A/N: I would like to express my thanks to those who have taken time to read this story. I would also like to extend a special thanks to codyesh2 and hermioneism for leaving reviews. Please, please be kind and remember to review. I NEED to know what you think of this story. Without further ado...

What He Has Left

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

A Dream Within a Dream by Edgar Allan Poe

Chapter 2: A Disastrous Dinner

Hermione Granger burst through the front doors of the Auror Academy as she made her way briskly down the hall. She would not allow tardiness, Ginny was home and she longed to see her lost friend. When Hermione had heard that they had found Ginny, she was filled with so much hope, joy, and regret. In truth, Hermione was ashamed because it was her idea that Harry move on, and seek comfort in others. At the time she had considered herself completely justified. Harry was tearing himself apart with worry, and it was possible that Ginny was dead. Logic clearly pointed to the fact that Ginny might never return. She had therefore sat and chatted with Harry, and had convinced him to see the nice girl from Auror training.

Hermione stopped short, as she passed the hall she was supposed to turn down. If Ginny ever found out, Hermione shuddered at the thought. She had spent the past nights crying herself to sleep because she was haunted with the fact that she had betrayed the closest female friend she had ever known. What if Ginny never wants to speak to me again? No.Hermione decided she wouldn't think about that for now. She righted her path and took away with renewed briskness, which was the real reason she was in a hurry. She needed to be sure that they were there on time so she could pull Ginny aside and explain some things before anyone else told her about Kailen.

Turning down the final hall Hermione spotted a head of red hair as well as an unruly head of black hair. Hermione rushed forward and saw that they were conversing with a pretty witch with shoulder length brown hair and blue eyes; Kailen Jimmings.

"Hello Hermione," Kailen said, though the greeting was stiff and clipped. The air that hung between the foursome was pregnant with negative energy. Hermione gazed at Harry who looked to be extremely pale. Ron was casting nasty looks at Kailen, as he had been wont to do ever since he found out they had found his youngest sister. That also worried Hermione, what if Ron found out what she'd done? Hermione pushed these thoughts from her mind and turned a determined face to Ron.

"Are you ready?" Hermione asked. Ron's face shifted to look at her and he gave her the lopsided grin that she loved so much.

"I'm always ready to see family."

"Alright then," Hermione said in a business-like tone. She pulled out the portkey that Mrs. Weasley had given to her.

"Everyone grab hold."

After receiving all the terrible information from her mother Ginny felt like she was fourteen again, when Harry was chasing after Cho and she was trying to move on with her life. In her panic she turned to the only person she could think of.

Ginny threw extra powder into the grate and called out, "Nicholas Vau." Long distance calls required quite a bit of floo powder. When the familiar vision of the empty parlor swam before her she let out a relieved sigh. With a pop, Pimpim was immediately in front of her.

"Pimpim, I need to speak with Nicholas!" The elf nodded and quickly disappeared with a pop. Ginny waited a little while before Nicholas ran into the room.

"Ginny, what is wrong? Is it Emmie? Has something happened?" His genuine concern caught her off guard and she found, like on so many previous occasions, she was extremely happy to have him in her life.

"No, nothing is wrong with Emmie, except for the fact that she misses you terribly. Nicholas, I don't think this separation is going to work. She refuses to speak English unless she sees you again, and you know none of my family, with the exception of Bill, will be able to understand her." Ginny watched as Nicholas leaned back in his chair and stared at her.

"There is something you're not telling me," he said after a while. It was not what she was hoping for. She was hoping for an, 'I'll be right over.'

"It's Harry," she conceded. Nicholas nodded knowingly, not saying anything and waiting for her to continue, and so she did. She told him everything that she had learned and sat by helplessly waiting for him to say something.

"So you want me to come over to make him jealous?" he asked finally. Ginny gaped at him, that wasn't what she had thought at all. She just needed a friend to support her through this and he was the only person she had thought to call.

"No, Nicholas, I want you here to help me. I know that's selfish, but I always feel more at ease whenever you are near. Emmie misses you terribly. You are the only father she's ever known," Ginny added the last part, hoping to persuade him to come for Emmie's sake.

"She needs to get to know her real father," Nicholas said. Ginny felt tears welling up in her eyes. He wasn't going to come. In a time when she needed him most he wasn't going to come.

