First half of book:
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003829962
Previous Chapters:
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003833123
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003838588
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003840013
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003841380
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/f/p/4400000000003842029
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Chapter Twenty-Four: Family
Tonks and Tulip’s cottage was surrounded by thick forest and was the only property on the north side of the lake that Harry could see, it was a simple design and reminded him of Mould-On-The-Wold Cottage but with a more creative colour scheme. It was a lonely and beautiful place. Whenever Harry was outside the tiny cottage or its garden, he could hear the constant melody of wind off the trees and the surface of the small lake.
The afternoon after they had all been rescued by Dobby nearly everyone was resting, all except for Harry, Theodore, and Allison who still had work to do. Allison had managed to snag back Tracey’s purse before they escaped Malfoy Manor, which meant three out of four friends were researching what Griphook had meant by payment other than gold. It was past four when Theodore triumphantly held up his copy of A History of Magic.
‘I think I found it. According to this small passage about how the 1752 Goblin Rebellion started, Goblins view all goblin-made items as their own property. More specifically they view the rightful owner of a goblin object is the maker, not the purchaser. If the maker is no longer alive then the object belongs to all goblins. Any goblin made item bought by another creature they view as rented for that creature’s lifetime and should be returned upon that creature’s death.’
‘Alright, that’s brilliant and all,’ said Allison, ‘but how does that help us pay Griphook. Does anyone have any goblin made items whose human owners are now dead in their possession that we didn’t know about until now.’
‘Ha ha, no,’ said Theodore mockingly in response to her sarcasm. ‘I’m certain however that we can find one…eventually.’
They sat quietly for a minute, then Harry remembered something and stood up.
‘Where are you going?’ asked Allison.
‘You two get some rest now, I think I have this figured out. I’m going to go call in a favour.’
Harry made his way to the kitchen where he found Tonks sitting at the kitchen island preparing dinning by magic while simultaneously writing a letter by hand.
‘You out of everybody should be resting,’ said Harry calmly as he sat down next to her.
‘This baby is keeping me awake anyway, so I might as well make food for everyone for when they wake up,’ said his beloved cousin as she looked up from her letter.
‘Thank you for everything, by the way. I know right now you probably want to focus on preparing for you and Tulip’s baby.’
‘We spent the last seven months preparing, we’re already as ready as we’re going to be. Harry, don’t ever worry about coming to me for help, I will always be there for you if you need me.’
This managed to get a small smile out of him, probably his very first since the last Potterwatch broadcast.
‘Who are you writing?’
‘My mum, despite everything that has just happened I still received an owl from her just now asking if she could still come over tonight for an Easter supper. As much as I wish I could see her right now I think for today we all just need to rest and heal,’ she paused, then sighed. ‘I think in reality she wants to see me as much as possible because she really is missing dad…’
Harry’s face drooped, and some tears welled up in Tonks’ eyes.
‘I’m really sorry about your dad. I was heartbroken when I heard on Potterwatch.’
‘I miss him dreadfully, but your friend Dean’s arrival has brought me comfort. He told me that when the Snatchers found all of them it was Dirk Cresswell and my father who fended them off to give Dean and the goblins time to escape, although the other goblin didn’t make it. My dad died a hero, even though Dean and Griphook got captured a few days later, he bought them enough time to have run into you guys which led to their freedom.’
‘Then you should be very proud.’
‘I already was,’ she said, letting the tears run down her face.
Harry allowed Tonks a moment to recompose herself and send her letter, before asking her for the help he needed.
‘I need you to send another message. Can the Patronus messenger go long range?’
‘I don’t know if it can reach far away countries, but it should be able to be received by its target anywhere in the UK. Why, who do you need to send a message to?’
‘Fleur Weasley. Tell her I’m calling in a favour for saving her sister’s life,’ that was not, strictly speaking, true, as Gabrielle had never been in real danger, but neither Harry nor Fleur had known that at the time and so Harry’s actions in saving her had been genuine. ‘Tell her I need her to send Muriel Prewett’s goblin-made tiara here, that it will be returned if possible, but there is a chance it won’t.’
