After the Morning After
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Chap. 22: After the Morning After
Harry, showered for the second time that day to clear the scent of his girls and sex from him, had dressed hurriedly in clothes Dobby had laid out for him, and made his way toward the lower floors. He was stopped the moment he stepped onto the carpet from the central stairs by a figure that surprised him, though in retrospect Harry felt he should have expected something like it.
"Er, good morning, Mr. Granger. Are you alright...?"
The older man looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes. And, Harry noticed, he was wearing the same now-rumpled clothing he had been wearing the day before. Daniel Granger sat on one of the chairs in the central hall next to the stairs, just past the door to the casual dining room. He looked up quickly as Harry spoke, "Oh, er, hi. Good-" He yawned. "Good morning, Harry. Sorry... I was up half the night. More, maybe. I only got a couple hours' sleep."
"Oh. That's... sorry. I'm surprised I slept in that late, actually. I'm sorry you couldn't."
Hermione's father shook his head, "No, no, you needed it. I'm not upset you slept. I just... Can we talk? Man to man? Somewhere private?"
"Of course. Come on, I doubt there'll be anyone in here," Harry replied, gesturing to the door on his left. As he had expected, the casual dining room, with two oval tables side by side, was dark and cool, though the lights came on automatically as he and Mr. Granger stepped in. "Do you want to sit? Stand?"
The man looked around with bleary eyes, "Sit, I think. Don't let me fall asleep, though... I'm afraid I'd fall out of one of these chairs. Almost did a few minutes before you came downstairs."
"Ugh, I'm sorry. What kept you up?"
"You, of course," Daniel chuckled, clapping Harry's hand good naturedly. "Well, your actions... Good God, Harry... those ladies. What they went through... I don't know how you did it. One of them, um... Kennedy? She told me you... were in her head. That you, and that Kingsley fellow, and scarred man with the- well, I don't want to be impolitic, but that eye? That you three had been in their heads, and helped them realize that this wasn't their fault. Or something... I'm tired, and probably not remembering it all that well.
"I don't..." the man sighed again, slumping a little in the chair. "Being in their heads? I don't want to know what happened to those ladies, Harry, but I can guess. I... I'm sorry you had to see any bit of that. Any bit at all. And I..."
Daniel Granger choked. Harry ignored it, knowing that the man was more emotionally distressed than he would ever want to show anyone, except maybe his wife. He could, and did, let the man struggle if only to keep him from feeling embarrassed about what might be seen as a moment of weakness. Not that Harry thought that way, of course, but he did understand.
"I dreamed of Emma... and H- Hermione. Down in the..." Another choke. "In the... place... where the women were held. Just in cells, in full view unless their captors decided to close the curtains, and... used. I'm not surprised I didn't sleep well, really."
"I'm kind of surprised I slept as well as I did," Harry admitted. "I... honestly, I don't remember having a nightmare, and I'm used to those. The girls... well..."
"I know Hermione spent the night with you, Harry," Daniel murmured, "You don't need to sugar coat it."
"Well, we didn't... do much, last night," Harry shrugged, a bit sheepishly, "we were all so tired. I just fell asleep right away."
"Wish I had. Anyway, I... I'm a dentist, Harry. I'm not... I'm not ready to dream about my daughter, or my wife, being... kidnapped and r- raped like... like that. I'm not ready to be... living in a house where... where there's twenty-three victims of that."
"You don't have to stay, Daniel, you and Emma can-"
The older man's hand covered Harry's, "No, Harry... no. I didn't mean it like that. I'm not going to take Emma and leave. I want... part of me wants to, yes. But I'm not going to just leave you. I won't abandon your family, or those ladies, and I'm sure as hell not going to abandon Hermione. I'm not ready, but... that's what men do, isn't it? What we all do. Rise to the challenge, yeah?"
"What we try to do, anyway," Harry agreed quietly.
"And that's how I know Hermione's in good hands," Mr. Granger shot back seriously. "A good man will at least always try, even if sometimes it's impossible. You're doing a good, honorable, even superhuman thing for those ladies, Harry. I'm... honestly, I'm honored to help. I don't feel I'm adequate to the task, but..."
