August 15th, 2003
The weeks following the getaway Harry and Daphne took were possibly the best weeks of their relationships. Their communication had never been better. Harry talked to the Head Auror, Gawain Robards, expressing negative feelings about his current job. They agreed that Harry would continue being an Auror until Daphne took maternity leave. Daphne also was thankful for knowing she would have Harry when the proper time came.
Harry mainly started focusing on desk work. Less time in the field was safer—anything to keep him from being in any sort of danger. Hermione and Ron found it hilarious as their whole friendship with Harry was him putting himself in danger. Ron joked that Daphne should have been in their lives earlier. Maybe Harry wouldn't have tried to kill himself at least once a year.
Astoria, Astrid, and Hermione decided it was time to throw Daphne a baby shower, even though Daphne and themselves had already bought most of what she needed. Astrid said it was a good tradition to start as she never had a baby shower seeing it was a muggle practice. Hermione explained everything that went into a baby shower, and Daphne reluctantly agreed. The games Hermione described weren't the most entertaining, Yet, as long as Harry was present, she would be happy.
Busy working on her newest project, Daphne didn't notice the opening and closing of her office door. It wasn't until she heard a satisfied sigh that she looked up from her work. A smile was brought to her face as her eyes found Harry's.
"What are you doing here?" Daphne asked, setting her pen-Hermione got her into them- down to give her boyfriend her undivided attention.
"Well, I was swamped filing paperwork until I received a memo saying something about ice cream," Harry stated as he sat in one of the leather guest chairs across from Daphne. "I figured it came somewhere from this office. Am I wrong?"
"That was outstanding detective work," Daphne began putting away her paperwork. "Maybe you should stay an Auror."
Rolling his eyes, Harry leaned in to kiss her, "Bite your tongue. You know this is the right decision."
"I know." She whispered before his lips met hers.
Giving her lips one last peck before standing up straighter, "Your mum informed me that we have to make a registry for the baby shower. She's ready to send out the invitations."
The guest list that Harry and Daphne sat down to make was a doozy. As they were in different houses, their guests' list reflected that. They didn't disagree on the only four people they didn't disagree on were Astoria, Hermione, Ron, and Theo. After four hours of the list-making, Daphne threw in the towel and decided that it would never be a perfect blend of people, but she knew that her mother would oversee everything. Add and remove the guests Astrid Greengrass deemed reasonable for her eldest daughter's baby shower.
"Yes, we do." Looking at the clock, she decided to take the rest of the day off. Shopping and ice cream with her boyfriend seemed like a much better plan. "Want to do that right now?"
"You read my mind."
Deciding to tamper with Daphne's cravings first, the couple found themselves sitting at one of the outside cafe tables at Fortescue's, both eating their preferred flavors. Daphne with her butterscotch ice cream with cookie and brownie bites mixed in. Harry's strawberry and peanut butter, making Daphne's nose scrunch up in disgust.
"Lily doesn't like that flavor," Daphne stated after she took a bite of his and vice versa.
Chuckling softly, Harry took his cup back, "When the time comes, we will find out what her favorite flavor is."
"So, have you narrowed down your list of careers yet?" Daphne asked. She knew what was on the list as she helped him create it. Harry carried the list with him at all times. To either add or remove something.
List of Professions:
Opening a restaurant
Something with quidditch
DADA professor
Stay at home dad
Broom maker
Not surprising to her was Harry's dream of opening a restaurant. He had mentioned it multiple times in passing when they would be out at other restaurants—commenting on what he would do differently, either with the dish or the restaurant itself.
Harry wrote about being a DADA professor. Hermione and Ron were the ones to remind him that besides Lupin, he was the best teacher they had in that subject. A conversation turned into Daphne asking questions why to them explaining what happened during their fifth year.
Knowing Harry would stay home with Lily for as long as he could, stay-at-home dad wouldn't ever be crossed off the list. Daphne was grateful for Harry wanting to stay home. Giving their daughter a childhood he didn't get to experience himself. He knew that her career was important to her and did not allow her father's words to hang over their heads.
When Harry hadn't answered her, Daphne looked up from the list to find a concerned look on Harry's face, "What's wrong?"
Before Harry could answer her, a shadow blocked the warm August sun, taking her eyes off Harry. Daphne gasped inwardly when she found Molly Weasley. Neither Molly nor Harry had said anything as the two former in-laws stared at each other. To Daphne's knowledge, Harry hadn't had any contact with the Weasley family, except for Ron, who even took time for him to make amends with. This would be the first time in months since they would say anything to each other.
"Molly, uh, hi," Harry said, deciding to be the first to speak. Even though he had no idea what to say to the Weasley Matriarch. The last time he saw her and the rest of the Weasley, excluding Ron, was when he and Ginny told them they were divorcing, "It's nice to see you."
