Chapter 2

Ginny sucked in lungful's of air, wishing that apparition was more comfortable. When she had finally regain a satisfactory amount of oxygen. She look round to see harry a few meters away, looking at the beautiful scenery, but not, Ginny sensed, taking any of it in.

She walked over and slipped her hand into his, whilst marveling her picturesque surroundings. The snow capped mountains in the distance, glisten like diamonds and soft snow under her feet were sparkling like crystals. In the middle of the circle of mountains lay an icy blue lake, perfectly reflected the marvel.

"It's gorgeous!" Ginny breathed.

Harry did not appear to have heard her.

Ginny sighed. "They wouldn't have wanted you to grieve."

"How would you know?" Harry asked suddenly, not attempting to hide his irritation. "Thanks to old Moldy Shorts, you never met them. I don't remember them." He added quietly.

"I know you." Ginny said simply. Wrapping her arms around him, "That's all the proof I need."

Then she led him toward the ramshackled shed. Though she knew inside would look quite different.

An elaborate apartment revealed itself as Ginny pushed the shed door open. The doorways were adorned with glittery bead curtains, antique furniture littered the tiled floor and the walls held portraits of every Potter. Right at the end stood a covered canvas. The plaque below it read, Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley.

"Harry why is there a portrait of us covered up?" Ginny asked.

Harry shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe it's still being painting. Now c'mon, I wanna got to Potter Palace."

They walked back outside to where they had arrived. Ginny grabbed Harry's hand and together they disappeared.

They reappeared outside a tall silver gate that protected and ancient grey stone castle. in the distance, a Quidditch pitch, a lake and a forest could be seen.

"Welcome to Potter Palace." Said an invisible voice. "Please state your name and business then wait for the hose elves of Potter to decided whether not you shall be aloud enter the fine grounds of Potter." The squeaky voice ended its speech with a pompous cough.

"Blimey!" Harry muttered whilst Ginny giggled.

"Erm, I'm Harry Potter. I own this place and beside me is my girlfriend Ginny Weasley." He finally said.

"You may enter." Squeaked the voice.

As the iron gate opened, it screamed like a tortured soul. Harry and Ginny both flinched at the noise. Then, wands held in front of them, they walked up the marble pathway that led towards Potter Palace. At the oak door, Harry raised a fist as if to knock, then seemed to think better of it and turned the rusty old doorknob instead.

In the entrance hall, ten house elves were standing in a row, waiting. Shadows flickered across their eager faces as the torch flames danced above them.

"Welcome Master! And Mistress too! The eldest house elf exclaimed as soon as Harry and Ginny walked through the door.

"Just call me Ginny. Ginny said.

"And me Harry." Harry added.

The house elves were shocked.

"No, no, no!" A motherly looking house elf said firmly. As a Potter you must be called Master. Your lady on the other hand is not a Potter so will only call her Mistress if she wishes us to.

"How about Miss? Suggested another house elf. "Mistress Lily was called that until she married Master James.

"Alright." Ginny consented.

"Would Master and Miss like a tour?" The motherly house elf asked.

Harry and Ginny exclaimed they would in delight.

"These two youngsters can take you round." She said, pointing at the two youngest house elves. A timid little boy and an even more timid little girl house elf stepped forward.

"Would Master and Miss please step this way." Said the boy, then he and the girl led Harry and Ginny out of the entrance hall and through the first door on the left.

"This is the ballroom." said the boy as he flung an arm out. The younger girl nodded shyly.

The dome shaped room had a high ceiling and was made entirely from silver and gold. Moving pictures of the Potters covered the walls.

"Mum, Dad!" Harry exclaimed as he finally spotted the portrait of his parents.

Ginny ran over to where Harry was standing. "So these were your parents."

"Yeah. Shame I don't know them. Harry responded.

"Well now's your chance, isn't it." Said James.

"Argh!" Harry and Ginny yelled whilst the house elves giggled.

Harry stared at his parents portrait, jaw hanging while Ginny asked "do all the portraits around here talk?"

"Sure." James answered lazily.

"Harry dear, please shut your mouth." Lily Potter finally spoke, her eyes filling with tears at the sight of her son.

"Yes son, I doubt your friend here cares to see your tonsils." James piped in unhelpfully. 'Who's your lady friend anyway?"

