Drarry One Shots

Finding the Sunshine

A/N Set fifteen years after the war and with the return of 'The Tangerine' for those who have read my book Moments. Angst from a different quarter and uncertain gay crisis.

***

'Think this one's probably for you,' Ron said, throwing a report file onto Harry's desk.

'Why do they always come in on a Friday?' Harry groaned. 'Just in time to fuck up my nice peaceful weekend.'

'Sod's Law. Anyway, shouldn't be a bad one, just a quick call in and a slap on the wrist...'

Harry rolled his eyes, 'if it's a slap on the wrist, it doesn't warrant the very busy Head Auror "calling in" to do it. Who's done what where?'

'Down Wiltshire way. Disturbing the peace and breaking the International Statue of Secrecy—'

'For fucks sake, Ron! Send Cartwright—'

'Er...'

'Er what?' Harry sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. Some things hadn't changed since school. His hair was one of the things that had driven Ginny mad and not in the right kind of way.

'I don't think you want to be sending out a trainee for this one, mate...'

Harry breathed out heavily through his nose, 'who is it?' Suspicion was growing fast.

'Weeeellll...' Ron stalled.

'Ron, stop arsing.'

'You know Kingsley's always got a Billywig in his bonnet about this one, about not upsetting the applecart, political games and whatnot—'

Harry sighed. 'I assume from all the pussyfooting around, you're referring to the Malfoys. Junior or Senior?'

'Senior's dead?'

'What! When?'

'Just over a week ago.'

'How did I miss that?'

'I think you were probably caught up in Gin's merry hell again,' Ron sighed.

Harry pushed his glasses up his nose. She'd got utterly inebriated, and not for the first time, when the kids were staying with her and poor nine-year-old Jamie had sent Harry an Owl in distress. Harry had rushed into Central London and collected the three of them way past their bedtime. Ginny was passed out on the sofa and little Lily was in tears because they couldn't rouse her. Thankfully, for Harry, George had come home and took matters in hand. At least Harry knew that George was trying to take care of her. He supposed it gave George a purpose rather than focusing on the emptiness of losing his twin. She'd been staying in his spare room for the past few years and he'd dragged her into helping him in the shop. Harry had hoped things were looking up for her but then there would be another incident like this and they were back to rock bottom and the solicitors were involved once more over custody terms.

Harry looked at his bestmate sadly. The Weasleys had all suffered terribly because of the war; Bill with his facial scarring and tendency to crave raw steak on a full moon, Charlie with his dragons and his increasing solitude, and George, a hollow man and half of who he'd once been despite his efforts to look after his little sister. Even Percy had emigrated to America because he couldn't face the public humiliation of his blind support for the corrupted Ministry. Arthur had never fully recovered from Nagini's attack and Molly lived with terrible guilt for casting the Killing Curse on Bellatrix. And Ginny... his once strong and wonderful Ginny had fallen apart and had pushed everyone away as she drowned in the Firewhisky bottle. Only Ron seemed to have held it together and supported his siblings with a well of bottomless and unconditional love.