The End of Voldemort

The End of Voldemort

Her voice cut through the darkness. "Honestly, Harry, I'm surprised at you!" Hermione scolded. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived-Again, apparently, struggled towards the sound of her voice, and rejoined the land of the living. He opened his eyes, and beheld the blurry, chaotic world which he had saved yet again. She tapped his glasses, sighing, "Occulos reparo!" As she helped him to a sitting position, she muttered darkly, "You really would think that the head of the DA could remember a rather simple spell like that!"

"Luna?" he queried.

With a snort, she spoke to the ceiling. "After seven years of friendship, you'd think he'd remember his best friend's name!"

Harry smiled weakly, "I know you. Your name is Molly. Plain, simple Molly!" He teased her lightly, and was rewarded with a scowl. "HEY! Quit poking me, all right!"

Just then he heard the sweetest sound in the world. "He's right, Hermione. You really should let Molly fuss over him, and go tend to Ronald. I'm sure he needs your tender, loving care more than Harry. After all," Luna smiled dreamily, "he has me to keep him company."

Hermione smiled, and excused herself. Luna managed to pull herself up onto her elbows to gaze up into Harry's face. Her clothing was torn and bloody, but otherwise she was very much alive. Harry gaped at her in wonder, for she now bore a very familiar looking scar upon her partially-exposed breast. Then, he flushed with embarrassment when he realized just where he was staring. Harry forced himself to meet her eyes. "So," he feebly joked, "I guess that would make you the Girl-Who-Lived, hmm?" He attempted to cover her with his cloak, but was shocked when she grabbed his hand and placed it upon her chest. His heart threatened to burst out of his chest.

"Harry, there is a scar upon my heart. Why should I cover it up?" she inquired. He tried to explain, but she pressed a finger to his lips. "You love me. I could never be ashamed of that. I will wear it proudly," she replied with a flourish. Sitting across from him, Luna kissed him once upon his forehead, and then released his hand. "Lay your head down in my lap. You've been mostly dead all morning, anam cara," she chided gently.

Who was he to argue with Luna logic? Harry mused, giving in to his exhaustion. He sighed as she began to stroke his hair and hum a simple lullaby, which was very familiar to him. Harry smiled, remembering the woman who used to sing to him long ago, and drifted off into his first restful sleep in a long time...

When he awoke, he was in a bed. There was a girl sitting with him, but not the one he expected. "Hey, Gin," he smiled weakly.

"Hey, yourself, sleeping beauty," she replied, eyes red from crying, but with a hint of mischief that he hadn't seen in a long time. "I told Ron you were just being a lazy git and not to worry. He made me promise to tell him when the hero awoke, so I'll be going..." She rose to leave.

Harry grabbed her arm. "Stay?" He motioned to the bed. She nodded her assent, and sat back down. "Ron's okay then? And the others..."

Ginny smiled weakly, "Luna, you mean? She wouldn't leave you at first, but then the Order said you both needed to be checked for injuries. I mean, you both gave us a fright, Harry. We thought you were dead, too..."

Harry took her hand, startling her. "How many?" he asked softly.

"We gave the Death Eaters as good as we got, if that's what you mean." Ginny looked away. "You would have been proud of Neville. The survivors were treated at St. Mungo's. You'd still be there if the Healers had their way, but Mum insisted that we bring you home."

Harry's face lit up. "Home... The Burrow," he confirmed. "Then you're all fine. It's awfully quiet in here. Where is everyone?" He began to dress himself awkwardly, and she leaned forward to help. He appreciated the gesture immensely, since he was pretty sure he'd cracked a few ribs.

Ginny mentioned that Ron was working at Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes with the Fred and George. "Hermione is out doing errands. The babies are sleeping in the twins' old room. Mum's downstairs talking to Charlie in the fireplace. She's been after him to bring home a girlfriend from Romania, but there's fat chance of that happening," she leaned forward conspiratorially, whispering.

