A/N Hello! Hope I haven't been too slow on updating this time!! Thanks to reviewers:

Kingmunkey: Thanks for saying you love my work, and I'm happy I can create 'clues' like the whole Harriet thing without you realizing too early hehe!

Elizabeth: Ah thank you. I've always liked a bit of emotion hehe!

Coudle: Thanks, I try and show emotion and facial expressions because I've always thought they speak louder than words!

Dreams and Reality

"Harry, wake up…" Ginny's voice whispered in his ear. "Come on, it's time to wake up!"

Harry moaned and opened his eyes to look at Ginny. Her naked, silk-like skin faced him as she smiled. Her soft hand stroked his cheek and then moved down to his hand. She held it, and moved it so he was holding her flat stomach.

"I know it's happened," She whispered, "I can tell, just like last time."

Harry's mouth slid to a smile and he, too, reached out his other hand to touch his wife's face.

The bedroom door flew open, and a ray of unnatural yellow light entered the room from both the doorway and the window. Now that he thought about it, Harry realised that the room had been a strange colour since he woke up.

"Daddy," The six year old Liam said as he bounded into the room, "Let's call the baby Mummy, after mum!"

Harry cocked his head and smiled. He thought it very strange that his son should know that Ginny was pregnant, when they had only had sex that night.

"Liam, that's not a name," Ginny giggled, brushing her sons' hair with her fingers, "Anyway, I want to name it after Harry."

"Listen! The dog's barking!" Liam said loudly and ran out of the room.

Harry listened carefully, and there was indeed a dog barking happily in the background.

"Oh Harry, we're going to be such a happy family," Ginny smiled as the light in the room grew ever brighter.

The two of them smiled together and began to kiss. Such a kiss was indescribable, Harry treasured every moment as he massaged Ginny's back and began to lay her back down to pleasure her again…

A crash of thunder, and Harry woke in his bed, quite alone.

He looked over to the bay window, at which he and Ginny had spent numerous hours many years ago making love. It was then, with a shake of his light head, that Harry realised he had been dreaming.

He looked around the room now, and found it dark and dreary – neglected. He didn't want to think of the reason why.

Slowly, Harry turned in his bed and looked at the clock on the bedside table; quarter-past eight. He yawned as another flash of lightening and rumble of thunder entered he room. He scowled at the weather for ruining his dream as he left the bedroom and walked downstairs.

Hermione was obviously not yet awake, as there was no sign of life in the kitchen or living room. Harry expected that it was nice for her to be able to sleep in when the three children weren't there. They had left picking up Liam, Harriet and James until this morning, as Hermione evidently needed a lot of rest.

It was this that made Harry decide to do something for her. He quickly washed, got dressed and started to clean and tidy the house.

Almost two hours later, Hermione surfaced and walked into the kitchen with a look of utter surprise on her face, and Harry guessed it was more than just the full English breakfast on the table that had shocked her.

"What have you been up to?" She asked affectionately as she sat on a chair.

Harry sat down opposite her and began to eat.

"Just cleaning," He answered.

"You didn't have to," Hermione said.

"Hermione," Harry began sternly, "Don't try to fight me on this one. But I think you've done your fair share for me in the past two years; it was time for me to do something for you."

Hermione smiled and changed the subject, "Did you have a good sleep then?"

Harry's smile faltered as he remembered his perfect dream.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing. What time are we picking everyone up then?" He asked.

Hermione raised an eyebrow but answered Harry's question anyway, "Oh, when I'm dressed. But I think you should stay here otherwise we'll never leave the Burrow before tomorrow!"

Harry's smile returned and he nodded, thinking that Mrs Weasley definitely wouldn't let him leave without fussing over him a lot first. Harry was, after all, almost the closest link to Ron outside their blood family.

"But I'll tell them you're here, ok? I think that's the best of both worlds," Hermione suggested.

"Yeah, ok. But don't let them come back with you."

Hermione laughed and shook her head and she put down her knife and fork to leave.

