Chapter 4-Promise

Harry conjured a blanket for Ginny. She insisted that if she stayed at his house for the night, she would sleep on the couch. Before he left to go to bed himself, Harry kissed Ginny. He was surprised to have her kiss him back. Ginny deepened the kiss by opening her mouth. Harry's arms snaked their way behind Ginny, and gently into her red hair. Even though he was now a Father, nothing could have been more perfect. Until they stopped kissing.

"Good night, Harry," she said quietly.

Harry replied just as quietly, "Good night, Ginny."

"I have to go down to the village in the morning before we leave."

"I'll come with you."

"No, I need to go alone. Plus, you have to pack."

"Don't you have to pack?" Ginny looked at her bag out of the corner of her eye. "Oh, okay. Hey Gin, I'm going to be honest with you."

"About what?"

"Going back tomorrow. Meeting your family again and Lily for the first time." Ginny laughed. "I'm trying to be serious, and all you can do is laugh?"

"It's not that. Ok, it is. You, Harry James Potter, the one who defeated the Dark Lord himself is afraid to meet his 8-year old daughter and my family…again! Might I add?"

"You're not being very supportive."

"I'm sorry." Ginny stopped to kiss him. "There's nothing to worry about. I promise. I'll give Mum some warning, that might make things better."

"Or worse. You never know." Ginny folded herself into his chest.

"I think it'll be better, because she then won't get into this mad frenzy the second we walk into the house. She'll have time to get her head on straight."

"Ok. Good night, Gin."

"Good night Harry," said Ginny has Harry turned, and made his way upstairs. She didn't realize how hard this would be on Harry. She could tell that he was honestly nervous. Shaking her head, she crawled under the blanket, and fell asleep by the warmth of the fire.

Harry woke up the next morning, and remembered the events of the night before. Today was the day; the day that he returned to Number 12 Grimmauld Place. The day that he was also to meet his 8-year old daughter. When he got downstairs, he found Ginny folding up the blanket she had used the previous night. She had on simple black robes, and had pulled her hair back in a ponytail. Ginny was so absorbed in her thoughts, that she didn't hear Harry come down the steps. She didn't feel his presence as he stood at the bottom of the steps for a minute watching her clean up, and she wouldn't have known that he was with her if he didn't wrap his arms around her waist.

"Good morning," he murmured into her ear. His breath tickled her skin, causing her to shudder.

"Good morning yourself. I need to head down to the village; I expect you to be ready to go later this afternoon," Ginny ordered. Harry looked at his feet.

"Yes, Mommy," he said in a small voice. A smile spread across Ginny's face.

"You're mocking me!" She hit him playfully on the chest.

"So what if I am?"

"Then you'll have to pay," she said as she pressed herself up against him.

"Some punishments are good." Ginny rolled her eyes, and kissed him. Harry's arm wrapped around her waist as Ginny's arms snaked up around his neck. She felt his tongue gently push past her lips. She gasped, allowing him to put his tongue entirely in her mouth. Ginny pulled Harry onto the couch, next to her. Harry then pulled Ginny on top of him. Ginny stopped first. Gasping for breath, she looked deep into Harry's emerald eyes. A silent tear fell from her brown eyes.

"Why are you crying?" asked Harry as he wiped away the tear with his thumb.

"I still can't believe it's you," Ginny said, a little too fast. Harry looked at her. He could tell that that wasn't it.

"Why won't you tell me what's really wrong with you?"

"Because it's dumb."

"If it's so dumb, then why are you crying about it?" Ginny laid her head on his chest. "I want to help make things better for you and Lily."

"I don't want you to leave again. That's it. I'm afraid that you'll just pack up and leave again, and I, I, I can't bear to go through that again." Harry looked up at Ginny. He realized that she was honestly scared that he would leave again.

"Ginny, I promise you that I won't leave you again. You don't have to worry about that." Ginny smiled. Harry was really going to come back with her.

Slowly, Ginny got up, and composed herself. She brushed her thick red hair out of her eyes, and straightened her robes.

"I have to go down to the village," she said. "I'll be back in an hour or so." Harry too got up.

"And then we'll get ready to go," he said. Ginny nodded.

"And then we'll get ready to go," she repeated. Without another word, Ginny grabbed her bag, and made her way down to the village. Her plan was to contact Ron or somebody, and tell them the good news. She also wanted to give her Mom a warning about Harry's arrival, so she didn't have a heart-attack when he showed up.

Sighing, Ginny entered Neville and Luna's inn. It was already busy with visitors, but Neville noticed her right away.

"Ginny!" he called out, waving at her. Upon seeing her friend, Ginny made her way to the counter where he was standing.

Neville said, "I was beginning to worry about you when you didn't show up last night. Did you have to spend the night on the front porch or something?" Ginny shook her head.

"No," she said quietly. "I finally got through to him around dusk."

"Did you tell him everything?"

"Yes, I did. He was surprisingly cool about it, under the circumstances."

"Are you leaving soon?"

"Yeah, Harry and I are leaving this evening."

"Wait, Harry's coming with you? Wow, that's a pretty big step."
"Tell me about it. I'm going to contact my Mum right now, just so I can give her some warning." Neville smiled.

