You've Got to Live!

Harry, Hermione and Zephyr arrived at King's Cross in their Muggle car. Zephyr was rather nervous. His parents turned nostalgic when they crossed the barrier and stood in front of the gleaming scarlet engine marked 'The Hogwarts Express.'

"Wow," said Zephyr.

"Come, hon, let's find you a compartment," said Hermione. Harry pushed the trolley and heaved the trunk onto the train.

"There you go," he said to Zephyr, "if there are any problems, contact Mum or me immediately, ok? And don't get into too much of trouble."

Zephyr nodded and hugged his parents. Then he climbed up the train. He waved at his parents.

"All the best with the Sorting, son!" yelled Harry as the train started to move.

"Thanks Dad! See you at Hogwarts, Mum!" yelled back Zephyr.

Harry and Hermione walked back to the car.

"Let's go for an early lunch before you leave," said Harry.

"Ok."

They went to a nice Muggle restaurant in the vicinity. The food was excellent. As they ate, Harry asked his wife quietly, "So, you're rather excited, aren't you?"

Hermione nodded fervently. Harry grinned at her nervousness. He still didn't understand how someone as brilliant as Hermione could be so nervous.

Hermione smiled back, albeit weakly.

"Merlin, I'm so nervous."

"Don't be. You'll be fine."

"I hope so. Harry, give me some tips. After all, you were the best Defence teacher I've ever had."

"Come on, 'Mione. You used to draw up all the schedules for me, remember?"

Hermione nodded, still nervous.

As Harry paid the bill and they left the place, Hermione suddenly turned to Harry.

"I'll Apparate from the castle. I want to go home before I leave."

"Sure, love."

They drove back to the castle. Hermione hugged Harry tightly and they kissed. Then she bounced upstairs followed by Harry. He watched silently as she shrunk her luggage and put it in her pocket. When she'd finished, she turned to him.

"I guess this is it," she said quietly.

"Yeah, I suppose," said Harry heavily. Hermione ran into his arms again.

"By Merlin, Harry, I'll miss you so much! Do come and visit at least once a week, won't you?"

"I'll try, love, I'll try," whispered Harry, blinking furiously to hold back tears. Hermione, however, was not that good at control. A tear silently slid down her cheek and fell on Harry's arm.

"Don't cry, Hermione. I'll come whenever you want me to. And what'll Snape say if he realises that you've been crying? What'll Zephyr think?"

Hermione smiled at him.

"Bye, Harry."

"Bye, Hermione. Owl me when you reach there. And of course, about the Sorting."

Hermione nodded, planted a soft kiss on his lips and Disapparated.

Harry sat in his office dejectedly, wishing Hermione would owl him. He didn't have any field assignments; mere paperwork. For once he was thankful for the dull work. It was late, but he didn't want to go home, working mechanically, even though he'd already finished an entire week's work.

A tap at the window snapped him out of his monotony. He looked up.

"Hedwig!"

Harry stood up and opened his window immediately, smile lighting up his face. The snowy owl swooped in and dropped a letter on his table before nipping his ear. He fed her an owl treat and she hooted appreciatively. He opened the letter excitedly. It was from Hermione.

Dearest Harry,

YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED! RON'S HERE! THE GIT! HE NEVER EVEN TOLD US!

Madam Hooch retired, so Dumbledore brought him in as the Flying Instructor. I don't believe him. How could he? I swear I won't talk to him until he apologises! The stupid git!

Zephyr was sorted into...guess? GRYFFINDOR! Oh, I was so, so proud! And he's already made friends with Bill's daughter Wilhelmina and a boy named Orion Jarvis. Both are Gryffindors. It seems he's found himself arch rivals as well, much like Draco, Crabbe and Goyle. Just (switch them with Zeus McDoug-Brittans, Freya Bulstrode, (yeah, Millicent's baby sister!) and Roderick Hyend. Slytherins. Came to him with all that pure blood crap and Bill (Jr.) hexed them!

Snape's as bad as ever. Gave me the Evil Eye. It's rather strange having to call all the teachers by their names. Wish you were here to see the look on Snape's face when I called him 'Severus'!

