Chapter 11

Harry was awoke the next morning by a very smiley Hermione and a disgruntled Ron.

They settled themselves on the end of the bed and Ginny re-entered the room, looking pale and sickly.

The four of them tucked into breakfast made by Hermione.

"Kreacher." Ron said suddenly and three pairs of eyes turned to him.

"What about him?" Ginny asked.

"Well, is he going to live here with us or stay at Hogwarts?" Ron asked looking at Hermione who bit her lip and looked at Harry.

"We'll ask him what he wants to do." Harry said uneasily. Hermione beamed and Ginny frowned slightly.

"Are we on about the Kreacher that grumbles about everything, doesn't cook or clean and steals things?" She asked and Harry chuckled as he realized he hadn't told her about their time at Grimmauld Place.

"Kreacher." Harry called into thin air and a faint pop announced the arrival of Kreacher.

"Yes sir?" Kreacher bowed low and Ginny's eyes nearly fell out.

"As you can see, this is my house now." Kreacher looked around him and nodded.

"Well Kreacher, would you prefer to work here with Harry or at Hogwarts?" Hermione asked Kreacher who seemed to struggle with himself before answering.

"Can miss please give Kreacher some time to decide?" He finally asked.

Hermione beamed at him and nodded.

Harry smiled too. "Well Kreacher, you have till September to decide, until then I think we'll need you here." Kreacher nodded and instantly disappeared to start cleaning.

Ginny shook her head amusedly and her eyes sparkled.

"There's still one thing we need to do." She said. "We need a house warming party."

Harry gulped knowing he had already promised that.

(Break)

Hermione dragged Ron with her to buy supplies and Harry and Ginny were left alone watching TV.

"Ginny… are you - are you sure you want to tell everyone the news tonight?" He asked hesitantly.

"Yes. And if you try to stop me I will personally tie you up and threw you to the giant squid or hex you into oblivion. Am I understood?" She asked playfully.

"Painfully." They smiled at each other before lapsing into a comfortable silence.

The silence was shattered only moments later.

"Ginny, you won't let them kill me will you?" Harry's voice was quiet and scared.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "You can stand up to Voldemort but you're petrified of my family?" She asked astounded.

Harry nodded timidly. "The wrath of the Weasly family would make Riddle himself quiver in his boots. Believe me!"

Ginny burst out laughing. "My mum will probably be too happy about a grandchild to care, Dad will do whatever mum tells him to, Bill has Victorie so he can't say anything, Charlie won't be there as he has to return to Romania, Percy is scared of you so that only leaves George and Ron that might hex you." She said cheerfully.

"Cheers Gin. I feel so much better now." He said sarcastically.

"Don't worry Harry! You'll be fine!" She said reassuringly, rubbing soothing circles on his back. "You know, Ron and Hermione are probably going to be a while…"

Harry grabbed her hand and dragged her upstairs before you could say 'magic'

(Break)

Four hours until the dinner party and to put it simply; Harry was freaking out.

Kreacher was busy cooking and the girls had disappeared to get ready.

Harry was sat with Ron chewing his nails and jumping up every three seconds to check on something.

Ron laid back on the sofa, hands behind his head, chewing gum lazily and watching Harry with a smirk. "Paranoid or what?" He asked when Harry leapt to his feet for the fifth time. "Relax Harry! There is four hours until the party!"

"Yeah. Four hours." He sat back down but then stood up again muttering something along the lines of "- burning food."

Ron chuckled and turned up the television, pleased that the muggle contraption wasn't breaking on him.

Three Hours To Go.

"Have we got enough booze?"

"Yes Harry!"

"Have we got enough food?"

"Yes Harry!"

"Who's coming?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Molly, Author, George, Bill, Victorie, Fleur, Percy, Teddy Neville and Luna." She recited.

"Have we got enough space?"

"I've magically enlarged the kitchen and table for the evening. So yes we have."

"Is the house tidy enough?"

"Yes Harry!"

"When will people be arriving?"

"Not for another three hours Harry"

Two Hours To Go.

"How come hasn't anyone arrived yet?"

"There's still two hours to go Harry."

"Oh. Okay."

"Sit down, you're making me dizzy."

Harry stopped pacing and sat down on the sofa next to Hermione.

"Calm down!" Hermione shook her head bemusedly as he got to his feet and started pacing again.

Just then Ginny entered the room.

"Ginny…you - you look … amazing!" Harry stammered as he took in her black silky dress and curled hair.

