Mrs. Weasley wasted no time in starting to make baby clothes. Within days after Bill and Fleur's announcement, she could be seen in the sitting room knitting away at garments in various shades of yellow, which she claimed to be gender neutral. Hermione took the opportunity to practice with her knitting, which, as everyone consistently denied, was lacking in several areas. The whole house was aflutter. The news seemed to set a fire underneath everyone to get things done. Charlie immediately set about building a crib for the baby, and asked Percy to help (which everyone thought he did simply for amusement rather than actual help). And, George decided to come up with a list of baby names, most of which sounded like a mix between medieval goblin names and names of rare magical creatures.
Ron and Harry, however, were distracted from all of this, as their first exam of their Auror training was fast approaching. The higher their marks, the faster they would move through the three-year training program. Gawain Robards, the current head of the Auror Office, was to make the decisions as to who would proceed to the next level, and he was rumored to be very particular about his selections. The hours that Harry and Ron weren't eating, sleeping, or at the Ministry, were spent in their room flipping through books or in the yard practicing their spellwork.
Ginny was also unable to participate in the frenzy of baby talk, owning to the need to get started on the mountain of neglected homework for her final year at Hogwarts. Despite the abrupt end to last semester, every teacher had managed to owl their students with the summer assignments and requirements for the start of term. Ginny had also learned that she had been made Quidditch Captain, to which Harry said, "Well, who else?". Harry tried to help her with her studying every moment he could spare from his. He insisted he wanted to make the workload easier on her, but really she saw he had different intentions. In a mere few weeks, Ginny would be boarding the Hogwarts Express and he wouldn't be able to see her until the first Hogsmeade weekend. Frankly, the thought terrified him. He was now beginning to realize just how much he had relied on her presence throughout the miserable summer. He was afraid of what it would do to him when she left. Ginny felt the same way. She knew she should be telling him to get back to his own studying, but she couldn't bear to. She wanted to spend every moment she could with him in the short amount of time they had left before September first.
Harry was becoming increasingly stressed and frantic because, believe it or not, he had other things on his mind aside from potions and spells and Ginny. He had not forgotten that he was a godfather. He had still yet to see little Teddy in person, and was dying to, but several things had held him back. For one, he was still mourning the losses of Remus and Tonks, but the main reason was that he was afraid of seeing Andromeda. Since last May, he had avoided all thoughts about Death Eaters and Voldemort, and he remembered the last time he had seen her. Andromeda bore a striking resemblance to her sister Bellatrix. He was worried that seeing her might trigger something inside him, although he was unsure of what. A few days after they found out about Fleur's pregnancy though, he had made a decision. Things were changing, and it was time he pushed past his lingering wounds from the war. He had decided that after his exam, he would contact Andromeda and ask to see Teddy. After all, he had been left a responsibility, and all he had been through over the years would mean little if he let his friends and his godson down.
At last the day arrived for Ron and Harry's exam. They arose from a sleepless night, Ron looking rather green in the face, and Harry with immense bags under his eyes, and walked down the many stairs, sluggishly. As they trooped into the kitchen for breakfast, Mrs. Weasley jumped to her feet.
"Morning dears," she tittered, examining them disapprovingly. "Didn't you two get any sleep last night?"
Harry and Ron shook their heads.
"Well, you both are need of a good breakfast, then. Hunger and sleep deprivation shouldn't go hand in hand. So, sit down and I'll fix you something. Sit!," she repeated, when they merely stood there, sleepily.
Harry plopped down next to Ginny, and leaned his head against her shoulder.
"Nervous?" she said, running her fingers through his hair.
He grunted into her arm. She giggled. Harry lifted his head.
"Very," he said, rubbing his eyes. "A lot is riding on this exam."
Ginny straightened his glasses. "Don't worry. You're brilliant. You'll do fine. And if not? So, you'll finish training a little later than planned. It's not the end of the world."
Harry sighed. "I suppose you're right. Doesn't keep the butterflies away, though."
Ginny kissed his forehead, and quickly moved out of the way, so that Mrs. Weasley could place plates heaped with eggs, sausages and toast in front of both Harry and Ron.
Just as they began to dig in, Hermione bounced down the stairs and into the room.
"Morning all!," she said, cheerfully.
Her greeting was met by a chorus of 'good mornings' and grunts. Mrs. Weasley hurried to the stove to fix another plate.
