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The Aftermath of War	By : ReighHPFiction Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Lucius Views: 29579 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 15
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., and other assorted publishing, producing companies. I do not make money from writing this story, as I do not own any of the rights to the characters or canon plotlines.

Author's Note : Here it is! Hope you like it!

Title : The Aftermath of War

Warnings : Slash, Ginny-Bashing, Anal, Oral, Rim, H/C, Future M-Preg, Un-Beta'd

Pairings : Lucius/Harry, George/Draco, Ron/Hermione, Narcissa/Kingsley

Chapter Five: A Whole New World

...

Even the next morning, Harry couldn't believe the absolute depth of the delusion that Ginny had immersed herself in. First of all, Harry had never promised that they'd get back together. He just said he couldn't be with Ginny after Sixth Year because it was too dangerous. Where she'd gotten the idea that he wanted to marry her right after graduation he didn't know. He didn't even know if he wanted to go back to Hogwarts. He certainly didn't need to. He had offers for jobs left and right.

The Auror Department wanted him, the Unspeakables wanted him, the Ministry's top politicians wanted him, and even if he were to turn down every single one of those jobs he'd be able to live comfortably just with the money he'd inherited from his original trust fund, not to mention his coming of age inheritances. Of course he wasn't going to do that. Harry was no lazy sod.

But he also had an idea of what he wanted to do with his life. Marriage was not even in the top ten things on his list of things he wanted to do in the next five years. He felt the rage boiling inside of him. Harry was a patient and forgiving person by nature, but even he had his limits. Sitting down at the desk, Harry wrote his response.

Ms. Weasley,

Your threats are duly noted as are the delusional notions of your former place in my life. Allow me to form my rebuttal to your argument in this Owl, which will be the last you ever receive from me.

I broke up with you over a year ago, in the midst of a war that changed us all. I never promised you we would get back together, and I certainly never even hinted at the idea of marriage. I would never do such a thing, since back then I was fully prepared for the fact that I wouldn't live to see the end of the war. Whatever ideas that you came up with regarding our "relationship" were products of your own fanatical mind, not the products of any encouraging actions on my part.

We went out for like three weeks and I broke it off. I don't see where you got married with children from that.

I am actually quite amused that you made all those decisions without consulting me for my opinion. Do tell me. Have you planned the wedding already? Have you chosen your dress and bridesmaids? Have you picked the song we'll have our first dance as man and wife to? Well, you'd better scrap it. Even if you were to so graciously agree to take me back after I've sullied myself with "Death Eater Scum", I wouldn't lower my personal standards to marry a person who is no less of a bigot than Voldemort himself.

I think you've turned me off women all together, Gin. How does that make you feel?

You know what. Don't answer because those sleaze-balls, as you so eloquently put it, will do anything to make my stay here comfortable. They treat me like an individual instead of a trophy or a child. They respect my decisions and my boundaries. I will be asking them to block any and every communication from you in the future. Don't even think of asking your Mum or your brothers, because even Ron in all his outrage would have an issue with the letter you sent me.

The fact that you would even have the gall to demand anything of me after everything I've already sacrificed for you and everyone else is just astounding to me. You're obviously a spoiled child who's unused to not getting what you want.

Well, let me just tell you something. I'm tired of people planning my life for me. My relatives did it. Voldemort did it. Dumbledore did it. The Order did it. You are not welcome to do so under any circumstance. My life is my own to plan now, and you are most definitely not a part of that plan.

I sincerely hope you have a good life, and that you find happiness with some poor pushover who'll let you walk all over him the way I used to let everyone do to me. But that's just not me anymore. The War changed me. It taught me to be strong. Voldemort's gone and now I'm free. I won't let anyone encroach on that freedom…even someone I thought was one of my closest friends.

Sincerely,

Harry James Potter

Harry stared down at his reply letter and debated on sending it out. He wanted to give Ginny a piece of his mind, but he didn't want to upset Molly or Arthur by doing so. He needed a second opinion, and thankfully George was in the house to be that second opinion. Harry headed out of his suite and knocked gently against the doors of George's.

