A Second Chance

by Breanie

Part 2 Kismet Trilogy: What if Sirius didn't spend twelve years in prison but was given a trial after 4 years? Follow the story of Sirius Black as he learns what it means to be a father/brother/guardian & the story of Harry Potter, a young boy with a loving home who learns about the Marauders from the two men who should have raised him. Slow-burn Hinny. M for sex & violence.

358. The One With the Marble Wall

Author's Note:

FINAL COUNTDOWN! 2 MORE CHAPTERS TO GO!

But this is the final chapter of 2022! Happy New Year everyone!

Reviews and Comments: To GABRIELAGPGP1988: Thank you! To briana_t: Harry and Ron are doing well in Auror training so far and so is Ginny in Quidditch camp. It does sound intense. Yes, poor Molly was so embarrassed, but poor Harry and Ginny as well! Thank you! To CorbanD17: Thank you! To Masonjar191: I know, poor Molly lol. Thank you! To AQuickRead91: Molly should have knocked but mothers sometimes don't think about it lol. Thank you! To jaf29: It is a surprise it took them that long to not be caught by a parental figure lol. Thank you for reading my work for years, I really love and appreciate that. Thank you! To marauders_mowopapr: Glad I could make you laugh so hard! Harry has grown up into an amazing man, Remus was a huge part of that. Thank you so much for loving my Weasleys and my family drama. I don't know what "aita" is, but people touching other people's pregnant bellies without asking is weird in my opinion. Angelina and Ginny are going to be great together. Thank you! To AnaGPotter: Yes, so embarrassing for all lol. Pansy and Greg were so much fun to write, but that's the last scene with them in ASC. I'm sure we'll see them again in the third story. Thank you! To BadWolfKris: Thank you! To PurpleLotus: Thank you! Yes, I thought TOOLBOX was a fun acronym for the study. Thank you very much!

To Levs23: It was a picture for poor Molly lol. And Harry and Ginny are definitely very embarrassed! Thank you! To alix33: Thank you! To LadyKitai: Thank you! Yes, I received second hand embarrassment writing it lol. Thank you! To Tmrpotterhead250: Thank you! I had fun working on acronyms to explain various jobs so I'm glad you've appreciated PLANTs, CRAWLs, and TOOLBOX. Training is intense for both of them. Ginny and Angelina are going to make a great team! Harry and Ron are bonding with Sebastian. Thank you! To scrappy8: Thank you! To Marauder0716: Thank you! To mike3308: It is a good start to their chosen vocations, thank you! Harry and Ginny are definitely going to miss each other a lot. Thank you! To Zarathos Morgenstern: Thank you for saying "that last scene was the best walk in I have ever scene (pun intended)" LOL. I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! To Cassiopeia Anastasia Black: Thank you! I wanted to show how people are moving on and taking steps towards their futures. Yes, Harry and Molly are definitely both extremely embarrassed LOL. Thank you! To Read and Fly: That is the best compliment to hear! Knowing that I make you "feel like I'm there in the story." Thank you! To BrookGuitar: Ha, glad to know I made you do some wheezing lol. Thank you! To Wolf's scream: Things are starting to come together. Thanks for enjoying the training scenes.

To Nuno Neves: Fred and Fiadh are very cute and they're getting excited to have their babies! Molly is thrilled that Harry has plans to marry Ginny in the future. Harry and Ginny falling asleep with the mirrors open next to them just felt right. Yes, them having sex in the Burrow living room and not getting caught, only to get caught the next morning in Ginny's room was too fun to pass up! Thanks for loving their embarrassment lol. Thank you! To Hanacide: Yes, as you will see, the next chapter opens up with a Molly and Ginny scene. Thank you! To Lilyx1202: We will have a Harry and Zee moment soon, but it will not be him breaking down over the loss of Sirius. Thank you! To Black Doe: They all have partners and live separately because they are adults. Molly, Ginny, and Ron are the only ones living at home and only for a little bit longer. Molly wants them to start their lives, not to stay and coddle her. Thank you! To Saz J: So happy to see that you've caught up again! It was bound to happen that Harry and Ginny get caught lol. I'm happy that Ginny signed with Angelina as well, thank you! To Charlotte: I can't believe this story is almost over either, thank you very much! To Guest: Thank you for saying that was one of the best chapters by far! So glad you liked it. Thank you! To MissKnowItAll: It has been some time since we've seen Pansy's POV and we needed to see how her and Greg were doing. Poor Harry indeed, he is so embarrassed! Tonks is excited to welcome Harry to the Auror department. Angelina and Ginny are both doing great! Thank you!

To Slaidback: Happy to give you some laughter just before Christmas! Meri Kirihimete to you as well! Thank you! To A Huge Fan: I think most people would be horrified to be caught by their MIL or any parental figure lol. Thank you! To Sets: Thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter. Thank you! To CrazyWithABook: Thank you! To pix25: It did have to happen at some point, thank you! To lynnanthony2015: You think the Dark Trio is trying to resurrect Voldemort with the Resurrection Stone? Interesting. Thank you! To ThomasJAvery: Thank you for saying this chapter was amazing and stunning! Angelina will definitely have Ginny's best interest at heart. They will make a good fit. Harry and Ginny are just very randy, honestly, and yes, it was bound to happen at some point lol. Thank you! To Lance Kumazuki: It is funny and oh, yes, they are all very embarrassed! Oh man, I'm sorry that happened to you but I am laughing lol. Thank you! To TatiRena: Well, if they're going to get caught, it might as well be them doing it well lol. Thank you! To Bellmel: Thank you for saying it's a heartening chapter, showing the future was fun and getting them to see what's coming next in their lives and what's changing. I love showing Fred as an impending father and yes, with the loss of Arthur it's almost more bittersweet. Haha, Katie Bell, but that's fair lol. Yes, Coach Dalton and Hogan and of course I had to make his name Jasper! Harry is adorably excited to see Ginny again and yes, poor Molly lol. Thank you! To katelyn453: Thank you! Same to you. You will have to wait and see, thank you!

To reginaphalange: Thank you very much! You as well! To Sloopyqueen4: We all have those embarrassing stories lol. Thank you very much! To decoy73: Embarrassing is acceptable. A lot of them do deserve some horrible deaths on their part. Goyle is definitely a big toasty cinnamon bun lol. Thank you! To puttyman24: Thank you! Yes, the part with Molly walking in on Harry and Ginny was definitely very relatable lol. 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 FIFTY-EIGHT:

The One With the Marble Wall

Ginny took a shower and tossed on cotton shorts and a tee shirt before she made her way downstairs. Molly had charmed a plate of scrambled eggs and bacon to stay warm for her and Ginny took it to the table with a grateful smile. She'd just sat down when her mother came in from the garden, a basket of fresh eggs in her hands.

"Good morning, Mum."

Molly stared at her a moment before her lips twitched. "Yes, good morning, dear. Some of us are having a better morning than others."

"Mum!" Ginny exclaimed, her cheeks heating.

Molly put the basket on the counter. "I didn't know that Harry stayed over last night."

Ginny's cheeks were still flushed. "Yes, well, now he might never stay over again after flashing you this morning."

"Well, it was hardly my fault. I didn't know that he was in there."

"He was completely starkers, Mum!" Ginny yelled just as Ron stepped into the kitchen.

Ron paused by the back door. "Who's completely starkers?"

"Never you mind!" Ginny exclaimed.

Ron lifted an eyebrow. "If someone's starkers, I think I need to know now before I set foot in the house."

"I walked in on Harry and Ginny in her bedroom this morning," Molly explained, her face turning bright red. "It was an accident. I didn't know that he'd stayed over and… I apologized to Harry this morning."

Ron's mouth opened in surprise before he snorted. "Like how starkers are we talking here? Wait… you two weren't doing stuff, were you?"

Molly and Ginny ignored him.

"The last thing that I expected was to walk into my daughter's room this morning and see her boyfriend doing… well that! Then before I could even comprehend what I was seeing, he was falling off of the bed and he was very, very naked and good Godric, Ginny, I had no idea that he was so well endowed, it was a bit erm… unnerving."

"Mum!" Ginny shrieked, covering her red face with her hands. "You did not just say that Harry is well endowed!"

Ron groaned. "Please stop this whole conversation right now before I'm forced to take your fork and stab myself in the eye."

"It's not like I meant to look," Molly began, ignoring Ron. "It's just that there was a lot of him to see and Merlin, I promise to knock from now on!"

"Bloody hell!" Ron grumbled.

Ginny peeked out between her fingers. "You're not going to lecture me on well… him staying over?"

Molly's eyes softened. "You're of age, Ginny. I know you two just spent three weeks apart and I know that with you returning to Hogwarts in two days it's going to be tough on both of you. He told us that he's going to marry you someday and… next time, can you just please let me know that he's here?"

Ron scoffed. "That's it? You walk in on Harry and Ginny shagging and that's the whole lecture? I roomed with the bloke for seven years, the sight of his cock isn't that magical!"

"Ronald!" Molly scolded.

Ron rolled his eyes and stomped up the stairs to his room. Ginny bit her lip as she looked over at her mum.

