Chap. 48: Hogsmeade and the two Harries, Bathilda, and back to Hogwarts.

Harry stepped off the Hogwarts Express with Daphne, Astoria, Tracey, Neville, Luna, Ron, and Hermione, where they started making their way toward the carriages. As Harry began to lead them in that direction, he wrapped his left arm around Daphne's shoulders as his wand slid into his right hand, when he heard someone walk up beside him.

"Hello, ol' chap, long time no see!"

When Harry looked to his right, he smiled. "'Lo, Terence; it's good to see you again. I was wondering why you were on the train."

"Escorting my little brother, Harry," Terence said as he mussed his little brother's hair, making him scowl. "He's a fifth year, now, so, Harry, meet Harry."

Here, Harry chortled out loud. "Hello mate," he replied, giving the younger Harry a grin and a nod. Harry wished he'd paid more attention to his housemates when at school since he should have known this.

"It's really Harold," little Harry stated, and then smirked, "but everyone calls me Harry. Kind of cool, because we have the same name and all." At this, little Harry nodded at his older namesake, where he held out his hand, which Harry shook.

"Hello, Daph," Higgs said, which grabbed her attention from gossiping with Tracey.

"Oh, Hello, Terence," Daphne replied, "long time no see. Harry said that you were on the train."

"I'll have you know that I said no such thing," little Harry replied with a melodramatic scoff, which made the elder Harry chortle out loud.

"Oh, shush you," Daphne replied, which only made little Harry smirk. Harry thought the younger wizard funny, and he noticed Astoria eying him.

"How's Mel?" Daphne inquired.

"Oh, she's fine," Terence said with a huge and proud smile. "We got married."

"You did?" Harry asked, though his wife didn't look a bit surprised. Harry also noticed that Ron and Hermione were now looking their way and that Hermione had her lips pursed. Neville, though, gave Harry a slight nod indicating that he knew.

"Yup," Terence said as he patted Harry on his right shoulder. "I figured that since you two tied the knot that I might as well do it myself. I married Melanie Blackthorn from Atlanta, Georgia. Her family moved here about a year back, just after she graduated from Ilvermorny. She works with Fleur Delacour at Gringotts."

"Well, that's great, mate," Harry replied, which made Hermione scowl, and Ron, gape. "We need to play a pick-up game one of these days for those of us out of school, and bring in some of our old players. Pucey would be a good one."

"It would be hard, right now, for him," Terence said, "since he's training to become a mind healer, but I'll ask him."

Here, Daphne looked over at Tracey and Astoria and sarcastically remarked, "Quidditch," with a roll of her eyes.

"But you're on, Potter," Terence said with a smirk while ignoring Daphne's antics. "I might just have a chance to finally beat you to the snitch for once."

"Keep dreamin', Higgs," Harry said with a loud and proud chuckle. "However, I wish you had been the seeker over all those years. Bloody Malfoy, the ponce, and his da's money. That was dirty, mate, that was!"

"Yeah, man, I know," Terence said with a scowl as they neared the carriages where he dropped his voice. "Look, Harry, Daph needs to keep an eye out for Flint. I wouldn't doubt that he's marked."

"I'll break the fuckin' gobshite in half if he tries anything," Harry growled out while wrapping his arm back around Daphne, where he heard Hermione scold him for his tongue. "I already had an altercation with him on the train, and I'll have him investigated over that."

Terence's eyebrows rose up at this, and so did his brother's, but neither said anything because neither liked Flint, nor his family.

When they made it to the fourth to the last carriage, Terence looked over at Daphne. "Hey, Daph, you care if Harry rides with you lot?"

"But Harry's not coming with us," Ron said.

"My little brother," Terence explained as if Ron was being simple. "I escorted him today over Da' worrying about You-Know-Who attacking the train."

"That's why I'm here as well," Harry replied, and Terence nodded. "All right, you lot, let's get you into a carriage." Hermione wondered how that would work with as many of them as there were.

Here, Harry opened the carriage's door and gave his Mayhaw wand a slight swish, which expanded the interior with a silent expansion charm. "That should do it; everybody on board."

