I woke up later then intended, for when I glanced at the clock, it read half past 8.
"Shit," I muttered, making my way out of bed. I shivered when I realised I had not put on any clothes after last night's activities, and slipped on a pair of jeans and jumper. Robert was still snoring in the bed, and I grinned ruefully, jealous of his inability to wake up in the morning.
My first job was to make sure that Mabel and Liam had slept through the night, or else already awake and playing with James and Al.
It was the latter for my eldest, but Mabel was draped across the double bed, one foot hanging off the edge, sleeping blissfully. I smiled, and backed out the room, allowing her to sleep for longer.
The house was already light with morning, and I didn't hear any noise from James' room, nor Harry's and Ginny's. I glanced at my watch again, and did a double take. The 8 had morphed into a 6.
"Double shit." I grumbled, shuffling back into our room, kicking myself at the lost hours of sleep I could have had.
"What?" Robert said, groggily lifting his arm over his eyes.
"Don't worry," I whispered, sliding back under the covers, "Just read the time wrong."
"Did you check the kids?" Robert murmured, pulling me into his side. I nodded, before stilling. Where was Liam? He shouldn't already be awake at this time?
I groaned as once again, I kicked back the covers and exited the room.
I double checked Mabel – she was still knocked out – and the curiously began to look over the house.
I tiptoed up to James' room, and noticed the door a bit ajar. I held my breath as I pushed it open, and smiled when I saw what was within. James and Liam were lying together on the floor, curled under James' duvet, sleeping.
"I found them at around 4," a quiet voice behind me said, and I jumped, "Sorry," Harry said hastily, grinning at the floor, "Didn't mean to startle you."
"It's fine," I told him, "What time did this happen? I didn't hear anything at all."
"My alarms went off around 2, so I assume that was Liam making his way to James' room," Harry explained, "But yes, they were incredibly quiet. I wouldn't have woken up if I weren't an Auror."
"Oh." I said, looking back into the room, "I better move him. His neck will be numb by now."
Harry nodded, and pushed open the door for me.
I bent down, and gathered Liam into my arms, as Harry did the same with James.
"I'll put him with Rob," I muttered, and he nodded again, tucking James back into his own bed.
Liam didn't move a muscle as I deposited him next to his father, pulling the duvet over his body.
I wandered back into the hallway, and looked down the corridor. I couldn't help but notice the master bedroom door more than just ajar. Harry had shut the door to James' room, and had returned to his. I moved back slightly, not wanting to disturb.
Ginny was half in half out the bed, one hand on Harry's chest, the other gripping the back of his head, her lips firmly pressed onto his as she pulled him down. Her hand bunched at Harry's shirt, not unlike how Lily does, and slipped it underneath. It rode above his abdomen and revealed a toned torso.
Ginny was a lucky woman.
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Harry let out an audible groan as he allowed Ginny to drag him onto the bed, her cold hands touching him in all the right places.
"Katie's just outside," he whispered in her ear, and she tensed.
"Where's your wand?" she murmured back, flipping them over so she was positioned on top of him.
"Beside table," he said, and she grabbed it, flicking it up, and shutting the door with a satisfying thud.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
I was glad they had shut the door, but I was left feeling a bit neglected in the corridor as I stood there, slightly shivering in the May morning breeze.
I went downstairs, wrapping my dressing gown more tightly around me as I trundled over to the back-living room, pulling back the long curtains slightly so I could watch the outdoors.
It was very peaceful, and I relished in the quiet time in this beautiful house.
However, my quiet was not long lasting, for yet another knock thundered through the house. Knocks seemed to be quite frequent in the Potter household, it seemed. But for this particular knock, I was alone down here.
It didn't take me long to decide whether or not I would open it, and just as I was about to slip quietly back up the stairs, Harry appeared, looking disgruntled, and just finishing pulling a jumper over his head.
"It's your police," Harry said, sounding frustrated, "Saw them from the window. What the fuck do they want?"
I shrugged loosely, tailing Harry a little apprehensively. He pulled out his wand and unlocked the front door, before tucking it back into his waistband, tactfully out of view.
"Hullo." Harry said bluntly, looking the short village policeman up and down.
