Chapter 13: The Nanny
George walked into Wizard Brews (the coffee shop that Hannah Abbott was supposed to work at) early the next morning. He figured that even if Hannah wasn't what he was looking for he could always bring coffee in to work for his employees at the shop.
He walked up to the counter and looked at all of the different choices that were displayed on a small chalkboard. The menu was continually changing, so he was able to see a good variety in flavors. A small blonde came to the other side of the counter and smiled brightly at him. "Good morning, what would you like to drink?" she asked in a honeyed voice.
Instinctively George knew that this was Hannah Abbott, and she had grown up quite a bit. Her crystal blue eyes were fringed by thick dark lashes and her pale blonde hair was no longer in pigtails, but lay in soft curls around her face. She was beautiful.
Quickly he shook his head and smiled back at her. "You must be Hannah, my sister Ginny said that I should talk to you," he said in a low voice, so that her manager wouldn't over hear him.
"George Weasley, I was wondering where you've been all these years," Hannah said delightedly as she recognized who he was.
He was surprised to hear that she remembered him, but it wasn't a bad feeling. Instead he grinned, "Ginny said that you are wonderful with children."
Hannah blushed prettily, "Your sister is very sweet, and her daughter is precious. I've always loved children; unfortunately I can't spend much time with them working here." She gestured around the coffee shop hopelessly.
"I think I may have a business proposition for you if you are interested," George told her.
Her eyebrow's raised and she looked at him curiously. "What sort of business proposition?"
"I'd like to discuss it with you later, when you have more time. When does your shift end?" he asked.
"I leave here at two," Hannah gave him an odd look, "would you like me to meet you at your shop?"
George nodded and then looked at the drink menu again. "I'd like to take some coffee's to my employees this morning, what do you suggest?"
Within ten minutes she had skillfully made several coffees of different varieties and placed them in a drink holder for him. "I think that should do it," she told him as she handed him the last Styrofoam cup.
"Thank you so much for your help," he said sincerely, "I really hope you will come by this afternoon."
"You have me intrigued, now I have no choice," she teased. George smiled widely, shook her hand and then left the coffee shop. He had a feeling that Hannah was perfect for his children's nanny.
Hannah wrapped her coat around her and buttoned it up quickly. She was hurrying to get out of the coffee shop before her manager stopped her, it was something she attempted everyday and wasn't always successful with. Quietly she left the storeroom and headed toward the entrance to the shop. When she was outside she breathed a sigh of relief, at least today she was safe from his advances.
She walked down the street, a smile blossoming on her face. She was supposed to meet George at his joke shop after she got off work and she hoped he hadn't forgotten. She was interested in the job he was offering, even not knowing what it was. There was something about George Weasley that was compelling; she had felt it even when they had been at school together. If he really did offer her the job she would take it with no hesitation. In all honesty anything would be better than the coffee shop.
Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was located almost dead center in the busiest area of Diagon Alley. People swarmed to it like bee's to honey, it seemed as though everyone needed to laugh, and the Weasley twins helped them do that. Hannah made her way inside and she grinned as she looked around. There were children everywhere in the shop, looking at the jokes and the candies and even some poking at the colorful pygmy puffs in the corner. She wondered if he was going to offer her a job here in the shop, she would definitely be around children. It gave her a warm feeling inside to know that she was going to be able to do what she loved most… work with children.
"Hannah, it's wonderful to see you," George said as he stepped up beside her. "I was wondering if you were going to show up."
Hannah shook his hand and smiled warmly at him, "I told you that you had intrigued me, I had to see what your business offer was."
He led her into the store room and then through the back where there was a spacious office. "This is Fred and my office; we like to conduct most of our business here. Would you like to sit down?" He gestured to a chair that was in front of the large oak desk and she gratefully sat down. It felt nice to sit after a ten hour shift on her feet.
"I think I know what you are going to offer me," Hannah began.
"You do?" George asked incredulously.
"I saw how many children were in your shop, I suppose you want me to keep them busy so they don't get into things," she said with another bright smile.
George stroked his chin thoughtfully. "That is a wonderful idea, but it's not what I wanted to discuss with you."
Hannah was confused, "Then what sort of business proposition were you going to make?"
George stood up and walked around his desk until he was standing at the window that looked out over Muggle London. "I need a nanny, and not just anyone. I need someone who is good with children, who can take care of them and see to their needs when I'm at work. I love my children, and I want the best for them," he didn't look away from the window, as if he were afraid of what her answer would be.
"I suppose you would need a live in nanny then?" she asked quietly. George turned to face her then.
