I'm really happy you're liking this story. It seems that some of you have the same idea of who the mystery husband is... don't worry I won't make you wait too long to find out! XD
"Hey Dad"
"What is it?" Harry said looking at his son through the rear view mirror for a moment. They rarely used magical transportation, mainly because he was still as bad as flooing as he was at eleven years old and he despised portkeys. Muggle cars soon became a welcome luxury they enjoyed. It was so much more comfortable and gave them the chance to spend some time together instead of the immediate magical travel.
"Can you tell me more about Hogwarts?" the teal haired child grinned
"Ted. I have already told you practically everything there is to know" he laughed "Trice!"
"So what?" he pouted "I want to hear it all again. I can't believe I'll goo to school there. But I'll miss all my friends…"
"We can come back for the summer and you can always write to them."
"Dad?" the child called again after a while
"Yes, Teddy?"
"Are you really ok with going back?"
Harry frowned "Why are you asking that, cub?"
"It's just…. You aren't sleeping well… I heard Papa saying that you have nightmares again… about the war?" he said chewing on his lip "and he didn't look all that thrilled either at going back"
"Oh, son" he sighed. Running a hand through his hair he wished for the umpteenth time that children came with a user's manual. What was he supposed to say to his son without making him feel guilty?
"Teddy… you know a little about the war. How I was forced to be the main fighter all through my teenage years" he started keeping his eyes firmly on the road
"Yes, you told me some"
"That causes me to have nightmares, even though It's been years and I'm all grown up. Going back is bound to make certain memories resurface and while I'm fine when I think about them during the day, at night they come as nightmares" he tried to explain "I knew that this would happen even before we decided to go back"
"Maybe…"
"No. Let me finish Teddy" he stopped him before the child could propose to forget about Hogwarts. "Those years were not all bad. Just because I have nightmares, doesn't mean that I didn't have happy moments and made good memories too. I may dream of the final battle at night, but I also remember all the quidditch games and the parties in the common room. Just because I see the Dark Lord and his death eaters in my sleep, doesn't mean that the other half on me isn't excited to see my old friends again."
He swallowed, feeling a little out of his depth "Just because my nightmares make you see the bad side of going back… there is the other side of the coin too. What I'm trying to say is that those will go away soon…"
"Maybe…" the child mumbled "Papa still isn't happy…"
"Papa has his own stuff to deal with about going back, you know it."
"But… is it worth it?" he asked stubbornly "Going back and face all that pain just to make me attend the same school you and my biological parents went to?"
"I think it is worth it" Harry said "And went we left it was never with the intention of never going back. We just needed time to heal away from all that bad memories and the mess the wizarding world was left into"
"What if your're wrong?" Teddy insisted, hair going from a bright teal to a dull sad blue "What if I hate Hogwarts and can't make any friends? Or if you're miserable being back?"
Harry let out a laugh "Miserable? Aren't you being a little dramatic Ted?" he asked "I doubt you'll hate Hogwarts, but if that happens we would never force you to stay there"
"And you and dad?"
"We may be a little sad and stuff but to really heal we need to go back and face our demons, son" he said "One can't run away forever"
Teddy turned pensive in the back seat, no doubt trying to assimilate his dad's words.
"Now, turn your hair back to teal and off with you" he said stopping the car in front of the muggle school "and try not to get in detention again!"
"I'll try" the child grinned mischievously before hopping off and joining his friends.
§§
"Harry, we need to talk for a moment"
He had just come back from the closed off wing of the castle. People had been surprised to see him enter the great hall with a procession of sheet covered bodies behind him.
He had felt a sharp stab of guilt when after examining everybody, the Weasleys turned to look at him, questions and betrayal in their eyes.
He ignored the taste of the vomit in the back of his throat as he told them how sorry he was, how he had been unable to go past a certain point and retrieve Fred's body. They mumbled something about it not being his fault, but he could feel that it was fake. They had expected him to bring back their son and brother and he had let them down. Again.
Not being able to face them anymore he had turned to leave, intent on getting some fresh air outside, when Kingsley had stopped him.
"We must plan how to proceed now"
He frowned, not understanding what the older man meant. It was over. He had killed Voldemort and the war was finally over. What else was left to do?
