The Reckoning of War

by Rahmota

Sometimes to rise you must fall. This is the story of the post war fall and rise of our heroes. Mature content. Subject matter may be unpleasant for some. Your mileage may vary. Relationships: Complicated. Setting: Darker than book ending. Ending: Arguably happy. Not epilogue compliant, or even in the same parsec as such. One shot with no intention of expansion or revisiting later.

It was three months after the fall of Voldemort. The end of the darkness and the destruction of the Death Eater movement. It was three months since Harry Potter had cast the killing blow against Voldemort. They had lost many friends along the way. Many family members along the way.

Harry had lost his godfather, the Dursley's had been tracked down even after they had been sent away. Moody, Tonks, Lupin, Colin, Dobby the names all blurred with the faces in Harry's mind. Sleep came only with difficulty. He had retreated from public view to his home in Grimmould Place. He was not alone though.

Hermione Granger, his faithful friend, companion and as of late comforting presence, lived with him. Slept with him. They had not crossed into becoming lovers yet but they held each other to drive away the demons and night terrors both felt. She had no where else to go. Her childhood home had been burned to the ground. Her plan to send her parents to Australia to protect them had failed as they had been hunted down by the Death Eaters and killed. Their heads sent to Hogwarts in a box. She worked part time in the ministry as a minor clerk in the muggle liaison office now. It was not much but it let her get out and interact with people. It also let her keep track of what was going on with the ministry.

Their other permanent resident was Lavender Brown. She too had lost her parents to Death Eaters. She had lost her beauty to Fenrir mauling her. The left side of her face had a large set of claw marks running down it with her empty eye socket covered by a patch. Her shoulder had a large bite scar and her breasts had bite mark scars over them. He had wanted to ruin her if she survived he said. Once a month she changed into a werewolf in the basement room Sirius had built for his close friend Remus. The monthly Wolfsbane potion Hermione brewed for her helping soothe the pain of the transformation and help her remain human mentality but little else. Hermione promised she would find a cure someday somehow. The ministry had voted and given her a life time pension as well as a Order of Merlin second class for her actions but otherwise they had forgotten about her. So she spent her days hiding in Grimmould with Harry. Watching to make sure his brooding didn't slip too far over into the darkness.

Luna Lovegood was a frequent visitor as was Ginny Weasley. The two of them had become good friends over the years. Ginny outgrowing her youthful infatuation with the boy who lived as she got to know the person Harry Potter. Luna getting drawn in closer as things had happened. Her father and her home had both been destroyed by the war. She lived in a tent on her family land and tried to rebuild the Quibbler. But she was hanging on by a thread since her part in helping Harry had been forgotten or glossed over by the ministry. Her father's notes and the printing press destroyed she had very little way to accomplish her goal of restarting the paper. Harry had offered to help but she had refused saying that her father had started it on his own and she would too. Gringott's was unwilling to loan to her and none of the wealthy families wanted the Quibbler back seeing it as a joke and a insult to proper publishing. She somehow seemed even more distant and ethereal at times now.

Ginny had become a star seeker for the Holyhead Harpies pro-Quidditch team. They were more than happy to have a certified hero on their team and saw their attendance triple in the two games they had played since the victory exhibition match. She buried her pain in the battle of the game. Flying at the limits of her broom and her ability as if trying to outrace the demons in her head. Demons going back to the chamber of secrets, the battle, the loss of her family members.

The Weasleys though had come through with painful success. Arthur who had died in the basement of the ministry, Percy who was assassinated during the ministry takeover by Death Eaters, Fred who died in the battle all filled the loss column for the family. Bill whose marriage to Fleur in spite of his scars was a surprise and a rock that seemed to weather anything, Charlie whose return to his dragons came as no surprise had announced he was engaged to a lovely Romanian woman, and George who was struggling to go on with half his life lost rounded out the win column for them.

Molly Weasley the once strong and forceful matriarch of the clan had lost so much. Her hair had gone fully gray and lay in strings about her shoulders. She was a broken shell of her former self. Alone in a house meant for hordes of children and grandchildren. Her clock still on the mantle. The fallen hands lined up beside it like an honor guard waiting for their day to come home.

Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom though had become the public face of the resistance by default. The Ministry paraded them around and treated them to dinners, to media exposure, to whatever they wanted as long as they supported the ministry goals of peace and prosperous rebuilding. Introduced them to functionaries from other wizarding nations and made them into celebrities. While Ron was still a free agent playing the field and being seen in the arms of various witches quite frequently Neville had established a relationship with Hannah Abbott.

Draco had hung himself in the empty hall of Malfoy manor. His parents had died serving Voldemort, his family wealth either spent in pursuit of the cause or seized by the ministry for restitution to the victims of Voldemort. His so called friends had turned on him when he had no money to buy their loyalty including Pansy Parkinson who had claimed to love him forever was now in Theodore Nott's bed every night. His former death eater associates were either dead or in prison for life. He had nothing left to control but his own time and place of death and chose to exert that last bit of control.

The biggest loss though had been Hogwarts itself. As the site of the final battle it and the village of Hogsmeade had been leveled. Stones had been turned to gravel. Dead bodies still littered the land as the ministry clean up teams worked hard. Even with a full scale effort it would be at least a decade before the school was fully restored estimates said. The more pessimistic said that the amount of dark energy expended there would prevent the school from ever being rebuilt or reopen. Until it did though several other smaller schools had opened around the UK to keep students educated and prevent the breach of secrets. Which as bad as the war was had almost occurred multiple times. To be honest many in the ministry thought that it would only be a matter of months before the muggle world found out. Things had been that bad. And with the loss in teachers and citizens they did not have the numbers to fight another war. Especially as even though magic would give them a slight edge the muggles had the sheer numbers and technology that was beginning to eat away at the edges of magic.

=====.xxx===xxx=xx

It was three months to the day and Hermione was sitting having breakfast with Lavender. Harry was still asleep finally falling into a deep sleep sometime around the dawn. Hermione was yawning and considering going back to bed herself but she had awoken from a bad dream and didn't want to close her eyes again for a while yet at least. One good thing about the relationship the three of them had developed none of them judged or questioned the others about their pain.

The Floo call alert went off causing Hermione to jump then she moved quickly to the Living Room where the floo was located. They no longer feared bothering the painting of Walpurga Black as there was now a very large hole in the wall where the painting had once been but she didn't want Harry disturbed.

"Hello who is it?"

"Hi Mia its me Ginny can I come through and visit. I need to talk to you about something."

"Yeah sure." She stepped back and let the lithe redhead come through.

Ginny stepped out wearing a light flowing summer dress and sneakers. She gave Hermione a quick gentle hug then stood there awkwardly.

"Well c'mon to the kitchen Lavender and I were just finishing breakfast and going over the mail. I guess you could call it a good morning."

"She doing ok?"

"Yeah just a little PMS."
Ginny chuckle at the joke. Lavender herself had started it which meant they had permission to repeat it. "How about Harry and you?"

She shrugged, "Harry had some bad ones last night. It took me and Lavender until almost six to calm him down."

"Oh man. Sorry. You should have called me. I would have come over and helped." She said reaching out and holding her friend's arm.

"Yeah I know. But I was awake anyhow."

"You had some of your own?"

"Who doesn't" Lavender brusquely stated from the table. Reading the paper she snorted and tossed it into the pile at the end of the table. Harry's end as they called it where he sat and looked over the papers and then tossed them in the fire.

Sitting down Ginny glumly acknowledged the comment. "Luna may come over later. She said she was going to need to talk to us all."

"Okay. So what's your problem first." Hermione tried to joke but tiredly.

"I'm pregnant." Ginny said flatly and without preamble.

A moment of heavy silence fell over the table before Hermione clicked her tongue. "Ok. Judging by how excited you are this is not a good thing?"

"Well considering how the kid is Ron's yeah. That is kind of a problem you know."

Hermione's eyebrows went to her hairline while Lavender grunted in surprise. "Oh my. Are you sure?"

"Yeah it's not like I have a long list of suspects. I have only had sex with one male in my life and his name happened to be Ronald Bilious Weasley."

"Yeah but how, why?" Hermione was trying to understand.

Sighing deeply Ginny looked at the table for several long seconds before answering, "It was the night after the battle. Everyone was drunk and confused. Trying to mourn and celebrate at the same time. I wanted to feel something besides numb. I found someone and held them and we went somewhere and had sex multiple times that night. I woke up the next morning sore as hell from getting ridden hard and hungover to find myself wrapped in my brother's arms and legs. He was the one I spent the night in a drunken stupid sex filled haze."

"wow. So now what?" Hermione shook her head trying to figure that out.

Ginny shrugged. "I dunno. I have no idea. I was hoping you guys might have something."

"Well have you told anyone else? Your mom or Ron?"

"Mom spends most of her time holding the family clock crying. Ron, ha, if I can get an appointment with Mr Famous I don't even know what to tell him. How he'd react. I guess I was hoping I could hide out here with the rest of you. As for anyone else. No. I've not told anyone."

Hermione sat staring quietly at the red head when the kitchen door opened and Harry wandered in. He had a five o clock shadow that was slowly turning into a beard. The last time they had managed to get him to shave a few days in the past. He was dressed just in his boxers, a t-shirt and a pair of house slippers under his robe. He grunted something in acknowledgment to the girls at the table then grabbing some food out he sat down and started reading the papers like usual. It took him a couple of moments before he noticed Ginny sitting at the table.

