A/N: I am very grateful to those who have added favorites,alerts and a big thanks to the ones who took the time to review my story. Thanks reading it.:)
Ginny find out
Ginny had been very busy for the last few weeks. Luckily, Aunt Andromeda offered to come and babysit her sons at the Manor as Teddy already wanted to meet his cousins badly. Teddy and her sons would play in their toys room, introducing Teddy their new Muggles games.
So everybody settled into a routine. Sometimes Harry would join with Ginny and Lucius to the office, would offer assistance to them whenever they need. Ginny would show Harry everything about their company and the insights of how they work. And they would converse about any new ideas and the pros and cons of doing it.
Ginny never got a chance to ask Luna or Hermione as they were busy in their life.
Luna and Carlo had gone to her father's place to help the Quibbler, and Hermione as usual very busy in the ministry. Blaise had gone to check his Italian business, where he has a large vineyard of grapes , used for manufacturing wines.
Whenever she visit the twins at their shop, she would notice some one with red hair and would double back to look properly but by then the person has gone.
She thought that it might not have been Ron. Surely not Ron? Right? If he was Ron then why hasn't he come forward to greet maybe she was wrong.
She related her thoughts to the Twins.
The Twins glanced at each other. They thought the same thing , that Harry told them before.
Ginny was pacing around in her bedroom, in deep thought.
After Harry shared his story, they became closer than before. They share everything with each other except one topic on love they dare didn't share or didn't want to know about it.
After being unable to ignore or delay her curiosity, she finally contacted Luna and Hermione, requested that they come to the Manor tomorrow and she really wants to talk to them and not on mobile.
They agreed to her and said that they will be at the Manor tomorrow at 10.
Next day, Ginny was impatiently waiting for her friends to arrive.
Harry was watching her, amused at her, she kept looking at the time every min, sighing. He snapped a finger in front of her, bring her out of her mindless thoughts.
"Waiting for someone? " Harry inquired. She came out of her daze mind.
"Yeah, I invited Luna and Hermione today. They will come anytime now. It's five min to ten."
"Oh, any occasion today?" He raised his eyes brow, frowning,mentally racing his mind to know if today was important or not.
"What? Oh, no. Nothing special today. Just like that. We had been busy for past 2 weeks. " Ginny chuckled, nervously hiding the real reason.
The clock strike at 10 and the floo alert sounded loud, Luna arrived at the exact time, followed by Hermione.
Luna and Hermione saw Ginny sitting with Harry on the couch. They each noticed the comfortable friendship between Harry and Ginny.
Ginny stood up quickly, greeted Luna,"Hi Luna! " She hugged Luna.
She then hugged Hermione.
"Hello Hermione, Welcome to the Manor. " Hermione smiled, looking around the room.
"Your home is wonderful. You have decorated it beautifully."
Ginny smiled widely, feeling proud of her.
"Thank you, Hermione!"
Harry hugged them and they all sat around on the couch and chairs. The elf bought them tea and popped back into the kitchen.
Everybody was sipping their tea.
They were conversing about their work, Luna narrating about her faher, how he was excited, having found some curious species of magical creatures in Africa and wanting to publish in the Quibbler. Hermione telling all about her cases in her department. Harry was telling about the new cases at Draco 's child care , that they found more new muggleborn children being rescued from their abusive home and being taken care of now . Ginny too told about her work at Malfoy International and how Aunt Andromeda had offered to baby sit her sons.
Ginny told Luna about letting the Daily Prophet know about her sons.
"It's time the boys go out in public , I am sure they will want to visit Diagon Alley , Gringotts , Quidditch matches and maybe Hogwarts later."
"You can bring Melinda here , you both could give out a joint interview of me and perhaps of my sons too if you want. But only once ,make it brief for the boys . I like the article she had written about me. It's was good and to the point. "
"Okay, if you want it soon then we will come tomorrow for the interview . I will recheck it before it get publish in the papers. " Luna said reassuringly.
Ginny nodded.
Soon, the boys came down and told Ginny that they had finished their own set of homework and requested that they could play quidditch.
Hermione called the boys to her attention. They came near her, greeted her with a smile.
"Hello Aunt Hermione." They said together.
Derek and Lucas have become used to seeing Hermione at the burrow whenever they visited with their mother.
Flashback
That day at the burrow, Ginny and Molly were busy cooking in the kitchen. Hermione were sitting at the table, cutting vegetables.
Lucas had come back from playing with gnomes. He wanted a glass of water and was looking for his mother. He saw Hermione at the table.
