Rufus Scrimgouer strode into the cavernous chamber and with a practiced eye he scanned the scene in front of him and around him. Frenzied dueling, witches and wizards alike lay on the ground, some moaning in pain while others lay without moving. In one corner a mass of people stood in shock and horror at what was happening in front of them. Rufus took them in at first glance and flicked a hand at a knot of Aurors that had come in behind him. he did not have to look behind him, he knew they were there and at his signal they trotted off to surround the group and had them filing out of the chamber to be sorted out later but for now, they were what he liked to call non combatants. It was a term he had heard muggles use to describe those that were not fighting but had been caught in the middle, and he liked the sound of the words. His next glance took in the stern look of Kingsley Shacklebolt, he was the Head of the Aurors.

“Sorry Kingsley, old habit you know.” Scrimgouer called out over the noise. He had been the previous Head of the Auror Department before replacing Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic.

“Not at all, Minister.” Kingsley called back with half a salute. He himself had led the first foray of Aurors into the Chamber instead of following as he should have. “I understand old habits. They are hard to break, are they not?”

“That they are Kingsley. That they are.” Scrimgouer smiled ruefully as he took another dozen steps deeper into the Chamber and directing another group of Aurors to a pair of young wizards who were a part of Dumbledore’s Army. They were having some difficulty dueling against five older wizards. They were doing rather well in Scrimgouer’s opinion but a few extra wands wouldn’t hurt either he mused.

He nodded appreciatively at these younger enforcers of Dumbledore’s. They seemed well trained and he had to hand it to the older wizard. Teaching these youngsters under the very eye of the once Hogwarts High Inquisitor, Dolores Umbridge. “He-he, the old relic had a trick or two constantly up his sleeve.” Rufus had to laugh at his remark as he continued to stroll casually through the turmoil having had to flick his wand twice already to deflect spells aimed in his direction. He was not afraid of battle nor of the battle scenes having been involved in many of them for many long years during Voldemort’s reign of terror, when he was but a young Auror.

He noted Ronald Weasley as he left though some passageway behind the stage that was set in the back of the Chamber and he spotted Harry Potter. Another hand sign flicked at his remaining Aurors that had been following him sent them in an arcing circle towards Harry Potter with him in their center.

I know that man. Rufus flashed another hand sign and they all stopped just as he realized who Harry had been facing. Dumbledore defeated him. I was there in the aftermath! Outwardly, Rufus Scrimgouer was as calm as a flat pond of water but inside, Adrenalin was roaring through his veins and his thoughts were screaming at him.

“Steady men, steady. Make no sudden moves.” His arms were outstretched as if to hold his Aurors back.

Crack!

The sudden sound of a dis-apparating witch or wizard caused Scrimgouer’s head to turn. This is all I need now. He thought to himself. he steeled himself to watch Grindelwald kill without remorse. He would do it without turning to see who it was h had killed but the man did not turn. His attention was focus on…,

“Merlin’s beard!” It was young Mrs. Weasley who had his attention and she was on the floor with her leg pointing in a very grotesque angle. He’s not even focusing on Harry Potter.

Scrimgouer blinked his eye’s and then blinked them again in disbelief. The Weasley’s little daughter was standing in front of her mother and she has a wand!

“Don’t nobody move I say. Not until I give the word!” Rufus commanded his guards.

Although the noise of dueling witches and wizards surrounded him, Scrimgouer heard nothing. His focus was on what was happening in front of him. It was his old Auror training at its pinnacle. He had tuned out everything but what he wanted to see and hear and the events slowed as well. His awareness studied every possible angle with detailed minutia. His mind raced with scenarios and possibilities to save the situation with blinding speed and the sums kept adding to zero. Scrimgouer realized that he was powerless to do anything other than to look on. To look upon this tiny little girl. This little girl with the fiercest look upon her face. Her face as red as her hair and her wand held level and steady. She was prepared to defend her mother to the fullest and every nuance of her body and stance said that she would succeed.

The fluttering of wings caused him to look upwards at a mass of the largest owls he had ever seen. They were carrying a large object beneath them and that object looked vaguely familiar to him too. As they set it down everything seemed to happen at once in front of him.

The owls dropped the veil just feet behind where Grindelwald stood and then several more owls dropped an elf. It was Winky. Winky went immediately to Hermione’s side and then she was what was happening and moved quickly.

Scrimgouer watched as Harry first look at the veil with a look of understanding and then look back to the little girl. It was as if this had been planned but he knew the presence of the young lass was not a part of it. He could see the calculations taking place in Harry’s head from where he stood and it was then that the sums within his own head added up and totaled its solution. He had to admire the quickness of how Harry thought out the plan while talking and pleading for the girl. Stalling for time. Scrimgouer thought. That’s what all that was about.]

He watched on and saw that Harry had seen that Molly was ready to make good on her promise to hex the man and as she began to speak he lunged forward. Time seemed to slow to an eternity as he dove through the air to knock Grindelwald through to the other side and in that time, fear seized his heart. Grindelwald had cast the killing curse. If only he could reach him before the finishes the curse.

Rufus held his breath as several things occurred at the same time before his very eyes. A red jet of light came form somewhere behind Mrs. Weasley and intersected with the red jet of light from the little girls wand and at the same time Harry Potter had flung himself at Grindelwald’s mid section as if to tackle him. The two spells hit Grindelwald at the exact same time as Harry Potter connected but something else happened too. A blurred streak of White and a blurred streak of green both intersected Grindelwald’s midriff just as Potter and the two spells hit and together they all fell through the veil.

Horror struck him when his eye’s flicked back to the little girl just as Grindelwald’s killing curse struck home. It was more than he could witness and he turned his head away from the scene just as he heard Hermione’s first wail of anguish. He gritted his teeth and balled his fist tightly. A rage unknown to him filled him to bursting and he wanted to let it out. With each new sob of Hermione Weasley’s, Scrimgouer wanted to rip somebody’s head off. With each wail he wanted to point his wand at one of Grindelwald’s followers and let them feel Hermione’s pain. With each convulsive and audible shutter of that poor girls mother he had to hear, he steeled himself and bit back his other urges. He had to be solid, he had to be strong, he had to be the leader, and for the first time…, he did not want to be the Minister of Magic He wanted to kill, he wanted to avenge the child and her parents.

He opened his eyes and almost closed them again at what he saw. He had always admired the Weasley family for their strength even at the loss of their father, a brother, and of their younger sister. He had never seen them crumbled as they were now. It was as if life had been taken from all of them at once. His Under Secretary, Percy Weasley had slid down the wall he had been leaning against, Bill Weasley had sunk to his knees with his head in his hands, Fred Weasley was down on the floor and his twin brother had his head laid across the others chest. Scrimgouer wanted blood but the restraint of his office held him firmly by the tiniest of hairs. The image of that little girl flying backwards and then lying there lifeless in her mother’s arms was too much for anyone. He noticed that some of his guards wept openly yet he had to be firm and strong. He wiped the back of his hand across his face drying the wetness that wet his cheek and took several long and calming breaths. He had to give orders and start directing this mess.

“Healers! Now!” Scrimgouer barked out his commands still refusing to turn his head to witness the scene behind him and so he was able to see two of the Aurors sprint across the chamber to its opened doors. Snapping fingers sent another pair of Aurors from their moment of despondency rushing towards a group of Grindelwald’s followers that were being held captive by the younger enforcers of Dumbledore’s. He still had not turned his head. Shacklebolt stepped towards him but a shake of his head stopped Kingsley short in his tracks and the look on his face told Kingsley to be somewhere else.

“RO-ON! OUR BABY!”

The blood curdling scream from behind him caused him to spin on his heel. It was a sound of anguish mixed with horror and it froze his very bones. He looked straight at Hermione’s face and it was as white as a ghosts, and fear held her eye’s wide open. Rufus’s own eye’s followed to where Hermione’s was looking and he saw nothing. The child was gone!

He was by her side in less than a second and Shacklebolt was just two steps behind. As Rufus knelt and touched Hermione she screamed again.

“She’s gone!”

Signals from Kingsley’s hands brought a ring of Aurors immediately around them and a whispered word into one of the Aurors ears sent him running only to return moments later with a Senior Healer in tow. The Minister of Magic stood within the protective ring of Aurors looking down at Hermione’s panic stricken face and watched as he body heaved with each sob. His jaw was set firm and his face held no emotion. In fact, there was nothing to be read on his face other than his jaw being set. Kingsley had seen this of the man before. He was studying the events as they happened, in his mind. Playing and replaying each step. The child was there, dead, unmoving. I turned my head all of about one whole second, and then she was gone, and her mother searching the ground where she should have been laying.

Scrimgouer stopped after each statement and replayed what had just happened and then studied that event and then did the same again and again and again, and still he noticed nothing that his trained eye did not see the first time. Less than 10 minutes had gone by from when the spells hit, he reacted at the same time Potter made his lunge which was just the barest measure of a fraction of a second, sooner than the spells left their wands and the child was there until just less than two minutes ago. My head was turned only for the blink of an eye!

---

The Healer seemed to appear from nowhere and as she knelt before Hermione her knees gave a loud crack. Grey ran through her hair as she swept back the hood of her cloak. Lines of care crossed her forehead and crow’s feet were just beginning to appear at the corners of her eyes. She placed her bag near her left knee. It was where she always placed it when working in the field. Her bag held vials of tightly corked potions which were strapped neatly along the insides of the covers and the sides of her bag. And, un its center, that held a large wooden box with small compartments that held ingredients to prepare more potions and a small cauldron should she need to prepare a special potion. The outside of her bag contained pockets of all shapes and sizes, filled with the various instruments she might use to perform a thorough examination or a more specific type of examination. One pocket was very long and narrow. It was nearly as wide as the bag itself. From that pocket, Alyse Hiller withdrew a stethoscope and placed the tops in her ears and then placed an ice cold metal disk against Hermione’s exposed chest and listened to her heat beat.

