The Days That Follow

Summary: Life slowly returns to normal in the days that follow the Battle of Hogwarts.

Harry paused outside James and Lily's bedroom. He was dressed in his gray T-shirt and pajama bottoms, freshly showered and ready to head to bed. It was only when he looked down at his abdomen and seen the scar that he remembered his promise to Ginny to tell Lily what happened and how he got that scar.

He raised his hand to knock when the door opened and Lily appeared. She jumped at the sight of her son.

"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you," Harry said.

"It's okay, sweetheart. What do you need?" She asked.

"I need to tell you something," Harry explained.

Lily raised one eyebrow, a look Harry remembers all too well. "Do I need to get your father for this?"

"No."

Lily pushed open the door and motioned for Harry to come in. Harry entered the bedroom, noticing that it looked the same as it always did, only with a few boxes still left to be unpacked. He walked over to the bed and sat down, knowing he would be lying down not long after to show Lily the scar he had kept hidden.

"Remember me telling you and Dad that we were captured and taken to Malfoy Manor and Hermione was tortured?"

"Yes," Lily said. "Your father is considering as acting Head Auror, to press charges for kidnapping. Why?"

"I forget to mention that someone else was hurt when we escaped," Harry began.

"Who?" Lily inquired.

Harry took a deep breath and whispered, "Me."

"What?!" Lily exclaimed. "What happened?"

"Bellatrix had a knife or a dagger in her hand, I don't remember. But as we apparated she threw it at us. She was probably thinking it had hit Dobby but instead it got me."

"Where? When I examined you earlier, I didn't see any extra scars," Lily said, trying to process the information her son just told her.

"It's because I had hidden it, by putting a glamour charm on it to hide it," Harry explained.

"Where?" Lily repeated using a tone that Harry was very familiar with.

Harry replied by pulling up his shirt. Lily leaned over and seen the pink scar in the middle of her son's belly.

"Lie down," she ordered.

Harry obeyed, knowing he better before he was forced to. He watched as Lily got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom, returning with her medical kit.

"Who treated this?" She asked.

"Fleur," Harry replied.

Lily sighed in relief. She had helped Fleur in her training while they were in hiding and she made a mental note to thank the young woman the next time she saw her.

"Relax," Lily said, and lightly ran her finger along the pink line. It was light pink, but still pink enough that Lily could tell it was a month old. Eventually, it would turn white, but it would be a while.

Harry jerked involuntarily when Lily repeated her light stroke.

"Does it hurt?" She asked, concerned.

"It tickled," Harry replied.

Lily smiled, softly. Harry was still ticklish on his stomach. The lightest touch could cause Harry to laugh.

"Fleur did a good job treating it. Did she give you a green looking potion?"

"That looked like slime? Yes." Harry shuttered the memory. "I had to fight to keep it from coming back up."

"Did she put on a white cream?"

"That smells like Dad's socks? Yes."

Lily laughed at that statement, knowing how stinky James's socks could get.

"Then she wrapped it with a bandage and gave me potions for the pain and the red potion."

"Blood replenishing potion," Lily added.

"That. Honestly, Mum, those two days are kind of a blur," Harry said.

Lily nodded and waved her wand over the scar, double checking it. "It's a curse wound wasn't it?" She asked.

"Yeah," Harry replied.

"Alright then." She let out a slow breath and stood up. "You already know what you would need to do?"

Harry nodded.

"When we go to the coast, the sun will help heal it," Lily stated.

"We're going to the coast?" Harry inquired.

"After all the funerals are over and when the Auror office has calmed down. Your father will need a week away to decompress."

"Oh," Harry murmured.

"I've asked Molly if she's okay with Ginny coming with us and since we're not going until June, she's okay with her going. I'll let you tell her when we're going."

"Okay."

Harry sat up and was about to head to his bedroom when he was pulled into an embrace by Lily. He returned her hug, relishing in the fact that he was back in his mother's arms.

"Mum?"

"I haven't seen you or held you in nine months," She said, in her defense.

Harry sighed at the feeling of being in his mother's arms. He had missed this when he was on the run with Ron and Hermione.

