Author's Note:
Well, I forgot to say last chapter, ASC has officially surpassed 14,000 reviews on fanfiction and over 4000 on Ao3. Thank you very much!
I'm so glad everyone loved chapter 344 as well. It was meant to be fun! Not only to read, but for the characters! An over the top night of shenanigans that was much needed. This chapter is short, but it's the beginning of the end.
Reviews and Comments: To darkhk: I love that you just call me evil. Chapter 344 was a fun one lol. Thank you! To Zarathos Morgenstern: Thank you! I'm so glad to hear it was funny. It was the light-heartedness we needed before it all starts. You think Harry is going to lose his magic, his life, or Ginny? Interesting guesses. We will see. Thank you! To Sunrunner's Fire: Thank you for dropping a review! I'm so glad it made you laugh harder than you have in ages! Longballs as a nickname coming from Harry was rather perfect, wasn't it? Thank you! To Katie2001: I'm so happy, thank you! To Read and Fly: Thanks for saying you've been keeping up with this story for almost two years, that's great to hear! I'm so glad you're re-reading too. Sirius would have loved seeing how well Harry grew up. That confidence he has is because of Sirius in many ways and we know he would be so proud! I am terrified and excited for people to read the final battle. It starts a little bit here in this chapter, but next chapter is the beginning. Thank you! To Sets: Thank you! Deamus is definitely going to love face masks in the future lol. Ha, Ron would totally pull a Sirius and sit in the bath would cucumber slices over his eyes! It would be perfect! Thanks for the second review and ha, a stag night in FTA would be interesting. Thank you! To tim2604: I agree, Harry is the best and most supportive boyfriend in the history of the world. Yes, boys really are pigs lol. I love that Harry knows the exact number of freckles. Ron knows Harry so well, too and yes, he knows the exact size. Harry and his sass is golden and I had so much writing this chapter. The cock names even more so. Thank you and I'm so glad it gave you such a good laugh!
To Emma Janet: Ha, a double date between Theo, Sebastian, Seamus, and Dean would definitely be amusing. Theo was still getting to know them, it's true. Yes, the Battle of Hogwarts will still take place on the second of May (which this chapter ends on). And no, I'm not telling you who might die. Thank you! To Nuno Neves: Thank you! I'm glad it was one of the funniest chapters in this story! It was fun to let Ron go back to the seventh year boys dorm and have fun with them (even though he's Head Boy). I loved the boys nicknaming their wands (I had help with that idea). Hinny are definitely couple goals. As to Rolf and Luna, we will see. Thank you! To akshutalankar: Yes, the end game is getting closer. We will see some of Theo and Bas in this chapter. You think I will have them blurt out they love each other in the middle of the battle? Interesting. Thank you! To alix33: Yes, Ron will definitely be responsible for drunkenness and shenanigans lol. Thank you! To scrappy8: Yes, those boys lol. And yes, Ginny will most definitely find out. Thank you! To Cassiopeia Anastasia Black: Thank you! To BrookGuitar: Cackling and cringing is very fair. Ginny and Harry are the only people I am guaranteeing to survive lol. Thank you!
To Nightwing2013: Theo is nervous to meet Sebastian's family. Harry asking to be saved from the embarrassment is fun, thank you! You think Luna and Rolf will meet in Canada? Like in the Aerosmith song, yes lol. . I am happy with the final battle but also still terrified as I am always very worried about my action sequences. Thank you! To ellyann13: You will have to wait for more information on Ginny. I disagree. Theo being nervous to meet Sebastian's parents doesn't make him a wuss in any capacity. He's nervous because he cares about Sebastian so much. Yes, swearing Theo to secrecy isn't going to help Harry at all. Thank you. To ascfan: Aw, thanks for saying 344 was your new favourite chapter! Thank you! To Nan001: Thank you! To Slaidback: Sorry it makes you miss your friends, but yes, the conversations were familiar, weren't they? 😉 Thank you! To Guest: Harry is very supportive of Ginny and you're right, he definitely would rather be known as Mr Ginny lol. Thank you! To Mike Hawk Hertz: Thank you! To A Huge fan: Yes, I wanted them to have a final hurrah before the big battle. Yes, this chapter is no cliffhangers, but then they do start! The characters do care for each other deeply, thank you for noticing that. I'm really excited for it to be done and I just want to post everything lol. Thank you! To puttyman24: Thank you! To EnigmaticEmperor: Ginny is amazing! We'll learn more about that later. Theo does love to gossip. Yes, Rolf is coordinating with Canadian magizoologists and yes, Luna is going to Canada. Harry and Ron are 100% platonic soulmates. Theo is jealous that Ron knows Harry's cock size lol. I'm so glad this chapter had you hysterics! Yes, Harry and Ron cuddling was perfect! Thank you so much!
