A/N: I don't write anything without a reason so please be patient if some random things happen that don't make sense. They will but maybe not for another chapter or two… or five. Hang tough and forgive all errors because it's my editor's 21 birthday so she is on vacation!

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Saturday October 24th, 1998- 6am- Harry and Ginny's bedroom:

"I'm not going to any ceremony." Harry muttered darkly as he stared at the letter Hedwig had just delivered. She hooted angrily at him for not paying attention to her and flew out the window he had opened moments earlier to let her in.

"Let me see." Ginny snatched it from him after hastily throwing on a shirt. She started to laugh. "You are in a huff about this?" She waved it around. "You'll look like a prat if you don't go." She stuffed the letter under one arm and tried to button her blouse. "The press will eat you alive."

He took it back from her and sat heavily on their bed. "Do I have to go?"

Ginny's eyes filled with concern. "You sound like Erik when he is trying to get out of taking a bath." She walked over and kissed him, her hands resting gently on his cheeks. "You have to go love but I promise that we'll all be there to cheer you on."

Harry closed his eyes and willed the letter into oblivion but when he opened them again he knew it was still clutched in his hand. "Bloody Order of Merlin." He sighed and leaned his head against her shoulder. "Bloody hero…" Her lips capturing his cut him off.

"When is it?" Ginny asked him softly.

"Next month." He groaned and flopped back on the bed.

Ginny sat down beside him. "Well at lest there is a whole month before you have to go face Rita Skeeter." She got a malicious grin on her face. "I am going to have fun seeing our darling reporter again."

Harry sat up quickly. "What are you going to do to her?"

"I have the twins working over time to come up with stuff." Ginny informed him primly as she stood up. "We need to wake the kids if we're going to be in Hogsmeade on time."

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Three Broomsticks- 10am:

"They'll be here." Colin reassured them from their large table in the back of the bar. The kids were each drinking pumpkin juice while the adults sipped butterbeers. Colin stood up and waved to someone by the door and Harry watched his mouth drop open. "What is she doing here?" Harry looked over and was surprised to see not only two redheads walking their way but a short woman with dark hair. Cho Chang. He looked over at Ginny who had just spotted her. Colin moved over to hug the twins. "Hello Maddie, Merri." He turned and stared hard at Cho. "Hi." He extended his hand and she shook it.

"Hello." Cho said and turned towards Harry, Ginny and Bill. "I hope you don't mind that I tagged along but…" She looked over at Harry. "I was wondering if I might speak to you. Outside."

Harry looked over at Ginny who just gazed back at him. "Uh… okay." He said as he stood up and went to follow her but Nicole put her arms out to him. He grinned at her and plucked her out of the highchair and put her jumper back on her before following Cho outside. Nicole wrapped her arms around his neck and she studied the other woman when they had finally reached a secluded area off the main road. A light breeze blew past that ruffled the fallen leaves. "What can I do for you?" He asked her.

Cho was looking at Nicole. "Is this your niece?"

Harry furrowed his brow. "This is my daughter Nicole."

Shock registered on her face. "But she's too old!"

"She's my daughter." Harry repeated. "I have two other children, Erik and Emily. You saw them inside."

"But… oh." She stopped speaking and bit her lip. She seemed to have realized how he had come to have three children because she did not comment further. "I just… I wanted to make sure that you are all right." She turned and looked out towards Hogwarts. "Despite how everything went between us, I do care about you and I wanted to know if you are happy."

"I am, thank you." Harry replied. "Did you come all this way to see if I am happy?"

She looked at the ground before turning to face him again. "No."

"Dada." Nicole put a finger in her mouth as Harry gazed down at her beautiful face.

Harry's smile was genuine when he spoke to her. "Yes, princess?"

Nicole beamed at him before putting her finger on his face. "Wuv eww (I love you)."

Harry kissed her cheek and put his arms tight around her. "I love you too princess."

He heard a sob escape Cho that caused him to look up at her. "I can see you are happy. I'm glad." He noted that tears were streaming down her face.

Harry sighed in exasperation. "What's wrong?"

"I've… I have…" She continued to cry. "I have feelings for you. Romantic feelings."

He was flummoxed. "But I haven't seen you in over a year!" He shook his head. "It doesn't matter though because I love Ginny and I would never cheat on her."

