Sunday

Harry arrived for breakfast, having been invited the night before by a radiant Zelda. Ginny had been invited too, but said she'd come a bit later if that was all right. He felt guilty at not telling his friends he was back, but this time he could spend alone with the Snapes was special. Professor Snape would go back to work on Monday morning, but Harry liked seeing him with Zelda and the kids. He hoped Ginny would come back. Watching Professor Snape with the kids, he was amazed at his patience.

"Did they give you any trouble last night?" asked Zelda.

"No!" he said, startled. "We played with toys and had a snack. It was great."

"Can we make another castle with blocks again after breakfast?" asked Alaric, fixing his eyes intently on Harry.

"Sure, but you should get dressed first," said Harry. "I think we'll go outside to play too."

Alaric beamed at him and stuffed in some toast.

"I'm finished," he announced to his parents, crumbs showering from his mouth.

"Drink your orange juice," said Severus firmly.

Alaric grinned at his father and picked up his glass. He gulped the last of his juice and looked hopeful.

"Now you may go," said Severus, his mouth twitching slightly.

Alaric hopped down from his chair and ran for the stairs.

"Do you need any help getting dressed?" called Zelda.

"I can get dressed, Mummy," he shouted over his shoulder as he thumped upstairs.

Emelie was eating more slowly, eating bits of food with her fingers and watching them thoughtfully. Severus rose and began to clean up the kitchen while Zelda and Harry sat sipping coffee, keeping the little girl company.

"They need a swing to play on," said Harry abruptly.

"I thought about that the other day," said Zelda. "I love swings."

"Me too," he said, remembering the park and the vandalized swings he'd spent lonely hours on when he was a kid. "Can I give them a swing set?"

"Sure, if you want to," she said. "Harry, I love having you spend time with us, but have you told your friends that you're back?"

"I need a little time to get my bearings," he said evasively. "It was good to see Ginny though."

"I don't feel old most of the time, except when I watch all of you. Ginny's grown into a beautiful, impressive young woman."

Zelda caught a glimpse of some emotion in his eyes, gone too quickly to identify.

"I'm going to get what I need and I'll be right back to build the swing set. It's a beautiful day to be outside," he told her, rising.

Zelda frowned slightly, but her daughter needed attention. By the time she'd brought her upstairs, cleaned her and dressed her, Ginny had arrived. In the ensuing playtime, so there was no chance to speak with Severus.

&&&&&&&&&

Severus glanced out the window and saw that Potter had returned. Without commenting to the others, he went outside.

"Where would you like this?" asked Harry.

"Is it unsightly?" asked Severus doubtfully.

"This one's not big, just two swings. Maybe over there, so you can see it from the sitting room window."

"Very well. May I assist you?" asked the older wizard stiffly.

Harry grinned and said, "I've never done this before, but I think I can manage."

Together they looked over the instructions, which were so simple as to be drawings, with no words.

"It looks basic enough," said Severus.

Harry pointed his wand at the pile of parts. The ones that seemed to be the base were floated gently into position, out of sight from the road and not too close to the house. The pieces were laid smoothly on a level bit of ground. He directed large bolts into holes to connect everything and tightened them.

"Are you going to teach the kids magic before they start Hogwarts?" he asked suddenly.

"We don't know if they're magical," replied Severus, startled. "Why?"

"I didn't grow up with magic, so maybe I'm wrong, but the kids who grew up with it, who learned young… I think they don't learn to deal with problems well," he finished in a rush.

Severus and Zelda had discussed this extensively, since they both realized it was likely that their children were magical. They'd come to a similar conclusion.

"What makes you think that?"

"Meeting more magical folk. Too often if a quick spell or potion can't solve their problems, they're pathetic. They can't cope with being frustrated," said Harry. "Alaric and Emmie are pretty smart. I'd hate to see them grow into lazy brats."

As he spoke, he was Levitating the parts together and connecting them. It was sturdy and simple, large enough that it would be fun even when the children were big.

Against his will Severus found himself rather impressed. It seemed that Dumbledore had chosen well in sending Potter to live with the Muggles. Being raised in a wizard's family would have produced precisely the spoiled, arrogant brat that Potter had described.

"Well? Is it okay?" asked Harry, recalling Professor Snape's attention to the swing.

It was made of metal poles, with two comfortable looking swings suspended from metal chains. It was much like the playground swings Severus remembered from his Muggle childhood.

"Fine, I think. But Zelda should be the final judge."

He went to the open window and called, "Zelda, will you come here? You should inspect this."

She took one look out the window, grinned and ran for the door, calling, "Ginny, stay with the kids a minute."

Zelda burst out the door and picked up her skirts, running to Severus.

