Harry burst into Gwenog Jones' office. She looked up in alarm, as he and her assistant came to a halt in front of her desk.
"I'm sorry, Ms Jones, I couldn't stop him," said her assistant, Siobahn.
"It's fine. Please, take a seat, er...?" gestured Gwenog.
"Harry. Harry Potter, and I'm here about Ginny Weasley," he announced.
Gwenog quirked an eyebrow at Siobahn, who nodded and left. "How can I help you, Mr Potter?" she asked.
"Where's Ginny, I need to see her," he said, his tone urgent.
"She's not here, Mr Potter, I haven't seen her since our meeting to sign her contract," admitted Gwenog.
Harry's heart sank. "So she did sign," he said.
"No, she didn't," revealed Gwenog. " She asked for more time to consider her options." As the days went by with no word from the Weasley girl, Gwenog's hopes were diminishing. She steepled her fingers and leaned closer to Harry. " I don't suppose you know what's going on with her, do you?"
Harry wasn't sure what to say. He didn't want to ruin Ginny's chances at Quidditch or the Harpies. " Not really," he lied, looking away.
"Yeah, that was real convincing," drawled Gwenog. " Look Potter, we want Weasley. What do we have to do to get her?"
"Lift this ridiculous ban on Harpy players needing to be single, and live in Holyhead," he blurted out.
Gwenog looked startled, then sat back. " Bugger. You want to marry her, don't you?"
Harry sort of shrugged and nodded, rather than commiting to answer. Gwenog was quite an imposing woman so he declined to mention they were already married.
" I got the sense that there was something, but I just thought it might have been a better offer from another team. I never factored in you," she said, eyeing him distastefully.
" Look, I know Ginny has wanted to play for the Harpies since she was a little girl, but Quidditch is just a career. It's not right that you can dicatate your players lives like that," said Harry, passionately.
Gwenog rubbed her temples. "We have lost some good players because of that rule." She frowned, looking at Harry. "Get out of here, Potter, go find Weasley. When you see her, tell her not to sign anything, especially with another team. I can't promise anything, but...well, we'll see. Now get out of here," she said brusquely.
Harry stood quickly to go, then turned back. " Erm...?"
Gwenog sighed, rubbing her temples. " What is it now, Potter?"
"Any idea where I might find Ginny?" he asked.
"Try the Burrow, her family home," she said. At his blank look, she looked amused. " You've never been there? Then good luck getting through the wards. Now, OUT!" She pointed at the door.
Harry hurried out, sighing in relief that he had survived that encounter. He smiled apologetically at Siobahn, and went to the Apparition point at the Harpy's compound.
"The Burrow," he called, turning his body and twisting on the spot.
/*/*/*/*
Ginny Apparated straight to the room she had shared with Harry. "Harry?" she called, looking in the connecting énsuite. When there was no answer, she checked the wardrobe, relieved to see his clothes still there. He must be with the others. She quickly left the room.
She didn't see anyone as she passed their rooms, so she hurried down the gardens, where they'd had their meals all together. Sure enough, they were all there.
"Hey, it's Ginny," cried Ryan.
Ginny smiled nervously at them, as everyone turned to look at her. She immdiately realised Harry wasn't there. " Where's Harry?" she blurted out.
Lily looked confused. " We thought he was with you. How are you feeling, dear?"
Now Ginny looked confused. " Er, fine. I need to find Harry."
Sirius stood up. " I might know where he is. Come with me," he said.
Ginny and Sirius returned to Harry's bedroom. " Sit down," ordered Sirius, pointing to the bed. He crossed his arms. " We need to talk."
Ginny gulped, nodded and sat.
/*/*/*/*
Harry stumbled as he arrived, and righted himself. He looked around, eyes widening as he took in the unique home in front of him. Yes, this was just as Ginny had described it. The Burrow, her family home.
