Chapter 11-A Return To Family
Two days later Harry arrived home looking tired. Ginny and Luna greeted him enthusiastically and suddenly he was no longer tired. He was ready to drag them both upstairs, but they insisted he go to the bathroom first. Puzzled, he walked in and saw the potions. Then he saw the packaging and looked from one to the other. Harry went very white as Ginny and Luna came in and hugged him.
"Please be happy Harry."
He turned and looked at her and then turned and looked at Ginny. They were so beautiful and they were all in love. The color returned to Harry's face and he embraced them both, reassuring them that he was indeed very happy. Then he insisted that they go to St. Mungo's immediately. He wanted to make sure everything was okay and also get an exact date. Both Luna and Ginny laughed at his insistence.
"Well Harry, Luna and I figured out the date. You know how you always cast the charm? Well remember the night you proposed and we levitated you? Well you weren't exactly in a position to charm cast and Luna and I were both too distracted so we are fairly certain when this happened."
Harry thought back to that night and realized that they were most likely correct. That had been an amazing night. Very amazing, since he had impregnated them both. Harry started to harden at the memory and quickly brought himself under control. He took them by the hands and headed for a floo ride to St. Mungo's.
Less than an hour later the three of them sat in an exam room. The Healer assigned to them had originally tried to split them up, but they explained they were all together. Shrugging her shoulders, she proceeded with the usual questions. Ginny and Luna began to answer in turn as the healer looked temporarily confused.
"Wait, you're both here for the same reason?"
Ginny and Luna grinned and Harry put his arms around them both.
The healer shook her head.
"So then you would be the father of both?"
"Yep." Harry replied enthusiastically.
Rubbing the bridge of her nose, the healer pulled out her wand and began examining Ginny and then Luna. She finished within minutes.
"Well, you are both correct, you are both pregnant and you are both exactly 4 weeks and 2 days along. So I am guessing this happened at the same time?"
Harry grinned.
"Oh yes, it was quite a night."
The Healer gave them the usual instructions and then led them out of the room. Harry was known on sight to most of the wizarding world and the Healer couldn't believe what she had just diagnosed. This would be front page news eventually, but it certainly wouldn't come from her.
Harry, Ginny and Luna spent the next couple of days planning their bonding. They were moving it up by a month given the circumstances. The house may not be completely redecorated, but that was suddenly a minor concern. They also realized that the upcoming dinner for Bill's birthday was going to be a bit more monumental than they had thought.
On the Friday night before the party, Luna turned to Harry, looking thoughtful.
"I think you need your ring tomorrow."
Harry looked a bit puzzled and then Ginny agreed.
"Oh yes, I think Luna is right Harry. Given the news we are about to deliver, I think we should all have our rings."
Harry had kept his third matching ring secure in the office downstairs. He hadn't thought he would wear it until the bonding was complete, but maybe they were right.
"Well, okay, I guess I should."
Luna got up from the sofa and left to fetch the ring. When she returned, she called Ginny over and they took it together and placed it Harry's finger. A strange tingling enveloped them all and Harry realized that they had been very much correct to go ahead with his ring.
The next day they slept in and had only tea and toast for breakfast in bed. Ginny had a potion from the healer and was starting to feel better in the mornings. Luna was blessed and did not have any issues except a need to nap each day. They languished in bed for a while after breakfast, snogging and petting but refrained from anything more.
As lunchtime approached, they finished dressing and prepared to apparate to the Burrow. They kissed each other soundly and then apparated to the path leading to Ginny's childhood home. As soon as they were on the ground, Harry put an arm around each of them and they prepared to make their entrance. The Weasley outside dining area was set up in the garden and everyone else had already arrived. Harry had planned on that, wanting to make an entrance. As they approached, all heads turned. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stood up to embrace them and Harry was grateful when Ginny's parents made a point of hugging each of them in turn. Next, Hermione and Ron came to hug each of them as well. Everyone else was still sitting and staring in a bit of shock. It was obvious that no one else had been told.
Harry decided it was time to make things clear, walking up to the table and pulling out a chair.
"Luna love, please sit."
Then he turned and pulled out another chair.
"Ginny dear, please sit."
Ginny smirked at him as he then put himself in the chair between them and looked around the table.
"Hello everyone, happy birthday Bill. So, I guess some explaining may be in order."
Harry looked to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who just nodded and Harry continued.
"As most of you know, Ginny and I have been in love for years and she moved in with me about five months ago. What you did not know is that Luna has also joined our family. She is not new to our relationship though and we all enjoyed a brief flirtation the last year I was at Hogwarts. Then I had to leave Ginny behind and she and Luna were able to comfort each other in my absence. When I returned, I rekindled my relationship with Ginny and then, with Ginny's help, I also rekindled our relationship with Luna. Four months ago, Luna moved into Grimmauld Place and we have become a complete partnership. We all love each other very much and in a month's time we will be formalizing our union in a traditional wizard bonding ceremony."
As Harry finished the first part of his speech, the three of them then placed their hands forward with the matching rings visible. Bill instantly recognized the goblin workmanship and gave a low whistle. No one had yet managed to talk, so Harry decided to go for broke.