"Hey Harry. What can I do for you?"

Harry smiled up at the other man.

"Can I come in? There's something I want to ask you about," he said softly.

George nodded and stepped aside to let his younger friend into his room. To Harry's surprise, Draco was already there, sitting on the couch before the fire with a hot cup of tea in his hand. At Harry's raised eyebrow, the blonde flushed and scowled.

"Mother asked me to see how our new guest slept last night," he explained in a pouty tone.

"He lies. He missed me so much last night that he came simpering to my door at seven o'clock sharp to offer me breakfast," George injected, fluttering his bronze lashes in a mock coquettish manner at Draco who just scowled deeper. Harry couldn't help but laugh. It was good to have George as an icebreaker in the sometimes stuffy Malfoy household.

"Alright, well let me get to the point then so I can leave you two to your breakfast date," Harry said, mischief dancing in his bright green eyes. George smirked, and Harry handed him the note from Ginny.

The smile on George's face melted slowly into a scrunched look of irritation as he read. A derisive snort from behind the redhead distracted both Harry and George from the letter. They turned to see Draco Malfoy reading over the redhead's shoulder. Grey eyes flicked to them and a blonde brow quirked upwards.

"Who does that chit think she is? Talking to Potter like that…Please tell me you aren't just going to take that garbage. She should be lucky you were ever even friends with a drooling fangirl like her," he said in a snotty tone. Harry couldn't help but smile at him and shrugged.

"That's why I'm here actually. I kind of already wrote her back, but I wanted to know if it was too mean before I sent it out. I want her to know exactly how I feel, but I don't want to hurt your parents with it if I can help it," he said, turning to George who just held a hand out for Harry's response note.

"Only you would worry about a retaliation letter being too mean, Potter…" Draco huffed, folding his arms over his chest and leaning forward to read with George. Harry just shrugged his shoulders. He couldn't help his nature.

"I thought we were calling each other by our first names now, Draco," Harry replied. The blonde just sighed.

"Do accept my deepest apologies, Harry, for forgetting my once most obnoxious rival is now my best friend," he said in an exasperated tone. Harry just grinned at him in a way he knew would ruffle Draco's fluffy blonde feathers. They might be taking steps towards being friendly, but it was still fun to get Draco going.

"Now, now Baby Malfoy," George interrupted. "As adorable as it is when you pout, it breaks my heart."

Harry couldn't help but laugh when George added to the fun. This was part of what he was trying to do to help Draco get back to normal. The blonde wasn't used to having people take the piss out of him. At home he was being trained to be the perfect Pureblood, and later to be the perfect Death Eater when Voldemort resided in his home. In the Slytherin dorms he was pretty much worshipped too much to be teased by anyone he considered friends. Draco needed to have normal guy friends that would back him up when he was right, have fun with him like only guys could, and tease him when he needed to be taken down a couple of pegs.

"You two are insufferable. Come on now! Let's focus back on Potter's woman troubles. What's the verdict Weasley?" Draco sniped irritably. George just snickered and Harry grinned wolfishly.

"I think it's perfect, Harriekins! This'll really put Ginny in her place and even though she won't say anything, Mum will get a kick out of it. She has always thought she may have spoiled Gin a bit too much, her being the only girl and all. The way that Gin talked to you at the Burrow last week just showed her she was right," George said with a nod. Harry smiled, happy that George thought his letter wouldn't hurt Molly.

"It's just missing one little thing," the redhead said and surprisingly whipped out a quill to scribble something down at the bottom of the note. With that he handed it back to Harry, who looked down to George's scribbled addition, befuddled.

P.S.- I can think for myself baby sister, so stop trying to use me as a guilt trip against my little brother. Love George! =P

After his chat with George, Harry sent the owl to the Burrow and left the redhead with his Malfoy companion. He was glad that Draco was taking an interest in George, but he'd suspected it might happen. They were very similar, in a lot of ways especially since the war took so much from each of them. They were both very broken in ways that Harry couldn't even imagine. Harry was in mourning, but for some reason he never really felt like the war had broken him.