Harry whispered back, intrigued, "Why is that? Isn't he seeing someone?" It was great to see the burden of Tom Riddle lifted from her thin shoulders. Ginny had a very smug grin on her face. This was juicy gossip.

"Well, yes, he is seeing someone..." She drew out the suspense as long as she possibly could, until Harry started tickling it out of her. "Okay, okay! I'll tell you! Worse than Crucio!" she laughed. "Charlie's bringing home his fiancé, who happens to be a bloke!"

Harry gaped, and then grinned wildly. "That's terrific! I'm so happy that he's in love. I can't wait to see the look on your parents' faces when... Ginny? Hey, what's wrong?" His smile faded when he noticed the tear that she tried hastily to brush away. That confirmed his worst fears. "Oh, Ginny!" he cried, pulling her into his arms, sharing her grief over losing the man who had become a father to Harry. They held each other for a long time, Harry stroking her back as she cried the tears she had held inside for too long. That is how Ron found them when he returned from his summer job.

At first he was overjoyed that his sister and Harry were finally together, but then he realized that they were not tears of joy streaking his friend's face. He let out a long breath between his teeth, and tried to be strong. Now was the time to tell his best friend just what the war had cost them all.

"I hope you have enough for everybody, mate!" Ginny and Harry broke apart, hoping Ron didn't get the wrong idea about them. Ron clasped Harry's hand, pulling him into a hug. "I missed you," he said. Ron felt a sharp tug in his gut as he looked at Harry. There was so much they needed to discuss. He pulled a face, hoping that the awkward moment would pass. "Gin, Mum wants to see you in the kitchen. Something about making Charlie's girlfriend comfortable ... I dunno. I always thought he fancied blokes..." Ron added, as Ginny tried to stifle a giggle. Once she had left, Ron glanced at Harry, and he read the pain in his eyes. "Dad," he began without preamble. "He tried to take on Dolohov himself to give you time to defeat Riddle. At the Ministry, he held on until he knew we were all safe, and then he let go. He said he was very proud of you, Harry, for doing what was right, and that you are as much his son as I am. Your parents would be proud of you, as are mine." Ron straightened up, "And he told me to give you a kick in the arse if you start blaming yourself for his death!"

The tension in the room broke as the other boy started to snicker, "Well, I guess he's right then. You know, I could use a good kick in the arse after all." The two boys began to laugh until they were sobbing. "Let it out man," Harry urged him.

Ron suggested, wiping his face, "Want some butterbeer? I've got something else to tell you, and it's going to be hard to say." They walked down to the kitchen, where Harry became caught up in a suffocating hug from Molly. "Mum, you really should let the poor chap breath. He's been out of it for a few months."

"Hang on; months? I've been unconscious for months, and you're just telling me this now? Hermione will be furious with me! She'd expect me to owl her immediately after waking up! Not to mention Luna... Where is Luna anyway?" Harry glanced about, taking in their sad expressions. "Oh, for Merlin's sake! What did I say now?" He exhaled with frustration. He looked into her eyes, and silently begged her to just get on with it.

It was Ginny who spoke first. "Luna is gone, Harry," she said gently. "You didn't let me finish."

Harry smiled weakly, "That's not nice, Ginevra." He beheld her quivering lip. "No; there's got to be a mistake. I saw her. I talked to her. She's fine, Gin," he tried to assure him. He became more insistent as the room remained silent. "I'm not imagining this. She was there, at the final battle."

Ron braced himself. "Luna was listed as a casualty, Harry. She's dead."

Harry argued, "Is there a body?"

Ginny paled. "Harry!" she hissed.

"If you don't believe me, Ron, just ask Hermione! She was there. She told Hermione to stop fussing over me and take care of you." Harry did not like where this was heading. "Didn't you see her, Ron?"

For a moment he was unsure if he had gotten through to Ron. Then, a hesitant grin began to appear on his face. "No, no; I didn't see her. But I didn't see her body either. Everyone else had a wizard's funeral, but her body was never recovered... could it really be true?"

