Are We Pregnant Again?
Almost two years have passed since James came into their life and Harry and Ginny couldn't imagine a life without him. As he was approaching his second birthday, he was entering what Molly had called "the terrible twos" a little early. He was defiantly leaving up to his namesakes. Since it had been almost two years, Harry and Ginny started discussing the possibility of having another baby. Ginny knew Harry didn't want James to be an only child.
It was a cold February day. Ginny was getting ready to head to the Ministry for a meeting that she was covering for The Daily Prophet.
Ginny zipped up James's coat, sitting him down on a child-size chair she kept in the kitchen.
"Stay there, Mummy will be right back," she directed, knowing leaving the almost two-year-old alone was asking for trouble. "Mummy needs to find her boots," her voice trailed away as she walked towards the front door. Her old trainers, James's trainers, and a pair of Harry's old boots she left near the front door for the purpose of if someone came to the door they would know a man lived there, a trick Hermione had told her to use as Harry was often gone.
She backtracked into the kitchen, glancing at James at his small table. It was one of the Christmas presents she and Harry had given James. So far, the investment was well worth it. It was where he often ate lunch if he was home and not at the Burrow with Molly. Sometimes Ginny let him eat breakfast there if she didn't want to deal with the booster seat she had bought months ago to replace the high chair he had outgrown. Other times he sat there, colored, or played while she made dinner.
He was staring out the window, wondering where the snow went to. There was plenty yesterday and it's gone today.
Ginny walked into the scullery. Her old trainers, James's rain boots and play shoes, and Harry's boots he had downgraded to around the house when he bought new ones, were beside the door. But hers was nowhere to be found.
"Think, Ginny where…." She trailed off. She sat them yesterday when she put on her snow boots. She turned around opening the cupboard. There were her boots.
"How did they end up in here?" She pondered.
Bending down to pick up the boots, she paused as a wave of nausea washed over her. She hoped she wasn't getting the stomach flu Harry had last week. She had sworn she had taken immunity potions. When she didn't feel like she was going to vomit, she walked back into the kitchen and pulled out a chair at the table. She sat down in the chair to put on her boots, pausing when she felt something in her left boot, only to find a toy car inside. She slipped the little blue car into James's knapsack.
Standing up, she slid on her coat, zipping it and picking up her handbag and James's knapsack.
"Are you ready to go to Grandmum's, James?'
James hopped up from his chair, following Ginny into the sitting room. "Will Granddad be there?" he asked. Granddad meant going to the ice cream parlor in the village after lunch.
Ginny thought about what day it was before she replied, "Yes, I think so."
She reached down and picked her son, grunting at the heavy toddler.
"What are we feeding you?" she asked her son, who giggled in response.
Picking up floo powder, she called out, "The Burrow." James pressed his face into Ginny's neck as he usually did when floo traveling.
Stepping out of the fireplace, Ginny was met with the smell of bread, apple tarts, and roasting chicken all at once. It wasn't a pleasant combination. She dropped James onto the sitting room rug before sprinting up the stairs to the bathroom, hearing James as he began to work himself up into a wail.
She vaguely heard Arthur say to James, "It okay Jemmy, come here to Granddad."
She slammed the door to the bathroom, rushing to the toilet in time for her to lose her breakfast. She sat down on the floor, breathing heavily. If this was the stomach flu, she was going to kill Harry, slowly.
There was a knock on the bathroom door. "Ginny?" Molly's voice came from the other side of the door. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute, Mum." Ginny approached the sink, rinsing her mouth out and wiping her face. She opened the door to find Molly, in her blue lace apron, her wand sticking out of the pocket, holding a basket of laundry.
"Let me make you some tea," Molly said, gently. She was thinking that Ginny had escaped from catching Harry's stomach flu, but now she wasn't so sure. She had another suspicion but wasn't ready to mention it.
Ginny followed Molly downstairs and into the kitchen. She peeked into the sitting room where she found Arthur sitting on the floor with James, playing with blocks. She slipped off her coat, laying it on the chair where she flung her handbag and James's knapsack.
"Are you alright Ginny?" Arthur asked his daughter.
"I'm fine, Dad." She bent down and kissed James's head. "Sorry about that sweetie." She returned to the kitchen to find Molly had placed a cup of tea and a plate of toast on the table in front of the chair, she usually sat in.
"Eat," Molly said. Ginny knew it wasn't a request. She had used the same tone with Harry last week after he had recovered from his illness. He immediately obeyed.
"I swear I took the immunity potion every day like I was supposed to. Maybe I was exposed to it before Harry told me he was sick."