And Tonks nodded.
Harry spent much of the next couple days making excuses to escape the crowded cottage, walking along the shore of the quiet lake, distant farm land under work, the cool spring breeze that swept through the trees as well as across his face. The enormity of his decision not to race Voldemort to the wand still scared Harry. He could not remember, ever before, choosing not to act. He was full of doubts, doubts that Tracey could not help voicing whenever they were together.
‘What if Dumbledore wanted us to work out the symbol in time to get the wand?’ ‘What if working out what the symbol meant made you “worthy” to get the Hallows?’ ‘Harry, if that really is the Elder Wand, how in the world are we supposed to finish off You-Know-Who?’
Harry had no answers: There were moments when he wondered whether it had been outright madness not to try to prevent Voldemort breaking open the tomb. He could not even explain satisfactorily why he had decided against it: Every time he tried to reconstruct the internal arguments that had led to his decision, they sounded feebler to him.
The odd thing was that Theodore’s support made him feel just as confused as Tracey’s doubts. Now forced to accept that the Elder Wand was real, he maintained that it was an evil object, and that the way Voldemort had taken possession of it was repellent, not to be considered.
‘How would you have prevented it anyway, Harry?’ he said over and over again. ‘Would you have broken into Dumbledore’s tomb and taken the wand before he arrived. Would you have been able to do that?’
But the idea of Dumbledore’s corpse frightened Harry much less than the possibility that he might have misunderstood the living Dumbledore’s intentions. He felt that he was still grasping in the dark; he had chosen his path but kept looking back, wondering whether he had misread the signs, whether he should not have taken the other way. It was only Allison who understood he needed moments alone away from everyone else, anytime the other two began asking him to many questions she would intervene and help him gain half an hour or so alone.
From time to time, anger at Dumbledore crashed over Harry again, powerful as the waves slamming themselves against the cliff beneath the cottage, anger that Dumbledore had not explained before he died.
‘If he’s truly dead,’ said Tracey the morning of the second day after they had arrived at the cottage. They had just begun eating breakfast, no one but the four were currently awake, and Harry had been staring out at the wall that separated the garden from the forest.
‘Trace, you’re my best friend, but that’s insane!’
‘Maybe, but think about it,’ said Tracey, speaking across Harry, who continued to gaze at the wall and the forest. ‘His Deluminator bringing you back to us. The silver doe. Me finding the fang when I thought about Dumbledore. The blue eye Harry saw in the mirror—‘
‘But Tracey, Harry admitted that the stress from the situation could have made him imagine them!’ said Theodore. ‘Right, Harry?’
‘I could have,’ said Harry without looking at him.
‘But is that really what you believe?’ asked Tracey.
‘No, I don’t,’ said Harry.
‘That’s what I thought,’ whispered Tracey quickly, before Allison gave her a dirty look. She looked hesitant, but continued. ‘But if it wasn’t Dumbledore who sent Dobby, then how did he know not only where we were, but that you were in the cellar?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Theodore, ‘but how could Dumbledore have sent it when he is dead encased in marble at Hogwarts?’
‘Perhaps it was his ghost?’ suggested Tracey.
‘Dumbledore wouldn’t come back as a ghost,’ said Harry. There was little about Dumbledore he was sure of now, but he knew that much. ‘He would have gone on.’
‘Sorry? “Gone on”?’ asked Tracey.
But before Harry or Allison could put an end to the constant questions for now, an owl flew through the open kitchen window and dropped a medium sized package in front of Harry along with a note.
“Grateful to help. All the luck.
Bien à vous,
Fleur”
Opening the package he found a worn velvet case, and inside was the tiara. Upon closer inspection from how he had seen it at the wedding Harry see how the silver had a unique shimmer that regular silver did not.
‘This should hopefully do it,’ Harry let out in a breath of relief.