Inside, Molly and Arthur were hosting most of their sons and their families. Bill, Fleur, Victoire, Roxeanne and baby Louis, as well as George, Katie and their twins, Gideon and Fabien. Fred was watching the store, Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes, while his wife, Angelina, watched their twins, Angelica and Felicia. Percy was working at the Ministry, but his wife Audrey was there with their daughter, Lucy, with Molly hovering over her, as she was seven months pregnant.
They all looked up curiously as Harry knocked on the open front door. "Hello?"
"Oh, my!" exclaimed Molly, looking at the stranger. "Arthur?"
Arthur, Bill and youngest son, Ron, stood protectively. " Who are you. How did you get through our wards?" asked Arthur.
"I'm Harry," he said, slightly disappointed when there was no sign of recognition. " I'm looking for Ginny."
"Are you from one of those Quidditch teams? Listen, she needs some time to weigh up her options," warned Bill.
"No, I'm not associated with any Quidditch team," said Harry.
"She said she was going to Luna's," offered George.
"Her best friend?" asked Harry.
" You know Luna?" asked Ron.
"Not yet," said Harry, grimly. " Where can I find her?"
" I better take you. Come on, we'll Floo. Hey, you never did say how you knew Ginny," noted Ron. He tossed some Floo powder down. " The Lovegood's."
" No, I didn' t, did I?" replied Harry, even though Ron weas gone. " The Lovegood's."
"And he didn't say how he got through the wards. Arthur, we'll have to strengthen them. It's supposed to just be for the family," said Molly.
Arthur patted her arm. " Bill and I will do a walk around later, testing every corner of the Burrow. Don't you worry, Mollywobbles."
Molly smiled happily at her husband. "Thank you, dear. What a handsome young man he was. I wonder how he knows our Ginny," she said.
"I'm sure we'll find out soon enough," soothed Arthur. "Once Ginny makes up her mind about which Quidditch team she'll play for."
"Wouldn't it be a great surprise if she ended up playing for the Cannons," suggested Ron, just returning through the Floo.
"That wouldn't be a surprise, it would be a miracle," teased George.
"Was Luna home, dear?" asked Molly.
Ron nodded. "She didn't seem surprised to see this Harry bloke." He began compiling a gigantic sandwich.
"Well if Luna knows him, then I'm not worried," said Molly, in a satisfactory tone. She knew Luna and Ginny were as close as sisters, having grown up together; one girl motherless, one, an only girl after six brothers. Each had found something vital in the other, a connection of sisterhood. Time and distance hadn't shattered their bond, a true indication of a strong friendship.
"Funny though, he didnt seem to know Luna,"noted Ron, then took a huge bite out of the sandwich.
"Well then, the surprise is on him," chuckled George, not unkindly. As Ginny's best friend and neighbour, Luna was considered an honorary sister amongst the Weasley brothers.
Ron nodded and swallowed with some difficulty. "When I left she was pulling flibbertygibbets out of his hair. Why do you think I returned so quickly? And what the hell is a flibbertygibbet?"
"Language, Ronald," scolded Molly, looking at her beloved grandchildren. They grinned at Uncle Ron being told off by their gran.
"If I know Luna, it's probably something like a Nargle," teased George.
"What's a Nargle?" asked Victoire, seven.
"Ask Aunty Luna," chorused George, Bill and Ron.
/*/*/*/*
Ginny was sitting at the table, quietly shredding her sandwich and completely unaware of the concerned looks she was getting from most of Harry's family.
"Ginny dear, are you sure there isn't anything I can get for you?" asked Lily, for the third time.
Ginny shook her head. "No, thank you. I just really need to see Harry."
Lily sighed. "I can't imagine where he'd be. James, Hermione, are you sure he never said anything to you? Sirius?"
James and Hermione shook their heads adamantly, and Lily's attention turned to Sirius. She frowned when he wouldn' t meet her eyes. "Sirius?" she repeated.
Sirius and Ginny exchanged looks. Ginny stood. "Actually, I wanted to -"
POP Harry stumbled as he Apparated to the gardens. He steadied himself, then looked around, his face relieved to see Ginny there, as Luna said she would be. "Ginny!"
