He wasn't sure how long he stood there staring at the spot where the man who had tormented him throughout his life had been. It was over, finally he could be free to live his life by his own standards. Blinking Harry looked around at the chaos that surrounded him, the noise from the survivors finally making it's way to his awareness. There was so much rubble and debris scattered all around the grounds of Hogwarts that the school was hardly recognizable to the once magnificent castle it once was.
Bodies were strewn everywhere he looked, and Harry couldn't help the pang in his heart as he thought of the lives lost and the families that remained behind. It didn't matter to him weather the life lost belonged to a Death Eater or an Order Member, a death was a death no matter who it was. However when he caught sight of the students that fought beside him, he couldn't help the tears that ran freely down his face. They were so young, much too young to lose their life in such a way. Blinking back the tears that continued to fall down his cheeks he turned from the lifeless body of Tom Riddle and walked toward the remains of the castle. He really needed his family and friends, he needed to see if they were all ok.
Harry was halfway to the stairs leading to the doors that somehow were still standing, when the twins grabbed him by the arms and pulled him to the side. Harry blinked up at their faces that used to be identical, now it was too easy to tell them apart. Glancing at the vacant space George's ear used to be Harry couldn't help but wince knowing that it was all his fault. If the Weasley's hadn't welcomed him into their lives George would still have his ear, Percy would have never left the family the way he did and Bill wouldn't be scarred forever by a werewolf and have to live his life with the angry and scared looks he would receive because of the wolf traits the man would now have. Lowering his head Harry blinked back the fresh torrent of tears that wanted to fall. He couldn't break down, not now, not in front of the twins.
Harry was startled out of his self loathing by a gentle hand tilting his head up to look into the bright blue eyes of Fred Weasley. "Stop what you're thinking Harry. It's not your fault, none of this is your fault." Nodding George stepped forward and slipped his arm around Harry's shoulders, squeezing him close to his chest. "Fred is right, we don't blame you for anything, and neither does the rest of the family."
Harry couldn't help the choked sob that slipped from his throat as he clung to George. The arms that slipped around him from the back had his tears falling again, running is torrents down his cheeks. He clung to the twins as it became harder to breathe, gasping as he tried to fill his aching lungs with oxygen. After a few minutes he became aware of the hands rubbing against him a soothing motion, George rubbing circles on his back and Fred running soft hands through his hair. Breathing deeply to calm himself Harry mumbled out a quiet 'Thank You' and pulled back from the twins, gifting them with a small thankful smile. Both redheads returned the smile and waved off his thanks, "It's what you do-" Fred started, "-for family" both twins finished. Harry nodded, thankful for the support the two were handing out, even though he felt he didn't deserve it but he wasn't going to complain.
Harry started to turn back to walk into the school but his arm was grabbed again to keep him from moving. He turned back opening his mouth to question the twins only to stop short at the look in their eyes. He had never seen the twins with such a serious look, even when helping him escape from the Dursleys over the summer did they have such a look. Harry soon realized that he wasn't going to like whatever they had to say. "What's wrong?" Harry's nerves shot even higher when the two glanced at each other and seemed to have an entire conversation in the span of a second. "The other day some of the Order came to talk with Mum and Dad about what was going to happen after the final battle and you survived", Fred said quietly. "We overheard them talking to our parents about how a source close to you told them that it was possible when you defeat the Dark Lord that you would absorb some or all of his power-". George took over for his brother when he made a pained noise and grasped Harry's arm, "-and that it could drive you insane or push you into becoming the next Dark Lord."
Harry's eyes widened in shock as he processed the statement only to shake his head in disbelief, "What did Molly say?" Fred tightened his grip on Harry and looked at him sharply, "What do you think she said? She in no polite terms told them to get the fuck out of the house and to take their nonsense elsewhere." George nodded along as his brother spoke and started speaking as soon as he was done, "She warned us to get to you first and to get you out of here while she gets Charlie to distract the Order and the Aurors." Green eyes locked with two pairs of bright blue and he couldn't help but ask, "Why, you do realize how much trouble your family will get into if they find out?!" The twins couldn't help but smile and pass him a bag and spoke in tandem, "It's like we told you, it's what you do for family." Harry grabbed the bag and pulled each twin into a hug, "Thank you, and tell your Mum and Dad thanks for me too."
