Phoenix\'s and Fate

 

Phoenix’s and Fate

 

A Chance to Start Over

 

Harry’s mouth fell open in surprise as the door opened before him to reveal Draco Malfoy of all people. He stared at him for a moment, watching as he crossed his arms and stared back, obviously waiting for an answer. He quickly cleared his throat, taking in Draco’s laid back appearance with a curious look. He was unaccustomed to seeing Draco in anything other than his usual ‘uptight’ wizard apparel, let alone not seeing him in his school robes. Instead he was wearing denims of all things, and a white undershirt with a green plaid top. He had to admit that he certainly looked different than the last time that he’d seen him at the Ministry.

 

“Well Draco, I was coming over to meet my new neighbour… I never thought you’d be the one to open the door though…” He said while placing his thumbs in his pockets and staring back at Draco, still unable to process the fact that his new neighbour was Draco of all people.

 

After making the difficult decision to leave the UK, he hadn’t been expecting to run into anyone from his childhood, let alone the man that had gone from being his rival, to well… He wasn’t quite sure what Draco was to him now, apart from being his neighbour.

 

Draco raised an eyebrow to his answer before scoffing, “Neighbour? Why the hell would you move out here? Better yet, where are your usual tag alongs?” He asked, peering behind Harry, fully expecting to see the weasel staring back at him with that same dumb look, while Grainer looked back at him with a haughty look of her own.

 

Harry sighed to these questions, bringing up a hand to run through his hair as he said, “Yeah, those are both long stories. To put it simply, I decided to get away, to start over where there was less of a chance for people to know my name.” He looked away from Draco as he said this, not wanting to explain just how long the past two years had been.