Here, Hermione scowled at Harry's easy use of magic, which was silent at that, since the expansion charm taxed her, and she had to state the charm aloud for it to work, but she stepped up into the carriage anyhow and took a seat without complaining. She was followed by Ron, who gave his farewell, and then, Neville, who shook Harry's hand, and then, Tracey, who quickly sat next to him with a sultry smile. Next was Astoria, who sat beside little Harry, where they began discussing Transfiguration, and then, finally, Luna, who gave Harry's cheek a quick peck before she boarded.

"I'm going to miss you, husband of mine," Daphne said with a teary sniff as she stood on her toes to give Harry a long snog. Both heard several young witches squealing out from the other carriages at this.

"I will you, too, dear, but I'll be here, Saturday, and I'll be waiting at our table at the Three Broomsticks."

"You'd better, mister!" Daphne said before stealing one more kiss and stepping inside the carriage, where she closed the door.

When Harry turned around to say something to Terence, he caught Flint glaring at them before he boarded the last carriage leaving for the school. Terence caught this as well.

"That bastard is who sold me out to Malfoy, and had me kicked off the team," Higgs said, just as Daphne's carriage moved out, and headed toward the school.

"Yup," Harry replied, "and I remember it like it was yesterday. Rotten family, his. Now, ol' chap, let's head to the Hog's Head, have a drink, and discuss that hunting trip. Daph bought me a new shotgun for Christmas, you see, and..."

Flint was still glaring at the two as his carriage rolled by.

It was a little after nine when Harry entered Black Manor and made his way to the kitchen. He was also a little tipsy over his and Terence's bit of drinking while speaking about their married life and work. However, when he came to the swinging door at the end of the hall, he could have sworn that he heard a female's voice, so his wand shot into his hand as he quickly pushed it open. Who was in the breakfast room startled him.

"Bathilda? What's happened?"

Bathilda Bagshot, who was just taking a sip of tea, but with a shaky and scraped-up hand, looked up at Harry just as Winky made her way into the laundry to help Kreacher.

"They were snooping around outside my house," Bathilda stated with a scowl, "so I took the portkey that you and young Daphne gave me, and ended up here."

"Who?"

"The Death Eaters dear boy, don't be daft! I've been wondering when they would come, well, to ask questions about the Hallows."

Here, Harry scowled as he sat down. That was when he noticed the old woman was scuffed up a bit as well.

"What happened to you, Bathilda? You're hurt!"

"Oh, that was from the portkey at the end, young Harry," Bathilda explained. "I'm too old to easily exit from one with grace anymore, so I ended up on my knees where your two elves helped me inside."

Harry sighed before conjuring his Patronus, which made Bathilda gawk in wonder. It was just like James', she thought.

"Go to Headmaster Dumbledore," Harry told his stag, "and ask him: can you send Madam Pomfrey here at once, sir, to my manor, where the floo will be open, since a mutual acquaintance, a very elderly witch from the Hollow, is in need of medical attention. The address is Black Manor."

Harry hated revealing that, as that just allowed two more people in on the secret.

"Thank you, child," Bathilda said with a pleased smile as she shakily took another sip of her tea. "My knees and hands are quite scuffed, and I fear that I've damaged my hip."

"Well," Harry said, "I'll not have you going back there; not until this is over. I'll collect Daphne in the morning, where she and I will travel to the Hollow to collect your things, and I'll set you up a bed by the fire in the sitting room. I doubt you can handle the stairs after this."

"Child," Bathilda replied with a sigh, "I have stairs at home, and my room is at the top."

"Yes, but now, you have damaged your hip with the fall," Harry explained, "and I'll not have you taking a spill, which could damage you more, or worse." Here, Harry thought things over for a couple of minutes before he called out, "Kreacher, Winky!"

When both elves appeared with a pop, and bowed, Harry gave them their orders.

"Kreacher, Winky, Bathilda, here, is an old family friend who helped tend to me when I was just a tot. I want the both of you to do as she asks, and follow her orders when I'm not here.

"Now, Winky, go up to the smaller bedroom across from ours, at the front of the house, and shrink the bed, the brass one, to move to the drawing room by the fireplace.

"Kreacher, move the drawing room's furniture about to make space for the bed, and help Winky make it ready for Mrs. Bagshot for tonight."

"I wills be doing that right now, Master Harry," Winky said before disapparating.

