Harry Potter and everything along with him belongs to JK Rowling.
Author's Notes: Hello all. Once again I would like to thank you ever so much for reading my story, and for those of you who regularly comment you get an additional thank you. Unfortunately due to life changes and a severe case of writer's block, this will be the last chapter of After the War to be published for the foreseeable future. My hope is to return to this soon, and I will once again promise that I am not going to abandon this story until it is complete. When I have an update I will be sure to let you know. See you then.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
"Heather and Neville, sitting in a tree," chanted Ginny under her breath quietly enough that only she, Hermione, Heather, and Madam Malkin could hear, not that there was anyone else in the shop currently. It was her turn to be fitted for new robes while Heather leaned against a display rack of boy's uniforms. Hermione had already purchased hers and was rereading her school letter again.
"Say it again," growled Heather, "I don't think they've heard you in France yet."
Ginny smirked but refrained from continuing her song. She had kept it up as a steady hum for days now, much to Heather's vexation. Heather still wasn't sure just how she felt about Neville, or if she felt anything like that for him at all, and Ginny's teasing wasn't helping matters.
"All done dear," Madam Malkin said, extracting the last pin from Ginny's robes and helping her slide out of them. Heather moved forward towards the little platform, feeling a little nervous. Somehow the purchasing of her own girl's uniform had been a point of fixation in her mind since their Hogwarts letters had arrived. After all, it had been Lavender's uniform that had started her down this entire road to discovering who she really was in the first place.
Madam Malkin turned back to look at her and stopped short. "Ah, yes. Potter." She looked very uncomfortable. "And…just what can I help you with today," she asked.
"A Hogwarts uniform," Heather replied, confused. They had all made it clear what they were after the moment they had stepped into the shop.
Madam Malkin wrung her hands. "I see." She reached over to the rack Heather had just been leaning on and pulled down a boy's uniform.
"Hang on," Hermione said, "that's not what she wants."
The uniform quavered in the older witch's hand. "But, isn't that what would be appropriate?" she asked Hermione perplexedly. "I mean, it's not as though Potter intends to…" her voice trailed off.
"Intends to what? Attend school as the girl she is?" asked Ginny, rising and glowering at Madam Malkin.
"Well of course," Madam Malkin spluttered. "After all, to dress that way in private is one thing, even to do so in public…" she trailed off with a small shiver, "but to attend a school like Hogwarts as…"
"I have permission from the Headmistress." Heather said icily.
"Well, be that as it may. I'm sorry but I don't feel like it's appropriate." Madam Malkin replied stiffly, holding out the boy's uniform.
"You know," Heather said coldly, looking at Hermione and Ginny, "I don't think I'll be purchasing anything here after all." She hopped down from the platform and marched from the shop without looking back. Hermione and Ginny followed; their bags left abandoned in their wake.
"What an old hag," Ginny said out on the street, glaring back at the shop. "You all right?" she asked Heather.
Heather shrugged but didn't answer. Just when she thought she might get through a day without taking some sort of blow, she was proven wrong. "Come on, we can always go to Twilfitt and Tattings" Hermione suggested.
"And don't forget that you need a broom!" added Ginny excitedly, pointing towards Quality Quidditch Supplies. Together she and Hermione pressed in on either side of Heather and began steering her down the alley. It was particularly crowded today with Hogwarts students and their parents getting ready for the new term. They had already purchased the books they needed, except for Ginny who still had hers from the previous year. She was over her initial irritation at being forced to repeat, though she did still occasionally grumble about it. Heather had been surprised that a new potions textbook hadn't been on her list, and wondered if that meant she'd be able to continue in the subject. Just to be safe, she purchased a fresh copy of Advanced Potion Making for herself, thinking she could always just return it or donate it to the school if she wasn't able to take the class.
They were forced to dodge around a large crowd outside the newly reopened Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. They hadn't been inside yet, but if the exterior of the shop was anything to go on, it was louder and more chaotic than ever. George had been keeping quiet about the reopening, and they had only found out at Hermione's welcome home party. It made Heather happy to see it, even though she knew what it had cost George to face this without his twin. Still, going by the crowd outside, the business was off to a second successful start.
Just outside the quidditch shop, Heather spied a tall figure moving aimlessly towards them through the throng. Quickly, before he could see them, she dragged her friends to the left and through the door to the shop. "What gives?" asked Ginny, staring back through the glass windows. "Ooh, hiding from your boyfriend?" she teased as Neville walked past.
"He isn't my boyfriend and shut up." Heather growled.