To Guest: Wow, a fourth reread, thank you so much! To briana_t: Ron and Harry definitely deserve the love! Yes, we are getting very close — 16 more chapters to post! Thank you! To 19HuffleClaws: Thank you so much for saying that "no matter what decisions you've made, who you've killed off, it will be all right in the end with you at the helm." That means so much! I am worried how people will react to the ending. No matter what, I know I won't please everyone. But I am happy with how it turned out so, I hope others will be too. Thank you! To shuweet: Thank you! Harry and Ron bromance is definitely the best. I am also eager and anxious about the final battle. Thank you! To Khanate: I'm so glad to hear you were giggling like a maniac the whole time. Thank you! To Potterm1997: Yes, How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days is one of the best movies! I'm glad someone got the reference. Thank you! To PotterFran17: Thanks for loving the cheerful and happy chapter. Drunk Ron and Harry is always entertaining and yes, a lot of guys joke like that. Thank you! To TatiRena: I need that picture too! Anyone want to draw it? Thank you! To kyciona: Thank you! I'm so glad you found it hilarious! Forgetting to breathe because you were laughing so hard — high compliments! Thank you! To Masonjar191: I'm glad you loved the Wheezy bit and them declaring their love for each other. Harry and Ron really do have a bromance for the ages. Thank you and welcome back! To BadWolfKris: Thank you! To AQuickRead91: Thank you! To lovemelikeyoudo: Harry and Ron's bromance is the best. Theo is definitely the life and soul of every party lol. Thank you!
To reginaphalange: Thank you! Harry is definitely a cuddler! Thank you! To Bellmel: Harry 100% never doubted Ginny for a second! First of all, I need the previous 403 reasons you love Theo LOL. Also, those 3 reasons are amazing! Harry definitely drank more, you're right, haha. Harry should know better, but he's still adorably optimistic that Theo won't want to know about his sex life. Harry and Ron's bromance was a fun chance to get to know the characters better! Yes, the cabbage question (from Sam) was mandatory! Thank you so much! To Endinium: Yes, it has been a while! It's so nice to hear from you again! I cannot believe ASC is finished either. I am just slowly waiting to post the final chapters now. Thank you for loving the havoc of this chapter. Thank you! To katelyn453: Thank you! To StarryNights: Thank you! No, actually the question-answer came was from something I saw on Tumblr about Seamus wanting to play a game of who was Harry talking about when he said this, Ron or Ginny? LOL. Thanks for the loving the Titanic, it was a fun group effort on that part. Thank you! To The Booknerds: Thank you! To pix25: Thank you! To Sloopyqueen4: A few cliffhangers for sure, LOL. Thank you! To Shivani: I hope you did well on your exams! You think Luna and Rolf will be meeting soon? Theo is a bit of a diva lol. Harry and Ron are literally platonic soulmates, no question. Thank you! I hope you like what comes next!
To Gigi87: I'm so glad you caught up! Congratulations on the engagement party! It will be a busy summer and next year for Harry and Ginny. His reaction to her making it was so wholesome. He is just so damn proud of her. The single people around Hinny are definitely rolling their eyes and thinking "not again." LOL. Theo is too nervous to meet Bas' family and he is right, Hinny did have an unfair advantage in that regard. Ginny, being the youngest of seven, is used to the overprotectiveness, but seeing them do it for Theo too warmed her heart but mostly annoyed her because she thinks they are butting in (in typical big brother fashion) but seeing Theo smile changed her mind. I really love that your brothers argued over who got to sit next to your fiancé on the plane LOL. Dean and Seamus really don't care lol. Harry and Ron's bromance is definitely the best and yes, Ginny will definitely see the photo at some point. I'm gad i made your abs sore from laughing, high compliment.t Thank you so much! To saucyswimmer: Thank you for saying the many chapters of slow burn to my Hinny was worth it. I agree, they are perfect together. Harry is predictable and yup, he totally distracted her with sex from finding out more about his sleeping arrangements. I'm glad you enjoyed the boys night. Thank you very much! To Lover of the Greek: I hope you get this far, but I do read the reviews left this far back (chapter 92). I'm so glad you're enjoying the story. Thank you very much for your kind words. To ravenclaw_rockchick: Yes, the scotch is expensive, but Theo brought it lol. Ginny is going to be amazing Quidditch player. Thank you!
My posting schedule: Weekly.
Thanks to Dusk for her amazing editing skills.
As always, thank you very much for reading and please, please review!
Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER THREE HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE:
The One With No Pressure
George walked into his house, carrying his cane under his arm. Angelina was sitting in the living room and her eyes widened, falling to the set of legs he had just walked in on. Unable to resist, he jumped, and when he landed, he spread his arms out and said, "Tada!"
Angelina jumped to her feet to grab his hands. "How does it feel?"
"Weirdly normal," he admitted.
Her hands went to his belt, unbuckling his jeans, and his eyebrow rose.
"Well, well, well, if I'd known you were so randy, I would have hurried."
Angelina ignored him and shoved his jeans down before she knelt before him and reached out to touch his new leg. It was charmed to look very much like his own leg. The straps that tied it to his stump the only indication. She traced the base under his knee, tickling the skin just behind it and he trembled.
"Is this okay?"
George nodded. "Yeah."
"They even gave you freckles," she noted, tracing her fingers down the artificial leg.
"And hair," he said.
Angelina's fingers ran over every inch of his leg, admiring the freckles, the soft red hair, the shape of his ankle. Then she told him to lift up his leg so he did. He stepped out of his jeans and she carefully took his shoe and sock off. Even the foot looked surprisingly real. George watched her trace the outline of his foot, between each toe, before she ran her hand back up his leg.
"It's weird," he admitted. "I know that I can't feel you touching it, but I can feel you touching it."
Angelina smiled, her fingers trailing up to tickle the back of his knee. "Are you happy with it?"
"Are you?"
She pressed a kiss to his skin, the real skin above his new leg, and he shivered. "I think you're still the most handsome man in the world, with or without the new leg."
His lips curved. "Better looking than Fred?"
