Sookie
January 28th, 2006, 6:51 am
Okay, so I've never done Fan-Fic before. I'm kind of using this to work on my plot developing skills. It's much easier using characters in a world that already exist:D
Disclaimer: I do not own Harrp Potter or anything associated with Harry Potter. Those belong to our hero JK Rowling and I am absolutely NOT making any profit off this.
I'm not big on the mushy, but I had to get these bricks laid so the first part is a bit gooey. Hope you like!
I'll update when I can and please leave feedback so I know whether I stink or not! :)
UPDATE!!! I've changed the amount of time Lupin and Tonks have been married, because I've decided to give them a kid. Sorry.
Chapter 1
Old Grudges
The house was dark and quiet when he pushed open the front door. A small creek sounded as the door swung open, but the sleeping inhabitants did not wake or even stir. He loved this house and every time he walked in through the front door (which was his favorite way of entering) he was flooded by memories, both happy and sad, but the fact that some of them were sad did not dampen his spirits. Even the sad memories were good in their own way, for they reminded him that despite all odds, despite what he had overcome, despite all reason, he was, in fact, alive. Not only was Harry Potter alive, but also he was happy. Happy to be home, where he knew his family was tucked safely into their beds; home where he had finally found peace of mind.
Harry walked as silently as he could into the kitchen to pick through what was left of dinner. He had been working late the past few weeks because there had been a bit of a skirmish between a few former Death Eaters (recently released from Azkaban) and one Mr. Ronald Bilius Weasley and a Mr. Harry James Potter in the middle of a very crowded Diagon Alley. Strictly speaking, the two friends were not supposed to go picking fights, as they were both rather prominent figures in the Wizarding World. But old grudges die hard, you know, and they couldn’t stop themselves. The aftermath, however, was causing quite a bit of trouble for them.
Harry’s boss, Minerva McGonagall, had chastised him up one side and down the other for besmirching the name of Hogwarts. She also pointed out several times during her rant that she did not care who he was or which evil wizard he defeated, he would always be the scrawny little trouble maker to her and that the yelling would continue until he saw fit to grow up. He pointed out to her that at 34 years old he didn’t think that it was a good time to start growing up. She simply glared at him.
Ron’s boss, Hermione Granger-Weasley, made him sleep on the couch for a week. Ron was an Auror and Hermione was Head of Magical Law Enforcement, which technically made her his boss. In the summers Harry teamed up with Ron and worked as an Auror as well. Since the minor skirmish took place when they were supposed to be gathering information on a tip about some dark activity near Gringotts, Hermione had the fun job of cleaning up their mess. Harry couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of Hermione delivering a very scary lecture about “standards of practice” and “setting examples” and felt grateful that his wife was not his boss. Ginny, however, found it all rather funny so he didn’t think that he would have been in quite so much trouble.
The late nights were because, as punishment for their misdeeds, Harry and Ron were given extra shifts for two weeks so other Aurors could take vacations. It amazed Harry that even after seventeen years, Voldemort’s presence was still felt. The problem was that he had managed to “come back to life” once and his followers refused to believe that he couldn’t do it again. Several were still at large and being very good about hiding, which was why Harry took the Auror position: to help round up the stragglers.
He was just taking a swig from the milk bottle when a voice sounded from behind him.
“Don’t make me hex you.” Ginny Potter said, a little annoyed.
“You wouldn’t.” But even as he said it, Harry took the bottle away from his mouth and set it down.
“You know I hate that. Very gross.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but grinned anyway.
“Why are you up? It’s well after midnight.” He asked, stuffing a hunk of chicken in his mouth.
“Your son decided to try and sneak out to meet his pal R.J.”
“How’d you catch him?” Harry polished off what was left of the chicken.
“A couple of charms here, a booby trap there, not too tough. But it is getting a little irritating. You’ll have to have a chat with him about following the rules.” She had become serious now and scowled when Harry nearly chocked on his chicken.
“And be the world’s biggest hypocrite? How about no?”
“Harry, you grew up in very different times. Your situation was not like his and you know it.”
She was right of course. He just hated lecturing his kids on rules when he was the worst offender in the family. It made him feel so rotten.
“If you are quite finished stuffing your face we should go to sleep. Tomorrow is the Wedding of Doom, remember?”
Harry didn’t remember, in fact, he had completely forgotten and let out a groan now that it had been brought to his attention.
Ginny laughed and headed back toward the stairs and bed. Harry followed right behind her a little less happy than a few moments prior.
Chapter 2
The Wedding of Doom
Harry woke the next morning with the feeling that there was an elephant sitting on his chest. Part of this feeling was because he remembered the completely undesirable and unentertaining way he was going to be spending his afternoon. The rest of the weight was caused by something very different.
“Daddy! Get up!”
Harry opened his eyes to find his five-year-old daughter, Abigail Lily Potter sitting square on his chest looking very perturbed. She had been named Abigail because it was the closest girl name he and Ginny could think of to Albus. And they didn’t think that a little girl would appreciate having a name like Albus, so they decided to call her Abigail.
“What’s the sad face for?” Harry asked, shifting so that she landed with a soft thunk on the bed beside him.
“Sirius ate my pancakes.”
“Abby, Sirius is one; he doesn’t know he’s not supposed to eat your pancakes. Besides, I’m sure there were more for you to eat.”
“That is not the point.” She said with an air of wisdom well beyond her years.
Harry just looked at her, sitting there pouting. Sometimes she reminded him more of Hermione than anyone else, which was weird since they weren’t blood relatives. Abby had a way of telling you something that made her sound unquestionably right (she usually was) and bossing everyone in the room relentlessly. She, however, looked nothing like Hermione. Abby was small and skinny with long red hair like her mother and big green eyes that, though not the almond shape of his, were the exact same color as Harry’s.
Glancing at the clock, Harry decided that, though it was only half past seven, he could start the day. He didn’t think Abby would have let him go back to sleep anyway. He scooped her up and carried her downstairs to the kitchen.
Ginny was sitting at the table with Sirius on her lap. He was indeed stuffing massive amounts of pancakes in his mouth. Ginny was reading the Daily Prophet and drinking from a giant mug of coffee, completely content and apparently unbothered by Sirius’s huge mess.
