Ginny and Cassie had been home well over a month when Molly declared she would throw them and Ron a welcome home party. She was ecstatic to have all her family back, sans Charlie, who would insist in staying in Romania. Still, he'd promised to return for the party, and now that Arthur was on the mend, Molly was eager to do some hostessing.

Ron was resigned to their mother but Harry noted Ginny didn't seem as keen. Ron explained it was simply that after four years of being away from her friends, Ginny was worried they had forgotten her and moved on.

But within seconds of seeing Neville again, Ginny fears were allayed. She rushed to Neville, and he picked her up and simply held her tight, the tears in his eyes unashamedly running down his cheeks. Harry felt a jolt of jealousy as he watched the two, aware of the closeness they'd shared at Hogwarts the year he, Ron and Hermione were away.

A small hand tugged at his. "Who's that?" asked Cassie, pointing at Neville.

"That's a school friend of your mums. He hasn't seen her in a long time, so he's really happy she's here," said Harry.

"He's cryin'," noted Cassie.

Harry knelt down. "Sometimes we're so happy we cry," he explained. Now Ginny was comforting Hagrid, who was sobbing into a large spotted handkerchief, while Ginny and Minerva Macgonnel exchanged amused smiles and patted his back. Filius Flitwick patted Hagrid's leg in comfort as they all chatted.

"Mummy sometimes cries, but I think she was sad. I sawed her," said Cassie. "When we lived at the other place."

"Oh...but not now?" asked Harry, his heart aching for Ginny and what she and Cassie had been through.

Cassie shook her head. "Mummy's happier here, I fink."

"Well, I'm happier you're both here too," said Harry. "Want to go and meet Neville and the others?" He picked her up when she nodded.

Demelza and Parvati had joined them, as well as a quiet Draco with a happy Astoria. Daphne and Ron were talking with George, Oliver and Katie Bell, who had worked with Astoria.

They were all taken with Cassie but a bit confused by her parentage. It was only after lunch and when Cassie and Vicky were having their naps that Ginny explained everything.

"She's the daughter of Remus and Tonks Lupin. I made an Unbreakable vow with Tonk's mother, Andromeda, to go to a safe house with Cassie and stay there till the werewolf Greyback was captured or killed. I don't think any of us thought it would take so long, but, well, here we are," said Ginny.

"Does she know about Professor Lupin and Tonks?" asked Demelza, taking Ginny's hand in support and squeezing it. She had always admired Ginny for being so strong. Only once had she seen Ginny break down. When she'd found Ginny curled up crying in the third floor girls bathroom, holding her broken shoulder, with two black eyes and shaking from the effects of a Cruciatus curse. Detention with the Carrows.

"Some," nodded Ginny. "She has a picture of them in her room, she calls them 'my Tonks' and 'my Remus'. She thinks of them as her guardian angels in heaven."

"Well, she adores Harry," noted Demelza, having watched the two together earlier. "Like mother, like daughter, yeah," she teased softly.

Ginny blushed prettily. "I don't know what you mean," she said, looking over at Harry, who was talking with George. As if he heard his name, he looked over at her and smiled.

"The man can barely keep his eyes off you, unless it's to look after Cassie," informed Demelza. "Oh Ginny, it's so great to have you back." She hugged her friend, and Ginny hugged her back.

"Ditto," said Neville, raising his glass. "Three cheers for Ginny!"

Harry watched as everyone cheered for Ginny. He smiled to see her cheeks redden. "Still smitten with my sister, yeah?" asked George, smiling.

"Wha- what do you mean?" asked Harry, reluctantly looking away.

"Harry, Harry, Harry. Did you forget it was me that interrupted you sticking your tongue down my sister's throat the morning of Bill and Fleur's wedding?" teased George.

"Oh...yeah," sighed Harry. "Thanks for that, by the way," he said sarcastically.

"Soooo," drawled George, gesturing at Ginny. "You going to go for it?"

"Gee, such a romantic. 'Go for it'. She's your sister, for Merlin's sake," said Harry.

