A week had passed since Harry's housewarming and surprise birthday party. He'd been busy lately, moving everything from Grimmauld Place to the Manor. He'd also taken some time, to visit the Dursleys. Vernon had treated him as usual but Petunia had given him a hug and thanked him for finally getting her sister's killer. Dudley had also pulled him aside, saying he wanted to learn how to Owl Post so he and Harry could contact each other more often, though Harry suspected it was so Dudley could contact Alicia more often. The two had really hit it off at Harry's party and had seen each other since then. He and Ginny had also been spending quite a bit of time together, but only during the day, because Molly wasn't keen on the idea of Ginny staying overnight at Harry's. It seemed to be annoying Ginny more than Harry though, as she wouldn't stop complaining about it every chance she got. It did annoy Harry but he also understood where Molly was coming from. If it were his sixteen year old daughter wanting to stay with her eighteen year old boyfriend, he would be the same. However, as Ginny was only sixteen for a few more days, he was hoping Molly would soon relent on her overnight rule, as Ginny would be of age.
Harry had woken that morning to find Teddy at the wrong end of his cot, chatting to the stuffed animals Hermione and Ron had bought for him. There was a wolf, a stag and a dog, though the wolf and dog looked very similar. Hermione had told Harry she felt that as the son of a Marauder he should have some sort of reminder of them, even if he didn't know who they were yet. Harry had been touched by the thought, and later that day found a painting in his study of a doe and a stag running around a field together. There was a piece of parchment attached to the bottom right-hand corner, merely saying 'They're always with you, Harry. ~ HG'. He had thanked her the next time he saw her, but she pretended she had no idea what he was talking about.
He picked Teddy up and laid him down on the change table, as the infant's nappy needed to be changed. Quickly at that. The young Lupin smiled up at his godfather, gurgling away in what Harry could only assume was a dialect of Gobbledegook.
"Well, young sir, today we must venture out and find that feisty witch a birthday present. We should also get you some new clothes. Don't worry, I won't do it all myself. Aunt Hermione is going to come along and give us a hand. She'll make sure you don't look like a clown. Now, how about breakfast?"
Taking the baby with him, Harry ventured downstairs to the kitchen where he had taken to eating his breakfast. He had owled Andromeda a week ago, asking about her trip and also asking when she would be back but hadn't received an answer, though his new owl Athena, a birthday present from Hagrid, had returned. He wasn't sure what to make of her lack of reply but decided to just cop it on the chin. Besides, Teddy wasn't that hard to look after and they were having tonnes of fun together, he was just getting worried for when he began working. He didn't think it was fair of him to ask Molly to always have him, and if Teddy were a Muggle child, he could have just put him in childcare. Do they even have childcare for Magical children?
Kreacher served Harry two slices of toast with some fruit on the side, telling him that he had been eating poorly for the past year and it was up to Kreacher to make "Master Harry his former, healthy self".
"Kreacher, I need to take a shower. Do you think you could keep an eye on Teddy while I do that? Also, Hermione should be here in about twenty minutes. Which is which is why I need to hurry." Harry jumped up, leaving Kreacher to finish feeding Teddy and ran up the stairs to his room, stripping his clothes as he walked to the en suite and pointing his wand at the shower.
Fifteen minutes he was back downstairs, packing a bag for Teddy, who had been changed and dressed by Kreacher. There was knock on the door and then Hermione's voice rang through the bottom floor.
"Harry? It's just me! I'm early. Sorry, I was ready and figured there was no point in waiting." Hermione had made her way to the kitchen while talking, and was amused at the scene before her.
"Well, I see you've worked out how you're going to manage without Ginny for a year."
"What do you mean?"
"House-elf used as a stand-in housewife?"
"Oh. Well, no. Kreacher is only helping. Hermione, do they have wizarding childcares?"
"The Ministry does, for the children of staff. Why? Are you thinking about enrolling Teddy?"
"To be honest, yes. With me beginning work, I don't want to dump him on Molly every day. And I sure as hell don't know when Andromeda is coming back. She didn't reply to my last owl, just sent Athena back empty clawed." Hermione looked at him thoughtfully, and he knew she was biting her tongue. "Just say it."
"You don't think that this Andromeda's way of just, well, dumping Teddy, do you? Because it seems like that."
"Not an hour goes by when I don't think that. But what can I do? He needs me, and to be honest, I love having him around."