"Mr Potter, is it?" He said with a start, and Harry nodded briskly, averting his eyes to the two accompanying men directly behind the first, "We've had a complaint."
Harry's clicked back onto the man, and his eyes darkened.
"Is it too much to ask by whom?"
The village police tutted, and gave Harry a stare.
"You're new. We haven't seen you around, Mr Potter." He said.
"Yes, my wife and I moved. About a month ago now." Harry said bluntly, "Who gave the complaint?"
"Our protocols require us to keep them anon-"
"No," Harry interrupted, "They do not."
"You're speaking to an officer of the law, sir, you need to remain silen-"
Harry sighed, pulling out an ID card, "I'm afraid you are too. I'm familiar with the protocols, officer."
"You're an officer?" The tallest man said, leaning forward to have a closer look at the card. "Cor! You're right up there!"
The short man blinked, and tried to regain his composure.
"Well then you will know-"
"Who gave the complaint?" Harry asked, sounding more than a little irritated, "I'd like to know why you thought it necessary to disturb us at 7am on a Saturday morning."
"Nox Nightingale, sir." The last man said, looking more than a little eager. The short man scowled.
"Was there a reason accompanying his complaint? Or was it the act of a prick?" Harry frowned, glancing behind at me. I shrugged.
"Ah, Mrs Potter," The short man said, noticing me. I quickly shook my head, as Harry opened his mouth to correct him.
"I'm not his wife," I said hurriedly, "Merely a guest."
The man raised an eyebrow.
"We would like to speak to both Potter's, if possible. Or is your wife away?" He said, scrutinising me.
"She's upstairs with my daughter," Harry said roughly, "She's busy."
"We did come rather early, sir," the enthusiastic officer said, but the short one waved a dismissive hand.
"We are not leaving until we have discussed matters with the both of you." He said shortly, and Harry frowned again.
"If you'd like to tell me what we've done?"
"Not with only one of the suspects present."
"Suspects?"
"Both of you, if you will."
Harry sighed, and gave me an apologetic look as he turned to head up the stairs.
"I've seen you around the village," the tall officer said to me, and I nodded nervously, "You're married to Mr Williams aren't you?"
Again I nodded.
"And you've got two kids," he continued, "what you doing mooching around with a high achieving police officer?"
"What do you-"
"You might want to be gone before Mr Potter returns with his wife." The short one advised.
"What? Ginny?" I asked him incredulously, "Why?"
The men glanced at each other.
"You wouldn't want to get caught, would you?"
"Oh," I said, body relaxing, "You think Harry and I are having an affair, don't you?" I laughed a little, "No, as I said, we're guests. My husband and children are still sleeping upstairs."
The short man turned crimson, and muttered apologies as I heard footsteps down the stairs.
Ginny appeared, looking furious, as her hair fanned out behind her.
"What? What do you want?" She barked at the policemen. The all seemed a little taken aback, and the short one cleared his throat, bringing out a piece of paper from his coat.
"Mr and Mrs Potter accused of being involved in the Sheffield murders by a Mr Knox Nightingale on Thursday 5pm BST. Care to explain?"
"You've got to be kidding." Ginny said hotly, "I got out of bed for this?"
Harry covered a grin with his hand as he moved around Ginny to face the officers.
"I can assure you that we are not in the list of suspects in a case that was closed yesterday around lunch." He said cheerfully, "In fact, I was the one who closed it. Nightingale had no business handing in names to you."
"You closed the case?" The enthusiastic one said in awe.
"I did," Harry nodded, "But you would know that, wouldn't you? Being officers yourself,"
The shortest officer scowled, and looked down. "Nah, mate, they don't tell us any of the important stuff. We only do the neighbourhood."
"I see," Harry said sceptically, glancing at the others briefly, "Then why are you trying to arrest me on suspicions of activity related to murder? Surely that's a little above your paygrade."
All the men promptly turned scarlet, and awkwardly shuffled around.
"Ah, well," the tallest said, "Just doing our job, sir."
"If Nightingale had severe suspicions, he would have gone straight to the Met," Harry said firmly, "How much evidence did he have?"
"I'm not going to take orders from you," The shortest one muttered, "You look young enough to be my son."
Harry scowled, and Ginny tittered.