He came near her, watching her curiously. She noticed Lucas staring at her.
"Hello Lucas, enjoyed playing with the gnomes?" She questioned him, smiling too.
"Yes, playing with gnomes is fun. But they are nasty too. They bit me on my finger and I threw it very far across the fence."
He smiled with a huge grin and then suddenly he settled into indifference, aware that Hermione was smiling at him, happy that Lucas was talking to her freely.
She snorted when he tried to be indifferent, aware of what he is doing.
Then she heard him asking her something, "Can I ask you something, Aunt Hermione?"
He was making sure that his mother was still busy and not noticing them.
"Yes, what do you want to ask me?" She then kept on cutting the potatoes, tomatoes.
"You don't like my father, right?" She controlled her breath and let out it, slowly keeping the knife back on the plate.
"No not exactly. Just like with Harry, Your father and I were civil to each other when your father changed after his fourth year. He was almost as smart as me. He and I used to compete in classes. I always get the top ranking and your father got the second ranking. He was a very good person."
Hermione was reminiscing, how she and Draco competed fiercely in classes, trying to be ahead of the other.
"I wished that we would have been great friends once the war was over, but then..." She trailed off, seeing Lucas nodding and smiling slightly at her.
"Really, you and dad would have been great friends if the war was over?"
"Yes, absolutely. Your father knows a lot about books, famous authors and plays. I felt happy knowing that someone like your father was there for me to talk about books during the brief time before the war . "
She sadly smiled, thinking that they would have been very great friends and the lost opportunity to share knowledge with him.
"You are nice, just like Harry. I like you. Even Derek likes you too." Lucas grinned slowly at her.
"Oh, Lucas. I am so happy." She hugged Lucas tightly and kissed him on his forehead.
She released him and began cutting vegetables. Lucas was standing beside her.
"Aunt Hermione, where is Uncle Ron?" He asked her quietly and curious too.
Again she stopped her knife still, thinking carefully, "Your Uncle Ron is very busy. You know he is an Auror, busy catching bad men." not looking at him. She didn't want Lucas to feel bad.
"I think Uncle Ron hates us?" He asked as a matter of fact.
Hearing this, Hermione turned sideways, looking incredulously at him, thinking how Lucas could come to the conclusion that Ron hates them.
"What? No, Dear! He doesn't hate you. " She quickly reassured him, trying to convey the truth in her words.
"If he doesn't hate us then where is he? Why didn't he meet us?" Lucas scowled at her, daring her to speak the truth and not lies.
Seeing his expressions, she tried to think of some way to let know the truth.
"Your Uncle Ron feels bad for hurting your mother at School and he thinks that your mother hates him. That's why he doesn't come here. "
"Oh! "
"Your Uncle Ron loves you already even though he has not met you. You know, He always asks me many questions about you and Derek. He wanted to meet you badly."
"Really, Uncle Ron loves us. He is not angry that mum married dad?" He stared at her with eyes full of hope.
"Yes, dear. He really loves you both, and no, he is not angry that your mother married Draco. And just like with Harry, he wants to play quidditch and take you both to the matches and have lots of fun."
Lucas looked skeptically. After a moment of silence, he smiled.
"I see. Thank you Aunt Hermione. "
Then Lucas took a jug and pour water in a glass and he drank it full. He wiped his mouth with hand and went back out the backyard.
"I am happy to know that my sons likes you too, Hermione." A voice came from behind startled Hermione.
Hermione turned behind to see Ginny smiling at her.
"Yes, how much did you hear?" She inquired.
"I heard it half way through, He was admitting that he and Derek like you."
They both smiled.
End Flashback
She gave them new Muggles storybooks, crosswords and puzzles and latest children movies and Muggles videos games DVDs.
"Wow, that's awesome. " Lucas happily took the present.
"Thank you Aunt Hermione! " Derek crowed, glee at the cool presents in his hands.
"Oh, Hermione. You will spoil them by giving them too much presents." Ginny groaned .
"I can't help it. " She shrugged. "I am making up for eight years' worth of gifts for them. "
Ginny took the presents from them and giving it to the elves to take in their bedroom.
"But mum, I want to play the video now." Derek whined.
"We have studied and did our homework and we could play. You told us, mum." Lucas pleaded to his mother.
"Yes, I told that you could play quidditch and not play videos. Maybe later. "
Ginny looked at Harry, urging him to do something.
Harry noticed her pleading and he stood up, walking, telling the twins.
