Harry Potter and all characters, etc. belong to J.K. Rowling, not me.

Harry's New Boggart – Chapter 19 – Ginny's Birthday

About a minute after the smartest Death Eaters portkeyed away, Harry, still invisible, looked around for any trace of enemies. He saw Mad-Eye Moody appear nearby, with his magical eye spinning in circles, looking up and down as he announced, "All clear!"

Harry waited thirty seconds to make sure no one would attack the Order before making himself visible, and happily noted that Ginny had done the same thing. He was also happy to note that she was uninjured. "Ginny!" he called out.

"Harry," she exclaimed as she turned toward him. She flung her arms around him and kissed him, earning a few catcalls.

He heard Ron's voice say, "Get a room!" and then, "Ouch!"

Harry and Ginny separated to see Ron standing next to Hermione, rubbing his shoulder, and surmised that the brunette had smacked him.

Ginny explained with a smirk, "I was just thanking Harry. How many husbands take their wives Death Eater hunting on their birthday?"

"This wasn't for your birthday. It was for our honeymoon," he replied, chuckling. "By the way, I got Bellatrix."

"May she rest in pieces," said Tonks, who was standing nearby, sternly. "Now Sirius can rest in peace."

Harry shook his head. "There's a rat we have to get before then."

"Wormtail," added Lupin with a slight growl. He then smiled at Harry and Ginny, who were now holding hands. "Look, I don't think there's any reason you two, or Ron and Hermione, need to stay here for the cleanup. Happy birthday, Ginny. Happy honeymoon, both of you."

"Well, if you insist," replied Ginny with a smile.

"I do," said Mr. Weasley, who'd walked up while Lupin was speaking. "Honey, it's your birthday, and you shouldn't spend it cleaning up a house you no longer live at. Go home. We'll be there tonight for your surprise party."

"Ha ha," responded Ginny, "as if my husband could keep anything a secret from me. Besides, now-a-days it's not good to surprise people. We're liable to hex first and ask questions later. I'll see you later, Daddy. I love you." She then hugged him tightly.

"I love you too, sweetheart," Arthur replied as he returned the embrace.

A few minutes later, Harry, holding Ginny tightly to him, appeared in the master bedroom of Potter Manor. Ginny looked around and then turned toward Harry with a smirk. "Er, Harry, I see you decided to save us the trouble of running up the stairs," she commented as she put her arms behind his hair to pull him down for a kiss.

Harry's face turned red. "Er, that's not why I….I mean it's your birthday – if that's what you want I've got no objections…but I just thought you might want to take a shower after that mission."

"Well," she replied, blushing, "I guess we can start by taking a shower." She then backed up slightly and started unbuttoning Harry's shirt with one hand while she pointed her wand at the door.

In the meantime, Ron and Hermione appeared in the living room. Ron looked around and commented, "I thought Harry and Ginny were coming here too."

At that moment, Loddy appeared in front of them blushing. "Master and Mistress Potter is being in Potter Manor, but they is not to be disturbed. Is Ronald Weasley or Hermione Granger needing any refreshments?"

Ron's ears turned red. "Not to be disturbed! Don't tell me they're shagging again!"

"Ronald!" yelled Hermione. "I thought you'd be happy that they're married now so no one can call your sister a 'scarlet woman.' What do you think you'll be doing the day after you get married, playing chess? I'll be surprised if we see them at all until her birthday party."

Ron then looked at Hermione with an expression he hoped was romantic. "I guess that means we have the rest of the house to ourselves."

"Not exactly," said the voice of Mr. Granger from behind them.

Ron and Hermione turned to see her parents, as well as Petunia Dursley, standing by the doorway to the kitchen watching them while grinning at them as their faces turned pink.

Loddy walked toward the kitchen, in between the two groups, and repeated her original question. "Is Ronald Weasley or Hermione Granger needing any refreshments?"

After they'd gotten some iced tea from Loddy, Ron and Hermione told the older people about the battle.

Aunt Petunia paled, "Those are the people that were going to attack my house?"

Hermione answered, "Yes, although I'm sure Voldemort will send more to your house tomorrow. That was his plan."

"I guess he won't be happy when he finds out about what happened today," commented Mr. Granger.

"I guess not," agreed Ron.

"It's a good thing Harry is with Ginny," said Hermione thoughtfully. "He can sense it when Voldemort is really angry through his scar. Harry sometimes even has dreams of what he's doing, although it hasn't happened for a while."