Alyse Hiller was not only one the leading Healers ever trained at Saint Mungo’s, she was also a muggle trained Doctor who not only held a private practice in a large American city, she was also a member of the original Order of the Phoenix and was present immediately after every major raid or rescue mission the order performed.

Alyse replaced her stethoscope back into its pocket, satisfied the Hermione’s heart was as strong as ever. The deep gulps of air Hermione took between wails and sobs and the volume of her terror filled shrieks of “Where is she!!?” gave evidence that Hermione was breathing quite well. A practiced hand slid down the side of the bag to a square shape medium sized pocket and opened it while her eye’s swept over Hermione and this time, she took in every detail of Hermione from head to foot and paid close attention to Hermione’s strangely positioned, broken leg. In that short time, she had already placed a black cuff around Hermione’s left arm and her own left hand trailed once again back to her bag.

From a long slim pocket located next to the bag handle, Alyse withdrew her wand and brought it up to the cuff she had place on Hermione’s arm and tapped it once. The cuff began to fill with air and it squeezed Hermione’s arm tightly. A gauge located on the cuff began to display numbers. Alyse frowned; Hermione’s blood pressure was extremely high. But that’s to be expected, she thought to herself. She tapped the cuff once again and it slid from Hermione’s arm and coiled itself up and slid slowly by itself back to its pocket.

“Minister, I’ll be setting her leg and mending the bone, other than that she’s as healthy as a fully grown dragon.” She was about to say “A fully grown Ox,” but had to remember where she was and doubted that the Minister of Magic would know what an Ox was. Her Impression of Rufus Scrimgouer wasn’t a good one.

Rufus only nodded at her, still wrapped deep in thought as his mind replayed every event leading up to the disappearance of young Molly Weasley.

As events began to turn towards a mop up operation Kingsley turned his attention to the small pockets of one to one dueling that still continued.

“Protego!”

Kingsley’s slow and deep voice shouted out the protection charm casually though loudly enough to cause heads to turn in his direction as an errant spell arrowed its way towards his staff surrounding Hermione and the Minister. The circle of protection tightened closer around the pair without word.

“Let me by you Mertlap sucking Doxy dropping.! That’s my wife and my baby!”

Remus lost his grip on Ron’s shoulder as he pushed passed the startled Aurors who in turn looked to Kingsley for approval which he gave immediately.

Ron knelt by Hermione’s side and whispered quietly, “Where is she? Have they taken her already?”

Chapter 53 continued

He looked at Alyse as she withdrew a needle like object from Hermione’s arm and it was she who answered his question.

“It’s called a Tranquilizer. It’s a muggle type calming draft but a bit faster in action. She might not be able to answer you but she knows you’re here.”

“She-she’s gone Ron. Gone! I-I want my baby back” Hermione’s voice was weak and it wavered as she spoke.

“I know.” Ron said softly as he pulled Hermione tighter into his arms, “But where is she? Did the Healers take her?

“She-she just disappeared. Winky…, Ron y-you have to find her” Hermione’s eye’s closed and her body went slack in his arms.

Ron looked to the Healer Alyse, who said, “I gave her a stiff dose. Her vitals were a little higher…, you are her husband I suspect?” Alyse had just caught herself discussing Hermione’s situation with someone she did not know. Ron nodded and so she continued to explain.

“Her vitals, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and the like were a little too high for my liking so I boosted the dose a bit and she’ll most likely be out of it for quite sometime.”
While she spoke she had tapped Hermione’s leg with her wand and it slowly stretched itself out into a more appropriate position and then she tapped the leg again before continuing to explain. “Her leg was broken, but I’ve just set it and she should be off of it for a day or two and after that it’ll be right as Hogwarts.” The snap of her bag said that she was finished with her task

“Now I’m sure there are others that will be needing my services. And…,” She smiled at Ron before going on and placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice became softer, “The baby is just fine. I’d like to see her in two weeks…, twins I suspect but I’d like to be certain.” Her voice trailed off as she removed her hand and stepped away.

Ron laid Hermione carefully back down on the ground and stood slowly. His face turned purple and his visage was blank yet determined. His hand raised his wand and his knuckles were white with the grip he held on the wand. Ron faced the Archway, he knew where his daughter was, he knew where her murderer was too.

“Ron, no you can’t, you must not.” Remus said softly and he took hold of Ron’s arm to stop him.

Ron stopped and turned mechanically and when he spoke in measured sentences, there was ice in his tone. “Remus, if you value your arm and your life you’ll let me go.”

Remus held on for a second longer and sadness shown dully in his eye’s and he watched as Ron turned and begin to walk towards the Arch.

“’Ere now, where do you think your going Mister Weasley?” Scrimgouer had watched as Ron approached the Arch way. “I’ll not have you…,” his words were cut off as a jet of light issued from Ron’s wand and blasted the Minister backwards and out of his way. Kingsley swung around with his wand held high and ready but raised his arms as Ron turned his wand onto him as well.

Ron stopped short as the Archway began to shimmer and he nearly dropped his wand when he saw Harry step through supporting his sister.

“We’re alright.” Harry said with a mixture of emotions on his face. He wanted to laugh, to cry, to shout…, he had Ginny back and in his arms and he did not know how to feel. Weight had been lifted off of his shoulders, weight so heavy that for the past three years he felt as if it had bowed his back, and sadness as he had to leave tow of the most important people in his life, behind. In his mind he knew that Sirius was right, Sirius had been in there too long to be able to return to the world. He had changed but his love kept his sanity if only for Harry’s sake, but Dobby… Dobby was as true a hero as Harry could not possibly express.

Ron reached a tentative hand out to Ginny’s face and touched her tenderly and then took it back quickly. “Harry, thank you for Ginny, but step out of the way mate, please!” His resolve had returned and he raised his wand to point it at his friend.

Harry could only stare at Ron, his smile slowly slipping form his face as his own practiced eye swept the scene before him catching every minute detail and forgetting nothing that he had witnessed before falling through the veil.

“Ron, where’s Missy Molly, and Winky?” Harry asked carefully.

Step out of the way mate. Don’t make me move you.”

Harry understood why Scrimgouer was laying on the ground. “You moved him out of the way then?”

Kingsley had taken three small steps towards Ron while his attention was focused on Harry and stopped in his tracks as Harry’s own wand took aim on him.

“Stay right there Kingsley, I don’t want to have to move you out of the way. I expect you’ll want to be controlling yourself eh?” Ron’s eye followed to where Harry’s wand suddenly made its own appearance.

“You’re not going to stop me then?”

“She’s not in there mate, but I’m not going to stop you either if you promise to wait a second.”

Harry helped Ginny to where Hermione was laid down. Ginny’s legs had gathered their strength but she wasn’t about to let Harry go. She had wished for this moment for ages and she was about to lose Harry again. She knew it in her heart and as Harry set her down she squeezed his hand and mouthed the words, “I love you.,” and then let him go with tears in her eye’s.

Harry turned away from her and his face held its familiar look of determination and he spoke. “Well we had better get started then.”

Ron nodded and together the two of them stepped back through the arch into the Forbidding.

---

Ron stumbled as they stepped through into a land and sky with no color. It was as if time had sped up or slowed down, or was uncertain what to do and for a moment he felt clumsy. He noticed that Harry was still at his side watching him.

“I-I have to do this Harry, I-I have to get my baby back.”

“I know, but you won’t find her in here.”

“You didn’t have to come with me. You could have stayed behind with Ginny. I know how you feel about her…, Harry I’m sorry for how I acted when you and Ginny…, She was my sister and well…, you know how brothers are supposed to be…, don’t you?”

Harry looked at Ron and he knew what his pain felt like and he knew that Ron had to do what he had to do or he would never know, never be able to forgive himself, never, never know for sure.

“I know.” Harry replied. “But you must know the rules here. Two must go in for one to be able to come out…, I’ve no family to go back to, and you do.” His voice didn’t crack when he spoke but it sounded odd, resigned.

Ron’s face turned white and he stammered, “Y-You aren’t coming back then?”

“If I do, then you can’t” Harry was terse when he spoke and he added, “You lot have lost too much and I…, well you know what I mean.”

They stood and surveyed the land where they stood and then began to walk in no certain direction. Hours seemed to have gone by when The two of them began to notice movement in front of them and Harry gripped his wand tighter in his hand and noticed that Ron had done the same. They continued to walk towards the movement that they had seen meanwhile Harry kept turning to look behind them as well as to their sides yet he saw nothing that would alarm him.

It was hard to see what it was they were walking towards because for every two steps they took it seemed that they were gaining only one step but they were gaining ground and they were able to make out the shapes of two individuals walking in the same direction as they.

Ron raised his hands to his mouth to call out but Harry stopped him by saying “I wouldn’t do that, not in here least ways. You don’t want to meet up with what's in here.’

“MASTER HARRY!”

Dobby rifled his way towards them and nearly knocked them down when he caught up.

“Master Harry, Master Ron what is you dong here, you need to go, you is needing to go back now.” Dobby tried desperately to pull on their hands to turn them around when a snarl caused the three of them to spin on their heels. A misshapen black dog stood only a few steps away and white foam issued from its massive jaws.

“Master Sirius is not having a good day. You must go back.” Dobby pleaded earnestly.

“A good day?” Harry asked.

“You and muss Ginny have been gone nearly a week now.” Dobby answered still trying to pull Harry and Ron away.

Ron began to say something but Harry motioned him to be quiet. And looked towards the two figures ahead of them and saw that they had stopped too, no they were coming towards them now.

“Master Ron you must stop!!” Dobby shrieked.

Harry turned to see Ron trotting towards the figures at a fast pace and blinked his eye’s in disbelief. Missy Molly and the elf Winky were standing there waiting, but it wasn’t missy Molly, it was Ginny!

Harry dismissed the snarling black dog and ran full speed after Ron barley hearing a loud crack behind him and Dobby’s commanding voice shouting “No! That is Master Harry and Master Ron, not food! Now sit and stay or Dobby won’t find any food for you.”