Without waiting for them she moved deeper into the shop towards the broomstick displays. They hadn't changed since her previous visit, even if the rows were more crowded today. "Oh, Miss Potter!" exclaimed the shopkeeper, who was returning a Comet 290 back to its perch after retrieving it from young boy who was much too little for it. At a hurried wave from her he lowered his voice. "Sorry, it's just that I didn't expect to see you again, after last time I mean."
"Yeah, well now I actually need a broom." Heather replied, still gazing around. Folded inside the envelope containing her Hogwarts letter had been the silver Captain's badge she had worn in sixth year, much to Ginny's chagrin. She had been the captain last year, though the season had been cancelled by Snape shortly after term had begun. To no one's surprise, Hermione's envelope had contained the Head Girl badge.
"Casual flying or competition?" the man asked.
"Quidditch, Hogwarts House Cup." Heather supplied.
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Well, I think my suggestions from last time are still good. Either a recent model Cleansweep or the Nimbus 2000. Of course, if you want an edge on the competition, I can give you a good deal on a used Nimbus 2001."
Heather's eyes traced the black handled broom, the old dilemma taking center stage in her mind again. She looked at the price tag. She could certainly afford it, but did she really need an edge? Her self-confidence faltered for a moment. What if she wasn't a good enough flier to compete without having the fastest broom on the pitch? "Then you'll just have to work harder, won't you," said the voice in the back of her mind, though this time without any mocking tone. Heather reached up and pointed at the Nimbus 2000, which was just out of her reach. "I'll take that one."
The man followed her finger. "That's a used model, can't find too many brand-new ones anymore. Is that all right?" He pulled the broomstick down and handed it to her. It felt warm and comforting in her fingers. "If you're worried about quality, then know that I put every single broom I buy through a rigorous system of tests before selling it."
Heather hefted the broom and could feel it vibrating, waiting to be let loose. "I'll take it."
He tried to give her a discount, but Heather vehemently refused. "Isn't that one the same as your first broom?" Hermione asked after Heather handed over a decent sized handful of gold, only half interested.
"Yes," Heather replied, laughing inwardly at her friend's continued lack of interest in broomsticks or quidditch. The shopkeeper slid the broomstick into a long box and wrapped it in paper and twine. "Here you are, Miss Potter. And thank you for your business."
The sun felt brighter now, or maybe that was just her imagination. In any case, the dour mood that had settled on her after Madam Malkin's was gone now, lost in the woodsy aroma of broomstick shopping and the thought of quidditch. Heather had the box slung over her shoulder, which made wending her way through the crowd a bit difficult, but she didn't care. It was a beautiful day.
"Oy, Hermione, Ginny, Heather!" they all turned to see Neville navigating the stream of people to reach them. Feeling her cheeks go pink, Heather ducked back behind Ginny, trying her best to look inconspicuous.
"Hi, Neville!" Ginny said cheerily, taking half a step to her left so Heather was visible again. "Getting your shopping done too?"
"Yeah, I was just wondering, any word on who the Head Girl is?" Neville asked, and Heather could feel his eyes probing her.
"Me," Hermione said excitedly. "Why? Are you…"
"Head Boy!" Neville exclaimed happily, causing people to look around and stare.
"Congratulations, Neville. Isn't that fantastic, Heather?" Ginny asked pointedly.
"Err, yeah. Good going," Heather said, still trying to hide how pink her cheeks were.
Neville appeared not to notice. "Well, I just wanted to stop and say hi. I'll see you all on the train?"
After securing their word that they would save him a seat, for those few moments when he wouldn't be busy patrolling the train, he was gone. "Heather and Neville…" began Ginny again.
"Oh cut it out, Ginny. Leave off." Hermione said exasperatedly. "We still need to get robes, and Heather and I need new trunks, quills, everything."
"You just don't want me asking how things are going with you and my brother," smirked Ginny. Hermione and Ron had had a few conversations since her return, but there had been no sign that Heather had noticed that they were picking back up where they left off, not that she was really sure just where that was anyway. She wondered if she'd missed something that Ginny hadn't.
"No, I'm not." Hermione said with a note of finality. "Ron and I aren't like that anymore."
"Yeah, right." Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
"All right, Ginny," Heather said turning to look at her, an idea coming to her mind. "Lay off about Neville and your brother, or do I need to bring up some ancient history?"
"Ancient history?" Ginny asked, her eyes narrowing in hesitation.
Throwing a wink at Hermione, Heather started walking again. Just loud enough to be heard over the crowd, she sang, "His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad."
