"Uncle Potter why are you buying that?" His ten year old neice Rubella asked not at all shyly. Then again Bella had outgrown her shyness rather quickly after Harry had become a member of the Weasley family. Harrry didn't delude himself by marrying Ginny he felt rather strangely like the bride taking on the name of her husband rather then the other way around.

Trully he wouldn't have had it any other way, he had an abundance of brothers cousins aunts and uncles even parents where he had never had them before. And judging by the way Bella had clung to him since thier first meeting six years ago he even had a favorite Niece. Shy four year old was gone to be replaced by the coltish ten year old who by all apearances was doing her best to turn out like her favorite uncle. Bella had insisted on cutting her hair short and it often stuck out in chopy disguntled waves much to her mothers dispair.

Her beautiful soft blonde hair and bright blue eyes were a testoment to her Veela blood and Fleur wanted her daughter to attend the school she had attended as was only proper for a young lady. Bella was having none of it, if ever there was a tom boy then Bella was it. Her cloths were often dirty her pants often ripped even now there was a smuge of dirt on her cheek. Bella had been axcepted to Hogwarts and would be attending her fist year this year.

Harry chuckled every time he looked at her, she looked dainty as a pixie but had a mean kick and an even tougher additude.

"I'm buying this because your aunt Ginny asked for it, and we all know what aunt Ginny asks for she gets" Harry winked at her.

Bella wrinkled her nose, "You're a push over when it comes to women Uncle Harry. What do you do when you face down female dark wizards?" She asked shaking her head.

Harry's Job as an Auror never failed to facinate her and she had boldy at the age of six pronounced that she was going to be the greatest Auror England had ever seen.

"Ah but not just any women Bella, just the lucky ladies in my family. Dark wizard ladies arnt nearly as friendly as you our Aunt Ginny." Harry grinned. He couldn't imagine Bellatrix or any other dark witch asking for a ride on his broom the way Bella did or sitting with him on the patio and watching the sunset the way Ginny and Hermione did. There was a definit distinction between the two.

When the witch at the counter handed him his bag full of purcheses he gave her a bright smile knowing Ginny would be pleased he had been able to find everything on her list. The witch smiled back at him and although he saw nothing wrong with her friendlyness Bella crossed her arms and glared at the witch.

"Your daughters a doll mr Potter" The witch gushed reaching out to pat Bella's golden head.

Bella rolled her eyes and stepped back out of the womans reach. "I'm not his daughter, i'm his niece he's too young to be my father anyway."

The witch seemed happy about this prospect and her eyes flickerd to his hand. Harry felt his face flush a little glad his wedding band was so boldy displaid most women left it at that.

"Thats right he's married to my aunt Ginny everyone knows that so keep your.." Harry clamped his hand over Bella's mouth before she could embaress them both.

"Hardly called for Bella" he mutterd dragging the young girl out of the shop. He couldn't stop grinning not because of the witches attentions but because of Bella's protectivness. Harry was in no danger of straying from his wife and indeed had Ginny been here she would have laughed and teased him.

"Thanks for defending my honor in there Bella." Harry smiled down at her and she gave him a cheeky grin.

"Any time uncle Harry. Do we have to go home just yet?" She turned those big blue eyes on him and Harry didn't even try to resist. He took her hand in his and pretended to think about it.

"I suppose we could get a few treats at Honeydukes what do you say?" He asked tentivly as if she might not agree.

As his niece whooped with joy and Harry laughed as she tugged him chirply along Harry Potter knew exactly what all the books talked about when they mentioned heaven on earth.

Change of Scene

Ginny couldn't help but feel as if she should be swimming in a tank somewhere with thousands of people in bleachers watching and pointing. She felt like a whale and when she dared walk outside on the streets outside their home in Glaciers End she felt as if like the poor creatures in muggel aquariums as if everyone was watching and making sport of her. The reason for her feeling so whalish was simple, she was more then eight months pregnant and although the Mediwizard guiding her through her second pregnancy assured her she was not carrying twins Ginny had to argue with the man.

