Chapter One: The Leaky Cauldron

Harry Potter's life had never been quieter. Now that Voldemort was forever gone, all Harry had to worry about was were the kids doing alright in school and was Ginny happy with their marriage. It was exhausting in the most boring way.

He went to work, where he made sure all the other people were doing their jobs, and, if he was lucky, actually got to go out and arrest a witch or wizard. Of course, most of the dark wizards were in Azkaban, since the Death Eaters had not been given any free passes this time. All of his children were in school now, Lily in her second year, so he didn't even get to come home and play games with them. Ginny was lovely, but she wasn't much of a lover anymore, if he was honest. She didn't seem interested in being passionate with each other, like she had when they'd first said their vows. Harry knew this was normal, but it was still disappointing.

For the last few months, this feeling had been boiling inside him, begging him to spice up his life somehow. He had tried playing hooky from work, but Ron wouldn't do it with him, so he spent the day at home trying to figure out what to do. He had tried to go skydiving, like muggles did, but it had been little more than a long fall that made him feel sick afterward. He knew he had to find a permanent change to apply to his life, but he hadn't the slightest idea what that change should be.

"Goodbye, love, see you tonight, hopefully," Ginny kissed Harry as he prepared to apparate.

"I'll try to stay up," he promised and then with a crack he was in the atrium at the Ministry of Magic. From there, he took one of the elevators down to the level one, where the Department of Magical Law Enforcement was located. He turned left into the Auror Office and walked to the door marked Harry Potter Department Head.

"Hey, Mate, fancy going to the Leaky Cauldron tonight?" Ron popped his head into Harry's office around five thirty.

"Sure, Ginny doesn't get off until eleven tonight."

"Ah, well do you mind if Hermione comes along?"

"'Course not," Harry said, packing his things into his briefcase.

"Alright, we'll meet you there then."

"I'll be there in ten minutes."

Ron's red head disappeared from view and Harry could hear his footsteps fading toward the elevators.

When Harry apparated outside the Leaky Cauldron ten minutes later and stepped inside, he wasn't surprised to see that there were only four other parties in the bar. It was Tuesday, after all.

"Evening, Mr. Potter," called Chester, the new barkeep. His father, Tom, had been bartender when Harry had first learned he was a wizard. The old man had passed away about twenty years ago and Chester was beginning to age as well. "What can I get you?"

"A butterbeer, please."

"Harry! Over here!" He turned at the sound of Hermione's voice. He smiled and raised a hand in greeting, then took his butterbeer from Chester and headed to the table. When he reached it, Hermione stood so that they could hug.

"We really ought to do this more often," she mused as she took her seat again. "I feel like I haven't seen Ginny for ages."

"Ginny works so late, I hardly see her either," Harry admitted. "I wouldn't see her at all if she wasn't sweet enough to get up early and see me off."

"How sad! That poor dear, she probably misses you even more than you miss her."

Harry wasn't sure what Hermione meant by that, but he had learned long ago not to try to understand the babbling of women. Ron just shrugged at him when Hermione looked down at her drink.

"Hey, Harry," Ron tried to change the subject, "did you work out that problem with-"

"No talking about work!" Hermione interrupted.

"Well what do you want us to talk about? Our whole life is work, there isn't anything else."

Hermione ignored him and faced Harry, "have you heard from the children lately?"

"Ah, well, they only left just over a month ago, but Lily writes often. She's still new to it all, really, so she tells us all the things we already know, but we act exciting for her."

Hermione sighed, "I wish Hugo would write. I sent him a three page letter and he sent me back half a page a whole week later!"

Harry chuckled, "he's enjoying his freedom, don't hassle him too much. You're lucky he responded at all."

She harrumphed, "what about James and Albus?"

"James, never. Albus, sometimes."

"Never!"

"Ginny used to send him letters, but she gave up when Hedwig kept coming back without a response." When Harry and Ginny had gotten a household owl to take care of their post for them, Ginny had suggested they name him Hedwig, as a memento to the sweet little snowy owl Harry had called a friend. At first, it had pained him to think of her, but he had come around to the idea.

"I hope Rose and Hugo don't do that, ever!"

"Don't worry, Rose shouldn't. Hugo might. But he's a boy, he doesn't know he's hurting your feelings."

"Even if I tell him?"

"He won't understand it."

She sighed, "boys."

They chatted for a while longer and Harry had two more butterbeers. Around seven thirty, they said goodbye and apparated back to their homes. Harry stepped into the shower, wishing that Ginny were there with him.

After, he went through his briefcase and did some more paperwork, just for something to do. When it was nearly ten thirty, Harry could hardly keep his eyes open long enough to read a sentence, let alone write one. He climbed the stairs and fell into bed, sorry that he couldn't stay up another forty-five minutes for Ginny.

The sound of the shower woke him briefly and he knew that Ginny was home. He faded back into sleep. He was awoken again as Ginny crawled into bed. Her chilly nightgown brushed against his leg as she settled into bed. He turned to say hello and give her a kiss, but he couldn't recall if he'd made it or if they had both fallen asleep before he could.