Disclaimer: Don't hate me.
A/N: Ouch! You guys are ready to lynch me! Give me a break.
Chapter Eight
This is Why I Don't Drink
Three long, lonely months had passed for Ginny. Harry had set up an account for her and the babies, so she didn't need to work. She rented a small house, and wondered what she was going to do when JJ, Wren, and Sy started walking. She missed having help with the housework. She missed the big beautiful house. Mostly, she missed Harry.
Ginny was folding clothes when a knock came at her door. She didn't really know any of her neighbors, so she rarely had company.
"Come in," she called.
"Ginny?" a tentative voice echoed.
Ginny stood and looked at the caller. She wanted to scream. Cho Chang was in her house! It had been three months since she had seen anyone but the babies and the boy who delivered the groceries. She sat again and picked up some baby clothes to fold.
"I'm so sorry to intrude on you Ginny, but I had to talk to you," Cho said. Gone was the hatefulness of previous encounters.
"About what?"
"Harry."
Ginny's heart beat wildly in her chest. It still hurts so much to think about him, and she thought about him often.
"What about him?"
"He's dying."
Ginny jumped to her feet, clean clothes spilling to the floor.
"What?" she yelped.
"Without you, Harry is falling apart. You're killing him. He needs you, Ginny."
Ginny refused to give in to the threatening tears. "I don't belong with him, Cho. You were right about that, at least."
"No," Cho answered with a small stomp of her foot. "I wasn't right. I was an idiot. I wanted someone who had prestige and power and money, and since Harry keeps having them thrown at him, I thought I wanted him. Harry and I are opposites that don't attract. Besides, I'm seeing someone."
Ginny stared curiously. "Does Harry even know where I am?"
Cho sighed. "He won't even look for you. He says that everything is up to you. Honestly, we've never seen him like this. He's like a shell."
Ginny couldn't meet her eyes. She stared at her laundry, and finally said, "I'll need some time, Cho. Thank you for letting me know."
The Asian woman stepped closer. "I am sorry for everything I've done to you, Ginny. I…have no logical explanation. I hope to make it up to you someday."
Ginny smiled wanly. "I hate to say it, but I really have a lot of work to do. I'm sorry, could we talk another time?"
As soon as Cho left, Ginny felt drained. She needed an evening of fun. It had been too long since she went out. She walked to the fireplace and called Molly.
"Ginny! Dear, what's wrong?"
Ginny shook her head. "How'd you like some time with your grandbabies, Mum?"
Harry finally decided he needed a drink to ease the ache in his heart. He kept drifting into thoughts of Ginny and the babies. They were four months old now. Ginny was probably running herself ragged with them. His house seemed so empty without her in it, but he couldn't even think of leaving it. The Hog's Head was no private place for a "drown in your sorrows" drink, but he knew someone would send him home eventually. It wasn't until his fifth firewhiskey that he looked around.
Ginny walked into the familiar pub. She knew it from her days at Hogwarts. It was the kind of place she could drink herself silly. Not the best of ideas, but she didn't really want to think about that. She wanted to get completely smashed and forget everything for a few hours.
Lee Jordan had bought the Hog's Head from the previous owner and was looking over what needed to be done when he noticed Ginny and Harry at opposite ends of the bar. Both were drinking and seemed unaware of the other's presence. He shook his head, wondering why they couldn't see what was obvious to everyone.
Harry saw the red hair at the end of the bar. He thought he would go say hi, maybe try to forget Ginny for a little bit.
Sunlight streamed onto Ginny's face, intensifying her headache. She looked around blearily, trying to figure out where she was. She tried to sit up but couldn't. Someone's arm was draped across her stomach.
"Stupid, stupid," she berated herself quietly. "This is why I don't drink!"
The man beside her stirred and Ginny risked a glance. Then she stared in horrified shock. What a man. She'd seen him before. She was still married to him.
Harry blinked slowly, trying to think through his hangover. Drinking had been a bad idea, and someone else was in his bed. Wouldn't he ever learn? He opened his eyes to a pair of brown eyes staring intently at him. After a few seconds passed, he recognized those eyes.
"Ginny?"
Tears formed. Ginny blinked a few times and Harry had to laugh.
"Let me guess, you were drinking too."
It was a statement, not a question. Ginny nodded reluctantly and started crying.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, sitting up.
"I'm just so glad it's you and not someone strange!"
Harry laughed and hugged his wife to him. Soon she was laughing too.
"Ginny, I've been stupid," he informed her.
"What do you mean?"
He leaned back and looked into her eyes. "I love you. I have since before the babies were even born, probably before that. I shouldn't have let you go."
Ginny gasped. "Oh Harry! I have loved you forever! I just thought you deserved better!"
"I couldn't find a more perfect wife than the one I already have. Come home, Gin. You and the babies. I need you all here, with me."
Tears again filled Ginny's eyes. "Do you really mean that, Harry?"
Happiness filled their hearts as they kissed. Harry broke the kiss quickly and grinned.
"What?" Ginny asked.
"Want to find out what it's like when we're sober?" Harry teased.
With a throaty growl they disappeared again.
Later, that afternoon in fact, Harry and Ginny showed up at Arthur and Molly's house to get the babies. They let their parents know that Ginny was going home and Molly hugged her daughter.
"That's where you belong, dear," Molly murmured.
Ginny smiled. "More than that, Mum. It's where I want to be."
It was the babies' seven-month birthday, and Harry had gone to both Muggle and Wizarding shops to buy presents for them. Ginny laughed at all the trouble he went to. She was watching the babies play with the boxes when she suddenly felt sick. She ran for the bathroom, where she stayed for a few minutes. Harry was torn between watching the babies ignore their presents, and checking on Ginny. She soon reemerged, blushing a dull red.
She looked at JJ, Wren, and Sy, and shook her head.
"Harry, it's times like these that I remember why I don't drink," she said quietly.
"What is it?" Harry asked, a little worried by her expression.
"You do want a big family, right?"
Harry nodded, thoroughly confused.
"Good, because this Weasley seems to bit more fertile than they rest."
Realization dawned and Harry whooped and spun her around.
"This is going to drive the others crazy! We'll be tied with Fred."
Ginny laughed. "Having children shouldn't be a contest, but trust my family to make it one. What if I have twins?"
Harry kissed her deeply and smiled mischievously. "Then I'll be winning."
A/N: This is the end of this story. I'm thinking of trying my hand at a Potter children story, but I need to know if anyone wants to even know what happens to JJ, Wren, Sy and whoever else comes along. Try and tell me whether anyone even wants that.
Reviews
Jacqueline: Don't badmouth the muses. They almost made Ginny fall down a flight of stairs, but I talked them out of it.
Sarahamanda: Don't be mad, I have lots of other stories I should have been writing on.
Ahbahh: I love you too? Thanks for the review.
SnowflakeGinny: Your name would be a good story title; one's forming in my head now…somebody's given my muses caffeine.
LaurelinElentari: Am I a good writer? I have never considered myself one.
Maria: Sorry for the depression, have some chocolate.
Raven: It's going to be okay…
Lourdes: I fixed it, no worries.
JamieBell: I had to rush the end…it felt like I needed to rush it.
Animezebra: So do you like it?
JWGrey: Is three months too long?
Orchid6297: Hope you like it…