Once again, uploaded from my phone at work, formatting will be fixed later when I am home :) apologies once again. Hope you enjoy!

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Harry hadn't been home in three days. Nothing short of his status as the Boy Who Lived could have given him the right to stay, but the fury in Harry's face when he'd brought Pansy to the trauma ward of St. Mungo's had sent a clear message to the healers, he wasn't going anywhere. Harry had watched a silent vigil over Pansy's bed since the moment she'd come out of surgery. She still hadn't woken up, but the Healers had told him that after the amount of trauma she had suffered, it was perfectly normal for patients to sleep for days. They had been able to repair most of the damage, some bones had healed in awkward positions when the Death Eaters had carelessly mended them with no mind to proper care, but she had come through the strenuous 12 hour surgery, better off at least.

Harry watched silently across the room, fixated on the broken witch in front of him as she slept. They had completely destroyed her, Harry had never seen anyone, in all his career, survive the amount of damage that had been inflicted on Pansy. She was strong, he had known that from the offset, she had always been very strong willed back in school.

The healers had said that they couldn't be sure of the extent until she was awake, but there was sure to be an extensive amount of emotional and mental damage after what she had gone through. Harry had never before given a rat's ass about Pansy Parkinson, but seeing her like that in those dungeons, something had snapped. No one deserved that. He'd lost control of his magic in a way that hadn't happened since he was 13, throwing Greyback into that wall had been completely unintentional, something had just… Snapped inside Harry's head. Harry was still torn, blaming himself for what had happened to this girl, who regardless of their enmity at school, he had known since he was 11 years old. Regardless of their feelings about each other, they had grown up together.

Lost in thought, Harry had failed to notice Pansy's eyes flutter open. "Why are you staring at me Potter?" she croaked, shocking Harry's mind from it's wandering state. "Just making sure youre not dead Parkinson" he replied, relieved to see her sitting up on her own. "You could at least make yourself useful and get me some water" she sneered, Harry couldnt tell if she was being playful, or just her normal bitchy self, but he complied, quickly filling her bedside cup with an "Augmenti" charm. Harry watched as she gulped down the water, and he refilled the cup for her, watching the second go down just as fast.

"Pansy…." Harry started. "Food, Potter, i havent eaten a real meal in a month. I'm sure you have questions, but you could be a gentleman and let me eat first" She cut him off. The comeback on Harry's lips died before it had even formed, as he realized this was Pansy being civil. He could see through the snooty banter, it was in her eyes, the crashing realization of what she had been through over the last month. She would mask her pain behind her signature Pansy Parkinson attitude, but Harry could see it ingrained in her features. "Are you done staring yet Potter? I believe I said I was hungry!" She said, snapping the fingers on her good hand to get Harry's attention. Shaking his head Harry left the room to go find some food.

Back a few minutes later with the best selection from the bakery across the street, Harry carefully unwrapped everything and placed it on a tray for her. "I wasn't sure what you liked so I just got a bit of everything" He said sheepishly. Pansy's usually hardened expression seemed to soften a bit as he carefully placed the tray in her lap and filled her bedside cup with pumpkin juice. "Thank you Harry…." She said, her lips bearing the ghost of what Harry could honestly say was the first smile he had ever seen her wear. Her use of his first name for the first time in memory wasn't exactly lost on him either. Their eyes met briefly before each of them nervously averted their gaze. "Eat up" he said, pointing at the tray, "you've got a lot of strength to regain." Harry hadn't been around Pansy enough to know anything about her eating habits, but her month in captivity seemed to have abolished any pickiness she'd once had. He watched silently as she devoured everything he'd brought her, gulping the pumpkin juice down, and once again he felt a pang of guilt for the entire situation the witch in front of him had been placed in.

Around lunch time the healers came in to do some checkups, Harry bowed out of the room, promising he would be back to check on her later. Once outside he apparated to his apartment to get cleaned up, he had a very special date planned and it wouldn't do for him to show up covered in blood and smelling of Death Eater filth.

An hour later there was the tiniest knock at his door and Harry was beaming as he swung it open to greet his godson. "Uncle Harry!" Teddy screamed as Harry was assaulted in the tightest hug the four year old child could muster. "Hey buddy! I missed you!" Harry said, picking Teddy up and ruffling his shaggy brown hair. "Hello Harry" Andromeda said smiling warmly. Harry nodded, "Come in Andromeda would you like something to drink?" Harry said, setting Teddy down so the boy could proceed to systematically find the best and quickest ways to completely destroy his apartment. Harry and Andromeda made small talk for a while, catching each other up and the comings and goings of their lives since they had last seen each other, and soon enough it was with a gracious goodbye that Harry was seeing her out.

