Fourteen Years Later
"No, James, that is not how you wear Hogwarts robes." Ginny clucked her tongue lovingly at her eldest as he fidgeted in front of the mirror. She walked over and shifted the collar just so. "Though I must say they are a pretty set of robes. Your father spoils you all."
"I can't wait to be sorted into Gryffindor."
Ginny smiled. "You may be sorted in anything, dear. It does not matter."
"But the Fat Lady already likes me."
Ginny smiled, recalling the times she had brought along a young James to visit Hogwarts. Given the distraction that the toddler had caused, particularly amongst the female students, Professor McGonagall had been quick to request that she and Harry bring any current or future offspring along with them from Hogsmeade only during the holidays. Neville, to his credit, had tried to shield James from hearing most of that conversation.
"I don't doubt it, dear." Ginny smiled at her son's reflection.
"Mum, do we get to go with James?" A small voice called out from the door.
Ginny turned with a smile. "Of course, dear. But we can't stay once everyone else arrives. No parents are allowed once the Hogwarts Express arrives."
"But you and Dad are teachers. Albus said so. Can't we stay with James?" Lily's eyes began to well up, and Ginny swiftly crossed the room to hug her youngest.
"Oh, darling, we shall be fine. You can always write to him." She patted Lily's head.
"And we shall watch all the Quidditch matches, shan't we?" Albus, shaking slightly himself, asked a few steps behind Lily.
Ginny reached to touch his shoulder, smiling warmly. "We wouldn't miss it for the world."
The answer seemed to placate her two younger children, and blinking eyes gave way to soft smiles.
It hadn't been easy giving up her role as Head of House. She had grown rather attached to mothering the hard-headed Gryffindors after two years in the post. But at least their home's relative proximity to Hogwarts had allowed her to maintain her role as Quidditch referee even after she started mothering their own brood of Potters.
"How is James taking it? Is he as eager to leave the nest as we are to have him?" Harry's voice and presence emerged in the hallway. Ginny smiled. There were a few silver strands in his mop of messy hair now, even as the boyish charm in his witty green eyes remained the same. The children run inside their brother's room to fuss along with him.
"Oh, Harry, don't jest." She stood up to kiss her husband. "He may think you're serious."
"I suppose he shall benefit - and be troubled - by the distance. I can always bring home his laundry, just as much as I can deliver any howlers he may earn in person."
Ginny laughed. "So eager to execute special treat already, Deputy Headmaster? I had thought it your job to remain impartial."
"And impartial I shall be." Harry smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges.
She kissed him again. It was addictive - kissing him. It had taken quite some diligent potion-drinking on both their parts to keep their family from growing as fast as the Weasleys' had. Ron and Hermione may have stopped at two, but Ginny always did feel making children was much too fun of an activity than was fair.
"Dad, Mum, that's disgusting!" James's voice echoed down the hallway.
Ginny bit her lip as she pulled away.
She turned to her son - her eldest, her first, her introduction to the wonderful and terrifying world of motherhood - and smirked.
"I suppose we all have our curses to bear."
A/N: Fluffy, fluff, fluff. Hinny forever :)