He slowly got up and looked out of the window. It was raining now. The sun had gone down a few hours ago. It was getting late but he wasn't tired.
He went into the kitchen and got some tea. He went back into the living room and sat back down on the couch. He glanced down at the redhead who was sleeping peacefully next to him. Even when she was sleeping she could make him fall in love with her all over again. Even after all these years.
He took a sip from the tea and put it down on the table. He put an arm around the girl – no, woman – lying next to him. He enjoyed times like these. They were so peaceful. When the only sound were from the rain outside, splashing up on the window.
He always had to keep his wand at the ready, though. You never knew when a Death Eater would come.
He smiled when he thought of the past, yet a single tear ran down his cheek. So many bad things had happened but a lot of good things too. People had died but he had found love. He had lost friends but gotten new ones. He had gotten a lot of enemies but there were always somebody by his side. He hoped that when the battles of the war began, he would still have somebody by his side.
6 years before…
"ITS NOT HIS FAULT! THAT – BIRD – IS SUPPOSED BE IN THE AIR NOT ON THE FLOOR!" Hermione yelled at a certain redheaded boy.
Harry shook his head and gave up. Even after seven years, he couldn't make his best friends stop fighting. He went over to the fireplace and sat down on the couch, next to another redhead. He put his arm around her, and she looked up from the book she was reading and smiled sweetly at him. They had gone out for a few months now and Harry was happier than ever. He had finally realized her. Well, you can't really say 'realized' since he always knew that she was there. But one day he started to look beyond the your-best-friend's-sister fact and realized who she was and what she had become. Ginny had always been so patient and understanding. All of this and probably a lot more made him fall in love with her.
It took him long enough to tell her how he felt. He was afraid of rejection even when Ginny had liked him for so long. She was even going out with Dean Thomas at the time and this made Harry extremely jealous. This all belonged to the past though. Dean broke up with her because he claimed to be in love with Parvati Patil. Harry and Ginny had gone out for a while and at the end of Harry's sixth year, he felt he had to break up with her because he would bring her into danger. As stubborn as Ginny had been all of her life, she convinced Harry that she would be able to handle it. Naturally Harry didn't like the idea but he needed her. He didn't dare to think about what he would do if something happened to her.
"HE WAS SITTING ON MY BED AND NOT ON THE FLOOR! AND HE IS AN OWL NOT A BIRD, HERMIONE, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT!" Ron yelled back at Hermione, breaking Harry's thoughts.
"WELL IF HE GOT ANOTHER OWNER HE MIGHT GROW AND ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE AN OWL!" Flames were visible in Hermione's angry eyes.
"Do think they are ever gonna stop?" Harry asked Ginny. People were starting to leave the common room and head for their dormitories to get some silence, to do their homework in. Before, when Ron and Hermione were screaming at each other like this, Harry would be angry with both of them, but now he had learned to calm down and even laugh at their stupidity.
"Well they always do at some point but Ron really pissed her off this time. She isn't going to let this go any time soon," Ginny answered finally putting down the book, and gave up on doing any more homework tonight.
"WHAT WAS THAT – THING – DOING IN THE BOYS' DORMS, ANYWAYS?" The fight continued.
"IT'S A CAT, RONALD! AND BESIDES - "
"This argument gets really boring after 1245th time," Ginny decided. Harry nodded. He looked out of the window. It was getting late.
"Let's go to bed," he said and he and Ginny got up to leave. Before walking up the stairs he turned to Ron and Hermione, "Goodnight."
"GOODNIGHT HARRY!" Neither of them turned of their anger. The yelling continued right after this.
Harry and Ginny walked up the stairs to the dormitories. They kissed goodnight and separated. Harry smiled to himself in the dark before he fell asleep; tomorrow was finally a Saturday.
Harry woke up early the next morning but someone was up much earlier than he was.
"Good morning Harry" Ron said with a satisfied smile.
"Err, good morning Ron," Harry said carefully. "Why are you so happy today? I mean, I'm just wondering since you didn't exactly look happy yesterday evening." Ron didn't answer with words; only with a smile. Harry raised an eyebrow and expected an explanation but Ron just smiled and got up and dressed. Harry did the same and followed Ron down into the common room.
