Hi everyone!

So, I am really switching up the storyline a bit, haha. I was kind of writing myself into a corner - had the whole story plotted out, but you know, Harry and Hermione kind of have a life of their own so a few chapters back I made them develop their relationship a bit further than I initially planned on doing. I revised the storyline yesterday with my best friend (shout-out to the lovely Franky!) who gave me this great idea, but it has made me switch back to Harry's POV just for the sake of it.

I have no idea if I'm going to keep Harry's POV from now on, I have some sense of where the story is going again anyway and that's great, haha. So please bear with me, strap in, because Philip has got a very uncomfortable stag party coming up... Next chapter. This chapter is all about Harry, Ron, Ginny and Jaana.

And yeah, I'll try not to do some "the story will from now on be so and so" updates in the future, as I apparently can't keep my promises :P Whoops.

Love,

Flora

Chapter 18: How Harry reassured Ron everything would be alright and how Ron... would always be Ron.

'Nyberg throws the quaffle to Sandifort, Sandifort throws the quaffle to Weasley: a bludger is coming her way - hit by a very masterful swing of Brodeur, if I say so myself - but she dodges it, she flies past Conwell, manages to evade Van Broekhoven and... She scores! What a masterful fake-throw, she's having Wood make a right fool of himself! That let's the Holyhead Harpies lead this game in 70 to 40, and no snitch in sight yet! A very thrilling game indeed, ladies and gentlemen, but let's see how Puddlemere United fares now they are once again able to take the offense...'

Harry applauded and cheered as Ginny finished her victory round and took position again. Ron, seated next to him, was glowing and roaring "That's my sister!" on top of his lungs for a good five minutes. Harry chuckled - Ron had always been protective of his sister, obviously, but he was also incredibly proud of her. Harry had put on a Holyhead Harpies shawl, just for good measures, but Ron had adorned himself in a "Weasley" Harpies-jersey, with shawl and matching socks, and he had painted green and golden stripes on his face to enhance his support of his baby sister's team even further.

'If I see that Brodeur take one more swing at her, I swear to Merlin's saggy right testicle, I'll-...'

Harry laughed on the comment and flinched as he saw the girl he recognized as Olga swing a nasty blow at one of Puddlemere's chasers, who received the bludger in the pit of his stomach and vomited all over his broomhandle. Ron's insults were muffled by the audiences disgusted reactions.

The chaser was attended to by a medic, when Ron turned to Harry's side.

'So,' he said. 'You and Hermione have finally done it, then!'

'Done... Done what?' Harry asked, feeling redness sting his cheeks.

'Got together! You finally stopped that stupid denial-thing that you've done for ages. You know Nicky swore that it would have taken you at least 2 more years to get together, you know that? That's what the bet was all about. But I won, hah! I mean, not that a galleon's that much to me anymore, these days, but it's a good feeling, you know?'

Harry looked at his best friend, bemused, as Ron yelled at the chaser to "get yourself together man, let's play!".

'Yes, well... It's kind of funny how everyone on the planet actually saw this coming, except for me.'

'Yeah, makes no sense,' Ron said, with a sarcastic grin on his face. 'I mean, you're usually so observant with the ladies, am I right?'

'Oh, you're one to talk,' Harry countered. 'This guy knocks his girlfriend up and suddenly he's all that...'

'Hey! I didn't-... That's... It's not...' Ron sputtered, but Harry laughed and shoved him against his shoulder.

'I'm joking, Ron. Merlin, get a grip. Congratulations again, by the way. And now I will get an honest reply because it's just you and me: how freaked out were you when you got the news?'

'I almost pissed myself,' Ron said earnestly. 'Don't tell Nicky, though. The first few days were really rough. She was quite happy - shocked, yes, and surprised, but happy, and I was just... I mean... A baby, for crying out loud! Last Christmas I remember sitting in our living room, thinking, "dear sweet Merlin above, I am so happy that I do not have to deal with shit like diapers and naptimes and all that just yet" and then, what do you know, next day, BOOM! She turns out pregnant! In 6 months time I am going to be doing all that stuff.'