"I know and I want my sister to stay here, even if it is in bloody Norwich. What's the attraction up there, anyway?" asked George.

Harry shrugged. "Hadn't really asked her. Does it matter? It's all the same by Floo."

Harry and George watched Ginny surrounded by her friends. "She's all right, isn't she?" asked George, worried.

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"She still seems a bit..off, I guess," said George, trying to find the right word. "Guarded. Ron too, at times." They looked over to where Ginny and Neville were talking with Abe Dumbledore, who Ginny had asked to be invited. He had kept to himself most of the night, or stayed close with Hagrid, who was beaming and waving at everyone.

Harry nodded; George was right. "I guess over the last four years they've had to become guarded. Ginny rarely left her safe house, and as far as I know, less than half a dozen people were allowed into their sanctuary. Ron, well, he was an Auror, but I sense he put up a bit of a shield around himself, too. At heart, he's a family guy. I'm sure they both missed you all terribly."

Still, Ginny was guarded. As he watched her now, he noted that her eyes darted anxiously around the group of people, and her eyes started everytime someone exited from the house.

Harry watched as she spoke with Parvati, and not for the first time, he wondered what had happened to her twin, Padma. He didn't think he'd seen her since the battle, although the days after were still a blur for him.

"Potter."

Harry turned to see Draco standing next to him. George wiggled his eyebrows at Harry and discreetly left them alone.

"Malfoy," acknowledged Harry. "Good of you to come." Ginny had warned him she had insisted on Draco and Astoria being invited today, he just hadn't expected them to accept her invitation.

"Ginny firecalled Astoria, and my wife really wanted to come. I must say, I've always been slightly curious about the infamous Burrow," said Draco, looking back at the homestead. "I can honestly say I've never seen anything like it."

He hadn't said it in a derogatory way, but Harry got his back up nevertheless. "Don't you say one bad word about it, Malfoy," growled Harry in a low voice. "This is a good house. A house full of love, of family. So just...don't," he warned. This house meant everything to Harry.

Draco looked at Harry. "I wasn't going to say anything bad. Just the fact that I'm here, without enduring a full body cavity search, tells me everything about this house, this family. I'm not here to cause any trouble, Potter, I promise you that," he said sincerely.

"Draco, is everything all right?" asked Astoria, joining them both. She looked worriedly between Harry and her husband. "Hello, Harry."

"Astoria," greeted Harry, having met her a few times with Daphne.

"Everything is fine, love," assured Draco gently. "Are you okay?" Harry had never heard Draco talk like that, so concerned and caring.

"I'm fine, darling," assured Astoria, "but I told Ginny we'd be leaving soon."

"A shame I couldn't meet Cassiopeia today," sighed Draco.

"Cassie? You want to meet Cassie?" asked Harry.

Draco nodded. "She is my second cousin."

"Ginny is quite open for Draco and Cassie to meet, to have some sort of relationship," explained Astoria, at Harry's look of surprise.

"Oh, er, right. Well, Ginny knows what's best for Cassie, I dare say," said Harry.

"You disagree, Potter?" asked Draco.

"None of my business, is it, Malfoy?" asked Harry.

"Ahem," coughed Ginny, and they spun around to see her. She smiled at Astoria. "Is it me, or do they sound like two silly school boys, rather than grown men."

Astoria chuckled and nodded. Ginny nodded. "Harry, this is Draco. Draco, Harry. Please shake hands," she ordered.

Both men bedrudgingly shook hands. "There, that wasn't so hard. Draco, I'm sorry Cassie isn't awake yet, but I understand you have to leave soon. Thank you both for coming. I hope this is the first step in you being a part of Cassie's life...if you want to," said Ginny.

"I do. Thanks, Ginny," said Draco, almost humbly. "I appreciate the invitation, and the heads up about not eating any food given to me by your brothers." He pulled some familiar food out of his pocket – Canary Creams and Puking Pastilles.