"Oh, much," she teased, kissing behind his knee.
A couple more strategic kisses up his thigh had him stirring. He was about to make a smart arse comment, but her hand covered him through his boxers and kneaded. He let out a low groan that made her smile.
Angelina's fingers dipped into the waistline of his boxers and pulled them down, freeing his erection. She kissed his length, her hand lightly tugging on his balls before she tilted her head back to look at him.
"Why don't we practice your balance on your new leg?"
"Balance?"
She nodded. "Yes. How long can that new leg hold out while you come in my mouth?"
His eyes darkened. He watched her tongue slip out to moisten her lips before she leaned forward and wrapped her lips around him.
George groaned. He felt his eyes roll back, one hand resting on the top of her head, the feel of her tight braids under his palm trying to make him focus. But Merlin, that mouth… she took her time, teasing him, and then suddenly she would take all of him, shocking him into grunting loudly. When she cupped his arse with both hands, using just her mouth, he groaned.
Angelina licked her lips when he finished, kissing his thighs, his stomach. Her lips brushed his when she stood, teasing.
"Looks pretty sturdy," she said, kissing his neck. "Now we'll get you on your knees and see how sturdy that is."
George's slow smile made her eyes darken. "And when I finish licking you so good you can't move, babe?"
"Then you're going to use those strong arms and let me ride you against the wall. After all… I have to make sure your new leg is very sturdy."
He kissed her, sucking on her bottom lip, before he traced the tight braids pulling her dark hair back away from her face.
"It's definitely up to the task."
Then he knelt down, his fingers undoing her trousers, and thought Angelina just had a way of making him feel whole. She made him feel like his new leg was sexy while still making his stump feel sexy at the same time. He adored her. When she stepped out of her trousers, he took his time to kiss her through her knickers, glorying in how wet she was.
"George…"
"Hey, I gotta test out the strength, which means I'll definitely have to take my time down here," he teased. "Maybe even hours."
Then he winked at her and moved to kiss her through her knickers again.
He couldn't wait to spend the rest of his life with this woman.
~ ASC ~
Bill looked up from where he'd been drumming his fingers on the kitchen table. When Fleur shook her head, he couldn't help but be disappointed. His wife moved to sit in his lap and his arms came around her, burying his face in the crook of her neck.
"I mean, we didn't think that it would be immediate."
"Oui," she said.
He turned to kiss her forehead. "I'm disappointed too. But we'll get there, Fleur. Trust me. I'm a Weasley. We're good at this."
Her lips curved. "This is true. Of course, I do not want seven boys."
"Six," Bill corrected. "And nah, we'll only have four or five, promise."
She chuckled and framed his face in her hands. "I am sad, oui, but I know we will get there. I only just stopped taking ze potion, Bill. It needs some time. The healer said it can take three to six months before ze potion is completely out of my system. In some women, even a year."
"Well, that just gives us more time to practice then, doesn't it?"
Her lips curved. "We shall 'ave to practice every day zen. It will be a 'ardship, I'm sure."
Bill let his hand slide under her shirt to cup a breast. "Terrible hardship."
Fleur kissed him deeply before she rested her forehead against his. "J'adore tu. Now, let's go. We'll be late."
"I'd rather practice some more. I think the key to getting pregnant is finding just the right spot," Bill teased. "You know like maybe I have to take you on the counter there or bend you over the arm of the sofa."
She chuckled. "Maybe. But we will do zat, later, oui."
Fleur stood up and Bill pouted. "I could skip the Wizengamot today and you can skive off work?"
"Non," Fleur said. "We both need to go to work."
Bill knew that she was right, but he'd much rather stay home and make love to his wife. "No, you're right. I should be there today anyway. The Minister wants to talk about the Defence Department and a few changes that are being made in the Ministry."
"Changes?"
"Yeah," Bill said. "Some of the things that Bones wanted to implement and wasn't able to get off of the ground before her death. I think Jones is going to reinstate the CBC to get a wider range of opinions on how to go about the changes. It will take longer, but I think he's wiser to go about that route. Change doesn't happen overnight after all."
Fleur nodded. "That sounds promising. See, you should go."
Bill moved to press her against the counter, pressing his lips to hers for a long kiss. "Mmm, one more for the road?"
Fleur laughed and pressed her mouth to his for one more kiss. "Have a good day, 'usband."
Bill grabbed his wand off of the kitchen table, stealing one last glance at his wife. "Have a good day, wife."
And he left with a smile on his face and a whistle under his breath.
~ ASC ~
Percy thanked Audrey as she placed the cup of earl grey in front of him.
"Thank you. You know it was Jameson's idea to bring back the CBC as the choice of cabinet to help implement the changes and I think that really goes to show how precocious and progressive she is. Miranda is a brilliant woman and choosing her to be his ally was one of the best decisions that Jones made in my opinion. Jones has the intellect, the foresight, and the confidence to make the changes happen, but having someone like Miranda at his side, that's real leadership."
"Mmhm," Audrey said as she sipped her tea, opening the paper as Percy droned on.
"And if Jones has the Wizengamot elect new members of the CBC today, it will help bolster that confidence in progression and transformation for the Ministry as a whole."
"Agreed," she said.
Percy huffed under his breath. "You're not listening to me."
"I am," Audrey replied. "I love how passionate and vibrant you become when you start talking about things that you believe in, Percy. I know how much you support Jameson as the Deputy Minister. She's been very good to you since the whole Crouch debacle."