"His hair is as dark as a blackboard!" chimed in Hermione, joining in without hesitation.
"Okay, okay!" shrieked Ginny, throwing up her hands in surrender. "You win."
One thing that Heather definitely needed was new underwear. The supply she had purchased at the beginning of the summer was now far too small to contain the changes that her potions had affected on her body. The same sales witch who had helped her last time was more than happy to measure her and point out what would fit her now. Grateful to be alone, Heather took her time, pulling down a half dozen basic, everyday bras followed by a dozen or more pairs of knickers. Satisfied, she turned to leave before catching sight of a rack in the corner. These pieces were more like what Ginny had set out for her to wear the night of her birthday. Running her hand across a lacy bra, Heather's skin tingled at the thought of wearing it. "And just who are you going to wear that for?" asked a voice in her head that sounded remarkably like Ginny. Hurriedly, before anyone could see, Heather snatched up several options and buried them at the bottom of her basket.
They returned to the Burrow several hours later. Between them they carried Heather and Hermione's new trunks, in which they had divided all of their purchases as equally as possible before apparating. Heather had no intention of unpacking and repacking right now. Instead, she left her trunk in the kitchen, pausing only to extract the wrapped broomstick from it, before dashing up to her bedroom. Knowing she was risking a comment from Mrs. Weasley about appearing downstairs half dressed, Heather changed, opting for a sports bra and shorts, while leaving off a t-shirt. She sprinted back downstairs, the broom clutched tightly in one hand and her wand holster in the other. She wanted to feel the wind on her skin and in her hair. She was very glad there were no boys in the house, she didn't want to imagine George's reaction to her choice in outfit.
Out in the garden she released the Nimbus and watched it hover and just the right height, quavering with restrained energy. She circled it, taking it in from every angle. There were a few scuffs in the bright polish that she thought she might be able to get out, but it didn't matter. She had a broomstick again, and she was going to play quidditch. After adjusting a few loose twigs poking out the back, she threw a leg over the handle and pushed off. It was absolutely nothing like the Cleansweep, and it took her a second to compensate for the increased speed. Wind rushed through her unrestrained hair, causing it to whip loudly in her ears. She laughed.
Using a quick disillusionment charm, both to hide herself from any random muggle who might be nearby, and also from Mrs. Weasley's eyes, Heather began to race this way and that within the boundary wards. Eventually she began to lap the property, leaning further and further forward, urging the broomstick on faster. Gradually her orbits of the house began to pull inwards, increasing the sensation of speed until she was circling at no more than ten feet from the Burrow's walls. With a shout of glee, she pushed the handle away and careened away over the garden, still laughing.
Suddenly, the Burrow's yard felt very small. She was tired of being restrained again. While the house had become something of a home, it had been an adjustment coming back under the umbrella of Mrs. Weasley's motherly-ness again. Heather may not have found it quite as unbearable as Ginny did, but now she wanted to be free. Before she could set out, even if she couldn't be seen, Heather decided she should probably put on some actual clothes. Rather than land and walk up through the house, she landed gently on the windowsill outside her bedroom and slipped in that way.
Dressed now in a t-shirt and jeans, with Tonk's jacket secured around her, Heather launched herself from the window and back into the afternoon's sky. On her vanity was a note, simply stating she'd gone flying and would be back at some point, just in case anyone came looking for her. Invisible once more, she approached the barrier surrounding the house, and carefully crossed it.
Once outside the yard, she was momentarily at a loss for where to go. In the distance she could see Stoatshead Hill rising into the sky and knew that somewhere beyond it was the destroyed remains of Luna's house. Without any better plans, she pulled her Nimbus around and took off, feeling the wind pick up and race through her hair again.
As the thrill of the flight, and her sudden freedom from the Burrow, began to fade a little, her thoughts worked their way back to the same line they had been focused on for days, Neville. Seeing him today had been enough of a shock to her nerves even without Ginny's teasing. Heather was happy he was Head Boy, no one deserved it more than he did, in her opinion anyway. She had been surprised that he had been chosen since he'd never been a prefect. According to Hermione that was uncommon, but certainly not unheard of.
It was strange, in a way, to realize that such mundane things like prefects and house points were about to become so prevalent in her life again. What with everything else going on in the last few years she'd spent at Hogwarts, something as relatively trivial as the House Cup had almost stopped mattering, except to those students largely unaffected by the war. Now, what else was there to worry about, except her studies, the Quidditch Cup, and figuring out exactly what she wanted to do with her life of course.