"Hello Gin. When did you get here?"
"A little bit ago. I was talking to Mia about something."

"Oh what?"

She looked at Hermione who nodded. Lavender chuckled. This made Harry wary as there had been so very little to chuckle about recently.

"I'm pregnant." Ginny softly said.

"You're what?" Harry asked to clarify as he was not sure he had heard her properly.

"I'm pregnant. I'm going to have a baby."
Harry's face lit up into a huge smile. He got up and pulled Ginny out of her chair into a big hug spinning her around. "Congratulations. Oh my god this is wonderful. The first one out of us to get her life back on track. Wow! So who's the lucky guy?" he said setting her back on the floor.

Ginny caught her breath and looked him in the eyes. Eyes that had so much pain in them but trying to find hope. "The baby's Ron's. I got blind stinking drunk and had sex with him and didn't take precautions and now I'm pregnant with his kid." She said collapsing against his chest crying her eyes out.

Harry instinctively pulled her into a hug. Cradling and holding her. His expression of happiness and hope fading into confusion and then back into sadness before rebounding. "okay. That's a bit unorthodox but you'll get through it. Does he know?"

She shook her head against his chest.

"She hasn't told anyone else yet." Hermione confirmed.

"You need to tell Ron. He needs to know he's going to be a dad."

"What the hell do I tell him. Oh hey brother you got me pregnant just after the battle. Congratulations brother daddy? He probably doesn't even remember we had sex. As big and famous as he's become that's the last thing he'll want. A scandal about him getting his sister pregnant. Real blood purity kind of shit there."

"Well the baby is going to need to know who their father is. No matter what their going to find out someday. What else are you going to do when they ask where their dad is?"

Lavender grunted again, "Could say the kids yours Harry."

Before Harry could speak Ginny rounded on the blonde werewolf. "NO! I'm not going to do that to Harry or the baby. I'll keep and raise them or I'll put them up for adoption but I won't lie to them. I won't." She said breaking down again.

"Ok. Hush now. You won't then. But you won't do this alone. We'll be here with you. We'll be your family." Harry held her.

For several minutes the only sound was the soft sobs of Ginny as she left go of the pain she had been holding, the fear over this.

Lavender sighed and got up. Joining the hug. Her strong arms wrapping around the slight red head and Harry. Hermione smiling softly joined them.

Breaking apart after Ginny's sobs quieted. They stood awkwardly in a circle. "Well I should probably get cleaned up. Then we get back to work on this place. If we're going to have a baby coming there is a lot to do before then. Yeah a lot to do." Harry started chuckling then bouncing around he headed out of the kitchen.

"I think he's finally gone round the bend." Lavender observed.

"Maybe but the way things have been going that might not be a bad thing." Hermione smiled.

"Are you guys sure you want me and the baby here?"

"I think that was Harry's plan. He calls this place the Island of Misfit Toys." Hermione chuckled. Her heart lifting and feeling a sense of long forgotten hope at seeing Harry smile. "You know this was the first time he smiled since the Christmas before the final battle."

"Oh? Well I'm glad I can make him happy then."

=====xxx==xxx==xxx==xx

Harry had shaved, found clean clothes and dressed in them. He was humming a happy song when he came down the stairs to find Luna in the living room with the others. She was sitting beside Ginny with her school trunk in front of her looking grim. Which was an unusual thing for her.

"Hey guys. Hey Luna. What's going on?"

"The ministry came and kicked Luna off her property. They used some kind of gibberish claiming that her father had surrendered rights to it and since she was not using it in a productive manner they would seize it and grant it to someone who would do so."

"Wait a second I thought one of the things Shacklebolt said he was going to do was get rid of the corruption and graft? Get rid of crap like that."

Luna sighed, "It is not a big deal Harry. He has not had enough time to do all of that yet."

"Not a big deal he took your home." Harry was glaring.
"Harry it had not been a home for some time. Not since father was killed. I have felt more at home here than anywhere else." Luna sighed softly tears held in check.

Harry shut up after looking ata everyone else and seeing them staring at him worriedly. He walked over and sat down in the chair that had become his. "Ok Luna I'm sorry. So I take it she's joining the island here?" Harry said with a flat sigh.

"Yeah I am. Although Hermione wanted me to double check with you before choosing a bedroom."
"Well Ginny and the baby get one. Hermione and I have the main one and Lavender has hers so any of the others are fine."

"Thank you Harry. I appreciate this."

"No problem. The heroes of Hogwarts need to stick together." he said with a sarcastic chuckle.

Hermione sighed and shook her head. At least Harry was starting to smile and laugh again. Even if it was a borderline psychotic laugh.

Luna chuckled back looking around the room. "Perhaps Harry. Or perhaps you are trying to form a harem."

He raised an eyebrow and looked around the room too. Hermione gasped slightly hoping that Harry would not get upset. She had noticed that the only people in Harry's life right now were young attractive females. Even if Lavender was more ruggedly handsome than a classical beauty.

"Yeah right Luna like Harry's into bestiality." Lavender sulked.

Harry though was smiling. "Lavender you're not a beast. I mean you may need to trim the carpet a bit but still you're a very pretty woman. I'd be proud to take you out in public except one thing. Hermione has dibs."

Everyone looked at Harry who was sitting there smiling and nodding his head.

"Yep gone all the way around the bend." Lavender smirked

Hermione was staring at Harry in confusion, "What do you mean I have dibs?"
"Hermione for seven years you have stood by me. You have helped save my life more times than I could ever begin to count. You are the smartest person I have met. And I have ignored how I feel. I've been so wrapped up in trying not to die, trying to deal with Voldemort and his Death Eaters I ignored you. I know we've been sleeping together the last three months already but I would like to make it official and all." The vulnerability, the fear he was showing and expressing in his voice was more than she had ever seen or heard.

Hermione's voice had failed her. She felt her mind freeze up. She knew she had cared for Harry since the day he had rushed to her rescue in first year. She owed him her life multiple times over. But they had never crossed the line from friends to lovers and it sounded like Harry was now wanting to not only cross that line but erase it forever. "How official?"

He shyly grinned and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small box. He got down on one knee in front of Hermione and opened it. "Hermione we've been together for the last seven years. I want to be together for the next seventy or more or however long we have. Will you marry me?" He opened the box to show her a gold and diamond engagement ring. It was a small diamond with engraved roses on either side.

Luna smiled, "Hermione if you do not marry him that would be a grievous mistake."

Ginny sniffled a little bit, "Fred and George finally gave up on their betting book when you two would finally get together just before the end."

Lavender just shrugged, "Its not like I'm even in the running."

Hermione looked around the room. She stared at Harry who was almost shaking from nerves and his face was getting ready to fall as he had no doubt convinced himself she was going to say no.

Taking a deep breath she finally got her voice to work, "Yes Harry as long as you accept that I don't own you and that you'll have more than just me."

"Hunh?" Harry shook his head in sheer confusion as his predictions for this had totally been thrown down the drain.

"Look around the room Harry we've made a family or a harem or whatever you want to call us. Yeah none of us have had sex with each other but you're right I've slept in your bed with you every night for the last three months. Lavender has joined us from time to time comforting her with her nightmares. We've all seen each other naked, or in our underwear. We've held each other as we cried, as we laughed as we just hurt. When we've needed the touch of another human being that cared about us. We are a family and all of us love each other no matter what. Even if Lavender gets all surly and tries to hide it behind a gruff wall. But yes I'll be your wife and take your name even. I love you too. Only you will love and care about the rest of these women here too." Hermione had tears in her eyes but was still smiling at Harry.
Harry slowly understood what she said. He looked at the other girls who all had tears in their eyes too. "okay. I think I can live with that." He smiled again.

Hermione held her hand out to Harry. He took and slid the ring on her finger and then stood up and kissed her on the lips. Fully lovingly and happily. The other girls all smiled and Luna clapped loudly.

Breaking the kiss he looked around. "So I guess you guys are in on this too now? At least until you find someone better than me to hang out with."

"Harry I doubt we will find someone better who would want us."

"What makes you so sure. I mean Ginny you've got your Quidditch career with the Harpies."
She sadly shook her head, "No they have a firm no babies rule in their contract. You get pregnant you're out."

"Oh well there's other teams when you have the baby. And the rest of us can help watch them."
"Harry I'm having my brother's baby. In the current anti-pure blood climate that kind of thing is a career ender." Ginny shook her head.

"Yeah well only if it gets out its Ron's maybe I could claim the baby and say I got you pregnant during the celebration."

"There are a few problems with that idea." Hermione frowned. "First you were unconscious for several days after the battle in Saint Mungo's. That is confirmed and with multiple eyewitnesses. Kinda hard to impregnate someone that way. Secondly all births must be registered with the Ministry and must have the familia paternis cast on the child. This is to ensure that all claims of paternity are true and not fraudulent."

"What? Who did that brilliant idea and why?" Harry grumbled.
"They passed it during the emergency meeting during the reformation of the Wizengamut because there was some concern that women would claim rape or something and try to get some of the money from the wealthier families. I didn't mention it earlier as I wanted to make sure I remembered it right, that and I wanted Ginny to be calmer when I said it. So while you was upstairs cleaning up I looked back over the papers and saw it." She said handing Harry a daily prophet from two months ago.

"Sorry Ginny. But yeah its going to come out that the baby is Ron's one way or another so we need to warn him. And the sooner the better."

Ginny nodded glumly. "Then we have to tell him."