"She has," Percy agreed. "I've been very lucky to have learned so much under her tutelage."
"Yes, but I also think that it's early in the morning and I'm not as awake as I should be for such an enlightening conversation," Audrey told him. "Why don't we continue this over dinner later and you can let me know how the Wizengamot session proceeded with the idea?"
Percy's eyes softened before he stood up to kiss her cheek, putting his empty breakfast plate in the sink. "I suppose that's a better idea especially because it's your turn to cook tonight."
"It's not," she said. "I made steak and kidney pie last night."
Percy frowned. "Don't think so."
"I do think so," Audrey said, turning to poke him. "Behave, Mr Weasley."
Percy leaned down to place a kiss on her neck. "Why would I do that, Miss Mayfair?"
Audrey turned her head to kiss him. "You're cooking tonight, Percy, and if you're good, I'll give you a reward."
"What kind of reward?" he asked.
Audrey stood up, her own empty breakfast plate in hand and her eyes twinkling. "Behave and you'll find out."
Percy frowned. "You get away with saying that much too often, my dear."
Audrey stood on her toes and bit his bottom lip, making him gasp. "Want me to stop?"
Percy pulled her closer, holding her against him. "Don't think I said that."
She laughed when she went to move away and Percy's grip tightened on her arm. "Percy, we're going to be late for work!"
He yanked her into their bedroom and tossed her onto their bed before he crawled on top of her.
"We're going to be very late, Audrey. It's time someone taught you and your smart mouth a lesson."
When he reached over to open the draw on the bedside table and pulled out one of her vibrators, her eyes widened.
"Take off your knickers," he ordered.
When she did as he asked in record time, he licked his bottom lip and thought, oh yes, they were going to be very late and he was going to enjoy every second of it.
~ ASC ~
Fred slapped his girlfriend's naked arse when he rolled off her, brushing his sweaty hair off of his forehead. Bloody hell, he felt like he could sleep for a week after that round. Fiadh made a soft moaning sound and turned to snuggle into his side. He let his arm drape around her automatically.
"We definitely need to start every day like that."
"With anal?" she teased.
His lips curved. "I was going to say with mutual orgasms, but anal works, too."
Fiadh pressed her lips to his shoulder. "We have to make plans with my family. I haven't even told my parents about the babies yet."
"You haven't?" Fred asked. "Why?"
"I think that we should do it together," she admitted.
"And you're scared."
She bit her bottom lip. "No, not scared, just… uneasy. Only Tiernan and Aoibheann know and that's only because my sister caught me puking and Tiernan walked in while I was telling her."
"Do you think that they'll be upset?" Fred asked.
"No," Fiadh replied. "They'll be happy for us. I just don't want to keep it a secret too much longer."
"Agreed," Fred said. "Maybe next weekend? You can take me to the palace."
"Are you sure that you're ready for that?"
"Nope."
Fiadh chuckled, snuggling closer. "Me neither, but we have to do it. Next weekend sounds good. On Sunday I think. Okay?"
"Okay," he agreed, capturing her lips for a kiss.
"And we need to make more of a plan because my parents are going to have questions."
"A plan? We have a plan. We're going to raise these babies together."
"A more detailed plan," Fiadh corrected. "We should talk about moving in together."
"What's there to talk about?" Fred demanded. "I want you to move in with me. You know that."
"I know, but maybe we should look for a bigger place. This flat isn't exactly baby proof."
Fred frowned. "What's wrong with my bachelor pad?"
Fiadh's lips curved. "For starters, the fact that it's a bachelor pad."
Fred waved her off. "Meh, details. We can worry about those later. It will be months yet until you're due."
"October," she said. "And I do want to move in here. You have George's old room that we can turn into a nursery for now."
"Exactly," Fred told her, kissing her forehead. "We'll fix this place up and make it more us and in the meantime, we'll look for a place. Okay?"
"Okay."
But when Fiadh snuggled back into his arms, Fred couldn't help but think that maybe she was right. Maybe they did need to start thinking about this stuff a bit sooner, after all, October might seem far away now, but he had a feeling that it was going to creep up on them much faster than either of them were ready for.
And then they were going to be parents.
To twins.
Yup, that was still going to take some getting used to, Fred thought. But when he looked down at the tiny woman at his side, he knew that everything would work itself out. After all, he and Fiadh may have taken their time to get here, but they'd arrived together and that was how they were going to move forward. He couldn't ask for anything better.
~ ASC ~
Draco couldn't stop thinking about the visit from Potter, Theo, and Theo's Auror. He'd spoken more about it with Blaise, Pansy, and Goyle, but he still wasn't sure if he knew how he felt about it.
He had never been one to jump head first into a fight. It was much too Gryffindor for his liking. He preferred to sit back, to see how it was going to fall before he made a life altering choice. However, doing so is what had landed him in the position he was in now.
Hiding.
Pretending to have died (even if the world knew that was shit now).
Locked away from the world.
But when it came to fighting, he hardly had the experience that someone like Potter did.
When Potter left, Draco convinced Blaise to run some drills with him and practice duelling, trying to remember what it was that they had done in the Defence Club, which quite frankly, seemed like eons ago. It hadn't taken long for Goyle to join in and Draco had been surprised to see how adept Goyle was in a duel. He'd said as much, but Pansy had bitten his head off for it.
He had no idea when Parkinson had suddenly decided to be Goyle's knight in shining armour, but he couldn't say anything about the oaf without her practically biting his head off.
