One Day, Things Will Get Better

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter. All rights belong to J.K Rowling and Warner Brothers©

Chapter 1

"Mum, where's daddy?" questioned a four year old James.

Ginny Potter had been sitting in the dim, spacious dining room, accompanied by a steaming mug of hot chocolate and marshmallows. Ginny shifted a little in her seat to get a better look at James. He was clad in red and gold pyjamas, a colour scheme he had insisted upon, and was rubbing his eyes tiredly, giving a great yawn as he did so.

One swift glance at the clock told Ginny that it was already half past one in the morning. She had obviously lost track of the time.

"Where's Albus, Jamie?" asked Ginny softly.

"He fell asleep already, that pig," came James' reply. "But I can stay up late mum; I'm a big boy now! Bigger than Albus," he added as an afterthought. "Why are you up so late mum? Do you want me to accompany you?"

Ginny's heart melted at the sight of the compassion that sparkled so clearly in James' warm brown orbs. "It's okay hun, why don't you go to bed like Albus?"

Specks of uncertainty flicked through his expression, before he muttered, so quietly as though he was speaking to himself, "Well okay, if you're sure…"

Ginny smiled. "I'm certain, Jamie. How about this? I'll go upstairs with you and tuck you in."

After Albus consented, Ginny levitated the mug and placed it on the kitchen counter, knowing that Elle, their house elf, would clean it up before breakfast time. With that, mother and son climbed up the staircase and headed for the second bedroom on the right. She tenderly pulled the covers over her son and whispered, "Sweet dreams darling, I love you." With a loving kiss to his forehead, she made to switch off the lights and leave, until she heard a soft voice speaking, seemingly, from under the covers.

'I love you too, mum."

After tucking James into bed, Ginny headed to Albus' room, which was conveniently opposite the room she had just exited. She smoothed out the slightly crumpled sheets and pulled the covers slightly higher so that they covered his chest. She gently swept his untidy mop of jet locks away from his forehead and kissed him, just as she had done with James only just moments before.

Albus' only response was to shift ever so slightly to lie on his side. Ginny smiled and left the dark room, closing the door behind her.

With a heavy sigh, Ginny made her way to her room, which was all the way down the hall. The door opened with barely a creak as she dragged her feet across the floor, seeking the comfort of her bed.

She sunk onto the mattress with a groan. After fluffing up the pillows, she lay down turned on her side. Looking at the empty space on the large, spacious bed served only as a painful reminder of just exactly why she was awake at half past one in the morning.

Ginny sighed again. She remembered that Hermione had once told her, "Whenever you sigh, an angel in heaven dies." Well, Ginny thought grimly, I wonder how many thousands I've murdered by now.

She attempted to get some shuteye and avoid thinking and remembering about what had happened, sleep was as elusive as ever, and the thoughts plagued her mind even as she fell into a fitful slumber.

It was a normal weekend. The weather had been absolutely perfect – it was cooling, yet not overcast. The sun shone brightly overhead, but its rays were not scorching.

Harry had promised to bring Albus and Severus flying that day after breakfast was over. As excitement flooded their tiny bodies, they inhaled their breakfast and stood up, scraping their chairs behind them, about to grab their brooms in preparation for a flying session with 'the god on the broom', as dubbed so very accurately by James and Albus.

"Not," began Ginny warningly, "so fast, boys. What's the rule when we're all at the table eating together?"

"Only leave the table when everyone is finished and ready to leave," mumbled the pair of them.

"Exactly. Now, does this," she then gestured to the table, home to used plates and cutlery, with half-finished scrambled eggs on them, "or this," this time, she pointed to Harry, who sat there eating slowly, "look like everything is settled here?"

"No, mum," chorused the two of them, and they quietly but speedily took their seats again.

A good ten minutes later, Harry put down his fork and knife. "I'm don-", he began, but the boys had already taken to their heels. Harry could hear them sprinting up the stairs.

