The next morning, Harry's awoken by the sound of an owl tapping at the window. It's early, early enough that the sunlight is too weak to illuminate much at all. He sits up, grabbing his wand and muttering, "Lumos." Ginny's still asleep next to him, so he gets up as quietly as he can, going to the window and opening it.

He smiles when he recognises the barn owl, accepting an affectionate peck from her before he takes the letter. By the time he's Summoned some owl treats and offered her some, and the owl's flown away, Ginny's starting to stir in bed.

"Get back to bed, s'cold without you," she demands.

Harry turns to look at her, walking back to bed and climbing in obligingly. "Teddy's sent a letter," he says, settling back against the pillows.

Ginny rests her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes. "Yeah? What does it say?" she asks sleepily.

Harry pauses to press a kiss to the top of her head before he opens the letter. "He says he'll be in Hogsmeade today, and he wants to meet us. Says he has a surprise for us."

"Hmm. Knowing Teddy, a surprise could be the best or the worst thing in the world," Ginny says.

"What do you think it is?" Harry says.

"Mm. Maybe he's engaged to Vic. Or maybe they're going to have a baby," Ginny suggests.

Harry shudders at the thought. "Absolutely not. We're too young to be grandparents."

"And Andromeda is definitely too young to be a great-grandma," Ginny says, grinning. "Oh, well. Whatever it is, I suppose we'll find out soon."

Harry doesn't feel very reassured, but he supposes he'll find out later today. And speaking of finding out… "Did Lily tell you what was wrong, last night?" he asks Ginny.

Ginny sits up, looking more awake now. "She did. Sort of. Some of the older Slytherins have been bothering her."

Harry feels a sudden protective anger surge through him. "Really?"

"She wouldn't tell me what they said," Ginny says. "Not exactly. But… apparently it had something to do with you. And that's why she got so worried."

"Something to do with me?" Harry repeats, a bit confused.

"Well, you can't be popular with everyone, can you?" Ginny says.

"Yes, but… was it very bad?" Harry asks.

"I wouldn't take it seriously, if I were you. You know how they talk…"

"Wait. So Lils is upset because a few older Slytherins were… what, insulting me?" Harry says.

Ginny nods. "Like I said, she didn't tell me exactly, but it seemed to be something like that. Something about the world being better before you were in it. I think she took it personally, on your behalf."

Harry thinks about Lily, their youngest child, their little girl, upset and worried because of him. He'd wanted to come to Hogwarts to try and make things less unsafe for the students, but he hadn't thought of anyone bothering his kids because of him. The thought makes him feel like there's a weight in his stomach, and suddenly he feels terrible, guilty in a way that he's not used to. "Should I talk to her?" he asks.

Ginny considers. "I don't know, Harry. You know what she's like," she says. "She doesn't like to admit any weakness. I think the best thing you can do is treat her normally. She'll tell us if she needs anything."

"Will she?" Harry asks, with a heavy sigh.

Ginny meets his eyes, but doesn't say anything. She looks just as worried as he feels.

They both set off to Hogsmeade a few hours later, and are greeted on the outskirts of the village by a very enthusiastic Teddy, who seems to be waiting for them. "Hi," he says. His hair's black today, and messy, matching Harry's almost exactly, and he's wearing ripped jeans and a leather jacket.

"Hey, Teddy," Harry says, tugging him into a quick hug. "Nice hair."

"Thanks," Teddy grins. "Thought I'd match you and Al today. Where is he, by the way?"

"The students left earlier. We wanted to avoid the crowds. I was hoping you'd have seen him, though," Ginny says.

Teddy shakes his head. "No, I just Apparated here now myself. Why were you hoping I'd see him?'

"Al's on a date," Harry explains.

Teddy's eyes light up. "Really? Oh, we've absolutely got to find him, then! Who's he on a date with?"

"We don't know," Ginny says. "And really, we're not going to snoop to find out, but… If we happen to see who he's with…"

Teddy exchanges a conspiratorial look with Ginny. "So basically, we're going to snoop on him?" he asks.

