Day Nineteen- COMPLETELY NEW
“I don’t want to hide it anymore,”
Regulus’s letter had left a heavy burden on them, bringing all the grief and heartache to the surface. Harry practically had the letter memorized by now, having read it so often. The letters from his parents were still left unopened. He didn’t have the strength to read them, though he knew they probably contained more answers. He had spent most of the night awake thinking, and right before they were supposed to go down for breakfast wasn’t the best time for a conversation. But he doesn’t want to wait any longer.
Hermione looks at him, startled. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to hide it anymore,” Harry repeats. “Us,”
“How come?” Ron asks.
“It feels like… like the least I can do,” Harry explains. “For them. For him. Live out life the way they would have wanted me to, the life they didn’t get to live,”
“I’m on board,” he shrugs.
He turns to Hermione, anxious for her response. Her curls are damp from the shower she had taken, and she looks healthier than he had seen in months. Time seemed to be doing its job in helping them heal, and he just wanted to shout from the rooftops that he loves her—loves them.
“I don’t know Harry,” she murmurs. “I’m still nervous,”
“About which part?” he asks, referencing their conversation from last time.
“Both,”
“Well, let’s talk about it,”
“Talk about what?” Ron asks, concerned. “I already told you I’d take care of my mum,”
She screws her face up tightly before letting out a huge sigh. “Sex, talk about sex,”
“Oh. What about it?”
She turns bright red. “I’ve sort of- I’ve always had this- oh, I can’t say it,”
“She’s got a fantasy,” Harry grins.
“Oh?” Ron smirks. “About what love?”
“You tell him,” Hermione groans, burying her face in her hands.
“It’s your fantasy,” Harry laughs.
“Ugh, fine,” she huffs. “I’ve dreamt about Harry taking my virginity since, like, fourth year,”
Ron laughs. “Get in line, ‘Mione, honestly,”
“WHAT?” they both shout.
“Okay, maybe not since fourth year, but certainly recently. I mean, he practically did already, I suppose,”
“Didn’t you and Lave-”
“Oi, don’t bring her up,” he scowls. “And no, we did not,”
“So… you’re not mad?” she asks, biting her lip. “Or jealous? Or something?”
“I think I’m just a bit terrified about it all myself,” he sighs, sitting on the bed next to her. “I’d hope we could all figure it out together, but if that’s not what you want, then…”
“No, no! I’m not saying that,” she says quickly. “I mean, I- maybe at one point, but I’m getting better about not being nervous around you both. I just get-” She waves her hand in the air. “In my head, you know, overwhelmed,”
Ron wraps an arm around her and pulls her close, kissing her temple. “I know you do. However it ends up happening, it’s going to be special. Even if we muck it up by being awkward or something,”
She laughs. “I suppose it will be,”
“And if you change your mind, I’m not going to be offended,” Harry adds. “We want what you want,”
Ron nods emphatically, and she hums in approval. “Alright, I’ll try not to worry,”
“Not to ruin the moment, but can we just back up to the fact that you both want me to take your virginity?” Harry laughs. “Since when am I the top?”
They both stare at him blankly. “You’re kidding, right?” Hermione laughs.
“No?”
“He has no idea,” she laughs, looking up at Ron. “No clue,”
“Of course he doesn’t,”
“No clue about what?”
“How fucking hot you are when you’re being all tough and powerful,” Ron laughs. “Do you know how many D.A. meetings I had a hard-on after? It’s ridiculous,”
“You’re kidding,”
“It’s so sexy,” Hermione agrees. “When you’re feeling confident, you ooze power and sex appeal, Harry. Why do you think all those girls wanted to ask you out?”
“I- just- the fame or something, I dunno,” he stammers. “I didn’t think much of it,”
“Nope,” Hermione laughs. “You’re genuinely attractive,”
“I- well,” he coughs. “Thanks?”
“Why are you so surprised?”