"What time do you want me to be there?" he asked finally. Ginny almost leaped through the fire with excitement, but instead opted for thanking her good friend profusely.

"Come as soon as you can. It's only been five hours but it feels as though it has been five days," Ginny sighed. Nicholas nodded.

"I'll lose half my floo powder on this trip alone! Not to mention the paperwork I have to file with both ministries before I can make the trip. Fine. I'll be over as soon as I can." And then he was gone and Ginny removed her head from the fireplace. Now that she knew she would have the support of Nicholas there, she just needed to figure out how she was going to tell Harry that Emmie was his daughter. Ginny sighed and cursed in French.

"Watch your language," said a voice from the other room, and Ginny squealed in delight as Bill came marching into the living room. Ginny smiled happily and threw herself into his embrace.

"I missed you,"Ginny said, using French as much as possible.

"I missed you too, but why all the French?"

"Well I did live there for three and a half years."

"Not to mention eet is a much preetier language," Fleur stated as she marched across the room to embrace Ginny, something she hadn't done before. Ginny hugged the fair witch and smiled a genuinely happy smile.

"Hello Fleur."

"Hello Ginny, I trust that Nicholas treated you well?" Ginny nodded emphatically.

"He is coming tonight, for…moral support," Ginny said and in searching the woman's eyes she knew she understood.

"Nicholas is coming?" Bill asked as their mother and father came downstairs.

"Yes, I need him to be here, I'm having separation issues, as is Emmie," Ginny stated defiantly, daring one of her family members to comment. No one said anything negative, and Fleur was delighted to be seeing her cousin after such a long time.

Molly Weasley looked expectantly around the room. Finally her glare rested on Bill who took a few steps back, raising his hands in innocence.

"I don't know what you're angry about Mum, but it's not my fault."

"Is that so Bilius?" Molly asked. Bill cringed at the use of his full first name. Molly continued, "Then perhaps you can tell me whose fault it is that my grandsons aren't here, hmm?" Bill seemed to lose some color, but it was Fleur who came to his rescue.

"Honestly Molly, we sought it was wiser not to bring zee children." Fleur stated primly staring Molly down. Molly glared back but nodded her agreement not too much later. Ginny stood by watching the scene, longing for these children that were being mentioned. Obviously children of Bill and Fleur, hopefully not too much younger than Emmie. It would be wonderful for Emmie to have cousins to play with. Then again, Ginny wasn't sure how Emmie would act around other children. The child was so accustomed to being the center of attention. There was a ding from the kitchen and Mrs. Weasley rushed to fetch the food out of the oven. Soon after that there was a knock at the door.

A group of four people walked inside and upon seeing them Ginny squealed in delight and launched herself after them. Fred and George caught her awkwardly and gave her skeptical looks.

"Do you think she's already forgotten that we're the twins…"

"Gred and Forge? She must have for she's greeting us much too warmly."

Ginny smiled at her brothers but quickly sobered enough not to tackle Angelina and Katie and instead opted for a broad grin. The twins had a fun time regaling everyone with their recent adventures at their newest Weasley Wizard Wheezes in Hogsmead. There was soon another knock on the door and there were new introductions to be made as Charlie entered with a buxom witch on his arm and a glaring Percy behind him. They all greeted Ginny with some fragility and she knew that they were all worried about when Harry would arrive.

Harry plopped down in a familiar front yard to a growing familiar structure. It was home, but he was afraid to enter. She is inside, Harry thought feeling shivers of delight and terror coursing through his body. He had thought he'd lost her and the sudden realization that he hadn't had brought him so much hope, but in their time apart he had started seeing Kailen and she was a great witch. He couldn't just end it with her could he?

"Shall we go in?" Kailen asked with fake determination, but Harry smiled at her for trying. They had discussed this issue to no end for about a week and they had both decided that it would be best for Ginny to realize that Harry was in an adult relationship now, at least that is what Kailen had said. Harry didn't know what was so adult about it. In their time together they had done nothing but snog in inappropriate places like a couple of randy teenagers, but it had only every progressed past snogging once, and in that instance Harry had been considerably smashed. Harry couldn't ever get Ginny out of his head when he was kissing Kailen. He knew it was unfortunate to compare Kailen to Ginny, because he knew in his mind that no one measured up, but Harry was determined to allow Kailen the relationship that he had started with her. And so the four people set to enter through the kitchen door where they found a flustered Mrs. Weasley bustling about the kitchen, swishing her wand to and fro.

