Chapter Text
On the morning of May 4th, Harry woke up with a splitting headache.
It took a while for him to remember where he was and what had happened. He groaned and turned around to search for his glasses on the nightstand. A pair of hands appeared in his blurry vision and gently put the glasses on his nose.
Charlie was there in front of him. Sitting in a stiff position near his bed, red hair unkept, very pale and with pronounced dark circles under his eyes. He was wearing jeans and a long-sleeved black shirt that looked like it had seen better days.
Harry looked the surroundings for a while. It was a room he had never seen before, but it was full of Gryffindor colours, so it was somehow familiar. He was confused because he didn’t seem to remember how he got there. He glanced at Charlie with a questioning glance.
“How did I get here?” Harry croaked.
Charlie got up and took a glass from a table nearby, filled it with water and gave it to Harry, who mumbled a ‘Thank you’ and gulped down the whole glass. He sighed and rubbed his temples.
“We’re in McGonagall quarters.” Charlie explained “Do you remember what happened? You collapsed after our talk…” Charlie looked uncertain.
Harry nodded “Yeah… I remember… what happened?”
“Exhaustion. Well, mainly exhaustion. You were sleep deprived, malnourished and your core was greatly depleted. You also had some cuts and bruises, as well as a broken rib. You were probably running on adrenaline, so as soon as you let your guard down your body collapsed.” Charlie’s gaze was piercing “You scared me” he whispered, his voice breaking at the end.
Harry stroked his cheek. Charlie closed his eyes and let out a shuddering breath.
“I’m sorry I scared you. How long was I asleep?”
“More than 24 hours. Madame Pomphrey healed the worse and gave you a few potions, she wanted to keep you in the Hospital Wing, but I insisted on giving you some privacy. McGonagall agreed to give you her quarters so that you won’t be disturbed. Only her, Madame Pomphrey, Ron, Hermione and I have access. You deserve to get some rest without people goggling at you.”
“Thank you” Harry was relieved not to find himself in the Hospital Wing once more. He really came to hate that place, and after the battle he was sure it would be full of people more in need of care than him.
Oh God. The battle. The blood. The bodies. Snape, Remus, Tonks, Colin, Lavender. Fred… oh. Fred.
Betrayal.
The forest. Green light.
Harry closed his eyes. Images of the days before flipping behind his eyelids in quick sequence. So much had happened in so little time.
And Charlie was there. He was there, with him. Talking, touching himand he could not believe he was really alive. He had walked to his death convinced he would never see him again. But he was there.
He was there, watching him with worried blue eyes.
“Oh Merlin, I’m so stupid. How do you feel? Are you in pain? Do you need me to call the medi-witch?” Charlie was suddenly frantic.
Harry smiled weakly “I’m fine, I just have a headache… and maybe a bit hungry.”
Charlie nodded. He gave Harry a few potions and called a house-elf to ask for some light food for the two of them. When he returned next to the bed Harry’s gaze was unfocused, he was looking ahead, but it looked like he was not really looking at anything.
“Harry-?”
Harry was startled out of his haze and turned his gaze at the other man, his green eyes confused and lost.
“It’s over” he said.
“It’s over” Charlie repeated.
Harry’s eyes filled with tears and he let out a sob. Charlie quicky enveloped the boy in his arms, slowly stroking his back.
“Shhhh. It’s okay. It’s fine.” He whispered in his hair “Let it out. I’m here. I’ve got you.”
Harry sobbed “I’m sorry-” traitorous tears leaking out despite his best efforts.
“I’ve got you” Charlie repeated.
They stayed like that for a while. Harry crying and trembling, Charlie holding him close and mumbling soothing words in his ears. After some minutes, the younger boy finally started to relax and reached out to hold Charlie as well.
“I’m sorry” he said again, his voice weak and full of grief.
“Harry” Charlie’s voice was stern. He detached himself from the smaller boy to look at him in the eyes “you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for”.
Harry hid his face in the other man’s shoulder “I should be stronger, but here I am, crying like a baby, when it’s others that should cry- and grieve. Oh god…. Charlie I’m so sorry about Fred- I should have been faster… I’m so sorry” he choked.
Charlie continued stroking the boy’s hair, tears now rolling down his face too.
“You lost a lot too. Fred- he” Charlie gulped “He was your brother too. We are all your family, Harry. We’ll get through this together. Like families do.”
As he said this, he leant down and kissed a tear away from Harry’s cheek. The boy let himself relax and melt in that soft touch.
“You were so brave, Harry. You lost so much. I’m sorry that you had to go through all this so young. I’m sorry about Remus… I know how much he meant for you after Sirius died.”
“Remus… he-” Harry choked up and looked panicked for a moment.
Teddy.
What was he going to do about Teddy? The sweet boy that he had only seen in photos. The little boy that become an orphan even before turning one month old. Remus’ son that now was his responsibility.
Harry felt his heart break for the little guy, and right there he decided that he would not repeat the mistakes that were done with him. He would do right by his godson. He will be his priority.
“Teddy is my godson.”
“Teddy? Oh.” Charlie looked at him with wide eyes “Oh Merlin. I forgot about him. I’m a horrible person.”
“No… you’re not. You are a wonderful person” Harry reassured him. “It’s been hard for you too. Anyway, he is now my responsibility, I’ll have to talk with Andromeda sometimes soon. Does- Does she know what happened?”
Charlie nodded “I’m sure she was informed. You don’t have to rush; she can take care of him at the moment. Now you have to get better. Eat something”
Harry hadn’t even realised that the house-elves had brought food. There was some soup and garlic bread, as well as pumpkin juice for them both.
They ate slowly and in companionable silence for a while.
“What happened while I was sleeping?” Harry finally broke the silence.
“The first place that was repaired was the Hospital Wing. All the wounded were sent to St. Mungo’s and the Hospital Wing, depending on the gravity. The deceased were put under stasis spells and brought to St. Mungo’s, they are still deciding how to organize the f-funerals.”
Charlie paused for a moment, looking away for a moment, then he continued.
“V-Voldemort’s body was destroyed yesterday by the Unspeakables. They wanted to wait for you to wake up, but having him there was unsettling for everyone, so Ron and Hermione gave the okay in your stead.”
Harry nodded, trying to take all the information in.
“The castle is pretty damaged, but it’s nothing that magic can’t repair, it might take all summer to finish, but by September it will be open again for everyone. McGonagall – she became Headmistress by the way – is going to organize turns of volunteers to help with the reparations.”
“I’m happy she became Headmistress. Is everyone still here?”
“Only the injured, the professors and a few students remained. By today all the students should return home.”
Home. Where was even his home? Privet Drive? Grimmauld Place?
Harry grimaced at the thought. Though Sirius’ childhood home was a nice hiding place, he wouldn’t call it ‘Home’. Hogwarts was the only home he ever knew.
“Don’t”
Startled, Harry looked up.
“Don’t finish that thought.” Charlie continued “You’re coming home with me”.
“Charlie-”
He was interrupted by a kiss.
“You’re coming home with me. It’s not up for consideration. Harry, you need to rest and be with your family, and that is with us, with me.”
Harry held his forehead against Charlie’s shoulder and nodded, no more words needed between them. He felt warm and grateful to have such a caring and thoughtful boyfriend(?), partner (?).
Oh well, there would be time to talk about relationship labels.
They had all the time in the world.