Chapter Two: Family

At around ten to seven Harry stepped outside Grimmauld Place, dressed in a black suit with a crisp white shirt. The tie he wore was thin and dark red with a diagonal splash of white cutting across it. His shoes were polished to a gleam, even his cufflinks glinted in the light shining down from the street lights. No-one could say he hadn't made an effort. But there was no way in hell he was going to wear damn dress robes.

He had only run a hand through his unruly hair and left it at that. Despite popular belief Harry knew full well that his hair could be tamed. The supposedly infamous Potter hair was pretty much a sham. He just liked the look and not having to do much with it. The fact that it reminded people of James made him want to keep it rather than tame it. The truth was Harry had never tried to fix it and only Hermione had ever attempted to do so without asking. Luckily this had happened while they had been alone during the Horcrux hunt. It was a little joke they shared now, a glimmer of light in the memories filled with darkness.

Anyone nearby would have heard a faint pop as Harry vanished. One second he was standing in London and the next his eyes were greeted by the house of Andromeda Tonks. He stood there for a moment, checking his watch, making sure that he had arrived with plenty of time. The rain hadn't come this far north, and instead sunlight was trying feebly to poke through the thick grey clouds which blanketed the sky. He looked up at the sound of his name and noticed the door of the house before him had opened and Andromeda Tonks was waiting for him.

"You look nice," she said when he had given her a quick hug and they had stepped inside. "Going somewhere special?"

"Depends on your definition of special," Harry asked back. "I'm off to the Ministry Ball since Hermione needed a suitable companion in front of all the big-wigs and Ron's busy covering the shop with George and Angelina off on their anniversary."

"And you don't want to go, of course," Andromeda said with a tight smirk which turned to a look of exasperation. "Him and that shop. I've already told the three of them they need to hire more help."

Harry nodded, "I know but we both know how stubborn Weasleys are. To them it seems an unnecessary expense and given how they were raised… well you know."

Andromeda sighed as she led Harry to the living room, "I do indeed. Of course, if they actually have the grandchild Molly wants them to have they'll need the help anyway. Although, Angelina got that offer from the Harpies so I don't that happening somehow." It was well known that Molly Weasley was desperate for her children to start families of their own. The idea of being a grandmother was something that the Weasley matriarch was more than a little excited for.

Harry sat down in his favourite plush chair. The fireplace to his right was burning nicely, a nice change from the cold wind outside. Even with his redecorating, the dark red wallpaper Andromeda had chosen made this room feel far warmer than any in Grimmauld Place.

Then again Andromeda's home had started as a muggle vacation cottage built in the Victorian times. The previous owners, however, had gutted the inside and upgraded with all the modern conveniences. Like the previous owners, Andromeda had totally redone the place when she had moved in after the war. Harry had sold her old place for her as she could barely step foot in the place after hearing the death of her daughter. Clearing out the home was Winky's last act for Harry before she bonded to a new family.

Harry understood how she felt. Too many memories could suck the enjoyment out of life just as assuredly as a Dementor could. It was why he had thrown practically everything away when he was redecorating Grimmauld Place. Too many memories. Too much pain. It was something that had made his final year at Hogwarts equally painful. Being in the castle was a constant reminder of who he hadn't been there with. Harry sometimes wondered if that was why both Ron and George were so driven. They both wanted to forget the past.

Harry looked over to the mantel above the fireplace. The only thing on it was a picture of himself and Andromeda with baby Teddy. Ginny had taken it when they'd all gone to the coast for a weekend. It had been Teddy's first trip to the beach. The picture showed Teddy happily holding hands between Harry and his grandmother. As Harry looked at the picture he could see how the young boy's hair shifted and changing colour. He had been so happy that day.

"George really needed someone after everything. I think Ron needed to be needed. They've been good for each other," Harry said thoughtfully. Of course left unsaid was that Ron needed to be needed for something outside of Harry's shadow. He had needed to grow up. They all had.

There was a brief silence, filled only with the noise of the crackling fireplace and gentle ticking of the clock resting on the mantelpiece. Harry stared it for a moment, but he wasn't really looking at it. Distant memories as fresh as the day he was there flooded back to him. The sounds of shouting, the falling rubble and the terrible agony filled screams echoed in his ears. He let the memories wash over for him a moment, consume him, before locking them back away. Burying them again.