"Kreacher will be doing as the Good Master wishes, and will have his bed ready by the usual time." Here, Kreacher disapparated as well.

"Such well-behaved elves," Bathilda muttered just as the floo's ward chimed in the house, and as Harry snorted about the comment. If she only knew, he thought.

"That will be Madam Pomfrey," Harry remarked as he quickly stood, and made his way from the breakfast room into the kitchen, and then into the hall, where he heard Madam Pomfrey call out for him. When he walked into the entrance hall, she was standing before the hearth, and holding a large satchel in her hand.

"Madam Pomfrey," Harry said with a slight bow as he made his way over to the mediwitch, "It's so good of you to come so quickly. I have a patient for you in the breakfast room. She's scuffed up a bit and said she hurt her hip. The poor old witch can hardly walk as it is."

"Albus said it was urgent," Pomfrey stated as she followed Harry down the hall by the dining room, "and he said it was Mrs. Bagshot."

Here, Harry turned his head to smile at the healer, and said, "It is. She's very dear to Daphne and I, especially after she helped mum with me when I was a tot."

"Yes," Pomfrey said while reminiscing, "I once run into your mother just after you turned one, at Slug and Jiggers, where she was buying a potion for your colic. She was in disguise but spoke to me. You had eaten too many choccy biccies that Bathilda had made, and she was mad at James and Sirius for feeding you that many."

"Did the potion help?" Harry wondered as they made their way through the kitchen.

"Well, I'm sure it did. When it works," Pomfrey stated matter-of-factly, "you pass a lot of stinky wind, and then you'll give a few loud burps. After that, everything is fine," she explained, which made Harry blush to his roots. "Oh, Bathilda, dear, you've really done a number on yourself, haven't you..."

After a quick exam, Madam Pomfrey levitated the elderly witch to the sitting room, following Harry, where she shooed him off so that the old witch could undress, and so that she could properly examine her, in-depth, and treat her. Once done, and after the mediwitch left, though after giving him instructions, Harry made sure that Bathilda was settled in, stoked the fire in the hearth for the night, doused the lights, and made his way to his bed to give his wife a late mirror call.

When he arrived in his room, he made his way to their home stereo, where he placed the album of Charlie Parker's 'Bird' on the turntable, and started it spinning. He turned the volume down low, where a jazz sax started to play, poured himself a glass of brandy, and fished his mirror from the bedside table. The night was not over, yet, he thought with a sigh.

"Harry," Hagrid questioned as he unlocked the gate at Hogwarts the next morning before dawn, "what brings ya here?"

"It's a long story, Hagrid," Harry explained with a yawn, "but I need to take Daphne out of school for a half day to help with a small chore. Nothing bad, mind you, but it's something that I can't do alone. Family business, you see."

Here, Hagrid nodded his great shaggy head as he followed Harry to the entrance of the castle. It was just before breakfast, as a matter of fact.

"You'll stay fer breakfast, I take it?"

Harry gave his half-giant friend a smirk at this. "Might as well."

The two made their way in silence through the snow, until Hagrid opened the large oak door to the entrance hall, where they were met by Headmaster Dumbledore.

"Harry," Dumbledore nodded, though he didn't look well, "how is she?" This also caught Hagrid's attention.

"She's a tough old witch, and she was still asleep when I left. I imagine it's the potions, you know, and the elves have orders to take care of her until we return."

"Who?" Hagrid asked, and before Harry could stop the headmaster, he blurted out, "Bathilda Bagshot."

Well, shite, Harry thought.

"Ol', Batty Bathilda, Harry?"

"Oh, she's not that bad, and she's a dear friend of my family," Harry explained. "She and mum got on well, well, before what happened that Halloween night. She used to help take care of me."

"Oh," Hagrid said, and then paled at what Harry meant.

"Here we are, Harry," Dumbledore said, as he opened the door leading into the great hall. "We're a little early, and you're welcome to sit with us at the staff table if you wish."

"No, no, the wife will be expecting me to sit with her," Harry explained as he noticed only two people, both Ravenclaws, sitting at their table with their noses stuck in their books. "I do thank you for the offer, however, but I'll take a table out here."