"You're really not cross with me?"

Molly took a seat across from her. "You two are being safe, yes?"

"Yes," Ginny assured her.

Molly nodded. "Then I won't say anything more on the subject. I am sorry I interrupted though."

Ginny bit her lip, her cheeks still rather pink. "Thank you."

"But for the record, if my man looked like that starkers, I would have a hard time keeping my hands off of him too."

"Mum!" Ginny squealed, shocked and embarrassed by her mother's words.

Molly chuckled and stood up. "You're a very lucky woman, Ginny."

Then she whistled as she picked up a basket of laundry and headed back outside to hang up the clothes. Ginny couldn't stop shrinking in embarrassment and thought it was going to be a while before she could look her mother in the eye again and mention Harry.

But Molly was right. She was a very lucky woman and she knew it.

~ ASC ~

The next two days went by much too fast for Ginny. She went to Black Cottage Sunday afternoon after her embarrassing morning conversation with her mother. Harry convinced her to go for a bike ride and the two of them hopped on the Bonneville. They rode out to the water, by the cliffs, and sat on the rocks, snogging and talking about what they were going to do when Ginny went to school.

"You can maybe come to Clevedon Court and stay with me most weekends, when I'm not working of course," Harry told her. "I don't know yet how that's going to work."

"When I can," Ginny agreed. "I do want that and you'll come to every Hogsmeade weekend?"

"As much as possible," he promised, nipping at her ear. "And we'll call each other on the mirrors all the time."

"As much as we can," she said.

"And you'll always be naked when I call with the mirror low enough so that I can see your tits."

She elbowed him and he laughed.

Ginny snuggled into his lap, straddling him on the grass. "We're both going to be so busy and I already hate that I won't see you every day like I'm this ridiculously needy witch that needs and wants all of your attention."

Harry's hands moved down her back to cup her arse. "I want and need all of your attention, Gin."

Her lips curved as she slid her fingers up his neck and into his soft, silky hair. "You have it. Hogwarts isn't going to be the same without you."

"You should take my cloak," he told her, pressing a kiss to the curve of her neck. "If I get done early at the Academy some nights maybe I can Floo to Uncle Rem's office to see you."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh," he said, lips trailing up her throat to her earlobe. "And if you have the cloak, you can sneak me out of his office and take me to the tower room."

"Oh, really?" she teased, her eyes twinkling. "And what would we do in there, Mr Potter?"

Harry's green eyes met hers. "Very naughty things, Miss Weasley. Very, very naughty things."

Ginny's fingers continued to tease his hair as she leaned in to brush her lips over his. She pulled her wand from her pocket and put a privacy charm around them, warding them from any potential Muggle tourists who might stumble into the area before she pushed him back onto the grass and began to undo his belt.

Harry's breath hitched.

"We were rather rudely interrupted this morning," Ginny said, popping open the button and slowly unzipping him. "You left with something unfinished."

She tugged his jeans down just enough to slip her hand into his boxer briefs before she exposed him in the late summer afternoon sun. When his drawers came down further, she cupped his balls in her hand; he bit his bottom lip and groaned.

Ginny fondled him in her palm, letting her nails gently tease him and his breathing increased. "Perhaps I could help out with this rather hard problem you're having?"

"Gin…"

Her chocolate brown eyes were sparkling when she licked her lips and then she lowered her head to drag her tongue over his balls. Harry's head fell back into the grass as he made a strangled sound in the back of his throat that immediately dampened Ginny's knickers. She teased him with her tongue, licking and stroking in quick and slow movements until he was trembling beneath her. Then she opened her mouth and took him inside.

His hands flew up from his sides. One hand threaded through her long hair while the other cupped the side of her face. His green eyes were dark in desire as he lifted his head off of the ground to watch her. The ragged breaths he released the closer he got made her slow down her movements, teasing him with her nails again until his grip tightened on her hair.

"Faster," he demanded.

Instead, Ginny pulled off of him, slowly and deliberating licking her lips. His cock was at full attention now. She kissed his length and then licked his balls. When his breath hitched, she cupped them in her hand and slowly took his balls into her mouth. He groaned.

"Oh, fuck…"

Ginny continued to tease him and when she moved back to take his length between her lips, his breathing was laboured and the muscles in his thighs were taut. It only made her more wet. When she knew that he was close, she stopped and knelt over him. She undid her own cotton shorts, shoving them and her knickers down just enough so that she could take him inside of her.

The moment she sheathed herself over him, they both groaned. Harry rolled her over onto the grass, muttering a charm under his breath that sent her shorts and knickers flying off her legs. Then he lifted her left leg, bending it at the knee before he lifted her right leg to rest on his shoulder and drove himself deeper into her.

Ginny moaned. She felt every last inch of him, every groove and ridge as he drove into her again and again. The bright summer day in the grass, with Harry shagging her hard and fast, was all she wanted. He grunted, pulling himself out just enough to drag his tip over her clit. She shuddered and he did it again and again. Then he lifted her other leg over his shoulder and slammed back into her.

Ginny cried out in pleasure. He seemed to be hitting every sweet spot she had from this angle and she moaned, loudly and wantonly. Harry kept up his brutal pace as his glasses started to fall down his nose, his hands holding her thighs to keep her legs in place. He attempted to push his head back to stop their descent, but his glasses fell off to land on her chest. Ginny half-laughed, half-moaned as she came. Her hands falling uselessly to her sides, ripping grass out of the ground as her fingers clenched desperately for something to hold as Harry came a moment later. When his pace finally slowed, dragging out every last clench from her, he rolled over onto his back and covered his face with his arm.

"Bloody hell."

Ginny slowly stretched her legs out. She was pretty sure she was going to feel him inside of her for the rest of the day. She turned on her side, eyeing the sweat patches on his tee shirt as she handed him back his glasses.

"You dropped these."

He gave her a cheeky grin. "I was too busy holding your legs up to catch them."

Ginny gave him a light shove. "Cheeky prat."

He rolled on top of her, kissing her forehead. "As soon as I catch my breath, we're doing that again."

"Not here we're not," Ginny said. "When we get back to yours, maybe."

He kissed her neck, his hands roaming down to cup her breasts through the shirt and bra she was still wearing. "Spoilsport."

Their lips met for a long kiss that went on and on and on before Ginny pushed him off.

"Mmm, stop that! We need to get dressed."

Harry pouted but reluctantly sat up and pulled his jeans and boxer briefs back up. He summoned Ginny's shorts and knickers back so that she could dress and when she stood, he snagged an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. Since he was kneeling, he was the perfect height to pepper kisses along her thighs and along the waistband of her shorts. She trembled and he stood up to kiss her lips again.

Ginny removed the warding she'd put up as Harry took her hand and led her back to the motorbike. They stopped for ice cream and more snogging before finally riding back to Black Cottage. Zee greeted them with a smile as they played with Mina and Leo while Zee cooked dinner — roasted red potatoes with garlic and chicken kebabs and spinach salad.

Harry went back to the Burrow with her later that night. Thankfully Molly was asleep as Ginny snuck him up to the bathroom. They took a shower together, giggling when they found grass stains in some rather unlikely places, and then Harry took her against the wall of the shower, his lips on hers. They snuck into her room and climbed into her bed. Ginny promising that Molly wasn't going to walk in on them again and then locking the door just to be safe.

Harry woke her with a soft kiss in the morning and urged her to come out for an early run with him. They Apparated to Black Cottage and ran on the beach before he kissed her goodbye and promised to come by the Burrow when he finished at the Academy for the day.

Ginny was disappointed that he had training on her last day before the train, even if she understood it. She lingered over his lips once more and when he Disapparated in the Burrow garden, she headed inside to take a shower.

One more day and then she would be heading back to Hogwarts for her final year.

The time had really flown by.

~ ASC ~

Harry found himself feeling a bit nervous about the psychological evaluation portion of his Auror training. He arrived in Londonderry two hours after leaving Ginny and met Ron in the entrance way of the Magical Intelligence Agency. They followed the directions to the Auror Academy of England which was on the third floor and hosted all of their classes, signing in when they arrived.

They spent their morning in another round of orientation and were provided with coursework as well as a list of textbooks. Then they were sent to the training room where they were taught hand-to-hand combat training by a wizard who looked at least a hundred. His name was Simu Park and his hair was as white as snow. He looked like he could blow over with a little wind.

They were all kind of snickering at him, until he flipped Jackowski over his shoulder in seconds, knocking the breath out of him. Suddenly everyone was paying attention.

"It's about keeping a balance," Park told them. "Your wand is of great use, but all Aurors must be prepared to defend and protect, even if one's wand isn't in reach. You will use your magic within to help propel your strength out."

Harry, who always considered himself in great shape, felt the burn when they went to the change rooms to shower off that morning's workout. Then Harry and Ron met Sebastian in the entrance hall after their morning class and he took them to a pub down the street for lunch.

"Oh, yeah, Park's always underestimated," Sebastian told them. "I'm pretty sure he's at least a hundred and twenty and he still kicks arse. My friend, Yeona and I, we teach a martial arts class on Tuesday nights. It's for kids, but you two are welcome to stop by. You might learn a bit."