He shrugs, feeling awkward. Hermione tilts her head at him, eyes twinkling with amusement. “You’re too humble sometimes, Harry. It’s okay to be proud that we think you’re hot,”
“Can we get back on track here?” he blushes. “I want to tell people or the people that matter rather. Screw the papers,”
Hermione grimaces. “Ugh, the papers. They are not gonna like it,”
“So what?” Harry shrugs. “I’m Harry fucking Potter. They can get over it,”
“Yeah, but you’re not the woman in this situation,” she frowns. “I’ve already lived through this once,”
“This time, it’s true, though,” Ron adds. “But, we have a long way to go before it’ll be out to press, love. I think the point is that we don’t have to keep big secrets anymore. This isn’t a confidential mission to save the world, it’s just us being happy,”
“Exactly. Plus, I’m sick of you two being able to be all lovey downstairs without me. I like my kisses,”
“Well…”
“How about this? Why don’t we just exist and let them figure it out? We don’t have to make a big announcement. We can just be and watch in amusement as they all work it out,” he suggests.
“I guess… I guess I can do that,” she says with a deep sigh. “Okay, sure. Let’s do-!”
Harry cuts her off by grabbing her face and kissing her hard. “Merlin, I love you,”
“Oi, where’s mine,” Ron teases.
Harry kisses him, laughing. “I love you too,”
“We better get going. Mum is going to-”
“RONALD! HERMIONE! HARRY!”
He winces. “Yeah, that,”
Entering the kitchen feels almost like a game. Harry sits down and sets Hermione in the middle seat. Ron plops down on her left, unspokenly anchoring her between them, ready to protect her from any stray comments. He isn’t under any impression that they won’t notice. It’s not like the three of them are subtle.
“About time you three showed up,” Molly says as she flits about the kitchen.
“Sorry, Mum,” Ron mumbles.
“Harry,” Bill says from where he sits next to Fleur. They usually came over for breakfast. “Thought you’d like to know I’m on the team for that thing today,”
“Oh really?” Harry asks, casually draping his arm across the back of Hermione’s chair, twisting one of her curls around his finger. “That’s fantastic,”
“I’ll let you know how it goes. Shouldn’t be too bad,”
“What’s this about then?” Arthur asks.
“Harry’s got a house,” Ron says around a mouthful of food.
“What, like other than Grimmauld?” Ginny asks. “Is it the Godric's Hollow one?”
“No, a Potter family home,” Harry explains. “I don’t actually know where it is, do you, Bill?”
“It’s not too far from here, actually,” Percy pipes up. “Down the river a bit. Not close enough to walk but definitely apparateable,”
“Really?” Harry asks in shock. “That’s even better!”
“What do you plan to do with it, Harry?” Molly asks, and Harry doesn’t miss the side eye she gives him.
Charlie snorts. “I’m sure he’s going to live in it, Mum,”
Harry shrugs. “It’s been abandoned for years. Who knows what state it’s in? It’ll probably take time,”
Molly relaxes visibly and turns back to the stove.
“Hey Ron, can you pass me the butter?” he asks, leaning around Hermione.
“Sure,” he says, passing him the dish.
“Thanks, love,” he says softly, taking it from him. There’s a clank of a fork, someone dropping it in surprise, and Hermione tenses. Ginny looks at him questioningly from across the table, and he winks at her. “So what time are you going?”
“Just after breakfast,”
“Do you think we’d be able to pop by later? Or will it take all day?” Harry asks casually. Bill raises an eyebrow at his use of ‘we.’
“Hard to say. I mean hypothetically, nothing will be wrong with it, but you never know. I wouldn’t set your hopes too high,”
“Have you tried asking Dizzy?” Luna asks. “She might know more,”
“You know that’s not a bad idea,” Harry grins. “Dizzy?”
Pop!
“Yes, Master Harry?”
“Hey, Bill is going to look at the Potter manor today. Make sure it’s all safe. Do you have any idea what state it's in?”
Dizzy’s eyes light up. “Dizzy knows! Dizzy goes there every summer to clean. Dizzy keeps it nice,”
The concept of the house elf leaving Hogwarts for summer is enough to break Hermione out of her nervous stupor. She leans across Harry’s lap to see the elf better and he drops his hand to rest lightly on her back. “Did all the elves leave during the summer?”
“No, just Dizzy!” she explains. “Dizzy was only told not to find Master Harry. Dizzy could come and go as she pleased.”
“Could the other elves not?” she asks.
Dizzy shrugs. “Hogwarts elves like Hogwarts. Dizzy was not a Hogwarts elf,”
“Hmm,” Hermione frowns, returning to her breakfast. “Interesting,”
“Thanks, Dizzy. Do you want some breakfast?”
The little elf blushes. “Dizzy already ate. Dizzy will garden now.”
Pop!
