Harry Potter just wanted to go home, was that too much to ask? His injuries had healed enough to be released from the hospital after two days. His right leg wasn't fully healed but a cane and an order to stay off of it as much as possible were sufficient enough for the doctors to release him and send him on his way. Cornelius Fudge and his cronies had other ideas however.
"It's amazing how politicians love to get their picture taken with a hero. Suppose it's sort of like heroism by association," Harry thought to himself with a slight chuckle.
For the last two and a half days since his release he had been shuffled between Ministry offices repeatedly to recount his victory for official court records. After each meeting "the dance" would begin. Seemingly by coincidence, reporters and photographers would be waiting outside the office door as the officials left, all trying to stand as closely to Harry as possible. "We have no comment at this time except to say that we are delighted that this reign of terror has ended and we want to thank Mr. Potter for his assistance in this matter. There are many heroes in this war…" and on and on they went. Harry found it humorous how each official had such a well prepared speech for what was supposedly an unplanned press conference.
Every once in awhile Harry would ask a question just to see them squirm.
"I was always told that security at the Ministry is even tighter than at Hogwarts."
"You are correct Mr. Potter, nothing happens here that we don't know about," was the standard response.
"Then why are all these reporters allowed to wander the halls?"
"Umm, well you see, that is to say, well, it's been very hectic with your magnificent victory over You-Know-Who-"
"His name was Voldemort"
"Yes, correct, well, as I was saying it's been extremely hectic…"
After three days the meetings had finally reached an end and Harry was set to return to Hogwarts, or so he thought. Cornelius Fudge had arranged for he and Harry to be interviewed by Beatrice Parker, a reporter for the Daily Prophet. Ever since Hermione had released Rita Skeeter six months ago Harry had read the Daily Prophet regularly to see if Rita had been up to her old exploits. Because of this Harry was aware of Ms. Parker's writing and believed her to be an honest, impartial reporter. He agreed to the interview on one condition- as soon as the interview was over he would be leaving for Hogwarts.
The interview went as expected. Harry would give short, concise answers only to be elaborated on ad nauseum by the esteemed Mr. Fudge. "God here he goes again," Harry thought as Fudge started up once more. Harry's only respite from these meetings were the last two evenings which he spent at the Burrow with Arthur and Molly Weasley. Fudge's voice began to fade out as Harry remembered the event that took place two nights ago.
"Does it ever seem odd to you?" Harry asked Mrs. Weasley as they sat together in comfortable silence..
"What's that dear?"
"It's just that it's so quiet around here without your kids running about. Don't get me wrong, after all the talking I've had to listen to lately I'm not complaining. It just seems…odd."
Molly put down her knitting and looked at Harry. "I know what you mean…it's always nice the first few days of the school term to have a quiet home, especially the lack of explosions." She chuckled to herself as she thought about the twins and their "inventions". "But I much prefer the noise of my children to the silence. Oh look at the time Harry, I promised the doctors you'd get to bed early if they let you stay here, you better get a move on."
"Besides," Arthur piped in, "you want to make sure to get a lot of rest for all the pictures they'll be taking of you tomorrow."
"Yeah, can't wait," Harry said with a smile as he limped up the stairs.
After reaching the top of the stairs Harry instinctively walked towards the steps to Ron's room to go to bed. He was stopped by the voice of Arthur who had followed him up the steps with Molly.
"Harry, you won't be sleeping in there tonight, you can use Percy's old room, right here."
Harry walked into the mostly empty room and was surprised to see two Quidditch posters, one of the English National team and one of the Chudley Cannons, on the wall.
"I never knew Percy liked Quidditch."
"He doesn't Harry, we put those up today."
"That's very nice of you but you didn't have to go to the trouble, I'll only be here a couple of days."
Arthur and Molly looked at each other and stepped into the room, slight smiles on both their faces. Arthur spoke.
"Harry, Molly and I had a discussion, a very short discussion, about you last night. It was short because we were both in complete agreement and no real talking was necessary."
