A/N: Here is the next chapter, I hope you all like it. Please please please keep up with the wonderful RevieWs!
Lourdes- Yes, Harry is a little reckless, but he does always act out of that 'hero instinct' of his- save the rest and fix everything by himself. Its one of his best-and worst- traits. Thanks for the review!
Lucky-loo- Thanks so much! I'm glad you love my story I am actually very insecure about it hehe. Hope you enjoy this chapter too!
WildMustang- Thanks! I'm glad you like it, thanks for the review and keep reading.
Tupz- Of course I wouldn't lol- It seems I'm running out of good endings- is this one any better? Lol enjoy this, read and review!
DarkFlower2113- Aww I hope you are feeling better. Enjoy this chapter, thanks for the review!
MuggleNet27- Haha, suspenseful?...not. Of course Harry isn't going to die. He needs to be in the happy ending.
Lurid-Eyes- Oh, that's too bad. I'm sure you would love Europe. I live in England to go to university but I am originally from New Jersey! I hope you enjoy this chapter, because I enjoyed writing it. Keep up the R and R! Thanks for your support.
Josephine Sawyer- Ron was at the side shooting Patroni at the Dementors so they wouldn't get suspicious about not being attacked so they wouldn't expect Harry to be in front. I'm glad you like the very thin Ron and Hermione subplot hehe I wasn't sure if everyone picked up on that. Thanks for the review! Enjoy.
Rita Skeeter- Thanks for the review! Here it is.
Nightwing 509- Thanks for the review and enjoy this chapter.
Snuffles007- True, but I really do seem to be running out of interesting ways to end. Hope you like this ending better! Thanks for the review, I'm ecstatic you like the story!
SilverCrystal77- Don't worry, Harry is fine. For details, read this next chapter! Thanks for the review, I'm glad you like the story!
Chapter 9-
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shifted his head, hearing the shout vaguely through dimmed ears. After one last effort at escape, his body slumped, his mind finally giving way into a peaceful unconsciousness, until everything went black.
"Harry," He heard a gentle voice as if from a long distance, "Harry? Are you awake?"
Harry opened his eyes, blurred from sleep, and turned his head towards the speaker.
"Lex?" He asked, his voice sounding loud to his own ears. He winced as he struggled to sit up. "What are you doing here? Where am I? What happened?"
Lex shook her head. "You're in St. Mungo's of course...I have no idea what happened...all I know is that Cho told me to come here to keep an eye on your status for her. Ron and Hermione are here, and so is his sister and your...your children."
Harry's eyes widened. "How long have I been here?"
"Ohh, its only been two days. But the Healer said it wasn't anything serous, just exhaustion."
Harry looked up as Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Jem, and Rilla stepped into the room. Hermione ran over first and gave him a tight hug. Ron clasped his hand, grinning. Ginny, her face pale and freckles standing out, gave him a feather light kiss. Harry got a kiss from the twins before they went off with Hermione in search of a refreshment.
Ron sat at Harry's side, Ginny perched on the bed. Harry looked at Ron seriously.
"What happened out there, Ron? All I remember is a Dementor leaning over me to give me the Kiss..." Ginny shuddered and let out a convulsive sob.
"Well," Ron said, screwing his face into concentration, "You had gotten to the front of the lines and you shouted this spell...I've never heard of it before-"Harry interrupted.
"It's some of the ancient magic I learned with Dumbledore- needs quite some energy and power though. It's the only way to destroy a Dementor."
Ron looked impressed and awed at once. "I figured that out. But each time you said it you destroyed twenty of them. It was incredible to watch. But at the very end you collapsed. Those spells took a lot out of you, Harry. They needed a lot of power behind them, and to do as many as you did...you were at it for hours."
Harry shrugged it aside, asking instead, "How many did we manage to capture? Do we know how they got out?"
Ron nodded. "It seems they stood on each other's shoulders to get over that wall, then broke out. The other Aurors managed to capture twenty and you destroyed all of them except the last twenty. We put forty of them back into Azkaban with reinforcements and magical wards now though."
Harry nodded, leaning back in his bed.
"They.." Ron said uncertainly, "They're awarding you the Order of Merlin, First Class. And I get an Order of Merlin, Secdond Class, for saving you."
