"I'm coming to London for the weekend," she told him excitedly on the phone after he had answered her call.
"What, why?" asked Harry.
"Ben just rang, he's on his way to Australia but he's chosen to fly here for a one night stop over in London. He gets in Saturday morning, I've already booked two rooms for us close to the airport. He'll sleep most of the day but he'll join us for tea, then I'll see him off the next day," she exclaimed happily.
"Us?" asked Harry.
"Steven's hoping to come up with me, and Hermione said she might too, she wants to do some shopping in London. Luna and Rolf will be flying in with Ben," she said.
"Sounds like a great reunion," he told her.
"Harry, I'd love for you to come to dinner with us, to meet my sons," she said warmly.
"I'd love to," he said immediately, happy she was including him. "You know, you could both stay with me instead of a hotel. Save your money," he offered.
" Thank you, but I just booked and paid over the phone, plus we'll be close to the airport. Oh, it will be so good to see Ben again, even if it's only for a quick visit," he gushed.
"You know, you could come up Friday afternoon, we could all go out to dinner. Again, you could all stay here and you'd be closer to the airport Saturday morning," he offered, once again.
"Hmm, that does sound good. Oh, we could go to that weird restaurant that we loved so much. I was telling Hermione about it and she said she'd like to go," exclaimed Ginny.
He liked that she was talking about him with her friends, and wondered what her sons thought about him.
"I'm just not sure Steven would want to leave Lucy with the two boys overnight, Teddy can be quite a handful at bedtime, and Steven is the only one who can get him to settle," she mused.
"Not even his nana," he teased.
"Oh, he's a little angel for me, of course," she said. "I don't let him get away with anything, and there are absolutely no sweets after dinner."
" Wow, so you're a strict nana," he pretended to be surprised.
" No, I'm a sensible nana who knows what little boys are like when they have too much sugar before bed. Actually, I'm thinking about cutting out sugar altogether," she added.
Now that did surprise him. "But you love the dessert trays when we go out," he protested.
She scoffed. "I might love them, but my hips don't."
"Ginny, you have a great body," he said without thinking. When he did realise what he said, he cursed inwardly. Shit Shit Shit
There was silence, then Ginny, obviously uncomfortable, said, "Er, thanks."
" So," he rushed, eager to change the subject, " Ben's off to Australia. Have you ever been? Do you like to travel? Where would you like to go?"
She chuckled. "I haven't travelled as much as I would have liked. We've been going to Paris in November the last few years for Bill's birthday, his wife is French so we stay with her family. One year, Cedric and I took the boys to Italy and we met up with Luna and Rolf. I think that's where Ben got the idea he wanted to do what they were doing."
" You're going again this year?" he asked.
"Yeah. Steven and Lucy are coming and bringing the boys for the first time. So it looks like we'll be doing Euro Disneyland," she laughed.
" Sounds like a lot of fun. My girls barely liked to ride the small rides at Brighton Beach," he said.
"My boys loved the roller coasters," she exclaimed, " and so do I. The bigger, the better."
There was that companionable silence once again, before she spoke. " Listen, I should go. I've got so many things to do now that I know my Benny's coming home. Sorry to cut our talk short today," she apologised.
"No, it's fine. Let me know about Friday, okay?" he reminded her.
"I'll make a couple of calls and let you know," she said. " Goodnight."
"Night," he said, and hung up. This was a step in the right direction, he decided. Finally meeting her sons, meeting her friends. They obviously knew about him. Perhaps this was the start he needed to let her know he wanted more than friendship from her.
~00~
"-and I'll be waiting for you at the gate," said Ginny, talking to Ben on the phone late Friday night. " Such a shame Steven can't make it, but he didn't want to turn that job down, it's good money," she said. Steven ran a handyman business in their town.
" Mum, it's fine, Steve and I talk all the time, it's cool. Listen, my taxi's here, so I have to go. In another few hours I'll be in the air on the way to London," he said, sounding hurried.
"All right, love, safe travels. I'll see you soon," she said, giddily. "I can't wait. Love you."
" Love you too, Mum," he said, and disconnected.
Ginny sighed happily. Her boy was on his way home, even if it was just for a matter of hours. She would take whatever time she could get with him.
