A short time later, Harry and Narcissa arrived at the orphanage. Lucius had returned to the penthouse, as he and Hermione were going to St Mungo's for Lucia's first "well baby" checkup and for Hermione's final post-natal exam. He'd also thought it best that he not appear too often in public with Harry during his pre-divorce phase in order to avoid being seen by the public as his "handler".
As Harry and Narcissa apparated to the grounds of the children's home, they were met by a reporter with a camera from the Daily Prophet.
"Mr Potter!" the reported called. "May I ask you a few questions?"
Before Harry could answer, Narcissa stepped in. "You may ask Mr Potter a few questions, but I really must get him started with his work shortly. You are welcome to follow us on our rounds to take photos after the interview is over, however."
"Mr Potter, is it true that you resigned your post as an Auror?" the reporter asked, wasting no time.
"That's right," Harry said briefly.
"What were your reasons for that decision," the reporter asked, with his Quick Quill poised in the air waiting for Harry's response. "It was generally understood that you had a bright future there; perhaps becoming the head Auror one day."
Looking down at James, then turning so the reporter could see him better, Harry said simply, "Here's my reason. Since the end of the war, the Auror department has mostly consisted of administrative work, and there are several Aurors devoted to that task. They don't need me." Gazing down again at his baby son with loving pride, Harry said, "But James needs me. I intend to be there for him, not off somewhere being a paper pusher."
"What made you decide to volunteer at the orphanage," the reporter inquired.
"Once James was born, it made me think of the kids who aren't as fortunate as James; who don't have loving parents like he does," Harry said earnestly. "I grew up as an orphan with muggle relatives who neglected me, so I know how terrible it is. Being James' father has reminded me of my childhood and made me realize I need to do something to make a difference in the lives of children without parents."
"How about Mrs Potter?" the reporter pressed. "Will she also be volunteering here at the orphanage?"
At this point, Narcissa stepped in. "We're getting behind schedule here, so I must regretfully take Mr Potter away from you for awhile," she said with a bland smile. "We're going to have a private staff meeting now to introduce Harry, but you're welcome to take pictures of the grounds and classroom while you're waiting for us to begin our rounds." Not waiting for a reply, she hurried off, with Harry following close behind.
"Thanks," Harry said to Narcissa, once they were out of earshot of the reporter. "You really got me out of a jam when he asked me about Ginny. I wasn't sure if I'd have been able to come up with a good response to that question."
"Quite all right," she said, smiling. "As you would imagine, I have quite a bit of experience in deflecting awkward questions from the press." After a pause, she continued, "You'll be working with Andromeda and Xeno Lovegood mostly, and there are several other part-time volunteers you'll eventually meet. And you'll be coordinating with Reg and Mary Cattermole, who are the houseparents and take care of the hosekeeping, cooking, and maintenance."
"I look forward to it," Harry said sincerely. "I think I'm going to enjoy working here.
--
Molly Weasley was puzzled as she exited the bathroom after taking a shower. Normally, at this time of morning, little James would be stirring, crying for his breakfast and she'd hear either Ginny or Harry attending to him. But all was silent as she padded down the hallway toward her room.
Curious, she passed her own room to go check on James, whose room was next to hers on the same side of the hall. She was surprised to find the crib empty as she entered the room.
Moving to Ginny and Harry's room, she found Ginny alone in bed, still deep in slumber.
"I suppose Harry must have already taken him downstairs," she muttered to herself as she shut the door to Ginny's room.
But after she'd dressed for the day and gone downstairs for breakfast, she found the kitchen deserted. She did not noticed the note Harry had propped up against the sugar bowl on the kitchen table.
Now concerned, she stood at the bottom of the stairs and bellowed, "Ginny!"
After a long pause, her sleepy daughter appeared at the top of the stairs rubbing her eyes and yawning. "What is it, Mum? You could have awakened the dead, you were so loud."
"Never mind that," Molly said. "I can't find James or Harry anywhere! Did he tell you that he was going somewhere this morning?"
"No," Ginny said slowly. "He and I haven't really been talking much since he found out I applied to the Harpies."
