Chapter 8! Ah, the day after! Shiver with the excitement, I know you want to!

Harry wished in that moment that he was in possession of a camera. The scene before him was so perfect, so beautiful that he wanted to capture it forever and when he was old and grey and could no longer remember his own name, he could pull out the old photo from his draw of a beautiful unknown woman with long red hair, sleeping soundly in his bed.

But to him now, she was not unknown. She was Ginerva Molly Weasley, wonder of his world and keeper of his heart and soul. Pity it took him so long to finally pull his finger out and figure this little bit of information out.

Well, better late than never.

He was sitting in the armchair beside his bed, dressed in only his jeans. He had been sitting there for hours, simply watching her sleep, admiring her in a way that invoked no question or curiosity from others. It was a good opportunity to just look without being asked as to why he was doing so. She was beautiful when she slept. She was lying on her side facing him, her arm tucked up under the pillow and her mouth was open a little. The sheet covering her had ridden down her torso in the middle of the night, leaving her chest exposed.

Harry reached for his wand on the floor at his feet and with a wave, turned the radio on to a soft volume. But much to his disappointment and guilt, it was loud enough as Ginny groaned and her eyes fluttered open. She looked at the empty spot beside her and frowned, before looking up and seeing him seated near the window.

He smiled as her concern melted away and she flopped back down on the bed once more, retuning the warm smile. She didn't say anything at first, but simply looked at him with an expression similar to the one he had been wearing while watching her sleep.

"What are you looking at?" she asked, propping her head up in her hand.

"Aphrodite." Harry said.

Ginny laughed and fanned herself with her hand. "Hoo, that was smooth. Haven't heard that one before I must say!" she giggled.

Harry chuckled and Ginny stretched out like a cat with a little groan. She ran a hand through her hair and yawned. It was giving Harry a very good view of her top, naked half, but Ginny didn't seem to mind at all.

She rolled back to her side and looked at him, taking in every detail of his face. It had grown more adult in her absence, and there were lines she didn't remember him having those years ago. His eyes were still that dazzling green however, and his hair messy as ever.

Eyes as green as a pickled toad, hair as black as a chalkboard… Ginny thought with a smile.

Harry shifted a little in his seat, but he did not take his eyes off her. "I'm sorry I hurt you." He said finally, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Ginny's expression didn't change at all. "Why?"

Harry frowned. "What do you mean why? I never meant to hurt you Ginny…"

"No, I mean, why did you say you didn't love me, even though you did?" she asked blatantly. She wasn't mad or upset, simply curious.

Harry clenched his jaw, but did not look away. "I was scared." He admitted.

"Scared? But you're not scared of anything." Ginny said.

"Yes,' Harry insisted. 'Yes, I am. Of a great deal many things."

Ginny frowned. It seemed so unlike him to be scared of anything. The concept was hard enough to grasp, let alone simply the idea of him being afraid of anything. He was so much a Gryffindor he was practically the descendant of Godric himself. What did such a powerful wizard have reason to be scared of the admittance of love for?

Harry ruffled his hair messily from the back and sighed. "Do you remember my seventh year?" he asked. "When I went four days without talking to anyone?"

Ginny nodded. "Yeah, I don't think I'd ever been as frustrated with anyone as I was with you then." She smiled.

Harry smirked faintly. "Well, what you don't know is that I tried to leave… for good. I wasn't coming back." He said seriously. "No-one knew… only Ron. He was the one I barreled into, heading for the Astronomy tower with my Firebolt." He chuckled softly at the memory.

"You tried to leave?" Ginny asked incredulously. "But Harry…"

"Well, obviously I didn't get very far did I? Didn't even get to the fifth floor before I ran into your brother." He said. "Anyway, the reason I wanted to run was because I felt I wasn't strong enough. Strong enough to risk taking you all out with me to the gates of hell, because I knew you would have come with me anywhere. I knew what Voldemort wanted… he wanted me. Just me. And there was no way I was going to let him go through my friends so he could get what he wanted.