The feeling of Neville's lips on hers sent goosebumps down her arms as she soared over Stoatshead Hill. It looked as abandoned and trash strewn as ever, at least from several hundred feet up. She circled the hill slowly, once again unsure of just where to go now. There was little point in going to Luna's. Xenophilius still hadn't been heard of and after months of abandonment she doubted anything still stood on that hilltop but a pile of rubble. She began fiddling with one of the buttons on the coat, which she was very glad to have picked up. The sun was warm, but the wind had long since started to chill her. While idly fingering a button, she realized that it had been a while since she had visited Andromeda and Teddy. Without further thought, she apparated in midair, appearing over the house a half second later.
Feeling suddenly awkward at arriving without warning, Heather knocked on the front door and waited. Andromeda, looking haggard, answered it. Confusion was instantly replaced with a smile when she saw who it was.
"Come in, come in," she called over her shoulder as she raced back into the house. Closing the door behind her, Heather stepped into the hall. The source of Andromeda's consternation was immediately apparent. Somewhere in the depths of the house a baby was screaming its lungs out. Heather followed the noise until she arrived at a small nursery. Andromeda was leaning over a crib, in which Teddy was doing his best mandrake impression.
"He's exhausted but refuses to take a nap," Andromeda explained over the screaming while trying to soothe the infant.
"I can come back," Heather said quickly.
"No, not at all. I've been waiting for you to come by." Andromeda shrugged and lifted the baby out of the crib. "He's not going down anyway, and you might as well get to see him." Teddy caught sight of Heather just then and his face broke out in a wide grin. Instantly his hair changed from the soft brown of his grandmother to match Heather's dark locks.
"You were expecting me?" Heather asked, following them to the sitting room. After she sat, Andromeda lowered Teddy into her lap where he immediately began cooing, with the occasional yawn mixed in.
Andromeda collapsed into her armchair. "Well, I was hoping you'd come by before you went back to school. Won't be any opportunity to see you after that for a long while."
Heather took one of Teddy's pudgy fists in her hand and began waving it back and forth while he giggled. "You heard about that?" Of course she had, it had been in the papers after all. "You don't…you don't think I'm a quitter or anything?" she asked.
Andromeda fixed her with an incredulous expression. "Why in blazes would I think that? Because you left the aurors? Pssh," she waved a dismissive hand, "that's nothing to me. And don't you listen to the trash being written about you either, not that I should have to tell you that."
In the wake of her announcement to return to school, speculation had run wild regarding her decision. There had been claims of her and Kingsley getting into a heated argument, or that she'd demanded to be made Head Auror and resigned in a tantrum after being denied. Rita Skeeter had even gone so far to suggest that now that the war was over the job wasn't "prestigious enough for 'his' eternal need for further glory." Thankfully no reports about her breakdown had leaked.
"I thought so," said Andromeda, staring intently at Heather's face. "Molly told me Skeeter's been getting to you all summer."
Heather shrugged and looked back down at Teddy. He had let out a large yawn and was beginning to lean heavily against her chest. "Something like that," she said at last.
Andromeda excused herself and went into the kitchen, returning a few minutes later with two mugs of tea. It wasn't easy trying to drink while also holding a baby, but Heather managed as best as she could.
"Do I need to give you the speech about how Rita Skeeter is a wretched old hag who isn't worth a hippogriff's fart?" Andromeda asked, suddenly sounding much more like Sirius than Heather had ever heard before. She snorted, shaking Teddy awake who began to giggle at the noise.
"That's one way to describe her," Heather laughed.
"You got a better one?" Andromeda asked, also laughing. "Because it's true, and you know that. So, stop letting her get to you. Besides, you've got more important things to worry about."
"Like what?" asked Heather, "School?"
Andromeda shrugged, "among other things, I hear you've been made Quidditch Captain. Not to mention figuring out a career." She raised her mug to her lips and said as an afterthought, "and of course, there's always boys."
Heather groaned. "Don't you start too. What did Mrs. Weasley tell you?"
"Hmm, oh nothing, dear." Andromeda lied smoothly. "Why, is there something to tell?"
Caught between groaning in exasperation and laughing, Heather found herself choosing the latter. "You're as bad as Ginny," she laughed.
"Whatever do you mean?" asked Andromeda far too innocently.
"So, you know about Neville?" Heather asked after she was done laughing, resigning herself to the fact that she was about to reenter the massive rumor mill that was Hogwarts and so should get used to being a subject of gossip once again.
"You mean, do I know that a handsome, strapping young lad danced with you after the Order of Merlin ceremony and escorted you home? Of course, I do. I was there after all. I saw you two."