"I love you, Mum," Harry whispered.

Lily pressed a kiss to Harry's forehead. "I love you too, Sweetheart."

James stepped into the room and seen Harry and Lily. He slowly backed out of the room and headed back downstairs, not wanting to disturb the mother and son moment. Like Lily, he was thankful that Harry came back alive, and they could start to build a life following the war.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Ginny sat on a fallen log that they have used as a bench next to the pond not far from the padlock. She had many memories of swimming in the pond with her brothers. It was Fred who pushed her into the pond when she five and nearly drowned. Charlie had been close by and saved her. They all agreed to never tell Molly. Fred was usually the one who would say, "Don't tell Mum."

She smiled as other memories with her brother flashed in her head like a picture show.

Taking a deep breath, she realized that Fred would be no more. She briefly wondered if George would ever be the same. He and Molly were taking it hard.

Arthur had said that it was their biggest fear was to lose one of their children and their biggest fear came true. The fact it was one of the twins, made it ten times worse. Ginny wondered if things would ever get better.

An arm wrapped around her shoulder and she would have reacted if it wasn't for the familiar voice whisper, "It's me."

Turning her head, she found that Harry had joined her.

"Hi," She said, softly.

"Hi. What are you doing out here?" He asked.

"I needed a moment. Mum and Dad went to make arrangements for Fred's…" She trailed off, not able to finish.

"Dad and Sirius went with Andromeda. They're going to help with her with Remus's arrangements. Both mentally and financially, as it is what Remus and Tonks would have wanted."

"How are Sirius and your Dad doing?" Ginny inquired.

"They're doing okay considering. Hestia and Mum went with them for moral support. Mum is taking almost as hard as Sirius and Dad. She's watching Teddy."

Ginny leaned back against Harry and laced her fingers in his. They sat in silence for about a minute, until Harry broke it.

"I told Mum," Harry said. "She said when I told her what happened and who took care of it, which was Fleur, that she did a good job. It's a curse wound and would take a while to heal. Sun would help it heal faster."

"I'm glad you told her," Ginny murmured.

"How are things here?" Harry asked.

"Quiet," Ginny whispered. "Mum hasn't left her room since she came home. She barely eats the food I bring her. George won't eat and he hasn't left his and Fred's old room. Fleur and Bill are staying with us temporarily to help Dad keep the house running. Charlie took time off from work to be here and he said he didn't know if and when he'll return to Romania and Ron is always with Hermione."

"She's going to the ministry tomorrow to start the process of bringing her parents back," Harry explained.

"She said something about that this morning," Ginny said, reaching over and taking Harry's hand. "Are you going with them?"

Harry shook his head. "I'm staying with you."

Ginny nodded. They sat in silence, listening to the birds and the sounds of the woods. Harry smiled softly as a memory came to him.

"When I was little, Mum told me that Remus got sick once a month and would be unable to visit until he got better. When I was eleven, he and Dad sat me down and told me that he was a werewolf. I promised I would never tell a soul. Hermione figured it out pretty quickly when he taught Defense our third year and Ron figured it out when I stood up for Remus to Snape when he did the lesson on werewolves. Dad also told me that Remus was the reason why they became animagus."

Ginny listened as Harry talked, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"I also remember the one time I went with them on their midnight adventures as Mum called it. I had just mastered transfiguring from my human form to my animal form and back. Dad didn't tell Mum so when we returned to the castle, she was livid. I had never seen Mum so angry. Angier than when she found out I was an Animagus. Dad told her nothing happened and that I was fine. Just needed some sleep, I didn't get much sleep, sleeping on the ground."

"Was that before everything with Dumbledore happened?" Ginny asked.

"Yeah, it was that full moon before that all happened. I went with them one full moon that summer because Mum was working the night shift at St. Mungo's. To my knowledge, she never knew about that."

Ginny smiled softly. "Are you going to let our kids become Animagus before their seventeen?" She asked.

"Knowing Dad, he'd do it before I get the chance to."

"How's your Mum doing since she found about Snape?" Ginny inquired.