Arthur laughs. “I’ll be sad when you take her with you, Harry. My garden has never looked so good. She’s taught me quite a thing or two,”
“If we’re really as close as Percy says, I’m sure she’d pop by for a visit,” Harry grins. “And it sounds like it’s in good condition,”
“Knowing Dizzy, it's pristine,” Ron jokes.
“It’s so sad what happened to her,” Hermione sighs. “I still can’t believe she was at Hogwarts that whole time,”
“I know,” Harry murmurs, leaning over to press a comforting kiss to her temple. “But we’re all together now, eh? It’s going to be great,”
Another fork drops in surprise. Harry bites back a laugh. Luna catches his eye and smirks into her orange juice.
“If you’re up for it, I’d love to go over some of the portfolios today, Harry,” Percy suggests.
“Yeah, I’m good to do that. I know I’ve been a bit down again, but I’m feeling alright today,”
“Brilliant,”
“What portfolio?” Molly frowns, finally sitting down at the table.
“Oh, just finally getting all my accounts in order,” Harry shrugs. “Apparently, they’ve been trying to contact me since Sirius died. I wanted to get it taken care of, so I could figure out my next steps. Percy’s helping,”
“Next steps?”
“Well, sure,” Harry shrugs. “I get to live my life now, you know? I don’t want to waste any of it. I was reading a letter that Reg- my dad, left me and it just made me realize how much they gave up for me. I think the least I can do is live the life they would have wanted for me,”
He feels Ron grasp the hand that’s tucked behind Hermione’s back, and he realizes he’s crying. He sniffs and wipes the tears off his cheek.
“Bit deep for breakfast there, mate,” Georgie jokes.
Molly still frowns, though. “Surely you don’t mean to ‘get on’ so soon, though? I mean, you’re still healing. You know you’re more than welcome to stay here as long as you need,”
“I know,” he smiles, trying not to hurt her feelings. “And I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, really I do, but,” he takes a deep breath. “We’re adults, you know. The war took our childhood from us. I won’t let it take the rest of our lives,”
“Us? What do you mean, us?”
Ron coughs uncomfortably. Hermione shifts.
Shit.
Bill, to his credit, tries to save them. “These eggs are really good, Mum,”
“Oh, thank you, dear, but Harry, what are you talking about? Surely you don’t mean you and Ginny? Because I’ll remind you that Ginny still has a year left, so-”
“Mum, stop!” Ginny exclaims. “Harry and I aren’t dating,”
“Well, yes, I know you took a break, but-”
“We aren’t dating,” Harry repeats. “We’ve already spoken about it,”
Charlie chokes on his coffee. Fleur drops her fork. Bill looks stunned.
Molly scoffs. “That’s- why that’s just- not possible,”
“Mum!” Ginny shouts, looking hurt. “I’m allowed to date other people,”
“Well, yes, but it’s Harry,” Molly insists. “I mean, you two have been meant for each other since-”
“They aren’t dating,” Luna scowls. “You should really respect that,”
“I-well,” Molly bristles. “Fine. I suppose you’re right. I just always imagined Harry joining our family properly,”
A pang stabs in Harry’s chest. Was he not already?
“Might still get your wish,” George mutters under his breath.
“What was that?” Molly whips around.
“Nothing!” he exclaims, jumping up from the table. “Thanks for breakfast, Mum,”
“Traitor,” Ron hisses at him as he leaves the kitchen.
“So you mean the three of you then? Surely you three realize you can’t live together forever, right?”
The table goes silent as all the Weasley children become very interested in their plates of food. Fleur catches Harry’s eye and smiles at him as if to say, ‘I’m sorry she’s not getting it.’
“Maybe let’s save this conversation for another time, huh?” Arthur suggests.
“Hmm, yes, if you’re done, Harry, we can go over those-”
“What am I missing here?” Molly asks shrilly. “You’re all looking at each other like you know something I don’t,”
“Nothing, dear! Nothing,”
Molly stares her husband down, who shifts uncomfortably. She swings her steely gaze back to them and finally sees Ron and Harry’s intertwined hands, the way Hermione is leaning into Harry for comfort. Harry can partially see the wheels turning in Molly’s brain before she realizes it. “Oh!” she says simply. “I see,”
Everyone freezes in shock.
“That’s it?” Ginny laughs. “You see?”
