Chapter 24: After Effects

Once again, it was very late by the time the large group returned to the castle. Ginny, Severus and Andy Tonks remained with Harry in his London Penthouse. After running a number of scans, Andy and Poppy said that he was physically fine; mentally…then knew he would be fine after a few days. Poppy before she left had Severus, who carried a portable potions lab with him whenever he left the castle, brew some Dreamless Sleep Potion and give it to Harry. Ginny immediately crawled into bed with Harry and wrapped herself around him, and starting sending all of love to him through her skin and their bond.

The Penthouse itself was rather large and expansive even more with magic. It now had seven bedrooms including the master suite, a large conference room, two living rooms, a large office and massive kitchen. Andy had taken the room closest to the master suite; Severus decided to remain in the sitting room where he could watch the front door. He was sitting up when Ginny walked in.

"Severus…I just wanted to say…why?" Severus looked over the youngest Weasley, now Potter and saw a younger version of Lily Evans.

"Mrs. Potter…Ginny…Do you know that I owed James, Harry's father, a life debt?" Ginny nodded,

"Everyone thinks that it was because he saved my life. I never had the chance to make it up to him. When he died, I told Albus that I would watch over Harry, but that wasn't the only reason why I did it. When I was younger, I was abused by my father. That is the reason why I joined Voldemort right out of Hogwarts. Anyway, because of my abuse, I can spot the signs a mile away and have often used these skills for students within the castle, no matter the house.

"When Albus saved me from Voldemort, I swore an oath to be the best teacher I could be and defend those who cannot defend themselves. Looking back on it, I failed miserably. I have been biased, hateful, hurtful, and have allowed way to much abuse to happen. I have single handedly fractured the brittle peace that Hogwarts had for over ten years.

"When I first met Harry, I saw all the signs of abuse, but I did nothing about it because I saw James Potter, the spoiled little prince who enjoyed beating people up and pranking them for fun. By the time James had grown up, I was public enemy number one in his eyes. When I arrived for the trial today, I had a bad feeling that whale would try something. When he launched at Harry, I knew exactly what I needed to do. I defended Harry Potter because whether I want to admit it or not, Harry is the best, last hope we have." Ginny looked into Severus' eyes and used a little Legilimency to see he was telling the truth.

She knelt on the sofa was sitting on and hugged him, placing a kiss on his cheek, "Thank you for saving my husband Severus. Come on, if we both cast the wards, we both get some sleep."

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After everyone dispersed, Tonks took her dad to a guest room close to hers and got him settled in. Remus had told her not to wait up for him because he felt like going for along walk. It wasn't uncommon for this to happen, but it was uncommon to see Bill and Percy joining him. This was the first time all day that Tonks could sit down and relax.

So that was why Nymphadora Tonks, Auror Junior Grade, member of the Order of the Phoenix, and new Professor for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry sat alone in her suite nursing her third glass of firewhiskey. She normally wasn't a drunk, but after what had happened today, she decided what the hell.

It wasn't the testimony of Albus, or Poppy, or Molly or any of the others that got to her, it was Ginny's and then Harry's that really got her. She knew from her mum and dad, then later Sirius, that they had been disowned from Black Family. She was fine with that, but what the Dursleys did to Harry was just wrong. Thinking about family made Tonks think about her mother's family, her family, or lack there of.

'The Ancient & Most Noble House of Black' was basically no more. With the deaths of Narcissa and Draco nee Black-Malfoy, Tonks was now the only remaining blood of that line since it was widely known that her Aunt Bellatrix could not bare children thanks to Voldemort.

It was with these thoughts that Tonks decided to open the letter in front of her. The letter, along with three others, was forced into her hands by Narcissa when she died; the others, one to her mum and dad, one to Harry and the last to the ministry had all already been delivered. The Ministry's letter was a list of every crime and dark artifact that the Malfoy's had ever used, bought or sold.

