You've Got to Live!

The weeks flew by as the family lived life to the full, the three members enjoying themselves thoroughly, and more than they had ever done in their lives. Draco visited them quite often, almost every week. He had changed a lot since their days at Hogwarts. He was no longer their rival. The ferret like appearance had disappeared. He was rather good looking, still pale and pointy, but very nicely so. Harry and Hermione had become quite fond of him, and by the time they had graduated, the silver blonde head had joined the exclusive club of red, brown and black.

Zephyr liked his half brother as well. They had very similar sarcastic temperaments, and enjoyed each other's company.

One evening, Hermione walked in on Draco showing Witch Weekly to Zephyr. She wouldn't have minded too much, but the particular issue they were reading was the one listing her and Harry's various romantic affairs right from their fourth year till date, and in chronological order.

"HOW DARE YOU! DRACO MALFOY! THAT'S NOT SOMETHING TO SHOW TO YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER!"

"Cool down, Mum - it's rather interesting...I didn't know that you had dated Uncle Ron so many times!" said Zephyr. Surprisingly, Ron and Zephyr had taken a liking to each other, and Zephyr no longer despised him. They had to admit that Ron was a rather good Godfather to Zephyr, and both of them enjoyed long sessions of chess quite often.

Hermione turned red at her son's comment. She glared at Draco and Zephyr.

"Put that down," she said coldly, "and if I ever see you exposing my son to something that scandalous, I'll hex you into oblivion."

Draco reddened. He knew that Hermione was perfectly capable of doing that.

"Sorry," he said, then added, grinning, "Mum!"

Hermione was taken aback. She stood still, not knowing how to respond while Zephyr and Draco rolled in laughter. Harry came up from behind her.

"What's the matter, love?"

"Hey Dad," said Draco, and dissolved into peals of laughter again.

"What?" Harry gaped at him.

Draco finally controlled his laughter and turned to Zephyr.

"See, little brother, what Gryffindor does to people! Too stupid to even understand our relation!"

Zephyr was laughing so hard that there were tears running down his face.

"You morons!" said Draco, "you are Zephyr's parents. I am his brother. So by relation, aren't you my parents as well?"

He laughed out again.

"True, son, very true," said Hermione, walking towards them with a glint in her eye, "and as your mother, I have to punish you two."

She grabbed each of them by the ear and dragged them to Harry.

"Now, Daddy dear will give you a nice talking to," said Harry.

Draco and Zephyr exchanged an apprehensive glance. Harry's talking to was a serious affair...but they hadn't done anything that bad, had they? They looked at Hermione pleadingly, but her face was serious and set.

"Brother of my child, how do you plead?"

"Guilty, my Lord."

"Then you shall be punished!" Harry waved his hand, and Draco and Zephyr were soon hit with Binding Balloons, which tied them up together. Another wave, and a Colour Changer drenched them from top to bottom. Then Harry released them and chuckled. Hermione giggled.

Draco's hair had gone a shocking pink, and his skin was royal blue. His eyes had become half orange, half green, and his robes had taken a multitude of awful shades.

Zpehyr's hair was emerald green, his skin dark purple and his eyes magenta. His robes were similar to Draco's.

The two brothers looked at each other and burst out laughing. A minute later, the four of them were on the floor, laughing so hard that the House elves had come up, scared.

"The Minister of Magic wants to speak to you, Harry Potter sir," said Dobby. He's coming in.

"Oh no!" said Draco, "how long does this last?"

"Twelve hours," said Hermione.

"I daresay that your future father-in-law won't be too pleased to see you like this, Draco," said Harry, chuckling, "nor his great godson."

"Oh no!" said Zephyr, really apprehensive. He liked and respected Arthur Weasley, but he didn't want to be seen like this. He suddenly felt something surge through him, and he and Draco were back to normal.

Hermione and Harry exchanged a look. Draco was too nervous to notice.

"Good evening, kids," said Arthur Weasley, walking in and shaking hands with each of them and hugging Hermione.

"Anything wrong, Mr. Weasley?" asked Hermione.

"No, no. I just came to say that the Wizengamot has elected Harry to be the next Minister of Magic. I shall retire in six months, you see."

"Cool!" said Zephyr.

"Wow," said Hermione and Draco together.

"I don't want to be the Minister, Mr. Weasley," said Harry quietly.

"But why, son?"

"There are better people for the job."