"Harry, what happens on those nights when you can't make it back to pick Teddy up?"
"I, I don't know. I have to work it out. Ultimately, I could talk to Molly, or even Fleur and Bill. They've told me they'd love to look after him, and actually keep trying to take him, overnight. Molly loves it though, thinks they're trying to practice for their own children."
"Harry, talk to your family before you make a decision. I know you think that being an Auror is the best idea for you right now, but what if it isn't? Just think about it, please?"
Harry looked into the pleading eyes of his best friend and nodded his head, silently agreeing to her request.
"Well, let's get going then. We need to find Gin a birthday present, and uh, I need your help finding some new clothes for Teddy. He seems to grow fast."
Hermione laughed at him, telling him that all babies grow fast, not just Teddy.
A few hours later and Harry still hadn't found a birthday present for Ginny. They'd tried Quality Quidditch Supplies but Harry had decided that Quidditch supplies were too impersonal. They went on to Madam Malkin's but Hermione informed Harry that the worst thing he could do was buy Ginny clothing. They did however get Teddy two sets of baby Quidditch Robes, one a Gryffindor copy with a number 7 emblazoned on it, after his godfather, and the other a Puddlemere United one, with the number 1 on it, for Oliver Wood who had just been named Keeper for the team. They'd looked in Flourish and Blotts but couldn't find anything they thought Ginny would like, though Hermione picked up a few new books, telling Harry she had really neglected her reading this past year. After the bookstore, they sat and had lunch at the café that had opened where Florean Fortescue's icecream shop had previously been. While enjoying their lunch and Butterbeer, Hermione bought up the idea of checking out the jewellery store, which had Harry choking on his sandwich.
"You think I should propose for her birthday?"
"Oh Godric no! Merlin, I mentioned the same thing to George about Katie, as her birthday is also coming up, and thinks I mean to propose to her! What is wrong with your gender? Since when did jewellery equal proposal? Unless of course you were already thinking that. But in that case, what are you thinking? She'll only be seventeen! You can't propose the second she becomes an adult! I was thinking a necklace or earrings, or a matching set. Heavens knows you have the money. Not that Ginny will care how much you spend, you know that right?"
"Are you done?"
"Yes."
"Good. No, I hadn't thought of proposing. But I had thought of buying her a promise ring. Something for her to wear this year to remind her of me, and to reassure her that I am serious about her and that I want to be with her."
"A promise ring would be nice. But we couldn't buy it anywhere in the wizarding community, you do realise that? It would give the whole plan away, and start another wave of engagement rumours, which I'm sure neither of you want to deal with again."
"Got that right."
The two finished their lunch while chatting about what had been going on recently, and then made their way to Gringrott's so Harry could exchange some money and then went to the Leaky Cauldron, so they could go shopping in the Muggle world.
Hermione took Harry to her favourite jewellery store in all of London. Though a tad pricey, Harry didn't care. He was there to find a ring for his girlfriend and he wasn't going to leave until he did. Luckily, they were able to leave forty-five minutes later, as Harry found the perfect ring – or at least, Hermione told him it was the perfect ring. It was simple, which Ginny would like. It was silver with an emerald in the centre of six diamonds, three on either side. He couldn't wait to give it to Ginny and see the look on her face.
They left the jewellery store and made their way to Harrod's to buy Teddy some new clothes. The child, as usual, got spoilt by both his godfather and adopted aunty, who bought not only the necessary clothes, but shoes, and toys, and books (from Hermione of course, who told Harry he needed to nurture Teddy's literary side now so he didn't end up like Ron at Hogwarts). Hermione helped them home but left shortly after, having promised her parents she would help them out at home tonight, just getting everything back to normal. Harry had Kreacher make him a simple meal, as it was only him and spent the rest of his night in the living room with Teddy, reading to the infant until he fell asleep. Harry that is, not Teddy. Kreacher got them both off to bed, with Harry waking up the next morning not knowing when or how he got to bed.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Ginny woke up the morning of her birthday feeling like it was any other day, until she realised it wasn't. She rolled over and grabbed her wand from her bedside table and then pointed it at her wardrobe, watching as her clothes did a mini fashion parade in front of her. After using this method to decide what she would wear that day, she skipped off to the bathroom to have her first shower as a legal witch. She lathered up her hair, thinking about her plans for the day. She wasn't stupid, she'd gone through all of her brother's birthdays, so she knew that her whole family were waiting downstairs to join her for her birthday breakfast and shower her with gifts. Harry had said he and Teddy were taking her out for the day and lunch, and then she was having a party at the Burrow, with family and friends gathered.
