The four of them sat for a heavy minute, exhausted. This time, Ginny had been the one to break the circle. James had offered to make everyone a cup of tea, and they had all gratefully accepted. They all nursed their cups, trying to rebuild their strength. Ginny sighed, and stood up slowly.
"Harry, may I talk to you for a minute?" Despite being phrased like a question, her icy glare informed him that it was, in fact, not optional.
"Yeah, Gin. Mind if we use your room for a mo?" His father shrugged, too tired to make a joke.
"Of course, darling," Lily replied, hoarsely.
"Thank you kindly." Ginny smiled at her sweetly, and dragged him through the door with an iron grip.
"You know, Potter," she whispered angrily, once Harry shut the door behind him, "I didn't think you'd be the one I had to talk some sense into in here, but nothing's ever easy with you, is it?"
"I"m sorry, Ginny. I really don't know what's wrong! I did everything you told me to, I really do want to get them out of here and get back to our lives." He attempted to wrap his arms around her waist, but Ginny stepped away from him.
"No. Sit down. Spill it." He sat on the edge of the queen bed, and wracked his brain for an answer.
"Like I said, I don't know what it is. I was thinking of Ron and Hermione, and clearing the guest room for Mum and Dad. I thought about how they'll adore Teddy, probably spoil him to death. I thought about playing quidditch with my dad, trading Slughorn horror stories with Mum, learning about my grandparents. I thought about how they'd be such good grandparents, when the baby comes…" Harry trailed off, lost in thought.
Ginny turned away from him, seeming to inspect Lily's jewelry box. The tears came hot and fast, taking her by surprise. It wasn't the right time. She needed to keep him positive, needed to just get him out of here. Then she could tell him. Then she could break his heart. But not right now. She wiped her face inconspicuously, and held a pair of Lily's more ridiculous earrings up to her ears, turning back to Harry.
"Think these suit me?" She said playfully, fighting to keep her voice steady.
"Honey, a canvas sack would suit you." Harry chuckled quietly.
"What else? You said you were thinking of the baby, then what?" Ginny replaced the earrings gently, and sat next to him with a sigh.
"I don't know," muttered Harry. Ginny narrowed her eyes.
"Is there something you want to tell me, Harry?"
"No, I…it's nothing, really." He picked a piece of lint from his jeans.
"It may feel like nothing, but even the smallest speck of doubt can stop us from breaking the bubble. Fess up. I promise I won't judge you." She nudged him with her shoulder.
"…Alright. It's stupid really. I'm," he sighed heavily. "I'm worried about being a good dad. I didn't have anyone to learn from, and I'm so messed up, and I'm worried I'll mess up our kid. They don't deserve that. You don't deserve that. You'll be great, you had amazing parents." He looked up at her gentle smiling face. "I told you it was stupid."
"Harry, that's the furthest thing from stupid," she said softly, scooting to face him, taking his hands in hers. "First of all, my parents may be amazing, but they've had to make everything up as they go along. They didn't know how to be parents at first either. By the time I came along, they had it mostly figured out, but Mum told me just last week that they both still learn something new about parenting every single day. If they still don't have it figured out, what makes you think that I will? Neither of us is really ready, but we'll do it. Together.
"Secondly, you forgot something." She titled his head up to look him in the eyes. "You forgot that I know you better than anyone else, you big dummy. And if there's one thing I know for sure, it's that when you put your mind to something, you're going to succeed. I've never known you to fail at anything that you really wanted to do. Besides, you killed Voldemort. You didn't have anyone to show you how to do that. In fact, if I recall, you're the only one that ever did that. Millions of idiots have raised kids. I think you'll be just fine," she let out a watery chuckle. Harry face broke into a huge, genuine smile.
"I knew I kept you around for a reason." He embraced her tightly. Wrapped in his arms, Ginny finally let a few tears of her own fall. There was suddenly banging on the other side of the door.
"Put your pants on, kids, we're coming in!" James hollered, shielding his eyes as the door swung open. Harry and Ginny laughed, and Lily followed, giggling, behind him.
"It's fine, Dad, we were just talking."
"You can't fool me. I've been caught 'just talking' with many a girl in my day -" Lily wrenched his hand away from his eyes.
"Unlike you and half the Ravenclaw Quidditch team, James, they really were talking!" Lilly laughed. "We just wanted to make sure everything was alright."
"Yeah, we're fine Mum, thanks." Harry blushed.
"All he needed was a stern talking to. I think this next time'll be the ticket, if everyone's ready to give it one more go."
"What're we waiting for? I can already feel the wind under my broom!" James twirled back into the kitchen, pretending to be flying. Ginny joined in, laughing.
"Are you really ready, darling?" Lily came to stand in front of him, smoothing his wild hair.
"I am. I was just being silly." Lily looked into his eyes, searching.
"You know you can tell your father and I anything, right? We'll always love you, no matter what."
"Thanks, Mum. That means a lot. I will tell you everything, in time. Things have certainly changed since you were last outside." Her eyes sparkled.
"I certainly hope so. Come on, let's get out there already." She took his hand, and dragged him into the kitchen.
