First fic in a while and it's a long one! Over on Tumblr clarensjoy set up a hinny fic fest and I just couldn't pass it up. I don't wanna say the prompt because I want it to be a surprise, but it's a trope I personally read and I wanted to give it a shot :) As always TheDistantDusk is the best person in the world because she edited this baby for me and I appreciate her more than I can put into words. And Gryffindormischief was awesome with some great suggestions!
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"We did it." Ginny groaned as she fell ungracefully onto the sofa, her eyes closing as her head tipped back to rest on the back lip. "I can't believe we did it."
Harry chuckled as he took the spot beside his wife. "It was touch and go there for a minute, wasn't it."
One brown eye opened to look at him. "If anyone had told me that getting three kids onto the Hogwarts Express would take so much damn energy, well then I would have left you to do it on your own."
"Oh?" Harry quirked a brow at her, an amused smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You'd leave me to deal with our three hooligans? Notice how I said our."
Ginny waved a dismissive hand. "Semantics." She turned her body so her legs swung up into his lap and her back went against the end of the sofa. "Also, you're the head of the Auror Department and if you're sitting over there worried about your ability to handle three underage children then maybe I should send an owl stating my worry about the safety of —"
Harry's hands naturally went down the sole of her foot as he dug his thumbs into her soft heel. "Those three underage children are half Weasley and half Potter, they are more dangerous than just about any dark wizard I've ever faced."
"And that's just Lily." Ginny laughed before groaning in satisfaction as Harry's nimble fingers found a partially sore spot by the arch of her foot. "She has you wrapped around her little finger."
He shrugged. Who was he to deny the truth? The moment the healers had handed him his little girl, who was crying at the top of her lungs with skin that nearly matched the vivid red on the top of her head, Harry had been completely enamored.
Ginny jerked her foot slightly, drawing his attention. The adoring smile curling her lips sent butterflies to flutter throughout his stomach. After years of marriage, she still managed to make him feel like he was sixteen and hopelessly infatuated with her.
He gently lowered her foot to the sofa before crawling so his body covered hers. Ginny fell back so her body now lay flat across the cushions. She quirked a brow at him as his nose hovered inches above hers. "Oh, and what do you have planned here, Potter?"
Harry nuzzled his nose to hers, deliberately placing delicate kisses across her left cheek as he made his way down to her jaw and neck. "I was planning on showing you all the fun we can have without any kids in the house." He nipped at the pulse point fluttering rapidly in her neck. "Does that work for you, Potter?"
Based on the way her pulse picked up and the shaky release of her breath, Ginny was more than okay with his plan. His hands grazed up her sides, pulling her dark blue blouse up with them. The tantalizing view of his wife's perfect midriff made the monster in Harry's chest purr in excitement. After three kids and years aging them, Harry still found Ginny to be the most beautiful woman in the world. The woman who stood by his side when they were teenagers and made him stronger as a man.
He grabbed the hem of her shirt, dragging it completely up and over her head. Ginny smirked up at him as he made his way down from her neck to focus on her breasts. Through the black fabric, he could see her nipples had hardened and he couldn't resist laving at them. Her smug smirk was replaced with a satisfied groan as her head tilted up towards the ceiling.
Ginny arched her back, her adept fingers coming around her back to make quick work of the pesky clasp that held her bra in place. It took Harry only seconds to dispose of the clothing article, throwing it to the floor with little care. His attention instantly fell back to her now exposed breasts. Ginny let out a satisfied sigh as Harry's lips started making their way down to her stomach.
His fingers were now at the waistband of her trousers, undoing the button and zipper before gradually lowering them. Harry's lips came down, following the path of skin that was slowly exposed. He nipped her left thigh, kissed her right knee, nuzzled his nose down the length of her freckly calf, before placing a final kiss on her ankle. Even from his position so far down her body, he could hear every hitched intake of breath she took. The trousers quickly joined the rest of her clothing littering the floor.
"You know," Harry said conversationally as he made his way back up the reverse path he'd carved out. "I can't remember the last time we've done this."
"What's that?" Ginny's voice was low and husky in that way that instantly sent shivers down his spine. "Have a midday shag? It hasn't been that long. I'd say it was that day I surprised you for lunch." Her smile was smug. "That head auror's desk really is rather stur —"
Harry cut her off, his lips pressing to hers. If she started reminding him about that glorious lunch hour… Well, his plans for taking his time wouldn't be happening. "I was talking about being out on the sofa without the fear of being interrupted."
Ginny smirked at him as she teased her nails along his scalp. "Well, then I say we make the most of it, yeah." Her fingers slid down the hem of his shirt, pulling it quickly over his head. Harry focused on undoing the button of his now all too-tight jeans. He eased them down his hips, off his ankles, and onto the floor, before lowering his body back over his wife's.
When her fingers knotted through his hair pulling him back to her, Harry happily followed her silent instructions. His hands grazed up her sides as his lips focused on hers.
