I was happy. I was in love. Life was good. I loved teaching and although I had made mistakes, I had a great mentor in Hermione. She had a nasty habit of auditing my class under Harry's cloak and then springing the results on me. She was quite large now and baby day was not far off. February slipped into March. Neville and I took over her classes. She was in her apartment, moping around and getting more impatient by the day. Even though it was a long time ago, I could remember feeling just the same way. It was 11pm on the last Friday of the month when Harry pounded on my door. It's started Ginny. I got dressed, all the while being berated by Harry for being so slow. Men!
Hermione had elected to deliver in the hospital wing instead of going to St. Mungo's. Poppy was perfectly capable of delivering a baby. We got Hermione settled in and waited… and waited, Harry becoming ever more agitated. Three hours passed. What's taking her so long? He asked. Men!
At 10pm that Saturday night he was by her side and I was standing at the end of the bed when Lily Jean Potter came into the world. My God, what a moment. I couldn't believe that I had done that once. Andy had wanted to watch the birth but I said no. I thought the sight of Hermione screaming her brains out and a little person squeezing out of a big one, would put her right off. 'Ne and I had tears in our eyes but Harry was bawling. Men!
Harry cut the cord; Poppy cleaned the baby, checked her over, seven pounds four ounces, and all the bits where they should be. I took the opportunity to kiss and hug the new Mum. Poppy gave Lily to her parents. She had Harry's black hair, already with the 'sticky-up' bit at back. Her eyes she got from her Mum. That was when I started to bawl. They looked so happy. This was the moment I never got to have. Mummy, with baby in her arms, and Daddy. Bloody men!
I snapped a photo of the enlarged family on Harry's muggle camera. These were for Hermione's Mum and Dad. A close up of Lily came next and then one with Mummy, another with Daddy. I hadn't seen Hermione smile so much since the morning after she lost her virginity, she had been smiling then, but looked totally knackered. Just like now. We would have to wrap this up soon so she could feed Lily and get some sleep.
The door opened. Andromeda poked her head round, asking permission to come in. At the bedside she gazed at the newcomer. "Oh, Aunty 'Ne, she is so beautiful. Did it hurt much?"
"I never felt a thing." Harry jumped in before Hermione could reply. Andy looked puzzled, I giggled and Hermione looked as though Harry had just been added to her 'to kill' list. Men!
"Okay Brat, would you like to hold her?" Andy looked at me. Go ahead, I told her. She took the bundle as though she did it every day.
Andy stroked Lily's cheek "Mum, I want one."
"You'll have to wait a few years, Andy. You're far too young."
"I know that, silly, but you and Marcus aren't, are you? How about it?" Will this child ever stop making me blush? I mean, we haven't even… oh, never mind.
"Yeah, Ginny, how about it?" Harry was not having a good day, now he was on my list as well.
By the next weekend Mother and baby were back in their apartment. For them, Sleep deprivation had become the norm. Between us, Harry and I made sure that when Lily slept, Hermione slept. For me, I had dinner with Marcus to look forward to. Andy would spend the evening 'helping' Hermione. Harry had hinted that if I wasn't home by 11pm Andy would stay with them for the night. So I needn't rush home on her account.
Marcus arrived at lunchtime. He was introduced to Lily Potter; he looked wonderful holding a child in his arms. How much better it would be if it were my child, I thought. Later, in our apartment he told us to sit down. He had a question to ask. He went to the bathroom first. Andy was convinced that he was going to propose to me. Just for once I hoped she was right. His first question concerned our plans for the summer. We would have a holiday but no plans had been made yet, we told him. Would we like to spend the summer with him in Moose Bend? Andy leapt up and hugged him.
"Mum, if you don't want to go, can I?" Andy was pleading, almost begging.
So, it looked like my decision was made for me, we would spend the summer in Canada. Given half a chance, Andy would have started packing there and then.
Marcus and I walked into Hogsmeade to eat. Rosmerta greeted us as we took what had become 'our' table. "Marcus, I didn't know if you wanted your room tonight, you didn't let me know, but it's all ready if you do." He thanked her and we ordered dinner. We talked of Lily, the trip to Canada and other things that I can't remember. Marcus insisted that we would fly to Canada muggle style. He loved flying. We took our time and it was 11pm before we ordered coffee.
