After the Epilogue Universe: Ginny and James Arc
Title: Healing
Author: Magick
Rating: PG-13
Albus hadn’t seen his mother in years. Not since the day she’d slapped him in the face and told him he was disgusting just like his father. At first Albus had missed her, she was his mother no matter how she treated him, but after a while she became an empty place in his heart that he ignored. He didn’t expect to see her in Flourish and Blotts the day he was shopping for Scorpius’ birthday. He really didn’t expect her to drop everything she was holding and stare at him as if he were a ghost.
“Hullo mum.” Al tried to keep his voice light but there was an underlying tension he couldn’t hide.
Ginny stared at her middle son for a moment longer, then proceeded to push past him to leave. Al watched her go, his heart sinking into his stomach. A reckless urge to follow her rose up in him-his Gryffindor side as Scorp called it, and he turned to go after her. He caught up with her in the street and grabbed her arm to force her to face him. He was several inches taller than his mother and he felt a grim sort of satisfaction when she had to look up at him.
“I just want to ask you one question then you can go, mother. Do you truly hate me?” Al’s voice was low and he realized he was speaking like Scorpius.
Ginny’s hazel eyes flashed angrily and she ripped her arm free.
“You are not my son. I only have one child and his name is James Potter.” Then she strode away and Al did not follow her. Instead he closed his eyes tightly and apparated home.
***
Ginny slammed the door to her bathroom against the wall then broke the mirror on the medicine cabinet in her fury. With shaking hand she pulled a bottle of sleeping potion from shelf and downed the contents in one go. She hit the ground immediately after, the bottle shattering on the tile floor.
“Ginny, are you here?” Ron called, looking around the empty house. He saw the light in the bathroom and walked towards it. An ominous feeling settled in the pit of Ron’s stomach and he began to walk faster until finally he could see Ginny lying in the floor surrounded by broken glass.
“Fuck!” Ron swore, rushing to gather his little sister in his arms and apparating them to St. Mungos.
“My sister! I found her in the bathroom and I don’t know what she’s taken!” Ron cried, running towards the mediwitch in charge.
The woman went into emergency mode instantly and conjured a stretcher and began running diagnostic spells. By the time they had Ginny in a room they had already administered an antidote to stop the effects of her overdose.
“Do you know if this was an accidental overdose?” The mediwitch asked Ron.
Ron looked taken aback for a moment then sighed. He knew Ginny was having a lot of trouble with James moving out and being alone. He wanted to blame Harry for his sister’s insanity but he knew that it was not the other mans fault. Ginny needed help.
“It was probably on purpose. She’s had a bit of an empty nest problem.”
“And she’s the divorcée of Harry Potter, correct? If my memory serves me she did not take that well either.” She said kindly.
“No, she actually didn’t take the marriage well either. She had always had a temper but it just seemed that as she got older she got worse. I refused to see if for a long time but then I saw how afraid the kids were. She hit Albus and I don’t know what else.” Ron ran a shaky hand through his red hair, unearthing several stripes of grey.
“I think your sister needs counseling but I know for a fact she will not go on her own. I need you to bring her here every week to talk to our specialist. If we were in the muggle world we’d be able to commit her and put her on suicide watch but that’s not how things work here.” She smiled softly at him and Ron felt a little better.
“I’ll bring her back.” Ron jolted when the mirror in his pocket vibrated. He pulled it out and frowned apologetically.
“Yeah Harry?”
“Have you seen Ginny? Al is here and he won’t stop crying and he keeps saying something about her.” Harry asked frantically.
“Yeah. They must have run into each other somewhere because Ginny is at St. Mungo’s because she overdosed on some sleeping potion.”
Ron watched as the color drained from Harry’s face and for a moment he was sure his friend was going to faint. Harry shook himself then returned Ron’s gaze.
“I’m so sorry mate, this all feels like it’s my fault.”
“It’s not. Ginny is going to get help. Who knows, maybe after some therapy she might even see the kids again.” Ron tried to sound optimistic but it sounded flat in both their ears.