"Now!" Harry said with an evil grin "I have you all to myself! Come here you little monster!" Teddy shrieked with laughter as Harry proceeded to chase him in circles around the couch. Finally catching him Harry spun his godson into the air and began tickling his ribs mercilessly. He smiled as Teddy giggled uncontrollably. Harry lived for these moments, the short reprieves in the chaos his life had been over the last four years. Teddy was the light in Harry's darkness, his proof that there was still some goodness and innocence in an otherwise dark and twisted world. "Uncle Harry lets go get some ice cream!" Teddy yelled, giggling profusely as Harry sat him down. Harry grinned and put his hands on his hips pretending to be lost in thought. "Now Teddy…." He said, "you know full well that your grandma Andromeda doesn't want you eating too many sweets." "Nuh uh Uncle Harry!" Teddy said adamantly, putting on his best puppy dog eyes. "Gramma Dromeda said I can eat all the ice cream I want!" He pouted. While Harry very much doubted that that was the case, he had infact already planned to take Teddy to Diagon Alley for some ice cream, where they were going to meet up with Ron and then there was a whole evening planned out.

The trip to florean fortescue's ice cream shop was, eventful to say the least, leaving Teddy, Ron, and Harry all three covered in sticky chocolate ice cream. The trio troped back through the Leaky Cauldron, greeting Tom the barkeep with a wave as Harry took Teddy into the restroom to clean him up, doing the same for himself with a quick charm.

"Teddy who's the best quidditch team in the world?" Harry asked nonchalantly, a grin beginning to form on his lips. "Puddlemere! Puddlemere! Puddlemere!" Teddy yelled enthusiastically pumping his tiny fist in the air. "That's right buddy! Now what would you say if I told you that your Uncle Ron and I, MIGHT have scored some top box tickets to their game tonight?" Harry said. Teddys fist froze in mid air, and he looked at Harry, the excitement growing wild in his eyes. "REALLY?!" He yelled. "Really really" Harry said, seeing Teddy's excitement beginning to steam roll. Teddy yelled and ran out of the bathroom screaming "Puddlemere! Puddlemere! Puddlemere!" Harry chuckled at the boy's enthusiasm as he followed him out to watch him run all around the pub screaming about Puddlemere, the other customers smiling at the pure joy on his face.

Several excitement filled hours later, Harry carried a sleeping Teddy through the door of his apartment, still wearing the smile that had graced his face for the last few hours. He was Happy he'd been able to get the tickets, he'd known Teddy would love them. Harry had had enough happen over the last month, the break from it all had been nice. He and Ron had laughed the night away watching Teddy's excitement over his first real Quidditch game. The little guy had worn himself out apparently. He'd fallen asleep in Harry's arms within minutes of the game being over.

Harry strode back to the bedroom he had reserved for Teddy, one that Hermione had decorated mind you, and laid the boy down, pulling the giant red and gold Gryffindor comforter over him. As he turned to leave, Harry's eyes swept over the picture of Remus and Tonks that Teddy kept on his bedside table, and his heart sank again. "You'd be proud of him old friend" Harry whispered, "he's growing up to be quite a wonderful kid". Harry ruffled Teddy's sandy brown hair lovingly and strode back out of the bedroom.

The paperwork from Pansy Parkinson's rescue stared up at him from the island in his kitchen, and with a sigh, Harry picked it up and began to flip through it, not really in the mood for it tonight. Unfortunately it needed to get done, so Harry flopped over on the couch and poured himself three fingers of an expensive Scotch from the crystal bottle on his coffee table. Harry swished the deep Amber liquid around in his glass a few times before taking a drink. It burned his throat on the way down and made his entire body feel warm. The scotch had been a gift from Kingsley after a particularly brutal raid that had kept Harry awake for many a night. Maybe out of habit by now, but it seemed to be Harry's go to bottle after every battle, so he could sleep without fear of the nightmares catching up to him.

Harry worked long into the night reading through every detail of The raid on Dolohov's estate, memorizing crime scene photos, pouring over the evidence. Looking for some clue the Death Eaters might have left about where they would go next, the ones who hadn't been captured or killed anyway. He filled out the places that needed his input, and assimilated all of the data from the other officers who had handled the report.

As the night wore on Harry's eyelids grew heavier and the bottle of scotch seemed to empty itself as Harry consumed glass after glass as he worked. Sometime just before sunrise he stumbled off to bed, far more drunk than he should have been.

All Hell had broken loose in Diagon Alley, and it was all hands on deck. Harry and Ron were fresh out of the Auror Academy and it was the height of the post-war conflict. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement had sent everything it had, and then some, many witches and wizards of consenting age had shown up to try and bring a halt to this concentrated show of Death Eater strength. They had come in full force, wearing the ceremonial robes.

The Dark Mark hung over the Alley washed in smoke and fog and the acrid smell of something burning.

It was Harry's first battle as a full fledged Auror, and the concentration and organization of it all terrified him. Every battle he had ever partaken in throughout his years, was a random event, never something he had known was coming, never something he'd planned for. His stomach clenched tightly as he flooed into the rendezvous point designated by the ministry, Harry had no idea what was about to happen. It was utter chaos, there was no better word to describe it. Harry's senses were assaulted as the customary bangs and blasts of magical warfare met his ears, accompanied by the jets of light rocketing through the smoke clouded air. Shops were ablaze, and Harry was hit with the thick smell of burning wood and plaster.