"Yikes, you two don't look so good. Rough night?" she chirped, eyeing the looks on Harry and Ron's faces.
Ron swallowed. "Woke up at midnight convinced we'd forgotten everything we've learned, and studied until dawn. In hindsight, probably not the best of ideas."
"I would think not," Hermione replied, still emanating merriment.
"What are you all keyed up about?," Ginny asked, eyeing Hermione's grin with suspicion.
"In case you all forgot, today is my first day as the personal assistant to Rolf Scamander, the Head of the Office for House-Elf Relocation," she announced, proudly.
"Oh, that's right! Congratulations, Hermione," Ginny said warmly, patting her friend on the hand.
"Rolf Scamander... Isn't he the son of Newt Scamander? The author of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?," Mrs. Weasley asked as she set Hermione's breakfast on the table.
"Grandson, actually," said Hermione, picking up her fork. "When Newt retired in 1988, he was too young to take over as Head of Office. But, he eventually succeded his grandfather a few years ago."
"He must be very young, then," Mrs. Weasley commented, sitting down.
"He's only a few years older than I am," Hermione said, putting salt on her eggs.
"I can't believe you actually did it," Ron said scooting over and putting an arm around Hermione's shoulders. "Who knew that the little girl who used to knit hats and scarves in the name of spew, would actually be working in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures?"
"Actually, I'm just putting S.P.E.W. on hold for now," she said, poking Ron in the side. "I figured I'd get more accomplished from the inside, rather than the outside. And once I've got a high enough position? Then, I'll see about forming new societies."
Harry shook his head. Hermione's knowledge for her future never ceased to amaze him. She had it all figured out, while he was basically still in school, worrying over tests, and having his biggest decisions made for him.
"Good gracious, look at the time!," Mrs. Weasley exclaimed suddenly. "You'll all be late! Hurry now and good luck!"
Harry and Ron stumbled to their feet and searched for their trainers while Hermione waited by the door, already in her cloak and bouncing slightly.
"I'll see you later, Gin," Harry said, giving her a quick kiss.
"Don't be nervous. You'll be perfect. I love you," Ginny replied, squeezing his hand.
"I love you, too," he said, kissing her again and turning towards the others.
And with that, the trio strode out the door and marched across the lawn to the apparation point. As Harry was about to dissaparate, he glanced at the house to see Mrs. Weasley and Ginny waving encouragingly from the doorway. He grinned and waved back, before turning on the spot and disappearing with a crack.
•••
Harry turned the page, and glanced at the clock. 20 more minutes left for the written portion of the exam. So far the questions had been a breeze, and he had relaxed considerably. He glanced at the next question.
"Explain, in your own words, the proper way to incapacitate a fully-grown Mountain Troll."
Harry smiled to himself and loaded his quill with ink to answer.
"There are several effective methods, the the easiest of which being..."
•••
After spending a week peering out the window looking for approaching owls, the results of their exams finally arrived. Harry was surprised to see that he had received the top scores in the class ("See? I told you you were brilliant!," Ginny gloated.), and Ron wasn't far behind ("Well mate, looks like all those years of rule-breaking in school really payed off, eh?). But, the best part of finally knowing his scores was that he now had enough time to think about Teddy. He had owled Andromeda earlier in the week, asking if he could come and see him. He had received her reply the previous day suggesting that she bring him to the burrow Sunday instead. Within minutes after opening his scores, he sat down and scrawled a quick acceptance, and tied it to the leg of his new owl, Scipio.
He spent the next two days mentally preparing himself for seeing Andromeda. He decided the best way to do so was to share his qualms with someone. So, He went to Ginny.
"Actually, Harry I had the same thought," she said, when he told her his fears. "I'm a little apprehensive about seeing her too. I suppose we'll just have to wing it."
•••
At last Sunday came and Harry found himself anxiously pacing in the kitchen, waiting for them to arrive.
"Bloody hell, Harry will you sit down? You're making me nervous," Ron exclaimed, after Harry passed him for the sixth time.
