Ginny
Harry looked around the room and sighed, he wondered yet again how different things would have been had someone warned him.
It was his seventieth birthday. In the last forty years his life hadn't really changed much, a few wrinkles had appeared on his face and his once black hair was slowly greying, apart from that everything was pretty much the same.
His best friend Ron, who'd initially become an Auror like himself had quickly realized that the job didn't have fixed hours and entailed a lot of paperwork. George offered him a job at the shop which initially seemed like a good idea but both George and Harry soon regretted the decision.
Ron wanted to become a partner, Harry suspected that Hermione's constant nagging was getting to him but George simply told him that he wasn't really contributing much, seeing how he only sold the products made by George. Of course, Ron dragged Harry into the ongoing argument by reminding George that Harry had put in the seed money; Harry had silently agreed with George's assessment but either way, Fred and George had treated the seed money like a present never really giving him a stake in their business so he really had no say.
Ron, who still expected everything to be handed to him on a silver platter, had never forgiven Harry. Even years later, when he'd started balding and he'd gained a nice paunch thanks to the Leaky Cauldron, where he spent most of his time drinking, he blamed Harry.
Hermione hadn't changed much either, she still believed herself to be superior to everyone around her and she still fawned over figures of authority. Of course, the problem was that she was now said figure of authority, which had her living in her own little hubris. Her hair was still frizzy, she'd never bothered fixing her overbite and she still used books to prove her point. The only new thing was the thick spectacles that now adorned her face, making her eyes look beady and Harry had eventually realized that Hermione wasn't always right, especially when it came to people.
They had managed to keep their friendship for the first decade after graduating Hogwarts, but Harry soon started finding her presence irksome. She wanted every detail of his life but in return she gave him nothing, when he thought back, he realized that Hermione had always kept secrets and done things without informing them but she'd kept tabs on their every thought and move. Of course, hiding a time turner, not telling them who her date to the ball was, creating a secret group and throwing it at him at the last minute wasn't the same as expecting him to share all the details about his marriage and work without sharing anything herself. They'd slowly drifted apart till she managed to do something believing herself to be brilliant that he could never forgive.
Finally, there was Ginny, the woman was still the belle of the ball. She'd done everything from marrying right to visiting a beauty clinic once a month to keep up appearances. What she hadn't considered was that it was one thing to attract a stranger and another thing to actually live with someone. He'd been so blinded by his teenage self that he'd never really noticed how toxic she truly was. Once he did realize it, it was too late. The only silver lining was that she was still star struck, so he managed to keep the upper hand in the relationship but it didn't stop him from being lonely.
The first of his guests arrived.
His once beautiful baby girl, Lily, entered the room and made a beeline for the bar. Judging from the scowl that now permanently marred her face and the shadows under her eyes, he presumed that she was abusing potions again.
Her husband, the famous international Quidditch player Biaron Pluck sneered at her before roughly pulling her to the side by her arm.
"Don't create a scene, Harry." Ginny whispered, flashing a fake smile to the latest arrivals.
He heard the glass in his hand crack but said nothing. He knew that Lily wouldn't listen to him or accept his help, his intervening in her life always ended badly.
"Happy birthday." A new voice cut in. "Care for a refill?"
Harry mumbled a thanks and followed Neville to the bar.
Neville was his first true friend. James had started acting out during his last two years at Hogwarts, Harry for the life of him couldn't understand why, which led to him visiting the school often. Whenever he'd visit, he'd end up going to the Three Broomsticks later to cool off. Soon Neville, who'd noticed the pattern, started joining him. They'd vent to each other and slowly and steadily their friendship blossomed and Harry found what his father had in Sirius.
"You are lucky you never had any kids." He said. It wasn't the first time he was envying Neville's fortune and he knew it wouldn't be the last time.
"Fortunately, I wasn't doused in potions. Unfortunately, I was still pumped on adrenaline and let my hormones make my choices. Hannah sends her wishes but she had other plans."
Harry nodded. Like him, Neville had found himself in a miserable marriage. Hannah wasn't aware of all the pure blood customs which had made Augusta very unhappy, Neville had suggested moving away from the manor only for Hannah to proclaim that she would rather leave him than the palatial house. The constant fighting had forced Neville to take a step back, he'd ended up taking up a job at Hogwarts where he spent most of his year. Augusta had passed away the previous year, but the rift in his relationship which had stayed for forty years with Hannah was irreparable.