“You see Winky, I told you daddy would come for me, I told you.”

Ron pulled up short not knowing what was going on. Before him stood a fully grown woman with the voice of his daughter and she was calling him Daddy.”

Ron reached for her tentatively as Harry shouted out, “Ron no, we don’t know.”

Missy Molly took Ron by the hand with incredible strength and pulled him to her in a crushing hug. It was the same type of hug she used to give him but the strength of it, her size, her age…, he wanted to fight her off but his instinct stilled his mind and his heart and he swept her off her feet as if she were still his little girl and he returned her embrace.

Harry had reached them and he held his wand tightly ready to use it if necessary and it was Winky who stepped in front of him as if to shield them causing Harry to look down at her with a questioning look. Winky only held a finger to her lips to silence any words.

“I-I have to take you back Molly, your mum…,”

“I cannot come back with you daddy. I have to stay here. There is a reason.”

The words did not sound like those of a child yet they still held that lilting sound that harry remembered hearing when he met her just a few days earlier and she wasn’t more than three years old if that old. They sounded regal and commanding.

Ron began to argue but Molly held a hand to his mouth to stop him and held it there as she began to speak.

“You are my daddy and mummy is my mummy, but I am so much older than you can know. I was born to finish a purpose and the Dark Lord Grindelwald recognized me only too late. He thought mummy was me.”

I-I don’t understand.” Ron stammered out.

“Daddy, I was born three ages ago and I was in charge of the safety of the Crystree…,”

“You, what?” Ron didn’t let go of her, he couldn’t and he struggled to understand what it was that Molly was saying to him. Harry began to see though and it was he that took over the explanation.

“Ron,” Harry began, “Three ages ago, there was a battle between the darkest of armies with creatures, monsters, the most hideous and evil of the kind, so long ago that the history of magic doesn’t even know it had happened. I know because I was there and do was Hermione and Dobby.”

“You, you couldn’t have been!” Ron blurted out. “That’s impossible.”

“It wasn’t actually us but we are direct descendants of those that were involved in this war. The return of Grindelwald woke the memories that were in our blood. I had dreams that were so real. Muggles joined the Magical world to help fight this war and the losses were heavy.”

Harry continued speaking to a stunned Ron who still had not let go of Molly and Harry noticed that she had not let go of Ron either.

“The Crystree, that tree that was in the Room of Requirement where the House Elves healed me, was a lock to this place.”

“What is this place anyways?” Ron asked.

“It’s a magical prison, that’s nowhere.” Harry answered.

“Well anyway, when something became so evil that it could no longer be kept in our world…, they, it was placed in here, in the Forbidding. Grindelwald was already in here when he learned of a weakness in the wall and he slipped out. He somehow enticed one of the keepers of the tree to slowly poison the tree and its hold on the prison began to weaken letting out creature only nightmares could describe and the war began. Hermione, U mean her ancestor stood guard over the tree when the battle came to the very spot where the tree stood. All Grindelwald needed to do was kill the tree and the Forbidding would fall completely.”

Ron gulped at the image that stood in his mind. He remembered some of what Hermione had told him about nightmares that she had had shortly after Dumbledore was killed.

Chapter 53 Continued

Molly picked up the story from there and said, “I was born to the one guardian that did not fail. By her hand, Grindelwald was forced back into the Forbidding and the breach was sealed until his return. When the great wizard Albus Dumbledore defeated him the second time he escaped all was well yet he was not returned to the Forbidding and when Dumbledore was killed…, the balance was changed again. Winky here,” and she looked down at the house elf, “Is my guardian. She brought me in here before I was killed.”

“I saw you hit by the killing curse, I saw you fall!” Ron blurted out.

“I tripped over mummy just as the curse was to hit me and I hit my head.” Molly explained. “When Uncle Harry pushed Grindelwald through the Arch, Winky brought me in here too. This time the key is on the other side and I am that key. If I am killed then the forbidding will be sealed forever.”

“But, but how? Why,? You were …, you can’t be your too young you’re my baby.” Ron fought to keep the tears from coming. He understood but at the same time he didn’t understand.

“You must go back to mummy now, she will be needing you more than ever daddy.” She smiled and a twinkle shone in her eye as she leaned close to his ear and whispered, “I have given you and mummy a gift.”

Molly took Ron by the hand and then raised her own hand and to Harry’s astonishment the Arch appeared feet from where they stood.

“Molly,” Harry began, “The rules…, I can’t go.”

“Yes you can Uncle Harry. Winky and I came here freely and so two may leave freely. Daddy, tell mummy that I love her more.”

Ron fought back his tears and she embraced him one more time and then took a necklace from her neck that wasn’t there before and placed it in his hand and said, “Give this to my sister when she turns three years old and give this to my brother when he turns three.”

Ron looked down to see her wand in her hand and when he touched it golden sparks emitted form its tip and Ron could feel the power that radiated inside its core.

“What is the core?’ Ron asked behind a tightened throat.

“It is Holly with three hairs from my head, two from mummy’s and one from yours. One from Uncle Dobby’s and one from Winky’s. Seven hairs in all. And for you Uncle Harry, I have given my body so that you and Auntie Ginny could be together and share your dreams.”

She took Harry’s hand and he could feel a power so great, a power that emanated from the purest of love and then he and Ron stood rooted in shocked as her form changed form that of Molly to that of the fairest and loveliest of anything they had ever seen. Harry had seen it before but only in his dreams, she turned into the highest of all elves and both Dobby and Winky fell to their knees and bowed their heads. Harry didn’t notice until that moment that Snuffles had come up to them and sat before her as if to guard her from even them.

Harry turned to the Arch but Ron remained where he stood. Harry knew what was going through his mind, he had to go but he didn’t want to leave. It would be like leaving his heart behind. Harry knew that feeling more than anyone except for his own mother and now Ron.

After a long moment Ron reached to her and kissed her whispering that her birthday will be celebrated every year. She smiled knowingly as Ron let her go and turned his back.

“Is this how it feels?” Ron asked as they walked slowly towards the shimmering Arch.

“Mine was worse I think,” Harry replied. “I had nothing to look forward to, but after seeing Ron’s face he quickly added, “But, I have no idea what its like to leave a child behind either so maybe yours was even worse.”

Ron nodded, and together the two of them stepped into a chilling tunnel without looking back.

Chapter 53 completed

Ginny watched as Harry withdrew into himself over the past few days that they had been home. He hadn’t talked about anything since they returned concerning their future. Harry seemed rather shy about discussing those issues since discovering that Ginny’s soul and part of her mind, the part of her mind that her soul wanted to hold onto the most, the part that anchored herself forever to…, to Harry. Harry had told her how he felt that Hedwig could feel his thoughts, or see what he was thinking, or what he wanted. She even knew when he started to notice that he and Hedwig had seemed to become linked and she knew that Harry had rationalized that it was because he and Hedwig had become closer, since He and Hedwig was now living the way they should. She was his pet, his one true friend that was at his side all of the time, that one friend that he could share his deepest feelings to and would be assured that they would not tell anyone. But, Ginny knew them all. She had heard, seen, and felt everyone of those thoughts Harry had and her heart cried for him every night with Hedwig and for herself each time he blamed himself for a Weasley death and he had hated himself for each and everyone of those deaths. She knew how he felt when he had to face the Weasley’s when he had cost so much injury and harm; to the family he loved the most, but he never understood how the Weasley’s felt about him.

They had been setting outside of the Burrow on the picnic bench that overlooked the Weasley’s small Quidditch practice field. They had been back for three days now and when Molly hadn’t had Ginny wrapped up in her arms cooing and crying over her, She was wrapped up in Harry’s arms and this time, Ron kept his distance and even nodded in approval, as if they needed his approval or so said the looks on Ginny’s face when she would catch Ron looking. Hermione remained sequestered in Mr. and Mrs., Weasley’s room. Hermione was doing better much better than what Ginny thought she would feel if she had just lost her child. I would die… She thought to herself. Alyse Heeler had came by as promised and insisted that Hermione be brought to her Muggle Practice, she did pronounce the capital M each time she referred to her Muggle Practice. They had discussed what had happened and Alyse had said that she needed to study up on something called Cell Memory. When she mentioned that word, Cell Memory or Cell Memories, Hermione sort of smiled and nodded her head to herself and she stopped crying. In fact, it was as she, she didn’t have the word for it and she looked to Harry for the answer.

Harry’s face went deep in thought as he caught what Ginny was trying to say but he knew exactly what made Hermione smile and why she no longer felt the need to suffer a loss. They had felt the connection just as soon as Ms. Heeler mentioned the word, They had Elven blood and they could call upon the memories of all their Elven kin. Hermione had not lost Molly. Molly was with her everyday. Another thought occurred to him too. The Room of Requirement was of Elven Magic and that was why only some people could open it. As he thought on, he realized that only those people he thought he had seen and recognized in the dreams he was having, were only the one’s that could summon the Room of Requirement. He was probably wrong about that, but Hermione’s change seemed to suggest that and if so, Hermione would be able to visit with Molly and she would be able to bring anyone with her. Neville had shown them that the Room could be made to protect those within and any invited, could be brought in from the outside. Hermione would have seen that in the instant. He thought and then his thoughts changed to how he got here to where he was and the road that had to be traveled and his head turned to stare off across the pitch into nothingness.

Ginny recognized that he had left her once again but she didn’t leave right away. Instead, she lifted a hand to his back and rubbed it as if that would soothe his fears. Sometimes it’d bring him back to her and sometimes, as with this time, Harry had gone down that one road again. He would be seeing every person that had died in this fight, he would see them and blame himself for their wanting to follow him and continue to help him along the way, so she rose.

“I’m going inside to see if mum needs any help for tomorrow.” Fred and Molly’s funerals were the next day. She kissed him on the cheek and walked back into the kitchen of the Burrow.