Ginny laughed and took them from him. "You're welcome," she said. "Perhaps we can have lunch or dinner soon, with Cassie."

The Malfoys nodded and walked back to the house to use the Floo. Harry watched as they stopped to talk to the elder Weasleys, presumably to thank them for their hospitality.

"That wasn't too hard, was it?" teased Ginny. "Calling him Draco," she clarified.

"I get that he's Cassie's second cousin, or whatever, but why invite him here?" asked Harry.

Ginny hesitated. Harry waited. She lifted her head, looking at him with pain filled eyes. "Draco helped me...at Hogwarts, I mean. When we first went back, and the Carrows were starting to make their presence felt. The detentions...they got the Slytherins to use the Cruciatus on us."

"Ginny," started Harry, then didn't know what to say. It had been horrific to hear this four years ago, coming from Neville and Seamus and others. This, this was his worst fear come to life. He'd known she'd been in the thick of it, known that she had faced detentions like the rest of them. But Kingsley hadn't allowed him to see his old dorm mates memories of their detentions, given to help prosecute, purely to spare him any more grief.

"It was just before he left, so it must have been Christmas. Yes, because Luna helped me get to the infirmary. Draco found Luna, you see. After stopping Goyle and Nott from cursing me, kicking me, spitting on me, he got me out of there, he asked another student to get Luna to help me. He helped me, Harry, and I won't forget that," said Ginny.

"You shouldn't," agreed Harry, taking her in his arms, needing to feel she was safe and there, with him. "I just...he was there, the day we were taken to Malfoy Manor...and Hermione was tortured," said Harry.

"What?" gasped Ginny, pulling away. "Draco tortured Hermione?"

"No, it was Bellatrix...but he was there, and he did nothing to stop her," protested Harry. "Didn't Ron tell you all this?"

Ginny shook her head. She looked around to find Ron, talking with Neville and Hannah. "He never really talked much about that year, not in great detail. It seemed to pain him. I never pushed."

Harry stared at her, drinking in her face. "What?" she asked, self consciously.

"I used to watch your dot on my map," he blurted.

"The Marauders map?" asked Ginny, familiar with it from when they had used it to get back the Gryffindor common room after getting too caught up in being a new couple and missing curfew.

"Yeah. Any time I couldn't sleep or was on look out, I pulled the map out and looked out for you. I hate that they hurt you. You know that's the only reason I broke up with you, don't you?" he asked, almost pleadingly.

She cupped his cheek. "Of course I knew. As soon as Dumbledore died, I knew I had to let you go, that this wasn't something I could help you with."

"The trace..." he murmured.

"I know, Harry," she assured him. She sighed. "We all had our parts to play in the damn war. If I had been with you, then I wouldn't have been there for Tonks when she needed me, and Cassie..." She couldn't finish the words. The thought of Greyback getting anywhere near her daughter turned her stomach.

"I thought you were with your family, grieving for Fred. I went to bed, I was so exhausted. But I wanted to find you next morning, to tell you everything. To tell you I..." 'love you, want to spend my life with you.'

"Harry, will you tell me everything? Not now, obviously, but later?" she asked.

Harry nodded. "And you'll tell me everything?" he asked.

She nodded slowly.

Molly interrupted. "Who wants cake?"

/*/*/*/*

"You looked like you had fun," noted Ron to Ginny, as they helped tidy the back yard after most of their guests had left.

"It was great to see so many familiar faces, and they were all so sweet to Cassie," agreed Ginny.

"She's a sweet kid," shrugged Ron. "You might have your hands full with her tonight. I think she's had too much of mum's cakes, she'll be on a sugar high. Want me to come home with you, get her to bed?" he offered.

"Thanks, but Harry's already offered," said Ginny, trying and failing not to blush.

Ron nodded. "Those two certainly have a mutual admiration society, don't they? Her drawings are pinned up on the wall in his office," he confided.

"She asked me to get a photo of him to put next to her ones of Tonks and Remus," chuckled Ginny. She paused. "Ron, last night, while I was telling her about the party, her hair changed colour for the first time."

