A/N: thanks for all the nice reviews, people! It was very funny that all of them started with: 'Oh, it's here at last!' LOL :) It felt great to be so welcomed – thank you.

Almah: congrats on being my very first reviewer! :))))

zzxm: yes, it's a bit longer than TGSoHH and I'll try and post it as often as I did with that one.

casvv and AmandaPanda: I hope you both did well on your tests!

Mage: I know! A BOY! *big grin* I won't forget it anymore! About your guessing: ten points to Gryffindor!!!

Kit Cloudkicker: WHAT??? Neville's son??? Heavens! No way! It's Harry's! I get sick of the idea of Gin and Neville… urgh…

rubyjuls1722: not TOO much angst, don't worry :) just a little bit darker than the first one, but I'll be inserting humour all along to lighten the mood when it gets too dark.

spangle star: I hope you get well soon :)

Pumpkin3223: is 'Amy' your author's name? I need to know this or I won't be able to read your fic :) No, this fic won't be about Daniel's exploits at Hogwarts. Dannie will be a baby throughout the whole story.

X_Tow_Naga: you'll see a bit of H and G's last year in flashbacks. There'll be a bit of Abu, but I'm not making him be the main character, of course! About the shame stuff – you'll get to know it SOON. No, you won't see Neville's parents, neither Harry's parents again, but you'll get lots of Malfoy in the second half of the story (more Malfoy than in TGSoHH :)

Nikkianna: of course I remember you :)

star queen: thanks, my exams went well! I didn't fail a single one!

AniMouner: I never wanted Harry to have a son called James. It was enough to name his daughter after his mum.

Harrysgirl: …and I thank you for what you wrote. I'm touched.

Lionheart Eternal: Brian? That means you're a boy? (It's always nice to know that even boys like my fics:)

Toby Haine: it was nice to hear from you again!

Notebook Girl: yes, I'm in college, I'm studying foreign trade and economics (which don't have a lot to do with story-writing :)

Cecile: well, maybe some day I'll make up an own story. But now I'm just writing fanfiction.

DragonSinger: well, the choice of name had two reasons: 1 – to call the baby after Dan Radcliffe, 2 – to give him a name that had something to do with lions. So of course I thought of the Bible Daniel as well when choosing this name.

veronik: you're from Peru??? Cool! Then you surely know the soap operas "Luz Maria" and "Pobre Diabla" with Angie Cepeda, huh? Both were shown here in Hungary :)

GinnyPotter387: no, it doesn't take long time to make up a new chapter.

Hobbit Feet: "may the force be with this one!" – Wow, thanks, that was cute!

LisaQT3: I also don't like scenes about the miracle of birth – that's why I did this one in a funny way, to avoid going all mushy. Don't get mad at me, but I can't write everyone about the new updates.

Mikey: a bit of Hagrid, a bit of Albus, but Voldie? He's dead!!! :) And yes, Harry is REALLY different in this one – a grown man with problems of adults. You'll see.

jennaration: I DID email you (at least I hope so, I emailed 80 people), maybe you were among those 6 to whom my mails couldn't be delivered. Sorry, not my fault.

Derkaun Zarion: there was no reason to make him premature (and the reason for naming him Daniel was not only Dan Radliffe. See my answer to DragonSinger.) Draco's all right, thanks. You'll see him soon.

All right, enough of me, on to chapter two! Enjoy!

Chapter 2

Wizard, not wizard

31st July

"How many people?" Harry pulled back the curtain and peered down at the garden.

"About fifty, I guess." Ginny replied.

"But… but I told you that I wanted a small celebration. Only the family and the closest friends."

"I know, but Sirius couldn't be convinced. This is the first birthday-party held at Black Manor for… twenty years?"

Harry nodded. "Sirius told me… they celebrated Father's birthday here only three months before he died…" his voice trailed off. Ginny took his hands into hers and squeezed them reassuringly.

"Ouch!" he hissed and tore his right hand out of his wife's grip.

"Sorry…" she apologised. "Does it still hurt very much?"

"My ring-finger has broken and two others suffered serious bruises." Harry replied. "Next time we'll have children, I'll cast an anti-break charm on my hands."

"You sound pretty sure that I'll let you do that to me again…" she tried to look serious but didn't manage.

"Just the usual Potter-self-confidence." he grinned and pulled her into a hug.

"Okay, Mr. Self-confident, it's time for you to descend into the circle of lesser people who are anxiously waiting to see you blow away nineteen candles."

"Oh, all right… I'll do it. But just for Sirius." he sighed and headed for the door.

"Wait a minute, I've almost forgotten something!" she called after him.

