I still don't own anything in this story but the plot, so on we go!
Harry and Ginny apparated directly into the Leaky Cauldron from the ministry. As it was nearing noon Harry smiled at Tom, the innkeeper, and said, "Good day Tom, what's today's special?" Tom's face lit up, he had not had a customer in quite a while now with everyone so afraid and he told Harry and Ginny this as he rushed to serve them. Harry and Ginny enjoyed a wonderful meal and good butterbeer while they rested after their morning activities at the Ministry. After a while they both stood up, thanked Tom and went out into the back alley where Harry tapped the third brick up and two across from the trash bins to open the archway into Diagon Alley. Harry led Ginny through several shops refusing to allow her to pay for anything she wanted including the gorgeous emerald necklace he bought as a wedding gift. The necklace was far more expensive than Ginny had ever imagined any jewelry being, but Harry never even flinched as he paid for it. They spent a lot of time buying things that they knew they would need for school, like new robes, and potion supplies. They had to wait to buy books as they didn't know what they needed. Finally around four-thirty Harry led Ginny into Gringott's Bank.
"Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Potter" the goblin helping them said as he sat down at his desk. "How may I assist you, other than the joining of your accounts?"
Ginny looked stunned, "How did you know?
"The ministry sends us a letter whenever two people marry as a courtesy so that we may draw up the proper documentation before the couple arrives" the goblin explained dismissively. "It saves the couple a great amount of time, you see all of the funds in your personal account Mrs. Weasley Potter has already been moved into Mr. Potter's vault. And your keys to his vault are already made" he said while Ginny sat trying to absorb everything he said. "Now, I will need your old key ma'am before I give you your new keys and you will both need to sign these forms which state that the bank has permission to combine the accounts and create duplicate keys to Mr. Potter's vault."
Ginny looked at Harry with a concerned look on her face, "I left my key in my room at the Burrow" she said in a slightly despairing voice.
"It is in the possession of your parents then?" the goblin asked.
"Well, it's in their house anyway" Ginny said.
"Then that will not be a problem, if you would just leave a note with me telling your parents where the key is located and requesting that they return it to the bank at their earliest convenience that will suffice. The bank will simply revert ownership of the key back to your parents until it is returned" the goblin said smiling at her. "Don't worry, it happens all the time" he said noticing her troubled look. Twenty minutes later Ginny had her keys, the letter was on it's way to the Burrow tied to the leg of one of the bank's owls, and Harry and Ginny were standing in the open doorway to their vault with Ginny staring at the piles of gold, silver, and bronze unable to speak. She had always known that Harry was well off; but had no idea just how wealthy he, and now she, really was.
"I told you not to worry about spending too much didn't I?" Harry said fighting not to laugh at her expression.
Ginny turned to face him, "Is all of that really mine now too?" she asked expecting to hear him say she was dreaming.
"Every knut" Harry said smiling at her. Ginny didn't respond but literally leaped into Harry's arms and kissed his lips like they were going to disappear. When she finally pulled back breathing heavily Harry set her gently on her feet saying, "It's a good thing I've been working out."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginny asked laughing at him. "Well… if I hadn't been I either wouldn't have been able to catch you, or we both would have fallen backwards onto the floor. I'd hate to see you mess up those beautiful robes because your husband wasn't fast enough to prevent it." Harry said grinning.
"Git" Ginny said slapping him lightly on the arm and smiling at him. They filled their money bags, thanked the goblin for his help and left to stop by Fred and George's shop.
"Harry, Ginny!" Fred called over the heads of his customers. "What brings you two to my humble establishment?" he asked dramatically.
"Oh, nothing really, just thought we might pick up a few items to show the original Marauder" Ginny said picking up several of Fred and George's best sellers.
"Original Marauder" George said joining them. "Are we talking of Mooney, or Padfoot?" he asked.
"Neither, I was thinking more of Prongs" Harry said.
Fred and George both did a double take. "Prongs?" they both asked astonished. "But, he's gone. Isn't he?" Fred asked.
"Not unless he left after breakfast" Ginny said loving the look on her brothers' faces. "Why don't you two drop by for dinner. You didn't really get a chance to talk to him yesterday" she offered kindly.
"Yeah," Harry said at once, "and bring your best stuff. I know he'll love them."