"My life is scarcely different than it used to be Ginny. You have no idea the amount of hate mail or death threats I get on a weekly basis, all from wizards out there who want to destroy the kind of world I fought for and still continue to. Its bad enough that Ron and Hermione live here and are known to be my friends but…" he trailed off and put his head in his hands.

Ginny didn't know what to say. She wanted to do several things at once, but instead stayed completely still and allowed him to finish.

"I loved you too much to put you in danger Ginny. Admitting something like that out loud… I felt like I would have been signing your death warrant. I've never really told anyone I love them, not anyone. And saying it to you when I care for you so much…" he stopped again and fixed her with an intense look. "I was just trying to protect you." He finally muttered.

Being the independent woman she was, Ginny's first instinct was to tell him firmly that she was a grown woman, and did not need protection from him or anyone else. But once the moment had passed, she found herself figuring out why this had been an issue for him for so long.

"So, what changed your mind?" she asked.

Harry smiled at her warmly. "Seeing you with Norbert, was probably the greatest, most awesome thing I've ever seen you do… and that includes your kick-ass attitude when playing Quidditch or when you put itching powder in Snape's Floo pot."

Ginny laughed and blushed. "It was nothing special."

"Nothing special?" Harry repeated incredulously. "Are you mental? You were amazing Ginny… not to mention sexy as all hell." Harry laughed. "But, I realized that you don't need my protection, and that you never really had. That I respected you enough to make your own decision, and if you tell me you love me and want to be with me… well, who am I to argue?" he shrugged.

Ginny felt her heart swell as he got up out of the chair and lay down on the bed beside her, taking her hand in his.

"I'm not scared anymore Ginny." he said, his nose so close to hers they were almost touching. "If there's trouble, I want to face it with you. If I have a horrible day at work and come home grouchy, I want you to be the one I come home and grumble about it to."

Ginny giggled and stroked a hand through his hair.

"I want to go to sleep loving you, and wake up the next morning living you just that little bit more than I did the day before. I want to sit with you out on the veranda when we're old and grumpy with no teeth in rocking chairs, mumbling about the kids of today!" he said.

Ginny laughed. "You want all that with me?" she asked, feeling excited about just the simple ideals of it all.

Harry looked at her warmly and lifted her hand to his mouth to kiss her fingers. "I want to die with you loving me Ginny. You and none other."

Ginny smirked, leant forward and gave him a soft, lingering kiss. "Not only is he winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile award, he also knows exactly how to sweep a woman off her feet. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you… Harry James Potter!"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Shut it wench." He commanded and kissed her again.

It was all good for her to have her moment of fun, but all that he had just told her was no laughing matter. She knew that he had practically just bared his soul to her in a way he would trust with none other, and it gave her a thrill. To know that he really did trust her in one of the most intimate of ways make her heart swell with happiness.

Harry rolled her over and lay on top of her, enjoying the feeling of her beneath him once more. She laughed into his mouth and pushed him away a little.

"Urgh, I must have horrible morning breath Harry." She groaned, screwing up her face in distaste.

Harry smiled and bent to kiss her neck. "I don't care."

"Hmm, that wasn't the right answer." Ginny sang, massaging his back a little as he sucked on her neck.

"I don't care about that either."

"Yes well… nevertheless…" Ginny giggled, pushing Harry away and sliding out from underneath him '… I'm rather peckish anyway. You want food?" she asked, grabbing up random clothes.

"Only if you're wearing it." Harry said, lying on his back and folding his hands behind his head.

Ginny threw him a look over her shoulder and marched off towards the door, dressing herself as she went. "Then I'm sorry to say you're going to go hungry." She said with a coy smile.

Harry laughed. "Just go eat." He said.

Ginny blew him a kiss and pulled the shirt over her head just as she entered the hallway.

"Oh, and Ginny, you were just joking about that Smile Award thing? Weren't you? Ginny?"

