'The Wedding'

A/N: Okay peoples here is the 22nd chappie. I do apologise for taking so long to update it but it being one of the last chapters I felt it needed a tad more thought than it's predecessors. It is half the length of the chapters I usually upload but lengthening it would've served no purpose at all. Trust me it's a small but significant link in the chain and an installment I had quite a bit of fun writing.

*******************************************************************

Harry woke up and felt so refreshed he didn’t immediately open his eyes. A warm jasmine scented breeze danced over his face and he stretched like a cat in the sun before slowly opening his eyes.

He put on his glasses and almost fell out of bed in shock.

Harry was in a room he didn’t recognize, a room that was decorated with Gryffindor colours. He was in a single four poster bed exactly like the one he had slept in during his years at Hogwarts and his trunk rested at the foot of it. The more he looked around the more he realised the room he was in was exactly like his old dorm at Hogwarts with only one bed in it.

‘Where the fuck am I?’ He said to the air.

A knock came at the door distracting Harry from his inspection of the room.

‘Harry come on mate get up’ Came an awfully familiar voice.

The door opened and in walked Remus Lupin looking exactly the same as he had before the final battle.

‘FUCK!’ Harry bellowed scrambling off his bed with his wand and tripping over his school trunk with a crash ‘Who the hell are you?’

‘That Harry I would’ve thought that was obvious’ Lupin said dryly.

Harry drew his wand and pointed it with a shaking hand at his former professor.
‘But you’re dead!’ He said ‘What the hell are you doing here? Are you a ghost?’

‘No Harry I’m not a ghost you’re dreaming’ Lupin said leaning on the frame of the door ‘Ghosts are apparitions of people who died leaving unfinished business in the mortal world. I died having done what I wanted and had to do’

‘This is bullshit I’m about to get married for fucks sake!’ Harry said tremulously red sparks coming out from the end of his wand ‘I’m nervous enough as it is’

‘I know that Harry I felt the same when I married Tonks’ Lupin said ‘We were called to you by your subconscious. You’re about to start a life and family of your own and we thought we’d come to you on the day you take that next step’

‘Who the hell’s ‘we’?’ Harry asked. ‘Tell me’

‘I’ll tell you downstairs’ Harry said ‘Come on’

‘No tell me now or I’ll hex you to the second hereafter!’ Harry threatened.

Lupin laughed.
‘Harry I’m already in the second hereafter’ He said ‘I..’

'BOMBARDA!'

A silver flash shot out of Harry’s wand and hit his wardrobe causing it to explode in a cloud of splinters and ripped clothes. Lupin stood against the door jamb quite undisturbed while footsteps thundered down the hall outside the bedroom and Sirius Black made an appearance.

‘Oh fucking hell this is just great!’ Harry said sarcastically spinning on the spot ‘Who’s next? Dumbledore?’

And at those words Albus Dumbledore faded into vision repairing Harry’s destroyed wardrobe with a flick from his wand.

‘Good morning Harry!’ He said brightly ‘I believe congratulations are in order. I’ve been told you are to marry Miss Weasley today’

‘Ohmanohmanohmanohmanohmanoohhmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan! This is NOT real!’ Harry chanted stalking to the other end of his bedroom keen to put as much distance between himself and the forms of his godfather, friend and former headmaster as possible ‘This is not the sort of head fuck one needs on their wedding day what the HELL are you three doing here?’

‘As Remus told you, you called us to you’ Dumbledore said sitting on an old rickety chair by a dressing table at the end of Harry’s bed.

‘No I didn’t’ Harry said his wand now trained on three people he had been closest to during their lives, still unsure of what was happening.

‘Not consciously’ Dumbledore said ‘Your subconscious did. It’s a particularly interesting thing you did. It was the deepest desire of your heart to have the people you were closest to in their lives visit you. It’s not something one can do on purpose’

‘R-r-really?’ Harry said loosening his grip on his wand but not lowering it ‘You three are really scaring the shit out of me you know. I wake up and see three dead people in my room. You tell me what the hell you’d do?’

‘We’d hex a wardrobe to kindling’ Sirius said with a great snort.

Harry didn’t laugh.

‘You three look awfully solid’ He said.

‘That’s part of the magic of us being here’ Sirius said lazily twirling his wand in his fingers ‘We’re as solid as you want us to be. If you wanted us to be a ghost we would if you wanted us to float along we would’

‘We’re as real as your subconscious wants us to be’ Lupin said.

‘That’s a head fuck’ Harry said.

‘Come on downstairs there’s four more people down there who want to see you’ Lupin said kindly ‘We haven’t got very long with you and we all want to make the most of the moment’

‘Can you hex me?’ Harry asked feeling rather stupid.

‘Not unless you want us to’ Dumbledore said his blue eyes twinkling as they has in life ‘If you wanted to hex us we could. But your mortal body wouldn’t suffer any damage’

‘Oh that’s a real comfort’ Harry said sarcastically.

Sirius snorted loudly.

Keeping a safe distance from his godfather, friend and old headmaster Harry left his bedroom and made his way out into the hallway which looked nothing like the Manor in real life did.

