As I have said many times before, it is my intention to finish this story... just has taken me awhile to get kick started again (and a new computer)... This is not beta'd but feel free ;) - I do not own Harry Potter...
Chapter 26: Family Moments
We entered Muggle London through the Leaky Cauldron. Ginny and Merry Floo'ed first and I followed shortly with Nat.
"Good evening, Mrs. Potter," Tom said as Ginny entered.
Before Ginny had opportunity to reply, Nat was excitedly announcing that he was going to dinner in Muggle London. People stifled snickers as he bounced his way to the door. It was amazing how much energy that child had.
It was a pleasant evening for a stroll. Ginny window shopped as we made our way past several Muggle shops, and she made me promise to bring her back when they were open.
"Remus," Ezzy greeted me in her usual fashion. "You haven't been around much lately."
"Been pretty busy," I smiled, hoping to avoid further explanation.
She then eyed Ginny and the children and smiled. "I see," she laughed as she showed us to a booth.
Ezzy handed Ginny and I both menus, but gave Merry and Nat paper and crayons. Merry seemed to examine hers briefly before she began to color on it. Nat just grabbed a crayon and began to color.
Ginny and I looked at each other quizzically.
"It's a menu," Merry announced matter-of-factly, as if reading our minds.
"Oh," Ginny said, sounding somewhat surprised. "What do you think you would like?"
"I'd like the fish and chips," Merry answered quickly. "Nathaniel usually has a burger."
"Gramma and Grampa Granger would bring us to a place like this," Nat answered as he colored.
I had forgotten that Hermione was a Muggle-born, and apparently so had Ginny. A wave of grief flashed through her eyes at the mention of her. It was hard to believe she was really gone at times.
We ordered our meals and watched as the children remained engrossed coloring on the little paper menus. I couldn't believe how natural this all felt, as if all was right with the world in that moment.
Our food soon arrived and Nat wasted no time getting tomato sauce all over his face and shirt.
"You need to slow down," Merry admonished her younger sibling. "Remember what Mum used to say."
Nat just shot her a nasty look. "Well Mum's dead," he quipped back angrily.
To be honest, this was a situation I didn't particularly want to find myself in. Thank God for Ginny's good sense sometimes.
"And it is all right for you to be angry about that Nathaniel," Ginny said with all the compassion and love she had, "I'm angry with her and Harry too, but now is not the time or the place to act like that. We can talk about it later if you'd like."
Nat sat down, but uttered an embittered 'no thank you' under his breath.
Ginny just rubbed his back a few times then turned her attention back to the food in front of her, in particular, her milkshake. "Brilliant these are," she finally exclaimed.
"Dad thinks so too," Merry said. Ginny and I both seemed to find this statement oddly funny and started to laugh. Nat and Merry both looked at us as if we had gone completely nutters.
"Grown-ups find the strangest things funny," Nat observed and Merry nodded her head in agreement.
Once we had all finished, Ginny rustled the children off to the loo to wash up as I settled the bill.
"So when did you become such a family man?" Ezzy asked as she eyed me precariously. "Or have you been keepin' secrets from ol' Ez?"
"Oh Ezzy," I chuckled, almost tiredly. "It's a tremendously long story, to which the answer would seem unbelievable at best. The children, however, are Ginny's niece and nephew which we have for the weekend."
"Well," Ezzy said, still eyeing me precariously. "No matter what the story, she suits you well, love. Didn't think I'd ever see you walk in here with another after…," Ezzy gave pause in remembrance of Tonks. "Can't believe she's already expectin' though! Ya ol' dog you!"
I think I opened and closed my mouth several times before determining that explaining Ginny was not pregnant with my child was an exercise in futility. Thankfully Ginny had completed the enormous task of cleaning up the children (although by the looks of Nat I can only assume she used our way instead of the Muggle way) and was headed towards me.
"All ready?" I smiled at her.
She graciously gave me Nat's hand. "He's all yours," she grinned. "Thanks again Ezzy."
"Anytime dear," Ezzy smiled, "Anytime."
"So she questioned you about me?" Ginny giggled as we left the diner. I must have given her a quizzical look because she was quick to explain. "You looked like you were about to panic."
Before I could correct her misconception about my panicked state, Nat started to talk about a time when he, his Mum and Grandmum Grainger had all gone to an indoor playground. "I got to play in the balls, and climb the net, and slide down the slide lots and lots of times," he said excitedly as he was practically bouncing around my legs as we walked.
I had been saved by a four year old.
We had made it back to the Leaky Cauldron and decided to stroll through Diagon Alley before going back to the house. It had sustained quite a lot of damage during the war and rebuilding it had barely gotten underway. Shops like Madam Malkin's Robes For All Occasions, Ollivander's, and Potage's Cauldron Shop; which had been a staple of Diagon Alley long before I ever went to Hogwarts, would never again line the cobbled street.
"It's a shame really," Ginny sighed as if reading my mind.
They were in the process of 'rebuilding', taking the opportunity to 'modernize' for the Witch and Wizard of the twenty first century. At least that is what all the 'coming soon' signs read.
We finally came upon Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, which had managed to take minimal damage through the war. George kept it open, however it was mostly run by employee's these days.
