My first fic. Modified and reposted in June 08 to iron it out a little.
Disclaimer: Not mine - JK's. Just playing.
Warnings: Breaks R/L & D/G ships.
Chapter One
The Patronus
The warm yellow lights of The Burrow shone into focus as Harry felt the familiar pressure of Apparition release his lungs.
He smiled to himself; no matter what, it was still one of his favorite places in the world. Normal night noises assailed him as he walked up the path and he recognized the peace he felt approaching this place. Ironic, when he had been steadfastly avoiding coming here for so long now. But the smell of the flowers in the front garden were so warmly familiar they almost soothed his nerves. Almost. He ran a hand briskly through his hair and reached out to rap sharply on the front door.
He watched the shadow approach the glass panels on the front door and realized he was holding his breath. Letting it out he pasted a smile on his face to greet Ron as he opened the door.
"Harry!" Ron pulled him inside by the arm, wrapping him in a rough hug and patting his back hard.
"It's bloody good to see you mate"
Harry grinned and returned the hug, letting Ron lead him to the chair by the fire.
He stole a glance around the room; still familiar but definitely redecorated - more orderly than his memories. He noted the photos moving in their frames on the mantelpiece; some group shots of the Order and a few of his god son Teddy, each with his hair a different colour. He smiled and stepped closer to examine them, noticing another picture, over ten years old now, of Ron, Hermione, Ginny and himself. God time seems to go so fast, he thought, vividly recalling the shot being taken the day after they defeated Voldemort and they were heady with victory but also just as heavy with grief. It was a strange time, so bittersweet and his eyes lingered on the photo.
'...you been?" Ron's last words came into focus and Harry guessed at a suitable answer.
"Great, yeah fine, just busy." He smiled at Ron "It's good to see you"
"You too, Harry" he grinned "Hermione has been on at me to get you here for so long, she thinks you're avoiding her!" Ron laughed.
Harry's smile faltered a little but he gathered himself again to laugh Ron's comment off.
"Of course not - no I've just been so busy with Charlie and everything…" he faded off
"Yeah, mate I know" Ron said cheerfully. "Listen, Firewhisky? Butterbeer?" he said as he headed for the kitchen.
"Ah… Firewhisky, why not." Harry replied.
A whizzing noise erupted from the fire's grate and the flames swelled and changed, bathing the room in blue.
"Here's Hermione" called Ron unnecessarily as Hermoine spun into focus in the fireplace.
She straightened and stepped out of the grate brushing at her robes. Her eyes travelled slowly up from her feet, and she visibly gave a start once she focused on Harry sitting in one of the squashy armchairs.
"Harry?" she said breathlessly, staring at him as if she wasn't sure he was really there.
"Hi, Hermione"
He stood up but didn't move towards her. Her features flickered with confusion for a second before she strode towards him and purposefully grasped him; in a firm hug as she always had. He noticed he didn't get his usual face full of bushy hair - he set her back from him and studied her.
"You've had a haircut."
Hermione self consciously touched her long curls.
"Oh I know well, I just got it tidied up sort of… It's actually longer now I just, I learnt better charms to make it stay… down" she blushed.
Harry reached out and touched a long tendril, shiny and sleek. But he'd seen her new hair before now, nearly a month ago, in a photo in the Daily Prophet. It had been of her and her co-workers in front of the new offices of the Magical Law Enforcement wing of the Ministry. The last time he'd seen her in person was… even longer. She looked good, and he told her so.
"It looks great… you look.. great."
"Thanks Harry" she smiled, her cheeks still pink. "And you, wow! Look at you without your glasses! I hardly recognized you!" She shook her head, knowing that wasn't true. He looked the same as always, just older, and sadder. His green eyes were even more noticeable without the glasses and she felt her hand go up to touch his scar automatically "Your scar's really faded… you look really different Harry."
Harry smiled and leaned back a little before brushing her hand gently away. "Well that was the idea." He shrugged. "And it was about time I got rid of those glasses anyway…"
Hermione laughed "Yeah I got sick of fixing them all the time".
The unacknowledged tension that had lay between them since her arrival seemed to lift a little then, and they laughed together, each recognizing that the other was thinking of their very first meeting and of a bossy Hermione pointing her wand between his eyes and fixing his glasses for the first time.
They smiled at each other and Hermione touched his arm to lead him towards the kitchen. They found Ron heading back, behind 3 glasses hovering in mid air.
