Chapter 12
Harry squeezed Ginny's hand tightly. She was so nervous that she kept playing with the door lock, pushing it up and down, that Harry was going slightly mad from it. He tried to reassure her that her family would be so happy to see her, but the truth was, he was only trying to cover his own nervousness.
He was certain that someone today was going to want to punch him. From what Ginny told him, only her parents and Ron knew about her pregnancy. She didn't want to risk telling too many people and had convinced them to keep it from the rest of the family. So, not only were they going to be surprised to see Ginny and Harry again, but they would be surprised to see a little Harry and Ginny look-a-like running around. Fred and George were protective of their sister, and Harry didn't know how they would take the news. That's why he was getting ready to be hit today.
Jimmy, on the other hand, was too excited for words. He kept asking to look at Harry's watch, anxious to arrive at the house and meet all his new family. Ginny had spent the last few weeks explaining who all her siblings were and telling Jimmy all the stories she could remember about them. Harry even had a few to add to the list that Ginny didn't know about. After all, Harry had run around with Ron and had got into more trouble than she even knew about!
After much discussion, Harry and Ginny decided the best thing to do would be to only call Ron and Hermione about their plan to return to England. If too many people knew, it would turn into a media circus and Harry really didn't want that for Jimmy's sake. So this would be very hush hush. Not even Molly or Arthur knew that they were returning as Ginny thought it would be easier on her mother if she didn't have to wait to see them. If they were to notify the all the family, they would have to wait a few weeks before Harry, Ginny, and Jimmy arrived in the United Kingdom. If they just went to England and then contacted the family, it would be much easier on them all. So, they would be staying at Ron and Hermione's house for a while until they could find a place for themselves. And besides, Ginny pointed out that Ron and Hermione were bound to have more Muggle things that Jimmy would be familiar with than what he would find at the Burrow.
The car turned the corner and Harry could make out Ron and Hermione's house in the distance. This was it…here we go, he thought.
The car stopped and Jimmy jumped out excitedly. Harry took Ginny's hand as he helped her out of the car as well. The driver unloaded their luggage and Harry paid him his fee. Jimmy ran up to the door and was about to knock when Ginny called out for him to wait.
"Why?"
"Because…I need a moment…"
Harry placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, "Are you all right?"
She took a deep breath. "Yes, but I'm very nervous."
Quietly, looking deeply into her eyes, Harry said, "I know."
Jimmy started jumping up and down begging then to hurry up, but they took a moment to kiss and hug before turning to walk up the step to stand beside him. Harry rapped on the door.
The same brown eyes that had met him before met him now, but this time she opened the door wide with a smile. "Aunt Ginny?"
Ginny looked down at the girl and nodded. "You must be Miranda."
Tentatively, Miranda took a step forward and hugged her aunt for the first time. Harry could see Ginny holding back tears, but she still smiled. Miranda let go and showed them into the house. "Hang on, I'll go get everyone."
But she didn't need to as a mass of hysteria broke out in squeals of joy from Hermione and the other two girls. They came bounding forward, arms out ready to wrap them up in embraces. Hermione was laughing and crying all at the same time. Harry saw that Ginny was, too. Ron followed soon after and hugged his sister deeply, tightly, and protectively. He cupped her face in his hands and told her how much he had missed her. Ron then turned to Harry and hugged him, too, thanking him for bringing Ginny home.
The girls were all chattering away from their aunt's attention and Ginny couldn't get it all at once!
"You want to play dolls with me?"
"Mommy says you can do hair."
"You want to see my bedroom, Aunt Ginny?"
"I hope you aren't tricky like Uncle Fred and Uncle George."
"Your dress is very pretty."
"Did you really live in America?"
"We have a kitty."
Ginny looked form one face to the next, trying to sort out what they were telling her. She gave up and decided on hugs for each of them instead. Harry gave a laugh at her as his focus shifted to Jimmy over in the corner still holding his small tote bag. His face had gone very pale and the corners of his mouth had dropped into a sad frown. Harry wondered what could be wrong, so he went over to him to find out.
As he did, Harry felt Hermione and Ron's eyes on him. "Jimmy? What's the matter?" he asked softly. The chatter from the girls started to die down. Jimmy shrugged and looked around his father at the faces of the strangers making a fuss over his mother. Harry forced a smile, "Do you want to meet your cousins?" Jimmy looked up at him anxiously, but didn't answer.
Harry placed a hand on his shoulder and brought him forward a few steps. "Jimmy, this is Miranda, Minnie, and Meredith." The girls seemed eager to meet their new cousin, but Jimmy tentatively shook their hands in return. He looked scared, Harry thought.
"Jimmy, don't be shy." Ginny said, trying to calm his nerves.
Harry looked over at Ron who was staring down at Jimmy in wonderment. Ron soon met his eyes and said, "It's just unreal. I knew he existed…but you don't realize until you see it, do you?"
Harry sighed and quietly said, "Tell me about it." Not wanting to waste another minute, Harry pulled Jimmy to him and turned him to face Ron and Hermione. "Jimmy, this is your uncle and my best friend, Ron…and this is my other best friend and your aunt Hermione." Jimmy took their hands timidly as well.
"Oh, you are so adorable!" Hermione said, looking to Ginny. "He really is, Ginny."
