The next day Harry woke up to Hermione standing over him. Her tight curls brushing Harry's face. He had passed out on the couch.

"Harry it's so good to see you!" She said loudly her eyes shining her black skin shining in the bright light.

Harry sat bolt upright. This wasn't supposed to happen. He was going to explain everything to them first.

Ron's pink freckled face grinning at him.

Arushi walked out from the room bleary-eyed rubbing her face.

Hermione and Ron looked at the girl confused. She looked frightened running to harry.

"Harry!" She squealed jumping on the couch behind him.

Harry turned to Arushi. "Hey, they're fine, its Hermione and Ron. I told you about them."

"Oh." She said. Obviously not convinced.

"Hi, guys," Harry said sounding tired.

"Who is she?" Ron asked walking around the couch to face Arushi who placed her face into Harry's back.

"This is Arushi. She is my adopted...kid" Harry said. As he had never gotten to ask the chance to call her his daughter.

"What!" Hermione and Ron yelled in unison.

" Calm down," Harry said. Feeling Arushi shake behind him. It had become clear to harry the kid was very nervous about things. Yelling scared her. New people scared her. Crowds scared her. She also didn't understand a lot of things when it came to people.

"Okay," Ron said taking a deep breath. "When did this happen?"

"I was on a house call, murder, two months ago, I found her. Starving locked in her bedroom. Obviously for days. She was malnourished and had no clothes that fit it was awful. I took her, and yesterday I adopted her." Harry explained.

"So you haven't been away. You've been hiding a kid." Hermione breathed.

Harry just nodded. Arushi climbed into Harry's lap hiding her face.

"Why?" Ron asked.

"Isn't it obvious? Hermione said. "Harry's aunt uncle locked him up, and starved him, he had no new clothes, and he's Indian. She is just like Harry, so Harry couldn't part with her, she is him." Hermione explained.

"She had no one," Harry said trying to keep calm. "Her father killed her mother. And her grandparents are blood supremacist who won't take her because she is a half-blood."

"I think it's good," Ron said.

"How?" Hermione challenged.

"Gives Harry a reason to live. Gives the kid a life" Ron said shrugging.

The words hit too home for Harry. It had been an unconscious reason, both of the things they said. Harry had suppressed both of them. He had focused on taking care of her, not on why he did it. But it was true Arushi helped Harry not fall into his old pattern of mindlessly existing while vaguely thinking he should not exist anymore. He had no one to save, and now he did. He didn't have to think about it, just Arushi.

Hermione gazed around the room. The room looked like any house with kids. Toys were in a basket. Kids computer games were stacked under the computer monitor. The books shelves had a mix of adult books, magic books, and kids books. He even had the tales of the beetle and the bard. DVDs and VHS tapes were on a shelf next to the tv. Mostly kids stuff with a few regulars. By the door a kids coat and wellies hanging next to adult ones. Magic Photos of Arushi, Ron and Hermione, Ginny, Harry, and others covered the precious little wall space. Hermione went to see the rest of the place. Kids drawings hung on the fridge. The cabinets held a respectable mix of junk and good food. The fridge was the same. She went into Harry's bedroom. Looked about the same as it had before except for a drawing of Harry and Arushi placed next to a photo of him with dumbledore's army. Arushi's room had a kids bedroom set. Lots of clothes in the closet. Hermione walked back into the living room.

Harry noted tears standing in her eyes. She started to cry. Ron walked over to her and held her

"Why's she crying?" Arushi asked.

"I don't know," Harry mumbled staring at his weeping friend and Ron's frustrated face.

"It's lovely Harry, What you've done for her." She said with a shaky cadence.

"What's wrong Hermione?" Harry said in a c cautious tone.

"I'm pregnant." She said.

"Oh," Harry said.

She nodded. Ron smiled a half smile.

"And I hope our house is as loved as this one." She said sounding surer."I don't think this is a vanity project, I should have known, you don't think before you act but you do follow through. And you would never do anything to hurt an innocent kid" Hermione said with finality.

"Now that we're past that," Harry said. "Arushi, Meet my best friends Ron and Hermione."

Arushi Waved uncertainty.

"I'm Ron," Ron said coming over and kneeling in front of the girl. "He ever gives you trouble, come to see me. Or if he bores you to death." He said smiling.

Hermione walked over, "Hi Arushi. I'm Hermione. But if that's too hard monie is fine that's what that oaf calls me. You ever need some girl time I'm there." She said with a smile tears still standing in her eyes.

Arushi smiled shyly.

Two days later Arushi turned to Harry as he cooked dinner.

"Are you my daddy now?"

