Harry woke up early. He wasn't sure if he did get sleep at all. It was five in the morning and the plan was to meet at the Platform 9 ¾ by ten thirty. He showered and got dressed, double checked his things and laid out food for Honor who just came back from stretching her wings, ready to get some sleep of her own.
Harry was on his way downstairs to help Kreacher for breakfast when he heard muffled cries from the nursery. Teddy was sitting upright on his crib, his small fists around the wooden bars crying and hiccupping softly.
"Woke up at the wrong side of the bed, didn't you?" Upon seeing Harry, the baby raised his hands to his godfather still crying softly. Harry scooped up his godson, checking his diaper and preceded to the baby's bathroom.
Thirty minutes later the duo smelled like baby powder and soap. Teddy was on his high chair enjoying his baby oats and minced bananas while Harry fed him. Kreacher was diligently preparing the table for breakfast.
"Does Master Harry want orange or lemon juice?" Kreacher asked.
"Orange. That would be all, Kreacher. You may eat afterwards. Thanks." With a low bow the house elf left the dining room for the kitchen.
"I'm going to miss you so much, Teddy bear." Harry said, directing his attention back to his godson who looked up at him curiously. "But don't worry, I'll be back soon enough so don't grow up so fast, okay? And behave for Nana."
The baby gave Harry a gummy smile and a gurgle.
"Good boy!"
Harry spent the remaining of his time with Teddy before heading to King's Cross. Mrs. Tonks insisted to see Harry off bringing the baby with her, reassuring Harry it wouldn't be a bother since lunch will be at the Burrow. An hour before ten-thirty Harry hailed a cab for him, Mrs. Tonks and Teddy. The driver wasn't too pleased with a caged owl in his backseat but it did kept Teddy entertained as he poked Honor once in a while, stifling a cheerful gurgle. The bird didn't mind the little intruder as it just gracefully shrugged off the playful little fingers.
Before entering the magical barrier Harry couldn't help but reminisce the first time he entered the passage. He remembered feeling very nervous and foolish looking at the solid concrete barrier between Platforms' nine and ten, even with the gentle encouragement from Mrs. Weasley. The memory seems like a lifetime away.
Everyone was there to see them off. The whole Weasley clan was there even Bill and Fleur. Hermione's parents, who were both fussing over her, were even present.
"Ah, Harry, Dromeda, you're here! And hello there, little man." Mrs. Weasley reached out for a motherly embrace as the trio joined the group.
"I haven't done any reading at all this summer and we have prefect duties so I won't have time in the train either," Hermione said after unloading their trunks leaving them carrying their pets. She and Ron were already dressed in their school robes with their badges on it.
"Hey, it'll be alright. You're the best in our batch, I reckon even with Ginny's batch combined," Ron said comfortingly.
"Thanks, Ron. But with eight N.E.W.T.'s I don't know if I can survive this year even without distractions."
"Maybe you shouldn't have taken eight N.E.W.T.'s then. Who takes eight anyway?" George commented.
"Hey, I took eight and it went alright." Bill interjected proudly.
"I know someone who's taking ten," Ginny said quietly.
"Who in their right mind would take ten?!" Ron exasperated.
"Luna."
"Damn. I shouldn't have asked."
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.
"Sorry."
"We all know she's a bit odd but she's not Ravenclaw for nothing. She got twelve O.W.L.'s, you know. She's basically the Hermione in our batch. Maybe even a bit better and er – less enthusiastic in class, if I may say so." Ginny eyed her bushy haired friend meekly.
"Oh someone's getting a run for their money!" George pointed out to Hermione who gave him an annoyed look.
"How on earth did she manage twelve O.W.L.'s? I had a Time-Turner and I still cracked!" Hermione said
"Ravenclaws have the best timelines. I had to sit with their House in some classes to get me through my twelve O.W.L.'s," Bill said.
A sound came from the train and everyone left the conversation to give out their goodbyes.