Anyway, I hope you're not sitting in your office and brooding as you read this. Go home, have a nice dinner and sleep well (and dream of me!) and visit us soon.

Miss you, hon.

Love,

Hermione.

P.S. Send Ron a Howler! A hexed one!

Harry smiled as he put the letter down. He blushed guiltily at Hermione's admonition. He returned immediately and re-read her letter as he ate his dinner. He smiled at the mention of Wilhelmina, or Bill Jr., as everyone called her. Bill had shocked everyone two years ago by appearing with a nine-year old daughter and an Egyptian woman, who had been his wife since ten years. Mrs. Weasley had welcomed her daughter-in-law, but had not spoken to Bill for a week for hiding the secret from her. Bill's wife, Nefartina, had the traditional Weasley red hair, and Wilhelmina had inherited the same. Their one year old son Morgan also had the same hair. Harry smiled to himself. Where would the Weasleys be without red hair?

Harry's mind went to his son. So, he'd made it into Gryffindor. He wondered what would happen if he told Draco. The blonde had been hoping that his brother would follow him into Slytherin. Ron would be happy to hear that, he thought.

Ron! Ron was at Hogwarts! How dare he keep the fact from them! Harry decided to send him a Howler just as Hermione had instructed. He stood up, only to have Pig fly into his face.

Harry stretched out his hand and caught the hyperactive owl in his fist. He untied the letter from its feet, and the owl took off and zoomed about in the room. Harry chuckled to himself.

Harry mate,

Save me from the wrath of your wife! She's barking! She yelled at me and then stormed out, saying that she didn't want to see me again! What do I do?

I know I should have told you guys, but I wanted it to be a surprise. I was ever so shocked when you all told me that Hermione would be taking Defence. Well, I'm sorry.

Is that apology enough? Should I go and beg on my knees in front of her? Tell me what to do!

Your mate in trouble,

Ron

P.S. Zephyr got into Gryffindor! Good for him! So did Bill! Good for her too.

Harry grinned. Just like Ron. He Summoned his parchment and quill to reply to the letters when Perzeus swooped in. Harry took the third letter, thoroughly enjoying himself by now.

Dear Dad,

Hogwarts is GREAT! And Uncle Ron's here! Mum's really mad at him, though. Poor him.

I made it into GRYFFINDOR! I'm so happy. I got to be in your and Mum's house! The Fat Lady asked me about you (did she have a crush on you?) and so did Nick. The Sorting hat took an awful amount of time Sorting me. It told me about my Malfoy blood (not that I needed to be reminded of it), my loyalty (gave me the choice of Hufflepuff, but withdrew it before I could say anything), my good brain (apparently, I am almost as good as Mum and hence good enough for Ravenclaw) and my courage (it sang your praises in my head for a long time) and my amazing lack of ambition. The thing actually told me that I would be drowned in Slytherin! Draco will kill me when he hears that.

I made two friends so far - Bill and Orion. I presume Mum's told you all about them already.

Tell Mum not to be too angry with Uncle Ron.

Love,

Zephyr

P.S. Snape glared at me! I got the Potter curse! HELP!

Harry's grin broadened. He felt very proud of his son. He was a bit cross at Ron, but the apology had melted him. He started writing replies.

Hermione love,

I'm so glad about Zephyr. Got his owl too. Glad about his friends.

Ron is a git but he has apologised to me already, and plans to do so to you as well. Forgive him this once, love. Look at it this way, you'll have company and will miss me less!

I'll try to visit soon, possibly Sunday night. I'll owl you in advance on Saturday if I could get away. Tell me if you want anything from home, ok?

Don't let Snape get you down!

Missing you,

Love,

Harry.

Harry gave the letter to Hedwig and she flew off. He pulled another sheet and started writing.

Dear Zephyr,

Well done, son! I'm so proud! So's your Mum - I daresay she'd have told you so by now! Good for you to have friends. Specially a Weasley!

Now, study well and don't get into too much trouble, alright? And don't let either the Slytherins or Snape get you down. Make sure you know about Bezoar, Monkshood, Asphodel and Aconite, ok? Snape's likely to ask you something from that tomorrow.