She was humongous, felt infact like a walking marshmallow. Ginny Weasley hadn't felt pretty in months even though her husband of six years insisted that she was by his standards divine. Looking at herself in the mirror she had to wonder at her husbands standards.

Her hair was in a messy pony tail. Waddling around their house, as undignified as it was Ginny refused to be seen as helpless, left her little time for vanity. She wore no makeup and her slip on sandals were the best she could manage when she could barely reach her feet anymore. She hadn't seen her ankles in months but they often ached and she knew they were swollen.

Harry could insist all he wanted but until she delivered the septuplets judging by her size she must be carrying, she would not feel pretty or desirable. Even if Harry had a way of looking at her that made he feel just that.

Don't start that again, that's what got you into this state in the first place.

Ginny sighed shaking her head fondly, Harry must be crazy to find her attractive even when she was mammoth and by her opinion far from attractive. She loved him because he did though even if she couldn't fathom how.

Her stomach rumbled and she felt a not so light kick reminding her that the Baby was very much awake and aware and wanting to be fed. Ginny felt sorry for Harry her constant need to be snacking on something was embarrassing but entirely his fault in her opinion. She was convinced it had to be at least nine children she was eating for even Rory had not required as much food as this child seemed to be demanding. Her mom just laughed and told her that was the nature of twins.

Harry had taken the last month off of work to help her at home even though Ginny insisted against it. It was no small thing Harry had been given his own team to lead, truly he had been offered one many times but hd always declined. With Riordan on the way Harry had thought it smart to take a higher paying Job and had finally accepted. That had been four years ago and now with their second child on the way Harry was in line for another promotion. Taking a month off of work was no small thing, but Harry had just smiled at her fondly and taken the time off anyway. At this very moment he was running mundane errands for her, she smiled warmth gathering in the pit of her stomach at the thought of her husband. Harry was wonderful when he wanted to be.

Other times however he made her want to strangle him, like the way he insisted on coddling and protecting her at all times even at expense to himself. If telling her he had been injured at work might cause Ginny some distress Harry would simply not tell her. The last time he had pulled that particular stunt and Jane had informed her of it Ginny had nearly hexed him in her aggravation.

As far as she knew when Harry was hurt now he told her but there was no give with him when it came to his nightmares. In truth the entire time they were married he hadn't seemed at all plagued by them it was as if when he married her they had lost their hold on him, they'd just simply gone away. Still Harry refused to relive any of the memories buried within him even with her and that aggravated and concerned her. Would Harry ever truly be free of their power if he kept them hidden and buried?

Her thoughts were interpreted with the sound of the front door swinging open, laughter and the exited chattering of her five year old son Riordan Avery Potter, or to those that new and loved him Rory. Ginny smiled trying to reduce her waddle as much as possible to greet her sons return from his outing with his favorite aunt and his favorite cousin. Frankie was in his second year at Hogwarts this year proudly continuing a long line of Gryffindors. He was young enough to still cater to the whims of a little boy playing outrageous games even if only in fond indulgence of a younger cousin but old enough to still inspire awe in her son at his seeming larger then life presence.

Seeing Hermione in the front hall helping Rory out of his muddy shoes a redheaded mop of carroty curls strapped and bundled to her back made Ginny smile. Frankie was leaning nonchalantly in a poise that Ginny recognized in youth with a fond smile. In three months Frankie would be thirteen and he was already displaying signs of the changes being a teenager brought to childhood.

His shirt tails were un-tucked his pants unnecessarily loose on his frame, his hair was shaggy and hadn't seen a pair of scissors in a great while. The freckles of his youth had seemed to fade in age or maybe the tan hue of his skin from so much time spent outdoors had evened them out. His hair as he matured had seemed to turn a red gold and was naturally streaked with golden highlights. He was going to be as tall as his father had in fact shot up several inches this summer alone, and according to Fleurs proud boasting was just as accomplished as his father on a broom.

