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SIYE Time:9:40 on 19th March 2024
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Restless Heart Syndrome
By notadryeeye

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Category: Alternate Universe, Post-Hogwarts
Characters:All
Genres: Angst, Drama, Romance
Warnings: Mild Language, Sexual Situations
Rating: R
Reviews: 429
Summary: 17 Years have passed since the fall of Voldemort. Just as the world thinks it has finally started to heal and move on, some things thought long lost begin to awaken.
Hitcount: Story Total: 102993; Chapter Total: 5768





Author's Notes:
Sorry for late post. You've had your guesses...here are your answers.




ChapterPrinter
StoryPrinter


“Do you think he'd run?” Ron asked a few minutes after he and Hermione had settled onto a bench along the wall of the first floor lobby, watching as students continued to mill about.

“No. We know where he is now. We know he's alive,” Hermione replied. “I think he knows we'd just keep looking if he did.”

Ron nodded, hoping that she was right.

There wasn't much more conversation between the two as they waited. It seemed that the confusion and shock over the fact that Harry knew he was really Harry and he remembered them was too much to analyze just yet. Until they could sit down and talk with Harry and figure out what was going on, there wasn't much to say.

It turned out that they only had to wait about twenty minutes before Hermione spotted Harry coming down the stairs towards them. They both stood from their seats and Hermione waved, catching Harry's attention so that he headed towards them from across the lobby.

“Everything go okay?” Hermione asked as Harry reached them.

“Yeah,” Harry replied with a nod. “Took a little longer than I thought it might. Sorry,” he added in apology.

“We weren't waiting long,” Hermione assured him with a smile.

“So...we're going somewhere to talk?” Ron said when they'd lapsed into a few moments silence, the three of them standing there, unsure of what exactly was supposed to happen now. Nearly eighteen years of being apart had suddenly driven an awkwardness upon them.

“Yeah...” Harry said slowly with a nod. “We–er--we can go to my place if you guys want. It's just out of the city, but it's quiet.”

“If we're not going to be intruding...” Hermione said.

“Not at all,” Harry reassured them both.

“Are we–Apparating–there?” Ron asked in a quiet undertone. “Or should we--”

“I can drive,” Harry offered. “I've got some things in my car I can't leave–if that's alright,” he added in explanation. “It's about a 20 minute drive if traffic is okay. Otherwise–you two are more than free to just meet me.”

“We can all drive together,” Hermione replied for both she and Ron. “It'll give us a chance to maybe see a bit of the city too,” she added with a smile.

“You'll get a pretty amazing view of the lake area and Capitol on the way,” Harry offered.

“Lead the way then,” Ron said with a nod.

“It's a block or so walk to the parking ramp,” Harry informed them as he gestured to the doors and started to lead the way towards them from across the lobby. Neither of them responded about the distance, but followed him without question as they maneuvered through the steady stream of students coming in and out.

The five minute walk to the parking garage was spent in relative silence as people milled about them. Hermione made a few comments about the campus and asked a few questions about classes, all of which Harry answered with short, one-sentence answers before lapsing back into a pensive silence, his features wrought with the weight the events of the past hour or so.

Finally, after climbing two flights of stairs and walking the length of the dark, damp parking ramp, Ron saw corresponding red tail-lights flash as Harry pressed the button on the little black device attached to his key ring. The three of them moved towards the sleek black car parked third from the end.

Ron couldn't help but whistle his appreciation as they stopped beside it.

“Nice car,” Ron offered as he took in the shiny black BMW with tinted windows.

“Thanks,” Harry replied slightly awkwardly as he opened the driver-side door. Ron moved to the other side of the car, opposite Harry as Hermione stood near one of the rear doors. “It's the one thing I've really let myself splurge on,” he admitted with a slight smile as he gestured for Ron and Hermione to climb in.

The three of them slid into the interior of the car, the leather seats creaking and making slight noises as they settled in.

“This is quite the splurge,” Ron said as he surveyed the interior, taking in the slick wood and leather dash and upholstery, along with the incredibly sophisticated set of electronics and music system between them.

“Since when do you know anything about cars?” Harry asked as he fired the engine up, the intense and powerful rumbling noise and vibrations filling the air as it roared to life. Harry quickly shifted the gears of the car and they were soon backing up and pulling out into the roadway of the garage.

“It's the one thing that he and my father have really bonded over throughout the years,” Hermione answered from her spot in the back seat. “My dad took him to a car show and a race years ago and it's been a bit of an obsession since,” Hermione added with a sigh, although her amusement was apparent.

“It is not an obsession,” Ron protested. “My dad's love affair with plugs and electricity...that's an obsession. I just happen to have a keen interest.”

“I fail to see the difference,” Hermione replied.

Harry let out a small laugh at the banter between the two, shaking his head in amusement. The exchange was all too familiar it seemed, even with all the time that had gone by.

“I subscribe to a couple of auto magazines. I like to page through them. And like she said–I go to the occasional show or race with her dad,” Ron admitted. “Is this an M 6 or 7?” Ron asked in interest after taking another few seconds to look around.

“Seven,” Harry replied with a smile as they pulled out into traffic and began to drive down a city street.

“Brilliant,” Ron breathed out in appreciation.

“Maybe I should have let you drive home...” Harry offered as he turned right onto another road, merging into traffic.

“That's probably not the wisest idea,” Hermione again interjected from the back seat. “How many times have you failed the test now, dear?”

Ron immediately flushed his usual shade of red as he became heated with embarrassment.

“Eleven,” he responded in a quiet voice.

“Maybe it's a good thing I'm driving,” Harry teased as Hermione could be seen smirking in the rear view mirror.

“I have my Wizarding permit,” Ron said in defense of himself. “It's just the damn Muggle test I can't pass.”

“Because they won't let you drive with navigation and buffer charms, perhaps?” Hermione hinted aloud.