"Come on, Derek and Lucas. Let's go play quidditch. I have some cool plays to teach you. And some tricks to catch the snitch in a fastest way, Lucas."
The children perked up, wanting to see some tricks. They agreed and raced towards the pitch.
"Thank you, Harry. I am glad that you are here and you have helped me a lot. I wanted the kids to have an active life, you know, not just sitting whole day in their room playing videos. It's not a healthy way of life for the kids."
Ginny squeezed his hands.
"Anything for you, Ginny. Anything you want me to do, I will do it and be here for you forever ."
Harry gazed at her and put his hand on top of her hand.
"Well the children are waiting and I sensed a girl talk coming up now. That's was the real reason. Right?"
Without waiting for an answer, Harry smirked at them and went to the pitch.
Ginny stared at nothingness; felt something inside her, feeling warmed at Harry's words. She shook herself and turned around to face her best friend Luna and sister in law Hermione.
They was looking at her strangely, both looking at her in a knowingly way.
"Come on, let's go to my room. We can talk there comfortably without disturbances."
Ginny climbed up the stairs leading to the first floor, through the wide corridor hallway and reached the end and turned left to her suite. She opened her door, allowed them to enter in and closing the door behind.
She sat on her huge Queen bed and gestured them to join her on the bed too. Luna sat at the bottom of the bed while Hermione chose to sit on the side of the bed.
They all settled comfortably on the bed , each taking a fluffy pillow on their lap.
"So, what did you want to talk to us this badly that you can't tell on the mobile too?"
Luna was looking at her eagerly, wanting to know if anything happened between Ginny and Harry. It would be so nice to see Harry and Ginny happy.
Hermione too spoke at the same time as Luna. "What was that about?"
"Huh? About what?" Ginny replied with an innocent expression on her face.
"You and Harry staring each other intensely and what he said to you? Is something going on between you two?"
"What? Nothing was going on. Harry and I are best friends. I was just thanking him. "
"Okay, whatever you think. So what did you want to tell us?"
"Not tell .Want to ask you something personal about Harry."
"What you want to know about Harry? You just said that you both are best friends and you both know everything about each other's life?"
Luna smirked at her , raising her eyebrows up.
"Yes, But I want to know more about his life, is there anyone in Harry's life?" She told them straight to the point.
"You mean about him dating anyone?"
"Yes."
"Well, Harry is not dating anyone now. He keeps up to himself." Hermione answered her.
"Really? What about before?"
"Well, he didn't want to date anyone. I practically forced him out of his house, to enjoy his life."
"After sometime, He dated Susan and I thought that he would be happy. But it was a very brief relationship. It was mutual breakup. "
"Oh, What Susan is doing now?"
"She got married to Justin finch-fletchey and worked under her aunt Amelia in the same department."
"Then?"
"He dated some muggle; we don't know anything about her. But then nothing happened. Because she wanted commitment and he didn't want to do it as he was a wizard. That would have been impossible."
It was silence for a moment.
"Oh, well I thought Harry got a crush on Cho during School?" Ginny frowned.
"Yeah, He had, but he like someone else and even fell in love with her too but after the war, he couldn't find her. "
"Yeah, I know that. But who was she? I want to know her name."
Ginny looked at her friends, trying to get them tell the name.
"You know about this? Harry told you this?" Luna questioned.
"Yeah, he told me about his life story some weeks ago. From the way he spoke, he really loves this woman. But I didn't want to ask him more, since he already told much."
"I figured that you both might know who was she?"
Luna and Hermione glanced at each other , Hermione nodding at her subtly.
"If Harry didn't tell you the name. Then why would we tell you? And even if we tell you the name, what would you do?"
They both look at Ginny in curiosity, thinking what would she do.
Ginny was deeply in thought , thinking about Luna's question .
"Hmmm if you tell me the name, then maybe I would go and find her and see if she really deserves Harry's love then I would try to bring both of them together using my once famous matchmaking skill."
Ginny was grinning slightly outwardly, inwardly she was disappointed and she doesn't know why .
Being Ginny's best friend since the age of eleven, Luna recognized her fake cheerful answer. She knew how to let Ginny know in her way and subtly guide her to face her own feelings.
"Oh, really you would do matchmaking skill, huh. What if she was already married and has a happy family with two sons. Then what would you do?"
Hermione kept quiet, slowly understanding Luna's ploy of telling Ginny.
"Oh, she is married and had children?" Surprised at this unexpected question.