‘Goodness, how beautiful,’ said the voice of Luna Lovegood who had appeared behind them.
‘Oh, morning Luna, didn’t see you there,’ said Allison.
‘Daddy’s made a tiara,’ piped up Luna, ‘Well, more of a crown, really.’
Tracey and Harry just looked at each other. Harry knew that she was remembering the ludicrous headdress they had seen on their visit to Xenophilius.
‘Yes, he’s trying to re-create the lost diadem of Ravenclaw. He thinks he’s identified most of the main elements now. Adding the billywig wings really made a difference.’
‘Yes, we saw it, it was quite…interesting,’ said Theodore. ‘Listen, Luna, we have to go upstairs for a bit. Enjoy breakfast.’
They made their way upstairs to the tiniest of the cottage’s three bedrooms, carrying with them the small velvet case. Harry knocked and Griphook beckoned them to come. He had drawn the red cotton curtains against the bright, cloudy sky, which gave the room a fiery glow at odds with the rest of the airy, light cottage.
‘I have reached my decision, Harry Potter,’ said the goblin, who was sitting cross-legged in a low chair, drumming its arms with his spindly fingers. ‘Though the goblins of Gringotts will consider it base treachery, I have decided to help you…for a price.’
‘That’s great!’ said Harry, further relief surging through him. ‘Griphook, thank you, we’re really—‘
‘—What,’ said the goblin firmly, ‘are you prepared to offer me.’
Harry held out the case and opened it. Griphook’s black eyes glittered; there were no whites to his eyes.
‘Moonstones and diamonds, goblin made, very impressive,’ said Griphook, and Harry’s heart raised. ‘However I know of the witch who paid for this, she is still alive. I will not accept an item that is still under lease.’
Harry’s spirits plummeted. He was about to panic, this was the only goblin-made item of value he could acquire, what was he going to do n—
‘What do you mean Muriel Prewett is alive?’ said Allison, stoic as ever. ‘She died of old age on September first, it was one of the few deaths the Daily Prophet actually reported.’
There was silence for a moment, Harry felt as though his heart was going to beat out of his chest. Then Griphook raised an eyebrow.
‘I do not read Wizarding papers, and I lost contact with the magical world soon after that date,’ said Griphook. ‘Is it true that the witch who possessed the tiara is now dead?’
‘Yes,’ said Theodore, backing up Allison’s story. ‘She was over a hundred and nine years old, the stress of the war was too much for her.’
Tracey frowned at the floor while Allison and Theodore were speaking; Harry felt irritated at her, afraid that she might give the game away. However, Griphook had eyes for nobody but Harry.
‘Hum,’ mumbled Griphook. ‘Very well, I will accept the tiara as payment.’
He held out his hand, but Harry did not give it to him.
‘You will receive the tiara as collateral, but the Weasley family wants the tiara back,’ explained Harry. ‘Once we’re inside the vault we’ll take the tiara back and you can take as much of the treasure inside as you—‘
Harry had said the wrong thing. Griphook flushed angrily.
‘I am not a thief, boy! I am not trying to procure treasures to which I have no right!’
‘But goblin treasure does not belong to any witch or wizard after they die, and I am certain there are some goblin artifacts in the vault that long predate Bellatrix or her husband,’ said Tracey quickly, possibly trying to make up for almost giving them away. ‘Besides, this is the vault of the woman who tortured us both, I would think you would be happy to gain a small amount of revenge.’
‘The silver helmet of Urg the Unclean and his men, great goblin revolutionaries, does lay uselessly in that vault,’ said Griphook slowly. ‘Very well. I have your word, Harry Potter, that you will give me now the tiara in agreement for helping you, and I shall return it and take the helmet once we’re inside the vault?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry.
‘Then hand over the tiara and shake,’ said the goblin, holding out his hand.
Harry did as he was told and took his hand and shook. He wondered whether those black eyes saw any misgivings in his own. Then Griphook relinquished him, clapped his hands together, and said, ‘So. We beg—‘
‘Errrg!’ came a loud moan from across the hall.