"I'll eat my hat if they tell you that he gave any evidence at all," Ginny murmured quietly, just loud enough for me and Harry to hear.
Harry huffed in agreement.
"Look, sir," The tall one sighed, "Please just come to the station to sign yourself off as innocent."
Harry closed his eyes, and turned his head.
"Sure," he said finally, "If it makes you feel better about yourself."
"Oo, this is like a real mission," the last one said excitedly, and the other two groaned.
"Police up, Westly," the shortest barked, "This isn't a joke, and you're still on probation."
Harry raised his eyebrow, unamused.
"What time do you want me in?" He asked, clearly wanting this conversation over with.
"Now, sir. We haven't got all day."
"Of course you don't," Harry groaned, "Crime rate is so high here in Downlow, isn't it? I'll be down there in 10. Please come in while you wait."
He beckoned for everyone to come inside, before closing the door.
"Who'ssit?" James cried from the top of the stairs, his legs swinging over the bars on the bannister.
"Hey!" Ginny frowned, "What have I told you about sitting like that?!"
James' legs instantly curled back up, and he grinned impishly.
"To don't. Where's Liam?" he said, leaping down the stairs, before stopping short at the three strangers in his house, "Who are you? Never seen you before."
"We're the Local Police," the tall one said proudly, puffing out his badge, "We're taking Mr Potter down to the station."
James giggled, and looked around at Harry.
"Daddy's in trouble," he said, and Harry narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not in trouble, James," he said, starting to head up the stairs, "Just a mix up."
James apparently found this sentence absolutely hilarious, as he started to belly laugh, making me and Ginny smile.
"You should teach your children to respect officers, sir," The short officer said, clearly disgruntled.
"He does." Harry said simply, before disappearing on the landing.
"Do you work for my Dad?" James asked, after his laughs had subsided.
"Course not," the tallest said, looking a bit hurt.
"Tha's why I don't know you guys," James said, nodding wisely.
"What's so funny about his father being arrested, miss?" the tallest – I squinted to see the name on the badge now – Timothy Launders, asked, turning to Ginny.
She sighed, and glanced at James.
"His Dad's the head of department. I think the idea of him doing the trouble, rather than solving it, is rather satisfying to our son." She explained, "He gets in the most trouble, between him and his brother."
As if on cue, a little Al teetered down the steps, before stilling suddenly, staring at the three officers. He gave them each a good look, before sliding down the last few steps, and grabbing onto Ginny's leg.
"Cor, he looks a hell of a lot like his Dad," Westley said, goggling at Al, "If I weren't clever I'd say 'e was a clone!"
The other two groaned in unison, the shortest burying his head in his hand. However, Ginny smiled, looking down at Al.
"He does," she said, "Definitely not his personality though. I'm afraid that comes from Harry's Mum. It's not from me."
"He's got your temper, though," Harry said, reappearing on the landing with his toothbrush sticking out his mouth, "You can claim that."
"Ha ha," Ginny replied, "You obviously haven't seen yourself when you're in a bad mood, Potter."
Harry grinned, and gestured towards the door, mussing up the back of his hair as he did so, and putting the toothbrush down. I noticed it disappeared as soon as it hit the side table.
"Dad!" James said suddenly, making Harry turn, "Can I come too? Liam's still sleepin'."
Harry glanced at Ginny, who shrugged, and turned back to James.
"If you can be ready with your shoes on in 5 minutes, you can come, but-" and just like that, James had dashed up the stairs on all fours, and disappeared into his room, emerging mere seconds after, pulling a jumper on back to front, and slipping his left foot into an odd sock.
Ginny laughed, and James smiled impishly as he galloped down the stairs, allowing her to fix his jumper.
"I'm ready," he called, sliding his trainers on, and bounding out the door.
"If you would please come-" the short officer started, but Harry shook his head.
"I'm not travelling with you. That's where I draw the line."
The police huffed out a breath, but strode out the door with head held high, his colleagues hurrying after him.
"See you lot later," Harry muttered, ruffling Al's hair, and giving Ginny a quick kiss, "Don't get up to too much trouble."
"You've taken the gremlin with you," Ginny grinned, looking up at him, "Not much that can go wrong, now."