"You as well, Harry," Looking over at Daphne, Molly gave the woman a once over. Her blue eyes lingered on Daphne's growing belly. Making Daphne subconsciously rest her hand on her stomach. The news of Harry and Daphne expecting came when Harry resigned to the Aurors. "I hear congratulations are in order."
"They are, yes," Daphne responded, smirking when she felt Lily kick in response.
"Congratulations. Are you happy?" Molly asked. Even though she was looking at Daphne, they all knew the question was directed towards Harry.
"Very happy, happiest I've been in a long time," Harry answered, giving a bright smile to Daphne. Before turning his attention to Molly once again, "How is the rest of the family?"
Molly answered that question in full detail, telling the couple how she would be gaining more grandchildren within the next six months. Bill and Fleur were on their second as Percey and his wife, Penelope, were expecting their first. George started seeing Angelina Johnson. "And you, of course, know what Ron is up to."
"I do, yes. Ron seems quite happy at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, working with George."
"He is, yes." Looking back over at Daphne, "He likes to talk about you and your family quite a bit, Daphne."
Daphne sat up taller in her chair before responding, "Ron's talked about me?"
"Oh yes! Says how great you are for Harry," Molly said, taking a seat at the free chair. "He wanted Arthur and me, that's my husband, to know that we have nothing to worry about Harry getting hurt."
"Really?" Daphne was surprised Ron would even mention her. She and Ron weren't close as she and Hermione. Seeing the two have only known each other for a couple of months. In those couple of months her getting to know Ron Weasley, she could see why Harry picked him as his best friend. And she could also tell how much her little sister enjoyed having the redhead around, something she drilled her little sister about, "For the record, I have nothing bad to say about him either."
"Good," Giving the blonde a smile, Molly turned her attention to Harry, "How have you been, Harry dear?"
Coming out of the state of shock he was in. Harry sat up straighter in his chair, "I have been good. Did Ron tell you I am resigning from the Auror Corps?"
"No, he didn't have to the papers informed me. Ron only confirmed," Molly replied with an almost pleased expression on her face. "Why the change?"
"Didn't want our child to be raised without a father," Harry said, taking Daphne's hand in his. "It wasn't a tough decision. Not trying to figure out what to do next."
"You're young; you have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do."
"That's what I told him," Daphne agreed. The blonde was surprised with how well the conversation was going, given the somewhat rocky start. In any conversation Harry and she had about the Weasely family, Harry had her convinced that there would be a blowup.
Daphne had over-thought the eventual run to Molly Weasley many times. Most turned into fights about how Daphne wasn't good enough for Harry. Something Daphne had been working on telling herself was a lie, as she thought it as well. Molly would pretend to like Daphne and trick the couple into breaking up, and Ginny ended up with Harry once again.
"I best be going," Molly said after she and Harry caught up. "We are having a get-together as Ginny is back in town. I would invite you, Harry dear, but I don't think it would be appropriate."
Looking over at Harry, Daphne watched Harry silently argue with himself before making eye contact with her. With a slight nod of her head, Harry turned to Molly, "You know what, Molly, we would love to come. Ginny and I are going to have to deal with being in the same room, might as well start now."
"That would be just smashing, Harry!" Smiling at the couple, Molly took her leave. "I will see you two Sunday."
"See you Sunday," Harry waved as the monarch of the Weasley family walked away. Turning her attention to Daphne, "That is okay, right? Cause if not, I will send an owl, and she'll know by the time she gets home."
"No, it's more than alright. The Weasleys will always be in your life. Ron will be an eventual Uncle to our children anyway," Daphne said, taking the last remaining bite of her ice cream, "And I'm sure Molly and her husband will become surrogate grandparents as well."
"What do you mean Ron will be an uncle to our children? Is there something going on with Ron and Astoria?" Harry asked, vanishing their empty ice cream cups. "Or do you mean how Hermione and Thoe are going to be aunt and uncle to our children? Not technically related, but we see them as our siblings."
"Um, sure. The latter."
"Now I don't believe you,"
"Harry, I have only talked to Astoria, and she didn't give me any information except that she has postponed leaving."
Emerald eyes widened in surprise, "Astoria postponed India? She has been planning that trip since she got back. I don't think I've had a conversation with her that didn't involve her upcoming trip to India."
"Uh-huh, but then a certain redhead came into her life. Did you know that they talk almost every night? Astoria has found herself needing to pick up many things from Diagon and somehow always ends up at WWW."
"Wow, that would be amazing, wouldn't it? Your little sister with my best mate?" Harry meaningly asked, "I wouldn't have to worry about giving her boytoys a talking too."
"Well, I don't know how Ron feels about Astoria. And that's something I will have to find out." Daphne said as the two made to leave. "I don't want Astoria to get hurt."
"Talk to Ron. He'll be at Friday dinner. " Harry pointed out.
"Perfect, tomorrow will be Operation Redhead's Feelings."
"That is a terrible codename."