"No problem, take care little brother and live for you." Fred ruffled his hair and stepped back to let George hug Harry. "Go find Bill, Harry he'll get you out of here and someplace safe." Harry looked sadly at the twins knowing in his heart this would be the last time he saw them. Blinking back tears he nodded and ran off to find the eldest Weasley son. Before he got too far he heard one of the twins whisper loud enough for him to hear, "Don't trust anyone Harry, go straight to Bill." He glanced over his shoulder and nodded showing he heard the warning.
Once Harry was out of sight the twins released a sigh and leaned on each other. "You think he'll make it out ok?" Fred asked, eyes not leaving the spot Harry disappeared from. George turned to face the other redhead and took in a deep breath slowly releasing it, "All we can do now is have faith in him, Bill and Charlie. It's up to them." Finally taking his eyes of the vacant spot where their little brother left from Fred spared a quick glance at George and then turned to focus on the Order members roaming the battlefield looking for Harry and closed his eyes. "You're right, it's up to them now."
The serious look on Fred's face made George uncomfortable, thinking quickly he tossed his arm over Fred's shoulders and smiled at him, "Don't worry, this is Harry we're talking about. If anyone can do this it will be him." Giving a thankful smile Fred nodded, "You're right again, I'm worrying over nothing. Bill and Charlie will get him out, and I swear Harry has the luck of a Saint." Straightening up both twins reached in their pockets for their wands and shot each other an evil smile that gave no illusions as to why they were referred to as the Demon Twins of Gryffindor. "However we can always make their jobs easier, shall we Forge?" "Indeed we shall Gred." With a quiet chuckle both ran off to make some trouble to give Harry even a second more time to get away.
Harry quickly ran across the grounds of the school as he searched for the eldest Weasley son with little luck. Deciding quickly he ducked behind some rubble to rethink his plan, he glanced around to see if he could spot any redheads only to smile as he spotted Hermione. Harry slowly started making his way toward the bushy haired girl only to stop short when he noticed Kingsley Shacklebolt walk towards her with a grimace on his face. "Have you seen him anywhere, I didn't see where he went off too after he defeated the Dark Lord?" Harry watched quietly as Kingsley released a sigh and ran weary hands over his face. Hermione shook her and made a frustrated sound, "No, but I did warn you. All that extra magic was bound to mess with his head, we need to find him before he hurts someone." The older wizard just nodded his head and looked at the young woman in front of him with sad eyes. "I didn't want to believe you, I was praying that you were wrong, that he was stronger than that."
Harry widened his eyes at the unlady like noise that escaped the girls mouth, however it was the comment that followed that shocked him to the core leaving his soul hurting with betrayal, "Please, he may have more magic than most but he has no control and a weak mind that will leave him open to the darkness from Voldemort's soul." Hermione tossed a smirk at Kingsley and stuck her nose in air in a move that was clearly meant to show that she knew more than the older Auror. "With the way the Dursleys treated him as long as you show him a little bit of affection he'll be putty in your hands." Kingsley blinked at her and tilted his head in question, "What do you mean about his treatment at the Dursleys?" Hermione scoffed, "You can't tell me you didn't know?" At Kingsley's continued confused expression, Hermione explained Harry's life in extremely simple terms, "The Dursleys hated him, he was made to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs for 11 years and they treated him like a house elf. He was made to cook and clean from the moment he could stand in front of the stove and if he messed up he was punished."