“Will you call James for me?” Harry’s voice sounded very small and defeated.
“You know I will. I’ll be over later with Hermione.” Ron promised before repocketing the mirror.
“We can keep her tonight if you need time to sort this all out.” The mediwitch offered kindly.
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea. Thank you.” Ron smiled and began walking towards the door.
“What’s you name?” He stopped and turned back to her.
“I’m surprised you don’t recognize me, I’m told that I look a lot like my mother. I’m Starla, Starla Lovegood.”
Ron cocked his head and stared at her for a moment and realized that yes, she did just like Luna.
“You’re just missing the turnip earrings.” He laughed.
“I wear those on my off days. They don’t help with the whole serious doctor thing.”
***
“James, open up, it’s Ron.” Ron called, pounding on James’ apartment door.
James opened the door in just his pajamas pants with a cup of hot coffee in his hand.
“It’s 3 in the afternoon, what are you doing in your pj’s?”
“I skipped Auror training today.” James answered, collapsing onto the couch.
“Ok, we’re going to have to talk about that later. You mum is very sick and -“
“Mum’s what?!” James asked, jumping up from the couch.
“She tried to kill herself. She took too much sleeping potion. James, I know you’ve always taken her side and thought she was right but she wasn’t. She’s sick mentally.”
“Are you calling my mother crazy?!”
“No, I’m saying she needs help. I think you do too mate. You father is a good man and you should talk to him, but instead you let her poison you against him. I’m going to see him tonight and you’re coming with me, even if I have to bloody imperio you right now.”
“You’re not taking me to see that bastard! Fuck him and his bloody boyfriend! He ruined my family; he turned Albus into a fucking poof just like him. He even made Lily leave us! I hate him!” James shouted, over turning the coffee table.
“How much of that do you actually believe? Lily remembers the fighting; she remembers how unhappy your father was. How does she remember that but you don’t? You are a smart kid, you’re better than all of this. I’m going to your fathers at 6’oclock. If you change your mind just come over before then.” Ron said, standing and walking towards the door. “If you go to Saint Mungos ask for Mediwitch Lovegood. She can talk to you about your mum.”
***
“Ron, he’s not coming. Come on, we have to get to Harry’s.” Hermione said softly, pulling her husband towards the floo.
Frantic knocking shook their front door and Ron breathed a sigh of relief as he ran to open the door. James was standing there, his hair still wet from his shower. He’d obviously tried to dress nicely but hadn’t been sure of what to wear. His outfit was a mixture of casual and traditional wear that only served to make Ron love him more.
“Thank God you’re here mate. Come on then, we’re going to be late.” Ron said, shoving James into the floo with him before the boy could change his mind.
All the grates glowed rapidly in front of them until they were spat out in the Malfoy’s sitting room. Instead of being greeted by either Draco or Harry, Severus Snape strode forward to jerk Ron out of the floo. He sized up James, looking him over with narrowed eyes.
“This is Albus’ older brother, correct?” He said sharply.
Ron agreed while James nodded nervously. Suddenly he found himself pinned to the wall by his throat with six foot of angry potions master looming over him.
“If you hurt either Harry or Albus while you are in this house you will not live long enough to regret it. I can kill you so swiftly you won’t even know what’s happening as you hit the ground. Do you understand me?” Severus growled.
“Severus! Stop!” Hermione cried, her voice an urgent whisper.
Snape let go of James and stepped back to greet Hermione and their children. Once sure everyone was there he lead them to the dining room, his attention still focused on James. Once they entered pandemonium broke out. Harry took one look at his son and began crying, then began trying to both come closer and stay away from him at the same time. Lily wrapped her arms around Al while Scorpius stepped in front of them in protection.
Ron stepped forward and took hold of Harrys arm and led him gently over to his son. James looked just as terrified as his father but he did not move. He waited until Harry was level with him before opening his mouth to speak. Nothing came out at first and he took a deep breath to try again.