"Exactly," Ginny says.

"But you know. Subtly," Harry puts in. "Anyway, what's your surprise?" he adds, as they start walking again, down the path to the village, and Ted falls into step with them effortlessly.

Teddy's eyes light up at that. "Oh, I'd forgotten! Guess who's been assigned to work on the Dementors case with you?"

"Seriously?" Harry asks.

"Well, they didn't want to let me, since it's an Auror investigation, but I pointed out that as Dementors are a magical creature, technically, it's also within the purview of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. And that convinced Auror Patil, so she agreed to let me work the case," Teddy says proudly.

"Well done," Ginny says, impressed.

"Are you sure you don't want a career in Magical Law Enforcement?" Harry asks, leaning over to ruffle Teddy's hair.

Teddy ducks his head, looking delighted. "I'll consider it," he says. "I'm not really enjoyed the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures too much, you know."

"Boss still annoying you?" Harry asks.

"Among other things," Teddy says, and sighs. "It's just… the way they talk about werewolves, it's awful. And there's not a lot you can get done in that department, not unless you can change the actual laws."

Harry nods. "That's why Hermione moved to Magical Law Enforcement, you know. Made it easier to pass through her house-elf legislation."

"Oh, yeah, Kreacher told me all about that," Teddy says.

"That doesn't surprise me at all," Ginny says, and then draws to a halt outside the branch of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, what was formerly Zonko's. "I'm going to go in, say hi to George."

Harry peeks through the window, and grins. "By which you mean, you're going to go see if Jamie'll tell you where Albus is?" he says, spotting Jamie inside the shop.

"Maybe," Ginny says, and winks at them. "And maybe I'll check on his date, too."

"He's on a date, too?" Teddy asks, grinning. "So he finally asked Leah out?"

"He did," Harry confirms.

"Do you think snooping on our children makes us bad parents?" Ginny wonders.

Harry shrugs. "Worrying about that has never stopped us before, has it?"

Ginny considers it, and then nods. "Fair point. I'll meet you for lunch at the Three Broomsticks, yeah? I'll bring Ron and George," she says, and kisses Harry's cheek and then Teddy's before she ducks into the shop.

"Where are we going?" Teddy asks Harry, and Harry suddenly is reminded of taking Teddy to Diagon Alley when he was younger, how eager Teddy would always be to go look at everything, how he'd always ask Where are we going next, Harry?

"Come on," Harry tells him. "I wanted a word with Rosmerta. You can come, since you're on the case now."

Teddy nods easily, falling back into step next to Harry as they walk to the Three Broomsticks. "Do you think she'll tell us anything new?"

"I don't know," Harry has to admit. "I've got no idea."

"I hope she does," Teddy says.

"Me too, Teddy. Me, too."

"So," Harry says, "have you seen anything else suspicious?" He sits back down at the table, setting down two Butterbeers for them. He and Teddy have gotten a table near the back, where the others can join them for lunch soon. Their interview with Rosmerta hadn't gone well at all. She'd been willing to help but had told them that she hadn't seen anything suspicious, not recently, and not connected to the Dementor attack. She'd promised to be on the lookout, though, which is about the best they could've hope for, Harry thinks.

"Connected to the Dementors, you mean?" Teddy asks.

"Not necessarily," Harry says. "Just anything suspicious. We don't know what's connected to the Dementors right now. Any rise in sudden Dark activity could be connected."

Teddy hesitates, and then takes out a Chocolate Frog card, setting it down on the table and sliding it over to him. Harry looks down at the picture of Albus Dumbledore, recognising the charm on it, and taps it with his wand. The picture and text disappear; in its place is a picture of what looks to be some graffiti on a wall. Harry's eyes widen when he sees the picture; his breath seems to catch in his throat when he leans in to get a better look.

"Where was this?" Harry asks.

"Outside the Leaky Cauldron," Teddy says.

"And no one else saw it? No one reported it?"

