Harry Potter

After the War

Chapter 10

Ginny couldn't help but make Harry repeatedly go over everything he'd seen when he returned until finally, he shoved a pepper imp into her mouth, announcing that he was going to bed. Ginny joined him a short while later, still steaming lightly at the ears.

"Are you okay?" Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry and rested her head against his back, "Malfoy shouldn't have made you watch those things. Next time I see him, I'll put my strongest bat-bogey hex on him." Harry gave a chuckle and turned over, sliding his arms around Ginny and pulling her close. She buried her head in his chest and sighed contently.

"I promise I'm okay. As crappy as it is, it's not as if I've never seen those things before."

"But still, h-h-hexing sounds g-good." She yawned.

Harry grinned, "As long as I'm there to see it, sounds good." He kissed her forehead, "Just get some sleep."

Harry woke with a start the next morning. He had fallen out of bed after a particularly nasty nightmare involving Voldemort and Hedwig. As the dream faded he also remembered seeing the strange girl from the riverbank again. Harry stayed staring at the ceiling until Ginny popped her head over the side of the bed, her red hair falling around her like lava.

"Correct me if I'm wrong but beds are for sleeping on." She grinned at him.

"Oh, really? I thought they were for sleeping next to."

"Then why am I still up here?"

Harry grinned back, "You're not." He reached up and yanked her arm so she fell on top of him. They lay there laughing until eventually they quietened to occasional soft chuckles. Harry took this moment for his eyes to wander over Ginny's face. Brushing her hair over her ear made it easier to do so and he marvelled at how beautiful she was. Her lips were soft to the touch and bowlike, fully complementing her freckled nose. Her eyes though, her eyes were Harry's favourite. The brown orbs were never-ending, drawing you in and making you feel as if you were home.

"What are you staring at?" Ginny asked. Harry answered her by pulling her lips down to meet his.

A fairly long time later, they sat at the kitchen table. Harry took occasional bites from his marmalade toast and read The Daily Prophet. He'd taken a subscription out again and was surprised if he didn't see he name mentioned at least twice a day. After skimming the news, he moved onto the sports section and busied himself with the national quidditch league. Ginny sat next to him, all food abandoned as Winky stood on a stool behind her, braiding her hair in the most complicated looking fashion. Quite suddenly, a large great grey owl flew into the kitchen and dived straight at Harry. His chair fell backwards and he landed with a heavy thud against the stone floor. Winky and Ginny paused both conversation and braiding to stare at the owl which had now settled on the edge of the table, watching Harry and softly hooting at him. Kreacher came running into the room, brandishing a broom which he waved frantically at the owl.

"Filthy creature! Disturbing masters breakfast!" he made to lunge at the bird but missed and managed to whack Harry in the face as he pulled himself back up to the table. Ginny looked as if she was trying, and failing, to hold in her laughter as Winky stared in horror and Kreacher began bashing his face against a table leg, shouting apologies to Harry in between bangs.

"Kreacher, I order you to stop hurting yourself immediately!" Kreacher ceased as the owl hooted once more. Harry rubbed the reddening spot above his temple, "It's not your fault. Accidents happen. I forbid you or Winky to hurt yourselves on purpose ever again." Winky bowed until her nose reached her toes and Kreacher flung himself onto the floor, bowing as if Harry was a sacrifice to a deity.

"Thank you master. Kreacher tried to stop it from coming in but it flew past Kreacher." Harry removed the plum coloured letter attached to the owl and waited for it to leave but it looked around then stayed put. "Urm, Kreacher? Could you possibly open the front door for him, please?" The house-elf ran off at a ridiculous pace and the owl followed.

"Who's it from?" asked Ginny. Harry turned the letter over and the colour drained from his face. "What? What is it?" Ginny was trying to see so Harry lifted the letter up wordlessly. The wax seal displayed a set of scales, each carrying one side of the large letter 'M' and surrounded by the words 'ignorantia juris neminem excusat'. Anyone with any link to the Ministry, let alone someone with Harry's track record, could immediately recognise the symbol as that of the Wizengamot, the wizarding world's answer to a high court.

"You don't think they're actually going to bring me up on any of the stuff I did last year, do you?" Harry's face paled again.

"Doubtful. You're the Ministry's golden boy." But as sure as her words were, her face didn't match. "Just open it and find out."

Harry carefully broke the seal as he recalled each and every one of his indiscretions against the Ministry of Magic. By the time he unfolded the parchment inside, he guessed he would be serving at least a life sentence in Azkaban. As his eyes moved over the words written before him, his face went from pale to a red rivalling Ginny's blush.

"It's…I've…they've…" Harry sputtered before Ginny reached over and ripped the letter out of his hands. After a quick scan, Ginny gasped and clutched the paper tightly, reading it again, this time slower and more carefully. After what seemed ages she finally looked up.

"They're…"

"Giving me an Order of Merlin." Harry supplied.

"First Class!"