"Whoever is, right?"
"Exactly." He sighed deeply, then shook his head, "I'm sorry, I don't mean to drag you down. I'm just tired. I didn't... when Em and I learned you three were going on a mission with that Order they joined, I figured we might have to patch some of you up. Maybe we'd... we'd even lose one of you. I was more prepared to handle that, I think. But then you all showed up more or less unharmed, behind almost two-dozen women who were in worse shape than I could've imagined. We're... so grateful you all came back, believe me. I just wish this burden hadn't been laid at your feet. Caring for those women is going to be hard."
"I know," Harry said quietly, "But there wasn't much other option. St. Mungo's, our hospital, was already getting full. There could've been other ways, but in the moment, I didn't know of anything else that would let them stay together. Most of them seemed to want to stay together. Shared experiences, I think. Shared trauma. It might help them to... to cope."
"Yeah, Em said something like that last night before she fell asleep. I don't honestly know how she slept," Daniel murmured ruefully, "I wasn't... in bed for long. She was asleep when I got up, though, so hopefully a little better than I did. Haven't seen her since. Heard her... she was talking privately to one of the ladies, and I didn't want to interrupt."
Harry nodded.
After a minute more, Mr. Granger sighed once more and tilted his head to the ceiling, "I'm either going to find a cup of tea- maybe even that almost-drinkable coffee Winky made the other day- or take a nap. But really, Harry, don't hesitate if you need something. This is going to take all of us, and we're all on the same team. Alright?"
Another nod, "Of course, Mr. Granger. Fine, Dan," he rolled his eyes at the older man's glare, "I know. I... I'm sorry for dragging you into it, but I definitely appreciate the help. I was mostly just thinking about the room, the fact that we had beds and space available. But you and Emma have been amazing, so... thank you."
"Thank you, son," Daniel grinned as he stood up, "I wouldn't wish it on anyone, but thank you for being the kind of man who steps up without even thinking about all the consequences... but following through, too. I think a nap's the plan... if you see Hermione, give her my love, alright? And Em, too, I s'pose."
"Of course. Have a good nap, Dan."
A few minutes later, Harry stood himself, rubbed his temples to hopefully relieve what was already working toward a massive headache, then made his way into the north wing, where the smaller bedrooms were housing one or two of the rescued prisoners each. He was quite surprised to find Lilith, appearing once more as Lilian Vergot, helping Hermione and Fleur with tabulating requests and needs from the various ladies.
Like everything Hermione took part in, the operation was fairly well organized, with a woman raising her hand, being called upon to name something they wanted or needed, and then a tally would be made by raised hands again to see how many of a given request would be needed.
Hygiene items like toothbrushes were high on the list, bathing supplies, and clothing. Many, he was not astonished to see as he stopped next to his ladies and started looking over Hermione's neatly-scribed list, had already requested potions to terminate pregnancies. Six had requested that they themselves be allowed to die: over a quarter of the twenty-three rescuees. All but four had requested that their memories of the incident be removed.
The overlap was concerning, but not unexpected, he supposed. Any of those options might help them 'heal' in some way, but there was one thing he categorically refused. "I'm sorry, ladies, I know it's a common request," Harry announced after Hermione was finishing with a vote-count on whether the women preferred to stay at The Crockery for the time being, or return home. "But I can't allow... suicide. I know what you've been through is horrible, and I know it's ultimately your decision on the memories, and about any... pregnancies. I am not going to make that decision, those decisions, for you. I will offer my advice and input on an individual basis if you ask for it. But no one is being... euthanized, not at my house.
"That goes against everything I believe in, everything I, and Lilian, and Hermione, and dozens of other people literally fought for. We fought to get you out of... there. To get you somewhere safe. Letting you die makes that risk, that sacrifice, for nothing. So I'm sorry, but that one is going to be a 'no'. At least while you're here."
There were a few sniffles in the crowded hallway, but no one said anything.
Next to him, Harry could feel Hermione's heartbreak, and her relief when she drew a long, straight line through that particular request. "Thank you," she whispered.