Even though they lived under the same roof, the two lived separate lives. It was something that they both had in common but unlike Ginny, Hannah had long foregone keeping up appearances.
James stumbled out from a door on the right, as usual he was followed by Ron. They were both drunk as usual and were laughing about something.
"Aren't you going to do something about them?" A grating voice snapped from behind them. Rose glared at them and shoved past them as she hurried towards her father and cousin trying to usher them back out discreetly.
"Ugh, she sure inherited her mother's superiority complex. It's a pity, Max left her…" A new voice said joining them.
"Yes, he sure was easy on the eyes, wasn't he?" Harry replied dryly.
Draco chuckled. "I'll have whatever they are having." He added to the bartender. "How come your lovely mother-in-law hasn't made her grand entrance yet?"
"She's still upset over Albus' demise…"
"The Greengrass clan feel the same way about Scorpius."
Harry had never in his wildest of dreams thought that he'd be calling Malfoy, Draco, leave alone a friend. But the man that now wore his hair in a ponytail and carried a silver cane had become a confidant. He'd initially approached Harry a few years after graduating, apparently his wife was pregnant but he found himself amidst a potential scandal. Someone had spotted him at a wizard's brothel and he needed the story buried, Harry still didn't know why he'd agreed to help him, but he was glad he did. Draco's secret had forced them to bond which actually made the next thirty years of his life quite fun.
Harry burst out laughing, nearly choking on his drink, following his line of vision the other two joined in. Ginny was glaring at Cho, who despite being married herself for well over four decades still managed to bring out all of Ginny's insecurities.
"Little does she know that she should be glaring at you as well!" Neville remarked earning a scowl from Draco.
"It's okay Dray, had I swung the other way I would have been attracted to you as well."
"Don't mock me Potter. At least the thing I would miss most wasn't a Weasel." Draco snapped and stalked away.
"It's truly amazing how you do it. Thirty years later and you still manage to get under his skin."
Harry shrugged. "He'll come around, always does."
"Harry Potter! Ginny just told me that you haven't prepared a speech! How can you still be so irresponsible, honestly, I don't know who's worse, you or Ron!"
Even after all these years, he was still expected to be in the spotlight. Nobody cared that he hated it, all they knew was that every year The-Man-Who-Conquered needed to spread hope to Wizarding Britain.
He sometimes wondered if he could create another Dark Lord for someone else to slaughter just to get everyone off his back. Looking at the bothersome woman in front of him, it really wouldn't be that hard to pull off.
"Look who it is, our dear old Hermy! Have you managed to obliviate the Queen yet? Or wait! Are you going to obliviate all of Britain? The world maybe? Or are we all going to start serving the muggles?"
"Don't be silly Harry. She gave the Muggle life up when her parents told her to sod off." Neville chimed in.
"That's right, you weren't even informed of their passing, were you?" He sneered.
She shoved a piece of paper in his hand and ran off with tears in her eyes.
"Well at least she didn't hex you this time."
Harry snorted, crumpling the speech she'd prepared.
"James will be spending the night at the Burrow, which obviously means that mum will be telling me how I've failed as a mother tomorrow. You could have at least looked sad or happy or something instead of looking all stony faced all the time, with all the camera crew…"
"I'm sure you'll be on the front-page tomorrow honey, don't worry. Why you positively nailed the role of the grieving mother. You know, I never understood, why you potioned me when your acting skills are so good!"
"Don't patronize me Harry, it's been a year since Albus' passing but I still hurt…"
"Yes, your constant shopping for the list of endless parties that you have to attend really leaves a lot of room for grieving…"
It took all her willpower to not slap him, instead she slammed his bedroom door and went to her own bedroom instead, yet again silently cursing her mother.
She still remembered the day she decided to follow her wretched mother's advice, vividly.
"What's the matter honey? I thought that we were meeting you tonight at the Longbottom gala."
"Don't worry mum, you'll still get to go to your precious gala…"
"Don't take that tone with me young lady! I've waited a very long time for this. Didn't you see how Andromeda Tonks ate her own words last week? Everyone thought I wasn't good enough, well I'm Harry Potter's mum now…"
Ginny rolled her eyes; her mother was still obnoxious and people still tried to avoid her but out of respect to Harry they'd have to tolerate her presence at their social gatherings. "At the moment he's, my problem."