On the stairs they met Ginny who gave Harry a small kiss on the cheek and said "Good morning." She didn't want to kiss Harry on the lips in front of Ron. He had never really liked the idea of Ginny dating Harry. Dating any guy actually. But over the past weeks he had learned that if Ginny had to date someone, who would be better than his best friend? Harry had to swear, though, not to hurt her of any kind. Harry didn't have any intentions to but Ron made him swear anyways.
In the common room they met Hermione who looked oddly happy too.
"Ready to go to breakfast?" Ron asked and held out an arm with a smile. She beamed at him and nodded. She took his arm and they walked happily down to the Great Hall. Harry and Ginny both raised their eyebrows and shared a look. They both laughed and Harry held out an arm like Ron had done. Ginny laughed and took it, and they followed Ron and Hermione's trail.
By dinner that evening, the whole school saw Ron and Hermione as a couple. When Harry came into the common room that night he saw his best friends in a corner where Hermione was trying to teach Ron a charm but he was far from listening. He was playing with her hair, some times stopping to kiss her neck.
Harry decided to let them be alone, so he joined Ginny on the couch by the fireplace. He dropped down next to her and put an arm around her small shoulders.
"You know, I'm supposed to be disgusted because Ron is my brother, but I'm happy that they finally worked things out. They have liked each other for ages," Ginny explained. Harry nodded and she continued, "I just hope Ron isn't so stupid to ruin this."
Harry smiled, "Well, if he really waited this long with telling her, I don't think he is planning on ruining it right away." He leaned back and closed his eyes. For once he was relaxed. Their seventh year was soon over and that meant they would have to face the real world. He slowly stroke Ginny's hair. She still had a year left at Hogwarts, and he feared, they wouldn't be together for more than a few weeks that year.
"Listen Harry," She said quietly, breaking his thoughts.
He listened. "I don't hear anything," he whispered back after a while.
"Exactly. No fight tonight." Harry smiled at this. It was true. It was the first night in a very long time; Hermione and Ron hadn't been fighting. Harry leaned back again and enjoyed it. "Harry," Ginny said. He opened his eyes and looked at her, "Do you ever think about next year? I mean, me being here, you being elsewhere, studying to become an Auror."
Harry thought about it for a while, even though he already had an answer to the question. He looked deep into her brown eyes. They looked troubled. He smiled slightly, and stroke the flaming red hair. "How can I help not to? Don't worry, we will find a way to make it work, trust me."
She sat up and whispered in his ear, "I'm afraid that's not what I was thinking about. I know we can make this work, Harry. I trust you fully. What I am scared of though, is that something might happen to you." She pulled away and finished, still in a low soft voice, "I couldn't stand losing you."
A tear made its way down her cheek. Harry brushed it away with his thumb. He hated to see her cry. "I'll be fine." She smiled sadly. She leaned in and rested against his chest. He kissed the top of her head and put his arms around her for comfort. He could feel she started to relax a bit more. "Don't worry so much," he whispered softly in her ear, "I love you and I won't leave you. I promise you that." Harry was aware that this was a promise no one could make, but for some strange reason, he needed to hear it for himself.
6 years later…
He got up once again and walked over to the window. He looked to the left and then to the right, but there was nothing out there in the rain. He shook his head. No one would be so stupid to walk around in a weather like this.
Suddenly something moved behind him. He turned quickly only to find the redheaded woman sitting up. He let out a sigh of relief and walked over and sat next to her. He kissed the top of her head and she leaned into his chest and relaxed. He put his arms around her and relaxed as well. They were sitting the exact position they had been in years ago. "You seem worried, Harry," She suddenly said. "Anything wrong?"
"Nothing, Ginny," he said and smiled. "Nothing is wrong. Go back to sleep, darling."
She smiled back at him. "And Ethan and Samantha?"
Harry smiled yet again. "Perfectly safe at the Burrow."
She slowly closed her eyes again and fell asleep. Harry joined her after a while.