Hermione took one and kissed Ron on the cheek; the other two made their way to the boys. Harry took a seat at the breakfast bar and looked away as Ron hugged Hermione and asked her about her day.
She moved to lean on the bar. "I was just saying to Harry how different he looks without his glasses - and his scar. How it's faded."
"Yeah! Too right. That's that Muggle remedy isn't it?" Ron wiped his lips after a swig of Firewhisky "When they use those Lancers, or something? Dad was fascinated when he heard - but Mum thought you were mad" He raised his voice into a fairly accurate imitation of his mother's. "That Muggle medicine, I mean he really shouldn't trust it Arthur, it's so barbaric!"
Harry laughed as he took a sip of his own drink. "Yeah, well it's one they have over us wizards because they seem to be fixed". He caught his reflection in a pan hanging on the kitchen wall. "And the scar… I don't know if it's just time or the lack of connection now …but it's really faded"
He rubbed it absently, reminding both Ron and Hermione of days gone by when he'd rub it in pain.
"I'm glad" said Hermione quite forcefully, causing both men to turn and look at her. "Well I just mean, it's good, Harry deserves a bit of privacy for a change, he's had that pressure for too long."
Harry smiled at her. "Yeah, I can't say I'm unhappy about it"
Ron lifted his glass "Well, now that we're together …finally…" -he smiled ruefully at Harry, "…then we should have a toast. To…"
"Teddy" Harry interrupted. He wasn't in the mood for anything deeper tonight, he just couldn't take mentioning old or absent friends. "He's just got his Hogwarts letter."
"Oh, that's wonderful!" said Hermione.
"Yeah I can't wait to take him to Diagon Alley this weekend" Harry grinned "Get him his Quidditch gear and everything."
Hermione frowned. "And his wand, Harry- not to mention all his books! Besides, first years aren't really supposed to have brooms and…"
She trailed off as Ron and Harry laughed at her, blushing, but smiling good naturedly.
"I guess things don't really change, do they." She took a drink, shaking her head.
Silence fell over them and Harry stared into his glass. No, nothing changes he thought.
"So!" said Ron a little too loudly. "Lets eat then shall we?"
They busied themselves getting dinner ready and an easy conversation started to flow, reminding Harry of times before - in their holidays at The Burrow. The three of them, doing jobs for Mrs Weasley. It was different - so different now though. There were always so many- too many people in the Burrow at most meal times Harry had been there- but now that Mr and Mrs Weasley had moved to the large house just up the road that George had bought for them, all the hustle and bustle had moved up there.
Harry went to the Weasleys fairly often, usually with Teddy in tow so Mrs Weasley could fuss over him and worry he was too skinny and to make sure that he was taking his Wolfsbane potion when he should. Teddy didn't mind at all- nothing much fazed the kid, he was as cheerful as his Mum but as clever as his Dad. He'd take the attention good naturedly then pelt off to play with Bill and Fleur's three girls out in the garden, fighting with Victorie over who got to play seeker and teasing the twins Francine and Freda. George's kids would even out the field though, with the two little redhead boys around, it would remind Harry fondly of his happy childhood times playing with Ron and his brothers.
Now everything was a little more complicated, ironic, because now life should have been easier without the shadow of Voldemort over them all, but sometimes Harry noted, he felt like it still was - Tom Riddle still affecting his life as much as always. Everything that had happened, his memory of his experiences with the Dark Lord hadn't faded along with his scar; it felt burned into his memory like a brand.
"…so I was wanted to ask you what happened."
Hermione was leveling him with a direct stare over her plate and Ron had his head down concentrating hard on eating his meal.
"What…sorry… I missed that." Harry said apologetically, coming back to the present again.
Hermione looked bemused but started again. "I said, Charlie was saying you two were attacked by a Dementor in New Zealand…"
"Oh yeah… that was crazy, who would've thought they'd be down there…"
"And," she continued stubbornly, "He let slip that you had trouble with your Patronus and that it was a ferret or something?" Hermione finished, staring directly at Harry.
"No, well…what happened was" Harry swallowed his food with difficulty and then stopped.
"You know what, Hermione…I don't really want to talk about it"
He joined Ron concentrating on his plate, but as he knew Hermione wouldn't drop it.
"You know, its okay if you're still upset about Ginny. I know it was you who ended it, but it still must be a little strange with her living with Viktor.."
Harry actually laughed with surprise.
"Oh no, really that's not it, Hermione, I'm really fine with that - it's great I think ..." he caught himself, realizing what was coming next.