Ginny looked over. "Harry? Oh, Harry." She began to run to him, and he to her.
She jumped into his arms and hugged him tight. He hugged her back, not wanting to ever let her go. Pulling back, they looked at each other, then kissed, breaking apart to speak, then kiss again.
"I'm sorry, I know I should have-" kiss
"No, it was me, I-" kiss
"Where were you, I was worried." kiss
" I came back here to find you. I don't want a divorce, I never did." kiss
"Divorce," gasped Lily. "Wha-" She and James exchanged worried looks.
"We're not divorced, I never signed the papers." kiss
"Thank Merlin." kiss "Will you forgive me for what I said to you? kiss
"There's nothing to forgive." kiss "I love you." kiss
"I love you, too." kiss – for a really long time.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake, will you two please explain what is going on," cried Hermione.
"Say Ginny, when you get off my brother's face, do you think we can go for a fly? I've been wanting to -"
"Not now, Ryan," sighed Lily. She turned back to her eldest son, who lowered Ginny to the ground, but kept his arm around her.
"Sorry Mum, Dad, everybody. We, Ginny and I, just had a misunderstanding, that's all. We're good now,"said Harry, easily.
"That's it?" cried Hermione. "You finally come out of your room, both of you, after days, and that's it? That's all we get – a misunderstanding? Well, I - I call...bullshit!"
Rupert gasped as Hermione swore, and she even looked surprised herself, her hand covering her mouth. Tonks chortled, and Selena tried to hide a smile.
Ginny shot Harry a curious look, but then Hope Lupin said "bullshit," and everyone gasped or laughed.
Hermione looked horrified. "Tonks, Remus, I'm so sorry," she said. She turned to her goddaughter. "No, Hope, it's a bad word."
"Bull shit, bull shit," chanted Hope, making Teddy and Ryan howl with laughter. This only made Hermione more upset.
A piercing whistle made everybody stop and look around. Ginny took her two fingers out of her mouth. "Sorry," she shrugged, when everyone realised it was her who had whistled loudly. "This is all my fault. Please, sit, let me explain," she pleaded.
Slowly, everyone sat, even Harry. Ginny took a deep breath. "Ever since I first flew on a broom, I knew I wanted to play Quidditch. I never thought about anything else, till I met Harry in Las Vegas. Yes, I know we did a stupid thing, getting married while we were drunk, but I can tell you were not drunk the rest of the week we spent together." She looked at Harry and her smile softened. "Best week of my life."
"Bull shit," announced Hope, and Ryan snorted.
"Bull frog," corrected Tonks.
"Bull frog, bull frog," chanted Hope.
"Much better," nodded Remus. Hermione still looked stricken as she nodded at Hope.
"We both knew we had to be apart for the rest of the year," continued Ginny, " and, like we told Lily and James, if we could have met up, we would have, but fate didn't let it happen."
"Harry had written that you were all meeting here. I came as soon as I could after all the World Cup hoopla. I knew you all, straight away. Harry had told me a lot about all of you, well, most of you." She said the last to Rupert and Selena.
She turned to Harry. "I should have explained I was waiting to hear of any trade offers. I should have mentioned the Harpies were the main ones I was waiting to hear from. I've wanted to play with them since I was a little girl."
"But you can't. The Harpies don't allow married players on their team," blurted out Ryan.
Everyone looked to Ginny, who nodded.
"So you asked Harry for a divorce? Just to play some silly game on a broomstick?" cried Hermione.
"Hey," protested Ginny, Harry and Ryan in unison.
"No," denied Ginny, shaking her head. "That was all my manager's idea. I had talked to him, told him where to send my offers, even though I knew I couldn't accept the Harpies offer because I was married. He was the one to draw up the divorce papers; he knew the Harpies offer was everything I wanted. What I thought I wanted," she amended at the end, looking at Harry.
He sighed, reaching for her and drawing her into his arms, between his legs. "And then I completely overreacted, signed the bloody papers and told you to leave."