 

~~~~~

 

Things had been different enough after he and Draco had last crossed paths. He hadn’t even been sure of exactly why he’d treated Draco the way that he had, all he’d known was that he was tired of fighting. He’d spent so much of his life dealing with Voldemort and his various attempts on his life. The last thing he wanted was to continue spending his life fighting a pointless feud against someone that he didn’t even hate. In fact, after sitting through the court sessions, he’d only been enlightened to how much he and Draco shared in common, whether it was their lost youth and innocence, or their suffering at the hands of Voldemort. So, he’d had no qualms with treating Draco as he would one of his own friends, and as for offering him his hand… He’d meant that as a way for the two of them to start over, and perhaps to see if they could manage a friendship.

 

But then everything had changed. Ginny had called him away, and he’d been swept up by the press and the rising flurry of witches and wizards who wanted to praise and worship him for bringing Voldemort to an end. When he wasn’t being hounded by the press or being stared at by every member of the wizarding community… He was dealing with his broken group of friends that were left over after the war. 

 

Hermione was shaken by the deaths, but even more she was shaken by the unexpected deaths of her parents. While beginning their ‘new’ lives in Australia they had been attacked by simple muggles, being mugged and killed for nothing more than the money in their pockets. It had taken them three months to find out what had happened… and she remained beside herself in grief for many months.

 

Ron wasn’t much better off, he and his entire family were completely wrecked by the loss of Fred. Though none as much as George, it was Ron though that ended up becoming close to George, and the two of them often spent their time mourning together, or tending to the store. Likewise, Percy left his job at the Ministry to remain at home with Molly, often helping her around the house with the various tasks. All was not sorrowful though, joyous news was soon brought about as Fleur and Bill announced her pregnancy with their daughter Victoire. The news of a new coming addition to the family slowly brought about the family. 

 

And as for Ginny, well she remained as strong spirited after the battle as she had been before. She spent a great deal of her time with Harry, attempting to salvage a relationship in the aftermath of the war..

 

But too much had changed for Harry. He spent much of his time thinking, dwelling on the losses that had trailed him his entire life… and the man that had brought about all the suffering. There was also the fact that he had a young child in his life now, Teddy was a constant presence in his life, and one that was greatly welcomed. He often spent his time with Teddy and Andromeda, and cleaning up Grimmuald place so that it might become livable. 

 

He tried to be there for Ginny, but after all that had transpired in the final year before Voldemort’s defeat… He found himself unable to be there the way she needed him to be. Too much had happened, and while she was still the woman that he’d fallen for, he was no longer the man that she had. All that he had survived had finally caught up with him, the losses of his parents, and his father’s friends. Cedric’s death, Dumbledore’s death, and the deaths of all those that died fighting for Harry in the final year: Moody, Tonks, Fred, Lavender, Colin Creevy, Hedwig, Dobby, and of course there were many more. But the one that affected him the most was Severus, after knowing all that he’d gone through, all that he’d suffered through, only to watch him die. He’d taken Severus and his actions to heart, seeing what he’d done and realizing that he was a good man, and in many ways, a better man than his own father. So, instead of allowing the deaths to wear on him, and to break him down, he honoured the sacrifices they made. He chose to honour them, and to live out his life never forgetting any of them.

 

He also took a good long look at his relationship with Ginny, and was saddened to realize that the feelings he’d once had were no longer there. He had changed too much, lived through too much, and he recognized that he would never be able to truly commit to a relationship with her. She had such potential to make someone truly happy, someone that wasn’t emotionally wounded, and changed, from the war. Someone that could love her completely and treat her as she truly deserved. So, he talked to her, explained all that was going through his mind, and broke off his relationship with her.

 

She’d reacted calmly, telling him that she understood, but that she also needed time away from him. She was obviously mad at him, since it had taken him nearly two years to finally come out and explain this to her. He understood this, just as he understood her brother’s reactions. Nearly all of them were upset, and it was Ron who was the angriest. He accused Harry of leading his sister on, and then claimed that he was being nothing more than a ‘bloody git’ for giving up on her.

 

 It was Hermione who was the most understanding. She was also the one that he opened up to about the fact that he’d been searching for a teaching position outside of the UK. He not only wanted to get away from the unwanted fame that surrounded his name, but he also wanted to raise Teddy somewhere where he wouldn’t have to fear of people judging him for his lineage. To make matters even more trying, Andromeda had grown ill after the imprisonment of her sister, and the loss of her only child. A year and a half after the war had ended she finally gave into the illness and passed in her sleep, leaving Harry as the sole caretaker to young Teddy. Which had only fueled Harry’s urge to get away from London and raise his god-son in a quieter environment, at least until he was old enough to attend Hogwarts.

 

Hermione had been the one to help him with the paperwork for moving, and for having 12 Grimmuald Place watched over. He knew he could never sell the house, so instead he had it put in place that Hermione was also a lease holder. He ended up leaving the UK with only Hermione knowing where he was going, and with a firm promise from her that she would never sell the house. So that when he decided to come back with Teddy, they would both have a place to call home.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

So, he’d moved to Summerside, coming to fill in the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for the students at a small wizarding school. He’d gotten a nice sized house, a single story that was just the right size for he and Teddy, oh and of course for Kreacher, the bitter old elf had grown to be much more polite in the past two years, and he was positively attached to Teddy. In fact as Harry had stepped out he was back at the house watching over Teddy as he played on a small toy broom. Harry rather enjoyed that he had both Kreacher and Teddy for company, he’d just never suspected that he’d see Draco again, and in Summerside of all places. 

 

He’d taken the weekend to move in, and after getting settled he’d decided to go out and meet his neighbours. There were still a few weeks before school started up, and he wanted to get to know the area and the people around him. There were only a handful of houses on his street, and they were all surrounded by a gracious amount of land…. In fact he was rather pleased with the area he’d moved to, the only problem seemed to be that he’d moved in during a heat wave.

 

It turned out though, that his closest neighbour was none other Draco, who was still giving him an unreadable look. He stared at him for a moment before scoffing, “Well Potter, I never thought that I’d find you as my neighbour either. When did you move in?”

 

Harry shrugged to this, smiling as he said, “Only yesterday. I’m going to be working at Gillians come the fall.”

 

