Good Things for Harry

After lunch on Tuesday, Zelda was preparing to put the children down for a nap when Harry arrived. Alaric and Emmie immediately mobbed him with hugs, giggles and kisses.

"It's nap time for them," said Zelda.

"Ten minutes?" asked Harry, his heart swelling with love for these two awesome kids.

"Sure," she replied, gazing at him with interest. "Tea or coffee?"

"Coffee's great, thanks," he said.

When she returned he was almost finished reading a story, with both children sitting in his lap.

"Okay, I'll tuck you in now," he told the pair. "Up to bed."

"Harry stay?" asked Emmie, taking hold of his hand.

"I'll be here when you wake up," he promised, walking them upstairs.

When he went back downstairs, Zelda was waiting with an innocent smile on her face.

"What's new?" she asked, beaming benevolently.

Harry grinned and blushed, confirming her hope.

"You're happy," she said, handing him a cup of coffee. "I'm so glad."

"Yeah, Ginny and I are finally together," he said proudly. "I don't know why I was such an idiot. She's wonderful."

"Have you told your friends?" she asked. "Or Ginny's family?" They'll be so happy, especially Molly."

"We want some time to ourselves, to get to know each other again before we tell everyone," he said, gulping his coffee.

"That's smart. We'll miss you, but I want you to be happy. We're here whenever you need something."

"I didn't mean you," he said. "Although I owe it all to Professor Snape, so to pay him back maybe we should leave you alone."

Her eyes widened and she said, "Explain."

"Sunday evening he ordered me to ask Ginny out, or ask her to marry me," said Harry, now able to see the absurdity of it.

There was a pause before she collapsed in gales of laughter. He waited patiently until she finished giggling.

"Oh wow, I'd have given anything to see Professor Severus Snape giving advice to the lovelorn," she gasped, whooping with laughter again at the thought of it. "I can't believe it!"

"He was right," muttered Harry grudgingly.

"Knowing Severus, he wouldn't have said anything to you unless he was sure. I'm not going to ask for details, but …"

"We're seeing each other this evening," he said, a smile breaking out at the thought.

"You told me you could have taken two weeks off. Why don't you do it?" she asked. "This time when you're in love and everything's new only happens once. Make the most of it."

"Ginny's working, though," he said.

"Maybe she can manage a couple of days off," she suggested. "You know, even with all the horrors Severus was facing, the summer we found each other was so wonderful."

He recalled finding Professor Snape at her house in America. When Professor Snape fell in love with Zelda, he'd decided to try to live after giving up all hope. Like he'd found hope with Ginny.

"Maybe you're right," he said. "Ginny should decide if she could miss work, though."

"Respecting her judgment about her work is a good sign," she told him. "Have fun and be happy, Harry."

"When she's working, if you need to go to Hogwarts I'll babysit for you," he offered.

"Thank you, but are you sure?"

"Zel, I love Alaric and Emmie," he said. "I never had sibs and taking care of those two is fun."

"I'm glad you're in their lives. You're so good to them," she said. "You'll be a great dad someday."

"If it happens," he said apprehensively. "Maybe someday."

"Don't think too far ahead. When you're ready for the next step, you'll know it. In the meantime, come anytime, play with the kids and hang out. I love to have you here."

&&&&&&&&&

Zelda opened the door one August afternoon, two years later. Her eyes widened as she saw Harry and Ginny standing before her and she bounded forward to hug them both.

"I don't believe it! You were gone so long, Harry, and we thought you were coming back next week," she said, hugging each of them. "Come in, you dunderheads!"

She led them into the kitchen, saying, "I was just going to make tea. Can you stay? Sit down."

"We have something to tell with you," said Ginny. "Where are Professor Snape and the kids?"

"Exploring the stream, looking for creatures. Since we need to home school them, we decided to start early and make it fun when we can. Those poor children, they have a hard life with two teachers for parents," said their mother.

"That's good though," Harry told her. "I hated school, but of course I had to go to school with Dudley, so my school life was a nightmare. But you're a great teacher, Zel."

"Thanks, but negotiating their curriculum took weeks. Severus and I sat down and each made a list of what we think they should know before they start Hogwarts. Then I worked out a rough timeline, with ways to accomplish each milestone. It was exhausting."

"They're going to Hogwarts then," said Ginny. "So they're magical?"

Zelda smiled and said, "Emelie… We knew because she was planned… Severus and I knew when she was conceived. We didn't know about Alaric, but last spring he picked up Severus's wand and waved it. Pumpkin juice poured out of it, all over Marshmallow and Rowena. Our poor kitty didn't go near him for days afterward."

"How did he react?" asked Harry.

"He knew he did it. He loves pumpkin juice but we don't let him drink it instead of eating meals. But he looked pretty scared. I told him he had to clean it up the usual way."