"No there are not. Do you know that this is the first unanimous decision the Wizengamot has ever taken? You don't have a choice, Harry. Enjoy being an Auror for six months - then you can sit in my office."

"But..."

"Come on, Harry," said Draco, "be a sport. You will be a great minister!"

"Go on, Dad!"

Hermione squeezed his hand and nodded.

"Very well," said Harry.

"One little thing, keep this a secret, ok? We decided not to let anyone except you know. It will be a nice surprise."

Everyone nodded.

"Thank you, Mr. Weasley," said Harry, "how's life at the Manor?"

"Pretty disturbed, at present. Ron simply would not accept that Ginny is in love with someone and wants to marry him! He and Ginny are the only ones who know the identity of this person, and they refuse to tell anyone else!"

Draco reddened.

"I - I know who it is, Mr. Weasley."

"You do? Tell me, my boy! I'm dying to know who the girl chose! I just hope it is not some git."

"Umm, me."

"You? Ginny chose Draco Malfoy? Good heavens!" Arthur Weasley sank in his chair.

Draco hung his head.

"We have decided that if you and Mrs Weasley don't approve, then we won't marry," he said quietly.

"What?" Arthur's head shot up, "of course not! You will marry Ginny, of course! This is just, well, unexpected. But you're a good lad, Draco. I'm glad for you two. You have my blessings."

"Thank you."

Mr. Weasley smiled at him.

"I'd better get going, or else Percy will follow me here!" he left after shaking hands with everyone and kissing Hermione on the cheek.

"HURRAY! I AM GETTING MARRIED TO GINNY! FINALLY!" shouted Draco and danced about the room. The other three rolled their eyes.

"Got to go and tell Gin...hey, you're invited!" he said, before rushing out.

"Congratulations," said Hermione and Zephyr together.

Harry blushed. Zephyr suddenly looked at his hands.

"Hey, I'm not purple anymore!"

"Of course you are not. You performed accidental magic and cleared yourself and Draco," said Hermione.

"I did this?"

"Oh yes," said Harry, "It happens. I did it several times. Did I tell you about the time I turned my teacher's wig blue?"

Hermione giggled and Zephyr shook his head. The three of them sat down on the carpet and Harry began to narrate his life at the Dursleys.

For once, Harry didn't feel embarrassed to let out his tale. He told them everything, all his 'abnormal' acts, baggy clothes, the cupboard under the stairs...

Three hours later, the family was huddled together. Zephyr and Hermione had been fascinated, humoured and angered at various points in the tale. Though she knew parts of it from his file and his own narrations, she never knew the details. She was glad that the wretched Muggles were far away.

Zephyr was entranced. When Harry finished his tale with his arrival on Platform Nine and three quarters, he and Hermione both had shifted to either side of Harry and put their heads on his shoulder. Though there had been lots of funny parts, where they had laughed a lot, overall, he wanted to curse the Dursleys for treating his father so badly.

Harry felt that a great burden had been lifted from his soul. He had never confided to anyone before, and feeling his wife and son's love made him feel very secure. They sat like that till Dobby appeared to call them for dinner.

Over dinner, Zephyr received his Hogwarts letter. He bounced up and down the castle, whistling and singing, while his parents smiled at each other.

A few days later, Harry and Hermione took Zephyr to buy his wand and other school supplies. He enjoyed the trip to Diagon Alley and insisted on having an ice cream before going for the wand. His parents were only too happy to oblige.

When they finally entered Ollivanders, the silver eyed old man appeared as suddenly as he had when Harry had come to buy his wand.

"Welcome back Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger, or Potter, should I say? And of course, young Mr. Malfoy, or perhaps you prefer Potter."

"I prefer Potter, sir. Are you Mr. Ollivander?" said Zephyr calmly. If he had eyes on the back of his head, he would have seen the pride in his parents' eyes.

"A fine child, Harry," said Mr. Ollivander, before turning to Zephyr and handing him a wand.

"Just give it a wave. Mahogany, dragon heartstring, ten inches."

Zephyr did so, but nothing happened. Mr. Ollivander produced another wand.

"Willow, unicorn tail hair, twelve inches."

Nothing.

"A tricky customer, aren't you? Harry was the same when he came here first...I still remember...a very powerful wand that one is...holly, phoenix tail feather, eleven inches...brother of the thirteen inch yew...a very unusual but extremely powerful combination...those two were the most powerful wands I have ever made...so were you, Hermione...never since Lily Potter have I seen such a powerful wand in the hands of a Muggleborn...sandalwood, phoenix feather, twelve inches...that one is also one of my best ones...try this, young Potter - rosewood, phoenix feather, fourteen inches."

