Quick A/N: Sorry for the long update. Thank you to Miriadharbour for pointing out my mistake in the last chapter. I apologize. It was Fred that died, not George. And thank you to Xx-BananaBookworm-xX for pointing out that I hadn't brought up Harry ever getting his hair cut. Sorry about that, I forgot to write it in but he did eventually get his hair cut. Enjoy.
Saturday
16 May
12:50pm
Teddy's crying was starting to escalate. Harry tried bouncing him slightly, hoping this would calm him. Teddy's crying sputtered for a moment before his face scrunched up and started turning red. Harry prepared himself for the wail that was about to come out of the tiny baby.
Dromeda had come by early yesterday morning with Teddy. Molly had taken one look at her and decided that she needed a weekend off.
"Andromeda Tonks, you need a weekend to yourself. All you've had is a day or an afternoon. Leave Teddy with me and Arthur. I'm sure Harry will be more than happy to help take care of his Godson as well." Molly had told her.
"No, Molly. I really couldn't impose on you and your family like that."
"Nonsense. You can and you will. Give him to me."
And just like that, Teddy had become their house guest for the weekend. At first, everyone was excited that he was there, including Teddy. But by supper time, Teddy had been crying for the two hours straight. He had continued to cry well into the night before Molly finally got him to settle down and go to sleep.
This morning Harry had been woken up to the baby's cries and he was already feeling worn out. He didn't know how Dromeda did this all day, every day. To make matters more stressful, Molly and Arthur had agreed a while back to go have lunch with Audrey's parents. So for now, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were in charge of this fussy newborn.
Teddy's screams reached a new all time high just as Ron walked into the room with his hands over his ears.
"Why won't he stop?" Ron screamed at Harry.
"I don't know. I've tried everything I can think of and he won't... stop... crying!"
"Well can you at least put a silencing charm on him? I think that my ear drums are going to burst."
Hermione appeared in the doorway and gave the two boys a quick glance before crossing over to Harry and taking Teddy. He immediately calmed to her touch and his cries quickly turned into hiccups.
"How...did you do that?" Harry asked in astonishment.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Honestly Harry, it's not that hard."
"Yes, actually it is."
"He probably just misses Andromeda. Has he ever been away from her this long?"
"I don't think so. But why did he stop crying for you?"
"I'm a female Harry. My touch may not be exactly like hers, but it's closer than yours."
Ron laughed. "Way to scare the baby Harry."
"Hey! Teddy is not scared of me. He likes me."
"He loves you Harry. But he is used to a female." Harry watched as Hermione started cooing at Teddy. Suddenly she started walking out of the room. Harry jumped to his feet and followed her.
"Where are you taking him?"
"Outside. He was inside all day yesterday and all day today. A little fresh air isn't going to hurt him. Plus he might enjoy watching Ginny fly around on her new broom."
Harry and Ron continued to follow Hermione outside and underneath a shady tree. Ron sat down with them for a moment before he headed off towards the broom shed. Hermione sighed.
"What's wrong Hermione?"
Hermione looked over at Harry for a brief moment before turning her focus back to Teddy. "I'm not sure."
"What do you mean?"
"It might sound crazy, but things seem too calm. Like this is all just a dream and we are going to wake up to reality at any moment."
"I know what you mean. But maybe it will stay this way. Maybe we are allowed to relax and enjoy our lives now." Hermione cast a glance of doubt at Harry and they both laughed. "Okay. It probably won't stay this way, but at least we can enjoy it while it lasts right?" Hermione gave Harry a halfhearted smile and then looked back down at Teddy. Harry thought about her reaction for a moment and then cringed. "You aren't going to be able to enjoy anything till you find your parents are you?"
Hermione shook her head slowly and a single tear rolled down her cheek. She wiped it away and Harry rested his hand on her shoulder. "I'm just so worried about finding them. I don't know how successful I was at making them believe that they are Dr. Wendell and Monica Wilkins. I don't know the exact place they moved to. I don't even know if they are alive!"
Hermione was on the verge of breaking into hysterics. Harry slowly took Teddy from Hermione and then wrapped an arm awkwardly around her shoulder as she pulled her knees to her chest and began to sob into them.
"And the worst part is that I've been keeping this all to myself because people are finally starting to be happy again. I don't want people around me to feel like they can't enjoy their lives." Hermione sighed in exhaustion. "I'm sorry Harry. I guess I'm just overwhelmed."
Harry bounced Teddy in his arms as he thought over everything she had just said. "Do you know what part of Australia they would have moved to?"
Hermione lifted her head to look at Harry. She took in his expression for a long moment, and then finally answered. "Somewhere south of Sydney. They always talked about the beaches."
"Okay. Good. That's a great starting point. Do you think your parents would want to live in a big city or a small town?"