"Hello dearies, everyone is in the living room," she motioned for them to go and they obeyed. That was when he saw her, sitting between Bill and Charlie, her head thrown back in reckless abandon as she laughed at something the twins were demonstrating, while Percy in the corner was trying hard not to let his amusement show. Harry stopped breathing for a moment as he gazed at her. She was a woman now. How old was she again? She would be twenty on Saturday and Harry didn't know what to do with himself. The long dormant creature in his chest purred in delight at the sight of her. She was slim, yet curvy and her hair flowed gently past her shoulders, it was a brighter red than he'd ever remembered. Her face was longer, less round, more mature. She was drop dead gorgeous.

"Is that her," Kailen whispered harshly in his ear and he was brought back to the land of functional thinking. He looked at Kailen who was nervously patting her brown hair and straightening her blouse. She looked…worried.

And with good reason too, thought a cynical part of his brain.

"Oi! Having fun without the rest of the family? Couldn't wait until I got here to tell the good stories?" Ron harrumphed as he led the awkward group into the room. Harry thought he saw Ginny's smile falter, but she was up in a dash and embracing Ron with a fierceness to rival that of Mrs. Weasley. Harry could smell her while she was this close; she still held that intoxicating flowery scent that drove his senses wild. He heard her whisper brokenly into Ron's neck, "I've missed you so much." Ron's only reply was to nod stupidly. It was the second time Harry had ever seen Ron show so much affection toward his sister.

Harry heard a soft sob to his left and saw that Hermione had tears streaming down her cheeks making her face all blotchy. Ginny raised her eyes to Hermione and he saw that Ginny was on the verge of tears as well.

"Hermione," Ginny said outstretching her arms. Hermione walked into the embrace and stayed there for the longest time crying outright causing Ron to look at her as though she were barmy. It was a long time before they broke contact and once they did Harry caught her gaze and something flickered there, something so infinitesimal that later Harry would wonder if he'd really seen anything at all, but she smiled at him. It wasn't the same smile she gave Ron or Hermione, it was more of a courtesy smile.

"Hello Harry," she said. Harry moved to hug her but she stepped backward and extended her hand. Harry was so pained that he didn't know what to do except shake the offered hand. Even the feel of her hand inside his was enough to drive him mad. Bloody hell, what's the matter with me? Ginny, however, had turned her attention to the last person in the room.

"Hello, I'm Ginny Weasley," Ginny said kindly extending the same welcome she had to Harry. Kailen took the offer and seemed to calm considerably.

"I'm Kailen Jimmings, I'm Harry's girlfriend," Kailen said, Harry thought she might be testing the waters a bit, but Ginny plastered on her courtesy smile and moved to walk back to her position between her two eldest brothers. Harry followed her movement with his eyes and almost didn't notice when there was a rush of flames announcing the entrance of another person in the room. When Harry got a good look at the man, it was enough to set his blood to boil. Fleur's cousin, Nicholas, was being warmly embraced by Ginny Weasley.

Ginny was so grateful for the tell tale sound of a flooing person. She didn't think she could bear one more moment of pretend. When she saw Nicholas dusting himself off from the trip, it was like her insides settled and she was home once more.

"Nicholas, you came," Ginny said, not noticing that she had switched to French.

"Of course I came; it was a long journey though. France to England is not a pleasant trip." Nicholas whined kissing Ginny's forehead in an affectionate manner. Ginny smiled at him and grasped his hand pulling him further into the room.

"Everyone, this is Nicholas, I'm sure you remember him from Bill and Fleur's wedding? He's Fleur's cousin and was my company in my time away," Ginny said gazing adoringly at her best friend in the whole world. Nicholas gave her a wary look but waved to the room.

"Bonjour everyone," he greeted. Fleur was up in a second greeting her cousin and fussing over his clothes, asking him how he'd been all this time. When Nicholas finally got a word in edgewise it was to Ginny.

"Where is Emmie?"

"Upstairs, sleeping," Ginny replied. It was at that moment that a red faced Ron stomped up to them and said, "Can you please stop speaking in French? The rest of us can't bloody understand you!"