"That's probably a good idea. You can use floo powder if you want," he said, motioning towards the fireplace.

"That's okay, I have this," Ginny paused to pull out a mirror with a silver frame.

"Where did you get one of those?"

"Hermione gave it to me after I began to travel. It calmed my Mum down too, knowing where I was. Do you have a private room I can use to contact Ron?"

"Yeah, take the back room over there."

"Thanks, Neville. I promise I won't be long."

"Take your time." Ginny nodded, and made her way towards the room Neville had pointed out.

The room was small, probably a private meeting room of some kind. Ginny pulled out the mirror, and stared deep into it. The reflection showed a very tired young lady with deep red hair, and chocolate brown eyes. Was this really what Harry saw? Why would he want to come back to her? Ginny's thoughts were interrupted by the mirror in her hand vibrating, and an image of Hermione materializing on the glass.

"Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Yeah, 'Mione, I'm here," replied Ginny.

"Where are you? It's so loud."

"Did you know that Neville and Luna opened an inn in Ireland?"

"Is that where you stayed last night?" Ginny chewed on her bottom lip.

"No," she said slowly.

"Then where did you stay?"

"At Harry's," Ginny said even slower. A huge smile broke out on Hermione's face.

"You mean you found him?"

"Yes, now calm down. I need you to tell Mum for me."

"Tell Mum? Why can't you. She's just inside the kitchen."

"Because I want you to tell her. I just woke up, and I need to get going." Ginny then heard her brother's voice. He wasn't going to just let her leave without a full explanation of where she had been.

"'Mione, is it Ginny?"

"Yeah, it's your wonderful sister," Hermione said dryly. The image in the glass shook as Hermione handed the mirror over to Ron.

"Ginny! Where are you?" he demanded.

"Ireland," she said in a sweet voice.

"Ireland? Why are you all the way out in Ireland?"

"Before you yell at me anymore, Ronald Weasley, you better listen to me!"

"Fine! I'm listening, but this better be good!" he snapped back.

"I came here looking for Harry."

"God, Ginny! When are you going to stop looking for him?"

"That's real nice Ron; he's your best friend!" Ron rolled his eyes; his sister was a very determined person.

"Ginny, he is my best friend, but I don't think he's coming back," Ron said calmly. Ginny heard Hermione snort.

"Then how do you explain how I slept on his couch last night?" asked Ginny with a smile. That sent Ron over the edge. Ginny couldn't tell if he was happy that she had found his best friend, or mad that she spent the night on his couch. Ron had pursed his lips, and glared at his sister.

"You spent the night on his couch?" he roared.

"Quiet, Ron! I don't need the whole world knowing that at the moment. Right now, or rather when I'm done talking to you, I need you to give Mum a head's up about Harry coming back tonight."

"Harry's coming back tonight? I'll kill him for treating you so horribly!" Ron said. He was stopped by Hermione hitting him on the head. "Ow! What was that for?"

"You know very well what it was for; you're not going to kill Harry," Hermione said sternly. "Now give me the mirror."

"Yes ma'am," Ron said as he handed over the mirror.

"You've trained him well, Hermione." Hermione laughed.

"It's been pretty hard, but I think I've finally gotten through to him. Enough about me and your git-for-a-brother, tell me about you and Harry!"

"But please! Spare us the details!" Ron shouted over Hermione's shoulder. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"You can ignore him."

"I have been for years. Anyway, it took me a while to get through to Harry. Neville and Luna have their niece and nephew over…"

"Wait, I thought Luna and Neville are both only children."

"They are. I think it's like their cousin's kids or something. That's not the point. They brought me to Neville and Luna's inn. Both of them were so sure that Harry wasn't here."

"So you told them about Tonks."

"Exactly. I showed them the address, and Bobby and Diana, Neville and Luna's niece and nephew, showed me the house. I stood outside of his house for what seemed like forever before I finally got through to him."

"Did you tell him everything?" Ginny nodded. "How did he take it?"
"Well, after he blew up at me, he took it pretty well. Considering the circumstances."

"If Hermione did that to me, I'd flip," Ron said from over Hermione's shoulder.

"Ron! Go away!" Ginny yelled at her brother.

"Fine, I'll go tell Mum about Harry. When you hear an ear-shattering scream, which means that I told her."

"You do that now," Ginny said, and Ron was gone.

"Now that it's just the two of us, you can tell me all the details. None of your brothers will find out, promise," Hermione said.

"There aren't many details. We snogged for a little bit, but we always stopped."

"Why?"

"Hermione! Are you seriously asking me this? That's none of your business as to why Harry and I stopped snogging."

Hermione shrugged. "Fine. I won't push you, but I will get the details out of you eventually."

"On my death bed. Anyway, Harry and I got in a row about Lily, and I almost left. Harry really didn't want me to, so I said I would stay under one condition. If he would come back with me today."

"That's why he's coming back today, isn't it?" inquired Hermione. The younger blushed.

"That might have something to do with it."

"You threatened him?"