As she exited, Harry suddenly felt that sick nervousness he felt yesterday before going in to see Ginny. In an hour or so, he was going to meet his daughter. His daughter…

"Harry, I'm back!"

Hermione's shout form the hall knocked Harry out of a nap on the sofa. He blinked and saw the door open.

"Sorry I took so long!" She exclaimed, "Molly wouldn't let me leave without telling her everything that happened yesterday, and then she tried to come with me!"

But Harry didn't care very much about what Hermione had to say, he was staring at the little girl she held in his arms.

"Oh," She said when she noticed, "Right, well… Liam's just gone upstairs, I haven't told him you're back, but…" Hermione went and sat by him, then looked at Harriet. "Harriet, do you remember me telling you that your daddy would be back soon?" Harriet made a half comprehending face, "Well, sweetheart, this is your daddy…"

Harry held out his arms as Hermione gave Harriet to him.

"She's so small…" Harry whispered as he hugged her.

"Not that small," Hermione replied, "She is over one year old."

Harry shook his head, unable to speak – he couldn't think of anything to say. But suddenly, he spoke to his daughter. He knew that she wouldn't understand, but he had to say it anyway.

"I'm so sorry, Harriet… I'll never leave you again, ever. Oh, I'm sorry…"

"Harry, its ok…" Hermione said softly.

"She's so small…" Harry said again, "How could I just abandon her?"

"You didn't even know about her, it's not your fault!" Hermione comforted.

"He knew about Liam though!"

Harry's head jerked towards the door, where James now stood with a face like the current weather outside.

"James!" Hermione said sternly.

But James ignored her, "Do you know how hard my mum has worked?"

"James, stop playing the attention act, go upstairs!" Hermione yelled.

James ran off out of the room and Hermione shook her head as she sat back down. "Sorry about him, Harry. He always does things like that to get more attention."

Harry thought for a moment, watching Harriet all the while. It was the same kind of thought as yesterday on the field – only it had been confirmed.

"Hermione, go and spend some time with him," Harry said.

"What?"

"That's the reason James keeps being like that. He only misses you. You're his mum and you just suddenly left him to look after two different kids. He probably feels neglected," Harry finished.

"Oh! And Liam doesn't?" Hermione shouted, making Harry jump. He hadn't expected a fight. "You just randomly leave one night and he doesn't hear from you for two years! You think he didn't feel neglected! At least I was still here for James!"

"Hermione that's not what I meant! Well, it is, I guess, but what I mean is at least I went away, Liam knows I didn't just start ignoring his cries for help. You did that with James, because you're right, you're still here."

Hermione went silent and looked at her feet. Harry averted his attention back to Harriet, knowing that he had gotten through to Hermione.

After a short while, Hermione spoke, "Shall I get Liam for you?"

Harry took this to mean, 'you're right, I'll go and see James now, I just need an excuse to go upstairs'. He smiled and nodded his head.

Minutes later, Liam walked into the room and stared at Harry, and then to Harriet.

"Give her to me," Liam said, walking round to face Harry.

It took a moment for Harry to recognise his sons voice, and realise how much older he'd gotten, even if he was only eight. His hair had grown longer, and even messier if it were possible. He had also gotten a little taller, but not much. Then Harry registered what Liam had said.

"Liam, I know you haven't seen me for a while, but…"

"Please, I want to hold her," Liam cut in. Harry studied his face. It almost begged.

"What's wrong Liam?" Harry asked softly.

"Aunty Hermione stopped letting me hold her when mum left… She said I might hurt her," Liam answered quickly.

"What?" Harry couldn't understand why Hermione would do something like that. But when he thought about it, he put it down to the reason that Hermione couldn't bare to see anyone else get hurt, so perhaps she was overprotective. Especially of a small baby.

"I knew you'd let me hold her again though," Liam said desperately, "She's my little sister! I wouldn't hurt her!"

Harry quickly sat Harriet on the sofa and hushed Liam. He hugged him and made soft noises that always used to calm him down. "I know you wouldn't Liam, I know…"

Liam was crying now, "I've missed you daddy!"

