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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
- 7
- 8
- 9
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: I’m glad to see that the majority of you are enjoying this story. Now a few things about this chapter.

I am adding an OC character, but only in the form of Hermione’s infant younger brother. I figure her parents have been in Australia for at least a year now, and since they have no idea they have a daughter, have decided to have a child in their time there. He will not be a major part of the storyline, as I am not a fan of OC characters myself. It just makes sense to me in lieu of their situation, that they might end up with another kid in the year they were Obliviated. He will make appearances here and there, but will not be an integral part of the plot.

Once again the romances will all be building gradually, so if you are here to read mindless smut I would go elsewhere. There will be sex in the future between Lucius/Harry and George/Draco, but it will not happen until I feel the time is right.

That being said, enjoy the new chapter ^^

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 Seven: The First Steps of Healing

Harry was woken from his potion induced, dreamless sleep by the sound of a shriek in the suite beside his. He jolted up from bed, hopping off the side of it and rushing to the door that joined his and George’s suites together. After his own nightmare only two days prior, Harry had been sleeping much lighter than usual. Fumbled with his pajama bottoms before he pushed the door open and entered George’s rooms. He saw the redhead lying tangled in his bed sheets, head thrashing from side to side, face scrunched in sorrow as tears poured down his freckled cheeks.

Harry was beside him immediately, shaking the older man’s broad shoulder and stroking sweat matted ginger hair out of his face in a comforting manner. Cornflower blue eyes shot open to look directly up at him, terror evident in their dilated, bloodshot depths. Harry continued his comforting attentions until George finally managed to gather his wits and sat up.

“I…Fred..I…bollocks!” the redhead stammered out, letting his face fall into his hands and shuddering in a full bodied sob.

The Savior could do nothing but wrap his arms around his friend and slide his hand over the trembling back as George cried. This was the first time that Harry had witnessed one of George’s night terrors since they’d arrived at Malfoy Manor. He didn’t know if it was because the redhead cast silencing spells on his room, and just forgot tonight…or if it was because George simply hadn’t had any until now. It didn’t matter really. All Harry could think about was that George was suffering.

“Was it the same dream as usual? The Battle?” Harry asked softly into George’s ear. The head of soft, if slightly sweaty hair nodded against his shoulder and Harry sighed.

“I wish I could make it better. I-if only I’d been faster..maybe if I’d gone to Him the first time he demanded it…maybe all those people could’ve been spared,” Harry said, not able to stop himself from voicing his guilt ridden opinion. George immediately pulled back and glared at him with his red-rimmed, fiercely blue eyes.

“Don’t you dare! Fred knew what he was signing up for when he agreed to stay and fight, we all did. Nothing you could’ve done would’ve changed how many people died that night. If it wasn’t Fred, it would’ve been someone else. Had you gone to Him that first time, you’d most likely been dead right? You hadn’t even destroyed all of the Horcruxes yet,” he said, his tone firm and inarguable.

Harry opened his mouth to argue again only to find his face covered with the firm slap of a pillow. When the black haired young man finally pulled himself from under the pillow he was greeted by the glowering face of George Weasley.

“Harry…if you’d gone to Voldemort when he first asked, he’d have killed the Horcrux inside you and then killed you…leaving him still alive with two more Horcruxes to spare and the rest of us with no clue what or where they were. We’d all be dead, if you’d done that. Fred died protecting the people he loved and the world he believed in. It wasn’t your fault. He’d have killed us all anyway, because we sure as hell wouldn’t have joined him,” the redhead said softly.

Harry felt his eyes burn and his chest resonate with a sobbing laugh as he pulled George into a tight hug and buried his face in the older man’s hair.

“I’m so sorry. I’m supposed to be comforting you and all I’ve gone and done is make it all about me again. I’m so sorry. I swear I don’t mean to!” he said. He felt George laugh against him as well.

“It’s alright Harry. We’ve all been through a lot, but I think it’s fair to say you probably had it the worst…what with having to walk out and die like some sacrificial lamb to save the world. Besides, you did comfort me. Now, come here and let’s go back to sleep,” George said, scooting over on the bed to make more room for Harry.

Harry crawled into the bed beside George and allowed the redhead to lean against him as they settled together to sleep. He listened as the older man’s breathing evened out, unable to fall asleep himself. It was when he heard the creak of the door that his eyes shot to the main entrance of George’s rooms. There, standing in the doorway was none other than Draco Malfoy, platinum blonde hair mussed, black silk pajamas ruffled. Harry raised an eyebrow at him in question.

“I…I came when I heard the scream, but you were already here when I opened the door. You…you were so involved with your conversation you didn’t even notice me. I didn’t mean to listen. I just wanted to make sure he was alright,” the blonde said in a hesitant tone. He looked nervous and embarrassed, and Harry could only smile in response.