"And wakes up screaming?" asked Petunia, looking ready to cry.

"Yes," answered Hermione stiffly, "he has had those dreams in your home, and I'm sure he's had regular nightmares there, too." Hermione knew Harry and Ginny had accepted Petunia into this household, but still didn't really like the woman who used to treat Harry like a house elf.

"About someone named Cedric?" asked a trembling Petunia.

"Probably," replied Ron, "At the end of our fourth year, Harry saw Cedric Diggory murdered in front of him."

Petunia started crying. "I don't know how many times that summer I heard him scream that name but just pretended to be asleep."

"By the time he escaped your house, he was mad at everyone. He even yelled at Ron and me."

Petunia, still crying, said, "I-I guess that's what he considered it – escaping us. I can't change what I've done, but I can change the future. Will you please give me a chance?"

Hermione gazed into Petunia's eyes and saw sorrow, regret, and sincerity. She took a deep breath. "Since Harry has forgiven you, I guess we should, too."

"Thank you. I, er, was hoping that you could take me into London. I'd like to file for a divorce."

Hermione frowned, and then shrugged. "If that's what you want. I certainly understand. I know where you can get a solicitor. I'm wearing my emergency necklace. I believe Ginny has the other, although…" she said with a smirk, "I can't guarantee she's wearing it right now. I don't believe that Death Eaters will be looking for us there, so it shouldn't be dangerous. I'll disguise Ron and myself with a few glamour charms to make sure we're not recognized, just in case."

A few hours later, a very happy-looking Harry and Ginny came walking down the stairs. They entered the kitchen and started to make sandwiches before Lomby appeared and stopped them, completing the sandwiches himself (and making them much more elaborate than the newlyweds had originally planned).

"Thank you, Lomby. It looks delicious," said Ginny when he was finished making them.

"Tis nothing, Mistress Potter. And Lomby is wishing you is having a very happy birthday."

"Thank you, Lomby. I am!"

Harry was looking around, thinking that the place was too quiet. "Lomby, where is everybody?"

"Mr. and Mrs. Grangey is having lunch outside under the pavilion. Ron Wheezey, Hermeeney Grangey, and Petuney Dursey is being away. I is not knowing where, but is thinking the Grangeys is knowing."

Harry tensed up until Ginny put her hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure they're fine. I've got the emergency necklace on. Hermione's got the other one. If they were in trouble, I'm sure she'd have activated hers."

"I just don't like not knowing where they are."

"Then why don't we take these sandwiches and some drinks out to the pavilion and join Hermione's parents for lunch. Then, we can ask them."

Lomby spoke up, "Lomby is taking the sandwiches and drinks to the pavilion. What is you wanting to drink?"

A few minutes later, Harry and Ginny were walking hand-in-hand to the pavilion, where they saw Mr. and Mrs. Granger watching them. "Hello," Mrs. Granger called out, "Happy birthday, Ginny!"

"Thanks!" replied Ginny happily.

"Hi," greeted Harry, "I hope we're not intruding."

"No, of course not," assured Mr. Granger. "Besides, Lomby told us you were coming when he brought your food here."

"So," asked Harry as he sat down, "Do you know where Ron, Hermione, and Aunt Petunia are?"

Both parents looked down. "Er," replied Mrs. Granger, "They took Petunia to London to file for divorce."

"Divorce?" repeated a surprised Harry. "I didn't want to cause…"

"Don't you DARE blame yourself for that!" yelled Ginny, causing the Grangers to flinch. "You're not the one who beat Petunia the first time she ever disagreed with you! Vernon is! What would you expect me to do if you ever did that to me?"

"Cruciatus curse…with your staff?" suggested Harry. "That would probably make Voldemort's feel like a tickling charm."

She looked like she was thinking about it. "Nah, I'd end up in Azkaban for it, but yes, I would curse you badly, but then I'd file for divorce. Petunia can't defend herself against Vernon, though, but you've already cursed him anyway. My mum once told me, before I was dating you, that once a man crosses that line and abuses his wife or girlfriend, he will do it again and again as long as she's stupid enough to take him back. Apparently, your aunt is not that stupid."

"I suppose not." He took a deep breath and then decided to change the subject. "So, do you want to start planning a surprise birthday party for Hermione next month?"

The group was well into the planning phases for that party when Ginny whispered, "Shhh. They're coming!"

