AN: To anyone who's read my previous stories I'm going to TRY TRY TRY to be better about updating in a timely fashion!

Hope you enjoy. R&R

Chapter two.

Ginny walked into her office building feeling not feeling any more at ease with leaving Zoe. She'd already stopped herself from calling the day care four times and that was just on the walk to her office. Ginny greeted some people in the hallway and continued on to her office. After Hogwarts she'd gone into training to be an unspeakable which was like the magical version of MI6 or the CIA of the US. It had been a brilliant time for her. Training lasted only a year and then she was off on missions, gathering information on death eaters a group of pure blooded wizards who thought muggle's and muggle bones were inferior. For a brief time Tom Riddle who used the alias Voldemort was creating a bit of a stir. He was by far the most powerful of the death eaters. He'd begun to start the process of making horsecrouts (no idea if that's spelled correctly) he'd made three. Ginny had found them all and destroyed them and after a team of aurrors lead by someone who's name Ginny couldn't remember had assassinated him. Ginny wished she could have been a part of that mission but it was extremely rare for the two groups to work together. There was no hostility but it was safer for the unspeakable's not to compromise their covers.

After the accident Ginny had quit. When Luna and Neville had asked her to be Zoe's godmother and to take care of the child should anything ever happen to them they all agreed that that would be the best course of action. At the time Luna had been extremely grateful that her sister was willing to do that. Ginny often wondered if Luna had known something back then. It hadn't been any sacrifice. Neville's grandmother while she was a wonderful woman was getting up there in age and could barely handle Zoe for an afternoon let alone 18 years. Ginny loved Zoe more than anything so she'd been happy to give up the job she adored in favour of the niece who owned her heart. She'd taken a position at the MDD (Magical Development Department) developing new spells, curses, and enchantments designed to help aurrors and unspeakable's defences. Currently, she was working on a spell that would allow an operative to become invisible for an set amount of time, right now she could get it for a half hour but she didn't want to release it until it could last at least three hours. Invisibility cloaks do exist but they are extremely rare with only two in existence and this spell would be more practical for operative use. Ginny loved her job and she had Friday's off which was great because it gave her more time to spend with Zoe.

Gwen, Ginny's assistant popped into her office with a latte and a smile. "How was it?" She asked handing Ginny the drink.

"As expected she was great; I was a wreck." Ginny sighed. "I just wish there was some way I could take her here with me."

"Well knowing Zoe she'd get her hands on one of the new potions and shrink to the size of an aunt for a month." Gwen laughed.

"God that does sound like something she'd do. What am I in for when she's a teenager?"

"I'll pray for you." Gwen said.

"Alright, well enough sulking for now. Did you get the reports on last month's binding spell yet?"

"Yes, the aurrors have tested it in their classes and it hasn't had any negative side effects yet. The unspeakable's report the same."

"Good. Looks like the kinks were worked out. Tell them to use it with caution for another month and then they should be in the clear. Any questions can be directed to me directly."

"Sounds good."

"Great. I'll be in the lab for the most of the day. I need to figure out why I can't make this spell last more than a half hour."

Ginny spent the most of the day in the lab tweaking the spell. By the end of the day she' managed to make it last 45 minutes and felt she was making good progress. She took a break to have lunch with Hermione and Ron. She'd known them in school. They'd both been a year older than her and had been dating since third year. She was the maid of honour at their wedding last year. Zoe had been the flower girl and loved wearing the fluffy white dress that Ron's mother had picked out for her. She'd always liked Ron's family and she'd been fast friends with both Ron and Hermione. They often urged her to let them set her up but she always politely refused. Before the accident she'd been a fairly active dater. She'd had two serious boyfriends in Hogwarts and one after. But she enjoyed her job and freedom too much to settle down. She always thought that she'd start looking for the right man around the age she was now 25. But fate had other plans. She was content focusing on her beautiful niece.
It was the start of December and Ginny had told Zoe they could pick out a Christmas tree after dinner tonight. She left work a bit early to get Zoe and make sure everything had gone well. Ellie had sent pictures as she promised she would with messages like "settling in nicely." And "Everything's great here!" but Ginny still worried.

Ginny walked into the building and chatted with Ellie for a moment. It seemed like Zoe had been well behaved and had made a few new friends. It seems she and another girl names Lilly Potter had been glued together since Ginny left. Ginny was relieved that Zoe was making friends.
"AUNTIE!" Zoe boomed as she ran full force toward Ginny. The tall redhead scooped the little blond into her arms and hugged her close.

"My little love! Did you have a good day?"
"Yes auntie, I met a lot of new friends. But Lilly is my best friend she is nice and fun and tells silly jokes so she is my best friend!"

"That's great darling! Now I believe I promised a Christmas tree after dinner so why don't we go eat and you can tell me all about today and then we can go pick out the perfect tree."

"Oh yes auntie! I would love that! Can we get Chinese?"
"Naturally," Ginny replied and carried the little witch out of the day-care as she said goodbye to Ellie.