“Shut it, woman,” Ron grumbled under his breath, although a reluctant smile canceled out any anger or disrespect in his response.

Harry was smiling, looking between Ron and Hermione as they stopped at a red light and waited for cross-traffic to stop.

“I guess I just assumed...” Harry said to the two of them. “But you two are married?” he asked as the light turned green and the car lurched forward.

“For fifteen years,” Ron confirmed with a nod as he looked up to the rear view mirror to find his wife smiling back.

“Wow,” was all Harry managed to say as he sped up, pulling the car onto the busy highway.

“I know,” Ron responded with a smile. “We haven't managed to kill each other. Pretty impressive,” he added with a smirk as he glanced over his shoulder at Hermione, who had rolled her eyes at his comment.

“You married, mate?” Ron asked, his curiosity getting the best of him as he remembered the conversation between Harry and Elizabeth.

“Nope,” Harry answered without looking up as he changed lanes and passed a car that had been in front of them. “Never been,” he added.

There was something dismissive in the way Harry responded to Ron's question as he continued to focus on the road. It was almost as if Ron's inquiry had made him slightly uneasy and unwilling to elaborate further. Ron wanted to question and probe–to learn more about what had gone on in Harry's life in the past seventeen years--but he knew Hermione was silently willing him from her place in the back seat to abandon his current track of questioning based on Harry's reply.

“Sorry,” Harry breathed out, glancing sideways at Ron. “It's just–this is all a bit overwhelming," he added, as if he had realized how his last reply had sounded to them. “I don't even understand how we're even here right now–let alone having to think about all that's happened and all we don't know about each other,” he finished quietly.

“It is a bit much,” Hermione agreed, Ron nodding along with her statement. “And maybe it's best we wait to have this conversation and talk things out while we're not traveling at high rates of speed down the middle of a crowded highway,” she added, as Harry quickly changed lanes, pulling closely in front of a nearby car.

“Yeah,” Harry agreed distractedly as he raised a hand in apology as the car behind him beeped. “That's probably a good idea,” he added as the car now slowed and Harry steered them off the busy highway, onto a much quieter road.

“Or...we could just let Ron drive the rest of the way,” he added with a hint of a smile. Hermione's amused snicker could be heard from the back. Ron could only scowl.

------------------------------------ ------

“And the car was the splurge?” Ron asked in amazement as he walked through the door that Harry held open for he and Hermione. Minutes ago they had pulled onto a long, gravel drive that led them through a small wooded area. On the other side had sat a large house on the crest of a small hill, surrounded by an expansive lawn.

Harry could only smirk and flush slightly at Ron's comment as he ushered them inside. Once in, Harry flipped on the lights, illuminating the rich hardwood floors and earthy tones of a front entrance hall.

“This is amazing,” Hermione added as she looked around.

“Thanks,” Harry managed as he led them down the short hallway that opened up into the living room. “I was just going to rent an apartment when I first got here,” he began to explain. “But I came for a weekend to look at rentals and houses and fell in love with this place...even though it's a bit bigger than I really need...”

The living room was magnificent. It was a room that opened up into high-vaulted cathedral-type ceiling. In one corner sat a floor to ceiling fireplace made of field stone, a large flat-screen television mounted halfway up the stone face. A large-wrap around leather couch and matching recliner sat facing the corner.

“Harry, this really is a beautiful home,” Hermione added as they continued to follow Harry as they moved through the living room and into the kitchen.

Harry paused to look at Hermione momentarily as he flicked on the lights of the kitchen, revealing another hardwood floor space with rich wood cupboards and smooth granite counter tops.

“It is alright that we call you Harry?” Hermione asked quietly.

“Harry's fine,” he replied with a slight smile. “I'll answer to both, I guess. But I do know who I really am,” Harry added with a nod, gesturing for the two of them to take a seat on the stools that lined the outside edge of a section of counter top that jutted out and created a small bar area.

“That's a relief,” Ron sighed as he settled onto the stool. “I'm not sure I'd have been able to go along with calling you Evan the whole time.”

Ron had meant the comment as a joke and as a way to perhaps lighten the mood for what was going to be a heavy conversation to come. But there was something uncomfortable in Harry's stance as he leaned against the counter opposite them.

“It is who I've been for the past 17 years...and in reality–still am here,” Harry said as he crossed his arms across his chest. “I've only been–me--again for a short time. It's still kind of confusing to think about and try to separate...”

“So you do remember--everything--now?” Ron asked.

Harry nodded.

“It started coming back in flashes,” Harry began to explain. “I started having dreams and random thoughts and images would just pop up out of nowhere. I honestly thought at the time that I was having some sort of psychotic episode or late schizophrenic break...”

“But then...one morning I woke up...and it all was back. I knew who I was...who I'd been before,” Harry told them. “Those dreams and those flashes were my memories–moments in my life that all of the sudden made sense,” he added quietly.

“Although...admittedly, there was still a part of me that thought I might actually be going nuts until you both showed up today,” Harry admitted with a smirk. “I thought maybe there still might be a chance that I had multiple personality disorder or something...”

“You don't,” Hermione said, assuring him of his sanity. “Everything before was real. This is real,” she reassured him.

“And how exactly is it that we got here–to this point?” Harry asked with a raised brow as he surveyed his friends. “You guys have got a bit of explaining to do on your end too...”

“All these years we thought you were dead,” Ron responded. “We thought that whatever spell you used in the end...took you from us,” he added heavily.

“But obviously that's changed...” Harry replied.

Hermione nodded.

“About the same time that you say you started remembering things...Remus, Minerva and Professor Snape started to recall what they'd done for you,” Hermione began to explain. “The Unbreakable Vow, the enchantments in place–those that were supposed to make them forget–they all began to crumble and fail.”

Harry only shook his head in response–his disbelief evident.

“I don't understand how that's even possible,” Harry sighed.