Cho wiped her face and sniffed loudly. "I know and I would never ask you to but I wanted to make sure that you were happy and… get that off my chest. Maybe I can move on now."

"Right." He didn't know what to say to her. "Listen it's cold out here and I'm going to take Nicole back inside. Are you coming?"

She shook her head. "I think I'll just go back to London." She touched his arm. "Thank you for listening."

Harry nodded but did not speak as he turned and went back in to the Three Broomsticks. He took off Nicole's jumper and set her back in the highchair. "So what did I miss?" He asked Ginny as he kissed her cheek.

"Where's Cho?" Ginny asked quizzically.

Harry looked meaningfully later. "Heading back to London. I'll tell you about it later."

She stared hard at him but let it go. "Well…" She said slowly. "Bill and I were just telling Maddie and Merri about Fred and George."

The woman on the right stretched her hand out to Harry. "Meredith Albertson but I go by Merri." Her American accent was very pronounced.

Harry shook her hand before turning to the other. "That would make you Madeline."

She chuckled. "Probably would and it's Maddie." She held out a hand, which he took to shake. "It's nice to meet you Harry. We are sorry about Cho coming… she overheard us talking about Colin's letter and begged us to let her come. She was crying so we didn't want to say no."

"That's alright." He looked between them wanting to change the subject. "So what do you think of our plan?"

They both laughed and it was a rich, melodious sound. "Sounds intriguing." Merri finally said. "We have been hearing all about Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."

"Mmm." Maddie took a sip of butterbeer. "We see someone at St. Mungo's at least once a week who has been using their products inappropriately."

Merri started to giggle. "Last week we had someone who'd…" She stopped at looked at Erik who had been watching her with interest. "Uh… someone who'd used a firework in a not nice way." She finally finished lamely.

Harry looked at his son and smiled. "Right. So you'll be up for making an appearance at Christmas?"

Maddie shrugged. "We don't have any where else we'd rather be on Christmas. Our mom lives in Florida but we don't really want to go there. Every time we do we get hit on by the old wizards that live in her village."

"It's gross." Merri smiled derisively. "They also hit on mom. She looks like our older sister instead of our mother but I think that eighty year old men are just too old for us." She took a sip of her butterbeer. "Come to think of it eighty year old men are too old for her as well. She's only forty five."

Ginny wrinkled her nose. "That does sound awful. Well then you can spend Christmas with us."

Both women's mouths dropped open. "We couldn't impose." Merri insisted.

"It is no imposition and you two are doing us a favor by getting back at the twins!" Bill insisted. "Those two deserve what is coming to them."

Maddie still looked unsure. "We really won't be in the way?"

"Nope." Harry said adamantly.

Colin finally spoke up. "Trust me, Mrs. Weasley loves having a large group. She'd be thrilled to have you two."

Colin's words seemed to have reassured them. "Let's get down to the nitty-gritty on what you want us to do to your brothers." Maddie got out parchment and a quill. At their questioning looks she explained. "We want to know exactly what you want so that we can rehearse."

"Absolutely." Merri agreed. "I've healed too many people who've been shopping at their joke shop. I think a little pay back is just what the Healer ordered." She winked at Ginny. "We really want to do this."

"First off we want you to be as beautiful as possible, all done up." Ginny informed them.

"Mumma." Emily pointed at her empty cup. "Juusse peas."

Ginny gave her a kiss. "Such good manner!" She refilled her cup.

"So you want us to doll ourselves up then?" Merri asked as Maddie took notes.

Colin snorted. "You won't have to do much."

"Why thank you Colin!" Maddie beamed at him. "If you weren't already taken I'd think you were hitting on me." She shut her mouth quickly and clapped a hand to her mouth. "I'm sorry! I wasn't thinking." Colin was deathly pale.

"I didn't know you were dating someone." Ginny studied her friend. "Why didn't you say something?"

He looked like he was going to be ill. "Just someone from home. She's a muggle." Ginny started to say something but Colin cut her off. "I don't want to talk about it Ginny."

"Uh… what else do you want us to do?" Merri asked Ginny and reluctantly she turned towards the other woman.

"We… we want you to flirt madly with them. We want them uncomfortable with your presence. It is very doubtful that they'll be interested." She blushed. "Not that you two aren't gorgeous but they really don't want to date anyone at all."