“Morning.” Harry said, depositing Abby in a chair and putting more pancakes in front of her. She scowled at them, but started to eat anyway.
“Good morning.” Ginny said brightly to Harry before rounding on Abby. “Abigail Lily Potter! I told you not to wake your father. Next time you disobey me you will be spending the day in your room.”
Harry knew better than to say anything to absolve Abby. Though she loved her children fiercely and was the best mother Harry had ever met, rivaling even her own mother, Ginny was no pushover and his reassurances that he “needed to get up anyway” would have not changed the fact that Abby did something that she was told specifically not to do. So, instead, he sat and piled his plate with food.
“Where’s James?” He asked between bites.
“In his room with R.J. and Will. I don’t know what they’re up to, but R.J. and Will showed up in the fireplace at seven this morning and James has that twinkle in his eye.”
Harry made a look as if to say, “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Oh yes you do,” She said reading his expression. “It’s the same one you get when you’re about to do something you’re not supposed to.”
“Uh, oh. What did you do this time Dad? Get caught flying a bewitched car or stealing a Hippogriff?” James asked as he entered the kitchen having heard only the last few words of his mother’s sentence. James was followed into the kitchen by his two best friends.
James was the carbon copy of Harry; the impossibly untidy black hair, the almond shaped green eyes, the thin handsome face, and the disregard for any and all rules.
“How do you know about that?” Harry asked, a little taken aback. He didn’t make a habit of telling James about his days as a student at Hogwarts, mostly for fear of giving the kid ideas.
“Hagrid told us.” Said R.J, taking the seat next to James at the table.
Ronald Remus Weasley, otherwise known as R.J., on the other hand, looked nothing like his father. He was tall and broad shouldered, with bushy brown hair and brown eyes. He was a very handsome kid, who looked older than his sixteen years, mostly because he was so big. Harry was always reminded of the Muggle sport Rugby when looking at R.J., but though he was broad and athletic, he had inherited Hermione’s brain. Unfortunately, he used it to help James get in and out of trouble.
The last to sit, Arthur William Weasley, better known as Will, was the son of Bill and Fleur Weasley and looked just like a Weasley. He had bright red hair, loads of freckles and the long thin features that so much of his family shared. Will was a year older than James and R.J. and was going to be starting his seventh year at Hogwarts in a few weeks. Harry thought that Will was the Lupin to the other two’s Potter and Black of the original Marauders, which made him smile.
“By the way,” Harry said, “where’s my map?”
James looked up from his plate, eyebrows arched. “You said I could have it.”
“No. I said you could use it during the school year for academic pursuits, which I have no doubt you are not, but it is summer now and I still don’t have it back.”
Ginny nearly chocked on her coffee and had to take a few breaths before being able to speak. “Academic pursuits?” She sputtered.
“That’s what I used it for.” Harry smiled.
“Sure, you did.” She shot him an amused smile and winked, but the boys missed it and glowered at each other.
“Fine, I’ll get it later. It’s in my room.” James gave the other two furtive looks and they frowned.
“I don’t know what you three are up to, but I am watching you and if I catch even one toe out of line, you are all going to be very sorry. Are we understood?” Ginny was glaring across the table at the three boys.
“Why would we be up to something?” James asked innocently.
“Come off it.” She said. “We are leaving at eleven. The two of you,” she indicated R.J. and Will “are welcome to travel with us if your parents say it is alright.”
“Thanks Aunt Ginny, but my mum said I have to accompany her since my dad’s out of town.” Will said. “She doesn’t want to go alone.”
“Can’t blame her there.” Harry said.
They all finished eating and wandered off to get ready for what Ginny liked to call the Wedding of Doom. That afternoon they were all being forced to attend Percy Weasley’s wedding and none were much too excited.
After a long separation from his family (due to his unwillingness to accept his family’s opposing views to the Ministry in regards to Voldemort) Percy had been readmitted to the family folds when, having had an attack of conscience, he showed up weeping at Charlie’s funeral. Charlie Weasley had been killed in a battle that was instigated by Ex-Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, who turned out to be a traitor and used Percy to (unknown by Percy) leak information to Voldemort. The end result was a bloody battle that left Charlie and four others dead, Nymphadora Tonks in St. Mungo’s for two months and countless others injured. It was one of the worst blows to the Order of the Phoenix and Percy rightfully felt responsible. Despite Molly’s joy at having her son back, the rest of the family never really got to the point where they could forgive him for his actions. Percy was definitely the outcast, but as far as Harry was concerned, he did it to himself.
By eleven o’clock, everyone, including R.J. and Ron and Hermione, who had walked the half a mile from their own house, were standing in the Potters’ living room. The plan was to floo over to the Burrow where the wedding was being held and if Harry got his way, floo right home as soon as it was over, but he suspected that they would be detained most of the day.
“Do I have to go?” Ron asked and Hermione elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
“Yes, so quit it.”
“Harry, think of a way out of this.” Ron prodded.
“Sorry mate, we’re stuck. Besides Hermione was always the thinker, I’m just the muscle.” Harry grinned at Ron’s thoroughly dejected expression.
“You’re the savior of the free world and you can’t get us out of a stupid wedding?” Ron joked.
“Har har.” Harry mocked laughing and punched him in the arm.
After several minutes and blasts of green flame they were all gathered in the dining room of the Burrow greeting family members. Molly was in the kitchen cooking, Fred and George (still quite the eligible bachelors) were conjuring chairs out of thin air and sending them flying out the open front door onto the lawn where they lined themselves up in perfect rows, and Arthur was hugging all of his grandchildren in turn.
Harry loved his family, he loved all of them more than he was comfortable admitting, but he did not love Percy and he really did not love Percy’s fiancé. So, despite his joy at being surrounded by his family he was a little uneasy at the idea of being surrounded by the family of Pansy Parkinson as well. In fact, none of them liked Pansy and were all quite surprised when their engagement had been announced. But the Weasleys were an accepting bunch and she was welcomed with several pairs of open arms…well, mostly just Molly’s but everyone pretended to be happy about it.