"Urgh, stupid nausea… can't just stop… get out of me already…" Hermione grumbled, as she dragged herself down the hall from the bathroom towards the kitchen. She rubbed her belly fondly and yawned widely, vaguely ware of Ginny sitting at the bench with her hands wrapped around a steaming mug of coffee.

"Morning." Hermione said, going straight to the cupboard.

"Mmm, morning." Ginny said, smiling at her sister-in-law. "You look a little peaky… rough night?"

"Ha!" Hermione cried, rummaging through the pantry. "You try having a good night's sleep with a boxing match going on in your uterus, not to mention your husband snoring so loud he's competing against a Hogwarts Express – for goodness sakes, where are the bloody Oreo's?" Hermione added, now quite apparently frustrated.

Ginny giggled. "Bottom shelf."

Hermione bent down as much as was physically possible and let out a triumphant cry as she seized her favorite biscuits. She then went to the fridge to retrieve a jug of Pumpkin juice and placed them on the bench on front of Ginny.

"So, do you feel up to having – oh my god you've had sex!" Hermione cried suddenly.

Ginny coughed into her coffee and looked up at Hermione with wide eyes. "Wha… what was that?"

"You have!" Hermione said, pointing at Ginny.

"I don't know what makes you think that." Ginny said, although she was blushing furiously and not looking Hermione in the eye.

"You don't? Well, lets assess your situation shall we, just for a moment. You're wearing your make up from yesterday, your hair is all over the place because you didn't brush it… and Ginny, come on, you're wearing Harry's shirt." Hermione said, giving Ginny a once over.

Ginny ran a hand through her hair and cleared her throat. "Well, yes… and there is a perfectly good explanation for all that."

Hermione quirked an eyebrow and filled her glass. "Oh yes, and what's that?"

"We had sex!" Ginny whispered.

Hermione and Ginny let out an excited squeal, before Ginny hushed them, waving her hand to make sure they weren't heard.

"Shh, don't let on." Ginny hissed, looking over her shoulder.

"What happened to your set-back then?" Hermione asked, rubbing her belly with a slight wince.

"It two five steps forward." Ginny shrugged simply. "Oh Hermione, if only you could understand how good this feels, having this all out in the open finally…"

"You know, surprisingly, I think I may have an inkling." Hermione chuckled, taking her food and moving over to the sofa. She sat down with a grunt and put her feet up on the coffee table as Ginny came to sit down with her. "Last I heard you were at each other's throats… you know, in a non-hickey type way."

"We were. I really can't explain it Mione. One minute we were screaming at each other and then the next… hoo-ha!" Ginny moaned, rolling her eyes in pleasure at the memories of last night.

Hermione smiled, took a biscuit and dunked it in her pumpkin juice. "I'll start writing out the wedding invites just as soon as I'm able to." She said, munching on her food.

Ginny grimaced a little at the mixture. "Yes well, I think we've got a while to go before we start thinking about that. And don't go saying anything to my mother about it either just yet… she'll go mental."

"You kept our secret about me being in Ron's room for the night when I was meant to be with you, I think it's only fair I repay the favor." Hermione said simply. "Urgh, now I really don't want this. What was I thinking?" she added, glaring at her pumpkin juice.

Ginny smiled as Hermione put her glass down and went straight for the packet of biscuits. "Just think, only a few more weeks of this and then you can go back to standing the smell of chicken."

"I long for the day with a passion beyond mortal comprehension."

"Can I listen?"

Hermione smiled, pulled her shirt up a little and Ginny leant forward, pressing her ear to the massive swell. She wondered if this curiosity with the inner workings of her stomach was some strange Weasley trait, as both Ron and Bill had also done this with her on more than one occasion.

"You know, if I didn't know better I'd say there were two peas in your pod Hermione." Ginny said, looking up at Hermione.

Hermione snorted. "Don't be daft. We would know if there were two!"

"Oh I don't know. You are rather large you know." Ginny said, sitting up.

"Hmm, well thanks for that boost to my self-esteem." Hermione huffed, looking away from Ginny.