"Does anyone know how to contact him?"

"He comes round for lunch with mum every Sunday afternoon. George and I come over too. I'll bring all of you with me. Mum would love to see you guys again anyhow. It might help her."

"Well today is Friday so yeah we can be there. Right guys?"

"All of us Harry?" Lavender growled.

Hermione looked at Lavender who frowned and nodded, "Ok I'll be there. Tomorrow night is the last of my monthly fun."

"Thanks Lav. We need to support and be there for Ginny. I mean I don't know how Ron's going to take it." Hermione sighed. Her memories of how Ron took things that did not support his worldview were never pleasant.

"I'm going to guess not well." Luna sighed.

"And if that's the way it goes then we most assuredly need to be there for her." Hermione pointed out. While Harry nodded.

"Ok I need to get to the Ministry. I don't do much but they do like me to at least be there in case I have to do something." Hermione said getting up. Giving Harry a big hug and kiss on the lips she then stepped over to Ginny and hugged her too.

"See you guys when I get back."

"Ok Ginny go get your stuff. How about we put you on the left hand bedroom on the fourth floor and Luna you can have the right hand one?" Harry said.

=====xxxx====xxxx====xx

Friday and Saturday went well. They had dinner and cleaned the place up. Ginny moved in from her apartment she had been sharing at the Holyhead base camp. Friday night Harry and Hermione had sex for the first time. Neither was really experienced and it went well enough as both were mutually satisfied. Both of them expecting nothing from the other but giving their all. They agreed it was worth the wait.

The relationship with Luna, Ginny and Lavender did not seem to have changed much with all of them living under one roof. If anything with all of them living together meals became conversation times. Luna planned to go to the muggle places and try to find a job to help out. Even though Harry kept pointing out he was very rich and could take care of all of them. Luna said she did not want to be a burden and would pay her share. Harry was getting his back up about it when Hermione kicked him in the shin under the table and told Luna that would be fine.

=====xxx===xxx====xxxx

Sunday dawned bright and on schedule. Harry disentangled himself from Hermione and Luna. It had been Hermione's idea to cuddle with Luna to make up for the argument and that had actually turned into a sex fest between the three of them. Luna's virginity being claimed by Harry.

Harry felt incredibly awkward in the gray light of dawn. He still could feel Luna's kisses and gentle touches. Hermione's passionate fire. He had no comparison except them. He was not sure he ever wanted a comparison. He got up and showered and dressed ready for the day. Since they would be having lunch with the remaining Weasleys he did get dressed somewhat nicely.

Checking in the bedroom his two female companions were getting up and moving around. They smiled at each other and made some small talk about what might happen today. No awkwardness or anything other than two friends who might have shared a book or a butterscotch sundae the night before, not shared the fiance of one of them. He shook his head in confusion at the way his life had changed again. At least this time it didn't seem to be a threat to his life.

Arriving at the kitchen Lavender was sitting there in her night shirt. She glanced up when Harry came in and grinned at him. "So they didn't break you."

"No I guess not."

"What's wrong Harry? You act like you did something wrong."
"Yeah well maybe I did. I mean I am engaged to Hermione and love her."

Lavender shrugged, "Okay. And how do you feel about Luna?"

"I love her too I think. I mean I get all warm and funny inside."

"yeah sounds like love."

"oh. I guess. I never had a whole lot of examples before. The Dursleys did not exactly get all mushy or talk about their feelings. Of course they barely talked to me in general."

"Too bad they got killed in the war. I'd love to visit them some nice moonlit night." Lavender growled.

"Yeah and if the ministry caught you they'd give you a silver necklace. Not something I would like for you." he smiled at her and patted her hand.

She smiled at him her one eye softening as she gazed at him.

"So how do you know what love feels like Lav?"

"Oh I grew up in a loving house. My mom and dad and my sister all loved me and each other. We all had a lot of happy times. And I've loved someone for a while now."

"Really? Oh." He sounded slightly disappointed somehow.

"Yeah. He's a really great guy but kinda oblivious sometimes. And I really appreciate him for everything he's done for me and with me. I owe him so much that I could never repay it in a thousand lifetimes I feel like sometimes."

Harry was looking at the table. Lavender had taken the hand he had held out to comfort her and was holding it. He felt strange. He wanted to pull the hand back from her but it felt nice where it was. Her grip was not strong and he thought if he wanted to he could yank his hand back. Her skin felt warmer than Hermione's and far warmer than Luna's slight coolness. He realized that she always felt warm to the touch. Hermione had said it was something to do with the werewolf curse. He said it would be nice to sleep with her in the winter then. They had both made a funny laugh but neither argued or had stopped cuddling during the nightmares. Lavender had not left.

"Harry are you ok?" Lavender calmly asked in what she had hoped was a soft and comforting tone.

"Yeah I think so. You love me?" He asked tenatively.

She smiled and nodded. Her eye tearing up a bit. "Yeah I do Harry."

"Bu, but why?"

"For the same reason Hermione does, for the same reason Luna does, for the same reason Ginny does. You see past the broken shell. You help hold us together. If you hadn't given me a home even though I fought and almost died for the wizarding world at Hogwarts where would I be. I couldn't go back to my parent's farm. It was taken from me. Werewolves can't own property. I couldn't finish school. That's prohibited for safety reasons. We can't get a job in the wizarding world. They haven't rescinded those laws yet. I doubt they ever will."

"But I did that because you're a friend. Because you needed help not to trap you or make you feel obligated to love me or something." Harry tried to reason.

"I know Harry. I'm not trapped. I could walk out that door and try to make my way in the muggle world. Try to avoid killing people. Maybe go off into the wilderness and live like an animal three days a month. I couldn't emigrate. Not legally though. Did you know werewolves are not welcome in most other countries either. France makes you register and submit to tracking spells and all kinds of other stuff. America restricts where you can live and go even worse than Britain does. I suppose I guess I could go to Canada."

"No please don't. I'd miss you." Harry said quietly.

"I'd miss you and the others too. You're all I have left in the world. And no that's not why I love you. You're kind and sweet and caring and so stupidly noble. You don't even know it."

"I guess. I don't know what you mean."

"When I've crawled into bed with you and Hermione after I've had a panic attack or a nightmare or am worn out after my monthly change you've held me. Right?"

"Yeah."

"Sometimes I'm naked and I've woke up with your hand cupping my breast or you wrapped over me. I've laid there wondering what you would do if I rolled over and kissed you or hoping you would start exploring my body. You have the resistance of a saint."

"oh. I just . I guess. I mean. I don't know what I mean."

"What I mean is I am a girl with physical needs too. And its not like I'm pretty enough to catch anyone else."

"You're still pretty Lav. You just have some scars. Who doesn't after the war."

"Yeah but mine are on my face, on my tits, on my body."
"I don't think you're ugly."

Lavender smiled. Her cheek stiff with its claw marks. Her upper lip curled a bit due to the claw ripping it. "Thanks Harry." She said doubtfully.

The door opened to allow Ginny, Luna and Hermione to enter. Harry reflexively tried to pull his hand back but Lavender's steel vise grip hand clenched and held him.

Hermione chuckled and sat down while Luna and Ginny headed for the stove. "Hi guys. Post come yet?"

"Yeah its on the side table." Lavender said without looking at the brown haired woman.

"Ok thanks." She said getting up and not reacting at all. Harry was blinking confusedly.

"Hermione doesn't it bother you that Lavender and I are holding hands?"

"Harry last night you were doing things to Luna with your tongue to make her scream your name. How could I be upset about you and Lavender holding hands. Hell bend her over the table and give her some if you want. Just let me have breakfast first as I'm starved."

He got an even more perplexed look at that. "You want me to have sex with Lavender?"

Hermione sat down and shrugged with a sad smile, "Harry I knew that I would never have a normal life with you. That you would always have something going crazy around you. I accept that. You live with four women who love you and have discussed how we feel about you a lot longer than you might think."

He looked at Luna and Ginny. Luna was wearing a thready bathrobe and nothing else. It was at least tied as she was cooking up a fry. Ginny was working on the toast and studiously ignoring him but he could tell by her bright red ears that she was blushing. Lavender had still not released his hand but she was no longer squeezing it in a clamp as he was no longer struggling to pull away.

"You all love me?"

"Yes Harry we all love you." Luna answered from the stove.

"With all the pieces of my heart." Lavender said across the table from him.

"Totally and absolutely." Hermione sighed taking his other hand and kissing it before holding it to her chest.

"I love you more now that I know you than I did before when you were the boy-who-lived Harry." Ginny said bringing toast and jam to the table.

Harry was speechless. He froze with his heart beating faster than he thought a human heart could go without exploding.

Hermione held him whispering his name over and over as he sat motionless in shock that he was actually loved. He had felt a burden to the Dursley's, he had felt like he was a useful tool to Dumbledore or a pet to be kept confused. He had felt nothing but anger and derision from Snape, from Draco. Ron he had no idea what he felt from him. Friendship he supposed. He had no frame of reference, no comparison.

====xxxxx=====xxxxx====xx

The next thing he knew he was laying in bed with Hermione's arms around him. He took stock of the situation and his condition. He was still fully clothed. It was his bedroom wall he was staring at. He felt soft arms holding him and moderate sized breasts pressed against his back. He smelled a honeysuckle and rose that he associated with Hermione so he rolled over and saw her face staring at him in worry, "Hello. I had an attack again didn't I?"

"Yeah you went full blown catatonic. We moved you up here and got you comfortable."