Whatever Draco and George had done while Harry and Draco’s parents were out had bonded them. The Savior had noticed it almost immediately upon seeing them come home from Diagon Alley together. He was glad. The blooming friendship between the two would be good for both of them. Harry wasn’t aware of all that had befallen Draco under Voldemort, but he knew whatever it was had broken him completely. Losing Fred had done the same to George, and Harry felt that the two of them together may be able to reassemble themselves into functional people.

“He’s fine. Just a nightmare, like usual,” Harry answered, watching the blonde head bob in understanding.

“Right, well..I’ll go then,” Draco said awkwardly as he turned to leave the room.

Harry gently disentangled himself from George’s sleepy embrace and moved to stop Draco from leaving. The blonde turned to him with a surprised expression when Harry’s hand gently grasped his wrist.

“You can stay if you want. He’s bound to have a couple of more, and I think he’d like it if he saw he had more than just me looking out for him here. Besides, it isn’t likely I’ll be able to fall back asleep now,” Harry said, his green eyes earnest and warm.

Draco seemed to hesitate for a moment, his expression uncertain. Harry just smiled at the Malfoy Heir as he gently prodded the other boy back into the room and headed for his own. As he walked away, he closed the door and cast a silencing charm over George’s rooms so any further nightmares would not disturb anyone else in the house. When he returned to his own room, he was surprised to see Lucius standing in his main doorway, looking sleepy and emotive in a way that Harry had never before seen in the other man.

“Lucius…” was all the boy could say in a tone of slight surprise.

The older man turned to him, concern written clearly in his stormy grey eyes. He must’ve come straight from his quarters, considering he was in a pair of black silk pajama bottoms and a slightly unkempt, hastily tied robe. His pale blonde hair was pulled back into a loose ponytail, riddled with sleep-induced fly-aways wisping this way and that. The picture, all together, was actually quite endearing.

“After your last nightmare, Narcissa and I decided to put up some alarm spells that would alert us if there were any disturbances in or near your rooms. So that one of us could come to see if you were alright,” Lucius explained quietly.

“I’m alright. It was George, actually,” Harry said with a soft if bemused smile on his face. He hadn’t had anyone but the Weasleys care so much about his wellbeing or comfort. It was still rather odd for him that the Malfoys did, and seemed to genuinely do so.

“Yes, I saw through the door there,” Lucius said, his eyes moving to the door that joined Harry and George’s room..still slightly ajar. Harry closed it with a flick of his wand and smiled sheepishly.

“I’m sorry if I disturbed your sleep, Lucius,” he said with a bashful scratch to the back of his head. The older man merely stared at him for a few moments before speaking.

“You did no such thing. I do not sleep much anymore,” the older man admitted, and Harry could feel himself immediately sympathize with the other man.

While he could never know what it was like to live with Voldemort day in and day out, in his own home. He had no idea what it felt like being emasculated the way he knew Lucius had been for so long under Voldemort’s reign. Harry did, however, have that black hearted creature of pure evil living in his mind for years. Even with that presence gone from his mind, Harry could still feel the imprint of evil that was left in there after all those years of its existence. He imagined that Lucius must feel similar. Not only did the older man have a link with Voldemort, possibly deeper than the accidental one that Harry had for so many years, but that horrible creature had lived in Lucius’ home for over a year before he was finally defeated.

Harry could remember how it felt to know his friends were in danger just by knowing him, but in the back of his mind he knew Voldemort was not very nearby most of the time. Lucius had the man in his home, threatening his wife and son on a daily basis. The Savior could see why the Malfoy Lord may have trouble sleeping in that very same home that had become associated with such anguish and fear for his family.

“Neither do I,” Harry admitted softly, fidgeting a bit with the bottom of his pajama shirt as Lucius continued to look at him with his striking grey eyes. Looking down at his feet, Harry tried not to stiffen in anxiety as he listened to the soft padding footsteps of Lucius’ slippered feet approaching.

“As it seems neither of us will return to sleep for a while still, would you like to join me out in the gardens for perhaps a late night snack and some conversation?”

Harry blinked up at Lucius with his wide, shocked eyes not sure what to say at first. As gracious and helpful as Lucius had been so far…and even knowing how out of his way the Malfoy Lord had gone to ensure Harry’s comfort, the Boy-Who-Vanquished-Voldemort was still uncertain about being entirely alone with the other man for an extended period of time. It wasn’t even that Harry distrusted the man anymore, because even though he had yet to completely put his trust in Lucius Malfoy, the past week or so found Harry getting closer and closer to considering doing so on a minimal level. It was more that Harry didn’t trust the way he felt in the older man’s presence.