To him the end of the war, heavy losses and all, had freed Harry from the predetermined script that had been his life for seventeen years. If anything, Harry felt stronger. But losing Fred had destroyed George from the inside out, and whatever had happened to Draco while under Voldemort's thumb had done the same for the blonde. He was hoping that between the two of them, and under his own guidance, they'd both slowly rebuild as stronger men.

"Narcissa? I just wanted to stop by to let you know that the meeting is in an hour for Gringotts. I'll meet you at the front doors, if you still want to come that is," he said when he stopped at the front of Narcissa's suite doors.

The large doors opened to reveal Narcissa clad in a long silver silk robe, tied at the waist and open enough at the top that her deep emerald night dress was visible. Harry flushed at the sudden realization of just how good-looking Draco's Mum was. Her blonde hair tumbled down around her shoulders, and her skin was a smooth ivory. If he wasn't so clueless and quite frankly uninterested in women after what happened with Ginny, he might be interested. Well, and if she wasn't so much older than him. Harry always felt it'd be weird to date an older woman. It'd remind him too much of a Mum.

He was disrupted from his thoughts when Lucius Malfoy stepped up behind his ex-wife, clad similarly, though his robe was open to reveal the broad, creamy expanse of his chest. Harry's face only heated further.

"Of course I still wish to go with you, Harry. If it is alright with you, Lucius would like to tag along. The Aurors have agreed to allow him to accompany us this once, in lieu of the nature of our outing. Since he is your legal counsel until our lawyers send someone, they said it was alright to allow him out of the house with you. As long as there are at least two of them with us to escort us, that is. There are things about being a Lord first managing his coming of age accounts that he knows much more about than I do," she said, a soft smile curling her lips. Harry just nodded and smiled back awkwardly.

"I would also like to take you to the Minister so you can formally file your claim with him against The Prophet and Ms. Skeeter. His signature approving your case will go a long way with the Wizengamot. They will see that as firm support of your side of the story," Lucius explained.

Harry just nodded, trying not to look at the man because looking at him in such lack of formal clothing was causing Harry to feel some really uncomfortable things. He hadn't even really thought about whether he might be attracted to men or not yet. After his talk with Draco, he wanted to get the chance to figure it out before he just accepted it. Besides, being attracted to Lucius Malfoy didn't really seem like the best idea. He'd already gotten enough shit for just helping the guy stay out of prison. If he started to actually see the older man that way, he would only prove the rumors about his reasons for doing so right in the public's eye. Harry really just wanted to be normal.

"I'll meet you both downstairs when it's time. Thank you for taking time to do this."

Both of the blondes in the doorway nodded.

"Of course. It is no trouble. We will see you soon."

Draco walked his guest to breakfast, knowing that Potter and his parents wouldn't be joining them. His parents were going to Gringotts with Potter to help him sort out his inheritance, which left Draco alone with George Weasley. He wasn't sure what to do, but he found he didn't dislike the older man's company. Despite his jesting nature and penchant for pranks, George Weasley was surprisingly mature. He was also surprisingly intellectual, but Draco really should've seen that coming. An idiot wouldn't be able to create the things that the Weasley Twins invented for their shop.

"Do you have a preference for breakfast?" Draco asked as he sat down at the table. The redhead sat across from him, looking around the dining room in interest before those pale blue eyes focused back on Draco.

"I'm not that particular. I'd be fine with scrambled eggs and bacon," George said with a smile and a shrug. Draco sighed and ordered the house elves to prepare two French omelettes, toast, and some bacon.

They ate in a semi-comfortable silence for a few moments, neither really knowing what to say to the other. Draco was curious about the other man. He wanted to know what was going on behind those vibrant blue eyes. He wasn't sure if it was his own brokenness that made him so curious about the depth behind George Weasley's shattered soul. He knew the other man had lost his twin, but couldn't even imagine the pain that something like that could cause.