‘What was that?’ said Tracey.
The four friends exited the room and ran into Tulip exiting her and Tonks’ bedroom. She looked equally parts excited and equal parts terrified.
‘Is everything ok?’ asked Harry.
‘It’s time!’ she said in rapid speed. ‘Tonks is having the baby!’
‘Tonks-baby-‘ Harry’s brain just short-circuited.
‘Oh my goodness, oh my goodness,’ began Tracey.
‘Will she have to go to St. Mungo’s?’ asked Theodore.
‘It’s under Ministry control, too dangerous. I’m going to go fetch Chiara Lobosca,’ said Tulip as she quickly walked to the stairs. Another of Tonks’ moans could be heard coming from her room. ‘In the meantime, Allison you are the only one with a level head, go downstairs and get a bottle of Wiggenweld Potion, a bowl of hot water, and some towels. Keep her comfortable until I get back.’
Tulip was right to put Allison in charge, because Harry, Theodore, and Tracey continued to freak out while they waited for Tulip’s return, and once Luna and Dean figured out what was going on they joined in on the freaking out party in the living room. About a half-hour later Tulip returned with Chiara and a medical bag and the two went upstairs into Tonks’ room and Allison came back down.
The group became more calm as the day progressed. That didn’t stop the nerves however, Harry was pretty sure he did more walking that day as he paced around the house as he had going across the country the last seven months. They could hear Chiara, Tulip, and especially Nymphadora upstairs, but didn’t know how it was going.
It was only just before the sun began to set that a fourth sound entered the mix in the form of a new born’s cry, and shortly after Chiara came back downstairs.
‘It’s a healthy baby boy!’ she announced.
‘A boy, a baby boy!’ said Theodore as though he had never heard of such a thing.
‘How wonderful!’ said Allison, a wide smile on her face.
‘Babies born in April are exceptionally unpredictable,’ Luna said mystically as though reciting a rhyme.
‘When can we see them?’ asked Harry. He was eager to see the new life his cousin and her wife had created.
‘They are all resting right now and probably won’t want to be seen until morning,’ said Chiara as she put on her travelling cloak, ‘except for you Harry, they’d like to see you if you’re up to it.’
‘Oh?’ said Harry.
He made his way upstairs. Compared to the noise that had been coming from this floor most of the day it was now almost completely silent. He knocked on the door quietly, afraid of waking up the baby if it was asleep. Thankfully no crying followed his knock, but a soft, ‘Come in, Harry.’
He entered, and found the two women sitting upright on the bed. Tulip on top of the covers, and Tonks looking exhausted was under the covers while holding a tiny baby swaddled in a turquoise blanket. It was in that moment that Harry realized he didn’t know what to do, he had survived encounters with Voldemort five times, but when it came to his cousin holding her newborn baby he just stood there.
‘Er, congratulations Tonks,’ he managed to get out. ‘It’s a boy, um, right?’
Both Tonks and Tulip laughed.
‘Come over here Harry, it’s ok,’ said Tonks while gesturing with her head to approach.
He got over his nerves and practically ran over to the bed and down on its edge next to Tonks. He gave her a one arm hug, then looked down at the new life she had brought into the world. The baby had some pretty chubby cheeks for a new born, deep dark brown eyes like Tulip, and a wisp of mousy brown hair like Tonks did when she was born.
‘He’s adorable, and has your natural hair,’ said Harry with a smile.
‘Right now he does,’ said Tulip, and Harry looked up as she spoke, ‘but when he first came out it was tomato-red like mine.’
‘What…’ began Harry, and sure enough when he looked back at the baby it was now sporting jet black hair and emerald green eyes. ‘He’s a Metamorphmagus! Incredible!’
‘Yes, very incredible,’ said Tulip, kissing her wife on her temple.
‘We’ve chosen a name,’ said Tonks, in a serine tone.
‘Oh, let’s hear it,’ said Harry.