Lucius Malfoy inspired a myriad of emotions in Harry that completely confused and scared him to be quite frank. Firstly, the older man made him nervous, anxious even. Of course their violent history was partially responsible. It inspired those feelings of anxiety and mistrust. It was also the fact that Harry found himself noticing things about the Malfoy Lord that he ought not to. For instance, right now…Harry could see the way the pale silver rays of the moon lit Lucius’ pale skin, giving it almost an iridescent glow. He saw how those same beams filtered through blonde strands of hair, causing them to glimmer a silvery platinum color, and how it made Lucius’ eyes look like storm clouds glowing brightly in the light of a full moon night.

Harry had never noticed these kinds of things in anyone before really, not Cho…not even Ginny. For him to see it in a male…in a male he had no business noticing such features in, absolutely terrified Harry for many obvious reasons. It inspired so many uncomfortable questions in his mind. Was he gay? Was he attracted to Lucius Malfoy? Was that acceptable? What would his friends think? Harry didn’t want to have all of these questions about himself. He just wanted to live his life, free and normal, now that Voldemort was gone from the world. Why couldn’t he just be normal?

“Shall I take that as a no?”

Lucius’ voice broke Harry out of his thoughts almost immediately and he flushed a deep red as he realized how long he’d been staring at the other man with no response to his question. He forced himself to smile awkwardly and grabbed his cloak from where it was hanging on the bedpost.

“No..I mean, yes…of course I’ll go with you,” he said shakily. “It’s not like I’ll be falling asleep any time soon.”

The blonde merely nodded and turned towards the door to Harry’s rooms, exiting quietly. Harry pulled his cloak on and followed the man to the gardens. He wasn’t sure what to expect from whatever conversation they had there, but he was going to try to keep all of the uncomfortable questions plaguing his mind locked away. He wasn’t ready to face them yet. He didn’t know if he’d ever be.

            Out in the garden, Lucius led Potter to one of the many scattered outdoor tables where his wife used to often entertain day guests. This particular one was Lucius’ favorite. It sat right beside a calm, smooth as glass pond littered with lovely lily pads that flowered a bright pink during the summer months. The night was beautiful as well. Clear skies and a nearly full moon made it so that Lucius did not even need to light the magical torches around the table. The moonlight would suffice for their conversation.

            “Toby!” he called, resisting a smirk at the flinch Potter failed to withhold at the loud crack of a house elf’s apparition into the garden.

            “Yes Master Lucius.”

            “Bring us some tea and cookies please. You know the kind,” he said in a gentle tone. The elf was gone for only a moment before he was back with some warm vanilla tea and a plate of homemade snickerdoodle cookies.

            “Thank you Toby, you may go,” the Malfoy Lord said, with just the slightest hint of a grateful smile on his face towards the small creature. He could feel the wide-eyed gaze of the black haired young man across from him. Lucius found himself utterly amused at the confused expression on Potter’s face as he spoke kindly to the house elf.

            “I will not deny that I was once cruel to these creatures, but they helped our family a lot during the war while He was in our home. They kept Draco as safe as they could, and kept the other Death Eaters away from Narcissa when I was not home. I can only be thankful for that. And while they still refuse to be paid for their services, I figure that being kind to them may suffice as gratitude for their loyalty,” he explained in response to Potter’s wide, emerald eyed stare of shock. He smirked as Potter cleared his throat and flushed that lovely red color again.

            “Of course, that makes sense.”

            Lucius knew that Potter had only ever seen him interact with Dobby in the past. The thought of his former elf made him wonder what had happened to him. He knew that Dobby had worked in the Hogwarts kitchens for a wage after he was freed, and he knew that the little elf had braved Malfoy Manor during the peak of the war to rescue Potter and his friends. What became of him after, Lucius did not know.

            “Toby is a cousin to my former elf Dobby. I think you may remember him,” he said calmly. Potter nodded, his bright eyes darkening with sorrow at the mention of the elf.

            “Whatever happened to that brave little elf?” Lucius asked, hoping he was not prying to hard into Potter’s worst memories of the war. He didn’t want to scare the boy away. He watched Potter’s face transform into a variety of different expressions, most dominant in all of them was sadness.

            “He died…that day at Malfoy Manor, when he saved us. Bellatrix managed to throw the knife and hit him. He died to save our lives,” Potter explained in a pained, very quiet tone.

            “Oh…I see.”

            Lucius didn’t know what to say in response to that. While he hardly felt the sorrow he could see Potter must feel, he did regret that Dobby had died in the war. After seeing how far his elves at Malfoy Manor went to protect his family under Voldemort’s reign, Lucius had always felt the need to apologize to that freed elf for his past violent behavior towards him.

            “That is a shame, though…I have only recently in this past year become aware of just how loyal a house elf will be to their master, or to someone they consider worthy of their loyalty. After Narcissa misca….after seeing how the Dark Lord treated us in our own home, our elves did all they could to keep us safe. I will never forget that loyalty. It is part of the reason I began to understand that my previous views of the world were wrong. If an elf like Dobby, someone I used to consider less than dirt, could stand up to Bellatrix and the Dark Lord knowing he may die…that makes him superior to me doesn’t it? I could not even protect my own family, even when the elves did,” Lucius explained, his grey eyes fixed on Potter’s obviously fascinated expression.