Harry got a proud look on his face. Slipping an arm around Ginny's waist he answered. "Mum, Dad I would like you to meet my gorgeous, wonderful and beautiful girlfriend, Ginny Weasley.

Ginny blushed. "Nice to meet you Mr and Mrs Potter."

"Oh please, call us Lily and James." Said Lily and James nodded.

"Harry son, why don't I show you round and Lily can do the same for Ginny." James suggested.

"Are you volunteering me for things without taking to me first?" Lily demanded, glaring daggers at her husband. "But fortunately for you, I would love to show Ginny around whilst you do whatever boys do." With that Lily led Ginny away.

"Right, house elves dismissed, Harry son, follow me." James ordered before leading Harry down the long corridor. For several minutes Harry and James walked up spiraling staircases and down long narrow halls. Neither attempted conversation as their walk took all of their energy. Plus both had no idea what to say. After all what do you say to a person you haven't seen for 17 years?

Finally James broke the silence. "So how far have you gone with that lovely red-headed woman?"

Harry gave his father a look that would have killed him if he had not already been dead, then took a deep breath and bellowed angrily, "OUT OF ALL THE THINGS YOU COULD HAVE ASKED ME, THE FIRST THING YOU ASK IS HOW FAR GINNY AND I HAVE GONE. NOT WHO I LIVED WITH AFTER YOU AND MUM DIED, NOT IF I WENT TO HOGWARTS, NOT IF I HAD DEFEATED VOLDERMORT YET, NOT EVEN HOW MY LIFE HAS BEEN THE PAST SEVENTEEN YEARS, NO! THE FIST THING YOU ASK IS HOW FAR I'VE GONE WITH GINNY. WELL IT'S NONE OF YOU BLOODY BUSINESS!"

"Well that was quite some speech!"

"In here we have the formal lounge." Lily said as she led Ginny into yet another room of the 600 room palace.

"Wow!" Was the most Ginny could manage as she stared at her plush surroundings." The room was decked out in red and gold. Together it spelt out Gryffindor and royalty.

As the two women stepped out into the corridor, they heard Harry's shouting.

"Goodness, is that Harry screaming to the heavens above?" Lily exclaimed. "Well we know now the first thing James asked. Foolish man." Then as if an after thought, Lily asked causally, "so how far have you and my son gone?"

Ginny parroted Harry. "It's none of your bloody business."

"It's just that James and I thought that you and Harry might like to live in our old suite.

"Suite?"

"More like an apartment or a flat." Lily corrected herself.

"What's in this apartment?" Ginny asked curiously.

"3 bedrooms, bathroom, lounge, kitchen, games room, office and the private family history room." Lily answered.

"That's more like a house." Ginny said incredulously. "But sounds good to me.

In the family records room, James and Harry were having a similar discussion.

"Only if Ginny is ok with it." Was Harry's answer.

After seeing the rest of the palace (not including the acres of land outside) the four met up at Harry and Ginny's new suite.

"Welcome to you new home." Said James with a flamboyant gesture. "This of course will be you home for you two week party."

"What?" Harry grunted.

"Oh did we forget to tell you about our party idea?" Lily asked

Harry and Ginny nodded.

"Well we were going to throw Harry a birthday bash, but when we found out that Ginny's birthday was 10 days later, we decided to throw a joint celebration." Explained Lily.

"For 10 days?" Harry asked in disbelief.

"No son, 2 weeks." James corrected him.

"Oh I get it!" Ginny said suddenly exclaimed. "We start 2 days before Harry's birthday and finish 2 days after mine." Then the red head tossed her hair in a 'so there' manner, light dancing off her hair.

"Well actually we were hoping to have those two extra days on each end to get to know you too." Said Lily hesitantly. But you can have two weeks with everyone if you prefer.

"Oh no. I'd rather we had four days to ourselves." Harry said.

"You know we don't have to share if you're uncomfortable with it." Harry said the moment their parents left them alone to get acquainted with their new suite.

Ginny rolled her eyes at him. 'You're not getting rid or me that easily. Besides if you don't want to sleep in the same bed we can sleep in different bedrooms."

So we're not in the same room?"

"Only if you don't want to be." Ginny answered.

Ginny chewed her lip as she waited for Harry's decision. "Well I wouldn't mind sharing." Harry admitted shyly.

"Lets then!" Ginny said eagerly, wanting to grab the opportunity before it slipped away.