With each passing moment Kingsley's eyes widened in horror and he listened to the girl's blase explanation of the treatment her supposed best friend went through in his young life. She didn't seem to notice the way Kingsley was looking at her and continued with her story, "Sometimes they would beat him but mostly they starved him of food. His cousin Dudley used to pick on him for sport and his parents never told him not too. In fact I think they encouraged it." Hermione finally focused on the shocked wizard and snorted at the look on his face, "So now you see why we need to find him, he'll still be in shock and easy to manipulate until we can seal his magic."
Before Kingsley could respond a loud explosion was heard from area by the gates that separated the castle from the small village of Hogsmeade. Harry took a chance and looked over the edge of the stone he was hiding behind and couldn't help but smile at the chaos the twins were causing. Sending a mental thanks Harry shifted back and started to creep along the behind the rubble only to stop short when he caught the eyes of Kingsley Shacklebolt, and a whispered 'fuck' slipped past his lips. Moments slipped past and neither man moved until Kingsley bowed his head and shifted slightly to block Harry completely from view. "Leave, quickly." Smiling at the elder man, Harry returned the bow and quickly slunk by the Auror only to freeze when the whispered words reached his ears, "Take Teddy with you, his father is a werewolf and with no one here to look after him he'll end up in an orphanage."
Harry gulped quietly and let his mind quickly flicker to his baby godson who lost his family much too soon. Harry himself was only 17 could he really take are of a baby on his own, there was so much he didn't know about babies. He was going to tell Kingsley that there was no way for him to take him, as much as it pained him to say. Little Teddy would be better off with his Grandmother Andromeda, after all she had raised Tonks to be a wonderful woman and she would have no problem with the potential wolf side Teddy could carry because of Remus. Harry opened his mouth to respond to the bald man only to stop dead in his tracks with a cold dread filling his heart and soul at the next whispered words from the elder man's mouth, "Or he could end up being killed just because of his father's creature status." Swallowing back the bile that threatened to rise at the thought of a small innocent baby being condemned to death because of something he had no control over.
Glancing out the corner of his eye and the wizard who was blocking him from capture he whispered, "Andromeda?" Closing his eyes with a sad sigh Kingsley shook his head, "She can't look after him, she just lost her husband, daughter and son-in-law all in one shot. We had to give her a calming draught and send her to Saint Mungo's until she calmed down." Eyes snapping open Kingsley turned a fierce and pleading glare on Harry and the desperation was clear in his voice, "He has no one else now Harry, you are the only hope that little boy has. And I know this is unfair of to me to ask you this way, but I can't sit by and watch the son of two of the most amazing people I've ever worked with end up in an orphanage or worse killed because people are closed minded and can't look past something that happens once a month." Harry looked at Kingsley for a good minute studying the man before him for any hint of a lie. The man before him didn't more or shift his eyes from Harry's inspection and sighed in relief when Harry's eyes softened and spoke 3 words that lifted a huge weight from his shoulders. "Where is he?"
After getting the location of his Godson Harry hurried along trying to find Bill in the madness of people running around trying to figure out why small explosions kept going off. Snickering slightly to himself Harry eased himself around a corner and a triumphant grin stole its way across his face, he had spotted Bill. Quickly making his way to the eldest redheaded son, Harry quietly called out to him. "Bill….Bill…." When the redhead turned in his direction Harry smiled and felt a small burst of warmth at the relieved smile that crossed Bill's face. "Hurry Harry, we need to slip out of here before anyone notices. Mum has another bag for you at the Burrow with your cloak, clothes and an 'never ending pouch' she loaded with gold from your vault along with some family heirlooms and photos of everyone." Harry blinked at the amount of forethought in the whole situation and cocked his head to the side in question. Bill only smiled and ruffled the raven hair that covered Harry's head, "We've had a lot of time to plan this and I know you have questions but we need to leave now." Nodding Harry latched onto Bill when the curse breaker held his arm out to the teen, and spoke quickly before they apparated out. "Before we head to the Burrow we need to stop somewhere else and carry out a kidnapping."
