Author's Note:

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Chapter Eleven - The Aftermath Part Four

Summer 1998 …

By the time the 31st of July came around, Harry had convinced Andromeda to let him take Teddy for the day. He had been spending two to three days with him every week; sometimes alone and sometimes with Andromeda, but Teddy was more than used to his presence now and Harry was positive that he smiled whenever he saw him. He held him in his arms, adjusting the bag on his shoulder full of things that he would need for him and apparated to the Burrow for his birthday.

He stepped into the house and Teddy was immediately lifted from his arms by Ginny, she snuggled him close and he cooed happily at her. "Hi Teddy, did your uncle Harry bring you to visit us?"

Harry smiled at her, leaning down to kiss her lips. "I wanted him here for my birthday."

Ginny grinned, peeked that no one was behind her and kissed him again. "Happy Birthday, Harry."

"Thanks," he said as he put the bag down by the front door. "Your mum is so sweet throwing me a birthday like this."

"She loves doing it for you. Wait until you see the cake we made; I designed it, but Mum is much more cleverer of a cake decorator than me." She shifted Teddy in her arms and kissed his cheek. "I can't believe this guy is already fifteen weeks old!"

"I know," Harry said, grinning. "I begged Andromeda to let me take him here today. She's letting me keep him overnight, our first sleepover."

"Are you ready for that?"

Harry shrugged, grinning widely at her. "I think so, but I guess we'll find out." He took Teddy back into his arms and followed Ginny through the kitchen and into the backyard where Mrs Weasley was sitting with Bill, Fleur, George and Percy. "Hi, everyone."

Mrs Weasley jumped to her feet, rubbing her hands together. "Oooh, pass over that bundle of joy, dear!"

Harry smiled as she took Teddy from his arms and cooed happily. "This is Teddy everyone."

Bill grinned at him. "Mum has baby fever. You just made her extremely happy by dropping by with him."

Harry sat down across from him at the picnic table. "Congrats on your news, Charlie told me you and Fleur are expecting."

Bill nodded, reaching for his wife's hand. "Yeah, we didn't plan on it quite so soon, but we're very excited."

"Ron!" Ginny exclaimed, causing Harry to turn. His grin widened as he watched his two best friends head across the yard.

Harry jumped to his feet and hugged Hermione tightly, laughing when she kissed his cheek and hugged him again before he moved to hug Ron. They were both tanned and smiling and he was pleased to see, holding hands. "You guys made it!"

Ron shrugged. "Wouldn't miss your eighteenth birthday, Harry."

"How are your parents, Hermione?"

She shrugged. "They'll be okay. They're home and working on getting their practice back in order; going on a somewhat unorthodox year long sabbatical has made it hard, but they're working it out. They're happy to be home and happy that I'm safe and happy. But it's so good to see you!"

Ron nodded. "Australia was great though! You should see some of the crazy things they have there."

Mr Weasley came into the yard with Kingsley Shacklebolt and Harry's eyebrow rose.

"Two birthdays in a row I'm greeted by the Minister of Magic," he mumbled. "I hope this isn't becoming a habit."

Hermione elbowed him lightly. "We like Kingsley, Harry."

Kingsley approached him with a smile. "Harry, Happy Birthday is in order I hear."

"Yes, Sir."

"May I have a private word?"

He put his hands into the pockets of his jeans and nodded, following Kingsley into the house. Teddy started to cry so he took him from Mrs Weasley's arms as he followed the Minister and he settled into his godfather's shoulder easily and calmly.

"What can I do for you, Minister?"

Kingsley smiled warmly at him. "Kingsley is fine, Harry. No need for formalities now." He smiled at the baby in his arms. "Is that Lupin's son?"

Harry nodded, gently rubbing Teddy's back. "Yes, Teddy. He's my godson."

"He's lucky to have you. I'm sorry that Lupin and Tonks aren't here for him today." he cleared his throat and gestured for Harry to sit down on the sofa as he took a seat in the chair. "I'm sorry to bother you on your birthday, but trying to bring the country back to order after the war is a lot of work and any free chance I get, I need to sneak out and organize my own thoughts. I talked to Minerva about you. She said that you have strong ambitions to be an Auror."