Harry nodded once at her, then turned his attention back to the women. "For those who I didn't have the chance to introduce myself to last night or yesterday, my name is Harry Potter, and this is my home. You are welcome here, for as long as you need or want to be here, but I am not going to keep you prisoner. The Aurors have asked that you stay another night, but if you leave contact information with us, you may leave if you wish. Senior Auror Shacklebolt, who is one of the men who led the operation to rescue you, will return this afternoon. He and other Aurors will ask you a few questions, and then you'll be free to go if you wish. They want your statements about what happened to you, or things you've seen, perhaps overheard, from those who took you prisoner. Once they're done, you'll all be free to go if you wish."
Harry swallowed. He hated addressing groups, but at least this was smaller than the D.A., and he'd grown used to that. "I'm sorry for interrupting my girls' well-oiled operation, but I've just one more quick thing to say, and then I'll let you get back to it. Ah, make that two. First, is there anyone who hasn't been looked over by a Healer or Mediwitch, since you were brought here?"
"Damn, didn't even think of that," Hermione muttered quietly, and flipped pages in her spiral notebook to a blank one, before feverishly writing down a new title for the page.
Thankfully, only two hands went up, and a moment later, Hermione had the names of Kennedy Teasdale, which made Harry frown, and a Clementine Brandley, 'of the London Brandleys', not that the family name meant anything to him.
"We'll get you checked out. I'll go call a Healer I know right away. But first, again, welcome to my home. Behind me, if you go down that western hallway, on the right there's two doors. The second one leads to my study. I'll be in there for a while. If you need anything, be it to talk, or make a request you don't want everyone knowing, or anything at all, you can come find me there. If I'm not in there, ask one of the elves. Both Winky and Dobby always seem to know where I am. Or Lilian, also. I'll also leave a pad and a Biro- that's a muggle pen- on the desk, so even if I'm not there you can write down what you need. Make sure you leave your name, too, so I can get it to you. Ah... that's all. Thank you, and remember, we're all here to help."
Then Harry turned, blushing a little as a few of the ladies clapped behind him, then sent a wave over his shoulder as he headed for that same study.
The young wizard was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't know he was being followed until he tried to shut the door behind him, only for it to catch in someone else's hand. "Oh! Fleur! Sorry, I didn't hear you. What can I do for you?"
"Non, it is... not a favor that you can do, 'Arry," she said quietly, glancing up and down the hallway before she stepped into the study and shut the door behind her. "I... want you to know that I am proud of you. I am proud of the man you are becoming, zhat you have become. This morning was... good. But it was not enough. Sex is, as you British say, ‘brilliant’, but it is, in the end, only sex. I wanted to tell you that I... love you. I love the man you are. I was blind, not seeing it two years ago. I saw only a-"
"A leetle boy, yes, I remember," Harry chuckled. "That stung, but you weren't wrong. I was woefully unprepared."
"We all were," Fleur shrugged sadly, "None of us 'ad any real idea... but you did so well. I know you had 'elp, 'Arry, so don't try to play zhat card. We all did. Karkaroff 'elped Victor, he told me as much afterward. I know Madame Maxime 'elped me. And you 'ave said zhat Mr. Crouch's Death Eater son was play-acting as Alasztor Moody, and 'e was assisting you. It was probably quite zhe level play-field, really. You and Diggory won because you deserved to. I mean to say, zhere were... signs, back then. Your bravery and skill, at least. Now I know better. And I love you for it, and so much more."
Harry swallowed, but before he could say anything, he felt his head against Fleur's shoulder, her bountiful chest against his, and her arms around his waist. His own circled hers on reflex, though he tightened it a moment later with an act of volition. "Thank you," he whispered, and didn't bother to stifle the tears.
"Ssh, let it go," Fleur said quietly, and for a long time, she simply let him cry against her shoulder. "I am 'ere."
She was somewhere between a comforting mother figure, an older sister, and a lover. Harry couldn't have said which of those three Fleur most represented in that moment. Perhaps, ultimately, a mix of all three, with no definitive answer. All he knew was that she was there when he needed her, in a way that not even Lilith had been able to anticipate.