I can't wait to see Draco's reaction. I'll tell Mum to forgive Ron. But you know her. Poor Ron.

Have fun dear. I'm sending you a box of chocolates with the letter. Share it with your friends, and tell me if you need anything from home, ok?

Love,

Dad.

Harry put a lightweight charm on a big box of chocolates and Perzeus flew off with the letter and the sweets. Harry pulled another bit of parchment, thought for a whole minute before putting his quill on the paper. He wanted to hex Ron badly, but decided to accept his apology, thinking that Hermione would be enough trouble for him at the moment.

Ron,

You utter, utter idiot! Now that you've incurred the wrath of the great sorceress Hermione, no force in the universe can save you! I suggest you go and apologise to her. I have put in a kind word for you in my letter to her, and she's in a good mood, so you may still have a chance.

Go ahead. Have fun. And congratulations on making it to Hogwarts. I really envy you guys! Take care of my wife for me, will you? Don't let her miss me too much. And look after Zephyr as well. And don't brawl with Snape!

Harry.

P.S. You are forgiven, but if you dare to do such a thing again, we'll hex you!

Pig zoomed down as soon as Harry put down the quill. He laughed and tied the letter to the tiny owl's feet and watched as it flew away.

As promised, Harry Apparated to Hogwarts to meet Hermione on Sunday. The Marauder's Map helped him to find his way to her office. He had decided to wait for an appropriate time to give the map to Zephyr.

"Hey," he said softly as Hermione ran into his arms.

"Hey yourself," she said, "I've missed you so much! I couldn't wait for you to come!"

Harry smiled at her and looked around her office. It was very different from the way his teachers had kept it. Hermione's room was filled with books. His eyes fell to her cabinet, and he knew that she had Dark Detectors in there without opening it. A strange sound from another corner enlightened him to the presence of a fascinating Dark creature.

"Recognise it?" Hermione asked softly.

"A Boggart?"

"Yep. I thought of starting like Professor Lupin. The Third years loved it! I got the First years to do some theory first; I'll start with hands on experiences with them next week. Ooh, Harry, I'm so happy here!"

Harry chuckled at her excitement.

"So, Mrs. Potter, you find teaching enjoyable?"

"I love it!"

"How's our son?"

"He's fantastic, Harry! He knows the answers to everything in every class. All the teachers have been complementing me as to how much of myself he reminds them. He's brilliant! Oh, I'm so proud!"

"Great," Harry murmured, "another know-it-all. Just what I need."

Hermione punched him playfully.

"Come on, Harry. Show a little more appreciation for our son. Oh, and Minerva said that he's not that bad at Flying. Not in your class, but way better than me. It's his acrophobia which is holding him back."

"I wonder how he got that? Is it natural?"

"I don't think so. I asked him long back, but he just said he'd rather not talk about it. May be it's a father-son thing. Why don't you try?"

"I will. What about Ron?"

Hermione's smile vanished.

"I'm not talking to him till he apologises."

"Hasn't he apologised yet?"

"No."

"Strange. He apologised to me the very first day. Are you sure that you're not avoiding him?"

"I'm not!" said Hermione shrilly.

"I don't believe you," said Harry.

"I don't care. I am not seeing him!" Hermione shouted.

Harry sighed. Some things always remained the same.

"Look, 'Mione," he began.

"No, Harry."

"Ok, fine. Have it your way. I was just going to suggest that you let him have a chance to apologise!" Harry turned and left the room abruptly, annoyed with his wife. He absently brushed away a beetle from his robes.

He met Zephyr on the field. The boy was sitting on the ground surrounded by books, while Bill was trying to pull him away.

"Come on, Zeph!" she said, "you don't need to study that much!"

"Hello, son," said Harry, walking up to them.

Zephyr stood up so fast that his books scattered all around him. He ran to hug Harry.

"Hey Dad! What are you doing here?"

"Came over to meet your Mum. I thought I'd pay you a visit as well. Mind taking a walk?"

Zephyr glanced at his friends. They nodded and walked away, after being introduced to Harry, who gave each of them a warm smile. He already knew Bill, and he was glad that Zephyr had made friends with her. He also took an immediate liking to Orion. After they had departed, Harry looked his son over.

