Chapter One: The Life You Left Behind
A/N: This is the sequel to my story 'Don't'. I am terribly sorry that it took so long to come out, but it is what it is. I hope that I do the sequel justice, and please forgive, and correct, any mistakes I have made. I'm trying to keep the toddler talk on par, but as a parent I must acknowledge that some kids talk better, and quicker than others. My personal experience in this comes from my 3 children, 8, 7, and 4, who never hit the same milestones at the same time, and served to frustrate me even more, God love em! My 8 year old couldn't say his 's, t, and r's til he was 5 due to being tounge tied (it's real), my 7 year old has her own language and ideas of pronunciation, and my 4 year old has been able to coherently talk your ear off since he was 2.
A/N II: Big thanks to triggbc for pointing out my mistakes :) It was 3 am when I wrote this, so please enjoy the update *insane laughter here*
DISCLAIMER:I own EVERYTHING! *insert evil laugh here* Just kidding. I don't even own my car :/
SUMMARY: Harry Potter wanted to be remembered as more than just The-Boy-Who-Lived. He wanted to be remembered as a father, husband, brother, and friend. But when his life was cut short in epic battle, how much of that will the world remember him for?
Ministry To Throw Gala In Celebration of Third Anniversary
The Ministry of Magic has declared that in honor of the third anniversary of the Great Battle of Hogwarts, in which the Dark Lord Voldemort perished, a Grand Gala will be held in the main ballroom of level four two weeks from this Saturday. Invitations have been extended to all who wish to attend and Miss Pimberry, Undersecretary for Minister Shacklebolt has confirmed that special modifications have been made to the Ministry Building to ensure there is room for all who wish to attend. In an interview...
"Mum," said a little boy pulling on Ginny's leg.
"Mum," he tried again.
"Jamie dear, Mummy's trying to read the paper," said Ginny, never looking up from the article.
"Mum! Loo!" the little boy practically screeched.
"Jamie! There are no monsters in the loo. Or the tub. Or the sink. You are perfectly fine going on your own!" said Ginny in exasperation.
The little boy just shook his head, steadfastly refusing to go to the toilet on his own.
"Oh, alright! I swear the next time I see your uncle I'm going to hex him right!"
"Bad Ge-or-gie!" said the little boy laughing.
Ginny couldn't help but smile; something she rarely did these days.
"Bad Georgie indeed!"
Three long and agonizingly painful years had passed since the end of the Second Wizarding War. Wizarding Britain had slowly rebuilt itself, and everyone was finally settling down into their old ways of life, but the scars of the war were still painfully visable everywhere you looked. Hogsmeade had to be completely leveled and rebuilt. Two-thirds of Hogwarts were new additions and rebuilds. Diagon Alley was doubled in width and length, and now held the majority of life for the wizarding world. Statues and memorials were scattered everywhere in rememberance of those who were lost, and right in the middle of every town square was a statue of The-Boy-Who-Lived-And-Died, Harry Potter.
It was no wonder then that Ginny had settled into an apartment in Muggle London, away from sympathetic stares and harsh reminders. While she had once dreamt of playing Quidditch professionally, three months after Harry had died, she received news that had forever altered her dreams.
Flashback
"Ginny? Are you alright?" Hermione called through the bathroom door of Grimmauld Place.
"Yeah. urgh. No." said Ginny as she once again retched into the toilet.
"Do you want me to Floo your mum?"
"No. I'll come round," said Ginny sinking onto the cool tiles of the bathroom floor.
"Are you sure?" asked Hermione sounding a bit skeptical.
"Positive," said Ginny.
Truth was, Ginny wasn't alright. She could not remember being this sick for this long in her entire life. For the past month she had thrown up everything she had eaten, and it was beginning to take a toll on her. Her skin looked sallow, her eyes sunk into her head; her hair was lifeless, and at last check, she had lost a good stone. When she had finally composed herself, and brushed her teeth, she stepped out into the hallway to a still concerned looking Hermione.
"Ginny-" she started.
"Please don't."
"Ginny, I'm worried about you. We all are."
"I'm fine. I swear."
"You aren't fine though! You haven't even cried! I know you miss him Ginny. God, I miss him. So much. I can't even imagine what it's like for you. You look terrible. I just want to make sure you're alright. Harry loved you Ginny. More than life itself. And I would be a rotten friend if I wasn't there for you to make sure you're taken care of."
Ginny didn't know what to say. She had purposely numbed her heart against the pain for fear of drowning in her sorrow. The hole that Harry had left in her heart was vast, and she found her arms wrapped around her person more often than not in an effort to physically hold herself together.
"If he loved me, why did he leave?"
"Oh, Ginny!" cried Hermione. "He did love you! He loved you so much! But he had to do this. He had to destroy Voldemort."
"I know..." Ginny trailed off, wrapping her arms around herself.
"The goblins have released his will...Kingsley will be round later today to read it," said Hermione, unsure of herself.
Ginny suddenly got a lot paler.
"I don't...I can't...I'm not...I'm not ready," said Ginny.
"Me neither. But we'll get through it together. And Ron will be here. We'll be okay," said Hermione, more to herself than to Ginny.
End Flashback
It turned out that Harry had made sure all of his friends were well provided for. Number 12 had been left to Ron and Hermione as an 'early wedding present' because as Harry had said, one would had to have been blind to miss the feelings between the two. He had also left them a hefty sum of money to get them on their feet once they completed school. Molly and Arthur found themselves a bit heavier with gold, and Harry left George enough money to open a second branch in Hogsmeade.
A charity fund was established in Harry's name for the orphans of the war, to which several large donations had already been made, and Ginny was presented with a jewel encrusted box.
My Dearest Ginny,
It pains me to know that I may not survive this war. I never meant to make a promise to you that I could not keep, and I am filled with shame at the prospect of causing you torment. You must know that I love you with everything that I am, and that no matter the outcome, I will love no other. I do so hope that you will read this letter and laugh over how paranoid I can be, but I sadly think that will not be my fate.
It is my every intention to marry you, and should I perish before, please know that I will look after you even in death. Enclosed please find the Potter bonding rings. Hold onto them with pride, and know that no matter if I live or die, I want you to treasure them for me, and perhaps one day they will come of use to you. These are my most prized possession. They are solid proof that my parents loved eachother above all others, and they in turn, symbolize the love that my heart feels for you. Also enclosed is my mother's engagement ring. If I am unable to place on your finger, please at least wear it close to your heart so that you may always remember this unyeilding love I have for you.
I have left you the remainder of my estate, as I have declared my intentions not only to your parents, but also to several key members of our government, and of course, my account manager here at Gringotts. You will want for nothing, my love, and while I know that worldly possessions will never satisfy any gap I may leave, I do hope that they will at least provide you with some sense of comfort and security.
I fear I must leave you with only this small box of possessions, and these few inadequate words. I love you, Ginerva Weasley, until the very end.
Forever Yours,
Harry Potter.
Oh how Ginny had wished in that moment that the life he had left for her would be enough. But Ginny didn't want his money, or his heirlooms, or his extravagant houses. By then Ginny already knew of the life that was growing inside of her, and she was determined to freeze everything as it was and leave it for the son or daughter who would never get to know their father.
She had gone to Gringotts in the following days, and had willed the vast majority of what Harry left her to the yet unborn Potter heir. She kept only 20,000 galleons for herself, incase she ever found herself in a bind, and had the rest put in trust vaults for her unborn babe. She placed the three rings on a necklace, close to her heart, and steeled herself to share her shocking news with her friends.