Harry and Bill popped outside a small single story house on the outskirts of London in a quiet little town. The two separated and looked around the area checking to see if any order members were hanging around guarding newly orphaned Teddy. Bill turned to Harry and motioned him forward, both knew they had a very short window to get in and get Teddy. Cautiously walking toward the house both wizards peeked in through the windows on the first floor. The house was dark and silent, so the boys crept to the back door and with a whispered 'Alohomora' the door clicked open. Being the smaller of the two Harry quietly snuck in and waved Bill in when he noticed no one was around, and they made their way toward the back of the house. Harry walked to the first closed door he came to and slowly opened it and peeked around, seeing it was a bathroom he closed the door and headed to the next door with Bill starting on the opposite side of the hall.
Harry turned when he heard Bill's happy noise, "Over here Harry, I found him." Harry quickly made his way to Bill's side and looked in the room, seeing the crib in the center of the room he slowly slinked toward it. He looked down at the baby resting there and couldn't help but smile. Teddy looked adorable clothed in a simple onesie and light brown hair, so much like Remus' that it made his throat tighten and his green eyes water a bit. He was snapped out of his musing by Bill coming into the room with him and looking over his shoulder at the tiny baby.
"We need to get out of here, I don't know when someone will come check on him." Harry nodded and slowly reached down lifting the sleeping baby into his arms adjusting him slightly to get a comfortable hold on him. He let out a relieved sigh when Teddy stayed asleep and slowly followed Bill back outside so they could apparate safely. Once they were a safe distance Bill pulled Harry into his arms and held on tightly. "Hold him tightly, this may wake him up." Harry's only response was to tighten his hold on Teddy and nod to Bill when he was confident he wouldn't drop or hurt him. "Ok, Here we go." WIth that the three of them popped away from the small house without a backward glance. The only signs of their visit was the empty crib and the soft pop that followed when they left.
Arriving at the Burrow safely was a huge relief for Harry. He glanced around the familiar overgrown yard teaming with gnomes and allowed his eyes to rest on the Weasley household. The tall slanted house was a welcome sight after all he had seen that day, and he let himself be led by Bill towards the backdoor to the kitchen where he could hear someone moving around in. Pushing open the door Bill allowed Harry to enter first and the 17 year old was immediately assaulted by the smell of fresh baked bread and something simmering in a pot on the stove. The next was the safety and warmth of Mrs. Weasley and she wrapped her arms around him careful of the precious bundle in his arms. Harry felt the tension flow out of him and the soothing scent of fresh cookies with an undertone of something earthy that always surrounded the elder woman and rested his forehead against her shoulder sagging slightly. Running gentle hands through his hair the Weasley matron led him to a chair for him to sit and rest.
Finally sitting down after the many hours of running and fighting Harry leaned back and closed his eyes letting the tension of the war run through him. WIth nothing left to do his mind bounced to all those lost during the whole futile war; Sirius, Remus, Tonks, Dumbledore, Snape, Mad-Eye, Dobby, little Dennis and Colin Creevey, Lavender Brown and so many others. They all died too soon and for a pointless cause, if only they had found the horcruxes sooner, if only they had killed Nagini faster, if only he had been better and stronger. Harry felt the tears coming and gripped Teddy tighter to his chest, resting his nose in the mop of brown hair atop his head. Harry sniffed letting the crisp scent of innocence and fresh air fill his senses and remind him that others were still alive, that even though many died, even more lived. Harry wasn't sure how long he sat there breathing deeply attempting to calm down before he became aware of the hands running circles on his back and the soft words of comfort whispered.
He raised his head and looked into the understanding eyes of Molly Weasley and let out a choked sob and all but flung himself into her arms careful of Teddy sleeping between them. Molly didn't say anything else just held onto the sobbing child, because that's all he really was, a 17 year old boy who was forced to go up faster than he should have. She clutched him tighter to her chest and felt her own eyes mist over, but she wouldn't cry not right now not when Harry needed the support. She needed to be strong for him and help him when no one else would. Glancing at Bill she quietly asked for a glass of water, then turned her attention back to the shivering boy in her arms. "Harry, sweetie look at me." When her brown eyes met striking green she gave him a small smile, "It's not your fault Harry, none of this is." When he opened his mouth to argue otherwise she placed a hand over his mouth and leveled him with a fierce glare and bopped him on the head with her free hand. "Now you listen to me Harry James Potter, this is not your fault. All the blame lies solely with that vile man and his horrible followers, a little of it also lies with us."