Ginny began to relax, hoping it was true. "You mean she may have walked out of the Ministry building? If she had been injured, she wouldn't have stayed at the hospital. The last thing she said to me at the Ministry was that she didn't trust Healers; they would try to make her an oddity like you, Harry." Ginny smiled apologetically. "I was shocked to read her name in the paper. We never heard from her again, so I assumed it was true."

As much as he hated to travel that way, Harry asked Mrs. Weasley if he could Floo to the Lovegood residence. He bade them goodbye, and jumped into the fireplace. He brushed himself off, and was aware of a high-pitched cry. Not bothering to look about, he ran for the room at the end of the hallway and flung open the door.

There sat Luna, holding a dark-haired baby in her arms. She smiled at him widely, and told the child, "Oh, look! Daddy's home!"

Harry gasped like a fish out of water. "You... I... HOW LONG EXACTLY WAS I UNCONSCIOUS???" he sputtered. This tirade seemed to amuse Luna to no end. Harry was having trouble breathing, and slid to his knees before her.

Luna replied with a mischievous gleam in her eye, "Don't tell me you don't remember. This baby is your responsibility as much as mine, you know. I wondered why you never came by. Oh, wait. I don't think I ever gave you our address, did I?" she puzzled aloud. She held the boy out to him, saying, "Mummy needs to use the loo. Be good for Daddy. I mean it!" She glanced at him quickly and seemed satisfied.

Harry had never held a baby before, and something told him that this baby had it in for him. He was right. "Luna!" he yelled, holding the baby out away from his body. "He just peed on me! I don't think he likes me very much!" He was mentally adding that the feeling was likewise when she entered the bedroom. Cuddling the child against her shoulder, she told him where to find the diapers. He rummaged in the top drawer, and shouted to her, "How do I close these things? They don't have any tape."

Luna quickly laid the boy on a clean cloth, folded it about the child, and secured it in place with Drooble's Gum. "Not the best job, but it will hold until I can use a fastening spell." She smiled at Harry, rising up on her toes to kiss his cheek. He couldn't help smiling, almost forgetting why he had been angry in the first place.

Luna really is a good mother, he mused. Wait! Mother! "Luna," Harry began patiently, "Where did the baby come from?"

She started laughing. "Where do you think babies come from, Harry? That is so funny, isn't it Tommy?" Luna blew bubbles on the baby's cheek. "Daddy's being funny."

"Would you please stop calling me Daddy, Luna, it's hard enough asking you a question and getting a straight answer! Okay, let me try again. I last saw you at the Ministry, three months ago. A baby takes nine months, or so I'm told, so then, how is it that you have a baby that looks like me when I've been in a coma all this time?" Somehow Harry managed to get this all out without stumbling over the words.

Luna looked carefully at Tommy. "Do you really think so, Harry? No wonder Grandfather gave me such strange looks when I brought him home. Do you know what?" she asked in a very serious voice. Harry smiled in spite of himself. She looked so adorable when she tried to be serious. Focus! His reminded himself. "I think that he found out that you and I were a bit naughty this year!" She looked intensely astonished by this fact. "Oh, Harry. No wonder the Headmaster was so cross with me. He said the oddest thing, too. He told me that we needed to get married right away. Married, indeed! Can you imagine that, Harry, you and I married to each other?"

Harry held her close to him. Oddly enough, he could. He kissed her forehead, and then looked at the child again. He smiled. "Yeah, Luna; that's pretty strange. I mean," he added in a mock shocked tone, "do you know what married people do with each other?"

Luna looked at him like he was about to divulge the most delicious conspiracy theory. "Yes, Harry? Tell me; what do married people do?" she said in a properly scandalized tone of voice.