Then there were Daphne and Astoria, who to his surprise, were both quite talented at duelling. Astoria in particular was well versed in charms and defeated him nine times out of ten when she was put up against him. They practiced for hours, but Draco still couldn't come to the conclusion of whether or not him going to Hogwarts when Voldemort attacked was a wise decision or not.
He used his wand to clean up the cushions they'd been using as damage control for when they fell to the ground during practice. When he turned, he was surprised to still find Astoria standing in the parlour, staring out the window and looking lost in thought.
"Knut for your thoughts?"
Astoria turned to look over at him in surprise. "Oh, it's nothing."
"With everything that's been going on, I think all of us have too many thoughts lately. I get it."
She twirled her finger around a loose piece of hair at the nape of her neck. "It's not that, it's… this war has taken a lot from a lot of us. It's… it's really shown me that my father is not the person I thought he was. When this is over… I don't know where I'm going to go or what I'm going to do."
"Daphne will take care of you, I'm sure," Draco told her. "She's not going to let anything happen to you."
"I suppose," Astoria said. "But then there's her future, too. She promised Macnair that she would marry him."
"Yeah, I still don't get that," Draco admitted. "If he let her go, why would she promise to go back to him?"
Astoria bit her bottom lip. "Our father sold her to him, Malfoy. He wanted to do the same to me. When this war is over, he's going to be either dead or arrested. Where will we be? I'm only fifteen."
"Daphne's of age," Draco said. "It will work out and if something happens and it doesn't, you can stay here." When she looked up at him in surprise, he shrugged. "When all of this is said and done, I'm not going to ask everyone to leave here. This has become a little makeshift home and everyone can stay as long as they need to."
"When is it all going to be done, though? I've been here almost five months already."
"Soon," Draco said. "Potter was here and he seems to think very soon. Rumours are floating that the Dark Lord wants to attack Hogwarts."
"Do you really think that Harry Potter is the Chosen One?"
Draco snorted. "He certainly seems to think so."
"Potter or the Dark Lord?"
"Both," Draco muttered. "Potter's always thought that he was all that and this title, well, I think it only proves his ego."
Astoria's blue eyes met his. "I think it proves that Potter is braver than all of us. He's been through more than most of us and he's still standing, he's still trying to fight back. If he can stand strong and if he can show a strong front after everything than when that attack comes, I want to be part of it. I want to fight for my freedom too."
"You're not of age."
"Was Potter of age when he fought a dragon in the tournament? Or when he flew off to the Ministry of Magic and fought Death Eaters? He was my age or younger," Astoria reasoned. "I want to fight back. I don't want to just sit on the sidelines and let someone else fight my battles for me."
"No one is telling you to do that."
"Aren't you?"
He opened his mouth to protest but realized that he had nothing to say.
Astoria snorted. "Exactly. I may only be fifteen and maybe that's not what you consider old enough to make a difference, but it's enough for me to know my own mind, Malfoy. When all of this is said and done, I don't want to remember sitting on the sidelines. I don't want to look back and remember being scared and waiting to be rescued. I want to be the one with the wand making a difference. Even if it's only to myself."
"I'm not saying that's not admirable, because it is, but this isn't just getting into a duel with someone, Greengrass. You can be killed."
Astoria raised her chin, her eyes blazing. "Then so be it. I don't want to die and I have no plans of doing so anytime soon, but if I can help even a little, I'm jumping at the chance and there's nothing that you can say to change my mind."
Draco watched her turn on her heel and disappear around the corner, a frown on his lips. She was right.
As much as Draco didn't want to admit it. As much as he wanted to argue that Potter was all ego, rash decisions, and Gryffindor brashness, she was right. Harry Potter had been dealt a shit hand and yet he kept getting back up. Every time someone knocked him down, he got back up to his feet with the mentality that he could do this all day.
He'd even fought the Dark Lord and was still standing.
Draco dragged a hand over his chin and let out a slow breath. Astoria was right. When the time came, it wasn't about making a choice to fight or not to fight, it was about making the right choice. And Draco was going to choose to fight for his freedom.
Even if he went down fighting.
~ ASC ~
Charlie spent his day chasing his daughter around the dragon reserve, delighted in the sounds of her childish giggles and her gasps of awe when she moved past the dragons. They'd been back in Romania for almost three weeks and he was glad to be home.
Being the ambassador to the British Ministry for the Defence Department was a more exciting job than he'd anticipated it would be. He had always been more of a hands on kind of bloke and he'd been worried that this would be too administrative for him, but it wasn't. He was still the man on the ground, the one calling the shots, and the one handling the dragons.
It was exactly what he'd always wanted.
Zee and Oliphant had helped him organize how to transfer dragons to the Magical Menagerie, sectioning them off in a specially designed arena to hold them and keep them safe for the time being. It was bigger and more spacious for them to move around and was the exact kind of reserve environment that they needed to thrive in. It would be the location for them to stay until dragonologists from around the world could come to retrieve them and bring them to a safe haven.
It would also be the place where the dragons could stay after the fight with Voldemort.
He didn't want to think about leading dragons into battle, but he knew that they were a powerful ally that they couldn't pass up. He also knew that no matter how talented he and his handlers were, that when the time came, if the dragons weren't interested in helping them, they wouldn't. Dragons were magnificent creatures and ones he was more than happy to take the lead from.