“Neither does anybody else,” Ron interjected. “Remus couldn't explain why the marks from the Vow had gone and why they remembered.”

“So he just came out and told you–everything?” Harry asked as he glanced down at the wristwatch that was strapped to his right wrist.

“Not exactly,” Ron replied. “I sort of–er--stumbled into the middle of a little conversation they were having about you. So they didn't exactly come out with all this on their own. I was pretty forceful in getting them to tell me exactly what the hell they were on about.”

“Well if you know everything...I'm surprised you two didn't come here wanting my head for all of this,” Harry sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“That might come later,” Hermione said admitted, although here was a trace of smile on her face as she spoke. “We are going to at some point discuss why you thought it was alright to just leave us all behind and not think we'd be willing to there for you no matter what...but the time for that isn't right now.”

“Right now, I think it's best that we stick to talking about the past 17 years and try and fill in some of the blanks,” she added, hoping to defuse any conversation that might cause friction between the three of them.

Certainly pressing Harry to explain and justify his reasons for keeping her and Ron in the dark about the unknown Horcrux he contained and how he had made the decision to effectively stage his own death would lead Harry to close up and maybe even reject them. They'd come so far in just finding him and it was amazing that he actually remembered–that to risk any of that now was beyond consideration. So she thought it best to start out just catching up and reacquainting.

Harry nodded, seemingly grateful for not having to answer the tough questions just yet.

“So I assume you know a little about me?” Harry asked the both of them after a few seconds. “You obviously found me here and I'm sure you did your research,” he added, eying Hermione knowingly.

“We only know the basics,” Hermione admitted. “We were told that the Portkey misfired and somehow dropped you in New York State. Then you were found and taken to a hospital. When you recovered, you then went to live with a family, went to school, became a photographer and now you, obviously, teach here.”

“That's my life in a nutshell, I guess,” Harry said with a shrug. “I like to think it's been a bit more colorful than that,” he admitted with a slight smile.

“That's really just what we know,” Hermione said blushing, understanding that she'd made his life sound rather streamlined and one-dimensional in her explanation.

“It hasn't been an easy one,” Harry said quietly. “I've spent the past seventeen years not knowing my real name, where I came from–but I've tried to make the best of it. I think I've done alright.”

“You've done very well for yourself,” Hermione told him with a smile. “And in fact, if you hadn't become successful and published books on your work...we probably wouldn't be here,” she added.

Harry raised his brow in curiosity at her last statement.

“Just before Ron confronted Remus...we ran across your portrait and biography in one of your books,” Hermione explained, purposely skipping over the fact that it was not they who actually stumbled upon his picture. The truth of that was also something that couldn't and shouldn't be addressed right now. “It was actually our daughter, Nora's book. My parents got her a camera and some books for her birthday this summer...and one just happened to be yours.”

“Really?” Harry asked with amused interest. Hermione nodded.

“There was just something about the photo that was so familiar,” Hermione continued, glancing at Ron. “Obviously we didn't know it was possible at the time...but here we are now...”

“Do you just have the...the one daughter?” Harry asked slowly, looking from Ron to Hermione. “Or...do you have more?”

Ron and Hermione exchanged knowing looks between each other.

“We have five children,” Hermione told him with a smile as Harry's eyes went wide.

“Five?” he asked in total surprise.

“Well, we did have the first two in one shot,” Ron interjected matter-of-factly.

It was now Hermione's turn to raise her eyebrows and look incredulously at her husband.

“And that's supposed to have made it easier with the twins–having 'two in one shot'?” she asked him coolly. “Because I recall having to carry around two babies for nearly 9 months and then give birth twice in a matter of minutes the day they were born,” she added, eying him dangerously.

Harry could only attempt to hold back his smile as he watched Ron back down and cower slightly.

“You definitely don't look like you've had five kids, Hermione,” Harry told her, perhaps hoping to defuse any chance of a row between the two.

“Thank you, Harry,” Hermione responded, fixing him with a grateful smile before she threw Ron one last glare.

“How old are they all?” Harry asked when it seemed that they had avoided anything further between the two.

“The twins–Reed and Ethan are 14, Nora is 12, Paxton is 8 and Scarlett is 5,” Hermione told him proudly.

“That's great,” Harry said with a smile, although there was a hint of sadness in the way he surveyed them, as if the emotion behind having missed the lives of his best friends and their growing family couldn't be kept completely at bay. “The last time I remember seeing you two...you were barely together. And now...” he trailed off as that emotion finally did prevent him from finishing.

“It hasn't always been easy...especially right after the war,” Ron said as words seemed to fail his friend. “But having each other and then...raising five amazing kids together...it's made it all worth it,” Ron admitted as he placed an arm around his wife, pulling her to him. At his touch, any irritation that Hermione was still harboring from Ron's previous comments seem to melt away as she fixed him with a smile.

“After everything you two gave,” Harry said as he watched the interactions between his two oldest friends. “You both deserve to be happy more than anybody,” he told them truthfully.

“Since I've fully remembered...the one thing I've thought about more than anything is whether everybody was okay,” Harry began before either Ron or Hermione could speak. “I hoped that–not only did you all survive–but that you'd moved on and created something more for yourselves...”

“We have,” Hermione responded reassuringly.

“Why didn't you come back, mate?” Ron asked suddenly. “You said you've remembered for a least a few months now...did you think at all about coming home?” he added, even as Hermione fixed him with a worried look. Harry had looked down at the question, obviously thrown by the question.

This had been what Hermione had been trying to avoid before by suggesting they skip the parts of the story for now that might lead to the tough questions Harry might not be willing to answer for them just yet. But it seemed that Ron's curiosity had gotten the best of him as he asked a question that dove right to the heart of things.

“I thought about it,” Harry surprisingly admitted after a few seconds as he looked up. He suddenly looked tired. “I thought about it a lot...and I almost did. I almost booked a flight to go back at one point.”