Ginny broke away from him long enough to reach her wand where it lay on the coffee table. In his fuzzy mind, Harry couldn't figure out why she'd need her wand. They didn't need the contraceptive charm with her on the potion. Then it all came rushing to him as she pointed at the fireplace. With a quick wave, she locked the floo network from any and all visitors.
"Not taking any risks," she murmured as she tossed her wand to the side. Her lips came to attack his neck as her fingers slid down to tread lightly through the hair by his navel.
"Good thinking," Harry said through a shaky breath, his head turning to give her better access. "Ron has seen my arse enough for one lifetime... " He hissed as she nipped at his thrumming pulse point.
"I agree, that bum is all mine. But what have I told you about bringing up my brother while I'm having my way with you?" Ginny soothed her mark with her tongue.
Harry chuckled lightly. "That I'll be sorry and left with just my hand for company." He turned his head so their lips connected. Pulling back from a lingering kiss, he moved his attention up to her jaw and her ear. "What can I do to make it up to you?" He asked as tugged gently at her earlobe with his teeth.
"Mhm, I think... you know the answer to that."
Harry grinned as he kissed his way back to her lips. His fingers made their way to her knickers, pulling down the waistband far enough that his hand slid past the fabric. Ginny moaned into his mouth, Her hands wrapped around his biceps, nails digging into his flesh.
He smiled. "I'd say I'm on my way to getting you to forget my previous indiscretion." He pulled his fingers away from their previous task, bringing them back to the elastic band of her only article of clothing. With the finesse of a man who'd done it a thousand times (which he had), Harry removed her knickers in a smooth motion. He kissed her lips again, this time pulling her bottom lip into a small pout. "But I'd say there is still room for improvement, wouldn't you agree, love?"
The naughty smirk curling his wife's lips sent his last functioning brain cell to join the rest in the overwhelming haze Ginny created. "Oh, I'd say so, darling." Her hand came up to slide his glasses off his nose. Her lips came back to his in a hard kiss before she fell back onto the cushion grinning at him. "So you best get to work."
Harry didn't need to be told twice. He slid down her lithe form, letting his mouth fall onto deliberate spots gaining satisfaction with every noise she made. He let his attention linger on her inner thighs, leaving his mark on her skin. Her breathy moan came along with her fingers in his hair. She didn't need words to make him understand where she wanted him and what she wanted from him.
He followed her instructions letting her inarticulate, but not at all silent, noises be his guide. His hands held her hips as hers tugged at his hair. If his lips were a religion, her hips would be the altar. When her hands fell to her side and her thighs closed around his head, Harry didn't pause his activities, ardently continuing to perform through her cries.
After a moment, her fingers came back to thread through his hair, tugging hard enough to bring him away from his personal paradise. He followed her guidance, letting his lips drag across her perfect body along the way. The second they were eye level, her lips were on his. Her hands moved to his hips, bringing him to the position they both craved. Ginny's legs wrapped around his hips as eased into her. It was like coming home every time he was with her, moving with her. The way her nails came to claw at his back, her breathy sighs warming his skin, the smell of her amplified by a thousand as his nose fell into the crook of her neck, how she felt under his hands.
Her breath hitched as his fingers moved down lower and lower, moving in the way she'd taught him all those years ago. She cried his name as she gripped him impossibly tight. He lost his rhythm as her nails dug into his shoulders and teeth came to his neck.
He grunted into her skin as his movements came to a stop, his body instantly becoming heavy as a stone. Before he collapsed onto her, Harry twisted their body so they lay on their sides, parallel to one another.
Ginny reached over Harry, tugging the homemade afghan from the back of the sofa. She spread it over them, containing the warmth from their heated bodies. Her smile was content and lazy as she pressed it to the little bit of his exposed chest. "Well, I'd say that was an excellent kickoff to our kid-less semester of fun, wouldn't you, husband?"
Harry chuckled, his entire body feeling boneless and sated. "I'd have to concur, wife."
Her head came to rest on his chest as Harry let her warmth and steady breathing ease him into sleep.
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Ginny rolled her eyes as she banished another stack of rubbish paper. As much as she loved her children, they were terrors when it came to cleaning up after themselves. James was the worst; the number of socks she'd discovered in outlandish locations would confuse just about anyone (behind the basin of the toilet was her personal favorite).
But today's clean-up task was the left behind old bits and bobs from all three of her children's school trunks. Between the three of them, they'd managed to leave numerous old books, broken quills, graded essays (which Lily needed to focus on her potion work), and what looked to be Albus's old hat. Not only had her children managed to litter their bedroom floors, but also tables and surfaces across the house.
It'd taken Ginny six weeks to find the time (and energy) to deal with the mess. Without the kids home, Ginny naively assumed she'd be able to get the house straightened, but every time the thought crossed her mind she'd felt too tired. So rather than picking up, she'd opted to take a nap or laze about with Harry.