Maddie smiled. "We aren't offended." She looked at her twin and both of their faces bore an identical pensive looks. "We know all about men with commitment problems."

Bill rocked Tyler who was falling asleep. "Those gits have it coming to them. We are going to have Mum in on the joke. She'll see you and start going on about how they have to get married now." He switched Tyler to his shoulder when the baby would not settle down and the baby's eyes finally closed in sleep. "She's going to keep reminding them that they said they would only marry redheaded twins and how we went to all this trouble to find a set." Bill's eyes were brimming with amusement. "Then when they are properly chastised we will let them in on the joke and get down to opening presents."

"Sounds like a plan." Merri commented as she looked over the notes Maddie had taken.

"So why did you move to England?" Harry inquired.

"We were needed." Maddie shrugged.

"Several Healers were killed during the war and St. Mungo's was putting out a call for foreign Healers. We applied and now we are here." Merri added.

Maddie put her notes back in her bag. "We like it though so we probably won't go back."

"Where were you from in America?" Ginny asked in fascination.

Maddie answered. "Well… we're really from everywhere. We were born in Ireland."

"Our Da was Irish but Mom was from California." Merri interjected. Nicole held her arms out to her and she stared blankly at the baby. "What does she want?" She looked up helplessly at Ginny.

Ginny laughed. "She wants you to hold her. You don't have to though."

"No... I don't mind." Merri lifted her out and Nicole studied the rest of the adults at the table from the woman's lap. "Uh, where was I?" Her brow wrinkled.

"Da." Maddie reminded her.

"Right. Anyway when he died Mom moved us to California." Merri continued. "We were about four at the time."

"I'm four!" Erik said in excitement.

"Really?" Maddie smiled at him. "That means you're a big boy."

"Yup. I have to look after my little sisters." Erik informed her importantly.

"Wow. That does make you a big boy." Merri grinned at him.

Harry and Ginny exchanged a smile. "So what happened after that?" Harry asked.

"We lived there until we went to AWA."

"AWA?" Harry had never heard of it.

"American Wizarding Academy. It's in the mountains of Colorado." Merri informed them. "After that we trained to become Healers at a hospital in New York and then we came here."

"You've been all over then." Bill commented.

"Yeah but I think we're done traveling." Maddie assured him.

"It gets old having to make new friends all the time." Merri finished her butterbeer before looking down at Nicole who had rested her head against the woman's shoulder. "Is she asleep?"

Harry chuckled. "She was up early this morning." He got up and moved over to take his daughter. "We should probably head back so that they can take a proper nap."

Ginny also stood up and picked up Emily who did not look like she would be awake much longer. "It was so nice meeting you two."

"Same here." They replied together.

Colin hugged them. "I'll see you over break. Thanks for coming."

"Any time Colin." Merri assured him.

He nodded before moving over to Erik. "Come on Erik." He picked the boy up and Erik laughed.

Bill stood up and shook their hands while keeping one arm around Tyler. "Thanks again. We'll see you in a two months."

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Later That Night- Harry and Ginny's Bedroom:

"Are you going to tell me what happened between you and Cho?" Ginny asked him, as they lay together.

"She…" Harry felt himself blush. He still could not believe that Cho had told him that she had feelings for him. He kissed his wife's bare shoulder before he tried to speak again. "She wanted to see if I was happy and to tell me that she had feelings for me."

Ginny ran a hand through his hair. "That's what I thought she wanted."

He looked up at her. "You aren't mad?"

"No. I trust you." She kissed his lips and he marveled once again in the softness of her mouth on his.

"You were jealous of that girl on the train." He reminded her and could have kicked himself. Why had be brought that up?

She sighed, her breath tickling the hair on his neck. "I know but I've come to recognize that I have no reason to doubt you."

"When did you realize that?"

"It has been a slow thing." Ginny told him. "I see you in class with all these girls who gawk at you and you don't even realize that they are doing it."

"What?" Harry blinked in surprise. "No one is gawking at me!"

She laughed. "They do Harry and it is cute that you don't notice." She ran her hand over his bare chest and he shivered at her soothing touch. "You were always clueless about girls."