The phone rang again, and she picked it up; it was Harry. " Hi," she gushed, " how are you?"
"You sound happy," he noted, " excited about tomorrow?"
She nodded. " Yes, I literally just hung up from Ben, he's heading to the airport soon and in a few hours he'll be on the plane, heading home. I can't wait to see him," she cried.
He laughed. " I can tell. So what's the plan for tomorrow, then? I booked that restaurant for us, by the way."
"Oh Harry, you're the best. I was telling Ben about it, he loves African food, so he can't wait to try it. I'm just sorry Hermione and I couldn't come up tonight, but she had a late council meeting and wasn't sure what time it would finish."
"It's okay," he said, glad there was a real reason she hadn't come up. He asked her all the time to stay at his, but she usually refused. He hated to think of her driving home that late at night, or even catching the train.
"So, Ben's plane gets in at nine-thirty. I'll be dropping Hermione in the city to start her shopping, then going to the hotel to check in. Apparently they have some shuttle that goes directly to the airport, so I'll catch that and be waiting for him the moment he steps off the plane," she said excitedly.
He chuckled. "Eager much?" He supposed he'd be the same if Hailey only flew in a few times a year.
"Definitely," she asserted. "If he's hungry we'll grab some breakfast, but otherwise we'll all go back to the hotel. Rolf and Luna will sleep in my room, and Ben in his. I'll then go catch up with Hermione and Hannah for shopping and lunch, then back to the hotel and spend time with Ben before we meet you for dinner," she reeled off.
"Did you say Hannah? Nev's Hannah?" he clarified.
" Yes, I was talking to her during the week, and she mentioned she needed to do some shopping in the city so I invited her along with Hermione and I," explained Ginny. She paused. " You don't mind, do you?"
" No, I think it's great. Hannah doesn't have many friends in the city, mostly her groups out where they live," replied Harry.
"Groups?" asked Ginny.
"Yes, you know. Church groups, school mum groups, Trev's sport's group, gym groups," explained Harry.
"Ah yes, our groups," teased Ginny. " So Hermione and I are are now part of Hannah's city group, are we?"
"Shut it," he laughed, " you know what I mean. You women and your gatherings!"
"Anyway," she drawled, wondering what sort of groups Sarah would have been in, "what time did you book dinner for?"
"Six. Who's coming, I told them I'd confirm numbers in the morning."
"Er, let's see, there's us, Ben, Hermione, Luna and Rolf. Do you think Hannah and Nev would want to join us?" she asked. "That's what, eight?"
"Well, I know they've been wanting to go to that restaurant ever since I told them about it, but do you want to overwhelm Ben with too many new people. Don't you want to keep it small, give you more time with him?" he asked. His heart had lightened when she'd called them an 'us'.
" You're sweet, but it's fine, Ben loves meeting new people. Ask them, please, Ben will love to meet them, I've told him all about them and you. He's really looking forward to meeting you. I may have talked you up a bit, so don't let me down, Potter," she teased again.
"Talked me up how?" he asked, amused to see this giddy, happy side of her. He knew it was because of Ben's return, but he found it adorable.
"Oh, you know, witty, knowledgeable...pretty wonderful, actually," she admitted.
"Yeah, you think I'm pretty wonderful, do you?" he asked, hopeful.
" Harry..." The way she hesitated, he just knew she was going to say something meaningful. "I can't begin to tell you how wonderful you are. Meeting you again, it was like fate, or something. I lo-like having you in my life," she revealed softly.
He was sure he hadn't missed her stammer; had she been about to say love? "I do too, Ginny," he assured her gently, " and I'm looking forward to meeting Ben. I guess when I do, I'll know what Steven looks like, yeah? You did say they were identical."
Ginny snorted. "Not any more. Ben's perpetually tanned now, while Steven is as white and freckly all over as me. Thank God they got Cedric's hair, and not my family's ginger gene."
Freckly all over? Harry had a sudden desire to see all her freckles. He cleared his throat, feeling himself get aroused at the thought. " So, I'll ring Nev now and ask him. I guess I'll meet you at the restaurant at six, then."
"I can't wait, Harry," she said. "I really can't."
"Me either," he said softly.