"I do," Harry told him. "I've thought about it since fourth year and now with everything that's happened, I want to help find the rest of Voldemort's followers. I want to help. But with me dropping out of school to hunt Voldemort, I wasn't sure if I had any chance of getting in after that. Minerva told me that I can take my N.E.W.T.S. in August even without going back to Hogwarts."

Kingsley nodded. "And you can if you want, but I am here to tell you that's not necessary."

Harry shifted Teddy in his arms and furrowed his brow. "Not necessary?"

"I am still Head of the Auror Department until I choose a replacement and as Minister of Magic, I can also pull any strings I want. You defeated Voldemort. You made the world safe again, you taking school tests after doing what you've spent the last year doing is a waste of both of our time." Kingsley told him, crossing his legs in front of him. "The way the Academy works is those who have potential after taking their N.E.W.T.S. are put into a three week training camp. The boot camp is all about endurance and full of tests and obstacles all practical in defence, transfiguration, potions, charms, and you sit through a psychological test. It is not for the faint of heart. It is only those chosen who survive the boot camp who are accepted into the Academy."

Harry nodded, smiling at him. "And you're giving me a spot in the boot camp."

"Exactly, Harry. I am personally recommending you to Auror MacGregor. He's in charge of admittance of the camp." He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folder. "This is all of the information you need; supplies to have ready and where it takes place. The camp runs through the entire month of September; if you pass, you move onto phase two which is another additional three weeks. Phase three involves one final test and then you start at the Academy in January for three terms, usually three years worth of training, the last year is all on the job. Are you still interested?"

Harry smiled at him. "Incredibly. It sounds like even I did do amazing on my N.E.W.T.S. I would still have to pass three tests just to get into the Academy anyway?"

"Being an Auror is not an easy job and people who test well in school are not always going to test as well under pressure. You can deal with pressure, Harry. If you want to write your N.E.W.T.S. in August, feel free to, but as of 4th September, I expect to see you at boot camp. You're exactly the kind of man that I want helping me to clean up the Ministry; clean up the country and once and for all get rid of the Death Eaters and anyone who followed Voldemort."

He stood up, handing the folder to Harry. "I don't know if your friends have the same ambitions as you, Harry. But this boot camp is open to Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger if they so desire. I've sent notices out to a few others I'm looking to recruit. But you three have a carte blanche from me after your heroic efforts during the war. I hope to see you soon."

Harry shook his hand and walked him to the door, grinning from ear to ear. He snuck his head outside and gestured for Ron and Hermione to come inside. He quickly explained to them what Kingsley had told him.

Ron grinned widely. "Excellent, mate!"

"This is what I want to do," Harry told them, patting Teddy on the back when he started to fuss in his arms. "It's what I've wanted since fourth year and now, I want to help clean up this mess that Voldemort made. I'm going."

Ron nodded. "Me too, mate. You need someone to watch your back."

Hermione smiled at them. "I'm glad you two are going to be Aurors, you'd be great at it. But that's not for me. I'm done with the fighting. I told Ron already, I'm going back to Hogwarts in September. I want to finish my studies, take my N.E.W.T.S. and see where I go from there."

Harry smiled at her. "I expected nothing less. Come on; let's go outside and celebrate my birthday."

The two of them followed him outside and this time it was Mr Weasley who took Teddy from his arms. He sat down at the picnic table again and grinned at everyone.

"Kingsley asked Ron and I to join the Auror Department. We start boot camp in September to prepare for the Academy," Harry told them, a smile on his face.

Mrs Weasley's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Harry! That's wonderful news! Ronald, I had no idea you wanted to be an Auror."

Ron grinned at his mother, smiling when she hugged him tight. "Someone has to watch Harry's back, Mum."

Bill laughed and slapped Ron on the back. "Good man!"

Ginny grinned widely and plopped herself into Harry's lap, grabbed a fistful of his hair and tugged his mouth to hers in a long, deep kiss that left him breathless. "I'm proud of you," she said as Harry blinked owlishly at her.