* ** *
James Harry Potter was not exactly what you might call “in a good mood.” He and R.J. and Will had been planning an excellent back to school prank, but without the Marauder’s Map it was going to be darn near impossible. The map was essential to pulling it off and now his dad had gone and ruined it by taking the map back. He had been brooding on how to work around the problem all morning to no avail, so by the time he reached his grandparents’ house he was very grumpy.
James was not fond of his Uncle Percy. He knew, of course, why most of the rest of the family was uneasy with him, but all of that happened before James was born so it really didn’t affect his opinion of his uncle. James did not like Percy because Percy was a rude little snot. He had never been able to stand the level of importance that Percy attached to himself and the condescending way he spoke to other people, like they were simpletons. If there was one thing James could not stand it was the thought that anyone was less important than anyone else. Sure, he was a troublemaker and a prankster and had been accused on more than one occasion of being arrogant; he was a Potter after all. He had is fair share of detentions for picking on other students, even for a few duels, but not once, even for a second, did James believe any of those other students to be less important than he His family had lost far too much to the people who felt that way for him to tolerate an attitude like that. Having someone in the family who acted superior based on his own opinion of himself was a real thorn in his side.
After stepping out of the fire, dusting himself off and saying hello to the portion of the family that was already at the Burrow, James slumped moodily in a chair by the fire. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his mother pull his father off into a corner. He could not hear what was being said, but his mum had a very serious look on her face and James was sure she was telling his dad that he had been caught attempting to sneak out of the house the night before. But then she broke into a huge smile and his dad pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, then he kissed her for a very long time, at which point James looked away. James slumped further into his chair. He had seen the same type of exchange between his parents twice before and it never really worked out too well for him.
Then he heard his mum giggle and he looked back to see that she had her finger pressed to her lips in the universal “be quiet” gesture and a happy realization struck him. His parents were going to steal Percy’s thunder and announce that they were having another baby on his wedding day! How very sadistic, and yet, so very funny. His mum looked up and caught his eye. She gave him a very pointed glance and he shook his head as if to say “You two are ridiculous. I give up.” But his lips twitched up at the corners as he did it. She grinned back.
“James!” Fred was calling him through the window.
“What?” He called back.
“Get your lazy backside out here.”
James, a little happier now than a few minutes ago, hopped up from his chair and went into the yard to find Fred, George, Ron and R.J. (he had stopped calling his uncles “uncle” a few years before because it sounded so awkward as he got older). They were setting up the decorations. Tables and platters and streamer and cups and flatware were flying around in all directions, landing and arranging themselves on the lawn.
“You, my favorite nephew, are in charge of refreshments.” Said George, throwing an arm around James’s shoulder, which was about just about level with his own now.
“But I’m not supposed to use magic outside of school.”
“James, this is a special occasion.” Said Fred.
“And special occasions call for special privileges.” Said George.
“But won’t I get expelled?”
“Nope.” Fred said knowingly. “The ministry –
“Doesn’t know who –
“The magic is created by –
“Only where it’s created.” Finished George.
“So, as long as I’m in a place where magic is happening they can’t pin-point me?” James asked.
“That’s pretty much it.” Fred said.
“But I wouldn’t try it at home.” George said, glancing at the house. “Your mum will hang you by your ankles for a week.”
Fred nodded his agreement.
So, James and R.J., with permission from Ron and orders not to tell Hermione, set to work bewitching punch bowls and cups to fly across the yard and settle on the tables. By the time they were finished they had broken and repaired nearly half of the bowls. Ron then went around tapping the bowls with his wand causing them to fill with pink and yellow lemonade.
It was not long before James’s grandmother was calling the group back into the house.
When James reentered the dining room he found that there were several more people since he left it. Remus Lupin and Tonks had arrived and were chatting with Hermione and Professor McGonagall, two sullen people James recognized as Pansy’s parents were talking with Arthur, Fleur and Will were just stepping out of the fireplace and Percy was standing off to one side looking very peaky.
James quickly went to say hello to Lupin and Tonks. They were his favorite non-family family and he always looked forward to seeing them, though he had not seen either of them in several months as they had been on vacation to celebrate their anniversary.
“Hi.” He said walking up behind them.
Tonks turned and did a double take. “Good God, you look like your father. Freaks me out.”
“Try having known three of them. Now that’s freaky.” Lupin said smiling.
“How was your trip?” James asked.
“Oh, it was wonderful.” Tonks smiled brightly. “We saw the Great Wall of China and the pyramids and laid on the beach in Thailand. It was great.”
“Sounds dreadful.” Harry said as he walked up and greeted them. He hugged Tonks and Lupin and bowed exaggeratedly to McGonagall and said, “Good afternoon Headmistress, ma’am.”
“You are not funny Potter.” But she smiled as she said it.
“Hey, Harry. Thanks for the extra vacation time. We’re going to use it to stand outside your office and laugh and point at you.” Lupin said; a huge smile plastered across his face.
“I do what I can.” Harry caught James’s eye and winked.
** **
As far as Harry was concerned, that day could not have gotten any better. He was more than surprised when Ginny had pulled him off to the side and informed him that they would be having another baby. So great was his excitement that he could not stop grinning and his heart was beating so fast he was sure it would explode. He didn’t even care that he was a groomsman in the wedding of two people he couldn’t stand because in a matter of months, Harry would have another member of his family to love. His early life had been so devoid of it that he never really felt he could give too much. He did, however, hate to be sappy, so he restrained himself from hugging and kissing everyone in the room.
He caught sight of James talking with Lupin, Tonks, Hermione and McGonagall and rushed over to talk with them. He made his hellos and bowed to McGonagall just to see her reaction.
“So what was the little argument about anyway?” Tonks wanted to know.
“Well I said that Wood was a better Keeper than Gorham and Ron said that I was totally wrong and that Franklin was better than both of them put together.” Harry said.
“And then three former Death Eaters suddenly hexed themselves?” James asked.
“Well, they never were very smart.” Harry smiled at James and felt a surge of affection for his son’s sarcastic nature. “It’s a good thing Ron and I were there though. They probably would have just gone on hexing themselves for hours if we hadn’t stopped them.”
