It was dark. Tom Riddle's teen face was only inches away from his own.
"I will kill you Potterrrrrrr. I will end you and your pathetic life." There was a green flash and Harry woke with a start and covered in sweat, just like he had the past three nights. Luckily, he wasn't screaming, like back in fifth year. He rolled over to find that Ginny wasn't there, then mentally smacked himself as she wasn't staying at Grimmauld Place with him, due to not being allowed. He rolled to his other side and looked at the time, noticing that it was almost six. He'd have to get up soon anyway, as Teddy would wake in about half an hour. He stood and decided to get in early by having the first shower. Unfortunately that plan was quickly cancelled as Teddy voiced his annoyance at still being in bed. Harry left his towel where it hung over the back of his desk chair and made his way through the door and across the landing to Teddy's temporary room. There was one being made up for him at the Manor, but he was currently living in the room that once belonged to Regulus Black, though Harry had removed all of the Slytherin and Pureblood paraphernalia that had been decorating the room. He'd also ensured there were no curses placed upon the room, so that Teddy would not be harmed. Entering the room, he found the child doing his new favourite trick – sitting up.
Harry picked up the now smiling infant, accidentally taking a big whiff and realising the kid needed to be changed, quickly. He whisked him over to the change table he'd purchased the week before, then waved his wand using the charm Molly had taught him for changing nappies. He had been eternally thankful to her for that, for as much as he loved Teddy and had slipped into his godfather role quite well, he couldn't deal with the nappies very well.
"Well kiddo, you're smelling nice now. How about some brekkie?" He got a gurgle and a toothless grin back, which he took to be a positive answer. He walked back out the bedroom and made his way to the kitchen, where he found Kreacher preparing breakfast for the house's inhabitants.
"Good morning Kreacher. How are you today?"
"Very good Master Harry. I am making just some bacon and eggs for you. The Daily Prophet arrived for you, as did a letter from Miss Ginny. Would you like me to look after Mister Teddy for you?"
"Uh, thanks Kreacher, that'll be helpful while I read the mail. After breakfast, you can go to the Burrow, if you like, to help Molly with lunch and whatever else she needs done. Is that okay?"
"Perfect Master Harry. Now please, sit and eat. I will go and wake Mister Dean and Mister Neville, so that you can get an early start today."
"Okay, do that. Should be the last day today, just finishing up the last touches. Who knows Kreacher, you could be cooking in a new kitchen by tomorrow night!"
"That will be lovely Master Harry. I'll go now." Harry heard the unmistakeable popping sound of his elf apparating to an above level to wake his housemates up. He was back almost instantaneously , with Dean and Neville thumping down the stairs a few moments later.
"Morning boys. Good sleep?"
"It was great Harry, until Kreacher tore my blankets off."
"Shut up Dean. At least that's all you got! I got water to the face. Again."
"Kreacher wakes you up like that because Kreacher has learned that is the only way to wake you up."
"Cheers Kreacher. Pass the coffee Harry?"
Harry passed the coffee to Neville who passed it to Dean, both slurping loudly until their cups were empty. Then, both a little more awake, dug into the bacon and eggs Kreacher served up to them. Kreacher took Teddy from Harry, having become quite fond of the boy, so that Harry could eat his breakfast and read the paper in peace. The article on the front page made him choke and nearly spit his food all over his friends. They looked at him with curious looks, waiting for him to relax before he told them what had surprised him so much.
"Listen to this;
'It appears that love is in the air. Sources close to Harry Potter, The-Boy-Who-Lived, The Chosen One and Our Saviour, have confirmed that he and on-again, off-again, on-again girlfriend Ginevra 'Ginny' Weasley are engaged! Miss Weasley, daughter to Arthur and Molly, and sister of Ronald Weasley, Potter's best friend, is about to start her seventh year at Hogwarts but accepted Potter's proposal, with our source saying that "she wanted to make sure he was hers, and that other girls knew it", as she is heading off to Hogwarts and wouldn't be around to monitor what is happening. Weasley is a bright witch and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts a few months ago, and also reassembled the Hogwarts' defence group Dumbledore's Army during the past year at Hogwarts. Potter and Weasley have recently adopted a child, with our source saying they couldn't wait to start a family but had to due to Weasley's age and the fact that she wanted to go back to school to gain her NEWTs. So when is the date for what is sure to be the wedding of the millennium? Well, when we know, you will.'"