Everyone was staring at them in surprise.

Harry wrapped his arms around her waist and grinned widely. "Also, Gin and I are back together."

Ron grinned at that. "Told you breaking up with her was stupid."

"You knew they were together?" Mrs Weasley exclaimed, eyes wide.

Ginny kissed Harry's cheek and smiled at her mother. "We started dating last year, Mum, when Harry decided to kiss me in the middle of the Gryffindor common room after we won a big Quidditch match. I didn't even know the git liked me. But then after Dumbledore died, he broke up with me for stupid noble reasons."

"I had to go after Voldemort, I didn't want you to-"

"Shut it, Harry. I knew exactly what you were doing." She kissed him again and smiled at her family. "After he defeated Voldemort, I went to find him and well, we're back together and I couldn't be happier."

Mr Weasley passed Teddy into Fleur's outstretched arms and smiled at Harry. "I couldn't imagine anyone I would trust more with my daughter. Treat her well."

Harry nodded, smiling at the people he had made into his family. "I'm too crazy in love with her to do anything else."

Mrs Weasley hugged both of them from behind and kissed Harry's cheek. "I think it's time we bring out the birthday cake."

She hurried off to get the cake and Ron took a seat next to him and Ginny. "Don't break up with her again, you here? I don't want to have to revoke my permission."

Ginny rolled her eyes as Mrs Weasley brought out a giant chocolate cake with an image of Harry punching Voldemort in the nose. It made him snort with laughter when he saw it and soon everyone was joining in.

It was the best birthday he had ever had.

As the summer wore on, Harry spent as much time with Ginny as he could. She and Hermione would both be returning to Hogwarts in September and he and Ron would be going off to boot camp and hopefully onto the Academy after that. They spent time at the Burrow and at Number Twelve, but usually Harry kept her out.

He wanted to use the rest of the summer as an opportunity to take her on all of the dates that he hadn't been able to do, due to his detentions the first time around. The press were still very much all in his face in the wizarding world, so he took her to the Muggle one. They went shopping; went to amusement parks; movies; Muggle tourist attractions; out to dinner; to a football game as well as a rugby match; and they just spent time walking around London, travelling on the tube and kissing by the Thames. Ginny had been thrilled at the idea of watching the sporting matches and comparing them to Quidditch. They went to two Quidditch matches in the last week of August: Harpies vs. Wasps and Puddlemere United vs. Chudley Cannons. Ron and Hermione had joined them for the Cannons match where Puddlemere defeated the Cannons four hundred ninety to ten.

Four days before Ginny and Hermione would ride the Hogwarts Express back to school, Ginny met Harry at Grimmauld Place for their date. They were having dinner at some fancy Muggle restaurant and then seeing a movie. She let herself into the house, locking the front door behind her.

Harry came up from the kitchen, grinning. "Hey! Sorry, I'm running a bit behind." He told her. "I got busy explaining to Kreacher how I want to use the first bedroom on the ground floor as an office. I just bought a great desk and I set up my school books and all of those great books Sirius and Remus got me for teaching the DA. I figure a few of them might come in handy once I'm in the Academy. Plus!" He took her hand in his, leading her to the room in question and pushing the door open a big smile on his face. "Look what I put up! Sirius had them in his bedroom."

Ginny laughed when she spotted the posters. There were eight in total that Harry had pinned up around the office. All Muggle pin-up girls posing near or on cars and motorcycles in skimpy bikinis. "Those are definitely Sirius Black posters."

Harry grinned. "I kept them and I thought this was the perfect place for them." The office was painted a slate grey, but Harry had done the back wall in a bold Gryffindor red. His desk was in front of the red wall, looking towards the door. He had two bookshelves full of his school textbooks in one corner and the pin-ups on the wall. He had also put up his sneakoscope and a framed photo of the original Order of the Phoenix and the second generation Order and one of Dumbledore's Army. He also had his Order of Merlin, First Class on the shelf, partially hidden by his books. "What do you think?"