"She told Minerva that she'll handle the arrangements. Mum knows where his mother is buried and that's where she'll put him. I also can see her making Dad and Sirius go to the funeral."

Ginny had to chuckle at that mental image. Then she realized something.

"Harry?"

"Yes, Gin?"

"Did you say that your Mum had Teddy?"

"Yes," Harry replied, slowly. "Why?"

"I think it's time we meet our godson."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

It had been a while since Lily had held a baby. She held her friends and colleagues babies and sometimes wished that it was in the cards for her and James to have another baby. But, she wouldn't trade the time she had with Harry for anything. Lily knew the next stage in her life would be the transition from mother to grandmother. Her friends who had become grandparents had told her that grandchildren were a gift.

She could wait for that for a while. Ginny wasn't done with school yet.

Rocking gently, she looked down at the little baby in her arms. Teddy, in his normal form, was a mix of his mother and father. Remus's sandy brown hair and green eyes, Dora's nose and cheeks and thankfully, instead of Remus's lycanthropy, he got Tonk's Metamorphmagus. Andromeda had stories from Tonks's childhood and was more than relieved along with the rest of them that Teddy would have her ability to change his appearance, instead of transforming into a werewolf every full moon.

Lily looked up when the back door in the scullery opened and James led Andromeda in the house with Sirius following behind them. Andromeda's eyes were red-rimmed as she smiled softly at Lily.

"How did it go?" Lily asked.

"Well," James replied. "The service will be on Sunday as the minister will be doing nearly everyone who died in the Battle of Hogwarts' funeral."

"I can't thank you two enough for your help," Andromeda said, sincerely. "I don't know how I would have afforded to bury both Dora and Remus. Really thank you both."

"You are family, Andy," Sirius reminded her. "Of course, I'll help you."

"Remus was a brother to the both of us," James added. "It's the least we could do."

"How was he, Lily?" Andromeda asked Lily, motioning to Teddy.

"He was an angel. I miss having a baby around." Lily looked down at the sleeping baby. "I'll be more than happy to watch him if you need."

"Between you and Molly, Teddy will have three grandmothers," Andromeda chuckled, smiling for the first time since she entered the Potter's home. "And he'll have Harry and Ginny for godparents."

James looked out the window. "Speak of them and they appear."

Lily looked out the windows of the French doors. "I bet I know why they're here. James, get the camera."

James obeyed his wife and left the kitchen as the door in the scullery opened and Ginny entered first, Harry following her, shutting the door behind him.

"Hello Ginny," Sirius greeted, pulling Harry into a hug.

"How's your Mum?" Lily asked.

"She hasn't been out of her room since she's been back home," Ginny explained. "How are you, Mrs. Tonks?"

"Please, call me Andromeda or Andy. Mrs. Tonks was my mother in law."

"Okay….Andy. Could you tell my mother that you said it was okay? She's pretty old fashion that sense."

Andromeda smiled, knowing Molly for a while and knowing how she was about certain things. "Yes, I would." She looked behind Ginny to Harry. Smiling softly, she asked, "How are you, Harry?"

"I'm fine Andy. I'm sorry about Tonks…."

Andromeda cut him off before he got out the rest of the sentence. "Don't you dare say it was your fault!" She exclaimed in a soft voice.

Harry turned to Lily and asked, "Have you been giving her lessons or something?"

Sirius and Andromeda chuckled as Lily smiled, stood up slowly, kissing her son on the cheek. "No, I haven't, Sweetheart."

She led Harry and Ginny into the family room and Harry immediately recognized the bassinet that had sat in the attic since they moved to this house when he was six. He watched as his mother reached down and picked up a baby wrapped in a blue blanket that Harry was sure was made by Molly.

"Is this Teddy?" Ginny asked, her eyes had been on the infant since Lily picked him up.

"Yes. I'm sure you both know that you're his godparents."

Harry and Ginny nodded. "Tonks asked me after he was born," Ginny explained.

