Maybe Next Time

Chapter One

"Vicky!" Teddy yelled, chasing her. She giggled and practically flew through the living room of the Burrow, her long blonde locks streaming back and Teddy on her heels.

"Oi! Watch it!" Ron bellowed as James squirmed out of Harry's arms and began following Teddy, who he worshipped.

"James! Wait!" Six year-old Fred shouted, sprinting after them. Five year-old Dominique shrieked at the top of her lungs in amusement and ran after Fred, only to have four year-old Roxanne skip after her.

"Careful! Watch where you're going!" Ginny called as her sons, nieces, and nephews recklessly ran through the Burrow, not caring that all their parents were relaxing (or trying to) in the living room.

"Come on, Luce," Five year-old Molly tugged the three year-old's hand as they rushed to catch up with the squealing children running around the house.

"Dommie! Roxie!" Four-year old Louis screeched as he ran as fast as he could after his older sister and his cousin. Albus gave a baby giggle and began toddling after them. Victoire laughed and ducked into the kitchen, with all the other kids trailing after her. Suddenly there was an enormous crash from the kitchen. All the adults shot up and hurried to the kitchen, only to find all eight kids in a heap on the floor, surrounded by sparkling copper pots and pans, laughing so hard Victoire was crying and Roxanne could barely breathe.

"Are you lot alright?" Ginny asked worriedly.

"Ginny, we're fine, don't worry," Teddy told his surrogate mother, still laughing. He reached out to tickle Victoire, who squirmed and giggled hard, panting. She flicked his ear, and his hair turned rosy pink.

"Mama, honestly, we didn't hurt ourselves," Dominique stood up and twirled for her, her strawberry-blonde hair flying around her. Molly automatically began gathering her pots and pans and magically sending them to their designated spots in her kitchen. Teddy and Victoire continued teasing each other, he ruffled her hair and she pinched his arm and finally he tickled her until she keeled over, stopping to breathe.

"Alright! Alright, you win," she breathed heavily, smiling widely at Teddy, who blushed. His hair changed to blonde, to match hers. Victoire smiled when he did that, she adored when they matched. Ginny sweeped Albus into her arms, who squirmed and wiggled until Ginny placed him back onto the floor.

"A wrestler, he is," Harry grinned at Ginny.

"You can say that again," Ginny pantomimed wiping her brow.

"Do not tease Teddy! He eez your couzeen," Fleur told Victoire.

"You should have tripped them all," George told his son, Fred. Fred grinned widely.

"Next time I will," he told his father jokingly. Angelina shook her head.

"You boys are out of control," she told them.

"You love us anyway," George responded cheekily.

"That I do," Angelina pecked George on the cheek.

Hermione sighed. Ginny turned towards her and noticed her lingering in the doorway of the kitchen, watching everyone laugh and smile with their children. Her face fell. Hermione and Ron had been trying to conceive for nearly four years, with no avail. They had tried everything known to magic and Muggle treatments to try to have a child, which had resulted in three miscarriages over the years. They were still trying and hoping, though.

"Mummy!" Albus began sobbing. "Mummy, Roxie hit me!"
"It was an accidunt," Roxanne murmured, messing up her pronunciation.

"It's okay, Roxie baby, you didn't mean to," Ginny comforted the girl. "Where does it hurt, Al?" He pointed to his elbow.

"Do you need me to kiss it better?" Ginny cooed, to which the toddler nodded tearfully. Ginny kissed his elbow, making over-exaggerated smooching noises so he giggled.

"Mwa, mwa, mwa. Does it feel better, baby?" Ginny said in a baby voice.

"Yeth, thank you, Mummy!" Albus threw his little arms around her and kissed her cheek.

"Mwa, mwa, mwa! I wuv you, Mummy!"

Hermione burst into tears and fled from the kitchen. All the young children snap their heads up and stare.

"What's wrong with Aunt Hermione?" Molly asked her mother, Audrey.

"Ronald! Get up and ask her what's wrong!" Ginny swatted her brother.

"Do I have to?" He looked uncomfortable. Ginny glared at him, looking uncannily like Mrs. Weasley, and he surrendered. "Alright, I'm going." He followed Hermione, still looking oddly uncomfortable.

"Well," Harry said in a louder-than-normal voice. "I think it's time we get going. Come on, boys."

"Bye, Vicky," Teddy smiled and waved, though he was just five feet away from her.

"Bye, Teddy, I'll miss you!" She kissed him on the cheek, then giggled, made a face, and wiped her lips. Teddy flushed and smiled brightly.

"What a ladies man!" Ginny noted happily.

"Bonkers, isn't it? He's only seven! She's eight! She's cradle-robbing!" Harry grabbed James' hand and Ginny supported Albus on her hip, with Teddy holding her free hand.

The children and parents all chorused goodbye as the Potters approached the fireplace.

"We'll all get together again for Ted's birthday, am I correct?" Arthur asked his daughter before she left.

"Yes, in just a couple more weeks my baby will be eight years old!"

"Ginny, stop it," he muttered, sneaking little glances at Vic.

"Tell Hermione and Ron we say goodbye!" Ginny told Angelina.

"Can I do the Floo?" James jumped up and down, shaking his unruly black hair.
"Sure, kiddo," Harry told his son, and James excitedly snatched a fistful of gray powder as the family assembled in the fireplace.

"Potter Manor!" He chanted clearly, and the Potters disappeared with green flame.

"Can we play before bed?" James demanded, and Albus clapped his hands.

"Yes please, yes please," he said in his precious three-year old voice. Ginny nodded.

"Mummy needs to talk to Daddy, but when we're done, it's bedtime for Albus and James," she told them.

"Why does Teddy get to stay up later?" James groaned.
"Because you are five, and Teddy is almost eight," Harry explained. "Now go play!"

Their sons ran along, and Ginny pulled Harry into the kitchen.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked, playing with Ginny's fiery red locks.

"I love you," she said simply.

"I love you too, but what does that have to do with anything?"

"Nothing, really. But…" she paused for effect.

"But what?" Harry pressed.

"I think we should have some fun tonight." She raised an eyebrow.

Harry smiled. "I think I agree."

He pushed his lips to hers and pulled her closer. She snuck a hand around his neck and played with his hair at the nape of his neck, while his hands gripped her waist. He tried to deepen the kiss, but she shoved him away.

"Later," she teased him. He groaned.

"Fine," he whined playfully. "Let's get the boys to bed."