Hermione sat up as she thought about it. "A small town. My mum hates big cities." Hermione let out a small laugh. "She would always give Dad a hard time whenever we had to go into London. She would make comments about the traffic the entire time."
Harry smiled at Hermione. "There is your starting point. They are most likely in a small beach town south of Sydney, Australia."
Hermione smiled for a moment and then seemed to sink back into her misery. She rested her head against her knees again and let out another sigh. "It's still so much Harry. What am I go to do? Fly into Sydney and then stop at every city hall, search every phone book, and directory for dentists whose names are or are similar to Wendell and Monica Wilkins in every suburb and small beach town along the coast?"
"Well...yeah. I know it's a lot. But you can do it Hermione. And Ron will be there to help you."
Hermione threw her hands up in annoyance. "But that could take a month or two. That could even take a year. I could miss them and have to double back." Hermione slumped forward again. "I could even be wasting my time."
Harry looked up into the sky and caught Ron's eye. He motioned for him to come over to the tree. "You're not wasting your time Hermione. Don't give up yet. You haven't even started."
Ron touched down and walked over to them. "Hermione what's wrong?"
Hermione groaned into her hands as her hair became a curtain around her face. "Ron it's nothing. I'm just tired."
"No Hermione. I can tell that you've been crying. Talk to me, tell me what's wrong. Please."
Harry swiftly got to his feet and Ron took his place. "Well umm... I'm going to go put Teddy down for his nap." Harry could already hear Hermione's sobs picking up again, and walked briskly towards the back door. Harry was almost there when Ginny swooped down in front of him on her broom.
"Hey you. Where's the fire?"
Harry looked over his shoulder to where Ron and Hermione were seated. Ron had his arms wrapped around Hermione as she cried into his chest. Harry looked back at Ginny and found that her gaze had followed his.
"Umm... It's time for Teddy's nap."
Ginny eyes focused back on Harry as she landed on the ground and got off her broom. "Why is Hermione crying?" and then a little louder. "What did my idiotic brother do now?"
Harry quickly closed the space between them, placed his free hand around hers, and continued on into the house. Ginny fumbled over her first couple of steps but didn't say anything until they were inside.
"What's going on Harry?"
"Gin...Ron didn't do anything wrong. Hermione is upset over everything with her parents. Please don't make this into a big deal. You know how Hermione hates to seem anything but put together, not to mention break down and cry in front of people."
Ginny stared at Harry for a long moment before finally speaking. "I know that in your eyes it has always been just the three of you, so this may come as a shock to you Harry Potter. Hermione and I are friends. Best friends."
"Ginny I'm not say that you aren't..."
"I'm not finished." Harry stopped talking and nodded his head for her to continue. "She may not cry in front of you, or Ron, but i've seen her cry numerous times. When she's been scared, hurt, or even flat out exhausted. She doesn't worry about being put together around me. She has been crying like this every night since before Fred's funeral. You and Ron, especially Ron, are the two people she tries the hardest to be put together around."
Harry shifted Teddy to his other arm as he took all of this in. "But why?"
Ginny threw her hands up. "Why do you think Harry? She has been in love with Ron for years. She didn't want to scare him off with all of her feelings. No girl wants to be seen as needy, clingy, or emotional."
Harry nodded his head. "Okay. I understand that. But what makes you think she tries around me?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "You have to be the bravest person of our time, if not ever. The things you've seen and done are almost beyond belief. And yet no matter what you're facing; you always appear cool, calm, and collected." Ginny turned and headed up the stairs, calling out the last bit over her shoulder. "It's a bit intimidating."
Harry blinked a couple of times before he finally dismissed Ginny's claim and followed her up the stairs. "That's plain stupid. There is no reason for her to feel intimidated around me. She's known me for over 7 years. We are practically family."
"Harry I didn't say you intimidated her. I said that your bravery is intimidating. It makes everyone else question our own bravery. What Hermione is facing with her parents is terrifying for her. But what you've faced makes anything else seem insignificant and not worth being scared of."
Harry followed Ginny into Bill's old room and placed Teddy into the crib they had set up for him in there. Harry turned and faced Ginny. "I don't really know what to say to that."
Ginny slowly walked toward him and placed her hands in his. "You don't have to say anything. All I want is for you to understand that while I may not be a part of your friendship with Hermione and Ron, I do have my own friendship with Hermione."
Harry sighed and pulled Ginny into his arms. She rested her head against his chest and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I wish you didn't feel left out of my friendship with Ron and Hermione."
Ginny let out a little laugh. "I don't. That's a bond that the three of you share. It's special. Just like my relationship with Luna and Neville. After this past year at Hogwarts the three of us will always share an unbreakable bond."