Harry himself had not noticed how tightly-wound he was. The line of lovers he'd partaken of that morning had helped, but only to relieve the physical stress and a small bit of the emotional. In that regard, his conversation with Lavender in the showers beforehand had been more useful.
But this, simply being held while he released the emotions that struggled to boil over, was something he had not known he needed, but was extremely grateful for.
Harry felt empty, hollow, but no longer bursting with fury tightly bound, or energy overwhelming, when he released the blonde Frenchwoman. "Thank you, Fleur," he repeated. "I..."
"You do not need to say, until it is true, mon amour," she told him softly. "I will still be here."
Harry shook his head, smiling, as he blinked away the last few tears but didn't bother to wipe them from his cheeks. "No, Fleur, I... I do love you. I always cared. But in the last few weeks, months... you being there after the attack on King's Cross? Talking with Lilith? I started to, then."
Harry swallowed, looked down until he realized he was staring at her cleavage, then looked up into her gorgeous, misty eyes. "I do love you. It's fresh, and new, and I'm... I'm not sure I could say it's 'real true love', yet. But it's working on it, Fleur, and I'm glad to have you by my side."
She nodded, smiling, beaming almost painfully brightly all of a sudden, then pulled him into a stronger, more passionate embrace. "Zhank you, 'Arry," Fleur murmured. "I don't know why I zhuddenly care... I would 'ave been fine waiting forever, if you did not... or did not know. But 'earing you say zhose words... it makes me 'appy. In... I cannot say 'ow much. Not in Eenglish, and maybe not in Française."
Harry smiled, pulled out of her grasp just a little, then leaned in to kiss her, their foreheads touching. "I do, though," he said quietly against her soft mouth. "I think I know how you feel. There are so many... I love all of you, each in your own way, and for your own reasons. But you are definitely included in that, my French Flower, my sexy little maid, and my future wife."
Again, Fleur was beaming, though with tears in her own eyes as she pulled further way. "I should go. There is work to do, and you need to call your 'Ealer. Zhank- Thank you for allowing me to be there, for bringing me into your family, your cotierre, 'Arry. I... I thought losing Bill would be... one of the worst days of my life. Knowing why we had to split apart... and I wanted to blame you, blame Lee- Lilith. But you did not know, and she did not know. And now, I think it is per'aps the best day of my life, the day you claimed me as yours, even if you did not know it. Because it 'as led us 'ere."
"For that, I am grateful, if nothing else," Harry murmured, then kissed her again.
This time, when they separated, Fleur smiled more gently at him, then slipped out of Harry's arms. "Call your 'Ealer, I will go 'elp the girls. Many are asking for zhere wands. Most were, I think, taken by Alastor and Kingsley, because they are evidentiary? Evidence. Many may be returned, but... some may not. Some did not 'ave wands when they were taken."
"Kennedy Teasdale's a muggle," Harry told her, "She wouldn't have one. Her... her memories imply she has friends, a family. We should try and get her back as soon as we can. At least contact them, or help her contact them."
"Ah, I did not know zhat," Fleur murmured, "She 'as not said... I will ask zh- the others, as well. I would not wish to aszume, knowing we already 'ad once."
"Alright. Thank you, Fleur. And... well, you know. I love you."
"Mon amour," Fleur exhaled breathily, then blew him a kiss over her shoulder and all-but danced out the door, much happier than he had seen her in the last couple of days.
"Thank you for coming, Healer Tonks," Harry greeted the woman as she stepped from the fireplace, the green flames fading behind her. "Especially on such short notice."
"Nonsense, Harry," the woman, who still reminded him almost too much of her insane sister, chuckled, "I'm not really surprised we missed a couple of women in the checks yesterday, it was a bit of chaos, and we kept being called away to assist at St. Mungo's for the others. Honestly glad it's just the two. A... Miss Teasdale, and Miss... Brandley?"
"Yes, Kennedy and Clementine are their first names."