“I-I’m sor-ry.” He gasped before collapsing against his father, his body shaking violently with sobs.
Harry’s arms wrapped around James and held him tightly, weathering the storm that was building in them. He could feel every emotion he ever felt for the boy. He remembered the first time he held him. He could still feel the way his tiny body had curled in his arms and the pride he’d felt when he named the infant James. He remembered when James’ eyes stopped being warm and instead began to look at him the same way Ginny did. He remembered the horror he felt when he realized the wand Ginny was trying to kill him with was his son’s. But mostly he remembered that he was his son and that he loved him just as much as he loved Albus and Lily. Harry looked up from his oldest child to catch the eye of his first and oldest friend.
“Thank you.” He mouthed and smiled.
***
“Our children are all piled in our bed, you know.” Draco sighed, wrapping his arms tightly around his lover.
“They had a very traumatic day. They’re healing.” Harry answered.
“Yes, but why are they doing their healing in our bed?” Severus asked, his arm coming to rest around both of them.
“Because it’s big enough to fit them all.” Harry chuckled, opening the door to gaze at the bed.
There was a giant tangle of limbs in the middle of the mattress. In the middle you could make out Albus and Scorpius wrapped together, their poses obviously intimate. Lily was curled up beside Albus, their fingers interlaced even in their sleep. The added body on the bed was what made it all compete. In the years Harry and Draco had been together they’d seen their three children sleep together like a pile of puppies but there’d never been an extra head of auburn hair or spattering or freckles. James was on Lily’s other side, his arm thrown across her shoulder.
“There are four teenagers in our bed.”
“There are. Take a picture Draco. I want to remember this.”
Draco grinned and grabbed the camera off the dresser. He knew that Harry would never forget this moment but he took the picture anyway.
“Let’s go sleep in your bed Sev. I think I feel the need for healing as well.” Harry sighed, nuzzling closer to the older man.
“Insatiable, that’s what you are.” Draco muttered, shaking his head as he shut the door.
As the door shut all the kids smiled softly in their sleep and curled closer toget
Author: Magick
Rating: PG-13
Albus hadn’t seen his mother in years. Not since the day she’d slapped him in the face and told him he was disgusting just like his father. At first Albus had missed her, she was his mother no matter how she treated him, but after a while she became an empty place in his heart that he ignored. He didn’t expect to see her in Flourish and Blotts the day he was shopping for Scorpius’ birthday. He really didn’t expect her to drop everything she was holding and stare at him as if he were a ghost.
“Hullo mum.” Al tried to keep his voice light but there was an underlying tension he couldn’t hide.
Ginny stared at her middle son for a moment longer, then proceeded to push past him to leave. Al watched her go, his heart sinking into his stomach. A reckless urge to follow her rose up in him-his Gryffindor side as Scorp called it, and he turned to go after her. He caught up with her in the street and grabbed her arm to force her to face him. He was several inches taller than his mother and he felt a grim sort of satisfaction when she had to look up at him.
“I just want to ask you one question then you can go, mother. Do you truly hate me?” Al’s voice was low and he realized he was speaking like Scorpius.
Ginny’s hazel eyes flashed angrily and she ripped her arm free.
“You are not my son. I only have one child and his name is James Potter.” Then she strode away and Al did not follow her. Instead he closed his eyes tightly and apparated home.
***
Ginny slammed the door to her bathroom against the wall then broke the mirror on the medicine cabinet in her fury. With shaking hand she pulled a bottle of sleeping potion from shelf and downed the contents in one go. She hit the ground immediately after, the bottle shattering on the tile floor.
“Ginny, are you here?” Ron called, looking around the empty house. He saw the light in the bathroom and walked towards it. An ominous feeling settled in the pit of Ron’s stomach and he began to walk faster until finally he could see Ginny lying in the floor surrounded by broken glass.
“Fuck!” Ron swore, rushing to gather his little sister in his arms and apparating them to St. Mungos.
“My sister! I found her in the bathroom and I don’t know what she’s taken!” Ron cried, running towards the mediwitch in charge.