Monday afternoon
"Honey, I'm home!" Hermione called to Ron, apparating about a meter away from him.
"Blimey Hermione, you scared me! And what do you mean, home? I suppose we did sleep here last night, but still." He was sat in the back garden of the Godric's Hollow house, on a large, squishy chair he had transfigured from a large log. Hermione handed him a sandwich she had brought back from the Burrow, and rolled her eyes.
"Nevermind, Ronald. Anything happen while I was gone?" She took a seat in a chair next to his, which seemed to appear from thin air, and bit into a sandwich of her own.
"Nah, not a peep. I say, if they're not out by dinner, we go in after them. Mmm, did you make this? 'S good!" He was halfway through his sandwich, while Hermione was still working on her first dainty bite.
"I did, thank you, Ron," Hermione smiled and laughed, watching him attempt to finish it all in one bite. "Stop, Ron, you're going to choke!"
"Ah ee 'ine," he replied, mouth full.
"You're so gross sometimes, Ron." She shook her head, and returned to her own sandwich.
"Thank you." He swallowed, and gave her a large, proud grin. Hermione didn't see it though, as she was staring at the house.
"I think something's happening. Are the doors…glowing?" Indeed, they were. A soft white light was seeping through the cracks of the basement doors, slowly intensifying until they exploded open, sending the doors clear to the other side of the garden. Ron and Hermione leapt to their feet, wands in hand. They watched the entrance, nervously, but no one emerged.
"Ginny? Harry?" Hermione called cautiously, taking a step towards the house. There was shuffling inside, and footsteps moving quickly. Ron and Hermione raised their wands defensively.
"Coming, Hermione!" Ginny yelled, finally emerging from the basement. She blinked in the bright sunlight, and called back down the stairs, "We did it! Come on!"
Harry jogged up the stairs after her, and Ron and Hermione ran forward to hug him.
"Harry! We've missed you so much!" Hermione reached him first, scooping him up in a hug that almost knocked the air out of him. It didn't last long though, as she soon stepped back and fixed him with her worst glare, usually reserved for one neglecting revision timetables. "Don't you ever do something that stupid ever again. You can't just run off without telling anyone! You're a grown man, Harry, you should know better."
"Give him a minute to breathe before you kill him, Hermione. She is right though, mate," Ron added, after a brief hug. "I can't have you running out on Ginny like that. You may be my best mate, but she's still my baby sister, and I'm not having anyone treat her like that, you hear me?" Harry nodded furiously.
"Note taken. Won't happen again. Do you guys want to meet my parents?" His eyes shone eagerly. Hermione stared at him incredulously.
"Of course we do, Harry! Where are they?" Harry whipped around.
"They were right behind me…" he trailed off as they emerged from the basement, Lily ahead of James.
"Sorry, James started complaining about his knee all of a sudden, and I hung back to make sure he was alright. Gosh, it's bright out here, isn't it?"
Harry and Ginny stared at them, mouths agape as Ron and Hermione stepped forward to introduce themselves. It was as if Harry's parents had suddenly aged twenty years. Lily's hair was still up in bun, but was no longer thick and luxurious, an enviable shade of deep red. It was now streaked with grey, framing a face that now sported a few more wrinkles and fine lines. James' face was the same, though his jet black hair was fully grey, and his hair line was a bit further back than it had previously been. He followed Lily a bit slowly, rubbing his left knee once he had finished the stairs. Ginny took Harry's hand and intertwined their fingers.
"You know," Harry whispered to her, "If that's the worst thing to come out of this whole thing, I think I'm okay with it." She planted a kiss on his cheek, and wordlessly pulled him over to the group.
"Hi, Mr and Mrs. Potter. I'm Hermione, and this is my husband, Ron." Hermione stuck out her hand formally, expecting a handshake, but Lily pulled her into a hug instead.
"Hello dear, Ginny mentioned you. You were the one who figured out how to break the spell. We can never thank you enough." She hugged Hermione tightly as James shook Ron's hand, both trying not to laugh.
Harry clapped Ron and Hermione on the shoulder. "Mum and Dad, Ron and Hermione are my best friends in the world. We've been inseparable since first year, and they've had my back every step of the way. They've always been my family, but once I marry Ginny, it'll be official."
"I thought you looked a bit like Molly," Lily said to Ron, giving him a long hug as well. "We met when you were just a baby, you know. Molly babysat for us during an Order meeting a couple months ago, I'm sure we have some pictures of the two of you playing together somewhere."
Harry turn to them, stunned. "Seriously?" Ginny bent over double, laughing, as Hermione tried to hide her giggles behind her hand. The tips of Ron's ears went pink.
Harry blushed as James clapped him on the back. "Guess it was meant to be, eh boys?"
Ginny finally straightened, wiping her eyes. "Whew, I needed that! Suppose we should get you too home then, get the guest room sorted out. We'd let you stay here at the house, but it's not in very good shape right now. I'm sure a change of scenery will do you good, either way."
"Sure," Lily replied, looking morosely at her beloved house, reduced almost to rubble "What's the address?"
Harry smiled. "I'm sure you've been there before. It's number 12, Grimmauld Place."