Harry took Tommy from her, and laid him in the crib. "They kiss, Luna," he replied. Harry tried to think of what to do next. He knew he fancied girls, but having a Dark Lord in his head had been a serious obstacle to starting a relationship. He never seriously thought he would even have a future. He assumed that Riddle and he would go out in a blaze of glory. Dating? Getting married? Having kids? Harry had thought that life was never meant to be, as much as he had wanted it. Now it seemed to be staring him in the face.

Luna began to sigh. "Oh, that. You mean Sex! For a minute there I thought you were going to tell me something juicy." She seemed rather put out about it.

Harry was really amused. He had not believed Luna had perished, yet he still felt relieved. He had been so distracted by Tommy that... Oh, no. "Um, Luna, sweetheart, did you name him Tommy?" Harry closed his eyes silently hoping this wasn't what it looked like, while at the same time hoping that the contraceptive charm had worked. He vaguely recalled Valentine's Day...

Luna hugged him. "No, of course not, silly; his mother did."

"His mother? Oh, good. For a minute there I thought you had named our son after Riddle." Our son. Harry mentally kicked himself. Don't encourage her. Where did that come from?

Luna clucked at him. "Of course I wouldn't name him Riddle, Harry. That's what started this whole mess. His mother should have given him her maiden name. No, I named him Tommy Lovegood Potter. I do hope you don't mind. I mean, the poor child has no family after all, and Grandfather wants me to marry you, although I really am too young." Luna seemed overjoyed that he had discovered her little secret. She clapped her hands together like a small child opening presents on Christmas morning.

Harry paled. She did not just say what he thought she'd said. "You mean that," he jerked his head toward the closed bedroom door, "baby is none other than my worst enemy, the Dark Lord, Tom Riddle..." He was going to faint. He was sure of it. "Luna, you adopted the man who has been trying to kill me since birth?"

"Well, of course not, Harry. He's not a man at all, is he? He's just a baby in need of a good home." Luna pouted, drawing his attention to her full lips. "I thought you'd be happy. This way you don't kill him, and he doesn't kill you, and we all live happily ever after, prophecy be damned. Tommy gets a second chance at immortality and that makes him happy, you get to have a family and that makes you happy, and I get to have you and that makes me happy! Goddess alive, I'm good!" Luna started to chuckle merrily to herself as she walked away.

With a kiss that lasted far too short for his liking, Harry told Luna he would be visiting Hermione and that they would discuss Tommy's future later. She seemed to accept this too easily, and he could have sworn she winked at him. She whispered in his ear, "When we are married, can we have sex again? It looks like a silly thing to do, but it was very much fun."

Harry blushed, "Luna, you do know that's how babies are made, right?"

She punched him in the arm. "Of course I do, silly! What do think I am, a child?"

Harry kissed her again. "You are the most unusual girl I've ever met. You really don't know the effect you have on me, do you? It's very difficult for me to leave you, when all I really want is to keep kissing you," he admitted shyly.

Luna agreed solemnly, "That's how it starts, you know. First the kissing, and then the..." She made a gesture, and he groaned. "The next thing you know, Tommy's got himself a sister. It's probably best to wait until after Hermione leaves, though, to make love."

Harry bit his lip. "Bye, Luna." He paused, "I... fancy you."

Luna teased, "You do more than fancy me; otherwise, I wouldn't have this scar, now would I?" She tried to place his hand on her breast again, but he was turning the most interesting shade of red, and she realized that maybe he just wasn't very comfortable with showing affection. No wonder, after the way those horrid Muggles treated him. She vowed as he left that she would have to proceed slowly so as not to frighten him off. To think, the boy tried to throw himself in front of a death curse for her, but was too afraid to admit his feelings! Boys are so weird.