Harry nodded.

'So... You're scared shitless?'

Ron wasn't able to look him in the eyes but sighed.

'I don't blame you, Ron. I don't know what I would do if... Well, Hermione and I haven't actually done that yet, but still, hypothetically. I would freak. And you and Nicky are actually in a very solid relationship already, living together and having the businesses, but still, it's a baby. It's a huge responsibility. If it's just you, you can screw up, but if it's your kid...'

'Don't tell me that,' Ron groaned, fidgeting in his chair. 'Just for the last three years of my life I've been feeling that I'm not actually screwing everything up daily. It's been nice - Nicky really loves me, you know, and the business needs me. For the first time in my life I'm actually feeling good about myself. Like, really good. I'm proud of who I am today. At Hogwarts... Don't get me wrong, Harry, I mean, I wasn't miserable or anything, but it's just a nice thing to... Well...'

'Achieve some success of your own without having Hermione and me upstaging your ass at everything,' Harry nodded. 'I get it. We've talked about if before, you know that I don't mind that you felt that way. It's understandable and it's a good thing that you're achieving success without me and Hermione having anything to do with it. It let's you thrive.'

'Right,' Ron nodded. 'But well, I'll be having to take care of a mini-me or a mini-Nick in six months... It has taken me far longer than I'd like to admit to take care of myself properly, I have no idea how I'm going to manage to do that for another human being. What if I suck at being a father, Harry?'

'You won't,' Harry assured him.

'I will!' Ron said, as the chaser got back unto his broom with a loud cheer from the other part of the crowd. 'At Christmas, I left my wand on the floor and Louise nearly hurt herself! What if something serious had happened-...'

'But it didn't,' Harry countered, watching how Ginny made a quite risky maneuver.

'Yes, but what if-...'

'Ron. It didn't. There's no use.'

Ron didn't reply to Harry, and when he turned to look at him he saw that the insecurity, that Ron had managed to keep at bay for the last couple of years, had resurfaced greatly because of Nicky's pregnancy. He recognized the sad look in his eyes, the defeated hunch in his shoulders. Harry hated seeing his friend like that.

'Hey, you know what, I was raised by two of the worst Muggles in the history of mankind. They were mean and abusive and they hated my guts. Your baby - son or daughter - is going to be raised by two of the most loving, amazing people I know. Your kid will be brought up in a home that is full of laughter, and light, and love. And yes, of course you're going to screw up eventually, but so did your mom and dad, and so does everyone. No one's perfect and that's not the point, okay? I know for a fact that you'll be an awesome father.'

Ron's shoulders relaxed slightly and he smiled at Harry.

'You really think so?'

'I know so,' Harry assured him. 'And I would really appreciate it if you told me the same thing in 5 years time when I'm having the same nervous breakdown.'

Ron grinned nodded.

'Thank you, mate. You're the best. And, well, I'm getting used to the idea already as well. We've been talking about the nursery, and we're going to have the first big ultrasound on Monday, so that's going to be great. I'm kind of thrilled to see how the Weasley and Littletons are going to combine themselves...'

'You two have probably created a food-monster,' Harry laughed. 'Molly is going to have to cook another Christmas dinner just for your offspring for the next couple of years.'

Ron shoved Harry painfully in the ribs as Ginny scored another goal.

Quickly enough the game proved too exciting to talk about personal business, as Puddlemere came back when they brought on a new substitute that managed to score 10 goals in the span of thirty minutes. To make matters worse, Brodeur managed to knock-out the Harpies's Seeker. As their sub for the Seeker was not fit to participate as well, Ginny stepped in to cover for her unconscious teammate and a grueling half hour followed, with a dazzling chase for the Snitch. When Ginny managed to catch the little golden-winged ball, an enormous roar erupted from the stadium, as the crow cheered for "Weasley". Ron almost exploded with pride.