‘What the hell’s happened with this place?’ He said to no one in particular.

‘The Manor has taken the appearance of your parents old house when they lived in Godric’s Hollow’ Sirius said ‘I have to say you’ve really poshed it up when you had it re-built. I thought we’d arrived in Malfoy Manor’

‘How the hell do you know what Malfoy Manor looks like?’

‘I don’t it just looked like what I’d imagine it to be except with Gryffindor colours’

‘So my subconscious wanted the Manor to look like this too?’ Harry asked Dumbledore as they went down a simple set of stairs ‘I don’t remember what the old house looks like’

‘Somewhere in the deep recesses of your mind you must’ Dumbledore said ‘Witches and wizards have very developed photographic memories. You may not remember in detail what the house looked like when you and your parents lived here but your subconscious does. It’s something I find most peculiar’

‘You’re not the only one’ Harry said sarcastically.

Sirius, Lupin and Dumbledore led Harry down the steps into the foyer which was smaller than in the modern day manor and led him along a short hallway and into the kitchen from which an alluring smell of bacon and eggs wafted.

If Harry had been truly awake he would’ve dropped in a dead faint. In front of him gathered around the old scrubbed wooden dining table drinking what appeared to be Firewhiskey was Fred Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks and a man and woman that couldn’t be anyone else but James and Lily Potter.

‘Oh no way’ Harry whispered grabbing hold of the door frame to steady himself ‘This is not fucking funny! No no no no no no no no no!’

‘Wotcher Harry!’ Tonks greeted him brightly ‘Firewhiskey?’

‘I-er-no-erm…oh fuck...Tonks?’ Harry said ‘But you’re dead!’

‘We all are Harry you big knob’ Fred said dryly.

‘Am I?’

‘No you’re not’ Lupin said going over to sit beside Tonks ‘As I said to you you’re upstairs in your bed sound asleep. We are your subconscious. And today as you’re about to start your own family we your friends and family have come to you to reassure you and you start off into the big wide world’

‘No offence Remus but you’re not doing a great job of reassuring me’ Harry said his right hand still firmly griping his wand ‘If this is my subconscious would Voldemort appear if I wanted him to?’

‘I suppose he would’ Lupin said thoughtfully rubbing the small amount of stubble on his chin ‘You don’t want him to do you?’

‘Of course not don't be a prat’

‘You can lower your wand dear’ Lily said getting out of her chair with the air and grace of a ballerina ‘We’re not going to hurt you’

Harry’s gaze switched to his mother who looked no older than she did on the day she’d died.
‘M-m-mum?’ He stammered looking the woman up and down and finally locking his eyes with hers ‘This really isn’t funny’

‘So you’ve said several times’ Lily said grinning exactly like Harry did.

Harry finally convinced he was not in danger lowered his wand and pocketed it. Lily came forward and engulfed her son in a crushing hug. Harry relaxed further and hugged her back.

‘This really is weird’ Harry said fervently ‘I mean you’re all dead’

‘No need to remind us Harry’ Fred said with a grin getting up and shaking his hand ‘How are ya?’

‘The answer to that question could go on for years’ Harry replied ‘God it’s good to see you all. I wish you could all be here in real life. Hell I’m about to get married Mum, Dad I wish you could meet Gin she’s lovely’

‘Sweetheart we’ve already met her’ Lily said running a hand over Harry’s bed tousled hair ‘And your father and I approve she’s your perfect match’

‘You’ve met Gin?’ Harry asked in surprise.

‘We haven’t been formally introduced but we’ve dropped in on her several times since you proposed to her’ James said getting up and joining Lily in front of Harry ‘She does rather look like your mother’

‘That’s what I thought’ Harry said his cheeks colouring up ‘I should’ve asked her to marry me years ago. I’ve loved her for so long I don’t know why it took me so long’

‘You weren’t ready’ Lily said ‘Marriage is not something you jump into straight away. In fact I’m proud of you for not rushing things. I think you’ll be together forever, she’s your soul mate sweetheart I know that deep inside’

‘I’ve loved her for so long I can’t remember a time when I didn’t’ Harry said softly ‘We’re like two peas in a pod’

‘And that’s why you’re going to be married forever and have loads of kids’ James said with a cheeky grin ‘You’re mother and I want you two to be together forever on the earth as opposed to the second hereafter like we are. There’s nothing more we’d like than to see you in the flesh together providing us with lots of grandchildren but I think Molly and Arthur the best parent substitute for you. They’re stepped in and been there for you when we couldn't be’

‘Yeah they’ve been really good to me’ Harry said quietly sliding into a nearby chair ‘All the Weasley’s have been’

‘Except on your stag night Harry’ Fred said with a hearty laugh ‘George told me about you being arrested by the muggle police’

Sirius, Dumbledore, Lupin, Tonks, James and Lily fell about laughing.

‘Bloody hell nothing’s sacred not even to those in the second hereafter is it?’ Harry said covering his face with his hands ‘Did you see what happened or did George just describe it?’

‘He just described it’ Fred said with a chuckle ‘In great detail mind you’

‘If I remember this when I wake up I’m going to hex that bastard’ Harry said in mock anger.

