Chapter Twenty-Five - More Surprises and Excitement
"Harry." He must just be dreaming. "Harry!" He opened his eyes to see his wife sitting on the bed beside him, giving him a shake. "You're in big trouble, Mr. Potter," she told him. She was definitely not smiling, and seemed very serious. He immediately sat up.
"What's the matter?" he asked worriedly, and Ginny poked her finger in his chest.
"I distinctly remember telling you that I was taking a year - or two - off from having children, and that if you wanted another one sooner, that you'd have to carry it." Harry, not catching on, nodded.
"That was less than ten months ago, mister," she told him. Harry, still apparently too dense to catch her meaning, nodded again.
"Then please explain to me why I'm pregnant again and you're not, would you?" she demanded, and Harry just stared at her, a stupid grin coming on his face, and watched as her feigned seriousness fell away, and he realized that she'd been teasing him. He put his arms around her, and pulled her close.
"I'd tell you I'm sorry that I messed up, but it'd be a big fat lie," he told her. "I do love you very much, though. Does that count for anything?" Ginny laughed at him.
"Apparently it counts a lot. I'll figure out a way for you to make it up to me." Harry picked her up and swung her around onto the bed beside him, and gave her a mind-numbing kiss. When he leaned back, she took a long, shuddering breath.
"That's not a bad start," she said, and Harry laughed. "And if it's a baby girl, you'll be totally forgiven."
Ginny had 'adopted' Lisa and Megan, and was sitting at the kitchen table writing them each the third letter so far this school year. She and Harry had finished with bath-time, story-time, and bedtime for the boys, and she wanted to get the Owl Posts for the two girls out tonight. When she'd finished the letters, she put them together with the two little packages she'd made up with some of each girl's favourite candies, and a gold bracelet for each of them, and sent the two Owls she'd ordered on their way. Harry came into the kitchen, apparently having finished the nightly lullaby that put Albus out like a light every time.
"You got the letters out?" he asked, and Ginny nodded. "How do you feel about a little quality cuddle time in the sitting room, and then I'll carry you to bed and tuck you in after you fall asleep." She laughed, got up, and took his hand.
"That's the best offer I've had all day," she assured him with a bright smile.
The plan that Harry and Ginny had put in place last November to make it so that they could have more fun was working out just like they'd expected. Harry didn't necessarily expect that there'd be quite so much work involved. He went to the Residence every week to spend an afternoon or evening with the kids. Teddy had become friends with a little boy his age named Stewart, so Harry had 'adopted' him, and now he'd sometimes have as many as four boys with him for a trip to the park or to go on a picnic.
He did decide to hire a full time person to oversee the new Residences building projects for him, since he couldn't devote all of his time to the everyday details. He got the Cannons to come to the Residence one afternoon, and the children gathered around the Quidditch pitch and watched a practice session, followed by a chance to get autographs from the team. Demelza was the most requested autograph, followed by her husband, Dennis, and then Ron.
"I guess that officially proves I'm an old veteran now," he'd joked to Harry.
"I don't think that's it," Harry disagreed. "It's just that Demelza's way better looking than you, so she gets the boys for that, and the girls because she's one of the few Witches in the game other than on the Harpies team. Dennis gets the attention because the Seeker is the coolest position on the team." Both men laughed.
"Not that you've got any bias there mate," Ron shot back at him.
By the end of October, the Cannons were undefeated in their first four games. Hermione had finally had the breakthrough with her new treatment, and got it so that a team of twenty Healers working together could do the healing procedure that she and Harry had used to heal Bill's scars.
The 3D GameWizard HES went on sale November first. This system was like the portable version, except that it created a three-dimensional cube that was the size of a large kitchen table, and about four feet high. The children at the Residence were already way ahead of the other kids, having been playing the games for several months already.
Harry and the boys got into a bit of a routine in November. Weekends were for Mommy and family. Mondays were a trip to the Residence, and a day with Teddy. Tuesdays were spent with Victoire. Wednesday was lunch out with Mommy, and either shopping trips or some other outing. Thursdays were with Teddy and another morning or afternoon at the Residence. Friday they'd have Nicolas, and sometimes Rose, come over for the day.
One change in plans was the third Wednesday of November, when Ginny, Natalie, and Hermione had him come to the lab for the afternoon to help them. He and the boys took all of the girls out for lunch, and then he dropped James and Albus at the daycare, and met the girls at the lab.
They needed to make a major change to their WWVN system to make it possible for the 3D version to work when it went on sale in less than a year, and they needed him to once again be the focus wizard. Hermione taught him the spells he need to know, and then they assembled the Witches and Wizards who were going to be adding their power to his.