“Well, it’s nothing to fuss about, is it,” Molly scoffs. “It’s a bit traditional, but I suppose it makes sense,”
Ginny leans back, laughing in shock. “We break up, and she has a fit. The three of you are dating, and it’s like nothing happened,”
“Sorry, Gin,” Harry mutters.
“Why would I cause a fuss about it?” Molly asks.
“So you really don’t care that Ron is queer?” Ginny asks nervously. “That he’s dating both of them?”
“Darling, of course not!” Molly exclaims. “My brothers were gay. Really, what do you take me for?”
“Wait, really?” Charlie pipes up.
“Yes, I- have I really not mentioned that?” Molly frowns.
“Never,”
She looks around the table at her children with a sudden sort of clarity. “Wait- did- did you all think I would be homophobic? Merlin’s sake, I’ve been a bad mum,”
“No, you haven’t, mum,” Bill says quickly. “You just get a bit… set in your ways sometimes about who you think should be with whom,”
“Oh, I suppose I do,” she sighs. “Well, I’m sorry. None of you have ever given me any indication otherwise, so I assumed you were straight, but that was probably wrong of me,”
There’s a contemplative silence for a moment before Luna whispers. “I told you!”
Ginny sighs. “Yeah, you did,”
Luna gives a small humph, crossing her arms. Harry’s a bit surprised. He’s never seen Luna grumpy before.
Ginny sighs, running a hand through her hair. “Mum, I- Luna and I are dating,”
“Oh,” Molly says, surprised. “I suppose this is all starting to make sense now,”
“You’re not mad?” she whispers.
“Well, do I think you should be sharing a room? No. But I’m not mad, dear,” Molly smiles.
“We love you all no matter what,” Arthur grins. “So, does anyone else have any breakfast table confessions?”
Percy and Charlie raise their hands sheepishly.
Ron grins. “George is gonna be pissed he’s missed this,”
✦✦✦✦✦
“Well, that was quite the morning, wasn’t it?” Percy sighs, sitting down at his desk. “Sorry for pulling you away privately, but… well, I know how Ron can be about finances at times. I wanted you to feel like you could talk openly about any plans you might have,”
“It’s alright, Percy,” he assures him. “If Hermione were here, I’d probably not listen as much. Bad habit, I know, so it’s fine,”
“Alright,” Percy smiles, inviting Harry to sit. “Shall I start or you?”
“You, please,”
“So, obviously, we are starting with a blank slate here,” Percy explains. “The Black family investments were mostly political it seems, and nothing of interest to you outside of that. The Potter account had the Hogwarts donation, but again mostly a blank slate. So I’ve taken the liberty to come up with some ideas of what you might like to do,”
“Tell me,”
“Well, you could continue the Hogwarts donation for one. A school fund for Teddy, as well as a personal fund for Andy to support her if she’ll have Teddy full time,”
“I had similar ideas,” Harry nods. “What else?”
“Well, there’s always ministry donations. Now- I know you don’t like politics. But plenty of people do, and if you want to keep the right people in the game, then you’ll have to play the game, Harry,”
He grimaces. “I don’t like it, but I figured,”
“Then ideally- I mean this is what good business people do, I suppose- is invest in things that will give you a return profit,”
Harry scoffs. “Do I really need that?”
“I’d recommend it,” Percy shrugs. “You’re a generous person, Harry, and it would enable you to stay generous,”
“I want to invest in George,” he says immediately. “But I don’t really want anything back,”
“That’s fine. You can invest in Muggle businesses as well. Many wizards do, there’s just not enough businesses in our economy,”
“Is that something that we do on a personal level? Or is it a sort of numbers thing?”
“Ideally, we’d open you a muggle bank account and hire a muggle investor specialist,” Percy explains. “I’m not too proud to admit that Hermione might be better suited to assist with that task,”
“Probably,” Harry laughs. “But it sounds doable,”
“Did you have any ideas in mind?”
He shifts uncomfortably. “I want to give your parents some money,”
Percy coughs in surprise. “I-um, okay,”
“They’ve just done so much for me over the years, and well… you know how I grew up, Perce. I always dreamed about having the kind of money I have now. You’re my family, even more so now, and I want to take care of my family,”
He’s not sure if it’s the light, but he’s pretty sure Percy’s eyes go misty. “You know they’ll fight you about it,”
He grins. “Yeah, well, you’re clever enough. I’m sure you can sort out how to do it without too much trouble,”
Percy chuckles and makes a few notes. “I can do that. Anyone else?”