She smiled softly. "Thank you."

One Hour To Go.

"I'm going to get ready."

"You do that Harry."

"Actually I might wait."

"Okay Harry."

"No, I'm going to get ready."

"Fine." Ginny didn't look up from the magazine she was flicking through.

"I'm going to go and check on Kreacher."

"Sure."

"Actually I think I need a drink."

"You need more than that." Ginny muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing darling!" Ginny smiled sweetly, Hermione walked in with a steaming potion in her hand.

"Harry, to keep us sane, please drink this!" She almost pleaded and Harry took the vial hesitantly.

"What is it?" He asked suspiciously.

"Calming Draught." Hermione said innocently and Harry downed it.

Then he fell to the floor in a heap.

"Hermione! What have you done to him?"

"Just knocked him out for three quarters of an hour. He was driving me mental!" They both giggled whilst Ron shook his head, wondering at what length girls would go to for a little bit of peace.

Party Time.

Harry groggily woke up.

"Wha - what happened?" He slurred and fourteen faces looked at him.

"You fell asleep Harry." Hermione said smoothly and the faces looked away.

The dinner party kicked off and everyone was seated round the table, with Harry at the head.

Everyone had shown up even Charlie whom had delayed returning to Romania for another two weeks.

The night kicked off perfectly, the starter was served and amiable chatter was exchanged, the wine flowed and food was eaten.

Just after the main meal, Neville and Luna stood up.

He knocked his fork against his wine glass.

"I would just like to announce some very good news!" he smiled and looked at Luna. "Luna and I are … engaged!"

Cheers erupted from all sides of the table.

"Congratulations mate!" Ron leaned across the table and shook hands with the happy couple.

When they had sat down Harry had got to his feet, intending to break the news that Ginny was pregnant.

He picked up his wine glass. "First of all, I propose a toast! To everyone we miss every single day, to Neville and Luna; whom will make the perfect man and wife and to this house where everything began." He raised his glass before taking a drink.

Everyone clinked their glasses together and turned to look at Harry confusedly when he did not sit.

"Also, there is some good news I wish to share with you all." Ginny squeezed his hand reassuringly and he took a deep breath. "Ginny and I are going to be parents!"

A deadly silence met his ears.

Mrs Weasly was the first to recover. "Well - well, that was - was unexpected."

Everyone murmured in agreement.

Ginny had stood up too and Harry had a protective arm around her waist.

Then Mrs Weasly beamed at them.

"My only daughter -" Was all she said before she dissolved into tears, hugging Harry and Ginny happily.

Mr Weasly polished his glasses before he too beamed. "A second grand child!"

Neville and Luna were smiling happily at them and offering their congratulations.

Bill, George, Charlie and Percy were smiling slightly, seemingly unsure.

Fleur was fussing over Victorie seemingly unfussed about the news.

But Ron had stood up, his jaw set, his face furious.

"Let me get this straight. Ginny-is-pregnant." The table fell silent and Ron's voice was icy cool.

"You got my little sister pregnant? My best friend got my sister pregnant?" Ron had walked around the table and now stood in front of Harry.

Harry gulped and nodded slowly. "Yes."

Ron shut his eyes briefly.

He reopened them.

He punched Harry in the face.

Harry staggered but he did not fall. "You're no friend of mine." Ron spat cooly before he stormed from the room.

Harry gingerly felt his eye. "Ow."

Everyone glanced nervously at him and then at the door Ron had just exited.

Harry slumped in his chair and was barely aware of everyone going after Ron. He reached for a bottle of wine and took a long swig from it.

When he put the bottle down he saw only Hermione remained.

"He hates me Hermione, he hates me!" He took another swig of the bottle and stumbled to his feet.

"No he doesn't Harry." Hermione said calmly and guided him into the living room.

She set him down on the sofa before settling next to him. "Every one hates me!"

"No they don't." Her voice was steady but she too was gripping a bottle of wine.

The time passed and nobody returned. Three bottles later and Harry and Hermione were well and truly wasted.

He felt lonely and abandoned and needed reassurance.

He turned to Hermione who was dozing lightly, her grip slipping on the bottle neck.

Her eyes snapped open and their gaze met.

Then as if pulled by some invisible force he moved slowly towards her, his hand was around her waist steadying himself and their faces inches apart.

"What are you doing Harry?" Her words were slurred.

"Dunno." Harry replied thickly.

Then their lips connected.

Ooooh!

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