AN: The Potter universe belongs to J.K. Rowling

22nd December 1999

Harry stretched as he trudged down to the study from the master bedroom of the Manor. It had been more than a year since he had lived here. This Manor was home now. His life moved with a certain rhythm. He was an Auror now, having finished his training in September. Ginny was playing for the Holyhead Harpies, and was thrilled to discover that the Manor was nearer to Holyhead. She had moved in with Harry. Molly had protested, loudly, but Ginny had told her in clear terms that as an adult she had the right to choose for herself. Harry had later assured Molly that his intentions were honourable and true to his word, he had not had sex with Ginny yet, he didn't want to break Molly's trust in him. Weekends were now divided between the Burrow and the Manor, while everyone assembled at the Burrow for a Sunday lunch, thrice a month, the fourth Sunday would be spent at the Manor. Hermione who was currently working with the Department of Control and Regulation of Magical Creatures would visit twice or thrice a week to borrow a book from the library and chat for hours with Uncle Percy who was a genius. Ron joined them on most days. He had decided against joining the Auror department and had continued with his work at George's shop and was now a partner with George. They worked well as a team, not as brilliant as the twins but well enough for them to be one of the richest wizards in Britain.

Harry greeted the portrait of Artemis and Cassiopeia Potter on his way to the study. He had become friendly with pretty much all the existing portraits. Artemis Potter had hazel eyes and wavy brown hair, apparently all Potters had wavy brown hair, the stuck at odd angles hair belonged to the Rosewoods. Cassiopeia Potter on the other hand had light blue eyes and platinum blond hair and her skin was paler than Draco Malfoy's, she looked like a formidable porcelain figure in her royal blue dress robes. Leonis, who was the oldest portrait at the Manor, had told him that the art of magical portraits was discovered in his time and thus all the other ancestors could only be found in the family tree tapestry hanging in the library. Harry yawned widely as he opened the door of the study. This was the first day of the twenty five days of necessary vacation that every ministry employee had to take at the end of the year if they had not taken any personal breaks for the entire year. He had saved his holidays for Christmas. He was now on leave till the middle of January. He greeted his parents before plopping down in his chair and pouring himself a cup of tea. This was his daily ritual; he would have tea, breakfast and dinner in the study, with his family and Ginny.

Ginny had settled in with the rest of them easily. She loved them and they adored her. "So, what are your plans for today?" Lily asked. Harry shrugged.

"Andromeda would be dropping Teddy here by 11:00 before going to the restaurant. I guess I will finish my Christmas shopping with him." Andromeda was helping Mr. Shelby with the restaurant, and was currently responsible for the Yuletide Ball that the Potters threw. Harry had been against throwing a ball but his mother, grandmother, great aunt Thea and Ginny had convinced him to continue with this one Potter family tradition. Harry had looked over the guest list, which comprised of the DA, Weasleys, Hermione, Hagrid, the professors at Hogwarts, his fellow Aurors, the Minister for Magic, remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix and some pureblood families that Potters were friendly with. The press was banned, to the relief of more than half of the guests who were all celebrated war heroes now.

"Will Ginny be joining you?"

Harry yawned widely, "Yes. Her practice ends at 12:00. She plans to have lunch with Luna and Hermione at Diagon Alley and then help me with the shopping."

"Aren't you going to Diagon Alley?"

"Merlin! No. We are going to muggle London. I don't want to make the front page again."

Sirius, James, Remus and Tonks chuckled as Lily grinned. Dorea and Charlus were probably visiting other portraits. "That was hilarious! Ginny almost gave me a run for my money, as far as acting was concerned." Sirius said.

Harry shook his head remembering that day in November.

Harry had returned home from his trip to Diagon Alley with Teddy to find a livid Ginny pacing angrily in the study.

"Ginny?" He asked, as Teddy shrieked happily and toddled over to her, "Is everything alright?"

She gave him a death glare, as she picked Teddy up in her arms. She settled Teddy in his play pen before rounding up and looking accusingly at him. "Why didn't you tell me Harry?" she seethed.

"Tell you what? Ginny I don't know what you are talking about. What is it?" He asked panicking a little; he had never seen Ginny look this angry.

"Don't lie to me, Potter. How could you do this to me?" She almost shrieked at him.

"Ginny, love" he said now panicking completely, "I swear I didn't do anything. I am not lying to you. I would never hurt you, believe me." He pleaded.

"Believe you? Believe you?" She said raising her voice "I will believe you once you explain this to me." She picked up the Evening Prophet and threw it at him. Harry caught it deftly; unfolding it he saw his picture. This was from his afternoon at Diagon Alley; this was when Teddy had started fussing a little, so Harry had thrown him in the air and caught him as Teddy shrieked with laughter. Teddy was sporting messy black hair and looked a lot like a mini Harry. The caption read

Harry Potter's missing year explained!

- Rita Skeeter

This afternoon, your correspondent found herself face to face with an old friend, Harry Potter the- boy- who- lived. Nearly all of us have wondered about the year when Harry Potter vanished from the face of this planet. It was rumoured that he was trying to find ways to bring He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named down, but your correspondent now has glaring evidence that this might not be the truth at all.