At his wide eyes Molly laughed lightly at him removing her hand from his mouth and reached out for the glass Bill was handing over, "It's true, We put so much pressure on you to be the savior and protect an entire civilization that we forgot you were only a child." Molly ran a hand over the sleeping baby and handed Harry the glass with her other, calmly waiting while he adjusted Teddy in the crook of his arm, gratefully taking the cool water and drinking it greedily. Harry sighed and leaned on the matron's shoulder taking all the comfort he could he could get knowing that this might be the last time he would feel the warmth from the only mother figure he'd ever known. Sensing that Harry needed the friendly touch Molly merely wrapped her arm around his shoulder keeping him close and running fingers through his messy hair.
Bill bit his bottom lip and looked at his mother and Harry resting on the couch not wanting to ruin the moment but knowing that things needed to be spoken about. Murmuring softly to himself Bill plopped in the chair opposite the two hugging and softly coughed to get their attention. Seeing both pairs of eyes on him Bill spoke softly not wanting to wake the surprisingly still sleeping baby, "Harry we need to talk about what's going to happen now. I'm sorry to do this now but we don't have long and now we need to make sure we get everything for Teddy as well." Harry nodded to show he understood and rested his hand over Teddy's stomach, "Yeah, so how am I getting out of here and where am I going?" Bill leaned back and crossed one long leg over the other at the ankles, "I'll be taking you to Gringotts after we get all your things together and get what we'll need for Teddy, they'll be giving you a portkey somewhere that we won't know about, that way we can't give out any information even my accident." A thoughtful frown crossed Harry's face, "Why would the Goblins help me after what I did? I mean I did break in, steal from them and then set a fully grown dragon loose in the bank!" Bill and Molly stared shocked at the green eyed wizard for a moment before laughing loudly.
"You did WHAT?" A new voice asked stunned from the doorway. Three sets of eyes darted a look at the doorway only to breathe out a sigh in relief at the tired form of Charlie Weasley. The second son was holding a backpack in his hand and looking at them with wide eyes that were darting back and forth from Harry to the baby resting safely in the raven's arms. Harry snorted at the look on the stocky redhead and quickly explained what happened in the bank before him, Ron, and Hermione made their way to Hogwarts. "So I don't really see how the Goblins would agree to help me of all people." Harry finished quietly. The three redheads were all staring at Harry in shock with wide eyes, and Molly was gripping Harry tighter to herself in fear of what her youngest boys had gone through to protect them all. As she looked at the boy, no Man she told herself, beside her she couldn't help but feel an amazing amount of pride and astonishment at what they had done throughout their schooling. From the look on her eldest sons faces she could tell they felt the same, but there was also sadness in their eyes. Sadness that this 17 year old muggle raised boy had the expectations of the world shoved on his shoulders since he was only a year old and has been in the middle of a war since turning 11.
Molly shared a quick look with her sons and held her arm out for the backpack Charlie still had tucked beside him. "In here is everything you'll need for a while. It's got clothes, books, toiletries, some basic potions; pain, sleep, muscle relaxant, dittany, and a couple others, there is also a fully stocked potions kit in case you need to brew any more." Molly reached in the bag and pulled out a smaller draw string bag and handed it over to Harry. "In here is almost the entire contents of your vaults from Gringotts; both the Potter and Black ones since Sirius made you the Black heir. I also went ahead and had the goblins convert some of the coins to Muggle money just in case." Harry opened the small bag and could vaguely see stacks of gold, copper and silver coins along with the paper money used in the Muggle world. He could also spot random heirlooms dotted throughout the stacks as well. Harry closed the pouch and tossed it back in the backpack in easy reach for him. "Thank you, all of you. I mean that from the bottom of my heart."