“Why didn't you?” Ron asked.

“I was afraid,” Harry replied quietly. “Not knowing what I'd be going back to, what I'd actually find...scared the hell out of me,” he told them seriously.

“I knew that more than likely the war was over and everything had worked out,” Harry continued. “I mean...the world hadn't ended and I hadn't heard or seen anything that might think that–he--was still running amok...but I was afraid to find out who may not have made it...who might not have survived.”

“We were lucky,” Ron told him. “The family made it through pretty unscathed. I mean...we all have a few more scars because of it...but we're alright.”

Harry sighed and nodded his thanks for that information. Like Harry of old, he had obviously holding very tight to that fear that he had lost someone close to him. He seemed relieved to know that at least the Weasley clan had made it through whole.

“Also...I thought about what me coming back would do to everyone else,” Harry said. “You all have your lives, your families now to think about. I imagined that if I just popped back into your lives one day...that it would just throw everything into chaos. And I couldn't do that to anyone,” he added.

“Harry Potter back from the dead would have been quite the shock to the system for us,” Ron admitted with a smile. “But we'd have endured anything to have you back, mate. As much as we've moved on over the years...life hasn't been quite the same without you,” he added as the smile faded and the sadness overtook his features.

“I'm not sure life will be the same with me,” Harry said quietly as he started off into the distance.

“What do you mean by that?” Hermione asked, her voice full of worry and confusion over the statement.

Harry swallowed noticeably before speaking.

“My memories...they're the only thing I have,” he told her heavily. “They're the only things that came back,” he added.

Ron looked confused as to what he meant, but Hermione was nodding in understanding already.

“The spell you used was originally intended to strip magic,” Hermione said, recounting what she knew. Harry nodded.

“It hasn't come back?” Hermione asked gently.

Harry shook his head slowly as he let out a heavy breath.

“It was sort of the reason I suggested we drive,” Harry admitted sheepishly, not looking at either Ron or Hermione to gauge their reactions.

“That doesn't matter to us, Harry,” Ron reassured him, catching on to what exactly was being discussed. “It wouldn't have mattered then...it doesn't now.”

“I've lived without magic for so long now...that for most things I don't even think twice about it,” Harry admitted.

“But since I've remembered...it's been another part of this that's been a bit confusing,” he added. “I mean, I've got a part of me that is–Evan--who I've been for the past 17 years, day in and day out. But I've also got the memories and awareness of–Harry–from back then. In that part of my mind...it's almost as though the war and everything else happened yesterday. I can close my eyes and almost trick myself into believing I'm 18 again...and I'm going to open my eyes and wake up after a long nap in Gryffindor tower or something.”

“But then I wake up...and I'm 36 years old and have spent the last half of my life being somebody else,” Harry added, shaking his head. “It's a bit daunting to try and wrap the two together sometimes.”

“And us being here probably isn't helping,” Ron interjected.

“Actually it is helping,” Harry countered. “This is the first time since it's all came back that I don't have to pretend for anyone,” he added, his voice full of the relief he surely felt.

“So...you didn't come back because you were afraid to find out that some of us might not have made it and that we'd not be able to deal with the fact that your magic is gone?” Ron asked quietly after a few moments of silence.

“Mostly,” Harry admitted with a sigh as he leaned against the counter top that Ron and Hermione sat on the other side of. He brought his elbows to rest on the smooth top, his face in his hands momentarily as he thought.

“I've also got my career, people–a life–here that I have to think about,” Harry continued, looking as though he was worried that admitting that he had made relationships and created something more outside of the life he had led might upset his two friends.

“Going back would mean the craziness--the public and media frenzy–would begin again, probably worse,” Harry added, as though the idea made him sick just thinking about it. “And...I enjoy the anonymity I have now. I like being able to just live my life without the scrutiny–to be able to do what I want and go where I want without anybody watching. You know I couldn't have that there if everyone knew...”

“If I had to only worry about myself--yeah--I'd probably have a lot less worry about what going back would mean,” Harry added, as he once more glanced down at the silver wristwatch he wore. “But I've got people I care about here...and I'm not sure I could just disappear and abandon them or subject them to the madness that goes hand-in-hand with being Harry Potter.”

“If it were just me, it'd be different,” Harry said quietly. “But it's not that simple...”

Ron was just about to press him further–to explain about these people Harry 'cared about' and was worried about losing--when the doorbell sounded, echoing loudly throughout the house.

Harry rubbed his face tiredly and straightened up as the doorbell sounded a second time.

“I have to get that,” he mumbled almost inaudibly as he moved from behind the counter and strode towards the entrance hallway and out of sight.

Ron turned to look at Hermione in question, already finding his wife looking up at him in confusion.

“Do you think it's the girlfriend?” Ron asked in a whisper.

“I don't think she'd ring the bell,” Hermione replied, although there was nothing in her tone that suggested she wanted to argue about whether there even was a girlfriend to speak of.

“I understand that he's got friends and family here–like the Smith family that took him in. I know they have to be important to him,” Ron replied in undertones as the muffled sound of conversation could be heard from the end of the hall. Ron could make out Harry's voice speaking and he could pick out the other as female as it replied.

“But it's almost like he doesn't want to tell us a whole lot about that part of his life,” Ron finished with a sigh.

Hermione nodded in agreement as she swiveled on the stool and turned to look over her right shoulder, as if to see if perhaps Harry might be returning and their conversation overheard.

Ron saw Hermione's mouth drop into a wide “O” and her expression turn to one of complete surprise before he registered her sharp intake of breath. Ron followed Hermione's attention to see that Harry had indeed returned from the entryway.

And as Ron had anticipated...Harry was not alone. But it wasn't what he had expected at all...

“Harry...” Hermione said breathlessly as she stood from her chair and moved closer to him as he stood in the archway between the kitchen and the hall.

