Life and Love After Voldemort

"This is rather irregular," said Kingsley skeptically from behind his desk. "I don't see how it's the Ministry of Magic's task to track or estimate the revenue generated by the British and Irish Quidditch League's activities."

"Then I'll find a way to do it as a concerned citizen without involving the Ministry," said Harry. "All I'm saying is that I want to make sure how the money generated by the expanded playoff format is being accounted for and divvied up, and I want to check how much of it is actually making it to the charitable destinations. The league is making critical changes and conducting so much activity based on the stated goal of charity that the situation is ripe for fraud if there is not proper oversight. I now have a substantial stake in this league, Minister, and my name is now irreversibly tied to its credibility. By transference, the Ministry's name is now tied to the league's ability to come through on its promises since I'm going to be seen publicly as the poster boy for both organizations."

Concern crossed Kingsley's face as Harry continued. "Minister, if Ludo's going to use charity to justify the new format, I'm going to make sure he follows through, but I could use help in that area."

"Tell me, did your Miss Granger have an opinion on this matter?" Kingsley asked. Harry grinned. He'd figured that Kingsley would rapidly surmise that Hermione's fingerprints were all over this. "She volunteered to be my Plan B helper and number-cruncher if the Ministry wouldn't or couldn't help."

Kingsley put his fingertips together and thought over the matter for a few minutes. "Here's what I'd be willing to do. The Ministry could keep a very quiet eye on the league's financial activities, but no more than is authorized already by law under our tax and finance codes, with a narrow focus on the charitable revenue you describe. The eye in question will be aided by our Miss Granger, who's been extended an offer to join us in 'Magical Creatures' after completing her studies at Hogwarts. I'm sure she wouldn't be averse to a slight extension of her duties at the beginning."

Harry had no doubt that Hermione would welcome the task. After all, this is the girl who'd check out books from the library that weighed almost as much as she did but call it 'light reading.' "She'll jump at the chance, sir, I'm sure of it."

"That's settled, then! I love it when I can sort out the thornier matters before lunch... Anything else, Harry? How's the renovation going at Grimmauld Place?"

"It's moving slowly but surely, sir. I reserved a department Sweeper for the next few days to help us clean out some of the more stubborn charms and curses. I'm heading over there right now before I get back to Hogwarts to continue cramming for my N.E.W.T.s."

"Splendid, Harry. I look forward to seeing it when your work there is complete."

"Absolutely, Minster. Ginny's already talking about hosting a high tea for you and a certain Hogsmeade landlady if she happens to be in London some weekend." Harry winked as he said his goodbyes to Kingsley.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Higitus, Figitus, Migitus-Mum, Prestidigitorium!"

Harry ducked out of the way of a row of plates zooming over his head towards a wash tub, where rags waited to alternately rinse and dry the dinnerware. Harry had seen a Disney picture as a child featuring Merlin uttering the same rhyme to help a young King Arthur speed through his chores, but he never imagined back then that he'd ever witness such a thing in his own house.

"Kreacher offers a thousand apologies, master of the house! Kreacher did not anticipate your return so soon, or he would have attended to the kitchen first."

"That's all right, Kreacher," Harry assured him. "I always get a kick out of watching you work your magic. Say, would a ham and cheese be too much trouble?"

"Kreacher will make one right away!" the house-elf promised. Hermione was right; he's just as dedicated to service as ever, even as a free elf.

Harry and Hermione had seen to it that Kreacher was freed soon after the defeat of Voldemort, and they used all they knew about the nature of house-elves to ensure it went as smoothly as possible - though it involved a fair share of drama. The 'intervention' Hermione masterminded had worked extremely well. Harry had pretended to drop a sock accidently as he rifled through a drawer and asked Kreacher to catch it. Harry had then pretended to be panic-stricken at the thought that Kreacher was now free to leave him. If Harry carried on enough, Hermione reasoned, then Kreacher would not mutilate himself in the throes of despair after being set free, but would see where he was needed and come to Harry's aid. Harry threw himself into the task.

"Oh, poor Harry Potter! Woe is me!!!" he cried. "I'll be all alone in this big, empty house and this huge, scary city where I don't know a soul. How will I ever be able to keep this magnificent house up to the exacting standards that befit a great wizard? I'm a lost cause, I tell you, LOST!!!" Harry sank to his knees and beat the floor furiously with balled fists.

Kreacher rushed to Harry's side as tears avalanched downwards from the house-elf's bulging eyes. "Don't say that, noble heir of the house of Black and the name of Potter! Kreacher chooses to help you and serve you all of his days!"

Harry immediately regained his composure and beamed at Kreacher. "Thank you for your generous choice, Kreacher. Please permit me to honor your loyalty to me and your responsibilities whenever I may," replied Harry, who remained effusive in his gratitude during each subsequent visit. Harry assured Kreacher as often as possible that the house-elf would remain at Grimmauld Place as long as he chose, and used the offer of Knuts, Galleons, and other tokens as continued gestures of friendship that Kreacher understood. As a result, Harry noticed that Kreacher's disappointment with his fate as a free elf slowly subsided.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After consulting with the Sweeper and bidding Kreacher au revoir, Harry headed to King's Cross to take the train back to Hogwarts. He chose the train over Apparition to Hogsmeade since he was in no hurry to rush back to his books, and he also had a lot of thinking to do. Arriving at King's Cross immediately brought back Harry in his mind to the place between two worlds where he met Dumbledore for the last time after Harry offered himself to Voldemort. Despite all of the pain, fear, and confusion that surrounded Harry at the time, the urgency of the task before him made his choice clear: to return and fight Voldemort until either one of them had finally perished.

Harry felt that he was again in between two worlds, leaving London and his new home and career at the Ministry to travel back to his first real home at Hogwarts, which he would be leaving forever in a matter of days after completing his work there. Worst of all, he would be leaving Ginny for almost five months, which to him felt like an eternity. A feeling of unease washed over Harry at the thought, but the surroundings that had subconsciously been a calm in the storm (or the eye of the hurricane) for him during the Battle of Hogwarts again gave Harry a sense of purpose and assurance that overwhelmed the unwanted feelings. You can handle it, Harry thought.

If Harry had learned anything from his King's Cross experience with Dumbledore and the long walk to confront Voldemort beforehand during which he was joined by the spiritual echoes of his parents, Sirius, and Remus, it was that he would never have to face these crossroads alone. I'll always have the help and support of friends and family both present and departed.

Almost at once, Harry felt the tension that had been building within him dissipate. He dozed all the way to Hogsmeade, saving his energy for a Nastily Exhausting Review Drill in the library with Hermione upon his arrival.