"Mum never liked it when Dad took us to Uncle George's shop," Merry mentioned candidly. Once again both Ginny and I found this statement amusing.
"I would imagine not," Ginny giggled.
I noticed that Ginny had slowed her pace considerably and chanced a glance her way. She was rubbing her hand over the baby bump, which she seemed to do quite often these days.
"I don't know about the rest of you," I interjected, "but I think I'm ready to go home."
Ginny happily agreed and we made our way back to the Leaky Cauldron. For once we entered without any notice and Floo'ed back to the house.
I carried Nat to Ginny's room and laid him on the bed as she had indicated for me to do before heading off to the kitchen to make some tea. I heard Nat grumble a little and assumed Ginny woke him up long enough to put on his pajamas.
"Good night, Uncle Remus," Merry said as she tugged on my shirt sleeve.
"Brush your teeth?" I asked, trying to sound firm.
"Yes," she replied, placing her hands firmly on her hips as if annoyed I had asked the question.
I tried unsuccessfully to repress a chuckle, to which she merely rolled her eyes. Once I picked her up however, I was the lucky recipient of the warmest hug ever. I proceeded to carry her back to Ginny's room.
"Go ahead," Ginny said as she motioned for Merry to crawl into her bed next to her brother. Ginny kissed both children and waited by the door as I did the same. With a simple flick of her wand she had turned off the light and a neat little starry night scene illuminated on her ceiling.
"Nice work," I mouthed as we walked down the hall.
"Thank you," she laughed.
"You can have my bed," I said as I followed her into the kitchen.
"I couldn't do that," she replied, taken back by the idea of it.
I finished the tea and we settled in the study, just as we did every night. "So you are telling me that at seven months pregnant you are going to sleep on the couch?" I asked rather indignantly.
"Buggar off," she finally retorted with a laugh.
She sat there quietly for the longest time, sipping her tea, rocking the chair with her tip toes and rubbing her belly. It was obvious she was contemplating something however I had long since given up trying to figure her out, especially these days.
"What's going to happen after the baby is born, Remus?" Ginny asked, breaking the long silence.
I had no idea what she was really asking and only offered her a quizzical look.
"Let's face it, Remus," she started.
I had recently picked up on the fact that when she actually said my name when talking to me, that usually meant a storm was brewing.
"You have been MORE than generous letting me stay here and putting up with my family and all the press, and even the birthing classes. But let's face it; I can't stay here once the baby is born."
"And why would that be?" was all I could come up with. She caught me off guard and it had been a long and busy day.
"Why on earth would you want to live with a baby?" she said, exasperated. "Not to mention that, well, there really isn't room."
A heavy sigh escaped before I thought to stop it. It was immediately apparent that this was an inappropriate response.
"The bassinette is already in your room, Gin," I pointed out, attempting to be the voice of reason and hoping to correct my momentary lack of good judgment. "And if space in your room is an issue, we can trade."
"But the baby will eventually need a room of his or her own," Ginny said, remaining persistent to have this conversation now.
"Of course it will," I replied perhaps a little more harshly than I intended. "But honestly, Ginny, is this something we need to figure out right this very moment?"
She looked as though she was about to protest, but seemed to reconsider. "I think I'm completely over being pregnant," she finally sighed.
In my current mood I considered replying 'me too', but thought twice about it and decided to chuckle instead.
"I really don't know how you've put up with me," she sighed.
I Accio'd a blanket and a pillow and proceeded to make up the couch. "I've managed to tolerate Severus all these years," I reminded gently.
Ginny began to laugh as she attempted to get out of the chair, a task that apparently has become a monumental undertaking. I helped aid her to her feet. At just that moment the baby moved; however this time you could see four little protruding bumps as they turned.
"Bloody hell," I gasped. "Did that hurt?"
Ginny laughed tiredly. "No," she said. "It's really quite brilliant, having this little life inside of you."
How could one compare anything to that; it was rather awe inspiring when put that way.
Ginny retired to my bedroom and I settled into the couch. I thought for a few brief moments about Ginny being in my bed, but had to quell further thoughts of that. My mind briefly wandered back to the Malfoy case; of which I was supposed to continue working even after my 'suspension', but was too exhausted to pursue any further thought of anything.
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An owl woke me too early to be considered morning, although technically it was. The sun was just starting to tease the night sky.
Meet me at Stoatshead Hill at 7 a.m. ~ D.M. was all it read, scrawled hastily in the most impeccable handwriting.
I chanced a glance at the mantle clock which read just before 6 am. "Bloody hell," I mumbled to myself as I got up. My clothes were all in the bedroom where Ginny was currently sleeping. I considered an Accio, however was afraid that might create more of a ruckus than getting them myself.
Ginny only barely rustled when I opened the bedroom door and thankfully my ability to count had not diminished as I was able to masterfully avoid the squeaky floorboard when I made my way to the dresser. I retrieved my clean cloths and had almost made a clean break when Ginny began to stir again.
"What's going on?" She asked groggily.
"I have to go out for awhile unexpectedly," I began to answer. "Sorry, I tried not to wake you. No idea for how long. Will you be all right here with the children?"
"Of course," she answered as she rolled back over and snuggled back into the covers.
I stood there for a moment longer, admiring her. When I realized what I was doing I quickly exited and went into the bathroom to finish getting dressed.