Hermione stared at the mirror. I'm too young to be raising children. How could I ever have thought that this would be easier than passing my NEWTS? She looked around the room, wondering when her husband would be home. Sometimes the outside world frightened her. She seldom showed it, insisting that everything was fine. The truth was that doing a simple errand like picking up milk often had her looking over her shoulder. The menace to the magical world she had grown to love had been defeated. The ones responsible for her abduction had been punished. There was no logical reason for her fear, yet she grew increasingly nervous walking home. The last straw had been seeing the girl that she knew was dead walking down the street with a child in her arms, a child that greatly resembled her comatose friend. The girl waved her wand at Hermione, and the last thing she saw was a shimmering spell. The next thing she knew, she had somehow appeared inside the room that she shared with Ron. "I'm home, I'm home..." she repeated like a mantra.

"Keep telling yourself that. Maybe one day you'll believe it, 'Mione," Harry said, removing his Invisibility Cloak. She gasped as he entered the room through the window. "Of course, you could always just come hug me." She ran to him before she could stop herself, and began to cry. Harry whispered, stroking her hair gently, "Home, Hermione. We have a home now. And now you have little Bryanna and Aidan." He grinned.

Hermione tried to smile back, politely saying, "I'm sorry, I'm just a little bit confused today. What are you doing awake?" She hoped that he wasn't a hallucination.

She let her eyes drop, and that is when she felt him tilt her chin up.

"Hermione, tell me what's wrong," he pleaded.

She turned away from him, and said stiffly, "You're really here?" He approached her, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. She fought him at first, but then settled down. "I thought it was just a fantasy. But, you're back," she replied a bit too brightly.

"I may not be the most perceptive guy, but I know you. You know I love you. You and Ron and the Weasleys are my family, and oddly enough, it would seem Luna is as well..." he trailed off, deciding to leave that topic alone for a while. "If you're afraid to tell me because you think I'll get angry, relax. What has got you so spooked, Mione?"

Her voice was muffled against his chest, as she replied shakily, "I don't know. You just startled me, that's all. Don't ever do that to me again, Harry!"

"Hermione, how long have we been friends? I know when you're avoiding the subject, and this time I won't let it go. Something's bothering you and you will tell me now." Harry waited expectantly. She mumbled. "Of course I'll still think you're brave; what gave you that idea?"

She wiped her tears away with her sleeve. "I'm not the same, Harry. I'm so scared all the time. How am I going to take care of two babies? I can barely take care of myself these days." She gestured to her limp hair and darkened eyes. Harry appraised his friend's haggard appearance. Hermione seemed thinner, much too thin to have recently have given birth. What worried him more was the tired, beaten down look she wore. Surely parenthood alone had not done this to her? Luna did not seem any worse for the wear raising Tommy, but then again, it may be harder raising twins. Especially Weasley twins, he grimaced.

Harry continued stroking her back. "I don't know, but we'll figure this out together, 'Mione; the three of us, like it's always been and always will be. We'll help you through this." He had no idea what the problem could be, but he was pretty sure that she should see a doctor. Did wizards even have therapists? Hermione seemed to be rather depressed, but willing to let him make decisions for her, which worried him. Harry was met with little resistance after this comment. A knock at the door startled them both. Harry relaxed as he realized it must be Luna. Ottery St.Catchpole was a short walk to the Burrow, after all.

At the door, Luna smiled sweetly, and swept into the bedroom to show off her latest prize. Hermione stared at Luna, and then accusingly at Harry. It was her, the girl she saw earlier with the child. "Luna?" she ventured tentatively, addressing him.

"Oh, no; it's not what you think! He's not really mine." Harry lifted the child onto his shoulder, bringing him over to the bed, claiming that he really should learn how to fasten those nappies. He really did not enjoy the look she favored him with. From the bedroom, he groaned. "I do know about condoms, Hermione. Ask Luna whose baby it is!"

"He's really such a sweet baby, doesn't give me any trouble at all. Tommy's going to behave himself this time around, isn't that right, baby?" Hermione looked askance at Luna. "How many girls have their very own Dark Lord, hmm?" she joked. "Of course, you have nothing to worry about, Hermione. Harry will make an excellent father. Tommy will be brought up with love this time around."