"Touché," Harry smiled, grabbing his coat from the stand, and closing the front door with a soft thud.
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Harry nodded to the officers, indicating that he would follow them down, and made his way to his car. James was already waiting beside it, pulling on the locked handles, and leaning back onto the balls of his feet.
"C'mon," Harry murmured, "Let's get this over and done with."
"What did you do?" James sniggered, clambering into the passenger seat, and letting Harry fasten him in.
"I didn't do anything, Jamie," Harry grinned, shutting the door, and making his way to the driver's side.
"Then why we going to the ministry?" James queried, swinging his feet.
"This isn't magic stuff, James," Harry explained, starting the engine with his wand, "These are the muggle police."
James stopped moving his feet, and narrowed his eyes, looking scrutinisingly at his Dad.
"They why they takin' you in?"
"I told you at the house," Harry said patiently, "There was a mix up. I've got to go and tell them that they got something wrong, so I'm not on their records."
"Can't you jus' show them your Auror badge?"
"Then they'd know I'm a wizard."
"Oh."
Harry let James choose the radio station, and glanced at the clock. It was 7:45. Way too early to be doing this sort of thing.
"Is Liam gonna stay with us forever, Dad?" James said suddenly, looking out the window, "I like Liam lots n' lots, but I don't think I wanna live with him and Mabel forever."
Harry chuckled, and shook his head. He felt a pang each time James called him 'Dad', instead of 'Daddy'. He was no longer a little toddler anymore.
"Only for a little longer, whilst they find somewhere new to live." He said , turning left into the village.
James sighed in relief, and pointed to a local dog walker outside.
"Can we get a dog?" he asked excitedly, perking up.
"No, we cannot get a dog," grinned Harry, pulling into the police station, "We already have owls."
"You and Mum have owls," James grumbled, undoing his seat belt, and clambering onto Harry's lap, looking him dead in the eye, "I don't have an owl, so I would like a dog."
"Not happening," Harry said, with a straight face, and James scowled, wriggling back onto his own seat, "Let's go."
He locked the car with his wand, and took James' hand as they crossed the road to the main police building. It was early, so few officers were there, but as they drew nearer, Harry spotted someone he recognised. He remembered Katie introducing him and Ginny to this man a few days ago.
Curtis? Carroll? Cartmen?
"Coleman?" Harry said, and the man turned his head, looking confused, before his face dropped.
"Potter." He said stiffly, "Good morning. What are you doing here on such an early Saturday?"
"Long story." Harry replied, sensing Coleman's terseness, "But I'm not here on duty."
"You're Maisy's Dad, aren't you?" James said cheerfully, "I like Maisy, she's nice."
"I am," Coleman nodded, smiling a little, "You're a right old charmer, aren't you? Good way to diffuse the tension, buddy."
James grinned.
"My son, Alexander, is 100% a Mummy's boy. Doesn't want much to do with me, unfortunately." Dillon said conversationally, avoiding Harry's eyes.
"Don't be fooled by this one," Harry chuckled softly, "Biggest Mummy's boy out there. It's only now that he's realising that I'm pretty cool."
James raised an eyebrow, making Dillon laugh.
"Well, I better get going," Harry said, "Want to be home for breakfast."
"Daddy's in trouble," James giggled, and Harry sighed.
"I'm not in trouble, James. Carry on like that and I'll eat all your pancakes." James looked up at his Dad, mortified.
"See you, Dillon," Harry nodded, walking over to the doors of the station, where only one police officer stood.
"It's only one document, sir," he said, glancing at James, "I'm afraid the little one isn't allowed in with you."
"My son stays with me," Harry said firmly, placing a hand on James' shoulder, "He's not leaving my sight."
"If you're worried about his safety, I can promise-"
"My son stays with me," Harry gritted out, "I don't know anyone here. Either you let me take him in, or we leave."
"C'mon sir," the officer groaned, "I just work here. I don't have time for this."
"I was the one woken up at 7am on a Saturday morning, telling me I was a suspect on a case I had already closed?! I don't want to be here! I'm just doing you all a favour." Harry said exasperatedly, "I've given you your options: either you let me take my son inside with me, or you allow us to leave."
