"Entombed"

"Chapter Eight"

It took Ginny two more days to be released from the hospital. She slowly gained her strength back and became more alert for longer stretches of time. Harry spent those two days by Ginny's side with Lily in his arms. Lily developed her sucking reflex quickly, being able to drink for longer stretches of time and needing fewer potions.

When it was time for Ginny to be released, Ron offered to help them home. Ron carried Lily's basket to the discharge fireplaces as Harry helped Ginny walk with his arm firmly wrapped around her waist. She stubbornly refused any help other than Harry's support. She grew tired the longer they walked, her body sagging against Harry's side. He wired his mouth shut and didn't dare to comment.

"Alright, favorite sister of mine, you're coming with me. I know Harry wouldn't dare allow me to travel with Lily." Ron smiled, winking at Harry.

"Favorite sister? I'm your only sister, you dolt," Ginny snapped back playfully.

"Yeah, and you're lucky that you're my favorite! You're a right pain in my arse half the time!" Ron shook his head as he handed the basket to Harry and reached out to pull Ginny into a hug. "I have sisters-in-law that I could easily rank over you. Fleur makes me macaroons for my birthday every year, because she knows I love them. Angelina is actually fun to be on the same Quidditch team with, unlike you who screams plays out like a banshee. Audrey is just… well, you'd always rank above Audrey because I'm fairly certain she doesn't appreciate my sense of humor at all. The only thing you got going for you is that you make my best mate so sickeningly happy and you gave me some pretty amazing nephews and a niece."

"Shut it." Ginny sniffed into his shoulder. "You're annoying."

"You're infuriating," Ron jested, a wide smile spreading across his lips. "I liked you better when you were comatose. You were actually pleasant."

"I like you better when you're shoveling food in your mouth and can't talk."

Ron chuckled. Harry just shook his head, watching the two siblings' banter with one another. Ginny pulled back and tears shoned in her eyes. She smiled up at Ron and rose on her tiptoes. She kissed him noisily on the cheek and he groaned.

"Oh, be prepared for Mum and Dad to be at your house. George and Angelina, too. Bill and Fleur were going to stop by after work," Ron warned her. "Hermione was going to swing by with Rose for dinner. Percy said if he finished his report at work, then he'd stop by as well."

Ginny rolled her eyes, but Harry noticed the smile playing on her lips. She liked to complain about her family coddling her, but she secretly enjoyed it.

"Is it a bad time to tell you that Andy is spending the day with you tomorrow since I'm going to run into work for a few hours?" Harry questioned as he waved his wand to place a shield over Lily's basket so no soot would touch her as they traveled.

"Andy's as bad as my mother," Ginny commented as she leaned heavily into Ron's embrace. "Though, I suppose, the boys will be on their best behavior with her around."

Harry chuckled. "Our boys? On their best behavior? Merlin, that'd be a sight to behold."

"They're little heathens!" Ron's eyes grew wide. "I didn't know so many things could break in a matter of minutes when all three spent the night at our house. I think Hermione was half-tempted to grab you from the hospital and make you go home."

"They're angels!" Ginny laughed. "They're polite, kind, sweet boys who just have trouble controlling the volume of their voices and have a tendency to be a little rowdy."

Ron snorted. "A little rowdy?"

"Well, James is a tad more than a little rowdy. Albus is just so young, he gets riled up easily. Teddy's an angel, though." Ginny looked up at Ron, who merely shook his head.

"Yeah, because Teddy knows to whisper in James' ear what to do so he doesn't get into trouble!" Ron protested. "He's the little mastermind."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I'll go through the bloody Floo by myself."

"Gin, no, let Ron go with you," Harry protested. "He'll behave."

"Ruddy hell I will!"

Ginny stepped out of Ron's embrace and stumbled towards the fireplace. Harry shot Ron a look, who groaned and grabbed Ginny around the waist. He spun her around and hauled her over his shoulder before strolling towards the fireplace.