Molly hummed in response before joining Ginny at the table. "He's gotten better at telling you he's sick, though."
Ginny nodded. "I found out he was sick of finding him in the bathroom ….." she trailed off, not needing to go any further.
Molly sipped her tea, hiding the small smile behind her cup.
"By the way, thanks again for taking James and for sending Dad in the middle of the night to get him. I didn't want him getting sick too. When Harry's sick, he's like taking care of a child."
Molly chuckled. "You're welcome, dear. Anytime."
"It made it easier because if Harry didn't sleep, I didn't either."
When she finished her toast and tea Ginny took the dishes to the sink. "If I'm running late I'll send Harry to pick up James."
"Okay, dear."
Ginny went out to the sitting room to collect her handbag and coat.
"Come here and give Mummy a hug. I got to go."
James obeyed, knowing the sooner Mummy left, the sooner could he go and have ice cream. She hugged him and kissed his temple. He went back to play with Arthur when Ginny left the sitting room.
"There's a clean outfit in his knapsack if he gets the one he has on gets dirty," she said to Molly as she headed towards the door. "Bye, thanks."
She walked towards the apparition point on the other side of the gate, appearing in the alley near the visitor's entrance of the ministry.
In a matter of minutes, she was walking through security, having dug her badge of her handbag, the one Harry had given her to get through security quicker.
She walked towards the lifts, stepping onto one that opened just as she got there.
"Which level?" a witch at the buttons asked.
"Two please," Ginny replied. She was heading to Level Seven to cover the press conference regarding the announcement for the England team for the Quidditch World Cup. She wouldn't be going as she was handing the job off to Grace as her husband was the newly announced captain, meaning she would be going anyway.
Ginny could think of other ways to use Harry's vacation time, although the department owed him more time off then his allotted two week vacation.
Her thoughts were broken when she heard the ding of the lift and the witch's voice announced, "Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services."
Ginny got off the lift, heading down the corridor towards Auror Headquarters. She had made this trek so many times, she could do it in her sleep. A group of Aurors came out just as Ginny approached the door. One of them held the door open for her, while another one whistled.
"Cool it, Johnston. That's Auror Potter's wife."
Ginny smiled at the one who held the door open, murmuring a thank you before she headed on to Harry's office. She waved at Maisy, Harry's secretary, and walked into Harry's office.
She found Harry sitting at his desk, rubbing his temples slowly.
"Why I decided to work with the trainees again?" he asked out loud.
"Because you enjoy it," Ginny replied, smothering a giggle when Harry jumped at her voice. "Rough day?"
"Understatement," Harry groaned, leaning his head back, closing his eyes. He cracked one eye open. "Would you happen to have a headache potion in that satchel you call a handbag?"
Ginny wordless opened her handbag and pulled out a bag she kept potions in it. She pulled out a headache potion, sitting it on Harry's desk.
"I love you," Harry stammered before grabbing the vial. He uncorked it, downing the contents. He picked up the bottle of water on his desk, grimacing when he realized it was no longer cold. "Thanks, babe."
"You're welcome."
Harry glanced at the clock as he got up to toss the vial in the trash. "Don't you have that press conference today?" he asked.
"I do at noon. It's eleven-thirty now. I dropped James off at the Burrow. If I'm going to be longer than I thought I'll let you if you need to pick up James."
Harry nodded, covering a yawn with his hand. "Alright then, I guess Molly will feed both of us and send something home for you."
"She will Harry. I'm guessing roast chicken because I smelled it and bread when I came to the Burrow."
Harry imagined he would be coming home with some homemade bread. Molly liked to make sure all of her children and their families were taken care of, even if it meant they would come home from the Burrow with enough food to last them weeks.
He noticed his wife looked a little pale. "Are you alright?"
Ginny nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. I just got a little floo sick when I got to the Burrow."
"That's unusual for you," Harry stated. "If any of us gets sick from flooing, it's me."
"Neither that or …." She trailed off. The scent of someone's lunch floated into Harry's office. It was right next door to the break room. She dove for the trash bin and retched the remainder of her breakfast.
She felt Harry pull her hair back and rubbing her back soothingly. She heard him curse softly.
"I was hoping I didn't get you sick," he whispered.
"If I'm not better in the morning I'll go and see Holly," Ginny said, standing up. She accepted the water Harry handed her. She smirked at her husband as he vanished the contents of his rubbish bin without looking at it and waved his wand around the room to refresh the air. "Still can't handle a bit of vomit?"
"You know seeing it makes me what to vomit," Harry deadpanned. "Sorry."