"Ginny, you know I love you, right?"
"Yeah, I do, Marcus. I love you too." I noticed he suddenly seemed ill-at-ease. For some reason my heart beat a little faster.
"Well… er, would you, maybe… consider staying tonight." I reached over and covered his hand with mine, easiest decision I had made for years.
"I was beginning to think you would never ask. Of course I will."
In his room my eagerness dissipated somewhat. Nerves started to kick in. In our embrace I heard myself whisper "Marcus, it's been a very long time for me. I…"
"Its okay, Ginny, I understand. It will be fine, don't worry."
He was right. It was fine, more than fine. Especially the second time. I had forgotten how wonderful it felt to wake up wrapped in the arms of someone you love. My eyes opened, but I didn't move. My head was on his chest and I could hear the soft thuds of the relaxed heartbeat of someone sleeping. I didn't want to move but sadly I had to pee. I held on as long as I could but eventually of course, I had to move. I came out of the bathroom, Marcus was awake and, as I got back into bed, I apologised for disturbing him. He glanced at the clock. It was almost eleven. "We should think about getting you home. Andy will be wondering where you are."
"I think she knows exactly where I've been, and probably what I've been doing as well. Tell me," I whispered, as I slipped my hand into his shorts, "In Canada, do you have such a thing as a 'good morning quickie'?" They do, so we did. I think I could safely say that I had been 'seen to', good and proper.
Our apartment was deserted when we got back. Harry let us in to their place where we found Andy in the bedroom watching Hermione feeding Lily. The sight of Hermione with her baby sucking on her body seemed to fascinate Andy. So much so that when I said hello she didn't shift her gaze at all. A simple Hi Mum, Hi Marcus, was her only response. Marcus had in fact left the room as soon as he realised what Hermione was doing. Andy moaned when I asked her to leave so I could talk to Hermione.
"You didn't come home last night, did you?" she asked. "Where were you?"
Who is she? My Mother?
"I, um, I heard a rumour that you thought I was in dire need of a good seeing to. Well don't worry anymore. I've been seen to. And very well seen to, I might add."
"Marcus?"
"No, Voldemort! Of course Marcus. I do hope that's not 'stupid milk' you're feeding her."
"So, are you okay, Gin?"
"I'm fine 'Ne, really, really fine."
From then on Marcus started staying with us at weekends. As I said, life was good.
At the end of June when Lily was a delightful three months old, we set off for Canada. After a seven hour flight we landed in Calgary. We collected our luggage onto a trolley and followed Marcus. He led us to a single storey building marked as 'General Aviation'. A little mystified we followed him in, and he started to speak to the man behind the counter. Another man came and took our luggage away. Fifteen minutes later Marcus led us out of a door to find a twin engined light aircraft a short distance away. I finally asked Marcus what we were doing. "Going home." He replied.
"In this thing?"
"Yes, and it's not a thing, it's an aircraft. Your luggage is already stowed, so just get in and we'll be off."
"So where is the driver?"
"Driver? You mean pilot and er… that would be me."
"YOU!"
"Yes Ginny, me! I can fly this 'thing' as you call it. I've got a licence and everything. Now, Andy you'll sit in the back and moaning Minnie here will sit beside me." Andy protested. She wanted to sit in the front. Marcus explained why she couldn't, something about balance that I didn't understand a word of. Marcus got her on board and strapped in, with a set of headphones and a microphone on her head. "Don't fret, kiddo, I'll take you flying while you are here and we can leave Minnie on the ground, okay?"
Shortly thereafter he climbed in beside me and started the engines. I relaxed a little; he seemed to know what he was doing. He talked to someone on the radio and we began to move. On the runway we stopped. Marcus was talking to himself as he checked dials and switches. He pushed two levers forward. "Flaps" whatever they were "set. Take off power set." The engines roared, the front of the plane dipped, "T's and P's are good. Okay here we go." He released the brakes and we began to move again. I found out later that T's and P's meant temperatures and pressures.