"I think it looks perfect." She pointed to the award from the Ministry, "But that Order of Merlin could be seen, you know, not hidden in the back." When the back of his neck flushed in response she smiled. "But at least you have it out. It looks great, Harry. The perfect place to work and study."

"Me too." He told her, slipping an arm around her waist. "Speaking of perfect, you look amazing."

Ginny smiled and stood on her toes to kiss him. She was wearing a short strapless purple dress that Fleur had helped her pick out. "Thanks."

"I have to change, but give me five minutes and we'll go!"

Ginny slipped her hands into the back pockets of his jeans and tugged him closer to her. "Oh, we're not going out tonight, Harry."

"We're not?"

Ginny shook her head and kissed the centre of his throat. "No. In fact, we're staying in."

He raised his eyebrow at her. "Are we now?"

Ginny smiled at him, her brown eyes full of desire. "I think it's time we stop fooling around, Harry. Take me upstairs."

Harry stared at her for a moment and swallowed slowly. Then he nodded, took her hand in his and led her up the stairs to the fourth floor.

He wasn't sure that Ginny meant what he had hoped she had meant, but he was afraid to ask. She had a blazing look in her eye as she walked him towards the bed and it made him instantly hard. He shifted slightly as he took a seat and then his eyes widened when she slowly shimmied out of the excuse of a dress and it fell to the floor.

He swallowed slowly, his eyes taking in her beautiful curves in the satin undergarments that perfectly matched her dress.

"Ginny," he breathed and she smiled shyly at him.

"Fleur helped me pick them out," she told him, taking his hand and placing it on her breast. "Are they sexy?"

Harry nodded, kneading her gently beneath his hand as she straddled him on the bed. "You're a goddess."

She chuckled as she kissed him softly, her lips trailing down his throat as she tugged his shirt up and over his head to gain more access to his skin. "Harry," she murmured against his neck, moving back to his lips. "I want you."

The words were what he needed to hear and he grabbed her, flipping her onto the bed next to him and covering her body with his and kissing her deeply. His hands raked through her hair as they ran over her back and his tongue followed his hands, kissing and touching her everywhere as he undressed her. When he slid her satin panties down and saw how ready she was for him, he bit his lip as he groaned and then he used his mouth on her.

Ginny went wild beneath him, grabbing his hair as he pleasured her and he grinned, kissing his way up her thighs and kissing her breasts.

"I want you, Ginny." He told her, his green eyes dark with desire.

Ginny reached up and unzipped his jeans, sliding them over his hips and he kicked his boxers off. She stared at him for a moment, her hand gently cupping him and he closed his eyes in ecstasy. She bit her lip for a moment and then she nodded, pushing him over and straddling him on his big bed. She kissed him deeply and then with her chocolate brown eyes on his, she carefully lowered herself onto him.

The slick heat of her, even only a quarter of the way in was enough to make Harry groan, but he tried not to move as he watched pain cross her face.

"Ginny?"

She shook her head, smiling at him. "I love you, Harry."

He beamed up at her and she pushed down, taking him fully inside of her and they both gasped and then they were moving in unison, holding each other close. Harry's mouth found hers and he lost himself in her, one hand in her hair, the other on her hip as she rode him to peak and he groaned her name.

"Fuck," he murmured as she kissed him softly. "That was … that was better than I hoped it would be."

Ginny smiled and kissed his chest. "Mmm."

Harry reached down and slid a finger into her and her eyes darkened. "You didn't come with me. I'm sorry, I couldn't …"

Ginny grinned at him. "It's okay. I was told the first time is always a little off for the woman. But the second time, well …"

Harry grinned as his fingers found her and she gasped against him, "Second time, huh?"

Ginny cried out as he worked her over and the orgasm made her curl up against him like a sleepy cat. "Or the hundredth time," she said, smiling boldly at him.

Harry's eyebrow rose as she gently stroked his erection. "So far I'm liking it."