"how long was I off the grid?"

"An hour. So not really long."

"Oh. It was realizing you all were declaring your love for me that did it I think."

"Probably." She chuckled softly.

"What's so funny."

"You're probably the only straight male who could have four good looking women declare they love you and want to sleep with you and have a panic attack about it."

He thought for a moment then chuckled. "Its not like I got told a lot about relationships growing up. All Aunt Petunia said was Don't and Uncle Vernon said he would be glad if my kind would just stop reproducing."

Hermione sighed sharply. "Yeah well I don't think anyone would have seen this one coming. Mom and Dad expected me to settle down with some nice young man and have a family and a career. I'm not sure how they would have reacted." She blinked back some tears as the pain in her voice caught in her throat.

Harry returned her hugs. "They would probably be proud and happy for you."

She smiled, "You know dad used to tease me about when he was going to meet you. Said all my letters starred their future son-in-law."

Harry shook his head at the perception of her parents. "Well I see how you got so smart then."
She kissed him long and slow on the lips then just held him. "I love you Harry never forget that."

"Always."

=========xxxxx====xx

They arrived at the Burrow a bit before lunchtime. Molly was beside herself seeing them all. She hugged Harry like she was afraid he was going to vanish. Dragging him inside and beginning to set pots and pans to cooking talking a mile a minute about how starved he looked and how much she had missed him. Harry and the others barely had a chance to get a word in edgewise.

The Floo flared bright green as Ron Weasley stepped out. He was wearing a Saville Row suit and had a cigar in his right hand. He looked surprised to see so many people sitting in the kitchen of the Burrow then when he realized who they were he looked even more surprised and confused for a moment before clamping it down and smiling.

"Harry baby. Hermy, Gin, Loony hey guys. Wow long time no see."

"What about me Ron? No time for your Lav-lav?"

"Hunh oh yeah hey. Sorry didn't see you there. Last night was an awesome party at Club Morocco. There were these two girls there Harry you would not have believed what they could do."

"That's nice. Why don't you sit down and tell us about it." Harry shook his head at the way his red headed friend had dismissed Lavender and not even acknowledged his mother yet.

"Yes dear. I was just getting lunch for our guests."
"Hey great mom. You're the best. Bill isn't here yet?"

"No he said he was going to be running a bit late dear something about Fleur." Molly shrugged.

"Oh well he'll get here. He never misses a chance for home cooking."

Ron hugged his mom then sat down talking to his friends about how the party he had been to last night was a smashing success. How the girls had loved him and he scored with this pair of twins. He thought he remembered what their names were but that's what a pensieve was for he said.

Harry glanced at Hermione who was staring at Ron with a sick look in her eyes. Like she no longer recognized the man who was sitting across from her. Harry was worried though that Lavender was going to somehow leap across the table and throttle Ron as she was openly glaring at him. Luna and Ginny though had the worst reaction. Ginny was sitting right next to her brother and he had barely spoken two words to her. She kept looking down at her plate. Her attempts to help Molly rebuked saying she was a guest in her house and would not lift a finger. Luna was staring straight ahead. Her eyes closed and her breathing shallow like she was meditating.

George showed up a few minutes later as did Bill and a smiling Fleur. They were happy to see Harry and the others. Giving hugs and warm greetings to everyone including Lavender. Bill and her sympathizing over common scars. Bill fortunately not being wounded bad enough to receive the full brunt of the curse like Lavender did. He did still like his steaks on the bloody side and his temper had gotten quite a bit hotter even as a Weasley temperament went.

Fleur was all smiles and happiness as she announced over an excellent lunch that she was pregnant. Her husband holding her hand and beaming with pride. Molly hugged and kissed the lucky couple. Shrieking in excitement.

Ginny reacted to this by looking like she was going to bolt from the house or throw up or both. Luna grabbed her arm and shook her head. Harry cleared his throat once the chaos had calmed down to background levels for the Burrow.

"Ginny has an announcement too as do Hermione and I."
"Oh my goodness I don't know if my heart can take much more happiness than this." Molly exclaimed with a huge smile.

"Well first Hermione and I are going to get married. We're not sure when exactly but yeah I asked her and she said yes."
George smirked out a bitter laugh, "Oh man you two. Its about damned time. Fred to the. To the..." he stopped realizing that there was no Fred anymore. He looked panic stricken and confused.

Hermione reached out and touched his hand. "Hey George its okay. You guys had a betting pool on us?"
George blinked rapidly for a moment and then gave a lop sided grin. "Yeah we did. Since third year."

"So who won do you think?"

"We closed the book." He sadly sighed.

"Oh too bad. The payout for this would have been rather large you think?" Hermione laughed.

"yeah." he quietly sighed as he nodded at her.

"So that's great guys." Ron shrugged. "I'm happy for you."

"Really?" Harry was surprised. He had wondered if Ron had had a crush on Hermione at a few points back in school.

"Yeah you two deserve each other. Not like I would do well with Hermy there. Way too incompatible." Ron shrugged noncommittal.
"Oh-kay. Not how I expected but cool. Thanks Ron." Harry accepted. Causing all the conversation to fall quiet.

"So what is your news Ginny dear?" Molly tried to smooth over the awkward pause.

"Uh well its uh. Its something I don't know how you're going to like and I was kinda not hoping to make a big production out of it."

Hermione shrugged and looked at Harry, "Well its a bit late for that and its not like you'll be able to keep it secret from everyone."
"I know. I know. Okay everyone just try not to get mad or upset."
"Well just spill it Gin. Geez you act like you just robbed Gringott's." Ron elbowed her with a wink at Harry and Hermione.

Squeezing Luna's hand she took a deep breath. "I'm pregnant and Ron's the father."

The sheer silence that descended made Harry's ears pop. Everyone froze looking at Ron who was staring at his sister trying to process that. His face scrunched up as his eyebrows folded in together and the tips of his ears turned bright red. Everyone had seen that warning sign before. Unfortunately aside from stunning him there was no way to stop it when he had a major blow building.

"WHAT THE BLEEDING HELL GAME ARE YOU PLAYING AT GIN? I NEVER GOT YOU KNOCKED UP WE NEVER EVEN HAD SEX.!" Ron had screamed at her.

"YES WE DID. YOU WERE TOO DAMN DRUNK TO REALIZE IT. JUST LIKE I WAS!" She screamed right back in his face.

He shoved his chair back and turned on her towering over her. "I THINK I WOULD HAVE REMEMBERED FRAKING MY SISTER! JUST HOW FRAKING DRUNK DO YOU THINK I WAS!"

"WELL NO YOU DIDN'T OBVIOUSLY BECAUSE YOU'RE THE DAD! We got drunk celebrating the victory, mourning the loss of Fred and everyone else. I went looking for a companion to hold me and woke up in your bed with you still passed out drunk. I was a virgin and wound up giving it to you you bastard and you don't even remember me?"

"Look if I was that drunk you can't blame me. I don't want anything to do with this bullshit. I don't know what kinda game you're playing but get over it."

"Ron I'm pregnant. Its not a game. I really am pregnant. How do I get over that?"

"Well how do you know its my kid. Who knows who you've slept with since school. I mean there was Corner and Thomas we knew about."

"Stop treating me like I'm a slut you bastard!"

"You're a gold digger trying to horn in. Don't the Harpies pay enough?"

"I got fired for being PREGNANT YOU IDIOT!"
"As if you are! I'm done. I'm not gonna listen to this shit."
Hermione hit Ron with a stinging hex as he turned to walk out. "Hey what the frak was that for!"
"Because you are being a jerk and not listening. She told us and showed us the paperwork. She is pregnant Ron. The baby is yours. You do remember that they are making everyone go through the familia paternis test right?"

He turned and glared at Hermione and then turned on Ginny. "So how much would it cost to get rid of it?"
Ginny recoiled so fast she accidentally sat in Luna's lap. Harry leaped up, "What do you mean get rid of it?"
"I mean go to one of the healers and take a potion or get a spell cast to get rid of it. Go do the muggle thing. I don't want a kid. This would ruin my life man. People don't understand that kind of shit. The pure-blood stuff don't fly no more."

"Get rid of it? Get rid of it Ronald Weasley you arrogant, cold blooded selfish pig!" Hermione looked like she was getting ready to leap across the table she had stood up so fast her chair fell over backwards.

"Look whats it to you Hermy. Its not like you wanted kids or a family. You kept talking about your big career plans after school so how's that clerk job?" Ron sneered.

"Better than being the ministry's bitch dragged out for whatever publicity show they want." Hermione snapped.

"Ginny is carrying your child Ron. I think you should get your head on together and accept that." Harry growled out in a cold low voice. Bill stood up to get ready to do something.

"I think you ought to go crawl back in your hole Potter. I'm not accepting this brat is mine. She can get rid of it or I'll make her pay for ruining my life." Ron declared angrily standing up.
Harry didn't bother to use magic. He leaped across the table so fast he caught Ron by surprise. He shoved him backwards into the wall with his arm at Ron's throat. Ron shoved him back off of him. Harry threw a punch connecting with Ron's jaw. Next thing they were bouncing around the room fists intersecting each other's face. Throws thunking solidly as they fell to the floor rolling around. To end it Hermione simply took the expedient of stunning both of them then levitating them to separate corners. She took the time though to rope and gag Ron and stick him to the wall.

"Sorry about that everyone." Hermione sighed.

