What Voldemort Left Behind

Chapter 37 - Summer's End

AUTHORS NOTE: ok sorry this chapter is such a confusing mess set over a month, i didn't really plan apart from the start so i just kinda shoved a couple of mini stories to bulk it out as i'm trying to think of ideas to do with an important part 😂

The next morning, Harry pulled Ginny aside. Their three children were still sorting though all of the many presents owled to Harry the previous day, they were allowed to pick what they wanted and keep it, as well as donating all the money to their family charity, they had no need for more money.

Harry sat Ginny down in the empty living room. "Ginny... I need to tell you something, it's bad, but I promise you, swear on my life, even James's life, that he can't come back. My scar, yesterday, it hurt for the first time since, you know, that day."

Harry was very uncomfortable, he didn't want to tell Ginny but knew he had to. The pain was slightly different than it had been when Voldemort was living, he couldn't explain how, but it had changed.

Ginny's expression stayed the same. "I know. I knew when you came downstairs yesterday what had happened after I left... I'm sorry, I wish more than anything that I could help you. Ron and Hermione noticed too."

Harry felt inexplicably annoyed. "So you've all been talking about me then? Didn't think to mention it?"

"Harry that's not what I meant... no one talked about it but Ron caught my eye and I knew he'd seen it too." Ginny paused. "I knew this would happen someday..."

Harry's hand twitched as he tried not to put his hand to his forehead.

Ginny touched his hand gently. "Is there anything that will make it feel better?"

"You. Just... stay near me. I don't even know if it helps the pain but you make everything easier."

A tear ran down Harry's cheek and he gritted his teeth as he tried to stop himself. "I thought... I thought it was over,  that I could be myself at last, just Harry. He still owns me. He's dead but still a part of me, or I'm him or something."
-

James threw a solid gold model of his father's wand into the dumping pile with a crash. "Seriously, who sends these presents? If you're going to bother, then send something a little snazzier."

"I found a beautiful new gold cauldron, I needed a new one for third year because I accidentally charmed my last cauldron at the end of the year."

Albus looked up at his sister. "Yeah right accidentally," he mocked, "and why don't you just buy one in Diagon Alley?"

James sat down onto the floor. "Do you really think we're going to be allowed back there?"

"Oh yeah. I forgot."

"It'll be a miracle if we're allowed home before summer, Mum and Dad don't want to take any chances with us" Lily added sullenly.

"Al at least you're getting away for a week."

"I feel bad for Scorpius and his dad though. For a week they're not allowed to leave their house just because I'm staying."

James rolled his eyes. "They knew what they signed up for when they invited you. Besides, Malfoy's father is well used to house arrest."

Albus was suddenly defensive. "JAMES! He was your age and he changed his mind before the war ended, even Dad fought for him not to be put in Askaban."

"He still deserved it, if not prison. I know the difference between right and wrong, Dad was the same age then and he knew it too."

"Shut up or I'll get Mum and Dad to yell at you about it."

Lily sniggered. "Since when do they ever yell at any of us? We're their miracles, the future they never thought would exist, when do they ever yell at us like normal parents?"

"Fine. I'll tell Granny."

"What age are you, 5? You're 15, have enough sense to realize that getting me in trouble for some stupid things I said will just add to problems."

"Forget it."

James fished in his pocket. "So who's up for a little Extendable ear work?"

"What was that about staying out of trouble and not causing problems?"

Lily laughed. "That was the wrong sort of problem. This one'll actually do us some good, and anyway, we're all bored of this."

James and Albus nodded in agreement and they took an Extendable ear from the stash.

"They're having some sort of serious talk in there, it's been too long for anything else."

The door opened and James fumbled with the Ear trying to stuff it back in his pocket which may have been the subject of an Undetectable Extension Charm.

"Lil, James, Al, good, we were hoping to talk to you before Albus's trip."

The three kids walked into the living room awkwardly, their parents' expressions were serious.

-

August went by quicker than July, Harry was surprised to realize that it was only a week before his children went back to school. He had sighed with relief as Albus came home safely from his best friend's house, he knew the tracking charms kept his son safe but it was far better that they didn't have to test the limits. Harry refused to let his children go to Diagon Alley to fetch their school things after what had happened last time, people would be expecting them at this time of year even more so. Harry's scar had gotten  progressively more painful over the past month, but bearable. There were some bad days of course but that was expected and the pain was nothing compared to his thoughts.

"Sir, would you have a spare sickle that my mum could borrow? She can't afford.... er, forgot her money today, we only have 5 and we need six sickles for her potion ingredients," a small child around six or seven asked him.
Harry smiled at the child and tipped his whole wallet which unfortunately he hadn't filled at Gringotts yet. The child's face lit up with amazement.

"Thank you sir!"

Harry followed the young boy into the shop to make sure he made his way back safely. Harry heard him babble to his mother as he shoved the gold into her shaking hands. To Harry's shock the mother became angry at her son.

"That man? You're telling me you begged gold out of that man's pocket? Merlin's beard..." Her voice became a hushed whisper, "That's Harry Potter."

Harry knew he should just walk away, whatever she chose to say to her son was her business, he should really not be listening but her expression was quickly growing furious.

"Excuse me."

The woman looked as if she was about to faint. "I'm so, so sorry Mr Potter sir, my son didn't mean any harm, I warned him not to ask strangers for money..."

Harry hated that people treated him like this, always fawning over him or else terrified out of their wits of him.

"Did I give him enough? I was just worried that you were getting angry at your son for helping you. I'm Harry and I'd like to talk with you. Can we sit somewhere?"

The woman nodded in shock, potions ingredients lay forgotten on the shop counter, Harry followed her to an outside table.

"Your son... let slip that you don't have a lot of money and I don't know you but I want to help, I need to make this world a better place in any way I can..." Before Voldemort's link kills me, he thought. "I may not have much time left to do so. Five thousand galleons will be transferred to your account at Gringotts, for food, potion ingredients and anything your son needs now, and later when he goes to Hogwarts. I want this to stay private, but I will declare it to the goblins to avoid any issues."

The woman sobbed and hugged her child tightly as Harry walked towards Gringotts to talk to the goblins.