With Terry and Millie also newly coupled up, the office was still quite festive, in the immediate days after Christmas. Seamus had taken a few days off, and with Terry's blessing, Ginny and Harry had worked together on a case, bringing the perpetator in.
The next few weeks passed in a very pleasant blur. With no life or death cases, the team were catching up on paperwork, liasing with the legal teams on upcoming trials and following up on leads on open cases. Harry and Ginny found plenty of time to visit each other in their respective offices, as well as the supply closet in the hall, and on one memorable occasion, Hermione's office.
Terry was boasting about his Valentine's Day plans with Millie; a weekend away at a bed and breakfast. With the special day falling on a Friday, they were leaving late that night, as Harry and Ginny had particular plans for the day.
For Tonks had decided that Valentine's Day was the perfect day for Ella's christening. A small ceremony was planned in St Jerome's church, followed by a luncheon at the Lupin's home. Lily and Andromeda were decorating the church, along with the ladies committee, and Molly Weasley was contributing food for the luncheon.
Harry sat next to his mother and Andromeda in the front pew, little Teddy on his lap. Tonks and Remus stood proudly at the front, as Ginny held their daughter.
Harry could see Ginny was nervous but there was also no denying the love she had for the tiny baby in her arms. She handed the baby to the minister, who dabbed holy water on her head.
Litle Ella did not like the water, and began to cry. Teddy jumped off Harry's lap and raced to the minister, demanding to know what he had done to his sister to make her cry. Muffled laughter followed his outrage, as the minister hastily finished, handing Ella back to Ginny. Harry came and grabbed Teddy, assuring the boy his sister was fine.
And finally, the minister announced Ginny as Ella's godmother. Harry watched as she fought to keep the tears at bay; happy tears.
Harry and Lily exchanged amused smiles. "Mum, I'm going to marry her one day," he confided, in a whisper.
Lily nodded, patting his arm. "I know."
Later, back at the Lupin's home, Ginny held her goddaughter for everyone to gush over. Many of their neighbours, and the Weasley family had come for the ceremony and the luncheon, to celebrate Ella's special day.
Harry was charged with checking on the kids, including Teddy and Bill and Fleur's daughters, Victoire and Dominique. As the played in the lounge, he took the opportunity to check out the many gifts Tonks and Remus had received. One in particular caught his eye, and he picked it up.
It was a homemade book from Ginny, telling Ella the story of the special people in her life. There were even drawings of Tonks and Remus, older brother Teddy, grandmother Andi, special aunt Lily, Harry himself and godmother Ginny, all welcoming Ella into their lives.
'With illustrations by Dean Thomas', he read.
Suddenly, the memory of Ginny calling out Dean's name when he had come to her door came back to him. They had been collabortating on the gift for Ella!
"Hey." She appeared at his side, slipping her arm through his. "The baby's asleep, what do you say we get out of here. My mum's staying to help yours and Andi with the clean up."
He didn't reply, instead, holding up the book. "This is brilliant," he said. "She'll treasure this forever."
She smiled, leaning against him; he put his arm around her. "I hope so. Dean's drawings just finished it off perfectly."
He kissed her cheek; she was so thoughtful in her choice of gifts. "You know, I thought maybe you and Dean..."
She pulled away from his side to look at him. "What? Are you crazy. Dean is with Seamus!"
"He's what? Seamus...my Seamus? And Dean...he's with Dean, like...with Dean?" sputtered Harry.
"Some Auror you are," teased Ginny. "Shall we go to mine or yours?"
"Seamus...and Dean?" Harry was still in a daze and didn't even notice when Ginny Apparated them to her flat. He then let her distract him in a way that was mutually satisfying.
He Flooed home early next morning, needing clean clothes to wear to work. He made a mental note to discuss moving in together with Ginny, even though it was early in their relationship. Still, he felt they had spent the last few years building it up, only to reap the benefits now.
He opened his fridge, taking a swig of pumpkin juice, before stripping off on his way to the bathroom to take a shower. After, he held a towel wrapped around his waist and went to his bedroom, crying out to find someone waiting for him on his bed.
"Aagh!" He dropped his towel in shock.
"Bout time," said the dwarf. He was dressed like Cupid, but the effect was ruined by him smoking a cigar. "I got places to be, you know. It's my busiest time of the year."
He coughed, hopped off the bed, opened a scroll and began to recite.
'Your eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
Your hair as dark as a blackboard.
I'm glad you are mine, you're truly devine,
The man that I've come to adore.'
"To 'arry, happy Valentine's day, love from Ginny," he concluded, in a bored tone. He handed the scoll to Harry, eyed him up and down in his full frontal glory, and then disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Harry took a second or two to take in fully what had just happened, before bursting into laughter. "Okay, Weasley," he said aloud, " You win Valentine's day...but just wait till Easter."
Late April, Auror Offices.
Julie came to deliver the message to Seamus herself. "Robards wants everyone in the conference room in ten.
"Thanks, Jules, I'll try and find Harry," sighed Seamus.
"Can you let the others know? I've spoken to Lisa and Roger but everyone else seems MIA." Unspoken was the latest in the Millie/Terry relationship. They had broken up and gotten back together three times since Valentine's day; their relationship passionate but tumultuous.
In contrast, Harry and Ginny simply flowed along quite naturally. Some would say nothing seemed much different; they still pulled pranks on each other, or joined forces to prank others. Harry would always smile at that. They had discussed it and strived not to let their relationship affect their working life, but there were still times she was just so darned cute that he had to pull her into the nearest confined space and snog the life out of her.