"I want you all to know that I love this family and I cherish the way that you have welcomed me in. I also want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Weasley for accepting this unusual situation when we first gave them the news about ten days ago. I hope that they will continue to extend their understanding now that I have the pleasure to announce that both Ginny and Luna will be making me a father in about 35 weeks."
Harry stopped then as the silence broke. It was hard to hear who was saying what, so Harry held onto Ginny and Luna and decided to ride out the storm. Eventually it calmed down and Harry looked at the Weasleys. Mrs. Weasley was deathly white, but Mr. Weasley seemed to have recovered a bit.
"Well, Harry, when did you say you were having this bonding ceremony?"
"In one month. We were going to wait for some house renovations to complete, but it seemed prudent now to move the date up. I hope everyone can attend."
Mr. Weasley muttered. "Hmm, yes, prudent."
Suddenly, Mrs. Weasley found her voice.
"So Ginny, Luna, how far along are each of you?"
"Exactly five weeks today." They replied in unison.
Hermione was the next to speak up.
"Both of you…are…exactly…so both the same day?"
Harry grinned.
"Night actually."
Ron was the next to join the mix.
"Okay, enough, too much information, no thank you."
Ron's comment finally broke the tension and several people began to chuckle. Then George seemed to no longer be able to hold back.
"Um, Ginny, so you and Luna are together and so are you and Harry?"
"Yes."
George looked a bit stunned, but then he continued.
"Wow, I had no idea, so does that like, does that mean you're bi?"
"No George, I am not generally attracted to women, but Luna is something else, she is very special."
Ginny looked lovingly and Luna as a knowing look passed between them. Then Ron yelled again.
"TOO MUCH INFORMATION-NO."
With that said, Harry looked around the table.
"Well then, if that concludes the question and answer session, can we count on everyone to attend our bonding?"
A chorus of assents greeted him, some a bit quieter than others. As the conversation ended, Mrs. Weasley waved her wand and announced it was time to eat. As Bill's birthday lunch progressed, the tense mood at the table began to lessen and Harry, Ginny and Luna were able to finally relax and enjoy time with family. They had stayed away for too long. There would still be adjustments that each person would need to make, but the family had not shunned them. As happy as the occasion was, the one person who didn't seem quite herself was Luna. She hadn't heard from her father since their visit and spending time with the Weasleys made her miss him even more.
Between lunch and cake everyone took a bit of a break to lean back and groan with appreciation for Mrs. Weasley's cooking. Several conversations started up around the table and Harry was discussing a new product line at Weasley's Wizard Wheezes with George when he felt Luna stand up next to him. She drifted off toward the garden, trying to not dampen the mood of the party. Harry was about to go check on her when Ginny stood up and put her hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and smiled. Ginny leaned down, kissing him lightly and he knew she would take care of Luna. He watched her briefly as she headed for the garden with a look of loving concern in his eyes. He then continued his conversation with George, but the brief exchange had not gone unnoticed. Mrs. Weasley turned her back briefly and dabbed her eyes. She was still a bit unsure of her daughter's strange partnership, but she couldn't deny the caring between the three young people.
Ginny and Luna did not return after a couple of minutes and Mr. Weasley leaned over to his wife.
"I think I'll go check on them."
As he made his way into the garden, he came up behind Ginny and Luna, who were sitting on a wall. Ginny was holding Luna and whispering softly in her ear. Suddenly, the full realization of what this partnership meant struck him. His little girl was obviously very much in love with both her partners. As he stood there, Luna looked up at Ginny and they began kissing. That shook Mr. Weasley out of his stupor and he quickly turned around and left them alone. When he returned to the table Mrs. Weasley gave him a questioning look and he leaned down to her.
"They're fine. I think they'll be back shortly."
His prediction proved true several minutes later when they returned down the path with their arms around each other. Harry got up and went to them, putting his arms around them both. They stood there for a minute, comforting each other, unaware that all conversations at the table had stopped as their family witnessed their mutual concern.
With Ginny and Luna returned, Mrs. Weasley summoned Bill's cake from the kitchen and a raucous round of singing ensued. Everyone was soon laughing and Mr. Weasley took his wife's hand with a gentle squeeze. For the first time in weeks everything felt like it was going to be all right.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, the party wound down. Harry, Luna and Ginny made their way around the table, passing out hugs and goodbyes. Harry stopped briefly at Bill's seat and leaned over.
"Happy birthday Bill, sorry that we took over your party a bit."
Bill stood up and clasped Harry on the shoulder.
"Just take care of my baby sister Harry."
They reached Mr. and Mrs. Weasley last and Luna stepped toward them to offer her gratitude.
"Thanks Mr. and Mrs. Weasley for welcoming me."
Mrs. Weasley embraced Luna and announced loudly for everyone to hear.
"Luna, I think you and Harry should start calling us Mum and Dad."
Luna blinked away tears as she nodded and Harry hugged each of them gratefully, then he took Luna's hand and Luna took Ginny's hand and they exited the Burrow.