AN: So this is a complete AU fic. Lilly and James are alive and there was no Voldemort (did I spell that right?) Anyway I don't own anything Harry Potter the story idea is mine and that's it.
Summary: Harry is a single father trying to give his daughter the world. Ginny is an aunt whose sister and brother in law died in a tragic accident…can two people who never have time for themselves find love together?
Chapter 1.
Ginny groaned and rolled over. It was far too early…maybe if she laid really still the little girl Ginny loved so much would just snuggle next to her and they could both sleep for another few hours. Zoe had other plans.
"Aunt Ginny!" Zoe called impatiently climbing on top of her.
"Aunt Ginny is sleeping sweetheart. Just like you should be now come here." Ginny grabbed the four year old and tucked her securely into her chest. "Go to sleep love." She said as she began stroking Zoe's hair. Thankfully Zoe fell back to sleep. Ginny however…was now up. She dared to open one eye at the clock next to her bed. The sight almost mocked her. 5:02AM.
"Kid, I swear you're lucky you're cute." Ginny whispered as she carefully climbed out of bed so she didn't wake Zoe.
She walked into the living room of her four bedroom home. When she first built it she thought it might be too big for just the two of them but decided it would be nice to be able to have a couple spare bedrooms for when Zoe went to school and had friends over during the holidays. She also used them for her friends who would stay the night on occasion to spend time with the little family. Emily and Hermione would often offer to babysit so Ginny could go on a date but Ginny normally refused. Zoe needed her. Ginny would put Zoe first…her own needs and desires could wait for now. She flipped on the television and walked into the kitchen to start some coffee. She looked into the fridge and pulled out some butter and jam which she put on top of a toasted bagel. After she poured her coffee she went back to the living room to watch a show she'd missed last night. Half a bagel later she dozed off on the couch.
HPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGW
Across town a very flustered Harry Potter was having a difficult morning. He and Lilly had both woken up late and he was rushing around the kitchen getting her cereal ready. Normally he liked to cook her a more nutritional breakfast but today they were in a hurry.
"Lilly!" He called up the stairs. "Hurry down love, we've got to get going."
"The little girl with her father's piercing green eyes bounced down the stairs in her pink princess dress.
"Ok, daddy I'm here." She said skipping to the table and digging into her cookie crisp.
"Love," Harry chuckled. "What are you wearing?"
"Daddy you said I could pick out my clothes today. I wanna be a princess!" She smiled brightly at him.
Harry laughed to himself. "All right, but just this once." He added sternly.
"Ok daddy!" Lilly grinned at him and it was times like this (and a hundred others during the day) that Harry felt the familiar pang of anger and resentment at Jackie. Who could leave such a sweet girl behind? She'd begun asking questions about where her mother was lately. Harry had managed to change the subject and divert his daughter's attention. What was he supposed to tell her? 'Sorry baby, but mommy was a selfish bitch who bailed a few months after you were born?' He had no idea.
"Harry?" He heard a familiar voice call.
"In here mom!" He answered. The redheaded woman came in through the kitchen. He'd called her earlier asking if she could take Lilly to day care today. He was already a half hour late to work. Lilly Potter sr. was the pillar of grace, kindness and love. It was part of the reason he didn't understand what Jackie did. His parents had been so dedicated to him. He felt the same love, protectiveness and loyalty to his little Lilly. How could Jackie not feel the same way?
"Hello, dear." She kissed his cheek lightly then turned to Lilly. Is that my little Lilly pad? I swear you grow a foot every time I blink!" Lilly giggled at her grandmother.
"I'm taking you to day care today love, is that ok with you?" Lilly nodded her head excitedly.
"Alright sweet. I'm heading to work. Will you be a good girl today?" He asked crouching next to his daughter.
"Yes, Daddy." She smiled as he kissed her goodbye.
"Bye then sweet. I love you."
"Bye-bye daddy, I love you too!"
A few moment later Harry reached the apparition point of the academy of aurrors. Before Lilly had been borne Harry had been one of the top aurrors. He'd graduated school early with the help of his mother and finished the academy when he was just 18. By 22 he'd been on the fast track to become the youngest head aurror in the history of the department. But then Lilly had been borne, a minute later Jackie left and Harry took a job teaching at the academy. Steady hours and he only worked four days a week. Having an extra whole extra day with Lilly was too good to pass up. He'd been there four years now and he loved it. He felt he was still contributing to the safety of the public, which had been a long standing passion of his but he also could be the dedicated father that Lilly deserved. He walked into class and began apologizing for the tardiness.
HPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGWHPGW
Ginny held Zoe's hand as they walked into the building. It was covered with handprints, drawings and other works of art that children had made. Little Miracles Magical Academy was a very well-reviewed day care. Ginny, had met nearly all the teachers when she'd toured the place a few weeks earlier but it didn't ease her nerves. She hated leaving Zoe. It always created a tug of dread in the pit of her stomach. She worried about if Zoe would make friends, if the teachers would be nice, if…well a thousand things. But she smiled at the four year old and walked in anyway.
"Ginny, Zoe!" The teacher Miss. Ellie greeted them. "How lovely to see you again! Zoe are you ready to have a super fun day?"
Zoe grinned and nodded excitedly. Ginny wished she had her confidence. Up until last week Zoe had stayed at Mrs Michaels home four days a week. The old woman was kind and wonderful she took care of her two grandchildren and was more than happy to make some extra money by adding another but her daughter and grandchildren were moving to Arizona next week and she was going along. Ginny understood. It would be wonderful if Zoe had a grandparent to take care of her during the days Ginny worked. But it would also be wonderful if people didn't drive drunk so Zoe could have a mother and father like other children.
"Why don't you follow Miss Leah into the main room while your aunt and I talk? It's story time. Today's story theme is princesses. Do you like princesses?"
"Oh Yes! I love princesses!" Zoe exclaimed. She followed the other teacher into the room.
"How are you doing today?" Ellie asked after Zoe went into the other room.
"I'm great!" Ginny lied. "I mean she's so excited to meet all the new children and you get such great reviews."
"You know it's normal to be nervous. Right?"
Ginny deflated. "And here I was thinking I was doing such a great job of hiding it."
"Every parent has a harder time seeing them off than the child." Ellie smiled. "I expect it's a great deal more difficult for you. But we have your number, we take photos of them during the day and send them to you, and if anything happens we will be sure to give you a call. Even if she doesn't want to eat her peas!" Ellie's kind eyes and warm smile made Ginny feel better.
"Thank you, and I promise once were into a routine here I won't be such a bother with all my hovering."
"It's no bother at all! And everyone wants to know how their child is settling in with new people."
They chatted for another few minutes and then Ginny went and said her goodbyes to Zoe.
"Bye baby girl. I love you so much. If you need me at all today just tell your teacher and she will call me and I'll be here faster than you can say quidditch."
"Ok, I love you too. Bye." Zoe ran off to listen to the rest of stories.
"Sounds about right." Ginny chuckled to herself. After a few more minutes of spying on Zoe Ginny finally left to go to work.
After story time a little girl with bright green and jet black hair came up to Zoe and said. "Hi, my name is Lilly. What's yours?"
"I'm Zoe. Do you like to play dragons?"
"Yes I do!" And with that the two became fast friends.