Ginny reached over and pulled Harry into a chair by his sleeve. Just then, a knock sounded on the door. Harry jumped to his feet again, and rushed to let them in. He put his hand on the knob and paused. He took a deep breath and opened the door. Before him, looking very much like Bellatrix Lestrange, was Tonks's mother, Andromeda. After a few seconds of looking at her, Harry noticed a few very un-Bellatrixish things, for instance the sparkling of her eyes and the laugh lines in her face, and he found it relatively easy to be in her presence. He mentally kicked himself for not contacting her sooner. After he realized he was alright, he noticed the bundle in her arms, from which only a small tuft of turquoise hair was visible. Harry felt a rather large grin forming on his face and he looked back at Andromeda and found she was smiling at him, too.
"Welcome, Andromeda. It's wonderful to see you again!" he said, his sudden joy leaking into every word.
"I, too, am pleased to see you again, Harry," Andromeda replied, her smile widening.
He ushered her into the sitting room, where Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley were waiting. After introductions and such, Andromeda sat down To introduce them to Teddy.
"Now, he is usually afraid of people he doesn't know right away, so don't take offense. He'll be sitting in your laps and chewing on your fingers by the end of the day," Andromeda said, unwrapping Teddy's blanket and facing him towards the others a little.
A little face peeked out from the swaddled folds, and surveyed his surroundings. Harry was shocked to see how much he could see Tonks in Teddy's face. His head was the same heart shape and his nose was pointed and his lips thin, like hers, but his eyes. They were Remus's gray, deep eyes, which didn't look so sad when set in Tonks's face. Before he could stop himself he started to make silly faces to amuse the baby. He pulled the corners of his mouth and stuck out his tongue. What he wasn't expecting was such a response. Teddy burst out into this little laugh, which sounded like almost like an adult's laugh. He leaned forward in his blankets and pointed at Harry.
"Gah!," Teddy exclaimed.
Harry broke out in another face-splitting grin.
"Harry, you should feel honored, he's usually not this friendly right off the bat," Andromeda laughed, as Teddy bounced in her arms, still pointing at Harry.
"Can I hold him?," Harry asked, without taking his eyes off the squirming baby.
"It seems that Teddy won't mind," she answered and held the baby out to Harry.
Harry made an awkward cradled with his arms and Andromeda tucked Teddy into it. The baby looked up at Harry's face and laughed again. Harry looked up.
"Apparently he thinks I'm funny-looking," he said to the room.
Everyone laughed. He glanced at Ginny. She looked as if she might have tears in her eyes, but he couldn't be sure. He certainly could read her thoughts in her face, though.
He looked back down at Teddy. As he did, the baby reached up and touched Harry's scar. He frowned when he realized it was attached to Harry's head. Then he went for the glasses. He pulled them off Harry's face and began to suck on them. Harry and Andromeda laughed again.
"He's in that phase where he grabs anything within reach. Here," she said, and she took the glasses out of Teddy's mouth, and wiped them on a handkerchief. She put them back on Harry's face. "Impervius! There that ought to help."
Teddy tried to take the glasses again, but his little hand was forced in the other direction. He frowned, and tried again. His efforts where again futile and his little face began to redden. Harry, sensing danger, promptly made a raspberry sound with his mouth. Teddy laughed again, and the entire room joined in.
"How did you know he was about to scream?" Andromeda asked. "I took me forever to learn the signs."
"Well, I grew up with a rather large baby, in the house," Harry said, giving them all a significant look. "My cousin, Dudley."
Everyone laughed again, and the afternoon proceeded as so. Teddy created more than enough entertainment for them all, and like Andromeda said, he eventually warmed up to the rest of them to the point of making a ruckus when one of them left the room. Harry learned several more things about Teddy: once he decided he liked someone, he refused to let go of them, he has a very, very loud scream, and he is frightened of anything yellow. "Well, at least we know he won't be in Hufflepuff," Ron said. Every minute Harry was with Teddy, he became fonder and fonder of the little tyke. So, when it came time for he and Andromeda to leave, he was very intent on planning another visit.
"How about the Sunday after next?" Andromeda offered, lingering by the door. "I'll come by around noon, and I'll show you how to change a nappy."
Harry laughed. He had become extremely comfortable with Andromeda, as if he'd known her all his life. "A useful skill to have. I can't wait."
And, reluctantly, he handed Teddy to her, who was still clinging to Harry's hip. And, he watched them at they proceed down the dimming yard. He saw Teddy's turquoise head pop up over Andromeda's shoulder, and he smiled. He waved at the baby, and Teddy looked back and waved his chubby little fist back at Harry and then, they disappeared. Harry closed the door and leaned back up against it and sighed.