Bill who had moved Fleur and his mother behind him and watched protectively while the two combatants took on each other nodded, "No problem. Ron needed to be taken down a peg. Talking crazy shit like that. Weasley's do not get rid of babies." he growled.

"No we don't, no matter how they came about dear." Molly said going around Bill and pulling Ginny into a hug. "This grandchild of mine will be loved and brought up among family."
George who had not moved during the entire confrontation took Ginny's hand and looked into her eyes sincerely, "If it's a boy can we name him after Fred and Dad?"

Ginny was breathing hard trying to deal with the whipsawing emotions. Anger at Ron was fading to mere pain, she had not expected him to welcome the idea with open arms and excitement but she had not believed he would ever be so cold and callous to demand she get rid of her baby. A baby she was already feeling a bond to, a link drawn from motherly love. The unquestioning love and acceptance of her mother was flooding over her. The earnest desire for her brother to honor her child with the name of her father and funny brother.

She turned to George and in between sobs nodding squeezed his hand, "I'd love that. Thank you. Thank all of you."

"Why don't you go on back home dearie and let us deal with Ron." Molly smiled through tears of her own. "I'm sorry for Ron. I thought we had raised him better than that. I thought..." She collapsed crying into the chair Ginny had vacated. George immediately put his arm around his mother and let her cry on his shoulder.

"Yeah no need for Harry to bloody his knuckles on Ron's thick skull." Bill sighed, "We'll get him straight Gin."
Fleur came over and hugged Ginny too, "Babies are a great gift no matter what mon-chere. This little one is not to blame nor are you. Our childs shall be family and play together and be loved."
"Thank you Fleur. I'll look forward to that."

Hermione woke Harry up who came to and lurched to his feet knocking Lavender and Luna away in his grogginess, "Where is he? Why did you stop it?" Harry was still livid and ready for blood.

Lavender put her arm around his chest holding him back. Her enhanced lycan strength getting through to Harry that if he didn't calm down he was going down again.

Hermione turned to Luna. "Luna as you're the most mature and calm one right now could you please get Ginny home and work with Lavender to get our Harry to calm down. I don't care if you have to screw his brains out or knock them out."
Luna smiled taking Ginny's hand and giving Harry a very pointed look nodded, "Yes dear he will be a calm kitten by the time you get home."

Lavender escorted a mildly protesting Harry to the floo and through. Ginny gave a round of hugs to her family one last time. Being promised by them that no matter what they would not turn her or their newest Weasley away. Then Luna and her were through the floo and back to Grimmould.

Hermione looked at Bill who nodded. She woke Ron up. He started struggling and making noises. Molly walked up and slapped him causing him to stop struggling and his eyes grew wide.

"NOW YOU STOP AND LISTEN TO ME RONALD BILLIOUS WEASLEY. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME! I must have done something wrong with you for you to be so cruel to your own sister like that. We believe her. We don't condone or condemn what you two did. A lot of crazy things happened. But you will not mistreat her or the child YOU helped create. WE DO NOT SIMPLY GET RID OF BABIES NO MATTER WHAT!" she slapped him again.

His eyes followed her and showed great fear and confusion as he had never been slapped by his own mother before. The redness of his cheek obvious against the paleness of his skin.

Bill stepped into his line of sight. "Ron as I'm the patriarch of the family now I can have you disowned, dishonored, I can make your life a living hell. I am still considered a friend of the Goblins so anytime you no longer want to set foot in Gringott's just say the word. The Goblins do not take kindly to those who abandon their children or mistreat them. They have a word for that kind of person it basically translates as dead meat."

Ron's eyes had narrowed. The anger and fear was evident within them. He had stopped moving and was breathing heavily. He did not blink but stared like a viper at Hermione.

Hermione glared back, "Ron I know you are angry and maybe a bit scared right now. Think how Ginny is feeling. You think your life is upside down, all she wanted to do was play Quidditch. Now she got fired from the Harpies her favorite team. She's going to be blacklisted among all the teams. She's going to have a baby that you have declared you want nothing to do with. She has had her world turn upside down too. You're the golden boy of the Ministry as long as you keep kissing their feet nothing will touch you. So just shut up and play your cards right dumbass and you can come out of this looking even better."

Ron's glare turned to a confused blinking look. He mumbled something. With a nod from Bill Hermione removed the gag. Clearing his mouth out and coughing a few times Ron tried again, "So what do you mean?"

"Well the victory celebrations were crazy. I was hiding in the hospital with Harry scared that he was going to die so missed out on a lot of it. However I heard from some of the people that the parties got wild. The bubble of stress when it broke was like an explosion. It got so bad even the muggles noticed things. So we keep it quiet and if anyone asks you say you and her were celebrating with friends and grieving your losses. You both got a bit too drunk or stoned or whatever and woke up the next morning, together. You were surprised by your actions but you're going to take responsibility and that as its an internal family incident you ask for some respect and privacy."

"You think it'll work. And what if Ginny wants to make a big deal out of it."

"I can assure you she doesn't want to make a big deal out of it Ron. Harry won't make a big deal out of it. None of us will. There might be some gossip and titillation for a few months but as fickle as the wizarding world is they will have forgotten all about it. Especially when Harry and I announce we're getting married."

Ron seemed to think about that. He ran his tongue over his eyeteeth and then grinned. "Yeah you guys getting married would take the heat off me. And I might be able to play it off as a tragic blunder of youth. Caught up in my grief and pain I was reaching out for comfort and didn't realize who I was with as the party was really chaotic."

"I don't care what you say Ron as long as you don't try to throw Ginny or the baby under the bus." Hermione's voice was as cold as Harry's had been

"Why would I do that?" He grinned. Already seeing how he could spin it into his favor.

"Because you've let your fame go to your head and become a major egotistical jerk."

"Hey I'm popular. I'm the one that knows how to work the crowd. They love me."

Sighing Hermione released him from her spells. "Alright Ron. I'm going to leave you with your family to talk it out. Let us know how you want to handle this at Grimmould." She turned and hugged the rest of the Weasleys on her way out. Saying that she hoped next Sunday lunch would be a lot quieter.

=====xxxxx=====

Coming out of the floo Hermione followed the voices of Luna and Ginny to the living room. They were sitting on the couch chatting and trying to figure out what happened.

"Hey guys. Where's Harry and Lav?"

"He was still grumpy so Lavender threw him over her shoulder and took him upstairs. She said she was going to make sure he stopped being grumpy if it took her all night."
"Oh. Should I get the health potions or the Stamina ones out?" Hermione chuckled.

"I think he'll be ok. Aside from bruising and maybe scratches on his back. Fortunately she's over her time of the month."

Sharing a laugh with the other girls she turned to Ginny, "Well how are you doing?"

"I'm better. Luna talked to me and got me calmer. I guess. I mean damn Ron and his ego. Telling me to just, just. No. That is not an option. I'll break my own wand first. I'll go live as a muggle."
"It won't come to that. I will fight tooth and nail to make sure. So will Harry." Hermione sat comforting her red headed friend.

"So will I and so will Lavender Ginny." Luna soothed her.

"Thanks guys. Can we make lunch. You know we never ate yet." Ginny chuckled ruefully.

"I know. Lets go cook lunch." Luna said taking Ginny's hand.
While the other two headed for the kitchen Hermione went up to get the other two members of the family.

=====xxxxx=====

Entering the master bedroom Hermione found Lavender sitting up in bed with Harry sound asleep curled up against her.

"So have fun?"

"Yeah he's really quite good." Lavender said with a smile.

"He is. So did you break him?" Hermione said sitting on the edge of the bed.

"No I don't think so. I did convince him to go a little wild though. Let some of his frustrations and passion out." She chuckled.

Hermione stroked his back a little bit causing him to stir a little and murmur something neither of them caught.

"So how did it go after we left?"
"Well Bill and Molly are going to try and talk some sense into Ron but I don't know how that's going to go. We also are invited back for lunch next week."

"Oh that ought to be fun. Can we at least eat it this time?"

"Well we can give it a try. For the rest of the family at least."

"I suppose. Though if Ron doesn't get his head out of his ass I want him in my room next full moon." Lavender growled.

"I'll consider it a birthday gift for you dear." Hermione sweetly said.

"Hey guys don't you have any respect for the dead." Harry mumbled as he rolled over on his back.

"Hello lover. For someone who's dead you sure make a lot of noise." Lavender said poking him on the nose with her finger tip. Hermione laughed as she put her hand on his chest.

"After that session with you I'm not sure I'm still in my body. Did you know all of your muscles are strong?"

Lavender suddenly felt some fear that she had scared Harry off from doing that ever again. "I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No. No you didn't it was just wow. I never figured that it could be so amazingly different. I guess I kinda wasn't expecting this."
"You're not upset are you?" Lavender for all her Lycan enhancements was still at heart just a teen-aged girl who had just given her virginity to someone.

"No. No. Not upset." Sitting up he looked between the two of them. "So since you're okay with sharing and I seem to be surviving it. I guess its all good then."

Hermione hugged him. "Yeah it is good."
"So did you guys get Ron straight?"

"I think so. We'll have to wait and see."
====xxxxx=====xxx

A few days later Luna had gotten a job as a clerk in a King's Cross station cafe. She was quite happy as it let her interact with all sorts of people and make their day happier. Everyone in the house was happy for her.

Harry and Ginny had their night together finally by unanimous vote. He did joke that he was half expecting Hermione to draw up one of her famous schedules and timetables for him to perform on. She laughed and told him not to tempt her.