"Still, they're doing good business." He said forcing a sense of brightness into his voice. "Must be if they're still open."

"Rumour is they're saving up to buy Zonko's."

"That's just a rumour, though if they could afford it I wouldn't put it past them," Harry smirked. "George hasn't stopped in years."

"They're opening another one down in Hogsmeade," Andromeda said. "Ron's going to be running it, he was telling me last week. It's about time too. Deserves to after all the work he's put in for that shop. Guess George is going to have to get help when Ron leaves."

That was true, Ron really had put in the work at the shop. Nobody had really expected him to step up like he had; instead they had suspected he would fall back into old habits. But the shop life had suited Ron, far more than dodging spells and any other rigorous test the Auror Department could come up with. Granted, that was the point, to weed out the people who couldn't manage it. The trouble was there were less experienced aurors these days, as so many had died in the war and recruits weren't exactly lining up to join. Nobody wanted to be part of a department that had been decimated a few years earlier. Any auror who had stood up to Voldemort's regime hadn't been looking out for his job security. Some had gone into hiding but too many had died. Too many good men.

"Zonko's could do with the competition up there." Harry said smirking, the old joke shop had always reigned supreme up in Hogsmeade. Change always had a way of ruining old traditions. "That's probably where all the rumours about a buy-out are coming from."

"They're going to have to work hard," Andromeda commented, "There was one shop tried when I was at Hogwarts. It didn't last long."

Harry was about to continue, saying that Ron would easily manage to fight off Zonko's, but before he could there was an excited yell and something small and grinning barrelled into Harry. He laughed, picking Teddy up and spinning him round, eliciting giggling from the boy. The world went soft. Only Teddy could do that to him. Everything seemed to be right when Teddy was there, like his whole life, everything he had suffered and fought for and lost, all of it seemed worth it when he looked at Teddy. One of the few lights that shone in the dark.

"More!" Teddy shouted as Harry gently lowered his godson to the floor.

"Sorry, kiddo, you know your gran has set a two twirl limit," Harry said with a grin as he ruffled his Teddy's hair. As usual Teddy had unconsciously turned his hair the same jet black as Harry's own. His eyes, however, were still mostly brown with just a hint of green in them. Teddy was still a long way off from being in proper control of his metamorphmagic abilities.

"So, how are you feeling? You don't seem too bad off," Harry asked. Teddy had been down with the flu over the last few days.

"Better," Teddy replied as he clambered up onto Harry's favourite chair and perched there with his feet dangling off the arm.

Harry smiled at this and the fact Teddy had obviously gotten his energy back. His teachers, if they could see him, would be justified in wondering why he wasn't back in school. Andromeda, however, was more than a little overprotective when it came to her grandchild.

"Grammie made me pancakes!" Teddy told him excitedly, bouncing a little on the arm of Harry's chair.

"Did she?" The boy nodded profusely, his eyes big and innocent. A small part of Harry envied Teddy, wishing his childhood had been like his, full of love and care. It was only a very small part. But it was still there all the same buried deep inside. He ignored it, focusing instead on the beaming boy before him.

"He was ill," Andromeda said quickly, as if trying to justify treating her grandson. Both Harry and Andromeda knew full well the older witch was soft on Teddy. Not that Harry blamed her. He was the only family they both had left. "What else could I do?"

"Can we play trains, Uncle Harry?" Teddy asked excitedly before Harry could say anything else to Andromeda. Teddy had a habit of trying to get as much time out of Harry as he could whenever he visited. Not that Harry minded. There was nothing he wouldn't do for his godson.

"What do we say?" Harry asked.

"Please?"

"Right, why don't you go get your trains and I'll help you set up in here."

Teddy was beaming as he scrambled down from the chair and hurried out of the room. He loved his train set, ever since George had made it for him the previous Christmas Teddy had never stopped playing with it. The trains were enchanted and followed whatever track Teddy set out for them. George had gone the extra mile to make them as realistic as he could: steam, whistles; the works.

"Don't play with him for too long," Andromeda said gently when Teddy could be heard running up the stairs to his room, "He's got to be up early for school."