‘Stag nights don't change much as the years pass’ James said ‘Spending the whole stag night on a tiara and tutu then just a French maids apron red stilettos and a latex studded cap sounds a bit like what Sirius and Remus did to me on my stag night’

‘I bet you didn’t get arrested though’ Harry said ‘I spent two hours in the damn lock up!’

Sirius roared with laughter.
‘That sounds such a Marauder thing to do Harry’ He said.

‘I said that to Ron when we arrived back at the Ministry’ Harry said ‘Bastard I told him I would get him back tenfold on his stag night’

‘That’s even more of a Marauder attitude’ Lupin said ‘Would you go for the French maid’s apron for him too?’

‘Oh no something much more humiliating...maybe a fig leaf or a piece of opaque parchment’ Harry replied amused by the sudden mental picture that danced in front of his mind’s eye ‘Or maybe I’ll be a real bastard and make him go nude’

‘That is revenge on a Slytherin scale’ James said with a laugh.

‘Awww I dunno it was Arthur Weasley’s idea to get me arrested and he’s a Gryffindor down to his soul’ Harry said ‘Ron, Neville, Dean and Seamus pulled me into a dodgy alleyway and dressed me in the apron, stilettos and cap while the others kept watch. They even dyed my hair neon pink! And Malfoy thought I looked like someone who should be on the lead float of a gay pride parade at the start of the night. Everyone else got off lightly poncing about in their old school uniforms’

Sirius let out a great snorting laugh.

‘How long have you lot got?’ Harry asked after a moment of companiable silence.

‘As long as you need’ Lily said softly.

‘C-can I see you all one on one?’ Harry asked uncertainly.

‘If you like’ Lupin said.

‘I’ll go and see Ginny’ Fred said getting out of his seat.

‘Her subconscious is calling you too?’ Harry asked in surprise.

‘Yeah it is...I tell ya the magic of being on the other side is weird. I’ve been dead for seven years and I’m still getting used to it’

Fred faded and Harry walked out onto the back porch with Lupin.

‘Where the hell do I start?’ He said.

‘Try the beginning’ Lupin said with a grin as they sat at a small wrought iron outdoor setting.

‘How am I doing at the D.A.D.A job?’

‘From what I hear brilliantly’ Lupin said ‘You’ve got all your third years doing corporeal Patronuses that’s impressive Harry you’ve got the touch to teach. I hear what the students say about your classes every time they pass the portrait wall in the Entrance Hall. Do you feel it’s the job for you?’

‘Yeah I do’ Harry replied ‘It fits me like a glove’

‘I can see it in your face’ Lupin said.

There was a long silence.

‘Am I doing the right thing with Teddy?’ Harry asked eventually breaking the silence

‘I think you know the answer to that question Harry’ Lupin said kindly.

‘I know but sometimes I wonder’ Harry said ‘I’m not parenting expert I’m just trying to do the opposite of what happened when I grew up’

‘And in my opinion that’s the right thing to do’ Lupin said ‘Harry Ted is turning out exactly how Dora and I hoped he would under your care. He’s a happy well adjusted little kid. Him being around Ron and Hermione, the Weasley’s and Andromeda is the best environment for him’

‘I know I just often wonder particularly at night how he would’ve turned out had you and Tonks not died’ Harry said watching a blackbird fly down onto the lawn and start prising a worm out of the dirt.

‘You’ll never know that Harry but trust me when I say Dora and I approve wholeheartedly of how you’re raising him’ Lupin said ‘How’s he going along at school?’

‘Oh great’ Harry said his demeanour brightening considerably ‘He’s got loads of friends and is already turning into a chick magnet. He’s six years old for pete’s sake. I didn’t give a rats arse about girls til well into my years at Hogwarts’

‘Well you did have other things to occupy your mind’ Lupin replied in amusement ‘Quidditch, fighting the dark arts, quidditch, fighting the dark arts, qui…’

‘Yeah yeah I get it’ Harry said dryly ‘But I’m glad I wised up in the long run. Gin has been so good for me it’s hard to describe…for me anyway’

‘She gets you through the day’ Lupin volunteered ‘She’s the reason for everything you do. You’d die for her’

‘How’d you know?’

‘Because that’s the way I feel about Dora, the way I’ve always felt about her’ Lupin said ‘I was just too much of a thickhead to realise it sooner’

Harry laughed.
‘Who would have thought you a Marauder would be a thickhead?’ He chortled ‘Maybe your nickname ought to have been thickhead and not Moony’

Lupin rolled his eyes.
‘Ha ha’ He said ‘Veeeeery funny! You crack me up. You know all Marauders were a thickhead at some point in their lives. Especially your father when it came to your mother. They could’ve been together in their fourth or fifth year if your Dad didn’t have his head so far up his arse’

Harry snorted.
‘It was good seeing you Remus’ He said ‘I just wish it was in real life’

‘Yeah me too mate me too’ Lupin said clapping Harry on the shoulder ‘Who do you want to see next?’

‘Sirius’

Lupin got up and went back into the Manor and Sirius came out a moment later.