Hermione, who was looking less than amused at all of this, said, “I should fire you, I should.”
“Okay, then. I’d like to see you try and find a replacement for Harry-I-defeated-the-most-powerful-evil-wizard-of-our-time-but-prefer-to-work-as-an-Auror-for-my-friend-Hermione-Potter.” Harry said.
“Now I should really fire you for exceeding your limit on arrogance.”
“Oho! Ron! Come quick. Hermione made a funny!” Harry mock hollered across the room.
“You are definitely fired.”
“You can’t. You don’t even pay me.”
At this revelation everyone laughed, even Hermione.
Molly was passing out instructions and orders to various members of the wedding party. She was looking very happy if not slightly rumpled. Harry glanced at the clock and saw that guests would be arriving within the half hour. Molly could be overheard mumbling about various details she did not want to forget. Once she had satisfactorily given each person his or her specific instructions she headed back into the kitchen, but before she made it out of the room, a voice interrupted the chatter.
“Everyone.” Ginny said and Harry quickly walked across the room to her as the small crowd fell quiet. “I have something to say. Harry and I are having another baby.” She said without hesitation.
Molly screamed and giggled loudly, while everyone else made various congratulatory comments. James rolled his eyes and sighed loudly and Percy scoffed.
Seeing James’s reaction, Harry tore himself away from his wife and went to pester his oldest son.
“Problem?” Harry asked.
“No.”
“Liar.”
** **
James gave his dad an appraising look as he accused him of lying about whether or not he had a problem with them having another baby and saw that his dad was really very happy.
“No, really. I don’t have a problem.” He said and to his surprise he meant it. As annoying as little brothers and sisters were, James did actually like his. It must have shown on his face because his dad seemed to accept his answer and clapped him on the arm.
“Don’t worry, you won’t have to share your room.”
“I know. We’ve got seven bedrooms.” James said and as an afterthought added, “But that does not mean you have to fill all of them.”
** **
Soon the guests started arriving and James and R.J. were called into active duty seating them. There were many members of the Ministry in attendance as Percy was still employed there, as was half the family. James recognized a few fellow students with their parents and seated several other people he had never seen before. One of whom, a tall fair-skinned woman with long blond hair that was streaked with white, glowered at him rudely for several minutes.
When it looked as though everyone was seated, James and R.J. went back into the house. The wedding party was finalizing the details about who was walking with whom and who went first, but Percy was sitting in a chair with his head between his knees.
“Percy doesn’t look so good does he?” R.J. commented.
“Looks like ****.” James said, before turning to look for his father. He found him talking with Ron. “Oi, Dad.”
His dad looked over and raised an eyebrow in question.
“Could you come over hear a minute?”
His dad and Uncle crossed the room to where James and R.J. were standing by the window.
“Do you know why that woman would be trying to kill me with her eyes?” James pointed to the blond woman seated among the many guests.
“Narcissa Malfoy?” Ron said, surprised. “Must be a guest of the bride.”
“How very quaint.” Harry muttered.
“And why does she look like she wants to hex me?” James asked.
“Well, her son Draco and I were what you might call arch enemies.”
R.J. interrupted, “Oh, he’s the one who was supposed to kill Albus Dumbledore, but couldn’t and so Severus Snape had to, which lead to the all out war. Draco Malfoy and his father Lucius died in the war too, right?”
“In a nut shell.” Harry said.
“So that woman hates me because of you?”
Harry smiled and patted James on the shoulder. “And you thought looking like me was cool.”
“Nope, never did.” James countered.
His father simply smiled at him.
** **
Once Percy had managed to pull himself together, he went out to where the Ministry official who would be performing the ceremony stood beneath an archway of ivy and white calla lilies. It all looked quite nice actually, Harry thought as he and the other groomsmen made their way to the front of the crowd.
They had only just lined themselves up behind Percy when Ginny appeared at the back of the rows of seated guests and began to walk toward them. Harry caught her eye and smiled. She was, in his opinion, which was the only one that mattered of course, the most perfect creature in the history of the world. She wore a long flowing gold dress and white flowers in her hair, which was pinned up in the back. She took her place opposite the groomsmen, still holding Harry’s gaze.
Soon they were all standing at the archway, the bride included, who was wearing a monstrosity of a dress that appeared to be made up of giant cotton balls, excessive amounts of white netting, and all the feathers of a flock of seagulls. She did not smile or even give the smallest hint that she was happy. Then again, Harry remembered, the only time he had ever seen Pansy smile was back when they were students at Hogwarts and she was tormenting Hermione or Ron or himself and he was reminded how much he really didn’t like her.
It was a quick ceremony, which suited everyone quite well and before too long they were all seated at the tables enjoying Molly’s delicious meal. Unfortunately Harry was forced to sit at the head table with the wedding party, which would have been alright except they seated all of the groomsmen on one side and the bridesmaids on the other, so he didn’t even get to sit next to Ginny. He was seated between Percy and Ron, the former talking loudly of his growing influence at the Ministry and the high level of responsibility he was given, while the latter rattled off insults and smart *** remarks just loud enough for Harry to hear. Harry had been unable to stand it any longer and as everyone was just finishing desert he left the table and took up a seat next to James.
James was sitting with Lupin, Tonks, Hagrid and McGonagall. James had Abby perched on his knee and was trying to coax her into trying a bite of Roast Beef, while Tonks had Sirius on her lap and was helping him eat wedding cake. Sirius needed no coaxing into anything ever, thought Harry. He dove right into anything with no hesitation or fear. Even at one-year-old, it was clear that naming him Sirius was perhaps not a great idea.
“His mother’s going to kill you for hopping him up on sugar. Poor woman, who is she?” Harry said to Tonks.
“Daddy, I don’t want to eat Roast Beast! James says I have to.” Abby wailed.
“Well I can’t make you eat, but you don’t get cake unless you eat something that is not made entirely of sugar.”
“Hagrid already fed her two pieces of cake.” James said.
“Oooh, I’m telling Ginny.” Harry teased.
“Hey, tha’s jus’ mean Harry.” Hagrid blushed. “The little tyke was jus’ hungry.”
