After an impromptu dinner and a promise to have the entire family at the Burrow for a family dinner the next night, Molly, Hermione, and Bill left Ginny's flat. "Well that went fairly well," Ginny mused.
"Yes, I don't think Bill wants to see me dead anymore. That's an obvious improvement," Harry replied with a smile.
"He never actually wanted you dead; he just didn't like to see me suffer. He's always had a bad habit of trying to father me. I think he was just old enough when I was born to feel like he should be responsible for me," Ginny informed him.
Harry's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Well that makes sense. But you know what?"
"What?"
"I happen to be glad that I am neither your father nor your brother."
Ginny stood up and walked over to the chair Harry was sitting in and sat down on his lap. "I have to agree with you on that one, Mr. Potter. I have far too many brothers."
"Is that the only reason why you're glad I'm not your brother?" Harry asked, pretending to be offended.
"Yes, yes it is," Ginny teased.
Harry leaned over and kissed her neck. "Do your brothers do that?" Ginny shook her head. Harry continued to trail kisses down her neck towards her collar bone.
Ginny's head fell backwards to give Harry better access to her skin. "No, I don't think that I would want any of my brothers to do that," she whispered.
"Good. I'm afraid I'd have to break up with you if you did."
Ginny laughed and brushed Harry's hair off of his forehead. "Your hair is getting long again. Are you going to keep it short?"
"Nah, I don't think so. Truth be told, I've kinda missed the messiness."
Ginny smiled as she played with the hair at the nape of his neck. "Good, I like it longer too. Are you going to go back to your glasses?"
"Well I like the contacts. Glasses can be a bit restrictive at times," Harry said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, with the contacts I can see you clearly the entire time I make love to you," he answered with a smirk.
"Is that so?" Harry nodded. "Then I like the contacts better too." Ginny lowered her head and rested her forehead against Harry's. "You have beautiful eyes."
"You do too," Harry whispered.
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Mine are just boring brown. Yours are this vibrant green that sparkles."
"Like a fresh pickled toad?" Harry asked innocently. Ginny pulled back and swatted at his arm.
"I'd like to forget about that thank you very much," Ginny said.
"I wouldn't." Ginny moved to get off Harry's lap but he grabbed her arm and pulled her back towards him. He cupped her face in his hands so she was forced to look into his eyes. "Your eyes are like mirrors into your heart. Whenever I look in your eyes, I can see how much you love me. You do have beautiful eyes." Harry leaned forward and planted a loving kiss on Ginny's lips.
"I love you," Ginny whispered.
"I love you too."
Ginny could help but laugh. "I never thought I'd get to hear you say that again."
"Well you better get used to it, because I plan on telling you everyday," Harry informed her.
"I'm going to hold you to that." Ginny smiled and a yawn escaped from her lips.
"We should go to bed, love." Ginny cocked an eyebrow at him. "To sleep. We should go to bed to sleep."
"Don't you have the stamina for a second round Mr. Potter?" Ginny teased.
"Trust me, for you, I have enough stamina for a hundred rounds. But tonight, I think we both need sleep. Not for our physical well-being, but for our mental. Come on." Ginny didn't budge so Harry simply lifted her up in his arms as he stood. Ginny giggled as he proceeded to carry her up the stairs to her bedroom and lay her down on her bed. He placed a gentle kiss on her forehead and turned to leave the room.
"Where do you think you're going?" Ginny asked.
"I thought we agreed to sleep tonight," Harry said looking confused.
"First of all, I never agreed to simply sleeping," Ginny informed him. "Second of all, just because we aren't planning on sleeping together, doesn't mean we can't sleep together."
"Oh," Harry said as the meaning of her words dawned on him.
"Go get ready for bed and then come back." Harry stood in place and removed his clothes until all he had on was his boxers.
"Done," Harry informed her as he crawled in bed. "Your turn."
Ginny rolled her eyes as she got out of bed and went to her dresser. She slipped out of her skirt and pulled off her shirt. Harry let out a low whistle. "I thought you just wanted to sleep?"
"Doesn't mean that I don't enjoy the view." Ginny smirked at him and undid the clasp on her bra, leaving Harry staring at her bare back. "There's that birthmark again." Ginny pulled a purple night gown out of her dresser and pulled it on over her head. Harry couldn't help but admire how the silky material clung perfectly to her curves. "You're doing it on purpose, aren't you?"
"What?" Ginny asked innocently, batting her eyelashes.
"Being irresistible so it will be impossible for me to just sleep with you tonight," Harry answered bluntly.
"Maybe," Ginny replied with a grin as she crawled into bed next to him.
"You asked for it then."
"What did I ask for?"
"A battle of wills. I happen to know that I am one of the few people with a stubborn streak to match your own."
Ginny crossed her arms over her chest. "I'm not sure if I should be flattered or insulted."
"Well to help my case, I think you should be insulted," Harry told her and then paused with a grin. "However I also think that in order to continue helping my case you should uncross your arms."
