When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 86

Allied Forces

February 1942

He stared longingly at the photo of Minerva and Rosa; the edges now worn from where he handled it so often. In the six months that had passed since Bulgaria had been taken, he had been home only once.

That visit had been shortly before Christmas, and much shorter than Harry had hoped.

The war was at a pivotal juncture and kept him posted on the continent, and though seemingly little had transpired in the intervening months, Harry's place was here, with the men that continued to fight so boldly.

He wasn't alone in his lack of time away from the front.

Charlus had returned after a two-week spell of recovery and had remained with Harry since. Both Gilbert and Yaxley had not even been granted that.

Harry had granted Arcturus a month of leave when his son had been born, and again when the boy fell ill when he was barely a few months old. Oddly, his wife had already fallen pregnant again with their second child.

Orion, named in a bid to redeem Arcturus's father when he would one day become the Lord Black, had recovered from his dragon pox for the most part, but that didn't stop Arcturus from worrying.

Still, the boy had survived the worst of it.

Charlus and Dorea were planning to marry as soon as they could after Selwyn's unsuccessful ploy.

Hide nor hair had been seen of the man since.

His family reputation was in tatters, so it was best he kept a low profile for some time.

Harry shook his head as he placed the photo within his robes, vowing to return home in the coming days.

Grindelwald was taking a strictly defensive stance for the time being, his only offense being the occasional prod at the ICW defences, but nothing more.

Evidently, he was still licking his wounds from the resounding defeat in Bulgaria and the loss of Gaulitier and Weber.

The thought of the two of them being dead brought a small smile to Harry's lips.

The world was better off without them.

Regardless of what Grindelwald's intentions were, Harry had decided he would be taking some leave, as would Gilbert and Yaxley.

They needed only to wait for the arrival of their newest allies, the thought of which removed Harry's expression of amusement.

Flashback

November 1941

Bulgaria had been pillaged, the men, women, and children here neglected at best. Many had died during Grindelwald's occupation, and some even left to starve.

It was the worst that Harry had seen, and even with as many people as he could spare to help right the wrongs Grindelwald and his men had inflicted upon the natives, it had taken weeks to see the fruits of their labour.