Here, Harry gave a wave at the two and made his way to where Daphne usually set at the Slytherin table, making Hagrid gawk.

Once Harry was seated, he called out, "Dobby!" The small elf quickly appeared with a small pop.

"The good Master Harry bes calling Dobby today?"

"Why, yes, old friend, I am," Harry replied, which made Dobby start to tear up.

"The good master bes calling Dobby his friend! Dobby doesn't deserve it, but Dobby is being proud he is!" Here, Dobby wiped his eyes on his pillow case and then blew his nose, making Harry grimace. "What can Dobby bes getting for Master this morning?"

"Just bring up a tea service for four, and any Chelsea Buns if you have them."

"Wes bes having them, Master Harry, and Dobby wills be right back," Dobby said before snapping his fingers, and disapparating.

When Harry glanced up at the staff table, he noticed the headmaster chuckling at the elf's antics, and he also noticed the surprise on the faces of the two Ravenclaws, which made him snort.

Just as Harry thought the above, Dobby appeared with another pop, and in front of him was floating a tea service, and a large basket of those very sweet buns, which made him lick his lips.

"Will this bes all the Great Harry Potter needs, Master?"

Harry rolled his eyes at the overactive elf but soldiered on. "Yes, Dobby, this will be all, but Daphne will be out of school today, so I want you to watch over Astoria and Tracey Davis while she's gone. If anyone tries to bother them, in a bad way, well, you know what to do."

"Oh, yes, Master, Dobby bes knowing exactly what's to do," the little elf said with a bit of a sadistic grin. "If that bes all, Master, Dobby must bes helping in the kitchen."

"That'll be all, Dobby. You can go," Harry said with a smirk. Let Flint try anything now.

Dobby gave a low bow, snapped his fingers, and disappeared as Harry made himself a cuppa, and snatched up one of the sweet buns to take a large bite from. They were even still warm!

"Tell me again why we're up so early," Tracey griped and then, yawned, as the trio of witches trudged their way up the stairwell from the dungeons. Astoria was nodding at this question as well.

"Harry should already be here," Daphne explained, "and I have to leave as soon as I can to help with a matter. I want to be back by lunch."

"What's this about, Sis?" Astoria asked.

"I can't say much," Daphne replied, "just that we're helping an old family friend."

"Using your...?" Tracey inquired, as she pointed at her eyes.

"No, not that," Daphne said in a hushed voice, "something else."

The trio continued on to the great hall, where they found Harry sitting by himself at the Slytherin table. Here, a gentle smile graced Daphne's face as she quickly made her way to him.

Harry, noticing his wife, quickly stood, and gave her a quick peck on the lips with a "Good morning, dear," before making sure that she was seated, along with Astoria and Tracey, before sitting himself.

"Been here long?" Daphne asked.

"Just long enough to have tea brought up by Dobby," Harry replied, "along with a basket of fresh Chelsea Buns. Here, let me make you a cuppa."

Harry proceeded to make his wife a cuppa as she gave out a yawn, and wiped at her eyes. He knew that she wasn't a morning person, after all, and it was still dark out.

"Here, have a fresh bun," Harry said as he passed Daphne the basket, and then handed it to Astoria who was sitting to the right of him.

"Thank you, dear brother," Astoria said as she took a bun, and handed the basket to Tracey. "Daphy won't tell us what you two are up to today."

Here, Harry smiled at his wife before turning to his sister-in-law. "Too many ears about - even now. Let's just say that she and I are helping an old friend."

The four devoured the buns and sipped their tea as the hall filled up, which was when Hermione, Ron, and Neville entered the hall. When Ron saw them, he headed their way.

"Mate," Ron said, "why are you already here?"

"Oh," Harry said, "family business. Daphne and I have to see to it, and we'll be back by lunch."

"Family business? What's that?" Hermione asked, as she just knew that something was being hidden from them again.

"Hermione," Neville said, who had also taken a seat across from Harry and Daphne, "it's not polite to ask wizarding families about that. This is a private matter."

"He's right, Mione," said Ron. "Where did you get the tea?"

"Dobby," Daphne said, and she wished that she hadn't as the elf suddenly appeared, and quickly wrapped his bony arms around her waist.

"Oh, Dobby bes so glad that Mistress bes calling for him! What cans Dobby bes getting for the Good Mistress?"