Fred and George looked at each other shell shocked. "You want us to try to impress your dad Harry. You do realize we are talking about the man that inspired us in the first place" George said staring at Harry.
"Yep, and I'm sure he'd love to meet you and hear all about your business" Harry said smiling.
"So, how much do I owe you for these?" Ginny asked.
Fred grinned at her. "Nothing" said George.
"What!?" Ginny asked, "This stuff must cost you a fortune to make and you're giving it to me" she said incredulously.
"Yeah, we forgot to mention it yesterday, not that we had a chance, but one of the perks of marrying Harry Potter is that you never pay here" Fred said.
"Why?" Ginny asked.
"Harry gave us a thousand galleons as a start up loan. We don't forget a debt Ginny. He doesn't pay here, and since his money is yours now, neither do you." George said grinning triumphantly at her.
"You guys will never let me forget that will you?" Harry asked morosely.
"Never" said both twins in a most conspiratorial voice.
Ginny laughed at Harry's discomfort, "Well, you can't say they aren't loyal or honest Harry" she said still laughing at the look on his face.
"Actually, I can" said Harry, "that thousand galleons was a GIFT not a loan" Harry said pointedly. "I've told them that a thousand times but they never listen" he said shaking his head. "Oh well, at least they are loyal friends. So Squeaky will probably have dinner ready around seven," Harry said, "unless mum beats her to it" he added in a mutter.
"So we will see you then, right?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, we'll be there" said Fred and George.
"Good," Harry said brightly, "I'll see if Remus and Padfoot can make it too" he told them. Harry and Ginny bid them a good day and stepped out of the shop. "Ready to go Mrs. Potter?" Harry asked.
"Good Lord, I love being called that" Ginny sighed as she wrapped her arms around Harry.
"What, Mrs. Potter?" he asked.
"Yes," she said looking into his eyes. "And I'm quite ready for you to take me home" she emphasized the word "home" just to see his reaction. Harry just smiled as tears glistened in his eyes. Ginny knew what was going through his mind, Harry had never felt like he had a home. She hugged him tighter as he spun them on the spot to apparate swearing to herself he would never feel that way again.
Harry led Ginny up through front door of their home carrying the bags full of purchases from Diagon Alley. He quietly banished the bags to the room that they shared as she drew her wand. Both were a little nervous considering that the house was silent. They cautiously moved further into the house to find Ron, Hermione, James, Lily, and Sirius fast asleep in the study off of the entrance hall. Breathing a sigh of relief they stowed their wands and made their way down to the kitchens to find Dobby and Squeaky. The kitchens were deserted and spotless, Harry looked at Ginny and started to laugh. "What's so funny?" she asked.
"I forgot, Mum gave the staff the day off" Harry said looking at his watch.
"Oh no…" Ginny said in shock, "we have guests coming in…" she looked at her watch and jumped.
"An hour" Harry finished for her, "Guess we better get busy huh?" said Harry rolling up his sleeves.
Ginny stopped him, "why don't you go owl Remus and my parents?" she asked sweetly. "I'll take care of dinner. It won't be much later than we thought and the only person who will notice is Ron, and that's just too bad" she finished grinning.
Harry chuckled to see the look on her face, "If you're sure you can spare me, I'll go send off Hedwig and come back to help out."
"Good" said Ginny shoving him out of the kitchens.
Harry returned a few minutes later to find pots simmering on the stove, a pair beautiful roasting chickens in the oven, and Ginny working on an enormous salad.
"Well," said Harry wrapping his arms around her from behind, "looks like you don't need a tour of the kitchens." He kissed her neck before adding, "What can I do to help?"
"I don't really know Harry." Ginny said smiling at him, "But another kiss from my husband sure won't hurt" she said her eyes twinkling. Harry kissed her again before asking what she was putting in the salad. Ginny told him the types of greens and other ingredients as she started dicing a tomato.
"Well how about I whip up a dressing?" he asked loving the surprised look on her face.
"You can make a salad dressing from scratch?" she asked incredulous.