‘You look better dead than you did alive’ Harry joked.

‘Thanks mate I’ll take that as a compliment’ Sirius replied dryly sitting down and putting his feet on the other chair.

‘What’s it like being dead?’ Harry asked.

‘Do you really want to know?’

‘Of course I think most people would be curious about what it’s like being on the other side’ Harry said.

‘It’s peculiar’ Sirius said ‘All the best things in life are there. All my old friends that have passed. And the only relative I ever got along with Uncle Alphard is there. The best thing about being on the other side is being with your Mum and Dad, Moony, Tonks, Dumbledore and Fred’

‘Can I ask what’s the worst thing about being dead?’

‘Not being around to see you move on with your life. I’ve known of what you’ve done since I went through the veil but it would’ve been nice to be in the flesh to see you do it. I would’ve livened up your stag night’

‘Even more than it was?’ Harry exclaimed with a raised eyebrow ‘I can’t think of anything you could’ve done that would’ve livened it up any more than it was. In hindsight I’m convinced everyone that night was channelling your spirit’

Sirius laughed.
‘They didn’t they were creative on their own’ He said ‘Gryffindors are a creative and resourceful lot you may have noticed’

‘I could help but’ Harry said ‘Mind you there was a Ravenclaw and Slytherin along on the night too’

‘Well there you go Ravenclaws are studious people who make sure the Gryffindor plans go smoothly and Slytherins are there to liven things up unexpectantly'

‘Well there was a Slytherin that got me poncing about town in a tutu and tiara most of the night’ Harry said ‘That was embarrassing’

‘That’s half the point of a stag night to embarrass the crap out of the intended groom’ Sirius said lazily twirling his wand in his fingers ‘I got to do the same to your Dad’

‘Well if it’s any comfort there are a select group of people alive on earth that are carrying on the Marauder spirit’ Harry said with a grin ‘I suppose we’ll pass it onto our kids and they’ll pass it onto theirs. The Marauder Spirit will be alive and well for many years yet’

‘That's a comfort’ Sirius said ‘Your Dad would be proud’

‘I want to see him and Mum last’ Harry said suddenly.

‘Together?’

‘Dunno yet’

‘Who would you like to see next?’

‘Dumbledore’ Harry said.

‘I’ll go and get him’ Sirius said getting to his feet ‘Good luck for today Harry you and Ginny are a together forever pairing. You do your job ad make your parents’ grandparents on a Weasley scale won’t you?

Harry rolled his eyes as Sirius laughed at his own joke.

‘Ha ha bonk’

‘Pardon? Sirius asked stopping in his tracks.

‘It’s me laughing my head off’ Harry said with a chuckle.

‘You make shit jokes Harry’

‘Ah you’re just jealous’

Sirius went back into the house and shortly afterwards Dumbledore emerged his ocean blue eyes twinkling exactly as they had in life.

‘Harry Harry what a happy day!’ He declared clapping Harry on the back ‘You and Miss Weasley are as the saying goes perfect for each other’

‘Thanks Professor’ Harry replied ‘I don’t really understand my whole subconscious calling those closest to me to my dream I can see you anytime I like at your portrait in Minerva’s office’

‘I don’t totally understand it either Harry but I am glad to be here’ Dumbledore said removing his half moon glasses and wiping them on his deep purple robes ‘I’m sad I’m not able to be at the actual ceremony and the festivities that accompany it but I really don’t think I have to be. I’m content that finally you are happy. You don’t have the worry of fighting off a dark wizard anymore and are about to start your own family which I think is what you’ve always wanted isn’t it?’

‘Yeah it is’ Harry said ‘But I’ve started making amends with what family I have too. I’m getting to know Dudley again and Petunia is coming to the wedding and ceremony. She and Vernon divorced shortly after the war Dudley told me’

‘I have heard that on the grapevine’ Dumbledore replied nodding approvingly ‘It’s very mature of you to have reached out with an olive branch Harry. I know you didn’t have the most enjoyable childhood and few people would have done what you have’

‘Well I figured it was about time I tried to get along with them’ Harry said ‘I met up with Dudley quite unexpectedly and after that made a point of getting together with him to chat. I was thinking about seeking him out before then anyway’

Dumbledore nodded.
‘I see you’re making quite a success of the duelling club’ He said ‘Minerva always returns to her office from those sessions very enthused. It sounds quite a bit more organised than the farce Gilderoy put together’

‘Well I don’t want to seem a pompous prat but yeah it is’ Harry said ‘The seventh years are learning hexes only the Aurors generally use and I think Kingsley and Ron will get dozens of applications to join the Auror department at the end of next year. We’ll have an Auror department rivalling the Chinese and American Ministries within five years I reckon’

‘I’m very proud of you Harry’ Dumbledore said ‘You’ve grown to the be the man I hoped you to be. You’ve not let all the rubbish you encountered in your youth affect you and you’ve developed into man who’s got professional and personal goals I didn’t have at your age’

‘Thanks’ Harry mumbled ‘It’s so much easier to plans one’s life when you don’t have a homicidal megalomaniac constantly on your tail. I was never able to relax growing up and now I can and sometimes that’s really hard to come to deal with. Even now six years after the war I sometimes find myself on guard for no particular reason’

‘That’s totally understandable’ Dumbledore said ‘You only knew one way of life growing up particularly during your Hogwarts years and it’s hard to break out of that. I don’t think you’ll be on guard for the rest of the life but there’ll be some residual effects for the rest of your days’

‘Oh lovely just spiffing’

Dumbledore chuckled.
‘But your friends and family in particular Miss Weasley, Miss Granger and Mr Weasley will help you through those times when you are at you lowest. I urge you to accept their help when it’s offered Harry friends are life’s greatest treasures’

‘Yeah they are’ Harry said softly ‘Hey can you tell me one thing?’