He scooped Aydin up as she giggled and pointed up at the sky, kissing her cheeks and neck and making her laugh.
"Pa-pa-pa-pa!"
"That's right, baby girl," he said, kissing her cheek. "I'm your papa. Come on, I think it's time for a bath."
She squealed as he carried her on his hip back to his home, the sight of it in the distance comforting him. With all of the back and forth to England lately, he found himself homesick for his own house.
After a long bath that involved floating occamys, flying dragons, and a rubber duck that Arthur had found for Aydin (which she adored), he finally pulled her out to dry her off. He powdered her bottom, changed her nappy, and dressed her in her pjs before he snuggled her into his arms for a story.
"Which one, Aydin?"
Aydin reached for the book with the turtle on the front and he smiled. She loved this one.
He kept his arms around her as she drank milk on his lap, listening to him read about the wise sea turtle on his quest for adventure. He kissed her cheeks and tucked her into her cot. She fell asleep in minutes and he couldn't help but think of how lucky he was. She almost always went to bed good for him and she slept through the night. He knew how rare that was and was thankful for it.
He tidied up the toys downstairs and finished doing the dishes in the kitchen from dinner before he peeked in on his daughter, taking a moment to stand in the doorway and just look at her.
Charlie had never pictured himself ever becoming a father. It had never been something he felt he was destined to do. He'd never seen himself settled down with a wife and kids nor with a husband. But then Aydin had come along and he couldn't imagine his life without her. Watching her grow and learn was the most incredible thing he'd ever witnessed. She was his entire world and he wouldn't trade a second of it.
Sometimes he wondered about the witch who had abandoned her. He had fond thoughts of Adreana. Her wide smile and laughing eyes. The sound of her low laugh in the middle of the night. He might have only known her for a few days, but he could see her in his daughter — in their daughter — and sometimes he wondered how she could possibly have just walked away and signed away her rights. While another part of him was terrified that she would try to return and claim them back again.
Aydin was his daughter and he was going to make sure that she always knew not only how much he loved her, but how smart and beautiful and incredible she was. He wanted her to grow up believing that she could be whatever or whoever she wanted to become.
His mother meant well, but her little comments about Aydin needing a mother or him needing a partner, grated him. He knew that ideally, having a partner to help with his daughter would be beneficial to him. It would make it easier and it would help ease the burden of trying to be both mother and father, but at the same time, it wasn't something that he wanted.
Charlie was content with his life and perfectly happy with his daughter and his dragons.
He had never really felt that desire to find someone to spend his time with. He never really felt lonely. He had friends and family and Aydin and didn't feel like he needed a significant other to fill some void inside of him. Though he could admit, he wouldn't mind some regular sex that didn't include his hand and his vast collection of dildos. But that was neither here nor there.
He watched Aydin's tuff of red curls stick up over her blanket as she moved and a voice from below made him turn away from her and make his way downstairs. The light from the green flames made him raise his eyebrows. He knelt down front of the fireplace in time to see his friend Takada's head in the fire.
"Hey, Raiden. Good timing, Aydin's down for the night."
Raiden Takada wrinkled his nose before he sneezed. "Good, so you can talk?"
"Yeah, what's going on?"
"I found a Ridgeback and Horntail mix off the coast of Ajigasawa in Aomori. Her wing's torn to shit and we've been doing what we can to heal her, but the magizoologist here thinks she might have gotten caught up in a hurricane that came up from the Philippines."
"How bad?"
"Torn ligaments, broken bones," Takada said. "Can you spare some handlers to come out and transfer her? You have better accommodations to care for her than we do up here."
"Absolutely," Charlie replied. "I can have a handful of handlers there by tomorrow afternoon."
"Thanks, Charlie," Takada said. "I knew that I could count on you to handle it."
"Sure," Charlie said. "When are you coming back to the reserve?"
"Miss me?"
"You know I do," Charlie said. "So does Aydin."
Takada smiled. "Another week probably, maybe two. You heading back to England?"
"Probably around the time you get your arse back down here," Charlie admitted.
"Don't worry, I'll handle the dragons in your absence."
"No one I trust more, brother," Charlie said.
He said goodnight to his friend and then plopped himself onto his sofa. He rolled his head over his shoulders and let his eyes close as he thought about his upcoming trip. He was planning on staying in England for three days, four at most. He would let Aydin spend time with her grandparents and he'd pop in to visit Tonks and Teddy in between dealing with the Ministry. He'd be home by the fourth of May and thought maybe while he was visiting, he could find a warm body to warm his bed.
Charlie forced himself to his feet and headed upstairs to shower, peeking in on his daughter from the doorway of the nursery, unable to stop smiling when he looked over at her. She was everything he needed in his life. Dragons and Aydin. It was all he could ask for.
But great sex wouldn't be something he'd turn down either.
~ ASC ~
Theo woke with his heart in his throat, the sound of his father shouting at him echoing in his ears. He took a moment to catch himself, feeling Sebastian's warm arms wrapped around him as he spooned him and he calmed a little, but not enough to shut his mind off.
Theo carefully extricated himself from his boyfriend's arms and snuck into the bathroom, closing the door behind him. He took a moment to relieve himself before he washed his hands and then splashed cold water on his face. He stared at his dripping reflection in the mirror and wondered why the whole thing with Macmillan had brought back all of his old nightmares.