"Do you want me to be?" He asked turning to face her and bending down so they were at eye level.

"Yes." She said, "You want me."

"I do want you, Then can I call you my daughter?"

"Yes."

Harry smiled. She hugged him knocking him on to the ground.

Arushi had gone from not wanting to even hold his hand to being clingy and always wanting to cuddle.

Three weeks passed. And Harry was braiding Arushi's long hair. Arushi had taught him how over the past month after he had been allowed to touch her. Harry had also asked Luna to show him. Luna, Hermione, Neville, and Ron were the only ones who had met Arushi, but today was the big one. The rest of the Weasley clan and Teddy Lupin were going to meet her. Harry was terrified, he knew they were going to want all the details and to be completely honest he didn't know all of them. He knew she had been locked up, and malnourished she had been incredibly skinny, he also figured there had been some violence in the house. She also knew her parents were obviously awful to each other that was evident in the murder-suicide. But she didn't know much else about her time before. She knew about magic but had never been taught at a co-op, or a muggle school. Her mother had taught her to read a bit, but Harry had done most of the work. He sighed looking at his braid which looked pretty good. She was in her best dress it was blue with stars. She wore a white long sleeve shirt underneath. She had on stocking and would be wearing her winter boots as Ron had told him the house was covered in snow, and the temperature was freezing. Harry wore a wizard cloak like a proper wizard. He had on slacks and a muggle jumper underneath. He glasses were on straight. He wondered why he was deeply nervous about seeing the Weasleys. They had seen him at his worst when he was eating nothing, sleeping all day and barely wanting to shower or clean his teeth.

Harry was actually eating most of the time, and his hygiene was considerably better. He knew he was still skinny as when it was a bad day eating seemed incredibly hard. Arushi did what Harry knew was a classic move of the starving kid, Harry would go into her room and find food tucked into her clothes in her dresser. She was also very particular about food. They both had nightmares and bad days. Harry tried his best to hide his, he never allowed himself to stay in bed all day, and he tried to hide his sadness and anger but he knew it showed through. He sighed they were a mess, one he didn't know if Mrs Weasley would want to continue.

The clock struck the appropriate time. He took Arushi's hand and they walked out into the alley beside the apartment building. Harry's apartment was warded against apration directly in.

They arrived next to the burrow. "You ready?" Harry said to Arushi.

She nodded and smiled at Harry. He breathed out. They walked into the burrow to see gorge sleeping on the couch. Harry walked over and looked. He still looked rough five years on, Harry walked past and saw Mrs Weasley cooking and Ginny eating the finished chips.

"Hi," Harry said after a long breath.

"Harry!" Mrs Weasley shouted making both Harry and his daughter jump.

Ginny rushed over and hugged him.

"Where is the girl?" Mrs Weasley asked.

Harry turned behind him knowing she had hidden behind him. He bent down and lifted the small girl up.

She turned her face into Harry's shoulder.

"This is my daughter, Arushi," He said.

"Hi, darling." Mrs Weasley said.

Arushi turned her face to look at the two girls in front of him.

Charlie, Ron and Hermione, Percy and Audrey, Bill and Fleur with four-year-old Victorie came down the stairs obviously late to the time they were to arrive as always.

Harry backed up instinctively. The noise and bodies kicking his fight and flight instinct into gear. They all started chatting and trying to see Arushi.

Ashuri was obviously scared pushing her hands over her ears. Harry knew what was about to happen. Much to the crowds surprise they were all pushed backwards charlie falling down as Ron bumped into him. Harry was amused when he heard a snort behind him as George walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.

Harry smiled back at him.

"Sorry guys, You just frightened her," Harry said as they righted themselves.

"I think it's brilliant, you lot can be exceedingly loud," Gorge said.

Mrs Weasley straightened her dress.

"How about we sit down to eat." She said, obviously deciding to ignore the magic until, Harry bet, they were alone.

Harry sat down placing Arushi next to him.

Mrs Weasley laid out all the food. He noted that the table was even bigger then it had been when Harry was a child, made to accommodate an ever-growing family. Ginny sat next to Harry after helping her mom pass out the food. She gave Harry a weak smile, Harry returned it.

They all ate in silence for a minute. Before Ron started to laugh which brought the whole table save Arushi, Fleur and Mrs Weasley to laugh. The latter two just smiled.

"How old is she?" Fleur asked Harry. After the laughter died down.

"She's five," Harry said.

"She is quite small then," Charlie noted.

Harry just nodded in return. No need for them to know the girl had been starved half to death.

"What do you like to do?" Ginny asked Arushi.

