Chapter 5: Coffee Brings Us Together

Ginny left the note to Harry in the middle of the front door, and left to drop Hope off at daycare, before work. She didn't care if her boss wanted her to stay late- she HAD to get home before five! When Ginny got to work that morning, her mind was definitely not on topic. She sat at her computer, adjusting colors of recent pictures she had taken. She saw an e-mail from Vince, and decided to open it.

Hey Babe,

Look, I'm busy tomorrow night, but can I see you Thursday, after work? I'll pick you up. I need to talk to you about something important.

Love you, Vince.

Ginny's heart sank. Her future now depended on how Harry felt about her. She still loved Harry, and it would rip her heart apart to hear that he didn't love her anymore, but Vince was also a part of her heart now.

"Gin, did you send those files to Mr. Ripley? He wants the wedding shots by tonight" Becky informed her, stepping into her office.

Becky then saw Ginny's expression, and she forgot all about her question. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing" Ginny lied, opening a new e-mail. "Just loaded with work right now...what did you ask?"

"Did you send the shots to Mr. Ripley?" Becky repeated, still looking worried.

"Yes" Ginny nodded. "Sorry, Becks, but I really have to get this done, so..."

"Oh, right, sorry" Becky apologized, and hurried out of Ginny's office.

Ginny typed in Vince's e-mail address, and began her email.

Subject: Please Read

Vince- I don't know if I can see you Thursday, I'm sorry but I'm extremely busy this week. Call me Thursday night, and we'll talk. If not, I'll see you maybe this weekend. I've got to talk to you too. Love Ginny

Ginny actually wasn't sure if she put the word 'Love' in it. Yet she sent the message, and continued on with the task at hand, her mind stuck on Harry, while she adjusted the dress colour of the bride in a picture.

At noon, Ginny left her office alone to get lunch. Harry was temporarily out of her head for now, as she had just had another argument with her boss over a deadline she had to meet. Ginny grabbed her purse and coat, and let Becky know she was going to grab a sandwich and coffee from Tim Horton's. Becky offered to go with her, but Ginny said no, and quickly left.

She was mentally raging over her argument, and she knew Becky would make her replay the whole damn thing, and that was NOT what Ginny wanted to do. She got in her car, and drove off to the nearest Tim Horton's. She arrived, and got out of her car, slamming her door as she did so.

"Stupid idiot" Ginny muttered, taking her time to walk into the store.

The store was relatively busy, so she had to wait a fairly long time until she ordered. The man and woman in front of her were arguing loudly in what sounded like Russian. Ginny rolled her eyes. She REALLY wanted to tell them both to 'Shut the hell up', but she held her tongue.

The man looked angry enough to throw a punch, and she really didn't feel like having a black eye. Finally, Ginny stepped up to the counter, and ordered a large coffee and Black Forest ham sandwich to go. She received the coffee, and went to get her sandwich. Her stomach growled loudly, as she received her sandwich, and turned to go. The only thing was, someone was right behind her, and they stepped up, as she turned around, knocking the coffee out of her hand, and all over the floor.

"Thanks a lot, jackass" Ginny snapped, bending down to pick up the empty coffee cup. "That'll be $2.50 please" she added coldly, standing back up.

Ginny froze as her eyes met the person who had knocked the coffee from her hand.

"Harry?"

*^*

Harry got up that morning around eight. Today would be the day he would see her again, he was positive. Even if he had to curse the muggle out of the way, he would see Ginny again. So at 8:30, he showered, ate the little bit that he could force down his throat, and when the clock read 9:45 a.m., went into the wizarding part of Halifax.

The entrance was much different than that in Diagon Alley. It was through an old alley, which was lined with empty, rusty dumpsters. You had to walk to the end, touching each dumpster's sticker twice, and once you got to the end, whisper "Corvellis Manford." This would unlock the last dumpster's lid, and reveal a staircase leading underground. However, the dumpster would only unlock if you were magical, or if you were a muggle accompanied by a witch or wizard.

Harry climbed into the dumpster, and walked down the stone steps. The lid shut behind him, and the stairs led down a dark hall, then up a set of stairs, into the bright sunlight. The Halifax wizarding town was called Seranlock. It wasn't just an alley, like Diagon Alley, but it was an actual town, like Hogsmeade. Witches and wizards hurried about, going from store to store.