"So, how's Hogwarts?"

"Brilliant! I love it. If it weren't for some Slytherins though..."

"I know. May be you can be friends with them later on like Draco and I."

"You seem annoyed. Had a fight with Mum?"

"Not really a fight. I'm just irritated with her and Ron, though."

"Want to meet Uncle Ron?"

"No. Having talked to one them is enough. I do hope that they make up soon, for my sake."

"You wanted to talk to me about something else too, right?"

"Yeah."

"Flying?"

"How'd you know?"

"I just knew. It happens all the time, you know."

"I'm thinking you might be an Empath. I'll have a talk with Dumbledore."

"Not today. Let me look this up myself. And I know that you and Mum are at it, too. If we don't hit on anything in a month, we can go to Dumbledore, ok?"

"Scared, my son?"

"Sort of. Grindelwald was the only Empath in recent times."

"Uh-oh."

They walked in silence for some time, as Harry thought about the discovery of his Parseltongue ability in his second year.

"A boy pushed me off a broom when I was five in Whitechapel."

"What?"

"That's what I'm scared of heights."

Harry knelt down next to his son and hugged him.

"I understand, son, I understand. But you must overcome it."

"I'll try, Dad. But I rather think it's like Uncle Ron's fear of spiders."

Harry sighed. He stood up and ruffled his son's hair.

"Come, Zephyr. Let's get you back to the castle."

They walked back to the castle.

"When will you come next?" Zephyr asked.

"Soon, I hope. I don't think I'll come until Ron and Hermione have made up, though."

Zephyr grinned at him. "I'm sure they will. Mum hates it when you are unhappy, and I bet she'll forgive Uncle Ron by today evening!"

Harry smiled fondly and left.

Harry woke up the next morning with Dobby standing over him anxiously.

"What's the matter, Dobby?"

"Breakfast, Harry Potter sir?"

"Sure. I'll come down in a few minutes."

Harry was puzzled by the elf's behaviour, but he pushed that out of his mind as he dressed and went downstairs. As he started his breakfast, he noticed that his usual copy of the Daily Prophet was missing.

"Where's the paper, Dobby?"

"Dobby lost it, sir," said Dobby, and Harry suddenly noticed that the elf's ears were rather scorched.

"What happened to your ears, Dobby?"

"Dobby bad elf. Dobby is having to punish himself."

"I told you, Dobby, I forbid any elf in my house to hurt himself/herself, ok?"

Dobby nodded mutely.

"Come here," said Harry, and as the elf came, Harry healed his ears with a simple charm.

"Now, find me the newspaper, Dobby."

The elf looked at him pleadingly.

"Don't read the paper today, sir."

"Why?"

A tear leaked down Dobby's face.

"Bad Skeeter woman news."

Harry paled. What had Rita Skeeter got on him this time that his house elf had to keep the paper away from him?

"Dobby, listen to me," he said urgently, "I have to go to my office. If I don't see the news now, I'll have to face them unarmed. Show me the paper, please?"

Dobby sniffed, nodded and ran off. He returned with the paper in his hand. Harry opened the newspaper and all blood drained from his face as he saw a big picture of Ron and Hermione kissing in her Hogwarts office. He closed his eyes for a moment and then read the headlines.

HERMIONE GRANGER-POTTER: BACK TO PLAYING WITH HEARTS?

By Rita Skeeter

Mrs. Potter and Mr. Ron Weasley, best friend of Harry Potter, seem to have something more than friendship going on between them. Yesterday, just after the recently wed couple had a fight at Hogwarts, Mr. Weasley was seen kissing his best friend's wife.

Mr. Potter, who visited his wife at Hogwarts yesterday, was seen storming out of her office after saying 'I don't believe you' to Hermione's 'I'm not seeing him.' The 'him' here was confirmed to be Mr. Weasley an hour later, when Mr. Ron Weasley slunk into Hermione Potter's private rooms and were caught kissing (see picture). Zephyr Potter (illegitimate son of Lucius Malfoy and a Muggle woman, recently adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Potter) was unavailable for comment.