"Right, forgot about that." Heather muttered.
"Not a problem. But something about that situation doesn't seem to be sitting right with you. Do you like him?"
Not for the first time was Heather struck by just how frankly she felt she could speak to Andromeda, and Andromeda in turn to her. It was almost like she had Sirius back, in a way, but at the same time it was completely different. Maybe that had to do with Andromeda being a witch, and a mother, but then, Heather had never felt quite this comfortable opening up to Mrs. Weasley about things like this either. Talking to Andromeda was certainly different than confiding in Ginny, that was too much like talking to a sister, not that Heather really had much experience with that either. It was all very vexing to try and wrap her head around, but that didn't stop her from enjoying this unique relationship. She regretted not taking the time to spend more time here this past summer.
"I'm not really sure how to feel," Heather said at last, before taking another sip of tea. "I mean, I've known him since we were almost kids, we've been through so much together, we've even shared a dormitory for years for merlin's sake."
"So, that means you've already seen him undressed then," Andromeda teased in a very Tonksish way.
Heather's cheeks flushed. "Aaaanyway," she said, skating past that topic quickly, "Other than Ron he's the closest thing I have to a guy best friend, and now it turns out he likes me, and has for a long time."
"And you never suspected that?" Andromeda asked.
"No!" exclaimed Heather. "And now that I know it's making me look at everything different, and it's all too much. I didn't even know he liked girls until he told me that! It's just all too much." She repeated, feeling almost frantic.
"Alright, calm down. Let's take this one step at a time." Andromeda said calmly, setting her empty mug down on a table and leaning forward in her chair. "First of all, whether you knew he liked girls or not, before a few weeks ago, he didn't know for sure you were one. Sure, he probably saw signs like everyone else did, but he didn't know. How's he acted since then?"
Heather took a breath and spared a glance for Teddy, who's chest was slowly rising and falling as he slept. At Andromeda's gesture, she laid him next to her on the couch so she could move a bit more freely without waking him. "Neville's been right there for me. He didn't skip a beat. He even called me my real name during the battle, before he was told."
"So clearly, he doesn't have an issue with who you are. That's good. And, if it's true he's liked you for a while, that means he liked you when he thought you were a boy. The fact that you've known each other this long isn't a bad thing either. It means you know who he is, especially what with everything that's gone on. You don't want to get into something with someone, and I'm not saying you're going to get into anything with Neville, but it's better to know who the person is before starting down that road."
Heather was reminded painfully of Justin, both during their relationship everything since. "You've got that right," she muttered darkly.
"Oh, so you know what I'm talking about," Andromeda shrugged, "Ok then, you get my point. It's better to start from friendship then with a perfect stranger. That is, if you decide to start something," she added when Heather looked about to burst.
Heather sputtered for a second, then relaxed. "I just…I don't know if I'm ready for all of that yet. I'm just getting a handle on…a lot of stuff. So getting involved with a boy, even one I know feels like a really stupid thing to do."
Andromeda shrugged again. "You may be right, only you can decide that. But don't write off the option just because it's unknown. Life is full of unknowns, and not all of them are bad. Besides," she smiled kindly," you two did look awfully cute together. And the world needs more of that, especially after the war."
Feeling reassured, Heather looked out the window and saw the sun was beginning to set. How it had gotten this late without her realizing it she wasn't sure, but it was time to go. She rose from the couch and scooped up Teddy. Holding him like this, she was amazed just how big he had gotten since she had seen him last, heavier too. "He's growing like a weed," she remarked.
"He is at that. Do you want to put him down?" Andromeda asked, gazing down at the infant.
With the older witch's help, Heather settled Teddy into his crib before saying goodbye. "I'll make sure to write and visit during the Christmas holiday, if there's time." She promised.
"I'm sure there will be." Andromeda said kindly, before pulling Heather into a tight hug. "Take care of yourself, and don't be afraid to try new things."
"I promise," Heather replied, hugging her back. When she was released and moved towards the door, she saw Tonk's coat hanging on the hook where she'd left it. "Err, If you want that back I understand, after all, it's not like I'm an auror any-" She was cut off by Andromeda scooping the coat off the hook and firmly pressing it into her arms.
"It's yours. Dora would have wanted that, auror or not. She'd have understood and would probably have had a few more pieces of advice about your umm, boy issues."
Heather went pink one more time but accepted the coat and slid it around her frame. Then, picking up her Nimbus, she went out into the yard and, after one last wave, kicked off into the sky not bothering with a disillusionment charm in the fading gloom.