Jimmy rolled his eyes at her and Ginny said, "Thanks, but I can't take all the credit."
Harry turned to look at Ginny with a smile. They were home.
***
Catching up was the theme of the evening as they ate dinner and watched the children playing at getting to know each other. Jimmy was having a ball with the magical toys and Miranda was in true form explaining everything to him just as her mother would have done. She also didn't take time in telling him that he spoke funny, to which Jimmy replied that she spoke funny, too. It eased Harry's heart that Jimmy was warming up to his family and was starting to have a good time.
Naturally, Hermione and Ron had to be filled in on the whole
story of how Harry had found her and how their reunion had gone so well. Hermione noticed right away that Ginny was
wearing her engagement ring again and Ron couldn't help but tease Harry about
it.
"Did you ask my father properly for her hand, Harry?"
"Yes, actually I did…about 9 years ago!"
They all had a good laugh and Harry added, "Besides, this
time around I didn't think it was Arthur's permission I needed, but rather
Jimmy's. So I asked him if it would be
all right if I became a permanent member of the family."
Hermione gasped, "You didn't?"
"Yes, he did." Ginny
answered, happily.
"That is so wonderful! I'm so happy for you both!"
Suddenly the moment was interrupted by Jimmy's unusually loud
voice yelling, "HE CAN NOT! He would
have told me!"
Harry turned around to see his son face to face with Miranda
who was holding a broomstick. "Dad,"
Jimmy said angrily, "she says you can fly on a broom! That you are one of the best broom people ever!"
Harry glanced over his shoulder at Ginny who said, "I told
you to tell him about Quidditch before we got here but no…."
"Gin, please." Harry
stood up, went to the children, and took the broom from Miranda. "Nimbus 2000?" He asked Ron over his
shoulder.
"Yeah, they're pretty cheap now."
Harry held it in his hands remembering the first time he head
his own Nimbus. "Daddy?" the small
voice sounded. "Can you really fly it?"
"Yes, Jimmy, I can." Jimmy's eyes widened. "Would you
like me to show you?" The broad smile
on Jimmy's face was all the answer Harry needed. He took his son's hand and led him out side into the back
yard. Ginny, Ron, and Hermione as well
as the other children followed.
"Now, Harry, not too high!" Harry heard Ginny calling at him
as he mounted the broom.
He let Jimmy slip on in front of him and tucked a protective
arm around his waist. "Don't worry,
Gin." He leaned into Jimmy's ear and
whispered, "How high do you want to go?"
"HIGH!" Jimmy yelled
as Harry kicked off and soared up into the air.
The wind caught their hair as they rose up higher and
higher! Harry laughed at the squeals
coming from his son as they swooped down to the ground and back up again. He could just hear Ginny pitching a fit
below, but he didn't care! He was
flying with his son! Jimmy begged Harry
to dive again and he obliged. Harry
wanted to flip a loop, but decided that Ginny would probably never let him fly
with Jimmy again if he did so, and opted against it.
They flew over the house and down the street a bit, giving
Jimmy his first over head view of the town and of England. Jimmy pointed and yelled all the while,
giggling with joy at the sight of it all. Bursting with happiness, Harry never wanted the moment to end! But as he turned the broom around, he
noticed a group of people outside Ron and Hermione's house, huddled on the
front step, and all with flaming red hair.
"Look, Daddy, there are people at the house," Jimmy
exclaimed, pointing.
Harry felt his heart rush, not from joy, but from a sudden
panic. How did they find out Harry and
Ginny were here? They weren't supposed
to find out just yet. Harry reasoned
that one of the girls must have let something slip, and it was no use getting
upset as the damage was already done. Better get their grandson over to them before they got really
upset. Harry brought the broom down to
the ground and slowed it easily, stopping just beyond the front door to the
house. Jimmy jumped off and asked, "Do
you know who they are?"
"I do, Jimmy. That's
your Grandmother and Grandfather."
Jimmy's eyes lit up, his jaw dropped. "My Grandma?!" He shouted it and caused Mrs. Weasley to turn suddenly to face
them. Harry say her clutch her hand to
her heart and grab her husband's arm. She ran down the steps of the landing toward Harry and Jimmy, who stood
frozen to the spot. Molly smiled down
at Jimmy as Harry bent down to look him in the eyes.
"Jimmy, this is your Grandma."
"Hello," he said shyly, and he offered her his hand.
Molly was crying now as she shook the small hand of her
grandson.
From around the corner of the house, out of the backyard came
another voice. "Mother?!" Ginny exclaimed. The two woman locked eyes before darting off
towards each other. They crashed into
one another, gasping and crying with joy. Harry scooped up his son in his arms, handed Jimmy the broom to hold,
and started towards the embracing woman, now laughing through tears.
"Why does everyone cry when they see Mommy?"
"Because they missed her and love her very much. She was gone a long time."
"Did you cry when you saw Mommy?"
Harry looked at his son whose arms were wrapped around his
neck and said, "I did, Jimmy, just like I cried when I saw you for the first
time. I was happy to finally have you
in my life."
"I love you, Daddy."
Harry felt his son's face up against his own, arms tightening
around his neck. "I love you, too
Jimmy." He paused before he said, "Now,
let's go see your Grandma and Grandpa!"