Harry was avoiding their eyes and looking quite nervous as he stood there–holding a small child to his chest.

The little girl was sleeping, her tiny face nestled comfortably against Harry's neck. Soft black locks, as dark as Harry's, were tied back away from her face in two braids held by red ribbons, the wispy tendrils that had managed to escape falling softly across her face. One of her arms was wrapped loosely around Harry's neck, as though she had clung tight to him before slumber had taken her. She was dressed in a pink coat and matching boots. Underneath however, she looked to be wearing a pair of tights and black leotard.

“Harry...is she...?” Hermione asked in nearly a whisper as she reached out to brush a tendril of hair away from the sleeping child's face. She seemed unable to verbalize the rest of her question.

“This is...my daughter,” he said quietly with a soft smile as he nodded in response to Hermione's unfinished inquiry. His voice was heavy with his own emotion.

“This is Sophie,” he added softly, placing a gentle kiss on the crown her head.

“She's beautiful, Harry,” Hermione said as she reached up to wipe a tear that had escaped the corner of her eye.

Harry could only smile and nod in reply.

“She had dance class this afternoon,” Harry said quietly as he shifted his daughter slightly in his arms. “A neighbor has a daughter in the same class–we take turns picking them up,” he continued, explaining the exchange at the door and the reason for Sophie's attire. “She fell asleep on the way home today,” he said with quiet chuckle.

“I'm gonna go lay her down,” he added. “She'll be up a while...”

And with that Harry left the kitchen, moving down a hallway that led out of the kitchen towards the left.

“And you thought Sophie was his girlfriend,” Hermione said with a watery smile as she wiped away her tears.

“He's got a kid, Hermione,” Ron replied matter-of factly, still in slight shock. “Obviously at some point and time he's been with somebody.”

“Does it really matter?” Hermione asked him as she sat back down beside him. “You said you wanted him to be happy...”

“I know,” Ron admitted. “It's just–I don't know–strange to think about. This whole thing is...” he added, shaking his head.

Hermione was about to respond in reassurance, but stopped as the sound of Harry's footsteps caught her attention. A few seconds later, he was back, still looking slightly nervous as he moved towards the stainless steel refrigerator.

“I totally forgot to ask when we first got here...but do you guys want something to drink?” he asked as he opened the door and seemed to be rummaging around its contents. “I've got soda, water, juice...and I can throw in a pizza or something else to eat too. I didn't even think to ask if you were hungry,” he added, talking fast as he pulled open the freezer as well.

It was obvious that Harry's uneasiness was getting the best of him. Hermione wanted to tell him that it was alright and for him to come sit down so they could talk. But Ron spoke first, perhaps sensing that Harry just needed a bit more time to calm down before conversation would be a good idea.

“Pizza sounds good, mate,” Ron said with a nod. “And I'll take whatever juice you've got,” he added as Harry pulled out a carton of apple juice.

“I'll just have a water,” Hermione added, following Ron's lead. Digging a bit further back in his refrigerator, Harry unearthed a bottle of water.

Ron and Hermione spent the next several minutes, watching in silence as Harry poured a tall glass of juice for Ron and dug out a frozen pizza, preheated the oven and placed the unwrapped pizza inside. When that was done and he had given the two of them their drinks, Harry pulled out a can of soda for himself and settled back in spot, leaning against the opposite counter.

“How old is she?” Hermione asked after the silence had stretched on another minute or so.

Harry took a sip of his drink before responding.

“Four,” he said, looking up at Hermione briefly. “She'll be five at the end of November.”

“She's just a tiny thing,” Hermione replied with a smile, recalling how little she had looked in Harry's arms.

“Yeah...she's always been that way,” Harry replied, a hint of a smile creeping up on his features. “Although I'm not sure you'll be saying that when she's awake. She's pretty good at making sure you know she's there and exactly what she wants. She can get pretty sassy.”

“They all are at that age,” Ron assured him with a smile of his own.

“Is she your only one?” Hermione asked hesitantly.

Harry nodded.

“And you're not married?” Ron asked, unable to help himself. “How about a girlfriend or fiancee?” he added.

Harry shook his head.

“I'm not and have never been married and I'm not seeing anybody,” he told Ron, looking slightly uncomfortable again at where the line of questioning was going.

“Being married or in a long-term relationship isn't exactly a prerequisite for having kids these days,” Harry countered a bit testily as he took another measured sip from the can in his hand.

Hermione threw Ron a chastising look that again made him freeze and retreat.

“Sorry,” Ron mumbled as he looked down.

“It's alright,” Harry said, waving him off. “It's–it's not exactly how I thought things would be either. This isn't exactly how I thought I'd go about having kids and a family...especially now...” he added.

Ron and Hermione looked to one another in question. Harry it seemed was a single dad, but what exactly had transpired for that to happen? Had he loved and lost someone? Or had the relationship simply ended up not working out?

Harry seemed to pick up on their confusion, for it was he who spoke next.

“Morgan–Sophie's mom–and I, were never really together,” Harry began to explain. “We were never in any significant relationship,” he clarified.

“She was–is--a singer,” Harry continued. “When I worked for Rolling Stone, I covered her for a few articles and did a few photo shoots of her and her band. We hit it off, I guess...going out and hanging out a few times here and there over the course of a year or so...” he added, choosing his words carefully so as to make sure they understood.

“I hadn't seen her in a while and one weekend we were both in New York...she called me up,” he continued on. “We ended up going out on the town for a night and we--er--well...Sophie's here now...” he finished weakly, looking determinedly away from the judging looks he perhaps thought he'd be getting.

But there were none.

“I wasn't exactly a saint these past 17 years,” Harry admitted with a heavy sigh. “I did things that I'm not proud of and I can't fathom why I ever did now. I went out too much, partied too much...” he said, fading off again.