"Put me down! I'm not an invalid!" Ginny protested.

"I beg to differ, Miss Leaving the Bloody Hospital," Ron shot back, a grin on his features.

Ginny smacked his arm, but he ignored her and stepped into the fireplace. The last thing Harry heard was Ron yelling, "Ow! I take it back! You're not my favorite, you bloody menace!" before the two of them disappeared into a whirl of green.

Harry merely shook his head, wondering if Ron was the best choice to help him transport Ginny and Lily home. He adjusted Lily's basket on his forearm before following them before their bickering spiraled out of control. He didn't want Ginny overexerting herself just to keep up with Ron.

Harry stepped out of the fireplace to see Ron helping Ginny sit down on the sofa. George lounged on the opposite sofa with his arm slung across the back with Angelina rocking a half-asleep Roxanne in her arms. Molly sat in the extra wide chair and Arthur sat on the arm. His sons ran amuck with Freddie. None of the boys had their shirts on. Part of Harry wondered if this was going to be part of a normal day at the Potter house.

Sitting the basket down on the coffee table, Harry pulled his jumper off before picking Lily up from her basket. George wolf-whistled as Harry cradled his daughter to his chest. Molly hissed at George to stop, but he had a sparkling glint in his eyes that made Harry grimace.

"Take it all off, Harry!" George stood up and pulled his own shirt off over his head, walking over to join Harry. "You're just trying to show off. I can see why my baby sister has no complaints with you."

"Ugh, can we not?" Ron groaned as he stuffed his hands in his jean pockets.

"Look at him, Ron! All those years as an Auror have surely paid off. You went from a scrawny git to a very fit git." George waved his hand in front of Harry. "I can count his abs."

"George, that's enough!" Molly hissed.

"Can't a guy pay his brother a compliment?" George grinned as he clapped a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Word of advice though, girls like a little more to love. I bet you make an awful pillow. Meanwhile, Ang just loves the little beer belly I got going on. Makes me a very good pillow."

George stuck out his stomach, showing off his small paunch. Angelina laughed loudly, catcalling.

"Ignore him, Harry, it's not the lack of abs that makes him a good pillow, it's that chubby arse of his." Angelina grinned.

"Oi!" Ron bellowed from the other side of the room, looking offended. "Everyone here knows that I have the best arse of all the Weasleys. It's legendary!"

Ron turned around and stuck out his arse, giving it a little wiggle. Ginny scoffed, Angelina whistled, and Molly let out an exasperated huff. The boys roared with laughter at their uncle's antics.

Ginny smirked. "Please, Harry's arse is spectacular!"

"Prove it!" George exclaimed, a twinkle in his eyes. "Take it all off, Harry!"

"George!" Molly scolded for the second time.

George made kissing faces at Harry and, with a quick look to make sure none of his children or mother-in-law were looking, made a rude hand gesture. George laughed, and Harry rolled his eyes before sitting down next to Ginny on the sofa. She reached out her arms for Lily and Harry transferred her over with ease. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled both of his girls close to his side.

Albus broke apart from his brothers and cousin. Scrambling up onto the sofa, he sat next to Ginny and beamed up at her. Ginny fussed over him, calling him a handsome boy and smothering his face with kisses, much to Albus' delight. The boy absolutely adored Ginny and sought her attention above all others.

Harry attempted to chat with the family but found it difficult to hear over George screeching like a dragon and flapping his arms like wings. Teddy, James, and Freddie squealed loudly, scrambling around the room and trying to get away from George. Anytime George caught one of the boys, he tickled them mercilessly until they were gasping for air with tears pouring down their faces. It took the other boys pounding on George's back to get him to stop and turn his attention to one of the other boys.

James called out for Harry to help them, his cheeks flushed a deep red and his dark hair tussled more than usual. He had yet to be caught by George but knew he was the next target.