She turned off the shower and stood in front of the floor length mirror naked, examining her body. It didn't look that different from yesterday, when she was sixteen. She still had the same red hair that ended just under her shoulder blades, the same brown eyes as her mother and the same long legs that had wowed many a guy at Hogwarts. She twisted slightly and saw that the scar that went from her waist up to her arm pit, left from a detention with Alecto Carrow. Picking a black towel off the rack she bent over and wrapped her hair in it, then grabbed another towel, wrapping this one around her body.
She left the bathroom and made her way to her room, getting dressed and drying her hair using a quick spell. A run through with the brush and she was good to greet her family for the first time as a legal witch. She couldn't stop thinking that – she was now a legal witch. She all but ran down the stairs and came to a stop in the kitchen, where she couldn't see anyone. Her mum wasn't in the kitchen cooking up a feast, there were no presents stacked on the table and there was no crazy, noisy family waiting to shout 'happy birthday' at her. She sighed, realising that she should've known better than to think her family would celebrate her birthday so soon after they'd lost Fred.
As she went to sit in one of the dining chairs, she heard a loud bang in the yard. Retrieving her wand from her pocket, she slowly made her way to the back door. She pushed it open slightly but could not see anything. Wand still drawn she slowly made her way to the open area of the yard, where she found her whole family sitting around a table laden with food and presents. Her parents were standing in front of the table, beaming at her.
"You didn't think we wouldn't celebrate our only daughter's birthday, did you? Come along dear, you have presents to open!" Ginny could see and hear the happiness on her mother's face and in her voice, and so didn't reprimand them for scaring the living Merlin out of her, but rather just walked over to her parents who gathered her in a bone crushing hug. The pulled apart and Molly grabbed her hand, dragging her to the other end of the table where the presents were piled. Arthur passed her a small present, in the silver wrapping her parents always encased her presents in. Ginny quickly unwrapped it, to find a gorgeous watch inside. It had a silver band and the face of the clock was also silver but little peridots, her birthstone, surrounded the face. It was beautiful and she knew it must've cost her parents a fortune. With tears in her eyes, she turned and hugged her parents, hoping her appreciation got through to them. She then continued opening presents, receiving an earring and necklace set from Bill and Fleur, the entire range of beauty products from Weasley Wizard Wheezes, courtesy of George and Katie, a day planner from Hermione that contained a note saying there was more later, but she couldn't give it to her in front of her family, Ron gave her a new Chasers gloves and a Harpies training jersey. Charlie had sent her a letter, saying that Percy would give her a present from the both of them, which turned out to be a membership for the Holyhead Harpies, which came with a pack including a scarf, beanie, and signed photo of Gwenog Jones. She was ecstatic about that, as it meant she could go to any game she wanted for the next year. Harry gave her a bouquet of flowers, while whispering in her ear that he loved her. Teddy gave her a slobbery kiss and leaped into her arms, a place he had found to be one of his favourites to be. Ginny enjoyed a very hearty breakfast with her family before announcing that she needed to get ready as she had a full day planned. Molly had the boys help her clear the table, while Hermione gave Ginny a hand putting her presents in her room.
Once they were away from prying eyes, Hermione cast a quick 'Muffliato' charm on the room and a lock charm on the door, then turned to Ginny.
"Okay, I hope you love the second part of your present. If your mother ever sees it, it didn't come from me. Same goes for Ron. Actually, any of your brothers. And I hope you find excellent use for it." Hermione stopped talking and handed a pink and red striped box to Ginny.
"What is Victoria's Secret?"
"A Muggle lingerie store. I looked at Magical lingerie stores, and well, Victoria does it much better. Go on, open it."
Ginny untied the ribbon and opened the striped box to find a gorgeous red lace bra that had a pink bow between the cups and a matching pair of boy-shorts that Ginny didn't think could qualify as a scrap of lace, let alone underwear. She looked up at her best friend, who had a giant smirk on her face.
"Hermione, this is so unlike you."
"I have the same set in blue."
"I don't want to know. Whatever happens between you and my brother, stays between you and my brother."