Ron looked impressed. "Yeah? So she IS a metamorphagus, after all. We did wonder, but it never happened before."

Ginny nodded. "I was thinking about that. Maybe it's because we were the only ones she knew as family, so her hair stayed red all the time. Even here, well..." She gestured to Percy and George, helping them, and Molly visible in the open doorway. Red heads, everywhere.

"Sure, that makes sense. So what colour did it change to? Tonks always liked turquoise best," Ron remembered.

"What do you think? Black, of course," smiled Ginny.

"Of course," agreed Ron. He eyed his sister. "You are happy to be home, aren't you? Happy to be with Harry again?"

"I'm not with Harry again," she protested. "We're spending time together for Cassie," she insisted.

"Yeah, right. Keep telling yourself that, Gin. I wasn't the only one who noticed the hot looks you and Harry were throwing at each other," he grinned.

"Oh, go fling a gnome," she scoffed. "Besides, where were you last night? I firecalled Grimmauld Place and there was no answer...hmm?"

Ron actually blushed. "Sleeping, probably," he lied.

Ginny snorted. "I agree you were probably in bed, the question is whose? I have my suspicions."

"Oh, go fling a gnome, Gin," teased Ron.

Ginny pretended to look shocked. "Do you kiss your new girlfriend with that dirty mouth, Ronald?"

"You don't want to know what my mouth does to my supposed girlfriend, Ginevra," he retorted.

They smiled at each other in truce. "It is good to be home, isn't it?" asked Ginny, rhetorically. She looked at Ron. "I can never thank you enough for staying with me."

"You never have to thank me for that, sis. Look, here comes Harry and Cassie. Guess it's time for you to go home," he said.

Ginny hugged him. "Thank you ...for everything," she whispered.

"Enough of the mooshy stuff," he growled, almost pushing her away "Go, Lord Stinchcombe is waiting." He said the last loudly.

Harry scowled at the name Ron called him at times, but refused to let him break his good mood. "You ready to leave? Your mum's given me some food to take to yours," he said, indicating the boxes he was carrying.

"Who's Lord Stinkbomb?" asked Cassie, making Ron howl with laughter. "Mummy, Grandma gave me some of that yummy cake," said Cassie. "Can I give Hedwig and Coco a crumb each, please?" Hedwig had arrived at theirs shortly before Harry earlier and stayed at Ginny's while they Flooed to the Burrow for the party.

Harry accompanied them back to The Haven, the name they decided to call their home. He took the time to look around the home while Ginny bathed Cassie and prepared her for bed.

The little girl was a chatterbox, still going on about all the people she had met. "And Nevil, is he my uncle?"

"No, he was at Hogwarts with Harry and Uncle Ron," said Ginny.

"Uncle Charlie...is he my uncle?"

"Yes. He is my second oldest brother," said Ginny. "Close your eyes."

Harry heard Cassie giggle, a sound he had come to love.

"Auntie Fleur is gonna have another baby," she continued. Fleur and Bill had made the announcement when it was just the family left.

"I know, isn't that exciting. You'll have another cousin," said Ginny. "Arms up!" Harry heard the sound of the water gurgling down the drain.

"Can we get a baby?" asked Cassie. Harry stilled to hear Ginny's response.

"We just got a new owl," said Ginny, amused. "Turn around so I can brush your hair."

"I would help you, Mummy," said Cassie, "to look after a baby. Ow!"

"Sorry, sweetheart," apologised Ginny. "Would you like to pick out a story book, perhaps ask Harry to read it to you?" she suggested.

"A baby doesn't eat much, Mummy. Vicky told me...and it can sleep wiv me," offered Cassie.

"I think, if we had a new baby, he or she would have it's own room," said Ginny.

"So we can get one?" asked Cassie excitedly. "I don't know where to get one from. Do you?"

"Perhaps you should ask Uncle Bill," said Ginny, making Harry snicker. "Now, brush your teeth."