Ginny smiled at her brother apologetically. She looked around and saw the mingled confusion on a lot of faces. Hermione, on the other hand, looked extremely pensive which set a queasy feeling in Ginny's stomach. If Hermione found out about Emmie and told Harry then Ginny would have a mess to clean up later. Truth be told, she still hadn't found a solution to telling Harry that he was a father. It only made it more difficult that he was blissfully content with the pretty brunette in the corner.

"I'm just going to show our guest the house; you all stay and enjoy the party. Come on Nicholas," Ginny motioned for him to follow and he did so obligingly. Ginny noticed that Fleur and Bill were following as well and she sighed, she wasn't sure that she was ready to share her daughter with the rest of the world quite yet. She didn't want to drop the poor child into the middle of the Weasley family; there were so many people to get to know. Sensing her unease Nicholas rubbed her arm and Ginny smiled kindly.

She led the way up the stairs and down the hall on the third floor. She stopped just outside her daughter's door and entered quietly. There in the dimming light of the day lay the most precious sight. Ginny thought she might never tire of watching her daughter sleep, the gentle rise and fall of her chest. The peaceful look on the young girl's face was enough to touch the cracked edges on Ginny's heart. Fleur made a soft gasp as she looked at Emmie.

"Ginny, she's beautiful," Bill breathed taking a look at his niece, and Ginny felt her heart swell with pride. She knew that her daughter was a beautiful child, but it always helped when other people recognized it as well.

"She looks just like you," Fleur spoke softly. Nicholas moved forward and knelt before the bed, brushing away the hair from Emmie's face. He placed a soft kiss on her cheek and Ginny watched her daughter's eyes open, slowly adjusting and taking in everything around her.

"Nicholas, you came," Emmie exclaimed. Her excitement was evident in her features and voice. She sat up and put her small hands on either side of his face.

"I could not stay away my angel," Nicholas said, his voice slightly sad. Emmie cast a long look at Ginny. It was a wonder the way her daughter could look at her in one instance and remind her so much of Harry.

"Mother has been upset ever since we left," Emmie told Nicholas, and then, "have you been missing us too?"

"Every moment, Emmie. You know how much I love you."

"And Mummy?"

"You know I love your mother very much," Nicholas relented.

"So then be my daddy and then you and mummy can be happy together!" Emmie said with renewed fervor. This was not the first time that Emmie had asked Nicholas to marry Ginny. They had talked about it extensively in the days when Ginny had thought that Harry was dead, but no matter how much they discussed it they had decided that they did not have the instinct to go against the heart.

"Emmie, you know that can't happen." Nicholas stated firmly.

"Why not?"whined the young girl; fresh tears coming to her eyes.

"Emmie, I will always be your daddy, as long as you consider me such, but you have a real daddy, your father—"

"I've never met him," Emmie pouted crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"No, but you have seen pictures," Nicholas reminded her and she nodded.

"I dream about him. He's very sad Nicholas, can we not help him?"

"Help him how?"

"Find mummy and be with her again," Emmie stated with renewed determination.

"Yes, we can. Your daddy is here today." Nicholas told her. Ginny watched as the confusion crossed her small features before it was replaced with uncertainty.

"Do I have to meet him?"

"Yes," this answer came from Ginny. Emmie looked at her mother and smiled holding her arms out. Ginny rushed to her daughter's side on the bed and scooped her into an embrace.

"He does not know you are his daughter," Nicholas told the young girl.

"Good. I do not want him to know."

"Emmie, why not?"Ginny asked appalled. She was silently relieved that her daughter would not be introducing herself to Harry as his flesh and blood, but it disturbed her that she did not wish to even acknowledge the fact. However, when Emmie turned her brown eyes to Ginny, she felt the pain and fear within them.

"What if he does not like me?" Emmie asked. Ginny felt her heart crack a little more. It was Nicholas who answered, "Who would dare to hate an angel?"

Emmie extended her little arms to Nicholas who took her in his and exchanged a silent look with Ginny. It was time. As the trio moved through the door that still held Bill and Fleur, Bill stopped her.

"She really is beautiful Ginny," he said looking Ginny dead in the eyes.

"I know, she's exquisite," Ginny breathed.

"Her French and speech development are impeccable; does she speak English at all?" Bill asked.

"She speaks English, yes. She prefers French, however. Nicholas rarely speaks English and she adores him, as you saw and so…she mostly speaks French, but I have stressed the importance of English," Ginny sighed. Emmie was now back to her happy self, pulling on Nicholas's ear as he made funny faces at her. It was time, and so they made their way downstairs.