Not today though. Harry was gone to a weekend conference in Rome and Ginny refused to let her workweek exhaustion excuse her procrastination. She'd been able to keep a tidy house while running after three kids just a few years ago… well... semi-tidy house. Okay so the Potter house had never been what someone might call organized, but even this was a bit much for them.
Sighing, Ginny moved from the kitchen table to the table they'd designated for mail… or at least that's what it had been for before James had stacked his old fifth-year books on it. She opened the first one, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5, flipping mindlessly through the pages. The spine was still stiff as if it had only been opened a few times. She shook her head; how James had gotten his seven OWLs?
Her narrow fingers landed on the familiar ticking charm. She smiled, remembering the way Harry had volunteered to be her practice partner so she'd be ready for her practical exam. He'd offered to do just about anything if it let them spend time together. Memories of reading by the lake, studying flashcards that rewarded every correct answer with a kiss, and of course telling Hermione they were heading to the library only to instead find another quiet, and much more private, part of the castle to study much more personal things than books.
God, Ginny had been such a fool to ignore how hard she'd fallen for him back then, because she had. At the time, she'd pretended those intense butterflies and intimate looks that sent her pulse into overdrive had just been a mere fancy. That it was just two teenagers enjoying themselves with each other. But with Harry, it had always been more. From their first kiss in the common room, Ginny had been hooked on him.
Shaking herself from her nostalgic reverie, Ginny put the spellbook back onto the stack and banished them to James' room with a quick wave of her wand. To her surprise, more laid on the table. Three envelopes and what looked to be last month's Which Broom magazine.
"Damn it, James," Ginny silently cursed her eldest, reaching for the letters. They were gonna have a serious talk at Christmas about appropriate places to leave things. The first was clearly a rubbish advertisement. Next came a letter from her mum with that Italian chicken recipe she'd been waiting for. The last envelope made her pause, the official St Mungos seal on the back surprised her.
No one had been sick as of late. No broken bones or eventful missions requiring a reset of limbs. Hell, there shouldn't even be a reminder of a physical coming up, seeing as she and kids always had theirs at the beginning of August.
Her fingers slid across the back, ripping the seal up in one smooth motion. It was only half a page but from the first sentence, Ginny's heart leapt into her throat.
Dear Mrs. Potter
There has been a recall on St Mungos Contraceptive Yearly Potion from batch 4584294, which based on our records you received on 2/8. Please owl us to schedule an appointment for a new dose
Sorry for any inconvenience
Margret Holden - Head of St Mungo Women's Health
Ginny's brain instantly started doing the maths. Okay, so August second was… nearly two months. Fuck! Fuck! With her fucking Weasley genes… She took a deep breath forcing the old teenage panic to calm. Ginny had done this ridiculous spiral of panic before when she and Harry had first started sleeping together. They'd forgotten the charm one time and instantly her hysteric brain had told her she was pregnant with twins. That she'd have to drop out of Hogwarts and her dreams of holding quidditch trophies had swapped for dirty nappies. Of course, none of that had been the case, but it had made Ginny find a more proactive contraceptive. Enter the St Mungo's year-long potion.
Why her instant response today was to panic like an eighteen-year-old was beyond her. She was nearly forty and had been married for nearly two decades. But the idea of being pregnant sent a hurricane raging through her stomach. She and Harry had agreed years ago that Lily would be their last, and until this moment Ginny had thought it was finalized
She looked back at the letter still clutched tightly in her hand. This was the first time in the twenty-somewhat years Ginny had been taking the potion where there had been a recall. It was one of the most effective ones out there (though not a hundred percent, the evidence lovingly shown by the birth of her adorable nephew Fred). And was known to fail when other potions were mixed into the bloodstream (James being the proof of that particular ruling). But in the many years Ginny had been active with Harry, the potion had treated them well.
Ginny forced herself to inhale deeply, trying to make her tight muscles relax. There was no reason to panic about possible what-ifs. To be rightly fair, it wasn't like she and Harry had been overly active in the last few months. Between three children lazing about the house for summer holidays, their demanding jobs, and random responsibilities that always seemed to crop up at the inopportune times, she could count the number of times she and Harry had the chance to have sex over the past few months between her two hands (which simultaneously relieved her and depressed her). Not to mention it wasn't like she was still in that young prime age that witches were known for getting pregnant. No, she was nearly forty, and rapidly slipping out of her prime childbearing age.
Her breathing had started to come out much easier as she continued to think things through. No, the odds of her being pregnant were so slim that she was being ridiculous. But of course, despite an inner compelling argument, the butterflies swirling around her gut wouldn't settle and Ginny knew they wouldn't until she had a definite answer.
Cursing the unknown potion maker who'd fucked up the potion, Ginny threw the letter back onto the table and snatched her purse from the hook nearby. She had some particular potion ingredients to buy.
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Harry stepped into the familiar entryway of the house he and Ginny had bought just before James was born. From the moment they'd toured the wide acres of roaming forests and simple country cottage, they'd known the little house outside of Burly was theirs. And in the years since, their family made the space into a well loved home.