“Still telling.”
NEXT CHAPTER SOON
Let me know if you like it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Harrp Potter or anything associated with Harry Potter. Those belong to our hero JK Rowling and I am absolutely NOT making any profit off this.
I'm not big on the mushy, but I had to get these bricks laid so the first part is a bit gooey. Hope you like!
I'll update when I can and please leave feedback so I know whether I stink or not! :)
UPDATE!!! I've changed the amount of time Lupin and Tonks have been married, because I've decided to give them a kid. Sorry.
Chapter 1
Old Grudges
The house was dark and quiet when he pushed open the front door. A small creek sounded as the door swung open, but the sleeping inhabitants did not wake or even stir. He loved this house and every time he walked in through the front door (which was his favorite way of entering) he was flooded by memories, both happy and sad, but the fact that some of them were sad did not dampen his spirits. Even the sad memories were good in their own way, for they reminded him that despite all odds, despite what he had overcome, despite all reason, he was, in fact, alive. Not only was Harry Potter alive, but also he was happy. Happy to be home, where he knew his family was tucked safely into their beds; home where he had finally found peace of mind.
Harry walked as silently as he could into the kitchen to pick through what was left of dinner. He had been working late the past few weeks because there had been a bit of a skirmish between a few former Death Eaters (recently released from Azkaban) and one Mr. Ronald Bilius Weasley and a Mr. Harry James Potter in the middle of a very crowded Diagon Alley. Strictly speaking, the two friends were not supposed to go picking fights, as they were both rather prominent figures in the Wizarding World. But old grudges die hard, you know, and they couldn’t stop themselves. The aftermath, however, was causing quite a bit of trouble for them.
Harry’s boss, Minerva McGonagall, had chastised him up one side and down the other for besmirching the name of Hogwarts. She also pointed out several times during her rant that she did not care who he was or which evil wizard he defeated, he would always be the scrawny little trouble maker to her and that the yelling would continue until he saw fit to grow up. He pointed out to her that at 34 years old he didn’t think that it was a good time to start growing up. She simply glared at him.
Ron’s boss, Hermione Granger-Weasley, made him sleep on the couch for a week. Ron was an Auror and Hermione was Head of Magical Law Enforcement, which technically made her his boss. In the summers Harry teamed up with Ron and worked as an Auror as well. Since the minor skirmish took place when they were supposed to be gathering information on a tip about some dark activity near Gringotts, Hermione had the fun job of cleaning up their mess. Harry couldn’t help but laugh at the memory of Hermione delivering a very scary lecture about “standards of practice” and “setting examples” and felt grateful that his wife was not his boss. Ginny, however, found it all rather funny so he didn’t think that he would have been in quite so much trouble.
The late nights were because, as punishment for their misdeeds, Harry and Ron were given extra shifts for two weeks so other Aurors could take vacations. It amazed Harry that even after seventeen years, Voldemort’s presence was still felt. The problem was that he had managed to “come back to life” once and his followers refused to believe that he couldn’t do it again. Several were still at large and being very good about hiding, which was why Harry took the Auror position: to help round up the stragglers.
He was just taking a swig from the milk bottle when a voice sounded from behind him.
“Don’t make me hex you.” Ginny Potter said, a little annoyed.
“You wouldn’t.” But even as he said it, Harry took the bottle away from his mouth and set it down.
“You know I hate that. Very gross.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but grinned anyway.
“Why are you up? It’s well after midnight.” He asked, stuffing a hunk of chicken in his mouth.
“Your son decided to try and sneak out to meet his pal R.J.”
“How’d you catch him?” Harry polished off what was left of the chicken.
“A couple of charms here, a booby trap there, not too tough. But it is getting a little irritating. You’ll have to have a chat with him about following the rules.” She had become serious now and scowled when Harry nearly chocked on his chicken.
“And be the world’s biggest hypocrite? How about no?”
“Harry, you grew up in very different times. Your situation was not like his and you know it.”
She was right of course. He just hated lecturing his kids on rules when he was the worst offender in the family. It made him feel so rotten.
“If you are quite finished stuffing your face we should go to sleep. Tomorrow is the Wedding of Doom, remember?”
Harry didn’t remember, in fact, he had completely forgotten and let out a groan now that it had been brought to his attention.
Ginny laughed and headed back toward the stairs and bed. Harry followed right behind her a little less happy than a few moments prior.
Chapter 2
The Wedding of Doom
Harry woke the next morning with the feeling that there was an elephant sitting on his chest. Part of this feeling was because he remembered the completely undesirable and unentertaining way he was going to be spending his afternoon. The rest of the weight was caused by something very different.
“Daddy! Get up!”
Harry opened his eyes to find his five-year-old daughter, Abigail Lily Potter sitting square on his chest looking very perturbed. She had been named Abigail because it was the closest girl name he and Ginny could think of to Albus. And they didn’t think that a little girl would appreciate having a name like Albus, so they decided to call her Abigail.
“What’s the sad face for?” Harry asked, shifting so that she landed with a soft thunk on the bed beside him.
“Sirius ate my pancakes.”
“Abby, Sirius is one; he doesn’t know he’s not supposed to eat your pancakes. Besides, I’m sure there were more for you to eat.”
“That is not the point.” She said with an air of wisdom well beyond her years.
Harry just looked at her, sitting there pouting. Sometimes she reminded him more of Hermione than anyone else, which was weird since they weren’t blood relatives. Abby had a way of telling you something that made her sound unquestionably right (she usually was) and bossing everyone in the room relentlessly. She, however, looked nothing like Hermione. Abby was small and skinny with long red hair like her mother and big green eyes that, though not the almond shape of his, were the exact same color as Harry’s.
Glancing at the clock, Harry decided that, though it was only half past seven, he could start the day. He didn’t think Abby would have let him go back to sleep anyway. He scooped her up and carried her downstairs to the kitchen.
Ginny was sitting at the table with Sirius on her lap. He was indeed stuffing massive amounts of pancakes in his mouth. Ginny was reading the Daily Prophet and drinking from a giant mug of coffee, completely content and apparently unbothered by Sirius’s huge mess.