Still nothing. Zephyr tried for a long time. Finally he was able to produce red and green sparks from a wand (Ebony, dragon heartstring, eleven inches) and his parents had applauded.

"Good, young Potter...this is a very powerful wand; only second in power to your mother and father's. Use it well, and be as great as your father here is."

Harry paid the old man and they left the shop. They returned to the castle because Zephyr was eager to practise with his new wand. His parents also bought him an Eagle owl, which he promptly named 'Perzeus.'

"Hermy has a letter!" yelled Winky excitedly, as soon as they reached the castle. She handed over an envelope of parchment. Hermione turned it over, and they saw the Hogwarts seal on it.

Hermione opened it immediately and Harry moved over to her and read it over her shoulder.

Dear Mrs. Granger-Potter,

This is to inform you that the post of the Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is vacant. Knowing your prowess, we request you to take up the post.

Kindly inform us by owl as soon as possible.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster

Hogwarts Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Hermione turned to face Harry, a question in her eyes. It was not as though she didn't like her present job, but being a Professor at Hogwarts...it was just something else. Harry nodded, seeing the gleam of joy in her eyes.

"Seems like I'll have to spend most of my time in Hogsmeade!" he said.

"No, hon, you forget that you're allowed into Hogwarts at will."

Harry blushed. He really had forgotten that.

"Will someone tell me anything?" asked Zephyr, "and can we please go inside? It's kind of hot out here."

"Yeah, sure," said Hermione and they went inside. She passed on the letter to him for his perusal. He read it quickly.

"Cool! I get a Professor Mum! You'll give me lots of points, right?" he chirped.

"Only if you earn it."

"Make sure you break the curse, love," said Harry.

"What curse?" asked Zephyr.

"Didn't we tell you? Oh dear!" said Hermione and related the myth around the jinxing of the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor. Zephyr gasped.

"It's not dangerous, is it?" he asked, shaken.

"Hell, no!" said Harry, "it's just a myth, son. Honestly, I'd love to see Snape's face when you get there!"

Hermione paled. "I hope his bitterness has reduced," she said weakly.

"For a Gryffindor? And a Gryffindor who managed to outrank his favourite student even in his own subject? And the wife of Harry Potter, of all people? And on the job he's wanted for years? You've got to be kidding!"

"Will he hate me as well, Dad?"

"Probably. Depends on whether he sees you as our son or as Draco's brother. And of course, the house you land up in."

"If I'm in Slytherin, will he be nice to me?"

"Maybe, I'm not sure. That man is a lunatic; I cannot fathom how his mind works."

"Whoa. Be careful, Mum," said Zephyr, "I'm going up to study. I just can't wait to read those books!"

Harry groaned. "Two bookworms? Don't you want to fly, Zephyr?"

"Not really. I'm not too fond of flying. I'm acrophobic, I think. Bye, Mum, Dad. See you at lunch."

The boy bounded up the stairs as Harry groaned again. "Acrophobic?" he said weakly, "Will I never be able to fly with my son?"

"He's not the only child you'll ever have, Harry. I believe I'm quite competent in that regard. But not for a few more years."

"Sure. Everything's happening too fast these days. So, you'll be going away, too?" he said softly.

"I won't if you don't want me to," she said quietly, "I had a say in your profession; you have a say in mine, too."

"I wouldn't dream of hampering you, 'Mione," he said softly, "I know how much you want to teach at Hogwarts. You've always been academic, and this would be perfect for you. Besides, you didn't go, Snape might get the job! I can't allow that to happen to the poor children, especially if mine is amongst them!"

Hermione gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I'll just write the reply and come back in a minute. Just wait for me in our room."

Harry nodded and watched his wife go. He would miss her; that was for sure. But he couldn't be that selfish. And he could meet her whenever he wanted to. And anyway, they spent a lot of time in their respective offices - the entire day. They got together only in the evening, sometimes not even then. They were both busy people. And it would be good for Zephyr to have maternal protection at school. He would miss Zephyr too. In the few weeks that had passed, they had become a close knit family. He had gotten so used to them that it was difficult to imagine how he had lived only a few months ago.

When Hermione came back a few minutes later, she saw Harry staring moodily at the fire. She walked up to him and put her arms around her shoulders as she sat down in his lap.