Hermione Potter and Ron Weasley are both currently employed at Hogwarts as Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor and Flying Instructor respectively. As this involves Harry Potter's staying away from his wife, the two seem to be taking advantage of the situation. They have already dated on and off no less than nine times since their sixth year at Hogwarts (ref. previous issue of Witch Weekly). Mrs. Potter had also dated the famous Quidditch player Viktor Krum briefly. The two were also dating barely a month before her marriage to Harry Potter, which broke up in a rather spectacular manner at the wedding ceremony of Percival Weasley, Ron Weasley's older brother. Soon after, Hermione Granger married Harry Potter. Was that a desperate act to make her lover jealous and notice her? Was the Boy-Who-Lived merely a tool in the hands of a devious woman?

Hermione Potter has been said to be the most brilliant student Hogwarts has ever seen. Is that why she thinks herself to be such a superior witch (she's Muggle-born) that she finds it a sport to go around dating men of high profile? It is no secret that Ron Weasley is the youngest son of the Minister of Magic, Arthur Weasley. Or is he as much to blame for backstabbing his friend as Mrs. Potter is?

Mrs Potter had a similar piece written about her in her fourth year, when she started out her dating excursions and playing with hearts of young men around her. Is this an old habit still continuing? Where will it stop? What is the secret of her tempestuous love-life?

Ronald Weasley is no less. He is playfully called a 'Casanova' by his friends. He has, besides dating his best friend's wife nine times, also dated fifteen other women from various countries. Just before entering Hogwarts, his latest sweetheart of Lavender Brown, a fellow classmate. There had been rumours that the two were planning to get engaged soon, but Ms. Brown may want to rethink her commitment now. She may just be a pawn in the game played by her old classmates.

This reporter expresses her full sympathies to Mr. Harry Potter, and hopes that he will sort out this problem soon, and may be find someone worthier to bestow his heart upon.

Harry threw away the paper, his blood boiling and his eyes streaming. The crockery in front of him exploded. He didn't even notice. He stared with unseeing eyes at the wall for some time, while brittle things around him kept shattering. A few minutes later, no breakable thing was unbroken in that room. Dobby, who had disappeared when Harry started reading the letter, appeared suddenly, and gave a squeak of horror. Harry didn't hear the elf. As Harry stood up, the chair he'd been sitting on suddenly levitated to mid air and...

CRACK! The chair snapped and splinters of wood flew around the room, beginnings of a whirlwind. Dobby tried to squeak to his master, but his voice was drowned by the table lifting off.

SMASH! The table smashed into the wall and its broken pieces joined the whirlwind. One by one, all the furniture in the room suffered the same fate. The chandelier fell on the floor with a loud crash, inches away from Harry's head, who was standing imperturbably in the middle of all the mess. Dobby squeaked again and ran off to find the other elves. When he returned with Kreacher, Winky, Niri, Pippy, Orla, Kenny, Lolly and Humpy, the bricks of the dining room were being pulled off from the wall and flying around their master's head. Everything movable was already in the vortex.

"Harry Potter sir! Please calm down!" Dobby yelled, but went unheard. He ducked as the wall behind him was ripped away. Kreacher smirked, his opinion of his master greatly improved. He pulled away the rest of the elves from the scene into another room.

"We is to stop him before he razes the whole building!" squeaked Winky, "I is going to Hermy," she said and disappeared with a crack.

"I is going to Master Draco! He is a friend of Harry Potter sir and will help!" said Dobby and vanished.

"I will inform the Order members," said Kreacher and vanished. The rest of the elves looked at each other, wondering what to do.

"I is getting Wheezy!" said Niri and disappeared. Pippy went to the Burrow to the Weasleys. Orla decided to inform the Auror Headquarters that their best Auror won't be coming to office that day. Kenny went to get Zephyr. Lolly went off to Mad-Eye Moody and Humpy left to inform Dumbledore.

Moments later, the frantic house elves were explaining to shocked people what was going on in the Potter manor, while Harry Potter, the most powerful wizard alive, stood in the middle of his drawing room, unaware of the broken pieces zooming around him at breakneck speed, unaware of the blood seeping away from the various cuts on his body where the splinters had hit him, unaware that his magical energy would soon be depleted. The only broken thing he was aware of was his heart.