“Morning.” Harry said, depositing Abby in a chair and putting more pancakes in front of her. She scowled at them, but started to eat anyway.
“Good morning.” Ginny said brightly to Harry before rounding on Abby. “Abigail Lily Potter! I told you not to wake your father. Next time you disobey me you will be spending the day in your room.”
Harry knew better than to say anything to absolve Abby. Though she loved her children fiercely and was the best mother Harry had ever met, rivaling even her own mother, Ginny was no pushover and his reassurances that he “needed to get up anyway” would have not changed the fact that Abby did something that she was told specifically not to do. So, instead, he sat and piled his plate with food.
“Where’s James?” He asked between bites.
“In his room with R.J. and Will. I don’t know what they’re up to, but R.J. and Will showed up in the fireplace at seven this morning and James has that twinkle in his eye.”
Harry made a look as if to say, “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Oh yes you do,” She said reading his expression. “It’s the same one you get when you’re about to do something you’re not supposed to.”
“Uh, oh. What did you do this time Dad? Get caught flying a bewitched car or stealing a Hippogriff?” James asked as he entered the kitchen having heard only the last few words of his mother’s sentence. James was followed into the kitchen by his two best friends.
James was the carbon copy of Harry; the impossibly untidy black hair, the almond shaped green eyes, the thin handsome face, and the disregard for any and all rules.
“How do you know about that?” Harry asked, a little taken aback. He didn’t make a habit of telling James about his days as a student at Hogwarts, mostly for fear of giving the kid ideas.
“Hagrid told us.” Said R.J, taking the seat next to James at the table.
Ronald Remus Weasley, otherwise known as R.J., on the other hand, looked nothing like his father. He was tall and broad shouldered, with bushy brown hair and brown eyes. He was a very handsome kid, who looked older than his sixteen years, mostly because he was so big. Harry was always reminded of the Muggle sport Rugby when looking at R.J., but though he was broad and athletic, he had inherited Hermione’s brain. Unfortunately, he used it to help James get in and out of trouble.
The last to sit, Arthur William Weasley, better known as Will, was the son of Bill and Fleur Weasley and looked just like a Weasley. He had bright red hair, loads of freckles and the long thin features that so much of his family shared. Will was a year older than James and R.J. and was going to be starting his seventh year at Hogwarts in a few weeks. Harry thought that Will was the Lupin to the other two’s Potter and Black of the original Marauders, which made him smile.
“By the way,” Harry said, “where’s my map?”
James looked up from his plate, eyebrows arched. “You said I could have it.”
“No. I said you could use it during the school year for academic pursuits, which I have no doubt you are not, but it is summer now and I still don’t have it back.”
Ginny nearly chocked on her coffee and had to take a few breaths before being able to speak. “Academic pursuits?” She sputtered.
“That’s what I used it for.” Harry smiled.
“Sure, you did.” She shot him an amused smile and winked, but the boys missed it and glowered at each other.
“Fine, I’ll get it later. It’s in my room.” James gave the other two furtive looks and they frowned.
“I don’t know what you three are up to, but I am watching you and if I catch even one toe out of line, you are all going to be very sorry. Are we understood?” Ginny was glaring across the table at the three boys.
“Why would we be up to something?” James asked innocently.
“Come off it.” She said. “We are leaving at eleven. The two of you,” she indicated R.J. and Will “are welcome to travel with us if your parents say it is alright.”
“Thanks Aunt Ginny, but my mum said I have to accompany her since my dad’s out of town.” Will said. “She doesn’t want to go alone.”
“Can’t blame her there.” Harry said.
They all finished eating and wandered off to get ready for what Ginny liked to call the Wedding of Doom. That afternoon they were all being forced to attend Percy Weasley’s wedding and none were much too excited.
After a long separation from his family (due to his unwillingness to accept his family’s opposing views to the Ministry in regards to Voldemort) Percy had been readmitted to the family folds when, having had an attack of conscience, he showed up weeping at Charlie’s funeral. Charlie Weasley had been killed in a battle that was instigated by Ex-Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour, who turned out to be a traitor and used Percy to (unknown by Percy) leak information to Voldemort. The end result was a bloody battle that left Charlie and four others dead, Nymphadora Tonks in St. Mungo’s for two months and countless others injured. It was one of the worst blows to the Order of the Phoenix and Percy rightfully felt responsible. Despite Molly’s joy at having her son back, the rest of the family never really got to the point where they could forgive him for his actions. Percy was definitely the outcast, but as far as Harry was concerned, he did it to himself.
By eleven o’clock, everyone, including R.J. and Ron and Hermione, who had walked the half a mile from their own house, were standing in the Potters’ living room. The plan was to floo over to the Burrow where the wedding was being held and if Harry got his way, floo right home as soon as it was over, but he suspected that they would be detained most of the day.
“Do I have to go?” Ron asked and Hermione elbowed him sharply in the ribs.
“Yes, so quit it.”
“Harry, think of a way out of this.” Ron prodded.
“Sorry mate, we’re stuck. Besides Hermione was always the thinker, I’m just the muscle.” Harry grinned at Ron’s thoroughly dejected expression.
“You’re the savior of the free world and you can’t get us out of a stupid wedding?” Ron joked.
“Har har.” Harry mocked laughing and punched him in the arm.
After several minutes and blasts of green flame they were all gathered in the dining room of the Burrow greeting family members. Molly was in the kitchen cooking, Fred and George (still quite the eligible bachelors) were conjuring chairs out of thin air and sending them flying out the open front door onto the lawn where they lined themselves up in perfect rows, and Arthur was hugging all of his grandchildren in turn.
Harry loved his family, he loved all of them more than he was comfortable admitting, but he did not love Percy and he really did not love Percy’s fiancé. So, despite his joy at being surrounded by his family he was a little uneasy at the idea of being surrounded by the family of Pansy Parkinson as well. In fact, none of them liked Pansy and were all quite surprised when their engagement had been announced. But the Weasleys were an accepting bunch and she was welcomed with several pairs of open arms…well, mostly just Molly’s but everyone pretended to be happy about it.