George was feeling something of the same towards Draco. He was curious about what had happened in this house under Voldemort's reign to change the blonde so immensely. He'd barely known the blonde in school. What he knew of the younger man was mostly stories told to him by his younger brother Ron about what a prick the kid was. But…if Draco was a prick in school, which George knew he was, the blonde had definitely changed since then. He'd been nothing but courteous to George since he arrived at the Manor.

"What would you like to do today?" Draco asked, flicking his eyes up in time to see the redhead blink out of his own deep thoughts.

"Err…I dunno. What have you got to do around here?" was the reply.

"Well, there's a library on the second floor. We have extensive gardens, horses if you'd like to ride, and a Quidditch Pitch in the back."

George felt his eyes go wide at the mention of a Quidditch Pitch. He'd known the Malfoys were richer than the Muggle Royal Family, but he hadn't expected that. It was exciting and daunting all at the same time. While he'd love to get back on a broom after so long, flying without Fred beside him made his heart clench slightly.

"I've never ridden a horse before, why don't we do that?" George suggested, working a wan smile back across his lips and hoping that the blonde didn't notice his little slipup.

He really wasn't ready to start talking about Fred, and certainly not with Baby Malfoy. As interested as George was in Malfoy's experience during the war, he didn't exactly trust the kid yet. Being a man of an unusually open mind, however, George was more than willing to give the blonde the benefit of the doubt. He'd seen how much the timid, eager to please Harry had changed into a strong, confident young man after the war. Obviously Baby Malfoy had changed a lot as well.

"Of course, after breakfast I'll loan you some of Father's old riding clothes. He won't mind. We can get dressed and head for the stables," Draco said, feeling his body spark with excitement. He hadn't been riding since before fifth year…before Voldemort decided his home would be the best base for his Death Eater's operations.

"Alright sounds good. Do you think it'd be possible for me to head into Diagon Alley so I can check on the shop? I've got a couple of employees overseeing business while I'm here, but I am the owner. I should pop in at least once or twice a week to be sure everything's running smoothly," George said, looking up at the younger man to see how his request was being received.

Draco blinked at the other man, slowly chewing his mouthful of food. Did Weasley actually think that Draco would stop him from going to see how his business was doing? The blonde knew he wasn't the warmest bloke in the world, but he certainly understood the importance of keeping one's eyes on one's assets.

"Of course. I'm not under any house arrest or anything, so I can come with you if you like."

Draco froze for a moment after his reply and thought on his words. What was he thinking asking if he could come along? Weasley was only even at the house for Potter. Naturally he'd want to go into Diagon Alley to get away from the Malfoys he was being forced to live with. Weasley interrupted Draco's thoughts, however, by thanking him.

"That sounds great. Thanks. I just want to see how my employees are doing handling the shop on their own. I haven't been in there since…"

He trailed off, and Draco immediately understood what he'd meant to say. It was silent for a few moments after that, neither boy really knowing what to say in lieu of the sudden somberness that'd descended on the room.

"Well, let us finish breakfast, and we can go check on your shop first, hm? It's better to go riding later in the day anyway. The sun is less intense," Draco said, changing the subject from Weasley's dead twin craftily.

The redhead just nodded his approval and they continued to eat in silence.

When Harry arrived at Gringotts, he stared up at the imposing building with all the nervousness he had in his first year. He wasn't sure what was going to happen in there today. He wasn't sure what exactly being Lord Potter was going to entail, except that it was going to be a huge responsibility. Now, it wasn't as if Harry was unused to having huge responsibilities thrust upon him in the Wizarding World. It was more that he'd just freed himself from his previous one and was not exactly looking forward to being saddled with a new one so soon.

A gentle hand on his shoulder brought him out of his anxious thoughts and he turned to see the assuring gaze of Narcissa Black staring back at him.