Draco nodded to this, leaning casually against his door frame as he said, “Well then, welcome to the neighbourhood Potter.” He nearly opened up about being a teacher as well, but he wasn’t sure where they stood… and he was curious to see how Potter was going to react, if he would grow awkward, or if they would be able to carry an actual conversation.

 

He took a long look at Harry, not being quite sure how to react to his unexpected visitor, he was dressed nicely enough though. He’d chosen a grey undershirt and a dark blue over shirt. He still wore the same glasses that Draco remembered him donning since school, and he could just barely spy the faded scar beneath Harry’s long disheveled hair. As he took in Harry’s colour choice he couldn’t help but to think to himself, ‘He wouldn’t have made a bad Ravenclaw… if not for his lack of brilliance. Now Grainger on the other hand…’ 

 

Harry gave Draco a slightly shocked look as Draco said this, caught off guard by the sudden kindness, though he supposed he was too accustomed to the usual spats they had taken part in during their years at Hogwarts. “Thank you, Malfoy. How about you? How long have you been living here?”

 

Draco shrugged to this, “Just under two years now. I’ve been making my living as a potions maker for the local community. My profession aside, would you like to come in? Escape the heat and all? I have a cooling charm in place inside.” He said while offering a small smile, figuring he could be nice, while also wanting to escape the heat.

 

Harry chuckled as Draco explained that he was a potions maker, he couldn’t see a better job for his former rival. It was suiting since Draco had always been the one to trounce him in potions, not to mention the only one who had ever even come close to him had been Hermione. When he was invited in he thought about it for a moment before smiling as he said, “Sure, though I’ll need to go get-“

 

A sudden crash from down the street caused both men to turn around, watching as Teddy veered out Harry’s window, now broken. Harry reacted instantly, pulling his wand out from the back of his denims as he watched Kreacher apparate outside. He bolted down the road towards his godson, calling out his name as he cast a cushioning charm on the ground beneath him.

 

Draco was startled as Harry jumped into action, and he quickly took off after him, closing the door behind him as he pulled out his own wand, and repaired the broken window with a well-timed charm. He gave a small smile as he watched Harry catch the small boy in his arms, the small toy broom clattering to the ground without its rider. Draco stared at the boy before glancing back to Harry, watching in amusement as the boys hair went from short and brown to long and unruly, almost mimicking Harrys.

 

Harry meanwhile was kneeling on the ground, hugging Teddy close as he placed a few kisses to his temple. “Teddy what were you thinking?! You could have been hurt! You could have-“

 

“Master Potter! Kreacher apologizes! I only turned my gaze from young Master Lupin for but a moment and then he was off and flying! Kreacher will never let it happen again-“

 

“Kreacher? What are you doing here? And taking care of Potter of all people?” Draco said in disbelief, staring at the loyal house elf that had once belonged to his mother’s family. Not to mention, from what he remembered, Kreacher had been a nasty old house elf… and yet here he was apologizing steadily to Potter.

 

Both Harry and Kreacher looked over to Draco, and Teddy glanced up over Harry’s shoulder, his hair shortening and lightening to match Draco’s length and colour. Harry noticed this and smiled, standing up as he held Teddy close. He glanced down to Kreacher with a small sigh, “It’s alright Kreacher, just… don’t do it again.”

 

Kreacher nodded to this, bowing to Harry before looking to Draco as he said, “Master Black left everything to Master Potter after his unfortunate demise… I now loyally serve both Master Potter, and young Master Lupin. Kreacher is pleased to see another child of the Black line in Summerside though Master Malfoy.”

 

Harry smiled to this, watching as Draco gave them both a curious look, “Teddy here is the son of Remus Lupin and your cousin Nymphadora Tonks, after they died at the Battle of Hogwarts… he was left in my care as my god-son. I was also left the Black House at 12 Grimmuald Place after my god-father Siruis Black died, which is how I inherited Kreacher.”

 

Draco nodded to this in understanding as he stared at Teddy, giving him a long look, “Well then, it’s nice to know that I have family here…” He stored away the boys lineage in his mind though, thinking back to Professor Lupin, the man that his god-father Severus had pointed out to be a werewolf. Then of course there was the mention of his estranged cousin who was a morphmagus… which explained her son’s changing appearance. What surprised him most of all though was hearing who Harry’s god-father was, the famed murderer, Sirius Black.

 

Harry nodded to this as he said, “So, how about you come over Malfoy? I’m sure Teddy would like to get to know his cousin.” Teddy nodded to this, smiling to Draco as his hair suddenly took on a bright turquoise hue.

 

Draco thought about this before smirking, “Alright, but only if you tell me why you chose Summerside of all locations, and how you managed to convince Weasley and Grainger not to trail after you.”

 

Harry sighed to this before turning towards his house and nodding towards Draco, “Alright, don’t expect some grand story though, there isn’t much to tell.”

 

Draco smirked to this, following after Harry as he thought, ‘Now isn’t this an interesting turn of events. Who would have thought that I would be willingly following Harry Potter into his house, invited as a guest, and not a prisoner?’

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The cloaked figure rolled his shoulders as he stared at the collection of graves that littered the forgotten graveyard. Many of them were still new, their occupants having only been lying to rest for a little over two years now. An unmarked tombstone lay at the centre of the area, their former leader lying broken and permanently defeated. The sudden ruffling of cloaks caused the man to turn and watch as others entered the area. Like he, many of them wore faded black cloaks, while others had ornate masks resting on their faces. He looked over the group, frowning at the meager collection of what had once been a grand army. He cast a glance towards a witch at his side, watching as she gave it a forlorn glance.

 

“We have been looking into dark arts from Romania and Transylvania, there has been mentions of Necromancy…”

 

He scoffed to this, crossing his arms as he said, “There would need to be a soul for that you fool. His soul was destroyed by that miserable wretch that those fools hail as a hero. We are not to look back on the leaders of old, instead we must focus on our goals. To deal with the Blood Traitors and those responsible for the Dark Lord’s defeat.”

 

She nodded to this, bowing slightly to him, “Well then, what is our first order of business?”

 

A smirk appeared on his face as he said, “I do believe we should take a journey to Romania, to send a message to the members of the Order, about how everything isn’t as… peaceful as they anticipated.”

 

He paused as he caught sight of one of the more recognizable cloaked figures stepped forward, “And what of the cowardly deserter?”

 

His eyes narrowed as he heard this, a snarl coming upon his face as he seethed out, “He will be hunted down in time… but for now? For now we let him believe that all is well… he shall know what happens to traitors soon enough.”

 

So, there we have it, contact, conversation, and an adorable kid tossed in the mix, oh, and some mysterious villains to spice things up : ) Oh, and I realize that Draco might be seen as OoC, but you’ll find out why he’s less of a snarky ass soon enough.