The woman went into emergency mode instantly and conjured a stretcher and began running diagnostic spells. By the time they had Ginny in a room they had already administered an antidote to stop the effects of her overdose.
“Do you know if this was an accidental overdose?” The mediwitch asked Ron.
Ron looked taken aback for a moment then sighed. He knew Ginny was having a lot of trouble with James moving out and being alone. He wanted to blame Harry for his sister’s insanity but he knew that it was not the other mans fault. Ginny needed help.
“It was probably on purpose. She’s had a bit of an empty nest problem.”
“And she’s the divorcée of Harry Potter, correct? If my memory serves me she did not take that well either.” She said kindly.
“No, she actually didn’t take the marriage well either. She had always had a temper but it just seemed that as she got older she got worse. I refused to see if for a long time but then I saw how afraid the kids were. She hit Albus and I don’t know what else.” Ron ran a shaky hand through his red hair, unearthing several stripes of grey.
“I think your sister needs counseling but I know for a fact she will not go on her own. I need you to bring her here every week to talk to our specialist. If we were in the muggle world we’d be able to commit her and put her on suicide watch but that’s not how things work here.” She smiled softly at him and Ron felt a little better.
“I’ll bring her back.” Ron jolted when the mirror in his pocket vibrated. He pulled it out and frowned apologetically.
“Yeah Harry?”
“Have you seen Ginny? Al is here and he won’t stop crying and he keeps saying something about her.” Harry asked frantically.
“Yeah. They must have run into each other somewhere because Ginny is at St. Mungo’s because she overdosed on some sleeping potion.”
Ron watched as the color drained from Harry’s face and for a moment he was sure his friend was going to faint. Harry shook himself then returned Ron’s gaze.
“I’m so sorry mate, this all feels like it’s my fault.”
“It’s not. Ginny is going to get help. Who knows, maybe after some therapy she might even see the kids again.” Ron tried to sound optimistic but it sounded flat in both their ears.
“Will you call James for me?” Harry’s voice sounded very small and defeated.
“You know I will. I’ll be over later with Hermione.” Ron promised before repocketing the mirror.
“We can keep her tonight if you need time to sort this all out.” The mediwitch offered kindly.
“Yeah, I think that’s a good idea. Thank you.” Ron smiled and began walking towards the door.
“What’s you name?” He stopped and turned back to her.
“I’m surprised you don’t recognize me, I’m told that I look a lot like my mother. I’m Starla, Starla Lovegood.”
Ron cocked his head and stared at her for a moment and realized that yes, she did just like Luna.
“You’re just missing the turnip earrings.” He laughed.
“I wear those on my off days. They don’t help with the whole serious doctor thing.”
***
“James, open up, it’s Ron.” Ron called, pounding on James’ apartment door.
James opened the door in just his pajamas pants with a cup of hot coffee in his hand.
“It’s 3 in the afternoon, what are you doing in your pj’s?”
“I skipped Auror training today.” James answered, collapsing onto the couch.
“Ok, we’re going to have to talk about that later. You mum is very sick and -“
“Mum’s what?!” James asked, jumping up from the couch.
“She tried to kill herself. She took too much sleeping potion. James, I know you’ve always taken her side and thought she was right but she wasn’t. She’s sick mentally.”
“Are you calling my mother crazy?!”
“No, I’m saying she needs help. I think you do too mate. You father is a good man and you should talk to him, but instead you let her poison you against him. I’m going to see him tonight and you’re coming with me, even if I have to bloody imperio you right now.”
“You’re not taking me to see that bastard! Fuck him and his bloody boyfriend! He ruined my family; he turned Albus into a fucking poof just like him. He even made Lily leave us! I hate him!” James shouted, over turning the coffee table.
“How much of that do you actually believe? Lily remembers the fighting; she remembers how unhappy your father was. How does she remember that but you don’t? You are a smart kid, you’re better than all of this. I’m going to your fathers at 6’oclock. If you change your mind just come over before then.” Ron said, standing and walking towards the door. “If you go to Saint Mungos ask for Mediwitch Lovegood. She can talk to you about your mum.”