"You need not be so anxious, Harry. Being a Lord is not as terrifying as you might think. Once you get the hang of handling your assets, it will be much easier," she said to him.

"And we will help you to learn as quickly as you can," Lucius added. It made Harry feel a little bit better, but his belly was still doing odd summersaults inside of him.

When they got inside, there was a Goblin already waiting to take them up to the meeting. Narcissa, Lucius, Harry, and the two Aurors who were assigned to this outing all headed up to a private office in the upper levels of the bank. Waiting for them, was a middle-aged looking Goblin with dark hair and the telltale beady black eyes.

"Ah, Lord Potter, it is an honor to finally meet you," the Goblin said, extending his hand to Harry. "My name is Farnuk, and I will be the primary manager of your estate."

Harry returned the greeting and took the Goblin's hand and shook it before sitting down with Narcissa and Lucius flanking him on either side. Farnuk took his seat as well and smiled a pointy-toothed smile at Harry.

"You must be very confused as to why we haven't contacted you sooner, but please believe us that with the war in full swing, we did not have the means to contact you, or to meet with you this way," the Goblin said. Harry just nodded his head in understanding.

"No, it's alright. I'm not sure you'd have been able to find me on my seventeenth birthday anyway. I went from one heavily warded house to another within minutes, and then I was on the run for a long time afterwards," he said, hoping to assure Farnuk that he was not upset.

The Goblin seemed surprised at Harry's assurances for a moment, before he smiled his creepy little Goblin smile.

"Ah, yes. I had not believed the rumors of your humbleness. Griphook often spoke of Harry Potter, the wizard who did not forsake other magical beings as lower life forms. I can now see, he was correct," Farnuk said.

Wide emerald eyes blinked in bemusement at the Goblin. He was only acting towards the little man the way he would any other person he talked to.

"Mr. Potter is not like most wizards, Farnuk, as you will learn very soon," Lucius said, causing Harry to look over at him and flush delicately. The older man did his best to stomp out any inappropriate thoughts the lovely dusting of color against the boy's pale features. He saw Narcissa smirk out of the corner of his eye and shot her a look that only managed to widen it.

"I am grateful to be in charge of such an honorable man's accounts," Farnuk said, bowing his head a little in respect to Harry, who just nodded and smiled bashfully in return.

"Now, on to the business at hand. Lord Potter, as you are probably aware of, you are the sole heir of the Potter and Black Estates. The Potters were a very wealthy pureblood family that began early in the history of the magical world. They once owned many properties, and shares in several Wizarding businesses. However, during the first war, your father came to us and asked us to liquidate all of those properties and stocks into a massive vault that you would inherit on your seventeenth birthday, as well as to fund the Light," Farnuk explained. Harry nodded, wondering why his father would do such a thing. His curiosity was satisfied quickly by Farnuk's continued explanation.

"Lord James Potter knew that if he and your mother were to die, you would be sent into hiding. They knew you would not be raised in our world, and so they did what they could to lessen the burden of the Potter Estate. As it stands, you will be inheriting ten million galleons (50000001.59 British Pounds), as well as the title of Lord Potter in our world," Farnuk said, causing Harry's eyes to go wider than dinner plates.

Growing up with the Dursleys, he never even dreamed of that kind of money. Even when he was in Hogwarts, knowing he had a decent trust fund, he didn't think it could possibly be this much. Farnuk wasn't done surprising him yet, however.

"Now, on to what you will be inheriting from the Black Estate. When Sirius Black died, he bequeathed in his will Grimmauld Place, to be transferred to you immediately. However, the many vaults of the Black Estate would be held in a trust for you until you were of age to claim them, as well as three Black Properties. Here is the clause in his will…"

The will floated up into the air and the room was suddenly filled with a voice Harry had not heard since the Department of Mysteries almost three years ago.