"An eventful day, wouldn't you say?," Ginny said, walking up to him, her eyes gleaming.
"Ginny, I love that kid," Harry said, earnestly, grinning down at her.
"I can tell," Ginny said, smiling back. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and put her face against his chest. He hugged her back, and they stood there for a minute.
"I hope, someday, you'll love our own children that way, too," she said into his shirt.
Her comment caught him by surprised slightly, but only because he hadn't expected her to bring the subject up.
"Someday, I will," he said, kissing the top of her head. He felt her smile against his chest and he smiled into her hair, knowing that his response made her giddy.
They separated and, arm in arm, they walked back into the sitting room to rejoin the rest of the family.
•••
Too soon, September 1st arrived, and Harry found himself once again standing on Platform 9 and 3/4, in front of the enormous, puffing, scarlet steam engine. He felt like he was eleven years old again and he was standing before the colossal train, as if he had no idea something so wondrous could exist. Then, he remembered he was not eleven and instead he was surrounded by even more whispering people than usual. It seemed that every way he turned his head, people were hurriedly looking away, trying to pretend they hadn't been staring at him.
"Harry?" Ginny said, breaking him away from his thoughts.
"Hm?" he said, looking down at her.
"Wow, where did you go, mate? You were in a whole other world," Ron said, waving a hand in Harry's face.
"I was just remembering the first time I saw the Hogwarts Express," Harry said, smiling slightly. "I was still recovering from the fact that I had just run through a solid brick wall, and then here's this great big train, just puffing along, like it's nobody's business."
Ginny, Ron and Hermione laughed.
"Never changes does it?" Ron said. They all continued to look at the great train, when suddenly Harry was distracted by the sheen of blonde hair.
"Luna!" Harry cried, and their dreamy friend turned around and spotted them. Luna bounced over to them.
"Hello, friends!,"Luna said, cheerily. "I didn't know you all would come, today. Oh, I've missed you. I wanted to see you this summer, but Daddy barely let me leave the house, he missed me so much, and I wasn't sure if you wanted company, after the horrible events in May."
Harry smiled. Luna always had a way of skipping the nonsense and talking about the uncomfortable truths.
"Luna, we would have been delighted to see you," Hermione said, sincerely. "We've missed you, as well."
"Yes, and over holidays and such you're always welcome at the Burrow," Ginny added.
"That's awfully nice of you, although I can't this Christmas, Daddy believes he has tracked down the location of a colony of Crumple Horned Snorkacks in Africa and we're going to be spending the holiday in Egypt," Luna said, excitedly.
"Visit the ancient wizard tombs, they're fascinating," Ron said.
"Thanks, Ron! I will," Luna replied. The first whistle blew.
"Oh, I've got to go put my trunk in the compartment, I'll save you a seat Ginny! I hope to see you all soon!" she finished, as she hurried to find Xenophilius Lovegood in the crowd.
Both Ron and Hermione said their goodbyes to Ginny and Hermione tactfully left her and Harry to go put her trunk onto the train, dragging Ron by the arm as she went. Harry turned toward Ginny.
"I'll miss you," he said quietly. Ginny's eyes watered slightly.
"I'll miss you too. So much," she replied, then, not even caring that half the platform was probably watching, she jolted forward and kissed Harry, with such intensity that he was sure his hair would catch fire. He kissed her back for a minute, then broke away.
"I'll write. A lot," he said, slightly breathless.
"You better," she said, wiping her eyes. "You'll come visit first Hogsmeade weekend?"
"I'll be waiting at the gate," He said, as the train began to pull away.
He helped her onto the steps, and slammed the door shut. She stuck her head out the window, and waved at him.
"I love you!," he called.
"I love you, too!," she answered, blowing a kiss at him.
And he concentrated on the red of her hair as the train sped her farther and farther away, until, eventually, they disappeared around the corner.
A/N: Aha! Chapter 7! Whew and a long one, too. Hope you liked it, I know I did! :) So lots of Harry and Ginny and some other stuff too! Yay! Anyway, tell me what you think!
*in a sing-song voice* ReviEEeeWs! Haha
~G.L.H.~
Update: It recently came to my attention that Luna eventually marries Rolf Scamander, so I changed the dates and such, so that he wouldn't be too much older than her. Sorry If I got your hopes up, thinking there was a new chapter, but it'll be up soon!