“I was good at what I did,” he continued on, sounding as though he wasn't exactly proud of the fact that he was a sought after photographer. “I had money and all sorts of people wanted me to work for them, do shoots. I was around celebrities, musicians and rock stars who all wanted you to have a drink with them or go out to some party or wanted to introduce you to somebody. I was young and for somebody that had no real idea of who they were or where they really belonged–I was finally wanted. I had someplace where I belonged. For a while it was great...I really thought I was cool,” he added with a harsh laugh.

“You're not like that now,” Ron told him.

Harry shook his head.

“Sophie changed that,” he told them with a hint of a smile. “Once I found out there was a chance that I was going to be a dad–I woke up.”

“I realized that where I was headed, what I'd been doing...it wasn't a place that was going to bring me any stability or be any sort of life I'd want to raise a kid in,” Harry continued. “I was always traveling and was never in one place very long. I had an apartment in Manhattan, but I was hardly ever there.”

“So I went back home,” Harry said simply, causing both Ron and Hermione to give him curious looks. “I went back to Buffalo and I moved back in with Maria and Steve,” he explained.

“The Smith's?” Hermione asked in clarification. Harry nodded.

“They were the ones that took me in after I was released from the hospital,” Harry said. “They've always been there...no matter how horrible I've been to them over the years,” he added sadly.

“When I went back and told them what had happened, they welcomed me back without a lot of judgment and they encouraged me to go back to school and helped me out with Sophie. Although...Steve did call me an idiot a few times before he suggested I go back to school and that I was welcome back no matter what,” he added with a crooked grin.

“I deserved it,” Harry added in reassurance.

“So you went back to get your degree and started teaching?”

“Yeah. I'd somehow over the years managed to take a few master's classes here and there,” Harry replied. “So I did only have a few semesters I had to go to finish up. I wasn't exactly sure about teaching right away. But after talking to a few professors, they thought my experience in the field would make it easier for me to get a job teaching without having to go for my doctorate.”

“I also did 2 semesters of student teaching and I really fell in love with it,” Harry added. “So it turned into an easier choice as I went on.”

“Plus...when Sophie was born, I figured it was easier to have a job where I stayed put all the time and didn't really have to travel,” Harry continued after taking another drink from his soda.

“Do you have her part-time?” Hermione asked curiously. “When we were in your office, I know you said something about her staying here this weekend,” she added, thinking back to just a few hours before when they were still hidden underneath the cloak, unaware of any of this. “Does she go to her mum's some weekends?”

Surprisingly Harry's face darkened at Hermione's question, causing her to immediately regret what she'd asked.

“Morgan isn't exactly the mother type,” Harry said, a bitter one to the words. “She would much rather worry about her career and touring or what party or rock-star boyfriend she's being seen with this week than stay somewhere and take care of her daughter,” he added, shaking his head.

“I've got sole custody of her,” Harry told her. These words however brought a satisfied smile to his face as he spoke them. “So she stays with me almost all the time.”

“She does go to visit Morgan's mom and dad pretty often. That's where she was last weekend,” Harry added. “They're the ones that actually originally got emergency custody of Sophie about a month after she was born. When I went for custody...they gave it to me...only asking for visitation. They're good people and Sophie really likes her visits with her grandma and grandpa.”

“How old was she when you got her?” Hermione asked, hoping she wasn't pressing too much.

“She was about 2 months old,” Harry told her. “I wish it were a bit sooner, but I had to wait for the results of a paternity test before I could even think about going to court for her.”

“Paternity test?” Ron asked, unable to keep his surprise at bay and verbalized.

“I told you my life was a bit more colorful than that nutshell you guys described for me,” Harry shot back with a slightly playful tone in his voice.

“I'd say,” Ron replied, shaking his head in disbelief. Nothing he had heard in the past few minutes was anything he would have expected from Harry. Well–not the Harry he'd known.

“It hasn't been easy,” Harry said with a sigh. “But I wouldn't change having Sophie in my life for anything. She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. That little girl is my entire world,” he finished quietly, his voice full of the love and the devotion he felt for his daughter.

“She's the one thing I haven't had to question how I feel about these last few months either,” he added quietly. “Whether I'm Evan or Harry...she's still my little girl.”

Almost as if on cue, the sound of stocking-clad feet pattering against the hardwood floors could be heard. The quick little steps got faster as they drew closer. And neither Ron nor Hermione had the chance to turn around quick enough to catch a glimpse of their source before they passed behind them and around the counter.

Harry let out a noise as a ball of arms and legs collided with his midsection and jumped up at him to be picked up.

“Hey, slow down there,” he said as he picked up the little girl. “We don't run in tights in the house...it's slippery,” he added as Sophie hugged him round the neck, snuggling against him.

“Sorry, Daddy” she said in a small voice as she kissed him on the cheek.

“Did you have a nice nap, Sleepygirl?” Harry asked as he returned the kiss, causing the little girl to scrunch her face as he planted his lips on her cheek.

“I'm not a Sleepygirl,” she argued.

“So you didn't fall asleep when Mrs. Johnson brought you home from dance class?” Harry teased as Sophie tried to hide her guilty smile.

“I did,” she admitted with a little laugh. “I was just tired. But I'm not no more.”

“No?” Harry asked in amusement. “You're wide awake, are you?”

Sophie nodded. She also seemed to realize that she was not alone with her dad as she caught site of Ron and Hermione. She quickly turned back to her dad, clinging tight to him.

Her whispered question was barely audible as she leaned in close to Harry to ask it.

“Who's that?” she asked as she snuck another look at the two strangers.

“Those are my friends,” Harry told her. “That's Ron,” he explained, pointing in his direction. “And that's Hermione,” Harry added, moving his finger in her direction. At the mention of Hermione's, perhaps unusual name, Sophie looked questioningly up at her dad. Harry could only smile at her reaction.

