Harry Potter

After the War

Chapter 5

"Are you sure you want to go?" Ron asked Harry as they continued sweeping the garden with their wands. Flickers of left over confetti and empty bottles flew into a rapidly filling bin next to them.

"Of course I do! It is mine, after all. And besides, Kingsley checked it out for me."

Ron sighed, "Isn't it great that we're close, personal friends with the Minister for Magic?"

"Don't go getting any ideas!" Molly answered for Harry as she stepped into the garden. "If you think you can ask for favours from the Ministry, you're in for a rude awakening!" She turned to Harry, "Now, dear, are you sure you don't want Arthur and me to come with you? Just to make sure you've got everything you need?" Molly was worried about Harry going to stay at Grimmauld Place. Though each and every inch of the place had been combed through by a team of aurors, who had found nothing except a few trinkets belonging to Siruis's mother, Molly kept saying that it was unsafe and he should at least have someone there with him for protection. In Harry's opinion, she was more concerned with the fact Harry would be there for an entire week, with Ginny.

"Mrs. Wea- Molly. Please stop worrying. I'll be in Siruis's room and Ginny's having her old one she shared with Hermione. Plus-" Harry added as she opened her mouth to argue, "Andromeda will be stopping by with Teddy."

"Yeah, mum! If anything does go wrong we'll send you an owl or," Ginny said, landing next to them, "if we need a quick escape, we'll use floo powder to come back here. Won't we, Harry?"

Harry nodded, "Exactly. Kreacher's been working on fixing the fireplace and seeing as neither of us are actually legalised to apparate, we're going to see Willkie Twycross to get our licences."

Molly folded her arms in defiance, "You're to send us a message every day. I don't care how and if I don't hear from you by seven o'clock each day, Arthur and I will come straight back, understand?"

"Yes, mum."

"Yes, Molly." She huffed and went back into the house, shouting for Mr. Weasley to 'hurry up or we'll miss the portkey!'

"I thought she wasn't going to let me go!" Ginny said, leaning her broom against the house.

"Where were you anyway?" Ron asked her.

"I was at Luna's." Ginny explained, "We're going out to dinner tomorrow so she said I could borrow some shoes. Anyway, I have to finish packing." She kissed Harry on the cheek and followed her mother into the house. Ron and Harry stared after.

"Have you ever actually seen her act like a girl before?" Ron asked, confusion painted on his face. Harry shrugged. Thinking about it, Ron might have been right. "So, anyway. I know you're my best mate but, seriously, if I find out anything happened, you know, between you two-"

"Ron! Relax!" Harry told him, "I'm not going to sleep with your sister!" Ron exhaled in relief, Harry grinned, "At least not yet." Ron went to whack him round the head. "Mate, I'm joking!" Harry laughed. Ron smiled.

"Fine. I trust you. Think I kind of have to after everything we've been through. Anyway, help me empty these bins before mum comes back. I really can't be bothered to carry them down the road." They set to work.

"Evanesco!" they cast in unison.

"That's cheating." Charlie walked over to them from the kennel, more like a barn, he'd made for Norbert.

Ron shrugged, "If you don't tell mum we cheated, we won't tell her you've been dating an older, Romanian woman. "

Charlie chuckled, "Deal. Hey, Harry. When are you leaving?"

Harry checked his watch, "In about an hour. Actually, I'd better make sure I've got everything. By the way, have you seen Hagrid? I wanted to say bye to him before he left last night."

"Left?" Charlie snorted, "He's in the barn with Norberta." 'Norbert' Harry automatically corrected, "Snoring almost as loud as she does. Still calling her Norbert as well. Anyway, Harry, I'll make a pact with you."

"You don't want to do that, Harry." Ron told him, "Last time he made one with me, I ended up strapped to a chair for a week. Don't ask." He added when Harry made to ask him.

Charlie laughed, "Oh god! I'd forgotten about that! Nah, this pact is simple. I'll take care of Hagrid if you promise to take care of Ginny. Deal?"

Harry shook his outstretched hand, "Deal."

An hour later, everyone stood on the lawn beside two abandoned looking, old slippers. Bill and Fleur had disapparated some time after breakfast and Percy and Audrey had left right after the party to go on their honeymoon. George had left half way through the wedding reception and went back to his flat above the joke shop. Only Charlie, Ron and Hermione were staying behind.

"Are you sure you'll be alright without us?" Molly checked with those left behind.

"Molly, please, don't worry about us?" Hermione begged. "Just enjoy yourselves!"