"It looks perfect," she exclaimed. "It's nice and big too. Is it solid?"

"Of course it is," said Harry.

She sat down on a swing and gave an experimental push.

"It feels good," she exclaimed, swinging higher and smiling.

"You look ridiculous," said Severus, suppressing a smile.

Pumping with her legs she swung higher and then jumped, landing in front of them.

"It's awesome," she said. "Thanks Harry. Please go get Ginny and the kids so they can see it."

Her mention of Ginny made his heart pump a little faster for reasons he didn't dare to explore. The evening before had taught him that she was the same girl he'd always known, but wiser and rather mysterious. They'd been so busy that there was little time to talk together, but he'd had a hard time taking his eyes off her. She was gorgeous, he thought.

"Ginny," he called as he entered the house.

"Up here," she said walking slowly down stairs holding Emmie's hand. "We were putting Emmie's shoes on. Can we go out now?"

"Yeah," he said, gazing distractedly at her.

Ginny recognized that expression from their school days. He was still attracted to her, she realized with a slight thrill.

"Alaric," she called, "Harry has a surprise. Come outside with us."

The boy came out of his bedroom and looked down at them.

"What's the surprise?" he asked, tilting his head curiously.

"I'll show you if you'll come downstairs," called Harry.

Alaric thudded down the stairs and with a mischievous smirk he launched himself from the fifth step, flying through the air at Harry.

"Oi! Hey!" said Harry, catching the child neatly and hugging him. "I wasn't ready, what if I hadn't caught you?"

"I knew you would," said Alaric, laying his head confidently on Harry's shoulder and hugging him back.

That declaration of confidence touched Harry deeply. He'd never had such trust during his own childhood, no one he could count on since his parents…

Ginny didn't need Legilimency to see those thoughts pass through his mind, and she felt as though she'd intruded on something deeply personal. The sight of those two black heads so close together, threatened to melt her heart.

"Let's go see what's outside," she said briskly.

&&&&&&&&&

Sunday evening had effectively clarified Ginny's feelings about Harry, but his feeling for her remained a confusing bloody mess. He was adorable, she thought, confident about some things, but ridiculously shy with her. After dinner Harry had hesitantly asked their host about a grimoire that had been recommended to him in Albania.

"It's not at Hogwarts," said Professor Snape bluntly. "For obvious reasons. There were only nine of them created. I own one, but I'd prefer that the Ministry not confiscate it. You may borrow it if it'll help with your research, but don't tell them I own it."

"Thank you," said Harry, thrilled by this evidence of trust. "I'll keep it at my house while I use it and return it soon. Um, does Sol know you have it? Can I talk with him about it?"

"He's the only Unspeakable I trust. I've lent him materials occasionally," replied Severus. "Some works are extremely dangerous and perhaps should not be in an individual collection. However, I don't believe in destroying books and I trust the Ministry far less than I trust myself."

"Where do you keep them?" asked Harry, looking around the house.

"In a safe location," said Severus. "I'll fetch it after I've tucked these creatures into bed."

The fact that Professor Snape would actually trust Harry with something so rare meant Harry was respected among magical researchers, Ginny reflected. He was sexy too, and she wished she could hop into his lap and snog him senseless. The innocence of earlier years had gone, but his essential decency and goodness still shone in his eyes. He was the same Harry he'd always been. She couldn't understand his behavior toward her, though, and the morrow would bring a return to St. Mungo's and Draco.

"I should leave," she said. "Monday's always busy at work. I go in at half past six."

"Come back again soon," said Zelda, gazing at Harry irritably as he listened intently to Severus, rather than noticing that Ginny was leaving. "I've enjoyed having you hang out with us."

"Thanks, Zelda," replied the witch, with a discouraged glance toward Harry.

"Hey! Harry and Severus, Ginny has to leave now," called Zelda pleasantly.

Ginny knelt to say goodbye to the kids, who both gave her full-body hugs and generous kisses.

"Love you, Ginny," said Emmie, smiling as she kissed her again.

"Love you too, baby," said Ginny. "I'll see you again sometime soon."

"Tomorrow," Alaric told her seriously.

"Come for dinner this week any time you can, tomorrow if you want," said Zelda softly. "Owl me, okay?"

Her ego soothed by the children's hugs and Zelda's kindness, Ginny nodded and prepared to go. She discovered that Professor Snape and Harry had actually joined them.

"Thank you for bonding with our children," said Professor Snape politely.

For one moment, Ginny wondered if Harry would offer to escort her home, but with one fleeting glimpse at her he simply kissed her cheek and said goodnight. As she left the house and prepared to Apparate away, tears of frustration filled her eyes.