"Now, you lot be not looking for trouble now, okay? Focus on your studies! Final year is the most important year." Mrs. Weasley firmly said to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny after giving them each a hug.
After embracing everyone, Harry approached Mrs. Tonks and Teddy last. Teddy who seemed to realize that he wouldn't see his godfather for some time began to cry in his grandmother's arms.
"It's alright, Teddy bear. Remember what I told you? It won't be long, I promise." Harry gave the screaming infant a kiss on both cheeks as he carried him back to Mrs. Tonks.
"You have fun now, okay? But be careful too. I'll send updates about this little one so don't you worry." Mrs. Tonks gave him a hug, slightly struggling with Teddy who was still crying and trying to get hold of Harry's shirt.
Once in their compartment, they waved goodbye to the huge group. Harry couldn't help but remember that he didn't wave anyone goodbye on his first ride to Hogwarts. The memory seems like a lifetime away.
"Guess who the Head Boy and Girl are! Well just the Head Boy actually," Hermione said excitedly as she and Ron went back to their compartment that was occupied by Harry, Ginny and Luna.
"Who?" Ginny asked anyway.
"Neville!"
"Oh wow, way to go Neville!" Harry exclaimed happily for his fellow Gryffindor.
"Yeah and McGonagall got a Ravenclaw girl as Head Girl from your year," Ron pointed out to his sister. "One Anastasia Robbs. She has this McGonagall aura about her which doesn't work with her miniature height."
"Anastasia's one of the few girls who doesn't make fun of me," Luna spoke as normal as her ever so high voice can go, head under her latest Quibbler magazine.
"She's one of the people who helped us in freeing the Carrows' prisoners," Ginny said.
"Yeah, she joined the D.A. last year too. She's pretty good with counter-jinxes. And she's taking ten N.E.W.T.'s this year too." Luna added with a sweet smile putting down her magazine.
Ginny was stifling a laugh. Harry who had never heard a clever remark from the painfully honest blond couldn't help but raise his brows. Hermione was surprised too.
"Then I guess she's perfect for the role then even with her lack in height." Ron said sheepishly before Hermione could retort something smart.
The rest of the train ride went smoothly. The cart lady gave them half the price discount when Hermione insisted they would pay for the food and treats, which Ron silently brooded over for a while. Neville stopped by to say hi which the group responded by praising his well-deserved Head Boy badge.
"Thanks, guys. I didn't expect it at all. I really thought it was going to be you, Harry. Gran was so happy." Neville said.
"I think McGonagall doesn't want me to do anything strenuous this year which I'm perfectly fine with. Besides I still have my captaincy," Harry replied.
A few other people dropped by their compartment to say hi and many more stared as they passed by intentionally or not. Harry was used to it and actually felt okay as most of them gave him a smile or a small nod.
"Hey, Harry." Parvati said. She and her twin sister Padma were standing outside their open compartment door already in their robes. "Um, Lavender's parents wanted to give this to you personally but… anyway they said thank you and they hope you'll like it."
She handed him a small elegantly wrapped silver box with blue ribbons that he prudently received. Lavender Brown was one of the many casualties of the war, the only Gryffindor in Harry's batch who wasn't returning, and Parvati's best friend.
The compartment was silent as Harry carefully opened the gift. Inside was an intricate black leather box that contained an expensive looking silver watch sitting on lavender colored cushion.
"It's not just a watch. It also tells you where people are. Here, let me show you." Parvati took out her wand and pointed at the watch. "Locum Padma Patil."
The silver hands and numbers formed the words: Traveling: Hogwarts Express. Harry couldn't help but think of the Weasley magical clock he was always fond of.
"Wow! Thanks, Parvati and to Mr. and Mrs. Brown too. I'll send them a note." Harry said sincerely.
"That's nice of you. Well, see you at the feast everyone." With a polite nod to everyone the Patil twins left.
The departure of the twin girls left an uncomfortable silence in the booth. The only one making sounds were Honor and her occasional hooting and the purrs of Crookshanks and Lace who were playing with a ball of yarn on the floor.