The next Sunday at the Weasley house Ron did not show up. They still had a lovely time catching up with Fleur and Bill. Molly was happy to hear about everything going on with Harry and Hermione. George had found the betting book and said at the last count the pool had risen to 27 galleons 5 sickles. Remus Lupin would have won causing everyone to pause a moment. Thinking that his son Teddy should probably get the pool through his grandmother Andromeda. Another person Harry said he was going to have to get involved with now that he was back among the living.

Hermione had dragged Ginny to a healer in Diagon Alley that Lavender said her mother had worked with so was trustworthy. Ginny was declared healthy but given the circumstances the healer wanted to see her monthly which Hermione agreed to for Ginny before the expectant mother could disagree.

Things were getting happier and more cheerful. Nightmares that had been a regular occurrences had faded down to only every other night. Harry was talking about getting back into circulation and seeing how some of their other friends were doing.

Ron had not vanished but he had not been making trouble either. The public appearance he made that week made no mention of Ginny or the baby at all. Bill had owled Ginny and told her he had taken Ron aside and had a long talk with him. He wasn't sure that there was any progress made but at least he had tried.

Harry contacted Neville to see how things were going and Neville had invited all of them over for dinner one night. He and Hannah very happy that they would be rejoining the world.

Ginny wasn't sure she wanted to go but with all of them behind her and supporting her she agreed.

=====xxxxx=====

Arriving at Longbottom estate the Potter clan as they called themselves now were greeted warmly by Neville and Hannah.

"Hey guys. Welcome back. I was wondering if we would see you again." Neville said. His broad shoulders and smile both a welcome sight.
"Yeah we're not quite back on the social scene but we wanted to visit you and tell you the good news." Harry said giving his friend a handshake that turned into a man hug briefly.

"Oh so you're finally marrying Hermione?" Neville asked with a grin.
Harry did a fair imitation of Luna by blinking at Neville with his head tilted, "Uh How'd you know?"
"Man, Harry, everyone in the castle expected you two to have been married and Hermione pregnant by the time you came back from the Horcrux hunt. Seriously. The way you guys looked at each other, and talked and walked together. The way you'd drop everything for each other in a heartbeat. I mean friends and siblings help each other but you guys went way beyond that."

"Oh uh yeah. Well," pulling a giggling Hermione to his side he said "yes. We are getting married in a month."
"And the pregnancy part?"

"That'll probably be announced a month or two later." Hermione said. "At least mine. Ginny's we're working on figuring out a good time to announce it."
"Whoa Whoa. Harry you been busy with Ginny too?" Neville said with a grin.

"Uh can we go sit down this is going to be a bit complicated." Harry said softly.
Neville's grin faded, "Uh oh. When you say its complicated Harry that means a lot more than if someone else says that."
"Yeah I know."

=====xxxxx=====

When they were all settled in the drawing room, seltzers or butter beers passed around Neville chuckling said, "Okay guys explain what's going on. Ginny is pregnant?"
"Yeah. Ron and her had sex at the victory party and got her in the family way. Literally." Hermione stated.

Neville looked over to the couch where Harry and Ginny were holding hands. Ginny looking at the floor embarrassed.

Neville sat back with a thoughtful look. "Well that is rather complicated. Have you told Ron yet?"

"Yeah he didn't take it very well." Harry said as Lavender growled.

"Okay. Figures. Ron has his head stuck so far up his ego I'm surprised he can breathe."
"So fame has gone to his head?"

Neville gave a short derisive laugh, "Yeah. He has money, girls, fame, a chocolate frog card. An order of Merlin. He's the poster boy because the ministry can drag him out for any public dog and pony show they want. And he just rolls over and laps it up."
"Yeah we kinda noticed."
"So uh. Congratulations Ginny? I know this probably isn't how you wanted to have a family but it looks like Harry still has his saving people thing going on." Hannah said with a smile.

Ginny looked up with a sigh, "Yeah they brought me into their little harem thing."

Neville raised his eyebrows as Harry, "Harem?"
Harry chuckled, "Yeah the island of misfit toys here all for some reason are perfectly fine with sharing me. I have no idea why but there it is."
Luna interrupted the conversation, "We love you Harry because you are a kind, caring, loving special person who is incredible in bed."
Neville almost dropped his glass at that he was laughing so hard. "I love you Luna. I missed that."

"You had your chance Neville. It didn't work out."

"I know. I'm sorry, but at least you found someone that it will work out with." Neville said saluting Harry with his glass.
"Yes I know. I am not upset or bitter. We wanted different things from life." Luna stated.
"Yeah." Neville said in a slight melancholy tone.

=====xxxxx=====

Arriving home the group settled back into their routine. Harry and Hermione visiting Andromeda to see Teddy. The baby growing at quite the rate was already chubby and had a full head of hair. His hair cycling through all sorts of colors giggling as Hermione held him

"Wow so he inherited her abilities? Is there any sign of Remus' problem?" Hermione asked in concern.

"No. The healers say that the curse doesn't transmit that way. Unless you are bitten while they are transformed you cannot be turned no matter what."

"Okay that's good to know." Harry said looking sideways at Hermione.

Andromeda either didn't notice or didn't want to pursue it. Especially as Teddy began to squirm and make noises.

"IS he okay?" Harry asked in alarm.

"Yeah just getting close to his pre-nap feeding time. Nothing to worry about." Andromeda said gently getting up to take him.

"Can I feed him?" Hermione asked.

"Well I've been using the Lactation charm. So he's not bottle fed."
Hermione smiled looking at Harry, "I don't mind. It'll be good practice for later."

======xxxxx=====xxxx====xxx

September arrived and the Potter Clan were happily celebrating their fourth month together. Ginny was starting to swell and become noticeably pregnant. The magical body making it easier on the mother but still physical changes were unavoidable..

Ginny woke up in bed with Harry on the one side of her and Hermione on the other. She felt Harry tracing some of the veins in her breasts with his finger.

"Good morning. Sorry for waking you."

"No its better than some ways I've woke up." She smiled softly at him.

"Yeah screaming in a cold sweat sucks." Harry agreed cupping the breast he had been gently running his fingers over briefly as he bent over kissing Ginny.

"There is definitely something to be said about this method." Ginny purred after he released her lips.

Hermione chuckled from her other side as she took and kissed Ginny too. "Well I certainly don't mind it."

"I never would have figured you to be so happy about this Hermione. I mean here you are going to be married to Harry and yet I'm in his bed between you two."
"Yeah well that's only because its Tuesday." She said getting up and stretching to Harry's obvious enjoyment.

Smirking she headed for the bathroom. "Might want to help Harry with that so he can go get breakfast. Its his turn for cooking duty."

Ginny laughed as she rolled Harry on his back. "So let's see if we can still catch the snitch eh?"

===xxxxx=====xxxx====xx

Breakfast saw the clan laughing and joking. Lavender and Ginny the homemakers talking about what they wanted to do today while Hermione and Luna the two breadwinners went over their tasks for the day at work. Their trophy husband as they called him sat and looked over the post until he got to one envelope that started making him frown.

"Dear what is it?"
"Well its from Daphne Greengrass. She took over the Prophet recently due to her dad getting in trouble apparently."
"Well good that lying sycophantic manipulative bastard needed to be in something." Luna hissed stabbing her sausages so hard she bent the tine of her fork.

"Okay well she was asking if I knew what happened to you as she wanted to hire you to help her get the Prophet revamped. She fired over half the staff, including Skeeter, for their incompetence." Harry said to Luna.

Luna paused with a pancake halfway to her mouth. Putting the fork back she raised her eyebrow looking at Harry, "She asked for me?"
"Yeah see for yourself." He said passing the letter down.

"Hey that would be good Luna. You could get back into writing and reporting." Ginny enthused. "I am not certain she would want me to participate. Plus I have made many friends at the cafe."
"Well maybe if you do it right you could do both jobs?" Hermione pointed out.

"It couldn't hurt to at least talk to her. And maybe take Ginny along. Since she fired most of her staff she could use a sports reporter." Harry was happily pointing out.

"Well looks like our hubby is trying to pimp us out dear."
"Hey I'm rich enough I could keep all of you in furs and diamonds quite nicely, but no you want to be all productive and useful to society." he laughed.

Hermione just rolled her eyes. "Well I need to get to the office. There was some research I wanted to get done "

Lavender leaned over onto Harry's arm, "Hey I don't mind being a kept woman, I'll even provide the fur."

=====xxxx=====xxxx====xx

Hermione was filling out paperwork, even with magic it seemed like the universe still required paperwork to exist. Filing the few cases where aurors had to intercede with muggle law enforcement for their protection, or to help bring a wizard down, or some such stuff.

Into the office strode Ron Weasley looking not quite smug Hermione thought but still not like the average bloke they had known back in school.

Bill Lumbergh the head of the department rushed to fawn over him. Ron signed a couple autographs but extricated himself so he could walk over to Hermione's cubicle.

"Uh hey." He said getting her attention.

"Hello Ron."
"So do you have any plans for lunch?"
Taking a deep breath Hermione shook her head, "No. Harry was going with Luna and Ginny to the Daily Prophet to talk to Daphne."

"Oh yeah I heard about her dad. They found out in an audit he had been taking a lot of big money from the dark side to smear Harry and stuff. Plus they found out Skeeter was an unregistered Animagus."
Hermione snickered, "Gee really?"
Ron rolled his eyes at her, "Yeah. You didn't have anything to do with that did you?"

