Dinner Guests -
Ginny walked slowly to the kitchen table and sank down onto a chair. She would occasionally glance over at the cauldron to reassure herself that it was true. The pregnancy indicator potion had worked. She had been suspicious for a couple of weeks now. Being late for her monthly was her first tip, but soon she found her breasts extremely tender and she woke up several mornings feeling rather ill. She keep her hand protectively over her abdomen, still in a bit of a shock. It wasn't like they were trying for a child at the moment, but they certainly hadn't prevented it either.
"Of course I'd have to inherit my mother's fertility," Ginny muttered and grinned. Her Mum would be tickled.
Harry, Ginny thought, He's going to be over the moon. Ginny frowned, at least she hoped he would be happy. She knew one of Harry's greatest wishes was for a family of his own, but they hadn't discussed starting a one yet. What if he wasn't ready? Would he be angry because they hadn't planned for this? Ginny looked down at her stomach trying to imagine Harry's reaction.
"Don't you worry wee-one, everything will be wonderful. I promise you that." She patted her stomach gently.
Ginny cleaned the kitchen so there were no signs of what she brewed earlier. She had to decide how she was going to tell Harry the big news. Over a romantic dinner perhaps? she thought. A large banner hanging in the living room? She shook her head wrinkling her nose.
"That would be a bit much," she mumbled, wandering back to the den. Clark lay curled up in his favorite armchair near the fireplace he raised his head as Ginny entered the room muttering to herself. Ginny walked back over to the side of the fireplace, staring at the various family pictures on the mantel. Reaching up, she took down a framed photo taken this past summer at the Burrow.
Ron knelt on the ground, smiling happily, with one arm wrapped around the shoulders of his wife. Hermione laughed to the camera holding onto the waist of a young toddler attempting to escape her mother's grasp. With fiery red hair that curled wildly and royal blue eyes, baby Egwene was going to steal hearts when she got older. To both her parents delight she already showed signs of being magical by summoning items at random when she set her little toddler mind to it. Ginny laughed watching the photo as Egwene squealed with laughter, she was born with her mother's intellect, her father's cunning and both parents' fierce stubbornness. Ginny knew for certain the little toddler was going to be a force to be reckoned with when she got older.
"Ginny?" she heard her name called. Placing the photo back on the mantle she looked down at the fire where the source of the sound seemed to be coming from. "Ginny are you here?" Ron's head was turned away from her so he failed to notice her standing off to the side.
"Ron if you'd turn your head, you'd see that I am," she said grinning.
"Oh, hiya!" Ron said turning to face her.
"Hello to you too, dear brother," said Ginny, kneeling down in front of the fireplace.
"I was wondering if you and Harry had any plans for tonight. Thought we'd come over for a visit, Hermione has a roast already going to bring over if you would like," Ron said in a hopeful tone.
"We'd love to have you over, I'm assuming you already spoke to Harry," said Ginny.
"Yeah, before he stepped out of the office. He said to double check with you first," Ron said reaching up and scratching his nose in the flames, "Damn ashes driving me nuts," he grumbled.
"Tell Hermione I'll take care of everything else including dessert since she's providing the main dish," said Ginny.
"Oh sure, make me suffer by having my head in this bloody thing a bit longer," Ron halfheartedly grumbled.
"You could always owl her you know. I would but Hedwig is already on a letter mission," said Ginny.
"I'll take care of it. See you later on," said Ron, his head disappeared from the flames with a slight pop. Standing, Ginny dusted off the knee of her jeans,
"Well there goes the idea of a romantic dinner," Ginny muttered. Clark once again raised his head up giving her a throaty meow in response.
The scent of baking bread filled the cottage as Ginny stood at the counter slicing strawberries to add to the fresh fruit in syrup they would spoon over a sponge cake for dessert. Putting down her knife, she wiped her hands on the front of the apron around her waist while walking over to remove the bread from the oven. She set two loaves on hot pads to allow them to cool. With a flick of her wand, a lid levitated off of a pan on the stove and steam rose, bringing with it the smell of fresh green means cooking in olive oil and garlic. A large spoon gently stirred the vegetable as she returned back to the counter with the fruit, her mind going in all directions, listing off everything she needed to do. The new potatoes with baby carrots and pearl onions were in the oven, all she needed were the guests.
She looked up at the clock on the wall which read six. Ginny turned her head looking out at the dark autumn sky through the window.
"Any minute now," she said aloud picking up the fruit bowl and transferring it to the refrigerator. A loud thump came from further in the house.
"Ginny?" she heard Ron call out from the den,
"In the kitchen!" Ginny yelled, taking off her apron throwing it over the back of a chair before heading to greet them. She met Ron in the middle of the great room off of the kitchen.
"There you are," he said walking up to her kissing her cheek.