They both thought that might be fun and thanked him. When they returned to the MIA, Harry was starting to feel even more nervous for his exam.

"What time is yours at?" he asked Ron.

"Same as you," Ron said. "Remember I'm seeing a bloke named Darwin Nolte."

Harry nodded. He'd heard nothing but good things about Mind Healer Auden McCraight, both from Tonks and then just at lunch from Sebastian, but the idea of sitting down with a Mind Healer and talking about who knows what unnerved him a little more than he wanted to admit. Ron didn't seem to find it as nerve wracking as he did.

When Harry said as much to Zee this morning over breakfast, she'd reached across the table to take his hand in hers.

"Harry, I know that you and Sirius talked about everything. You were open with each other and it took a lot, but when he finally opened up to you about his own past and his own trauma, it really bridged a gap between you. You and Sirius had this great bond and connection. I know that Sirius had reservations about talking to a Mind Healer and his mindset was that if you talked to each other and didn't let things fester, it wasn't necessary. His reasoning was sound, but it doesn't necessarily mean that he was right."

"I know," Harry told her. "I know how much Na'eemah Hickey has helped Ginny and talking to this bloke could be good but… it's not like I'm there for therapy, Zee, this is like a test. What if I say something wrong?"

"The most important thing to remember, Harry, is that there is no wrong answer."

Harry rolled his eyes. "You know, you're really not all that helpful."

Zee chuckled. "You're looking at this like it's black and white. It's not. This test is an evaluation upon your state of mind. Needing to speak to a mind healer because of past trauma you might have endured doesn't make you mad or unable to perform your job, but sometimes that trauma has a way of eating away at us. This test is to make sure that you know your limits, and that if you are influenced by past events, you know how to deal with them in a healthy fashion for your own mental well-being."

Harry knew that she was right, but he still found his knee bouncing as he sat outside of McCraight's office. When his name was called, he went inside and took a seat in the armchair offered.

The man sitting across from him had dark brown hair with a full beard that was surprisingly more red than brown. He wore dark rimmed square glasses over bright blue eyes and Harry guessed that he was around forty.

"Good morning, Mr Potter. I'm Auden McCraight and I'm one of the departmental mind healers for the DMLE," he explained with a kind smile. "That means, it's my job to talk with any Auror who has dealt with a traumatic mission or case including ones that resulted in a death. When it comes to the trainees, I'm here to evaluate your state of mind and how you deal with post traumatic stress. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Harry said, his knee bouncing again.

McCraight raised an eyebrow. "Do I make you nervous, Mr Potter?"

Harry swallowed. "A little. I've never really spoken to a mind healer before."

"That's a common reaction and there's no need to be nervous. It's my job to make you feel comfortable and part of that job is keeping everything you tell me strictly between us. I'm here to evaluate your state of mind and your ability to work as an Auror. Anything you tell me stays strictly between us. That's called patient-healer confidentiality which means that no matter what you tell me, I cannot legally divulge any of it to anyone for any reason without your permission to do so." At Harry's nod, McCraight gave him a kind smile. "So, let's start with something small, tell me something about yourself."

"Is this where I'm supposed to tell you all about my parents dying?"

McCraight's lips curved. "We can start there if you'd like."

Harry tapped his fingers on the side of the chair, but didn't answer.

McCraight watched him for a few moments before he crossed his legs. "Let me be honest with you, Harry — may I call you Harry?" At his nod, he continued. "You are a remarkable young man, who at eighteen, is viewed to be a hero by this country. I'm not discounting the fact that you are a hero because what you did to save us all is not something that can be forgotten nor should it be. I've seen men and women fall apart over a lot less. The fact that you're sitting here with me, training to be an Auror after everything you've been through shows your remarkable tenacity and your strength. Where do you think you get that from?"

Harry's tongue darted out to touch his bottom lip. "Ginny."

"Ginny?"

Harry nodded. "My girlfriend."

"She gives you strength?"

"Yes," Harry said. "She… she just makes everything better. I can tell her anything and she doesn't judge me or make me feel inferior or stupid. We talk about everything and anything. She's the one I spoke to after the Battle of Hogwarts and the defeat of Voldemort."

"You spoke with her about your feelings on defeating the darkest wizard to ever have lived?"

"About taking a human life," Harry corrected.

McCraight raised an eyebrow. "You see him as human and not as the monster the world has made him out to be."

"Humans are the worst monsters of all. He made himself into something less than human, but he was still a person and his life was extinguished by my hand. I had no choice. It was him or me, but I still took that life from him."

"How did that feel?"

"Satisfying," Harry said. "It was this instant relief. He's been hunting me almost my whole life. To know it was over, to know that I could finally breathe… it was satisfying."

"And you're ashamed of those feelings?"

"Sometimes," he admitted. "I know that I made the right choice. I know that killing him saved the world and I know that considering the circumstances of how he died, it wasn't murder, but the word still feels like I did something wrong."

McCraight nodded and wrote something down. "Tell me about Sirius Black."

Harry frowned at the abrupt change in subject. "He was my godfather."

"He was killed, yes?"

Harry swallowed. "Yes, by Bellatrix Lestrange in June of 1996."

"He was a father to you?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"What?"

"How was he like a father to you? Tell me about him."

"He… he raised me," Harry said, not quite following where McCraight was going. "When he was released from prison, he took me in from my aunt and uncle and gave me a home. He was… my father."

"Bellatrix Lestrange has yet to be captured by Aurors. If you come face to face with her again, would you murder her?"

"If I had to," Harry said. "I wouldn't blink. She's evil. A monster even. But I'd rather see her rot in Azkaban. I'd rather see her live her life paying for her sins."

McCraight licked his lips. "She took your godfather from you. The man who raised you. The man who you considered a father your entire life. Doesn't that make you angry? Doesn't it make you want to hurt her?"

"Of course it does," Harry exclaimed. "I want her to suffer for all of the things she's done to others. She carved whore into Zee's arm and Mudblood into Hermione's. She killed Uncle Sirius and she tortures people for fun. She deserves all of that and more!"

"And yet you would still arrest her and let her be given a trial?"

"Do you think that I shouldn't? Do you think that I should kill her or torture her for what she did?"

"Do you?"

Harry crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I'm not playing this game."

"We're not playing a game, Harry," McCraight said. "We're just talking."

"I don't know! I don't know if I could torture her for what she did, but I'd be lying to myself if I said it hadn't crossed my mind."

"Good," McCraight said, making Harry's eyes widen. "Honesty is important even to yourself. Humanity is about our feelings, Harry. It's normal to desire revenge, to want to hurt someone because they hurt you. It's up to you to process that hurt and those emotions in a way that helps you heal. As the Chosen One, that's a lot of pressure. The Boy Who Lived. The Chosen One. The Man Who Defeated Voldemort. The God of Lightning. The Chosen Hero. The Hero of Hogwarts. These names keep cropping up, keep elevating your status and your role as the one who saved the world. Each time I said a new one, you cringed. You're humble."

"I did what I had to do," Harry told him. "I don't need to be praised for it or given names to showcase what I did. The first one emphasized that my parents died trying to protect me. Who wants that following them around?"

"And yet you grew into a man willing to protect others just as your parents died protecting you."

"I don't like bullies."

McCraight pursed his lips. "Let's talk about that. Tell me about your aunt and uncle. The ones you lived with before Sirius."

"Why?"

"Why not?"

Harry stared at him, really not sure where this conversation was going. "They were Muggles and they didn't want me. I don't remember much."

"Why didn't they want you?"

"I don't know."

"You do. Say it."

"Because I had magic."

McCraight adjusted his glasses. "They didn't understand that?"

"They were afraid of it. They thought it was unnatural."

"Of it or of you?"

Harry swallowed. "Me. Both."

McCraight watched him for a long moment before he spoke. "They were your first bullies, weren't they? Monsters even."

"I guess, yeah."

The bell sounded, signalling their hour was up and McCraight closed the notebook in front of him.

"Harry, today has shown me a lot about you. How you think and how you process and how you deal with trauma is really only the tip of the iceberg."

"What does that mean?" Harry asked.

"It means that I think you have the tenacity, the strength, the determination, and the fortitude to make this department an outstanding Auror. I'm going to write that in my report."

"So, I passed?"

McCraight chuckled. "Yes, Harry, you passed, but conditionally."

He frowned. "What does that mean?"

"You've been through a lot. Not only in the defeat of Voldemort, but in the losses you've dealt with, the things you've seen, the pressure you've been under the last few years. I look forward to working with you, to seeing you solve cases as an Auror with the department but while you do that, I want you to meet with me once a week."

"Why?"

"I think you know why," McCraight said.

Harry stared at him. The man's kind expression never faltered and he sighed. "And if I don't?"