"Did I propose to Gin?"
"Don't think so Harry. And what's that crap about adopting a kid? Teddy isn't your son, he is your godson!"
"Yeah, I don't think they care about the true facts of that situation Nev. How am I supposed to fix this? Gin and I aren't engaged! We haven't even spoken about marriage or kids!"
"Ten galleons says its Skeeter again. Didn't she spout some crap about you and Hermione back in fourth year?"
"Yep. Merlin, I thought Hermione had dealt with her though. I'll have to talk to her. Now, if you don't mind, I'm gonna head on up to shower so I can go see Gin. She most likely isn't handling this development very well."
"By not handling well, you mean she is probably throwing hexes at everything she can see?"
"Yes Dean. And while I don't feel like being the target of a Bat-Bogey from her, I have to deal with this. Can I leave Teddy with you guys and you bring him over to the Manor with you? Take Kreacher with you, he can babysit."
The boys nodded and Harry took off for the quickest shower of his life, knowing he had to be quick if he was going to defuse Ginny's temper anytime soon.
Meanwhile, at the Burrow, Harry and Dean's prediction of Ginny's reaction was being proven correct. She had woken up that morning, happy and optimistic because it was going to be the last day working on the Manor and she was going to spend the night there. Of course, everyone else was going to be there, but she and Harry were going to be able to sleep in Harry's bed in Harry's room. Something they hadn't done before, and so something she was quite looking forward to. She messily made her bed and went to the toilet, then traipsed downstairs to have breakfast with her family. As she reached the kitchen, the owl that delivers the Daily Prophet arrived and so she grabbed the paper and fed it a treat. Then she made the mistake of unrolling the paper and looking at the front page, where her face was plastered, as was Harry's and a photo of the two of them embracing, which looked like it had been taken the day after the battle, when he kissed her in the Great Hall. The accompanying story however, about their supposed engagement, made her blood boil.
"Oh my fucking Godric! What in Merlin's pants?! How dare they?! Oh my…I'm going to kill someone!" She let out a shrill shriek at the end of this outburst, which had caused her family to stare at her like she was mad. Molly got out of her seat and looked at the offending paper and face turned the shame shade as her daughter's.
"Arthur. Arthur, come here now. You need to read this!"
Arthur jumped up to see what had both his wife and daughter so angry and then in turn was made angry himself.
"Ginevra, is there something you need to tell us?"
"What? No, Dad! We're not engaged! We haven't adopted Teddy either! What is this crap about me wanting everyone to know Harry is mine? They know we are together! This is bullshit! Can we sue?!"
The Weasley matriarch and patriarch looked at each other and then at their youngest, making a decision with silent words.
"Gin, go upstairs and get ready for the day. We'll figure something out and then let you know." She looked at her father and decided to do as he said, knowing better to argue with him, due to the current look on his face – a mixture of anger and determination.
She marched upstairs and entered her room, but she was too angry to even think about getting ready for the day. What she really wanted to do was to go down to the paper's office and throw a few Bat-Bogey hexes around. Even though it was illegal for her to do so, as she still wasn't seventeen. But she saw it a worthy cause to end up in Azkaban for. How dare they try and tarnish her reputation like this? And who was this 'close source'? They obviously weren't close to her and Harry, otherwise they would know that NO they won't engaged. Merlin, they hadn't even spoken about marriage yet, let alone actually beginning the process. And that utter crap about them adopting a child! Teddy isn't there's! He is Harry's godson, not his son! She was ready to kill someone, anyone, who was affiliated with the Prophet.
"Gin? Are you in here baby?"
