The characters and canon situations in the following story belong solely to JK Rowling. I am not making any money from the publishing or writing of this story.
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Harry had promised Ginny that morning that he would answer her parents' questions if everything became too much for her to handle. Ginny had smiled when he baulked at the idea. "I trust you," she had assured him.
Ginny was asleep and the Weasley's had more questions. Harry looked at Molly. "Can I put her in bed in her room? She needs to rest. Apperating was hard for her."
Molly nodded as she tried to stop crying. Harry carried Ginny upstairs to the only girly room in the house. Harry realized that the room looked the same as when he used to sneak in and visit Ginny in the middle of the night on school holidays.
Ginny smiled at Harry when her head touched the pillow. "Harry, do you remember the first time?"
Harry sat on the edge of the bed. "Of course." It was the night he had returned from the war and Ginny was not expecting him. He had showered and waited until the house was silent before he got under the covers with Ginny.
Her skin was so soft and she wanted him. Harry thought he had gone to heaven. They had waited for each other for so long and that night started he beginning of their future. As they made love, Harry knew he had found his home.
Coming back from his memory, Harry grinned at Ginny, he whispered, "That is something I will never forget."
Ginny sighed and closed her eyes. "Go to sleep. I will check on Jamie." Ginny nodded as she drifted off.
Harry found his son in the kitchen, being doted on by his grandparents. Harry's heart leapt when Jamie's face lit up. "Poppa! Gram can make food!"
Harry walked to the table. "She is a very good cook." Looking at Molly, he wanted to reassure her. "Jamie and I made waffles yesterday, didn't we?"
Jamie nodded his head. "They were good. Momma cut them up for me."
Jamie hopped into Arthur's lap as Molly brought him a sandwich and a glass of pumpkin juice.
Jamie's nose wrinkled at the new type of juice, Harry was stern. "You have to try it before you can say no thank you."
Jamie looked at his father. "Okay." Trying the juice made him smile and Jamie asked for more.
Molly seeing that Jamie was occupied asked Harry, "Did she say why she left?"
Harry cleared his throat. "Yes, because of a stupid statement of mine about unplanned pregnancies. She was already pregnant with…" He looked at Jaime. "She thought I would not want a family."
Molly was stricken. "Why didn't she come here?"
Harry sighed. "You had not spoken to her in six months remember? She felt alone."
Molly's tears were flowing down her face. "I was a fool."
Harry understood. "So was I, I should have searched for her everywhere, anywhere instead of sitting at home with my wounded pride."
Harry took the chance to break the tension with an idea he needed help with. "Could you help me with a party this week? It is Jamie's fourth birthday and I would like to have a real party for him and for Ginny at my flat."
Molly smiled. "That would be lovely dear when?"
Harry grinned. "Apparently Jamie and I share a birthday."
Molly clapped her hands in delight. "Wednesday it is!"
Harry was touched that Molly remembered his birthday. "Yes!"
Molly smiled. "I always remember my children's birthdays. Leave the party to me. I'll make the arrangements if you want."
"Thank you Molly," Harry was greatly relieved, but "I have another favor to ask…could you watch Jamie tomorrow? I want to take Ginny to St. Mungo's. Maybe there is something they can do." Harry had tears in his eyes.
"I will be there first thing."
Molly was sobbing in Arthur's arms as soon as Ginny, Harry, and Jamie left. "She's my baby. I can't lose her."
Arthur's eyes were red. "Maybe St. Mungo's can help. No matter what, I am thankful we have her right now."
After taking a nap and getting home, Ginny was feeling better and offered to make dinner. Harry jumped at the chance for Ginny's world famous penne chicken and armed with a grocery list and Jamie went to the market.
Ginny took the opportunity to sit in the living room and take a moment to relish how truly good it was to be back. She had done what she felt she had to at the time but she loved being with her family. The feeling she felt when she saw her Mum was like waking up on Christmas morning. There had been times when she had fighting for her life that she thought she would not ever see her family again. To walk into the Burrow and have her mother hug her was a dream come true.
Not being able to do magic did not matter to her. That was not what was important it was the entire wizarding world that meant home to Ginny and would be home Jamie. Ginny's head had just sunk further into the sofa pillows when a face appeared in the fireplace.