It took quite a while for Ginny and Jaana to get out of their muddy Quidditch-gear, but Harry and Ron didn't mind, as they chatted some more over a beer at the bar. They discussed Harry being the best man in the upcoming wedding of Ron and Nicky, then they talked about Harry and Hermione's relationship some more. Harry was relieved to find out Ron really didn't mind, and was actually happy for them. In the back of Harry's mind he couldn't help but think Ron would be at least a bit jealous - the vision of a Horcrux Harry and Hermione emerging from the locket burned into his mind - but the questions he asked about how Harry finally realized his feelings for Hermione were considerate and supportive.

As the barman poured them another pint, Ron even scooted a bit closer to the table.

'And... Well, Hermione never really wanted to get... close during our relationship. You've said that you haven't done that yet - is she still? I mean, is that her thing? Does intimacy scare her, or...'

'Oh, no,' Harry assured him. 'She's... She wants to move on further than what we've done so far. It's just that... It sounds weird, but I'm not ready for it yet. I love Hermione, I always have, and I really enjoying being with her and... you know...'

Harry got a bit flustered again and Ron grinned.

'You like snogging the living daylight out of her. I've heard from Ginny - you apparently did your best to melt your face with hers in the middle of the dance-floor in some Muggle bar.'

'I'm not just talking about snogging,' Harry replied, with a hushed tone. 'She's... We've...'

He hesitated, not sure how to broach the subject, but Ron was his best male friend after all. If he could discuss it with anyone, it was him.

'I had plenty of girls after Ginny for a while, and it sort of... I don't know, desensitized me? I used the intimacy as a way to not think about anything and it worked, for some time, but it made the act a coping mechanism. And Hermione is actually showing me that that's not... Right. That that's not how it's meant to feel.'

Ron frowned.

'What do you mean? You don't like shagging?'

Harry looked around, nervously.

'I never didn't like it,' he said, with a gulp. 'The act itself, I mean. But it was just... Something I did because it helped me get to a point of... I don't know. It was a combination of self-loathing and relaxation, I suppose. I needed some confirmation that I was capable of doing that with girls I didn't know and it would feel great when I was doing it but I would always feel incredibly shitty after the girls went home. I don't want that with Hermione.'

'She's not going home after you've shagged her, mate,' Ron said, with a lot more seriousness than the words implied. 'She already is. She wants to stay with you, you've realized that by now, right? You are her bloody home.'

Harry pursed his lips and stared at his pint. He knew Hermione was devoted to him, of course he knew, but knowing something was not the same as being absolutely one-hundred percent convinced of it.

'I know, I'm being stupid. I should probably just get over myself, right?' Harry asked, with a pained expression.

'Yep,' Ron said, simply. 'If you ask me, shagging is the best thing in the world. And this is Hermione, this is not some broad you've picked up from a bar. She's a lot more. How tough can it be?'

Harry nodded vaguely, but couldn't ignore the knot that had formed in his chest for the past couple of days. Hermione hadn't pressed him - of course she hadn't, Hermione was tactful enough to know that it was probably a harder subject for Harry than it was for her, even though she was the bloody virgin and he wasn't, - but he had felt the stress nonetheless. Being with Hermione was amazing - she took care of his body, of his needs, and she had brought him places that he truly never realized he could be. He loved her dorkiness in the bedroom, her need to research and investigate, the way she payed close attention to his every move when she touched him at those places that made his heart soar.

A part of him felt guilty for how he had behaved with those girls in the past, trying to please them to salvage a part of his soul that felt broken as soon as the war had ended. Living up their expectation of an all-giving, all-sacrificing Chosen One - the One Who Conquered With Love, as some Daily Prophet reporter had dubbed him after it was revealed how Harry had managed to dodge the Killing Curse as a child. He had given his all to those women - his body, his soul, his dignity. It had made him feel utterly empty. He knew Hermione was not like those girls - obviously. But he feared what he would feel after they had taken the last threshold. He didn't want to hurt her, he didn't want to hurt himself. He didn't want to lose her.

Maybe you're not afraid of how she will react, a stern voice in his head said. You're just scared of how you will react, you coward.