            The young Savior shrugged his delicate shoulders and smiled sadly at the question. Lucius knew the young man had never considered Dobby, or any other magical creature, as less of a person than he himself. It was something that Lucius had hated about the young man when he first met him, but after seeing how determined the Malfoy Elves were to protect the family…Lucius could only respect this quality in Potter.

            “Dobby was my friend…all the way back in Second Year when he was trying to protect me, until now. I’ve never considered him as anything else, and it always confused me to see other magical beings treated the way that they are. I mean, if they can speak and think on their own…doesn’t that make them people? Charlie Weasley, the second eldest of them all, he works with dragons you know…he says they’re highly intelligent. That they have their own societies, language, and social structures….and wizards have been so egotistical over the years to think that just because they look like beasts, they should be cadged and controlled,” the young man explained in a calm tone.

            “And Werewolves…they way they’re treated is absolutely appalling. They’re human for the majority of their lives, but because once a month they turn into what they do they are looked down upon. Because they are Dark creatures people like Remus Lupin, one of the kindest men I’ve ever known, could never get a decent job. But if the Ministry would just make Wolfsbane available to them all, if they’d stop treating them like animals, this wouldn’t be such a big issue.”

            Lucius nodded his head. Before the war, he would have agreed in full with the way that the Wizarding World treated the other magical beings, regardless of their intelligence. But after seeing elf after elf risk their lives to protect Draco, Narcissa, and himself, Lucius found himself in agreement with Potter’s words. His experiences with Werewolves were not good ones. Greyback always had an alarming interest in Draco’s life, especially when Lucius’ son was young. Draco had been a beautiful child after all. But, Lupin he remembered from school. The young Gryffindor was quiet, a few years lower than Lucius, but very intelligent and often discouraged the way that James Potter and Sirius Black bullied Severus. Lupin had also died protecting Hogwarts a few months ago during the Final Battle, and Lucius could only respect the man for that. To think a man like that could be punished for the simple fact that Fenrir Greyback had a sick obsession with biting children, was upsetting to Lucius now.

            “I will not lie to you and try to pretend I was not one of those pompous Wizards, even just a few months ago. I will only say that many of us, generations of Wizarding families, are raised believing they are at the very top of the social and natural ladder. It is engrained in us from a very young age, and I will say from experience that it is not an easy idea to break free of.”

            “Well, they’ll all be singing a different tune soon enough. Because Kingsley is Minister now, and he will not stand for the past prejudices of this world to continue as they were. Prejudice is what started this war, and it will only continue to create problems if we don’t address it now. I will make damn well sure that people like Remus Lupin and even Dobby get the recognition and medals they deserve for their services during the war, regardless of their blood or creature status,” Potter said.

            Lucius was struck silent by the fierce determination glowing in those luminescent green eyes. Seeing such conviction from someone as young as Potter was something of a novelty, but a novelty that seemed to be prevalent in a lot of the young kids Potter’s age. This war…a war started by their parents, grandparents, had become a war of the youth. So many young people, children really…kids his son’s age, had stepped up to fight. Lucius hated that it had fallen to them. His son had seen things that most adults would find difficult to get over. He knew Potter and his friends were no different.

            “That is a very admirable aspiration, Mr. Potter. Had I not made choices that ran the Malfoy name into the dirt, I would use its former power to back you up, knowing what I know now,” he said.

            Viridian eyes stared at him thoughtfully for a few moments before Potter’s face transformed into a wide, warm smile. The young man was truly lovely when he smiled, it was a time when Potter’s face took on a bright life, leaving the distinctive features of his parents behind and truly coming into its own.

            “I’m glad you’ve learned from all of this, and I’m glad you see the world the way it truly should be seen now, Lucius. Not as Purebloods and Muggleborns…not as Wizards and Creatures...but all as living beings who deserve to be respected and free to pursue happy lives in our world,” Potter said. His tone was sincere and earnest, but also riddles with warmth and acceptance.

            “And you should call me Harry, Lucius…it’s only fair.”

            At the last bit, Lucius couldn’t help the slight smile that curled his lips, transforming his usually stony features with an amiable light. Stormy grey eyes softened just enough to be noticeable, and Lucius felt himself truly relaxing for the first time in the presence of the young Savior.

            “Of course, Harry. As you wish.”

            George Weasley’s face scrunched as the rays of the sun rudely pierced through his closed eyelids. Frowning a bit, the redhead buried his face into the silky, sweet-smelling material of his pillow and sighed in content. He didn’t want to wake up yet. However, his nose scrunched once again as it was tickled by something soft. Pulling back a bit, George found himself remembering what happened the night before. His nightmare, Harry coming into his bed to help him fall back asleep. Smiling softly, he curled his arms tightly around the body that was in bed next to him and nuzzled what he now recognized as hair.