Glancing at Ginny, Harry made sure she had a tight grip on Lily. He stood up and grabbed the nursing pillow between the sofa and the end table. He slid it underneath Lily in case Ginny's arms became fatigued. He grinned down at her before pressing a kiss to Ginny's forehead.

"Take him out, Potter," Ginny whispered.

That was all the encouragement that Harry needed. He joined his sons and nephew, ready to take on George. He hunched down to go over a game plan with the boys when, out of nowhere, George rammed into Harry's side, sending them both toppling to the ground. Harry's head missed the coffee table by mere centimeters, which only caused Molly to shriek, "That's enough! Honestly! You're not teenagers anymore!" George, being slightly taller and bigger than Harry, easily pinned him to the ground.

"Some Auror you are, Harry. Didn't even see little old me coming for you. See, you don't need abs to – OOF!"

George wasn't able to finish his victory speech. Harry had successfully wrapped his legs around George and flipped him to the ground, a move he had learned in Auror training if they had ever found themselves wandless and at a disadvantage. Harry pinned George on the ground, grinning.

"You were saying?"

George muttered a few obscenities under his breath, which only caused Harry to chuckle more. He was just about ready to let George up when Teddy, James, Freddie, and Albus all jumped on top of George, causing him to let out a few groans of pain. It was a mess of bony limbs and tickling fingers. Harry merely held George down and let the boys viciously attack their uncle.

"Since when did Ron become the mature one?" Ginny quipped, casting a glance at Ron who looked like he was about ready to join in the fight.

"INCOMING!" Ron bellowed as James shrieked with glee when Ron joined in and pinned George's arms high above his head to give the kids better access. "Get the armpits! It's his weak spot!"

"Never mind," Ginny muttered, exchanging an amused look with her mum.

"Stop!" George howled. "I'm going to piss myself!"

"Boys!" Molly said sternly. "Good grief, you're grown men!"

"Are they, Molly? Are they really?" Angelina asked, passing Roxanne to her grandmother.

Angelina crossed the room to the mass on the floor. She reached down and pinched George's good ear between two fingers and pinched Ron's ear with her other hand. Ginny laughed loudly as Harry rolled off George, grinning.

"Break it up, you lot!"

"Ow! Woman, I only have one good ear!" George bellowed as James fell off his uncle as he stood up.

Harry grabbed Albus so he wouldn't get trampled by the older boys before standing up. He stepped back away from Angelina with a smirk dancing on his lips. She raised her eyebrow at him.

"Don't smirk at me, Harry Potter, you're just as much to blame for this mess. Go sit by your wife and behave before I drag you away by the ear as well!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Harry cradled Albus to his chest as he made his way to the sofa and sat down.

Ginny patted his knee with an amused look. "Don't worry, when I'm back to full strength, I'll take Angelina out for you."

And with those words, Harry finally felt like everything was back to normal as his heart soared with affection. Within seconds, Teddy and James had jumped onto the sofa. The Potter family was complete and together again.

Ginny felt warm and cozy. Fluffy blankets were drawn up to her chin, causing her to sigh in contentment. Quirking an eye open, she saw Harry's outline sitting next to her. His glasses had slid down to the bottom of his nose as he looked at a small bundle in his arms. There was a smile dancing on his face, his lips moving but no words coming out. There was only an odd buzzing noise that filled her ears. It took Ginny a few moments to process that Harry had cast Muffliato. Reaching out a hand, she ghosted her fingers along his bare side.

Harry glanced over at her and grinned. His lips moved again, but Ginny only shook her head as she struggled to sit up in the tangle of blankets. Realization dawned across Harry's face and he turned behind him. Padma Patil stood by the side of the bed, wand in hand. She waved it and the buzzing disappeared.

"Sorry, I didn't want to wake you," Harry said sheepishly. "Padma's in here every two hours."

Ginny leaned against Harry's side and looked down at their daughter. With her face scrunched up and her eyebrows knitted, she looked very clearly like Harry when he was concentrating. She couldn't keep the smile off her lips at watching her perfect daughter.