She heard Harry's voice, suddenly embarrassed at the mess she had created in her bedroom but decided it was better to face him rather than worry about cleaning. She walked to the door and angrily jerked it open, making Harry almost fall over, due to him leaning on it.
"About time you got here! Have you read it? Of course you've read it! You read the paper every morning with your tea! Who is this source Harry? Have they gotten it wrong? Did you tell someone you were thinking of proposing and they got it in their head that we're already engaged? What happened?!"
"Gin, calm down! I don't know who it is. I will be finding out, but for the moment, I don't know who. To be honest, I haven't even thought of proposing to you so I therefore haven't spoken to anyone about it."
"You haven't even thought of proposing to me? Then what are we doing? What is the point of this relationship if you don't even want to get married?"
"Woah, calm down! I only meant right now. Of course I want to marry you eventually. But do you really want to go back to Hogwarts an engaged woman?"
"That's not the point Harry!"
"It is very much the point Ginevra! All I said was I don't want to propose to you right now! Godric, you're not even of age yet! Do you think your parents are going to approve of us getting engaged now?!"
"They only care that I am happy!"
"And what? Us getting engaged will make you happy? Then why haven't you said anything?! I can't read your mind, I can't tell what you want! But I did think we were on the same page with the marriage thing!"
"Are you kidding me? What girl doesn't want to get married to the love of her life?!" Harry went to answer her but Ginny cut him off. "Don't answer that, it's a trick question you idiot!" He shut his mouth quickly, also realising he wasn't going to win this argument.
"What do you want me to do? Get on one knee now and ask you to marry me?"
"NO! Then you will have only done it because of this argument!"
"Then when Ginny? Because any time after this you're just going to say that I'm doing it because of this argument!"
"Surprise me Harry! That's what it is supposed to be!"
"How can I surprise you if I didn't even know it is what you wanted!"
"How could it not be what I want?!"
"I just thought you wanted to wait until after you graduated!"
"Whatever Harry. Just go away."
"Fine. Don't bother coming to the Manor at all today if you're just going to be like this all day."
Harry stormed out of her room and downstairs where he found her family sitting around the table staring at him.
"Morning." And before anyone could say anything, he walked out the backdoor and made his way past the wards so he could Apparate to Diagon Alley, wanting to have a chat with the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Prophet. When he got there, he put his head down and stalked straight to the office, not wanting to attract attention that would just hold his day. Usually he didn't mind stopping and chatting with people but today was different – he was in a horrible mood and he had things to do. He made it to the paper's office without interruption and made his way to the receptionist desk.
The blonde witch sitting behind the desk looked up at him with a curious look, then one of amazement when she realised who was standing before her.
"Mr Potter, how can I help you today?"
"I'd like to see Mr Cuffe please. I have matters I wish to discuss with him."
"Uh, sure. I'll just check to see if he is busy." She wrote a few words down a small piece of parchment, which she then waved her wand at, sending it soaring behind her, to where Harry presumed the individual offices of the reporters were. She returned after two minutes, looking quite flustered but smiled at Harry, instructing him to have a seat as Mr Cuffe would be with him shortly.
Harry waited for about five minutes, before a rotund man made his way through the door, looked around the empty waiting room and then settled his eyes on Harry, with a look of surprise, almost as if he hadn't been expecting to find Harry Potter in his waiting room.
"Mr Potter, what a surprise! How can I help you today?"
"Mr Cuffe, I'm sure it isn't hard for you to work out why I am here today."
"If you're referring to that article –"
"That is exactly what I am referring to. You published an incorrect article this morning about myself and my girlfriend. Not my fiancée. I need to talk to whatever reporter wrote it, as I would like to find out their source. I'm sure you can understand why I would like to know who is telling people incorrect things about my life."
"Uh, well, I can tell you the reporter, who is also the source. None other than Rita Skeeter. She said you told her during your interview the other week, but she just wanted to keep it quiet while you and Miss Weasley adjusted to the engaged and parental life. Congratulations on the adoption of the child by the way."