"There are the escaped death eaters to round up and arrest, we need to trial those we captured last night and there is the matter of the ministry too"
"Can't the aurors think about it?" he asked, a little amount of resentment in his voice "It would be about time for them to actually do something since the whole war had to be fought by a gaggle of wizards and students"
"Harry…." The man reprimanded "It is our duty to see the end of it. The aurors are not equipped to deal with the seasoned death eaters that escaped. They would be killed far too easily"
"Of course" he scoffed "it's perfectly fine to send me off to battle… without a lick of training… but aurors can't leave their comfy offices"
"I don't know where this attitude comes from, but I don't like it much"
"I'm seventeen!" He screamed, turning to face the man "I'm fucking seventeen and no one gave a fuck that I have been forced to fight this war from the moment I entered the wizarding world. I had to fucking die last night because Voldemort put a fucking piece of his soul in my scar that Halloween night! Do you know what's like being a kid and having to decide to sacrifice your own fucking life so everyone else can have a chance to live past the battle?" the asked, voice hoarse "No, you fucking don't. You chose to be part of the war, to put yourself in danger again and again. Every choice was taken away from me. I DIED. And now you expect me to keep fighting?" he kept going tears streaming down his face "Can't you see that I'm falling apart? I'm exhausted and traumatized and fucking broken! Can't you adults act like fucking adults for once and stop relying on a kid to save your fucking asses!"
The older man was shocked to the core at the teen's outburst. He didn't expect Harry to be so resentful towards the situation, towards them. His words stuck a cord though. The boy had always been so mature, well above his years, and always so ready to do his part in the war. Kingsley had never considered the fact that it may not have been of his own choice. The only one who had constant contact with Harry was Dumbledore and the man was adamant of the boy's role being crucial to win the war. He had forgotten that Harry was just a boy and not a soldier.
He felt deeply ashamed of himself. Even more so after expecting Harry to help in the aftermath of the battle. He stayed put and watched as the boy stormed off towards the lake. He would have to talk to the others and make sure that they understood that they could not ask more of their Saviour. Because he realized that any more weight on his young shoulders would literally break him apart without a possibility of fixing it.
§§
Harry all but threw himself on the chair behind his desk. Finally alone in his office, he could discard the easy smile and let his worry display on his face.
He hadn't expected Teddy to ask those questions in the morning, but he had always been a very bright and insightful child. Clearly taking after Remus, who always could guess when something was bothering you and smart to a fault.
They had tried very hard to keep their doubts and the difficulties they faced about going back firmly behind the closed doors of their bedroom, so their family would not be burdened by it. Apparently, it didn't work that well. That and his husband should have never taught Teddy how to eavesdrop without being caught.
He meant what he had said though. He had surely gotten much better mentally and emotionally after leaving Great Britain, the years away had helped and given him more time to heal. But the final step in healing would be facing all those things again to get some closure. He had been in denial when five years ago his mind healer had told him as much, but after some time to accept it he realized the wisdom of it. Would it hurt? Of course, but it was necessary. Just like it was important for his husband to stop hiding away and face his family, owing up to his actions. He may be conflicted over it and hate the situation for now, but after it was all said and done, they would be better for it. His family may even resent him for a period, he was well aware of it and it was the main reason the man kept stalling, but they would never turn their back on their own blood and would forgive him after a little time to come to terms with the reality.
A knock on his door startled him out of his depressing thoughts and fixing his tie he bid them to enter
"Did you wish to see me, Mr Potter?"
"Yes, do come in and sit" he said leaning back against the leather chair "As you know, we will be opening a new branch of the company in the continent. My husband and I will move to London to oversee the process and make sure everything goes smoothly. For that reason we need someone to take care of things here in our stead. You've been a loyal and efficient member of our staff for many years now. We would like to offer you a promotion"
"You… you want me to?"
"To become the director of the American branch of the company" Harry supplied with a smirk "You will still answer to us. We expect weekly reports of the business and every major decision will be taken by us of course. But you will certainly get a substantial raise in salary and social standing"
"I'm honored to be considered for this position, sir. I swear I won't disappoint you" the man said beside himself at the prospect
"I know you won't. Pass to human resources so they can make the necessary chances, I have already notified them of your promotion." He instructed "You will shadow me for the next month, just for my peace of mind, since I know you are perfectly competent to act as director."
"Yes, sir." The man said before leaving with a big grin.
"And that's one thing taken care of" Harry said to the empty office. "A thousand more to go"
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