"What?"

"Your present." she gave him a charming smile.

"My present?" he raised an eyebrow with an impish smile. "But I thought it was recommended to refrain from it for at least one month after giving birth…"

"Not that, you dupe!" she giggled. "You'll get that present in time. This is something else." she opened the wardrobe and started looking for something.

"Now where it is?" Harry heard her say, as well saw her flinging things out of the wardrobe: robes, pointed hats, a broom-servicing kit, a sneakoscope, a monkey ("sod off, Abu!) "Ah, there you are!" she pulled something huge, wrapped in yellow paper, out from under a box of wizard chess. "Happy birthday, dearest!"

Harry took the package and felt it. "Um, something soft and cuddly… let me guess… a teddy bear?"

Ginny shook her head. "Keep guessing."

"A pillow?"

"Nay."

"Let's see… it feels… furry… a yeti?"

"That would be bigger." she remarked.

"You can't be sure. Ever seen a yeti?"

"No. Have you?"

"No, but I had the honour of playing one in Lockhart's class. The yeti had a cold, so I needed to sneeze… not a yeti, then."

"No." she smiled. "Go ahead, open it."

Harry unwrapped his present to see something he really hadn't expected. "A… fur-coat?"

"Do you like it?"

"Ah, yeah… it might come in handy… in about half a year…" he saw disappointment spread all over Ginny's face. "I mean… it is really useful… Sybill Trelawney promised snow for tomorrow, so after all…"

"You don't like it." she observed.

"But I do!" Harry replied hastily. "It's a very nice coat of… of…"

"Pogrebin fur."

"What?" he blinked.

"Pogrebin. Haven't you paid attention at Care of Magical Creatures?" she furrowed her brow.

"Well… Ron and I used to spend the time talking to Hagrid instead of caring for the creatures…" he shrugged. "There was only one exception… the skrewts… brrr…" he shuddered. "Hagrid's favourite, self-bred little pets… oh, did I say little?"

Ginny shook her head.

"What?" Harry wondered, seeing his wife's unreadable expression.

"Harry Potter… you are such a big child!" she replied. "Sometimes you can be so wise that it scares me, but other times – like now – you are like…"

"Ron?" he finished her sentence.

"No. Fred and George." she smirked.

"That's not a nice thing to speak about my shortcomings on my birthday…" he scowled like a stubborn five-year-old. He looked so endearing that Ginny couldn't resist the temptation and pulled him into a long kiss. As they parted, she spoke up:

"Number one: you ARE like a big baby sometimes, but I don't mind, since most of my family are so. Number two: you DO have your shortcomings, but I've got used to them. Number three: you are a terrible liar, and you know it as well as I know. Number four: pogrebins are Russian demons with lots of fur. That's all."

"Is that all? Really?"

"No. There's one more thing." she smiled. "I love you."

"And I love you back." he kissed her once more. "And I'm sure I'll grow to like that coat, too."

"You'd better…" she replied. "You might need it earlier than you thought."

"Ice age is coming, right?" he laid the coat on the bed.

"Could be." she laughed. "But first your birthday-party is coming. C'mon, let's go down!"

* * * * *

As they exited the house, a dozen of Filibuster's No-Heat, Wet-Start fireworks exploded in the garden, ten of them rocketing into the skies, the remaining two setting an old, gnarly oak-tree on fire.

"Freeeed!" came Mrs. Weasley's exasperated voice. "What did you do again?"

"It wasn't Fred, it was me!" George yelled back, casting an extinguishing spell on the oak-tree.

"Nice start for a party." Harry grinned as everyone surrounded him, shouting and singing Happy Birthday.

"I've baked the cake!" Hagrid asserted proudly, not noticing the sheer terror that fell over the guests' faces. Harry took a deep breath and blew away the nineteen candles on the cake, that had the following script on it 'HARRY BIRTHDAY!'

"Go on, slice it!" Hagrid gave Harry an encouraging smile, handing him a huge knife. To Harry's surprise the cake wasn't as hard as a rock. "Olymp's recipe!" the half-giant added.

"Ah, I see…" Harry smirked. "Getting along well, you two?"

"Never better, pal, never better." Hagrid beamed. "Nice ter be a married man, really."

"'Course it is." Harry cast a side-ways glance at Ginny. "It's wonderful. Just wait until your first child is born, Hagrid."

The giant turned ruby-red and chuckled into his beard. "That mighta come sometime too… but Olymp's bin quite busy with Beaxbatons during the school-year…"

"…and as we know it takes two people, right?" Harry laughed. "Well, it's summer now, she's free from her school duties…"

"Hey, have you seen your presents yet?" Sirius walked up to them.