"Potter," a voice said, and Harry looked over. He sighed in relief when he saw Oliver Norcross making his way over to where Harry stood, a grimace on his face.
"Olly!" James cried, wriggling out of Harry's strong grip, and running over to Oliver, who allowed the 5-year-old to wrap his arms around his legs.
"Got yourself in a spot of bother, have you?" Oscar grinned, and Harry scowled.
"Watch James, will you? I won't be a minute." Harry said, and the officer made a face of uttermost relief.
Oliver bent down to James' level, and ruffled his hair.
"Been looking after your Dad for me?" Oliver grinned, and James nodded feverously.
"How'd you know we was here?"
"Your mother sent me an owl. Said he might need some assistance down here. Apparently they're being a little difficult."
"They weren't lettin' me go in with Dad," James said, "And he didn't want to leave me with the strangers."
"Course he didn't want to leave you with strangers, Jamie," Oliver smiled, "You're too precious to him."
"When will you have a baby?" James asked curiously, "I think you'd make a great Dad."
"Thanks James," Oliver chuckled, "But I'm not even married yet. I think a baby is a long way in the future."
"When you get married, can I be at the wedding?" James asked excitedly, bouncing from one foot to the other.
"Course. You can be a page boy, if you like. We'll dress you up in a little suit, and you can walk down the aisle."
"Can I?!"
"Sure, if you want to."
"When are you getting married, anyway?" James asked.
"I haven't asked if she would like to marry me yet, James." Oliver laughed, "She might say no."
"Why would she say no? You're awesome!"
"Thanks," Oliver chuckled, "But she's in St. Mungo's at the moment. She got hurt during a mission."
James' face fell.
"Is she okay? Dad never told me she was hurt." He said dejectedly, looking at the doors to the police station.
"She's getting better," Oliver replied, straightening up, "But definitely not well enough to get married."
"What if someone else asks her before you do?" James asked worriedly, "She might say yes to them!"
"Now that, young James, is called cheating," Oliver grinned, watching as Harry emerged from the building "And is very not allowed when you're dating someone."
"Oh."
Harry gave Oliver a look.
"He's 5. Why are you telling him about the highs and lows of a relationship?"
"Important knowledge," Oliver grinned, and James looked on thoughtfully.
"So if Mummy decided to one day go n' kiss someone new, that's not allowed?" he said finally, and Harry frowned.
"She's allowed to do whatever she wants," he said, glaring at a silently laughing Oliver, "But I trust that she wouldn't. I certainly wouldn't go and kiss a different lady."
"But you could if you wanted?"
"I guess so," Harry shrugged, unlocking the car, and shoving Oliver in the chest with his elbow, "But that's breaking trust, and I have no desire to cheat on your mother. I love her very much."
"I'll tell her that, then." James nodded, getting into the car. Harry closed the door, and rounded on Oliver, who was biting his lip to stop himself from laughing.
"He'll remember that for the rest of his life," Harry muttered, "You coming back with us?"
"Sure," Oliver laughed, getting into the passenger seat.
The drive home was short, and soon the black car was pulling into the driveway.
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"I can see his car!" Liam cried from the windowsill, "He's home!"
I grinned as Liam dashed past us, and reached for the front door.
It clicked open, and James, Harry, and for some reason Oliver Norcross, entered, Harry looking relieved.
"JAMES!" Liam cried, and James smiled, before looking around.
"I have something very important to tell my Mum," he said seriously, and Harry groaned quietly, sending his co-worker a glare.
"MUM!" James yelled, and everyone in the vicinity winced. Ginny, who was sat opposite me in the living room, grimaced.
"Yes, my darling boy?" she called back sarcastically, and James appeared at the doorway.
"Daddy said that he had no desire to cheat on you, because that would be breaking trust." He said importantly, and I looked at him. Ginny scoffed, and looked over at Harry, who was grinning, albeit more in exasperation than amusement.
"Since when did Daddy tell you about cheating, hmm?" Ginny asked, staring at Harry. Harry quickly pointed at Oliver, who flushed.
"Oh, he also said he loves you very much, even though text-nict-ly he's allowed to kiss someone new." James finished with a satisfied look.
"Technically he is, but he doesn't want to," Ginny grinned, making her way over to Harry, and cupping his jaw, "Care to object, Potter?"