“Why are they here?” she again asked quietly as she curiously surveyed Ron and Hermione.

“Just to talk,” Harry explained. “I haven't seen them in a really, really long time...so we're just visiting.”

“Oh,” Sophie said matter-of-factly, as though she were thoroughly satisfied with the answer.

“Is that okay?” Harry asked with a smile.

“Yeah,” Sophie said with a nod. “Can I go play?” she asked after a second of deliberation.

“Yeah...but I want you to change out of your dance clothes first,” Harry told her. Sophie was still dressed in her white tights and tiny black leotard. “Why don't you go put your pj's on?” he added.

“But I don't wanna go to bed...” she she told him as her features turned sour as she scrunched her face up at the suggestion.

“I didn't say you had to go to bed,” Harry corrected her. “I just want you to change into your pajamas so you don't wreck the clothes you're wearing now.”

“Can I wear my princess ones?” Sophie asked excitedly when she understood that she wasn't putting them on so she could be tucked into bed.

“Sure,” Harry agreed with a smile. “They're in your bottom drawer,” he added as Sophie scrambled to get down from his hold. “Do you need help?”

“Nope,” Sophie said as her feet finally hit the floor. “Can I watch my movie after I put them on?” she asked excitedly as she looked up.

“Yes you can,” Harry told her and Sophie did a little twirl in the middle of the kitchen in her excitement.

“Do you want me to come with you and put the disc in?” Harry asked before she could run away.

“No...I know how to do it,” she assured him as she began to skip away. Harry watched her as she moved away, skipping and twirling as she made her way back down the hallway.

“She is adorable,” Hermione managed to say as Sophie disappeared from view.

“She is,” Harry agreed. “Although I'm not exactly enjoying that she's in a stage now where she thinks she can do everything on her own and doesn't need me,” Harry added quietly.

“Wait til she's almost 13 and she thinks you do nothing but embarrass her all the time,” Ron interjected. “Enjoy her while she's this little.”

“I can't say I'm exactly looking forward to those years,” Harry admitted. “Especially if it's just her and I...I can't begin to think about having to deal with the issues and problems of a teenage girl. I have a hard enough time picking out her clothes and doing her hair the way she wants it now,” he added with a laugh.

“You braided her hair?” Ron asked with a smirk.

“Impressive, right?” Harry replied with a nod. “Maria always braids it for her and does things to it...so when we moved out here...I had to learn,” he said with a smile.

“Maybe Harry can teach you, Ron, and you can do Scarlett's hair for me in the morning?” Hermione teased as Ron had started to chuckle at Harry's proud admission that he was responsible for his daughter's hair.

Ron rolled his eyes.

“I'll stick to dealing with my boys,” Ron replied with a smile. “I don't have to worry about hairdo's or frilly, princess pajamas with them.”

“If you did, I'd be worried about the job you were doing with them,” Hermione shot back with a smile, earning her a laugh from Both Ron and Harry.

“It's not so bad,” Harry said with a smile of his own. “I've got to be both parents for her anyway...so those are just things that come with the job,” he added with a shrug.

“And I'd say you're doing a really good job, Harry,” Hermione told him. Harry nodded in appreciation as the three of them lapsed into a comfortable silence. It was finally interrupted by the sound of the timer on the oven going off, signaling that the pizza was finally done. Harry took a few minutes to remove it, cut it into slices and plate it up for the three of them.

“So...what about everybody else?” Harry asked after the three of them had settled in and begun eating. “You said everybody made it through...” he added when they looked at him, slightly confused.

“And you guys have a big family...I can only imagine the rest of the family has expanded a bit too,” he added with a smile.

“The Weasley clan has certainly grown,” Ron admitted with a nod. “There are a lot more spouses and kids we've got to try and fit into the Burrow at gatherings. But it's great,” he added with a grin.

“Bill and Fleur are still married,” Hermione added, perhaps thinking that Harry may want an updated tally on the members of the family. “They've got two children. Victoire is 16 and Louis is 13.”

“Fred and George are both somehow married,” Ron added. “Fred and Angelina have a daughter, Jade, who's 14 and a son, Adrian, who's 11. George and Alicia have two also...Eliza is 13 and Haden is 11.”

“And Percy married Audrey–Ramsey. I don't know if you remember her? She was a year older than Percy in school,” Hermione added. Harry shook his head. “They have a 15 year old daughter, Molly, and a son Lucas, who's 9.”

“Wow,” Harry offered in reply.

“Yeah...we're all tied down and busy giving my parents grand-kids–except for Charlie,” Ron added with a laugh. “I think we've all come to the realization that he'll be the perpetual bachelor of us all. He loves his dragons and weekends at the pub too much to settle down. Drives Mum nuts,” he said with a smile.

“How are your mom and dad?” Harry asked curiously.

“They're good,” Ron said with a nod. “Both are finally slowing down a bit and starting to enjoy their free time and spending days with all their grandchildren. Looks like Dad might actually retire from the Ministry this year too...”

“Does he still work where he was?” Harry asked.

“He was the head for the longest time. But now he works in an advisory position for the department,” Ron explained. “But he mainly sits in at a lot of committee meetings for all sorts of things. He's really a senior advisor for the whole Ministry. Kingsley appointed him to his personal staff a few years go.”

Harry raised his eyebrows in question.

“Kingsley's the Minister for Magic,” Hermione explained. “He has been for the past 15 years–after we finally convinced him to take the nomination. He's been great.”

“And what do you two do?” Harry asked in earnest interest.

“I'm a senior supervisor in the Magical Law Department. It's mostly management duties these days...but I do still get to work on drafting some legislation,” Hermione replied. “And I have also done some writing and editing over the years too.”

“You do all that with five kids at home?” Harry asked I amazement.