‘Well, we both lost our fathers in recent months, I also lost Mad-eye who was my beloved mentor, so while we admit it is a little silly we have chosen Edward Asahi-Alastor Karasu-Tonks,’ said Tonks. She then quickly added, ‘But we’ll be calling him Teddy for the most part.’
‘I think they would all be honoured,’ said Harry.
He once again looked down at the little baby and smiled. Harry wasn’t sure if he had felt this genuinely happy since Allison saved his life from the locket Horcrux.
‘If you think it’s safe, we’re planning on inviting Tonks’ mum and your dad and sister over tomorrow to meet the baby,’ said Tulip, now a little more serious.
‘Er, yes, it should be,’ said Harry, now a little too overwhelmed with emotions to think about the fact that meant he’d be seeing them for the first time in eight months. ‘They’ll know how to arrive safely.’
‘Just to be safe though we won’t be inviting the godmother, my best friend Merula, until things cool down here,’ continued Tulip. ‘Although we will be sending her pictures.’
‘And the godfather?’ Harry said absentmindedly.
Tonks and Tulip smiled at each other once more before Tonks spoke.
‘Will you be the godfather?’ she said with complete joy and sincerity.
‘M–me?’ stammered Harry.
‘Of course you—Flower and I have long been in agreement about that. There is no one we would want more.’
‘I—yeah—blimey—‘
Harry felt overwhelmed, astonished, and delighted. Godfather, he couldn’t believe it. Right then and there he promised to himself to be just as loving and reckless of a godfather to Teddy Karasu-Tonks as Sirius Black had been to him.
The rest of the evening went by in a blur. That night most of the household did not get much sleep, both from adrenaline and the fact that there was a crying newborn baby in the house. By the following morning everyone was an odd combination of exhausted and jittery, all except for Griphook who was just simply grouchy.
Harry had forgotten that Tulip had mentioned they would be receiving guests up until the moment that there was a bang on the front door at exactly twelve o’clock.
Everyone’s head turned toward it. Tulip came running out of the kitchen, despite it being expected they all still had to be cautious; Tonks was sitting on an armchair in the living room holding a wrapped up Teddy close in her arms; Harry held his hand over his pocket that contained Draco’s wand, Theodore and Tracey did the same. Silently Griphook slipped beneath the table, out of sight.
‘Who is there?’ asked Tulip.
‘It is I, Remus John Lupin!’ called out the familiar voice. Harry’s heart spread up. ‘I am accompanied by my daughter Canini Cesario Howling, and the mother of Nymphadora, Andromeda Irma Tonks. Dora, the Secret-Keeper of Shell Cottage, told us the address so that we could today and celebrate!’
Satisfied in the answer, Tulip wrenched the door open.
Remus, Canini, and Andromeda fell over the threshold. The stress of the war and the death of her husband must have taken its toll, as Andromeda finally had her first strands of grey hair, though it was nothing compared to Remus who now had more grey than light brown. Over the last eight months Canini must have felt she needed a change, as she had cut her incredibly long hair back down to just past shoulder length. They straightened up, looked around the room, making sure of who was there, then Remus and Canini sprinted across the room and nearly tackled Harry and Theodore in a hug.
‘You’re ok, you’re ok, you’re actually ok,’ Remus muttered over and over again in near disbelief.
Canini already had tears rolling down her scarred cheeks, ‘I missed you two so much!’ she managed.
‘I missed you guys too,’ said Theodore between sobs.
Harry opened his mouth to speak, to also relate his gratitude for being able to see them again, but it was in that moment that just how badly in his heart he had missed them washed over him that he too was reduced to uncontrollable sobs. The surrounding world disappeared, Harry had even forgotten that other people were present, because for the duration of them all crying the world was only made up of this small broken family that had finally been reunited. It was only when they had all gotten it out of their system that the world came back into focus.
‘It’s good to see you two alright,’ said Remus as they all separated. ‘You four I should say. And Harry, Theo, you could both go for a haircut and shave.’