He dropped his small duffle onto the floor beside the table where they normally stored mail that arrived. After being gone for three days, Harry was ready to sleep in his own bed. Well maybe do a little more than sleep once he found his wife. Smirking to himself, he toed off his shoes before making his way into the living room. It was Sunday evening and if his memory served him right, Ginny shouldn't have a game to report until tomorrow.
"Hey Gin?" His voice felt incredibly loud in the silence. He reached their family room, doing a quick survey for his wife. Empty… except… Harry did a double-take. One of the kid's old cots sat half-assembled in front of the sofa.
Why would Gin have dragged that old thing out? Harry's head tilted to the side as he studied it. It's white which was Lily's… Maybe Teddy is bringing little Dora over and Ginny wanted a place for the newborn to sleep. He smiled at the thought of his godson's three-month-old daughter. He and Vic had gotten married a little over a year ago and had been ecstatic to find out they were expecting. Harry could still imagine the wide grin on Teddy's face as he asked Harry if his daughter could call him grandpa.
God, he was too young to be a grandpa, but how could he say no. Teddy had always been like a son to him, and he adored Victorie so refusing never crossed his mind.
With that mystery put to bed, Harry moved on from the sitting room. The kitchen was empty too, though his first clue that his wife had been there recently came in the form of a luke-warm cup of tea on the kitchen counter.
His brow furrowed as he considered where his wife might have gone. She wasn't out flying, he would have been able to see her from the kitchen window. Maybe she'd gone to their bedroom for something or maybe an owl had come and she was up in her office to write a response.
It didn't take him long to check all her normal hideouts. The laundry room was quiet, office bare, bedroom empty. Completely flummoxed, Harry made his way to their children's bedrooms. All three doors were wide open and empty just like the rest of the house. He was about to give up when a noise from the small staircase that led to the attic drew his attention.
He'd recognize his wife's supreme curse combos anywhere. Quietly, Harry made his way up the small staircase. Ginny was sitting at the attic floor, piles of old baby clothing strewn everywhere besides her. Her head was bowed in a box as she reached inside wildly. With a cry of victory, her head shot up, revealing a wide grin and a small onesie.
"What are you doing?" Harry asked, making Ginny start. Her eyes jumped to his. Her smile shifted to that one that still sent butterflies into his gut, the one she saved only for him.
"Hey there, love. Come on over." She patted a dusty chest beside her in the middle of the onesie disaster zone. "When did you get back?"
Harry followed her instructions, tip-toeing around various shirts, tiny trousers, and little booties. He leaned down to press a kiss to her lips before taking his assigned spot. "Maybe ten minutes ago, most of which I spent trying to find my missing wife who couldn't seem to hear my calls."
Her grin became sheepish. "I was a bit preoccupied."
His eyes trailed across the extensive disarray. "I can see that. Which brings me back to my original question. What are you doing?"
Ginny's eyes dropped back to the dark green onesies in her hand. She held it up high so Harry could read the fading gold lettering, Future Little Harpie. "Do you remember the first time Lily wore this?"
Harry laughed. "How could I forget? She looked like she was celebrating Christmas in July." Lily's cute red baby cheeks, vivid red hair had clashed horribly with the green of the Harpie's outfit, but God she'd looked absolutely adorable.
Ginny snorted. "Gwen, to this day, still has that photo in the stadium." She looked at him over the collar of the shirt. "James and Albus lucked out getting the Potter hair color."
"Hey, I've got some red genes in me." Harry defended in mock indignation. "Lily isn't all Weasley. She may have gotten your good looks but I know I'm in there somewhere."
She shook her head, her eyes smiling brightly. "Still the boys got it easy." Sudden indecision flickered in her expression. Her bottom lip came to rest between her teeth as she dropped his gaze. "It makes me wonder —"
The nerves in Harry's body became hyper-alert. She was nervous, which wasn't like Ginny at all. His hand went to hers, lacing their fingers. "Makes you wonder what?"
Her big brown eyes came back to meet his gaze, as she took a deep calming breath. "It makes me wonder what this next one will have."
Nothing she could have said could have shocked him more than that. His heart thumped loudly in his chest and Harry was certain Ginny must be able to hear it. "N — next one?"
Ginny's smirk became impish, but it didn't match her anxious gaze. "Apparently, St Mungo's had a faulty contraceptive potion brew recently and my informational letter was… detained." She rolled her eyes. "We need to remind James about handing us the important letters right away so they don't get buried under —"
She was rambling, one of her nervous tells, but Harry hardly heard a word. Next one… next one. "Gin?" His voice was hoarse and barely audible. He cleared his throat, this time his voice coming out closer to normal. "Gin?"
Ginny stopped mid-sentence, her words ending on a shaky release. "Yeah?"
"You're pregnant?"
Her bottom lip got sucked back in between her teeth, but she held her head high holding direct eye contact with him. "According to the three tests I brewed."
