Chapter 1
In a cold, December afternoon, a warm Lily sits in her kitchen table with a five-year-old girl on her lap, reading a letter from her 16-year-old son, Harry.
"Your brother says hi, Tally," said Lily cheerfully to her daughter. The girl smiled, then a pop is heard and a tall man with dark brown hair appeared in Lily's kitchen.
"Ah, my two favorite ladies," said James cheerfully, kissing his wife and daughter.
"Harry wrote a letter, Daddy!" exclaimed Tally, grabbing it from her mother's hand and placing it on her father's hand.
"Did he now?" asked James, picking Tally up.
"Second letter in 5 months, since school's started," said Lily, getting up to fix herself and her husband some coffee. James continued to read the letter with a smile.
Dear Mum, Dad, and Tally,
Sorry I haven't written in ages. I'm doing alright, how are you? I miss the three of you, along with Sirius and Tara and Calvin. Remus and Tonks said hi too. By the way, Dad, do you think you can talk to Remus about the ridiculous amount of homework he's given us? And mum, I got your howler. Thanks (sarcasm). Sorry about the detention, but it had to be done; Ron and I felt like Snape's class could do with a little more excitement. Anyway, everyone here is alright. Ginny, Hermione, Ron, and Neville said hi.
I'll try to write more often if I've got time after the amount of work Remus has been giving us.
Love, Harry.
"You sent him a howler?" asked James to his wife.
"That's not the first time! 15 detentions in 5 months!" exclaimed Lily, "and I thought I told you about that...Dumbledore even wrote to me!"
James laughed sheepishly, along with Tally.
"It's not funny, James,"added Lily in an annoyed tone.
James chuckled and kissed his wife's forehead, "Alright, love."
Meanwhile, at Hoghwarts, Harry and Ginny walked down the corridor to the Great Hall for dinner.
"So, how are classes?" asked Harry.
"I feel overworked. Honestly, is O.W.L.s really that serious?" said Ginny in a frustrated tone. Harry smiled.
"I'd say no, but then Hermione'll have me murdered,"joked Harry.
"Or maybe she'll have something better to do," mumbled Ginny, as they turned to a corner and saw a snogging couple that consisted of Ron and Hermione.
"Say, Gin, isn't snogging in the halls one of the things that are prohibited by the school?" asked Harry loudly.
"Especially is the prefects caught you," said Ginny loudly, putting on her best matter-of-fact voice. Hearing this, Hermione and Ron broke apart.
"My, what is this?" he shot them a shocked look.
"Two Gryffindor prefects, snogging in the hall! My oh my! What has this world come to!" joked Ginny. Unable to hold their laughters any longer, Ginny and Harry broke into laughters. Hermione and Ron were flushed and red, head-to-toes, and annoyed.
"Oh grow up," said Hermione. She took Ron's hand and they walked away. Laughing still, Ginny and Harry followed them. They calmed down and walked along side the lovely prefects.
"Sorry, we just had to do it," apologized Ginny. Harry nodded.
"Oh please," said Ron, apparently still annoyed.
"C'mon Ron, lighten up. Christmas break is next week, Hermione you should come by sometime," said Harry.
"Well maybe if you two'll quit teasing us these days I'll come," said Hermione in a testy tone.
"Ooh, sorry Hermione, that's quite impossible," joked Ginny.
"Ha ha, bite me," said Ron.
"Gladly," said Ginny, taking Ron's hand and placing it before her teeth. Ron quickly took his arm away.
"Hey! I didn't mean that literally!" he exclaimed, causing the Gryffindor table to laugh.
The four sat down, and chatted animatedly. Throughout dinner, however, as always, Harry found himself just silently counting Ginny's freckles as she talks to others. He also noticed her red hair that comes down to her mid-back. Tonight, she has a black bandana on that stands out among the red-ness of her hair. He noticed her pink lips when she talks, and he loves looking at those deep blue eyes of hers when she talks to him. It's not only dinner, it's everywhere they are, at anytime. He's noticed all the little details that made Ginny, well, Ginny. The Ginny that has stolen Harry Potter's heart since he was 15 years old.
Like Harry, sometimes Ginny couldn't help but to run her fingers through Harry's dark, hard-to-tame hair. Sometimes she tries to fix it, while he does his homework and she's finished hers. Mostly, she loves his green eyes that hide behind the round glasses.