The Weasleys just smiled and waved off the thanks saying that families didn't need thank yous. Molly turned to Bill and shot a mischievous at her eldest son that had him swallowing and cautiously watching his mother. "Bill, sweetie, since you are the only one married with a lovely wife it won't look strange for you go and pick up baby things, so I'm going to need you to go to Stellar Baby Emporium and pick up all the things little Teddy will need." Bill's jaw dropped as he stared at his mother ignoring the snickering from the other two men in the room. "Mum you can't be serious, Fleur and I have only been married a few months, what do you think she is gonna say when she finds out I went out and bought a full stock of baby things?" Molly merely smiled and raised one fine red eyebrow, "Well do you expect Charlie to go? He's gay and it would look very strange for him to be buying newborn things, and Harry can't do it for obvious reasons."
Realizing she had a point Bill grumbled to himself and tried his last excuse dejectedly, "I have no clue what to even buy though." Still smiling Molly just handed him a small bag of galleons, eyes twinkling madly at Bill's embarrassment, "Don't worry about that, just tell one of the workers that you need the works for a new baby boy." Standing she pulled him to his feet and started shooing him out of the house, "Be quick Bill, we need to get him out of here soon." Eyes narrowing Bill saluted his mother and waved to Harry and Charlie and popped away leaving the others staring at the empty space he once stood in.
While Bill was out at Stellar's Molly took a just waking Teddy from Harry pushing him softly toward the bathroom, "I'll look after him for a while. You need to go get clean and change, when you come back out I'll give you a crash course on taking care of a baby." Not giving him a chance to respond Molly walked away cooing softly at the fussy baby. Smiling at Molly's back Harry turned fully into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. He walked over and turned on the shower in the large shower turning the knobs to get the temperature he wanted, once it was set right he stepped back and started removing the grimey blood covered clothes tossing them in the corner of the cluttered bathroom. There really wasn't much space for him to move to around too much, most of the space taken up by the large claw-footed tub that was stained after years of use. A counter; scattered with 9 toothbrushes and about 5 different types of toothpastes, 9 brushes and other random beauty products and an inset sink also discolored by years of use. Between the two stood the lone toilet, with towels and fresh clothes resting on the closed lid.
Harry looked at himself in the mirror over the sink and grimaced at the amount of dirt, blood and other random grime that covered his bruised and broken body. He was still much too small and thin for someone his age, but then again years of being starved, beaten and locked in a small cupboard was bound to mess with his development. Harry stood at a meager height of 5'4 and weighed only around 103 pounds, slightly better than what he started as but still too small for someone his height. Exhaling gingerly Harry slipped his glasses off his face and set them on the counter, then stepped into the warm spray of the shower. He wasn't sure how long he stood there letting the water just run over him watching the muck that had collected on him swirl down the drain. Once the water that was running off him turned clear he began washing himself with the soaps and shampoos that were resting along the rim of the tub.
Once finished Harry shut off the shower and slipped out of the shower, grabbing the towel and wiping himself down. Once he dried off Harry grabbed the fresh clothes and pulled them on not really paying attention to what he was wearing. Stepping out into the hall Harry followed the noise to find Molly and Charlie cooing at the little form of Teddy wiggling on the floor between them. Harry smiled at the scene in front of him, his heart clenching briefly at the thought that Teddy will never get to do this with his own parents. In that moment Harry made the mental promise to his tiny charge that he would never doubt his birth parents love, he would know that he was loved, and that his parents died heros so he and the rest of the world could live in peace.