---

Harry raised his hand to knock on the door in front of him and then hesitated. He had been standing on the doorstep for nearly twenty minutes in silent argument with what he was doing. At last, making a decision he turned on his heel and began walking back down towards the drive when the door opened.

“Who’s there. Who’s out there?”

Harry turned to see the speaker and noted that the voice was a bit deeper than he remembered.

Harry? Harry Potter? Blimey, what are you doing back here?

He noticed that the figure that stood in the doorway was much thinner than he last remembered seeing and the person stood a bit taller too. Harry forced a smile to his mouth and raised a hand halfway in greeting as he said, “Dudley, is Aunt Petunia home, or Uncle Vernon?

“No. They’re…, they’re on holiday.” Dudley Dursley replied. “Won’t be back for weeks.” Dudley still had not moved from the opened door.

Harry noted that he still managed to block the doorway quite successfully. “Well thanks anyway. I’ll just be going then.” Harry turned again but before he took another step Dudley called out.

“Would you like to come in or something?” The look on his face looked hopeful but Harry could here the hesitation in his voice too. “I mean we could have a cup of tea or something like that?”

“That…, that’ll be fine.” Harry replied, still uncertain of why he had come back to number four Privet Drive,
Dudley opened the door further and stepped out of the way as Harry entered into the home of his only living relatives. Nothing had changed other than a few new items such as a larger television set. It was one of those types that was very thin and it mounted on the wall just above the electric fireplace. Harry grimaced at the memory of Arthur Weasley blasting a hole into the wall the day he, Ron, and the twins came to collect him to take him to the Quidditch World Cup a life time ago.

“The kitchen’s just back here.” Dudley directed.

“Yeah, I remember.” Harry answered, and he followed Dudley as he marched towards the kitchen door.

Harry sat down at the table and then stood back up. “Listen Dudley, this was a bad idea. I need to get going.”

“No Harry, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been wanting to see you for a long time but…” Dudley trailed off.

Harry knew how his cousin’s mind worked and he could see the unused muscle working hard to put words to what he most obviously wanted to say.

“Is it all over then?” The look on Dudley’s face was just as somber as Harry felt.

Harry remained silent for a very long time. He was tired. Truly and thoroughly tired and disgusted with himself. He had caused so much hurt and damage to those he loved. Everyone that he ever cared for had suffered loss because of him. He hated himself. His body ached as if every muscle had been wrung through a ringer, his head hurt from the thoughts that he had been thinking for the past three weeks, and his heart ached. He missed Ginny, he hurt for the pain and loss he caused Ron and Hermione, and he couldn’t face Mrs. Weasley with yet another loss of one let alone two of her family members because of him.

After the events at Sawtooth Harry disappeared. He felt the need to run away and had been moving about aimlessly not knowing which direction he had been heading. His heart ached for Ron and Hermione’s loss and he didn’t know how to face them, he didn’t know how to face Molly Weasley either. Everywhere he led…, another Weasley died. How could anyone like him, he didn’t even like himself anymore. Each loss hit him like a ton of bricks.

The steaming cup of tea being placed in front of him jostled his listlessness and he remembered Dudley’s question. “yeah, it’s done.”

“When they told us that we could come back home, they told us that you had killed that, that wizard…, they said that you were going after someone who, who killed that, that bloke with the long beard. You got him then?”

Dudley spoke slowly and Harry realized that it wasn’t because he had to word to put more than two words together, it was more like Dudley was unsure about asking Harry the questions that were on his mind. Harry nodded in reply and cupped his hands around the mug, it was hot.

Several long minutes went by and Harry had not said anything nor Dudley but Dudley was watching his cousin very closely. He could tell that something was terribly wrong with Harry.

“Listen Harry, I never got the chance to thank you properly for saving my life.” Dudley remained focused on his own mug of tea as he spoke. “I didn’t like you very much when we were younger.” He looked up to catch Harry’s reaction but Harry had not moved so he continued to speak. “I, I was afraid of you. Mum and dad said that you were…, unnatural …, a freak…, and I believed them. You always wore those ugly clothes, the one’s that didn’t fit you…,”

“They were your own old clothes.” Harry said without looking up.

“Yeah I know that, but I never thought…, Listen Harry…, I’m sorry I treated you the way I did. I know that now after thinking…,”

Harry looked up with a quick look of surprise. He had never expected Dudley to, to understand. Dudley got his first good look at Harry and exclaimed, ”You look a right sight. When was the last time you had a bath and a good sleep?”

Harry shrugged his shoulders. He didn’t know.

“Do you need a place to stay for awhile then?” Dudley asked tentatively. “A place to rest up some?” A note of concern entered Dudley’s voice. He wasn’t sure why he was doing this and he was worried about inviting Harry into the house but he needed Harry to be here. He had been wanting to talk to him for some years now and did not know how to reach him.

“I could use a bit of sleep if it’s alright.” Harry answered and then took his first sip of the tea.

---

“Still no word of where Harry might have gone to?” Molly Weasley asked Remus Lupin when he entered the kitchen of the Burrow. Remus glanced in the direction of Ginny Weasley who held a hopeful look on her face though her eyes were red and swollen from tears that seemed to never end. A sniff from Molly told him that the two had been consoling each other again

“None yet, I am sorry.” The last was directed to Ginny who quickly hid the look of hope that had been on her face. “How is…,” He hesitated for a moment before asking, “How is Hermione and Ron holding up?” They had returned to Grimwauld Place immediately after the funerals, which Harry walked out of in the middle of the somber ceremony. Ginny had been holding tightly onto his arm and the two were standing behind Mrs. Weasley who was seated. “He just reached over and took my hands from his arm; turned and left.”

“I just don’t understand why he left like he did. One minute he was here and the next…,” Molly trailed off her lip quivered and she could feel the tears welling up just at the corner of her eye. She looked much older now and her face held permanent lines of grief and worry. The funerals were quiet and private. She had insisted on a marker for Missy Molly even after Ron explained what had happened to her. Hermione held it in but Molly heard her every night when she herself had not been crying.
Remus took a chair and set himself down and took Molly’s hand. “We’ll find him Molly. I swear it.” Remus looked just a bit too resigned for Molly’s sake. “But, what of Hermione?” He was truly worried for her. Harry spent several hours locked up in Ron’s old room talking with Hermione and Ron and since then Hermione had not cried. She seemed resigned as if she had just quit. Tonk’s was extremely worried.

“She should be in tears Remus, she just lost her child and she does not cry.”

“The Grangers were devastated when they heard the news. They stayed right here in the Burrow until That witch Healer pronounced Hermione fit. You know, now that you mention it…, I haven’t seen Ron shed a tear either since they’ve come home. That is out of sorts....” Molly trailed off and tried hard to stifle a sniff.

“Oh Remus, I haven’t even offered you a tea!” Molly began to rise.

Remus held out a restraining hand and said, ”That’s alright Molly I’ll get it.” As he rose a thought came un-beckoned. They’re being awfully cavalier when it comes to Missy Molly. It’s almost like, like…,” He didn’t want to say that they didn’t care…, it was as if they knew something that didn’t worry them, and something they didn’t want to talk about either

“Mum, Remus.” Ginny began to slowly speak. She felt as if she was betraying Harry in a way by divulging a secret but this one secret needed to be told. “Harry feels that …, he feels responsible for everything.

Remus and Molly both looked at her. They knew that Harry blamed himself.

“You don’t understand!” She blurted out when she saw the looks on their faces. They weren’t the looks of condescension but they told her that they already knew this also.

“That’s silly dear. Harry is family and he knows that we love him and we don’t blame him one bit for what we decide to do.” Molly said.

“What don’t we understand about Harry?” Remus asked more cautiously.

“Harry is a Potter. He’s not a Weasley. He has no family…, he doesn’t know how it works. He’s never known.” Ginny nearly wailed the last out in a combination of hurt and frustration.

Remus knew immediately what she meant he had felt it but never actually knew it. He did have a family. They were afraid of him, but he knew that they loved him too and they were there when he needed them, but what the Dursley’s did to Harry …, Remus felt that nearly all his adult life. Molly’s lip trembled as a glimmer of understanding hit her.

“Ohh, Harry.” She uttered as a hand went to her face.

The room became quiet and the tea was forgotten.

Chapter 54 continued

Dudley and Harry sat facing one another, neither having spoken in a long time. Dudley’s jaw worked a time or two as if preparing to say something but he kept silent and dipped his tea.

“Dudley?” Harry finally broke the silence between them. “Can I ask you something?”

Dudley nodded his head.

“When we…,” Harry began slowly. “When we were attacked by those Dementors…,”

Dudley stiffened at the memory of it.

“What did you see?” Harry asked.

Dudley took a deep breath and then drew himself up, before he answered. “I, I saw myself as you. And what you were going through.” He said.

“As me?” Harry asked with some great incredulity in his voice.

“Yeah, as you and everything you’ve done, or have had done to you. My Mum, and me dad, and…, me too…, how we treated you. And…, I saw him.” Dudley’s face had turned white but his hands remained still. “You, you did say he’s finished?” Dudley’s face now looked wistful.

Harry nodded and then said, “And, there’s no way he can harm another soul either. I gave him to a Dementor.”

Dudley’s hand went immediately to his mouth. That one memory would be fresh in his mind for the rest of his life. Had it not been for Harry…, Dudley inwardly shuddered at the thought of Harry not being there to rescue the both of them.

“Didn’t you say once that you had your own house?” Dudley asked in hopes to change the subject away from Dementors and the like.

“Yeah, but I kinda gave it away to those friends of mine that got married.” Harry answered.

Dudley sensed that Harry was not in the mood for talking and so the two of them just sat in the kitchen sipping the tea as darkness crept into number Four Privet Drive.

---

Ron and Hermione stepped from the sidewalk just across the street from number Twelve Grimmauld Place and crossed it slowly. They were just out for an afternoon stroll and were returning home.