‘If it is within my abilities then yes I will’ Dumbledore sad his brilliant blue eyes examining Harry’s emerald green ones inquiringly.

‘Is Ron ever going to get off his arse and ask Hermione to marry him? He said to me a few weeks ago he wanted to but he’s said nothing since’

Dumbledore laughed heartily.

‘I think he will’ He replied ‘And in a way that no one will expect him to, particularly Miss Granger. Those two are a pairing suited to each other just like you and Miss Weasley are. Oh yes they may argue and bicker like cats and dogs but as the saying goes opposites attract. I saw that from quite early on’

‘I would’ve said you were mental had you said that before they pashed on in the midst of the final battle’ Harry said with a laugh ‘Before that nothing was outwardly obvious to me anyway, but then I did have my hands full with other things’

‘I see what you mean but Mr Weasley has always harboured an attraction for Miss Granger and it wasn’t until that point that he felt comfortable showing his feelings’ Dumbledore said ‘I’m sure if you look back there are several situations where his attraction to Miss Granger was plainly obvious’

‘The Yule Ball!’ Harry exclaimed after a long silence ‘Ron was filthy that Hermione went with Viktor Krum!’

‘Exactly I think that’s where things started’

‘And Horace’s Christmas party when she went with Cormac McLaggen!’ Harry added.

‘Those are the two most obvious situations I’m pleased you remember them’ Dumbledore said happily ‘But rest assured Harry Mr Weasley will ask Miss Granger to marry him and they will be married for a long long long time’

Harry grinned.
‘I’m glad of that’ He said ‘Should I remember that when I wake up I think I’ll keep it to myself’

Dumbledore chuckled.
‘I think that is most wise’ He said.

‘Thanks for the chat Albus been comforting even though it’s not in real life’

‘No problem Harry I’m glad for the opportunity to come and visit’ Dumbledore replied getting to his feet and patting Harry on the shoulder ‘Who would you like to see next?’

‘Tonks’

Dumbledore returned inside and a moment later Tonks came out her hair the usual brilliant shade of pink.

‘You’re pink oven on the other side’ Harry said getting up and hugging Tonks fiercely.

‘Of course Harry no point in changing just because I’m dead’ Tonks said brightly returning the hug and sitting down eyeing him closely ‘So what do you want to talk about?’

‘Quidditch’ Harry said with a grin ‘United kicked the shit out of the Catapults yesterday’

Tonks laughed heartily.
‘So I hear' She said 'Fred said and you’ve been invited onto the National squad eh? Congratulations’

‘Thanks, the first game is the week after Gin and I get back from out honeymoon against Ireland at the Exmoor stadium’ Harry said with a grin ‘Can’t wait, but I’m not going to be as fit as the others on the team I’ll not have been on a broom for a month prior to that game’

‘I’m sure you can keep fit with loads of shagging’ Tonks said with a great snort ‘Sex has been proven to be beneficial in keeping up one’s fitness’

‘Being dead doesn’t dampen your sense of humour does it?’ Harry said to Tonks dryly.

Tonks grinned and changed her nose into a elephant’s trunk.

‘Remus told me you’re worried what we think of how you’re doing with Ted’ She said after returning her nose back to it’s normal appearance.

‘Yeah I am’ Harry admitted ‘He tried to reassure me but Ted is my first go at parenting Tonks and I’m still not entirely sure I’m doing the right thing’

‘Trust me Harry you are’ Tonks said ‘Ted has told us he loves you’

‘He has, when?’ Harry asked in surprise.

‘In his dreams see he calls Remus and I to him quite often generally around his birthday or Christmas. The last time was the day before and the day after he started at school. He wasn’t sure if the other kids would like him because he’s a Metamorphmagus but he was excited about meeting other magic kids. Then he was so excited about his first day he called Remus and I to him and told us all about his first day and how he’s already got a best friend’

‘Really? He didn’t tell me about it’

‘He mightn’t remember not everyone remembers their dreams, there’s a good chance you won’t remember this when you wake up but Remus and I got the impression that Ted is a very happy child the happiest he could be without us in his life Harry I don’t know what Remus and I can say to assure you you’re doing the right thing with our boy but please know you are doing the right think you great big thickhead’

'Gee thanks Tonks I love you too’ Harry said dryly patting Tonks on the arm.