Maybe it was time he looked into talking with Na'emmah again. He had put it off, thinking that he could push it down, but Sebastian had been right. Finn had hidden those memories to give him peace of mind and now, he needed to deal with them. For his own well being, and hopefully to stop the nightmares once more. Knowing that he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, he grabbed his robe off of the back of the bathroom door to cover his nakedness and he snuck out quietly.
Sebastian had rolled over onto his back, one arm draped over his eyes, the other up over his head. The movement had made the sheet low on his hips and Theo admired the delicious v that hinted at the nakedness below. He was seriously so good looking. He gave Sebastian one last look, before he turned to quietly sneak out of the master suite, closing the door behind him, and made his way down into the kitchen.
It was half past three and he didn't want to wake any of the house elves, but he knew himself. These kinds of nightmares had been what started the Insomniacs Club. He found a small half full tub of mint chocolate chip ice cream and grabbed a spoon before he headed outside in the darkness.
It was a beautiful night. He admired the stars a moment before he moved to sit in one of his large lounge chairs under the pergola, carefully tossing his robe between his legs to cover his bits. He pulled the lid off of the ice cream and helped himself to his first bite of the mint chocolate goodness and moaned appreciatively.
This was definitely what he needed.
He wasn't sitting there very long before Sebastian found him. He'd tugged on his boxers and nothing else and Theo admired his form as he stood over him, holding a blanket.
"Budge over."
Theo obliged, sighing when Sebastian settled himself into the lounge chair and pulled Theo back between his legs to rest his back against his chest. He wrapped up both of their legs with a blanket he summoned, his arms coming around him, and his lips pressing against the back of his head.
"Is that mint chocolate chip?"
"Yup," Theo said, offering him a spoonful.
Sebastian accepted it with a soft groan. "Bloody hell, that's good."
Theo smiled and took another bite as he and Sebastian shared the pint of ice cream back and forth in silence. It was comforting. When Theo took the last bite, he put his spoon and empty ice cream container on the stone next to them. Sebastian's lips brushed his ear.
"Want to talk about it?"
"No," he whispered. "Old dream about my father."
"Okay. If you change your mind, I'm here."
He knew that. He knew that Sebastian would listen to every word and that alone was comforting. They sat there, looking out at the gardens in the darkness. Solar charms glowed in the distance, providing lights around the fountains and flowers.
"Did you talk to your sisters yet?"
"Mmhm," Sebastian said. "Soraya thinks it's perfect but Selene is on the fence, as predicted."
"Esmerelda loves the gardens and she was talking about planting a rose path from the ballroom, but if your mum likes a different flower, we can plant that instead."
Sebastian kissed his cheek. "I'm not going to ask you to re-landscape your garden for a party."
"I want to," Theo whispered. "I want to do this for you."
"You're already providing me with the space to put it on and Selene will cave. She's outnumbered by me and Soraya, she just likes to put on her big sister shoes and boss us around."
Theo smiled. "That sounds nice."
"And that is how I know you're an only child."
Theo chuckled.
They sat in companionable silence a little longer before Theo spoke again.
"I'm thinking of reaching out to Na'eemah Hickey again. I talked to her before after… after the Macmillan thing."
"That's a good idea," Sebastian said. "She's a bright witch and I heard she's really been helping those at Wiltshire Manor."
Theo nodded. "I liked her." He turned his head a little to meet Sebastian's eyes. "I think maybe that's something I could do."
"Oh?"
"Be a mind healer," Theo continued. "Not to adults, I don't think, but… kids. I-I think I want to help kids."
Sebastian pressed his lips to his cheek. "Yeah? I think you'd like that."
"Me too," Theo admitted. "I've been thinking that I want to help kids who come from abusive homes or who have bad dreams like me or who have a shit hand because of this war. I think I could do that."
"I think you could do that, too."
"You don't think that it would be too hard?"
"Nothing in life is easy, baby," Sebastian said. "And I think if helping a child heal their mind is easy, then you're not doing it right. But I think that it will be a challenging job and one you could be great at, but you have to be willing to deal with it all."
"I think I could," Theo admitted.
"I do, too," Sebastian told him. "You have a way about you. You listen to people and you make people smile. You have this… energy or aura about you that's… it's pure fucking sunshine and I think if you could bring that with you, it would be even better."
Theo's lips curved, turning his head to meet Sebastian's gaze in the semi-darkness. "Sunshine?"
"Uh-huh," Sebastian said. "Everyone who meets you instantly likes you, Theo. That's… rare. And when you add it in with everything you've been through… I love that you can keep up that sunny disposition." He gently brushed Theo's hair out of his face. "But you don't have to keep that up with me, okay? If you need to be sad or angry or whatever, baby, don't hide that from me."
Theo pressed his lips to his before he rested his forehead against Sebastian's. "You're kind of amazing, do you know that?"
Sebastian's arms pulled him closer. "I know that spending time with you makes me smile."
Theo snuggled back into his arms, pulling the blanket up to cover them more securely. "I'm really happy, Bas."
Sebastian pressed a kiss to the top of his head as dawn started to come in. "Ditto."
They sat in comfortable silence and watched the sun rise until the two of them drifted off to sleep, snuggled in the lounge chair in the early morning sun.
~ ASC ~
Harry knew that it was a dream.
There was no way that it could be anything but when he was sitting at the top of his treehouse with Marauder resting his head on his leg. He ran his hands through the golden fur, smiling down at the dog who he considered his first real friend. When the man sat next to him, he knew without looking over who it was.
"I miss you. Every day."