Seranlock was full of different stores, including Terry's Book Cafe, Seranlock Magical Pets, Collvines' Wands, Star Clothers, Kenzingtons Family Restaurant, MWB Magical Wizards' Bank, and loads more. It was very interesting to see, but in the back of Harry's mind, what he really craved was to see Ginny.

He walked into most of the stores, bought a book on the newest Defences and Curses, and ended up signing a few autographs for people who recognized him. The problem was, as soon as six people recognized him, twenty did. Harry had to push a few away, and when they wouldn't leave him alone, he disapparated into the stairwell, and walked out into the muggle world again.

Harry sighed, and looked at his watch. It was only 11:45 a.m. He decided to get something to eat, and then wander around the muggle part of town. He left the alley, found a store called 'Tim Horton's, and walked in. It was pretty crowded, but he managed to make his order of a sandwich, soup, and a cappuccino.

He paid, and went over to get his sandwich. He was waiting behind a woman who turned around rather quickly, carrying a coffee in one hand, and a wrapped sandwich in the other. Harry, who wasn't really paying attention walked forward, as soon as she turned around. The coffee was knocked from her hand, and landed on the ground sending hot coffee everywhere.

As she cursed him in a British accent Harry suddenly felt himself go numb. This was her! After all this time!

"That'll be $2.50 please," The woman added coldly, standing up.

'God, she looks even more beautiful than before' Harry thought.

She suddenly looked white, as her brown eyes went from loathing this man, to a look of shock.

"Harry?" Her voice shook as she said it.

"Ginny" Harry responded stupidly. "Oh god, it's you" He breathed.

He wanted to just hold her in his arms, and kiss her senseless. Ginny waited a few moments, before falling helplessly into his arms. He held her tightly, never wanting to let her go. This was like a dream! Ginny pulled away gently, and stared at him, her eyes sparkling with tears.

"How did you find me? Did you get my note? Why didn't you tell Drew where you were staying last night?! I would have come after you then!"

A million more questions piled into her head, but she stopped herself before she could ask anymore.

"It's a long story, Gin. What note? Who's Drew? And I've never been to you're house."

Ginny looked as if she might faint right now, so Harry pressed on. "Why don't we go somewhere to talk?"

"Yes... I'll call my boss." She pulled out her phone without a second thought.

"Oh, Gin, I don't want to intrude" Harry added anxiously, but still hoping she'd call in to work anyway. He really needed to be with Ginny, but he didn't want her to get in trouble for skipping work for him.

"You're not intruding, they are" Ginny said quickly.

She noticed a janitor was coming over to clean up the coffee. "Come on, let's go back to my house... Drew won't be home for a while, so..."

They left Tim Horton's, and got into Ginny's car. Ginny put the sandwich in her purse, pulled out her car keys, and started up the car. She turned on her cell phone, and dialed Becky's work line. She put the phone up to her ear, and glanced at Harry, who didn't really look to excited about being back in a muggle car. Or at least this was what she was pinning it down to. After all, Harry didn't seem too emphatic about seeing her again.

"Hey Becky, um, I won't be able to go back to work today, or tomorrow, or the following day. So, can you tell Mr. Derand that I won't be there?"

"Ginny, Mr. Derand will KILL you for missing so much"

"Yeah, well, Mr. Derand can go to hell" Ginny said uncaringly. "Tell him I'll be back Thursday for half a day, but I need to be at home"

"Fine, but he won't like it" Becky agreed grimly.

"He doesn't have to...the man's a git"

"Okay, I'll call you later" Becky sighed.

"Bye" Ginny said, hanging up.

"Who's Mr. Derand?" Harry asked casually.

"My boss" Ginny said glumly. "I'm constantly arguing with him..."

There was an awkward silence.

"So...is she at home?" Harry asked slowly, his eyes on Ginny.

"She?" Ginny frowned, turning a corner.

"Our daughter?" Harry prompted.

Ginny glanced at him, looking amazed. "How did you know we had a girl?"

"I... was...informed" He said uncomfortably. "So.... What's her name?"

"Hope Elizabeth Potter" Ginny replied, a look of pride on her face. "She's got your eyes"

Harry smiled at this. "What does she look like?"

"She's got soft, straight red hair, round gorgeous eyes, a cute little smile, and a she's a VERY loud screamer...honestly, it sounds like she's amplified"

"She's a year and... how many months?"

