Chapter 26 – Red tape

His face was completely different, in the morning Hermione had changed it She was so skilful with this kind of spells that even Sunrise faltered a moment seeing him. It had been only a moment though, the next she was smiling smug climbing on his lap and pulling his now blond whitish thin hair.
'You look like Teddy' she said.
'I'll take it as a compliment' he answered chuckling.
He still couldn't believe to have her with him again. It was almost like living a dream and expecting to wake up any moment. But it wasn't. She was there, her wild curls framing her chubby face, looking at him lovingly. Suddenly he asked himself how could have even only contemplated to abandon her, to leave his child alone.
He had lived in a haze since Ginny's death. A haze made of toxic feelings and actions and even when he thought to have his mind clear it had never been really so. At times clouded by anger, at times clouded by delusion, at times clouded by numbing grief. Never clear.
But as a veil was lifted, he had finally succeeded in freeing his mind. Actually, to be honest, he hadn't succeeded in anything of the kind. It was Sunrise who had lifted it with her simple presence.
When, in the living room, he heard her voice, it had been a sheer shock. He had made for the spring of it in a trance not even aware of having left the windowsill.
Seeing her had been odd; the haze, the confusion, the unstoppable buzz in his head, had finally collapsed, freeing him.
And holding her had been one of the best sensations ever felt. It was as though a piece of him, he hadn't realised it was missing, was only then restored. And that strong bond they shared made him tremble thinking what she could have endured if he had succeeded in his self-destructive purpose.
Now, with a mind finally free, he reproached himself harshly for it, for having considered to abandon her, the boys, Ted and, not less important, Hermione. After all she had done for him, all the time she had strived to save his life, he was repaying her finishing the deed himself.
But then, he considered, perhaps it had been necessary. Having seen Ginny and Lily had helped him understand his error, it consoled him and gave him the strength to bear what was necessary to bear. Had it been real or only in his head? The same question as when seventeen presented itself again. Dumbledore had affirmed that, notwithstanding it was in his head, didn't mean it wasn't real.
The full meaning of it escaped him then and still now he was at loss. It had felt so real, but then most of his dreams had the same characteristic and weren't so.
He didn't know, probably never would if not at his death and maybe not even then. But it didn't matter, he liked to think it had been indeed real, and the thought that Ginny was severely supervising him was a prod in behaving as best as he could.
He kissed Sunrise still overwhelmed by the thought of having her there. He hadn't slept well since she had been back. Every few hours he felt impelled to go and check to make sure it hadn't been a dream, and she was fine.
He thanked his lucky star for having placed Hermione on his path when a boy; he owed everything to her, even his reunion with Sunrise. Without Hermione he would never have been able to take her back in fear of hurting her further.
He was sorry to be unable to love Hermione as she wished. He would have liked to be able to, but there was no use in trying. That feeling was either there or not. He could have probably shared a house with her, even the same bed, making love with her and cuddling her as he had done with Ginny, but it would have always felt only like a friendship to him. He couldn't make her happy, he truly wished to see her so, but he had not the power to accomplish that. There was nothing he could do to change his feeling as there was nothing that could be done to change hers.
Now she was smiling at him, and he wondered how he could have failed to notice all that love for him for all those years. It seemed so blatant now, her eyes, her demeanour couldn't hide it. Maybe his love for Ginny had blinded him, maybe he had never looked at her so closely as in the last few days.
However, he wasn't going to get profit of it anymore, now he could let her go. She had helped him more than she would probably ever know, a debt, Harry felt, couldn't be paid back.
And that debt was only increasing since she had decided to help him throughout the whole preparations for the moving out. She was going back and forth from Rumania to be able to take care of Hugo as well. It was tiring and Harry tried to dissuade her from it, but she didn't want to hear reasons.
Only the night before, while Sunrise was sleeping, she had helped him out with the necessary papers to carry out all his decisions.
'This is the deed to 12 Grimmauld place' she told him easing out a sheet of paper between a pile of documents 'Sign it here, here and there' she said pointing to different spots on the paper 'First signature by hand the others with your wand'.
He did as it was ordered and giving it back to her 'You won't tell Ted until I'll be away; he won't accept it otherwise'.
He was leaving him the place.
When he had taken him back unconscious and almost froze to death after his first comforting visit, Harry had strolled around the house before to rennervate him. It was several years he hadn't been in there.
The house was full of their presence and belongings. Victoire clothes were in the wardrobe, her cosmetics on the sink in the bathroom.
In the studio all Ted's books were on a shelf. They had glued pictures of them on the ghastly family tree covering it almost completely.
The stuffed house elves' heads all sported colourful knitted wool-hats and they had painted fresh every wall, giving the house a sense of freshness and light.
Sirius' mother portrait was not covered anymore, and she had lost much of her severity. She greeted him haughtily sitting on an adorned chair while Kreacher, after a quick bow in his direction, rushed to serve her a drink that she sipped keeping a watchful eye on Harry.
The place was already theirs, only his signature was needed to confirm it and there was no reason to hesitate. He didn't need that house. He had never actually even wanted it.
What he wanted was only to know they could be happy in there without financial preoccupation.