"Ginny, haven't I taught you anything! I knew I should have given you cooking lessons…"
"I have elves!"
"And why don't you get him a mistress as well! All men need, is good food and good sex and you can get him to do anything!"
"I'm not you! I like my career…"
Ginny stopped mid-sentence, shocked at what happened next. For the first time in her life, Molly Weasley had slapped her daughter.
"Now you listen to me very carefully, Ginevra Molly Potter, you would be nothing if it wasn't for that boy. You think the Holyhead Harpies hired you because of your skill? The only reason they even let you near their team was because you are Harry Potter's wife. You managed to get married but if you screw this up, he can easily denounce you publicly, which means that you'll end up living here in the Burrow."
"He would never…"
"Will you risk it?"
"He wants kids! And not just one or two he wants a bloody Quidditch team of his own!"
"Then give him kids!"
"I can't ruin my life like that! If I get pregnant now, I'll have to quit the team…"
Molly knew exactly how self-centered and stubborn her daughter was, she knew she had to tread carefully. One wrong move would ruin years of work.
And so, Ginny had left with an additional concoction of potions. Potions that would make Harry do her bidding. The first four-five years had been great but slowly and steadily he started becoming immune to their effects.
Then one day much to Ginny's surprise she found out that she was pregnant, something that should have been impossible. However, Harry's lack of reaction to the news had led to their first big row.
"Ginevra, they found the potions in my system a few months ago. So, I decided to give you a taste of your own medicine. I want kids, that's all I've ever wanted and now you are going to have my kids. We will act like a perfectly happy family, because I want my children to experience the love of both parents."
"And why would I…"
"Because if you don't, not only will I publicly denounce you but I won't give you a penny."
"You can't legally stop me from…"
"I can when I tell them my reason with proof of course. But if you do as I say then you can carry on living your lavish life, I will never question you. Spend as much as you like."
Ginny had thrown a fit in response and had marched off to the Burrow. Harry had fully expected the rest of the family to show up to his house wands blazing for hurting their baby.
Instead, Molly and Arthur had come begging him on their knees. Arthur had reluctantly told Harry the full truth.
Ron would pass his exams and would be made prefect if the Weasley's managed to befriend Harry. Ginny too wouldn't have any problems academically and the twins wouldn't be expelled for all the stunts they pulled. And if everything went according to plan, Arthur would even get the promotion that he deserved Molly had added.
"Harry, you have to understand I couldn't afford to have two kids expelled and two kids repeating every year. We didn't have the money to afford tutors like others do but I did come to care for you like a son. We shouldn't have done what we did but if you leave Ginny, we will never be able to live through the chaos that it will cause. The dark families considered us blood traitors but even the light families barely spoke to us before, if something like this gets out now… Please Harry, I beg of you."
"I want seven kids."
Ginny who'd been standing silently blanched. "One."
"Three."
"Yes. Three beautiful grandchildren." Molly cut in pulling Harry into a hug sobbing into his shoulder.
That was the day that Ginny became Harry Potter's slave. Sure, she was still treated like a queen by her staff and society but she had acted as Harry wanted ever since then. Even their children hadn't realized how screwed up everything was till they were adults.
Of course, her dear mother had managed to get her claws into them. Even though Harry periodically checked everyone for potions as they were growing up, he didn't know that Molly Weasley had a way with words. She could have stopped it from happening but watching her mother screw them up was the only way she could get back at him and in all honesty, she'd never wanted them in the first place. With time she'd come to care for them but she couldn't make herself love them.
She sighed as she removed her diamond necklace. She'd never say it out loud, but seeing Harry every morning in his Auror robes still made her tingle. It reminded her of the day he saved her, he'd looked so heroic, so perfect, the image of him standing bloody with a sword in his hand had burnt itself into her mind. Yes, that was the man she'd married she reminded herself, a hero, her hero.
Hermione sat in the hideous orange coloured room and sobbed into her pillow. She felt like the eleven-year-old who'd boarded the Hogwarts express, a scared and lonely little girl.
After the battle, she'd finally gone to Australia to look for her parents. She'd found them easily enough and had given them back the memories that she'd initially blocked.