Harry looked up sharply, straight into Ron's wide, honest blue eyes. "Thanks, mate," He said softly. Ron flushed and hugged him fiercely. Then Ron looked at Ginny and Harry and winked at him.
"Better go see where Hermione's gotten to," He said, waving.
Ginny took his spot at the side of Harry's bed.
"Harry," She said quietly, "You almost died."
Harry smirked. "Not exactly a new experience for me, is it?" He was sorry for his jaunty tone when he saw her face.
"Harry," She said fiercely, tears in her eyes about to fall, "You have to promise me to retire from the Auror Department."
Harry stared at her, stunned, unsure whether to laugh or to take her seriously.
"Ginny," He said, taking her warm hands into his, "I can't. Its in my blood for some reason. I can't just life my life as a Quidditch star, a useless, rich aristocrat. I need to do something. Just like you feel you need to be a Healer, I need to be an Auror. It gives me purpose."
Ginny gave him a hard look. "Purpose or no purpose, you would have left the twins fatherless, I would have to live without you...again...and..."
"Ginny," He gathered her into his arms, "I'm not going to leave the twins without a father. You'll just have to trust me."
Ginny resisted then relaxed. In Harry's arms she finally felt at home, a place she belonged. But she remember her decision to keep away from him for six months...she pulled away reluctantly.
"All right," She said grudgingly, "But don't EVER put yourself in that kind of danger again." Harry laughed inwardly at her ferocity but nodded solemnly. Just then the twins came in with their uncle and aunt.
The six of them stayed in the hospital room for hours, happy in each other's company. The twins sat on Harry's bed licking their ice creams while Ron and Hermione and Ginny joked and talked with Harry. Hermione was looking anxious over Ron as well.
Three hours later, Ginny took the twins back to her apartment and Ron and Hermione left for theirs.
"You and I've been given leave until the end of September, when we get those Order of Merlins. Guess we're back to being men of leisure for a while," Ron grinned and Apparated away.
Harry lay back on the bed, closing his eyes. Again he saw the dementor's shadowed black face drawing near his own...
His eyes snapped open. He tried to think about something else, something more cheerful.
He was given leave until the end of September. Harry was glad about that, not because he didn't want to work but because he needed to spend time with his children. Maybe Ginny would let them live with him for a while before she got on her feet as a Healer. Besides, there wasn't any real danger to the wizarding world anymore. After Harry had defeated Voldemort, he and the Order had gone after the Death Eaters and captured them. They had shut up the Dementors, come to a truce with the giants, and relative peace reigned. Of course, there were occasional international problems the British Ministry wanted Aurors for, or a few Dark Arts practictioners, but it wasn't anything that the Aurors couldn't handle without him.
Harry drifted into a light, restful sleep.
The next three weeks, Harry would say often, later in life, were the best weeks he had ever spent. Ginny agreed to the twins living with Harry while she had her trial run as a Healer at St. Mungo's. Harry had them from September 1st to the 21st.
The three of them were constantly together. Although the reporters and paparazzi constantly followed them around, and their activities were carefully recorded on the front page of various magazines and newspapers daily, they managed to have fun. Harry took them to Quidditch games, read to them, spent time with them, took them to Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley and gave them the time of their lives. He bought Jem a mini-Firebolt, and to his surprise, Rilla turned out to be as good a flier as her brother, for which he made another trip to Quality Quidditch Supplies. He had two rooms in his apartment decorated and set up for them- rooms with odd contraptions and fun machinations. In general, he spoilt them and indulged their every whim. They were devastated on the 21st, when they left to go back to their Mum.
That day, Harry made them strawberries and whipped cream for breakfast, with chocolate milk. Ron and Hermione sat across from the twins, Ron gobbling the food like he ws barely five himself and Hermione looking disapprovingly at the unhealthy meal.
"You do know," She remarked to Harry, who was leaning casually against the counter, "This is like putting me through torture to watch what you feed these poor things. I was brought up by dentists, after all." She smiled. Harry smiled back as Rilla climbed into her aunt's lap.
"Oh, come on, Mione," Ron mumbled, "All you need is a flick of the wand and all of the cavities and stuff go away."