“I also want to start a school fund for any Weasley child that comes along, though I suppose that’s a task for later down the line. Also, I’d love to give some money to Ginny, Luna, and Neville, of course,”
He nods and gestures for Harry to continue.
“This might seem… a bit mad,” he hesitates. “But I’d like to make sure that Narcissa and Draco are stable after their trials. Who knows how much the ministry will seize, and… well, they played a crucial role in our success. I feel as if I owe them something,”
Percy’s face is surprisingly neutral. “I’m not here to judge, Harry. If that’s what you want to do, then I’ll make it happen,”
He sighs in relief. “Thanks. Um, I’d also like to pay you,”
Percy looks up in surprise.
“And don’t even think of shrugging me off,” he adds. “I know eventually you’ll probably want to move on to the ministry, but I really appreciate all your help. I’d be lost without it,”
“I- thank you, Harry,” he smiles. “I appreciate it,”
They talk for a while longer, going over amounts and donations Harry might want to make to the ministry. He’s overwhelmed by the end of it but feels confident he’s made the right choices. He walks up the stairs with a little skip in his step. He can’t hear voices coming from Ron’s room but he knocks on the door anyway to give them a warning.
“Me!” he calls cheerily, popping the door open. Hermione is reading, as usual, Ron splayed out in her lap, asleep.
“Hi,” Hermione looks up from her book. “How’d it go?”
“Good,” he sighs, flopping on the bed beside Ron and tucking himself into his back. “Gonna need your help, but we got a good start,”
“Of course,”
“Is that a new book?”
She blushes. “Maybe,”
“We should go on a bookstore date,” he grins at her. “Buy you as many as you can carry,”
“Oh, really?” she asks, her eyes lighting up. “Can we-” she stops herself.
“What?”
“Can we go to a muggle bookstore?”
“Sure,”
“Oh, that would be wonderful,” she sighs. “I miss muggle things, bookstores, the mall, don’t you?”
He shrugs. “I didn’t really get to do that stuff,”
Her face flashes with anger, and he braces himself for another discussion about this childhood. “Well, then,” she smiles tightly. “We’ll have to fix that. You need new clothes anyways, we should make a day of it,”
“What is wrong with my clothes?!” he laughs. “Dizzy said the same thing,”
“Harry, you’ve been wearing the same clothes since you were twelve, and they're still too big,” she frowns. “Not to bring up what we all hate, but you’re even more popular now than ever before. You should look the part,”
He sighs, running his fingers through his hair. “I guess,”
“Think of it as part of your new life,” she smiles. “You can do whatever you want now. New clothes, new house, not to mention other things like new glasses or-”
“New glasses?” he perks up. “I can get new glasses?”
“Well, I’d assume you would. It’s been over a year-”
“What do you mean?”
“Since your last appointment? Don’t you get them checked every year?”
“No,”
“Well, how long has it been?”
“Erm, I got them… I was maybe five or six. When is it that they check your eyes in school?”
Hermione’s jaw drops. “You haven’t had your prescription checked in over ten years?”
“No? Is that… is that not normal?”
“No,”
He sighs dejectedly and tucks himself tighter into Ron’s sleeping form. “Add that to the list then,”
“I’m sorry, Harry,” she murmurs softly. “I didn’t mean to make you upset,”
“I know. It’s just like I’m seeing myself for the first time,” he sighs. “I mean, I wasn’t even sure I would get to this point a lot of the time. What was the point of buying myself new clothes, you know? And I could have. I had the money,”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” she assures him. “We’re all going to be healing for a long time,”
“What about you?” he asks, gesturing to her arm. “You went through a lot, Mi,”
“I did,” she sighs. “And I’m dealing with it in my own ways. For now, I’m letting myself relax, read, and rest. I’m not oblivious to the work that lies ahead of us. I’ve been reading the Daily Prophet, you know…”
“Oh no, honey, come on, you know better than that,”
She rolls her eyes. “Someone has to keep us updated. Things are… they seem bleak still. Lots of death eaters still on the loose, people lost their homes, I mean, don’t get me started on everyone worried about Hogwarts being back open come September,”
“Wow,”
“Yeah… I think it might be good, actually, if people saw us, just around, being involved,”
He sighs. “Yeah, maybe,”
“But, let’s get through tomorrow, huh?” she grins. “It’ll be much easier to handle all that if we feel stable,”