Jumping into the fray, time seemed to slow as Harry shot a wordless curse at the first masked figure he happened across, and didn't even stop to identify the incapacitated Death Eater. Glimpsing down an alleyway Harry did a double take as he saw Fred Weasley going at it with another of Voldemort's masked thugs. His stomach dropped as it dawned on him, of course the Weasleys were here, why wouldn't they be? "Ginny…." Harry whispered, terrified for his on again, off again girlfriend. "GINNY?" Harry yelled as he began sprinting down the alleyway, frantically searching for the fiery redhead.

Harry eventually found her, and his eyes widened in horror as he processed what he was seeing. Ginny was exchanging curses with Yaxley, the two circled each other, with all the suspense of a coiled snake. Harry watched, transfixed and rooted to the spot as Ginny struck first, like a cobra in fear for its life. Yaxley deflected her spell, with a quick flick of his wrist and before Harry could move, countered with a jet of pure white magic that… Simply punched a hole clean through Ginny's chest. Her mouth formed a tiny "oh" and she crumpled to the ground. Harry's first thought was that someone had turned off the sound, the color, all of it, as he watched Ginny fall in slow motion, blood beginning to leak from her pale lips. Yaxley seemed to have just noticed Harry, he grinned, "Sorry 'bout your blood traitor bitch Potter" he spat. Harry snapped out of his daze, and suddenly all he could feel was pure, unadulterated, white hot rage. He let out a roar that he swore should have torn his throat, and charged down the alley at Yaxley, all magic forgotten he leapt, reaching for his throat. Yaxley flicked his wrist again and there was a sonic boom that sent Harry flying backthrough a nearby shop window. Sputtering and shaking off the glass, Harry didn't even feel it as he shot back up, the adrenaline pounding venom through his veins. "CRUCIO!" Harry bellowed sending the curse flying straight for Yaxley, who simpler apparated around it, laughing, mocking, taunting Harry. Harry growled, and flung curse after curse towards the blonde Death Eater. None of them made contact.

"Tut tut Potter" Yaxley taunted "you would think that the Auror academy would have helped with your aim…. How did you ever pass? Seems the standards have been lowered since I was there" Harry lunged again but with a wave of Yaxley's hand Harry found himself on the ground again. All sense of humor fled the Death Eater's face "How did A measly BOY like you defeat the Dark Lord Potter? You can't even hit me" He whirled his wand and Harry barely dodged the white beam of light that surely would have killed him as fast as it had Ginny. The rage clouding his mind Harry didn't realize until it was too late what he had done, "AVADA KEDAVRA!" he roared, the jet of green light blasting Yaxley's already lifeless body into the air.

Harry's eyes widened as he realized the implications of his actions. It wasn't the last time he would use he killing curse, but it was the first time. He watched the light fade from Yaxley's eyes, as an irrational wave of remorse hit him for what he had done.

Harry stifled the urge to lose his lunch.

Ginny's body was laying in a heap of robes in the middle of the street, Harry didn't know how, but he could tell she was still breathing as he knelt next to her. Her eyes fluttered open and her blood soaked hand instantly came up to caress his cheek. She was quivering, barely holding on.

"Ginny please don't die, I've been stupid, I love you…. Please don't die" Harry sobbed, the tears falling freely. She smiled weakly, tears unavoidably forming in her eyes as well. "You're here now Harry, that's all that matters, stay with me, please stay with me…." She muttered, her eyes beginning to close. Harry shook her gently, "Ginny, Ginny I'm right here, stay with me. Ginny please!" Harry shouted through his tears. Ginny's hand fell limply away from Harry's jawline and he grabbed onto it like it was the only connection he had to reality.

"I love you Harry, I always will"

She heaved one last terrible death rattle, and then Ginny's breathing stopped. She was gone like dust in the wind, and there was nothing Harry could do. He sat there, sobbing, screaming for her to come back, covered in her blood, and utterly helpless.

Harry shot up in bed in a cold sweat, with a gripping tightness in his chest. His mind was still partially clouded in an alcoholic fog, and looking at his clock he realized he'd only gotten 3 hours of sleep. The memory he continued to see in his dreams, was one Harry was convinced he would never forget. Ginny had died too young, in a way far more brutally than she had deserved. It still stung Harry to this day, to realize that she would never brighten his doorstep again.

Knowing he wasn't going to get any more sleep after his nightmare, Harry decided he had better take Teddy home, and then stop by the office. Although he wasn't scheduled to work today, his nightmare had done more to convince him that he needed to bring Pansy's captors to justice. No one else was dying on his watch

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Thank you everyone so much for following the story! The hansy element of this story is going to be slow in development, I already have the entire plot planned out and it shouldn't be too much longer but it will be slow burning. There is an underlying mystery and darkness to this plot that Harry will discover along the way, so I don't want to just focus on the relationship aspects of it. There will be plenty of steamy hansy scenes don't get me wrong but they aren't the core element of the story! I hope you're enjoying so far. The next chapter is an interesting one. I have it fleshed out but it won't be posted until my beta can go over it.

Thanks for following! Please review if you enjoyed it! I need some feedback to keep this going!