Arthur heaved his backpack onto his shoulders, "Hear, Hear! Molly, they'll be fine. They're not children anymore, and Charlie's staying with them whilst we're gone. I can't wait to get to Australia!" He exclaimed, again. They'd received a huge amount of compensation from the Ministry for how they were treated over the last few years. After they'd revived Molly from her faint, after reading the letter, Mr and Mrs. Weasley had decided to go away for their first holiday since Bill was born. It turned out that Molly had a slight issue with leaving her children for the first time ever, but they'd finally got her to a point to agree to go without any one of them. "Better get ready to go!" Arthur told Molly, "Our Portkey leaves in a minute. Harry? Ginny? Yours leaves thirty seconds after ours." Harry nodded and shook Arthur's hand.

"Have a good time. We'll let you know we got there safely." Molly and Arthur grabbed one of the slippers, waved to those left and vanished. Harry and Ginny took hold of the other Portkey. Harry looked up at Ron, "Remember, Diagon Alley. Thursday." Ron gave him thumbs up and Harry felt a tugging behind his navel, as the Burrow disappeared and was replaced with number 12, Grimmauld Place.

Harry hit the ground with a thump and looked up at the house he'd abandoned. Ginny tugged on his sleeve and they started forward towards the house. They reached the top step as a couple with a buggy walked past. They watched as they looked at number 11 and straight to 13, not seeing the two wizards hovering on the doorstep of an extra house. Harry pulled out an old fashioned key, the head of a serpent winding its way down the key's spine.

"Remember to be quiet!" Ginny told him, "We don't want to wake Mrs. Black." Harry nodded and placed the key in the lock. Turning it, he took Ginny's hand and pushed the door open. Taking a step into the foyer, both tensed, expecting something to happen.

"I think we both need to have more faith in Kingsley." Harry declared after a moment.

"Shhh!" Ginny hissed back before creeping up the hall. She reached the spot where the portrait of Madame Black hung on the wall. There was a tremendous crash as Ginny tripped over a familiar troll-leg umbrella stand and they covered their ears, waiting for the wailing to begin. When it didn't, they exchanged a look of surprise. Harry followed Ginny to where she stood. The picture of Sirius' mother was covered in a white cloth. "Huh. Maybe they did some cleaning whilst they were here and covered her up."

"I don't think the ministry has a cleaning department." Harry told her. She shrugged. Harry reached forward and yanked the cloth away from the frame.

"Mimble Wimble!" Ginny pointed her wand at the painting. No sound came from the frame. In fact, Mrs. Black's portrait was no longer attached to the wall. Instead, a picture of Harry was on the wall. He was asleep in Lily's arms, less than a year old. James, Remus and Sirius were there too, waving joyfully at Harry and Ginny. A note was attached to the frame. Ginny reached past Harry's stunned face and grabbed it from the photo. "'Dear Harry, thought you'd want her gone if you were thinking of living here,'" Ginny read, "'I had someone from the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad sort it out. I know it wasn't an accident but they don't need to. We had maintenance clean up a bit before they left so Kreacher is a bit grumpy. Feel free to visit the ministry at any time. I added your fireplace to the Floo network as well. Let me know if there is anything else we can do for you. Kingsley.' Aww, he is so sweet!" Ginny exclaimed, "Oh, wait, there's a P.S. 'Remus wanted me to give this to you.'" Harry looked away from the picture to see Ginny watching him, "Are you okay?"

Harry smiled weakly, "I'm fine. Just wish I could've thanked him." She nodded in return.

"I'm glad he gave it to you. I'm also happy Kinglsey didn't take this away," she picked up the umbrella stand and placed it back in its original position, "It's my tribute to Tonks." She explained.

"Thank you."

"For what?" Ginny asked curiously.

"Just for you being you."

She tiptoed to kiss him, "Thank you for realising we're meant for each other, even if it did take six years," Harry laughed, "Now, come on!" she grabbed Harry's hand and started down the hall, "I'm hungry!"

Harry, glancing back quickly at the picture, called out for the house elf, "Kreacher!" A loud crack reverberated through the house as a small, grey creature appeared in front of them.

"Master!" Kreacher ran to Harry and hugged his legs, his great, pale eyes beaming up at him. "Kreacher has been waiting for your return! No-one but Ministry people and stupid elf to talk to; Kreacher is glad Master is back!"

"Urm, Kreacher?" Ginny asked, crouching down to hug him, "What 'stupid elf'?"

"Stupid elf, Winky. Disgraceful elf. She's in the kitchen." Kreacher turned to Harry. "She wanted to talk to you."

"Winky? I thought she was at Hogwarts." Harry said.

"She's here now." Kreacher confirmed. "Kreacher told her to sit in corner and wait for Master." Harry and Ginny exchanged a look. The last time they had seen her, she'd been passed out in front of a kitchen fire, drunk from butterbeer.

"Can you let her know we'll be there in a minute?" Harry asked.

Kreacher bowed, his long nose tapping the floor, "My pleasure, Master."

"Thanks, Kreacher." The elf turned to apparate, "Oh, and Kreacher? Could you possibly make Ginny something to eat, please?" Kreacher nodded and disappeared with a resounding crack.