"Perfect," Andromeda Tonks said with a soft smile as she adjusted what looked like an old-fashioned doctor's bag from when they habitually made house-calls in one hand, and gestured toward the door of his study, "Shall we?"
"Of course."
He was not surprised that Clementine Brandley had elected to have one of the other prisoners, her cell-mate, he thought, present when Andromeda performed her health and safety check. Nor was he surprised the moderately pretty witch was another to add to the 'with child' list, "Though I shouldn't tell you," Andromeda said quietly after Clementine rounded the corner, sobbing in her friend's arms, "I... she might need a little extra help. Apparently she didn't know, yet. I can have a Healer come back tomorrow, to talk to her. I won't be able to myself, I'm afraid. St. Mungo's requires any counseling on... well, these matters, to come from a Healer who didn't make the diagnosis. A second opinion, of sorts."
Harry sighed. "Alright... that would probably be good. It wouldn't hurt to have one come for all the pregnant girls to talk to them about it. Hermione said something along those lines earlier, and we both- I think we all- prefer they have that conversation before deciding to take any... potions. Or other drastic measures."
Andromeda sighed, "Always hard to see a person put in that position... but I agree. Very thoughtful of you all. Is... that one Miss Teasdale?"
"Yes," Harry nodded as Kennedy walked down the hall, led by Lilian, who smiled at him as always.
"Master, Kennedy doesn't want me or one of the witches to be in there."
Before he could even come up with a mental reply, they were there, and Andromeda was explaining to Kennedy that their hospital's policy was that there had to be a witness, someone the victim trusted, there for the examination, and that who that person was was entirely up to her.
Harry blinked three times when Kennedy didn't even hesitate before pointing a finger at him, "I want Harry."
"Er... What?"
Andromeda looked over at him in surprise, too. "Miss Teasdale, you can of course choose who you wish, but... it's highly irregular. Most victims of... sexual violence prefer a woman, at least."
Kennedy shook her head firmly and set her jaw, "No, I want Harry. At least, if he's willing. He... he's already seen... me. And he's been... in my head. He knows what- what they did. And he asked for my consent. I trust him. There's... there's not a lot of other people here I do trust."
Andromeda nodded, no doubt sensing the sincerity that was writ large across the young woman's expression. "Technically, as I understand, I'd be breaking- well, bending- the rules a bit, as Mr. Potter is still in the age of minority, but it's just a month or so... and I'll note that you insisted, Miss Teasdale. If asked by my superiors, however, I will be forced to tell them what you said to convince me. If that's acceptable to you, I'll allow it."
"I'm sure."
The Healer turned to him next, "And you, Harry? You have to agree as well, of course. If it's not something you're comfortable with, we can wait to find, say, Miss Granger, or another."
Why, Harry thought quietly, does everyone look to me to make decisions like this? Hell...
He hadn't really expected a response, but one came nonetheless, from the buxom blonde 'case worker'. "Because that's what people do with leaders, and what leaders do. For what it's worth, Master, you do wear the mantle well. And your hesitance and reluctance to exercise that power does you credit as a decent being... of any species."
"Thanks... I guess."
Then, aloud, "Are you sure, Miss Teasdale? I'll do it if you want me to, but... I can't... promise that I won't see. I understand I'm supposed to...?"
Andromeda nodded, "Indeed. He's supposed to verify my recording of any injuries is accurate and complete, so he will need to see everything I see. It might well be... not invasive, but very intimate. Not... well, most women in your position don't want anything to do with a man, especially so soon after, being that close to them."
Kennedy only shook her head, "I'm sure. Him, I trust. I know you took care of a lot of the girls yesterday, and I know you're some sort of... magic doctor, or something, but I don't know you. No offense. I want Harry."
He and Andromeda shared a look, then the witch nodded, "Very well. Come in, this room will serve again. Mr. Potter, go ahead and sit there. Miss Teasdale, I'll have you-"
"Kennedy. Just- just call me Kennedy. Ms. Teasdale is my mum."
Andromeda smiled softly, "You suddenly remind me a great deal of my daughter, though she prefers our last name. Very well, Kennedy. You can call me Andromeda, also. And you, Harry, if I might...?"