"Not at all." Harry replied, leaning down to close the distance between them.
Oliver coughed rather pointedly, and they broke apart slowly, Ginny deciding it would be best to flip Oliver off than to actually talk to him.
"You can talk to me when I've successfully told your 5-year-old whether or not it's okay to cheat on your partner, Oliver Norcross."
"He said he's not havin' a baby for a long time," James sighed, gesturing for Liam to follow him up the stairs.
"Why do you tell him these things, Olly?" Harry asked bemusedly, "You tell James, but you don't tell us. Did you tell him that you've asked Adalia, too?"
"I haven't asked her," Oliver said, "It's not the right time for either of us."
"It's never the right time," I said, and they all looked at me, "You always think you need more time, but once it's happened, you never look back. Well, sometimes you do, but I certainly didn't."
"How long were you dating your husband before he asked you?" Oliver said curiously.
"5 or 6 years. We were always simply happy to be dating. We didn't feel the need to go that one step further to tie the knot."
"See?" Oliver said, turning back to Harry and Ginny, "Not everyone is in such a rush."
"Why," I grinned, "How long did you two wait?"
"I asked Ginny just before she turned 19, which was a good 2 years since we fully started dating again. It wasn't that hurried."
"Still pretty hurried if you ask me," Oliver hummed, "At least you waited a bit to have Jamie."
"We would have waited longer, but James was a characteristic surprise. I wanted to pursue quidditch a bit further." Ginny sighed, "But I wouldn't have it any other way."
"What's all this talk about?" Robert yawned, "I hope you haven't had breakfast without me."
"Yes and we didn't leave you any." I said, and Robert's mouth dropped.
"What?"
"Just kidding. None of us have eaten," I grinned, "But I bet the kids are hungry now."
We all trundled into the kitchen, and Ginny waved her wand. Instantly, pots and pans and cooking ingredients whizzed over our heads, and began brewing up what I supposed was breakfast.
"How is Adalia, anyway," Ginny said, resting a head on Harry's shoulder, "I never asked."
"She's… better," Oliver sighed, "Her Father still doesn't want me visiting all too frequently."
"What about his mother?"
"She's in France with Adalia's little sister. They sent her off to Beauxbatons, so her Mother's staying with some family down there."
"Why not the one in Scotland? Hoggy something?" Robert asked curiously, and Harry grinned.
"Glad to see you're picking up on wizarding things pretty quickly. How'd you know Beauxbatons was a school?"
Robert shrugged.
"Just kind of assumed."
Ginny looked impressed.
"She didn't go to Hogwarts because Adalia's parents didn't think Adalia got the best from it." Oliver said, "Dunno why, and I'm not about to ask, either."
The toast suddenly popped from the toaster, and everyone – besides Harry and Oliver – jumped.
"Auror reflexes," grinned Oliver, patting Harry on the back as he moved to butter his piece.
We called for the kids, and they were all down in no time, James and Liam scrambling to get the biggest pancake available, their hands gripping the edge of the counter, their toes holding their weight. Mabel and Al closely followed, although they didn't look nearly as eager as their counterparts.
"Oggy," Al smiled, pointing at Oliver, who bent down and picked him up.
"How's my favourite Potter?" Oliver grinned, ruffling Al's hair.
"Can I have a big'un?" James asked, and Ginny scoffed.
"Don't be greedy, James. You eat what you're given."
"Sure. Just make sure it's big, Dad."
They both gobbled their pancakes down at lightning speed, and gulped down their juice that Harry and Robert placed in front of them. They were soon off again, giggling and burping as they scampered up the stairs.
"Lunatics," Ginny said, shaking her head, "What are we going to do with them all day?"
Harry perked up.
"I told James I would take him to Diagonally today. Reckon he'd still be up for it?"
Ginny looked sceptical.
"It's a Saturday. It'll be heaving. Don't you want to avoid the crowds?"
"The busier it is, the less of a chance I have at being recognised," Harry said, looking over at me, "Do you two want to come? Introduce you more into the wizarding world."
"What exactly is 'Diagonally?" Robert asked, a little apprehensive.