"Well done, Master." Kreacher applauded.

"Congratulations!" Winky cried, literally wiping a tear away with the corner of her cornflour blue dress.

"Master Black would be proud." Kreacher said.

Harry's throat tightened in response.

"He would, you know." Ginny hugged Harry, "So would Remus and your parents."

"An Order of Merlin!"

"Hermione, keep it down!" Harry exclaimed, looking around to make sure no one heard. There were the usual whispers that followed him around these days but no one in the Leaky Cauldron seemed to have overheard this new information. It was Thursday and as promised, Ginny and Harry had met Ron and Hermione for their trip to Diagon Alley.

"But Harry, this makes you the youngest person to win one ever, let alone a First Class."

"Bit like getting Gryffindor Seeker at eleven, right mate?" Ron grinned at him, his arm around Hermione's waist as she gawked at Harry's casual manner in the wake of this news.

Harry grinned back, "Look, Hermione, if it makes you feel any better, they'll probably be taking it back tomorrow anyway."

"What? Why?" Ron asked. Ginny and Harry shared a glance.

"Because tomorrow I'm testifying on behalf of Narcissa Malfoy."

Ron and Hermione reacted exactly as Harry had expected, both offering protests in sync. Ginny grasped Harry's hand under the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze. He smiled at her before turning back to his friends.

"I know you guys think I'm mad-"

"Mad?" Ron exclaimed, "Nah, mate. Mad was stealing a dragon from Gringotts. Mad was taking on a basilisk by yourself. Mad was diving into a freezing lake with that stupid locket around your neck to grab a sword. This isn't mad, it's insane."

"Harry, just tell us why." Hermione pleaded.

Harry took a deep breath, "On Monday, Draco came to Grimmauld Place." Hermione's hand flew to her mouth as Ron spluttered in disbelief. "He said he needed to talk, so I let him in."

Ron was positively frothing with anger at this point, "The git turns up at your house, and you just let a deatheater inside? The house with my sister in?"

"You know Ron, I can take care of myself!" Ginny huffed in annoyance.

Harry laughed at the memory, "She really can. She stunned him." Ron looked shell shocked as Hermione started laughing. Harry smiled at Ginny, beaming with pride as her blush rose up to the surface. "She just burst into the kitchen and wham!" he demonstrated with his hand.

"Ginny, that is brilliant, but why was he there?" Hermione asked.

"He came to ask for help. His mum's being tried under using the three unforgivable curses as well as for murders she didn't commit."

"Who cares? She deserves what she gets, I say."

"Yeah, but Ron, if she didn't do those things, she'll be wrongfully imprisoned and, in Azkaban, that's as good as being dead." Harry said.

"So what?"

"Life debt." Hermione said quietly.

"What?"

"Narcissa Malfoy saved Harry's life that night in the forest. A binding contract was created between them. Harry owes her the chance to be saved." She replied with more strength. "But how can you prove she didn't do those things.

"I took Malfoys memories and went to see McGonagall yesterday. Did any of you know she lives in Hogsmeade during the holidays?" They all shook their head. "Anyway, the castle is still being repaired so she brought the pensieve to her house and I went to use it."

"What did McGonagall say about all this?" asked Ron.

"Well, she reacted about the same as you two. Only she didn't keep interrupting." Hermione smiled sheepishly at him. "So she agreed to let me use it and I checked his memories to see if Malfoy was telling the truth." Harry's grip tightened on his butterbeer. "Turns out he was right. She only used a curse once and that was to kill a fox. It was always Bellatrix. Anytime they needed to control or torture or," Harry took a deep breath, "to kill, Narcissa stepped back and Bellatrix did it instead. She never asked why but I think she liked using them too much to care why her sister didn't." Harry swigged his drink, allowing this information to settle in before speaking again. "That's kind of why we met here instead of in the alley. I need to talk to Malfoy."

Ron broke out of his shocked silence first, "Malfoy's here?" he cried. A few people did look round at his exclamation this time and Harry ducked his head.

"Keep it down, will you!"

Ron looked around and ducked his head as well, "Sorry, mate."

"Why is Draco here?" Hermione asked.

"The Ministry doesn't know what to do with him. He was a Deatheater but there's no record of him ever doing anything more than being an accomplice. Not to mention his switch in loyalty during the battle. They're keeping him isolated until the trial."

"Tom's not really doing a good job in keeping him here if he's managed to sneak out to your place." Ron said.

Harry agreed, "At least he's making sure he doesn't get his wand back yet. I told Malfoy but there doesn't seem to have been a breakout yet so Tom's doing something right." Harry swallowed the last of his butterbeer and stood, "I'd better go talk to him. I'll meet you guys by Gringotts in twenty?"

"Okay, but try not to kill him while you're up there." Hermione said.

Ginny kissed Harry and headed out with Ron and Hermione. He could hear Ron complaining that she had to do that in front of him and her reply muffled as they walked through the back door towards Diagon Alley.

