Author's note: Hmmm...bedtime at the Potter house went in a way different direction than I'd imagined.

Disclaimer: Still own nothing. Still not trying to steal anyone's ideas. Still just having fun. Hope you do, too.

Bedtime Stories – Part II

Miles away, in a stately old townhome on a quiet London street, another young family readied itself for bed. Here, too, someone waited impatiently for the night's story time. Instead of an excited five year old, however, it was a thirty year old father of three who sat and fairly bounced with anticipation.

'This,' he thought, 'is the best part of my day.'

After several long moments, two pajama-clad boys raced across the room and leapt into their father's waiting lap. Behind them was their mother, who looked somewhat exhausted and quite soaked from what must have been an eventful bathtime.

Harry placed a kiss on the top of both his sons' damp heads. He took in the smell of soap, shampoo, and toothpaste, thinking how wonderfully lucky he was before looking up at his wife.

"Lily went down without a fuss tonight." Fighting a grin, he continued, "I take it bathtime was a bit more exciting."

Ginny rolled her eyes at her husband, but she couldn't stop her own smile as she sat on the arm of the squashy armchair that occupied the boys' playroom. This was also her favorite time of day, and it wasn't just because it was one of the few instances when her rambunctious boys actually quieted down. It was actually because of the sheer joy her husband took from this simple nighttime ritual she'd experienced (and maybe taken for granted) her entire life.

As she watched her two boys lean lazily against their father's chest when he began an exciting tale, Ginny couldn't help but remember another night in this very house, six years and three children ago…

Ginny sat up in bed suddenly, and it only took a few seconds for her to realize that she was alone. Worried that Harry had again been called away on an Auror emergency, she crept out of bed and made her way carefully down the hall. She intended to go downstairs and make herself some tea for a long night's wait, but then she saw a light was already on in the kitchen.

"Harry?"

At her questioning tone, Harry's head popped up from his reading. "Ginny? What's wrong? Are you okay? Is it the baby?"

Crossing the room, Ginny lowered her very pregnant self into a chair. She placed a hand over Harry's before answering. "We're both fine." She then motioned towards the books piled on the kitchen table. "It's the middle of the night. What in the world are you doing?"

She became even more concerned…and curious…when Harry attempted to conceal the numerous books he'd obviously been reading. When she pushed his hands away and saw the titles and illustrations, she became even more confused. "Harry, what's going on?"

His head down, Harry mumbled. "Idunnoanybedtimestories."

Ginny understood immediately. The birth of their first child was fast approaching, and she could see the uncertainty behind the excitement in her husband's eyes. As usual, he'd been fairly quiet about his fears, but he'd let it slip to Ron that he was afraid he wouldn't know how to be a father, seeing as he couldn't really remember his own. Ron had confided in Hermione who had, of course, shared with Ginny.

Considering carefully, Ginny began methodically stacking books. Bright pictures of princes and dragons stared back at her, and she almost smiled at them before she took her husband's face to turn it towards her own. Wondering how best to reassure Harry, she decided to start simply.

"Where did you get all these?"

Harry shrugged. "Hermione helped with my research. You know – when in doubt, go to the library."

Now, Ginny did smile. "But of course." Her expression faded, however, when she thought of the real reason behind her husband's late night study session.

There hadn't been any room for fairy stories or nursery rhymes in the cupboard under the stairs on Privet Drive. Ginny had to take a deep breath to control her own anger…it wouldn't do for Harry to see her upset. But for perhaps the thousandth time since she'd known Harry, Ginny had the overwhelming desire to find an old beaters' bat and pay the Dursleys a little visit.

Placing a gentle hand on her stomach and the child growing there, Ginny couldn't imagine how someone could so horribly neglect a child. It almost amazed her that someone who had been treated as badly as Harry had could become such a sweet and loving man. And now it was her job to convince him that he would be just as wonderful as a father.

Ginny closed the last book and began to rise. Harry got quickly to his feet so he could help her. Before Harry could protest, she kept hold of his hands and began leading him from the kitchen. As they walked, she spoke quietly, "You need sleep." When her husband again began to protest, she continued, "And so do I…and it just so happens that I don't sleep as well when you're not there."

That quieted him quickly enough, and they were soon back in their bedroom. After they got into bed, Ginny snuggled into the warmth of her husband. "You know, only a really good father would care enough to memorize fairy tales at three o'clock in the morning."

"Ginny…"

She cut across him. "But the only way to learn bedtime stories is to have them told to you by someone who loves you very, very much…"

"I know, Gin, that's why I'm afraid I…"

She stopped him once more, but this time it was with a kiss.

Ginny tilted her head so she could look into her husband's clear, green eyes. Whispering, she began, "Once upon a time…"

With a smile, Ginny shook herself out of the memory just in time to hear her husband's quiet, "And they lived happily ever after."

Looking down, she saw that both boys were asleep. As was their custom, Ginny carried Albus, while Harry took James. After they'd gotten their sons settled safely into their beds, they met in the hall. Quite suddenly, Ginny found herself in her husband's arms.

"I think you outdid yourself tonight."

Harry led his wife to their bedroom. "Albus didn't even make it five minutes, and James wasn't far behind."

Ginny laughed as she undressed for bed. "And yet you finished the story?"

Shrugging, Harry called from their bathroom, his voice thick with toothpaste, "Artistic integrity and all that."

After slipping a gown over her head, Ginny got into bed. When her husband joined her, she complimented him again. "You have gotten quite good with the storytelling, Mr. Potter. Perhaps you've earned one yourself."

Harry kissed his wife's forehead. "Which one do I get tonight?"

A knowing smile on her face, Ginny answered, "This one is about a seemingly shy little girl who never thought the good, great boy-who-lived would ever notice her."

"Hmmm…but does this one have a happy ending?"

Ginny simply nodded and whispered, "Once upon a time…"

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