"Hey! I've gotten better." He kissed the top of her head. "I know all about you."

"Yes you do." Ginny moved until she was lying on top of him. He put his arms around her waist and held her. "I love you and I finally understood that I never have a reason to doubt you."

Harry moved his fingers along her nude back and felt goose bumps erupt on her smooth skin. "I love you too." He remembered his conversation with Cho and what Nicole had said. "Nicole told me she loved me when we were outside and Cho started crying."

"I imagine that she was envious." Ginny tilted her head up to look at him.

"I'm glad you trust me completely." He looked into her beautiful eyes and saw her love for him shining through. "I didn't realize that you had doubts before."

She titled her head to the side before putting her cheek against his chest. "I didn't doubt you exactly."

"But… you just said that you did." He reminded her.

"I know what I said but it wasn't you. It was me that I doubted." She informed him huskily. Harry thought she might be on the verge of tears.

"Tell me." He said and once again he wrapped his arms firmly around her.

"I finally realized that I am enough for you. Me and the kids, I mean."

Harry felt the breath leave his lungs. "You doubted that? You and the kids are all I could want!"

"I think I get that now. I was just being silly… I still heard what everyone was saying about me and what Zabini said about me." Harry felt a tear drop on to his chest. "I know now that. It has been slowly sinking in that you are really happy with me."

"Course I am!" Harry felt his throat constrict with emotions. "I love you!"

"I know you do. I understand now. I'm glad my fear has left me." She kissed him deeply and soon they were not talking at all.

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Saturday October 31st, 1998- Quidditch Pitch- Gryffindor vs. Slytherin:

Gryffindor Team Roster:

Keeper: Geoffrey Hooper

Seeker: Beth Towler

Beater: Jack Sloper

Beater: Colin Creavey

Chaser: Ginny Potter

Chaser: Andrea Spinnet (Captain)

Chaser: Vicky Frobisher

Slytherin Team Roster:

Keeper: Malcolm Flint (Captain)

Seeker: Terence Higgs

Beater: Sylvester Bole

Beater: Charles Warrington

Chaser: Mick Greengrass

Chaser: Graham Pritchard

Chaser: Samantha Bletchley

"Potter to Spinnet. Spinnet to Frobisher and Frobisher is hit by a Bludger hit by Warrington. Quaffle recovered by Slytherin Chaser Bletchley. Bletchley to Greengrass who is stopped by Beater Sloper." Stuart Ackerley called out to the cheering crowd.

Harry was sitting with the other Professors and the kids, cheering Ginny on. She had scored seven times in the twenty minutes that the game had been going on and it looked like she would continue to do well. She was an amazing chaser and her new broom was only adding to her abilities. He looked at his children and laughed in amusement. Erik was cheering his mother on but Emily was oblivious to the game and had been looking at a book as she sat in his lap. Nicole, on the other hand, had managed a miracle. Snape had sat next to him, probably to gloat if Slytherin won and Nicole had immediately gone to him and demanded to be picked up. Harry had smirked at the horrified expression that had crossed the Potion Master's face. Nicole was quite persistent when she wanted something and she was now sitting on his lap playing with her stuffed owl. Harry thought he saw Snape almost smile at her but for the most part the older man had maintained his look of disgust at having a baby on his lap. Nicole didn't even notice. She just babbled happily to herself and continued to play.

Ackerley's voice boomed through the stadium. "Creavey misses a Bludger but recovers and knocks it at Pritchard who dodges easily." Harry watched Ginny get the Quaffle again. "Potter to Frobisher to Potter who is heading towards goal and SHE SCORES! 100 to 60 Gryffindor."

"YAH MUMMY!" Erik called out happily, jumping up and down in excitement. "Did you see that Daddy?"

"I did." He hugged Erik. "Mummy's really good at Quidditch."

Harry looked up when he heard the crowd gasp. Towler and Higgs were racing towards the snitch at the far end of the pitch. Harry could see that Towler was ahead but Higgs was closing in quickly. Ackerley's commentary filled his ears. "Higgs and Towler are close! Who will get the snitch? It's… YES TOWLER HAS IT AND GRYFFINDOR WINS 250-60!"

