Author's Note: Another chapter is up. I must confess I have no idea what will happen next, but another chapter will be up once I figure it out. As always, thanks to those of you who read, favourite, follow and review.
Freedom-In-Fantasy
Chapter 9 – Day 3
On the third day of celebrations at Potter Palace, many people left to re-join the real working world during the day, but they all promised to return each night for the daily feast.
Harry and Ginny had decided to make it a relaxing day, showing their guests where the large heated indoor swimming pool was, as well as the all year-round sun bathing area. The pool was underground and reflected eerily on the walls around it. Although it looked to be about 100m long, there was a charm on the pool that allowed the swimmer to swim much greater distances. A spiral staircase then led to a glass sundeck that also opened out into the gardens. The sundeck stretched over the top of most of the pool, with a connecting conservatory that led to the gardens. Inside the conservatory was also a small greenhouse where some delicate and exotic flowers grew. At the end of the pool a bar had been set up, so they could drink cocktails, butterbeer and firewhiskey by or in the pool. Ginny had made sure the glasses had an unbreakable charm on them, because she didn't trust her brothers to not cause some kind of chaos. Adjacent to the pool was also a spa for those who just wanted a relaxing soak in the water.
The young women lounged on the sundeck in bikini's or bounced around in the water in a way that suggested only magic was keeping their tops in place. While the older women wore more conservative shawls over their swimsuits as they stayed up on the glass deck talking about the youngsters. The older men took a similar approach, avoiding the young people in the water and instead enjoying a nice butterbeer in the sun. While the young men mostly did what the young women did. A few of all ages were trying out the spa which was enchanted to change its bubbles every five minutes to a new colour and scent.
Neville, had been entranced by the greenhouse, and had forgot about going swimming altogether. He instead had on gardening gloves and some hastily transfigured robes. Luna, Susan and Hannah had all joined him in the greenhouse and he chattered away to them as he examined the flora at his fingertips. He never even noticed that all the girls were only wearing bikini tops.
Dean and Seamus had meanwhile set up a lively game of volleyball in the water that had drawn most of the younger sunbathers into the water. The quidditch players in particularly were very enthusiastically spiking the ball back over the net.
As the game heated up, a few of the girls headed over to the spa with cocktails in hand to have a more relaxing water experience. At their insistence, Ginny reluctantly joined them.
"Who knew Harry was so rich." Parvati exclaimed and several of the other girls nodded.
Ginny shrugged. "It doesn't really matter to me."
"He's very lucky then." Said Lavender. "Plenty of girls will be after him now they know that he's rich and famous."
"Harry won't be interested." Hermione said firmly. "He's always hated people like that and he's faithful to Ginny."
Ginny gave her friend a grateful smile.
"It's not him we need to be worried about." Katie agreed. "But some girls astound me with how shameless they are." All the other girls nodded in agreement.
"Still it's cool that he's rich enough to throw this party." Lavender pointed out.
"Wouldn't matter if he wasn't." Ginny said. "If it wasn't for the fact his parent's portraits wanted to do something elaborate since they haven't been able to be in their son's life, we would've just had a normal party at the Burrow."
"What's it like meeting his parents like that?" Angelina asked tentatively.
Ginny smiled. "Amazing. It's so great for Harry to have some sort of connection with his parents. But of course it's also bittersweet."
The girls all nodded in sympathetic understanding and fell into a contemplative silence.
The boys in the pool were more focused on winning than conversation. The Weasley brothers and extended family were teamed against nearly everyone else. Within half an hour they had proved that playing together as kids was a valuable skill as they won by a landslide.
After lunch, the party moved into the gardens, where couples of all ages wandered about holding hands. Ginny and Harry sat with Ron and Hermione on some toadstools, a Cosmopolitan in hand.
"Where do we go from here?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"It's been two months since the battle at Hogwarts and everyone is now trying to piece their lives back together."
"Trying to find jobs." Added Ron.
"Or establish how they're going to finish their education." Ginny rolled her eyes.
"We'll got back to how things used to be." Harry said and hope that people have learnt their lesson from this war.
They sat in contemplative silence, watching their friends and family laugh and joke.
"To a new normal." Ron held up his glass.
"To a new normal." The other chorused, clinking their glasses against his.
That night, Ginny lay in bed facing Harry. "What does our new normal look like?" She asked quietly.
"Facing whatever happens together." Harry replied shyly. "For now sorting out education and jobs. Maybe one day having a family."
Ginny snuggled up tight to him. "One day I'll give you the biological family you deserve." She whispered. "But for now, just remember you are a black haired Weasley."
Harry chuckled and held her tighter. Ginny leaned up and kissed him gently, then with more intent as she crawled away then pinned him underneath her on their bed.
Hermione put much the same question to Ron that night. He shrugged. "Maybe I'll become and Auror and you'll do something incredibly smart."
Hermione had to smile at that. "And us." She said pointedly.
Ron's ears turned red. "Well we're together now and I don't plan on finding anyone else.
"Neither do I." Said Hermione as she leaned over and kissed him, before burrowing her way into his arms to fall asleep.