***
“Ron, he’s not coming. Come on, we have to get to Harry’s.” Hermione said softly, pulling her husband towards the floo.
Frantic knocking shook their front door and Ron breathed a sigh of relief as he ran to open the door. James was standing there, his hair still wet from his shower. He’d obviously tried to dress nicely but hadn’t been sure of what to wear. His outfit was a mixture of casual and traditional wear that only served to make Ron love him more.
“Thank God you’re here mate. Come on then, we’re going to be late.” Ron said, shoving James into the floo with him before the boy could change his mind.
All the grates glowed rapidly in front of them until they were spat out in the Malfoy’s sitting room. Instead of being greeted by either Draco or Harry, Severus Snape strode forward to jerk Ron out of the floo. He sized up James, looking him over with narrowed eyes.
“This is Albus’ older brother, correct?” He said sharply.
Ron agreed while James nodded nervously. Suddenly he found himself pinned to the wall by his throat with six foot of angry potions master looming over him.
“If you hurt either Harry or Albus while you are in this house you will not live long enough to regret it. I can kill you so swiftly you won’t even know what’s happening as you hit the ground. Do you understand me?” Severus growled.
“Severus! Stop!” Hermione cried, her voice an urgent whisper.
Snape let go of James and stepped back to greet Hermione and their children. Once sure everyone was there he lead them to the dining room, his attention still focused on James. Once they entered pandemonium broke out. Harry took one look at his son and began crying, then began trying to both come closer and stay away from him at the same time. Lily wrapped her arms around Al while Scorpius stepped in front of them in protection.
Ron stepped forward and took hold of Harrys arm and led him gently over to his son. James looked just as terrified as his father but he did not move. He waited until Harry was level with him before opening his mouth to speak. Nothing came out at first and he took a deep breath to try again.
“I-I’m sor-ry.” He gasped before collapsing against his father, his body shaking violently with sobs.
Harry’s arms wrapped around James and held him tightly, weathering the storm that was building in them. He could feel every emotion he ever felt for the boy. He remembered the first time he held him. He could still feel the way his tiny body had curled in his arms and the pride he’d felt when he named the infant James. He remembered when James’ eyes stopped being warm and instead began to look at him the same way Ginny did. He remembered the horror he felt when he realized the wand Ginny was trying to kill him with was his son’s. But mostly he remembered that he was his son and that he loved him just as much as he loved Albus and Lily. Harry looked up from his oldest child to catch the eye of his first and oldest friend.
“Thank you.” He mouthed and smiled.
***
“Our children are all piled in our bed, you know.” Draco sighed, wrapping his arms tightly around his lover.
“They had a very traumatic day. They’re healing.” Harry answered.
“Yes, but why are they doing their healing in our bed?” Severus asked, his arm coming to rest around both of them.
“Because it’s big enough to fit them all.” Harry chuckled, opening the door to gaze at the bed.
There was a giant tangle of limbs in the middle of the mattress. In the middle you could make out Albus and Scorpius wrapped together, their poses obviously intimate. Lily was curled up beside Albus, their fingers interlaced even in their sleep. The added body on the bed was what made it all compete. In the years Harry and Draco had been together they’d seen their three children sleep together like a pile of puppies but there’d never been an extra head of auburn hair or spattering or freckles. James was on Lily’s other side, his arm thrown across her shoulder.
“There are four teenagers in our bed.”
“There are. Take a picture Draco. I want to remember this.”
Draco grinned and grabbed the camera off the dresser. He knew that Harry would never forget this moment but he took the picture anyway.
“Let’s go sleep in your bed Sev. I think I feel the need for healing as well.” Harry sighed, nuzzling closer to the older man.
“Insatiable, that’s what you are.” Draco muttered, shaking his head as he shut the door.
As the door shut all the kids smiled softly in their sleep and curled closer toget