While flying Marcus showed me how to read the altimeter so I knew we were at 3500 feet. An hour after we took off I watched the altimeter begin to unwind as we descended. We landed shortly after on a strip of concrete barely wider than the plane. Andy had been quiet during the trip, gazing in fascination at the patchwork of fields and small towns passing below. Although we were tired, Andy and I were excited, as we stood on Canadian soil, ready for the holiday of our lifetimes so far.
A dark blue SUV screeched to a halt about fifty feet away. A tall dark haired girl in a thick tartan shirt and black jeans; jumped from the driver's seat and rushed to embrace Marcus. From the other side of the car another girl, only slightly bigger than Andy, followed the first girl's example. They were kissing and hugging him. To say I was curious would be an understatement.
Marcus eventually freed himself and introduced us. "Ginny, Andy, I'd like you to meet my little sister Maggie and her daughter Bereniece. Maggie, Bernie, this Ginevra and her girl Andromeda or Andy as we call her."
Over the next six weeks Andy and I were introduced to a world and a life that we could never have imagined. We learned to ride horses, on which Andy immediately felt right at home. I was less comfortable but still found the experience enjoyable and rewarding. Bernie and Andy spent days together roaming a nearby forest with Bernie teaching Andy the art of survival in the inhospitable surroundings. As promised Marcus took Andy and Bernie flying about a dozen times. It gave me a chance to get to know Maggie better. When she took me shopping at the local mall, 'local' turned out to be about forty miles away. She and Marcus jointly owned the ranch where Maggie ran a small horse breeding business. She took care of the business and the ranch while Marcus was away. Like Marcus there were a lot of things she preferred to do the Muggle way. She relished the feeling of accomplishing something by your own efforts.
Maggie and I became good friends although sometimes I had the feeling that I was being assessed as a suitable significant other for Marcus. I wasn't too worried because I could not imagine that Marcus would allow his life decisions to be influenced to such a large degree by his little sister.
Maggie's approval became a moot point one day when Marcus sat me on a horse, mounted his own and led me into the forest. We rode for about four hours before we stopped for refreshments for ourselves and the horses. The animals drank from a small stream while Marcus and I drank bottled water and ate roast beef sandwiches.
Finally my curiosity got the better of me. "So where are you taking me?" I asked.
"I thought you might like a night out." Came the laconic reply.
"A night out? Where? I don't think there are any restaurants or nightclubs around here."
"No, no restaurants or nightclubs, Ginny. Just you and me and a small cabin by a lake. I assumed that would be alright with you."
"Sounds divine, Marcus, how much further have we to go."
"We should be there about an hour before sundown"
As midnight turned I lay beside Marcus on a lush bed of grass outside the cabin. The night air was warm and stars crowded the dark sky. We had dined on fish that he had caught in the lake and two bottles of wine that he had brought along. I was full and content; my only complaint was a sore backside from almost five and a half hours on horseback. We lay and gazed at the stars together, his arm around my shoulders.
We had talked about our childhoods and adolescence. Marcus had an idyllic youth compared to mine, growing up on the family ranch with the wonders of nature all around. I was beginning to think of the large bed in the cabin, thinking of cuddling under the sheets while drifting slowly into a deep, relaxing sleep. I was about to suggest it to Marcus when he spoke.
"Are you OK Ginny?"
"I'm fine, my love. More than fine, I feel wonderful."
"Can I ask you something?
"Anything you like, you know that."
"OK, well what I want to ask erm… will… oh hell Ginny, I love you, will you marry me?" Just then a shooting star flashed across the sky. It had to be an omen, but I didn't need an omen.
"I love you too, Marcus. Yes I'll marry you. You've made me so very happy."
"You don't need to check with Andy?"
"No need for that, she loves you too. She's been waiting ages for you to ask me. She'll be ecstatic, believe me."
Marcus raised himself on one elbow and leaned over me. We then sealed the deal with the sweetest of kisses. The rest of the night was truly magical, but not the sort of magic that you learn at Hogwarts.
The day before we were due to return home, I went flying with Andy and Marcus. This time I was in the back seat while Andy sat next to Marcus. We flew over the lake where Marcus and I had spent a wonderful night. We were cruising along when Marcus suddenly turned to Andy and said,
"Andy, I don't feel well. Take the controls please."