“It's pretty stressful at times,” Hermione admitted. “But the position really does offer me flexibility and I can get a lot of things done from home. Plus, Ron and I are a pretty good team. One of us is usually there to try and control things at home...”

“Yeah...my job gives me pretty big blocks of time to be with the kids,” Ron admitted.

“What do you do?” Harry asked.

“I'm an ambassador for the Ministry,” Ron replied. “I conduct a lot of meetings with foreign officials, dignitaries and the like. And–I also act as sort of a liaison between the Ministry's Board of Governors and Hogwarts...”

“Wow...that's...that's just--” Harry began to say, shaking his head slightly.

“What?” Ron asked as he furrowed his brows in confusion.

“I don't know–it's not exactly what I thought you'd be doing,” Harry admitted, blushing slightly.

“What, was I supposed to spend the rest of my life rounding up the bad guys?” Ron asked, eying his friend. Harry shrugged his shoulders as he shook his head.

“I was an Auror,” Ron admitted. “I was one for 11 years before I retired about 4 years ago. After one too many close calls and trips to St. Mungo's I just decided it was time for something different. I wanted to be able to spend more time at home before my kids grew up completely...”

“So when you talk about changing for Sophie...I know what that's about,” Ron said quietly. “I had to think about them...”

Harry nodded his understanding and the three of them lapsed into a momentary silence again.

“What about Ginny?”

The question was hesitant and quiet, but Harry's eyes were trained intently on both Ron and Hermione as he waited for an answer.

Hermione and Ron looked uneasily at one another, as if seeking the others approval or advice on what to say. With the other family members the answers had been easy and there had been no reason to change or leave anything out.

But this was different and there was more to think about in this answer.

“What?” Harry asked as worry clouded his face and he looked desperately between the two. Obviously their hesitancy and silent conversation hadn't gone unnoticed and it had tipped Harry off that something was amiss.

“She...she was...married,” Hermione replied slowly as she swallowed heavily.

“Was?”

“She and her husband–Paul--they divorced about four years ago,” Hermione explained carefully.

Harry's face took on a tone of concern at her words.

“It wasn't volatile or violent or unpleasant in any way. Their divorce was quite amicable,” Hermione assured him. Her words seemed to satisfy him for the moment. “They just–weren't as passionate about their relationship or in love with each other as they once were and ended up simply being friends. They came to the agreement that they both deserved the chance to be with somebody who made them feel that way–or that's how she explained it,” Hermione explained.

“She and Paul are still friends. They still talk and occasionally meet for lunch...” she added.

Harry's expression was unreadable as he stared off into space.

“Kids?” he asked simply as he looked down at his hands.

Hermione glanced at Ron wearily before speaking. If he asked anything beyond this question, Hermione wasn't sure how she'd be able to answer without telling Harry everything. And she was sure that not only was this not the time or situation, but also...they were not the people that should be telling him...

“She has two boys,” Ron replied for her.

Harry continued to survey his hands for a moment before nodding and looking up.

“Good,” he offered, actually sounding incredibly relieved.

“Sorry for being a bit hesitant, mate,” Ron apologized carefully. “It's just–we know how things were between you two. We weren't sure how you might react to hearing all that...”

“I wanted her to be happy,” Harry said quietly. “Leaving her was the hardest thing...” he added trailing off, looking as though these sudden emotions might actually get the best of him.

“She deserved to be free...to have a better life after it was all done,” Harry said again, swallowing heavily. “These past few months...I've thought about her a lot. I just needed to know that she was okay...that she was happy...”

“She is,” Hermione assured him. “She's had some tough times and dark moments, especially in the beginning. But right now, the most important things in her life are her boys and making sure they're happy and taken care of. She's a good mum,” Hermione added as she gauged his reaction.

Harry smiled as he closed his eyes, rubbing at them tiredly, perhaps to keep any emotion at bay.

They continued on without speaking for a moment, both Ron and Hermione waiting for Harry to ask another question and hoping it would be one they could give him an easy answer to.

“So where are you guys staying?” Harry asked, his sudden turn in subject throwing them momentarily. “How long were you even going to be here?” he added.

“Well...seeing as though we weren't planning on you knowing us or remembering anything at all...” Ron began.

“We only had plans to stay the night at a hotel,” Hermione finished. “We thought it might take a day or so to find you and all we really were going to do was to make sure you were alright...”

“You can stay here,” Harry told them both. “You don't have to bother with a hotel. I've got a few extra rooms you can stay in.”

“You're sure?” Hermione asked.

“You're free to stay the whole weekend, if you like,” Harry assured her. “It'll give us some more time to talk and figure things out some more before you have to leave...”

“Thank you, Harry,” Hermione told him as she accepted his invitation.

“Not a problem,” he assured her. “Why don't you two finish up your pizza and I'll go get one of the spare rooms ready...put sheets and blankets on the bed,” he added in explanation as he threw most of half-eaten pizza in the garbage and pitched the plate in the sink.

Wiping his hands on a towel, Harry departed the kitchen, leaving Ron and Hermione alone.

“This is real isn't it?” Hermione asked quietly and in disbelief as she only looked at her own slice of pizza.

“Different, definitely. But incredibly real,” Ron reaffirmed with a nod.

“This is all going to take some time to figure out...to get used to,” Hermione admitted tiredly. “And I'm sure he'll need more time to figure out just how much he wants to be a part of our lives again. I can't go another 17 years without seeing him...”

“I know,” Ron replied as he wrapped an arm around her. “But we've got time now and we're not going to let him go again.”

A/N: You can shoot me about the whole Sophie thing if you want to or not. I obviously didn't want Harry married, but I didn't want him alone and this was what I felt was best. And I know some of you aren't going to necessarily agree with the behavior I've had Harry exhibit in becoming an unmarried dad...but as we'll find out and as Harry points out...Evan hasn't always made great choices. He had a lot against him, and although Harry really was inside...things happened. I hope you enjoyed!
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