"I know, I've missed you too," Harry said, "I promise I won't abandon you again. Everything's going to be k now, Liam, I promise."

Liam sniffed, "Is mummy coming back too?"

Harry had to breathe in before saying, "Soon, Liam, she'll be back soon."

And it was like reassuring Liam was reassuring himself as well. Ginny would get better, and she would be home soon.

Harry could hear Hermione talking from the corridor outside Ginny's room.

"He only wants to help, Ginny," She said loudly, "And I know you love him!"

"Is mum having a bad day, dad?" Liam asked, looking up to Harry with a sad expression.

Harry gulped and answered, "I don't know, Liam. But it will be ok."

Suddenly, the door to Ginny's room opened and there again stood Hermione.

"Come in," She said quietly.

Harry pushed Harriet's buggy through the door with one hand and pulled Liam along with the other. Ginny was standing by the window looking out, and from what Harry could see of her face, she was crying again.

"Hi, Gin," He said softly.

"I told you not to call me that," She said angrily. "And I'm not even going to look at her if that's what you want. So you're wasting your time."

"No," Harry said slowly, "We thought you'd want to see Liam."

Liam, who stood right next to Harriet's buggy, did not move. It was part of a plan that Harry had thought of earlier. Hermione had told him that Ginny didn't even look at Harriet when she was in the room, so Harry had thought that the only way to make her realise that Harriet was Harry's daughter was so be cruel, and make her look.

"Bring him to me then!" Ginny snapped after a minute of nothing happening.

"You'll have to come over here if you want to see him," Harry said nastily.

At once, Ginny turned and started towards Liam. But upon seeing the pram next to her son, she shrieked and turned back.

"Get her away!" She shouted.

"No," Harry said stonily, "If you want to see Liam you have to see your other child too!"

"Why are you even sticking up for her, she's not your child!" Ginny shouted even louder.

"Harry, maybe this isn't a good…"

But Harry cut Hermione off, he was determined this would work. "She is my child Ginny! I can't believe you can't see it! She looks more like me than Liam does!"

"Hermione! You said he wanted to help!"

"Don't run to Hermione! She won't help you this time! She's on my side."

Ginny turned to look at him. Her chest was rising and falling so heavily it was like she couldn't breathe. Then, quite suddenly, from the silence, she screamed at him and ran towards him.

"I hate you!" She screamed, "I hate you!"

Ginny ran forwards and began to punch him. She punched, slapped, and kicked any part of his body that she could reach. And Harry stood, taking it all. But the strange thing about this tantrum was that this, aside all other tantrums Ginny had ever had with him, this hurt the most. And that was physically hurt, not mentally. He knew that deep down Ginny still loved him, she'd never hate him. But all this being cooped up in here seemed to make her preserve her energy, and she put every last drop into each hit at him. And it really was hurting him.

Hermione was at their side, trying to pry Ginny away from him, but she was even getting hit with her feeble attempts to save Harry.

But then, Ginny stopped hitting him very abruptly, and looked down at Liam.

Harry had heard his son shout as well, but it was only when he saw Ginny clutch her leg in pain that he realised Liam had kicked her.

"Dad's trying to help!" Liam shouted at her, "Please listen to him."

Harry felt a stab of pride race through him for his son, while Ginny looked on in amazement.

"Liam…" She whispered, touching his wet face.

"Please, mummy," Liam said again, with the same desperation in his voice that had appeared when he asked to hold his sister.

Ginny looked from him, then to Harry, and back again. She then rolled her eyes, and said stonily, "What, then?"

Harry had no idea what to do. None of this was supposed to happen. Ginny wasn't supposed to kick and scream at him at all. He looked quickly from Ginny, to Harriet, and then to a picture of himself on the table by Ginny's bed.

Harry leaned over the pram and picked Harriet up, so that her face was next to his… And waited.

A/N Oohh good old cliffy for you there hehe!! Thought you might like it! I hope the end was ok; it was sort of difficult to write. But anyways, there you go hehe. Thanks for reading!