Harry shook his head no, and let his godfather lead him up to a long table decked with packages of all sizes and colours.

"My gosh!" the young man breathed. "Have you people mistaken me for Dudley? It's more than 39 presents!"

"More? I counted only 38." came a familiar voice from behind Harry's back. He turned to see his cousin, holding hands with his wife, Millicent Dursley.

"I invited them." Ginny whispered into her husband's ears. "I hope you don't mind."

"No… until he leaves some food for the other guests…" he whispered back. "Hello, Dudley, Millicent, nice to see you."

"Nice to be here." young Dursley stretched out his pudgy hand and Harry shook it. "Happy birthday, by the way."

"Um, thanks. How are you doing nowadays?"

"Very well, thanks. I'm working at Grunnings with dad… pretty boring if you ask me, but dad loves it…" Dudley shrugged.

"And how are uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia? Haven't seen them for two years." Harry asked politely. Not that he was a bit interested in them, though…

"Mom and Dad… well…" Dudley drawled, "…could be better. Mom's near to a nervous breakdown and dad is also very jittery."

"Why?" asked Ginny.

"Uh, you know, funny things happen at home… with my brother, David."

"Funny things?" Harry shot a meaningful look at Ginny, whose mouth tucked into a smirk. "What funny things?"

"Oh, for example… one day Mom wanted to nurse Davie… when she thought he had enough and wanted to stop breastfeeding him, he… he just… he just wouldn't come off her breast! Like he had been glued there or something…"

Harry's grin grew wider.

"…and there was another case… Mom was listening to some Mozart music on Classic FM, Davie was crying, and then suddenly the radio switched over to Virgin 1215 that broadcast rap and Davie stopped crying… Dad called a spiritualist, but he didn't find ghosts in the house… strange, huh?"

"D'you think we should tell them?" Harry whispered to Ginny.

"Well, they'd get to know it sooner or later, anyway…" she shrugged.

"I wish I could tell it directly to uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia!" Harry sighed. "But lacking a chance, Dudley will do…" he winked at his wife and turned to his cousin. "Listen, Dudley, there's something you need to know about David…"

"What?" Dudley swallowed a huge chunk of cake.

"He's a wizard."

Dudley made a choking noise. At first Harry and Ginny thought he was only laughing, but then it became obvious that he was really choking.

"Hey!" Harry started to pat him on the back, trying to help him spit out the crumb that went down the wrong way – to no avail. Ginny conjured a glass of water and forced it down Dudley's throat, on to worsen his condition.

"Oh, do something!" Millicent screamed, casting a fanning charm on her hubby, whose head had turned strawberry. "He's going to die! Help!"

"Stay back, I'll save him!" Gilderoy Lockhart made an elegant swish with his wand, causing a loud bang. "Ooops… sorry!"

As the smoke lifted, they saw that Dudley wasn't choking anymore – he only stood there with a bluish face… slim. "I'm gonna… throw up!" he groaned and stumbled into a bush.

"Geez, it wasn't deliberate…" Lockhart apologised. "I'm terribly sorry, I…"

"No cakes… never again!" Dudley emerged from the bush, his face still blue, his suit hanging on him like his clothes did on Harry years earlier.

"Oh, Duddy, dear, are you all right?" Millicent cooed, gathering him into her arms. "What did you do to him, you raving maniac?" she glowered at Gilderoy.

"I… I…" Lockhart stuttered.

"He saved your husband's life and spared him a terrible and painstaking diet." Anck sun-Amun, Gilderoy's fiancee declared. "Come on, Gildy, you have to drink something, you're so scared…" she led him away from the little group.

"I have to admit that our friend's clumsiness was to your advantage." Harry said, sizing up his cousin who had lost at least 70 kilos in a couple of seconds. "Gilderoy could include this quick-diet program into the services of his beauty salon. Don't you think, dear?"

Ginny nodded. "You look good, Dudley."

"Really?" the slim Dudley blinked, unbelievingly touching parts of his body.

"Really." Ginny replied. "Doesn't he, Millicent?"

"I don't know… I liked the old Dudders… he was so soft… now there's nothing to grope on him…" the fat girl pouted.

"I could get fat again, if you want me to!" Dudley suggested eagerly.

"You've just said you'd never eat a cake again." Harry reminded him.

"I still could eat ice creams, whipped cream, bacon and…" Dudley's voice trailed off. "Oh my… is Davie REALLY a wizard?"

* * * * *

By sunset each one of Harry's presents had been opened. He got lots of useless stuff like three new cages for Hedwig, four collapsible cribs for Daniel and five wand-polishing kits.