"I won't go if you start brooding, you know. I swear I won't feel bad if you told me not to. You're far more important than a Hogwarts job, Harry - and my present job isn't too bad either," she said softly.

"Hermione, I don't..."

"I'll just decline."

"No!"

"I don't want you to brood, love."

"I'm not brooding. I was just thinking that I'd miss you and Zephyr a lot. Anyway, I can always visit you, can't I? I'm sure Dumbledore won't grudge me that!"

"Of course he won't. He gave you access to Hogwarts, remember?"

"Yeah, but he didn't have a choice, did he?"

"What do you mean?"

"Come on, 'Mione. Don't tell me you haven't figured it out yet."

"I don't understand, Harry."

"You know that I can Apparate into Hogwarts, don't you?"

"But you can't do that! Hogwarts: A History says so! Unless..." Hermione wandered off, her eyes unfocussed. Then they widened in realisation. She stood up abruptly and glared at Harry.

"So, you are the heir. I thought you would have at least trusted your friends with the secret. Does Ron know?"

Harry shook his head. The disappointment in Hermione's eyes tore at his heart. He had never told his friends about his being the heir, and Dumbledore had asked him not to do so until Lord Voldemort was defeated. Harry had drifted away from his friends after that, and never had the chance to tell them anything.

"Hermione..."

She stormed out of the room. Harry glared at the fire, which promptly went out.

Why does this always happen to me? I didn't lie to them. I just didn't tell them...

Thoughts ran around in his head until it ached. He closed his eyes and was fast asleep within a few minutes.

Harry woke up with the sound of someone screaming for him. He looked around wildly and saw that he was in the drawing room, on a chair. He suddenly shivered and realised that the room was very cold. He was wondering why the House-elves had not relit the fire when the scream came again.

"HARRY! OPEN THE DOOR FOR MERLIN'S SAKE! ALOHOMORA! GOOD HEAVENS, WHY HAVE YOU SEALED IT SHUT? OPEN THE DOOR! HARRY!"

Harry blinked. He did not remember locking the door. Screams interrupted his thoughts.

"MASTER HARRY POTTER SIR! PLEASE OPEN THE DOOR!"

"UNLOCK THE DOOR, DAD! MUM'S GETTING WORRIED!"

"FOOLISH WIZARD! YOU'VE USED SOME OLD MAGIC EVEN KREACHER CANNOT UNDO!"

"MISS HERMIONE IS GETTING WORRIED, SIR, AND SO IS WINKY. PLEASE OPEN UP!"

Harry glanced at the door and it swung open. Hermione, Zephyr and the house-elves rushed in. Hermione threw herself on him.

"Why did you lock yourself in?" she asked, looking very white.

"Why is it so cold in here?" asked Zephyr, "why'd you put out the fire?"

The house-elves immediately poked up a roaring fire. Harry felt the warmth wash over him. He hadn't realised until then how cold he was.

"I'm sorry, Harry," whispered Hermione, "I didn't know you'd take it so badly. I didn't mean to accuse you...I was just angry that you'd held the truth from us..."

"It's ok, love. I'm not angry with you. I don't even know what happened. I didn't lock myself in!"

"But you must have! We've been trying to open the door for three hours, ever since Dobby came to me and said that you were not to be found anywhere and the drawing room was locked such that even elf-magic couldn't open it!"

Harry caught his head and groaned.

"Sorry, guys," he muttered, "I must've been doing accidental magic again."

Hermione stared at him. So did Zephyr.

"You mean you can do magic without even thinking about it?"

"I guess so."

"Don't ever do that again, Harry, you nearly scared us to death!"

"Yeah, Dad, Mum was planning to get Aurors down here to blast the door away!"

Harry grinned sheepishly at his family. Hermione suddenly put her cool fingers on his burning forehead.

"You're running a fever. Zephyr, please fetch the Pepper-Up potion from my room or else he'll be down with a cold in three hours."

Harry groaned. "Not that potion again!"

"You have to, love. Serves you right for sleeping in the cold and locking us out."

Zephyr returned with the potion. Harry made a face and gulped it down. Hermione smiled at him.

"Go back to sleep, Zephyr," she said "you can sleep in tomorrow. And as for you, Mr. Potter," she turned to her husband as her son departed, "well, your bed awaits you, my Lord."

"Thank you, my Lady," Harry replied and scooped her up in his arms. They both laughed as he made his way to their bedroom.