Ginny followed Harry's gaze to her cleavage and her cheeks flushed. "I think that your case is a lost cause."
"We'll see," Harry said as he wrapped his arms around her. Ginny put her arm around his chest and placed her head on his shoulder as she intertwined one of his legs with her own.
Harry's heavy breathing was hypnotic for Ginny and she soon found herself forgetting her mission to seduce him. "If you had told me this morning that today would have a happy ending I wouldn't have believed you," Ginny whispered sleepily. "Don't ever leave me again."
"I won't. I love you."
"Good night Harry," Ginny murmured as she drifted off to sleep.
"Good night love."
"Ginny, I love you but turn that blasted alarm clock off!" Harry said as he gently shook her arm. Ginny sleepily reached over and turned off the alarm clock before resting her head on Harry's chest again. "Gin, I think that you set the clock for a reason."
"No I didn't," Ginny insisted without opening her eyes.
"So you don't have to work today?" Harry asked with a grin.
"No. And when did you become such a bloody cheerful morning person?" Ginny asked grumpily.
"Now do you really want to get fired?"
"Fine Mother, I'm up," Ginny groaned as she rolled out of bed.
"Well I must have really done something wrong if you think I'm your mother," Harry teased.
"Yes, you were too bloody perky."
"Well excuse me, but waking up with you in my arms, remembering our entire history, including that fantastic bit in this very bed yesterday, put me in a good mood."
Ginny walked back over to the bed and gave Harry a kiss. "That is a very acceptable reason to be perky. In fact, I think I feel myself perking up a bit."
"Good. Then my job is done."
"Well seeing as how your only job is done, how do you intend to spend your day?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Well I imagine I'll take a trip to Diagon Alley to see about getting a few things; you know, a wand, a broomstick, maybe a few books."
"I'm sure the Ministry would give you your old broomstick back," Ginny interrupted.
"I don't think I want it back. I think its place is on display, it kind of symbolizes the end of one part of my life."
"What do you mean?" Ginny asked.
"Well for the first time, I don't feel like I'm living life as the boy who lived. That part of my life is done. I get a fresh start now," Harry explained.
"Have you thought about what you want to do with this fresh start?"
"Well, I don't think I want to fight dark wizards. That was part of being the boy who lived."
Ginny gave him a small smile. "Unfortunately, I don't think that the rest of the wizarding world is quite as ready to separate Harry Potter from the boy who lived."
"I know, but the first step is for me to make the separation." Harry paused and grinned at Ginny who had made no progress in getting ready for work. "You're going to be late."
"Well you are distracting me," Ginny retorted.
"I'm sure your boss will think that is a good excuse."
"No, but Hermione will and then she will cover for me until I can get there," Ginny answered with a smirk.
"Just get ready," Harry said as he threw a pillow at her.
Ginny grinned at him impishly. "Fine." She slipped off her knickers and then pulled her night gown off over her head. Harry gasped, but Ginny only smiled and walked into the bathroom. Harry lay in bed, trying to regain control of himself as he heard the water start running for the shower.
"You're going to be the death of me woman," Harry said to himself with a smile.
Ginny arrived home late after a long, hard day at work. She had been in a foul mood ever since she set foot in St. Mungo's that morning and had been called into her boss's office. Her boss proceeded to yell at her for thirty minutes about the importance of timeliness, and then about how much time she had taken off lately. Ginny had gritted her teeth through the lecture and apologized, but when she turned to leave her boss crossed the line. She called to Ginny that the hospital looked down on her living with Harry without being married. Ginny lost it; she started yelling at her boss, telling her that what she did in her own time had nothing to do with the hospital. The whole situation ended with Ginny being put on probation.
"Harry? Are you here?" Ginny called to what was apparently an empty house. She walked into the kitchen and found a note from Harry.
Gin,
I have some news I wanted to tell you before your family, but I promised your mum I would come over early. I guess I'll just see you at the Burrow.
Love always,
Harry
"Prat," Ginny muttered under her breath. She went up to her room and changed out of her work clothes. Her mood hadn't gotten any better by the time she prepared to apparate to the Burrow.
When she arrived in the garden, she saw most of her family gathered in the kitchen. She stood outside, watching them through the window.
"Ginny! Come here, quick!" Hermione called from the side of the house. "Thank goodness you're finally here!"
Ginny walked curiously over to where Hermione was standing. "Well it doesn't look like my absence kept you all from starting without me," Ginny said bitterly.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked.
"Just a long day at work."
Hermione frowned. "I heard about your probation."
"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine. Now why was it that you wanted to talk to me so secretly?"
"I wanted to know what Harry's news was. I thought it was going to be that you two were engaged, but judging by your lack of ring and glow I don't think that's it."
"I wish I knew, but all I got was a note saying that there was news."
"Darn. I'm pretty sure I've figured out Bill, Charlie, and Fred's news."