"But…" Harry's mind was completely overloaded with so many thoughts that his mouth just took control. "How?"
She gave him a wry look. "I know you didn't just ask that, especially after having three kids all old enough to be at Hogwarts."
He snorted, unable to hold back an eye roll. "You know that's not what I mean… I just…" A lump had formed in his throat and Harry had to swallow hard to dislodge it. "I didn't think we were gonna… I thought Lily was gonna be our last."
Ginny leaned back, supporting herself with hands behind her back. "How does the saying go? 'Life is full of surprises', and honey, this is a big one."
"You could say that again." Harry's hand unconsciously ran through his hand as his eyes closed. "But you know…" He trailed off, unsure where he was going with the sentence.
His mind was reeling. Another baby… God, he hadn't thought about having another in years, not after Ginny drunkenly proclaimed Lily was the last Potter coming out " this fanny." And honestly, Harry had been fine with it. She'd given him more than he'd ever expected.
Loving Ginny, and having her love him, was the greatest thing to ever happen in his life. And then from there having three children who he'd do anything for… it was everything to him. His three kids had become everything to him. From the first time he'd held each of them, hell from the first time he'd felt each one move in Ginny's swollen stomach, he'd fallen so in love with all three of them.
Four.
The number echoed in his head, sharper than a knife. There was now a fourth. A fourth baby. A fourth Potter with whom he'd share blood with. The fourth person to call him dad.
Harry had no idea how long he was lost in his own mind, but it was Ginny's gentle prompt that brought him back to the present. "I know?"
He opened his eyes and met her tentative gaze and Harry was overwhelmed by the rush of emotion that hit him. So many undefinable feelings whirled to the surface. But at the forefront was love. Overwhelming and vigorous love for the women in front of him, for the life they'd created, and for their kids already born and the future one.
Sliding slowly off the old chest, Harry came to sit in front of his wife on the floor. Her brows furrowed as she watched his movement. When he took one of her small hands in his larger ones, Ginny's entire body relaxed.
"You know, I don't think I can tell you how much I love you." Harry cupped her cheek, his thumb rubbing gently over a cluster of freckles.
She let out a shaky chuckle. "Well, I mean, you do have the rest of our lives to try."
Harry pressed forward, making their bodies only separated by a small sliver of space. He ran his nose across her jaw before finding her lips in a tender kiss. "Words have never been my strong suit. Mind if I show you instead?"
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Ginny practically collapsed into the overstuffed armchair in the corner of the sitting room. She swore every muscle in her back was protesting at that very moment. Not to mention her feet. Merlin, her feet hadn't hurt this much since Fleur had forced her to wear a size too small heel because it'd matched her outfit perfectly. Fleur had been right, of course, but that hadn't soothed the rawness after the ministry ball. No, the soothing had come from her husband later that night… which had led to more moans of approval coming from her mouth.
Her husband… Ginny glanced up at the clock that hung to the side of the fireplace. Three in the afternoon. Harry should be home with the kids for Christmas break any moment now. He'd driven to London on his own to pick them up from the Hogwarts Express. Normally they'd go together, enjoying the few final hours of solitude before the chaos of their beloved children re-entered the fray. But in her current condition, that of being clearly four months pregnant, Ginny had begged off the crowds of parents and students. She and Harry had agreed that the risk of their little surprise being discovered was too high if she went.
They'd discussed it all for hours the night she'd told him about the pregnancy. What they were going to do, how they would tell everyone and when to tell everyone. The conclusions had been simple. They would tell their kids in person during the winter holidays and then let the rest of the family know after that. But their kids had to come first, and it had to be in person. Which had meant some impressive maneuvering since her stomach had popped. They'd no doubt some rag like Witch Weekly would pay big money for a photo of Ginny Potter and her currently small bump. So rather than going out Christmas shopping in the throng of Diagon Alley, she and Harry had done their main shopping via owl or gone out to the muggle shopping centers (which had made shopping for Ginny's father incredibly easy).
But the secrecy had made it impossible for Ginny to accompany her husband for their usual pick-up routine. She shifted her weight so her body began to recline across the cushions. The pros and cons of a nap raged in her head until a loud car door slammed outside. Being isolated at their little cottage, Ginny knew exactly who had arrived even before the additional three doors closed.
Groaning, Ginny lifted her body from the plush sofa, placing her tired feet onto the soft carpet. If she couldn't greet her babies at the station, then she'd give them a Molly Weasley size hug the minute they walked through the door. As expected, Lily was the first one through the door, Her long red hair flying as she ran at Ginny. The moment her daughter's arms were around her neck, Ginny's eyes started to tear up.
"Oh, my baby!" Ginny cooed as she stroked a hand through her daughter's red locks. "I've missed you."
Lily pulled back, her wide smile showing off all her teeth. "I missed you too, mum! I have so much to tell you! Second-year is no joke. Just last week —"
Lily had always been her little chatterbox. While James would crack jokes and Albus was a much quieter soul, Lily would talk just about anyone's ear off. It had been a real issue when trying to teach her stranger danger.