            “I’m glad you stayed with me last night Harry, but do you think your hair could let me sleep for a little longer,” he said in an amused tone.

            “Mm not yet Mum, just a few more minutes,” a familiar, distinctly not Harry’s voice murmured, causing George’s eyes to snap open to focus on the person who was in his bed with him.

            His gaze moved downwards where he saw a tuft of bed-mussed, white blonde hair resting against his own clavicle and he barely managed to stop the urge to scramble backwards. After all, it’d be highly uncomfortable to have the other occupant in the bed wake up to see them cuddled together like this. What in the bloody hell was Draco Malfoy doing in his bed? George quite clearly remembered falling asleep with Harry. What had happened between then and now? Or was he still asleep and dreaming or something?

            Baby Malfoy looked peaceful. His eyes were closed, pale blonde lashes resting like delicate, feathery fans against the pale skin of his cheek. His face was entirely relaxed, which was something that George had not been witness to until now. His lips were set in a soft, natural pout, pink and pretty as little puffs of breath escaped them evenly in the blonde’s sleep. He was lovely, angelic even. George found himself captivated…that was until he heard the telltale creak of a door opening and a feminine gasp from the front of the room.

            “Oh my!” Narcissa Malfoy’s voice cried in shock and George found himself sitting up in the bed to try to explain himself, waking a dislodged Draco Malfoy in the process.

            “I swear this isn’t what it looks like! I’d never disrespect you or your son like this, especially not in your own house!” he said, hoping she wouldn’t jump to all of the wrong conclusions.

            He knew Purebloods weren’t complete prudes when it came to premarital sex. They’d been around for much too long to believe that two people who cared for one another, or at least were attracted to one another, would be able to keep their hands off one another until marriage. But, he also knew that out of respect, the parents of the couple in question should be at least notified of the interest of the suitor, especially if any of that fornication was to be happening in their household. George, while certainly interested in the Littlest Malfoy’s gorgeous arse, was nowhere near ready to pursue any kind of relationship.

            “Mother, please go. You are making Weasley very uncomfortable with your gaping. I assure you this is just a matter of my being a good host and comforting our guest after a nightmare. I had not meant to fall asleep, only to stay around long enough to make sure he did not have another,” the calm, soothing tones of Draco Malfoy explained in a very matter-of-fact nature.

            Narcissa merely nodded and walked out looking slightly confused as her son turned to look at George with an apologetic expression. Pale cheeks flushed a delicate pink and the young Malfoy couldn’t seem to hold eye contact, his long fingers fidgeting with the blue satin sheets. George just sighed and reached a hand out to cover the fidgeting digits, causing grey eyes to flick up at him uncertainly.

            “Look, last night I heard you screaming but when I got her Pott…Harry was already here. He said I should stay, since he wasn’t going to be able to go back to sleep anyway. I didn’t mean to stay the whole night, I just wanted to make sure you were alright,” the blonde said, his tone quiet and nervous. George just squeezed the smaller man’s warm hand and smiled when they made eye contact.

            “Thank you, Draco,” he said, enjoying the way that pink flush tinged deeper along those elegant cheekbones. He’d never called Draco by his first name. He actually quite enjoyed calling him Baby Malfoy, because it riled the blonde up so much and made him pout in an utterly adorable manner.

            “I dreamt of the Battle again. Of Fred…I wish it was me...” he said, happy to hear that his voice didn’t crack under the overwhelming pressure of emotion he was feeling. He blinked his burning eyes back to Malfoy’s concerned silver gaze when he felt the blonde’s long fingers linking between his own in a comforting gesture.

            “I understand…s-sometimes I can still hear the screams at night…when I close my eyes I see my aunt torturing Granger and hear her screaming…see her bleeding on the floor of the Drawing Room…I always wished I’d done something to help her,” Draco said, looking ashamed and upset with himself. George just lifted his free hand, unable to stop himself from tucking some of that pale blonde hair out of the other man’s miserable face.

            “If it makes you feel better, Hermione doesn’t even blame you for that. There was nothing you could do without putting your own life and your parents’ lives in danger,” he said, pulling his hand away from that blushing face in fear that he’d made Draco uncomfortable.

The blonde, however, just squeezed his fingers again before gently pulling away and climbing out of the bed. George let his eyes rove over the younger man’s rumpled appearance. He quite liked Malfoy this way. It was nice to see him all bed-mussed with his feathery blonde hair sticking out at all sorts of odd angles and black silk pajamas wrinkled from sleep.

‘I could get used to waking up beside him,’ George thought before he could stop himself. He shook the idea way with a smile, knowing he wasn’t ready to broach the subject of such a relationship yet.

“Well, I’ll have a shower I think and then I’ll meet you downstairs for breakfast?” he said. Malfoy turned to him from the doorway and smiled slightly.

