A/N: OK, so just to confuse everyone, this is written in Harry's POV, and not Ginny's. For this particular story, I felt that it would be better to get Harry's side of the story. Enjoy, and please please please review!
Exiting the train, Albus looked around wildly, trying to find someone. Our eyes locked, and he ran towards me. He hugged me tightly. Since he had chosen to stay at school for Spring holidays, this was the first I had seen him since January.
"Dad!" he exclaimed. "I want to introduce to you some people- or rather, REintroduce you, since one of them says that she already knows you!" Oh, dear Godric. Flashes of people ran through my head. If it is Dolores Umbridge…
Two people came up to me. A girl who looked to be about Albus's age was still wearing her school robes, with the symbol of Ravenclaw emblazed on them. The woman accompanying her had a hideous blonde perm, with green glasses. Oh, Merlin, it isn't…
"Dad, meet my best friend Ramona, and her grandmother, Rita Skeeter. Ms. Skeeter, Ramona, this is my dad, Harry Potter," Albus told them proudly. Salazar, I hoped that I wouldn't have to deal with these people again. Rita looked at me inquisitively, and I tried to ignore her look.
"Ramona, it's a pleasure to meet you. And Rita, charming as always," I bluffed. Not about Ramona, it really was nice to meet her. But I really did not want to see her… grandmother? Who would want to have kids with that cow?
Rita shook my hand firmly, then put an arm loosely around Ramona's shoulders. Ramona shrugged it off, and she and Albus ran towards Ginny, Lily, and James. We stood for a moment in silence.
"So, how have you been?" I asked. The quiet seemed too awkward.
Rita looked a bit startled. "Well, I've been doing great, thanks. The year after the Battle, I adopted a little girl, and Mona is her daughter."
"Oh? Where's the mother, than?"
Rita looked a bit stricken, and I regretted my question. "She died in childbirth." I apologized to her, and we stood in silence for a few more minutes. After a little more time, Ginny called me, and I realized that it was time to go.
"Well, it was nice seeing you, Rita," I told her.
She smiled. "Well, since Al and Mona started going out in the summer, I think we'll be seeing you a lot more in the future! Besides, I need a new interview! The Golden Trio, twenty five years after!" I stared in horror. She held up the pretense for a few more seconds, then broke down laughing. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding. You know, after that Battle, I stopped writing completely? Yeah, it just tore me apart, and I could never keep going. Anyway, I'm sure Ginny is getting impatient right now, so I'll let you go. But owl me, we must get together!"
I walked away, shaking my head. The cow had transformed into a human. Who knew?
As we got into the car, James asked me, "So, did you really know Ms. Rita before?"
Ginny laughed. "Rita Skeeter? I thought I recognized those green glasses. Begging you for another interview, then? What's it been, twenty five years since the Battle of Hogwarts? Looking to do a 'Where Are They Now' piece in Witch Weekly?" I cracked up. She didn't know how close she had gotten.
I got into the driver's seat as I replied, "Well, Rita used to be a journalist. She was a rotten old lady, and Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione and I didn't like her very much,"
Ginny cut in, "No one really liked her, but the cow did know how to write a good article." I nudged my wife, and she smiled.
Lily exclaimed, "Mum! Did you just call someone a cow?"
I continued, "Do you guys remember Viktor Krum, from Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione's anniversary party?" All the kids shook their heads, remembering the bumbling professional athlete. "Well, even though Aunt Hermione and Uncle Ron loved each other when they were in fourth year, Hermione still dated Viktor. Rita wrote all sorts of nasty articles about the two of them, and then tried to pair Aunt Hermione with me! It was really quite awful." I shuddered, remembering all the events of that year.
Albus asked, "But you loved Mum, right?"
Ginny grinned widely. "I think he did, but he just didn't know how to express it yet." She turned around and looked at Lily. "Lils, I'm going to tell you this now, from one woman to another. Boys are the most oblivious creatures on Earth, especially when it comes to unmasking their own feelings!"
A chorus of "Hey!" echoed through the car, and Lily chuckled.
Ginny continued, "Anyway, we all hated Rita, but then we played a prank on her that she will never forget, and it's all thanks to your Aunt Hermione."
"Aunt Hermione?' They asked in disbelief.
I said, "Yes, Aunt Hermione. But that's a story for another day, OK? Now, James, tell us all about this relationship of yours with her granddaughter…"
A/N: Well, that's it. Please review this. While I enjoy seeing all of the alerts I have on my stories, nothing beats having someone tell me where I've screwed up and where I've done a good job. Please review, and imaginative cookies to all who do!