"Well, then what is it, Harry? We never see you, even if you are in the country and your Patronus changes, which we know means something is bothering you but you won't tell us anything! I'm worried about you." She finished breathlessly and Harry noticed her eyes welling up with tears.
Harry put down his knife and fork and cast around for something to tell her. "I'm just, I'm just concerned about Teddy that's all" he settled for - although he knew instantly that it sounded unconvincing.
Hermione went to start up again, but this time Ron spoke up.
"Hermione, drop it. If Harry doesn't want to tell us…"
"Really, you guys, it's nothing" Harry interrupted, determined to settle things down again. "It's just, I've just been busy and, and I don't know what happened with my Patronus it's…" He looked at Hermione "It must be to do with Ginny I guess though I really am okay about all that. Please believe me, Hermione, I don't want you to worry."
She looked up into his solemn face and decided to drop it for now.
"Okay. If you say so."
They ate the rest of their meal without incident although Hermione was quiet. They talked about Ron's work at the Ministry and he confirmed to Harry the rumors that he could succeed Kingsley at his retirement next year to become the youngest Minister of Magic to date. Harry jabbed his arm in congratulations and they laughed about how Percy was most put out that he'd be working under Ron.
Ron had proved to be popular with the Wizarding community for his straight forward attitude, mixed with his lack of fear in facing any challenge head on and getting things done. Mr and Mrs Weasley were positively bursting with pride at their youngest sons' achievements, as they were with all their children - but Mrs Weasley would get teary talking about how Ron 'proved to everyone that hard work and bravery pays off in the end'. Ginny would roll her eyes every time Molly started that speech but Harry knew she was very proud of her brother too.
"So Ginny's playing this Saturday night - we're all watching the game at Mum's, do you think you'll make it Harry?"
"Oh …yeah." Harry glanced at Hermione. "Hopefully…if not Teddy will love to come I'm sure - wearing all his Chudley Cannons gear with his hair bright orange" he laughed.
"Well just lucky for him he can change it back to navy and gold for your games with Puddlemere" laughed Ron
Harry cleared his throat. "Well actually, he'll have to practice blue and silver… I've signed with Appleby."
Ron raised his eyebrows and looked from Harry to Hermione. "Appleby Arrows! Great - wow that'll be… but that's up North how are you going to work that?"
"Well, I figured Teddy's at school now and so I'll move up there for a bit. I'll be able to come back for his holidays of course" said Harry, steadfastly avoiding Hermione's questioning gaze.
Ron grinned. "Well of course, if they want the world's most sought after Seeker than they'll let you do whatever you like! Good on you, mate that's great. Don't worry, I'll make sure we'll have an even split at Mum's when you play the Cannons - Ginny's just signed with them again for the next two seasons and they're looking at picking up Viktor too, huh, if they can afford him… but I'll still get out the blue and silver for you…"
Hermione frowned at Ron who lost his grin all of a sudden and started stammering.
"Uh I mean, oh sorry I didn't think…" he blurted
Harry held his hands up, "No, really, I'm fine" he stressed "Seriously, I knew that. Teddy and I went to Ginny and Viktor's the other night; he really wanted Viktor's autograph. He probably went through all the colours of the rainbow while they were talking. And Viktor was really great with him."
Ron laughed and Harry glanced at Hermione, still watching him closely.
"Look, I really better go, I've gotta pick up Teddy from Andromeda's - he's been there for the last week while I've been away and I shouldn't keep him waiting."
He scraped his chair to stand up, Ron following suit. "Thanks so much for dinner it was really great."
Ron grabbed him in a back slapping hug again.
"So good to see you, mate. It can't take us so long till next time okay? You know you're always welcome here; you don't ever need to tell us, just turn up anytime. That's right isn't it, Hermione?"
She'd come around to Ron's side and was looking up at Harry, too closely and a little too sadly for his liking.
"Of course. Harry, you know that" she said.
She stepped forward and put her hand on his arm as she reached up to kiss his cheek, Harry doing the same thing at the same time resulting in an awkward near collision. Harry patted her arm softly and stepped back.
"Well, I'll be in touch. Take care of each other" He smiled, and only Hermione noticed it the smile didn't touch his eyes. Then he turned away from the two of them before disappearing with a pop.
"Well."
"Well what? See, he's fine, Hermione! What are you worried about?" said Ron, turning to go and get his third helping of dessert from the kitchen.
Hermione stood staring at the spot where Harry had disapparated for a full minute before heading to the kitchen to begin clearing up.
~"~