She looked innocently affronted at Ron, "Moi?"

"Never mind. So lunch?"
"I suppose." She said putting her things away.

==xxx====xxxx====xxx==xx

Ron let her choose and they wound up in a Thai place in Crawley that her parents had always enjoyed. Sitting in the corner booth they began to eat with Hermione laughing at Ron's reaction to the Curry.

"Okay. I give up. I have no idea how to eat this without hurting myself."
"Very carefully Ron. Its all about a balance of flavors and textures. All of it blending and moving together into a single unified whole."

He looked askance at her, "You know you are starting to sound a lot like Luna."
"Thank you. As she is part of the Potter Clan I do love her a lot. So I'll take that as a compliment."
Ron just shook his head before asking, "So how's Ginny."
"She is okay. Her pregnancy is coming along fine. Emotionally she's no worse than anyone else in our little family. We are all there for each other so no one has to suffer alone."
Ron used his spoon to stir his food around into one big mess on the plate. "I don't know what to do."
Hermione looked at him. He sounded sincere and his body posture was one of resignation, maybe defeat. Under the lights of the restaurant she saw bags had begun to form under his bloodshot eyes, he had begun to look older, fatigued. Instead of bounding around with energy he moved slower like a tired old man. She didn't interrupt him because she wasn't sure what she wanted to say would help at the moment.

"I. I talked to Shack. He said that when she goes to register the birth they will do the test and I'll be listed as the father. No way around that. It'll be public record. They don't have to publish it though and unless me or Ginny blab about it to the press no one has to know. So we can keep it just between us. Eventually some people might find out, like when they get Hogwarts back up, but until then I can be a dad and help out without too much publicity or negative impact."
Hermione took his hand, "That's all Ginny wanted. She loves her family. She knows you two made a big mistake and all she wants is for you to admit it and accept it. To accept your role as dad. She doesn't want to ruin you or destroy your career as a famous playboy."
"Yeah. What about Harry and the others?"
"They want to utterly ruin you and drive you into oblivion to the point that your name is forgotten about by pretty much everyone." Hermione bluntly stated.

Ron looked at her seriously then began to laugh. A hollow empty laugh that had no mirth in it. "Big surprise, yeah I may deserve it. I have been a shallow empty headed puppet."

"Well the Ministry needs to have a hero to show off. Since Harry couldn't do it, and Neville won't really do it that left you. I understand that. You just let it consume you."

"I've always had that problem. Give me a little bit of power or fame or anything and I go too far." Ron sighed dejectedly.

"Yeah I know. It is one of your defining characteristics."
"So uh. How do I apologize to Ginny?"

"Well we'll be at the Burrow at one on Sunday. We're bringing Teddy this time. Andromeda has been letting us watch him. He's going to be the most spoiled baby ever." Hermione declared.
"Four moms and a dad. Yeah your kids are going to be something."
"I hope so. And if you take the time to get your head out of your arse Ron you can be at least a part of one of those kid's lives."
"I'll see you Sunday." He said with a smile.

====xxxxx=====xxxx=====xx

That night back at the house Hermione was going over the day with everyone else and told them about Ron's visit.

"Do you think he's being sincere or is this fourth year all over again?" Harry grumbled

"Well when I got back at the office I did some discrete investigation and he has been trying to figure out some way to get out of this. When that failed he looked up what will happen. Legally his name goes on the birth certificate. Unless Ginny pushes for it that's all there is."
"So basically since it won't be published he goes on about his merry way and nothing happens to him." Harry frowned.

"Harry that's not what matters. What matters is how he treats Ginny and their child." Luna said firmly.
"I guess." Harry said petulantly.

"Harry James Potter. My dear husband and lover. There is no need for you to sink to such levels. Or are you upset that he is more famous than you?" Luna strongly yet gently declared pulling Harry out of the funk.

"I'm not upset. I never wanted to be famous. And I agree. If he treats Ginny and the baby right then that's good." He said before going back to his food.

"Well now as that's been settled what did the interview at the paper go like?" Hermione asked.

"I will be assistant editor. If I go to part time at the cafe I can spend my afternoons working on the next day's Prophet and the mornings at the cafe. Ginny is going to be the Sports Editor with reporters under her." Luna proudly described their roles.

"Nice job guys."

=========xxxxx=======xxx======x

Sunday and the Burrow was filled again. Teddy was staring at everyone with his hair a constant swirl of colors. Hermione wondered if that wasn't his way of dealing with over stimulation. Molly was happy and content to hold him and let the others cook. He settled on a sort of brasher Weasley red hair while she did.

Ron showed up cautiously coming into the room. "Uh hey."
Harry glanced up from the stove working on a sauce for the pasta they were having. Hermione standing beside him chopping vegetables for the salad cleared her throat but didn't say anything. Harry sighed and with a fake smile replied, "Hey Ron."
"Uh I know I haven't been the best person lately but I want to let you know I'm sorry. And I will , I want to be a part of our babies life." He said coming up to Ginny who was standing beside her mother watching Teddy sleep.

She looked at him with her jaw set, "You really mean that? Not just some ploy to get peace or because Shacklebolt lowered the boom on you?"
"Yeah. I'm going into a clinic soon. I need to get help. I woke up in Brighton a couple weeks ago naked on the beach and don't remember how I got there. I think I've been careful but you may not be the only girl I've gotten knocked up. Also Shack yelled at me a lot when I showed up so stoned out of my gourd that I couldn't even remember what rich group I was supposed to be speaking to. They passed it off as fatigue but yeah. I'm going to a clinic tomorrow morning. I've got to get help before I crack up."

Ginny hugged her brother tightly. Harry had paused before he squeezed his eyes shut.

"You okay Harry." Hermione whispered to him as everyone else took turns talking to Ron.

"Yeah stupid onions."

"I'm not chopping onions."

"Shut up Hermione." Harry said without any heat to his words as he turned to work on the pasta. Hermione just gave a small smile as she prepared the salad.

===xxxx===xxx=====xxx

The dinner had gone great. Luna taking a turn feeding Teddy when he woke up hungry. Everyone talking about how radiant Fleur and Ginny both looked. Excited about the half page announcement for Harry and Hermione's engagement. Knocking Ron's drunken faux paux to page 9. The fact that the article had very little speculation was a good sign Harry thought.

Harry and Ron had talked and caught up. Reminiscing about safer memories. Talking about the Quidditch league and which teams had the best chances of getting a full season in. The women watched them sit and talk. It was obvious the friendship had been strained almost to the breaking point but there was still enough strings there tht it might be able to be recovered. This would be the last time though and either it would recover and grow stronger or it would dissolve forever.

Eventually it got late enough that everyone started retiring for the night. Hermione, Luna and Lavender to take Teddy back to Grimmould for the night. George to go upstairs to bed as well as Molly to her own. Bill and Fleur said goodnight and left. Leaving Harry, Ron and Ginny alone in the living room.

"Harry can you go on to home. I'd like to talk to Ron for a few minutes alone."

"Are you sure?" Harry asked holding her arm gently in concern.

"Yeah. I'll be okay. Mom and George are just upstairs and It'll be a cold day in hell before Ron and can out duel me." Ginny declared with her hand on her hip and a determined stare.
Ron chuckled. "I'll let you take my wand home with you Harry if you want. I'm not going to be allowed it at the clinic anyhow."
Harry looked at the ginger and said, "No. One of the basic building blocks of friendship is trust. If we're going to be friends again then we need to be able to trust each other. I'll see you later Gin. Wake us up if we're in bed when you come home."

"I will daddy." She teased like a pouty school girl.

"Ok we are not playing that game." Harry said giving her a kiss then nodding to Ron before he left.

"Well that went better than I thought it might." Ron said collapsing on the couch.

Ginny came over and sat beside her brother. "Yeah well you seem to have had an honest epiphany."

"I did. Shack staged an intervention the muggles call it. Him and Neville. I need to get my stuff together Gin. A baby doesn't deserve a bum for a dad."
She took his hand and laid it gently on her belly. He turned to sit so he could look at her better. She felt his hands trembling slightly.

"The baby hasn't really begun to kick. Its more like fluttery weird feelings. But by the time you get out of the clinic you'll probably be able to feel them."

"You don't know what you're having?"
"No. I told the healer to surprise me. I know I'm only having one. And that they are healthy. Luna says I'm having a girl while Lavender says its a boy."

"I'll put my money on Luna." Ron said smiling.

"Harry and Hermione are staying neutral. Although Harry has been coming up with all kinds of names. But, well if you're going to be involved I think I want to talk to you about that. Some of his names are not entirely what I think would be good."
"I dunno Hedwig was not a bad name." Ron chuckled, before turning serious. "So you're not ashamed that we. That its my baby in there."
She sighed, "I've resigned myself to it. Hermione got us all into counseling at Mungos. Family counseling and individual. You and I got drunk and made a very stupid mistake. Its not like we're going to do it again."

"No I love you Ginny but not like that."

"Okay. So our family tree is going to have a weird little knothole on it. Baby will still be good and loved."

"Yeah. They will be."
"So how long will you be in the clinic."

Ron took his hand off Ginny's belly to run it through his hair. "Well they said it depends on me. There's the physical withdrawal from some of the drugs I've been doing. That's the easy bit with the potion regime. The mental stuff that's going to be the hard bit. I've gone all day without anything and I'm about ready to explode out of my skin I feel like."

