**a year and a half later, lunch at Grimmauld Place**

Harry

There was no appropriate way to bring it up with Ginny.

It wasn't the right time anyway.

Harry helped himself to a forkful of roast beef and returned to spooning mashed up pumpkin onto the smeary and extremely cute face of his daughter. In was apparently not an option, but Lil seemed to enjoy it regardless.

Things were so good. There was no way he could mention it.

Ginny had been so pale and frightened.

But she was back to her old self again. She was lit up like a jewel. Sparky, funny, bright. Talking to Dani, something about cheesecake…

Dani was grinning her head off, resin earrings flashing hot pink as she threw her head back laughing. The café was thriving. She was happy. Ron was happy.

That was still so strange. Harry had always thought of Ron as fairly relaxed. But there had been a tension that sat in him, a braced wariness that had dissolved when he and Hermione had started... Not sleeping together; they'd been doing that for years. It was the sex. There was no way around it. Something about slipping into a physical, romantic relationship had calmed them both down immeasurably. Like the volatility of their youth had been replaced by absolute certainty that came with a quiet co-dependence no-one dared question. It was peaceful to be around.

And Garth was back for a month, tanned, intense, and talking rapid fire brain-nonsense with Hermione, after an impassioned debate with Ron about chess and comics. They were friends. That seemed strangest of all.

Harry couldn't squash that feeling though, and it made him feel guilty.

Things were good. Really good.

Harry hadn't intended to say anything to Ron about it. They'd slipped out of the bustle of the kitchen and dining room for some peace and quiet on the couch. Lil was snuggled up sleeping on Ron's chest, and the pair of them looked so cosy that the words were half out before Harry could remind himself it was none of his damn business.

"Are you and Hermione going to start…" Harry trailed off as he realised what he was asking. "Sorry."

Ron chuckled.

"It's ok, Harry. I know I give off dreamy dad vibes when I'm holding a baby, it's fine."

Harry snorted.

"Who told you that?"

"Uh, everyone ever. My mother. The postman. My accountant. Everyone in the waiting room at Mungo's that time. Hagrid. You, last year."

"Sorry."

Ron shook his head, bemused.

"Look, I get why you're asking. You're baby-mad,"

"Hey,"

Ron raised his eyebrows.

"I can't help it if babies are awesome." Harry said in protest.

"Sure, sure."

They sat there for a while, Ron gazing idly into the middle distance, one big hand smoothing over Lil's sleeping back, and Harry trying just to enjoy being there with them both, while everyone else raced about in the kitchen, talking and laughing and carrying on.

Ron sighed.

"I always thought we would have kids. In fantasyland, you know, if we ever got together. And now we are together, it's just… life happens, you know? And we're happy. Not all the time, but by and large, we're doing ok. It's just… kids aren't on the cards for us right now. They might never be. We've talked about it. It feels a bit sad sometimes. But… things are good, and we're doing ok, and it's…" Ron trailed off as Hermione wandered over and sat down beside him.

"Breaking the news to Harry that we're not having kids?"

Ron pulled a face. Hermione leaned over to kiss his cheek. She'd slipped in beside him so naturally, it was hard to remember a time when they weren't a couple. They were like magnets: put them in close proximity and they just clicked together.

"Sorry Harry. I know you want more babies around. It's just not where we're at. Maybe someday… but probably not. Too much has happened."

Harry sighed. That was indisputable.

Far too much had happened.

But there was no way he could ask.

Ginny stalked him into the bathroom later, after he'd put Lil down for her nap.

"C'mon, Potter, spit it out."

Harry swallowed and stared at her. She was just so vital. Every inch of her hummed with vibrancy. There was no way he could ask. It was greedy, it was selfish, to want more.

"I'm just happy, that's all,"

Ginny eyed him suspiciously.

"Nope. Try again."

Harry scrunched up his face. This might blow everything up. How to phrase it? Could he tell the truth without it making things strange? How could he even suggest she revisit the nightmare of last time?

"I… I'm not asking… I… if you wanted, erm… that is, if you'd like to, ah… I mean… I know it was horrible for you- traumatic-"

"Harry,"

Harry took a breath.

"If you wanted to have more kids, I'd be open to that."

Ginny's eyebrows shot up.

"We don't have to, or anything, obviously, it's not a good time, with your career and everything, and Lil's so small still, and, but, if you wanted, I mean-" Harry knew he was babbling.

"You'll stay home this time too?"

Harry nodded fervently. To be honest, he didn't want to go back to work anyway. It had been very nice not having quite so many nightmares. And it was nice to be out of the public eye. He'd been thinking about asking George and Dani for some shifts to avoid going back to work. But this was a much better option. If it was an option.

Suddenly, Ginny was grinning at him, and a thrill washed through him before she spoke.

"Ok, Potter, you're on. But this time, we're going to plan it around the quidditch season, ok?"