"Don't speak with your mouth full, Ron," Hermione said disgustedly, ignoring his mumbled statement.
Ginny's head popped into the fire.
"Are the twins ready to go, Harry?" She asked brightly. Harry felt a tug at his heart as he saw her. The kids looked at Ginny happily but with a somewhat dismayed expression. Back to oatmeal and milk for them.
"Yep," Harry said, motioning towards the trunks in front of the fire, "But I'm sure they don't want to leave me. How about another month, kids?"
"Okay!" The twins shouted enthusiastiacally. Ginny had a disgruntled expression on her face.
"What, you two don't miss me at all?" She asked, "No thanks Harry. I think you've spoiled them enough for a lifetime.. Come on kids, you're going to miss the first day of school."
Ginny had enrolled the twins into a Muggle school in London close to St. Mungo's, so they would be close and still be learning.
Harry hugged his kids, and Ginny couldn't help but notice the experienced, fatherly way he watched his children, his young face all the handsomer as a result.
"Bye kids," He called, "Bye Gin! Have a good day at school!" They were all gone in an instant.
Harry sat down at the table with Ron and Hermione. Hermione was immersed in the Daily Prophet.
"So Ron, what do you want to do today mate?" Harry asked, "Go to some bars, pick up some witches..." He teased as Ron's face reddened.
"Just kidding, Hermione," He added hastily at her sharp glance.
"I need some dress robes," Hermione said, "I think you two men should take me shopping."
Harry and Ron gaped. Hermione was definitely not a shopping kind of girl. Usually she just ordered from catalogs.
"Who are you and what have you done with my Hermione?" Ron asked. Hermione laughed.
"Come on guys, I just feel like going shopping today. Humor me, okay?"
Harry and Ron nodded, looking at each other confusedly.
"But Hermione, why do you need dress robes all of a sudden?" Harry asked, "Going out to some fancy party?"
He noticed the tips of Ron's ears turning red.
"I forgot to tell you mate," He said proudly, "We're going to the Society Ball too. After they heard about me saving your life and everything they felt they had to invite me." Ron grinned at him.
"That's great, mate! At least it won't be the same stuffy old people. Let's livin things up a but, eh?" Harry winked. Ron nodded.
"I'm sure we'll think of something."
Hermione intervened. "If you two even think about doing anything, I'll refuse to come. I swear, when I heard about what Harry did with the fireworks at that party..." She shuddered.
Harry and Ron tried to protest, but to no avail. When Hermione decided no mischief was to be done, no mischief would be done.
Half an hour later Hermione dragged her two men off to Hogsmeade.
"Stupefy," Harry said lazily, flicking his wand at an annoying reporter who had tried to take his picture.
"Harry!" Hermione gave him a reproving look. Harry shrugged but revived the man.
"Enervate." The reporter got up and fled, a terrified look on his face.
"Hermione, where are we going?" Ron asked, "You want to get new robes at Gladrags or something?"
Harry punched Ron playfully in the arm. "Ron, she's going to that new shop that the Swift sisters opened. Remember? It was..."
"Chic Civvies," Hermione finished as they stepped in front of an imposing robes store. The three of them stepped in.
There were four floors spiraling up, and walls lined with robes of all colors and styles and cuts. A woman with short brown hair and big brown eyes hurried up to them.
"Can I help you?" She asked, looking at Hermione. Then she spotted Harry and Ron and squealed.
"Harry! Ron! What are you two doing here?" She asked, "Oy! Laura! Sarah! The boys are here!"
Ashley and Sarah turned from their customers with identical grins and pulled Ron and Harry away, chattering about Quidditch. A very disgruntled looking Hermione was helped to the third floor by Laura to try on some dress robes.
"Er..." Ron said as Ashley paused in her speech, "I think I better go check on Hermione. She probably wants me to see how she looks...give her tips and everything." He said. Laura nodded and waved him away, rounding on another customer and continuing her endless talk.
Ron reached the third floor just as Hermione stepped back into the dressing room. He noticed a very shocked Harry sitting frozen on the chair across from her room, with a delighted Sarah.
