Chapter Two: Memories

As Harry unlocked the cottage at Zaranka Beach Ginny gasped, just as Cho had. Harry hadn't been there for quite a few months. He sighed inwardly, telling himself that he could do this, he had to do this, for himself, and for Ginny, who needed it.

"Harry, why can't I know what the surprise is?" asked Cho. She placed her hands over Harry's, which were over her brown eyes.

"Because, Sweetie, then it wouldn't be a surprise," Harry replied as he steered her down the cobblestone path.

"Please, just one itty, bitty hint?" Cho begged, a playful smile dancing across her face.

"Now, why would I do that?" Harry grinned as he uncovered her eyes in front of a small cottage.

The cottage had a stone chimney coming up from the back; the roof and shutters were red. The white trim around the windows could be seen clearly against the yellow exterior of the house.

Cho gasped. "Do you like it?" asked Harry.

"I love it, and you," said Cho with a quick look at her engagement ring, she kissed Harry.

Sure, Harry thought bitterly, as he and Ginny walked into the living room.

"It's gorgeous! Are you sure you want to give it to me?" asked Ginny.

"Come on, Carina, walk to Mummy," Cho crouched and flung her arms out.

"Or to Daddy," Harry said from the other side of Carina, and he too flung his arms out.

One year old Carina was standing in the middle of the living room, looking uncertainly at her mother and father on either side of her. She took one wobbly step towards Harry.

"Come on, Carina, one more step! You can do it, one more step!" Harry cheered.

Carina took one more step, then-

Plump!

Carina began to wail, Harry went over and picked up his youngest daughter, his little girl with red fuzz for hair, her bright green eyes swimming with tears.

"Harry, did you hear me? I asked if you are sure you want to give me this wonderful place, Ginny said, making Harry come back to life.

"Yes," said Harry firmly, "you can also keep all the furniture; I won't be needing it.

"All right, then, I know there isn't a point in arguing with you. Let's go see the kitchen," she responded, and Harry led her into the next room.

"Harry," asked Cho, Harry's wife of the past six months.

"Yes, sweetie?"

"I-er-I mean- we- no, I am er- pregnant," Cho stumbled quickly.

You could have heard a pin drop in the whole minute it took for Harry to react.

"Pregnant?" asked Harry quietly, a small smile spreading across his face.

"Yes," Cho said quietly, waiting for Harry's reaction.

"Th- that's great!" Harry said, standing up and kissing Cho.

"I went to the Mediwitch this morning and she said it's a girl."

"And she's going to be a 'Daddy's Little Girl,'" laughed Harry.

"You wish," joked Cho, "How about the name Alexis? Or Alexie?"

Harry made a face, "Nah, how about Lexie?"

Cho nodded, "But it's not permanent."

"Oh, Harry! I love it! You do know, though, that you don't have to do this."

"Yes, I know. I want to. Do you want to live here?" Harry questioned.

"Yes, of course. Oh Harry, I feel safe here. I really do," said Ginny with a flush.

Then she did something unexpected; she threw her arms around him and pulled him into a hug, and he hugged her back. Her hair was soft and smelled of roses. As the hug continued, Harry felt warmth spread through his body. Realizing what was happening, he pulled away and Ginny let go; the feeling disappeared completely. An awkward silence filled the cottage as Harry realized that he'd just hugged Ginny...and liked it. Really liked it.

"Hermione, I just don't know what's going on!" Ginny sighed. Hermione had come over to the cottage for a cup of tea. "One moment we were just talking and the next we were hugging."

Hermione nodded, "Ginny, I know you probably don't want to talk about it, but why did you even date Malfoy?"

Ginny sighed, "I thought, that if I did then Harry would make a move, but he didn't. And then at the end of his seventh year, Draco threatened me and my family. He said that if I didn't marry him, he would kill my family and you and Harry." Ginny was crying now, "S- so I did. I didn't want anything happening to any of you."

Hermione got up and wrapped her arms around her friend, "Ginny, I'm sorry, that's terrible," she whispered in her ear.

When Ginny pulled back from her friend she noticed that she looked pinched, as if to be in pain.

"Hermione?" Ginny asked in concern.

"Ginny, get Ron! I think the baby is--owww!--coming! Ahhhh...."

Ron was pacing St. Mungo's floor.

Harry's green eyes were following Ron, "Ron, you act as though you have never been though this!"

"Daddy, is Mummy having the baby?" asked Claire

"Yes, but Mummy is having two babies." Ron explained gently.

"Are you going to forget me like you forgot Simon?" asked Claire, who looked close to tears.

"Sweetie, we didn't forget Simon."

Before Claire could respond a Mediwitch came out of the room, "Mr. Weasley?" Ron nodded, "Your wife is about ready to deliver, she wants you there."

Ron nodded again and left the room.

"Daddy," Lexie asked as she pulled on Harry's robes.

"Yes, sweetie?" Harry asked looking up from The Daily Prophet.

"Daddy, when are we going to go see Mummy again?"

Harry cleared his throat, "This weekend, Lexie."

"Why then? How come she isn't here with us?" Lexie asked with a small sigh.

Harry laughed, "Lexie, this isn't twenty questions, all right? And you are going over there next weekend because that's the deal, you live with me and you see her on weekends." Harry explained.

"Daddy, when Christmas?" asked Carina, who was looking at the magical Christmas tree in the hospital lobby.

"In a about two weeks," Harry replied, thankful of someone who wasn't asking difficult questions to answer.

"15 days, Daddy!" exclaimed Lexie, as though her father had committed a crime by not knowing the exact number of days tell Christmas.