"What are you apologizing for?" Ginny asked. "It's not your fault you got sick and handed it off to me. Better me than James."
Harry nodded, agreeing. "True."
Ginny reached into her handbag, pulling her gum. She popped a stick of gum in her mouth, offering one to Harry.
Harry wrinkled his nose at it. "I hate spearmint," he reminded her.
Ginny returned her handbag to one of the chairs across from Harry's desk. She suddenly remembered something she needed to do that day. "I didn't go to the shop," she murmured.
"Need me to pick up anything before I pick up James or head home?" Harry asked.
Ginny reached across Harry's desk for a quill and parchment. "The cereal James eats for breakfast, milk, orange juice, and some bread. That will get me through breakfast tomorrow. I'll go tomorrow afternoon."
Harry took the list from her, sticking it in the pocket of his jeans.
Ginny glanced up at the clock. "Is that the time?" She asked.
"Yeah, I'll walk you to the lifts. I need to stop by Hermione's office anyway. The sooner I give her this," Harry picked up a file. "The better."
Ginny chuckled. "One would have thought pregnancy would calm her down."
"Gin, she's worse than she was when were preparing for OWLs in fifth year."
Ginny shook her head. "At least you and Ron don't have to hide from her anymore."
"Who says we don't," Harry retorted.
As they left his office Harry called to Maisy. "Maisy, I'm walking Ginny to the lifts and then going to Hermione's office. I'll be back in ten."
Maisy nodded. "Kingsley requested to meet with you before you leave today."
"Make it twenty," Harry amended.
He opened the door for Ginny, letting her go out first. They walked in silence to the lifts. Harry pressed the button
"Annelle is meeting me there. If I'm late, I'll have her send you a note to pick up James. If you decide not to eat at the Burrow there's…"
"Leftovers in the fridge," Harry finished. "Gin, I could never say no to your mother. Plus you know Molly, she'll send home food whether we ask for it or not."
Ginny nodded, knowingly. "And if I'm still sick in the morning, I'll go see Holly. Oh, that reminds me, you have….."
"She sent a reminder Owl to the office this morning," Harry told her.
When the lift door opened, Ginny stood on tiptoes to kiss Harry. When they broke apart, they murmured 'I love you' and 'see you at home'. She stepped in, waved at Harry before the doors closed.
Harry waited until the lift left before heading to Hermione's office.
How little did he and Ginny know their life about to change?
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
"Daddy!"
James jumped up from his place on the floor in the middle of the mess of building blocks and toy cars upon seeing Harry.
"Hey mate," Harry greeted, picking up his son, placing him on his hip before planting a kiss on the side of his head.
Molly watched the exchange from the stove, smiling softly. James often switched between being Mummy's boy and Daddy's boy, depending on the day and his mood. He often became attached and clingy to Harry when he came home from an assignment, the same with Ginny if she was gone for longer than overnight.
"Was he good?" Harry asked.
"Of course," Molly replied. James was a good kid when he was alone. Add Freddie and Louis in the mix and they were known for finding trouble.
Arthur came into the kitchen just Molly was packing away James's stuff in his knapsack. "Did you tell Daddy what you did today?"
James looked up. "I went to the village with Granddad."
"And did you have fun, buddy?" Harry asked his offspring.
"Yeah, I got ice cream," James announced.
"It was after naptime," Arthur added. "I needed to run to the repair shop for a few parts and James wanted to come along. I thought since it's been a while we'd get ice cream."
Molly chuckled as she began to pack some food for Harry to take home. "There is enough for you and Ginny to have for lunch tomorrow." She closed the basket, handing it to Harry. "Are you feeling alright? You looked tired?"
"We've been working a case that has been keeping me up at night," Harry admitted. "But we're close to solving it so I'll probably use the time off I'll have after it to catch up on sleep."
"Tell Ginny if she needs me to keep James I can tomorrow," Molly said, as she walked to the floo with Harry and James.
"I'll tell her," Harry assured Molly, as he picked up James's knapsack then James, before taking the basket from Molly. "Thanks, Mum."
"You're welcome." Molly leaned over, kissing James's cheek. "I love you, love you both."
Harry stepped into the floo, deciding to floo home instead of apparating. He tumbled out of the floo into their sitting room, James giggling.
"Again Daddy," James requested.
"Sorry pal, we're not flooing anywhere else tonight," Harry informed his son. He headed into the kitchen, putting the basket on the counter, and placing James on the floor, watching him wander off to the family room. He took James's knapsack off of his shoulder, laying it on the counter. He pulled out the clothes that Ginny had sent him in. Molly had changed him. He took the clothes to the scullery, noticing Molly had pretreated the stains. He tossed them into the basket of laundry.