"Oh well, then also I would go and find her, see if she is really happy in her married life or not. If not then I will get them together but if she is happy then I will help Harry to move on and date someone who really deserves him and his love too."
Ginny shrugged . Waiting for Luna to continue .
"Oh, and what if the witch is a widow with two sons and had already come back in his life. He then suddenly felt happy at finding her back in his life and he regularly visit her house, became best friends and make her happy a lot, her sons also accepts him and he in turn likes them and play quidditch too, he also likes and respect her father in law and he just recently told her that he would do anything for her even for silly things too."
"What would you do?"
Ginny felt alarmed at hearing this .
This is getting too close to home.
She shivered, feeling tiny wiggle of hope but then crushed it out of habit.
Not wanting to feel more hopeful, she arranged herself to be casual , speaking carefully.
"What are you trying to say, Luna?"
"Come on, you know what I am saying. " Luna stared at her best friend , who was trying to avoid looking at her.
"Hermione? Say something. "
Everybody remained silence for long , around ten minutes.
Ginny spoke out, breaking the long intense silence.
"Luna, are you trying... to tell me ...the woman Harry loves ...long time back was …..err ….me?" Ginny struggled to speak the undeniable truth.
"Me? But how is it possible? I mean when...?"
Ginny got up out of her bed and pacing back and forward, pulling her hair back.
Hermione then questioned her, "What did Harry tell you exactly about the witch he loves? "
"Well, He told me that he and she had a big fight and then because of war , he pushed away his feelings, hoping that he would tell her after the battle about his feelings and all."
Hermione nodded, already expecting the answer .
"Yes, if you would remember well that You and he had a big fight about Draco, but his reason was different."
Ginny paused. She stared at Hermione with a questioning and curious look.
"According to him , He was jealous that you spend more time with Draco and became friends very easily. But with him, you were always distant, not so close friends and you rarely spend time with him. "
"Oh!"
"Oh,I didn't know. " She didn't know what to think of it now. She remained silent.
"You know he still loves you very deeply. I have heard him a lot many times when I questioned why he doesn't date anymore. And he could love another witch in his life. "
"You know what he said to me?"
"He said and I quote him, Potter men fall in love only once in their life and when a Potter gives their heart to one woman in their life,they will always be true to their heart and never fall in love with others. unquote. "
Wow, so deep! Ginny thought. She always knew that Harry always wears emotions on his sleeve and he was a very passionate person , pure of heart.
"At first I didn't believe him and he was using this as an excuse. But he look at me very seriously. "
" Then I checked his family history and found , all the previous Potter men fell in love with a red haired witch, give their pure love with only one witch whom they believe that they would remain happy in their life."
Ginny tried to control her hopeful feeling at the prospect of being happy again in life.
"But to me, It's like a family blessing and a curse "
"What do you mean ?"
Luna and Ginny look on.
Hermione tried to explain, "I mean when I read it, I felt that it's so sweet and romantic too"
" But then I thought that it was a curse too , what if they have never met the only one in their life, then how will they fall in love with others. They can't remain alone in their entire life."
They understood what Hermione was getting to.
"Then Harry pointed one thing which I didn't notice in the diary of his parents."
"It was written by Harry's great great grandfather, ' A Potter will always meet their only one , their other half early in their life' ."
"And it was true, see how Harry parents met early in school and they fell in love too. And in your case, you and Harry had met early in school and Harry saved your life, thus having some kind of bond between you. "
"But fate was cruel to you both but then Fate was kind too. See how you both met again for the second time after eight years. How romantic."
Hermione sighed happily. Ginny was doubtful at the tiny niggling thought.
"Hermione! How can you be so sure that Harry loves me now? I mean he is practically family to us all. Mum had practically adopted him as her seventh son. Maybe you must have misread his expressions."
Hermione looked exasperated , at Ginny .
"Come on, Gin. You have to have noticed the way he looks at you," Luna said incredulously.
"He comes daily to your home for what? Why he is playing with your sons now when we all are talking here . He could have gone back to his home instead of playing with your boys."
Luna pulled Ginny by her arms , making her sit on her bed .
"Did you know your brothers practically gave up on searching you? But Harry didn't give up. He kept on searching for you, believing that you will be back soon . Whenever he goes , he would always look for a red haired girl around. "
Ginny imagined how Harry struggled in his life and kept looking ,waiting for her.
She close her eyes , inside , crying for Harry, how much he did for her.