Then all hell had broken loose. Her parents had felt violated. Their barely adult daughter taking away their memories and not even bothering to discuss it with them first hadn't sat well with them. She still couldn't believe how easy it had been for them to turn their backs on her.
They'd both flown back to Britain, sold their home and then left promptly not bothering to tell her where they were going. A year later, once she'd graduated from Hogwarts she'd located them, they were staying in San Francisco. She'd hoped that with time they'd realize that everything she'd done, she'd done for their own good but once again she was left heartbroken. Not only did they refuse to acknowledge her existence but they'd adopted a child, she'd clearly been replaced.
Being completely alone she was glad that she had the Weasley's to lean on. Ron had been her rock; things had been great till they were living in the Burrow. But once they both had jobs, they'd gotten married and moved into an apartment and that's when things had gone south fast.
Ron had expected her to cook and clean and serve him like his mother did. Hermione had put her foot down. When Rose came into the picture Ron left the Auror force and started working for George, his change of career caused another row between the couple. Hermione didn't understand his reason, that somebody needed to spend more time with Rose, she just thought that he was once again trying to get by, by doing the bare minimum. They couldn't afford the apartment anymore and were forced to move back into the Burrow.
Molly never said it to her face and Hermione suspected that the only reason she stayed quiet was because Hermione made the big bucks, but she could see the change in treatment that she received from the woman. Molly clearly thought that Hermione was a bad wife and mother, eventually things seemed to settle down especially when she became minister of magic.
She however made the mistake of talking about moving again, this time Molly did voice her opinions openly. She claimed that with her new job she'd barely have time to look after Ron and Rose and it was best for everyone that they all carried on living the way they all were.
Forty years later they were all still living in the Burrow. Molly was happily serving her drunkard sons every beck and call while trash talking her daughter in law.
Things had been okay, because even through all the ups and downs she'd had Rose and Harry, but she finally managed to do something that Harry couldn't forgive.
She'd become the Chief Mugwump for the ICW two decades ago after stepping down as minister, allowing her to spend a lot of time away from Britain. Ten years into her new position she'd made the decision to open up the magical world to muggles. She'd argued that with the muggles improving technology on a daily basis it was only a matter of time before they found out and it would be better if it was done on their terms.
Of course, she had refused to consider the consequences of her actions. Things had gotten ugly, very ugly. She'd nearly caused the Third World War, fortunately Aurors, Unspeakables and Obliviators from all over the world had combined forces and had managed to stop any permanent damage from happening.
She'd obviously been kicked out of her position forcing her to come back to Britain where Harry had lost Albus in a Muggle riot. A shiver went down her spine as she recalled his cold hard gaze, if looks could kill she was certain that she'd have died several times over.
It had been an intense reunion. Molly was screaming at her and crying her eyes out. Ginny was sobbing in Arthur's arms, Ron and James were drunkenly slurring amidst all that Hermione made the mistake of proving herself right.
"If they hadn't been stupid enough to go wands blazing into a Muggle riot, they'd still be alive. Just goes to show that we should work something out with the muggles, wands or not they can still take us down."
Utter silence had followed her little outburst.
That was the moment she realized that she was once again completely alone. Rose was having her own problems which somehow Molly managed to blame on her as well.
She heard Rose call her down for dinner, wiping away her tears she slowly made her way down. Life at the moment seemed too long especially now that she had to spend all her time in this infernal place.
Harry went with the motions, somewhere down the line he'd become numb. Minutes turned into hours, hours into days and days into years. He watched James and Lily start their next great adventure who were later followed by Draco and finally Neville. Finding himself completely alone once again, he started living at the DMLE, he only stopped working when he died, the day he went to bed and never woke up. He'd realized soon after joining the Aurors that he didn't really want to spend his life fighting evil. But things changed when he found out about the Weasley's betrayal and the Auror force became his escape. He eventually became the head of the DMLE and stayed in that position for a good ninety years. He'd of course been offered the position of minister, Chief Warlock and even supreme Mugwump but he deflected everything towards Hermione.
Now at the age of 179 he looked down at his frail body and smirked one last time. He'd made so many mistakes that cost so many people so much; he vaguely wondered if heaven and hell existed as his form gently floated away.