"I'll still pass along the same thing I just told you. You'll make a fine Auror, Harry, of that I have no doubt, but I do think that with everything you've been through, you would greatly benefit from talking about it with a mind healer. Not only about your defeat of the darkest wizard of all time, but of your past. You were flippant about your aunt and uncle, the Muggles who took you in before Sirius Black. They hurt you, didn't they?" When Harry didn't answer, McCraight nodded. "Yes, I think there's a lot you need to truly process, Harry. I think it would not only help ease your mind, but take a burden off of your shoulders that someone so young doesn't need to carry."

Harry's heart was racing and he wasn't entirely sure why. "How long would I have to meet you for, exactly?"

"That's really up to you, Harry. Why don't we start with one hour a week and see what happens from there?"

Harry swallowed. "All right."

McCraight shook his hand when he stood up and when Harry left his office, he felt a sense of relief that he couldn't quite put into words. Maybe talking to a mind healer wasn't such a bad idea after all.

~ ASC ~

Ginny was happy to see Harry show up for dinner that night at the Burrow. It was just herself, Ron, Harry, and Molly which was a nice change and also rather strange to be such a small group. Hermione was having dinner with her parents and Ron wanted to say goodbye to Ginny. She appreciated the kind thought from her brother.

She told them about going to the Ministry that afternoon and passing her Apparition test and then listened to Harry and Ron talk about their morning self-defence class and hand-to-hand combat training. When Harry said that McCraight wanted him to keep going to sessions, Ginny reached out to take his hand.

"I think that's very brave of you."

Harry squeezed her hand in his before he turned back to his dinner, not wanting to say anything else on the subject.

When dinner was finished, the three of them went out into the orchard to fly. Ron headed into the house to shower after an hour and Harry pecked Ginny on the lips to let her pack her trunk for the train the next morning.

"Stay with me tonight," he whispered near her ear.

Ginny promised to head over to Black Cottage when she was done and Harry headed home. She arrived at the cottage two hours later and found her boyfriend lounging on the living room sofa while he waited for her. He laughed when she jumped into his lap and then curled up into his arms. They sat there for the longest time, him running his fingers through her hair as they talked about her returning to school.

"I wish that I could be there tomorrow, to see you off."

"Me too," Ginny whispered.

She understood. He was still in Auror training and the first of September fell on a Tuesday morning. It wasn't ideal for him to take time off just to say goodbye, but knowing he wanted to be there meant a lot. When they finally decided to go to bed, they walked hand in hand up the stairs and Harry leaned in to kiss her outside of his bedroom door just as Zee's bedroom door opened down the hall.

Zee gave them a small smile. "Oops, sorry. I just decided I needed a little late night snack." She snuck a look over at them when Harry opened his bedroom door. "Use a silencing charm, you two."

Ginny's face turned red as Zee skipped down the stairs and Harry pulled her into his room. "Oh, Merlin!"

Harry chuckled, closing his door behind them. "She has a point. You're very loud when you come."

Ginny smacked him and he laughed. "That's not the point, Harry! Does everyone think that we're just randy sots?"

"But we are randy sots."

"Speak for yourself."

"Hey, who got who naked first on the cliffs yesterday?" Harry insisted, making her blush. He placed a silencing charm around his room before he tossed his wand on his night table and pulled his shirt over his head. "Besides, according to Ron, we're not as inconspicuous as we think we are."

When he stepped out of his jeans, her mouth went dry. Then his boxer briefs. Ginny's gaze moved down his body as she licked her lips.

"We're totally inconspicuous," she insisted.

"No, I really don't think we are."

She grinned and pulled her shirt over head. "Maybe not. Get on the bed, I really want to bite your arse."

His eyes darkened. "Not if I bite yours first."

By the time her clothes were off, they were both laughing as they wrestled on the bed. Ginny won, though Harry insisted she cheated since she used her hands rather deliciously to distract him. They made slow love and fell asleep in each other's arms.

The desire pooling in her belly was what woke her first. She'd barely registered the sun rising through the balcony doors of Harry's bedroom before the feel of his tongue made her body ache. When she came, he kissed his way up her body and sank into her. They made slow love, trying to make every stroke and thrust last, but when she came again, he followed, his lips on hers.

"I have to go home," Ginny murmured, kissing his damp shoulder. "I promised Mum we'd have breakfast together before I catch the train."

Harry nodded and lingered over her lips a moment longer before he let her up. "Yeah, I need to get to Londonderry."

Ginny quickly got dressed and then she leaned over the bed to kiss him for a long kiss. "I love you."

"I love you, too," he whispered back. "Have the best seventh year, Gin."

She kissed him once more and then she snuck out to head back to the Burrow, thinking seventh year was going to be very different from the previous six.

Three hours later, she was hugging her mum at King's Cross.

"Oh, have an amazing year, dear," Molly said, tears in her eyes. "I can't believe my last baby is taking her final train ride to school! Your father would be so proud."

"I promise to mirror call you at least twice a week," Ginny told her. "You'll be sick of me."

Molly kissed her cheek. "Stop worrying about me. I'll be fine. You have an amazing year. This is your last one, dear, make it count."

She heard someone call her name and when she saw the head of bright blond curls, she squealed.

Colin laughed when she threw herself into his arms. "Hey, Ginny."

"I missed you so much! Where's Luna? I can't wait to hear all about your trip!"

He grinned. "I think she's already on the train. I just got here. How was your summer? We need to hear all about the training camp."

"We'll talk," Ginny promised him.

She turned to hug her mum one more time as Colin grabbed her trunk for her to put it on the Hogwarts Express. He held his hand out to her and she clasped her fingers in his grasp just as a deep voice from behind her made her pause.

"Gin, wait!"

Ginny turned and Harry crushed his mouth to hers, surprising her. "Harry! What are you… how?"

He cupped her cheek in his palm. "We had a fifteen minute break and I just… I had to see you."

Her lips met his again for a kiss long and deep enough that someone whistled before she broke away. "I love you. Go! Someone is going to be looking for you!"

Harry grinned and kissed her once more. "I love you, too." He lifted his head to meet Colin's amused gaze. "Take care of her for me, mate."

"Promise," Colin assured him.

Harry waved and then Disapparated on the spot. Ginny stepped up onto the train with Colin and thought it was time for a new adventure.

And she couldn't wait.

~ ASC ~

Arriving at Hogwarts as sevens was a different feeling. There were no big brothers around. No Harry or Hermione. No Theo. The school even felt different without their presence. Ginny watched the Sorting Hat sort the new students and the holes of the students who had been killed was still evident. To Ginny's surprise, Colin was made Head Boy and Head Girl was Francesca Wood from Hufflepuff.

With Freya and Imogen gone, there were only four of them in the seventh year girls Gryffindor dorm, and it made the room look much larger. Ginny greeted Maisie, KJ, and Romilda kindly. KJ seemed the most excited to begin her final year, but Maisie and Romilda were more reserved. Ginny knew that she and Romilda would never be more than acquaintances but she also knew that the war had taken a toll on everyone.

McGonagall welcomed them back to another year and they had a moment of silence for all of the students and professors they had lost in the Battle of Hogwarts last May. There were five new faces up at the head table and Ginny nudged Colin when she noticed.

"Any idea who they are?"

"New professors?" Colin suggested.

"Well, yeah," Ginny said, "but doesn't five seem like a lot?"

Her question was answered when McGonagall spoke up.

"With the loss of Professor Trelawney and Professor Babbling last year, there was a need to reshuffle our staff which means that this year, I have five new professors to welcome to Hogwarts today. First, to take over as our new ancient runes professor, I would like to introduce Professor Inanna Kashif. She's been working with ancient runes as a curse breaker in Cairo and in Istanbul for over a decade and is looking forward to teaching what she's learned to new minds."

Kashif was beautiful. She had dark brown hair and dark eyes and Ginny thought she looked around thirty.

"To assist Professor Birmingham with the language component of our International Magical Relations class, I would like to welcome Professor Rhett Erwood. Professor Erwood speaks ten languages."

Erwood was a tall Welsh Elf who had worked as an ambassador for the Court of Tara, for the Village of Nix, and for other underwater and Fae communities around Europe. He had long pointed ears and large almond shaped blue eyes.

"To teach Divination, I would like to welcome Professor Azarius Laurent. He's only just returned to England after working in Greece where he studied Divination, Astronomy, and the mythology of prophecy."

Professor Laurent was half-Veela, on his mother's side, and his good looks and charming smile had already seemed to catch the attention of most of the student body. He was tall with golden blond hair and sharp silver eyes that seemed to glow almost purple.

The pretty blonde woman who was seated next to Professor Slughorn stood up when McGonagall gestured to her. Her dark blonde hair was pinned back in two thick bubble braids over her shoulders and she had warm blue eyes and a bright smile.

"Professor Penelope Haywood will be taking over for the teaching of Potions for Professor Slughorn who has decided that it is high time for him to retire for real," McGonagall said. "Professor Haywood will be taking over the first through fourth year classes and will occasionally sit in or guest lecture on any class Professor Slughorn wishes. Professor Slughorn will be retiring just after the winter holiday and Professor Haywood will take over the remainder of his classes in the new year. And last but not least, I would like to welcome Professor Payton MacGregor who will be taking over for me as the professor of Transfiguration."