Harry shouted toward them, "Hey, Aunt Petunia, Ron, Hermione. How'd things go in London? Any trouble?"

"No," replied Hermione quickly, motioning Harry to help his aunt while Petunia looked down and sniffled. "We weren't seen by any Death Eaters."

Harry got up and walked to his aunt, and put his arms around her. She hugged her nephew back as she began crying into his shoulder while Ginny put an arm around Petunia's shoulders.

They stayed like that for a while, after which Harry mentioned that they left without telling him. After Hermione commented he was "otherwise occupied" he blushed and dropped the subject. The young people then went swimming in the pond for about an hour, and then washed up before the party. About a half hour before it was to begin, Harry finally set the security to let Fred and George (along with Neville, Luna, Gabrielle, Tonks and Remus) floo in. He'd warned them not to try until twenty minutes early.

People started arriving soon after. All the Weasleys except Percy (including Fleur), who Ginny didn't bother to invite, came. Tonks, Remus, Neville, Luna and Gabrielle also came. Ginny hugged everyone who came. Once everybody was there, the room went dark, and a cake with chocolate frosting and sixteen lit candles came floating into the living room, followed by three house elves. The cake stopped right in front of Ginny at the perfect height while Dolly the elf said, "We is thinking that Mistress Potter's cake should be eaten first before her presents. Now Mistress Potter, you is to be wishing for something."

Ginny looked into Harry's eyes, "I have everything I ever wished for on any birthday I've ever had. There aren't that many things left to wish for." She closed her eyes and silently wished for the war to end with nobody in that room being injured or killed while she took a deep breath, and then she blew on the candles until they all went out.

While everyone was clapping for her, the elves relit the room and had the cake separate into slices for everyone, the first going to the birthday girl, who proceeded to stuff it into her husband's mouth quite messily. Everyone laughed at the spectacle of the 'Chosen One' with a face full of cake. He heard a camera and looked to see a grinning George Weasley holding one. When Harry got his slice, he tried to get revenge, but Ginny ducked in time, which caused the slice to end up in Arthur Weasley's face. He heard the camera again as he tried muttering an apology which was interrupted by Arthur attempting to get Harry with his slice. He ducked and the cake ended up in Mrs. Granger's face. A full-blown food fight ensued, and Harry instructed his elves to keep supplying food while Ginny laughed as she heard him.

In the end, everyone was covered with food. Harry had even managed to get ice cream in Ginny's face. They disappeared into the kitchen where he happily removed it. After the food fight was over, everybody scourgified each other, and the elves brought out another cake, which they actually ate. Following that, Ginny received a present from everybody, which included a bag of tricks that she was instructed to use on Harry from the twins. She didn't know whether she'd follow those instructions or not. There were, after all, other potential victims in the house, and it may be more fun to have Harry help her prank the others. She decided to wait until she felt someone deserved a good prank.

Ginny received a beautiful six-inch-tall porcelain sculpture of a unicorn from Petunia. She got a large container of her favorite perfume from Hermione. She got some chocolate frogs from Ron. Harry gave her a wizarding photo showing him on one knee proposing to her. When she asked how he got the picture, he answered, "I put the memory in my pensieve and took my camera inside it. If you want, we can make a whole album that way."

Ginny kissed him quickly. "I think I'd like that."

The rest of the day went by perfectly until Harry and Ginny were both asleep in the master bedroom. He was dreaming about his wife until he found himself in a dark room glaring at an incompetent coward who had fled from the Burrow attack and dared to report failure.

"Why did you wait so long to report this to me?" he hissed at the sniveling man on his knees.

"M-M-My lord. I know how y-y-you feel about failure."

Harry sneered, "Then why did you come at all, you worthless fool?"

"B-B-Because I know I can't hide from you."

'Well,' he thought, 'Perhaps he's not as stupid as he looks.' "That is wise," he hissed at the man. "You have saved yourself from much pain by coming to me." He then pointed his wand at the man and shouted, "Avada Kadavra!"

"Harry, HARRY!" Harry opened up his eyes to see Ginny looking down on him with concern, tears flowing down her face. Harry instinctively put his right hand over his hurting scar. "You've just had one of your Tom dreams, haven't you?"

Harry nodded his head at his wife. "He's upset about his failure at the Burrow. I think he's losing the Occlumency control he's been practicing since the Department of Mysteries."

Ginny half-smiled. "Well, he's probably worried. He's been losing a lot lately, and that's something he's not used to."

Chapter end