"Excuse me?" Harry asked, confused. He had no idea what Molly Weasley was banging on about.
"Surely you didn't think you could keep this from me!" she said, thrusting the Daily Prophet under his nose. "I just want to know why there are photos of you and my grandson with Lucius Malfoy in the Daily Prophet!"
Ginny moved closer to get a look at the newspaper. "That's a very good question, Harry," she said slowly. "Mum has a point. And what I'd really like to know is why you didn't bother to tell us about it and why you didn't see fit to include me in the pictures. These pictures make you look like a single father."
Taking the paper from Molly, he quickly looked at the photos, pleased with the results. Looking at the photos of Hermione with Lucius and Lucia, he could see the love in both their eyes as they glanced at one another and their daughter. He smiled to himself as it dawned on him fully just how right Lucius had been for Hermione.
"Well?" Molly demanded, drumming her fingers on the table. "I'm waiting to hear your explanation!"
Harry turned slowly to face his mother in law, exhaling a gusty sigh. "Do you want to know the truth?" he asked. Without waiting for a reply, he continued, "This was a spur of the moment thing and the photographer did ask for Ginny, but I knew the both of you would react this way and embarrass me. I'm sick and tired of your attitude toward Lucius Malfoy. You don't have to like the man, but you don't have to make a scene every time you meet him in public. He already knows you don't like him and he doesn't care what you think of him." Taking a deep breath, he plunged on, "And it's not as if I planned this. I was at the nursery talking with Lucius and Hermione when this photographer showed up to see the Malfoys and decided to include me as well."
Facing Ginny, he added in a softer voice, "And you were still knackered after giving birth, so I didn't think you needed to be bothered by someone shoving a camera in your face just then."
"You should have told the photographer to come back when Ginny was rested so he could get pictures of all the family," Molly told him firmly. "And I'm tired of you associating with the likes of Lucius Malfoy. I've known him a lot longer than you have and can assure you that he hasn't changed in the slightest. He's just using you to make himself look better." Glaring at Harry, she added, "And I don't think you should be exposing my grandson to him and his lot."
"Mum's right, Harry," Ginny said, unsurprisingly. "I don't think James needs to be around people like Malfoy."
"I'm not going to give up my friendship with Hermione because of Lucius Malfoy," Harry told them firmly. "You might as well get that out of your heads right now. Malfoy is good to her and that's all that matters to me." Harry thought it best not to mention his growing acquaintance with Draco Malfoy; that was a topic best kept to himself or left for another time.
Snatching up the paper, he headed to the door. He'd had enough of the Weasley women and needed to leave before he said something he'd not be able to take back.
"Where do you think you're going?" Molly demanded, hands on hips.
"Out," Harry replied tersely. "I need a break from all of this."
"You come back here, Harry Potter," Molly stormed. "Ginny needs you."
His only response was to fling open the front door and apparate quickly away.
Harry entered the Leaky Cauldron a moment later, still scowling, with the newspaper tucked under his arm. After ordering a butterbeer, he took a booth in a dimly-lit corner in the back. He took a long swallow from the bottle, then settled in to read the paper in peace while he cooled off.
As he read the the article accompanying the photos, Repopulation Efforts Going Well, Harry couldn't see what was so controversial about it. He'd read a series of articles over the last several months about Lucius and Hermione, which the Prophet considered newsworthy considering they were the first couple to respond to the consort law and because their particular relationship was symbolic of a newly united wizarding society. This article was simply more of the same.
His inclusion in the article, though not planned, still served to underscore the article's main point. The young wizard realized that nothing was going to change his mother in law's blind spot when it came to Lucius Malfoy. The war would never be over for her and Harry suddenly felt quite sorry for her. He also realized that Ginny was just like her mother in this regard; stuck in the past.
"Mr Potter?"
Harry looked up to see Lucius Malfoy standing by his table, one eyebrow raised in inquiry. He'd been so deep in thought that he'd not noticed the imperious blond wizard approaching his table.
"Mr Malfoy," Harry acknowledged.
Having noticed what Harry was reading, Lucius said, "I think the article turned out rather well if I say so myself. Motherhood has only served to make Hermione more beautiful."
"I agree," Harry said. "I don't think she could possibly look happier than she does here."