A few people gasped as Ginny looked over to get a closer look at the tall, handsome man with reddish brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard.

"As Headmistress, it's unfortunately not possible for me to continue to run this school and teach all seven years worth of classes," McGonagall continued. "Like Professor Haywood, Professor MacGregor will be teaching the first through fourth years and will occasionally sit in or guest lecture in the older students' classes as well. Let's give our new professors a round of applause and welcome them to Hogwarts."

When the feast was over, Colin headed off to do his Head Boy duties, promising to come find her after, and Ginny made her way up to the Gryffindor dorms. She settled into her room, changing into pyjama shorts and one of Harry's old tee shirts before making her way downstairs into the common room. She chatted with Maisie a bit about the new professors; everyone was interested in the large amount of them starting and she smiled when Colin came in.

Colin plopped himself onto the sofa next to her. "I'm already tired. Being Head Boy is going to be exhausting."

Maisie chuckled. "You'll do great, Colin. There's no one better."

"Thanks," he said, blushing. "Come on, Ginny. Let's go find Luna."

Ginny said goodnight to her roommate and followed Colin out of the portrait hole. They found Luna halfway to Ravenclaw Tower and the blonde smiled.

"Oh, good. I thought my timing was well planned."

Ginny linked her arm in Luna's. "Head Boy duties have taken Colin away, but the three of us must catch up."

Colin showed them to the Head dormitory and shared the password with them — initium novum. He gave a wave to Francesa who smiled kindly at them.

"Hi, Ginny, hi, Luna. Colin's told me that I should expect to see a lot of you two."

Ginny laughed. "More than likely, yes. I hope you won't get sick of us."

Francesca waved them off with a smile. "No worries. Make yourselves at home."

Ginny and Luna took a seat on the sofa and Ginny looked around the head dorm in curiosity. Unlike when Ron and Hermione had it last year, the common room was now decorated in a mix of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff colours and it was round rather than square. The sofas were larger and circular and she found the changes very cool — the way the dorm adapted to the new heads every year.

Colin made them tea in the little kitchenette in the corner and the three of them settled on the sofa. "I figured with classes tomorrow, tea was a good start?"

Ginny smiled. "Tea is perfect. Now, tell me all about your trip!"

Colin started off. He explained how his parents had understood his desire to travel and how he'd written them to keep in touch by sending postcards. He'd been worried about leaving them, but he told her how he thought it was probably for the best because it gave his parents time to grieve Dennis together.

"We arrived on Prince Edward Island first," Colin told her. "It's the most beautiful little island. Very quaint."

He pulled out the hundreds of incredible photos he took as he and Luna told her all about the magic school that resided on the island called Beacon Hill. The school was in a lighthouse as well as beneath the ocean and completely made of glass. Luna explained how they went on an underwater tour to study sea dragons and the Merpeople community. They were able to see the underwater marine garden that the school was infamous for and even spent a few days in the magical village of Cape Charlotte.

They spent a few days in New Brunswick next where they went hiking on Grand Manan Island and Luna spent hours learning all about some of the local botany. Colin's photos were breathtaking and as Ginny listened to them talk, she felt like she was there with them. From New Brunswick, they moved into Québec and visited the Merpeople tribes of the Great Lakes where Luna was thrilled to see an Akhlut.

"Daddy was so excited when I wrote home to tell him," Luna told her. "We don't have them in Europe as they are native to Canada. It's a half-wolf half-orca and they are beautiful."

Ginny had to agree with that as Colin had managed to capture a photo of one mid dive into the lake.

"We even got to see the magic school in Québec City," Colin said. "They don't keep the schools so secretive out there — except from the Muggles, of course."

Colin showed her more pictures of a beautiful French stone castle and explained how it was the oldest school of magic in North America, the Académie de Magie Château de D'aureville. They took a magical boat across Lake Ontario to visit the Shining Waters School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where they found an entire family of Jarveys.

"Oh!" Ginny exclaimed. "Luna! You finally got to see one!"

Luna nodded, her smile wide. "I did! They are quite annoying, Ginny. Getting them to stop talking is almost impossible, but it was so lovely to find them there."

They spoke more about spending time in the province of Ontario and told Ginny about how the geese were everywhere.

"I watched one attack a Muggle without any provocation," Colin said, shaking his head. "It's no wonder they caused such a ruckus in the final battle."

They spent a day in the capital and even went on a tour of the Canadian Ministry of Magic before spending a few days in Montreal.

"Colin dragged me along to a hockey game," Luna told her. "It was fascinating!"

"It was wicked," Colin corrected. "It was a university game, a training camp if you will for the summer, but they were brilliant. When we left Québec we headed out to Yellowknife on the opposite end of the country because we wanted to see the Nanooks."

Colin showed her more photos and Ginny listened in amazement as they told her all about the magic school up north that was lit up by the Northern lights and made entirely of ice.

"We went on a flying sled ride," Luna said. "It was like a dream world, the snow all around. Absolutely breathtaking. It was funny because the school is enchanted to stay in a winter wonderland, so when we went down to the village near the school, it was seventeen degrees and rather beautiful as it was the summer."

They went to Banff and did some hiking as Luna found more flowers and plants that fascinated her and they took in the scenery.

"It was a much needed trip," Luna admitted. "Colin needed the break and it was so lovely to just get out of England for a bit; to be in a country that hasn't been at war. Did you know that Nargles are positively rampant in the Canadian west? It's a serious problem."

Ginny chuckled. "I didn't know that, no."

Luna smiled. "I'm just jesting. Nargles don't travel across water well. But we did see a thunderbird in Banff."

Colin showed more photos of the two of them hiking, in different magical markets and villages, and even just fun photos of the two of them enjoying themselves.

"It sounds amazing," Ginny told them.

"It was," Colin said. "I wish we'd had time to see all of the provinces and territories."

Luna reached over to take Ginny's hand. "And you? Have you and your family been doing all right with your father gone?"

Ginny gave her friend a grateful look. "We are. It's been hard, but we're all doing well."

"And the Quidditch camp?" Colin asked.

"Amazing," Ginny said.

She told them all about the camp along with her trip to Barbados with Harry and to visiting Charlie in Romania. When she told them about her mum catching her and Harry in the bedroom, Colin snorted.

"He fell off the bed?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes. Completely starkers and very, very hard. Of the three of us, I don't know who was more embarrassed."

"Harry," Luna said. "Theo's right to call him a little cabbage like that."

Ginny chuckled. "Needless to say, it was an experience."

It was late by the time they caught up and Luna yawned first.

"Get to bed, you two," Colin teased. "I don't want to have to take away house points because you're out of bounds."

"Says the Head Boy who kept us out past curfew," Ginny said.

Colin winked at them and said goodnight. Ginny hugged both of her friends goodnight and when she made it to her dorm, her roommates were already sleeping. She crawled into her four-poster and snuggled under the covers, looking up at the thick red curtains that closed around her.

She was grateful to have her friends, but Hogwarts was definitely going to be a lot different this year.

~ ASC ~

By the first weekend of September, Harry had the majority of his clothes and things packed up from his childhood room in Black Cottage. He'd just closed his trunk when Kreacher and Basil appeared to take his stuff to Clevedon Court. He thanked them for the assist and when they vanished with his things, he looked out fondly at his little balcony and around the bedroom that Sirius had built for him.

It felt strange to be leaving it.

The room had grown with him, but it still had a lot of his childish things around it as well. He still had the toy chest full in the corner, though the books had changed over the years. The photos on the wall had all been taken down and placed safely in his trunk for travel, but he'd left his father's old Quidditch posters. The nameplate on the door that said it was his room, made him smile.

His old stuffed animals, worn and used, sat on the bed where he'd put them. He closed the doors to the balcony, thinking it was going to be very strange knowing he wasn't living here anymore. When he turned, Zee was standing in the doorway of his bedroom, tears in her eyes.

"Zee, are you crying? Why?"

She shook her head, refusing to let the tears fall. "I just… my baby, all grown up and moving out. It's hitting me harder than I expected."

His slow smile had one tear falling down her cheek as he moved across the room to pull her into his arms. "I'm only an Apparition away."

"I know," she said, burying her face in his chest. "But it will feel so weird living here without you."

"It will be great," Harry assured her. "Maybe we can give Leo this room in a few years. Plus Mina and Leo can come and stay with me sometimes. You know, if you ever need anything you only have to ask. You're not really getting rid of me. Plus, I'm coming over every week for dinner."

She laughed. "Oh, are you then? And who's cooking?"

Harry kissed the top of her head. "Maybe we can trade off every week."

Zee stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. "I fell for Sirius fast. Faster than either of us wanted to admit but you, sweetie, you stole my heart so quickly that I knew if something happened and Siri and I didn't work out, I would do everything possible to stay in your life. You are my son, my first baby boy, and I love you more than I can express. I am so proud of the man you've become and I'm so proud of you for moving out into your ancestral home and making it a home again for you, Ron, and Hermione and then for you and Ginny."