‘Yeah, we’ll probably get on top of that soon. It’s just been…busy,’ expressed Theodore.
‘We’ll have plenty of time to talk about Theo’s incredibly messy hair later, right now I want to meet Teddy,’ said Canini in a cheerful manner Harry had so missed. She went over to Andromeda who was already holding the baby.
‘Yes, it’s time to celebrate!’ said Remus, pulling out from his robes a fancy looking bottle. ‘I’ve brought an eighty-three bottle of Italian Vermouth Bianco just for this occasion!’
The wind buffeted the little cottage and the fire leapt and crackled, and Tulip was soon opening another bottle of wine. The arrival of Teddy and the family reunion seemed to have taken them out of themselves, removed them for a while from their state of siege: Tidings of new life were exhilarating. Only the goblin seemed untouched by the suddenly festive atmosphere, and after a while he slunk back to the bedroom he now occupied alone. Harry thought he was the only one who had noticed this, until he saw Remus’ eyes following the goblin up the stairs.
As the girls plus Theodore now fawned over Tonks and the baby, Harry and Remus found themselves migrating alone to the kitchen. Some of the joy left and Harry now couldn’t help but think about the last time he had talked to his adoptive father in person.
‘About what happened in Grimmauld Place, I’m so—‘
‘Don’t apologize, Harry,’ said Remus as he cut him off. ‘I needed to hear every word. I was in turmoil, and instead of trying to deal with my problems I was running away from them, and in doing so running away from my responsibilities. Your words convinced me to take up the twins offer, and I was then able to make a difference while still being reasonably safe and could be there for Canini.’
‘So…you’re not mad?’
‘Mad? I am more proud of you and Theodore than I have ever been. I am honoured to have you both as my sons. And I know Teddy will eventually be honoured to have you as his godfather.’
Harry was at risk of tearing up again, but thankfully Remus changed the subject.
‘Now, tell me all that has happened, and don’t worry, I know you can’t tell me everything.’
And Harry got to spend the better part of the afternoon talking about all that had happened. He still wasn’t able to tell Remus about the Horcruxes, but he did tell him they had made progress on their mission. He also did not tell him about the Hallows, as he still felt ashamed about them. After discussing Allison’s departure and then return, Remus had a question.
‘And you still aren’t back together?’
‘I was overjoyed that she was back, but for a while I was still hurt that she had left and how she had done so, I just didn’t show it as much as Tracey.’
‘It sounds like she deeply regrets what she did. Let me ask you something, do you still love her?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry instantly, he didn’t need to think about that, not even a second.
‘Then I wouldn’t wait much longer to let her back into your heart. These are still very uncertain times. Love shouldn’t have to wait.’
Harry nodded, and then continued giving details on his adventures. When he got to the present he discussed that he had made a deal with Griphook, but not the details surrounding it. Remus’ face went dark.
‘I’m not sure if you know this, but shortly after I lost my job as an auror, I spent a month working as a guard at Gringotts. Even though I wasn’t there long, I got to know a lot about Goblins…’
‘What are you saying?’ Harry asked.
‘They aren’t human Harry, and they don’t think like one either,’ said Remus. ‘Deals made between wizards and Goblins have lead to some the bloodiest conflicts in both our histories. Both sides have wronged the other, it is true we are not innocent in this matter, but it has lead to goblins having a deep mistrust of us that persists to this day.’
‘But I respect gob—‘ Harry began, but Remus shook his head.
‘Harry, your heart is so big, it is a beautiful quality about you. But treating this goblin well isn’t actually going to change any decision he has already made about you. If you made a deal with him, and I suspect that would involve goblin-made items, then no matter what your agreement says he is going to view the objects as his.’
Harry had an ominous feeling now; he wondered whether Remus guessed more than he was letting on.
‘I just want you to be prepared,’ said Remus, as he stood up from the table. ‘Don’t ever think you know for sure what a goblin is thinking.’