"OK Marcus, I have control." She put her hands confidently on the controls, the plane continued on as though nothing had happened. As though the person flying the plane was not a nine year old girl. The plane may not have panicked but I sure as hell did. I shouted,
"Marcus, what's the matter with you, are you going to be able to land this thing."
"Relax Mum, I can do that. Marcus showed me how." Andy said calmly. Marcus was sitting with his head forward, chin on his chest and eyes closed. He made no response to my shouts.
"I don't care Andy; you are NOT landing this aeroplane."
"Well if you won't let me do it and Marcus can't; I guess you'll have to do it. Although how you're going to do it from back there I don't know." Just then I noticed that Marcus' shoulders were moving. He… he… the bastard was laughing. Finally he cracked up into a full laugh. As did Andy.
"Gotcha Mum. Gotcha good."
Marcus spoke, "Well done Andy, let's head home. Steer 195 degrees." Her hands moved the controls and the plane smoothly turned right. She flew all the way back to the ranch only handing control back to Marcus two minutes before we landed.
Maggie met us when we stopped. She went directly to Andy "Did it work?" Andy couldn't suppress a huge grin.
"It worked a treat, Maggie, it was golden" Maggie turned to me,
"Were you scared Ginny?
"You'll have to excuse me, Maggie; I have to go change my knickers. I'll deal with this pair later." I rushed off towards the house. Yes I had been very scared but thankfully my underwear didn't need replacing. I would kill those two when I got them alone.
I came gingerly down the stairs from the Gryffindor dorms into the common room. All eyes turned to admire the bridal dress that I was wearing. Hermione was the first to comment. "Ginny, you look amazing; I can hardly believe it's you."
"I'll take that as a compliment, Hermione, thank you. You look lovely too." I smiled in return. She was my Matron of Honour in a pale blue full length dress. Harry was standing nearby with Lily, who was now approaching two, holding his hand. My Mum came with tears in her eyes.
"You're beautiful my darling"
"Thanks Mum." I said trying not to choke with emotion. I had been reconciled to the family thanks to the strenuous efforts of George and latterly Marcus. They had been introduced to Andy and had realised what they had been missing. She had been as forthright as ever at the first meeting and had berated her grandparents in the same manner as she had with George. Only my dad's indulgent grin had shut her up. If only I had known that shutting her up had been that simple. Now she had him wrapped around her little finger for life.
"Where's Andy?" I asked.
"She's up in her dorm, she won't be long." Angelina, George's wife, answered.
Andy was 11 and in her first year at Hogwarts. It was just a few days before Christmas and the students were on vacation leaving plenty of room for our wedding guests. There was movement on the stairs and Andromeda came into view. Her hair had been done up in curls and she looked stunning. She came to stand in front of me.
"Hi Mum."
"Hello darling, are you alright?"
"Fine Mum, but it's hard work having curly hair."
"You look wonderful Andy."
"Thanks Mum, you're not bad yourself." Great with compliments, my daughter.
"Time to go, Ginny." said Harry. "It wouldn't do to keep Marcus waiting." I wasn't going to keep him waiting but there was something I had to do first. I took Andy by the hand and went off into a relatively private corner I crouched down in front of her. "Andy you are OK with this aren't you. Me and Marcus getting married?"
"Mum I'm so happy for you, no, for us. I can't wait."
"That's good darling but there is something I have to tell you."
"What is it? You haven't changed your mind have you?"
"No darling I haven't. It's just that… well we, that is Marcus and I are going to have a baby. What do you think?" she started to jump up and down in excitement.
"You're pregnant, you're pregnant. Fantastic." Her actions announced the news to everyone else in the room and the place went mental. After a few minutes I had to remind everyone that we had a wedding to go to.
The ceremony went off perfectly and I was blissfully happy. As we left the Great Hall I spared a thought for my late husband Alec. I had loved him and I hoped he didn't mind that I had found somebody to love.
The song had been right it seems, when it said,
'Love makes only one promise,
It will find you again.'
Perhaps this time, gods be good, my happiness would last.
End.
Reviews welcome, please oblige.