"Yeah… my Aunt made me cook most of the time so I got fairly good at it." Harry smiled at her, "Of course, our Mums make me look like a ten year old amateur." Ginny laughed briefly before agreeing that a homemade dressing would go over real well with her family. Harry set to work watching his wife and smiling to himself. Ginny had a slight frown on her face while she worked and he knew why. "You know Gin, I never could get enough of the food at your mum's" Harry said quietly causing her to look up at him. "And if the smells in here are any indication…" he smiled at her, "I'll have to watch myself around here too. We don't want me to be overweight when I go back to school do we?"
Ginny smiled her first truly relaxed smile since they got home. "No I imagine the rest of the quidditch team might have something to say to a fat captain. Especially one that was underfed last year." She said causing them both to laugh. They cooked together for almost an hour perfectly complimenting each other. Ginny worked on the chickens and vegetables, while Harry worked some muggle magic with the sauce pans. They had the meal just about ready when a great chime echoed above them.
"Reckon that's the doorbell?" Harry asked grinning.
"Got to be Lupin" Ginny said smiling, "Fred and George don't know how to use one." Harry laughed as he walked toward the kitchen door.
"Don't count out your parents Gin, I'm sure they've been here before and know where to find the doorbell."
Ginny laughed as she realized that even if her brothers did try to use the doorbell, she didn't even know where it was much less them. "Before you go play host again, do you think that glaze should go over the chicken now or at the table?" she asked.
"Both" said Harry and then he was gone to greet their visitors.
Harry and Ginny led their guests into the formal dining room where everyone sat down at the long mahogany table.
"I apologize for the late hour, but we forgot that the house elves had the day off" Ginny said looking into the faces of her family and friends.
"OH, I'd forgotten I'd done that Ginny" exclaimed a shocked Lily. "You should have asked me to help you"
"Actually Harry showed some rather amazing skills in the kitchens of his own Lily" Ginny said smiling at her mother-in-law. "I'm sure you'll recognize most of the sauces" she said as Harry waved his wand and the meal that he and Ginny had spent an hour feverishly cooking appeared on the table. Everyone gasped at the non-verbal magic, and again as they began to recognize the various dishes.
"Sorry, couldn't help myself" Harry said. "I've wanted to do that for seven years." Everyone laughed at this.
Not to be outdone Ginny raised her wand and waved it causing the food to serve itself to the diners. "I thought I'd make sure everyone got at least one helping before Ron ate everything" she said smiling at her brother. Everyone but Ron laughed at her joke.
Ron started to defend himself but Hermione leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Let it go Ron, she's nervous" Ron looked astonished at Hermione who just smiled and started to eat.
Fred just couldn't help himself, "Well there's first time for everything George" he said.
"Really and what is that?" George asked innocently knowing exactly what Fred was talking about.
"We are sitting at a beautiful table piled very high with delicious food and our dear younger brother is the only person to not have tasted it yet." Fred replied smiling at Ron. Even Ron had to laugh at the joke as he picked up his fork and started in on his chicken. Ginny caught Fred's eye and mouthed "Thank You" without anyone but Harry noticing. Fred and George both merely winked.
"Molly is this your Sunday chicken recipe?" Lily asked between bites. "I'm not sure" Molly replied "This tastes like mine only there's something in this that I can't place." Both women looked at Ginny while Harry grinned at her from the other end of the table.
"Well, I started with your recipe mum. But the glaze is Harry's grandmother's" Ginny said.
"I never would have thought of doing that" Lily said
"Hopefully it's not too bad, first try and all" Ginny said nervously. "Are you kidding?" asked Molly.
"This is the best chicken I've ever tasted, Sorry Lily" said James.
"Ha!" Lily laughed at him. "Flattery rarely worked in life what makes you think it will in death James?" she asked slapping his arm. "Ginny if I had ever thought to combine the two James might have a reason to apologize. However, I think that you inherited your mother's cooking skills so you can probably cook better than me anyway." She said looking at Ginny with utter admiration. The sentiments were echoed around the table and the meal disappeared faster than a golden snitch in the world finals.
After the meal the men went into the study while the women stayed in the dining room. "I didn't know Harry could cook" Lily exclaimed.
"Neither did I," Molly responded, "but that glaze was delicious, and the salad dressing was the best thing I've ever tasted." Hermione and Ginny smiled at each other behind the two adults backs.
Hermione got up and walked over to Ginny smiling. "Thank you for a most delicious meal" she said sitting next to her friend.