Tonks laughed heartily.
‘If we thought you were doing the wrong thing with Ted we’d find some way of hexing your arse’ She said with a wide grin.

‘Oh gee you crack me up, hand me a needle so I can sew my sides up’ Harry said rolling his eyes.

‘Ah it’s good to laugh with you Harry I have missed you’ Tonks said wistfully ‘You know being on the other side allows me to be with people I loved but I also left a lot of people that I also loved behind. You being one of them’

‘Thanks Tonks’ Harry mumbled ‘I’m getting a portrait of you and Remus for the Manor you know? I thought it might be good for Ted. Then when he’s grows up and moves out of home he can take it to wherever he goes to live’

‘Oh yeah where are you going to hang it? Tonks asked a pink eyebrow raised in interest ‘In the bog?’

Harry rolled his yes.
‘No way’ He said ‘There’s no way I want you to watch me taking a piss, you’re a sick person Tonks’

Tonks laughed shrilly.
‘I wouldn’t want to watch you taking a piss’ She said ‘Mind you in my and Remus’s portrait at Mums I saw her and Ed shagging on the sofa, I’m not sure what I’d rather watch you taking a leak or my mother bonking...neither really either would be equally gross’

Harry made a face.
‘Do the subjects of portraits shag?’ He asked in interest.

Tonks blushed and her hair turned a bright tomato red.
‘Yeah they do’ She said ‘Want the details?’

Harry made a face.
‘No way!’ He exclaimed ‘The thought of you and Remus shagging is enough to wake me up and I want to chat to Fred Mum and Dad first’

Tonks let out a great unladylike snort and cast her eyes back toward the house from which emanated the soft buzz of conversation.
‘Speaking of Fred I think he’s back’ She said ‘Want to chat to him now?’

‘Sure’ Harry said getting to his feet ‘Thanks for the chat Tonks, I just wish we had more of a chance to do it when you were alive’

‘I feel the same Harry’ Tonks said giving Harry a fierce hug ‘But remember anytime you want a chat just come to Mums or the portrait at Hogwarts and I’ll chew your ear yeah?’

‘Sure thing’

Tonks went inside and a minute later Fred emerged wearing totally different clothes than he departed in.

‘You changed!’ Harry stated clapping Fred on the shoulder.

‘Yeah that’s one of the cool things about being on the other side if you think you’d like to change clothes you can rather convenient’

‘I’ll keep that in mind for when I die’ Harry said dryly ‘How’s Gin?’

‘Great though she took a bit of convincing I was me, she hexed a hole in her bedroom wall’

‘Well I blasted my wardrobe into a pile of kindling’ Harry said dryly ‘I thought I had truly woken up to someone who’d been dead for six years. This whole thing is amazingly real. I’ve had to keep reminding myself I really am asleep and when I wake up I’ll be back in the Manor on the West side of Godric’s Hollow not in the apparently undamaged house Mum and Dad lived in on the East side of Godric’s Hollow’

‘Well when I dropped in on Gin she was so surprised she hexed a hole in the bedroom wall then had me tied up with bloody link chain’ Fred said ‘She never did that to me when I was alive. I used to cop the Bat Bogey Hex if I really surprised her’

Harry snorted.
‘Is she packing it as much as I am?’ He asked ‘This day has been coming for long and now that it’s only hours away I’m shitting bricks’

‘Yeah she is nervous’ Fred said ‘But in an excited way, she’s waited for this day as long as you have Harry and has fancied you for longer than you’ve fancied her. She used to yap on about you all the time before she started at Hogwarts and when Ron came home from his first year saying you two were best mates she almost have a litter of kittens...it was hilarious’

‘She would hex you if you went back and told her that now you know that don’t you?’ Harry said with a grin ‘She threatens Ron with testicular removal if he teases her about it...she made him sing ‘I’m A Little Teapot’ in French one after he hung shit on her about our love life’

‘Really? Maybe I ought to invade Ron’s dreams one night and get him to sing it again’ Fred said with a snort ‘He might wake up singing it’

Harry sniggered.
‘You wouldn’t!’ He exclaimed.

‘I so would’ Fred said grinning evilly ‘Might do it the night before he and Hermione get married. If that ever happens’

‘It will’ Harry said ‘Dumbledore told me Ron will propose to Hermione in a way that no one will expect. So however he does it must be going to be totally out of character. I might go to George and see what the odds of Ron hiring a skywriter and getting ‘Marry me Hermione’ scrawled across the London skies’

‘What’s a skywriter?’

‘It’s a plane that goes up into the sky and writes words with the exhaust’ Harry said ‘It’s a popular way to muggle companies to advertise of muggle men to propose’

‘Well if you think Ron will propose in an out of character way that sounds about right’ Fred said.

‘Thanks for being here mate’ Harry said ‘’And I didn’t get the opportunity to say it at the time but thanks for your part in the final battle’

‘No worries Harry I was happy to do my bit even though for me it didn’t end in the way I would’ve liked’ Fred said with a grin ‘And while Mum and Dad lost me they got Percy back I look at it positively’

‘Yeah that is a good thing’ Harry said ‘George seems to be closer to Percy since the war, the whole family is really’

‘That’s the impression I’ve gotten whenever Mum has a chat with my portrait’ Fred said ‘Perce may be a stuffy old fart but he’s my brother and I know how hard it was for him to come back’

‘Have you told him that?’