"Speaking of Hermione, why don't you go up and pay her a visit?" the older wizard suggested. "I'm on my way to Hogwarts to see Draco, so I'm sure she'd appreciate the company.
"Thanks, I think I will," Harry said. He brightened immediately at the thought of visiting his friend. "Are you sure she's up to it?"
"Quite sure," Lucius assured him. "In fact, I would say she's beginning to get a bit restless from idleness."
A short time later, Hermione's mother opened the door when he rung the bell at the penthouse."
"Harry!" Jane Granger exclaimed warmly. "What a nice surprise! Hermione was just talking about you and here you are!" Opening the door wider, she invited him inside. "Hermione's in the nursery with Lucia, getting ready to put her down for a nap. I'm going to go to the kitchen for a bit of tea, so why don't you wait for her in the library. I'll send Breezy in with some refreshments."
Five minutes later, Hermione came into the library. "Harry! Mum told me you were here."
"I was in the Leaky Cauldron and ran into Lucius and he told me to come on up," Harry explained.
Seating herself across from Harry, she said, "Did you bring James with you? I'd love to see him."
"No, no, I didn't," he said, looking distinctly uncomfortable. "I'd not really planned to do any visiting today. I kind of left the house in a hurry."
"What's wrong, Harry?" she asked, concerned. "You seem as if you have something on your mind."
He paused for a long moment, then said slowly, "It's Ginny. And her mother. I don't know I can take this much longer. I thought I'd be happy if I married Ginny, but it's not turned out like that at all. Mostly, I've been miserable."
"Tell me about it, Harry," Hermione said, putting a caring hand on his arm. "I imagine you need someone to talk this out with."
"At first, most of our problems were because of Molly," he began. "She still treats both of us like children and meddles constantly into our lives." Taking a drink of the pumpkin juice Breezy had brought, he continued, "I could mostly deal with that, knowing that Ginny and I could always move if it got bad enough."
"Go on," Hermione said, knowing he wasn't finished yet.
"Ginny is pretty much just like her mother, but I figured she'd grow out of that as time went by and she got more involved raising her own family," he said. "But she and I had an argument that's made me realize that I really don't know her at all."
Rising from his seat, he went to stand by the window looking out. "Today she told me that she doesn't want to have any more children, ever," he announced. "Not only that, she's applied to try out for the Holyhead Harpies. She plans to leave James with her mother and let her raise him."
Turning back to catch the stunned expression on Hermione's face, he said, "I'll be damned if that's going to happen. I won't allow my son to be raised by that small minded woman."
"What do you plan to do, Harry?" Hermione asked. "You know that Lucius and I will be here to help if you need it."
Giving her a small smile, he said, "I appreciate that, more than you can know." Taking a deep breath, he said, "I think I'm going to give up on being an Auror. It's not as interesting as I thought it would be and now that the war is over, there isn't so much for us to do. And it's not as if I need to work because I need the money. I've done my bit to save the wizarding world and James needs me more now."
"Are you going to divorce Ginny?" she asked. "It might be best to make the break now, as it would be easier on James that way."
"I don't know," Harry said. "I know the Weasleys would fight me for custody if I did, and I'm not so sure I'd win."
"You remember that Lucius offered you the use of his lawyers," Hermione reminded him. "I'm quite sure they'd be able to get a favorable outcome for you."
"I'll think about it," Harry said. "I'm not quite ready to make a decision yet." Sighing, he said, "I know one thing. I don't feel like going back and facing them right now. Molly is probably waiting by the front door to pounce on me the minute I get home. I think I'll just rent a room at the Leaky Cauldron for tonight."
"Nonsense," Hermione said. "You can stay here as long as you like, whenever you need to."
"I appreciate that," Harry told her. "I'll stay tonight, but I think I'll find a flat nearby to rent tomorrow so I can have a place to go when I need to get away from them."
"You look tired," Hermione observed. "Why don't you get a nap for now, and I'll have Breezy call you when dinner is ready."
"Thanks," Harry said. "I"d like that. I've not been sleeping at all well lately."
A short time later, Harry fell asleep moments after his head hit the pillow.
--
A/N Much appreciation to my readers, both reviewers and lurkers
A/N Next chapter as yet unnamed.