A glimpse into a typical Friday for Harry and Ginny, from dawn to Chess Club.
Song: Cold Coffee by Ed Sheeran
Harry: So, what did he say?
Ginny: PT once every two weeks to maintain, back for a check in 6 months
Harry: What about sports?
Ginny: Always with a brace, maybe in a year
Harry: Do I need to call?
Ginny: He wrote you a letter
Harry: Why?
Ginny: I don't think he trusts me
Harry: When it comes to you and competition, neither do I
Harry looked down at his mobile and smiled. His wife was grumbling about her restrictions. He was happy to enforce them. He was going to be calling the doctor when his shift ended to make sure that everything was perfect.
Ginny did not like being told what she could and could not do. The last couple of months had been hard on both of them. He hated to see her struggling and in pain. Rehab after her surgery had been difficult and draining for both of them. Ginny being grumpy was a good thing. She was starting to feel better and had been given permission to walk without cane or crutches two weeks ago.
Now all he had to do was keep her from overdoing. Once she started walking without pain, she was hard to keep still. He knew she had to go back to work before he could see her. Maybe the girls could help her feel better about everything tonight. Chess Club had gotten more interesting lately.
Hermione: So?
Ginny: What?
Luna: Your appointment today?
Daphne: Next set of orders?
Ginny: PT once every 2 weeks for maintenance and return to office in 6 months for final check
Hermione: and no football for …
Luna: EVER…we are not doing this again
Daphne: You know that will not work.
Hermione: She likes to compete too much
Ginny: A brace if I ever play again, no games for at least 6 months if not a year
Hermione: I agree
Luna: Second
Daphne: Third!
Ginny: Coffee tonight?
Luna: Is it Friday?
Daphne: Ask me after my kids test and it may be wine instead
Hermione: Yes, it's Friday
Ginny: And your kids are going to do fine…Coffee at 6
Ginny was trying to not walk with a limp. She was happy to be cleared for most things, but Harry was still going to worry. He had been hovering around every time she tried to walk anywhere. Maybe now, that she had a note from her doctor saying everything was working the way it was supposed to, he would let her do some things for herself.
It had been a fight to go to work a week after her surgery. He had escorted her to her desk, helped her arrange her leg in a comfortable position and tried to spend the day sitting with her. She resorted to messaging her brother when Harry went to get lunch. Ron had come to her rescue by insisting that since Harry was not working at his office he could come with him to the shop to try out one of George's inventions. He had gotten better about worrying since then. but she knew better than to expect him to stop. It is what made him a good detective and an amazing man. But, it also made him a hovering husband.
She needed to get back to work so she could clear the features that had piled up during her medical leave. Physical therapy and doctor's appointments meant she had only truly been working part time over the last few months. She had promised herself that she would not be at her desk after 5 pm on any Friday. Chess Club had become an important part of both of their lives. Harry was more relaxed after playing and she was writing something other than newspaper articles and feature pieces. Not that she was sharing her stories with anyone other than the girls right now. Fanfiction was for fun, not for her brothers to EVER see.
Harry: Dr cleared her today
Ron: To play?
Harry: Thank god, NO. Just to walk without support and to go back to work full time
Ron: Will she get cleared to play?
Harry: If she does what he says, in about 6 months, with a brace
Ron: Any other restrictions?
Harry: Not that she told me. I like the no football for 6 months
Ron: Will she wait that long?
Harry: Have you met my wife?
Harry looked at the pile of papers on his desk. He was never going to get out of here if he didn't get some of the piles cleared off his desk. He had three sets of casefiles to sort through and send to the next step. They were straightforward cases and he had collected everything he needed, but he had paperwork to finish for each of them.
Time to use Hermione's "List and Reward" system.
She had created it for them when they had been in Secondary School. Make a list of what you have to get done. Get one item done and get a small reward. Then, go on to the next item. The reward for finishing today's list was leaving work to go home.
Looking up at the clock on the wall, he realized that it may have to be a two for one list today. It was already two pm and he had to leave by five pm. He could not be late getting home. It was Friday and Chess Club started at six. He was going to talk to the guys about finding a tournament to go to sometime soon. What was the point in playing chess and getting better if you didn't see if you could win against someone besides your best friends?
Hermione: You coming tonight?
Ginny: I will if I can get this article finished
Luna: I am working tonight after I asked to be off
Hermione: Not cool
Ginny: I thought you were off on Fridays
Luna: I am supposed to be
Hermione: That doesn't sound good
Ginny: Has anyone heard for Daphne?
Hermione: Her kids test today
Luna: I saw her last night and she was really nervous
Ginny: We should hear from her soon
Hermione: I'll be late tonight
Ginny: Not too late?
Hermione: No, we are starting to stay open til 5:30 on Friday nights and I have to close up tonight
Luna: I am not working any more Friday nights
Ginny: I thought you liked it
Hermione: What's up?
Luna: Certain people always get off when they ask and never get called in, I don't
Ginny: UGH
Daphne: I am alive and I do not have to kill children
Luna: Good to hear that
Hermione: Do you need something stronger than coffee?
Daphne: I think coffee is all I can handle tonight
Ginny: This article is not going to write itself. I'll see you after 6
Ginny stared at the words on her screen. She really need to get finished so she could go home. Chess Club had come to mean different things for each person in the group. For her, it was a time to step away from work and be herself. She had gotten to know Daphne and Luna and was a better person for it.
They had taken care of Harry when she had surgery and surprised them with a freezer full of meals for the week after she got home from the hospital. They had all worried about Daphne today because they knew her students were taking their end of course test today. Maybe she should write an article about the impact of end of course testing on teachers and students. She would have to talk to her editor about that. But, not right now. Right now she had to get this article done and to copy so she could go home
Harry: Leaving the office
Ginny: Leaving in 5 minutes
Harry: Your 5 minutes or mine?
Ginny: I have turned off my computer and it is packed in my bag
Harry: I should be home by 5:30
Ginny: I'll meet you there
Harry: What time are the girls getting there?
Ginny: Usual except Luna
Harry: What going on with her?
Ginny: She has to work tonight
Harry: Dang
Ginny: Yeah
Harry: See you soon
Ginny: Love you too
Harry was sitting on the sofa watching the door. Ginny should be home any minute. He had gotten a bouquet of yellow roses to celebrate her good news at the doctor's office. As the knob turned, Harry stood up and walked to the door.
"Congratulations, darling." Harry kissed her cheek as she took the flowers from him.
"What have I done to get flowers and congratulations?" Ginny asked as she sat her bag on the floor. "All I did today was go to the doctor and work."
"Well, you were cleared from physical therapy and you are an amazing wife." Harry closed the door. "And I thought being granted freedom from the hated PT was a good reason to celebrate."
"I am not completely cleared from PT." Ginny headed for the kitchen to find a vase for the flowers. "I still have to go once every two weeks for the next six months."
"Maintenance, darling." Harry wrapped his arms around her and snuggled into the crook of her neck. "Which means more time for me to corrupt you."
Ginny shivered as Harry trailed kisses from her ear to the collar of her blouse. "We have to leave soon. They are expecting us at Chess Club soon."
"Chess club can wait," Harry whispered. "I have a better idea right now."
Daphne: Gin … are you coming?
Hermione: She said she was going to be here around 6
Daphne: It is after 6
Hermione: Hope they are okay
Daphne: Harry probably forgot something
Luna: I am not doing this anymore
Daphne: What just happened Luna?
Hermione: Are you okay?
Luna: I'm taking a quick break to check in
Hermione: Are you okay?
Daphne: Luna?
Luna: Just tell me where we are having food and I'll tell you everything then
Hermione: We are here when you need us