Birthday Surprises Chapter 22

Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only… Lolly, xxx.

Ginny and Hermione had heard Leah's cries, and came down the stairs to see what was wrong. Harry had returned a few minutes before, and had obviously calmed her down. Ron was looking sheepish, while Molly looked rather surprised, and a little worried.

"What did we miss?" Hermione asked.

"Apparently Leah doesn't like anyone else holding her except Harry." Ron said.

"She's just not used to you - remember I've been looking after them for a while now."

"Yeah, but did they scream the house down when they first came to you?" Ron asked. Harry looked thoughtful for a moment before shrugging.

"No, but we don't know what happened to their parents - maybe they weren't used to being looked after by the one person before me."

"Right. Maybe I'm just not cut out to look after kids." Ron said. Harry laughed at this, looking sympathetic at the same time.

"You get used to it, believe me. I nearly died when Fawkes turned up with these three on my birthday - besides, you're only seventeen. It's not as if you have to worry about it just yet."

"No, not unless Dumbledore has some other surprises up his sleeve." Ron said.

"I doubt it - at least no surprises like this. Unless Hogwarts is gonna turn into a nursery."

"I hope not." Ron said.

"Aww, it would be nice - babies are sweet." Hermione disagreed

"Only when they aren't screaming." Ron replied.

"I'm going to put Leah to bed - she's exhausted." Harry announced. Ginny immediately got up.

"I'm coming." She said.

Harry sat down on his bed while Ginny watched the triplets sleep. He put the photos back in the drawer and pulled out a box of sugarquills. "Want a sugarquill?" He asked. Ginny turned to him, nodding. He held the box out and she chose a lilac-coloured quill. Harry picked out a yellow one and put the box away. Walking over to the cradle, he saw that Sam and Andrew were waking again. Harry looked at his quill for a moment before cracking off a small piece. Ginny giggled as Harry put a small piece of spun sugar into each boy's mouth, watching as delight spread over their little faces. Sensing that she was missing something, Leah woke up too, and Harry popped a little of the sugarquill into her mouth.

"C'mon, let's leave them to sleep." Harry said. The triplets were already drifting back to sleep, little grins still plastered on their faces.

Harry and Ginny went down to the living room, where Ron and Hermione were finishing their heated argument from earlier. They didn't even notice when Harry and Ginny walked in, although Molly did.

"What are they arguing about now?" Harry asked.

"Whether Malfoy will be head boy." Molly sighed. "Ron thinks that Snape will somehow convince the headmaster to pick him, and Hermione says that there is no way that he'd be head boy." Ginny grinned at Harry.

"Aren't you going to solve their problem?" She asked sweetly.

"Are you kidding? They enjoy arguing. Leave them to it." Harry said.

"Do you know who is the head boy?" Molly asked.

"Er…..yeah. It's me."

"Oh Harry dear, that's wonderful!"

"Thanks Mrs Weasley."

"Oh, hush with that Mrs Weasley nonsense - call me Molly."

"Uh, ok." Harry said.

"Do they ever stop bickering?" Ginny asked, still watching Ron and Hermione.

"Nope." Harry grinned, "That's their way of flirting."

"They're both completely hopeless."

"Hey, don't tell me! You're preaching to the converted."

"Oh, I forgot. You've been putting up with this since first year."

"Yeah, and after a while you learn to tune it out."

"Why don't we go for a walk and leave them to it?" Ginny suggested.

"Ok then - I'll race you to the tree." Harry grinned cheekily and took off. Ginny immediately ran after him.

"Don't you dare apparate!" She yelled, running as fast as she could.

Harry skidded to a halt beside the tree, turning back to see Ginny hurtling towards him. She made no move to stop, and careered into him forcefully, throwing him back and winding him. "Oops." She said, extending a hand to help him up.

"Oops nothing!" Harry said, pulling her down.

"Hey - that wasn't fair." Ginny said.

"You live with six brothers and you still expect fair?" Harry laughed.

"From you I did. Ah well." Ginny gave a huge sigh and sat back against the tree. "It's going to rain soon." She said, looking up at the sky, which had clouded over considerably.

"Very likely." Harry agreed.

Harry and Ginny sat outside talking for almost an hour and a half before the first raindrop fell. Soon, it was pouring, and they ran back to the house before they got soaked - it was an exercise in futility, as they were both drenched through by the time they reached the Burrow. Molly met them at the door, clucking about how they'd catch cold. Harry assured her that they'd both be fine, and dashed up to change. Ginny heard him humming as she passed on her way to her room.