Ginny didn't doubt it, after all Frankie had been joyriding on one since he was six and no amount of punishment or warning had kept him off of it since. His pension for practical jokes and mischief had not mellowed with age the boy still did his two favorite uncles proud.

Hermione was indeed scolding him even as she helped Rory stand up and slide his shoes in the shoe rack. "It wasn't funny Francis, that poor muggle woman will be searching for her dog and worrying about him."

Frankie rolled his eyes, looking bored with his aunts scolding. When Rory giggled at the memory of whatever Frankie had done to the poor pooch in question Frankie gave him a wink.

Ginny grinned finally close enough to talk to them, "Welcome back, you behaved yourself didn't you Frankie?"

Frankie grinned sheepishly and Rory shook his head in excitement his mess of raven curls flopping as he shook it. "Mummy Frankie turned a dog into a purse! It was funny mummy but aunt Mione didn't like it."

When Ginny would have laughed Hermione shot her a hot glance. "Don't encourage him, that could be classified as muggle taunting in the Ministry." She turned on Frankie then, "That's a class one offense Francis it would break your mothers heart if you…"

Frankie sighed pushing away from the wall, "Relax Aunt Hermione I was hardly muggle taunting. Her yappy little dog bit me and I took away it's teeth for awhile that's all. She'll take her purse home and sooner or later it will turn back into her dog she might be a little surprised but no harm done."

Rory giggled again and Ginny had to force herself to look stern.

Hermione was far from amused, "Francis do you realize the Ministry will have to send someone down to do memory charms because of this? If you get hauled in front of a council your mother…"

"Won't know what you don't tell her. Neither will the ministry unless you or Rory go flapping your mouths which I know you wont do so I don't see what all the fuss is about." Frankie pointed out.

Hermione fumed as he laughed when she apparently had no response to this.

"I thought it was funny Aunt Mione and so did those other girls." Rory offered.

Ginny watched her nephew turn pink as Hermione rounded on him again this time a sly smirk on her lips. "Ahh I nearly forgot, I told you to stay with us. I expected Rory to wander off imagine my surprise to find that the twelve year old rather then the five year old had done so. And even more suprising to find him chatting it up with a crowd of girls who were they Frankie?"

Now that she wasn't scolding him Hermione seemed content to use his nickname. Frankie turned an even darker shade of pink and shrugged.

"Just some girls from school, leave it be" He mumbled. When Hermione snorted he glared at his aunt.

"was that what this was all about, were you showing off Frankie. You needn't make mischief to get some girl to notice you mind you." Ginny playfully teased him and watched him darken. It was true though, although only a quarter Veela Frankie still had a golden sort of allure that upon maturity was beginning to make the females of his age buzz around him.

"oh come off it there just girls!" Frankie insisted hotly his cheeks burning as red as his hair.

Ginny laughed.

Change of scene

"Ginny you've been standing there for a long time why don't you come to bed?" Harry poked his head around the door of their bedrooms lavatory glancing at where she stood staring with dissatisfaction at her reflection.

She had her red hair bunched up in one fist trying to see if a style would change her reflection.

It didn't. She was still…a marshmallow.

When she sighed letting it drop Harry frowned slightly and moved to stand at her back, she felt his arms slip around her enlarged middle his big male hands splayed across the round expanse, his chin resting on her shoulder.

She couldn't help but be thrilled with the reflection in the mirror now, his coal black hair next to her own red locks was striking and his emerald eyes glittered and heated with such warmth she could only warm in return.

"Ginny Potter you aren't regretting being pregnant are you?" He asked softly.

"Of course not Harry, I love you and Rory and I wouldn't give up the next one if I had to break a weight record. I just sort of miss being well not Mrs. jiggles." She chastised him refuting the very thought of regretting the child she carried. It would never be that she guarded her burden like the treasure it was and thinking about bringing a second child of hers and Harry's into the world made her giddy with delight. Although since she was half convinced it was two and her mother was sure that it was, she was considerably rounder then her last pregnancy and couldn't help but wonder what Harry thought when he looked at her.