"You don't suppose he's decided to leave you?" Molly pondered.
"I don't think so, Mum," Ginny said. "He's pretty angry with me, but he'll get over it. He always does."
"Well, you need to make sure he gets back in line," Molly said firmly. "Perhaps a trip to the Voluptuous Vixen lingerie shop might be in order? As I've told you before, if you keep your husband satisfied in the bedroom, he'll be putty in your hands. Men are such simple creatures, you know."
"Mum!" Ginny exclaimed, completely mortified to be discussing sex with her mother.
"You know I'm right," Moly asserted, not in the least bit embarrassed. "But now we need to find out where Harry went with James."
"Maybe Kreacher knows," Ginny suggested.
"Kreacher!" Molly bellowed. She wasn't aware that the elderly elf had been under the stairwell the entire time eavesdropping on their conversation.
Kreacher popped in right in front of the Weasley matriarch. "Did Old Mistress called Kreacher?"
"Did you see Harry leave with James this morning," she demanded. When the elf nodded, she prodded, "Well? Where did they go?"
"Did you not read Master Harry's note he left in the kitchen?" Kreacher said, unwillingly to tell the witch anything more than he had to.
Molly went into the kitchen where she found the note Harry had left, sitting in plain sight.
Dear Gin,
James and I have gone to the orphanage for the day. I've decided to volunteer my time helping out there and probably will be doing it two or three times a week.
I don't know how long I'll be gone today, so don't hold my meals for me.
Harry
Ginny had come up behind her mother as she read the note. "The orphanage?" Ginny said, confused. "He never mentioned wanting to volunteer there to me. I wonder what made him want to do that?"
"I don't know," Molly said, frowning. "But I'm certainly going to ask him as soon as he gets home, that's for sure."
--
Back in London, Lucius and Hermione had left the penthouse to go to St Mungo's for Hermione's final postnatal exam and for Lucia's first well baby exam at the pediahealer's office.
As they arrived at the wizarding medical facility, Lucius turned to Hermione and said, "I'll take Lucia to the pediahealer, while you get your final exam. I think it will be easier on Lucia that way."
"You're right," Hermione agreed.
"We'll meet back here after the exams, then," Lucius said as he escorted her to the door of Calandra Jones' office. "We can get lunch in Diagon Alley afterward, if you like."
"That would be great," Hermione said. "I'd also like to go to Flourish and Blotts after lunch as I need to start my research for my first Muggle Studies book." Giving Lucius a kiss, then Lucia, she said, "I'll see you two in a little while!"
A short time later, Hermione got up to get dressed after her examination, glad to have it out of the way.
"You're in fine shape, Hermione," Calandra Jones told her. "You and Lucius should be able to have as many children as you desire."
"I'm sure Lucius will be glad to know that," Hermione told her. "We would like to have two or three children, at least."
As she left Calandra Jones' office, she met Lucius coming back down the hall with Lucia.
"Well?" she asked. "How did Lucia's examination go?"
"Very well indeed," Lucius reported with a wide smile. "The healer said she's in perfect health and that she has a strong magical core. She predicted that Lucia will probably come into her magic very early on." After a pause, he gazed down at Hermione and asked, "How about you? How did your exam go?"
"Calandra told me that I've recovered nicely and that we'll be able to have as many children as we want," she told him, beaming.
Giving her an evil grin, he said, "Why don't we go home right way, then, and get started on that second child?"
"There's nothing more I'd like to do than 'try' for another baby," she told him. "But she still wants me to wait a couple more weeks to completely heal before we start having sex again."
"You can't blame a man for trying," he said, with a theatrical sigh. "In that case, why don't we drop Lucia off at home with Breezy, then go have some lunch before we go to Flourish and Blotts."
"That sounds like a plan," Hermione said agreeably.
--
A/N Thanks to my readers and reviewers for continuing to stick with this story.
A/N I've started posting a Patriot story, Complications of War. This is a tweaked repost of the story wrote six years ago and had posted elsewhere.
A/N Next chapter yet to be named