The door creaked open as they stepped inside the bright room which stood in contrast to the dark and grimy looking exterior of their home. The stoic looks that had been plastered on their faces slipped off as did their traveling cloaks, which Ron took Hermione’s and hung them on the hooks which were fastened to the wall. Neither of them spoke as Ron followed Hermione up the flight of stairs at the end of the hallway. Hermione trailed a hand along the wall as she began to climb the stairs slowly. Her back was straight if not a bit stiff as she took the stairs one step at a time.

She reached the top of the stairs and stopped at the first bedroom. The door was closed. She laid a hand on its knob, not turning it, just touching it, holding it, counting the times that she heard that very door slam shut, slam open, the giggles that could be heard on the other side of it. She didn’t even look down when Crookshanks padded in between her ankles rubbing himself against her legs. She didn’t even notice when he sat down waiting patiently for her to open it nor did she feel Ron’s hand upon hers as he turned the knob and pushed the door opened. They both stood there looking into the room, neither of them wanting to step into it yet both wanting. That was the only feeling that they held… Wanting. Crookshanks leapt up on the bed inside the room and circled the center of the bed until he found just the right spot, just the right angle, just the right position and then he sat down calmly and worked his paws underneath until he was primly comfortable and stared at them after all it was his and Molly’s bedroom

“Crookshanks, get down from there!” Ron’s voice was angry and he pulled his wand out to add a little prompting to his yell.

Hermione gently raised her hand to Ron’s arm and slowly pulled his arm back down saying softly, “No Ron, its his room too.”

Crookshanks had not moved and his purring could be plainly heard.

Hermione crossed the room slowly and deliberately and then knelt beside the bed. The walls were still the same dark Hunter Green with a slight sheen to them and the ceiling was still the same Burgundy Red The walls were bordered along the ceiling with a rich dark Oak that matched the rest of the furniture that was within. The bed, a white canopy bed, was adorned with a pink comforter and pillows that matched. The carpet that lay on the floor was pink as well. They had not yet managed to completely finish the room in its pink décor. Molly said that she liked the way the room looked.

Hermione slowly knelt by the side of the bed and then she laid her head upon the comforter and inhaled deeply. The smell of Molly filled her nostrils with a richness that only a mother would know and she wept long and hard. There were no wails of grief, no shrieks of pain, she just wept. Crookshanks watched as Ron knelt too, next to Hermione, his hands clasped together as if in prayer, and he watched as Ron’s shoulders shuddered in silent weeping. Crookshanks kept his vigilance long into the night and the soothing sounds of his purring rose and fell in time as the sobs and weeping trailed off and renewed themselves.

---

“Incendio.”

Dudley flinched as Harry pointed his wand and lit a candle that sat at the middle of the table.

“Handy, that.” Dudley murmured as Harry returned his wand back to his pocket.

“Dudley, can I ask you a question?” Harry asked.

Dudley nodded as Harry looked at him.

“What did you see when the Dementors…?” Harry trailed off. He didn’t need to say the rest.

Dudley’s face drained just for a moment as he recalled that one evening five years earlier. It was as fresh in his mind now as if it had just happened minutes ago. His breath caught as he drew in a deep breath but his voice was steady and calm when he answered.

“I saw myself as you. As a wizard you know, having to live with me mum and dad, being treated as they did you and…” Dudley stopped for a moment and took another deep breath for continuing on. “And, I saw you as me. Spoiled and hating that hating that you had to share what you had with me and then not even sharing, I saw myself as not being wanted,” He took another breath as Harry remained quiet and looked down at the very clean table top. “You risked everything to save me didn’t you? I mean, you knew you’d be kicked out of that school and you still used…, you still used magic.., for me, and you did that after everything I’ve ever done.”

Harry nodded in agreement with what Dudley was saying; after all he himself didn’t know back then if he could legally use magic to save his cousin let alone himself.

“So what changed your mind about magic?” Harry looked up once again.

Dudley’s face screwed up as if thinking that much was beginning to hurt but Dudley really had to think about this one and the silence grew between the two of them again. Dudley really wanted to answer this question but the answer eluded his grasp at the moment.

---

“They are worried about him.” Remus was saying as he removed his travel worn cloak.

“But why, Remus? Why would Harry just leave like this again?” Tonks asked him as she finished setting the table for their dinner. She had spent the whole day at the Ministry writing a report on the recent events and she was tired. The worry over Hermione and over Harry was beginning to show on her face as Remus leaned towards her to plant a kiss on her cheek. He frowned at the question. It wasn’t that he disliked the question, it was more that he disliked that fuzzy feeling that he should know the answer yet it remained just a wand’s tip away from presenting itself in full form. It tugged at him from somewhere just behind his navel but the words, the reasoning, the...

“Ugh! I should know why, I should know just where to go and get him too, but I don’t.”

“Are you worried about him?” She asked cautiously.

Remus thought about it for just a moment and then answered her. “I should be, but for some reason I’m not.”

“Why not? I’m worried for him, molly’s worried for him and Ginny, and I know that Hermione and Ron both are probably worried about him too somewhere in the middle of what their going through. I know that everyone is happy about Ginny returning to us from the dead but… You know that’s strange…”

“What's strange?” Remus asked as he sat down a the table after washing up while they were talking.

Tonks looked thoughtful for just a moment as she gathered that one train of thought that had just popped into her mind. “Well, Ginny coming back for one, but she doesn’t seem worried I think.”

“Of course she’s worried.” Remus snorted.

“No… I think she’s anxious.”

“Anxious?” Remus asked stopping just short of placing a fork full of food in his mouth.

“I don’t know how to explain it.” Tonks continued still with that thoughtful look on her face. “It’s more like a feeling, or how I look when you go off on your own each month. It’s like I know you’re coming back but I’m afraid you won’t. Or, I know you’re all right but I know you’re hurt. Grr, it’s like you knew no one wanted you but I knew everyone wanted you.” Tonks was finding it hard to explain the feeling thinking that the look on Remus’s face was the look of “You lost me already.”

That was far from the truth. Remus knew that feeling too but from the reverse side of the equation. He really and truly did think that he knew how Harry felt but he also knew that he did have friends and that his friends wanted him. Tonks was wrong about that one feeling. She was thinking back to their little disagreement a few years earlier when she first let him know of how she felt about him and he tried to push her away, He nodded though in agreement to save the argument from happening.

---

Molly wasted no chance to touch or be near Ginny. Her heart was broken but her baby’s return was like a gift from the Heavens. At times she felt at odds with herself. It was wrong of her to be so giddy, so happy, so… She didn’t know how to feel. One moment she was dabbing the tears from the corners of her eye’s and then the next she was laughing and hugging Ginny, and then the next, she felt that she should be by Hermione’s side after all she did know what it was like to lose a child, and then the next, she was holding Ginny as tight a humanly possible not wanting to let her go ever again for fear of losing her once again. And then there was Harry.

She knew why Harry left three years earlier. He was mad, he wanted revenge, he wanted to put to rest those that took his family and…, she smiled as she imagined Harry and Ginny. Molly wasn’t stupid nor was she dumb. I might have been born at night but it wasn’t last night. She thought to herself as she envisioned the many furtive looks and hidden smiles, the chance encounters that Ginny and Harry “accidentally” found themselves in, and she just knew that the two of them would eventually…, and then Ginny was dead. Killed trying to be at his side, to fight with him, to protect him, and then her thoughts turned to Arthur, and then Charlie, and then Fred, and then… Molly. Little Missy Molly. Fierce and unafraid of anything and willing to protect what was hers to the end. But Ginny was back and the hand went to her cheek to wipe the wetness away.

“Ginny dear?”

Ginny stepped into the kitchen at the sound of her name and glanced at the clock. Molly too glanced at the very same clock. Harry was still traveling.[

“Yes mum?”

“Mum, I’m not a baby anymore.” Ginny complained. She hated being the youngest of the Weasley’s. Her face had turned into a mixture of ire and pout as she folded her arms and watched her mother step out from the kitchen doorway and then disappear. She thought that she might have seen her mother’s chin quiver as she pulled open the door to leave.

Ginny turned and stamped her foot in frustration. She knew somehow where Harry was and turned to face the wall that separated the kitchen from the scullery. Had she known where she looked she would have known that she was looking towards number four Privet Drive, Little Winging, Surrey.

---

Harry looked away from Dudley and then looked off into the silence that stood between them after Dudley revealed what he had seen the night the Dementors attacked them. Ginny was just there. He thought.. he didn’t know how she could love him anymore. He had caused so much in her family, He had hurt Ron at least once each year they had been together at Hogwarts by letting his friend help him as he went off to save the wizarding world, nearly gotten Ginny killed in their second year and gotten Ron in trouble by stealing the car. Caused Percy to leave the family. Had caused George to get injured, Mister Weasley to get killed, then Ginny, Then Charlie dieing, now, Fred, Missy Molly. Harry just did not understand how they could still say the he was one of their family, that they did not blame him, And Hermione? How many times had he gotten her in hurt or somehow in trouble? He knew that the Dursley’s would be saying.

“You saw yourself as me?” Harry turned in the dimness of light from the one lit candle on the counter with a hint of amusement in his voice. He had gone through that mental argument before and didn’t want to listen to himself continue to point out the facts. It was best that he just walk away, get a fresh start and leave the Weasley’s alone they’ve paid into his still being alive more than they should have.

“Yeah, I did. Mum and Daddy, they didn’t like me anymore and you got all my stuff and all the presents. It was like you were their very own son before and I wasn’t. And then mum and Dad, the way they yelled at me, and….” Dudley looked down at this feet for a long moment and then finished what he was saying/ “Harry, I didn’t save you. I hated you. I turned and ran.”

“That would have been scary.” Harry whispered.

“Yeah, it really was.” Dudley gave a small shudder tha rippled down his still bery large bulk.

"No.” Harry Replied. “The thought of looking like you mate. Scary.”

Harry lurched to the side nearly falling out of his chair when Dudley’s beefy fist hit him on the shoulder.