"And then I told Sam there was no point in —"
"Hey, Lil, let someone else get a word in, yeah?" Albus softly cut off his sister. "We wanna say hi to Mum too."
Lily twisted to look at her brother, her eyes wide. She never realized how much she talked. With a sheepish grin she backed away, letting Albus in. His gentle green eyes, exactly like Harry's, met hers as he wrapped her in a tight hug. "Hey, Mum."
"Hello, darling. Good term?" Ginny pressed a kiss to his soft cheek.
"Yeah, I —" He stopped mid-sentence as he pulled away from their embrace, his eyes falling down to her stomach. His jaw slackened as surprise and shock painted his expression. "Mum?"
Albus was too much like his father. Overly observant of the things he shouldn't be. She should have known he'd notice her surprise before tea was served (which was when she and Harry planned on sharing their news). But before she even tried to think of what to say, her loudest and most exuberant son pushed his way into her arms.
"Mum! Why weren't you at the station?" James pulled back keeping her at arm's length. "Merlin, Mum, have you and uncle Ron been having eating contests again?"
Over James' shoulder, Ginny could see twin green eyes widen in shock and fear. Rationally she knew her son had no idea, but Ginny wasn't in the most rational mindset.
Ginny narrowed her eyes at her eldest. "What are you saying?"
James, seemingly unaware of his precarious position, or bolder than any man has the right to be, shrugged. "You've just put on a little… something." His smile was sweet and understanding, which irked Ginny more. "It's not a bad thing, you still look great. Just maybe lost some of that quidditch edge, yeah."
She heard Harry groan from his post near the door. Ginny straightened her spine, coming to her full height (which was still a head shorter than James) to glare at her son. "Listen here, mate. I may be retired and older but I can still fly circles around you, not to mention score twice as many points as you."
The well duh expression on her son's face only fueled her annoyance more. "Obviously, Mum, I'm a beater. Of course, you'll score more than me."
"Yeah, well even this pregnant I bet I could dodge your shots." She turned to look at her husband, whose mouth was agape. "Merlin, help his future wife! Calling a witch fat when she's pregnant! What's next asking her if it's her time of a month when she's a bit grouchy! Where did we go wrong, Harry?!"
The silence in the room seemed deafening even through the pounding in her head. It took a few moments for Ginny to realize what she'd said. She looked from one stunned face to the next. James' jaw was practically on the floor, his eyes going flicking rapidly between her face and her midsection. Albus was staring at her, his head tilted slightly to the left as he studied her. Lily's eyes were wide as saucers. Harry was her final stop.
He was shaking his head, an amused smile on his lips. "Well, so much for easing into it, huh Gin."
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"But." James' nose scrunched up in confusion, "aren't you too old to be…" He waved a dismissive hand, unable to say the word shag while talking about his parents.
Harry rolled his eyes at his son. After Ginny's announcement, the Potter family had gathered in the sitting room, questions flying from all sides. Were you trying? was bluntly asked by Albus. Is it a boy or girl? was courteous of an already excited Lily. Harry's personal favorite had to be if they were trying to win some bet to have the most kids in the family. That gem had come from James' stunned mouth.
He and Ginny had sat side by side on the sofa, Harry keeping his arm wrapped around her shoulders, as they answered all the questions thrown at them. But James' last one… he wasn't gonna dignify that with a response.
"So, now that you've had a moment to take it in," Harry cut in, noticing the annoyed look on Ginny's face (the one that typically was followed by an sarcastic and sometimes brutal comment). "What do you guys think?"
Lily was the first to answer, her smile wide and true. "It's awesome! I won't be the baby anymore!"
Albus was gnawing at his bottom lip, his eyes flickering between his parents. After a brief hesitation he shrugged. "It's good, I guess. I mean, it will be weird at first but you know it might be cool to have a baby in the house."
All the Potter's eyes turned onto James. He was leaning forward in his preferred armchair, his gaze intensely serious. "Well, I do think we need to have a serious talk about contraceptives and being responsible." His focus went back and forth between both his parents. Then his classic crooked grin spread across his face. "But I say this world needs more Potters, so let's have a baby!"
Harry could feel his shoulders sag as relief washed over him. A lot of teenagers would have been put out if their parents were having a baby, but not James, Albus, and Lily. They were all smiles and looked just as excited as Harry felt. Emotions clogged Harry's throat making him feel the need to clear it. Ginny however showed her appreciation in a different manner. Tears flowed down her cheeks as she rose from the sofa to pull all three kids into a hug worthy of Molly Weasley.
As Harry watched his three kids make half-hearted attempts to escape their mother, he felt so content and satisfied. Everything he'd ever done had led him to this moment. Led to where he was certain his heart might burst from joy at the sight in front of him. Unable to hold back any longer, Harry rose from the sofa and joined in the family hug.