With that foreboding conversation out of the way they all returned to celebrating the new life. Everyone told jokes and laughed, cooed over the new baby, and just got to enjoy each other’s company for the first time in months.
When it was time for the three of them to go, there were even more hugs, and a few tears shed. Just before leaving Remus pulled Harry, Theodore, Allison, and Tracey aside.
‘Dora has told me that she suspects you four won’t be staying here long term. While I want you to be safe, I know that your mission is important. So I’m going to wish you all the luck that I can, and just know that if you ever need me all you need to do is find a way to let me know and I’ll be there.’
Harry and Theodore hugged him and Canini one last time, and then the two of them plus Andromeda were off.
Slowly the days stretched onwards, and the gang resumed their planning with Griphook. It was like planning to break into the Ministry all over again. They settled to work in the smallest bedroom, which was kept, according to Griphook’s preference, in semidarkness.
‘I have visited the Lestranges’ vault only once,’ Griphook told them, ‘on the occasion I was told to place inside it the false sword. It is one of the most ancient chambers. The oldest Wizarding families store their treasures at the deepest level, where the vaults are largest and best protected…’
They remained shut in the cupboard-like room for hours at a time. There was problem after problem to overcome, not least of which was that their store of Polyjuice Potion was greatly depleted.
‘If we had a full month to spare I still likely wouldn’t be able to make more,’ Theodore signed. ‘Tulip has told me the shortage on Fluxweed is even worse now than it was eight months ago. As it stands we only have enough for one person.’
‘That’ll be enough, especially if you can make a temporary Aging Potion,’ said Harry, who was examining Griphook’s hand-drawn map of the deepest passageways.
The other inhabitants of the cottage could hardly fail to notice that something was going on now that Harry, Tracey, Theodore, and mostly Allison only emerged for mealtimes. Nobody asked questions, although Harry often felt Tonks’ eyes on the four of them at the table, thoughtful, concerned.
The longer they spent together, the more Harry realized that he did not much like the goblin. Griphook was unexpectedly bloodthirsty, laughed at the idea of pain in lesser creatures and seemed to relish the possibility that they might have to hurt other wizards to reach the Lestranges’ vault. Harry could tell that his distaste was shared by the other three, but they did not discuss it. Tonks once offered to move Tracey and Allison into Griphooks room, but they refused. Harry and the other three knew that Griphook would think poorly of having to sleep on the sofa; keeping Griphook happy was essential to their plans. They needed him.
The goblin ate only grudgingly with the rest of them. Even after his legs had mended, he continued to request trays of food in his room, like the still-frail Ollivander, until Dean (following a small breakdown from the exhausted Tulip) went upstairs on Tulip’s request to tell him that the arrangement could not continue. Thereafter Griphook joined them at the overcrowded table, although he refused to eat the same food, insisting, instead, on lumps of raw meat, roots, and various fungi.
Harry felt responsible: It was, after all, he who had insisted that the goblin remain at Tonks and Tulip’s cottage so that he could question him, but they insisted that they understood.
After his family’s departure, the only joyful day came a few days later. Harry had needed a break away from Griphook, and decided to have a short walk through the garden. When he reached the lake-side garden with blooming spring flowers, however, he heard some noise coming from behind the shed. He made his way over and found Allison sitting on a chair sanding a stick of light reddish-brown colour.
‘How is it coming?’ he asked, and she looked up and smiled.
‘I think I just finished actually. The dead cedar tree I found was still dry and strong so it was perfect to work with, I just sanded the small branch to shape I want, and Harry look,’ she stood up and held out a small jar, and inside was what looked like the wing of a dragon fly, but it was a deep purple and glittered in an unnatural way.
‘What is it?’ Harry asked genuinely.
‘Well, there aren’t really any Unicorns, Dragons, or Phoenixes in this forest, so I had to find another source of magic. The garden has had some fairies hanging around in it, and I managed to find an intact wing that I liked. While Mr Ollivander prefers to work with only the three superior cores, he said he’ll insert whatever magical core I can find. Once he does, all that will be left is for me to polish it.’