Sirius reached out and put an arm around his shoulders. "I miss you, too, Prongslet. You're all grown up on me. Look at this beard! Not full enough to be a real one, but stubbly enough to attract the lads and ladies."
Harry laughed as Sirius ran his hand over the stubble.
"It's even soft! That moisturizer Ginny gives you is a godsend."
"Do you know everything?"
"I see all," he teased and at Harry's look, he chuckled. "Not that. Don't worry. We're around, but the dead know when to give you privacy. But… you finally had sex, eh?"
Harry blushed and bit his lip. "Yeah."
Sirius grinned and wiggled his eyebrows. "And… are you a sex god like your godfather?"
"According to Uncle Rem, I'm more like him because I belong to the Big Cock Club."
Sirius flicked him in the forehead, startling him as he laughed. "You little brat! I'm dead and you can't even show me respect!"
Harry laughed. "Ginny and I are… I don't know if I'm a sex god, but everything with her is perfect. She's amazing, Uncle Siri, and we can't keep our hands off of each other."
"Oh, that I know," Sirius said, chuckling. As his chuckles subsided a wistful look crossed over his features. "What about Mina and Leo? How are they doing?"
"Mina and Leo are beautiful," Harry told him. "It's adorable when they call me Ah-ree and they like to snuggle. I try my best to help Zee with them when I can. This summer I will try to help more in between work. I got into the Auror Academy."
"Of course you did. I never had any doubt."
"Mina is a bit more adventurous than Leo. She's usually the one who starts the trouble and leads her brother to it, but Leo isn't an angel either," Harry told him. "Zee adores them and she's an amazing mum."
"I know," Sirius said. "She's an incredible woman."
Harry looked over at him. "Why are you here, Uncle Sirius?"
Sirius leaned in, resting his cheek against Harry's. "Harry, I am so proud of the man you've become and so proud of everything you've done since I've left. You are the best of who I was. I like to think that you have a little bit of my stamp of approval there."
Harry's lips curved. "Maybe a little."
"I'm sorry that I haven't been around," Sirius said, moving away to look into his son's eyes. "You are an amazing man and I didn't want to impose, to visit in your dreams and prolong the grief."
"You did for Zee."
"She needed me," Sirius said. "Not that you didn't, but she needed me more. She was pregnant and alone and I wanted her to know that I was all right. But, Prongslet, I have never left your side. I will always watch over you, I promise."
Harry nodded. "I've felt you."
Sirius smiled. "I know. It's my only way of really telling you that I'm here. Visiting in dreams is… well, we can't do it all the time."
"Why not?"
"Part of the rules," Sirius said. "Even in the Underworld there are rules."
"Underworld?"
"The Land of the Dead," Sirius corrected. "There's a place for everyone and there are rules we have to follow."
"So, why now?" Harry asked.
Sirius placed his hand on Harry's shoulder, squeezing. "You need to be ready for what's coming."
"Voldemort," he breathed.
Sirius nodded. "He's coming, Harry. He wants you dead and after everything that we've done to slow him down… he's coming. Nagini will be there."
"When?" he whispered.
"At dusk."
"How do you know?"
"I just know," Sirius told him. "I don't know everything and before you ask, no, I don't know the outcome. But I do know that you're going to do more than fuck up Voldemort's plans, Prongslet; you're going to show him why he should be very afraid of you and what you represent. Don't hold back. Don't hesitate. And bring everything you've got."
"Everything?"
Sirius cupped his cheek. "Use it. I'll be there tomorrow by your side along with James and Lily. We'll all be there, cheering you on."
Harry let out a slow breath. "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to take a life, Uncle Siri."
Sirius pressed his lips to his forehead. "It's not about taking a life, Harry. It's about doing what you are destined to do and saving the world. But, no pressure."
Harry snorted. "Right, no pressure."
"I love you, Harry. You are everything I did right in this world and I will never not be sorry that I got to be your dad. Trust in yourself. Trust in what we did to get the magical world ready. You won't be alone. Not even for a second. I promise."
Sirius reached out to trace the lightning bolt scar on his forehead and Harry leaned into his father's touch.
"And maybe a little lightning will bring you luck."
Harry closed his eyes as lips brushed his forehead again. When Harry opened them, he was lying in his four poster in the Gryffindor dormitory with Ginny tangled in his arms, her head resting over his heart. He was surprised to find tears in his eyes. He made to wipe them away when Ginny's brown eyes landed on his.
"Harry?" She reached her hand up and brushed his tears away with her thumb. "What is it? Did you have a dream?"
He nodded, wrapping his arms around her. "I think so. Uncle Sirius was there and he… he said it's going to be today, Ginny. Voldemort's coming today."
Her brown eyes darkened as she cupped his cheeks. "You're sure?"
"At dusk," he whispered.
Ginny's eyes widened before she covered her mouth with his. He held her close, turning his head at the trickle of sunlight that came through his bed curtains, highlighting the first hues of the morning sun; the filtered orange light reaching the tallest of the castle's towers. And while he lay there, allowing himself this one last moment of peace, he couldn't help but wonder what horrors and devastation the first rays of tomorrow's sun would reveal.
Ginny's fingers linked with his and Harry knew that no matter what happened today, he wasn't going to be alone.
Sirius had promised.
End Author's Notes:
As I said, this is a pre-chapter of what's coming. The final battle starts at dusk aka — next week! Stay tuned!
Thanks for reading and please review!