"Then I've done something wrong again, is that what has you sighing?" Harry asked slight humor evident in his voice.

Ginny shook her head feeling slightly ashamed of her vanity. In their reflection Ginny could see Harry watching her speculatively. She could tell the moment he understood when she shifted a little to ease the pressure her weight must be causing him.

Ginny could hear him start to chuckle and she felt indignant. It was hardly a laughing matter. Harry was a national Hero, wealthy and extremely good-looking; women surrounded him daily in the hordes and although she never doubted his faithfulness she wouldn't blame him for glancing at slimmer waist lines.

Oh yes you would who are you kidding you'd box his ears and hex out his eyes if you caught him even peeking at another woman!

"It's not funny Harry, I look like a walking dough bag. I'm puffy and red faced can you honestly find that attractive?" She angrily insisted.

Harry finally stopped chuckling and pulled her closer, in her belly she felt a slight stirring and a kick. She didn't jump and indeed felt a sense of pleasure as Harry kneaded the spot on her belly where he had felt their baby kick.

"You want my honest Ginny?" He asked turning her around slowly.

Ginny half feared what he might say but swallowed back the lump in her throat and nodded. Harry slowly knelt down on his knees until his face was level with the abdomen that was causing her so much insecurity. Ginny watched as his hands peeled back the layers of her shirt baring her skin to his gaze and her breath caught in her throat at the heat in his glance and the deeper emotion she saw there.

"I've never found you more attractive. Have I ever told you you're intoxicating? You consume my every thought and color my world with your presence without even trying. When you're furious I find you glorious. When you wake up in the morning with your hair askew and smudges on your face and bags beneath your eyes; you tempt me in ways I can't put into words."

Her knees began to shake as he paused his hands beginning to caress the firm mound of her belly wearing a look of total satisfaction and his smile brimming with joy. He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to where his hand had been sending shivers up and down her body.

"You're beautiful and every time I look at you I want to thank whatever God wants to hear me. Don't ever think I don't see you just as you are, and that's down right too good for me."

And with that he rose and more gently then Ginny could have thought he cradled her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. She sighed softly warming to his kiss not believing her good fortune in having him for a husband.

His kiss was tender but soon that undeniable flare of heat and hunger could be felt beneath the tenderness and she knew for a fact that she could look like three marshmallows lumped together and her husband would still desire her. It made her feel giddy, and undeniably loved.

His hands had threaded into her hair now as his lips softly claimed hers, moving over them in slow and languid sweetness that threatened to make her legs give out. She didn't know how he did it but when he lifted her off her feet and into his arms she felt lighter then a feather and threw herself whole heartedly into their heated kiss. She felt his smile beneath her lips and sought to capture it with her own.

He carried her from the loo and into their bedroom and over to the bed. He laid her down on it as if she were priceless china, as if she would shatter if not handled correctly.

As if he treasured her.

"Ginny" his voice was breathy as if he was fighting for breath. His lips were instantly drawn back to hers as if to be separated for even the amount of time it took to form her name was too long.

Her own hands were wrestling with his shirt desperate to feel the familiar heat of his skin, marveling in the softness of his skin tracing every scar on his body with reverence, glad he was safe and whole in her arms. Harry was her world and her heart was so incredibly full of joy in this moment she felt she would burst with it.

Harry drew back giving her one last lingering kiss and Ginny willed herself not to cling to him. She knew she was far too close to her time to do what both of them yearned for and Harry was only looking out for her.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, "I love you never doubt that." He whispered hoarsely clasping her in his arms.

Ginny Potter was warmed clear to her toes.

Change view

"Is it time Malfoy? We have waited so very long!"

"Patience, patience there are still more pieces to put into play but you are right now is the time to make the first move." he whispered stirring the contents of the seeing pool he was watching Potter and his wife the Weasley chit through. It was really a spell cast on water that allowed him to observe anyone he had cast his particular spell to. He had cast this particular spell six years ago at the mans wedding.