She took his hand. "Are you going to make it to the clinic okay?"
"Yeah Neville was coming to my flat and dragging me there. Shack said if I wasn't there in the morning he was going to send the entire auror division after me. So I'm rather motivated."

"If I go tell Harry and them that I'm going to stay with you on your couch will you be okay?"
"Yeah but I'll take the couch. I probably won't sleep well anyhow."

"Okay stay here until I get back."

"Sure."
===xxxx=====xxx====xxx

Ginny came out of the floo at Grimmould to find Luna standing there with an overnight bag.

"Luna?"

"Yes?" She said handing Ginny the bag which she recognized as her own.

"What's this?"
"I believe it is an overnight bag packed with your toiletries and a change of clothes. Neville called and asked if we had seen Ron. When we told him he was at the Burrow with you Neville asked if you could watch Ron and make sure he doesn't have any issues. As he is going through the early stages of withdrawal."

"Oh okay. Thanks." She said giving her petite friend a hug. "You'll let Harry and hermione know?"
"They are aware of it."

"Thanks Luna. You're the best." Ginny went back through the floo.

Lavender walked out of the shadowy hallway. "When did Neville call again?"

"At some point I'm sure Neville thought about it." Luna said turning.

"Yeah. You sure this is a good idea."
"Ron is beginning to detox. He will be unable to stand much less molest Ginny before morning. Did you not see the tremble in his hands when we left?"
"Yeah. He stunk too. He was starting to sweat."

Luna sighed sadly shaking her head. "I'll go tell Harry."

====xxx====xxxx====xx

Ron stumbled out of his floo. He had started shaking a lot more Ginny noticed and a sweat was breaking out on his forehead.

"Okay welcome to the Palace of Ron!" He said broadly swinging his arms wide. The flat was an upper story one in London. Well appointed carpeting, kitchen and dining area. Apparently a bedroom and bathroom were down a small hallway. All in all a very nice bachelor pad.

"Ron are you okay?"
"No Gin. I feel like shit. I need a drink but they took it all. I need some of the pills I found out in the muggle world but they took them too."

"Okay go take a shower while I get comfortable."
She was changing into a pair of pajamas when she heard a thunk coming from the bathroom. Stepping in she found Ron on the floor convulsing and vomiting. Levitating him up and onto the bed she cast the diagnostic spells she had learned during the war. His heart rate was erratic and he had a major fever.

"Ron I'm going to call for the healers."
He grabbed her arm, "NO. Please. Just need to sleep. Neville will be here in the morning. Please help take care of me." He cried weakly.

Ginny sighed but cast a drying charm on him then pulled his drawers open until she found a pair of his pajamas and helped him into the bottoms at least. She crawled into the bed beside him holding his head in her lap.

"I've been a crummy brother. A shitty friend. I'm sorry Ginny. Maybe it'd be better if I did die." he panted crying.
"No Ron. No. Our baby needs their dad, our family needs you. I need you to be my big brother. Please don't die."

He looked up at her with his goofy grin, "I'll try not to but I can't make too many promises."

"Joking at a time like this."
"Its a Weasley thing." he stuttered.

He passed out eventually as she sat stroking his wet hair. She got up at one point to get a cold rag and washed his face before setting the rag on his forehead. He slept fitfully waking up several times in pain or night terrors. Confusion was common. Ginny snatched sleep in the moments of quiet.

In the early morning light the doorbell rang. Ginny felt Ron was breathing shallow uneven breaths but he was still breathing at least. She got up and answered the door to find Neville, Hannah and Harry.

"Hey guys. Ron's in the bedroom. He. He had a bad night." She said as they came in.

"Yeah Neville filled me in." Harry said taking Ginny into his arms. "He's been using uppers to wake up, downers to sleep, alcohol washing it all down. It all came out about a week ago. He'd been doing that ever since the final battle."

"Oh. I should have paid closer attention."

"We all should have." Harry sighed.

Neville came out shaking his head, "I gotta call the clinic he's not going to be able to walk in. Ginny he wants to see you."

Ginny went back in to find Hannah helping Ron get dressed. Since she was a nurse trainee at Saint Mungos Ginny let her continue. Once Ron was dressed and Laying back down she sat beside him. "Hey dweeb."
"Hey brat. Do me a favor and hold onto my wand until I get back. Also I named you my heir and executor if anything happens before I went into this."

"Ron nothing is going to happen to you. You'll be back in no time at all and we'll go to Harry and Hermione's wedding. Then we'll find you a girl and go to yours and everything will turn out fine."
"I stopped believing in happy endings Ginny."

"Okay maybe it won't be happy but you'll have earned it."

Two medics came in with a stretcher followed by Neville. They got Ron loaded and took him away after Ginny hugged him.

===xxx====xxx===xx

A month and a half later Ron was released. Ginny was happy to see him. Since he was still a bit shaky and fragile mentally speaking they moved him into Grimmould. All the alcohol tossed as Harry declared the place dry.

Ron worked hard to rebuild his friendship with Harry and the others. Even getting used to Lavender's new personality and physique. Soon Lavender was spending less time in Harry's bed and more in Ron's. To the disappointment of no one.

Andromeda was happy to let the Potter-Weasley clan as they called themselves now watch Teddy for longer and longer periods. Hermione's prediction that Teddy would be absolutely spoiled not entirely accurate but he definitely was not going to want for a loving family.

A few weeks later Harry and Hermione got married in a small family and friends only ceremony. Luna, Lavender and Ginny all Hermione's bridesmaids. Harry had Neville and Ron standing beside him. Their honeymoon was spent on a cruise in the Mediterranean.

===xxxx====xxxx====xxx

It was a calm Saturday afternoon a few months after the wedding of the century as the social pages called it. Hermione had joined Ginny in the club during their honeymoon to no surprise. Luna joking she was next in the Potter Pregger club. Ginny was due any day now so both males were on edge while the women relaxed and laughed at their jumpiness. Ginny barely had to ask for anything and one or the other of the males would do her bidding. Hermione was taking notes she said.

The sadness and pain of the war was a shadow lurking in the corners of the room. Small things would occasionally set one or the other off but with the family together they overcame it. Ron would look very longingly at a bottle of wine or beer when they would eat out on occasion but a squeeze of his hand by Lavender and he would take a deep breath and focus.

Harry, Neville, and Ron became the public relations workhorses. Each dividing and conquering so that the stress was not sitting on the shoulders of one of them. Hermione, Luna, Ginny and even Lavender would make a few appearances as veterans of the war. Willing to speak and push for social reforms, for the stagnation to fall away during the rebuilding of the new era. Daphne Greengrass and Luna rebuilt the prophet into one of the more upstanding publications in the entire wizarding world. Even if occasionally they ran an article on ancient runes that had to be read upside down or strange creatures from the back wilderness of Norway.

Lavender even wearing a dress with her clawed back scars on display. Having decided that if two different men would find her sexy enough to sleep with her that she would appear in public and they could deal with it. She had even asked Neville's opinion front of Hannah and was told that yeah if he was single he would not be ashamed to bed her or be seen in public with her.

As they sat around joking and laughing on that Saturday Ginny felt a strange tight fist clamp her abdomen. "Whoa! Ahh!" Guys? I think we need to get the midwife." She called out.

Ron and Harry leapt up from their chess game, "Ah. Okay. We drilled this. Right?"

Hermione nodded as she stood up calmly, "Yes you and Ron sit down, shut up and stay out of the way, while we take care of everything."
Lavender took the red head and swept her up in a bridal carry. "Okay lets get you up to the bedroom. Luna you call the people we need. Hermione?"

"Coming dear." She said giving Ron and Harry a glare until they sat back down at their game.

======xxxx====xxx====

"Ron I don't think the Rook moves that way." Neville pointed out a few hours later as Ron tried to take his rook diagonally across the board.

"Uh yeah. Hey maybe we should try watching the telly right?" He said looking at Harry who had been flipping through channels until he settled on a gardening program.

"Oh I know her. She's a pretty smart lady. She's a squib you know." Neville conversationally said.

"Oh really that's nice." Harry said from lunar orbit it seemed like. Neville got the feeling he could have said the presenter of the program had been a goblin from Lower Tidmarsh and Harry would have said the same thing.

A few moments later Hannah came down with a big grin. "Ron, would you like to come up and meet your son?"
"My what?" Ron said breathlessly.

"A son. Its a boy." Hannah said as Ron tore up the stairs three at a time.

===xxxx====xxx====xx

The women parted as Ron entered to sit on the bed beside Ginny. The wrapped bundle in her arms stirring slowly with a fine wisp of red hair.

"He looks so normal. He is normal right?"

"Yes Ron. Magic precludes any deleterious effects for at least a few generations. You won't have to worry about him being like Crabbe or Goyle. Just don't do it again." Hermione said with a grin.

Looking at Lavender Ron nodded eagerly, "Yeah I don't think that will be a problem. We're pure-bloods but not those kind of pure-bloods."

Ginny chuckled her agreement tiredly.

"So what name did you settle on?" Ron asked as Harry and Neville came in.

"Arthur Frederick Ronald Weasley." Ginny cooed as the baby yawned.

Stroking his hair with his finger gently Ron was almost in tears, "Hey little buddy. Welcome to the world. I hope we can build you a good one."

Harry put his hand on Hermione's shoulder while Neville slid his arm around Hannah's waist. Luna put her arm around Harry and Hermione while Lavender put her hand on Ron's shoulder. All of them smiling at the new positive change in their world.