"For one he isn't our adopted son, he is my godson. His parents are Remus and Dora Lupin, but as they died in the Battle of Hogwarts, I have taken it upon myself to care for him. Secondly, Rita Skeeter never has been and never will be a close source to myself or anyone connected to me. In fact the interview I supposedly had with her never happened. Now, I suggest you find a way to rectify this little problem or I will be getting the authorities involved."
"There is no need to do that Mr Potter. Just a little misunderstanding, don't you think?"
"Mr Cuffe, this is no mere understanding. Fix the problem or I will." Harry stared at the man, almost daring him to continue with the debate, but fortunately he took the better option and agreed with Harry.
"Of course Mr Potter, I will have the situation dealt with promptly. Now, if you don't mind, I have some matters to attend to. Have a lovely day."
The two men shook hands and Harry left the building, feeling happy that he had dealt with the problem. Well, he was happy until he remembered his argument with Ginny. He almost turned on the spot to go see her at the Burrow but he was still too angry with her. So he went down to the Leaky Cauldron, grabbed a butterbeer and then went to the Manor to finish restoring his house with his friends.
"Well Harry, what do you think? Up to your standards?"
Harry was standing in the front entrance of the Manor with Ron and Hermione, everyone else having gone to their homes to wash up and gather some clothes, all to return in two hours for dinner, cooked by Molly and Kreacher, and to have a bit of a party to celebrate the completion of the house. He had also offered for them to stay the night, considering he thought that people may drink a bit too much to Apparate, and he was yet to have his home connected to the Floo Network.
"Ron, it is more than I ever expected. It is perfect. Especially the Quidditch pitch out back!" The boys had all finally won and been allowed to create a Quidditch pitch in the yard – a smaller one but one nonetheless.
"Promise me something you two?" The boys both nodded at Hermione to continue. "No drunken Quidditch matches tonight, okay? I don't fancy having to visit St Mungo's because someone fell of their broom."
"Babe, I promise you I will not get on a broom intoxicated."
"Hermione, do you really think I am that stupid?"
"Considering your argument with Ginny this morning, I'm wondering."
"You cannot seriously be siding with her! She completely blindsided me! How was I supposed to know that she wanted to get married? Or at the very least engaged? She has never mentioned it before, and all of a sudden I am just supposed to know? Godric, I'm not a Seer!"
"Harry, every girl wants to know her boyfriend sees a future with her."
"And I do see a future with her! I see her living here with me, us getting married, having a couple of kids. But I don't want to start that straight away. I'm just getting used to the fact that I don't have some crazed dark lord after me and so would like some time to get used to being able to live somewhat normally. I don't want to get married straight away. Yes, I want to marry her eventually. But Merlin, I want her to be finished with school at least. I'm not thinking of me here, I'm thinking of her. What if she goes to Hogwarts this year and meets someone else? Meets someone she prefers over me, that she'd rather be with. I don't want her to feel completely tied down, and that's what an engagement would do."
Ron had decided to let Hermione deal with this topic of conversation, as even he knew he was tactless and really, what advice could he give?
"Harry, she isn't going to find someone else. She wants to be with you. Don't you think if she was going to meet someone else, she would've already in the six years she's been at school? She isn't going to go for a first year, and they'll be the only new kids at school. So please, for the love of God, don't stress. I'm not saying you have to go and propose, but don't worry about thinking she is going to find someone else, because she loves you. She wants to be with you. That future you just told us about, the living in this house, getting married and having kids, that's what Ginny wants. And she wants it all with you."
"And what makes you so sure of that Hermione?"
"Because everything you just told me I've already heard from her. The unfortunate thing is you're both so stupidly stubborn that neither of you will run to the other right now to try and rectify the current situation because you're both so freaking proud that you can't destroy your dignity a little for the person you're in love with. And don't tell me you're not, because I know you are. Just like she with you."
"I hate it when you're right. Start the party without me, I'll be back."
Harry turned and walked out his front door, then ran through the wards, apparating as soon as he set foot on the other side, landing outside the Burrow, making his way to the biggest apology of his life.