Chapter fourteen

Harry helped Lily pack all her clothes, while Ginny packed up all her stuff, then the three of them walked down stairs, but again Lily held Harry's hand and Snuffles was following behind, not running or barking, just walked quietly with them.

'I still don't like this, especially since Harry said he doesn't want marriage,' Molly said stiffly.

'Grandma mean, I want my daddy,' Lily said stubbornly as she tightened her hold on Harry's hand.

'Lily, that's not a very nice thing to say and it's not true. Grandma is worried about your mummy, that's all. So I think you should apologise to your grandma,' Harry said as he stared down at his daughter.

Lily sighed then looked back over at her grandma, 'Sorry grandma, but don't say anything bad about my daddy.'

'Oh she's stubborn,' Ron raised his eyebrows.

Harry sighed, then knelt down in front of Lily, 'Everyone needs time sweetheart, this is going to take time for all of us to get used to and no one is saying anything bad about me.'

'I want to go home.'

'Let's just take her Harry, hopefully once she knows you're here for good and not leaving she'll settle down,' Ginny said as she stared down at her daughter before looking at her mother, 'You know we have no choice mum, if we try to keep them apart, Lily will not be happy.'

'It's in the book, if she can't be with the parent she's bonded with she could, I'm just saying could end up very ill, or worse,' Hermione said, 'It's like their connected, Lily needs to be with Harry.'

'We have a lot of talking to do,' Ginny said as she glanced at Harry hoping this might change his mind about getting married.

'Let's just get her home, but with the way she is Ginny, can you take Snuffles again?'

'I've got him,' Ginny picked up the dog, 'Lily, say goodbye to everyone.'

'Bye,' Lily waved but stayed next to Harry.

'She's not moving from Harry's side,' Hermione said but raised her eyebrows at Harry.

Harry nodded, then picked up his daughter and walked over to the oldest Weasley's to see what his daughter would do.

'Now, how about a proper goodnight to your grandparents,' Harry smiled at his daughter.

Lily smiled, nodded then put her arms around Molly and Arthur who were standing together, she hugged them then kissed their cheeks.

'Oh my,' Molly gave Lily a smile then caressed her cheek, 'Goodnight Lily dear.'

'Goodnight grandma, goodnight granddad,' Lily smiled then put her head back on Harry's shoulder.

'Okay, let's get home, it's late,' Harry looked around at everyone, 'We'll see you soon.'

Harry, carrying Lily, Ginny carrying Snuffles all headed outside and apparated away. Molly sat down with her husband at the table.

'She hugged me, then kissed me, something I never thought she would do,' Molly said then wiped a tear from the corner of her eyes.

'It said that in the book, once the child had the parent they were bonded to they will start to show their feelings for others,' Hermione said, 'It's like she's a completely different little girl to the one before Harry returned home. Why didn't he get his letters?'

'I'll get a few departments to check it out tomorrow Mione, but it is late, let's get home,' Ron said then hugged his parents before leaving with his wife.

Harry watched as Ginny gave Lily a bath, he wanted to leave her with her mother, but Lily started crying, wanting Harry with her, so he stayed. Once she was washed, dried and dressed in her pyjamas, Harry carried her into her room and put her on the bed, where Snuffles tried to jump up again, so Harry nodded to Ginny who picked up the puppy and Snuffles curled up on the end.

'Goodnight flower, I love you,' Harry kissed her forehead.

'I love you too daddy, goodnight,' she smiled, 'Goodnight mummy.'

'Night Lily darling,' Ginny kissed Lily's cheek then left the room with Harry, but the door stayed open a little.

'I want to show you something Ginny,' Harry lead her into his office and opened his lap top, 'This will shock you, I just hope you can handle it for Lily's sake,' Harry moved his mouse around until his files opened, then stood back, 'My pictures, I'm with others in a lot of them and that's how I've been living my life.'

Ginny stared at the pictures, 'Woman, a lot of woman and men, you had sex with men?'

'Yes, I found I enjoyed it. But Ginny, all of them, if I didn't, I don't think I'd be here today. Those times, all the sex, it got me through some really bad times. I was depressed, seriously depressed, I was doing drugs, drinking, I just didn't care. Once I started having sex with them, I sort of found myself, found a way to get through all the fucked up shit I went through. I said to myself once I realised how it helped that this was going to be my life, casual friendships, casual relationships, nothing serious. Every time I thought of serious, whether it was his supporters or some woman or bloke wanted to get serious with me, I would drink or do drugs again. I do care about you, but I can't get into a serious relationship with you, I just can't. So we really need to work this out for Lily's sake. I love her and I do want to get to know her and be with her. After seeing the way she behaved, what she was saying, we know she wants to be with me and I'm sorry if that hurts you. But now is not the time to think about you or me, it's Lily we have to think about. So you can live here, have your own room, treat this as your home in every way, but the truth is, nothing will happen between us unless you are willing to go with the casual lifestyle. It also means you might see me with others, men and woman, you can do the same, bring a man home if you want, that's your decision.'

'I was hoping that maybe with some time you would want us to get married, I've loved you for so long. But after hearing what you said, seeing these pictures, that's not going to happen is it Harry?'

'No, it's not. So if you want some time to think about all this, you can take the room next to Lily's, decorated how you want. Let's just take our time because you might find you don't like this new me because I am different, a lot different to how I used to be. I like to go out, I like to have sex, rough, hard and well, kinky sex, tied to bed, blind folded, both of us, sometimes there were a few at a time,' Harry moved back to his lap top and closed it down, 'We both have a lot to think about, but it's Lily who we both need to put as our main priority, not me or you, her,' Harry walked to the door, 'I'm sorry if this hurts you Ginny, I never wanted to ever hurt you, but that's how I am now, you either accept it or you don't. One more thing, I'm a late sleeper, so remember what I said, make yourself at home, there's plenty of food or anything you might want,' Harry nodded then left the room heading upstairs, he checked on Lily then went his room to shower. He stood under the warm water thinking about everything that had happened since he got to the Burrow, now he had a daughter.