"You know what I mean! Have the doctors take another look."

"The wizard doctors do not to ultrasounds like Muggle practitioners do. They did spells, and the spells told them the baby – notice my use of the singular – is perfectly fine." Hermione said.

Ginny shrugged. "Okay, I believe you. Now, tell me how best to break the news of my new found relationship to my wonderful, even tempered brother."

"You look like a man with a secret."

Harry and Ron were down in the basement where most of the gym equipment was kept. Harry looked around the punching bag he was currently attacking furiously with his fists around at his best friend and smiled. "And you look like a nosy pillock, but at least I had the decency not to comment."

Ron laughed and held the punching bag tighter as Harry resumed his workout. "Come on, share it with me."

"Cant, sorry." Harry said, not looking at him.

"Why, is it official Auror business?"

"No, its official 'none of your' business."

"Tripe Harry!" Ron laughed, shaking a little with the force that Harry was using. "If you can't tell me, your best mate and brother in mischief, who the bloody hell can you tell?"

Harry stopped his energetic swipes and straightened up to look at Ron, breathing hard. "You right. I can tell you anything." He said. "But not this."

Ron rolled his eyes. "Why not?"

"Because you'll go ballistic and attack me with silverware, that's why." Harry said, stretching.

Ron let go of the bag and eyed Harry curiously. "What does it have to do with me?" he asked. "Unless… have you been going through my Teddy Bear collection again?" Ron demanded.

Harry laughed. "No! It's not like that."

He wished he could tell Ron. He wanted so desperately to share the good feelings of finally being with the girl he had loved since he was sixteen. But previous experiences told him that just blurting out 'Hey, I shagged your sister' would be a rather suicidal idea. And he knew that telling Ron such information in any context would be like going up against a Manticore armed with nothing but a cocktail sword.

"Look, its something I'm sure you'd rather not know." Harry said, flexing his fingers.

"Ah, so you do want to tell me!" Ron laughed triumphantly. "Are you getting promoted then? Or maybe you've come across a fortune…" Ron suggested, searching for the right one.

"Ron," Harry groaned.

"Come on Harry, you can tell me." Ron said, giving Harry a look.

Harry considered Ron for a long moment, before finding his urge to tell his best friend about his experience of the night before too much to handle, even if the best friend and girl in question did happen to be related.

"Oh alright. But you've got to promise you won't go mental when I tell you." Harry said.

"What? What's all this about…"

"Promise!"

"Okay, okay I promise! Now just tell me for Merlin's sake!"

"And then he just laid down for me obediently. I knew I could do it because I used to practice with Norbert all the time, and only once did I nearly loose my arm."

"Gee, that sounds like a good place to work."

"Ha ha. Tease all you want, but at least I'm out there doing something rather than sitting in some room in one of the lowest parts of the Ministry, going over Merlin knows what." Ginny retorted.

"At least there's no risk of loosing a limb." Hermione laughed. "Only your sanity."

"Ah yes, definitely the better of both options."

Hermione smiled. "I still can't believe you settled a Dragon without your wand! I wish I could have been there to see it… I'm sure Harry will tell me about it."

"He'll probably just grumble about his inability to keep me away." Ginny giggled.

Hermione smiled and opened her mouth to comment about Harry's ego, when an ear-slipping roar from beneath them in the basement made both women jump.

"YOU AND MY SISTER DID WHAT?"

Ginny winced and looked at Hermione. "Oh boy, Harry's likely to come up here slightly decapitated." She muttered.

"Wait for it." Hermione whispered. "Three…two…one…" and she pointed at the hallway.

In that exact moment, the barreling noise of Ron's heavy footfalls increased in volume as he stormed up the stairs and seconds later appeared in the entrance to the living room, his eyes wide with astonishment and confusion.

"You… you…" he stuttered, pointing at Ginny.

She raised an eyebrow. "Me what?" she asked. She held back a giggle as she saw out of the corner of her eye Harry slip into the room edging his way along the wall behind Ron.