"That's a very pretty watch," Luna noted without looking up from her magazine.
"Well, um, it's time for our rounds. We'll catch up with you guys later." Ron said.
Hermione gave Harry a pat on the back before she and Ron left hand in hand.
"It's easier to accept that everything's different than pretend like nothing happened. I think it's one of the best ways for people to move on," Luna said mildly.
"Er – yes I think so too. We should probably change into our robes, it's getting dark," Ginny said.
"Yeah, alright. You girls go first, I'll just go to the toilet." Harry carefully packed his gift from Mr. and Mrs. Brown in his school bag and went off to the boy's bathroom.
On his way to the lavatory, he didn't notice the stares people gave him as he passed by compartment after compartment. Harry's mind wandered to the time shortly after the war.
It had been a few days after the war when everyone was going through a roller coaster of emotions. Harry was hiding in the boys' dormitory in the Gryffindor Tower where Kreacher would bring him food and his sleeping draught. Hermione and Ron would come up to talk to him but Harry knew they find more comfort if it were just the two of them without him. He didn't do much in the room except lie on his bed, play with his Snitch or try to read Quidditch Through The Ages. He grieved like everyone else did but alone. There were times he'd force himself to sleep throughout the day just to escape from the overwhelming feelings he was going through.
He didn't go down until Mr. Weasley and Ginny helped him out of his bed. Mr. Weasley was right, people needed to know the truth and fast. Everyone from the Weasleys, Hermione, the Hogwarts professors, people from the Order and some people in the Ministry were waiting for him in the common room. Kingsley, the appointed Minister was even there.
Harry told them everything. He told them about the prophecy, Dumbledore's private lessons, and the Horcrux hunting with some help from Ron and Hermione. The story was published in the Daily Prophet the next morning.
A few days later he was staying with the Weasleys for Fred's funeral. And then there was the service for Mr. Tonks, Tonks and Remus. That was the first time he met Teddy who slept through the entire service. That was when he invited Mrs. Tonks to stay in Grimmauld Place right after he told the Mr. and Mrs. Weasley he was leaving. The next day Hermione left for Australia to look for her parents.
He didn't talk to anyone. He didn't really talk much except for the times when Ron dropped by to help tidy up the place. He would send news from Hermione and from home. Both guys haven't read a newspaper since after the war.
Things just started to pick up when things were patched up with him and Ginny and when Mrs. Tonks and Teddy moved in. That was when they started to make their little project, the photo album in honor for those who have gave their lives in the war. Harry also started sorting through his tower of mail and gifts from people that he politely gave thank you replies.
Harry shook his head and smiled to himself. After everything, he was all right now, right? He's learning how to be normal and that for now he was okay with.
His hand almost reached for the bathroom door when it suddenly opened and out came Draco Malfoy.
"Potter." The tall blond Slytherin said in a passive tone rather than his usual distasteful one.
"Malfoy." Harry looked cautiously at the gray eyes hesitantly staring back at him.
It wasn't that Harry was surprised that Malfoy decided to complete his final year in Hogwarts. He was just surprised. Period. But more so when, without any warning, the blond boy held out his hand with an almost sheepish look on his face.
Harry took it. And without a word, Malfoy left.
Harry couldn't help but recall the day when Malfoy and his cronies went inside his and Ron's compartment way back on their first year to Hogwarts. He didn't shake his hand then.
"What took you so long?" Ginny asked when Harry, now dressed in his school robes, came back. Hermione and Ron were back from their rounds and Neville was there too.
"There was a line."
"Never heard that one before."
"Look, guys! It's Hogwarts!" Hermione said pointing excitedly outside the window.
They all stared at the majestic castle before them as if seeing it all for the first time again. It looked wonderful as ever.
"Welcome home," Ginny said softly so only Harry can hear.
Harry put an arm over her shoulder and held her close.
AN: Hey, guys! Thanks for all the positive feedback. I hope you enjoyed this one. More of my own characters in the next chapters! Reviews are appreciated! Thanks ~ E