Reaching out a hand, Ginny let her fingers glide over Lily's light eyebrows. Her big, brown eyes snapped to Ginny's direction. Ginny's breath hitched in her throat as their eyes locked.

"She may take the entire bottle," Harry commented. "It's taking her a bit of time, but she seems determined not to have any more potions."

Padma laughed. "She's definitely a Potter and a Weasley. You lot are the most determined group of wizards I've ever met."

Ginny watched Lily for a few more minutes. Lily's eyes drooped, the sucking tapering off. Soon, she was fast asleep. Harry maneuvered the nipple out of her mouth and held the bottle up. Only a small bit of liquid was at the bottom, and Padma practically beamed.

"I added some nutritional potions into the formula," Padma explained, "so I think we can forgo administering the potions separately. I would say it's fine to breastfeed, Ginny, but I would only do it every other feeding. We can get some potions into the formula to help her thrive. Perhaps in a few more days, when the sucking reflex is even more developed, we could ditch the potions altogether and rely solely on breastmilk if you like. Either way is fine."

"Thank you, Padma," Ginny whispered as Harry leaned over the edge of the heated cot next to their bed and placed Lily inside.

"I'll see you in two hours. Try to get some rest."

Padma nodded at them both, and Harry thanked her before she disappeared from the bedroom. Harry took his glasses off and sat them on his bedside table before scooching down under the covers. He held an arm open for Ginny, and she sank into his embrace. Ginny closed her eyes at his woodsy smell with a trace of treacle. His smell instantly calmed her.

"I don't remember going to bed," Ginny admitted.

"You fell asleep on the sofa before dinner. I carried you up." Harry carded his fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp. "I can grab you a bite to eat if you're hungry."

Ginny snorted. "Harry, it's in the middle of the night. I'll be fine until the morning. You can make me a big breakfast."

Harry chuckled. "I can do that."

Warm lips pressed against the crown of her head. She shifted closer to him, wanting to feel his warmth and love. Her fingers traced along the oval-shaped scar on his chest, and her mind slipped to her ghostly visitors over the past week. It was the first day they had not visited her and a part of her was a little disappointed. Her bottom lip slid between her teeth as she debated on how to bring it up to Harry. He deserved to know.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?" he replied sleepily.

"Can we talk?"

Harry let out a little groan. She adjusted her body so she could see his face, her chin resting on his chest. The arm that was not wrapped around her rubbed his eyes. He blinked a few times before turning his full attention to her.

"You okay, Gin?"

"I had some weird… dreams when I was with… when the…" Ginny let out a shudder. "I dreamt of your mum, Harry."

"My mum?" Harry's brow furrowed.

Ginny nodded. "She watched over me when I was gone. She said that your dad, Sirius, Remus, and… and F-Fred were watching over you and the boys."

An odd look crossed over Harry's face, one that was unreadable. Reaching out, Ginny touched his cheek. His five o'clock shadow felt rough against her fingertips.

"She said that Sirius was watching over you," Ginny continued. "She said he'd been by your side ever since he died and refused to leave you."

Harry's Adam's apple bobbed and his eyes seemed a little misty but nothing fell from his lashes.

"I… I was at the office. I could have sworn I felt someone touch my shoulder, and I thought…" Harry trailed off, his eyes shifting. "I could have sworn I smelled Sirius. I thought I was just sleep deprived and stressed."

"I think he was really there," Ginny whispered before planting a kiss on his chest.

"I've always liked to imagine it, you know? That my parents and Sirius were watching over me… that Remus and Tonks were watching over Teddy. It was a comforting thought."

"Me too."

"You said my dad, Remus, and Fred were watching over the kids?" Harry whispered, his fingers brushing along her arm.

"Yeah, your mum told me that… that Fred was there and he… he's been keeping an eye on Jamie."