Harry kissed her forehead. "I love you too, Zee. You're the best mum a bloke could ask for. You can come visit whenever you want, especially if you bring food."

She chuckled. "Deal."

She threw her arms around him again to hug him tightly before she wiped at the single tear that escaped her lashes. "What are you going to do with all of your books and toys and other things in here?"

"Leave 'em for now," he admitted. "I don't need them. And it'll give me a reason to come back."

Zee smacked him in the arm. "You have a lot of reasons to come back, mister!"

Harry grinned. "I know. I should go. Ron will be arriving soon."

Zee nodded. "Okay. I love you."

"It's not like you're never going to see me again, jeesh," he teased.

She was still poking him when he left, heading out to Apparate to Somerset. When he arrived, he found Kreacher in the master bedroom folding and hanging all of his clothes.

"Erm, Kreacher, I can do that."

"It is beneath you, Master Harry."

Harry frowned. "To hang up my own clothes? What?"

"Kreacher knows what's best. It would be better for you to go downstairs now. Kreacher will do it, Master Harry."

"Kreacher, I really appreciate the help, but I mean, you know that you don't really have to work here and —"

"Kreacher will take care of Master Sirius' son."

Harry closed his mouth, surprised at the emotion in Kreacher's words. He nodded. "Er… all right. Thank you."

Harry left Kreacher to his folding and thought the elf was getting soft in his own age. He made his way downstairs in time for Ron to step out of the fireplace with his trunk in tow.

"Hey, mate. Do you have more to cart over from the Burrow?"

"Just two more boxes," Ron said. "I'll be back in a minute."

Harry nodded and started to grab his friend's trunk but Basil beat him to it. "Just a warning mate, Basil and Kreacher are super excited that we're here. Kreacher just told me it's beneath me to put away my own clothes."

Ron grinned. "Excellent! I could use a break from chores!"

Harry snorted. "Don't let Hermione hear you say that."

Ron winked at him before he used the Floo again to grab his last two boxes from the Burrow. When he returned, Harry led him up the stairs.

"I was thinking that you and Hermione could have the room by the stairs to the third floor," Harry began. "It's one of the bigger rooms and it's closer to the bigger bathroom as well."

"Sure," Ron said. "Wherever you want us is great."

Harry nodded and pushed open the door at the far end of the hall near the staircase that led to the third floor. The bedroom was fairly large with a Queen-sized four poster made of solid oak. There was a large wardrobe on one side of the room with a good-sized cupboard. On the other side of the room there were two armchairs in front of the fireplace and a small end table between them. The room was painted a light taupe, all outlined in dark stained wood. The arched wall behind the bed had a stone-like finish that matched the stone fireplace. There was a large area rug on the hardwood and the bed had red and gold throw pillows and a matching throw blanket.

"There's a door here to the bathroom," Harry told him. "It's not technically an ensuite as the bedroom on the other side has a door to the bath, too, but I thought it would work for you."

"Wow," Ron said, his eyes widening. "This definitely more than works. I'm going to feel like Malfoy sleeping here." At Harry's look, he grinned. "Pampered and spoiled."

Harry snorted. "Well, you're welcome then. There's a big tub here under the window," he said, leading Ron into the bathroom. "Basil added in the standup shower in the corner in the remodelling and updating. It has jets from all angles."

Ron whistled. "Seriously, mate, this is wicked. Thank you."

"Good," Harry said. "I'll let you unpack and get settled. I was thinking we could do takeaway tonight."

"I'm good with any and all food."

Harry's lips curved. "I know."

He left Ron to get settled, excited to have his best mate moving in with him.

An hour later, they had fish and chips from a takeaway place nearby and were eating in the kitchen. Ron lifted the bottle of Dragon Scale beer to clink it with Harry's.

"To new roommates."

"And old friends," Harry said, grinning.

"So," Ron began as he dug back into his fish and chips. "What do you need from me?" At Harry's look, he picked up a chip. "I'm living here for free, mate. I know you have house elves, but seriously, what do you want me to do?"

Harry took a drink of his beer before he spoke. "Well, Kreacher and Basil are definitely going to be doing more than I'd like. I love to cook and I know you're not bad either. It might be fun to take turns with that sometimes when we're off."

"I like food. Cooking food is fine, too."

Harry grinned. "And the horses. Basil has been taking care of them for me, but now that I'm living here, it's my job. I would definitely appreciate help there."

"I don't know a thing about horses," Ron admitted.

"You'll learn," Harry said. "It's just about mucking out the stalls and making sure they are fed. I can teach you to ride as well. Now that I'm here, I want to make sure they get out for a good ride as often as possible. Grandpa has come by to ride them a bit, but with me at school, other than meandering around the garden and field, they could use some good rides."

"Sounds fun."

"It will be a bit better than when I was in Georgia," Harry told him. "Now I can use magic so we won't have to manually shovel out the stalls."

"Definite plus," Ron agreed. "But seriously, you don't want us to pay some kind of rent?"

"No," Harry insisted. "You can save up to find your own place and keep me company in the meantime. I think it's a fair trade."

"A really fucking good one," Ron told him. "Thanks."

"And since you're here, you can come for a run with me every morning."

Ron groaned. "I take back every good thing I've ever said about you, Harry."

Harry grinned. "Gotta stay in shape, mate. We're almost Aurors now."

Ron grinned back at him and Harry thought it was definitely great to have his best friend living here with him.

~ ASC ~

Returning to Hogwarts without Harry attending was definitely an adjustment for Remus as well. He'd never not been Harry's professor and suddenly he was Deputy Headmaster, Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, and father of a five month old baby all at once. It was almost surreal.

He had helped interview the new professors in August with McGonagall and he had to admit, they all seemed like a good fit, including all qualified. Slughorn was praising his prodigy, Penny Haywood, like she was the second coming. According to Tonks, Haywood had been an incredibly talented Potions student from the beginning, having a sense for the subject unlike anyone else that even Snape approved of.

That was another thing. MacGregor and Haywood had attended Hogwarts with his wife which meant that they were both only twenty-five years old. MacGregor, in fact, was the youngest son of Ian MacGregor, who worked in the Magical Intelligence Agency. Kashif was thirty-one, Laurent was twenty-eight, and Erwood was an Elf which meant he looked twenty-five but was actually seventy-six. All of the new blood was definitely a change on the castle, but a good one.

Tonks returned to work at the Ministry of Magic, part-time. She was anxious to be back and she always came home with a smile and a story about one of her co-workers. Remus loved seeing her clip her badge into place and head off. She was a damn good Auror and seeing her back in her element made him happy.

Not to mention how randy it made her with them separated for most of the day again. They'd barely gotten Teddy into his cot last night before she'd been practically riding him against the wall in the hallway.

Not that he was complaining.

The first week of classes seemed to fly by as Remus adjusted to having Teddy with him two days a week. The students loved it and found it charming to watch Remus hold his son while he taught or set him up with floating lights in the play pen he'd arranged in the corner. He'd even found himself blushing when he heard a group of students say something about him being the sexiest dad they'd ever seen. When he told Tonks that night, she'd burst into laughter and claimed that only further proved her point about him being a sexy professor.

Remus wasn't sure how to take that.

He spent his free time organizing lesson plans and assisting the new professors in getting settled in. He also helped McGonagall prepare for the ceremony that was to take place the second week of classes to honour everyone who had been killed in the Battle of Hogwarts. It was going to be on a Monday. Classes were cancelled for the afternoon as Minister Jones and Deputy Minister Jameson were arriving along with everyone who had fought in the battle on the second of May. It was going to be a huge ceremony and Remus rather thought it was going to be the closure that everyone needed.

Though Harry had groaned about it when Remus spoke to him last night on the mirror.

"I think the ceremony is great," he argued. "But I don't need to be up there, Uncle Rem."

"Yes, you do," Remus insisted. "They're going to present you with an Order of Merlin, Harry. You're a hero."

"I don't have to make a speech, do I?" he asked, looking slightly panicked.

Remus chuckled. "Harry, thank you for always being so humble."

Harry frowned. "Was that a yes or a no? Fuck."

Remus told him to just say a few words of thanks and nothing more, but he knew that hadn't really reassured him.

The sight of his son coming in now, walking alongside Ron, had him smiling.

"Well, you only look a little green," Remus teased.

Harry glared at him. "You're not funny."

"He tried to get Park to break his jaw in combat training this morning so that he wouldn't be able to speak," Ron said. "He failed."

"I don't know what to say," Harry reasoned.

"You'll be fine," Remus assured him. "Come on, everyone will be down by the Black Lake."

Harry caught sight of Ginny as they were coming out of the castle and he watched him run over to her. He picked her right up off of the ground and spun her in a circle that made her laugh as they kissed. Remus knew the two of them being separated this year was going to be hard. It had only been a week and he caught the hint of desperation in their kisses.

It wasn't long before the grounds began to fill up and when Jones stepped onto the stage that Hagrid had helped erect, he tapped his wand to his throat so that he could be heard over the crowd.