‘Not in those exact words but George says he knows’

‘Fair enough’

Harry talked to Fred the longest of his friends gathered but eventually he stood up bringing an end to their conversation.

‘I reckon you better chat to your parents now’ He said clapping Harry on the shoulder ‘We haven’t got much longer with you and of all of us they’re the ones you need to speak to the most’

‘I reckon I’ll see them together then’ Harry said ‘Then you all as a big group’

‘Sound a fine and dandy thing to do’ Fred said with his trademark grin ‘See you soon Harry’

‘Right y’are Fred’

Harry was alone for the first time since he had ‘Woken up’ and took the time to contemplate what had happened. This dream was certainly the most peculiar he had ever experienced even the one of the flying motorbike shortly before he began his years at Hogwarts.

He was shaken out of his personal reverie by a pair of warm arms enveloping his shoulders and a faint smell of jasmine flowers invading his senses. He looked up and found those arms belonged to Lily. He got to his feet and hugged his mother savouring every exquisite moment. Lily returned the hug and for the longest time they just stood in each others arms relishing the mother/son contact. When Harry pulled back he noticed Lily’s eyes were filled with tears.

‘My God sweetheart you look so much like your father’ She said brushing his cheek and sweeping back his perpetually tousled hair ‘I so wish we had been around to see you grow up’

‘Ah Mum you’re embarrassing me’ Harry mumbled as from behind James gave a loud sniff and avoided direct eye contact with Harry.

‘It’s a mothers privilege’ Lily said hugging Harry again and holding him at arms length and looking at him carefully, in doing so making Harry feel like a prized thoroughbred being inspected at the yearling sales ‘You look good Harry not the skinny little weed Albus said you were when you first arrived at Hogwarts’

‘Mum I’m now twenty four years old I was eleven then I’m bound to have filled out out a little bit’ Harry said dryly.

James sniggered heartily.

‘I know that dear but Albus had told us all about your formative years with Vernon and Petunia and we know it wasn’t the most pleasant experience. You’ve achieved everything your father and I hoped for you when you were small. We both wanted you to grow up in the magical world get the job you love and marry the girl of your dreams and you’re doing that today. And it’s quite nice to be the mother of the man all women lust after’

James laughed so loud a squirrel fell out of a nearby tree in fright.

‘Sod off Mum not all women lust after me’ Harry said turning red so fast he rivalled Tonks ‘There’s no way I would’ve called you back here just to embarrass me like that’

‘He’s got you there Love’ James said leaning against the veranda rail and twirling his wand in his fingers much like Harry did ‘And not all women lust after Harry Fred’s Aunty Muriel doesn’t’

‘She just wants to knit him mittens’ Lily said.

‘She does?’ Harry exclaimed in surprise ‘Wish I’d known that when she was alive. I could’ve done with a pair of decent mittens on the Horcrux hunt...especially a pair with a fire repelling Charm. I’ve still got burn scar marks on my hands from where Hufflepuff’s Cup burnt me’

‘Well on the other side all the older women want to pat your head and tuck you in at night and all the young girls want to sh-‘ Lily said

‘MUUUUUUUUUUM!’ Harry bellowed putting his hands over his ears.

‘The only one who’s going to get those two privileges from now on is Ginny dear’ James said to Lily who was grinning like a Cheshire cat ‘Im not sure Harry needed to know just how popular he is on the other side’

‘Not in that way anyway’ Harry said flopping down into the nearest chair ‘Mum you’ve been gone twenty three years and the first time you come back to me in a dream you tell me half of the girls on the other side want to shag me?’

‘I’ve got twenty three years of embarrassment to make up for sweetheart’ Lily said with a grin enveloping Harry in a hug again ‘And I don’t know if I’ll be back again so I may as well get my eye in’

‘You know from what I’ve learnt about you and Dad I expected Dad to make all the shagging jokes’ Harry said his blush receding ‘You know the whole Marauder thing’

‘I could go into more details about all the women on the other side who do want to shag you Harry’ James said with a chuckle ‘But time is of the essence and hardly think you’d want to talk about what awaits you over the other side’

‘Nah thanks Dad I just want to chat’ Harry said ‘Not sure about what though. I’ve wanted this moment all my life and now it’s here and I don’t know what to say. I’ve talked about my job to Remus, quidditch to Fred...it’s peculiar’

‘How about you tell us about Ginny? Lily suggested gently ‘Tell us how you met her and what has happened to lead up to today’

‘You mean she didn’t tell you?’ Harry asked in surprised ‘You’ve said you’ve met her’

‘We’ve not talked to her just been in the background of her dreams’ James said ‘It is the job of the parents of the groom to inspect the suitability of their son’s prospective bride you know. And we thought it best to hold off actually introducing ourselves for a little while at least’

‘She’d know who you are you know’ Harry said ‘She looks at my pictures of you and Mum all the time. If you were to appear in her dreams she wouldn’t hex you'

‘We thought we’d wait anyways’ Lily said ‘Maybe when you two are settled into life together your father and I can come for another visit’

‘But how?’ Harry asked ‘Could I purposely call you into my dreams? I didn’t this time and you appeared’

‘I think it could be done’ James said thoughtfully ‘But never having done it myself I can’t say for sure’

‘Anyway tell us about Ginny’ Lily pressed on.