Sensing that Ginny was once again about to yell at her sons, Harry was quick to take action. "Now there Gin, do let them go, even if it's just this one time. For Merlin's sake, one's only four and the other is three! They're hardly going to behave like dignified ten year olds." He said the last line as though the mere idea of a Potter being dignified repulsed him, shivering slightly for the effect. "Besides," he added, "you're acting like your mum." He grinned.

After that last comment, Ginny huffed and turned away from Harry, mumbling, "What have I done to deserve such an idiotic husband like you?"

Harry caught that and retorted, "I may be an idiotic husband, but at least, I'm your idiotic husband, right?"

Ginny rolled her eyes, but a smile was tugging at her lips. She summoned that morning's issue of the Daily Prophet, rolled it up and whacked Harry on the head.

This caused Harry to grin even more widely, displaying all his pearly whites. "I haven't read that yet! Don't you dare ruin it!" he exclaimed in mock annoyance, but his sparkling green eyes told another story.

"You are-" Ginny's reply was cut off by the appearance of a falcon patronus. Recognising it as one belonging to one of his subordinates, he held up his hand to Ginny and waited to hear the message that the patronus had been summoned to send.

There was actually no need for Harry to put up his hand, for Ginny was waiting to hear the message just as Harry was.

"Sir," came the voice from the patronus, "there has been a death eater attack at St. Petersburg! Wolf went down to investigate before us, he said it's a large crowd down there and we require your assistance as soon as possible! The rest of the team that's on duty today are heading down as of the moment I sent this message."

Harry's expression changed rapidly. He now stood worriedly, brows furrowed and arms crossed over his chest. He transfigured his clothing into something more suitable, whipped out his wand and cast a non-verbal patronus to pass his message on to his team.

As he was getting ready to leave the house, he realised two very shocked and scared boys stood at the entrance to the dining hall.

"Dad…Dad, what's happening?" asked James, his voice slightly shaky although he tried valiantly to mask his fear. "What's going on?"

"James, Albus," Harry knelt down in front of them so as to be able to look them in the eye, "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to fly with you guys some other time, okay buds? I have to report to work, there's… there's something really urgent and important going on right now and I need to be there."

"So… So," James' voice was definitely quivering now, "Aren't we important to you too, Dad? Can't you just spend a little time flying with us? Please, Dad, I promise. Just five minutes, and if you leave then, I won't say anything about it, and I promise I won't bother you about it afterwards as well. Please, Dad." Tears were prickling at the corner of James' eyes, and Albus' as well.

With a jolt, Harry realised how much this was affecting his two beloved sons, and he had to set the record straight right now.

"Hey," he began softly, using his thumb and index finger of both hands to lift both James' and Albus' faces so that their eyes met, "where'd you go making assumptions like that? You'll never be unimportant, never, you hear me? I love you guys so much that whenever we're apart, even if it's just for a few minutes, it hurts physically. My job will be to protect you first and foremost. Hey hey hey," he said, for James' brilliant brown eyes had begun to drift from his own., "Look at me. But I have to go, if I don't countless innocent people could lose their lives! Would you want that? Children could lose their parents, and vice versa. That's why I have to go okay? We'll have loads of flying when we get back!"

The tears had stopped flowing and Albus asked softly, "Promise?"

"Promise," replied Harry firmly, for he fully intended to keep his word.

Harry got to his feet and hugged Ginny tightly, murmuring in her ear, "Take care of them, Gin, I love them, and I love you too. So very much."

"I will," came the reply in his ear, "Promise me you'll stay alive and that you'll come back soon."

"I'll try," said Harry as he walked to the door.

"Hey dad," said James, stopping his father in his footsteps. "I want to learn how to do a…a Wongsi Paint," valiantly trying to get his pronunciation right.

Harry chuckled before correcting James on his pronunciation of the famous Quidditch seeker move. "See you soon!"

His family waved goodbye as Harry walked out of the door and apparated away.

A/N: Please review! The more the reviews, the faster I will update! If you have any suggestions for improvement, do let me know. Thanks for reading! Have a magical day!

Written for SnarkyAndProudHufflepuff's 'Ginny Weasley Appreciation Challenge'