Ginny cocked her head to one side as she stared at the street before her. The houses all looked the same, all simple and neat with no distinct personality. But as she thought about where they were heading, it really didn't surprise her that Privet Drive was the place that the Dursleys chose to live. For them, it was as normal as normal could get.
"The houses all look the same to me. I mean I can see some minor differences," Ginny said as she scrunched up her face as she studied the street before her. "But they seem so ordinary and boring to me."
Harry chuckled at her observations.
"I lived here and I can't help but agree with you," he replied. "It was one of the reasons I loved The Burrow the first time I went there. There is so much character to that house and that's before you even walk in the door!"
"I don't blame you. I think I would get bored if I lived here," Ginny said with a smirk on her face. She grabbed Harry's hand and began to pull him along. "Come on, let's get this over with. Which house is it?"
Harry pointed up ahead towards the house he had come to hate, that he had never considered his home.
"Number 4. It's that one over there. And as I hoped, Uncle Vernon has already left for work."
Harry breathed a sigh of relief at seeing the lack of car in the driveway to the house. While he knew this was the last time he planned to see the last of his blood relatives, he didn't fancy dealing with his Uncle, much preferring a simple, calm final conversation with his Aunt and perhaps maybe with his cousin as well.
As they reached the front door, Harry took a deep breath to calm his nerves. He reached out and pressed the doorbell and waited. As he did so, he felt Ginny squeeze his hand before she whispered,
"You can do this, Harry."
Before he could respond, the door swung open to reveal his Aunt. Her eyes widen in shock and her face paled as she saw who was stood on her doorstep. The last person she expected was stood before her, despite the expectation that they would never see each other again as they went their separate ways last July.
"Hello Aunt Petunia."
His words brought her attention back to where they were, helping her to regain her composure.
"Get in here quickly, before someone sees you," she ordered.
Harry and Ginny looked at each other, neither really surprised by her reaction, before walking through the door into Harry's childhood home.
Petunia turned to look at the couple as she shut the door behind her. She masked her shock as she saw the similarities between them and her sister and her husband. She shook the thoughts from her head and instead wondered why her nephew had returned.
"What are you doing here? I was led to believe we would never see you again once you left," she questioned.
"Oh, umm, I just wanted to talk to you," Harry responded nervously. "It's just that I found out something information about you and my mum a few weeks ago."
Petunia was shocked, yet intrigued as to what Harry could have found out, but before she could respond herself, her attention was pulled to the footsteps heading down the stairs.
"Mum….." Dudley called. He stopped midway down the stairs and stared at the young couple. "Harry! Wow, it's good to see you!"
Harry and Ginny glanced each, surprised by the welcome from his cousin.
"Hello Dudley," Harry responded as an awkward silence settled over the house. Ginny elbowed him in the ribs. "Oh, umm, this is my girlfriend, Ginny Weasley. Ginny, this is my Aunt Petunia and my cousin Dudley."
"It's nice to meet you," Dudley said as he held out his hand to shake her hand, which she responded to in kind. "Why don't we go and sit in the kitchen, have some tea and catch up?"
A few minutes later, all four were sat around the table with a hot steaming cup of tea in front of them, with a quiet tension hanging over them.
"So, umm," Harry nervously began. "When did you arrive back here?"
"A few days ago. Dad was not pleased about having to wait a couple of weeks to return after news reached us that the war was over. But your ministry made sure that everything was in place for our return, which meant Dad was able to return to work immediately without problems."
"I am glad to hear that. Kingsley didn't tell me much besides the fact you had arrived home with minimal problems."
"Minimal?" Dudley stared at Harry like he was crazy. "Dad spent most of the year ranting and raving about you. Then when we were told the war was over and we would be coming home, he moaned about how long it took them to get us back here."
"Well, Kingsley did not exactly tell me what the problems were, but somehow you telling me that does not surprise me in the slightest."
Petunia cleared her throat, causing both Harry and Dudley to look at her.
"While this is all very…..pleasant, you said you found out something about me and your mother and I would appreciate knowing what it was so I can get on with my day rather than sit here," Petunia explained, a look of disdain on her face.
"Oh yeah, sorry," Harry said sincerely. He rubbed the back of neck, wondering how to approach the subject of what he had seen in Snape's memories. He looked over at Ginny, who had remained quietly at his side, providing silent support throughout. She gave him a brief but encouraging smile. He turned back to his Aunt and decided just to speak about what he had seen.
"I remember you saying that you learnt about the Dementors and Azkaban from some boy who had told my mum," Harry began tentatively. "I have to admit I always thought you were talking about my dad. But a few weeks back, during the final battle, I was given some memories to help me understand what I needed to do next. Turns out the memories were also of the relationship between my mum and that boy. That being Severus Snape."
Harry paused as he looked at his Aunt for a reaction. She wore a stoic expression. Harry sighed, hoping for something more.
"His memories showed me moments from his childhood, some of which included you," he continued. "I could tell you and my mum used to be close and I know the problems between the two of you began when she started Hogwarts and you were not able to go with her. You called my mum a freak that day, the same thing you called me all my life."
"Well it was true, both you and your mum were freaks," Petunia interrupted. Her shoulders slumped in defeat suddenly. "But you are right, we were once very close. She wasn't the same to me once she left for that school."
"Look, I didn't come here to cause an argument or to prove you wrong. I came because….." Harry paused. He was beginning to wonder why he had come at all. "I just thought you should know that Severus died during the final battle. He died after having protected me throughout my time at Hogwarts and all because he loved my mum. His memories helped me understand love so much more than I already did, much more than you ever did. But it made me realise that I am incredibly lucky to have found people who love me, to have an amazing girlfriend who loves me, despite the horrendous upbringing I had."