"Books, Colouring, tea," she said softly staring down at the food in front of her.

They all drifted into their own conversations taking the heat off Harry and his girl. After no one was staring at her Arushi started to eat slowly staring around her. Harry knew she was checking she wasn't about to have it taken away from her.

Harry rubbed her back absentmindedly with one hand.

Eating with the other. Harry ate as much as his nervous stomach would allow. He was still stressed. They had gone out places over the last three months, but it hadn't been often and it had always been quick. Harry had actually gotten used to the quite. Just the two of them. And maybe two guests in the past few weeks. But it was quiet. Luna and Neville mostly talking softly with Arushi as Harry read, sometimes talking to Harry about things. Neville had bought them a plant that would smell like different things based on what you watered it with. Luna had given Harry a charm to keep away the wrackspurts. And sent them every edition of the Quibbler. Arushi loved luna the most out of the visitor's luna was quite and would do just about anything Arushi wanted to do. Luna also knew some Indian traditions that Arushi's mom used to do. Luna being Chinese was quite fond of learning about different cultures traditions as she had always tried to keep her's alive. Hermione understood feeling like a fish out of water, but she like Harry had lived in white suburbia and had been cut off from their traditional cultures.

Harry almost wanted to cast Mimblewimble to make them all shut up and just leave. He knew that was an asshole thing to do but fuck was he tired. After dinner, they all dispersed to the living room where Mrs Weasley turned on the radio and everyone talked with the background noise of the radio.

"Oh, Harry. Teddy and Andromeda will be here around suppertime" Ginny said to Harry smiling.

Harry smiled. Harry hadn't seen teddy in three months. Harry had seen him on his monthly trip to the burrow along with Andromeda letting Harry watch Teddy periodically. Harry loved Teddy as was the best thing to come out of the war and Harry loved him deeply. Arushi climbed into Harry's lap and laid her head on him obviously tired. Harry wrapped his arm around her.

"You love her," Ginny said.

"Yeah, I do."

"You were ready way before I ever could have been," Ginny said softly so only Harry could hear.

"I guess so."

"Family heald you. Quidditch was what was best for me. Flying, travelling it helped."

"That's good."

Harry smiled at Ginny. Who smiled back. Harry was glad they hadn't forced anything, it was better.

Teddy and Andromeda showed up as planned at Super. Harry was glad to see Teddy who caught him up on everything he had missed. He also talked to Arushi as much as she would. Harry hoped they could be friends. They were very close in age.

Hermione came over to Arushi after dinner.

"Ginny, Fleur and I are going to go upstairs have some girl time want to come?"

Arushi looked at Harry. He nodded she took Hermione's hand and they left.

Harry stopped fleur as she was about to go up.

"She really doesn't do loud noises, or shouting and might not like to be touched. Please be careful with her."

"We will be very calm I promise."

Harry nodded. He knew they were taking her to give Mrs Weasley some Harry interrogation time.

"Harry dear can we talk."

Harry suppressed the urge to get Arushi and run but followed Mrs Weasley all the same.

"Harry I'm just wondering what you think you are doing?"

"I'm being a father," Harry said

"Look I know you think this is what you want. But you don't have a wife to take care of her when you go back to work. And the girl is almost six, your only twenty-four."

"She had nowhere to go. She needed a father, I am her father."

"Harry, I'm just worried about you. You were not doing very well the last time I saw you. And your still so skinny and you look tired."

"I am tired. But I have enough energy to be there for her."

"Harry."

"Fleur had a kid when she was this age, so did you, and Hermione is pregnant why am I different?" Harry asked

"Because they have someone to raise the kid with. And they aren't picking up where someone else left off."

"Mrs Weasley, please. I'm doing a good thing for me and her. And I love it." Harry said pleading. He didn't realise how much he wanted her approval.

"Harry, did you see how powerful her accidental magic is how can you control that?"

"It's protective. She came from a broken place her magic was used to deal with it. If I can keep her feeling safe it won't be so bad. And I've read a lot about parenting a magical kid, and orphans. I'm ready!"

"How do you know you're really ready?"

"Because I love her more than life itself."

"Yes, Harry. I know that. I'm just worried."

"I appreciate it."

She hugged Harry, "congratulations."

Harry smiled

"Also convince Ronald to propose to Hermione." Mrs Weasley laughed.

"Will do."

Harry Sat with Arushi at home. Arushi was asleep next to him in her bed. Harry had come in to stop the monsters. She was curled into him. Harry laughed to himself. Tears In his eyes. They were fighting the monsters together in their dreams, no matter what they were. And they would fight together. A family