"Look at you," Ginny exclaimed taking Egwene out of Ron's arms, "Mummy put your hair up in a pretty?" Ginny asked the baby in her arms whose hair was gathered up in a yellow clip at the top of her head. Egwene clapped her hands smiling brightly at her auntie.
"Lord only knows she'll have a life time of struggle combating that bushy mess," Hermione said walking up from behind Ron carrying a large oven roaster. "Hi Gin," she said kissing Ginny on the cheek. Ginny leaned over giving Hermione a quick squeeze with her arm before putting it protectively on Egwene's back.
"Aww you don't listen to Mummy sweetheart, Auntie Gin will teach you how to fix those pretty locks you have," Ginny said kissing Egwene's cheek.
"Door? door?" Egwene's baby voice rose with the end of each word her tiny mouth forming a round O, looking wide eyed at Ginny.
"We've learned a new word!" Ginny said excitedly looking over at Ron as the group walked into the kitchen.
"Yes and it appears to be her favorite at the moment," said Hermione, putting the roast in the oven.
"So where's Harry?" Ron said sitting down on a kitchen chair. Ginny stepped back through the kitchen thresh hold to look at the Grandfather clock in the great room where Harry's hand went from Work to Traveling,
"He's on his way," Ginny said walking back into the kitchen. They heard the front door open and close.
"We're in the kitchen Harry," Ginny called out. Ron stood and walked out to greet Harry in the great room. Ginny could hear them talking cheerfully to each other.
"You would think they hadn't just spent the entire day working together," said Hermione.
"At work we can't always talk about what we would like," Ron said stepping back into the kitchen. Harry walked in behind him and over to Ginny kissing her on the cheek.
"Hi," he said in her ear, rubbing her back. Ginny turned her head and kissed him on the lips.
"Hi to you too," she said smiling up at him.
"Hello little one," Harry said kissing Egwene's forehead. Harry stroked the baby on the cheek smiling down at her, "And how are you today wee-one?" he asked smiling at the little girl in his wife's arms. Egwene put her arms up leaning towards Harry for him to take her.
"I see who her favorite really is," Ginny said handing the child over. Egwene laid her head on Harry's shoulder holding his robes tight in her little fists, Ginny felt a pang in her chest at the sweet picture before her of Harry kissing the child's head lovingly patting her on the back. One day that would be her child he would be doing that to, it made Ginny impatient for that moment to finally arrive. Harry gave her another kiss on the head.
"Ok sweetie, time to go back to daddy," Harry handed the child back to Ron a bit reluctantly, "I want to go get changed out of these robes before dinner." Egwene laughed patting her daddy on the cheek once in his arms.
"Da da da da!" she chattered happily.
"It's done, we just need to set the table," Hermione said walking over to the cabinets taking down plates.
"Then I'll be quick," Harry said dashing out of the kitchen. Ginny watched him retreat before turning to help set up for the dinner.
After the meal, they decided to head down to the lower level which they had converted into an entertainment room. Arthur Weasley's fondness for Muggles and Muggle items had been inherited by Ginny and reflected in the decorations chosen for the room. Ginny once had described the basement as American 50's retro meets honky tonk. The entertainment basement spanned the entire length of the house to make one giant room. The walls were rough hewed planks to match the wooden floor. Neon signs advertising Muggle items lit up around the room, Muggle posters displaying movies also adorned the walls. One corner was set up with a large leather sectional couch of amber, set on plush scarlet carpeting, facing the corner which contained a very large screened television with all the trimmings.
Ginny didn't know who was more excited when they went to purchase the unit, Harry or her father who wandered around the electronic section for hours like a child in a candy store with a full piggy bank. A complete bar was set against another wall; Ginny was excited about this find of an authentic soda jerk station complete with large porcelain handles. Of course Harry insisted on adding a tap of 'the old brew' for when his mates were over. Comfortable armchairs were scattered about the area for people to relax and a poker table with chairs was off in the distance. Ginny sat at the booth table with it's high backed benches, watching Harry and Ron play the Muggle game of billiard on a table covered in cream colored felt with the Hogwarts crest in the center. On the stick rack Harry insisted on having balls in the four house colors; red, blue, green and yellow so everyone had their choice. At times, Ginny felt Harry was living the childhood he never had and she was always willing to indulge his wishes with their home.
Ginny took a sip of her lemonade, watching Hermione standing at the Muggle jukebox deciding her selections. One area Ginny had sectioned off specially for her nieces and nephews with a large area rug depicting several fairytale characters, children's size furniture was scattered about with many toys, games and books both Muggle and Wizarding ready for when they came to visit. Egwene sat on the rug trying to stack blocks. She'd get all of three high before kicking her feet excitedly knocking them over so she could start again. Loud laughter brought Ginny's attention back to the billiard table.
"It's fine, mate. I don't mind you giving me a helping hand. By all means continue to knock my balls in for me, I'll just sit back and enjoy my beer," Ron laughed taking a sip of his drink at the bar.