"See, I don't like that. Because I know he will tell Harry, or one of the boys. I only have you and you don't want to hear it because it is your brother."
"We'll make a deal. You can tell what has happened, but I do not want details. Capiche?"
"Yeah, yeah, I got it. But thank you, it gives me someone to talk to. Not like I can gossip to mum about your brother and his trick of –"
"And that is trying to give me details. Shut up, Hermione. It is my birthday, let me enjoy it."
"Okay. Which, if you are going to do, you need to leave now. In fact, Harry is probably waiting downstairs for you."
"Do you know what he has planned for me?"
"Yep."
"Are you going to tell me?"
"Nope."
"Thanks. I'll see you later, hide that lingerie for me."
"You're welcome, and of course!" Hermione smiled at Ginny and motioned for her to hurry up.
Ginny almost ran down the stairs, trying to tuck her wand into the waistband of her jean shorts at the same time. Thankfully, for once, her birthday was incredibly warm and sunny. She found Harry sitting in the family room, with Teddy happily bouncing on his knee. She looked at them, with a small smile on her face, thinking about the day when Harry would be bouncing their own child on his knee. She decided to make her presence known.
"Harry? Are you ready to go?"
"Of course, love. Can you grab his bottles from the kitchen? Your mum made a couple up for me. His bag is on the kitchen table too. Can you grab that? I'll pop him into the pram."
"No problem, sweetheart." Ginny smiled as she walked away. Her Harry could be so scatter-brained sometimes. She really did worry about leaving him this year, especially as he would be beginning his Auror training and would be raising Teddy on his own.
"Gin! You coming or not? This is your birthday lunch, afterall."
"Coming Harry!" She grabbed the bottles off the bench, not seeing her mother anywhere. She deposited the bottles into the baby bag, and made her way to the front entrance where she found Harry and Teddy waiting for her.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
They'd been walking for half an hour, when Ginny finally asked where they were headed.
"It's a surprise, Gin. Just relax."
"Are we even in Ottery St Catchpole anymore?"
"Uh, not really. We're between there and the next town, Exeter. There's this lovely little café there that I want to take you to."
"Oh, a Muggle café?"
"No, don't be silly. Do you think I would strip of your legal rights on your first day as a legal witch?"
Ginny laughed at her boyfriend, and his attempt at a joke. "Harry, is it safe for us to be out in the open like this?"
"I don't know. But hey, how else can we find out? We eventually have to step out into the open. Probably better to just get it over and done with."
"I guess. Are we there yet?"
"No, Gin."
Ginny continued asking this question in between snippets of conversation. She could tell it was starting to annoy Harry, but he had made a rule for himself that Ginny's birthday would go off without an argument and he was going to stand by that rule.
They eventually reached Exeter, where Harry lead Ginny to an alleyway. He stepped up to a wall where he tapped bricks in a pattern, similar to the pattern used to enter Diagon Alley. Once Harry was finished, the wall started to move and gave way to an archway, which he stepped through, grabbing Ginny's hand so she would follow him.
"Of course, I didn't even think of Exeter Lane. Shows how long it has been since I've been here. We always just go to Diagon Alley. It has more."
"I know, but I found a few little stores and cafes I like here. Plus, not as many people come here, so it shouldn't be too hard to move or eat here."
"Good thinking! So where are we eating?"
"Maureen's."
"Oh my Godric, mum and dad used to take me there for lunch on my birthday!"
"I know."
"Should've figured that, haha."
The young couple and the infant made their way to the little café that was located about halfway down the little lane. They passed a robe shop, a small book store and a toy store, which Ginny said she wanted to stop into after lunch. They eventually made it to the café, which had a very homely feel to it. They chose a table near the back, so they could see everyone who entered the café. After dining on sandwiches and cheesecake for dessert, Harry decided to give Ginny her presents.
"Right, this first gift is from Teddy, not me." He handed her a medium-sized package, which she ripped open to find a boxset of Quidditch books, including Quidditch Through the Ages and a book of Quidditch plays, which she could find helpful throughout the next few years.
"And this one is from me." Harry placed a small, square package in Ginny's hand.
Ginny looked down at it and a look of surprised appeared on her face. "Harry, this isn't…I mean, we spoke about this…I mean…"
"Just open it Gin, and then I'll explain."