Luckily, she felt the same way about him, and away from the office, their relationship was thriving. So much so that Harry was even thinking beyond merely moving in together.
Seamus looked everywhere, but neither Harry nor Ginny could be found. " Best to send a Patronus," suggested Lisa, filling her cup with milky white tea.
"They're probably off snogging somewhere," said Roger, grinning over his pumpkin juice. He was on a health kick; his new years resolution.
" Nah, they try not to bring that stuff to work," dismissed Seamus, " especially when I caught them on my desk that time." He shuddered at the memory.
"You too?" asked Terry, entering the room. He looked around, checking to see if Millie was already there. She wasn't but walked in a few seconds later, followed by Cho, who greeted them all.
"Hi everyone. Julie asked me to let you know Robards has been delayed. For some reason he can't get into his office, so he's gone down to Legal to get copies about the new case." She brushed her hair behind her ear, showing off the sparkling ring on her left hand; Ernie's Valentine's gift.
"What's happened to Robards office?" asked Roger.
Cho shrugged. "It just won't open, no matter what spells we use. We've got a team coming to look at it." With that, she left.
The Aurors busied themselves settling down for the meeting ,but there was still no sign of Harry or Ginny. Seamus sent off two Patroni, letting them know there was a meeting and they needed to return, pronto.
"You don't think...no," said Millie, shaking her head.
"What is it?" asked Terry.
"Harry and Ginny...Robards' office?" Her eyebrows wiggled suggestively.
"They wouldn't...would they?" asked Lisa.
"No," chorused Seamus and Terry, before Terry relented. "Maybe."
"They do have a thing for desks," reasoned Seamus. He screwed up his nose.
"Hey, if the wind changes, you'll look like that forever," noted Harry, pointing at Seamus as he breezed into the room, tucking his shirt into his pants. "Any idea what Robards has called the meeting for?"
"Suggestions on how to get into his office," suggested Lisa, giggling.
"And a very nice office it is," said Harry, " especially the desk. But sssh, you didn't hear that from me." He put his fingers to his lips but grinned.
"Your zipper is undone," said Millie, dryly.
"Hey, what's happening?" asked Ginny, walking into the conference room, trying to look innocent. "What's the meeting about?"
"You have a quill in your hair," noted Terry, pointing to her tousled hair. " And I'm sure Harry was wearing that shirt this morning."
Ginny removed the quill, shaking her head in denial, as Harry was nodding. "Oh yeah, we share our clothes. I'm wearing her lacy knickers right now. They are surprising comfy, keeps everything together, nice and snug down there, you know."
"Ew." Roger and Millie wrinkled their noses at the image. Seamus looked at Ginny, then at Harry's lower body. " So how do you -" he began, when Robards walked in.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I have been informed my office is now accessible. If anyone has any information on how it became locked, I'd appreciate it."
All eyes fell on Harry and Ginny. She flushed but he went to the refrigerator. "Hey Gin, heads up." He tossed her a muggle soft drink.
"Thanks." She popped the tab.
"So, we've got a new case," said Robards, when Harry interrupted.
"Sorry, sir, I have an announcement of my own," he said, coming to stand at Robard's side. "If I could just have a minute? This shouldn't take long."
Robards gestured. "Please, go right ahead, Potter." His tone was sarcastic, but if Harry picked up on it, he didn't show it.
"Thanks, Boss. So." He took a deep breath. "As you know, it was about this time last year that I won a particular bet against Weasley. And I think it's time we have a new bet, the Ultimate Bet, to prove once and for all who is the better Auror."
Ginny sat up; this was unexpected. Around her, the others whispered. She was intrigued, she knew him, he was up to something. "What are you up to, Harry? What's the bet?"
"The most arrests by July 31st, my birthday," he challenged, his eyes that burning green she loved.
"And winner gets what? I already have your Firebolt," she queried.
"What about you, Ginny, what would you make Harry do?" asked Seamus.
"Hmmm, I don't know. Join the Harpies cheering squad, no their dancing witches? He does have cute legs for those high kicks," she quipped.
"Yes, I do," posed Harry, rolling his pants leg up. "I really think I could rock the green and gold of the Harpies, don't you think?
Ginny grinned at the hoots and hollers. He winked at her.
"And what are you bringing to the table?" she asked, " not that I plan to lose."
"Easy. If I win, you have to agree to marry me."
The hoots and hollers stopped; there was dead silence, until Ginny sputtered out. "Pardon?"
"You heard me. You, me, Christmas Eve, Godric's Hollow. Oh and you're all invited," he told the team. He looked at Ginny. "What do you say, Weasley?"
"All right, all right, can we get back to work?" Robards moved back to stand next to Harry. "Honestly, this is becoming quite a soap opera around here. Now, I have a new case and -"
"Mine," called Harry, sticking his hand up. "I'm calling it, it's mine." He relinquished the front to Robards with a bow and a sweep of his arm.
"Are you going to let him beat you, Ginny?" taunted Terry. "Take the case off him."
Ginny shook her head, her mind still in a daze from his proposal. "I think – I think I want him to win," she realised aloud. Harry turned around and grinned at her.
He did win and it was a beautiful wedding.
Ginny cried saying her vows.
Harry did too, when the minister pronounced them husband and wife.
~end~