“I’m serious you idiot.” Dudley have grinned and had half a snarl on his face when Harry righted himself rubbing his shoulder. Dudley still worked out and boxed.

“I know. So was I” Harry was grinning, His melancholy had slipped away. This was the only home that he ever knew and it was never his home. Hogwarts was more his home, but now…, He didn’t want to come here but it was the only place he had now that he was alone again. He decided that he was glad he did just show up in the street. He and Dudley found themselves laughing at things they had done to each other and most especially how Harry had done things to Dudley that he had never knew about. Spells were forbidden but the Ministry never said anything about the potions that Hermione had given him.

Dudley stood after another long moment of silence that had fallen between them and took several deep breaths and Harry watched as Dudley’s jaw worked as if to form some very difficult words and then his eyebrow’s began to slowly climb his forehead as Dudley slowly spoke.

Harry, I – I, never put it in words the last time you left but, Thank you.”

Harry heard the capital in Dudley’s words.

“Thank you for me mum’s and me dad’s life. We didn’t deserve what you did for us… Saving us an all. There was no reason to. You can stay like I said before. “

Dudley looked at his feet now wanting to look Harry in the eye as he continued.

“Go home Harry. This will never be your home. Mum will see to it. Go back to those friends of yours. They’re your real family. But I’d like it if you kept in touch. You decide mate.”

Dudley grinned oddly and then left the kitchen and went to bed.

---

George sat idly behind his desk. He had been reading the reports Lee Jordan had placed on his desk and realized the he had mechanically turned the last ten sheet of parchment over without even seeing them. Lee watched him out of the corner of his eye. George had been listless ever since he returned to the premises and their company offices. They had taken over the store nextdoor to their very first store in Diagon Alley to serve as the offices. A door connected them to the store next door.

“Lee, It was Fred and mine’s wish that if anything were to happen to one of us… You be made a full partner.”

Lee nearly hurled himself to his feet at George’s comment.

“No George, its not necessary.” Lee spluttered. “I mean, you shold be asking your brother mate.”

“Ron?” George asked with a light turn to his head. :He’s already an Auror. I mean, the jobs his if he wants it.”[

“Not from what I heard mate.” Lee replied. “Kingsley was holding out but the Minister found out that Ron didn’t report when he was told to and so the Minister withdrew the offer. And besides I work behind the scenes remember? And, with Ron as the newest full partner…”

“He’d have to work the floors.’ Fred began to get excited.

“Run the shops” Lee put in.

“And do the inventories.” George was now setting up and rubbing his chin.

“And do all the paperwork.” Lee added to the list.

“Yeah, and do all the purchasing. That’s an excellent idea Fred…” George suddenly looked stiff as he realized that it wasn’t Fred he had been looking at.

“…Would have thought of it first.” Lee finished judiciously.

“Yeah he would have.”

“Poor Ron, what a dope.” Lee sniggered trying to keep the conversation up beat. “And if I heard correctly…” Lee grinned and rubbed his hands together as if concocting the perfect plan which had George looking at him closely. “… If what I hear is true then your gonna need the time to start planning for not one, but two new nieces and or nephews here in a few more months.”

George sat stunned. He hadn’t known that he had spoken out loud. Where else could Lee have heard that? George wondered but hs mind started leaping way ahead of him with the wiles and the ways of being the perfectly innocent Uncle.

“You know Lee, I knew there was a reason we kept you around.” George smiled conspiratorially. He didn’t feel so lopsided anymore.

---

Hermione woke in her own bed and turned to look at Ron. She felt lighter today. She couldn’t remember how long they had sat and cried in Molly’s bedroom, nor did she remember when they themselves, went to bed but the weight felt lifted. Ron turned in his sleep and she laid a hand upon his brow. The dreams that had come to her lent a greater understanding to what she had lost and why it had to be. The knowledge of it filled her with a pride but what really lifted her was that the knowledge of being able to visit anytime had been cemented. She had lost nothing; Molly had only grown and moved on. She felt as if she had gotten her letter to Hogwarts again for a second time And, she had twins and both of them would share something very special. Molly would only giggle when Hermione asked what that gift would be. And, Ron was there and understood it all. He had been marked as an Elf Friend. That was Molly’s special gift to her father. He could now share and speak.

She had one more thing to do and so she slipped out from the bed so as not to waken Ron and crept from the room after gathering up her clothes.

---

Ginny hurriedly dressed if the darkness of her room. She didn’t want to turn any lamps on and then cast the impervious charm of the hinges of her door. It just wouldn’t do to wake any one this early in the morning. Careful to step lightly on the third step from the bottom she stole through the kitchen and let herself outside. The only noise she made was the tiny pop that was left behind as she apparated.

The sky was a dreary sort of grey overcast as another pop sounded in the morning’s air where Ginny had just disapparated. She looked about her noting the rather old looking play ground. She had never seen it before and yet it was familiar to her. She had heard it described often enough. Just a few blocks down that way, a left, and then a few more blocks and then a right. She didn’t need the directions that had been told her. A keen sense that she seemed to always have possessed pointed her into the right direction.

She walked slowly and purposefully into the early morning. Her hair was held loosely behind her head so as not to block her face. She had on her traveling cloak and a few items that she had packed, Her wand was where she could reach it quickly. She had reached the lane, surprised that her feet had carried her so far in such a short time and even more surprised to find out that she had been walking nearly twenty minutes. Her mind was full of things to say and her temper was nearly there.

She stopped in front of a two story house on a quite lane. The folks that lived on this road liked it that way. Quite. She stood there looking at the door and drew a deep breath and then looked at the address once again to make sure that she was where she needed to be. Satisfied she let her breath out slowly and then approached the door and knocked on Number Four Privet Drive. She braced herself for one of those terrible Muggles to answer her knock when the door opened rather slowly.

Harry was nearly knocked off his feet as she threw herself into his arms and held him so tightly that his ribs began to creak. Finally she withdrew and still hold him by his shoulders spoke slowly and plainly. “Harry…. It’s time to come home.”

Harry tried to respond, to say something but then Ginny’s loving face turned. It turned into something hideous something that made him try to step backwards and then the torrent unleashed itself.

“What do you mean by just leaving me? We’re together you and I, We’re a family and if you hadn’t noticed…”

A voice in the back of his mind came unbidden. He knew that voice as it spoke and it wasn’t his. “You’re letting her get her steam up mate. You’ve got to head her off early.” Harry reached out and pulled her to him and kissed her. Her muffled protests died slowly and her attempts to push him away turned into holding onto him as her knee’s began to shake. “when their lips parted Harry had been left breathless and Ginny knowing that she had just been thoroughly kissed.

“I am home.” Harry thought to himself as he stood looking over Ginny’s Meadow. Sunlight was just beginning to glint off of the six hoops over the Quidditch Pitch. It had been his habit for seventeen years to get up early before the sun rose and stand on the same spot where he and Ginny had dis-apparated into the center of the trail just at the edge of the Meadow. They arrived just as the sun rose over the sheltering mountain side and glistened off of the lake. They stood arm in arm and watched as the day opened before them and on to their new home. He would stand there first in the darkness and remember them setting at the table in the Dursley home until late in the afternoon, and then Harry agreeing to return home with her. When they stepped into the backyard Ginny stopped Harry before apparating

“Harry, you just hold onto to me and I’ll take us.” Her tone was matter of fact and it suggested no argument either.

He was expecting to see the yard of the Burrow; instead he was where he wanted to be. And then it occurred to him that Ginny had just apparated them not only across an ocean, but nearly to the other side of a continent. Actually, and he smiled to himself when he thought it. That one took me awhile to figure out. Well ok, Hermione pointed out some of the possibilities and they did make sense.

A light lit the corner window of his cabin and he watched from where he stood as a shadowy figure moved about. That would be Ginny getting the coffee ready. He thought to himself. He looked at his cabin with fond eyes. He had built it. Well he and Ginny built it together from the ground up. Stone by stone and log by log. It stood three stories tall and its first floor was built of stone three feet thick and the other two floors were built of pine logs. They had started off with just a stone hut much like Hagrid’s and built as they grew. All nine bedrooms, a large kitchen and a large family room, one bathroom after another until there was at least one empty… Most times. The Quidditch Pitch went in about a year after he and Ginny actually settled down together. The house wasn’t rickety like the Burrow looked. Harry liked that look but Ginny had put her foot down. Each time they added on, something else got enlarged, and what used to be a wall is now an opening into another room, and the outside had to be redone too so as to look like the house was originally built for that many..

Harry held out his hand as Ginny walked up to him and offered him his cup of coffee. And together they faced a new morning while he reminisced.

They had been working for nearly a week gathering stones from the meadow to build their hut and they had been doing all this with their bare hands and no magic. Harry had dumped the last load of stones and slid to the ground. He was tired. His arms hurt with the weeks exertions and his shoulders and back were in a super tight race for second place on his list of aches and pains which was mounting to a rather sizable list. He oafed as Ginny slid to the ground beside him using his stomach to cushion her head as it fell with her body. She had worked side by side with him. Well, almost, just till mid-mornings. After all, she did have other things to do. Harry’s lunch was one of them and making sure that he dumped the stones in the right spots.

“You know…” Ginny trailed off thinking carefully how to say what she needed to say. “We’ll be needing more stones than we think.”

Harry didn’t answer. He rolled his eye’s and pictured himself still toting stones about, two years from now and dieing each night right where he now laid.

“I know we said ‘Just like Hagrid’s Hut,’ but I think I want a bedroom to start off with.” She gazed into the sky noting that even though the Sun was now low in the horizon she could already see stars out and the image in her mind readjusted itself to include a large porch around the house and she and Harry were setting on that porch and watched the stars come out.

“And a porch facing the lake I think. That would be nice for our first house.”

Harry added another line to his list and added another year before he would get any rest let alone a holiday.