/*/*/*
Dinner was a blast. Harry didn't remember ever laughing so much. Luna, Rolf and Ben had many stories to share with them of their travels across Europe. Hermione and Hannah had become firm friends over shopping earlier, so they chatted, including Luna from time to time, when she wasn't talking with Neville about vegetation and plants in other countries. Ginny, who was sitting between Ben and Harry, seemed content to simply look at her son, beaming proudly.
Harry grabbed her hand on the table and squeezed, unaware of Hannah, Hermione and Luna's interested eyes on them. Ginny turned to him, enquiring with her eyes. "I've never seen you so happy," he remarked quietly, " you're sparkling."
She laughed, leaning closer to him, unaware of how intimate it looked to the others. "How can I not be, it's just been the best night. The only thing that could have made it better would be if Steven and Lucy were here too," she confided quietly.
Ben happened to overhear. "Well, Mum, Stevie is your favourite, and your baby," he teased happily. He too noted Harry and Ginny's intertwined hands.
Ginny gasped. "Benjamin Amos, I do not have a favourite son, I love you both equally," she scolded good naturedly, " and you're only two minutes older than Steven. Two!"
"But he's given you grand-kids," reminded Ben, winking at the others to let them know he was simply teasing. "Two," he mimicked. "I can't beat that."
She patted his cheek. " You don't have to beat anything. We always encouraged you to pursue your individual interests, encouraged you to be more than just the 'Diggory twins'. You're both handsome, wonderful sons who I love...equally."
They all laughed at how fierce she sounded. "Harry, Mum tells me your daughter is wanting to travel," mentioned Ben, changing the subject.
" Yeah, she's just finished her exams and doesn't really know what she wants to do," said Harry.
"I was the same, whereas Steven was already on his apprenticeship at sixteen, seventeen. You know, I've been thinking about it for awhile, but I could use an assistant. Do you think she'd be interested in grunt work for a photographer. You know, carrying my gear, uploading the photos on a laptop, storing my USB's safely, that sort of thing. Mind you, it's not glamorous, we could be in the middle of nowhere," he warned.
Harry felt a thrill for Hailey. "I don't think she has really any sort of place in mind to travel so I'll ask her. She does have her sister's wedding in September, though, so she wouldn't be able to start till after that," he said.
Ben shrugged, as if it were no big deal. " That's cool, I've been managing on my own till now, so October would be fine for her to start. Tell her to Skype me if she's keen, we can do some sort of interview and take it from there. Mum's got my details," he said.
Harry beamed. " That sounds great, and it will certainly give me some peace of mind that she's with someone trustworthy and well travelled."
Ben laughed. " You just met me, Harry. You don't know where I'll end up taking Hailey if she joins me. For instance, next week I'm going swimming with sharks, great whites."
"You are not, I forbid it," exclaimed Ginny, horrified.
"Mum, you can't forbid me, I'm twenty four," grinned Ben, " and it's perfectly safe. There's a place in South Australia, Port Lincoln, and you go down in a cage, see some of the biggest sharks in the world. Should get me some good photos there," he said, happily.
"Would Hailey have to do something like that if she joined you?" asked Harry, worriedly.
Ben laughed again. "If she wanted to, I wouldn't stop her, but no, it's not a requirement of the job. She would be waiting on the boat with all my gear," he explained.
"Oh...okay, whew," said Harry, wiping pretend sweat off his brow.
Ben grinned. " You're as bad as mum, aren't you?' he teased.
Harry and Ginny smiled gently at each other, unaware that the others were watching them. "Guilty," they both chorused. Ginny put up a hand. " Protective parents group, that's us."
"I'll join that group," said Hannah, immediately, and she didn't know why Harry and Ginny laughed so much.
~00~
It wasn't a late night. Ben was stifling his yawns, despite sleeping most of the day. Luna was getting quieter as the night wore on and Rolf was getting louder. Nev had an early start the next day at the nursery, and Hannah had church in the morning.
Luna and Rolf were ready to head home before dessert, so Ginny handed them the keys to her car to drive back to Devon, and Hermione would go with them. Ginny would catch the train home the nest day after seeing Ben off at the airport, and Steven would meet her and drive her to Luna's to retrieve her car.
Harry was pleased because he would be able to drive to the airport and pick Ginny up before taking her to the train station. Just more time they would have together, and he would reiterate what a great time he had had tonight.
