Chapter 3

'Are you sure you'll be okay with him?' a nervous Kit asked Jonathon.

'I'm sure,' he replied, smiling at her. 'Just go and have a good time.'

'Okay,' she said slowly as Harry held the door open for her. 'You know where everything is?' she asked quickly.

Jonathon nodded as Harry sighed. 'They'll be fine,' he said, pulling her out into the night air as she blew kisses at Nate. 'We're going to be late, though.'

'Alright,' she said, jumping into the passenger seat of the car Harry had received for his sixteenth Christmas.

As he pulled out of the lane, Kit turned to him, a worried expression on her face.

'They'll be fine' he intoned before she could say anything. 'Put on some music if you're going to be like that.'

Kit huffed, turning away from him and opening the glove box. As Harry turned onto pavement, Seether blared from the speakers. Harry looked at Kit, a reproachful look on his face.

'You told me to choose,' she said indignantly.

'It's my birthday,' he retorted, turning his gaze back to the road as he passed a car.

Kit sighed, ejecting Seether and replacing it with Supertramp.

'So much better,' Harry said, beginning to hum along to 'Breakfast in America' as he drove them through a small town, towards the party.

Kit, however, only had to endure another fifteen minutes of Harry's choice of music before they pulled into the driveway of Kristina's parents' home. They had moved into a smaller place in Wales, leaving the house to their only daughter, who immediately redecorated it to suit her and Charlie's tastes.

As Harry turned off the engine the front door of the house was flung open, and Kristina came running out, engulfing him in a hug.

'Oh, happy birthday, Harry,' she said happily, kissing him on the cheek. 'You're just in time; the twins have just come back with champagne.'

'Wow,' he muttered to Kit as Kristina led them into the house. 'Isn't it a little much?'

Kit shook her head, smiling, placing her hand in the small of his back as they entered.

An up roar of sound reached their ears. It seemed that most of the remaining Order had turned up to celebrate with them all, as well as some well to do people of Mr Weasley's department at the ministry. All of them wished Harry well as he entered, shaking his hand and clapping him on the back. Drinks were passed around, most of them virgin, as Adrien and Ron were still in the recovering stage. However, Neville and Nia pushed their way through the crowd to offer their wishes, and before long the older guests were left by the bar reminiscing, as the reunited classmates did the same near the fireplace.

It was nearing midnight when the crowd began to diminish. Harry sat near the door with Kristina, chatting to the ministry members, order members, and old classmates that were departing. As the grandfather clock in the corner chimed midnight, Kristina closed the door and turned to the remaining guests, of which few remained. Sasha was chatting exuberantly with Remus and Tonks, all of which had had their fair share of martinis and scotches. Ron, Hermione, Adrien, and the twins were discussing the comings of the joke shop, while Mr and Mrs Weasley were reprimanding and overly buzzed Ginny. Kristina giggled slightly at the sight of them all.

'It's so nice to all be here,' she said, leaning against the doorway. 'No thanks to you,' she added sarcastically to Harry. Kit laughed.

'No thanks to him that I'm worried to death about what's happening back at the Burrow.'

Kristina patted her arm reassuringly, passing her yet another spiked glass of punch. 'Don't worry. At least you know who's babysitting your kid.'

'At least the people who are babysitting your kid are qualified and trained to do so,' Kit said darkly, taking a sip of the drink in her hand.

Kristina shrugged, smiling slightly. 'I could have had her home tonight, but they said another night wouldn't hurt so…' She broke off. 'At least we aren't stuck in a pub somewhere. It's more personal here, I think.'

Harry nodded smiling. 'It's great, Kris, it really is. Thank you.'

'Oh, don't mention it,' she said as Charlie came over to them. 'I was happy to do it after all you've done for us.'

Harry smiled as Sasha dropped her drink.

'Oops!' she laughed from across the room, and Kristina rolled her eyes. 'I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!' she giggled, almost falling off her chair.

'I think you should go home, Sasha,' Kristina said, rushing forwards to help her stand. 'You've had a lot to drink.'

'Oh, but it's so much fun!' she hiccupped.

Harry and Kit were barely containing their laughter as Charlie stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Sasha's middle.