Harry smiled. "No wonder he's such a little troublemaker. Do you think Fred is influencing him from the beyond?"

Ginny shook her head, a sad smile playing across her lips. "No, I don't think it works like that. I'm sure he approves, though."

Harry kissed her forehead. "I'm glad he's with my mum and dad. I know they're taking care of him up there. I bet he's having a laugh with the Marauders and comparing their best pranks."

Tears blurred Ginny's vision as she tried to blink them away without letting them fall. Harry kissed her again, his lips lingering against her forehead.

"I think so, too." Ginny ran her thumb over his rough cheek. "Lily… your mum, she told me that Fred was with Jamie and your dad wanted to stay with Albus because he looked so much like you."

Harry chuckled. "Poor kid. I remember everyone always saying I looked like my dad. At first, I really liked it because I didn't know anything about them, you know? Then it got kind of old to be told all the time that I looked like my dad but had my mother's eyes. Albus is going to hate being told he looks like me after a while."

"Oh, what a shame. He looks just like his handsome father." Ginny pinched his side, making him squirm. "You do look like your dad from the pictures I've seen. It's not a bad thing. He was quite handsome."

Harry grimaced. "Gin, no man wants to hear how his wife thinks his dad was handsome."

"It's a compliment, you dolt!" Ginny giggled, pressing her lips to his chest. "You look just like him."

"I guess we do look quite a bit al…" Harry's brow furrowed.

"Hmm?"

Harry shook his head, his eyes unfocused. "There was this… Albus did this thing at breakfast one morning when he kept looking at me and then looking behind me and saying dada and laughing."

"I bet Albus saw your dad, Harry. He was watching over him." Ginny's fingers brushed along his jaw.

"Yeah," Harry replied thickly. "I think I like that thought."

Ginny laid down next to Harry, her cheek resting against his chest. She closed her eyes. Her hand glided up Harry's chest until it was directly over his heart. His heart was beating fast, steady and strong. She could hear Lily kicking in her cot next to the bed. Harry's fingers drew circles on her shoulder.

"Is that why you named her Lily?" Harry croaked.

Ginny nodded against him. "I thought if your mum really was there and watching over me, then it was a sign that our daughter should be named after her."

"I like it. I was surprised, but I… I really like it."

"Harry, when's Lily's birthday?"

"The third of November," Harry replied, mid-yawn. "Same as Sirius' birthday, actually."

Ginny stilled, her body stiffening at the news. She had never known Sirius' birthday and yet, Sirius in her dreams has been adamant that he and Lily would share the same birthday, and they had. She couldn't help but feel like it wasn't just a dream, but it had been a real visit or a vision or something tangible.

Her fingers splayed across Harry's chest, her middle finger resting on the small circular scar just below his collarbone. It felt so nice to be home and in Harry's arms again. She pressed her body against his side, getting as close as humanly possible to him. Harry only tightened his grip on her in response.

"Hmm, love you," Harry murmured sleepily.

"I love you," Ginny whispered back.

Ginny continued to dance her fingers along his bare chest. Soon, his breathing evened out and soft snores escaped his lips. Lily stopped kicking in her cot. Ginny was left in the darkness of their bedroom with Harry's warmth seeping into her. She smiled, happy that the nightmare was finally over with. As she nestled her cheek over his heart in the warmth of his embrace, she thought her brother was wrong – Harry made a damn fine pillow.

Long time no update! Things have been hectic, but I have finally finished the last chapter of this story! I hope you have all enjoyed the story and its very fluffy ending, which was desperately needed after all the angst. All is well in the Potter household! Thank you for all of your support and encouragement. Please, don't forget to leave a review! They inspire me, they make me want to write, and they just plain make my day! Hopefully, I'll start posting my newest story soon! The first chapter is already written and things seem to be calming down for now.

Special thanks to Arnel for always editing for me. Special thanks to Bree who kicked me in the right direction to finish this last chapter!