Harry tensed. This was the first time Ginny had brought up the past year at Hogwarts so casually. He could tell from her pause that she was trying to be more open. Harry decided to do the same and let out a breath of air that he hadn't realized he had been holding. "I guess I never really thought of that. I've been so focused on myself and everything that Ron, Hermione, and I went through when we were on the run that I never really stopped to think that things like friendships would have changed."
Ginny gave him a small squeeze and then looked up into his eyes. "Our relationship has changed to you know."
Harry chuckled and then clamped his hand over his mouth. Both him and Ginny looked back at Teddy to make sure that he was still sleeping. Once Harry was sure that Teddy wasn't going to wake up he walked with Ginny, her arms still wrapped around him, out onto the first floor landing and shut the door behind them. Harry leaned forward and Ginny stood up on her tip toes so that their lips could meet. Harry kissed her once lightly on the mouth. "I like to think that things have changed for the better. I just wish you weren't always so mad at me."
Ginny pulled away and glared up into his eyes. "I'm not always mad at you. I might be frustrated or annoyed, but I really don't remember ever being mad at you."
"How about oh let's see... a week ago? When I told you no."
Realization crossed Ginny's face and then she blushed. "I was more embarrassed than anything."
Harry leaned forward and kissed her nose. "What about a few days ago? Or even a few minutes ago?"
"Okay, okay. I get your point. It does seem like I get...cross with you fairly often." Ginny looked up into Harry's eyes and Harry gaze fell into the depth of them. "I'm sorry. I will try to stop being annoyed by little things. It's just hard you know?"
Harry laughed. "It's hard for you to stop being annoyed by little things?"
"No." Ginny playfully swatted Harry's bum and then went back to being serious. "When you left last August, I didn't know if I would ever see you again let alone ever be able to call you mine again. And now, nine months later, here we are. It's everything I wished for and yet not at all how I imagined it."
Harry kissed Ginny's forehead. "How did you imagine it?"
"Just the two of us, reunited and alone. No family, no friends, no questions or concerns about the past and future, no funerals, no Rita Skeeter or paparazzi, and you definitely didn't say no."
Harry brushed his lips up and down the bridge of Ginny's nose. "That sounds perfect."
"Exactly! That's what makes real life so hard. You're here, and I'm here, but there are about a billion things that require your attention."
"Things will calm down. Maybe not right away, but know that no matter what I'm doing. You are always on my mind." Harry felt a blush creep across his face. He hoped that Ginny wouldn't notice, but of course she did.
"What?"
"Oh it's nothing."
"It doesn't seem like nothing." Ginny cocked her head to the side and stared deep into his eyes. Harry broke eye contact and looked away. "You just pictured me naked didn't you?"
Harry flushed an even brighter red and smiled at the thought. "Well now I did. But before that it was something else. Something embarrassing."
Ginny released his waist and flung her arms around his neck. "Tell me. Please?"
Harry sighed. "Only if you promise not to freak out."
Ginny dropped her right arm and held out her pinky. "I promise."
Harry laughed and then averted his eyes again. "Well...while the three of us were on the run..." Harry lifted one of his hands and rubbed it across his mouth. "I can not believe I'm about to tell you this."
"Harry! Quit stalling. I promised you that I wouldn't freak out. How embarrassing can it be?"
"Very." Harry made eye contact with her and found that she was glowering at him. "Okay fine. I used to pull out the Marauder's Map and...and follow you on it."
There was a moment of silence before Harry finally broke and looked down at her face. Her eyes were wide and a smile was slowly creeping across her face.
"Really?" She asked, her voice an entire octave above where it normally is.
"Stop it Gin."
"Awh. Harry. That's so...cute."
"Ginny." Harry groaned.
"I mean...It's a little creepy, but sweet too."
Harry laughed. "Okay. I told you, now can we please drop it?"
Ginny wiped the smile off her face, pushed her lips tightly together and nodded her head. Harry continued to watch her, making sure that she really was going to drop it. It was only a matter of seconds before she was back to smiling from ear to ear and practically hoping up and down. Harry rolled his eyes and started down the stairs.
"Awh come on Harry. This is big news! You like me. I mean you really really like me."
Harry laughed. "Yes I like you. Really really like you." When he hit the ground floor, he turned around and faced Ginny. She was on the last step and almost eye level with him. He placed his hands on either side of her face and waited for her to focus. "I don't want you to ever doubt that. No matter what..."
Ginny's lips were suddenly crushing down onto his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself as close to him as physically possible. Harry dropped his hands from her face and held her body against his instead. The kiss was intoxicating. There was so much passion and emotion in it that Harry was forgetting to breathe. But despite his growing light headedness, Harry knew one thing for sure. A wall had finally come down.
Thank you to all the readers who leave comments. Your encouragement, advice, critiques, and reviews really do mean a lot. I appreciate it.