From Ron he received a Rocket 4000 broomstick (Ron was satisfied with his Rocket 3000, but wanted to surprise his best friend with the most top-of-the-class broom. Now that he had lots of money he was happy to be able to buy his best friend expensive presents. He had always felt awkward when he had got presents from Harry but he wasn't in the position to reciprocate.)

Even Oliver Wood sent Harry a gift: a set of Puddlemere United Quidditch robes (navy blue with the sign sedge). A card was enclosed: "You'll need it soon. Can't wait to play in the same team with you. Oliver."

"Neither can I." Harry smiled.

At nine o'clock professor McGonagall arrived. After shortly greeting Harry, she gave Hermione a meaningful look and asked her to show the garden.

"Nice party, Harry." Neville said, sipping his butter-beer, watching Hagrid and Olympe (the latter still went by the name Madame Maxime because she thought that Olympe Hagrid sounded silly), Fred and Angelina, and George and Katie dance. "Congratulations on the birth of your son. Can I see him?"

"Later…when the crowd has left. I don't want too many people swarming around him… he's just 10 days old, after all. He is sleeping up in the kids' room with Lily and Yvette."

"Yvette?" Neville blinked. "Who's Yvette?"

"Bill and Fleur's daughter. You know… those two are always abroad. Poor Yvette got ill and needed Fleur so much but she wasn't around. Disappointing." he shook his head in disgust.

"I heard veelas never made good mothers." Neville added. "Is the child okay now?"

"Yeah, fortunately. Dinky takes good care of her and of my children, too."

"Dinky???"

"Our house-elf. She's Dobby's cousin. Er… second-cousin… I guess… but you may never know family-relations when house-elves are concerned."

"Is Dinky a slave or is she working for money?"

"Do you think I'd dare keep a house-elf as a slave with Hermione as my sister-in-law???"

"Er… no." Longbottom shook his head.

"Dumbledore's arrived!" Ron came up to them. "With his girlfriend."

"His what?" asked Harry and Neville in unison.

"You know… Mrs. Figg." Ron smirked.

"Oh…" Neville nodded.

Harry looked confused from one to the other, not understanding. "Did I miss something?"

"Well… there was a nice article from Rita Skeeter revealing the secret love-life of the headmaster… but if my memory serves me well, you were quite lost at that time…"

"How came you never told me?" Harry demanded.

"You never asked." Ron shrugged.

"Good evening, professor." Harry shook Dumbledore's hand. "Pity you couldn't come earlier – there's nothing left of the cake."

"But I hope there's some Ogden's Fire Whisky left… or at least a bit of pumpkin fizz." Albus winked at him, but strangely his cheerfulness didn't seem real. Harry couldn't put a finger on it, but didn't even want to.

"Plenty." he replied with a smile.

"Ah, I see professor McGonagall has also arrived." the headmaster looked over Harry's shoulder. "Very good, very good, we need to announce something!"

"Announce? What?"

"The reason why Ms. Granger, er, I mean Mrs. Weasley spent a couple of days at Russia."

"You are really secretive, professor." Harry said, but Albus only gave him an impish smile.

As soon as everyone in the garden fell silent, Albus Dumbledore spoke up: "First of all: let me wish our young friend a very happy nineteenth birthday! This is a special day for our Harry, and I'd like to make it even more special for him by handing over this letter." the headmaster gave Harry an envelope that he opened immediately.

"An invitation? For me?" his eyes widened as he read the text. "To be a judge in the Triwizard Tournament held at Durmstrang???" he shot an incredulous look at the old wizard. "Why me?"

"Why?" Albus smiled. "I thought it was obvious. You ARE Harry Potter. The Boy Who Lived. Winner of the previous Triwizard Tournament. Winner of the Moon Run. Order of Merlin, First Class. Your involvement in bringing about the end of Voldemort's tyranny is also well-known… Durmstrang's new headmaster said he'd be honoured if you would kindly accept to be one of the judges."

"Durmstrang's new headmaster?" Ron asked. "Who's that?"

"An acquaintance of yours, Mr. Weasley." Albus replied. "Viktor Krum."

"Krum?" some of the guests murmured. They had always known Krum as the famous Bulgarian Quidditch player. No one would have thought that he'd give up on Quidditch to overtake the duties of running Durmstrang. But at least now they all knew where Viktor had disappeared about a year ago and why he wasn't seen at any matches anymore.

"Isn't it wonderful, dearest?" Ginny asked. "You are going to be a judge!"

"You KNEW it." Harry declared. "You knew it, that's why you bought me that fur-coat."