"Good afternoon. As all of you know, today we are here to honour those we lost in the war. We're here to remember the people who sacrificed their lives to help us live today. The war has taken a toll on all of us. Every single person here has lost a loved one, a friend, a coworker. We've all been changed by the war and now it is up to us to pick up the pieces and move on. Professor McGonagall has been kind enough to lend us the Hogwarts grounds to do this ceremony today. As many of you know, we have memorials to honour those we've lost. King Taliesan has built one in Tara, we have the Wall of Heroes in the Ministry of Magic, and here, we've planted an oak tree to stand beside the monument that will stand for Hogwarts."

He looked out over the crowd as he continued.

"Every person who fought for what they believed in are heroes in my book. None of us would be standing here today if it wasn't for your heroism, but the person who we owe the most gratitude to is Harry Potter."

Murmurs erupted in the crowd.

"Lord Somerset, if you would."

Remus watched as Harry stood up and made his way onto the stage. He shook Minister Jones' hand with a smile as Jones' voice spoke over the crowd.

"Lord Somerset or better known to all of you as Harry Potter, the Chosen One. The Man Who Defeated Voldemort. He stands before all of you now, flush with embarrassment," Jones said, giving Harry a small smile. "But his heroics are appreciated, celebrated, and most of all, a sacrifice that all of us are incredibly grateful for. Without Potter's help, I don't know if we could have ended this war. Which is why I stand before you today to present Harry James Potter with an Order of Merlin, First Class."

Harry stood tall as Jones pinned the medal to his formal dress robes. It was a thick purple ribbon, just like the one that Sirius had been given, posthumous. Hanging from the purple ribbon was a round gold medal that displayed the words Order of Merlin, First Class carved in deep red. Beneath it, in smaller silver script it said: Harry James Potter, Saviour.

"Thank you, Harry Potter, for everything," Jones said sincerely.

Harry nodded and when Jones tapped his throat to let him speak out to the crowd, Remus watched Harry's nerves.

"Thank you for this incredible honour," Harry began, his voice loud enough to be heard over the grounds. "I just did what needed to be done. Today isn't about me, it's about the amazing people we lost during this war. A war that started before I was even born, the war that took my parents' lives seventeen years ago. Many people have loss stories such as this and even more people have lost people they love more recently. I've lost friends, family, and fathers," Harry said, his voice cracking. "It's them I want to celebrate today and what they gave up so that we can be here. Thank you."

Everyone applauded as Jones gestured for Harry to stay on the stage.

"Thank you for your sacrifice, Harry Potter."

There was more applause and Remus watched as Harry took a seat on the bench he was led towards on the stage. Jones and Jameson took it in turns to call the others up onto the stage. Ron was also presented with an Order of Merlin, First Class and Remus smiled proudly as he watched his former students step forward to collect awards for their heroism in the Battle of Hogwarts.

Second Class was presented to McGonagall, Ginny, Hermione, Neville, Luna, Theo, Seamus, and Dean for their heroics in guarding the castle and in leading the fight on the second of May. Third Class was presented to Colin for his heroic work in photographing the battle. And finally, Jameson announced the unveiling of the Hogwarts Memorial.

To Remus' surprise it was a large black marble wall. In the centre of the wall carved in white was a hand, holding a wand high into the air that lit up blue and silver lightning. The lightning flashed, lighting up the marble and making the wall look very much alive. Across the top it read: Those who gave their lives in the Battle of Hogwarts, 2nd May, 1998. Each name was written alphabetically in carved gold from students, to professors, to Aurors, to those who fought on the defence squads, to the names of the magical creatures who gave their lives.

"This monument will stay here on the shores of the Black Lake to honour the place where Harry Potter defeated the darkest wizard this world has known for centuries. Professor Sprout and Professor Hagrid will be landscaping around it to help illuminate its beauty and importance in honouring our dead," Jameson declared. "And now, we would like everyone to bow their heads as we have a moment of silence for those who have fallen."

No one spoke.

The grounds were silent with nothing but the sound of the wind rustling through the trees and when the moment was over, there were a few more speeches before the closing ceremonies took place.

Remus found Harry standing with Ginny, Ron, and Hermione, admiring each other's purple ribbons and he smiled. "Thank you. All of you. Harry, you were great up there."

Ron nudged him. "He didn't puke, I consider it a win."

Harry rolled his eyes and then grinned when Ginny snuggled into his side, his arm coming around her. "It wasn't so bad."

Remus chuckled and left Harry with his friends to help McGonagall deal with the Ministry workers. No, it had been a beautiful ceremony and the gorgeous memorial was as much a dedication to Harry as it was to those who had fallen. Remus couldn't imagine a more powerful image.

~ ASC ~

Seamus thought the ceremony at Hogwarts was very well done. It felt right going back to the school in September and only went on to remind him that his days at school were over. They'd gone out with a bang and a major battle that had resulted in ending a war that had gone on for decades. He was happy to see Harry get recognized for it and humbled that he and Dean had been presented an Order of Merlin themselves.

Dean draped an arm over his boyfriend's shoulders and kissed his temple. "You look sexy with your Order of Merlin."

Seamus laughed, his eyes on Dean. "So do you, Thomas."

Dean had only returned to England two weeks ago and Seamus had missed him terribly. He'd been so busy he almost didn't realize how much he missed him until he was alone in his bed at night. Then he missed Dean's body against his and those long arms holding him close.

Seamus had spent his summer with Lieutenant Fire Flyer Grant. He'd done drills with the house and spoke to the other fire flyers about the course load and now he was three weeks into his twelve-week course at the Official Fire Broomgade Training Academy in London. LFF Grant had made himself a mentor of sorts and they grabbed coffee weekly to discuss his training and for Seamus to keep him up to date on how things were going. Grant had claimed more than once that he was grooming Seamus for a place in his own broomgade house.

Seamus couldn't wait.

Dean had spent the summer with Kellan Morgan. Morgan had helped out by supplying artists to help Dean and Professor De Milo fix the damage done to the school paintings. Kellan hadn't been there to help in the final battle, but the contribution to help rebuild was a good sign in Seamus' book. The man had more than stepped up and Seamus could see the happiness on his boyfriend's face as he spoke about the amazing summer they'd spent together. Kellan had taken him to Cairo, Paris, Tokyo, São Paulo, Florence, Lagos, Singapore, Berlin, Barcelona, Melbourne, San Francisco, Montréal, and New York City.

They spent a handful of days in each place as Kellan showed Dean art galleries and infamous sculptures in cities he worked with. Dean sketched everything and every time an owl arrived with a new letter, Seamus would find gorgeous sketches to explain his trip.

Dean and Kellan also bonded more on this trip, not only about art, but learning more about each other. When Dean returned to England, he even called Kellan 'Dad' which made Seamus smile. He was happy to see his boyfriend so happy.

While Dean was travelling with his dad and immersing himself in art culture, Seamus spent whatever time he wasn't with Grant or studying with his family. His sister Katie had come to stay with his parents for a month this summer with her husband Jason and their daughter, Saoirse. Darcy had decided it was her job to help him and Sunshine find a place for him and Dean to live.

To his surprise, it was his sister who stumbled across the place in Brighton.

It was a bright red townhouse in between a deep pink and a bright blue on either side. It had a small kitchen, a roomy common room, and a glass door leading out onto a small cobblestone terrace with a small garden that the previous owners had filled with flowers. The second floor had the bath and two bedrooms. The one bedroom had a huge window that overlooked the garden and according to Sunshine was the perfect amount of light for an artist's studio.

Seamus knew it was the one. He sent photos to Dean and told him that he was interested. The rent was just right and Brighton wasn't too far from London where Sunshine lived. Seamus was already moved in by the time Dean returned from New York. Sunshine helped Seamus pack up all of Dean's things as well and when Seamus went to pick up Dean from the Ministry, he'd been eager to bring him home to their new home together.

They were still settling in and trying to find furniture for the place. Not to mention they still needed to get a bed and paint the bedroom as white just was too boring in Seamus' opinion, but they had a place for themselves and he loved it.

Dean had immediately loved the room they'd turned into his studio. Sunshine had brought up a drawing table and Theo helped Seamus find a tall cupboard to store all of his art supplies. They'd even set up an easel facing the window and added in a small love seat in the corner. Dean thought it was perfect and had said as much to Seamus after getting on his knees and sucking him off right there in the studio, Seamus' fingers clutching Dean's short hair.

Now they caught up with Harry, Ron, and Neville with a smile as they listened to their friends talk about the Auror Academy and Neville talked all about the plants he was growing in his greenhouse at home.

"It's been too long," Seamus said when Harry said it was crazy they hadn't seen each other since they'd written their NEWTs. "We should make a thing."

"What kind of thing?" Neville asked.

"Once a month we have to get together and catch up, have drinks, play would you rather?"

Harry chuckled. "You had me until the last bit and I think by Dean's face, he agrees with me."

"But it's tradition!" Seamus insisted before he shook his head. "Fine, but I'm serious about the drinks. There's a new pub that opened near our new flat called …And A Bottle of Rum. It's run by a goblin named Zeus and they have the best steak and chips I've ever tasted in my life and their jacket potatoes made me almost cry."