"They all have news too?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, although I think they worded it announcements. I'm assuming all of that news is baby related. Venus is positively glowing, and Angelina turned down a game of Quidditch. Fleur is just a guess though; she's still with her family in France."
Before Ginny could respond they were interrupted. "Aunt Ginny!" a chorus of voices cried.
"Hello girls," Ginny replied forcing a smile.
"Uncle Harry was just telling us the best stories about you!" Rose exclaimed.
"Yeah, will you show us how to do the bat bogey hex?" Amy asked.
Ginny couldn't help but laugh and she felt her bad mood lifting. "Maybe when you're a little older."
"There she is, the woman of the hour," Harry said as he walked up carrying Harriet in his arms. "How was your day dear?"
Ginny chuckled. "Absolutely dreadful."
"Well then we'll just have to fix that then won't we?" Harry leaned over and gave Ginny a kiss.
"Ewww!" the girls cried.
Harry put Harriet down and turned to face the girls. "I suggest that anyone who didn't like that either close their eyes or run away right now." He wrapped his arms firmly around Ginny's waist and captured her lips with his own.
Hermione smiled. "Okay girls, let's leave them alone."
"Alright but they better hurry up and finish so we can start eating," Julie said as they walked back into the house.
"So can you tell me your news now?" Ginny asked as she pulled away from Harry.
"Honestly I'd rather just tell everyone at once at this point," Harry replied.
Ginny felt her bad mood return and scowled. "Fine." She took Harry by the arm and pulled him into the house. "Everyone Harry has something he'd like to tell us."
Harry glared at Ginny. "Well, it's just that, I'm, um, I'm going away for a little while."
"What!" Ginny cried. "You promised you'd never leave me again!"
"Calm down Ginny, I'm not leaving you. I'm just going back to Canada for a few days," Harry explained.
"Why dear?" Molly asked, trying to break up the fight.
"Well, for one thing I have some stuff I still need to get. I also have some friends I never really said goodbye to. But the real reason I'm going back is Anna." Ginny snorted. "Like I was saying," Harry continued ignoring Ginny. "Anna needs me right now. Her father had a heart attack and they don't expect him to live much longer." The silence in the room was deafening.
"I'm so sorry," Ginny whispered clasping her hand in Harry's.
"The man saved my life and then treated me like a son. I have to be there to say goodbye, as well as support Anna and her mother. I hope you can understand why I have to go."
"Of course," Ginny replied, obviously embarrassed by her earlier display.
"Sorry to be such a mood killer. What was everyone else's news?" Harry asked awkwardly.
"Oh well, I'm pregnant," Venus said lamely. "I didn't want to say anything while everyone was still so worried about, well, you know."
"Me too," Angelina added.
Everyone looked at Bill expectedly. "Well I'm not pregnant!" he exclaimed. "But Fleur is. Actually, Fleur is very pregnant. Remember when I went out of town on business for about a month a while back?" Everyone nodded. "Well she found out she was pregnant right after I left, but didn't want to tell anyone until she could tell me in person. Then she decided that she wanted to tell her family in person first this time. This week was the first time we could arrange a trip to France. She's been using the same kind of illusion charms Venus used when she was working at Hogwarts."
"William Weasley I can't believe you kept this from us for this long!" Molly exclaimed.
"Sorry Mum, but you can't refuse the wishes of the woman carrying your baby," Bill said with a smile.
"Well congratulations to all of you!" Arthur said happily.
"I'm happy I'm going to be a big sister, but can we eat now?" Andrea asked.
"I'm with her," Ron added.
"Stop fussing!" Molly said. "Everybody dig in!"
After dinner Harry and Ginny headed back to her flat.
"So how was your day other than finding out about Anna's dad?" Ginny asked as she and Harry sat down on the couch.
"It was alright. All of my errands went fairly smoothly, and I wasn't ambushed by a crowd at all. I just have a lot to think about," Harry answered.
"Like what?"
"Like what I want to do with my life. I really don't know. I have enough money so that I could live comfortably for a long time without working, but I don't think that would make me happy."
"I'm sure you'll figure something out. When do you leave?"
Harry sighed. "I have plane reservations for a flight first thing in the morning."
"You're traveling the muggle way?" Ginny asked.
Harry nodded. "All things considered it's the simplest."
"Does that mean you're going straight to bed?"
"I guess so," Harry said. "You'll have to forgive me for not being in a more romantic mood."
"Its okay love, you've gone through a lot today. Will you still sleep with me?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way," Harry replied with a smile.
A/N Okay, so I'm the first to admit this isn't my most entertaining chapter, but it was neccessary. I guess this is what you might call a transitional chapter. There were two things I needed to happen, unfortunately they were just little things that set up future plot points. I'm not going to be following Harry's time away, the important thing to know is that he's gone. Thanks again for all of your reviews! The good news is I'm on Fall Break now, so I should be able to write a lot! Let's just hope that things transition the way I want them to!