"And Remus asked me when he came to Shell Cottage," Harry informed her. "I guess Bill had told him we were there and he came to tell them that Teddy was born and he asked me if I would be his godfather. Of course, I said yes, once the shock wore off. I thought he'd asked Dad or Sirius."

"He didn't because your Dad and Sirius said to ask you," Lily explained, slowly rocking when Teddy whimpered. "Of course I reminded him that James and Sirius would be a part of his life." She smiled, looking down at the baby. "You won't be alone in this. You'll have us to help you if you need it."

Harry sighed, mainly in relief, making Ginny chuckle.

"Now," Lily said. "Who wants to hold him?"

"Let Ginny go first," Harry murmured.

Lily handed Ginny the baby and like second nature, Ginny took the baby, supporting its head and holding it close to her. She looked down at the baby as he opened his eyes and stared back up at her. Ginny smiled and started to coo at the baby.

Harry watched from beside her, imaging the day when instead of their godson Ginny was holding, it was their own child.

James slipped in quietly and took a few pictures, sharing a knowing smile with Lily. They both imagined the day when it would their grandchild that Ginny was holding.

Soon, Teddy was transferred to Harry's arms. Like Ginny, Harry immediately supported Teddy's head, looking down at the baby.

"Hello there little guy," he whispered.

"We're godparents," Ginny said, suddenly.

Andromeda smiled at her. "Remus and Tonks picked the two of you because they knew that you would look after him and be the source of love and support he needs in addition to what I could give him."

"If you ever need us to watch him or anything, let us know," Ginny told her.

"I will," Andromeda assured her. "Between the two of you and Molly and Lily, I would have a good selection to pick from. Sirius and James, I'm not so sure about."

"Sirius took care of Harry while James and I were in the hospital following you know what and he seemed to do a good job," Lily assured her. "I remember every time he brought Harry to visit, which the healers encouraged, Harry was clean and well fed and I've watched Sirius change nappies."

"Speaking of nappies, I think he needs to be changed," Harry announced, nose crinkled in disgust. James and Sirius chuckled.

"Let me," Ginny said, taking him and the bag Andromeda handed her. "Come on Harry, you can help me change him."

"Yes, dear," Harry murmured, ignoring the whip motion Sirius and James were doing.

They took him upstairs to the spare bedroom where the bed hadn't been made yet. Ginny laid out the changing mat and collected the nappy, wipes, and cream.

"Okay, I'll show you how to change a nappy."

Ginny laid him down on the bed, pulling down his pants and undoing the bottom of his onesie.

"How do you know how to change nappies?" Harry asked.

"Do you not know who my mother is? She watched my younger cousins and I had helped her with everything." Ginny admitted. "Now, let's get him changed."

Ginny undid the nappy and pulled it down. They both took a step back, making a noise of disgust.

"How can something so small produce something so stinky?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Ginny answered.

Together they removed the soiled nappy, Ginny talking to Teddy the whole time while telling Harry what to do next.

Between the two of them, they managed to clean him up, change his nappy and return his clothes to normal.

"Whew, you did that on purpose didn't you?" Harry asked Teddy. "Next time you need to load up your nappy, make sure Sirius or Dad are holding you."

A chuckle from the door made Harry and Ginny turned around to find Lily standing in the doorway.

"I'm just checking on you two. Ginny, I called your Dad and told him that you'd be home later. You're welcome to stay for dinner."

"Thanks, Lily."

Harry picked up Teddy and carried him downstairs to the family room. His old bassinet was sat up in the corner. He laid Teddy down in it and turned on the monitor beside the bassinet. James walked over and did a quick alarm spell to alert them if Teddy needed anything.

"I'll show you how to do that spell later," he promised.

Sitting down to dinner, the only sound in the kitchen was the sounds of spoons clacking against the platters and requests to 'pass the rolls'. There was a moment where James and Lily glanced at each other, then glancing at Harry and Sirius. The conversation usually flowed when they sat down together for a meal mainly it was Remus who started the conversation. Now, it felt wrong to continue living without those who they had lost.