‘Well it started twelve years ago in the Summer before my second year at Hogwarts’ Harry began.

*******************************************************************

‘Then two and a half months ago I got down on bended knee at the Burrow in front of everyone at my birthday party and asked Gin to marry me’ Harry finished ‘I was shitting bricks in the lead up to that moment. I had decided six weeks previously during a visit to Hogwarts and it all came down to that moment. While Gin and I are as tight as a drum there was a little part of me that expected her to say no’

‘No woman would’ve said no after that sort of proposal Harry’ Lily sniffed dabbing at her eyes with an elegant cotton hanky ‘I think it’s very traditional to ask the parents of the bride for her hand in marriage not enough men do it these days, very romantic you are a lot like your father’

‘You asked Mum's parents if you could marry her?’ Harry asked James in surprise.

‘Yeah but it wasn’t as well thought out and planned as you asking Molly and Arthur’ James said his cheeks colouring up slightly ‘I asked them at our Hogwarts graduation. Right at the moment Sirius transfigured my bag into a pig that then went on a rampage through the Great Hall. Then a year later we were married and a year after that you came along. It was all rather quick’

Harry let out a great snort.
‘Sirius did that?’ He exclaimed in amusement ‘That is such a Marauder thing to do’

‘Isn’t it? Needless to say it caused havoc’

‘I bet Minerva and Albus were impressed’ Harry said with a giggle ‘I never had a Hogwarts graduation but Ron and I went to Hermione’s and while no farmyard animals went nuts Ron furtively let off half a dozen decoy detonators and a whole box of Wheezes fireworks’

Both Lily and James laughed.

‘But now that I work at Hogwarts I might keep in mind the pig idea for when the current batch of seventh years graduate next June’ Harry continued with a grin ‘Mind you I have been dared to get Minerva with the Singing and Dancing Hex combination. I know it’s not really kosher for a teacher to raise hell but I reckon I can be crafty enough not to be caught’

‘That is such a Slytherin trait’ Lily said dryly.

‘Well I was almost put in Slytherin’ Harry said.

‘You were?’ James asked in surprise.

‘Yeah but I asked the sorting Hat not to put me there and it chose Gryffindor instead’ Harry said ‘It’s something that puzzles me to this day’

‘Well you would’ve been the first Potter in many generations to be sorted into Slytherin’ James said ‘We’ve all been in Gryffindor. Well the ones born into the family have been. My maternal grandmother was in Hufflepuff’

‘So you think Gin and I’s kids will be in Gryffindor?’ Harry said.

‘Most likely’ James replied.

Suddenly after a moment of silence Lily’s head snapped toward the house as if a loud noise attracted her attention. But Harry heard nothing and his mother’s sudden movement alarmed him.

‘M-mum?’ He said ‘What’s happening?’

‘I think it’s time for us to go’ Lily said getting to her feet.

‘Do you really have to?’ Harry asked as his father left his seat.

‘Yeah mate we do’ James said apologetically ‘We were only supposed to be here a short time’

‘Bollocks I want you to stay longer’

Lily laughed and once again enveloped Harry in her arms.
‘I would like to stay longer too sweetheart but you need to go and get ready to marry Ginny’ She said her emerald green eyes connecting with her son’s ‘But know this, your father and I love you very much and are with you every day. We’ll be there the moment you say ‘I do’ and we’ll be there when your firstborn comes into the world. And if there is any time you need us have a go at purposely calling us into your dreams. It will most likely work if your want is strong enough’

Harry felt hot tears sting his eyes.
‘It sucks you and Dad aren’t going to be here to see me get married’ He said.

‘We’ll be there just not in the physical sense’ James said hugging Harry fiercely ‘We’ll try and let you know in some way’

Harry followed his parents back into the house where Tonks, Lupin, Sirius, Dumbledore and Fred were waiting.

‘It hasn’t been long enough’ He said.

‘No time would be long enough Harry’ Tonks said hugging Harry ‘But go and get married be the romantic sod then go and make loads of babies’

‘Well I’ll certainly have fun doing that’ Harry said with a grin.

‘HAWWY!’ Came a loud child’s voice from upstairs.

‘That’s Ted you ought to go it’s time for you to wake up’ Lupin said to Harry also enveloping him in a hug ‘Look after my son’

‘That is a promise’ Harry replied ‘A lifelong Wizard’s Oath’

‘HAWWY WAKE UP!’

Harry desperate to remember every last moment of the dream hugged everyone in the room before heading through the kitchen door.

‘Thank you for coming’ He said softly ‘I so wish you could all be at the Burrow today’

‘We will be Harry you’ll know that’ Tonks said ‘Now go!’

‘HAWWY!'

*******************************************************************