"Yes, I need someone who would be willing to live in the flat with me and the children. I know it's asking for a lot, especially if you are attached to your own home. I just have a feeling that you are what I'm looking for," he admitted.
Hannah's face glowed with happiness. "I think I should ask about your children before I accept, though this sounds like the perfect job for me."
George nodded, "Jessica, we call her Jess, is almost five. You'll find that she is very helpful and incredibly sweet. J.R. is two years old and he likes to get into everything, mum says he reminds her of me. Eric is the baby…" he broke off and closed his eyes for a moment before opening them, "he just had his first birthday two weeks ago. He rarely cries and is usually a happy baby. Lately he has been upset, mostly because he misses his mother." He stopped then, not explaining any further, though Hannah wished he would have.
"When would you like me to start?" she asked softly.
"When can you start?" he countered.
A smile crossed her lips and she stood up from her chair. "If you give me your address I can be there this evening."
George paced around the flat nervously as he waited for Hannah to arrive. He wasn't worried that she wouldn't like his children; he was worried that they wouldn't like her. All three of them missed their mother and he was trying to handle this delicately, so that they didn't think Katie was being replaced… not that he wouldn't have done that if he had the chance. He sighed and sat down on the sofa, burying his face in his hands.
"Daddy, what's wrong?" Jess asked as she climbed up into his lap. George wrapped his arms around his little girl and held her tightly.
"I'm just nervous is all," he said and then tweaked her nose, making her giggle.
George loved his children with an intensity that he never knew he could feel. When he had been younger he would never have thought that the responsibility they brought would have been worth it. Now he knew better, he knew that his children were his life and they were worth living for.
"Are we having company?" she asked him, "You look at the door a lot."
"Yes, we are expecting company…" he began but closed his mouth when he heard the doorbell ring. "Can you go to the nursery and wait for me there?" he asked Jess. She nodded and rushed off while he went to answer the door.
Hannah was beaming at him when he finally got the door opened. "I'm not late am I?" she asked as she stepped inside the flat.
"No, you aren't late," George said with a soft smile. "You can leave your bags here and we can get them later after I introduce you to the children."
"All right, I can't wait to meet them," she said sincerely and George's heart swelled. He knew that he had been right to hire her, she was exactly the sort of person that his children needed right now. There was a lot of love in her to give, he could already see that, and it made him relax.
He led her through the living room and then down the hall where all the bedrooms were located. "This is the nursery," he told her, indicating the room at the end of the hall; "It's sort of a playroom for them as well as Eric's room."
They walked through the door and immediately all of the children looked up at Hannah curiously. "Daddy, is this our company?" Jess asked. Hannah bit back a grin at the four year olds use of such a big word.
"Children, I would like you to meet Hannah Abbott, she is going to be your nanny," George explained, though Hannah knew that only Jess understood it. The little girl smiled and walked over to them.
"Hello, my name is Jessica, but you can call me Jess," Jess said in her most grown-up voice, "what should I call you?"
"I think Hannah is just fine," Hannah said as she crouched down to Jess's level. "Would you like to introduce me to your brothers?"
A grin blossomed on Jess's face as she realized what an important job she had. She walked over to J.R. and hugged him. "This is my brother J.R. he likes daddy's joke shop," she explained.
"I can understand why," Hannah said with a gleam in her eyes, "It's a wonderful shop." George felt a smile tug at his lips, Hannah was definitely a charmer.
Jess moved over to the youngest child in the room and she kissed his forehead with puckered lips. The baby giggled and reached up to touch Jess's face. "This is my first baby brother Eric, he is a happy baby."
"Your first baby brother?" Hannah asked curiously, "What do you mean Jess?"
"My second baby brother Charlie doesn't live with us anymore," she explained.
George quickly scooped her up in his arms and tickled her. "I think its bed time for three children," he said. Jessica pouted.
"I don't want to go to bed," she whined.
"Would you like me to tuck you in?" Hannah asked the little girl. Jess gave her a shy smile and nodded. "All right then, off we go."
George watched as Hannah took Jess from his arms and set her on her hip. "You'll have to help me tuck in J.R. and Eric, I don't know how tight to wrap them up," Hannah said with a wink at George.
"If you want to put the children to bed I'll meet you in the living room to discuss the arrangement with you," George said and Hannah smiled brightly. It was obvious that where children were, she flourished. He trusted her with his children already as strange as it seemed, so he had no reservations about leaving her to put them to bed. Instead he made his way to the living room where he sat on the sofa and waited for her.
Several minutes later she closed Jess's door and walked quietly into the living room, where she sat beside George on the sofa. "You have wonderful children," she said softly.
"I'm glad you think so, they mean everything to me," he admitted.