Ginny noticed the conversation was lacking. She knew meals at the Burrow would be like this. Anytime Fred and George were at the Burrow, it was loud with bangs and Molly shouting. But now, the Burrow was quiet and would remain quiet for a while.

Andromeda noticed the lack of conversation. She broke the silence that had descended on the house.

"You know," Andromeda began. "Remus and Dora wouldn't want this."

Her statement made everyone pause. James and Sirius shared a look before Sirius said, "You're right. They wouldn't want this."

"I'm thinking about not taking the Head Auror position," James announced. "I know I would be good at it, but I think instead I'll transition back to senior Auror, but….." He trailed off. "I'll transition to desk duty, which means…."

"No field work or missions," Lily finished. "If that's what you want."

"It's just…..after what happened, I think I want a change. After all the events that have happened, I want something quieter."

"Don't even say it," Sirius said when it appeared Harry was going to say something. "None of this is your fault, Pup. You didn't cause the death of the fifty people who died fighting and we're still counting the deaths that weren't caused in the war, but by Death Eaters."

"How did you know what I was going to say?" Harry inquired.

"Because I know you," Sirius informed him.

As the conversation began to flow, James and Lily shared a smile across the table. As one they glanced at their son, both thinking the same thing. How happy they were that Harry had made it and now they can go on with their life the best they can.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

In a backyard in a London suburb, there were two cracks. Hermione looked out the kitchen window, knowing who it was. As she opened the patio door, she was greeted with her two favorite boys arguing.

"You did that on purpose!" Ron exclaimed.

"I was imagining the same spot. Didn't you hear the instructor not say that we can't apparate to the same place as someone else?!" Harry reminded him, loudly.

"Well, how I was supposed to know?"

Jane Granger came up behind her daughter. "Are they always like that?"

Hermione sighed. "Sometimes, they are. Usually, it means they need to be fed."

Jane laughed as she headed to the laundry room. Hermione stepped out on the patio and whistled to get the boys' attention.

It worked when they stopped and looked at her.

"I take it you both got your license?" She asked.

"Well, we wouldn't have apparated here if we hadn't," Ron said, sarcastically as he walked up the steps. He kissed her and moved so she could give Harry a hug.

"Hello boys," Jane greeted when the boys walked in. "How are you?"

"Good, how are you and Hugh adjusting to being back home?" Harry asked.

"We're adjusting well. I have to remind myself of the story we invented why we had left. Hugh went to the office to check on things and I was about to fix some lunch. Would like to join?"

"If it's no trouble," Ron replied. Turning to Hermione he asked, "Now why did you need Harry and I to come over?"

Hermione smiled. "Remember how much you love me."

Harry and Ron shared a look. "I think I know where this is going." Turning to Hermione, he added, "Where is this going?"

Hermione motioned for them to follow her to the stairs and towards her bedroom. "Dad's been having trouble with his back and I was wondering…."She trailed off as she pushed the door open. "If you would help me move furniture and unpack?"

"Sure," Ron replied as Harry nodded.

When Jane came up to check on their progress an hour later, she was surprised to find Ron helping Hermione making her bed and Harry was putting her books back. Thanks to Hermione's organization, she had packed her books together according to the subject. All Harry needed to do was put them in alphabetical order.

"I see you're making progress. How much more do you have?" Jane asked.

"We just need to lay down the rug and unpack the remaining boxes," Hermione replied.

"Well, lunch is ready."

"Alright, Mum. We'll be down in a moment."

As Jane left the bedroom, Hermione tossed Ron a pillow and picked up the empty boxes from the books.

"Oi!" Harry called to Ron. "I need help getting up."

Ron held out a hand and pulled Harry up, helping him balance when he stood up. "You know you could have sat on a pillow."

"That wasn't the problem," Harry hissed. "My foot is asleep."

Harry and Ron headed downstairs to find Hermione waiting for them. Jane watched from behind the kitchen counter as they sat at the breakfast nook. She had reservations of going into hiding but she had talked with Lily before they left, who told her what could possibly happen. She and Hugh agreed. While she was concerned about her daughter and feared for her daughter's life, she was now relieved that everything was fine and life could return to normal.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Lily came upstairs from the basement where she had been working organizing her lab. She walked into the kitchen, noticing James had decided to have a late night bowl of cereal. The one thing James wasn't good about was rinsing out the bowl. She could complain about him not rinsing the bowl, but she wasn't going to right now.