The two have been friends ever since Ginny was born. Harry and Ron played together, since Molly Weasley and Lily Potter are great friends. Currently, Harry is building up the courage and confidence to ask Ginny to be more than friends. He's tried, on many occasions, but he's failed to get the sentence "Ginny, will you be my girlfriend" out of his mouth. The voice of reason in his head kept on reminding him that Ginny is Ron's sister, and how Ron will go mad if he finds out that his best mate is going with his sister. The voice also reminded Harry of the possible scenarios that might happen if Ginny does not like him back. Everytime he tries to make his move, he shudders everytime the voice makes an itty bitty noise.
As dinner ends, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny headed to the common room. Hermione and Ginny started on homework, along with Ron and Harry. Quietness and sense of concentration wrapped their section of the common room. The quiet was broken as Ginny exclaimed, "I'm done!" and threw her quill on the table. She sat back on the corner of the sofa and hugged the nearest pillow she could grab. She watched Ron, Hermione, and Harry as they concentrated upon their studies. Mostly she studied Harry, who kept on biting the end of his quill. She studied his shoulders and back, how they are well-formed and developed. Suddenly she grew a greater love for Quidditch. Then she noticed his messy hair, and she could not help but just try to fix it.
"It won't work, Gin," said Harry suddenly.
"I know. How do you put up with it anyway?" asked Ginny.
"Well, it's either I live with it or go bald," kid Harry,"So I pick go with it."
"Hmm, yeah," mumbled Ginny. She grew tired and pulls out her fingers out of Harry's hair. She sat next to him and placed her head on his shoulder. She yawned.
"Y'know, Gin, if you're so sleepy, you can just go to bed," said Ron, as he catches his sister and Harry on the , according to him, "boyfriend-girlfriend" position.
"Relax, Ron, I'm 15, and it's not like I'm snogging Harry in the corner of a corridor," said Ginny. Ron's ears grew red.
"Done," said Harry, throwing down his quill happily. He puts his arm around Ginny and sits back.
The loving gestures, such as the head on the shoulder, the arm around each other, the hugs, etc. made Harry and Ginny silently a little sad. They both enjoy it, but they also know that deep down they'd enjoy it more if they were a couple.
Ron looked up once again at his best friend and sister in an exasperated manner.
"Potter, hands off my sister," he said.
"Ron, calm down," said Ginny. Harry moved his arm away, yet Ginny still kept her head resting on his shoulder.
"It just makes me feel like you two are an item when you do these things," said Ron.
"And if we were?" asked Ginny in a smart tone. Harry blushed, but no one answered.
The next day, Lily was in her bedroom with Tally, tidying up. She stopped cleaning and sat on her bed when she saw the two picture frames on the small desk by the window. One frame holds a picture of her, James, and Harry with a couple of sentences that Harry drew 12 years ago, when he was only 4 years old.
"This is my daddy. His name is James. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
This is my mummy. Her name is Lily. She has red hair and green eyes.
This is me. My name is Harry Potter. I have brown hair and green eyes."
Lily remembered it was a "Describing Appearances" week at Harry's primary muggle school. The second frame holds a newer, similar version of the picture, drawn by Tally last year.
"This is my daddy. His name is James. He has brown hair and brown eyes.
This is my mummy. Her name is Lily. She has red hair and green eyes.
This is my big brother. His name is Harry. He has brown hair and green eyes.
This is me. My name is Natalie Potter. I have red hair and brown eyes."
Lily smiled.
"Mummy, look!" exclaimed Tally, pointing at a photo on the small desk. Lily grabbed the photo and sat with her daughter.
"Yes darling," she said," Who are these people?"
"That's you, Mummy! And Daddy, and Sirius, and Tara, and Remus, and Tonks, and Harry, and Ginny, and Ronnie, and 'Mione, and Calvin!" said Tally excitedly, pointing at each person.
"Who's that's little girl on Harry's shoulders?" pointed Lily.
"That's me!"exclaimed Tally happily.
"That's right, love," said Lily as she kissed Tally's forehead.
Tally, short for Natalie, is Lily and James' second child. Born when Harry was 11 years old, she is a little sweetheart who has everyone wrapped around her little finger. Being only 5 years old, she loves her big brother, and always wonders why he just couldn't go to school at home, as she puts it.
"Mummy, when is Harry coming home?" asked Tally.
"Next week, darling. Be a little patient, ok?" answered Lily.
