Written for the Hogwarts' Romance Awareness Challenge: There's a timer on your wrist that counts down to the moment you meet your soulmate, single parent!au.

Word count: 1331

better late than never

In theory, soulmates were nice and all. Having a timer tattooed on your wrist telling you when you'd meet them was perhaps a bit tacky-and, in Harry's opinion, rather ugly when it zeroed out-but at least it was somewhat useful, a sure what to know that, yes, there was someone out there for you, someone you could be happy with.

However, when you were born with a soulmate timer that told you you would only meet your match in thirty-seven years, well, things tended to take another perspective entirely. While yes, as a child the notion of waiting for his soulmate had seemed romantic, by the time Harry had turned eighteen, it had been heartbreaking instead, leading him to wonder if he was supposed to put his life on hold for that long or try to start one anyway and maybe miss out on his soulmate.

"Dad, dad!" Lily shouted, dragging Harry away from his thoughts. "The pancakes are burning!"

"... That they are," Harry noted with the absent panic of someone used to disasters. "It's fine, pumpkin, I'll make you another."

"For me too," James piped in, as though Harry would forget to feed his son.

Rolling his eyes, Harry scraped the pan and started anew. He was done quickly, thankfully, and soon was sat with his two children.

Two very quiet children, who seemed to be more focused on him than the food they'd usually be devouring. Uh, went Harry's mine, something's wrong.

"Not hungry? Cause I can eat there if you don't want them," Harry joked, pulling the plate toward himself slowly.

That seemed to wake them up. "Wait!" "Hey, no!" they yelled simultaneously, their forks banging in midair as they reached for the food at the same time.

Harry laughed as he ended up having to serve them, dividing the food between the two. It was lucky he had already eaten, because knowing his kids they'd have him starve otherwise. "Come on, no need to fight, there's enough for everyone."

They pouted but quieted down,sharing an oddly meaningful look as they did so.

"You really haven't noticed, then?" James finally asked, Lily pointedly staring at him to do so.

"Noticed what?" Harry asked, looking at Lily and James in concern. There didn't seem to be anything different-or wrong-about them. "Did I miss something?"

Lily giggled, rolling her eyes. "Yes, Dad, you've missed something. Look down!"

Harry looked down, and then back up again, seeing nothing worth notice. "Yes?"

"No, I mean look down," she repeated. "At your wrist," she added excitedly, nearly vibrating off her chair.

"Oh," Harry said. And yes, that made sense, didn't it? He had turned thirty-seven a few months ago, and his countdown would be nearing the end by now.

Harry was surprised to find that he was almost scared to look-how much time did he have left, he wondered. How long until he was to meet someone who, according to everything and everyone, would complete him utterly?

Eleven hours, twenty-one minutes and fifty-nine seconds apparently.

"Well, fuck," Harry said very eloquently.

"Dad! No swearing!"

.x.

Between taking the children to school, making sure they hadn't forgotten anything-heading back inside twice to grab James' homework and Lily's lunch-and his own busy workload, it was honestly a wonder Harry managed to look down at his timer more than once during the day.

It was easy however, after all these years, to push past it and bury himself into his work until the time came to get the kids from school.

To get three kids from school, apparently.

"Did you multiply while I wasn't looking?"

"Dad, come on," Lily whined, blushing, as Harry lifted her up and peppered her cheeks with kisses. "Stop embarrassing us!"

"Fine, fine," Harry relented, setting her back down. He turned to the third kid, raising his eyebrow questioningly. "And who might you be?"

"That's Al'," James replied with a smile, tugging at the boy's hand. "He's our friend. Can he come stay over tonight?"

"Oh yes, please!" Lily pleaded, her trembling green eyes joining James' in an attack Harry had never learned to resist.

"If it's okay with - Al', is it?"

"Albus, sir," Albus replied, scuffing his shoes.

"If it's okay with Albus' parents, then. I'd rather we not get accused of kidnapping."

"What would they do?" James scoffed. "Have you arrest yourself?"

"That could get rather awkward, don't you think?" Harry smiled, resisting the urge to ruffle his son's hair. "Besides, you wouldn't want Albus' parents to worry, now, would you?"

"It's just my mum, sir," Albus replied.

"Call me Harry," Harry said. "And did she agree with this?"

"Err…" The three kids shuffled on their feet awkwardly.

Harry could feel his heart melting, but unless Albus' mother actually agreed to let her son come with him, there wasn't much he could do. "Sorry, kids," he said as he told them so, wincing internally at their sad faces.

"But she was late!" Lily blurted out.

"Yes, and the teacher didn't want to wait for her anymore!" James added, eyes burning with fierce determination. "And, and-"

"-he's our friend," Lily continued, "we couldn't just leave him behind, 'cause you said so - you said friends never left friends behind, Dad!"

"I'm fine waiting, really," Albus interjected. "Mum should be there soon - my babysitter cancelled so she had to drive all the way across London and so she said she could be late," he explained, eyebrows furrowed as he recited what had probably been his mother's exact words.

"Well," Harry started, feeling torn, "why don't we just wait for your mother with you and ask her if she'd be okay with your little scheme then?"

Lily clapped her hands excitedly. "Oh, could we?" Turning to the boys, she said, "Say yes, say yes!"

Harry stiffled his laughter, knowing that no matter the kids' answer there was no way he would be leaving Albus behind on his own.

Luckily, they didn't have to wait for long-barely ten minutes later, a taxi pulled in and the passenger door opened suddenly, a red-haired woman coming out nearly running toward them.

She spun Albus in a loving hug as soon as she reached them, much like Harry had with Lily earlier. She only seemed to notice that they weren't alone when Albus squirmed in her arms, asking to be let down.

"Sorry," she said a little breathlessly, tucking back her hair behind her ears. "I should have - thank you for looking after Albus for me," she corrected herself. "I'm Ginny Weasley," she said, extending a hand in greeting.

"Harry Potter," Harry replied, stunned, shaking her hand. "I -"

This was, he believed, the prettiest woman he'd seen in a long time, perhaps ever.

The moment stretched on, the children curiously peering at them.

"Uh, would you mind letting go of my hand?" Ginny finally asked, smirking a little.

Harry immediately did so, blushing. "Yes, of course, sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's fine," Ginny laughed. "I get it." And she looked down at her exposed wrist, and then Harry's, where both timers were still flashing with the zeros of a recently finished countdown. "You probably weren't expecting this."

"I wasn't, no," Harry admitted. "But…"

"But?" Ginny asked, eyes twinkling merrily.

"But I'm not upset that it happened," he confessed.

"I'm not upset that it happened either," Ginny replied in the same tone.

The moment was broken by Albus' whispered, "Are they gonna kiss now?" Lily and James promptly shushed him, but it was too late.

Harry chuckled. "Would you like to come over tonight? You and Albus, I mean. Our kids seem to have gotten rather attached."

"Just our kids?" Ginny teased.

Harry merely smiled. "So, what do you say? Are you in?"

Ginny took in the sight of the three children's pleading faces and Harry's raised eyebrow. She shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

The children cheered all the way home.