After rinsing out the bowl, she put it in the sink with the spoon and wiped the counter down. When she threw the empty kitchen roll into the rubbish bin, she noticed that James had at least thrown out the empty box of cereal and added it to the grocery list.

"If I ever redo my kitchen I would want a dishwasher," She murmured as she headed to the door, turning off the lights, sighing when she noticed that with the kitchen light off, James had left on the light in the scullery.

She went to turn off the light when she noticed that the shoes Harry kept back here was gone. Opening the back door, she turned on the light on the side of the house, the light shining off the Range Rover. She slipped on her garden shoes and stepped out, closing the door behind her, walking towards the back garden.

"Mum?"

Lily jumped, not knowing that Harry was sitting in the swing on the patio.

"Sorry if I scared you," Harry murmured.

"What are you doing out here?" Lily asked, joining him on the swing. She noticed he had a shower, judging from his damp hair and he was dressed in his pajamas of t-shirt and pajama pants.

"Just needed to think," he replied softly. "Did Dad tell you about Kingsley's offer?"

Lily thought back to the conversations she and James had over the last few days. He never mentioned anything about Kingsley's offer he made to Harry, but rather his own offer of being promoted permanently to Head Auror.

"No, why?" Lily inquired.

"I think I should begin with how would you feel about me not going back to Hogwarts?" Harry began. "Because Kingsley is offering those who fought in the battle like me, Ron, and Neville an opportunity to go straight into working as an Auror or training whichever one we choose. I haven't asked Dad about it yet, but I wanted to ask you because I know you'll have more comments about it."

Lily moved closer to her son, hugging him close to her. "Harry, you are an adult in the eyes of the Wizarding World. You can make the decision but if it's my blessing you want, you've got it. Whatever you decided, Harry. It's your decision, it's your life."

"What if I wanted to work as a barman at the Leaky Cauldron?" Harry asked.

Lily leaned her head back, closing her eyes. "It's your decision, it's your life."

"I just need to talk with Dad and Ginny my decision and let Kingsley know."

Smiling softly, Lily kissed the side of her son's head. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too, Mum."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Harry finished writing a letter to Kingsley letting him know he would be accepting his offer. When Ron came over earlier, they went for a fly where they knew they could have a conversation without being overheard. They discussed Kingsley offer and whether or not they were talking it. Harry was surprised to know Ron would be taking it. Molly hadn't been told of this decision due to her emotional state and Ron would be sure to tell her when it had improved….if it would.

"Well, this is it," he murmured as he signed his name at the bottom. He had Ron's letter with him to send with his own.

He left his bedroom and headed down to the owlery. James wasn't home yet and Harry didn't want him to play messenger. He borrowed an envelope from Lily's mail drawer and entered the owlery.

He had been in to visit Hedwig a few times and he had even fed her and Oscar a few times.

"Here girl, take this to Kingsley for me at the ministry. Be careful."

After attaching the letters to her leg, he opened the window and watched as Hedwig took off, flying out to the distance towards London. Harry stood at the window watching her fly until he couldn't see her anymore.

Taking a deep breath he walked back into the main house and headed upstairs to his room. He would be making plans for himself as it was time he grew up and flew the nest. He would bring up his idea to Ron the next time they had a free moment together if he wanted to move in a flat with him.

But first, there were funerals to get through with. The days that followed the battle of Hogwarts was long and hard, but in the days ahead, it would get even harder saying goodbye to the ones they had lost.

AN: Many, many apologies for not updating this in a while. I'd decided to finish a couple of my other stories before I dove back into writing this. And I also had hit a writer's block in this fic and I knew I wanted this to be the second chapter. Thank you for those of you who have read and reviewed the first chapter and/or added this to your alerts and/or favorites. There is more to come and I hope you enjoy reading this series.