“I’ll meet you outside of your rooms and we can walk down together.”

George nodded and without another word, Draco walked out of the door closing it behind him quietly. The redhead made his way to the shower, his mind full of thoughts. Fred, the War, Draco…his increasingly warm feelings concerning Draco…all of these thoughts jumbling together in a confusing mass in his head. He knew he wasn’t anywhere close to being emotionally stable enough to involve another person in his life the way he could feel himself wanting to involve Draco. But, he thought…maybe Draco could help him get to that place. He knew Harry would help if he asked, but George also knew that Harry was so messed up from the War himself that it wouldn’t be fair to compound those problems with his own. Draco had spent the entire night in his room just to make sure that George would have someone around if he had another nightmare. Maybe he could trust him to help him work his way through his demons involving the War.

            Harry,

I am so sorry for the letter that Ginny sent you, Dear. I assure you that she has been firmly chastised by both her father and I. Bill and Charlie have also sent her words of disappointment for her immature and frankly dishonorable actions.

I do hope that this does not discourage you from visiting. You’re family, Harry. As far as I am concerned, you are my son, and you know Arthur feels the same. I know it may be awkward to be around her, but the rest of us only wish for your happiness and we would be quite distraught if you never came to the Burrow again. We are not angry with you for what you wrote in your response either. It was well within your rights to defend yourself.

Hoping this letter finds you well,

Molly

… … …

            Dear Harry,

I’ve heard what happened with Ginny. I can’t believe the nerve of that girl! Honestly, I thought that she was better than that, but apparently I severely misjudged her! You’ll be glad to know that when Ronald joined me here in Australia, we had a long intense conversation about what happened between the two of you, and he is firmly on your side of what happened between you and Ginny.

He’s still not happy about you living there, but he does not agree with the way that Ginny has handled things and he is starting to understand that the prejudices against Slytherins he has are no better than the ones they had against Muggleborns. He has finally admitted that holding on to such prejudices will do nothing but create more problems.

In other news, we’ve found my parents. They’re living in a lovely home in Sydney and I was able to reverse the spell. Well, for the most part. The Healers here in Sydney say that there are parts of their memories that will never return, and parts that will take a very long time, because of how thorough I was in wiping me from their minds. But, they are happy to have me back, and have a basic understanding of why I needed to do what I’ve done in the first place.

Oh, and guess what! I have a baby brother now! That’s right! It turns out not long after they moved, my mother became pregnant and they had a little boy! He’s almost a year old now. They’ve named him Aaron, and he’s already showing signs of magic. I swear I saw him levitating his blocks the other day! He really is the sweetest thing in the world. I love him so much already! I can’t wait for you to meet him. Maybe he and Teddy can even play together!

Ron and I are going to stay down here to help my parents get their affairs in order, and then they’ll be returning with us to England. We’ve spoken at length about it, and since their lives in Muggle London are completely gone, we’ve decided my parents should come to live with us at the Burrow until we can find a place for them. Kingsley even said he’d make an exception for me and my family, and allow them to live with me permanently. As strange as I feel accepting such an obvious favor, just because the Minister of Magic is my friend…they’ve got nowhere else to go. Would it be so wrong to accept his offer?

Anyway, I can’t wait to see you! Both of us are excited to get back!

I’ll write again soon,

Hermione

… … …

            Dear Cousin,

Please don’t burn this letter as soon as you open it. I have some things I’d like to say.

It feels odd writing a letter and giving it to an owl in hopes of it reaching you, but I really feel like I need to contact you. Today the guards who’ve been keeping us hidden told us we’re free to return to our old lives. We went back to the house to find it destroyed, burned to the ground. I guess I can only thank you for getting us out of there. Who knows what those people would’ve done to us if you hadn’t? Though, I guess you would know. You’ve been running from them your whole life haven’t you?

Your Ministry put us up in a Hotel until we can find a place to live, which was pretty decent of them. I think that it’s finally hit Dad and Mum just how much danger you were in all this time, and what you’ve saved them from in retrospect. Dad’s not singing your praises or anything, and he still hates anything to do with magic, but…he does feel indebted to you for saving our lives. Mum though…she’s been really quiet. Sometimes I catch her staring into space and frowning. It worries me. She admitted to wondering if you were even still alive out there, if you were injured, dead…

I have to say I’ve been wondering the same thing, so if you’re alive, even if you never want to see us again, please at least send a letter to let us know. I think it’d put Mum at ease. Dad wasn’t too happy about the idea of me writing you. Indebted as he feels, he’s too set in his ways to change too much. But I told him that we ought to at least know if you’re alive, you saved our arses after all. He tried to say he didn’t care what happened in that freaky world of yours, and I just said… “Well think about it Dad. Mum’s family has magic in their blood. What if my kids are like Harry? Will you hate them? Will you wish harm on them? I damn well care what happened in that world if it’s possible my kids might be a part of it someday.”