He nodded, smiling, "At least, outside of school, Professor."
Andromeda snorted, "I doubt I'll be returning to teach Potions this year, Harry. I didn't despise it, but I'd much rather be at St. Mungo's. I only helped last year and the end of the previous as a favor to Dumbledore. At any rate, Kennedy, you can disrobe- er, undress, I see you're wearing muggle fashion- and hop onto the bed, there."
Harry did his best to remain quiet and professional, and kept his eyes off of Kennedy while Andromeda asked her a battery of standard questions. He was able to, as well, except when Andromeda had her spread her legs for a more close-up examination for damaged tissue, extant wounds, or other potential problems around her nether region, before she had the young woman stand up and hold her arms out in a T-pose, with her legs slightly spread.
Then Andromeda's wand began emitting a soft blue light from the tip, "This will just help me see bruising and other discolorations from poisons, lingering magic, and other such effects, Kennedy, no need to panic. It's just a light."
Kennedy had jumped and stiffened, but maintained the pose, though she glanced worriedly at Harry.
He shook his head slowly, looking at the woman directly, "I've seen our school Healer use this before, she's not lying. Used it on me more than a few times, if I'm honest."
"A- Alright."
For thirty minutes more, he watched carefully as Andromeda would move the wand a few inches or a foot, then examine Kennedy closely, before making a note with a dictating quill (which seemed to fascinate Kennedy, at least for a while, helping to distract her from any embarrassment she might feel), making sure to keep her tone neutral and as emotionless as possible, using only the facts.
Three times, she asked Harry, "Did you see this one?"
All three times, he had to come closer, before returning to his seat. A purple line under Kennedy's left breast, which Andromeda had pronounced, "A weak Ignis hex, traced along her skin to scar. Fortunately it's just a hex, not a curse, and easily cured."
The second was a bruise around her neck, faint, that Harry hadn't seen... and she didn't remember getting, at least not in the memories he'd been witness to.
That one had resulted in several notes, not least of which was that the hand that had given it to her had been missing the ring finger, and was the left hand, of a larger than average male.
The last was perhaps the most embarrassing for he and Kennedy both, as Andromeda had the woman bend over the bed a little, and examined her anus. "Ah, damn, I was afraid of that. I'm sorry, Mis- sorry, Kennedy. I'm sure you already know... there's some tearing, here. It'll take some work and time, but a potion regimen over the next three to four weeks will have you right as rain. It might hurt to evacuate for a while, until then."
"It has been," Kennedy said quietly, then glanced at Harry with a red face. "I... well, I guess I was wrong about seeing 'everything' already, but... too late now, right?"
Harry forced himself to chuckle, "My lips are sealed."
"Good," Andromeda sniffed, "I tried to warn you, but... I also happen to trust Mr. Potter a great deal. He's got excellent moral fiber, especially for a young man his age... for all he's got his own personal harem."
"Oh, is that what they're calling it?" Kennedy giggled.
"Indeed," Andromeda laughed softly, "You can go ahead and dress again, Kennedy. A couple more questions, and then I'll be done. Fortunately, you aren't with child, so there's that. Have you ever...."
Harry didn't remember much of the rest of the short interview.
Instead, his mind was filled with images, playing out through a blurry screen, out of focus.
But he recognized Kennedy's voice, and Parvati Patil's, and Ginny's, as the two witches exclaimed, "Kennedy!"
Pansy's voice continued somewhere between excitement and panic, "Are you- oh! It's time! It's time! Gin, go get Harry! And Andromeda! I'm- I'm so nervous! I feel like I'm going to mess everything up, and this will be my first-"
The words stopped. So did all blurry motion, as a figure, just one, of the three in the brightly lit room came into focus.
A room he recognized: Pansy's bedroom, though it had changed, was more decorated.
Standing in the center, with a puddle of dark liquid on the floor and more running down her toned, tanned legs from beneath a fashionable denim skirt, was Kennedy Teasdale, her belly visibly swollen with child.
For some reason, the thought, the image, made Harry smile.