"Harry! Harry mate are you home?" It was Ron. Ginny smiled at her brother when he realized who he was looking at.
"Ginny? Hold on I am coming over." Ron Weasley stepped out of the fire and was standing next to her in an instant.
"Ginny, you're here." Her brother grabbed and hugged her tight, spinning her around in circles.
"Does Harry know you are back?" Ginny felt dizzy from the squeeze and the twirling.
"Hello Ron. Yes he knows I am here. So do Mum and Dad."
Ron looked at his little sister she looked horrible. "You on a diet or something? You look terrible, hold on."
Ron threw floo powder into the fireplace. "Hermione come quick, bring the kids. Ginny's here at Harry's. Tell George, Bill, Fred, Charlie, and okay fine tell Percy if you must. Hurry Hermione! I'll make sure she doesn't leave!"
Within ten minutes all of her siblings were surrounding Ginny. Her brothers, their wives or girlfriend, their children, everyone was standing staring at the prodigal sister return.
Hermione broke the silence. "Ginny, I am so glad to see you. Where have you been?"
Ginny had to sit down this was too much. "I have been in the U.S."
Before anyone could speak, the front door opened and Jamie started to run in. "Momma!" He stopped when he saw the crowd. Jamie hid behind Harry's legs trying to peak between them. Harry put down the market bags and picked up Jamie. Looking at the gathered faces, the thought that now he did not have to send owls. Jamie was hiding his face in Harry's neck; his reaction was the complete opposite to meeting his grandparents.
The family was staring at him and Jamie started to cry. "Poppa."
Harry kissed his head. "It's okay. You have seen pictures of almost everyone. They are all your family, uncles, aunts, cousins…well everybody just about."
Harry had heard the collective gasp when Jamie called him Poppa. He grinned while he watched the heads volley between looking at Jamie, Ginny, and him. Harry's attention was draw to Ginny she looked lost.
Harry took the bull by the horns. "I guess introductions are in order. I am Harry, in case you forgot the bewildered red head over there is Ginny and this little shy creature is our son, Jamie. Jamie, can you look at all the nice people?" Jamie peaked out from Harry's shoulder with a smile.
It was the oldest brother, Bill that broke the awkward silence. "Can I help you with the groceries Harry?" Bill moved to bring the bags into the kitchen.
Ginny could not move. It never occurred to her that her entire family would show up at once to be introduced to Jamie. Pavarti, Hermione, Fleur and Hortense had collected the children in the kitchen while the siblings gathered around the now seated Harry, Jamie and Ginny. Hermione yelled out from the kitchen, "We will make some dinner for everyone. Okay Harry?"
Harry was nervous the stern faces of all the Weasley brothers was scary. "That would be great, thanks Hermione." He was watching Ginny's brothers approach like a pack of wolves.
Charlie looked the maddest. "You have a son and you never told us? How could you Ginny? We have been so worried…" Ginny was shaking; Harry raised his hand to stop any further conversation.
"Just a minute boys, we can have this conversation. First let me introduce Jamie to his cousins." Harry did not want his son to hear this, with Jamie in his arms Harry walked into the kitchen.
Looking at Hermione Harry spoke softly to Jamie, "Jamie, this is your Aunt Hermione. She is so excited to meet you. She and Uncle Ron have a little boy almost your exact age. His name is Art. I bet if you ask him he is wearing big boy underwear too!"
Jamie wiggled down and stared at his cousin. "I can pee standing up can you?" Art nodded.
Hermione looked at Harry was shooed him out of the kitchen. "He will be fine go back to the inquisition."
Harry turned the living room and saw Ginny shrinking into the corner of the sofa. He bravely walked into the center of the group and sat down next to Ginny, pulling her into his arms. He lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, "I am here, and we will get through this together. Okay?"
Ginny nodded.
The interrogation began.
Harry took the brunt of the anger from the Weasley brothers. Patiently he explained how he terrified Ginny into believing that leaving was her only alternative. Harry took full responsibility for not searching harder to find her.
Harry's voice cracked when he spoke of how sad it made him not have been there when Jamie was born.