He shut up after that. Anyway, please write back if you can. Did you win? Is the bad guy dead? Are you alright?

Your Cousin,

Dudley Dursley

            Harry sat stunned after reading the signature on the final letter. Dudley had contacted him. Dudley cared whether he was alive or dead? Dudley wasn’t horrified by the idea that his children may be magical…it was an utterly flooring notion for Harry. Aunt Petunia was so worried about him she’d finally shut her loud insulting mouth? Harry just couldn’t believe what he was reading, but he knew it was really from Dudley, because the Malfoys had put up wards to destroy letters from people who were lying about being related to him. He wasn’t even sure what to think of it. Folding up the letter he tucked it into his pocket to re-read later, probably with George to get another perspective on the matter, and started replying to everyone.

            To Molly, he assured her that he would be visiting again. Ginny Weasley’s horrendous behavior would not keep him away from the people who he considered his family. To Hermione, he assured her that taking Kingsley’s offer was not a bad thing. Her family deserved to be together, especially with her parents learning their daughter could’ve been killed during the past year and they’d never have known it. Hermione also deserved time with her new brother. He toyed with the idea of writing Dudley a small note just letting him know that Harry was alive, but decided against it for now. He wanted to talk about it with someone first. George would be able to help him sort these feelings out.

            Harry had also received several Funeral invitations, including one from Molly for Fred’s funeral, to be held the coming Saturday. Colin Creevy’s would be the Monday following, and surprisingly McGonagall had invited him to a small service in honor of Severus Snape later that day. He knew the peace he’d found with the Malfoys would only last so long. Sorrow clenched his belly in a tight not as he thought of attending the somber ceremonies for the dead. But, Harry wasn’t an inconsiderate tosspot. He would go to all of them. He’d go to any funeral that he was invited to, as many as he could. The victims of the war deserved it.

            ‘I wonder why I didn’t get anything about Remus or Tonks,’ he thought to himself as he rounded the corner into the dining room. He had no warning before a pair of arms surrounded him, hugging him to a soft body and burying his face in sweet smelling dark hair.

            “Harry!” the familiar voice of Andromeda exclaimed somewhere close to his ear.

            Harry curled his arms around her and held her tight for a few moments before he pulled back to look her in the eyes. This was the last thing he’d expected, Andromeda turning up at the Mafloys’ home, but he wasn’t about to complain. He hadn’t seen the woman since she’d come to claim the bodies of her daughter and son-in-law after the Battle of Hogwarts.

            “Andromeda, it’s so good to see you. What are you doing here? Did you bring Teddy?” he asked, all the questions in rapid succession of one another. The woman just smiled at him kindly and stroked a gentle hand over his face.

            “Of course I brought him, Harry. I couldn’t very well leave him alone,” she said in an amused tone. She pulled away from him entirely, and Harry was graced with the sight of all three Mafloys, plus George, sitting at the table for breakfast. Little Teddy Lupin, much bigger than Harry had seen him a few months ago, was sitting on Narcissa’s lap, his hair a shock of pale, Malfoy blonde with scarlet streaks running through it.

            “My sister had contacted me after the Battle to mend our bridges, but I was in no state for company then. Today I have some things to discuss with you all, and I figured you would like to see your Godson,” she explained at his happy but obviously baffled expression.

            Harry merely smiled, excited to see his Godson. He kissed Andromeda on the cheek and rushed over to Narcissa who readily surrendered the baby to him with a smile on her face. As soon as Teddy was secure in Harry’s arms the little boy’s hair went jet black and his eyes went emerald green. Harry couldn’t help but cuddle the baby’s body close, nuzzling the copy-cat hair with his nose. Teddy giggled and grabbed for Harry’s glasses, but Harry managed to dodge the chunky little fingers.

            “Nuh uh Teddy. Those are my glasses. No grabbing,” he said with a laugh. Teddy pouted, but quickly got over it, curling his little fists in Harry’s shirt instead and pulling it to his mouth where he gnawed on it with his gums.

            “He missed you,” Andromeda said from beside him. He pulled out a chair for her and sat down in the one to her right.

            “I missed him too,” he said honestly, looking up from the baby to the rest of the people at the table with a brilliant smile. “Morning everyone.”

            George and Narcissa were watching him with fond smiles on their faces, Draco was looking at Teddy with an expression of awe, and Lucius was staring at Harry with an indecipherable look in his eyes. Harry just pressed a kiss to Teddy’s forehead and leaned forward to serve himself some of the deliciously fluffy looking scrambled eggs on the table. Teddy seemed content to gnaw on Harry’s shirt for the time being, which was nice because it left the young Savior with room to eat without baby hands grabbing at his utensils.

            “Why don’t you tell him what you told us Andy,” Narcissa said softly. Andromeda nodded, her eyes going a bit dark as she prepared to speak.