"A wizarding street," Oliver explained, "Just a bunch of shops. Normal to us, but magical to you, I guess."
"It'll be fun," I said, a little unsure, but willing to give it a go.
"I'll stay here," Ginny said, handing Al his juice, "Two hands Al – I don't want to draw too much attention. Al can stay here with us. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
"Where go?" Al said, his voice magnified from the glass he was holding.
"Daddy's taking James to London. I'm going to stay here with baby Lily, ok? You can stay too."
Albus made a face of uttermost outrage. He pouted, and furrowed his eyebrows, bringing his glass down with a thud, and making juice spill out the top.
"I go." He said firmly, and Ginny frowned.
"There might be flashy lights, Al. You don't like those do you?"
Al thought for a moment, before shaking his head.
"Daddy carry Al," he said, looking at Harry, who was looking thoughtful, "Daddy carry Al," he repeated, when Harry didn't initially respond.
"Hmm? Oh, sure, Al. I'll carry you." Harry said, a glazed look in his eye.
"What's on your mind, Potter?" Oliver asked, and Ginny looked over at Harry too. She narrowed her eyes.
"Oi," she said, and Harry started, looking at her bemusedly, "If you're willing to take both James and Albus to Diagonally on a Saturday afternoon, I hope you have a plan of action if anything were to escalate. Especially now that you've invited Katie, Robert, Liam, and Mabel, too."
"We don't have to go if it's going to cause any worry," I said quickly, and Robert nodded.
"It'll be fine," Harry said calmly, "But I won't go if you don't think it's a good idea, Gin."
"I do trust you, Harry," Ginny replied softly, "It's the press and the public that I don't. I don't want you to be put in a situation where you're stranded in front of the pap."
"Worst comes to worst I'll apperate us all back," Harry said, "We'll floo straight to Wheezes to avoid the Leaky Cauldron, too."
"Want me to owl George, then?" Ginny asked, and Harry shook his head.
"I'll do that, don't worry," he said, and whisked away, heading straight upstairs.
Ginny sighed, getting up from the table. She walked over to Al, and picked him up, placing a kiss on his forehead.
"You better be good for Daddy, Al," she said, and Al nodded feverously, "Stay close to him, alright?"
"You not comin'?"
"I'm staying here with your little sister."
"Look, Ginny," Oliver said, sidling over, and taking Al from her, tickling him on the belly, "If you're so anxious, I'll go too. I didn't have plans for this afternoon."
Ginny raised her eyebrow.
"You'd want to do that?"
"Sure. God knows Harry will need someone to calm him down if the press gets in our way."
"Just make sure Al's always with you, please? Of course I trust Harry, but Al's just so little. Maybe you could take James and Liam somewhere whilst Harry shows Katie and Robert around."
"Good idea," Oliver nodded, before turning to us, "Is that alright?"
I nodded.
"If it makes things easier for you, then yes, please do. Might be easier for us too if we only have to keep an eye on Mabel."
Ginny smiled gratefully, before ushering us out the kitchen and back into the living room. Al had his head on Oliver's shoulder, playing with the strands of hair on his neck, whilst Oliver held a hand on Al's back. I never realised how close the Potter's were to Oliver, but it was evident that they were.
Harry came in a moment after, Lily held in the crook of his arm as he pulled a comb through his hair.
"Thought you'd learnt by now that that doesn't do anything," Oliver snickered, and Harry smiled loftily.
"It feels like it's doing something," he said, vanishing the comb with one swish of his wand.
Lily was awake, and had a death grip on Harry's shirt, her hand trying to fit it into her mouth.
"I'm coming with, by the way," Oliver said, and Harry looked at him in surprise.
"Since when?" He asked, looking a bit put out, "I can manage James and Albus just fine." He turned to Ginny.
"You didn't ask him, did you?" He said, looking a little hurt, "Do you not think I can handle the responsibility of my own two children?"
Ginny stared at him.
"No, he offered. But do you not want an extra pair of hands that can help with apparition?"
"I was going to floo," Harry said, "But maybe you think I'll need an extra pair of hands for that, too."
"Don't start, Harry," Oliver said, "I only offered to ease Ginny's state of mind."
"Thanks," Harry said coolly, "They're not your children, Oliver. It's my decision in who they go with."