"I guess I could get this started," Harry murmured. He returned to the kitchen, pulling out the empty sippy cups. He untwisted the lids, added them and the cups to the dishwasher.
He left the small toys and books, taking the knapsack to the hallway, hanging it on the banister so he or Ginny would grab it to refill with clothes, wipes, and nappies.
Returning to the kitchen, he took off his boots sighing as he wiggled his sock-clad toes.
He added pain, headache, and stomach potions to the list on the fridge with a note that it was him to keep at work.
Molly had fed, bathed, and put a clean nappy on James before Harry picked him up. Unless he needed a nappy change before bed, all Harry needed to do was to put his pajamas on. Harry wondered sometimes if they should buy a set of pajamas to keep in his knapsack in case he needed to spend the night with Molly and Arthur or Ron and Hermione. The only problem with that idea was James got obsessed with a certain set of pajamas, not wanting to change.
Currently, his favorite was his SpongeBob Squarepants ones. They had the face while the sleeves and pants looked like a sponge. He was introduced to it by Teddy, much to Harry's chagrin.
One time the cadet class had started to sing the theme song, only stopping when Harry threatened to add another lap.
Harry made himself a plate, fixing one for Ginny while he was at it, putting hers in the microwave, covered with a warming charm. He sat down on the sofa to eat, turning on the television for a kid's show for James. He summoned a can of Coke before he ate dinner, annoyed that SpongeBob was on the telly.
"Daddy?"
"Yeah, buddy?"
"Where's Mummy?"
"She's working," Harry replied.
"When will Mummy be home?"
"Soon, Jemmy."
James went back to watching the show while Harry finished his dinner. He took the plate to the sink, rinsing it before adding it to the dishwasher. He glanced at the clock, noticing it was an hour before James's bedtime. He summoned his pajamas, taking them into the family room. While SpongeBob was on an advert break, Harry changed James's into his pajamas, checking his nappy before he concluded he'd change him before bed.
Harry yawned as he headed to the scullery and began to sort laundry. He put in a load of whites, before heading back into the family room.
"Oh crap, we didn't go to the shop," Harry murmured. Ginny needed stuff for James's breakfast in the morning as they were out.
Pulling out his mirror, he called Ron.
"Hey mate," Ron greeted.
"Can you something for me?" Harry asked.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Can you come over and keep an eye on James?" Harry asked. "Ginny asked me to go to the shop and I forgot."
"Yeah, give me a minute and I'll be over."
"Thanks, Ron."
True to his word, Ron walked through the back door. James turned around, thinking it was Ginny.
"UNCLE RON!" James exclaimed as jumped up, running towards his favorite uncle.
"Hey buddy," Ron greeted.
"I owe you one, mate," Harry said as he made his hasty retreat. He grabbed the keys to the car and walked out the back door. He got into the car he often drove to work if he needed to do a stakeout in Muggle London.
He backed out of the driveway, heading to the Tesco that was five minutes away from the house by car. Unlike when Ginny went, Harry was in and out in ten minutes. It would have been quicker but he was held up by a man in front of him at the till. He grabbed James's cereal, getting two as it was on offer. He picked up milk, two bottles of orange juice as it was on offer as well, and the bread. He grabbed an advert for Ginny to look at as well as a bag of crisps and Oreos, along with a bag of Ron's favorite Muggle candy and a bag of Hermione's as a 'thanks for babysitting last minute and sorry I borrowed your husband' gift.
Just he finished at the store one of their neighbors approached him.
"Hello, Harry."
"Hi Ester, how's the hip?"
"Better, but I think I'll need to have the other one worked on too," She explained. Esther Collins lived down the road at the corner. She was the closest neighbor Harry and Ginny had on their right with the neighbor on left was even further down. Ester lived alone since her husband passed before Harry and Ginny moved into the neighborhood a year into their marriage. Harry often offered to do yard work for her. She reminded him of Mrs. Figg without the cats.
"Sorry to hear that. You have our number, call if you need anything?"
"Oh I will, how's the wife?"
"Working late, I have my brother-in-law watching James so I can run out a get a few things," Harry explained.
"Tell her I said hello. I hope you know just lucky you are," Ester said.
"I do," Harry replied, smiling softly. They parted as she was going in and Harry was going out. He loaded the stuff in the back seat, putting the bread in James's car seat. He returned the trolley and got in his car to head home.
When he walked into the kitchen, Ron was on the floor lying on his stomach and James was on his back.