"Tom was cleaning it up when I passed by," Teddy says. "I don't think he thought it was suspicious."

Harry looks at the picture again, unable to believe it.

The picture looks, at first glance, to be a Dark Mark. A skull, with a serpent protruding from its mouth. It's modified, though: the skull has a lightning scar, right on its forehead, and is wearing glasses. A lightning scar that Harry recognises very well. Familiar round glasses. Beneath it are words: The Real Darkness, emblazoned proudly beneath the drawing.

"I don't think it's connected to anything too Dark," Teddy says, looking at Harry nervously. "I just think, you know. It's one of those lunatics who reads Rita Skeeter… you've gotten hate mail before, haven't you?"

Harry taps the card with his wand again, relieved when the picture disappears, and he sees the placid face of Albus Dumbledore once more.

"It may be hate mail. May be something more, though," he says quietly. "Do you mind if I keep this?"

"Of course. I brought it to show you. What do you think this means?" Teddy asks.

"What do you think what means?" says a voice, and Harry looks up from the card to see Ron, who's standing with George and Ginny.

"Long story," Harry says. Ginny sits herself down next to Harry, and Ron and George sit on Teddy's side of the table.

"Young Teddy," George says, throwing his arm around his shoulders. "What sort of mischief have you been getting into?"

"Nothing, because I haven't visited your shop yet," Teddy says. "Are you all out of Headless Hats? I wanted one."

"I'm sure Bill would disapprove of me selling you products," George says.

"He disapproves of all things Teddy these days," Ginny puts in. "He's overprotective of Vic. Turns out it's a Weasley problem, being overprotective."

"What're you looking at me for?" Ron says, but he grins. "So, tell us the long story, then, go on."

Harry passes the card over to Ron and George. Teddy taps it with his wand for them, and they lean in to see the picture, Ginny leaning over from opposite them.

"Merlin," Ginny whispers.

"That can't be good," Ron says, sounding unusually serious.

"Then again," George says, "We're used to people saying that kind of thing about you, remember? We're talking about the Chosen One, who was Heir of Slytherin when he was twelve years old."

"This could just be someone who's mad that you arrested them, or something," Ginny says. "We don't know if it's connected to all of this."

"We don't," Harry answers, taking the card back and putting it away in his pocket. "It's worth investigating, though. People don't throw around pictures of the Dark Mark anymore. Even if it looks different."

"If it looks like a specsy git with a scar now, you mean?" George asks innocently.

"The Real Darkness. Merlin, they're a bit dramatic, aren't they?" Ron says, shaking his head.

"Not like Voldemort wasn't dramatic himself," Ginny points out, snorting. "Lord Voldemort. Ridiculous."

"I think we need a drink. Lots of drinks," George says, getting to his feet.

Harry watches George walk to the counter absentmindedly; as he does, he catches a movement at the entrance. Albus walks into the Three Broomsticks. Following him in is Scorpius, who's saying something to Albus that's making him smile.

"I thought you said Al was on a date," Teddy says, following Harry's gaze.

Harry watches as Scorpius slips his hand into Al's. Both of their cheeks look flushed, and when Albus turns and spots them in the back, he drops Scorpius's hand immediately, blushing even more and suddenly looking very embarrassing.

"Oh, my god. I think he is," Ginny whispers. "I think that is his date."

"I think so," Harry agrees and then, as neutrally as he can, raises a hand and waves at Albus before he makes a deliberate show of looking away.

"You mean—Albus and Scorpius?" Ron says, and then sighs. "Great. Someone's out to get you – again – and this means we're never going to get rid of Draco Malfoy at family gatherings. Not our best day, is it?"

"I don't know, I think it's cute," Ginny says. "They've always been attached at the hip."

Harry thinks about when he was thirteen, worried about Sirius Black and Voldemort, and then looks at Albus, who's making his way to a table on the other side of the pub from them, with Scorpius in tow. He decides then, to make sure Albus, or James or Lily, ever have to go through what he did. He's going to do everything in his power to make sure of it.