"You and him?" Ron cried, pointing at her and Harry. "You and her?" he repeated, glaring at Harry.

"Yes, me and Harry." Ginny said, getting up and going to Harry. She linked her hand with his and stared defiantly at her older brother. "Do you have some issues with this?"

"Yes!" Ron cried. He whirled on Hermione. "Did you know about this?"

"Don't get the pregnant woman involved, she knows nothing." Hermione said flatly, munching on her Oreo.

"Ron, you knew this was going to happen." Ginny said irritably. "Why are you losing your head over it? At least it's Harry and not some loser."

"And trust me; you've had a lot of them in the past." Ron said.

"Oooh, if only I wasn't holding Harry's hand…" Ginny growled, balling her free hand into a fist.

"Yeah, well you know what… OW!" Ron cried as suddenly, Hermione heaved herself to her feet and grabbed his ear, pulling him down to her level. "Ow ow ow ow…" he muttered, screwing his face up in pain.

But Hermione was glaring at him. "Stop. being. a. twit." She said through gritted teeth.

"Ron, this isn't just some random thing between us." Harry said. "I love Ginny."

Ron pulled himself free from his wife's clutches and looked at Harry and Ginny, rubbing his ear. He watched the pair of them for a moment, before cracking a smile and letting out a small snigger.

"You do?" he asked, smiling.

Harry exchanged a glance with Ginny. "I do."

"And you love him?" Ron asked his sister.

Ginny smiled and looked up at Harry. "I do."

"Then I pronounce you husband and wife… and it's about fucking time!" Ron cried. And before either of them could do anything about it, Ron had flung his arms around the pair of them in a tight, three-people hug.

"So…" Harry said, looking at Ron in amazement. "So, you're not upset about this?"

Ron smiled and released them. "Well don't get me wrong, half of me wants to beat you to a bloody pulp for touching my sister at all." He chuckled. "But, what Ginny said is true. I'd much prefer her to choose you over some mindless, self-absorbed twonk who won't treat her right."

Ginny folded her arms over her chest. "I'd rather hope you'd think I had better judgment in men than that Ronald Weasley." She said indignantly.

"Well, you did date Michael Corner…"

"We were fourteen!"

"Okay, stop!" Hermione shouted, putting herself between them. "Harry and Ginny shagged finally, and Ron is over it and I'm happy for both of you… now can you all shut up and let me watch my show in peace?" she shouted, pointing at the television.

Harry grinned and grabbed Ginny's hand, dragging her down the hall away from Hermione and Ron. Ginny giggled as he looked at her with the expression of someone who had just escaped an encounter with a Blast-Ended Skrewt.

"Well, that went well." Ginny giggled.

Harry rolled his eyes. "One down, seven to go. Ron I can handle, but your brothers… they're going to skin me alive Gin."

"You let me handle the big scary boys… and you can tell my mother." She said.

Harry's mouth dropped open. "How in God's name am I meant to tell you mother that we're sleeping together?"

"Leave out the shagging part and just include the words 'love' and 'together'." She said simply. "Or would you rather tell my father you're shagging his little girl?"

Harry snorted. "Your mother it is."

"Come on." Ginny said, fiddling with the collar of his shirt. "Take me somewhere and romance me in the way only you know how."

"Not a lot of girls ask to be taken you like that so bluntly."

"Well, you'll find I always go for what I want." She said, kissing him teasingly. "And usually get it too."

"Hmm, someone's cocky." Harry said, pressing her against the wall a little.

"Yeah, and apparently it's not me." Ginny said, giving his crotch a little glance.

Harry sighed as Ginny giggled. "Tease me no longer vile temptress… I am at your mercy." He said.

"Take me out." She said again.

"Fine. You get the cloaks, I'll say goodbye to Uncle Henry and Aunty Em and we'll meet back in five… hopefully with my head still attached."

A/N – Not very long, but I didn't think it really needed to be after the start of it. Hopefully enjoyable all the same.

Please review!