The two got into their car (Ginny didn't like flooing with Zoe because the soot tended to make the young girl sneeze and apparating could be harmful to children under the age of 12. On the way Zoe talked about her day and all her new friends with the main focus being on Lilly.

"Lilly says that her daddy takes her to ride hipogriphs. Can we do that too?"

"Sure love."

"Lilly knows so many funny jokes. Knock knock…" "Lilly can fit three grapes up her nose." "Lilly can spin for ten minutes before she falls down. The same as me! Can you believe it?"

"That's nice pet." Ginny replied gently. She was thrilled that Zoe had made such a good friend. She wanted to hug Lilly the next time she took Zoe in. Maybe they could plan a playdate…or a slumber party…

Dinner continued in the same fashion and Ginny was truly engaged in what Zoe was saying. The only time the constant chatter about her school, and all the cool toys, and the kids and most of all Lilly stop was when they finished dinner and Ginny told her they were going to get a tree now.

They pulled up to the muggle lot and Zoe bounced up and down in her seat with excitement. Ginny opened the door for her and Zoe dragged Ginny behind her running towards where all the trees were. They'd been looking around for about ten minutes with Zoe nixing tree's for being too gloomy or too tall or too green when out of nowhere they heard someone shout.

"ZOE!" Ginny and Zoe turned to see a little girl with black hair running towards them with two men and a woman running behind her laughing.

"LILLY!" Zoe took off towards the girl. Ahh makes sense thought Ginny as she shuffled after Zoe. When the two met in the middle of all the trees they threw their arms around each other like they'd been apart for years instead of hours. The sight made Ginny smile and remember how she and Luna greeted each other when they'd been young.

"Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa, this is Zoe my new best friend!" Lilly exclaimed.

"Hello, Zoe it's very nice to meet you. My name is also Lilly I'm little Lilly's grandmother, this is James her grandfather and this is Harry our son and Lilly's daddy. Is this your mommy?" The older woman asked kindly.

Ginny cringed it was no one's fault but she felt badly for what was about to happen and how Lilly's grandmother was about to feel when Zoe said.

"No my mommy and daddy are dead. This is my Auntie Ginny she's my family." Ginny had seen the look that flashed across the faces of the Potters (minus Little Lilly who seemed oblivious) a thousand times. They all looked guilty but they had no reason too. Ginny would have asked the same question to Lilly but whenever someone found out that Zoe's parents were dead they felt like they should have known and not asked. It was sweet but unnecessary.

"Oh, I…I'm so sorry." The older Lilly looked between Ginny and Zoe.

"It's ok big Lilly, don't be sad. The ones that love us never really leave us. We keep them in our hearts" Zoe said. "Right auntie?"

Ginny smiled down at the little girl. "That's right pet." She said running her hands through her hair. A moment later the awkwardness was over.

"Can Lilly and I look at trees together, auntie?"

"I suppose if it's ok with the Potters it's ok with me."

"Of course, you girls go find the best two trees in the place." Harry said.

"Make that three, your gran and I need one as well, love." James added to Lilly.

The two girls bustled and down the rows of trees looking for the best ones. Lilly turned to Ginny.

"Really, I'm so very sorry, I shouldn't have…"

"It's quite alright really, it happens all the time. You had no way of knowing and it doesn't upset her to talk about them. Please don't feel badly."

"Well alright then." Lilly smiled slightly.

"I haven't properly introduced myself. I'm Ginny, Ginny Lovegood." She said shaking each Potter's hand. She noted how much like his father Harry looked, same hair and build, but he had his mother's striking green eyes. The young Lilly looked like a carbon copy of Harry with his hair, nose, lips and eyes. She noted that he was quite attractive. He was muscular but not too much so, and tall which she loved. She herself was 5'8 and he had about three inches on her.

"It's nice to meet you. Lilly hasn't talked about anything other than Zoe since we picked her up today. I'm surprised she didn't try to smuggle your niece out in her backpack." Harry joked.

"Oh it's been quite the same here and may I say that I find it extremely impressive that Lilly can fit three whole grapes up her nose."

James smiled proudly "I taught her that!" Lilly and Harry both rolled her eyes.

"We're both so grateful dad." Harry said. They all laughed. They enjoyed their time talking and found a nice banter until the two girls came back with a salesman saying they found the trees for them. After they were all loaded into the car's Zoe asked if Lilly could come over for hot chocolate. Everyone agreed that it was too late tonight but they agreed on a playdate the next day since it was Friday and both Harry and Ginny had the day off of work.

AN: And that's chapter two. Hope you like it so far. I don't know how fast/slow I'm going to move the Harry/Ginny relationship but I wanted them to meet right away. Please Read and Review. I'm always up for constructive criticism so please if you don't like it tell me how you think it could be better. And if you have ideas please let me know. I'm always open to suggestion but might not always take you up on them. Until next time!