"Can we go get one, Mummy, tomorra?" asked Cassie, after she had spit out.

"Hurry now, Harry's waiting all alone out there," reminded Ginny.

"Coco's out there, too, Mummy," reminded Cassie.

"Coco can talk to Hedwig, but not Harry," said Ginny. "There, off you go."

Harry heard the little girl coming down the hall. "Harry, Harry, will you read me a story?" she asked, flinging herself on him.

"Did you pick one out?" he asked, picking her up. She smelled of baby powder and Ginny's floral scent too, probably in the shampoo.

"Na-uh, I picked three," giggled Cassie.

"Cassie, I said one," said Ginny, shooting Harry a resigned look.

"Pleeeeaaasse," begged Cassie. Harry found her hard to resist.

"Two," placated Harry, making Cassie smile.

"Fine," sighed Ginny. "Two, then straight to sleep."

Cassie wiggled off Harry's lap, then went over to Ginny. "Night, Mummy."

"Good night, sweetheart. Sweet dreams," said Ginny, hugging her and kissing her cheek. "I'll be in to tuck you in later."

"Come on, Harry," said Cassie, going over and taking his hand, then leading him down the hall. "Harry, do you know where mummy and me can get a baby?"

"Er, ask Uncle Bill?" echoed Harry, turning to look helplessly at Ginny. She gave him the thumbs up, and he continued to Cassie's room.

"That's my Tonks and Remy," said Cassie, pointing to a photo on her chest of drawers.

"They were wonderful people...and very brave," said Harry, holding the photo. Tonks and Remus beamed back at him.

"That's what mummy says," said Cassie, climbing into bed. She pulled the covers over her and grabbed her stuffed lion, cuddling down.

Harry wasn't sure where he should sit. Cassie seemed to sense his dilemma. "Mummy sits here," she said, patting the spot next to her, "so I can see the pitchers."

"Okay," said Harry, coming to sit next to her. He picked up the book and opened it. He lifted his arm and Cassie tucked herself against his side. "This is my favrit," she told him.

"Once upon a time," he began...

/*/*/*/*

He stood by the bed, simply staring at her. She was amazing. So small, but big on personality. Just like Ginny that way. Thinking of Ginny made him remember they were about to talk about the year he'd been away. Hopefully, once they dealt with their pasts, they could move on and look to the future.

He tucked Cassie in tighter, worried she'd fall out of bed. Then, when he got to the door, he worried he'd tucked her in too tight, so he went and loosened her sheet and blanket slightly. Then he wondered if he had loosened it too much. He decided to go and ask Ginny to come back and check.

He headed back down the hall. Ahead he could see a soft golden light, and as he entered the lounge, he saw Ginny had set up a platter with some dips, crackers and cheeses. Two glasses were next to an open bottle of red wine...and Ginny was asleep on the sofa.

She'd kicked off her shoes and lay sleeping peacefully, not even stirring when Harry recorked the wine and covered the cheeses, taking everything back to the kitchen and putting it away.

He checked Cassie again, surprised to see her hair had changed to black. 'A metamorphagus, like Tonks', he thought happily. He propped her lion on her bedside table. He tucked her in tighter again and looked once more at Remus and Tonks' photo as he left.

He hesitated as he watched Ginny sleep; debating whether to pick her up and carry her to her bedroom, or leave her on the sofa. In the end, he tucked a throw rug over her.

He shut and locked the Floo; he'd have to Apparate home. For about three seconds he considered staying where he was, but no, not without Ginny's knowledge. It wouldn't be right.

He looked at Ginny again, kneeling down beside the sofa. He brushed some wayward hair off her face and couldn't help but softly brush his lips against hers. Yes, the old sparks were still there.

"Mmmm," sighed Ginny, smiling in her sleep.

"I'm so glad you're back, Gin," he said softly, wanting nothing more than to continue that kiss.

But he forced himself to stand and Apparate home. Home to an empty castle, where only a curious house elf awaited him.