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"I brought some articles to be edited." Harry smiled at her as he came to sit next to her on the edge of the mattress, a file of papers clutched in his hands.
Ginny huffed out a breath, knocking the hair out of her eyes. That was about as much movement as she was going to be allowed for the day, with her mandatory bed rest. At seven and a half months, Ginny's healer had noticed some signs of distress in the baby, placing her on forced bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy.
She'd always lived an active lifestyle. Between quidditch, chasing after kids, or even just running errands, Ginny was not used to being stationary so long. And to be honest, she fucking hated it. Being forced to lay in her bed for hours on end was driving her mad! Only two things were keeping her from completely losing it. One was the protective instinct for her unborn baby. Though she may have been on the fence about another baby at the start, Ginny would do anything for her child. Even if it meant losing her sanity in the still of her bedroom.
Her only other saving grace was Harry. He was being the doting man/father he always had been, but he'd known instantly how much she'd hate being on bed rest. So rather than hovering, asking her how she was feeling a million times, he'd found little tasks she could do from bed. Editing articles, writing letters, assessing matches based on the wireless reports. Without her having to tell him a thing, Harry knew exactly what she needed.
She took the folder. "Thanks, love. I was starting to get bored staring at the wall."
He gave her a sympathetic smile, his hand slipping into hers squeezing lightly. "Do you want visitors tonight? Maybe George and Angelina are free. Or Luna and Rolf might be back in town."
The adoring way he was looking at her made Ginny's heart patter hard against her ribs. Even after all these years the way he looked at her sent warmth coursing through her body. Ron had once made a comment, his face scrunched up in a look of pure disgustion, that Harry looked at Ginny like she hung the moon. At the time Ginny had rolled her eyes, shoved her brother's shoulder and told him to shove it. But now nearly fifteen years later, and four kids, he was still looking at her with that dopey and lovely smile that made her feel fifteen again.
She brought their joined hands up to her lips, kissing his knuckles. "I love you."
His smile widened like it every time she said those words to him. He leaned down, placing a light kiss on her lips. "I love you too, Gin." His large hand came down to rest on her stomach. The small smooth swiping of his thumb across her belly spoke volumes about another person he loved.
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Harry stared down at the small infant in his arms. She was the smallest of all his children, only two and a half kilograms, but with lungs that were overwhelming for something her size. Her red hair came out the top of her head in small little tufts that were incredibly soft. Her cheeks were still rosy as his thumb padded over along her gentle jawline.
"Another one already got you wrapped around their little finger, huh?"
Harry started at Ginny's words. He'd thought she was sleeping. Tearing his eyes away from his newest daughter he met Ginny's eyes. Her expression was adoring as she watched him and their daughter.
"It doesn't take much," Harry murmured as he slowly rose to his feet (careful not to jostle the baby). Gradually he made his way to his wife's bedside, lowering himself to sit on the edge of the mattress. "I mean, how can you not instantly fall in love with her?"
Ginny's chin came to rest on his shoulder as they silently watched their daughter. The sound of her steady breathing filled the room. It was Ginny who broke the stillness with a soft exhale. "I can't believe she's finally here."
Harry knew exactly what she meant. From the moment Ginny had told him she was pregnant, everything had changed. It had been like time hadn't existed and everything around him was a dream. One moment he and Ginny were up looking through baby clothing in their attic, next he was feeling the baby kick his hand through Ginny's stomach. Even though this wasn't their first (or second or third) Harry was still amazed by it all. And now getting to hold his daughter was the best feeling in the world.
Ginny's lips on his neck pulled him out of his reverie. Her breath was warm on his skin making a satisfying shiver run down his spine. "I think she's gonna have your eyes."
"Yeah?" Harry turned his head to look at his wife. "Why?"
"They look exactly like Al's when he was born."
Harry couldn't help but smile. He looked back down at the infant, his thumb resuming it's gentle run across her cheek. "I think you're right. In the little look I got, I saw it too."
Ginny placed another warm kiss on his shoulder, before letting out a long sigh. "You know what they're gonna say about her?"
That made Harry's hackles rise, he focused his gaze on his wife, his alarm instantly fading when he saw her content smile. "What are they gonna say?"
"You look very much like your mother, except for —"
"For your eyes," Harry finished softly, his heart clenching tightly in his chest. "She'll get really tired of hearing that one."
Ginny laughed lightly, her fingers coming up to run through the light stubble that had formed through the night of labor. "But she is gorgeous. You're gonna have to beat the boys off with a stick."
Harry rolled his eyes affectionately. "You said the same thing about Lily."
"And, give another two years and you'll agree I missed my calling as a seer." She leaned in to lightly press her lips to his. "We make beautiful babies, it's only natural the boys and girls will flock to them."
He snorted. "I mean no one would expect less from a retired national quidditch player and the chosen one."
"My chosen one."
Harry grinned at her. "Aw, after all these years you're still reciting your wedding vows to me, how adorable."
