Chapter Text
Chapter Eight: War’s Aftermath
Harry found Hermione and Charlotte after it was over, leading them out by the Black Lake. He’d repaired his original wand and placed the Elder Wand back in Dumbledore’s tomb, where it belonged. Everyone was exhausted, but the joy of winning the war kept everyone awake. “What’s going to happen now?” Hermione asked, looking at the school, which suffered more damage than Charlotte thought it had.
Harry shrugged. “I don’t know. I do know, however, that I want you at my side, Hermione. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
She smiled, still upset by all the death, especially Ron’s. “Me too, Harry.”
“Is Uncle Samuel going to be alright?” Harry directed this question to Charlotte.
“I think I heard McGonagall say both him and Snape are being moved to St. Mungo’s.” She spat the name of her godfather out.
Harry squeezed her shoulder. “Snape was working for Dumbledore the whole time. He thought he was dying and gave me his memories. He loved my mum and after Voldemort killed her, Snape was Dumbledore’s. His death was prearranged. He was only doing it on Dumbledore’s orders.” Healers arrived for those badly wounded. “Go, Charli. They need you.”
She went with them to St. Mungo’s, and as Sirius, back in human form, refused to leave Samuel’s side, Charlotte decided to stay with Snape. Remus stayed with Tonks and Lavender was being treated for a werewolf bite; although Greyback hadn’t been in wolf form, it was still horrible.
A couple days after, Snape’s eyes fluttered open. They’d found an antidote to Nagini’s venom and he was now well on his way to recovery. “Uncle Sev?”
“Who won?” He asked tersely.
“We did. Harry did.”
Snape smiled for the first time in a long time. “Good.”
There was a knock on the door, and Sirius, looking like he hadn’t slept at all, poked his head in. “How is he?”
“I’m alive, Black.” Snape answered, but his voice wasn’t cold like normal. “How’s Sam?”
“He’s still unconscious.” Sirius said. “The Healers aren’t telling me a damn thing, either. But, Tonks is fine and she and Remus are gone, but he said he’d be back.” He left then, presumably going back to Samuel’s room.
Charlotte closed her eyes, forcing the horrid thought that her dad was dead out of her head. Snape’s hand found hers and he patted the back of her hand. “He’ll be alright. Too damn stubborn to die.”
She laughed weakly. “I’m going to go see him.” She said, as Harry stepped in. “Harry?”
“I was just seeing how Snape was.” He hesitated. “I wanted to talk to him.”
“Come in, Potter.” Snape said.
She shrugged in answer to Harry’s questioning look and went to check on her dad. Sirius was just sitting there, holding Samuel’s hand as if that could help him get better. He seemed to have regained some color and his breathing was better, almost as if he was asleep. She sat down on the other side of his bed. “If he dies, are you going back to Grimmauld Place?” She asked quietly.
“I don’t know.” Sirius responded just as quietly. “I’m hoping I won’t have to think about that.”
She sighed. “Well, I’m going back today. Let me know if something changes.”
He hugged her suddenly. “You know I will.”
She Apparated back to her house after saying bye to Snape, and the first thing she did was take a hot shower. Feeling a lot better, she found Isobel in the living room. “How’s Samuel?” Isobel asked quickly.
“Nothing’s changed. Snape’s awake, though.” She flopped down, surprised to see Misty coming out of the kitchen with sandwiches and tea. “Thanks, Misty.”
“Well, that’s good, isn’t it?”
Charlotte nodded half-heartedly, and after eating, she went up to bed. She slept for thirty-six hours until Isobel woke her up by jumping on her bed. “Charli! Sirius just came by!”
That woke her up more effectively. “And?”
“He just said to come to St. Mungo’s as quickly as possible.”
Charlotte and Isobel Disapparated, speeding up to Samuel’s room. Charlotte’s mind filled with the worst possible scenarios, but nothing prepared her for what she saw when she and Isobel burst through the door. Samuel was sitting up and arguing with Sirius about eating. “-feed myself, Sirius.”
“You can’t even sit up by yourself.” Sirius threw back. “I’ll do it whether you want me to or not.”
“Dad!” Charlotte rushed in, hugging him tightly. “You’re alive!”
“Getting better every day, sweetie.” He smiled tiredly at her. “How’s Severus?”
“He’s fine. Won’t be getting out of here for a few more days, but he’s okay.” Charlotte said happily. “Dad, I thought you were going to die.”
He just hugged her tighter, kissing her forehead. “I’m okay, now, though.”
Isobel hugged him too, initiating a group hug with her new family.
-HP-
The third week of August, Samuel came home, accompanied by Remus, who told them he finally proposed to Tonks. The fourth day he was home, Professor McGonagall stopped by to talk to him about something. Charlotte, Isobel, and Harry were in the den, talking about the war. “So, how many Horcruxes did he have?”
“Seven.” Harry answered. “I destroyed the diary, Ravenclaw’s diadem, and Slytherin’s locket. Dumbledore destroyed the Gaunt family ring and Helga Hufflepuff’s cup, and Neville killed the snake. Voldemort himself killed the seventh one, which was me.”
“Wow.” Isobel said. “That’s why you could speak to snakes then, right?”
“Yeah.”
Sirius came in there with them, leading Professor McGonagall. “If Hogwarts was to reopen, would you three come back?”
“Yeah!” All of them answered at the same time.
“Good.” She smiled. “Then, I will see you all on the first of September. The booklists will be coming to you shortly.”
“So, life’s back to normal, now?” He asked quietly, still feeling the sting of Ron’s death. “I miss him.”
“I know. I do too. Sucks to know I can’t break his nose anymore.” Charlotte joked, trying to make Harry smile.
He did, briefly. “Yeah.”
“Hey, it won’t be like before. Everything’ll be different, but Ron wouldn’t want you moping around and I guarantee you Hermione will say the same thing.”
“She does.”
“See? I know it hurts. I still miss Emmeline, Isobel’s mum, but we’ll get through this together. Just like family should.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” He pulled her into a hug. “Thank you.”
“No problem.” She grinned. “Harry, think about all the people you saved if that’ll make you feel better. And, Hogwarts is probably going to reopen. That’s great news.”
Charlotte watched he smile once more and walk out of the den. It was going to be a long time before Harry was ever okay, but at least he was healing. They all were. They would heal someday. And it was all thanks to Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.