Ginny smiled and this time when she took him inside of her, Harry was ready for the hot heat and the feel of being buried deep. He held her hips as he thrusted into her and when she began to move in a slow circular pattern as he thrusted, he watched in fascination as felt her clench around him and she came. Being inside of her when she orgasmed was even more amazing then having his tongue inside of her.

Harry turned, flipping her beneath him and he rode her as she cried out his name and to his delight came again before he followed her over the edge, collapsing against her, his face buried in her breasts. "Fuck," he said again, kissing her nipple. "That was amazing."

Ginny nodded sheepishly. "Yes, it was." She was quiet for a moment and then she gently ran her fingers through this thick unruly hair. "Harry?"

"Hmm?" He asked so obviously sleepy and satisfied that she grinned widely.

"Thank you."

He lifted his head to look at her. "For this? Babe, I have been dreaming of this for years."

Ginny laughed and shook her head. "No, I mean, yes, but thank you for making my first time perfect."

He shimmied up her body and kissed her deeply. "Thanks for making my first time perfect, too." He rolled onto his side, snuggling his face into her chest. "I love you, Ginny."

Ginny kissed his forehead. "I love you too."

Harry woke up a little over an hour later, he was still snuggled into Ginny, his face in her breasts and the sight of her naked in his arms made him hard again. He glanced at the clock and realized his glasses were missing when he couldn't read it. But he didn't need glasses anyway, he knew exactly how to find what he wanted by taste and touch alone.

He kissed her stomach, slowly and softly leaving a hot wet trail with his mouth, down her bellybutton, her hips, her thighs and over her. He could taste himself on her as he kissed her and it made him harder. When his tongue slid into her, she groaned and when he started to suckle her, his name burst from her lips in a loud purr that rocked him. She tugged him up, gasping his name and he slid into her making her sigh and when they moved together and lost themselves in each other, he could only hold on as his world spun in pleasure.

Ginny's breathing was ragged against his shoulder as she kissed his skin. "Harry, I have to go."

His arms tightened around her and he held her closer. "Go?"

"Home," she said smiling. "It's almost midnight, Mum will be wondering where I am."

"Stay the night," he whispered, his lips on hers.

"I can't," she told him as his lips met hers. "Mum would have kittens if I didn't come home." She sighed his name as his fingers found her. "Harry," she breathed.

He kissed her again. "I'm going to miss you so much when you're at school." He told her as his fingers worked her. "Especially now that I know just how incredible it is to be inside of you."

She was panting against his neck. "We can see each other on Hogsmeade weekends. Harry!" She gasped as his fingers milked her before sliding up her hip to rest on her breast.

"I know," he kissed her cheek. "And I'll be busy with this boot camp and hopefully with the Academy."

"You know you're going to get in. Kingsley requested you and Ron personally, there's no way you're not already accepted."

Harry grinned as she snuggled into him. "I know." He kissed her lips again and she smiled before sliding out of bed. She grabbed her dress, sliding it over her body and then grabbed his old Gryffindor Quidditch jersey from the chair and slipped it over her head. "In case it's chilly outside."

Harry stood up, stretching in his nakedness and tugging her towards him for another kiss. "You'll come back tomorrow?"

She nodded, picking up her bra and stuffing it into her purse. "I will. You, me, Ron and Hermione are going out to lunch, remember?" At Harry's nod she smiled and turned on the light as she looked around the room. "Where are my knickers?"

He grinned widely and backed her out of the master bedroom, nipping at her mouth. "Must have gone missing."

"Harry!" She murmured against his mouth. "It's bad form to steal a girl's knickers."

"Haven't stole them," he said. "My girlfriend likes to forget them."

Ginny kissed him quickly and grinned. "I'll just have to stop wearing them."

Harry's eyes darkened. "Now that's just a naughty thing to tell me," he nipped at her mouth. "Now I'll be wondering, is she wearing knickers every time I see you."

Ginny smirked at him. "Serves you right." She stood on her toes and kissed him deeply. "I really have to go. Goodnight, Harry."

He watched her hurry down the stairs and he grinned. Sirius and Remus had been right, when it was the right time and right woman, he hadn't had any problems at all.