"Well I did just have your baby so I figure if there was ever a time —"
A loud knock on the hospital room door cut off Ginny's cheeky flirt. They both looked up to see James, Albus, and Lily standing in the doorway all with varying expressions of amazement on their faces. Lily was the first one in, she pushed past her brothers and didn't stop until she was standing directly beside her father. Her long hair fell down covering her face as she looked at her baby sister still tucked in her father's arms.
"Merlin, she's adorable!" Lily whispered excitedly. Her head snapped up to look at her dad. "Can I hold her? What's her name? When can you take her home? What are —"
"Lily," Ginny reprimanded lightly, her tone amused. "One thing at a time, love."
"Settle in the chair and I'll hand her over," Harry suggested, gently preparing a transfer. Lily instantly followed the instructions. It took a few moments for Lily to get her arm in the right position but with guidance from both her parents, Lily was holding her sister in less than a minute.
"She's so small," Lily cooed softly, her bottom lip tucked into her teeth. "Was I ever this small?"
"No, you were a little bigger." Ginny had leaned back against her pillows. "James was the biggest of you lot."
"Just another thing I take top prize for." James smirked as he moved to stand beside Lily. His cocky grin shifted to one of amazement as his focus went to the now awake infant. "Look at her, she's gorgeous. Must take after her big brother."
Harry's heart felt ready to burst as he watched his children hold their baby sister. Everything he'd ever wanted was right there in this very room and it was almost overwhelming. Ginny's hand came to run soothing circles across his back. He looked over his shoulder at her. She was smiling at him in that way she saved only for him. It was that smile of love and affection that had been fueling all his best dreams since he was sixteen. And he knew without a word from her she was thinking the same thing.
"So what is her name?" Albus asked, reminding Harry that the rest of the world was still around him and Ginny.
"Wait!" James put up his hands in a stop motion before Harry could answer Al. "I wanna guess who you've named this one after." He waggled a finger between his parents. "There is no way you guys changed up your MO after three kids. So who is it? One of the DA members?"
"What about one of Mum's old Harpie teammates?" Albus suggested.
"An old Hogwarts professor?" Lily piped in.
Ginny and Harry looked at each other and laughed. "Lily hit it right on the head with that one."
"Really?!" Lily beamed. "Is it McGonagall? Dad adores McGonagall."
Harry shrugged, not a word of a lie there. "We did decide on Minerva for her middle name."
"So what about her first?" Albus prompted, his lips curled into a soft smile. All the kids adored their "Auntie Minerva", but especially Albus. She had taken Al under her wing showing him the passion of Transfiguration.
"Well," Ginny smiled fondly at Harry. "Your father and I talked about it for a long time and we both agreed that there was one person who supported both of us no matter the situation."
"Right!" Harry nodded emphatically. "And really it just fits so perfectly."
He let his explanation end, as if the answer was obvious. He knew it was a bit mean leading them on, but it was also harmless fun. Ginny seemed to have caught on to his game, as she remained silent, her lips still curled in a happy smile.
Harry was biting his cheek waiting to see which kid would break first, patience wasn't any of their strongest values. In the end it was James (as expected) who couldn't wait.
"Who?!" His voice echoed in the quiet room, startling not just the adults but the baby, who instantly started to cry. James grimace. "Shit! Sorry."
Lily glared at her brother as she tried to soothe the infant. "You need to learn to think, James." She bounced the baby in jerky motions, making her cries become louder.
"Here, Lily." Ginny sat up, holding out her arms. "Let me have her."
With awkward delicate moves, Lily rose from the chair and passed her sister over to her mother. Ginny cradled the wailing baby to her chest, making quiet shushing noises as she rocked her arms back and forth. "It's alright, Ruby. It's fine, Love. Your brother was just excited. No need to cry."
"Ruby?" Albus noticed. "Her name is Ruby… after Rubeus?"
Harry beamed at his son as he rubbed small circles over the now hiccuping Ruby back. "That's right."
"Hagrid?" James' mouth was opened wide. "Really?"
Harry and Ginny looked at each other, gentle smiles curling their lips. "Who better?" Ginny asked as she settled back against the headboard with Ruby on her chest. She scooted to the right, giving Harry room to squeeze in beside her. He lay his arm over Ginny's shoulders as he snuggled close to her warmth.
"Ruby Minerva Potter," Lily let the name roll off her tongue. "It's cute!"
"We like it." Ginny smiled at their now eldest daughter.
"It is pretty adorable," James admitted as he sat on the armrest of the chair Lily had just vacated. "But you do know what this means, right?"
All the Potters stared at James waiting for him to explain. He loved to draw out a big dramatic reveal and judging by the grin slowly spreading from ear to ear he was loving attention. They all knew better than to egg him on so no one said a thing, simply waited. Finally, James said, "We're gonna need a boat for when you tell Hagrid. The happy tears will flood the Hogwarts ground."
Harry chuckled as he looked down at his wife and little Ruby. "We wouldn't have it any other way."