Harry performed a mock salute which earned him a stern glare from the elder woman. No matter how different she was from the rest of them, Harry reminded himself, she was still a Black.

The evening passed quickly and all too soon Harry knew he would have to leave. He couldn't put it off for any longer, but he still dragged out putting Teddy to bed, as he always did. He even indulged in reading a section of the science fiction novel Hermione had bought for him. He even did the silly voices. He had to. They made a story. Especially for Teddy, he liked hearing General di Santo, leader of the Rebel army, sounding like he had a helium addiction. But when he was officially fifteen minutes late he knew he would have to leave.

"Can't you stay?" Teddy asked when Harry was putting the book back on the shelf. "Grammie wouldn't mind."

"I know, kiddo, but I've got to go." Harry said a sad smile on his face as he looked at his godson. "Your Aunt Hermione needs me." That seemed enough for Teddy who nodded happily at the thought of his godfather rushing off to save the day.

"But I'll be back tomorrow, don't worry." Teddy smiled and it only took a few steps and then Harry was hugging his godson. Harry stayed there for as long as he could before releasing Teddy. He stepped back, before giving a small wave.

"Goodnight," Harry said, forcing the sadness out of his voice. He hated leaving Teddy. Every time he wished he could stay longer, spend more time with his godson. But there was always something that had to drag him away. If it wasn't the ball then it used to be trying to make some time for Ginny or going back on shift to catch the latest dark wizard. The world didn't stop just because Harry wanted it to.

"Night," Teddy waved yawning slightly as he did so. Before he shut the door Harry waved his wand, silently plunging the room into darkness as Teddy pulled the covers over himself.

Andromeda offered him a gentle smile when he reached the bottom of the stairs. "Do try to have fun won't you, Harry?"

She dusted something off the lapel of his jacket before giving it to him. He idly wondered whether there had been anything there at all or whether Andromeda just liked making a fuss. She didn't have many people to fuss after. Not anymore. Ginny had sometimes had to suffer the mothering of Andromeda. At least, until she had told the press her damn story that was. For weeks after she had still visited, for Teddy's sake. But not anymore. Harry didn't know why but he was sure it had something to do with him. Teddy too. Ginny had always been jealous of the time he set aside for Teddy. But if she didn't know why he did it, she didn't know him at all because there was no way in hell he would give up on Teddy.

"Oh I'll have a ball." Harry grimaced. It wasn't funny and the pun was awful but it got a laugh, albeit a token one.

"Very funny," Andromeda said dryly rolling her eyes. "Say hello to Hermione for me."

He nodded before giving her a quick hug and heading out the door. She didn't head back inside until he was out of the gate and by then he had already turned and vanished.

oOo

"You're late," was the greeting Harry got when he knocked on the front door of Hermione's flat. It was accompanied by a worried scowl, one which was all too familiar to Harry. It was the same one she used to get before exams, no matter how much revision she did. Confidence wasn't her strong suit, especially when her plans for an occasion did not happen exactly as she had envisioned, a fact which Harry had momentarily forgotten when he had been with Teddy. Had Harry remembered he doubted he would have been as late as he was.

"Good evening to you too," Harry responded calmly before stepping into the apartment and shutting the door behind him.

The flat was as clean and neat as it always was, not sterile like Privet Drive had been, but tidy. Everything had its proper place, it was Hermione's flat after all. She was one of the most organised people he knew. However, when Ron was round it was a completely different story and one that sometimes got too much for Hermione after a long day at work.

Harry followed Hermione into the living room, it was easily the largest room in the house. The entire far wall was taken up by a dark wooden bookcase, which was filled to bursting with books on a variety of topics. On top of that there was a fiction section, which Harry borrowed from on the odd occasion for a book he could read to Teddy. Hermione had kept many of her own children's books, not having the heart to throw them away. It had surprised Harry to see so many cracked spines when he had first seen the collection in its entirety. Although, Hermione had to afford a flat on her own wage, so she couldn't afford to be too choosey.

He sat down on the leather sofa as she magically filed away the many rolls of parchment that took up most of the coffee table. No doubt she had been going over the plans with the Dutch before the ball.