Ginny was sobbing as each of her brothers spoke of their regret for not trying harder to find her. It was Ron who asked the hardest question. "Why now? Why did you come back now?
Ginny looked at Harry. "Because Harry needs to take Jamie; I had to make sure Harry would take our son."
"But why?" Fred was insisting on an answer.
"Because according to the doctors in the States, in two months I will be dead." That admission broke Ginny's resolve and she fled to the bedroom.
Harry sat perfectly still. The truth was out and it did not set him free, it broke his heart.
George looked at Harry. "What the bloody hell is going on Potter?" The tears in George's eyes spoke of his fears.
Harry simply repeated what Ginny had told him. "Ovarian cancer…very aggressive…very advanced. She has been fighting it for a year and a half but muggle doctors said it is just a matter of time. She came home to me to you to us to die."
Harry heard the sobs from the kitchen. He realized that now everyone knew. "Excuse me." Harry went into the bedroom; Ginny was on the bed balled up. He crawled up next to her and held her next to him. Neither spoke. After a few moments, Ginny turned in his arms to face Harry.
"I don't want to do this Harry."
Harry started to let go of her.
"No not that that I like. No, I do not want to cry, wept, and hide away. I want to spend happy time with you, with Jamie, and with my family. Can we do that?"
Harry kissed her forehead. "Yep we can! Come on." Pulling Ginny up, they walked back into the living room. Everyone was silent when the two appeared. Harry looked at Ginny then at the crowd. Not missing a beat Harry asked the crowd, "What is for dinner?" The laughter was healing.
Jamie was happy as Ginny introduced him to all of his relatives. Sitting in his mother's lap, Jamie was asking all kinds of questions. Harry watched his son from the doorway to the kitchen. Jamie's smile was the brightest when he looked at his mother. Ginny was happy and that made Jamie happy. Harry was slowly finishing his butterbeer when he saw that Hermione was watching Ginny. He walked to his dear friend.
"The smile looks good on her doesn't?" Harry asked Hermione.
"She looks so fragile." Hermione sobbed into Harry's shoulder as they stood together.
Harry's arm rubbed Hermione back. "She is stronger than anyone realized. She has done an amazing job raising Jamie. He is great!"
Hermione smiled at Harry the smile on his face was an exact replica of Jamie's.
Hermione waited until people began to leave before she approached Ginny. She wanted her dear friend all to herself. It was late and Jamie had fallen asleep in Harry's lap as the family sat talking. Ron was holding a sleeping Art. Hermione had sent their other two children home with Bill and Fleur hours ago.
Ginny looked tired but did not want the evening to end. The foursome was all that was left and they were enjoying the quite conversation. Ron pointed out, "Art and Jamie will be in the same year at Hogwarts you know."
Ginny laughed. "Hopefully Jamie will be over showing everyone his 'big boy underwear' by then."
Hermione was the first to recover from the laughter. "Where are you staying Ginny?"
Ginny looked at Harry then answered. "Here. It just kind of happened. I guess it is the best for Jamie to be familiar with this place. It will make it easier for Harry when he has Jamie alone."
Hermione nodded. "You are so brave, having a baby alone. I couldn't do it with out Ron."
Ginny chuckled. "Brave or idiot…I am not sure but I got by. Jamie is tough."
Harry was watching his girls. He always thought of Hermione and Ginny as his girls, the ones he could always count on, the ones that stood by his side and made his life normal. Their friendship was natural not strained by prolonged absence. Harry loved watching them chat. Looking closer at Ginny, Harry realized she looked very tired.
Harry cleared his throat, "It is getting late and we have an early day tomorrow. I am going with Ginny to St. Mungo's so wish us luck!"
"Really?" Hermione looked anxious. "Do you need us to watch Jamie?"
Ginny shook her head. "Harry asked Mum to come over while we are gone but it might be a great if you could check on them."
Hermione was assuring Ginny that she would gladly check on Jamie and Molly in the morning when Ron stood up quickly.
"Time to go Hermione…Art just peed in his sleep."
Harry laughed.
Ron groaned as he helped Hermione up from the sofa. "Very funny you will find out Harry. Parenthood is always interesting."
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Thanks to everyone that has taken the time to let me know what they think of this story!
C