"Hey Tom." Harry greeted the old bartender.

"Mr. Potter, I hope you're not about to ask what I think you are, are you?" Harry smiled in response and Tom sighed, handing him the key to Draco's room. "Just be quick."

"So you're saying…?"

"Yes, I believe you and yes, I will be testifying on your mother's behalf."

"Oh, thank you! Thank you so much." Draco had a look of purest relief etched on his face.

"I sent an owl to Kingsley Shacklebolt as well. He's agreed that you can attend the hearing as long as you keep your mouth shut and don't interfere with anything. You'll be accompanied by an auror and they said you'll have to come straight back here if she's convicted."

"And if she's not?"

"I guess you get to go home." Harry shrugged. Malfoy looked like he was about to cry. Clearing his throat, Harry reached into his backpack. "Look, you must be getting pretty bored in here. I thought you might like something to read." He chucked the book at Draco.

"Seriously?" He held up a rather battered book by a wizard named Wilhelm Wigworthy, "'Home Life and Social Habits of British Muggles'?"

"Thought you might like to take a step in the right direction." Harry grinned and left Draco Malfoy staring at the book he'd never had any reason to read before.

"Harry!" Ginny waved at him from the steps of Gringotts.

"I just don't get it. Where did it come from?" Ron asked as Harry approached, a look of befuddlement on his face.

"I don't know but Leniraj said it was meant to be there."

"But Hermione, its one hundred galleons!"

Ginny gave Harry a stern look but didn't say anything as he reached them. "What's going on?" he asked, acting as clueless as he could.

"There's an extra hundred galleons in the family vault but I have no clue where it came from."

"Maybe it's more compensation from the ministry." Harry suggested. Ron thought this over for a moment and seemed to accept the idea. "Shall we go then?" he said, eager to change the subject.

They headed down the street to Flourish and Betts where Hermione practically cried from being away from new reading material for so long. Harry, Ron and Ginny left her to it and moved to the quidditch section. Ginny bought a book about the Holyhead Harpies defeat of the Heidelberg Harriers while Ron found a book on different flying techniques and moves. Harry bought a copy as well, imagining himself flawlessly flying the dwalin dodge.

Eventually they left, Hermione dragging behind whilst trying to fit her seven new books into her bead bag. As they moved up the street, the girls spotted a jewellery store and they agreed to meet up with the boys later. Ron and Harry moved on towards Quality Quidditch Supplies. Ron moved away to look at gadgets for his Cleansweep Eleven and Harry moved to the counter. A young man came to meet him and asked what Harry was looking for.

"I was wondering about the Swiftstick 3000?"

The man instantly became more animated. "Dude, that broom is awesome! It's got an unbreakable braking charm and goes 0 to 150 miles in 15 seconds. Not as fast as the Firebolt but this broom has a permanent weather repellent charm. Makes it much easier to play quidditch in tough conditions." He went into the back and brought one out. It was sleek, and perfectly aerodynamic. "Finest quality snakewood with birch twigs. They've put a long-lasting pruning charm on so you don't have to repair them for up to a year."

"How much is it?"

"250 galleons. You can get it insured for five years with only ten galleons extra."

Harry knew he didn't have enough on him but he still checked, "Can I reserve it while I get some money from Gringotts?"

The clerk chuckled as if he'd heard the same joke for the millionth time, "Almost every shop in Diagon Alley have permission forms for large expenses from Gingotts. If you want to purchase it now I can get one for you?"

"Please. And a delivery form, if you have one." Harry called after him. Ten minutes later Harry had signed a cheque like form and an order for the broom to be delivered to the Burrow. He would have to write to Charlie and ask him to hide it for the meantime. Ron had been too preoccupied with the new compass extension for his model that made the broom handle glow when pointing in the right direction to notice Harry's purchase. As much as Harry trusted Ron, he'd rather not have him sulking about the broom being better than his until he had to.

"Uh, I just need to pop in here for a moment. Be right back." Ron dashed inside Slug and Jiggers. Having only ever needed the apothecary for their potion supplies, Harry followed him. He found Ron bent over a shelf in the back of the shop. There were various makes of the same potions stacked together.

"What's that?" Ron jumped and dropped the bottle he was holding, Harry catching it before it hit the ground "Praeventionis Elixer?"

Ron blushed a deep crimson, "It's a, uh, it's a potion."

Harry grinned and rolled his eyes, "No, really? Never could have guessed that." He read the label, "Mr. Mulpeppers Contraceptive Potion for Men?"

Ron turned a deeper shade of red, "It's for me and Hermione. For when we…you know."

Harry grinned again and handed the potion back to Ron. Once Ron had made his purchase, they left and joined the girls. After visiting a few more shops, they parted. Hermione and Ron left to visit Willkie Twycross to get Ron's apparating licence. Harry and Ginny apparated back to Grimmauld Place and spent the evening curled up around the fireplace, happy just to spend time alone.