Here, Daphne rolled her eyes as Harry sniggered, and Hermione scowled.

"Dobby, dear," Daphne said," can you please bring up some more tea, and three more cups for our friends?"

Dobby's lower lip began trembling at once, and then he wailed out, "Oh, how the Good Mistress bes so kind to Dobby, calling him dear just likes he's being family. Dobby will be right back mistress!"

When Dobby apparated away, Daphne noticed a storm building up in Hermione about House Elf rights, so she cut her off quickly.

"Well," Daphne said, "Dobby is just like family to Harry and I."

Neville gave Daphne a sly smirk but stayed quiet as Harry wrapped his arm around Daphne's shoulders, hugged her to him, and then kissed her on the temple. "You're a great wife, Daph. No wonder I fell for you."

"Same with you, darling," Daphne replied, and then gave Harry a peck on the cheek.

Hermione, though, felt like she could gag at all the sweetness oozing from the two. Why, Ron, she thought, never did act that way. The only time he ever hugged her to him was when they were in private.

"I'm just looking forward to finishing off my chores for the day," Harry commented, "and having a good drink of brandy in the study."

Both Neville and Ron toasted Harry with their teacups at this.

"Anyone can drink, Harry," Hermione scoffed.

"But only a few," Harry quickly deadpanned, "can match my determination."

Everyone but Hermione laughed out loud at this, and she wondered where he had picked up his sarcastic wit.

At that moment, a few older Slytherins arrived, and they were being led by Flint.

"Potter," Marcus sneered, "what are these worthless Gryffindors doing at our table?"

Harry, though, simply ignored him, and with a casual twitch and twirl of his index finger, his teaspoon leaped from his saucer, dropped into his cup, and began to slowly stir his tea as he spun his finger around in a circle above it. Everyone, within a good ten-foot radius, could feel the hair on their body stand up at Harry's magic, and they were in awe of how he did that wandlessly.

"Why, my wife and I invited them, Flint," Harry stated without turning around. Harry noticed Ron and Hermione gawking at him, while Neville had a huge smirk on his face.

Here, Flint noticed everyone staring at the scene he was causing, so he swallowed down the lump in his throat caused by Harry's magical display, and stomped off. If Harry could so easily do that, then, he wondered what he was actually capable of in a duel, so he thought it better to save face, and wait to strike when they least expected it.

"Where did you learn that mate?" Ron asked in a low voice as he partly leaned across the table.

"Oh, here and there," Harry replied, where Hermione scowled at his answer just as Dobby reappeared with their tea and a new basket of buns.

It was seven-thirty when Harry and Daphne were walking along the snowy grounds to the gate of Hogwarts to apparate, and that was when Daphne glanced to her right at her husband.

"I'm like Ron, Harry," said Daphne. "I would like to know where you learned that magic as well."

Here, Harry sighed and placed his left hand on the small of her back.

"It has seemed to come naturally to me, dear," Harry explained, "after the ritual. I think that shard was always draining me, and now that it's gone, my full magical ability is at my disposal. I've seen others do it as well."

"Warlocks, Harry. Da' and Uncle Gareth can't do it; only a few can. Plus, there was that photo of you in the Prophet with all that wild magic dancing about. That's not anything to just brush off, husband, dear."

"I know, dear, I know," Harry replied, "but let's focus on helping Bathilda for now."

Daphne knew that her husband was trying to change the subject, so she sighed and kept on walking.

"What did you need me for today, Harry?"

Here, Harry blushed. "I'm not about to go plundering through an old witch's drawers, Daph.

"Wait a minute, that didn't quite come out right; I mean her drawers in her dresser, dear."

Daphne couldn't help but give out an unladylike snort at this, and then chortle out loud. "That's why I love you so, Harry. Plus, you always make me laugh."

Harry gave his wife a huge smile as he held out his right arm after walking through the gate, which she took. Next, Harry turned on his left heel, and the two disapparated with a light pop.

A/N: Thanks, everyone, for all the reviews! I wanted to post this yesterday, but it required some tweaking, and that was on top of the contractor being here over the weak, who had to replace some of the floor in my utility room over that water leak. Things do certainly occur in threes.