Ron licked his lips. "Well, I'm in. When are we going?"

Seamus beamed. "How about the last Saturday of every month at seven?"

"That sounds great, Seamus," Harry agreed.

They chatted some more about what they'd been up to and agreed to meet at …And A Bottle of Rum for drinks in a few weeks. When they headed towards Hogsmeade to Apparate back to Brighton, Dean reached for Seamus' hand.

"Did I tell you how much I appreciate you letting me have those months with my dad? It meant so much to me, Seam, and to know that you were here, making us a home and learning how to be a fire flyer in the meantime is just… I really, fucking love you, you know?"

Seamus stood on his toes to kiss his boyfriend. "I really love you, too, but I'm glad you're home. I think I was starting to get calluses on my hand."

Dean snorted. "Prat."

Seamus grinned. "Let's go shopping for a new bed and then we'll go home and shag in it."

Dean's eyes glimmered in amusement. "Deal. Person who finds the winning bed gets to top."

Seamus' eyes widened before he grinned. "I love the way you think, babe."

They were laughing as they Disapparated and Seamus thought his future was looking pretty damn good.

~ ASC ~

Neville was feeling pretty content. He and Hannah had found themselves in a comfortable rhythm this summer as they settled into Cumbria. Outside of attending the Wizengamot sessions, the memorial ceremony at Hogwarts was really the first time either of them ventured too far since Goldstein's party, both too busy with their passions to worry about much else.

Hannah had taken over the kitchen of the house and in between waiting tables for Tom at the Leaky Cauldron, was forming a pretty solid catering business. She was getting busy enough now that she was even talking about quitting her job at the pub to make more time for her baking.

It seemed that everyone wanted a taste of Serendipity Sweets Catering.

Hannah formed a solid menu of fairy cakes, biscuits, tarts, and pastries for people to choose from. She was advertising in the Daily Prophet and Theo had put a poster up of her advertisement on the window of Sophistication by Pansy, insisting that Pansy was going to leave it up because the baked goods were to die for. Since Pansy had devoured the box of fairy cakes Theo had brought her as bribery when she'd been pregnant, she had no choice but to agree. Hannah had catered the entire dessert menu for the anniversary party that Theo had hosted at Norfolk and gained a few more customers from there. Hannah even had a handful of regular customers who ordered biscuits and tarts weekly for afternoon tea.

Neville loved coming in from the greenhouse and finding her in the kitchen, maybe with some flour on her nose and the room smelling like heaven. He loved wrapping his arms around her from behind and kissing her neck or ear as she giggled and smiled.

They spent their evenings going on long walks, talking about their ideas for Serendipity, and snogging. Lots and lots of snogging. Hannah was becoming bolder and Neville wasn't one to complain. She was getting more and more skilled with her hands and when she used her mouth, he swore he'd never come so hard in his life. And when he buried his face between her legs, she moaned his name.

"Are you cross with me?" Hannah asked one afternoon when they were lying in his bed, both of them half naked.

"Why on earth would I be cross with you?" he asked, leaning in to nip at her mouth. "I just made you moan so deliciously."

Hannah blushed. "Because we've only done things like this and not… you know…"

"Sex," Neville supplied.

Hannah nodded.

Neville kissed her lips. "This still counts as sex, Hannah. But you wanting to wait to have intercourse until marriage doesn't make me cross with you."

Hannah twisted the promise ring around on her finger. "What if I don't want to?"

"Don't want to what?" he asked, kissing her shoulder.

"Wait."

Neville's eyes widened as he looked into her eyes. "Do you?"

"I don't know," she whispered. "I love you. I love being with you and touching you. And Mandy says that I'm silly to want to wait; that my reasoning has everything to do with my mother and… I'm starting to wonder if she's right."

Neville pressed a kiss to her brow. "I love you, Hannah. Do I want to make love with you? Pretty much every moment of every day. But kissing you and touching you is more than enough for me if that's what you want. I'll wait forever for you."

"I know."

Neville pulled her into his arms, snuggling her into his chest. "What are you worried about?"

Hannah hesitated, her hand moving over his stomach as she spoke. "Mum always said that no one would want me if I gave the milk away for free, but… she tricked Uncle Jules and my dad and got pregnant on purpose and… I want to have a baby someday and I'm worried that if we… and I get pregnant before we're married, you'll…"

"You are nothing like your mother, Hannah. You are an amazing and kind woman and when you get pregnant, we'll both know it's because it's what we both want." He picked up her hand and kissed the promise ring that glistened in the sunlight coming in through his bedroom window. "One day, after we have our shop and things are settled, I'm going to put a real ring on this finger and I hope you'll say yes."

Hannah kissed him. He lost himself in her lips, his hands moving into her long blonde hair and when he looked into her blue eyes, he'd never felt happier.

Until Hannah's hand moved lower and her eyes darkened. "I'm done waiting, Neville."

He cupped her face in his hands. "Are you sure?"

Hannah nodded, biting her bottom lip. "I'm sure. I want you. I want us. I just… I might be bad at it."

Neville chuckled and kissed her nose. "Not possible."

And when he began to kiss his way down her body, removing the rest of her clothes in the afternoon sunlight coming in through his bedroom, he knew that this would be a day he would remember forever.

When he entered her, she held her breath and when she gave him the go ahead, he took his time, moving slowly and getting her used to his body.

"More," she moaned.

And when he came, he kissed her tenderly and linked her fingers with his. "The next time will be better, I promise,"

Hannah's eyes were full of tears as she shook her head. "No. I don't care that I didn't come, I know that's normal. Neville, it was perfect. You were perfect."

Her lips met his and he snuggled her close in his arms. Yeah, life was pretty damn perfect right about now.

~ ASC ~

Crouch looked up when Belladonna entered the room, positively glowing. He crooked a finger at her and she sat down on the sofa next to him, her hand moving to rest on his knee.

"I know that look, dearie. What good news do you come bearing?"

"I found the ashes of Hades. A man found them in the Cape Matapan Caves and is going to send them through Gringotts."

Crouch's breath hitched. "That's the last of it then? We have all of the ingredients to bring him back? Truly?"

Belladonna nodded. "You just have to collect the bone of the father and once the ashes arrive… we'll need the human sacrifice."

Crouch couldn't believe it. Ever since they'd found the Resurrection Stone, they had been trying to figure out how to use it to bring back their master. But no matter what kind of runes Belladonna went over, it seemed that nothing was quite right. Bellatrix reiterated the resurrection spell that Voldemort had her, Abraxas, and Selwyn cast in the graveyard almost four years ago and Belladonna's eyes had brightened.

But then they'd discovered that the Ministry had cremated the body and scattered his ashes somewhere unknown and Crouch had wept. He'd wept and raged at the injustice of bloody fucking Potter taking away his master.

"We need something tangible to return him," Belladonna insisted. "With his Horcruxes gone… this is our only chance."

Bellatrix had smiled then, her dark eyes dancing in madness. "Well, there might be something else we could do."

"What?" Crouch demanded. "What else can we do to bring him back?"

Bellatrix licked her lips and knelt before Crouch, sliding her hands up his thighs. "How badly do you want Potter to pay for killing the Dark Lord, Bart?"

Crouch grabbed her chin and yanked her face up to stare into her eyes. "I want Potter to suffer like I have suffered and then I want to string him up by his balls and skin him alive with a dull knife."

"You want revenge, Bart?"

"Yes," he demanded.

Bellatrix straddled him and reached around to grab Belladonna's hand. "Revenge is best served to those who wait."

When she'd finished outlining her plan, Crouch's eyes had danced in manic glee. "Bella, you are truly mad."

Belladonna had immediately gone to research further into resurrection and runes. "We'll have to make sure that we have everything exactly right. No one can suspect."

"They won't," Bellatrix said. "We'll get our revenge on Potter and watching him break down when we sacrifice the bitch will be even sweeter. The Blood Moon would be the best time to do it. There's power in a Red Moon."

There was power in it and when they realized it was going to be high in the sky the first week of November, they knew that they only had a little time to prepare. Now, Donna had found the missing ingredient, that one elusive piece that they had been worried would stop them.

Hades, god of the dead. His ashes had been the last key according to the ritual Belladonna and Bellatrix were putting together.

Crouch licked his lips. "What about the red moon, Donna?"

"It will be in the sky just after twilight on the third just as we planned. If we don't have everything ready by then, we'll have to wait."

He shook his head. "No. We're not waiting. Did you brew me a fresh batch of Polyjuice?"

"I did," Belladonna said. "You'll keeping following her then? We need to be ready to grab her in a few weeks time. Sooner if necessary."

"I'll keep following her," Crouch promised. "After all, you know how much I like to stalk my prey before we strike."

Belladonna chuckled. "I love your depraved mind, Barty. I'll go find Bella and fill her in. She should be done getting the rest of the ingredients needed for the resurrection. You have the stone someplace safe?"

"I do," he promised. "We'll be ready, Donna, and when we resurrect him, we'll have our revenge."

---

End Author's Notes:

(Latin) initium novum = a new beginning

Thanks for reading and please review!