Molly looked up when she noticed Harry standing in the doorway and waved him over, waiting until he settled down on the floor before going over the basics of taking care of a baby. Harry listened attentively to all the things Molly was explaining, picking up all the tricks he could to help him ease into this. Thirty minutes later Bill came walking through the door laden with bags all reading 'Stella' and filled to the brim. Harry looked at the bags with worried eyes wondering if he could really handle all of this. There were at least 8 bags and he was sure they were all filled with shrunken blankets, bottles, food, clothes, toys and any other random things the shop clerk felt a 6 month old baby boy needed.
Bill walked over to the trio and placed the bags on the floor, "I got everything the lady at the shop told me I would need, plus some extra stuff. You have at least 6 months worth of formula and snacks, teether rings, baby potions, clothes for the next couple of months; those you'll need to buy as he grows." Harry nodded to show he understood and peeked in the bag closest to him and noticed eight boxes of different sizes in it. Each box had a picture on it showing what was packaged in it, there was one for a crib, changing table, pram, playpen, baby carrier, toy chest, baby bath tub and a car seat. Closing the bag back up Harry turned to see Molly shrinking the other bags a little more and putting them in a duffle for him to carry. Once done she held out something for him to take, "Hand me that bag dear and put this on, it will be easier to carry Teddy that way." Reaching for the baby sling she held out he pushed the last bag towards her, and looked over the sling reading the instructions on how to wear it properly. Once it was secured tightly to himself, he slid over reaching to heft Teddy to his chest and gently slid the 6 month old into the seat part.
Harry placed a hand on Teddy's back and stood meeting the eyes of those around him, "I think it's time to head out. I don't want to put you all at risk any longer." Molly gave him a sad smile, her eyes misting over and nodded, "Yes, I think it's time. Bill will be the only one going with you to Gringotts." At Harry's wide eyed expression Molly's smile widened and she reached out wrapping her arms around him pulling him into a tight embrace, "We need to stay here in case someone comes by looking for you, it would look strange if no one was here. Especially after I left the battlefield right after to make sure I had food for those who would be coming by, I told them to give me a few hours to make sure I had enough." Harry laughed and hugged her back tightly, then moved to hug Charlie, "Thank you for everything over the years, I couldn't have made it this far without all of you." A sob tried to make it's way past his throat and he clenched his eyes closed and took a deep breath trying to calm down.
When he opened his eyes he had to fight back the tears at the look on all three of their faces. Molly had tears freely falling down her cheeks while both boys were rubbing the wetness from their faces. When Harry spoke next his voice was rough and hushed as if speaking too loud would destroy the seriousness of the situation. "You were my family since I was 11 and there is nothing I can do or say that will ever measure up to how much that means to me. All I can say is I love you Mum." Harry smiled sadly at Molly's gasp and reached to grabbed her hand, "You have been a mum to me for 7 years now and it would be an honor to call you that, all of you are my family. It's what kept me strong and kept me alive through the summers and through all this mess. I will miss you all and as soon as I can I'll send word that we're ok." Harry leaned up and kissed the Weasley matriarch on the cheek and smiled at her, stepping back he reached down and slipped the backpack on then grabbed the duffle of baby things and the satchel the twins gave him. Harry looked at them all one last time and headed out to the yard with Bill following behind him. Harry turned to get one last look at the one place he could call home and the family he gained, "Tell everyone that I love them all and I'll miss them. I'll write as soon as I can." Waving at the two on the porch Harry reached out and gripped Bill's arm as the redhead came to stand next to him. Taking a deep breath Harry closed his eyes and waited for the uncomfortable feeling of being pulled through a straw that apparition always caused. With a soft crack the two of them popped away from the Burrow and toward a receiving lobby at Gringotts.
Landing in the lobby the two wizards were immediately pulled into a side room by two of the largest goblins Harry had ever seen, they came up to his elbow. When the door was fully closed and warded a smaller goblin came to stand in front of them, "My name is Ragnok, I am the Chief Branch Manager for the European branch of Gringotts and we are honored to assist you Harry Potter." Harry blinked at the stone faced goblin and smiled at the tiny creature and he bowed at the waist with a careful hand on the back of Teddy's head, missing the shocked look that quickly passed over Ragnok's face. "It is my honor Esteemed Goblin, May your gold stack as high as enemy's bodies." Bill's jaw dropped at the formal greeting that came easy to Harry, it was no wonder the goblins had no problem helping when he came to them a month ago with his plan.