~00~
Harry, Ginny and Ben lingered over coffee after the others left; Ben assuring Ginny it wouldn't keep him awake all night. Besides, it was a long flight to Sydney, Australia, and he could sleep more on the plane if he had to.
Harry was pleased to spend some time alone with just Ginny and Ben. He admired the young man for establishing a career for himself, and decided that if Hailey agreed to go, he would certainly sleep easier if she was with Ben. He questioned Ben a bit more about his career and the younger man impressed him with his answers.
They left the restaurant at ten, as the place was ready to close. Harry hailed two taxis, shaking Ben's hand before he hopped inside. Then he turned to Ginny.
She hugged him. " It was the best night," she whispered tiredly.
He kissed her cheek. "I'll see you early tomorrow. Will you have time for a coffee before you head back to Bristol?"
She yawned, unconsciously leaning against him. "I haven't even checked the train schedule."
"We'll check it after Ben's plane has taken off," he assured her.
She smiled sleepily. " Thanks, Harry, for everything. Good night."
"Night, Ginny," he told her, holding the door for her as she got in the taxi next to Ben. "Night, Ben."
"See you, Harry," said Ben, and Harry shut the door, watching the taxi pull away into traffic. He then got into his waiting taxi and returned to his big empty house.
/*/*/*
"Okay?" he asked her, squeezing her hand as they drove away from the airport.
"I miss him already," she admitted longingly, " and he doesn't think he'll make it to Paris in November. It's Thanksgiving in America; they have some sort of parade he's going to photograph."
Harry wondered if Hailey would be there with him. Both Sammi and Hailey were coming over tonight for dinner, and he planned to tell Hailey about Ben's offer then.
" At least he promised to come home for Christmas," she sighed, leaning her head against the backrest. She looked over at him. " Do you think Hailey will take him up on his offer?"
"If she doesn't, I might," he joked. "I've been thinking about doing some travelling lately. Life can't be all work, can it?" he asked rhetorically.
"You should do it," she encouraged, " go, see the world."
"I wouldn't want to go alone, though," he hinted.
"There are tour groups, you could join one of them," suggested Ginny.
"Don't tell Hannah," he whispered conspiratorially, pleased when Ginny laughed.
"Stop it," she chided, giggling. "I understand why she joins these groups. I did too, when the boys were little, that's how I met Luna. It was a twins group, a way for mums of twins to come together to help each other; give advice."
"Luna and Rolf have twins?" asked Harry, surprised.
"Yeah, didn't I say? Lachlan and Alexander, although they call them Lachy and Sander. They've gone into environmental studies, although Sander is more about the law side, while Lachy is more about demonstrating and raising public awareness. Both great boys, a great mix of both their parents."
"Ben was great, I really liked him. I look forward to meeting Steven now," he said.
"You will, soon. Come down for a weekend, we can drive down and visit your parents, and mine. I know you want to see the Burrow," she suggested.
"That sounds great. After the wedding, definitely," he agreed happily. Another step forward, he thought.
"Not long till the big day," teased Ginny. " Is Sammi getting nervous?" .
Harry nodded. " She's worried she won't fit into her dress, so she's on a diet. I'm going to the market to pick up something healthy to make for her and Hailey for dinner."
"Cut out sugar," she advised immediately. " Aw, it sounds fun, I wish I could come with you," she added wistfully.
"I do, too," he said.
They managed a half hour for coffee and cake – I'll start cutting sugar out from tomorrow, she informed him – then made their way to the train station.
Their hug lingered longer than usual,as if they were both reluctant to part. " Call me when you get home," he said softly, "I worry."
She smiled, her face against his chest. " I will." She really didn't want to leave, she felt completely content where she was.
He released her. "I guess next time you come up will be for the wedding rehearsal, Friday week?"
"Yeah, sounds about right. I'm babysitting the boys next weekend," she reminded him.
There was an announcement about Ginny's train. She looked sadly at him. "Time to go, I'm afraid."
He nodded, hugging her quickly again. "Talk tonight?"
"Of course," she agreed, and he released her, watching her walk away, yet again,and board the train.
Soon, he promised himself, soon he would tell Ginny how he felt. He just hoped she felt the same way as him.