He watched Potter and his wife on their bed feeling rage at the mans obvious happiness. He watched them slip off to sleep looking sickeningly content.

His lips curled.

"Yes its time for the first step." And with that he stuck his wand tip in the water of his seeing pool and began to stir. The water turned a deep and bold red thicker then blood.

Change of scene.

He was running not away from something but to something. Desperately running towards it for all that he was worth. He somehow knew the street as Glaciers End even though with the fog he could barely see his own feet pounding against the pavement.

Fear coursed through his veins pumping his body full of adrenaline making his heart pound a painful rhythm of fear. All around him he could hear the wailing cry of a baby, it eerily echoed and bounced around in the fog. A warning and a beckoning at once.

He ran on.

"Harry! Harry Stay away!"

Her voice now begging pleading him.

"Stay away Harry"

So shrill her voice as if she was in pain, so very desperate a sound.

He couldn't stay away, not when she needed him not with the eerie ghostly wailing of an infant crying out to him. Ginny was due soon could she be having there baby? His thoughts raced in his head as he raced down the endless streets never seeming to get nearer to her.

"GINNY!" He called out her name in desperation as the wailing of the baby increased in pitch and he heard her scream in pain.

His heart throbbed in acute pain filled desperation to reach her.

THERE! Emerging from the fog like a specter was their home. He raced up the steps and as he tore open the door and burst inside, a cry of fury and devastation escaped him.

Ginny lay sprawled on the floor and in this world of gray and fog the only thing of color was red. The red of her hair, and the sickly red of the blood pooling around her body. The wet red covering the tiny body of the newborn that had been torn from her body, red was the stream of blood coming from the stream of blood running in rivulets down it's tiny body.

Red red red.

Red was the torn and sightless bundle laying tossed and broken near his wife. His small life snuffed out, torn away at dagger point in defense of his mother. Riordan's raven hair was bathed in the red of his own blood.

Red red red thick and wet was the blood surrounding him signaling the brutal death of everything he held dear.

Red red red were the tears that rolled down his cheeks as he sank to his knees uncaring that the man who held his dying child had tossed his newborn away like so much garbage.

He lay in the red pool as if he could soak himself in it and recapture his dreams.

Red red red was the hair of the man who stood over him.

The man grinned, "Never trust anyone Harry even those closest to you"

Change of view

Ginny was jerked sharply out of sleep when she felt the thrashing of her husband and heard his low moan of agony. She felt a dart of fear, was he hurt? That agonized sound coming from him bespoke a type of pain that was physical and excruciating.

But no Harry's eyes were shut tight and he appeared to be still sleeping.

A nightmare.

A sense of dread came over her then, even though she knew it could be a nightmare completely unconnected to the ones that had plagued him before they married but she knew that was asking for too much.

Harry had begun to shiver and shake on the bed next to her and she reached out to clasp his head in her hands and gently tried to pat him awake.

"Harry, Harry! Wake up!"

He jerked his eyes flying open a wide eyed look of terror in them that only elevated her fear for him. He was panting as if he had just been running his skin clammy beneath her hands.

"Ginny?" he panted his hands suddenly clasping her to him as if he feared she would disappear. She held onto him smoothing the wrinkles of anxiety from his brow.

"It was just a dream Harry. You're here with me. You're safe." She soothed him pressing tiny kisses to his brow. She felt him shudder.

Change of view

He felt so cold her arms the only warmth in his entire body. He clung to her even as the visions of his nightmare clung to him. He could not stop trembling his body as frigid as if he had taken a dip in the Atlantic.

"Harry talk to me, was it about the battle with Vo-" She began…

"NO!" his sudden shout of protest startled her and he saw her she cringed a little. He shuddered again, as waves of memory hit him. Those memories had begun to fade into his past the moment he had decided to put them safely locked in the past and move with her toward the future. Now it seemed with this soul scaring nightmare his carefully constructed walls had crumbled around him.