"I think it's good to see a man who loves his children as you do. It means there is still hope that children can grow up in a loving family," she told him. George smiled and nodded, he could see her logic there.
"I was hoping that we could discuss your duties and benefits," he said in a more businesslike tone.
"I am all ears."
He couldn't help but smile at the easygoing way she handled things. It was as if she lived in a calm bubble and nothing could faze her. "I am willing to give you one day a weekend off; you can choose either Saturday or Sunday if you wish. I'm not sure what the normal rate is for a live in nanny, but I'm willing to pay 150 galleons a week…" he paused and looked at her expression. "Unless you feel that is unfair."
"Mr. Weasley… George, I obviously have room and board, I feel that the salary is generous of you. You won't hear any complaints from me," she insisted.
George grinned, "I think this is going to be the perfect arrangement for both of us."
Ginny sighed happily as she snuggled into the large feather bed that took up a good portion of her and Harry's room. They had spent most of the day moving into the Manor and she had thought that she would fall asleep the moment her head touched the pillow, but for some reason sleep wouldn't come to her. She turned in Harry's arms and smiled up at him, he wasn't asleep yet either.
"It's funny, I'm exhausted and yet I can't fall asleep," Ginny said with a soft laugh.
"This is our first night in our new home," he reminded her with a gleam in his eyes. Ginny leaned into him and placed a lingering kiss to his lips.
"I know it is, doesn't that mean we should do something special?" She asked. They grinned at each other for a few moments and then with a frenzied urgency they pressed their bodies together, molding their lips to each other as their hands reached for every inch of skin they could touch.
Ginny moaned hungrily as their tongues met and mated as they kissed. It ceased to amaze her how one look at Harry could make her entire body weak with excitement and need. It was as though he completed her, he made her whole. She could feel the way his heart beat against his chest, for hers beat the same way… matched in rhythm and pace. It was a sensation that was unforgettable, what she had with Harry she could never have with anyone else, ever.
"I can't believe that we finally made it here," Harry whispered in her ear as his hand caressed her side gently. "I always imagined us in this room… this bed."
She ran her hand over his chest slowly, memorizing the texture of it. "You had naughty thoughts as a teenage boy," she teased.
Harry grinned at her, "I never claimed to be a saint, Gin. I wanted to kiss your lips," he paused as he kissed her lips with a gentle urgency, "I wanted to touch your ivory skin," he ran his hand from her shoulder to her fingers which he brought to his lips so they played over her knuckles, "and I wanted to bury my face in your beautiful hair as I made love to you." He put his hand to her hair and ran his fingers through the copper strands.
She shivered as she listened to his words. Harry had never been able to talk openly about his emotions to anyone but her. She knew that he didn't feel comfortable telling Ron or Hermione how he felt, but for some reason he was always able to tell her. Now she relished in that special gift. He had never said words like this to anyone else… this part of Harry was hers, and had always been.
She brought his lips down to hers for a kiss that took their breath away. "I love it when you say things like that to me," she admitted. "Though I have to say that you didn't seem much like a poet when you were a boy."
He chuckled as he kissed her neck, "Ron would have taken the Mickey out of me if I'd have talked like that," he reminded her. Ginny laughed, she knew it was true; her brother had never been one to talk about his feelings.
"Will you make love to me, Harry?" she asked softly. "It would be a wonderful way to spend the first night in our new home."
Harry smiled brightly, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he looked down at her. "I can't think of a way that I would rather spend it," he whispered and leaned down to kiss her once again.
The door opened from the other end of the bedroom and Harry quickly rolled to his side and covered himself with the blanket. He knew that it couldn't be one of the House-Elves at the Manor; they had been given instructions not to intrude upon any bedroom unless they had been called. Instead Harry saw his daughter in the doorway, holding a raggedy looking teddy bear and crying softly.
"Natalie, what is it sweetheart?" Ginny asked.
"This house is so big, and you are so far away from me. I'm scared," Natalie whimpered. Harry's heart went out to his daughter and he crawled out of the bed, grateful that he had had the foresight to wear sweat pants to bed, and walked over to the door where Natalie was standing.
"It's all right, Tallie. You can sleep in here with your mother and me," he said and scooped her up into his arms. Her tiny arms clasped tightly around his neck and she buried her face in his chest. Harry carried her over to the large feather bed and laid her in the center of it. Natalie looked up at them with a shy smile.
"Thank you, daddy," she whispered. Harry pressed a kiss to her cheek and laid back down in the bed with Natalie snuggled between him and Ginny.
He had been wrong; snuggling with Ginny and their daughter was a much better way to spend the first night in their new home.