She carefully approached Luna, sizing her up. Luna began to fill her in on the events which took place before help arrived. Hermione relaxed. Only Luna would be daft enough to adopt the infant Tom Riddle. Once her initial shock faded, the brunette mused, "I never thought I'd hear the Gryffindor Seeker talking about changing diapers. This could very well be the most amusing thing I've ever seen." The girls both broke out into wide grins.

Luna agreed. "And it should be recorded for posterity's sake, don't you agree?"

Hermione smiled evilly. "Luna, I like the way you think. We've got more in common than I thought. A fascinating experiment... Take one Dark Lord, mix with a bell jar, add a little love, and you get an innocent baby."

Luna added, "I really need to finish my education, you know. And Harry's graduated already, so he could take care of the baby."

Hermione mused aloud, "It's not like Harry will want to pursue a career in the Ministry... Maybe he could teach Defense Against the Dark Arts? I'm sure that the Headmistress would arrange childcare while you're both in class."

"It would be very odd, being married to my teacher...the poor boy really has no clue, does he? You should have seen him when I told him he had to marry me!" Luna smiled in that Sphinx-like way.

"It wouldn't work as well otherwise. I mean, they do share a superficial physical resemblance. People would be bound to talk." Hermione adopted her poshest accent.

"It would rock the wizarding world to its very core. The Boy-Who-Lived getting the Girl-Who-Lived pregnant out of wedlock, raising the Boy-Who-Lived-Twice, whom really used to be the Dark Lord..."

"And, of course, Luna, you would be there to report it. It would make sensational news! The Quibbler would be selling out faster than when your dad published Rita Skeeter's article. That beats the article about the Boy-Who-Lived's sidekick getting his best friend pregnant. How could I betray Harry with his best friend? And here I thought I would be the scandal that rocked Hogwarts!" Hermione paused. "Luna, how are you really going to handle this? I mean, here you are talking about marrying Harry, and raising a child together. Are you sure about this?"

Luna sighed, looking directly into her friend's eyes. "You kissed him. I've always known he loved you, Hermione. Long before you married Ron. When you bury those feelings for so long, they are bound to erupt sooner rather than later. You've faced so much together. It's understandable to take comfort in each other. I won't lie; it hurt to hear him tell you he loves you. I'm not Cho; I understand the bond you have, and it doesn't threaten our relationship. I'm just happy to have him in my life, even if it means sharing him with you. You're married now, and Ron will have to accept what happened and move past it. I think he has already forgiven both of you. You just need to forgive yourself. For three months you have been raising the twins together. You'll have a wonderful life together, Hermione."

"Luna, you've been better to me than I deserved. I've never understood before why Harry feels so comfortable around you. I think I do now." She grabbed Luna's hand and squeezed thankfully.

She smiled wistfully. "My dad would have adored having Harry Potter for a son-in-law."

"You did tell Harry you were joking about marrying you?" Hermione tried to lighten the mood.

"Why would I joke about something important like that? It is rather fun to watch him squirm like this. Speaking of squirming, he's acts like he's still a virgin," Luna declared. "You want to see something really funny? Say the word 'sex' in front of him. It's a riot!"

Harry, meanwhile, had his hands full. He was blissfully unaware that Luna and Hermione were planning out his future. Little Tommy seemed wary of him, and had fixed him with a penetrating stare. He began to piece together the final moments before he lost consciousness. The little boy tried to wriggle free of him. Harry stared right back at him. "You brought this all on yourself, you know. Trying to kill me backfired. You should know by now that I wouldn't fall for the same old trick. Kidnapping Luna really was your downfall, you know. You used her as a human shield, thinking I'd never curse you while you had her. I wish I had killed you when I had the chance!"

