Search Home Read Write Forum Login Register
The initial look of 12 Grimmauld Place usually evokes a mix of shock and repulsion towards the inquisitive soul looking up upon the tall, somewhat decripped building. A typical London terraced house, with three floors and balconies to boot, would usually be a nice, pleasant house for a family of the Potter’s calibre; however, that is not the way that they saw it at all. To them, the aged and somewhat grim house made a perfectly family home, in more than one conventional way. Not only did this particular house have surprisingly large amount of room for their medium-sized family, as well as being in reasonable walking distance of London’s prime locations and other relatives in the area, yet the symbolic outlook of the place and the history that it had with the Potters was reason enough to continue inhabiting the house that should have been long left to die.

The outside of the ancestral home to the House of Black and former Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix had not changed one bit since the days of the Second Wizarding War and its previous owner in Sirius Black. Alas, it was not the outside that was of meticulous importance to the Potter Family, but the cosiness and inclusion felt within the boundaries of the home that mattered most. In the days that the property was used by the House of Black, and the Order of the Phoenix, the insides had always felt dark and dingy, reclusive and down-heartening. Sadness and depression was commonly linked with the dwelling, ever since the forefathers of the Blacks had lived there. It was almost accepted by others that the inside would forever remain as it was, as a memory, a recollection to the past.

Yet all of this was promptly disregarded when Harry Potter finally returned to the residence at the end of the Second War. A new era, a new beginning—and the least that could happen was the interior changed and the mood lifted up. It’s often said how strange it is that experiences heavily influence your lives in the weirdest of places, yet because of the success of the Order, and the defeat of the most evil wizard ever, who’s crimes remain unspeakable to all bar those that are thought of in the highest regard, it was considered to be a good omen to change the environment in which he, Harry Potter, the Master of Death, the Defeater of Evil, would live. The aura that was received by others from the house was going to change dramatically with Harry at its helm, and did so remarkably over the years.

The Potter Family home had been transformed from its former self into something that resembled their family’s ideals and general feeling. Happiness. The silver lining to the massive clouds that had hung over the heads of every wizard and witch fighting against the Dark Lord had finally come, and the change of scene and change of decoration was a breath of fresh air to the Potter Family. Upon Harry moving permanently into the residence, he sought to ‘do it up’, as it were, as best as he could. He recruited the expertise of ‘Bernie Lacklingtons Magical Decorators’ to paint and decorate every room in the house in what Harry referred to as ‘sun colours’, with the exception of a few rooms which were to be painted in a mixture of blue and green. With money not an issue, Harry sought the best carpet that money could be and was, surprisingly, forced to go to a muggle store in order to buy the required amounts in the type he wanted. With the interior looking how he wanted, he was then put in the predicament of getting the furniture and ornaments for his new house. Not being too fussy, Harry had skilfully asked Hermione and Ginny, both with a certain flair for creativeness, to come along with him around London to locate the exact furniture that Harry wanted. Several hours and a fair few shouting matches later, they had found everything needed and arranged for it all to be sent home. When there, all it took was one, long, sweeping motion of the wand and the furniture arranged itself in the most appropriate fashion around the house. Harry could not have been more pleased if he’d been told the Chudley Cannons had won the Cup.

Immediately after the conclusion of the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry had met up with Ginny in Gryffindor Tower. The euphoria and the magnitude of their success were toned down into the most intimate embrace of their lives. Sight and sound was lost in the moment, the only thing that mattered was the touch.. the feel of Ginny.. her lips against his.. caressing her, holding her tight. The world was safe, and his loved one was there to be cherished. All the time that they had missed together could be made up for over the coming weeks, where they remained at Hogwarts to clear-up the effects of the Death Eaters and their wrath. Ron and Hermione had a similar experience in the Great Hall, amidst applause from onlookers, yet were constantly being interrupted by well-wishers and those whom thanked the couple immensely for the part they played in the destruction of the most powerful Dark wizard that had ever walked the earth.

For four years after the events of June 1998, Harry and Ginny lived a comfortable co-existence; firstly, living apart and seeing each other whenever they could. This was made no easier with Ginny’s Quidditch ambitions and Harry’s role as an Auror at the Ministry for Magic; however, they did as best they could to see each other on evenings and weekends. After a few years of this comfortable boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, Ginny moved in with Harry—to general shock at the Burrow due to Ginny and Harry’s age. Alas, this did not trouble either of them, and they began to share Grimmauld Place, as partners and as equals. Two years later, in the summer of 2002, Harry and Ginny firmly tied the knot, getting married in August with newly-weds Hermione and Ron Weasley in attendance, along with the whole Weasley Clan.

A great many years have passed since these moments of extreme happiness and jubilation, and the other parts of life have been thoroughly experimented and tested, with varied results. The Potter Family, however, are still the most famous Wizarding family alive. Their presence is always welcomed by everyone of good heart, and Harry especially has now become a fervent choice as future Minister for Magic.

Track This Story: Feed

Write a Review

out of 10


Get access to every new feature the moment it comes out.

Register Today!