* ** *
James Harry Potter was not exactly what you might call “in a good mood.” He and R.J. and Will had been planning an excellent back to school prank, but without the Marauder’s Map it was going to be darn near impossible. The map was essential to pulling it off and now his dad had gone and ruined it by taking the map back. He had been brooding on how to work around the problem all morning to no avail, so by the time he reached his grandparents’ house he was very grumpy.
James was not fond of his Uncle Percy. He knew, of course, why most of the rest of the family was uneasy with him, but all of that happened before James was born so it really didn’t affect his opinion of his uncle. James did not like Percy because Percy was a rude little snot. He had never been able to stand the level of importance that Percy attached to himself and the condescending way he spoke to other people, like they were simpletons. If there was one thing James could not stand it was the thought that anyone was less important than anyone else. Sure, he was a troublemaker and a prankster and had been accused on more than one occasion of being arrogant; he was a Potter after all. He had is fair share of detentions for picking on other students, even for a few duels, but not once, even for a second, did James believe any of those other students to be less important than he His family had lost far too much to the people who felt that way for him to tolerate an attitude like that. Having someone in the family who acted superior based on his own opinion of himself was a real thorn in his side.
After stepping out of the fire, dusting himself off and saying hello to the portion of the family that was already at the Burrow, James slumped moodily in a chair by the fire. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his mother pull his father off into a corner. He could not hear what was being said, but his mum had a very serious look on her face and James was sure she was telling his dad that he had been caught attempting to sneak out of the house the night before. But then she broke into a huge smile and his dad pulled her into a bone-crushing hug, then he kissed her for a very long time, at which point James looked away. James slumped further into his chair. He had seen the same type of exchange between his parents twice before and it never really worked out too well for him.
Then he heard his mum giggle and he looked back to see that she had her finger pressed to her lips in the universal “be quiet” gesture and a happy realization struck him. His parents were going to steal Percy’s thunder and announce that they were having another baby on his wedding day! How very sadistic, and yet, so very funny. His mum looked up and caught his eye. She gave him a very pointed glance and he shook his head as if to say “You two are ridiculous. I give up.” But his lips twitched up at the corners as he did it. She grinned back.
“James!” Fred was calling him through the window.
“What?” He called back.
“Get your lazy backside out here.”
James, a little happier now than a few minutes ago, hopped up from his chair and went into the yard to find Fred, George, Ron and R.J. (he had stopped calling his uncles “uncle” a few years before because it sounded so awkward as he got older). They were setting up the decorations. Tables and platters and streamer and cups and flatware were flying around in all directions, landing and arranging themselves on the lawn.
“You, my favorite nephew, are in charge of refreshments.” Said George, throwing an arm around James’s shoulder, which was about just about level with his own now.
“But I’m not supposed to use magic outside of school.”
“James, this is a special occasion.” Said Fred.
“And special occasions call for special privileges.” Said George.
“But won’t I get expelled?”
“Nope.” Fred said knowingly. “The ministry –
“Doesn’t know who –
“The magic is created by –
“Only where it’s created.” Finished George.
“So, as long as I’m in a place where magic is happening they can’t pin-point me?” James asked.
“That’s pretty much it.” Fred said.
“But I wouldn’t try it at home.” George said, glancing at the house. “Your mum will hang you by your ankles for a week.”
Fred nodded his agreement.
So, James and R.J., with permission from Ron and orders not to tell Hermione, set to work bewitching punch bowls and cups to fly across the yard and settle on the tables. By the time they were finished they had broken and repaired nearly half of the bowls. Ron then went around tapping the bowls with his wand causing them to fill with pink and yellow lemonade.
It was not long before James’s grandmother was calling the group back into the house.
When James reentered the dining room he found that there were several more people since he left it. Remus Lupin and Tonks had arrived and were chatting with Hermione and Professor McGonagall, two sullen people James recognized as Pansy’s parents were talking with Arthur, Fleur and Will were just stepping out of the fireplace and Percy was standing off to one side looking very peaky.
James quickly went to say hello to Lupin and Tonks. They were his favorite non-family family and he always looked forward to seeing them, though he had not seen either of them in several months as they had been on vacation to celebrate their anniversary.
“Hi.” He said walking up behind them.
Tonks turned and did a double take. “Good God, you look like your father. Freaks me out.”
“Try having known three of them. Now that’s freaky.” Lupin said smiling.
“How was your trip?” James asked.
“Oh, it was wonderful.” Tonks smiled brightly. “We saw the Great Wall of China and the pyramids and laid on the beach in Thailand. It was great.”
“Sounds dreadful.” Harry said as he walked up and greeted them. He hugged Tonks and Lupin and bowed exaggeratedly to McGonagall and said, “Good afternoon Headmistress, ma’am.”
“You are not funny Potter.” But she smiled as she said it.
“Hey, Harry. Thanks for the extra vacation time. We’re going to use it to stand outside your office and laugh and point at you.” Lupin said; a huge smile plastered across his face.
“I do what I can.” Harry caught James’s eye and winked.
** **
As far as Harry was concerned, that day could not have gotten any better. He was more than surprised when Ginny had pulled him off to the side and informed him that they would be having another baby. So great was his excitement that he could not stop grinning and his heart was beating so fast he was sure it would explode. He didn’t even care that he was a groomsman in the wedding of two people he couldn’t stand because in a matter of months, Harry would have another member of his family to love. His early life had been so devoid of it that he never really felt he could give too much. He did, however, hate to be sappy, so he restrained himself from hugging and kissing everyone in the room.
He caught sight of James talking with Lupin, Tonks, Hermione and McGonagall and rushed over to talk with them. He made his hellos and bowed to McGonagall just to see her reaction.
“So what was the little argument about anyway?” Tonks wanted to know.
“Well I said that Wood was a better Keeper than Gorham and Ron said that I was totally wrong and that Franklin was better than both of them put together.” Harry said.
“And then three former Death Eaters suddenly hexed themselves?” James asked.
“Well, they never were very smart.” Harry smiled at James and felt a surge of affection for his son’s sarcastic nature. “It’s a good thing Ron and I were there though. They probably would have just gone on hexing themselves for hours if we hadn’t stopped them.”