"Was it really good?" Ginny asked nervously.
"That was the best meal I've eaten in many years, and I know Ron was seriously considering nominating you to cook for all of the Gryffindor celebration parties this year" Hermione said laughing. Ginny laughed with her finally accepting that she was a good cook. The two started to get up to leave but both adults stopped them.
"Oh no you don't" they said. "You're not going anywhere until I learn how to make that meal" said Lily smiling.
"And I'm not leaving until I hear the story either" Molly said laughing.
Ginny looked slightly afraid until Lily said, "I'd better start cooking that or James may try to haunt the place to get better food."
"And I'd never see any of your family if I don't start learning some of your secrets dear" Molly said hugging her daughter.
"Lily, not to be rude; but since you and James are dead do you even have to cook anymore?" Ginny asked.
"Oh yes," Lily said smiling "death changes nothing really, James and I live in our own house on the other side but are welcome in the houses of both of our ancestors." She explained. "But the house cleans itself now" she joked because Ginny was looking sort of troubled. All of the women laughed. "Ginny, there are things about the afterlife that I am forbidden to tell the living." Lily said taking Ginny's hand, "But I would love to tell you anything I can" she said warmly. "Really Ginny, death is nothing to fear and James and I went through it together and have made our peace with it. Don't be afraid to ask either of us about it" she finished squeezing Ginny's hand reassuringly. "Now then, where did Harry learn to cook like that?" She asked.
Ginny just smiled and replied, "At your sister's."
Meanwhile, in the study James and Sirius were holding their stomachs laughing at the twins inventions. "Oh James, I wish I could say we had a part in this" Sirius said gasping for air.
"Me too Padfoot, more importantly I wish we had this stuff at Hogwarts" James said leaning against the back of an armchair, "Can you imagine the stuff we could have pulled on Snivellus?" he asked Sirius who actually fell on the floor laughing this time.
"Oh, God I'd love to see his face." Sirius said rolling on the floor like a dog.
"Oh, somehow I doubt that" said a smiling Lupin.
"Oh come on Remus" exclaimed an exasperated James. "You can't tell me you don't want to slip him that telescope" Sirius said.
"Well, I have to admit it was pretty funny" He said chuckling.
"What do you mean was pretty funny?" James asked.
"Well I taught with him at Hogwarts, and these two "Lupin motioned to the twins, "absolutely hated him. They were always leaving stuff like this in his classroom." James and Sirius looked at the twins stunned for a full ten seconds. Then they exploded into laughter again.
"You're kidding, right?" They asked Lupin.
"Not at all" he replied. "I can't tell you the number of times he brought me the Wolfsbane potion grumbling about his cauldrons turning into cheese or a wand that attacked a student or, my personal favorite, the chalk that refused to write anything but swear words on his blackboard" Lupin said making everyone laugh harder than ever.
When James finally stopped laughing he looked at Arthur, "Tell me they didn't do this to all their teachers" he asked.
"Nah. Only the evil gits like Snape that took house points away on principle" the twins answered him causing even their father to laugh. "Although by far I think our best work was done on Umbridge don't you Fred?" George asked his brother. "Definitely" Fred replied smiling, "Wish you four could have seen that, even you would have been proud of that one Dad" Fred said staring at his Father.
"Oh, I heard about your exploits concerning Delores Umbridge" Arthur said smiling. "And your quite right I was very proud of you like I always am" he said winking at them.
"What'd they do Harry?" James asked his son.
"They set off enough magical fireworks to light up Hogwarts, Hogsmede, and anything else in about a fifty mile radius" Harry said without cracking a smile which just made James and Sirius laugh harder. "the best part was, every one but Filch hated her. So she and Filch tried to put them out, but everything they tried just made them worse. It went on for hours." Harry said now laughing along with his father and godfather.
"I think we might have been beaten as the most troublesome students to ever attend Hogwarts Padfoot old boy" said James shaking both twins hands.
"Oh, you definitely were Dad." Harry said looking James in the eye. "Umbridge passed an educational decree stating that teachers could only give instruction on things pertaining to their subject. So Fred and George transfigured part of the most used corridor in Hogwarts into a swamp. She couldn't get rid of it and according to her own decree no one could help her" Harry told him.