"I understood you were angry and hurt," she said gently, placing her hands on his shoulders.
"I should have let you explain, instead I lost my temper. I'm sorry, Gin," he said.
She tilted his head up so she could lean down and kiss him softly. "You came after me?" she asked, hopefully.
He nodded. "Seems this one" – he gestured to Sirius – "booted me up my" – he looked at Hope, then spelled out "b-u-m, and told me to go after you. Thanks, Sirius, I owe you," he said gratefully.
Sirius put his arm around Selena. "I think we're even, Harry."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Anyway, I went to Wales, burst in on Gwenog Jones herself and -"
"You met THE Gwenog Jones? No way!" cried Ryan.
"Ryan, shut it," cried Lily, James and Hermione. He scowled and shut up.
"- told her what she could do with her stupid stance that Harpy players can't be married," continued Harry.
Ginny gasped. "You didn't?"
Harry nodded. "I did. Er, she just thinks I want to marry you. I may have forgotten to mention we're already married. We are still married, right?"
Ginny laughed so hard she was almost crying as she nodded "Oh, Harry," she said, hugging him.
He hugged her back. "Then I went to the Burrow. I met your parents and, well, lots of other people, I'm not exactly sure who was who, oh, except for Ron. He took me to Luna's."
"You met Luna?" cried Ginny, happily.
Harry nodded. "She certainly is...unique. I liked her."
" I knew you would," said Ginny, twisting to sit in his lap. He folded his arms around her middle, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"Who is Luna?" asked James.
"You can't explain Luna, you have to meet her...and you will," Ginny told her father in law. She turned back to Harry. " Now, what did Luna say?"
"Well, once she had cleared the flibbertygibbet's from my hair, she-"
"What? There's no such thing," cried Hermione.
"She set me right and told me where to find you...and here I am. Hoping for a second chance, hoping you'll forgive me, hoping you still want to be my wife."
Ginny nodded. "Yes please...and I told you, there's nothing to forgive. I love you, and that's more important than me playing for the Harpies, or any side this year."
"What do you mean?" asked Tonks.
"I plan to return with Harry to the States while he finishes his exchange program, then we'll come home to England and I'll try out next year. We have to find a home and get settled," decided Ginny.
"Miss out a whole year of Quidditch... because of Harry?" gasped Ryan, as if the idea was absurd.
"Ginny, no, you can't," insisted Harry.
"I can, and I will. We've been apart for too long already," said a decisive Ginny. " We need time to get to know each other properly, to live together.
"Gwenog asked me to tell you not to sign anything with anybody, that she was going to speak to the Harpy people, whoever that is, to see what she could do. There might still be a chance you could play for them," he said hopefully.
Ginny shrugged. "It doesn't matter. What matters is that I'm here, with you, my husband, and I'm not leaving you any time soon. I love you, and" – she looked at the family, her family now – "I'm sorry for all the worry I've put you through."
Lily and James were hugging them both withing seconds. "It's fine, dear. We're happy you and Harry were able to work this out, aren't we, James?"
James nodded, patting Harry's back. "Well, we had some help," grinned Harry at Sirius.
"Yes, thank you," said Ginny softly.
"And thank you, Luna, wherever you are," called out Harry.
Ginny laughed as she accepted hugs from Selena, James and Hermione.
Lily hugged Harry. "So does this mean everything is fine with Ginny's cycle, dear. There won't be any problem having grandchildren...down the track, of course. Hmmm?" she asked.
"Mum! No, I just told you that so you wouldn't realise anything was wrong, that Ginny had left," confided Harry, glancing up to see Ginny hugging Tonks and repeating to Hope, "bull frog, bull frog."
James, Sirius and Remus watched over the family as some semblance of normal returned. " Well, that was quite the surprise," announced Remus.
"Tell me about it," quipped James. " Just be thankful your two kids aren't at this age yet."
Remus agreed with a nod, while Sirius merely chuckled.
A/N credit to a line from Epeefencer; he knows which one! LOL Epilogue to come.