I shared a look with Robert. We were quietly watching this heated exchange with nervous eyes.
"It's just as much mine as it is yours, Harry," Ginny said standing up, and reaching over to take Lily from Harry. He, however, put his other hand over Lily's body, preventing Ginny from taking her.
"Harry," she growled, "Don't be a fucking idiot."
"When will you start trusting me, Ginny?" Harry told her, "7 years of marriage and you don't want me to go to fucking Diagonalley with two of the children I help raise?"
"Did you not hear me earlier?" Ginny said hotly, "I don't trust the creeps out there, trying at every opportunity to take photographs of my family!"
"Surely you can trust me to handle them just fine," Harry said, matching her temper, "I'm the head of a department that deals with this stuff."
"No, Harry," Ginny said, pulling out her wand, and jabbing it at Harry's chest, "Your job is to kill and capture criminals. You can't have your Auror switch on when you're with James and Albus."
Oliver had stood up when Ginny got out her wand, reaching for his own, but Harry beat him to it.
"Put your wand down," he told Ginny sharply, "What're you doing?"
"This case has got you all relaxed," she continued, disregarding Harry's comment, "I'd like to remind you that there are still hundreds of wizards that want to hurt you and our children, and that a trip to Diagonalley for everyone else, is not the same for you."
"You've known me since I was 11, Ginny," Harry replied, "You don't think I still have my guard up 24/7? That the safety of James and Albus wouldn't be my first priority?"
A red spark shot out the end of Ginny's wand, and Harry drew back, his own wand positioned outwards. Oliver was pointing his at Ginny too.
"I don't want to put the safety of Katie, Robert or their children at risk, too, Harry." Ginny hissed, and Harry glanced at us, putting his wand back down by his side.
He sighed, and attempted to move out of Ginny's strike zone.
"I'm sorry, Gin. Oliver will come, alright? Maybe I'll ask for the rest of the Auror department to come too."
This was the last straw for Ginny, who looked livid. She opened her mouth to presumably cast a spell, but Harry was too quick for her. He brought his wand up so fast that it took me a second to figure out what he was doing. Ginny's wand was flying through the air, and landed with a loud clatter by the doorframe. Oliver quickly grabbed it off the floor, switching his aim at Harry, instead.
"Not. Here." He gritted out, striding over to the pair, and taking a now sleeping Lily from Harry's arms, "You're both being ridiculous. Of course she trusts you Harry. Are you an Auror or not?"
Harry scowled, stashing his wand away, he glanced at Ginny, who was glaring at him.
"Damn you and your Auror reflexes." She hissed, and a ghost of a smile appeared on Harry's face. Ginny spotted this, and grabbed Harry by his collar, before bringing her knee up sharply.
"Fuck! Ginny!" Harry cried, keeling over in pain.
Robert and Oliver shared a sympathetic look.
I looked over at Al, who Oliver had left sitting on the sofa. He looked a bit forlorn, and eyed his parents sceptically.
"Daddy?" He said, his voice filled with confusion.
"I'm fine," Harry said firmly, eyes watering, "Thought you liked that part of me, Ginny?"
Oliver groaned, and I felt my cheeks redden. Luckily, no one noticed.
"Not right now I don't," she replied, reaching over to gather Lily in her arms. The baby snuffled, but didn't wake.
"Daddy hurt?" questioned Al, but Harry shook his head.
"I'm not hurt, Al. Let's get you ready to go, yeah?"
Al nodded, sliding down from his perch, and letting Harry pick him up.
"I better go get our two ready, too, K," Robert muttered, and I nodded, watching as he sidled out the room.
Ginny groaned, and fell back onto her chair.
"Why's he being so exasperating today?" She said aloud, and Oliver shrugged.
"Just glad the case is over, I think." He suggested, "Loads of the guys working on it are off work today."
"He knows I trust him," she said in confusion, "I don't know why he was accusing me that I don't, all of a sudden."
"Ah, to get inside the head of Harry Potter," Oliver grinned, "No one shall ever know."
A sudden squeal was heard from upstairs, and shrieks of 'YES! YOU REALLY MEAN IT?' floated down the stairs.
"No turning back now," I said softly, and Ginny laughed.