Disclaimer: Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. I make no claims to ownership.
A few days later, Hermione stormed into Grimmauld Place, her expression one of determination. Harry resisted the urge to slink upstairs to his room and hide. He knew from experience that she would only follow him and shout through the door.
"Lucius received punishment for war crimes," she said, dropping her bag onto the table; it landed with a loud thud which shook the table. "Our best route for Draco is to pursue one for crimes against peace. He planned a lot of things, but none of them worked out."
"Fantastic," said Harry, staring at the bag. "Er, how many books do you have in there?"
"Oh, some of them aren't for this case," Hermione said, which didn't actually answer his question.
As she sat down, she took a band from her wrist and swept her hair up into a ponytail away from her face. Then she reached inside the bag, her arms going inside all the way as she used all of her strength to pull out a thick tome. She had almost gotten it out when she stopped, her brow furrowing.
"I could have used a Summoning Charm," she whispered to herself. "Stupid Hermione, why don't you ever think?"
Knowing better than to answer her mutterings, Harry took the book from her; even he had difficulty lifting it. He glanced at the title: The History of Family Laws in the United Kingdom.
"I think you got the wrong book," he said uncertainly.
Hermione glanced up from a list she had drawn out of her pocket. "No, it might apply to this case, too. We have to think of every angle, Harry. It's possible Malfoy felt obligated to become a Death Eater due to some old pureblood laws."
At a loss for a response, Harry heaved the book open and stared at the table of contents in muted horror. He had no idea where to even begin. Lifting the page slightly, he began skimming the introduction, and felt his stomach drop when he saw the phrase 'matrimonial law'.
"Have you heard about the marriage law?" he asked.
Hermione grunted. "It's more like a Reproduction Act," she muttered. "Though the government didn't want to alarm anyone, of course, by saying our population is declining and we need to produce more children."
The population policy being imposed encouraged matrimony through marriage loans and would give supplements for each new child. There had also been talk of punishing abortion operations, but Amycus Carrow's victims rose up in protest and that part was removed from the bill.
"It's a damn good thing, too," Susan Bones had said darkly earlier that day when Harry was in the Leaky Cauldron. She often took her lunches at the inn, entertaining Hannah while Harry, Ron, and Neville discussed their Auror training and, in Harry's case, the propaganda he was helping to promote.
When Harry told them about his visit to the orphanage, Neville had shaken his head.
"Better you than me, mate," he said. "I'm already thinking about quitting the Aurors."
Ron had looked at him in shock. "You can't leave me," he protested.
"Not yet," Neville assured him. "But in a few years, I want to do something else."
Despondent for the rest of the meal, Ron had begged off the night's research session, insisting he needed to check on George. Since it was true, Harry had let him by with the excuse, although now he was wishing he hadn't. He could have used a comrade to distract him from this misery. His chin rested on his hand and he was gazing sightlessly ahead. Thus far, Hermione hadn't noticed him not working. He didn't even realize it himself until he heard Hermione close another book.
Startled out of his reverie, Harry made a point of yawning and stretching in his seat. He glanced at the old watch on his wrist. Only an hour had passed since Hermione had arrived.
"I'm knackered," he said, "and I'm expected for dinner at the Tonks'. What d'you say we call it a night?"
Slowly Hermione raised her gaze from the book, a line between her brows.
"Harry, if we don't come up with a good defense –"
"We will," he assured her. "But the trial isn't for a little while, and we can't do it all in one night."
Hermione continued to scrutinize him for another long moment before she sighed.
"Oh, alright," she said, standing and collecting her books and papers. "Say hello to Mrs. Tonks and Teddy for me, then."
"You could come with me," Harry offered, but she shook her head.
"No, not tonight," Hermione said apologetically. "You should invite Ginny, though."
"She's out with her new teammates," Harry explained. "Otherwise I would."
Next Friday, he would take her with him. He visited Teddy every week, and if Ginny was going to be his wife someday, then she should get to know his godson.