"No, he really didn't want me to leave, so I made a deal with him." Hermione smiled and shook her head. Ginny was one tough girl. The silence was broken by an ear-shattering scream.

"I take it your Mum now knows about Harry," Hermione said.

"I take it your right. Tell her I'll be home tonight, and if she makes a really big deal about all of this, we'll leave. Got it?" Hermione laughed.

"I've got it Ginny, but you know your Mum. She's going to make a huge deal about this."

"I'm starting to think that telling her was a bad idea." Hermione laughed again.

"Can you imagine her if you two just showed up? People would probably pay to see her reaction."

"I should have waited. Oh well. We'll see you tonight 'Mione."

"Ok, Gin. I'll see you both tonight."

Hermione's image faded, and Ginny put the mirror back in the folds of her robes. She could only imagine Number 12 Grimmauld Place right now. Her Mother was probably tearing it apart. When Ginny got back to the bar where Neville was, the inn had cleared out a little.

"So? How did it go?" asked Neville as Ginny slid into a bar stool.

"Well, Ron wasn't all that pleased about me staying the night at Harry's house, and my Mum flipped when she heard that Harry was coming back. Hermione and I think it would have been interesting if we didn't tell her. Things wouldn't be as chaotic at Grimmauld Place right now." Neville chuckled.

"When are you leaving?"
"This evening. Harry and I are probably going to have some time alone before we go."

"That's all the information I need to know!" Ginny rolled her eyes. Men could be just as immature as boys sometimes.

"I should probably be going, Neville. I'll see you soon?"

"Next meeting, we'll both be there," her friend replied.

"Then I'll see you both then. Tell Luna I said 'Good-bye'."

"I will." With that, Ginny left the inn, and made her way back to Harry's cottage.

Harry was sitting on the couch, flipping through the photo-album Hagrid had given him at the end of his first year.

"Hi, handsome," Ginny said as she sat on Harry's lap.

Harry asked, "How did your Mum take the news?"

"Pretty well for her at least. Ron wasn't too happy about me staying here for the night, but Hermione knocked him into shape."

"Ron and Hermione. How are they?"

"Married, with two kids."

"Married? Wow, I'm surprised they haven't gotten a divorce yet."

"I think we all are. Bill and Fleur have 4 kids. Danielle is 9-"

"I remember when Fleur was pregnant with her," Harry informed Ginny.

"Are you going to let me finish or not?"

"Sorry," mumbled Harry.

"It's ok," Ginny said as she ran her fingers through his wild black hair. "Jacqueline is 7, Francis is 3, and Louise is just a few months old."

"All French names. Very creative."

"Shut it, Harry! Anyway, Fred married Angelina Johnson, and they have 2 kids. Twins if you believe it! Angelina said that they had to have normal names, so she decided on Jesse and Courtney."

"What, Fred didn't get a say in the matter?"

"Not much. She didn't trust him. George married Katie Bell, and they have 3 kids. Katie went with what Angelina did, and didn't give George much say in their kid's names. Michael is 5, George Jr. is 3, and Carmela is 2."

"Did you ever hear back from Percy?" Ginny shook her head. He just stopped writing. Harry was just about to ask about Charlie, but then he remembered that Charlie had died in the last battle.

"I know about your family now, but how have you been?"

"Lonely without you," Ginny said quietly.

"Gin, I'm sorry I just packed up and left. Everything was just so hard for me."

"Don't worry about it, Harry. That's the past. Right now, you have a daughter to meet." Harry still couldn't believe that he was a father, or that Tonks never told him.

"Aw, Gin. I'm so tired right now. Say we rest for a while, and then we go." Ginny swatted Harry's chest.

"You just got up!" she exclaimed.

"I didn't sleep very well last night. I'll go though, I gave you my word." Harry then struggled to lay down with Ginny on his lap. Ginny finally gave in, and curled up next to Harry. Even though she wasn't tired, Ginny, like Harry, was asleep in minutes.

That evening, Ginny woke up, confused. She couldn't figure out where she was. When she looked down, and saw Harry, a smile crept across her face. He was coming home with her! Ginny leaned down, and brushed her lips past his. Harry licked his lips, and slowly opened his eyes.

"Ready to go?" Ginny asked quietly.

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Ginny shook her head.

"No you don't. Do you have a bag or something?"

"Just a small one like you. I'm ready, how about you?" Ginny nodded. She and Harry sat up. The plan was to Apparate outside Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Harry slid his hand into Ginny's and in a pop, they were gone.

Meanwhile, Hermione was curled up outside in the courtyard with a book. Things were starting to calm down since Ron had told his Mother that Harry was finally coming home. The silence was interrupted by a single pop. Looking up, Hermione saw a red-headed woman, and a man with messy jet-black hair. Her book was soon forgotten.

A/N: So…what did you think? Sorry it took so long, end of first quarter, which means unit tests, and all that jazz. Thanx to my beta, who pushed me to finish this chapter, sorry I got it in your inbox and hour late, but Cest Le'Vie (That's life). Sorry the chapter was so long, but oh well! Don't forget to push that little review button at the bottom of your computer screen, and let me know what you think. 'Til next time!

Tina101 signing out!