It had taken everything that he'd learned in Auror training about self control, to keep him from rushing forward to attack the Frenchman. He'd recognized him immediately as the same man he'd hexed at Bill and Fleur's wedding. The last night he'd seen Ginny before today. Harry pushed the thought from his mind; it was too much to think about at the moment.

"Are you alright Harry?" Harry looked over at Kailen who was fidgeting in the corner that she had unknowingly placed herself in. Harry smiled at her, she had been a source of comfort in the past five months, and Harry didn't know what he'd have done if she hadn't been there. Still there was something inside of him telling him that he was being unfair to her. He should never have brought her here, but the Weasley's had insisted that Ginny know about Kailen since Harry had refused to leave her.

"I'm fine, how are you?" Harry asked grabbing her hand and pulling her from the corner. Kailen melted into his touch and brought her arms around his middle, making Harry feel like a caged animal.

"As long as you're here, I'm fine. Everyone seems a little tense though, and I mean I can understand why…" Kailen trailed off casting an expecting look at Harry, but he made no indication that he was going to comment; and so she continued, "That man that she said she'd spent her time away with. He's very fetching." Harry could hear the fake casualness in her voice and bristled at the mention of the man, but he'd told himself that he had nothing to be jealous over. If Ginny and Nicholas were together, then there would be nothing for it; he would have to be happy for her and not try to interfere because he had Kailen. It was only fair that Ginny was allowed to move on as well.

It still set the monster in Harry's chest to grumble and Harry felt more unease as his mind drifted to what the couple might have done. Three and a half years in isolation cannot be an easy thing to endure. What had they been up to, what did they do to keep themselves busy? Harry felt bile rising in his throat at the thought that Nicholas might have touched Ginny, his Ginny; made love to Ginny, his Ginny. Maybe he'd tricked her into some evil deed by turning up the veela charm full force. Or maybe she was willing, offered the sardonic voice in Harry's head, but he quickly pushed away the thought.

"He's part veela, that's why he's so…fetching as you would say." Harry grumbled. Kailen nodded and dropped the subject, seeming to sense that she was heading into dangerous territory.

"Dinner is served," Mrs. Weasley called. The horde of people made their way into the backyard and started seating themselves along the massive table. Mr. Weasley was situated at the head with Mrs. Weasley making her way to his right and Percy situating himself to the left. Ron moved to sit next to his mother, but she told him to move two seats down, that those seats were reserved for Bill and Fleur. When Ron situated himself, Harry took the seat next to him while Hermione and Kailen took the seats across from them.

There was comfortable chatter as Charlie and the twins floated the food outside. The air was warm and Harry was reminded of the many summers spent out here, like this with his favorite family. Kailen had started to engage Harry in conversation, but Harry found that his attention was drawn to the people making their way outside. Bill and Fleur came out first talking in hurried French and Ginny followed with Nicholas behind her. This is not what caused Harry's heart to contract; it was the little girl giggling at Nicholas while the man held her in his arms that caused Harry's insides to go to pieces. He had dreamed of this little girl.

Ginny braced herself as silence engulfed the outside air. She stopped as did Nicholas and watched as everyone stared at them. Ginny realized that this was going to be much more difficult than she had thought.

"Mummy?" Emmie asked, her brow creased in confusion as she saw all of the people. Ginny panicked as she saw Hermione's eyebrows disappear within her hair. Oh shite, she's probably got it all figured out by now. Ginny quelled the queasy feeling within her and smiled bravely at the assembled family and friends.

"Hello everyone, this is my daughter Emmie. A lot of you haven't seen her in a while and some of you have never met her before." Ginny said, wondering why an introduction of family should feel so formal. Emmie, however did not sense the same awkwardness from her mother, instead she beamed happily at the crowd.

"Hello, my name is Emmie Lilica Weasley and I'm almost this many," she stated proudly holding up four fingers. Ginny felt her heart thud inside her chest. But Emmie continued, "You all must be Mummie's family! She has missed you a lot." No one moved, except for Harry who stood and stormed past them into the house. Ginny nodded at the group apologetically before she kissed her daughter's forehead and made her way into the house.

A/N: Once again, please take a short time to review. It really fuels me to continue. Many thanks, Meg