I'll remind you that I was the one approached and insulted, plus he was the one that challenged me to a duel, so be sure to tell your son to leave us alone," he told her, not backing down.
She glared at him and left, ignoring the others.
Harry smiled and looked over. "Thank you, Mr Goyle, for doing your duty. I'm sure Malfoy appreciates that; I do. Good evening."
The big boy nodded and left.
"You live in exciting times," Rose said softly.
"You have no idea," Jennifer said before both girls giggled.
McGonagall looked at him for a moment before she said to both of the visitors, "Thank you for coming. I will consider what you told me. I'll send you an owl as soon as we have an answer."
"Thank you, Professor," Harry said, bowing his head only. He extended his left elbow to his fiancée and they walked out the door to return home. He was going to have to stop by the main house and tell James what Narcissa said. There wasn't much they could do about it, but suspected that was true on both sides. After all, Malfoy had obviously been with Voldemort willingly.
Nearly a week later and after dinner with the Potters, Ginny pulled Lily aside while Harry helped by asking James some questions to keep him busy. She pulled out an unsealed letter and handed it to the woman. "I believe you said you'd help wake up Vincent Crabbe tomorrow?"
"Yes," Lily replied while wondering what this was about as she took the letter.
"Please give that to him. You can read it if you want," Ginny said hesitantly, looking unsure of herself for once.
Lily nodded and opened it.
Vincent,
I hope this letter helps you in some way. I wanted you to know that you're not the only person to have been taken advantage of and possessed. I know you're confused and angry. I know because it happened to me years ago, so I do understand.
It was only by luck I even heard of your story, but I wanted to let you know that you will be all right in time. You can help that by first believing that it wasn't your fault; you were tricked by someone who was very good at tricking people, making them do things that were not in their best interest or good for them. I know that will be hard for you to believe, but you must.
Second, find someone you can trust and talk to them about this. I know this will be even harder, but you will find it helpful. I waited several years before I did and I regret it; I should have done so as soon after as possible. So find someone soon. Since you are sort of in a new time, it won't be from your old friends, and it probably won't be from your new friends either as they won't understand. Maybe it's a healer from St Mungo's, or a teacher, or even Madam Pomfrey. I don't know who it will be for you, but find someone; you'll be glad you did. I'd talk with you, but circumstances prevent it.
Do your best to put this behind you, but learn from it too. You won't be so trusting for a while; that's fine and normal. However, find new friends and be a friend back. Learn to trust again; you'll be glad you did.
Lastly, from what little I've heard of your situation, you might want to ask the school if you can be resorted into a new house. I don't know if that would help you or not, but it's something to think about.
I sure you'll recover because I did. Good luck!
Lily looked at the young woman, seeing her in a new light before she swept her into a tight hug, which was returned. "I'm sure that was hard to write, but you've done a good thing. Not only will I make sure he receives it, but I'll make sure he reads it and understands. I wish you could talk to him too, but I understand why that can't happen."
"Thank you," Ginny returned softly as she let go slowly. "Lily, can I ask a favor of you as well?"
"Of course, my dear. What can I do for you?" Lily was liking this girl more and more.
"Well, there's a good chance I'll want to marry in the middle of August so Harry and I can stay together at school," Ginny started to explain.
Lily nodded, a little concerned for the direction the pair were taking but not really feeling like she could stop them.
"I think Rose and I will get along, or I really hope so; but could you and hopefully her take me shopping for a wedding dress after she comes home?" Ginny asked hopefully. "It won't be a big wedding, just family. Oh, and Sirius with his family and Remus."
Lily smiled broadly and hugged the girl again. "I'd love to and I know Rose will too. I think you two will get along fabulously also."
"She seemed nice when we met her, but we talked for only a minute or two," Ginny justified herself.
"It will work out, you'll see in another week when she gets home," Lily told her. "Oh, this will be fun as I get to be mother of the groom and mother of the bride." She laughed and Ginny giggled.
Looking over, Lily said, "You had Harry pull James away, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"You're doing well, my dear. Potter men are wonderful and do really well when there is a good woman behind them who can apply a light tough in helping them to go in the right direction," Lily confided. The two giggled together.
Harry and Ginny sat in a rocker made for two, courtesy of an enlarging charm, rocking on the porch. His arm was around her shoulder as they rocked and waited.
The peaceful scene was interrupted by two cracks of Apparation in quick succession. James cleared his throat and said, "Step lively." He held out his arm for Lily to take and the two walked over to the sitting pair that was now rising.
Looking over he smiled. "I present my children, Rose and Charles Potter. Children, these are your cousins from a cadet line, Evan Potter and Jennifer Weasley, soon to be Jennifer Potter."
Rose lit up at the news of the wedding being soon before she curtsied. "I'm very pleased to meet each of you. I hope and believe we'll get along well." Standing, she took the few steps forward and gave each visitor a brief hug before stepping back.
When Charles just stood there, James cleared his throat and motioned with his head to get on with it.
"I've already met them," the boy complained. "Oww! Quit it!" he exclaimed as his head jerked forward, courtesy of his sister's hand.
"Charles!" James growled quietly.
"Fine," he told his father before he stepped forward and held out his hand to Evan. "Good to meet you," he said flatly as he shook each of their hands before stepping back.
"Very good," Lily said with a critical eye on her son, her expression not matching her words. "Let's go in and see what Milli made for us this evening.
James held the door open for Lily to enter and lead their guests before the two children then himself. His younger one concerned him. Charles had just turned thirteen not long ago and seemed resistant to growing up. James knew he'd felt and acted privileged when he was that age, but he didn't think he'd been this bad. He sighed before he forced a smile, determined to make this evening go well.
— — —
When they were alone that evening, James looked at his wife. "How do you think it went?"
Lily pulled off her earrings. "I think Milli did an excellent job with dinner. I also think Evan and Jennifer mostly had a good time. I'm pleased that Jennifer and Rose got along so well and that Rose is as excited about the wedding as I am. You also played host very well."
After a long pause, James realized she wasn't going to say any more. "I note that one person was left out. Tell me, was I really that bad at his age?"
Lily brushed out her hair for a moment. "A few times, but overall, no I don't think you were that way so consistently as he's doing. The introduction embarrassed even me. What are we going to do?"
"I don't know," James said tiredly as he grabbed his pajamas, "but I'm going to have to figure out something."
— — —
"What did you think?" Harry asked after they'd Apparated home.
"I like Rose; I think she's a lot of fun and will be a good maid of honor," Ginny replied.
Harry sighed when she said no more. "I agree about both of them. I don't understand Charles. I don't need to be his best friend, but he acted like Draco Malfoy."
"I can't argue with that," she said. "Come on, let's go to bed. Don't worry about him; he probably just needs time to get to know us."
(A/N: Just one more chapter for a few loose ends. If you're lucky I'll get it out sooner than normal.)