Arthur then walked over to Harry, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"I think you know how fond Molly and I are of you. The truth is we both consider you one of our children. We know we can never replace your real mother and father but we want you to know that you do have a family, and it's here. This is your room now Harry, if you want it. This is your home for as long as you would like it to be."
Harry was roused out of his daydream by Ms. Parker.
"Mr. Potter…Mr. Potter?"
"Yes, sorry about that, must have been lost in my thoughts. What was that you were asking?"
"I was wondering how it felt knowing that someone at the Ministry had been looking out for you all these years?"
He was surprised to be asked about Mr. Weasley. Arthur seemed to be the only Ministry official who hadn't been hovering around him the last few days and Harry did not think most reporters knew about their close relationship. Unlike the short, terse replies he had been giving up to that point, he now spoke with his heart.
"Well, as you probably know, my childhood was not, um, good. My parents died when I was so young and I lived with relatives who were…distant…to say the least. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley are the closest thing to a real family that I have ever known. I guess it doesn't matter whether or not he works for the Ministry to me. The only thing that matters is that they have been there for me whenever I've needed them. I really don't think I could have made it through everything I have without them."
Harry's answer was greeted by confused looks from Ms. Parker and Fudge.
"Sorry, Mr. Potter, I was speaking about your close relationship with Mr. Fudge, not Arthur Weasley. Didn't you hear him speaking about it?"
"Oh, my mistake." Harry shot a suspicious glance toward Fudge. "Like I said I was lost in my thoughts for a minute. If you could repeat back what he said I'd be happy to comment."
Harry was extremely interested to hear about his "close" relationship with Fudge.
Ms. Parker read her transcript of Mr. Fudge's words back to him.
"I've tried to look after him since he arrived at Hogwarts. I'm sure I don't have to tell you about the circumstances in which he grew up…tragic really. I've always considered myself a mentor to Harry. He knows he can come to me, night or day, if he needs something."
Harry snorted as the words of his "mentor" were read back to him. He smiled and cast a quick glance over to Fudge, who seemed to be growing increasingly uncomfortable. Harry couldn't help but grin as he thought about Fudge's words and how ridiculous they were.
"Well, that's very interesting. Maybe the best thing I could say is I wasn't aware of Mr. Fudge's affection for me until after I defeated Voldemort and leave it at that."
"Very well, then. Mr. Potter, since you brought his name up let me ask you about Arthur Weas-"
Ms. Parker's question was cut off by an agitated Fudge.
"Well that's all the time we have for you, Ms. Parker. I'm sure you know that Harry needs to get back to Hogwarts tonight, wouldn't want to keep him."
Suddenly Harry wasn't minding the interview nearly as much. Seeing Fudge squirm as someone was getting credit besides himself was actually enjoyable. "That's okay Mr. Fudge, I'd be happy to answer her question. And please, Ms. Parker, call me Harry."
After a few more questions that didn't involve the advancement of his career Fudge had heard enough.
"I really must insist we end this now, Ms. Parker, I'm sure you'll understand, what with Harry's condition. The boy needs his rest you know."
"I understand Mr. Fudge, thank you for your time. Thank you as well Mr. Pott-, Harry."
"My pleasure," Harry responded with a smile. He really didn't know what had come over him. Something had changed inside since his defeat of Voldemort. Gone were the fears and insecurities that had seemed to hound him on a daily basis. He would never forget the lives that had been lost but he found himself looking for the joy in life instead of constantly searching out the possible dread and fear that used to lurk inevitably around every corner. "So this is what having a life feels like," he thought to himself.
Fudge interrupted Harry's thoughts with the words he'd been waiting to hear for days. "Your car is waiting for you, Mr. Potter. You'll be back at Hogwarts by the end of the night."
"About bloody time…" he muttered as he walked out of the Ministry, hoping he would not be back anytime soon.
As he climbed into the car he thought about the last five days. He had ended Voldemort's reign and become part of a real family in less than a week's time. "Only one more thing to take care of. Hope she's still awake when I get there..." he thought as the car pulled away from the Ministry. And then it happened, a new sort of fear began to grow inside of Harry. The source of the fear was a person that held more power over Harry than Voldemort ever had…Miss Hermione Granger.