He was drawn back to the conversation when Ragnok returned the bow with a toothy grin, "And may your wealth flow like the blood from the veins of your enemies." Both stood straight and Harry set the duffle on the floor and looked around the small room they were in, the room was the size of one of the larger classrooms at Hogwarts with deep red walls trimmed with a dark gold, the carpet was a lush beige that screamed rich and comfort. The furniture was sparse yet tasteful, a dark gold couch that matched the trimming was set on the left side and a fireplace no doubt set to the floo network was directly across it on the right wall. When Harry brought his attention back to Ragnok he reached his hand out to shake the goblins hand, "Thank you for the help. I understand that you were only expecting me but I do hope it won't be too much trouble with Teddy coming along." Ragnok just waved him off and reached out to return the handshake, "Do not worry Harry Potter it will be no trouble at all. Come, we'll discuss where you will be heading." Harry agreed and the two headed for the couch on the left of the room, but before he could go too far Bill reached out and grabbed Harry's wrist, "I have to leave now so you take care of yourself and the cub." "I will, don't worry. Give my love to Fleur and the rest of the family." Bill flashed him a cheeky grin and gave him a quick hug before heading out of the room back to be with his family.
For the next two hours Harry and Ragnok spoke about where he would be staying for awhile. The goblins had apparently set him up in New York at a school for mutants, where he wouldn't stick out too much with his magic. He was told that he would be met by the Headmaster of the school, Professor Charles Xavier, a mutant with incredible mind powers and he would be able to stay there until he found a more permanent place to stay. While he was there he could study with the other students if he chose to, or he could help around the school with other things. While they were talking Ragnok had sent off a letter to the Professor letting him know about the extra person that would be joining Harry. They were now merely making small talk while waiting on the response before Harry was sent out with the portkey. Sitting there waiting was slowly driving Harry crazy, he was anxious to get away from England and the people wanted him locked away or have his magic sealed and those that would hurt an innocent baby just because his father was a werewolf.
Twenty minutes later the floo flashed green and a letter shot from the flames into Ragnok's waiting hand. Harry waited with bated breath as the scowling goblin read the letter from Professor Xavier, this letter would change everything if it came back a negative. Ragnok finished reading it and sent Harry a grin that would make a weaker man run screaming in terror but all it did for the teen was release the painful tension that had been weighing on his shoulders. "He said that is fine, that a larger room has been made available for you and the young Lupin and that he eagerly awaits your arrival." Grinning Harry hugged Teddy closer to himself and laughed as finally the last drips of stress and tension just melted off him. Standing Harry went and collected his bags where he had dropped them after arriving and returned next to Ragnok and bowed to the goblin, "Thank you again for all the help and may your fortune run as deep as the oceans are wide." Letting his face soften slightly Ragnok smiled at the green eyed teen and returned the bow, "The honor is mine Lord Potter-Black, and may you be blessed with joy until the sun falls from the sky." Taking a deep breath Harry reached out to take the portkey the goblin pulled from his pocket and in a flash the two were gone from the room and Harry could only hope that things would work out well for the two of them from now on.
Ragnok stared at the spot the young lord vanished from and let the worry show on his face, the elder goblin knew that this would not be the end. They were bound to find them and he could only hope that by the time the British Government caught up with them the two had made some strong allies. Harry Potter had been protecting the Wizarding World for far too long, it was finally time for someone to take care of that poor boy and the small baby that was now his charge. Bowing his head Ragnok did something he hadn't done in years, he prayed, he begged the Gods and Goddess' and anyone else who would listen. 'Please give that boy some happiness, let him live like he should have been able too his entire life. Keep him and the Young Lupin safe and give them someone to watch over them for as long as possible.'