Hermione, who was looking less than amused at all of this, said, “I should fire you, I should.”
“Okay, then. I’d like to see you try and find a replacement for Harry-I-defeated-the-most-powerful-evil-wizard-of-our-time-but-prefer-to-work-as-an-Auror-for-my-friend-Hermione-Potter.” Harry said.
“Now I should really fire you for exceeding your limit on arrogance.”
“Oho! Ron! Come quick. Hermione made a funny!” Harry mock hollered across the room.
“You are definitely fired.”
“You can’t. You don’t even pay me.”
At this revelation everyone laughed, even Hermione.
Molly was passing out instructions and orders to various members of the wedding party. She was looking very happy if not slightly rumpled. Harry glanced at the clock and saw that guests would be arriving within the half hour. Molly could be overheard mumbling about various details she did not want to forget. Once she had satisfactorily given each person his or her specific instructions she headed back into the kitchen, but before she made it out of the room, a voice interrupted the chatter.
“Everyone.” Ginny said and Harry quickly walked across the room to her as the small crowd fell quiet. “I have something to say. Harry and I are having another baby.” She said without hesitation.
Molly screamed and giggled loudly, while everyone else made various congratulatory comments. James rolled his eyes and sighed loudly and Percy scoffed.
Seeing James’s reaction, Harry tore himself away from his wife and went to pester his oldest son.
“Problem?” Harry asked.
“No.”
“Liar.”
** **
James gave his dad an appraising look as he accused him of lying about whether or not he had a problem with them having another baby and saw that his dad was really very happy.
“No, really. I don’t have a problem.” He said and to his surprise he meant it. As annoying as little brothers and sisters were, James did actually like his. It must have shown on his face because his dad seemed to accept his answer and clapped him on the arm.
“Don’t worry, you won’t have to share your room.”
“I know. We’ve got seven bedrooms.” James said and as an afterthought added, “But that does not mean you have to fill all of them.”
** **
Soon the guests started arriving and James and R.J. were called into active duty seating them. There were many members of the Ministry in attendance as Percy was still employed there, as was half the family. James recognized a few fellow students with their parents and seated several other people he had never seen before. One of whom, a tall fair-skinned woman with long blond hair that was streaked with white, glowered at him rudely for several minutes.
When it looked as though everyone was seated, James and R.J. went back into the house. The wedding party was finalizing the details about who was walking with whom and who went first, but Percy was sitting in a chair with his head between his knees.
“Percy doesn’t look so good does he?” R.J. commented.
“Looks like ****.” James said, before turning to look for his father. He found him talking with Ron. “Oi, Dad.”
His dad looked over and raised an eyebrow in question.
“Could you come over hear a minute?”
His dad and Uncle crossed the room to where James and R.J. were standing by the window.
“Do you know why that woman would be trying to kill me with her eyes?” James pointed to the blond woman seated among the many guests.
“Narcissa Malfoy?” Ron said, surprised. “Must be a guest of the bride.”
“How very quaint.” Harry muttered.
“And why does she look like she wants to hex me?” James asked.
“Well, her son Draco and I were what you might call arch enemies.”
R.J. interrupted, “Oh, he’s the one who was supposed to kill Albus Dumbledore, but couldn’t and so Severus Snape had to, which lead to the all out war. Draco Malfoy and his father Lucius died in the war too, right?”
“In a nut shell.” Harry said.
“So that woman hates me because of you?”
Harry smiled and patted James on the shoulder. “And you thought looking like me was cool.”
“Nope, never did.” James countered.
His father simply smiled at him.
** **
Once Percy had managed to pull himself together, he went out to where the Ministry official who would be performing the ceremony stood beneath an archway of ivy and white calla lilies. It all looked quite nice actually, Harry thought as he and the other groomsmen made their way to the front of the crowd.
They had only just lined themselves up behind Percy when Ginny appeared at the back of the rows of seated guests and began to walk toward them. Harry caught her eye and smiled. She was, in his opinion, which was the only one that mattered of course, the most perfect creature in the history of the world. She wore a long flowing gold dress and white flowers in her hair, which was pinned up in the back. She took her place opposite the groomsmen, still holding Harry’s gaze.
Soon they were all standing at the archway, the bride included, who was wearing a monstrosity of a dress that appeared to be made up of giant cotton balls, excessive amounts of white netting, and all the feathers of a flock of seagulls. She did not smile or even give the smallest hint that she was happy. Then again, Harry remembered, the only time he had ever seen Pansy smile was back when they were students at Hogwarts and she was tormenting Hermione or Ron or himself and he was reminded how much he really didn’t like her.
It was a quick ceremony, which suited everyone quite well and before too long they were all seated at the tables enjoying Molly’s delicious meal. Unfortunately Harry was forced to sit at the head table with the wedding party, which would have been alright except they seated all of the groomsmen on one side and the bridesmaids on the other, so he didn’t even get to sit next to Ginny. He was seated between Percy and Ron, the former talking loudly of his growing influence at the Ministry and the high level of responsibility he was given, while the latter rattled off insults and smart *** remarks just loud enough for Harry to hear. Harry had been unable to stand it any longer and as everyone was just finishing desert he left the table and took up a seat next to James.
James was sitting with Lupin, Tonks, Hagrid and McGonagall. James had Abby perched on his knee and was trying to coax her into trying a bite of Roast Beef, while Tonks had Sirius on her lap and was helping him eat wedding cake. Sirius needed no coaxing into anything ever, thought Harry. He dove right into anything with no hesitation or fear. Even at one-year-old, it was clear that naming him Sirius was perhaps not a great idea.
“His mother’s going to kill you for hopping him up on sugar. Poor woman, who is she?” Harry said to Tonks.
“Daddy, I don’t want to eat Roast Beast! James says I have to.” Abby wailed.
“Well I can’t make you eat, but you don’t get cake unless you eat something that is not made entirely of sugar.”
“Hagrid already fed her two pieces of cake.” James said.
“Oooh, I’m telling Ginny.” Harry teased.
“Hey, tha’s jus’ mean Harry.” Hagrid blushed. “The little tyke was jus’ hungry.”
“Still telling.”
NEXT CHAPTER SOON
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