"Alright," she sighed," Is Ginny coming?"
"I believe so," answered Lily.
"Good! I like Ginny. I wish she was my sister." Lily laughed.
"I don't think your brother will favor that," mumbled Lily.
Meanwhile, James and Sirius were at a barn, cutting down evergreens for Christmas trees.
"For next year, I'm learning the spell for cutting this tree," complained Sirius.
"Same here," replied James.
"How's the family?" asked Sirius, switching the subject.
"Alright. Harry's coming home next week," answered James.
"Is he now? Followed anymore footsteps of ours?" inquired Sirius mischievously.
"Fifteen detention in five months. A howler from Lily, a letter from dear old Dumbledore, and another letter from dear McGonnagal," said James in a proud tone.
"Hasn't broken our record yet, Prongs," said Sirius in a hurt tone.
"Should read the last letter from Dumbledore about Harry and Ron's latest pranks in old Snivelly's class. Three dozens of Dr. Fillibuster fireworks planted in each student's cauldron. And the Weasley's Catherine Wheel in Snape's Cauldron," said James proudly.
"Impressive. Simple, yet impressive," said Sirius," How come we never thought of that?"
By Friday, the Potters' house has been Christmas-ized. The three Potters headed to King's Cross' Platform 9 3/4, waiting for the Hogwarts Express. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, who will not be returning from France (visiting Bill and Fleur) until three days before Christmas, has left the care of Ron ad Ginny under Lily and James Potter. Hermione is spending one week with her parents, one week at the Potters', then she and her parents will attend the annual Weasley Chrismas Party at the Burrow.
Tally kept jumping up on down to see if the train has arrived. James finally picked her up, yet she was a little disappointed when there is still no train.
"Daddy," she called on her father.
"Yes love,"
"When will I go to Hogwarts?"
"Never, I hope. I can quit being an auror and teach you magic at home. I want to keep you for myslef until you're 32," replied James humorously. Little Natalie, who thought that her father was being serious, gasped, frowned, and pouted. Lily smiled and moved Tally's red curl from her eyes.
"He's kidding. Tell her you're kidding, James," said Lily.
"I'm kidding," laughed James.
"Then when will I go?" said Tally, still pouting.
Just before James and Lily could answer, th Hogwarts express has arrived! Tally's pout and frown instantly turned into a smile. Her eyes brightened.
"They're here!" she exclaimed happily.
A swarm of students, tall and short, moved out of the train to their families. James and Lily looked around for the two Weasleys and Harry.
"Mum! Dad! Tally!" said a familiar voice. Tally winced to the sound of her name and saw her smiling brother and his friends waving at her.
"Harry!" she screamed excitedly. At the sound of this, Lily and James turned around and made their way to their son.
"Oh Harry!" said Lily, hugging her son.
"Mum...oxygen...breathing...please..."
"Harry, m'boy!" said James, hugging his son.
"Hey, Dad! Tally!" said Harry, picking up his sister into his arms.
"Harry! You're home!" she hugged her brother tightly. Lily and James exchanged hugs and greetings to Hermione, Ron, and Ginny. Afterwards, they headed out of the platform. Hermione said good bye to all and kissed Ron, then went home with her parents.
"Good year so far?" asked James.
"Yeah," said the three.
"Guess what Harry!" exclaimed Tally, hugging at Harry's sleeve.
"What?"
"The kids at my muggle school can't ride on broomsticks! They can't even pick up a broom without touching it first!" said Tally happily. Harry smiled.
"Since when can Tally ride a broomstick, let alone pick it up?" asked Lily. James and Harry grew red.
"Um... Let's not talk about magic at a muggle place, love," stalled James.
Once they reached the car, Lily repeated her question again.
"Since when can my five-year-old daughter fly on a broomstick?" asked Lily, keeping her eyes fastened between her husband and son. Both were silent.
Tally giggled.
"Natalie," said Lily in a dangerous, sweet voice," when did you learn how to ride a broomstick?"
"I didn't mummy."
"Don't lie to me."
"She never did, mum," answered Harry," She...she saw me and Dad..."
"Dad and I," corrected Lily.
"-Dad and I played Quidditch in the yard. That's all," explained Harry.
"You three better be telling me the truth," said Lily. She turned back to her seat and James Drove to Godric's Hollow, where the Potters live.
In the backseat, Tally and Harry exchanged mischievous smiles.
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Missmunky