"Exactly." she nodded.

"But… but how did you know?"

"From Hermione."

"Hermione?" Ron raised an eyebrow, casting a glance at her wife who was animatedly talking with McGonagall. "How did she know about it?"

"Remember the day Daniel was born?" Ginny asked. "Hermione received an owl from Russia that morning. A letter from Viktor Krum. She, professor Dumbledore and Krum had a meeting in St. Petersburg to discuss the details of the tournament."

"But WHY Hermione? What does she have to do with this whole tournament thingy?" Ron furrowed his brow.

"She can answer that herself." Ginny replied as her sister-in-law and professor McGonagall stepped to them.

"What can I explain?" Hermione asked.

"Your visit of Viktor Krum." Ron glowered at her.

"Ah, that one!" she waved. "Well, I was asked by professor McGonagall to accompany her to Durmstrang, since she will be the judge of Hogwarts this year, not professor Dumbledore."

"Not you, professor?" Harry asked. "Why? I thought the headmasters were to represent their schools at the tournament."

"That is really so, Harry," Dumbledore answered, "but nowadays I'm really busy at Hogwarts, so I asked Minerva to deputise for me and she accepted, with one proviso: that a young teacher should escort her to Durmstrang. We thought of Hermione at once, knowing her friendship with Mr. Krum."

"Friendship, eh?" Ron crossed his arms. "And what exactly does it mean that you'll be escorting professor McGonagall? I hope it doesn't mean…"

"I'm sorry, Ron." his wife took his hand. "I'm going to stay there until the tournament ends… but I'll come home for Christmas and Easter of course."

Ron tore his hand out of Hermione's. "How…? How could you agree to… to be away from me for a whole school-year?" his face was as red as his hair. "We've just got married and you are already leaving me!"

"Oh, don't be such a prat, Ron! It won't last that long, and just to remind you: Hagrid and Madame Maxime are also newly-weds and they also have to part for a while!"

"I - don't – care – for – Hagrid – and – Madame – Maxime!" Ron bellowed, turned on his heels and ran away.

"Ron!" Hermione yelled after him.

"Leave him!" Harry placed his hand on Hermione's shoulder. "He'll calm down, just give him time… anyway, does being a judge mean that I'll also have to spend the whole school-year at Durmstrang?"

"Of course not." she shook her head. "You'll only come for the tasks. You are the guest of honour, remember."

"I see." Harry smiled. "Glad to hear that I don't have to leave my family here." he pulled Ginny into a hug.

"Speaking of family…" Dumbledore interjected, "Could I see the youngest Potter?"

"Oh, of course… come, this way." Harry said, and hand in hand with Ginny he went upstairs, followed by Albus and Minerva.

"Wonder why prof Dumbledore didn't want to go to Durmstrang." Fred told George. "What will make him so busy that he had to send McGonagall?"

"What? I'd rather say 'who'." George smirked. "And the answer is Arabella Figg."

"Dumbledore… that old scoundrel…" Fred grinned back at his twin.

* * * * *

"Oh, so here he is." Albus approached the crib. Little Daniel Potter was peacefully sleeping in it. "You couldn't even deny being the father, Harry. He looks exactly like you did when you were born."

"Everyone says the same." Harry smiled proudly. "They say he's a spitting image of me at this age. Aren't you, Dannie?" he reached out to adjust the baby's quilt.

"Isn't he adorable, professor McGonagall?" Ginny asked with a brilliant smile.

Minerva forced herself to return the young mother's smile. "He is really handsome."

"Just like his father." Ginny replied.

"It runs in the family." Harry added with a wink, looking at the headmaster, who suddenly seemed troubled again. "Are you all right, professor Dumbledore?"

Albus cast a meaningful look at Minerva, who nodded.

"There's something we need to tell you." he said finally. "We didn't want to tell this on your birthday, Harry, but you'd get to know it sooner or later."

"You scare me!" Ginny breathed, clutching her husband's hand.

"What you want to tell… is it in connection with Daniel?" Harry asked.

"Yes, it is." the headmaster nodded, looking at McGonagall.

"Albus received your owl about the birth of your son on 22nd July." Minerva said. "The same day I checked the Hogwarts parchment book to see whom I had to send letters this year…" she paused for a bit, heaving a deep sigh. "Your son… Daniel… was not in the book."

Ginny gasped and squeezed Harry's still too sensitive fingers. This time he didn't exclaim in pain. Didn't even budge – as though he had been petrified.

"You know what this means, don't you, Harry?" Dumbledore looked worriedly at him.

Harry nodded. "It means… it means my son is… a squib."