He smiled and pulled Ginny closer as he raised his coffee cup to his lips. The Sun’s edge had crested and its rays were already casting their soft glow over the meadow and lighting the morning shy with a purplish orange color. He liked this moment. The main house, a much smaller one near by, one just a bit larger mot much further away. Two other houses stood nearby and closer to the wood line and one lone and rather large single hut stood on the far side of the lake. He and Ginny had built on over the years and the mornings perfect light just touched on each of the additions to Ginny’s Meadow. Harry’s smile broadened on his face and then took another sip from his coffee and allowed himself to slip back into his memories once more.

“I know we said no magic.” Ginny continued as he lay there listening while she laid with her head on his stomach. “If we used just a bit of magic… We could finish even with the additions just a bit sooner. Don’t you think?” She turned her head so as to see his face.

“Say yes, say Yes!” His muscles screamed throughout his body. “Well…,” Harry began casually as if to mull it over for another moment. “I suppose that if we did it by hand first and then sorta finished it off with magic…,” he lingered on that for a bit as if to allow Ginny the time to absorb what he was saying. “But I have to at least build the doorway first and by hand, and we already have enough stones for that.” He finished not wanting her to think that he was readily agreeing with what he hoped she was saying.

“The door? Don’t be a git Harry, you start with a corner first. Even I know that much.” She said looking up at him.

“If we set the door exactly where we want it just so.” He positioned his hand in the air as if to demonstrate how the door would be. “Facing the lake… and then build on that… the house will always be facing the way we want it to…and…” Harry paused for a moment and watched her to make sure that what he was saying was being met with some approval. “The doorway could act as the cornerstone see?” That should do it. He told himself. He thought that he had made it sound as if he was agreeing with her the whole time about the cornerstone thing. Harry was sure of it.

The crack of a twig brought Harry up to his knees with his wand already at the ready and a hand down by his side protecting Ginny. What met his hand was her shoulder and a quick glance backwards told him that she too had her wand out and his hand on her shoulder kept her from rising any higher.

“Found the place did ya? Movin’ in I see. Got the Missus too?”

Ginny’s cheeks began to burn. She knew that there was something on her list that she had forgotten.

“Do, do I know you?” Harry asked without lowering his wand.

“Met you about a month or so back if I remember rightly.” The Man supplied.

Harry’s mind raced. He vaguely remembered running into an older gentleman just before he found this meadow. The man had told him about fishing.

“You told me about a great place for fishing.” Harry offered.

“Yep that was me.” The man answered stepping forward now with his hand extended.

Harry lowered his wand and took the man’s hand into his and shook it.

“Name’s Jess. Jess Stormcloud.” Jess introduced himself to Harry and Ginny. “And you can put yer wands away. I won’t hurt ya. Just here to welcome you and see if there’s anything I can do ter help ya too.”[

“Your, your a wizard then?’ Harry asked cautiously noting that Jess had known about wands.

Jess nodded still holing onto Harry’s hand.

“I-I’m sorry.” Harry had just remembered that he had not introduced himself nor Ginny. I’m Harry. Harry Potter and this is Ginny Weasley.” He felt safe to mention his name and Ginny’s It was the first time since realizing how he felt about her that he did feel safe doing that.

Jess supplied the feast for that evening’s meal and stayed late into the night as they sat around the fire and talked. Harry had learned that Jess not only lived just a bit further down the mountain, he was also the Chief Warlock of the Western States Wizengamut, and Head Master of the Colorado School of Witchcraft and Wizardry best known as simply…Western.

Harry chuckled to himself and Ginny looked up at him just as he nodded to something and Harry was grinning. He did that. He did that a lot she realized. He would just sort of laugh or chuckle to himself and then grin and nod.

Harry had just remembered the look of horror on Ginny’s face when one night while Jess was visiting. He always brought dinner with him when he came to visit. He began to steadily remind them that he was the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamut and then look at their tent and frown. Harry just wasn’t getting the hint and after a while Ginny did. After announcing if they knew that he was the Chief Warlock and looking very directly at their small tent with a huge frown on his face that exclaimed his disapproval of their living conditions being that they weren’t married.

“Oh, ohh!” Ginny’s face burned with embarrassment as she suddenly knew what Jess had been hinting at all night long. “We…we don’t. I mean he has his room and I have mine... We’re not even married yet!” She was thankful the light of the fire hid her blushes and by Harry’s reaction she could tell that he finally caught on. Harry was slow like that sometimes. A bit thick you might say. Just like Ron actually.

“Well you know…”Jess said brightly. “As I am a member of the court, you know. A judge if you wish, or, Chief Warlock you know, the head Judge…” He added as he sat up straighter. “I could do the honors right here.”

“The minute we finish the house!” Ginny beamed at him.

“Two rooms you said?” Jess asked frowning once again at the tiny tent.

“With a kitchen, bathroom, and a family room too.” Ginny answered back grinning broadly if not just a bit smugly too.

Harry took another sip from his coffee mug as he watched the shadows covering Ginny’s Meadow slowly retreat with the climbing of the morning’s sun.

The crack of a twig behind him caused him to whirl about with his wand coming up from his rear pocket and then omphed loudly as a fist smashed into his stomach.

“Well I feel much better now.” Ron stood there grinning at him. “What do you mean just leaving like that again mate?”

Harry’s own face broke into a wide grin as the two of them hugged each other tightly. It was a manly type hug or so the both of them would tell themselves.

“How, how did you find us so quick?’ Harry asked still staring at Ron as his best friend ever bent and hefted a rather large stone onto the cart.

“Hermione.” Ron answered hefting another stone.

“Hermione?” Harry queried as he added still another stone to the already burdened cart.

“Yep.” Ron answered adding another stone. “So how many more of these do we have to get?” Ron asked whirling his wand with and arched eyebrow that hinted his desire to use magic.

Harry only pointed his wand at the cart and jabbed. The cart began to roll slowly on its own back towards the nearly completed home that he and Ginny had been working on for the last six months together with the help of their newly found friend Jess Stormcloud. Their own house had already been built and they were now working on Mrs. Weasley’s small home which would stand just a few yards to the side and just behind the main house which had gradually grown even larger than the original plans. Ginny was very good at making the necessary changes just after completion of the last set of changes, which were again made after the last set of changes. Harry only groaned and Jess just smiled.

As the two of them walked together behind the cart Ron explained that the morning that Ginny had disappeared Hermione meant to meet with her. It had come to Hermione in her sleep where Harry had disappeared to. Hermione was just the fraction of a second to late in arriving at the Burrow and was able to watch Ginny disapparate. Hermione had guessed where Ginny was going and so followed her to Privet Drive and watched as Harry and Ginny left together and then simply figured the rest of it out on her own. Rom explained that when she returned to their home he wanted to come after them but Hermione refused saying to just let them be and absolutely forbade him to tell his own mother let alone anybody else… Or else. Ron was very afraid of what “Or else.” Meant so he kept his mouth shut until just this very morning when he finally convinced Hermione to just let him pop in to see them to make sure they were alright. Hermione thought that it was just about the right time to do so herself.

Epilogue Continued

As Harry and Ron finally walked up to the covered porch which surrounded the cabin if it could be called a cabin now as it was quite large now, Ron nearly fainted. Ginny was sitting quite calmly in the rocking chair that Harry had made for her and was slowly rocking while chatting with Hermione. Ginny was slowly rubbing the very large and very swollen stomach in much the very same way Hermione was doing to her slightly larger and very much more swollen stomach. Ron’s eye’s went instinctively to Ginny’s left hand and then to Harry’s as he was already smiling and holding up his hand to flourish his wedding ring.

“Yep, your gong to be an Uncle here in a few months.” Harry said and his smile broadened even wider if it was even possible to get any wider that it already was.

Harry nearly choked on his coffee as he tried hard not to chuckle at the memory which came to him just as he took another sip from his cup. He glanced at Ginny, God she’s beautiful. He thought to himself.

Ron and Hermione stayed at the meadow with Ron helping Harry finish his mothers house but they had help too. Not long after Ron and Hermione arrived Bill and Fleur showed up too, with a new baby of their own in hands. While the women sat and chatted the men finished the newest cabin together George appeared one morning with Alicia Spinnet-Weasley in arm. Remus, Tonks, and little Teddy showed up together just as the walls of the fourth home were going up.

The nights in the meadow were happy one’s as finally everyone was here. Baby’s cries filled the nights warm breeze when Ron’s twins were born right in their own home, their second home in the meadow. Then one night Ginny tapped Harry’s arm and told him it was time.

Bill took a port key to the Burrow and returned on the instant with his mother. She had not seen any of them since the kids slowly disappeared one at a time. She wasn’t worried though. She had an informant within the group of these terrible kids of hers and their fellow conspirators of the Lupin clan. James Sirus Potter was born that night and his Frandmother helped deliver him.

Harry blinked and rubbed away the tear that slowly slid down his face at that memory. He often felt weepy when he recounted each and every berth of their now seven children/ He looked down into Ginny’s face as she was looking up at him. She too must have been remembering much the same as he as her own eye’s glistened with wetness.

“Here they come.” Ginny said softly as she pointed to the bluish flash of light that lit a portion of what was left of the early morning shadows. Ron and Hermione stepped into the morning light followed by the twins and their eleven year daughter Molly. They looked about and then proceeded to their own cabin after noticing the light was on in their Mother’s small but cozy cabin. Molly would be starting Hogwarts this year.

George and Alicia arrived just moments later. Alicia was carrying their newest child, just two months old. Neither Harry nor Ginny had seen Jenna yet, but Matrim who had to pick himself up off the ground from where he had landed spent as much time here as was possible. He would be starting his fourth year and they agreed to let him attend Western this year as an exchange student. After all, his cousin Jess would be attending Western too. The two of them would both be in their fourth year

Harry blinked as he looked at the Sun’s position. Another few more moments and Ginny’s meadow would be in the full sun light. Another port key drew his eye’s back down as he watched Percy and Penelope leading their children away from an old tire. And Harry nodded. This was going to be the best year yet. The summer just started and his youngest, Rose, would be off to Hogwarts for her very first year and she had told them that she was going to tell the Sorting Hat that she wanted to be in Slytherin because if that dungeon was as dark and dreary as her daddy said it was, then it needed a Rose to brighten it up.