            “I am holding a memorial service for Nymphadora and Remus this Friday at the church in Godric’s Hollow. We’re going to bury them in a plot opposite of your parents’,” she said softly, looking at Harry as if he were about to explode in anger or perhaps burst into tears.

            Harry’s arms tightened a bit around the child in his lap, who looked so much like Remus it was almost painful…even with the black hair and green eyes. Remus had been the last link Harry had to his parents, one of their best friends as well as one of his. Tonks had always been kind to him, from the moment she met him. He was still devastated that they both of them had lost their lives in the Battle, leaving Teddy orphaned like Harry had been almost nineteen years ago. He couldn’t help but blame himself of course. If it weren’t for him, Hogwarts may have been safe. If he’d been faster in destroying the Horcruxes. If he had faced Voldemort sooner.

            “You are all invited of course,” Andromeda said, breaking Harry out of his somber thoughts.

            “Of course I’ll be there Andy. I am so sorry for your loss, and I wish I had known my niece. If I had not been so stupid…so brainless to follow our parents, my husband…I should have been there for you Andy, regardless of what any of them said,” Narcissa said, looking guilty and struggling to keep her tears at bay.

To his credit, Lucius didn’t flinch or frown at the slight jibe from his ex-wife. Harry could see he had long accepted the blame she may always place on him for making the choices that he did. It was obvious that Lucius had come to terms with his failures as a husband and father, but Harry also knew that failing one’s family like that had to have left deep emotional scars. He wondered if the older man would ever feel comfortable talking to him about it, not that it was any of his business. Harry was simply curious.

“You know I wouldn’t miss it, Andromeda. Remus was family, and Tonks too. So long as I don’t have to make any speeches. I’m pants at public speaking,” he said, his cheeks darkening a bit at the idea of having to say anything meaningful in front of other people.

There weren’t words in his mind for the gratitude he felt towards Remus and Tonks, the sorrow in his heart towards their deaths. Were he asked to put it into words other people would understand, he knew that he would flounder. Remus and Tonks deserved better than that at their funeral. They deserved someone eloquent who could do justice to the honor and respect that the two of them warranted in their deaths. They deserved someone who could adequately express the love both of them had for their son, their friends, and their family...and the love those people all had for the both of them.

“Of course not, Harry. I know better than that,” Andromeda said softly.

Harry smiled at her weakly, bouncing Teddy on his lap when the little boy whined for attention. He flicked his gaze down to where those big, identical green eyes of his stared up at Harry, a little wibble in the baby’s lower lip. Harry couldn’t help but laugh, glad the sob that wanted to escape at the idea of all the funerals he’d soon be attending didn’t escape. Kissing Teddy’s chubby cheek, he pulled the little boy into his chest and held him tight.

“I was thinking that perhaps, while I am taking care of the final arrangements…Teddy might like to stay with his Godfather,” Andromeda ventured, causing Harry to look up at her abruptly with a slightly shocked expression on his face.

“Really? You’d trust me with him alone?” he asked. Andromeda just laughed.

“Of course I would, Harry. You are one of the kindest, most caring young men I know. But, you are hardly alone here Harry. Narcissa may be a bit out of practice, but I assure you no mother ever forgets how to take care of a baby,” she explained. Narcissa huffed in feigned offense.

“I am not so out of practice that I would be of no help. If you have any questions or needs concerning Theodore, I will be more than happy to help you,” she said.

Harry just laughed at the interaction between the sisters. It was nice to see them getting on so well. He could tell there was still an underlying tension between them, a mistrust it would take time and probably long conversations to heal. But, Andromeda and Narcissa were more than capable of fixing their relationship. Of that Harry was sure. He looked back at Lucius, who was still looking at he and Teddy with that odd expression on his face.

“Oh, do not look at him for any answers, Harry. Lucius was little more than useless when Draco was a baby. He was so afraid to hold him, he could hardly do any feedings or change any nappies,” Narcissa said, her eyes taking on an amused glint as her husband shot her a glare.

“He was so small. I was afraid of harming him,” the man huffed indignantly, causing everyone at the table to laugh in amusement. Lucius snapped the paper open and ignored them all, which only caused more laughter that he pretended not to hear.

After breakfast Andromeda left with a couple of house elves to grab Teddy’s things. When she returned, she gave Harry a crash course on how to take care of the baby, said her goodbyes and went back to her home to continue preparing for the funeral. Harry was psyched to have his Godson for the week. Intimidated as he was by the idea of caring for an infant all on his own, Harry couldn’t wait to spend some quality time with him.

“Come on Teddy, let’s put your things in my room shall we?” he said, nuzzling the baby’s cheek with his nose and stroking the once again blonde hair on top of his head. He excused himself from the room to go get Teddy settled in.

A/N: That’s all for now! Please leave me with your thoughts ^^
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The Aftermath of War