Harry escorted Hermione to the door, where she stood on her tip-toes to kiss his cheek. Once she was gone, Harry raised his hand to the spot her lips had brushed. She was so much more tactile than anyone else he knew, even the Weasley family. Eight years of friendship still hadn't let him adjust to it.
Sighing, he grabbed his cloak from the hook by the door and stepped out onto the stoop. Andromeda had closed her Floo during the war, and she still maintained a fear of having it open, so Harry had to Apparate to the front walkway. It was a good thing the Tonks residence was set away from other houses, or otherwise Muggles would have seen him appear outside the gate.
"Hello, Harry," Andromeda called from the kitchen as soon as he opened the door. "Teddy's diaper needs changing, do you mind doing that?"
"Sure thing, Mrs. Tonks," he responded. She eyed him, and smiling, he corrected himself, "Andromeda."
Her face relaxed into a smile of her own as he lifted Teddy from the highchair and carried the baby to the backroom. He spoke soothingly to Teddy, despite Teddy wiggling and trying to escape his hold, and prayed there wouldn't be any accidents today. He didn't want a repeat of the time he got sprayed in the face with urine. The experience was traumatizing enough the first time.
"There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Harry said once Teddy was clean and changed. "Magic makes everything better, doesn't it?"
Teddy's hair changed to a grumpy shade of violet and he did not look pleased when Harry chuckled.
"Not too bad this time?" Andromeda asked with a small smile as they entered the kitchen again.
"Nope, he was a good little boy, weren't you, Teddy?" Harry cooed, carefully bouncing the baby in his arms. It had taken him a few months to realize that he wouldn't break Teddy as soon as he touched him.
Teddy lifted a small hand to Harry's hair and gripped it tightly, but didn't pull. The thumb of his free hand was in his mouth, giving him the picture of innocence. Laughing softly, Andromeda reached out to take her grandson from Harry, but the baby let out a loud shriek.
"No! Dada!" Teddy cried, refusing to let go of Harry's hair.
Tears sprung to Harry's eyes. He wasn't sure if it was from the surprisingly strong hold on his hair, or Teddy's words. A monstrous feeling rose in his chest, one unlike what he felt for Ginny. He was already mentally preparing for Andromeda to cast him from her house, never to see his godson again. He didn't deserve to be a part of their family.
"Oh," Andromeda breathed, her eyes blown wide.
"I'm sorry," Harry said quickly, trying to pry Teddy's hand away.
She shook her head, her eyes appearing wet and the corner of her lips rising into a bitter smile. "No, it's alright," she said, gently settling Teddy back into Harry's arms. "So long as he knows who his real parents are, I don't mind what he calls you."
Harry's pulse raced and he automatically hugged Teddy to his chest.
"You – You're sure?" His voice was smaller than he intended.
Andromeda forced her smile bigger. "I'm sure, Harry."
Their gazes connected and Harry nodded in understanding as Teddy lay his head on his shoulder. Automatically Harry cupped the back of the baby's head, feeling the soft strands of mousy-brown hair. Teddy was always going to be Remus and Tonks' son, but he was a part of Harry, too.
The next week he returned, his heart much fuller when he swung Teddy up into his arms. Ginny had accompanied him this time, and she immediately took out Teddy's toy broom. Andromeda had snapped dozens of pictures as they played with Teddy out in the yard, and Harry's eyes stung when he saw one particular photo. It showed Teddy laughing as Harry chased him and Ginny looked amused as she watched them.
A lump formed in Harry's throat. Although the baby on the broom was completely different, and Ginny bore only a passing resemblance to his mother, it still reminded him of the photo he'd once found in Sirius' bedroom. He wished he had the other portion of that photo which contained his mother, but unfortunately, he had no idea what Snape had done with it.
A melancholy feeling swept over him and his gaze was drawn to his godson.
"I'll make sure your life is different," Harry whispered to him, his promise carried away by the breeze and left unheard beneath Teddy's laughter.