2 years before…
"HARRY POTTER WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME!" A voice sounded from behind a door. A nurse rushed into the room. Harry tried to get a peak inside, but the door shut in front of him. A man walked up to him and led him over to a couch where they both sat down.
"Don't worry about it mate," the man said. "I never thought I would say this, but my sister is not even close to screaming as loud as Hermione did when she had Aiden. I love her to death, but that day she was just really scary."
Harry laughed and send his friend and smile. You couldn't help but notice though, the nervousness behind it. "Yeah you're probably right, Ron, but you should think Ginny wouldn't be like this after having worked here at St. Mungo's for about two years now." He sighed nervously. "Do you think this is too soon? I mean we are so young, and Ginny is even younger!"
"Don't worry so much," Ron said. "We never know what is happening these days, so let's live life."
"I guess you are right," Harry sighed again. "I only hope my child will have the same freedom."
"Don't we all, mate." Harry send him a smile.
"Harry?" a voice suddenly said and a nurse walked out of the room from, which there was no more screaming. "We are ready for you now."
"Thanks Hermione," Harry said with a bright. He quickly entered the room. He walked up to the bed, which Ginny lay in. He kissed her on the cheek. "Hey stranger, how are you?"
"Quite alright," she answered with a smile. Fortunately for Harry, she was back to the old Ginny, and not the screaming, crazy woman he had heard before. "Look." She moved her head in the direction she wanted him to look
Harry turned around and saw Hermione coming up with two new born babies in her arms. She smiled warmly, "congratulations, you are officially parents."
"Twins?" Harry asked Ginny with a smile, which she returned happily. "What are we going to call them?"
Ginny received the small baby boy from Hermione, and she gave the small baby girl to Harry. "I was thinking of naming this handsome little guy Ethan. He was born first."
Harry nodded happily. "What do you think about Samantha for my little princess here?"
"Love it," Ginny said. Harry leaned down and placed a kiss on her lips.
He sat down next to her, "Ethan and Samantha Potter."
"Weasley Potter," Ginny corrected him. Harry looked at her, "you're right, just Potter that sounds better."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Ginny said determined, "I would personally kill myself if my parents had named me Ginny Weasley Potter." Harry laughed and kissed her again.
2 years later…
Harry's eyes burst open suddenly at the noise of a loud bump. He sat up quickly, which made Ginny wake up just as fast. He held a finger up to his mouth to let her know she should be quiet. She nodded and took out her wand. Harry did the same and stood up from the couch. He walked over to the window where he thought he had heard the noise coming from. Ginny murmured a spell and the fire in the fireplace went out. It had been the only source of light in the living room.
Harry looked out. It was still very dark, and the rain was still pouring down. There was no sign of anything or anyone being out there. He turned around and looked at Ginny. His face relaxed a little, but his eyes were still thoughtful. "No ones there," he said quietly.
"Probably just the wind," Ginny whispered back.
Just then the door burst open. In a split-second Harry was standing in front of Ginny, holding one arm back to make sure she stayed right behind him and with his wand the other hand. A tall dark person was standing in front of them. He was wearing a large black coat, which was soaking wet. He took a step closer into the doorway.
"Lumos," Harry said out loud and a light appeared at the end of the wand.
"Merlin, point that thing elsewhere will you?" the man suddenly said.
Harry glanced quickly at Ginny, who looked just as confused as he did. Somehow the voice sounded familiar. With yet another spell from Harry, the fireplace lit up and shortly after the room was lit up as well. "Fred?" Ginny suddenly asked the man in the doorway.
He walked in and closed the door behind him. He took his hat of and a wisp of red hair appeared, "who else?" He asked and smiled slightly.
Ginny send Harry a tired look before walking past him and over to her brother. "Well for starters you are not exactly the person we would be expecting to burst into our living room in the middle of the night. What do you think this world has Death Eaters for? And second you haven't exactly visited us recently." Ginny's brothers Fred and George had been busy with their store and family the past few years, so they had hardly gotten around to visit any family.
"True, which is why I decided to stop by." Fred said. He took of his coat and walked over to warm himself in front of the fireplace. As they had noticed, he still had the same red hair the Weasley family was well-known for. His face had aged slightly but his eyes still had the same bluish colour, however, for the first time since Harry could remember, they looked serious and worried.