He had moreover left a legacy for him to refurnish the house if he wished or to do whatever he wanted with it.
Ted never allowed him to do anything of the kind in the past and he knew he would never have allowed him to do so still if consulted. That's why Harry was doing everything on the sly, to avoid his rectitude to be in the way. Moreover, he had left him as well another kind of legacy too: he had collected all the memories regarding Lupin he possessed in some bottles and had asked everybody who knew him to do the same. There wasn't that much but, as Ted had said, it was better than nothing at all. And he reproached himself not to have thought about it sooner. He was planning to bring it to Grimmauld place just before to leave.
'Those are the Gringotts' ones' Hermione said extracting a stack from the pile 'Sign your initials on every page and two full signatures with your wands on the last one.'
He had taken two vaults for James and Albus. In each there was enough to buy a flat in London or wherever they wished. It was a small fortune for each.
The vaults were in their names but only with his presence or Bill's they could get the money out of it. Harry, knowing James' temperament, didn't want to run the risk of him (more than Albus) squandering everything in frivolities.
Bill had agreed on keeping an eye and advise them at his best. James liked Bill, and Harry was sure that under his supervision they would have thrived in any path they would have decided to follow after Hogwarts.
He hoped very much they may consider following him. For his personal pleasure of course but also for their sake. It was a chance for them to live a normal life far from possible dangers and twisted interactions. However, he couldn't expect it nor exact it.
'What are you going to do with this house?' Hermione asked retrieving the deed and studying it attentively.
'I'll keep it' he said resolute. He would never have sold it. Too much had happened between those walls. They enclosed all the happiest memories of his life. He would never have parted from it. And who knows? Perhaps one day an adult Sunrise would have wished to see the place where she had lived her too brief period with her mum. He was not going to deprive her of such precious opportunity.
'Ok' she nodded 'I'll take care of it while you are away. I'm going to be here on summer and Christmas anyway. Ah…' she exclaimed taking an envelope from the pile 'That Regina girl wrote to you' she said handling him the letter with a disapproving frown.
Hermione didn't approve much of her as Harry very well knew. She had the chance to meet her briefly time to time and she hadn't gathered such a favourable impression.
Harry had tried to speak in her favour, there was much behind the showy element that merited praise, but Hermione hadn't been much convinced.
Harry sniggered seeing her expression 'It's surely another letter of pleas'
'Pleas?' Hermione asked while he was unfolding the letter.
'Yeah. I've been to her place a couple of days ago to explain I was moving away, and she is not very keen on me going'
It was a euphemism. Apprehending the news, she had burst into tears (strangely enough not affecting her heavy make up at all) and had begged him not to go. On understanding his determination, she had then started to plead to be taken with him and, on his refusal even to hear her reasons, in the space of just two days he had been pelted with no less than six letters with avowal of eternal love, devotion, pleas, entreaties and whatever her enthusiastic young mind suggested her.
After having read it, he passed it with a smirk to Hermione who keeping a sceptical eyebrow arched for the whole lecture, perused it quickly.
'My god' she said when getting to the last sentence where she was basically announcing her intention of secluding herself from the world for Harry's sake 'To be young again, hey?! Were we the same at her age?'
Harry laughed amused 'You surely wasn't! I had basically already James at her age. She is certainly much more impetuous than we were'.
'Certainly' she replied primly giving him back the letter 'I almost feel pity for the poor kid'.
'She'll be fine.' Harry said folding the letter and going to store it with all the others he wanted to take with him abroad 'She'll probably find a boyfriend next week and totally forget I ever existed'.
When he got back to his seat, he rubbed his hands 'So, are we done?'
'Quite' she replied gathering all the papers and storing them in a folder.
'Do you need anything?' Harry asked smiling 'Do you need anything my name can give you? I have no scruples in using it if you do'.
Hermione simpered 'No, thank you, Harry. I appreciate it but I'm fine'.
'If you change your mind let me know. My name is at your service since you kindly allowed me to use yours'
She laughed collecting all the folders and quills and storing them neatly in her briefcase, but then sobered up suddenly.
'What?' Harry asked seeing that change of demeanour.
'Actually, there would be something…' she said hesitant 'It's not really for me but it's something that has been bothering me for a while…'
'What? Tell me, if I can help, I'll certainly do'.
Hermione opened her mouth to speak but after a quick glance in his direction didn't utter a word.
Harry imagining the reason behind that hesitation putted her out of her uneasiness 'Is it regarding Ginny?' he asked sombre.
Hermione nodded, her fingers clasping the briefcase she had just closed.
'Go ahead. It's fine' he encouraged her.
'It's not really regarding her…' she started saying 'But after the accident Earnest Goodwin has been suspended with the accuse of incompetence. He didn't get his job back and I doubt he will ever do. What more I don't think that after such a scandal it will be easy for him to find another employment. His name has been stained by it.'
Hermione stopped speaking observing him carefully. Harry, after the first moment of astonishment, grew determined 'Give me back paper and quill. I'll write to the Minister and to Percy so it can get printed in the Daily Prophet. What do you think about Law Enforcement?' he asked while already scribbling vehemently on the paper Hermione had quickly provided.