"You need all the help you can get," Harry chuckled moving around the table. Hermione returned to sit across from Ginny smiling in an odd fashion.
Ginny turned her full attention on her sister in law and for the first time in the evening and noticed something different. Hermione appeared to have a glow about her. Her eyes sparkled and a secret smile played across her features. Hermione looked at Ginny quirking an eyebrow.
"What?" Hermione said. Slowly it dawned on Ginny; there was one other time when she had seen her sister-in-law look exactly like that.
Ginny turned her head and looked at that cause several feet away banging two blocks together, babbling in fluent toddler. Hermione glanced over at Egwene also.
Ginny leaned forward across the table speaking low, "You have something you need to tell me?" Hermione turned her attention back to Ginny and gave a conspiritual wink.
"Ron," Hermione said turning to look at her husband "Wasn't there something you wanted to mention to Harry?"
Ginny beamed, barely able to contain her excitement.
"What's up?" Harry asked as he bent forward preparing to take his shot.
"I was just wondering," said Ron, "If you're ready to be an uncle again."
Harry, losing his balance, fell forward against the table completely missing his shot. "What!" he exclaimed.
"Ho ho! I know what to use next time you're ahead in the game to mess you up!" Ron laughed.
"Ron!" Harry cried out, pushing himself away from the table and pulling his best friend into a one armed hug, "Are you serious?" he asked stepping back and turning to look at Hermione.
"I believe we're pretty positive about this," Ron said chuckling. Ginny squealed with delight leaning over the table hugging Hermione.
"This is so wonderful! How far along are you?" asked Ginny.
"Three months," Hermione said hugging Ginny back.
"Mum mum!" Egwene said, toddling over to join the excitement. Hermione scooped up her daughter to sit on her lap.
"Hear that? You're going to be a big sister," said Ginny, reaching over to tickle Egwene's side.
Ginny glanced up to see Harry watching with a hint of sadness to his face. He quickly schooled his features when he realized Ginny was looking at him. The wonderful news made Ginny thrilled for her brother and his wife but it also totally altered her plans to reveal their own addition on its way anytime tonight. Ginny had an idea growing in the back of her head since she had started working on dinner as how to tell Harry, she was sure now of how she wanted to do it and would start tomorrow to set that plan into motion.
Ginny spent the rest of the night talking to Hermione about their plans for the newest Weasley addition. Harry and Ron continued to play billiards and give each other a hard time, enjoying the visit. By the end of the night Ginny and Hermione were over on the couch watching one of their favorite Muggle movies which centered on the need to destroy an evil ring to save a place called Middle Earth. Of course, Ginny and Hermione would never admit it to their husbands but they mainly enjoyed watching the dashing actors which the two women had dubbed as fine eye candy over coffee one morning. Egwene slept peacefully in Ginny's arms after her mother put her little pajamas on her earlier. They parted company that night with the women promising to contact each other the next day and the men saying how they would see each other at work the following morning.
That night, Ginny climbed into bed next to Harry wrapping her legs over his and resting her head in the crook of his arm while running her finger lightly over his chest.
"Harry?" Ginny said softly.
"What, love," he answered tracing his fingers over her silk nightdress.
"What do you think of Ron and Hermione's announcement?" Ginny asked.
"I think it's wonderful," said Harry. Ginny caught the wistful undertone in his voice, "Ron's a lucky man." Harry continued.
Ginny leaned herself on her elbow looking down at her husband in the moonlight. Harry stared back at Ginny silently, he smiled at her but Ginny could see something else beneath it. Leaning forward she kissed Harry softly. He wrapped his arms around her back pressing her chest firmly against his. Ginny moved from his lips along his jaw line allowing her hand to begin to roam along the contours of his abdomen. A low groan escaped Harry when her lips captured his sensitive earlobe suckling on it. His hand slid down her side and cupped her firm bottom pulling her against him more intimately. Ginny groaned into Harry's ear as he massaged her thigh with slowly growing impatience. She felt a shudder course through Harry because of her moan.
"God, I love you," he said his voice thick and husky. Ginny pulled back slightly grinning down at him.
"It's a good thing too, because you're stuck with me forever you know," she said teasingly. He growled pulling her down into a passionate kiss. Ginny could feel him against her thigh and knew the affect she was having on her husband.
Ginny woke up with a start. Looking around, slightly disoriented, she caught sight of the alarm clock that told time as well as wizards warnings. At the moment it said it was three in the morning and along the bottom it read, 'You are supposed to be asleep.' Ginny smiled, snuggling against Harry's side. His breathing was slow and steady, his arm tightened possessively around her unconsciously. Ginny leaned in kissing Harry on the chest before settling back down, as she drifted back into sleep a whisper slipped from her into the quiet night.
"Soon sweetheart, you'll know Ron's happiness for yourself."