"I, Sirius Black, in sound mind and body, hereby leave all of my monetary assets, as sum of nine million galleons, to my Godson Harry Potter, to be held in trust for him until he is of age. I leave with him the honored title of Lord Black, to do with as he will. Along with Grimmauld Place, I leave Harry the Black Summer Home in Greece, the Villa in Italy, and Black Manor. The latter of which I wish him to transfer to the ownership of my beloved cousin, Narcissa Malfoy.

We may have fallen out, and you may be married to a gigantic prick…no scratch that, a tiny slimy prick no woman should ever have the unpleasantness of touching in his life…but you are still my cousin. To me you will always be the beautiful princess who still talked to me even when the rest of the family shunned me. I leave you the Manor, because I know it was your favorite place to be when we were growing up..and some small part of me hopes you will open your eyes one day to see you can do so much better than that Malfoy bastard.

I know that my Godson will do as I wish, which is why I have named him the primary benefactor of my will as soon as he has come of age. I hate to burden you with this Harry, but since I've left everything but Black Manor to you, it shouldn't be too hard. I love you."

When the clause was finished, the will rolled up and the room was silent. Harry didn't even realize the tears that were rolling down his cheeks until a slender hand came up to brush them away. He turned to Narcissa, who while not quite crying, had a gleam of unshed tears glimmering in her pale blue eyes. Farnuk seemed to understand that there was time needed to regroup, and did not start speaking for another few moments.

"Lord Potter, would you like me to give you the forms you must sign to do as the late Lord Black requested?" the Goblin asked, in a tone not quite gentle, but much less harsh than his usual speech pattern. Harry wiped the rest of his tears on the backs of his hands and nodded his head.

"Yes..yes please. It's about time someone carried out Sirius' wishes," he said, taking the contracts from Farnuk that, with his signature, would transfer Black Manor into Narcissa's hands.

"There is also the matter of the title of Lord Black that must be dealt with," Farnuk said when Harry had finished. He sent the papers through the inter-office mail system of Gringotts to the council to be legitimized.

Harry turned to Narcissa and Lucius in question. Lucius smiled in response, and sat forward to murmur to the younger man what he thought should be done.

"There are only a few Blacks still left alive today. Narcissa is one of them, but she has no interest in the responsibilities that would come from such a title. I suggest leaving the title to the last heir of the Black blood. I believe he is your godson?" the blonde man said.

Harry was shocked that Lucius suggested Teddy, the son of a werewolf and a half-blood abomination as far as most purebloods were considered, as the future holder of the Black title. But, the advice was perfect. Harry had no desire to have any more titles. Teddy deserved to inherit the legacy of his Family after everything he'd lost.

"That's perfect. Do it. I also want half of the Black's financial estate to be put in a trust for Teddy, a third of that to be released when he starts at Hogwarts to pay his tuition and buy his supplies," he said to Farnuk, who nodded and made a note down on the records, which Harry signed off on.

Lucius was pleasantly surprised at how quickly Harry was catching on to managing his Estates. There may not be much more than proper etiquette and the Wizarding Stock Exchange to teach the boy. Lucius knew he'd have to teach Harry to budget his funds, however, because so much money in the hands of one so young could spell trouble without the proper guidance.

"Very well, Lord Potter. I will make sure it is done before the week is out," Farnuk agreed.

Harry smiled at the Goblin, feeling a big weight lifting off of his shoulders. The meeting hadn't been as bad as he'd thought it would. He knew he had the means to learn what he needed to in order to act properly in his new place in society. The stress seemed to melt away before Farnuk had his final say in the meeting.

"There is one more inheritance that you should be aware of before you leave today, Lord Potter," the Goblin said, his tone suggesting something wasn't right about what he was going to say.

"Because Tom Riddle did not leave this world having named an heir, as the man who defeated him, by our most ancient laws, you will be the one to inherit what was left behind," Farnuk said.

Harry's heart froze in his chest at the news. He thought he was rid of Voldemort for good after he killed him. Of course, thinking he was immortal, good old Tom wouldn't have named himself an heir…and of course the Wizarding World would have some obscure, ancient law saying Harry was the one who'd have to manage his estate in his death.