It also included a signed confession about the death of forty five muggle women that they had found on the grounds of Malfoy Manor. Her mum and dad's letters were basic apologizes and mush. Turning over the envelope, there were two different wax seals on her letter, one that she recognized as the Black Family Crest, the other as the Malfoy Family Crest. Narcissa was considered a bastard child since Harry annulled her marriage to Lucius and threw her and Bellatrix out of the Black Family. To see these two crests together, like they belonged, made Tonks' blood boil; she savagely ripped open the letter and read it.

To My Niece Nymphadora:

If you are reading this letter, then I am afraid that my actions have finally caught up with me and I am dead. Knowing my luck, I was probably killed by my own sister or son. Nymphadora, I wanted to apologize for the way I have treated you and your parents all you life. At one time, the three of us, Bellatrix, Andromeda, and I were very close. Three sisters sorted into Slytherin with two years in between each of us, we were fine until I met Lucius.

I still believe the Bellatrix wanted Lucius, but he intrigued me. Was there ever any love, probably not? But I did Love Draco with all my heart. It pained me to see him turning into a younger version of Lucius. Unfortunately, by the time I was ready to stand up to my husband, the damage had been done. I have learned recently, upon reflection that my son has been expelled from Hogwarts because of my husband, that I have made many, many bad decisions in my life. I have also realized that it is time to pay the pauper.

Because of this, I have made a number letters I wish for you to deliver for me. The first is to you, this letter, it includes a copy of my newest will and my heart apologizes. I would consider trying to turn spy, but I am afraid the Lucius' corruption of me is too much to clean. Before Lucius was sent thru the veil, he named me as his wife and chief beneficiary. So my little Dora, in my will, I have named you as heir to the Malfoy family. This means you get Malfoy Manor, the other houses and properties, the investments, the seat on the Wizengamot, and the gold in the Vaults. I would recommend that you destroy all the dark heirlooms.

In closing, Albus Dumbledore once said, 'Sooner or later, we have to choose between what is right and what is easy.' I chose for many years to do what was easy, now in death I am doing what is right.

Signed:

Narcissa Nicole Malfoy

Expelled Member,

The Most Noble and Ancient House of Black

Mistress and Head

The Most Noble and Ancient House of Malfoy

P.S. Rumor reached me that you are in love with a Remus Lupin. Though a werewolf, Draco did tell me that he was the best DADA there was. I would suggest you go find him and claim him as yours and never let go.

Tonks finished reading the letter and sobbed a little. Narcissa had thrown herself in harms way to protect Tonks during the fighting. It was the noblest thing she had ever seen. Tonks wiped her eyes and stood up. 'For once Auntie Cissa, I am going exactly what you wanted me to do.' _________________________________________________________________________________

Remus, Bill and Percy were off trying to walk off the anger and aggression that they still had pent up inside of them. Ron and the twins were with their girls, doing who knows what. Fleur and Penny had decided to sit with Molly and Arthur for a while. As the guys walked, they checked over all the improvements to the castle. The new boat house had already been finished, and the Dragon Habitat would be completed within two weeks. Remus and Charlie were inspecting the stables that would house the horses, hippogriffs, and griffins. Bill and Percy were going over the wards while thinking about his little brother Harry.

"Hey, where do you think the Dursleys are going to go to jail at?"

Percy answered, "According to dad, it'll be solitary confinement in the Tower of London. The Queen has approved routine floggings and…other punishments."

They moved on to inspect the improvements throughout the grounds. They finally made it up to the new hospital wing. The new wing was 4 times the size of the old one and had all the newest wizard technologies built right in. This included an in wing potions lab with self stirring cauldrons and automatic replenishing stocks of ingredients. There was also a magical shunt directly from Hogwarts herself. This shunt could be used replenish the magic of a magically exhausted patient, or used to run a number of diagnostic tools and spells. This was actually how St. Mungo's was able to treat so many patients.

For a school hospital wing to have this was a testament to the level of care expected from this unit. However what the boys heard was a bunch of drunks. Poppy, Minerva, Filius Flitwick, Ron, Hermione, Pomona Sprout, and Ted Tonks were all drinking quite a lot. There were twelve empty firewhiskey bottles lying about. The boys conjured up more chairs and joined in the drinking. None of them noticed Fawkes and Mercury singing a sad song from the rafters.