Harry laughed and said, "You're as bad as Professor Snape! He loved making people do disgusting jobs without magic for detention."

"Shall I call them in?" asked Zelda.

Harry and Ginny looked at each other a moment. They giggled at the same time and then looked at Zelda.

"We're married," confessed Ginny, laughing at Zelda's start of surprise.

"But… I thought, the big wedding and your family! All of us! Emmie should've been the flower girl! Severus was going to hate having to go and be congenial!" Zelda laughed and added, "When and where?"

"Last month, in Albania, of course. I've been visiting Harry more often than I told anyone. We talked about doing a huge wedding, but hated the idea. We just want to be together. Anyway, when we told my parents they insisted we have a huge reception in two weeks, but the deed is done, so Mum can't say anything more about my sex life."

"I'll take Molly aside and remind her how it feels to be young, if you'd like," Zelda told her. "She's just worries about you, you know. You're her helpless little girl."

Harry snorted, since his lovely bride was one of the toughest witches he'd ever known.

"I know, but now we're married and she's thrilled," said Ginny. "And you can still make Professor Snape come to the reception and be congenial. We'd love that."

"I'll say," murmured Harry wickedly. "Can you stand having us for your neighbors?"

"Really? Are you home to stay, at least for a while? I'll love knowing you're there," Zelda said. "Can I do anything to help you get settled?"

"If you can stand having us so close, I'll love living over the hill from you," said Ginny.

"Ask Severus to come in," Zelda said to Harry.

He sent his Patronus outside and they waited. Suddenly the back door banged open and a young, black haired boy ran in.

"Harry, you're back!" he said, halting and studying his face rather shyly.

"Alaric, aren't you going to give me a hug?" asked Harry, amused as always at how much the child looked like Professor Snape.

Alaric stepped forward and Harry scooped him into his lap, hugging him warmly.

"Are you going to stay at home now? I liked it when I got letters from Hedwig, but I'd rather see you," he explained, his black eyes shining.

Harry grinned and said, "I'm home for a long time, and I have something to tell you. Ginny and I got married, so we'll both be living at my house now."

"Really?" asked Alaric, turning to study Ginny cautiously. "Are you still going to come and visit us?"

Ginny laughed and said, "We'll visit lots. And since you're getting bigger all the time, you can come visit us sometimes, if you'd like. You can bring Rowena with you, if you like."

"I'd like that," he replied solemnly. "I should go tell Daddy and Emmie. They found a frog and Emmie wanted to keep it for a pet. Daddy was making her put it back."

"Tell Emmie it's tea time," called Zelda as she watched her son run away.

"He's getting so big," said Ginny. "He's a serious kid, isn't he?"

"He loves to be silly, but he really takes life seriously. He's very sensitive too, a lot like Elijah. I hope he'll survive at Hogwarts," said Zelda, frowning slightly. "We don't have any kids his age around for him to play with."

"Bill and Fleur's son is about his age. Maybe I'll invite Alaric to meet Jack, or Jacques, as Fleur calls him. Fleur's pregnant again and she gets tired sometimes. She'd love a break."

"That's a great idea. Thanks, Ginny," replied Zelda.

"Come on, Emmie," Alaric said from outside. "Harry's back and Ginny's married and we're having tea."

Alaric burst into the room dragging his sister by the hand. Emelie Snape had her father's coloring, but her black hair was thick and wavy and she resembled her mother closely. Her eyes were wide and bright with interest.

"Hello, Emmie," said Harry. "Do you remember me?"

"You're Harry," she said. "We get letters from your owl. You made our swings for us."

"May I have a hug?" he asked, sitting still and waiting to see what she'd do."

"Okay," she said, hopping into his lap and putting her arms around his neck.

Harry pressed his lips to those silky curls and looked hopefully over the child's head at Ginny. He wondered if she'd like a baby. Kids were great, he thought. He received a noncommittal smile in return.

"Daddy made me put my frog back in the stream," muttered Emmie, scowling. "But eels might eat him, and he's a very pretty frog. I want to keep him in a nice pail in my room."

Harry chuckled and said, "Frogs want to be in the stream. He wouldn't be happy if you took him away."

"How refreshing to hear sense coming from you, Potter," said Severus Snape lazily as he strode into the room.

"My son tells me that you've married Potter," he said to Ginny. "I assume you know what you're doing and you have my best wishes."

"Thank you," she said composedly. "As your new neighbor, I hope we'll see a great deal of each other."

Professor Snape winced slightly and then nodded as he sat down next to his wife.

Emmie studied Ginny thoughtfully and said, "Want to see my frog? After we have our tea we can go out and I'll show him to you."

"I'd like to see him," replied Ginny gravely.