He cheered loudly with the rest of the Gryffindors. He hugged Erik and turned to see that Snape's face was frozen and Nicole was patting his cheek. She then surprised both men by throwing her arms around his neck. Harry was speechless and could only gape as his daughter comforted the extremely reserved man. Slowly Snape's arms went around her small frame and he hugged her back. His former Professor turned to him when Nicole had finally let go and climbed off his lap. "Not a word Potter." He sneered.

Harry managed to hide his smile. "Of course not." He packed up the girl's toys and picked them up before moving out of the stands to congratulate his wife.

Erik was following close behind him but when they got to the pitch Erik ran past him and flung his around Ginny's waist. She picked him up and swung him around. "You were so good Mummy!" He laughed when she had stopped spinning and held him in her arms.

"Thank you sweetie." She kissed his cheek.

Harry got to her and leaned down to kiss her lips. "I'm proud of you love."

She beamed at him and then looked at Erik. "Let's go back and tell Uncle Bill about the match."

"Hopefully Tyler is feeling better." Harry said and they made their way back to the castle amidst the celebrating Gryffindors. The baby had thrown up that morning and Bill had taken him to visit Madam Pomfrey. Several students told Ginny about a party in the common room but she declined their offers with a smile. "You can go." Harry told her.

"No, I want to celebrate with you and the kids." She laughed and he could see the happiness in her eyes. "I'm so glad that we won."

Her laugh was infectious and he joined in. "Now you'll have to win Gryffindor the Quidditch Cup."

She stopped and turned to look at him. Her head cocked to the side and the smile fell from her face but she did not look sad, just pensive. "Maybe." She blinked and shook her head slightly. "They don't need me to win."

"You're the best chaser!" Harry exclaimed. She was acting very strangely.

"Thank you." She giggled. "Come on, let's get some food. I'm starved."

Harry snorted and smiled down at her. "When are you not hungry?"

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A/N: I'm not trashing Cho… just using her for my own twisted purposes. You'll see soon enough.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEETIE!

Thanks for all the reviews!

SaintEmo: No kidnappings… I promise and I'm glad you like it.

Ally: I'm so glad you are enjoying it! The kids are adorable but I'm trying to make them real and I tend to see all kids as adorable… I'm a sucker like that (lol). I hope they get together as well!

Harrie: I hope you liked it…

Lourdes: This chapter was more fluff but there are several key points made and I've increased the intrigue surrounding Colin… hmmm… is he evil… I'm glad you are enjoying it.

Silverhorn73: Thanks… I enjoy writing and hearing from the readers. I'm glad you like it.

mysticruby: JKR has said that Harry and Hermione won't get together so that just leaves a different character or Ginny… so there is hope!

haydenrocks14: I'm glad you liked it… and I have every intention of posting often… hopefully daily.

weselan: The format is different but it gives me more freedom to write and not worry about setting the time and date since I skip so many days. I'm glad you're getting used to it… I've had to get used to it too! I'm enjoying the fluff and no arch villains! It's nice to take a break from the bad stuff. I have such plans for the twins… I think you'll like it. And Ginny… yes there is a lot going on there and I've spent quite a lot of time setting it up from the very beginning of Garuda so hopefully everyone will like it.

MaxFic: Glad you liked it. I have to admit that I laughed when I wrote about the kids… it was based on something my niece did to her cat. Not green paint though.

pumkin: I'm glad to hear that I am improving. I really want to get better and better… thanks for letting me.

Harry and Ginny 4eva: I know! I read really quickly so her story (which was over 100,000 words) went by in no time and I was bummed! She doesn't even have a sequel for it! I think she might write one though… I'm crossing my fingers.

UnRealityCheck: I'm so glad to hear that you liked Garuda and that you are enjoying this one. It is pretty calm right now… well, as calm as having three small children ever gets! Colin… dramatic music is probably a good way of putting it… but as for trouble… hmmm… you'll just have to wait and see. I think it will quite a shock when everyone reads what's going on.

Eliz: I'm blushing… I feel like such a dork for not putting Luna in (I meant to) but I'll put her in the next chapter, I promise! I didn't hook her and Neville up because JKR says on her website in the Rumors section that they won't ever get together so I gave up on that dream (I thought they'd hook up too!) and so I hooked Neville up with Padma. Sorry about the oversight! I really like Luna and hopefully I'll do her justice in the rest of the story.