Hermione had him sit in a chair, and when they were all ready, he closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and began the non-verbal spell-work that was going to make the 3D-WWVN a reality. He felt the power begin to flow into him, and he gathered it in, moulding it with his own. When he released the spells in quick succession, what he'd allowed to flow smoothly in, he sent out in a roaring surge, and then it was done, and he was suddenly exhausted. He opened his eyes, and smiled when he saw the three dimensional display clearly visible in front of him, complete with a spinning 'Coming Soon' logo, and WWVN receiver that was simulcasting an actual WWVN network. He started to stand up, but Ginny put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him gently back down.
"Just wait a few more minutes," she told him. "We actually have twelve of the group unconscious right now. He stayed sitting, and marvelled at this new system.
"It's so clear, you'd think you were right in there and part of it," he said, and Ginny nodded.
"The arithmancy that went into it was crazy. There's probably only a few Witches and Wizards in the world that would even understand a little of it." Harry smiled weakly.
"Good thing that most of them work for us, then, present company included," he told her.
Ginny smiled. "Just remember that no matter how much we all sit here and play with our formulas and spells, this thing," she said, pointing to the 3D display, "and the WWVN would have never happened without your own rather special abilities."
Harry started to stand - slowly this time, and gave her a big hug. "I am, as always, your humble servant, my lady."
Ginny held on to him for another minute before letting him go again. "You're probably going to be out of it soon," she predicted. "Why don't you leave the boys at the daycare, and go back to the cottage and have a nap. I'll bring them home when I'm done work." Harry nodded, knowing she was right about how tired he was.
"Thanks. I'll see you later," he said, kissing her, and then slowly walked out of the lab to head for home.
There were two Owl Posts waiting for Harry and Ginny on the morning of December first. Ginny was in the kitchen first, and opened her letter after getting James started on his breakfast.
Dear Ginny,
I am pleased to tell you that the PBP Investments account managers have reviewed and approved your annual incentive. A transfer in the amount of twenty-nine million galleons has been made to your account.
Sincerely,
Molly Weasley
Account Manager - PBP Investments
Ginny was smiling when Harry came in carrying Albus.
"Do you miss having all the bonuses to sign off on this year?" he asked her. Ginny handed him the sheet of parchment she'd just finished reading.
"Mum gave me twenty-nine million or so reasons to get over it, if I am," she told him. Harry laughed, and set Albus down in his high chair for breakfast. He poured a cup of coffee, and sat down and opened his package.
Dear Harry,
I am pleased to advise you that PBP Investments enjoyed another record year. Your financial summary is attached, and I would like to take a moment to point out a revision that has been made on this report.
The Investment Partnership decided that the Charity fund you created last year would be financed using the formula of beginning balance plus applicable percentage of net profit, less total expenses for the year plus ten percent of PBP Investment net profit, calculated at year-end. This allows the charity to gain a more effective return on beginning balance. As per your instructions, I have also included the authorization for my own annual incentive. The Owl will wait for your return post.
Sincerely,
Fleur Weasley
CEO - PBP Investments
Harry switched to the second sheet of parchment, and looked over the summary.
Annual Financial Report - PBP Investments
Year Ending November 30, 2007
Beginning Balance PBPI: 8,304.75 million galleons
Beginning Charity Balance: 168.5 million galleons
Beginning Balance - IP: 1,900.5 million galleons
New Investment: 600 million galleons
Total Beginning Balance: 10,973.75 million galleons
Profits:
Marauders Institute 2,900 million galleons
Property Division 680 million galleons
Goblin Ventures 390 million galleons
Other Investments 210 million galleons
Total Profit 4,180 million galleons
Less incentive (40 percent) 1,672 million galleons
*Pending approval of projected incentives.
Less Non-Profit Vaccine: 5 million galleons **One Million vaccinations delivered during business year..
Profit after incentives 2,503 million galleons
**Investment Partnership receives 22.79 percent of after-incentive profit, Charity receives 1.54 percent of profit
Ending Balance PBPI: 10,009.25 million galleons
Charity Account: 396.5 million galleons
Less Expenses: 156.5 million galleons
Ending Balance - Charity: 240 million galleons
Ending Balance - IP: 3,071 million galleons
Total Ending Balance: 13,320.25 million galleons
Finally, Harry flipped to Fleur's incentive payout authorization, and happily signed it, then sent it off with the Owl. He handed Ginny the other pages of parchment, then took over feeding Albus from her while she read it.
"Fleur's incentive was over eighty million galleons," he told her, smiling happily. Ginny nodded.
"And that doesn't include what she made with her percentage ownership of the Investment Partnership," she added, getting up from the table and taking her breakfast dishes over to the sink. "I guess I'd better go off to work. I hear the bosses are putting on a party for us this afternoon. I'd invite you and the boys, but only senior management gets to bring their families, and I'm just a lowly researcher." Harry got up and gave her a hug and kiss.
"You're not a lowly anything, beautiful." He kissed her again, and they both laughed when they heard two little voices yell out - "YUCK!". When she finally did leave for work, there were two giggling little boys in her wake.