‘I’m so proud of you,’ Harry blurted out. Allison’s cheeks went pink.
‘Oh, um, thank you Harry.’
He was going to backtrack, mumble something and walk away, but he remembered what Remus had told him and decided to take a chance.
‘I really mean it, you have worked so hard on it this past week. I don’t think I could ever do what you have done,’ said Harry, and her smile grew even brighter. ‘I guess what I’m trying to say is, you’re so passionate, determined, and just incredible. I can’t imagine my life without you by my side. I know the last six months haven’t been easy, but would you be willing to give what we have another shot?’
Harry wasn’t sure what she would say, but in the end Allison didn’t say anything. Instead she closed the distance between herself and Harry, took his hands in hers, and kissed him. It was beautiful and sweet. Harry had nearly forgotten what kissing her was like. As they kissed, Harry took in the moment, so that he would always remember that the resumption of their relationship was associated with the essence of aloe vera and cedar dust.
‘I—‘ he began.
‘I love you too, Harry.’
By late afternoon, with the help of Ollivander, Allison had completed her wand, and she insisted Tracey disarm her to try and guarantee Bellatrix’ wand would respond to her. Recovered as much as he could, and his work at the cottage finished, Mr Ollivander began packing and panning his move to Andromeda’s home.
That evening, Luna and Dean entered with their arms full of firewood.
‘…and tiny little ears,’ Luna was saying, ‘a bit like hippo’s, Daddy says, only purple and hairy. And if you want to call them, you have to hum; they prefer a waltz, nothing too fast…’
Looking uncomfortable, Dean shrugged at Harry as he passed, following Luna into the combined dining and sitting room where Tracey, Allison, and Theodore were laying the dinner table, and Harry decided to join them.
‘...and if you ever come to our house I’ll be able to show you the horn, Daddy wrote to me about it but I haven’t seen it yet, because the Death Eaters took me from the Hogwarts Express and I never got home for Christmas,’ Luna was saying, as she and Dean relit the fire.
‘Luna, I’m really sorry, but I told you your home was destroyed,’ Allison called over to her.
‘By that very horn,’ continued Tracey. ‘It was from an Erumpent, not a Crumple-Horned Snorkack, it exploded—‘
‘Our home can be fixed, and it was definitely a Snorkack horn,’ said Luna serenely, ‘Daddy told me. It will probably have re–formed by now, they mend themselves, you know.’
Tracey shook her head and continued laying down forks as Tulip appeared, leading Mr Ollivander down the stairs. The wandmaker still looked exceptionally frail, and he clung to Tulip’s arm as the latter supported him, carrying a large suitcase.
‘I’m going to miss you, Mr Ollivander,’ said Luna, approaching the old man.
‘And I you, my dear,’ said Ollivander, patting her on the shoulder. ‘You were an inexpressible comfort to me in that terrible place.’
‘You’ll be missed,’ said Tonks, as she entered the kitchen with Teddy in her arms.
‘Thank you, I hope to see you all again, and I wish you the best of luck on each of your journeys.’
A strong wind gusted against the cottage windows as Tulip and Ollivander set off into the night. The rest of them squeezed in around the table; elbow to elbow and with barely enough room to move, they started to eat. The fire crackled and popped in the grate beside them. Tonks, Harry noticed, was merely playing with her food or feeding Teddy milk; she glanced at the window every few minutes; however, Tulip returned before supper was even finished, her long red hair tangled by the wind.
‘Everything went well,’ she told Tonks. ‘Ollivander is all settled in, your mum says hello. Remus and Canini send you all their love. They were all happy to hear everyone is still doing well.’
It was then, with them all sitting around the table and with love sent from the rest of his family, that Harry realized something. He wasn’t just hunting Horcruxes and trying to defeat Voldemort so that the wizarding world could be free, he was doing it so that he could have more moments like this with the ones he loved.