It is universally known Harry Potter was travelling with Hermione Granger and Ronald Weasley, could it be that they were trying to protect the offspring of the-boy-who-lived? Looking at the young one in Potter's arms and his resemblance to the man-who-won, one must if not but wonder what could be the relationship between the two of them. Potter was later on joined by Miss. Hermione Granger, who also looked pretty attached to the baby.

Everyone knows that Hermione Granger is currently dating Ronald Weasley proprietor of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes while Harry Potter is dating the budding Quidditch talent from Holyhead Harpies and the sister of Ronald Weasley; Ginevra Weasley.

Your correspondent has reported earlier that Miss Granger has a taste for famous men and is intelligent enough to play with their emotions without incriminating herself. Does this mean that Miss Granger has been able to play with the affections of two unsuspecting boys and escape the chains of motherhood?

Do the Weasley siblings know about the true background of the child or have Harry Potter and Hermione Granger been successful in cooking up a good enough explanation for them? Whatever the case maybe, your correspondent wishes the very best for the Weasley siblings and hopes that their hearts won't be broken by the shenanigans of Mr. Potter and Miss. Granger.

For more details on Miss Granger turn to page 4

For more details on Mister Potter refer pages 2 and 3

For more details on Ronald Weasley refer page 5

For more details on Ginevra Weasley refer the sports section.

Harry had read through the article looking nonplussed. Ginny burst out laughing, so did his grandparents, parents, Sirius, Remus, Dora and Teddy joined in with the rest of them.

"You should have seen your face!" Ginny gasped wiping tears from her eyes.

"That was not funny!" He growled.

"It was" she countered.

Harry stared mutinously at them. "Merlin Ginny! You scared the daylights out of me!"

"I know; that was the entire plan." She said gasping.

"Aren't you mad at Skeeter?" He asked after taking a calming breath and pinching the bridge of his nose.

Ginny laughed loudly, "Why would I be mad at her? This piece of shit was actually amusing. Also, Hermione and I are suing her for defamation and harassment."

Harry gaped at her.

Ginny shrugged, "Hermione sent me an owl as soon as she got the paper. She is not getting hate mail as such because people are afraid of hexing her or causing her harm in any way but she is getting a lot of angry letters. So we decided to sue the Prophet and Skeeter for spewing lies."

Harry nodded, still annoyed at Ginny for scaring him like that; Ginny grinned at him. "Stop being a big baby, in case you haven't noticed, we have to take care of your love child whose birth you have explained away."

Harry grinned at her "You will pay for that Weasley." He said mischievously.

She rolled her eyes, "Bring it on Potter."

"You forget, I am the son of a Marauder, Godson of another Marauder and Godfather of the third Marauder's son. And the Marauders were the Gods of pranking."

"And you forget that I was raised by Fred and George Weasley who drove Zonko's out of business."

That had led on to a prank war that had lasted a week. Harry and Ginny called it quits when Ginny had to play the final game of the season with purple skin that won't fade for a week and Harry had to go to work, looking like a drag queen with everlasting make up which would take three days to wear off. Harry grinned at that memory. He was however pulled out of his thoughts when he heard a soft knock at his door before Ginny's head peeped in. She grinned at him, shoving the door open with one arm, as she carried Teddy in her other arm.

"Hey. I thought you had practice till 12." Harry said getting up to meet Teddy, who had slid down Ginny's arm and toddled up to Harry as soon as he saw Harry. Harry swung Teddy up in his arms, who screamed with happiness before giggling as Harry nuzzled Teddy.

"I did." Ginny said, walking to the desk to dump her bag as well as Teddy's bag on it. "But all of us kind of protested. It's the holiday season, for heaven's sake! Who practices Quidditch on Christmas?"

"He did." Sirius, Remus and Lily said simultaneously pointing at James, while James exclaimed, "I did!" Ginny rolled her eyes.

"Well, of course you did. You are crazy about Quidditch. You declared that you loved me a little more than you love that nutter over there," Ginny said pointing at Harry; who stuck his tongue out at her "just because I chose to play professional Quidditch as a chaser." Ginny grinned cheekily at Harry who rolled his eyes.

"Say what you want, Gin. Everybody loves the Chosen One." Harry said with a cheeky smile.

"So, now you are the Chosen One?" Ginny asked arching an eyebrow.

Harry grinned at her, "As long as I can use it to prove my point."

Ginny rolled her eyes before smacking his arm. Teddy being the monkey that he was copied Ginny and smacked Harry's cheek before screaming with glee.

"You are making this kid violent." Harry muttered, glaring at Teddy who was giving him a toothy smile. Ginny ruffled Teddy's black messy hair, before pecking Harry on his cheek and walking towards the door. "I am going for a shower and then I think I will head out to Diagon Alley, meet the girls a little earlier and spend some quality time with them. Merlin knows I need some girl bonding time." She said before leaving.

AN: So, another two chapters. You know what to do. Read and Review. Let me warn you though, there are no plot twists of any sort, from now I would try and restrict it to moments and days. Important ones. Happy Reading people.