"19 months " Ginny responded. "She says quite a lot, and repeats a lot of what she hears..."

"Does she say Daddy? I mean... I wouldn't expect her to, but-"

"She does" Ginny replied, smiling again. "I taught her... but she hardly says it... mostly just Rew and Mommy"

"Rew?"

"Drew... my roommate, and the woman who answered the door yesterday" Harry gave her an odd look.

"Ginny, I was never at your house" Ginny looked very concerned. "What are you talking about? You came to the house asking me"

"No... I was going to keep looking for you after I had lunch"

"Then... who came to the door?" Ginny asked quietly.

"I wouldn't worry to much about it... there are more Aurors in touch with me with at this moment than there should be" Harry said calmly. Then came the awkward silence again.

"Gin, you aren't mad at me, are you?" Harry asked after a beat.

Ginny glanced at him again, and shook her head no. "Why would I be?"

Harry gave her a sad smile. "I left you alone."

"And you came back" Ginny added lightly. The last thing she wanted was to listen to Harry's anxieties. She was just happy he was alive.

"But I wasn't even there the day Hope was born! I wasn't there to hold your hand, to help you through the rest of your pregnancy, to help take care of our daughter..."

"I had Drew's help... and you had to go" Ginny said softly.

"Ginny, I... I just feel really bad. I should have turned it down for you... I kept telling you how much I loved you, how much I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you and our baby, but I left anyway"

Ginny finally pulled the car to a stop outside a small building, and she turned to look at him. She took his hands, and stared straight at him.

"I don't hate you, I'm not even mad at you, I could never stay mad at you for so long, even if I was...you gave me the one person that has got me through this past year and a half. Please don't think I hold your departure against you"

Harry smiled slightly again. "Thank you" Ginny let his hands go, a slight blush on her cheeks. She waited about half a second to read his face. Was he ever going to hold her like he used to?

She opened the car door, and grabbed her purse.

"Are you coming?" she asked with a grin, seeing as how he wasn't sure if he should.

"Where are we?" Harry asked, unbuckling his seat belt, and getting out of the car.

"Hope's day care" Ginny replied.

Suddenly her cell phone rang, and she pulled it out of her purse. Harry walked around the car, and together, they began to make their way up to the building.

"Hello?" Ginny answered absent-mindedly.

"Weasley! Why aren't you here?"

"Oh, hello to you too, Mr. Derand" Ginny said sweetly. "How are you?" It was remarkable how much she got away with her boss.

"Cut the crap, Weasley. Why aren't you here?"

"Oh, I'm just taking some time off with my family" Ginny replied in the same sweet voice. "My... um..." She glanced at Harry, unsure of what he was to her.

"My daughter's father is here... It's really important that I spend some time with him. You know of my situation."

"Uh huh, wonderful" Mr. Derand snapped. "You just make sure your here tomorrow"

"Or what?" Ginny asked grimly, pulling open the door, and holding it open for Harry.

"Or.... or you're fired"

"You can't fire me for wanting to spend time with the father of my child! He's never met our daughter. Can't you make any exceptions?"

"Weasley, I'm warning you..."

"I'll see you Thursday morning Mr. Derand."

She shut off her phone off, and placed it back into her purse. She could really care less about her job right now. She hated it anyway.

Harry looked around. It was a small, yet cozy place. The floor was shiny, with various children's handprints on it. There were five doors in this room, and he and Ginny went through the second one. At least twenty children were in this room.

It was a room full of little netted beds for toddlers, lots of toys, a painting center, a large sandbox, huge chalkboards, drawing areas, a reading area and a large play mat. A woman walked over to them, a happy smile on her face.

"Hello Ginny! Hope's helping little Emily Robertson clean up the toys over there" She motioned towards the two small children in the corner, picking up stuffed animals, and throwing them into a bin.

Harry felt his heart melt. Hope was small, dressed in a little blue dress with a white cotton sweater. Her bright red hair was pulled into two adorable pigtails.

"Hope!" Ginny called happily, glancing at Harry.

Hope turned around, smiled her little smile and began wobbling over at a quick toddler pace. Once in arms reach, Ginny enclosed in her arms. Harry couldn't help smiling as he watched Ginny hold her daughter- he wanted to be a part of this more than anything now. He wanted to be able to hold Hope the way Ginny did- have Hope hurry towards him the way she did for Ginny.

'No way I'm leaving this behind again' Harry thought desperately.