Yep, he sighed. James was in Gryffindor while Albus chose Ravenclaw. Lily wanted Hufflepuff, while Fred said it didn’t matter to him. He was in Gryffindor and very happy about it too and Harry suspected that he might even been just a bit relieved as well. Iris followed Albus into Ravenclaw and Dudley followed Lily into Hufflepuff and Jess, when he went to Hogwarts he stayed in Gryffindor tower though he considered himself to be a little of all the houses.

Harry leaned down and kissed Ginny gently on the lips and then pulled her into a deep embrace and whispered into her ear “We did good didn’t we?”

Lily looked at James as they imitated their son’s actions and she whispered in his ear, “We did good didn’t we?” James’ reply to her was a simple “It was well worth it.”

Molly watched from her tiny window as Harry and Ginny walked arm in arm back down the path that skirted the lake and onto the Quidditch pitch. She looked upwards and whispered from her heart. “Arthur you would be so proud of them. All of them.”

As Harry and Ginny took their stroll and surveyed their family, their entire family, they watched as smoke began to stream from each of the cabins fireplaces. Harry knew in his heart that he had indeed found a home and would do it all over again, and again, and again. This was his family and it had been from the moment he said, “Excuse me but how do you get to Platform nine and three quarters?”

“Ginny?” Harry smiled crookedly at her and then glanced at a hidden copse of woods near by.

“No, we’ve already got a full Quidditch team.”

The Potters remained unbeaten in more ways than one as the Stag and the Doe who watched over the meadow and all within faithfully, turned and walked into the woods side by side and disappeared.


Harry had just remembered the look of horror on Ginny’s face when one night while Jess was visiting. He always brought dinner with him when he came to visit. He began to steadily remind them that he was the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamut and then look at their tent and frown. Harry just wasn’t getting the hint and after a while Ginny did. After announcing if they knew that he was the Chief Warlock and looking very directly at their small tent with a huge frown on his face that exclaimed his disapproval of their living conditions being that they weren’t married.

“Oh, ohh!” Ginny’s face burned with embarrassment as she suddenly knew what Jess had been hinting at all night long. “We…we don’t. I mean he has his room and I have mine... We’re not even married yet!” She was thankful the light of the fire hid her blushes and by Harry’s reaction she could tell that he finally caught on. Harry was slow like that sometimes. A bit thick you might say. Just like Ron actually.

“Well you know…”Jess said brightly. “As I am a member of the court, you know. A judge if you wish, or, Chief Warlock you know, the head Judge…” He added as he sat up straighter. “I could do the honors right here.”

“The minute we finish the house!” Ginny beamed at him.

“Two rooms you said?” Jess asked frowning once again at the tiny tent.

“With a kitchen, bathroom, and a family room too.” Ginny answered back grinning broadly if not just a bit smugly too.

Harry took another sip from his coffee mug as he watched the shadows covering Ginny’s Meadow slowly retreat with the climbing of the morning’s sun.

The crack of a twig behind him caused him to whirl about with his wand coming up from his rear pocket and then omphed loudly as a fist smashed into his stomach.

“Well I feel much better now.” Ron stood there grinning at him. “What do you mean just leaving like that again mate?”

Harry’s own face broke into a wide grin as the two of them hugged each other tightly. It was a manly type hug or so the both of them would tell themselves.

“How, how did you find us so quick?’ Harry asked still staring at Ron as his best friend ever bent and hefted a rather large stone onto the cart.

“Hermione.” Ron answered hefting another stone.

“Hermione?” Harry queried as he added still another stone to the already burdened cart.

“Yep.” Ron answered adding another stone. “So how many more of these do we have to get?” Ron asked whirling his wand with and arched eyebrow that hinted his desire to use magic.

Harry only pointed his wand at the cart and jabbed. The cart began to roll slowly on its own back towards the nearly completed home that he and Ginny had been working on for the last six months together with the help of their newly found friend Jess Stormcloud. Their own house had already been built and they were now working on Mrs. Weasley’s small home which would stand just a few yards to the side and just behind the main house which had gradually grown even larger than the original plans. Ginny was very good at making the necessary changes just after completion of the last set of changes, which were again made after the last set of changes. Harry only groaned and Jess just smiled.

As the two of them walked together behind the cart Ron explained that the morning that Ginny had disappeared Hermione meant to meet with her. It had come to Hermione in her sleep where Harry had disappeared to. Hermione was just the fraction of a second to late in arriving at the Burrow and was able to watch Ginny disapparate. Hermione had guessed where Ginny was going and so followed her to Privet Drive and watched as Harry and Ginny left together and then simply figured the rest of it out on her own. Rom explained that when she returned to their home he wanted to come after them but Hermione refused saying to just let them be and absolutely forbade him to tell his own mother let alone anybody else… Or else. Ron was very afraid of what “Or else.” Meant so he kept his mouth shut until just this very morning when he finally convinced Hermione to just let him pop in to see them to make sure they were alright. Hermione thought that it was just about the right time to do so herself.

As Harry and Ron finally walked up to the covered porch which surrounded the cabin if it could be called a cabin now as it was quite large now, Ron nearly fainted. Ginny was sitting quite calmly in the rocking chair that Harry had made for her and was slowly rocking while chatting with Hermione. Ginny was slowly rubbing the very large and very swollen stomach in much the very same way Hermione was doing to her slightly larger and very much more swollen stomach. Ron’s eye’s went instinctively to Ginny’s left hand and then to Harry’s as he was already smiling and holding up his hand to flourish his wedding ring.

“Yep, your gong to be an Uncle here in a few months.” Harry said and his smile broadened even wider if it was even possible to get any wider that it already was.

Harry nearly choked on his coffee as he tried hard not to chuckle at the memory which came to him just as he took another sip from his cup. He glanced at Ginny, God she’s beautiful. He thought to himself.

Ron and Hermione stayed at the meadow with Ron helping Harry finish his mothers house but they had help too. Not long after Ron and Hermione arrived Bill and Fleur showed up too, with a new baby of their own in hands. While the women sat and chatted the men finished the newest cabin together George appeared one morning with Alicia Spinnet-Weasley in arm. Remus, Tonks, and little Teddy showed up together just as the walls of the fourth home were going up.

The nights in the meadow were happy one’s as finally everyone was here. Baby’s cries filled the nights warm breeze when Ron’s twins were born right in their own home, their second home in the meadow. Then one night Ginny tapped Harry’s arm and told him it was time.

Bill took a port key to the Burrow and returned on the instant with his mother. She had not seen any of them since the kids slowly disappeared one at a time. She wasn’t worried though. She had an informant within the group of these terrible kids of hers and their fellow conspirators of the Lupin clan. James Sirus Potter was born that night and his Frandmother helped deliver him.

Harry blinked and rubbed away the tear that slowly slid down his face at that memory. He often felt weepy when he recounted each and every berth of their now seven children/ He looked down into Ginny’s face as she was looking up at him. She too must have been remembering much the same as he as her own eye’s glistened with wetness.

“Here they come.” Ginny said softly as she pointed to the bluish flash of light that lit a portion of what was left of the early morning shadows. Ron and Hermione stepped into the morning light followed by the twins and their eleven year daughter Molly. They looked about and then proceeded to their own cabin after noticing the light was on in their Mother’s small but cozy cabin. Molly would be starting Hogwarts this year.

George and Alicia arrived just moments later. Alicia was carrying their newest child, just two months old. Neither Harry nor Ginny had seen Jenna yet, but Matrim who had to pick himself up off the ground from where he had landed spent as much time here as was possible. He would be starting his fourth year and they agreed to let him attend Western this year as an exchange student. After all, his cousin Jess would be attending Western too. The two of them would both be in their fourth year

Harry blinked as he looked at the Sun’s position. Another few more moments and Ginny’s meadow would be in the full sun light. Another port key drew his eye’s back down as he watched Percy and Penelope leading their children away from an old tire. And Harry nodded. This was going to be the best year yet. The summer just started and his youngest, Rose, would be off to Hogwarts for her very first year and she had told them that she was going to tell the Sorting Hat that she wanted to be in Slytherin because if that dungeon was as dark and dreary as her daddy said it was, then it needed a Rose to brighten it up.

Yep, he sighed. James was in Gryffindor while Albus chose Ravenclaw. Lily wanted Hufflepuff, while Fred said it didn’t matter to him. He was in Gryffindor and very happy about it too and Harry suspected that he might even been just a bit relieved as well. Iris followed Albus into Ravenclaw and Dudley followed Lily into Hufflepuff and Jess, when he went to Hogwarts he stayed in Gryffindor tower though he considered himself to be a little of all the houses.

Harry leaned down and kissed Ginny gently on the lips and then pulled her into a deep embrace and whispered into her ear “We did good didn’t we?”

Lily looked at James as they imitated their son’s actions and she whispered in his ear, “We did good didn’t we?” James’ reply to her was a simple “It was well worth it.”

Molly watched from her tiny window as Harry and Ginny walked arm in arm back down the path that skirted the lake and onto the Quidditch pitch. She looked upwards and whispered from her heart. “Arthur you would be so proud of them. All of them.”

As Harry and Ginny took their stroll and surveyed their family, their entire family, they watched as smoke began to stream from each of the cabins fireplaces. Harry knew in his heart that he had indeed found a home and would do it all over again, and again, and again. This was his family and it had been from the moment he said, “Excuse me but how do you get to Platform nine and three quarters?”

“Ginny?” Harry smiled crookedly at her and then glanced at a hidden copse of woods near by.

“No, we’ve already got a full Quidditch team.”

The Potters remained unbeaten in more ways than one as the Stag and the Doe who watched over the meadow and all within faithfully, turned and walked into the woods side by side and disappeared.

This ends Harry Potter and The Hunt

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