"Fred what really brings you here?" Harry asked him softly.
Fred kept facing the fire. "I was paid a visit by some people from the ministry at the shop the other day."
Harry watched Ginny slowly walking over to her brother. She sat down next to him and looked at him. "What do you mean you were paid a visit? Where was George?"
Fred turned and looked into her eyes. "He has been absent for a few days. I haven't been able to get in contact with him or Alicia." George had been seeing Alicia Spinnet, an old friend from Hogwarts, for about a year now.
"What did this man from the ministry tell you, Fred?" Harry asked.
Fred stood up and faced Harry. Ginny stood up as well. "That they had been at George and Alicia's apartment and everything in it was torn apart." Harry heard Ginny gasp and Fred continued, "and when I got home today our apartment everything there had been torn apart as well, and Angelina was missing." He took a deep breath and swallowed hard. "It's coming Harry, the war, I have a feeling it is starting soon."
Harry nodded. He knew exactly what feeling he was talking about. "I have had the same feeling for a while." He thought carefully for a while, having to make sure he made the right decisions now. He ran a hand through his jet black hair. "Fred take Ginny to the Burrow," he said finally. "Stay there until I have given you further notice."
"But Harry -" Ginny started but was interrupted by Harry.
"You will be safe there. I have to find Ron and report to the ministry."
"He is right, Ginny," Fred said. "It's only a matter of time before they come here."
Harry looked deep into her eyes, which started getting wet. She ran over to him and into his arms. He held her close. She raised her head from his chest and looked into his eyes. "You promise me to be careful Harry Potter! And you hurry back to the Burrow. Don't make me worry more than necessary." He leaned down and placed a kiss on her red lips to promise her that he would do so.
When they pulled apart, he saw Ginny walk back over to Fred. She took hold of Fred's hand, and with a crack the had apparated. Harry now stood and looked at an empty spot in front of the fireplace where they had been standing a few minutes ago. He let out a sigh and gathered his thoughts. He didn't dare thinking about what would have happened if Fred hadn't visited them tonight. Maybe the Death Eaters, which the ones who had been to Fred and George's apartments had probably been, had been by to kidnap Ginny and the twins when Harry wasn't home. He shook his head to get that thought out of his head. It didn't matter now, they were safe at the Burrow.
Harry took out his wand again and extinguished the fire in the fireplace with a spell, and walked out of the apartment, making sure to close the door behind him. He put a spell on the doorknob, though he doubted it would be able to hold out Death Eaters.
He walked outside in he rain. For some reason the street lights were out. He held his wand in a tight grip. He turned the corner and walked down a dark alley. Ron and Hermione didn't live far away so Harry would rather walk than apparate. He crossed a road where the street lights were on, but continued down yet another dark alley.
Suddenly he saw a dark figure walking towards him. Harry held his wand tight in his hand. The figure walked towards him with fast steps. As it got closer Harry could see the outline around it. He guessed it was a male a bit taller than himself. The man came closer and closer and somehow he looked familiar. "Who's there?" Harry asked.
"Harry?" The man asked.
"Ron?"
"Yes," Ron said. "Could we go somewhere where I am actually able to see you?" Though Ron probably couldn't see it, Harry nodded to him in the dark. They walked together back the way Harry had just come from. They came to the street where the lights were on. "I take it you have heard about George?"
Harry nodded again. "Fred came by the apartment a few minutes ago. He took Ginny with him." He knew Ron knew he was talking about the Burrow. They were standing on an open street so they could not be sure if anyone was overhearing their words.
Ron nodded, "I send Hermione and Aiden away as well." He took a deep breath. "So are you ready for this?"
Harry thought about it for a while. "I have been ready for six years now. Just remember your Auror training." He knew that that probably wouldn't be enough if he was to face his enemy for twenty-three years yet again. For the first time in the past years he had the feeling that the next time he would turn a corner the war would be there facing him. "Let's check in with the Order of the Phoenix." Ron nodded and they both apparated.