Petunia could only glare at him as he spoke.
"I have no intention of coming back here after today. I want to put the past behind me and move on. Just know that I will never forget the way you treated me, but for some absurd reason, I will forgive you. All I ask is that you somehow find some peace with the way you left things between you and my mum."
Harry pulled a small slip of parchment out of his pocket and pushed it towards his Aunt.
"This is where Mum is buried."
Petunia looked at the parchment, picked it up and then abruptly left the room.
"I'm sorry Harry."
Harry turned his head to look at Dudley, shocked at the apology he had heard.
"I can understand if you never wanted to see or hear from me again either," Dudley said, with head bowed in shame.
"Honestly, I think it is easier to forgive you than it was your parents. You were brought up with the notion I was a freak. It's not your fault your parents are so narrow-minded."
"I don't expect us to become friends or anything, but would it be ok if we were to keep in touch?"
"Yeah, I can't see why not. I would like that," Harry responded. "It would be by owl post though. However, it would not be for a while as I currently don't have an owl."
Ginny recognised the pain in Harry's voice and reached out to hold his hand.
"Harry's owl, Hedwig was killed when he left here last year. They were attacked as they left," Ginny informed Dudley.
"Oh I am sorry Harry," Dudley said sincerely. "I didn't realise."
"It's ok. You weren't to know," Harry replied. "Look, we better be off. We are expected elsewhere very soon."
They stood up from the table and headed for the front door. Harry turned back to Dudley just as Ginny opened the door for them.
"It was good to see you Dudley."
"It was good to see you too Harry."
The boys shook hands. And with that, Harry and Ginny left, finally putting his days at Privet Drive behind him.
Half an hour later, Harry was sat in a squishy armchair, cradling his baby godson in his arms. He stared down at little Teddy in awe, still in disbelief that this child had managed break down his defences and cause him to finally give into his grief that he had long hid away. He was grateful for Andromeda having understood about what had happened at the funeral. He was shook from his thoughts from the slight wiggle of his godson in his arms. Harry looked back down at his little face as his small eyes fluttered open and gazed up at him, before he scrunched up his face and changed his hair colour from blue to black to match Harry's hair.
"Neat trick, kiddo," Harry said as he laughed. "Something tells me you are going to keep me and your Grandma on our toes when you get older. But then again, if you turn out anything like your mum and dad, then I won't be surprised by anything you get up to."
Harry carefully lifted Teddy up towards his face and planted a soft kiss on his forehead. Despite the fact that Teddy was currently sporting black hair thanks to his inherited skills of being a metamorphmagus, Harry could see both Remus and Tonks in him.
"Hey, Teddy," Harry softly said. "I'm Harry. I'm your godfather. I am going to help raise you with your Grandmother, now your mum and dad are not here to do so."
Harry felt someone sit on the arm of the chair he was sat in and then felt an arm go round his shoulders. He looked up to see Ginny giving him a sad smile.
"You are too young now to remember what I am about to tell you, but I will tell you again someday when you are old enough to understand. I, like you, lost my mum and dad when I was a baby. I lost them because of a horrible war we fought against a very dark wizard. And as sad as I am about losing both my and your parents, I also know they died fighting for what was right, so that both me and you could live in a better world than what we were originally born into. My childhood was lonely, but I promise you that yours will not be. Trust me when I say that with the Weasleys in your life as well, you will never be lonely."
"I can see why they made you the godparents," a voice said from the doorway.
Harry looked up in confusion as Andromeda entered the room and handed him a bottle to feed Teddy.
"Godparents?" Harry asked confused as he began to feed Teddy.
"I'm the godmother, you prat!" Ginny exclaimed as she nudged him in the shoulder. "Andi just asked me and obviously I said yes."
"It seems Nymphadora never got the chance to ask Ginny in person as she had planned to," Andi explained. "Though it does make me wonder if they knew you two would end together."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other, each questioning the other with a look.
"I am guessing from your reaction that no one knew you two were a couple till the war was over," Andi said laughing. "Anyway, I would like to have a Christening for Teddy, but I thought we should leave it until nearer his birthday. I thought it would give us a bit more time to plan for it and for us to have time to move past everything that has happened these last few years."
"That sounds like a great idea," Ginny said excitedly. "But depending on when it is, depends on whether I need to get permission from Professor McGonagall, not that it should be a problem."
"If you need any help organising or even paying for it, then please just ask me or Ginny," Harry said tentatively as he looked up from where he had been watching Teddy greedily guzzle his milk. "And before you refuse my offer," he quickly continued before Andi or even Ginny could interrupt him. "I have arranged to have some money moved across to Remus and Tonks' former vault that I know has been kept in trust for Teddy. There should be more than plenty to cover all his expenses for Hogwarts, but if you need any more, please don't be afraid to ask me. And if it helps, I took it from my inheritance I received from Sirius."
"Well," Andi began to answer as she shook at her head at Harry's generosity towards her and her grandson. "I suppose because it is from the Black inheritance, I would be a fool to deny such a generous offer from you. Thank you Harry."
"You're welcome," Harry shyly responded. "I just want the best for Teddy. I don't want him being denied anything like I was."
"I can see my grandson is going to be spoiled by you!"
"Don't worry, Andi. I'll keep Harry in line with how much he spends," Ginny piped up.
The rest of the afternoon saw both Harry and Ginny learning the basics of caring for Teddy, which was a source of laughter as the two teens learned how to change his nappies. Both were excited to begin spending time with Teddy, even if for the moment they would only be weekly visits. But Harry was even more excited and awed by the natural flood of love he felt for this small baby and his grandmother, who knew he could now consider a part of his family.