James turned to the twins with a look of admiration on his face, "that boys, was sheer genius" he said.
"I thought so" said Arthur, "In most cases I didn't approve of the boys antagonizing teachers, but that woman was pure evil and I thought she deserved Fred and George's worst" he said looking proudly at his sons. "I hardly need to say that exceeded my wildest dreams. So if you ever need a really good prank for someone my two middle sons are the best in the world" he finished hugging both boys who looked thunderstruck.
"Actually Mr. Potter, we have a confession to make" Fred said looking at James. "You said earlier that you wish you'd had a part in these products."
"You have no idea" James said.
"Well sir, you did. You and your three closest friend all did" George said solemnly.
"How's that?" James and Sirius asked puzzled. Harry pulled an old piece of parchment from the inside pocket of his robes and handed it to his father.
"Remember this Dad?" he asked. James examined the parchment carefully before saying, "No, should I?"
Fred tapped the parchment with his wand and James' eyes went wide. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" he said with Fred. As the marauders map appeared on the parchment before James shimmering eyes George spoke. "We were inspired by the Marauders. We nicked the map from Filch's office in our first year it took months of being insulted by the map to discover how to work it. The map allowed us to explore Hogwarts and Hogsmede more than any student in our year and we found all kinds of things on our excursions. But the map also helped keep us out of trouble, not only from teachers but it would refuse to work if we tried to push the limits too far. So thank you Messieurs Mooney, Padfoot, and" he inclined his head at James, "Prongs."
James collapsed into an armchair and held his head in his hands. "I helped write that with the intention of giving it to my kids one day, it was my idea." He said helplessly. "Filch caught us in our seventh year and confiscated it. Bloody jerk refused to believe that Sirius, Remus, Peter or me would do anything to benefit a future generation" he said.
"Well we know better sir," Fred said, "That's why we gave the map to Harry in his third year."
"How did you know?" James asked incredulously.
Harry answered by raising his wand and casting his patronus. James stared at the silver stag which stared back for a moment before lowering its head to James' upraised hand.
"You've done more since your death than you can possibly know" Sirius said clapping an arm around his crying best friend. Harry heard a sniffle and turned to see his wife, mother-in-law, mother, and best friend standing in the doorway trying not to intrude on the touching scene. He smiled at them then turned and lifted his father out of his chair and into a hug. Harry released his father when James gathered himself together.
"That's not the only gift you gave me dad" he said reaching into his robes again. "Dumbledore gave me this at Christmas first year" he said pulling his invisibility cloak from his robes and laying it in his father's arms. James fell back into his chair in shock and Lily was at his side in a moment.
James looked at his son with tears in his eyes, "These are the two heirlooms I wanted you to have most Harry. The map I made for you to use at Hogwarts, this cloak has been in my family for generations. I don't know who first acquired it but I knew when I gave this to Dumbledore that you would always be a hunted man Harry. I'm sorry that you have had to live the life you have, I should have stopped him when he came to kill you." James was fighting to keep from crying again now and Lily was rubbing his shoulders silently.
"Dad, you did your best. I've been to Godric's Hollow, I've seen the study where you died. Or at least what's left of it, I know that you tested him severely that night and this cloak has helped me face him and survive four times since that night. You didn't fail Dad you gave me your skill, Mum gave me her brains, and Dumbledore taught me everything he knew. When I face him next you'll be with me and he can't beat the three of us, no one can beat all of the Potters" Harry said hugging his parents.
Ginny walked up and joined the embrace saying, "Harry is more powerful than any of us know, and he got all of that from you" she said looking at James and Lily. "Thank you for giving the wizarding world a hero that is undefeatable."
James and Lily started to say something but Harry stopped them. "Dad, you and Mum died so that I could live. And that sacrifice lives in every cell of my body. You have inspired everyone in this room in one way or the other but most of all me. You both stumped Tom Riddle and gave me a chance to find his weakness. I won't waste the opportunity" he said. His parents knew the fiery look in his eyes and nodded. As everyone around them watched James and Lily Potter faded from the world of the living for the second time.
"Goodbye Mum, Goodbye Dad" Harry said quietly "May you now find rest and peace." No one else said a word, but nodded their agreement to Harry's eulogy.