'I always admired the way you just picked up girls, you know. Like you didn't have a care in the world. And it gave you this cool stud-like reputation that I always craved in school but never had. But hey, if it really still bothers you that much, why not talk to Hermione about it? She has always been great with feelings, I'm sure she'll understand.'

'Yes,' Harry said, dismissively. 'I'll do that. Thank you, Ron.'

But he wouldn't. Not yet, at least. He loved Ron dearly, as a friend, but his reaction reminded Harry of the fact that he was just that - Ron. Ron, his best friend and the guy with the emotional range of a teaspoon.

At that moment a loud cheer alerted them both to the arrival of the team members. When the "Weasley, Weasley!"-chant subsided a bit, Harry saw his redheaded ex and her girlfriend reach their table.

'Ron! You look amazing! Who did the facepainting?'

'I did it myself,' Ron said, grinning. 'And hey, did you know that your team sells a jersey with my name on it?'

Ginny shook her had in disbelief but Harry noticed her beaming when she hugged him. Ginny loved the fact that Ron reveled in her success as much as any little sister would.

Harry hugged both Ginny and Jaana as well and they both ordered a Gillywater with extra lemon. They began a long talk about how the match had been - discussing details and tactics and of course, complementing Ginny on her catch of the snitch. The bar grew emptier and emptier and Harry felt heavy-lidded from all the pints he had taken.

'Yes, so, we're now 4th in rank. If we beat the Falmouth Falcons next Saturday, we might still be able to win the Cup this year! I can arrange tickets for you both, if you want to come?'

'Yes please!' Ron said, eagerly, and Harry wanted to say "yes" as well, but then he groaned.

'Ugh, I would love to, but I can't...'

'Why not? It's set quite early in the morning, so you might be able to catch the first half of it...'

'I have a stag party,' Harry groaned, thinking about the disastrous dinner they had at Grandma Eugenia's.

'Hey, the date is supposed to be a surprise!' Ron huffed, but Harry glared at him.

'Not your stag party. Philip's.'

'Philip?'

Harry explained how he had wanted to make a fool of Philip, and how he had succeeded, but how his James Potter genes had gotten him into a lot more than he bargained for. All three of them laughed in his face for a bit, but then started asking questions.

'So, it's the entire day?'

'Yes it is,' Harry sighed. 'I got the official invitation yesterday. It starts at 10 AM - Merlin knows why. We're going to play some sport early in the day, then we have a lunch with a snooker-tournament, we're dining in some kind of posh restaurant and then we're going to end the day by clubbing in this high-end Muggle Bar called "The Artesian". It's posh, requires you to wear a waistcoat or you won't get in.'

'Oh, a high end Muggle Bar,' Ginny chimed. 'I thought Muggle Stag Parties had strippers?'

'How would you know that?' Harry asked, and Ginny and Jaana tried to feign innocence. Hmm. Interesting. Ron looked uncomfortable as well.

'Well, don't expect any at Philip's party. Ugh, I'm gonna die. Maybe I'll fake an injury during the morning sport thing and try to get out of it. Philip won't mind, I won't mind. Hermione has a stag party to attend to as well - or is it called stag when it's a woman?'

'A hen party or bachelorette party,' Ginny filled in, and Ron and Harry gave her those looks again. 'What? That's common knowledge, boys!'

She and Jaana shared a look and a giggle and then Ginny tilted her head with a look that wouldn't spell good news.

'So,' she said. 'Any idea if it's an all-male bar, or are girls allowed as well?'

'No idea,' Harry said. 'Why?'

'Hmm,' Ginny shrugged. 'Jaana and I might wanna check this Philip out. See if he's really as much as a douche as you tell him to be.'

'Oh no, please don't,' Harry said quickly. 'You do your game and go home. The whole Granger-family ordeal is a disaster as it is, please try not to overcomplicate things...'

'Jaana and I wouldn't dare to overcomplicate things, would we, Jaana?'

'Of course not,' the girl said, blue eyes twinkling. 'We wouldn't dare.'

Harry regretted everything.

AN: Stay tuned for some stag-party fun! :)