Harry tried to control his temper, remembering the look in her eyes as she told him to let her go. I trust you, Harry. Let me go. It will be all right, you'll see. Luna believed so many incredible things, accepted so much on blind faith. She wouldn't let herself be used against him, and so had turned Voldemort's wand upon herself. She mouthed the words I love you, anam cara, before casting the Killing Curse. He had launched himself at them, knocking Voldemort into the bell jar as Luna's body slumped to the floor. What had once been the most terrible Dark wizard in British history had been reduced to a crying, possibly damp, infant. He raised his wand to finish him off, but then he heard Hermione's voice in the back of his mind. You can't harm a baby, Harry. Sighing, he dropped his arm. Harry had no time to register the implications, for all he could think of was the fact that Luna's lifeless body lay at his feet. In his despair, he failed to notice the jet of green light before it struck him.

And now, here he was, diapering the child because Luna decided on a whim to keep him. He's not even our child! Why should I be stuck with him? Suddenly Harry stiffened. Uncle Vernon would have drowned him in the bathtub if not for his wife. Harry had spent fifteen years of his life denied love and common decency by his relations, loathed and abused for being different, before running away to the Burrow. Could he do the same, even to his worst enemy? Tom, he reminded himself, had grown up without love, and it twisted him into something less than a man. Harry blew out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He finally realized what Dumbledore had meant years ago, when he said that there were worse things than death. Harry at the time had thought he was referring to the dementors, for he couldn't imagine anything more terrible. To live without love, that would be far worse.

Harry picked up the infant, and looking deeply into his eyes, said dryly, "I'm going to go through with this, but I'm telling you, no funny business, you little shite." And then the amazing thing happened; Tommy gave him a huge smile. Harry shifted him against his shoulder, and the baby snuggled up to him, content. Harry chuckled softly, thinking, I could get used to this.

Molly Weasley paced back and forth, wondering where Harry had gone. She had given Ron and Ginny hell for allowing him to leave. They had finally told her why he had left, and she called a family meeting. Now, as she looked around at her brood of children, she wished that their father was there to support her. She felt jumpy and irritable, and Fred's latest prank wasn't helping matters. She couldn't help feeling a burst of pride, though, that her sons had become successful businessmen. Molly jumped when the bedroom door opened, and Harry burst in.

The Weasley clan surrounded the dark-haired boy, and over the uproar, Harry cried out, "I'm okay, really!" He was nearly knocked off his feet by Molly as the redhead swept the boy into an embrace. Harry smiled. All was as it should be. He suddenly heard one of the babies begin to cry, the force of his emotions rocking his body slightly. Aidan had his face pressed into Ginny's hair as he was carried over to the sofa. Bryanna was cooing in her daddy's arms as Ron nuzzled her. Harry winked at Hermione.

Hermione said in a teasing voice, "Molly, I bet he's hungry after his long rest. You know how boys are." She helped Harry extricate himself from her vice-like grasp. Harry reached out a hand toward the door and beckoned Luna into the room, with Tommy in her arms. The room tensed for a moment.

Harry pulled the pair into his arms, and announced, "Apparently, I'm a dad." He gave them a sheepish grin, enjoying the look of shock on their faces. The room exploded into conversation. Ron clapped him on the back in congratulations, as he glanced at Hermione. She winked at him, and he was very glad that she could keep a secret.

Fred hooted loudly, "I knew you had it in you, Harry!"

George added, "Couldn't let our little brother hog all the limelight, now."

Luna snuggled into the curve of her lover's arms. She endured the questions as well as could be expected, conveniently leaving out the true identity of the child in her arms. As she compared notes with Molly and Hermione on child care, Harry sighed in contentment. Perhaps sensing this, Tommy grabbed onto his finger, and yawned. Harry felt a surge of protectiveness course through him. He would give Tommy the love that he should have received the first time around, and raise him as his own. He held Luna close, whispering that he loved her, and that he would take care of them. Harry was filled with happiness, here in the Burrow with the family that had claimed him, and the girl he had fallen in love with. He looked down at Tommy's sleeping face, and mused at the irony of the situation. How can you love someone you were supposed to hate? Yet he knew that if he could find forgiveness in his heart, somehow time would heal the scar.