"Worry not Harry I shall indeed kill you as you plead. Not just yet though I have not begun yet to show you what true suffering is." Voldemort sneered as he leered at the ashen faced young boy who lay sprawled naked and shattered before him.

Harry fought for breath his lungs constricting in pain his ribs having broken and splintered beneath the crushing weight of the boots of the men gathered. He felt as if splinters of wood had sunk into the soft tissue of his lungs, his breathing was haggard and sounded wheezing and broken. He felt hot sticky blood in his throat and found it hard to continuing pleading with his tormentor to end his torment.

"Do you wonder how I knew where to find you Harry? Don't you wonder how I caught you unaware. Tut Tut Potter you trusted didn't you. Never trust anyone, I intend to teach you this lesson." Voldemort sneered and suddenly he was swooping down his wand tip pointing threateningly at the soft flesh of his belly.

Harry's heart leapt into his throat and he whimpered unable to do more the pain in his ribs hampering further movement.

"Beg for me Potter. Promise me service, promise me your very soul beg me for my favor."

He felt a hot wave of hatred rise to the surface and new his defiance was clear in his eyes by the flame of anger they ignited in his tormentors eyes. With a slight swish of his wand the tip burst into golden flickering flame. Harry screamed as the tip scorched the soft skin of his belly.

With malicious delight the dark lord began to etch burning words into the skin there and all Harry could do was scream…

"HARRY!" The sound of Ginny's frantic cry tore him away from the nightmarish memory and Harry moaned with the effort of shaking off it's clinging presence. It had been so real, so damn real. He could smell the scent of burning flesh in his nostrils so strongly it threatened to gag him. He could taste the blood in his mouth its coppery tang disgusting and foreign to his tongue. His stomach burned as if someone had indeed touched it with a flaming torch Harry lay in his wife's arms gasping for breath for the first time in years frightened out of his mind.

Always before it had been just a memory, a paralyzing terrible memory but just a memory. An illusion brought forth by his tortured mind no longer willing to suppress and bottle such horrors. Now it was as if the natural barriers between illusion and reality were stripped away. He had felt the flames licking at his skin, felt the brokenness of ribs and blood clogging his throat of punctured lungs fighting for air and filling up with blood for their effort.

All over again he had felt it all over again.

And it had been very real, it had been no illusion.

What about the dream before, what about what you saw was that reality or illusion?

"Harry talk to me please" Ginny was pleading with him and Harry realized that he had not spoken to her since sinking back into memory.

His ribs twanged with pain even though he knew they were not shattered as they had been that day long ago, he still had to suck in a breath because of the sharp jab of pain. He could have kicked himself seeing the frantic look of worry in her eyes the trembling of her hands.

"I'm ok Ginny, it was just a nightmare. I'm ok" He reassured her pulling her into an embrace. As he held her the pain faded from his body gone as if it had never been there, but he knew it had.

She was shuddering against him holding tightly onto him. "it is not ok, you scared me out of my mind. Harry why can't you just tell me what's bothering you?"

He was so tempted to tell her all to reveal every terrifying detail of the night he'd defeated his worst enemy and gained a new one.

Himself.

His own body had turned against him that night it had become a trap of the mind that he couldn't seem to escape. It damaged him and anyone who got close to him.

You are supposed to protect her, but all you ever bring her is pain. You should never have married her, she isn't safe with you.

He shut out the nagging voice of his conscience unwilling to give up the joy he had found with her. He held her tighter rocking her for comfort. "it's behind me, I just want it to stay in the past. To talk about it only brings it all to the present…" he began.

Voldemort stood…

Harry shuddered gritting his teeth forcibly drawing away from the black void of memory trying to claw it's way to reality. When no more memories surfaced he gave a sigh of relief.

"I'm scared for you Harry" he heard Ginny whisper softly.

"Don't be. The past can't hurt us." He reassured her.

He wouldn't let it, he reassured himself as he drifted back into troubled sleep.