"Didn't you tell me that he found you in the park because you looked familiar to someone he knew in his life. And he found you first before your brothers' did? You know Fred and George told me and Hermione, about the time how he came running to them, full of hope and joy telling that he found you."
"Everybody noticed his change in his behavior whenever you are around."
"Oh!"
"What should I do? I don't know what to do now."
"Ginny, First of all, tell me what do you feel about Harry?"
Ginny look at her friends who were staring at her, waiting for her response.
"Err. Well Harry is my best friend and I don't want to lose his friendship. He is a very good person, smart, kind, mischievous, self-confident; loyal to those he cares and loves."
"What I mean is , do you always wait for him when he comes to visit the Manor everyday? Do you enjoy talking to him, or even sitting in silence with him? Do you feel comfortable around him, a sense of peace and calm? Do you think of him when you go to sleep and when you get up in the morning too? Do you feel happy that he already has a place in your family in a comfortable way ? Do you think he already has a place in your heart even though you were not aware of it ?"
Ginny kept silent, hearing Luna's questions .
"It's time you be happy in your life."
Ginny opened her mouth to retort then close up at seeing Luna's glare.
"Yes I know that you are happy in your life. But you know what I mean." Luna narrowed her eyes at Ginny.
"Please don't push this happiness away from your life. It's time for you and Harry to be happy now. Accept this new happiness in your life. "
"Listen to us for once and don't be too stubborn!" Hermione too joined Luna at convincing Ginny .
"Please Ginny, for your and Harry's sake"
Ginny was in tears.
"I see. But what about Lucas and Derek. They won't like it. I mean they will think I have forgotten their father again? They had accused me once when they thought I was getting friendly with Harry in the beginning. "
"Will they accept this if I do accept dating Harry? "
"Don't worry about Lucas and Derek. They will understand and accept it easily. They are smart and they know what 's going on around. "
"Lucius, Blaise and I and even Uncle Severus will talk to them later once you and Harry are serious if you do accept and date Harry."
Ginny relaxed a bit.
"So will you date him?"
"Well I have had too much shocking news. Let me think about this and don't tell Harry too. Please."
"Okay, if you say so. "
The elf popped in and announced that Lunch is ready.
Ginny nodded and told the elf to go and tell the kids and Harry about Lunch being ready.
Everybody gathered around the table, Lucius was sitting at the head side, her sons sitting beside on his left side; Derek was telling his Grandfather about the new chaser moves Harry taught them. Lucius was indulging by listening attentively, praising them. They beamed at him.
As Ginny entered the dining room, followed by Luna and Hermione, she noticed Harry sitting on the second chair on Lucius's right side of the table.
He noticed them entering , he stood up, eyes lit up bright on seeing Ginny.
Lucius and her grandsons also stood up, waiting for the ladies to sit .
As Ginny was approaching towards her chair , the first on Lucius 's right, Harry pulled the chair back ,letting Ginny sit and helped by pushing the chair forward a little .
Ginny blushed a little at this gentlemanly nature of Harry, fully aware and conscious of being so near to Harry .
Her sons copied Harry's actions by pulling the chairs for their aunts Luna and Hermione. They gushed and thanked their nephews for being good little gentlemen.
They had a quiet lunch and passed the day with mundane conversations, with Ginny slightly observing Harry's behavior towards her.
Luna and Hermione's words kept replaying through Ginny's mind.
Harry looked at her so intensely, eyes ,deep full of love for Ginny, It was at that moment that Ginny finally noticed Harry; really saw him, and was reminded of how handsome he had grown over the years and how his eyes deeply display his emotions to the world.
"What is it?" Harry asked her in concerned voice.
He had noticed Ginny not paying attention and she was always deeply in thought, looking at him often.
Ginny stared at him with a strange expression on her face.
"Nothing," she murmured, looking away, an evident blush tinting her cheeks.
She tried to listen to the conservation between Hermione and Lucius about the ministry's laws. Luna was staring at Harry and Ginny. She smirked and pleased with her and Hermione efforts .
Harry stared at her, his chest constricting momentarily.
"Did Ginny just blush at me now? Has she finally noticed me? I hope so." Harry fervently thought.
A/N: Finally! Now let's see how their friendship slowly progressed further. And Ron will be back in Ginny's life . Watch out for it.
I'm still looking for someone to beta this story if they would like to, so message me if you are interested!
Like it ! Then Review it! :) Please No flames. I just want a kind review which would bolster me to write and update more quickly.
By Ice Queen Malfoy