Ron turned at hearing Harry come in. "Ginny sent a message, she's going to be another hour before she's home. She's at the office now."
"Alright," Harry murmured, laying out the candy he got Ron and Hermione.
When Ron left (with the candy and Oreos), Harry took James upstairs to bed. Ron had changed him while he was gone so all Harry needed to do was to read him a story.
"So, what book going to be tonight?"
James walked to his bookshelf that was crammed full of books, pulling out one.
"Peter Rabbit? Again?" Harry asked.
"Again," James confirmed. He walked over to where Harry was sitting in his rocking chair, pulling him up onto his lap.
"The Tale of Peter Rabbit," Harry said, opening the book and began to read. "Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter. They lived with their Mother in a sandbank, underneath the root of a very big fir tree."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
It was late when Ginny came through the back door of her home. She took off her boots, noticing the baskets of laundry she had left full were empty.
"Oh Harry, you didn't have to," She murmured.
She walked into the kitchen finding her dinner in the microwave. After she warmed it, she took it to the table and summoned herself a drink. Harry had left the light on downstairs for her like she did when he worked late.
She sighed as she listened to the silence of her house at night. James would be asleep and she hoped Harry was in bed. She got her answer on the latter when she heard someone coming downstairs.
"Hi babe," She greeted once Harry entered the kitchen.
"Hi, how was it?"
"Long," Ginny sighed as she tipped her head back for a kiss. "The article is done and ready for publishing. It will be in Tuesday's edition." She looked towards the scullery and then back at Harry. "Did you do the laundry?"
"I did when I figured out the shirt that goes with my uniform was in the wash and I'll need it tomorrow. Wizengamot session tomorrow and I've been asked to head security for it. It's for that trial of the wizard who threatened to blow up the ministry."
"Did he ever give a reason why?"
"He wanted revenge for his wife. She was one of the ones who died because of the Muggle Born thing during the war. While Umbridge wasn't charged with her murder officially, some claim she had something to with it. But she'll be in Azkaban for life."
"If you hadn't spoken up," Ginny said, looking down at Harry's hand. Thanks to Molly's scar balm, only if it hit a certain light could one see the scars. Harry had submitted memories of using the blood quill for evidence. Without it, Umbridge would have only gotten a twenty-five-year sentence. Her defense wanted to remove Harry from the case as he was also the arresting officer. Kingsley denied the request, using his Minister's veto power to push the denial.
Harry rested his head on his upturned palm. "Molly said she'd watch James if you need her to tomorrow."
"I don't work tomorrow, but I might send him over for a few hours so I can clean." Ginny looked up at the ceiling. James's room was directly above them. "Is he asleep?"
Harry nodded. "He wanted to read Peter Rabbit again. I think I can quote it without needing the book."
Ginny chuckled. "Like you could with that book Teddy was obsessed with, wasn't it The Tale of Benjamin Bunny?"
Harry nodded. "It was."
Ginny glanced over at her husband, reaching over to touch his face. She noticed how tired he looked.
"Why don't you go on to bed? I'll be up in a minute," Ginny suggested.
"Alright."
Harry checked the backdoor, locking it. He checked the front door, closed the floo, and returned to the kitchen to make sure he did lock the back door. Once he was sure downstairs was secure he headed upstairs.
Ginny finished her dinner, taking her plate to the sink, rinsing it. She turned off the kitchen light, as she left the kitchen. She headed towards the stairs, turning off the light in the hallway. She turned on the lamp on the table on the left-hand side of the door. They had gotten into the habit of leaving it on to see to go downstairs in the middle of the night or if Harry got a call from the Aurors late in the night for an emergency.
Before she headed to her bedroom, she slipped into James's room. She leaned over the cot, watching her son sleep. The stuffed black shaggy dog was tucked in beside him. Ron had found him in a toy shop and bought him as part of her baby shower gift. Harry had named him Paddy as he reminded him of Padfoot. The stuffed stag was sitting in the corner beside the stuffed wolf.
She leaned over, pressing a kiss to James's cheek, pushing his hair away from his face, and left the room quietly, pulling the door almost to a close.
She walked into her and Harry's bedroom to find Harry was already in the bed.
"What time do you need to be at work?" She asked.
"Early." Harry yawned. "I need to get some things sorted for the cadet class before I head to the Wizengamot session."
Ginny headed into the bathroom for a quick shower and changed into her pajamas. As she was brushing her teeth, she realized she hadn't given any more thought to her sickness from earlier. During a tea break, while writing the article, she realized something. She had been having some symptoms, familiar symptoms. Ones that she had when she was….
"Dear Merlin, am I pregnant again?"