"Been busy," Harry remarked - it wasn't a question. He was well aware of Hermione's last minute panics before anything important. It was something that barely anyone else ever saw. Instead, they probably thought she was self-assured and confident. She was a war hero, a gifted witch and a muggleborn succeeding in an organisation that was constantly making sure the odds were stacked against her. All of those things pointed to the reputation many bought into and which Harry knew to be far from the truth.

"Like you wouldn't believe," Hermione told him when the last roll of parchment had flown into an open drawer to Harry's left. "Thanks for doing this, Harry, really. I know it's not your scene."

"It's fine, Hermione, what are friends for?" Left unsaid was the amount of help she had given him over the years. Suffering through a pointless Ministry ball was the least he could do. Even if he was going to hate it. "You all set?"

"Almost," Hermione said picking up the small purse from the coffee table before stashing her wand inside. An undetectable extension charm, Harry noted. Ever since the horcrux hunt Hermione had constantly been using the charm so as to make sure she was prepared for every eventuality. Merlin only knew what else she had hidden in there. Harry doubted the rolls of parchment she had just put away were the only pieces of work she had liberated from work.

"And you have a go at me for being late," Harry commented earning himself a mock glare from his friend who had crossed to the mirror above the fireplace. Every wizard and witch's home had one, even if they weren't linked up to a chimney.

"How do I look?" Hermione asked frowning at her reflection as if displeased with the face she saw staring back at her. If Harry had known nothing of her background he would have been unable to understand why she was as self-critical as she was. But Hermione had not had the most supportive of peers before Hogwarts. Bullying left scars that never quite went away. He knew there were always doubts at the back of her mind and nobody have ever managed to convince her that she was pretty, despite the obvious evidence.

"You look great," Harry told her looking straight into her eyes as he did so in an attempt to convince her it was true. Hermione's dress robes, a deep blue, were finely tailored and suited her far more than the revealing alternatives Harry had seen in the window of Madam Malkin's a few months previously. Her make-up was light and sparing and her hair fell in lavish curls down to her shoulders. They might well be best friends, but Harry wasn't blind, a fact which didn't stop Hermione refusing to agree with either him or Ron whenever they complimented her looks.

Hermione gave him a sad sort of smile but shook herself and turned from the mirror. He knew a hint when he saw one so didn't say anything else, as he knew it was unfair to judge when it came to refusing to talk about things, considering what he had spent the last three months doing.

"How are we getting there?" Harry asked changing the topic from Hermione.

"The visitors entrance, I don't think everyone would appreciate us falling out of a fireplace, do you?"

Harry didn't comment. He knew all too well that more than a few people at the ball would appreciate seeing either or both of them embarrassed. He was the Boy-Who-Lived and Hermione was a muggleborn who didn't know her place according to too many supposedly 'upstanding' members of the community. It was definitely better if they went via the visitor's entrance. His name might already be mud but he wasn't going to give them anything to use against Hermione. No matter how trivial.

"Okay, I'm ready," Hermione told him dragging his attention back to the matter at hand.

Together they headed out of the apartment, Hermione plunging the flat into darkness with a wave of her wand before she shut the door. It took a moment for her to cast necessary charms on her front door. It was a realistic precaution. There were still fanatics out there sympathetic to Voldemort's cause who held a grudge. The aurors, no matter how hard they tried, were never going to catch all of them. Some always slipped through the net. Add on top of that Hermione's steadily increasing influence in the Ministry and nosey journalists then it was no wonder she felt the need to protect her apartment magically when she was gone.

"Miss Granger," Harry said offering his arm to her a small smile on his face. "If you would do me the honour?"

"Always the comedian," Hermione grinned slipping her arm into his. She looked nervous. But her smile remained as she looked into the face of her friend. "Thank you for this."

"Any time," Harry answered solemnly. "I just hope you get what you need tonight."

"We should be okay," Hermione told him, "Trimbole just needs the personal touch. At least Ambassador Delacour is onside, even if it isn't official yet."

"Handy having Fleur living here really," Harry commented, glad that Hermione noticed the sarcasm in his voice. They were both well aware of the professionalism of the French ambassador, Hermione more than anyone. So much of her time during these trade talks had been spent making sure that everyone could see they were above board.

"We'd better get going," Hermione said albeit a little reluctantly. "We're already running a little late."

Harry nodded and with that they vanished, leaving Hermione's empty flat behind them.