"What do you think she wants?" Ginny asked, pulling her coat of and hanging on the rack.

Harry shrugged, "I have no idea. Maybe she left the castle?"

They made their way down the corridor, into the basement kitchen. Kreacher was cooking on the stove, whistling a morbid tune. Sat on a stool in the corner, sober and dressed in a small red dress, was Winky. When she saw Harry, she leapt off the stool and ran to shake his hand. Kreacher ran to intercept her, frying pan threatening to squash her if she touched Harry.

"Kreacher! Stop! Winky is a guest." Kreacher stalked back to his oven. Harry shook Winky's hand and guided her over to the dining table. "Have a seat?"

She giggled, "Dobby told me you were a strange wizard." She suddenly looked fearful, "A good wizard! I did not mean to offend Harry Potter!" Ginny moved the vase out of Winky's grasp.

"It's alright, and please don't punish yourself anymore." Harry told her. Winky sighed in relief.

"Thank you, Harry Potter." She straightened her dress and sat down on a chair. Ginny and Harry took the two either side of her. "I'm here, Mr. Potter, to ask for employment." Harry and Ginny exchanged a grin, "I'm willing to accept a small pay and a limited holiday every five years. I'm even willing to work alongside Kreacher." Kreacher grumbled over his frying pan, from which intoxicating smells were drifting.

Harry laughed, "That sounds great, Winky. But what happened? I mean the last time we saw you, you weren't in a good shape." Winky dropped her head in shame.

"Winky learned that Dobby was right," she sniffed, "He was my best friend, sir, and I didn't listen to him. But now I am listening. Winky wants a proper job. I even have proper clothes!"

"And you look beautiful in them!" Ginny told her.

Winky grinned appreciatively, "Thank you, miss!"

Harry thought for a moment, "Are you sure you want a proper job? You don't want to go back to Hogwarts?"

"The house-elves there have a bad impression of Winky," she told him, "I want to work for Harry Potter, like Dobby wanted to!"

Harry stood up, "I will only employ you on one condition." She looked at him enquiringly, "You have a salary of ten galleons a week and weekends off. Plus, a week's holiday every year."

Winky looked faint, "Mr. Potter! It is too much! Winky can't-"

"Final offer." Harry told her. She thought for a moment. Winky nodded and took Harry outstretched hand. "Brilliant. Welcome to Grimmauld place, Winky."

Two hours later, Winky had been assigned one of the spare rooms, a luxury never afforded to a house-elf before, she told them. Kreacher had cooked a dinner so perfect and refined that Ginny had to unbutton her jeans after eating her fill. Winky retired to her room soon after and Kreacher bid Harry goodnight before locking himself in his boiler cupboard. Arnold the pygmy puff had arrived after dinner, rolling out from the green fire that had sprouted from the fireplace in the sitting room, along with a faint "Ron!" that sounded like Hermione. Ginny and Harry had curled up by the fire, watching the flames flicker and dance. "I wish everyday could be like this," Ginny breathed, her eyes drooping as she yawned. "Just us, alone in our own house. Not having to run around after my mum. Just...like this." Harry stroked her hair, fiery red locks that looked as if they should have burnt him. He considered this for a moment. Him and Ginny; together. No brothers to keep an eye on the two of them, no Hermione to interfere, no Molly making sure they were always being responsible. Harry liked the possibility very much. He imagined them living here, at Grimmauld Place, or buying a house in the country where they could ride their brooms as long as they wanted too.

"Maybe we could get our own place," Harry told her, "After we finish Hogwarts, we could find our own place and live together." He took a deep breath, "And I was thinking, maybe, when school's finished, we could, maybe, get...married?" He held his breath. No response came from the girl resting against his leg. He looked and she was asleep, small breaths being drawn in and out. She looked so peaceful. Harry smiled to himself and shook his head. Maybe he should wait a little longer, he thought; wait for them to be a little older. Then he would ask Ginny Weasley to marry him. He gently edged out from underneath her head and picked her up, cradling her in his arms. He carried her up the stairs, passing the portrait of Phineas Black, who winked then stalked back to his portrait in the Headmaster's office at Hogwarts. Reaching her room, Harry pushed open the door a lay Ginny down on her bed. The ministry had done a really good job cleaning up and her room looked almost perfect. He kissed her forehead and she smiled slightly. Closing her door gently, with only a small click, Harry made his way up the next staircase to his room. As he passed a window looking onto the street, he saw something moving in the shadows. He stopped to get a better look, his hand closing over his wand in his pocket. The shadow moved forward into the streetlight. The thing was a figure, someone was watching the house. The person was wearing a black cloak with covered him, head to toe. Suddenly, the stranger looked up at the window Harry stood in, pushed back his hood to reveal sleek, white blonde hair; a sharp, thinner face than the last time Harry had seen him and the same piercing gray eyes. Draco Malfoy.