'Time to go,' he said calmly. 'Hold tight.'

'Right-on!' she said happily, waving at Harry. 'Happy birthday, dear!'

'Thanks, Sasha,' Harry said, saluting her as she did the same.

'And many more,' she sang as Charlie held her tight to disapparate.

The small room was engulfed in laughter, Tonks falling off her chair and successfully pulling down Remus with her. Both lay on the floor laughing as Hermione and Adrien started forwards to help them.

'We'll apparate them home,' Hermione said, taking hold of Remus, who was shaking with laughter.

'Harry!' he said, saluting him, 'tomorrow we'll have another margart – marngi – with the salt shaker!'

'Okay, Mooney,' Harry said, smiling. 'See you then.'

'Happy anniversary!' Tonks called just before Adrien apparated with her.

Ron shook his head, smiling. 'Those two…'

'We'd better be off as well,' Fred said, standing up with George. 'Work tomorrow, you know.'

'Happy twentieth,' George said happily, kissing Harry on the cheek as all the women did, causing Ron to collapse with laughter.

'Thanks, you two,' Harry said, shaking his head and Fred's hand. They disapparated with a pop as Mr Weasley came up to Harry.

'We're going to get Ginny home,' he said, somewhat frowning. 'You'll be in before long?'

'Yes, pretty soon,' Kit said. Mr Weasley nodded as he and Mrs Weasley left with Ginny.

Ron sighed, standing up. 'I'd better go, too,' he said.

'Did you want a ride?' Harry asked. Ron shook his head.

'No, I'll be good to disapparate,' he replied, winking at Kit.

'Okay, see you in the morning,' Harry said as Ron clapped him on the back and disappearing with a pop.

'Did you want help clearing this up?' Kit asked Kristina, motioning to the mess of the living room.

Kristina looked at it for a minute, then shook her head.

'No, I'll get Charlie to do it,' she said happily. 'Are you two off then?'

'I suppose,' Harry shrugged. 'Thanks so much for all of it.'

Kristina waved her hand. 'No problem-o,' she said.

'It was really thoughtful,' Kit said, as they moved out onto the porch.

Kristina shrugged, looking pleased with herself. 'I don't mind. It's nice to know I can do something to bring all these people together.'

'It was perfect,' Harry said, grinning.

Kristina laughed. 'Enough! Go home to your little boy, and drive safe!'

Harry waved at her from the car as he started the engine.

'It was a nice time, wasn't it?' Kit said casually, fastening her seat belt.

'Yeah, it was. I haven't had that good of a birthday for, well, a while now,' he grinned. 'Pop in the Eagles.'

Kit rolled her eyes, riffling through the CD collection. 'Why all this old stuff?' she asked.

'You really want to know?'

Kit nodded as 'Hotel California' started up.

'They're my dad's.'

'What?'

Harry smiled. 'When I went to look at the house in Godric's Hollow, the realtor said that the house still had some of it's occupants things in it.' He turned onto the highway. 'So, being me,' he grinned, 'I went through a bit of it. If you look on the case it says James Potter.'

Kit flicked on the interior light and looked at the back. Etched into the plastic was a crooked engravement that did clearly declare 'James Potter'.

'That's what sold the house,' Harry went on, passing another car. 'It was my parents. I had to take it.'

'I'm glad you did,' Kit said. 'Otherwise we wouldn't have Supertramp and the Eagles to listen to!'

Harry laughed. 'The Supertramp one is Sirius'.'

Kit just rolled her eyes as they turned onto gravel road.

They sat in silence as they pulled up to the Burrow, which only had the kitchen light left on for them.

'Are you going up or staying down?' Kit whispered as they entered the kitchen.

'I'll stay down again,' Harry said softly, kissing her on the cheek. 'You get your beauty rest.'

'Are you saying I'm ugly?'

Harry chuckled as they looked down at Nate, who was sleeping peacefully, a muggle pacifier in his mouth.

'I'm saying I'll stay down with this one,' he said, snaking his arm around her waist.

'Good,' she whispered, kissing him lightly on the lips. 'I need my beauty rest.'

Harry just sighed as she went up the stairs.