"I don't want it…" he said almost immediately. Farnuk blinked at the quickness and ferocity of Harry's reponse.

"Now Harry, the Dark Lord had quite a sizable amount of money before he.."

But Lucius' words were cut off by Harry's immediate denial.

"NO! That money is filthy with the blood of the people he took it from. I want none of it. Take everything he ever owned, liquidate it, and send it to the families of the people he murdered! Any and all of the families that you can find that lost someone to that madman!" he growled angrily. He was not about to let Lucius Malfoy convince him into keeping Riddle's money just to add to his vaults. He wanted nothing to do with Voldemort's belongings.

"Mr. Riddle's vault included about four million galleons, as well as the deed to Riddle Manor. You want us to liquidate everything, Lord Potter?" Farnuk asked dubiously, like he couldn't understand Harry's reluctance to increase his wealth.

"Yes…everything. I want Riddle Manor torn down and the land sold. Then, after the vault receives those proceeds, I want reparations to be sent to every single family you can find who lost someone in this war," he said, his tone serious and inarguable.

"Yes, Lord Potter. I will do as you wish," Farnuk said, scribbling down a few note on the paperwork and handing it to Harry to sign.

The papers were filled out in complete silence and when everything was said and done, Harry's affairs were all settled. He said his goodbyes to Farnuk, who promised to draw up a list of stocks he thought would be good for Harry to invest in and send it to the Manor for approval. Harry, Narcissa, and Lucius left Gringotts in complete silence that was slightly awkward.

The walk to the Ministry wasn't a long one. When they finally arrived, Narcissa placed a hand on Harry's tense shoulder and squeezed softly.

"Harry, I want you to understand that Lucius by no means meant to offend you. He just wanted to make sure you were aware that you were entitled to that wealth, not to feel guilty about it," she explained in a gentle tone. Harry just shrugged his shoulders.

"I'm not mad at you, or him. I just want nothing more to do with Riddle or his assets. His money is soaked with the blood of thousands of innocents, and I don't want any part of that. I might have killed him, but the families of the people he killed are more entitled to compensation than I am, and that is what's going to be done," Harry replied evenly. Narcissa nodded, and Lucius sighed.

"Understandable. I meant no offense. Now let us go inside and get this case against the Prophet started," he said, gesturing to the entrance to the Ministry.

Harry nodded and followed the two older adults inside. This was the part of the day he was most looking forward to. Getting Rita Skeeter and the Prophet tossed off their thrown as the Wizarding World's top gossip rag was a goal he would not readily give up. Their first stop was to get the paperwork they needed to fill out and have signed by both Harry's solicitor, who Lucius would be signing in place of for now, and Minister Shacklebolt…who was their second stop of the day. Harry and Lucius went off to get the paperwork, while Narcissa went to get them an appointment with the Minister.

When they returned, it was to find Narcissa chatting amiably with Shacklebolt in the hall outside of his office. Harry saw Lucius arch perfectly defined blonde eyebrow in his wife's direction, who currently had a slender hand resting on the Minister's forearm. Kingsley turned with a bright smile, and an almost invisible flush along his cheeks when Harry stopped before him, grasping the younger man's hand in a firm handshake, since hugging the boy would be completely unprofessional in the middle of the Ministry.

"Mr. Potter! So good to see you again! It's been a couple of months!" he said, gesturing for everyone to follow him into the office. Harry just smiled and blushed gently.

"Call me, Harry, Kingsley. We fought a war together. I think that makes it okay," he said with a nervous laugh. The other man just smiled and nodded, sitting down at his desk as the three people in his office took a seat as well.

"Well then, Harry, what can I do for you today?" he asked.

"I want to sue the Daily Prophet and Rita Skeeter, separately for the defamation and slander of my character over the past seven years…"

A/n: Sorry it took so long guys! My work schedule has been INSANE! But now the season is winding down so I'll have a little more time. ^^ Hope you enjoyed this! Please leave me with your thoughts.
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The Aftermath of War