"Ooohh, that dress looked amazing on her!" She gushed. Ron strode over.
"Hermione!" He called, "Can I see?"
"NO!" Came a muffled cry from inside, "It's going to be a surprise!"
Ron gave Harry an inquiring look but Harry just shook his head.
"You're lucky I'm not in love with Hermione, mate," Harry grinned, "Cause in that dress I wouldn't be able to resist her for long."
Ron's face flushed. "Well, then she shouldn't buy it..." Ron trailed off as Hermione walked out of the room and smiled brightly.
"I'll take it!" She said to Sarah and motioned the boys to follow her. Harry and Ron trailed after her, the last vestiges of shock gone from Harry's face into a cheeky grin at Ron, who was looking extremely put out.
"She's my wife," He muttered, "And I don't even get to see what she's wearing. Excellent."
The Trio went to the Three Broomsticks for lunch and then decided to visit Hagrid, whom they hadn't seen in weeks.
They took the secret passage Harry had used third year, and were on Hogwarts grounds in no time. They tramped over to Hagrid's old hut.
Harry rapped loudly on the door, and they heard Fang's insistent bark. In a minute, Hagrid had opened the door and welcomed Harry with a loud guffaw and a clap on the back.
"Hullo, there, 'Ermione," He said, "Bin a while since ah've seen yeh three. Bin busy, 'ave yeh?
"Well, there are some things I need to tell you, Hagrid," Harry began, then paused.
"Well, wha' is it, then?" Hagrid prompted, setting down rock cakes on the table.
"The thing is Hagrid...we found Ginny."
Hagrid sat stock still for a few moments. "Yeh...yeh found 'er?"
Ron nodded while Hermione patted Hagrid on the shoulder.
"Well, where 'as she bin?" Hagrid questioned. "Wha' has she bin up to these past five years?"
Harry looked down. "Well...she's been living alone in New York, in America, and she couldn't really make any money...so she started stealing using magic. But," He added hastily at the look on Hagrid's face, "She had a reason..."
"Well?" Hagrid pushed.
"Well, Ginny left because...because she was carrying my children."
"WHAT?!" Hagrid shouted, jumping up, accidentally hitting his head on the ceiling. He winced as he sat back down.
"Ginny has two kids, they're twins,...and I'm their father."
Harry found himself wrapped in Hagrid's arms, almost lifted up. He tried to say something but was completely smothered.
As Harry brushed himself off, he saw tears leak out of the corners of Hagrid's eyes.
"Yer kids...if only Lily and James were here, and Dumbledore...they woulda bin so proud. Me livin' to see Lily and James' grandchild! Will yeh bring them here? When will ah' see them?" Hagrid was excited, and Fang, catching on, began barking. Harry was grinning now.
"We'll bring them around soon. Don't worry Hagrid."
After another hour, the three of them left a happy Hagrid in his hut to go home. Harry bid Ron and Hermione farewell before returning to his own flat.
He turned the key in the lock and entered the apartment. Everything was bathing in the dark blue light of dusk, looking gray and lonely. Harry turned on some lights and flopped onto the sofa.
He stared around vacantly, unsure what to do. Before, he would have been at Ron and Hermione's house, or out with one of his Quidditch mates or other friends, having a good time avoiding the paparazzi and getting sloshed. He could still do it, but somehow he didn't feel like it.
He realized what the empty feeling was, of course. Rilla and James weren't there. He had become used to their soft noisiness, the little messes around the flat, the patter of feet and the feeling of them cuddled next to him on the sofa.
Harry had never considered himself a fatherly sort of man, in fact the opposite. He wasn't sure how he would be with children. But now that he was one...he wouldn't trade it for anything. He didn't know what he would do without the twins...and their mother.
Harry sat back on the sofa and reflected about Ginny, in a way he hadn't for the past three weeks. He remembered her impish smile and her dancing eyes, the thick, curling red hair and her laughing voice teasing him lovingly.
He desperately wanted Ginny back. Just the thought of her brought waves of protectivness and love and warmth to him. He wanted all four of them together as a family forever. And he would do anything to get it.
"I'll do it tomorrow," He thought drowsily, head beginning to droop, "I'll ask her tomorrow..."