She tore off the paper to find a black, velvet box. Upon opening it, she found a gorgeous ring. An emerald sat in the middle and six diamonds surrounded it. It was set on a silver band.
"Harry?"
"It is just a promise ring, I promise. Like, a prelude to an engagement ring. I wanted to give you some sign of certainty that I'm yours, no matter what, and that you don't have to worry when you go back to school. We've spoken about when we wish to get engaged, so I wasn't going to go down that path. Which is why I bought you this."
"It's so beautiful Harry." Ginny's eyes were wet, realisation setting in that this boy really did want to spend the rest of his life with her. She took the ring out of the box and placed it on her fourth finger on her left hand, which coincidentally was the only finger it properly fit on. She smiled at her boyfriend who was currently fixated on Teddy, who had started fussing. Harry leaned down and grabbed a bottle for him, which Teddy gratefully took and started drinking. Harry turned back to Ginny.
"Do you like it?"
"Like it? I love it Harry!" She could see the look of happiness on his face, just knowing that he had made her so happy.
They sat in the café for about another half an hour before Harry asked for the bill, deciding they should go have a look at the stores in the lane. They stopped in the toy store where they spoiled Teddy, as was the usual case. Ginny mentioned wanting to come back before they go back to school to get Hermione her birthday gift from the bookstore. After wandering around for a bit, they made their way back to the Burrow as Ginny had promised her mother the night before that she would help with the setup for her party.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
People were pouring into the yard of the Burrow. Family that only been there a year ago for Bill and Fleur's wedding (which meant that Aunt Muriel had showed up), as well school friends of Ginny's, which included much of Dumbledore's Army but also random students she'd met and become friends with over the years. A majority of the Order had also shown up. Hagrid was there, currently talking to Charlie, who had surprised his little sister about half an hour before her party started, about Norberta and her children. McGonagall was offering her assistance to Molly, who was unsuccessfully telling her no. George and Bill were handing people drinks, and having a few themselves. Fleur was in a deep conversation with her sister, Gabrielle, who Ginny had decided to invite because they had gotten along so well the previous summer. She'd also invited Monsieur and Madame Delacour but they had been unable to make it. Hermione was on the dancefloor with Ron, who was showing her that he really couldn't dance, but he would make a fool of himself if it made her happy. Harry was chatting with Kingsley, who was actually holding little Teddy. Arthur was entertaining Ginny's schoolmates with stories of Magically altered-Muggle artefacts, even providing evidence of these items. Muriel was sitting at a table complaining about the length of Ginny's emerald green dress, which just so happened to match the ring she was currently wearing on her right hand.
As for the birthday girl, she was also on the dancefloor with Luna, having the time of her life. Her parents had gone all out, hiring a marquee, as well as tables and chairs. Kreacher had been helping her mother all day, making sure the food would be perfect. Ginny honestly couldn't believe they'd managed to make enough food for all of the people who had attended. She couldn't wait to see her cake, as her mum had promised something perfect for her. Her part was to end around eleven, but Hermione had informed her that some of the 'younger' crowd were going back to Harry's to continue the celebration, not that Harry knew of this. Nor did he know that Molly had agreed to babysit Teddy for the night. Kreacher had set up the living room so that people could be comfortable and party.
The night went on, with people dancing, drinking, eating and having an all-around fabulous time. At ten o'clock, Molly made her way through the crowd, with a cake floating in front of her. She placed it on a small square table at the top of the marquee.
"Everybody, please shush. It is time to sing to my baby girl. Yes, Gin. You will always be my baby girl. You're my only girl, but still my baby girl." Molly had tears in her eyes, not wanting to believe that the last of her children had grown up.
The crowd performed a loud and boisterous rendition of 'Happy Birthday' and Ginny cut her topsy-turvy, purple and green cake that also had glitter on it. Her mum had been right, the cake was perfect for her. Ginny made a quick thank you speech to everyone, before her dad stood up and made his own speech.
"My Gin. What can I say? Your mother and I are so proud of the young woman you have become. As everyone knows, the past year was a horrible one. Yet you stood with your head held high and gave hope to those who needed it. You are such a brave, independent woman now. Mum and I don't like nor want to admit that fact, so don't get angry if we still treat you like our baby. As far as we are concerned, you will always be our baby. You're about to begin your final year of Hogwarts and we couldn't be happier. We love you sweetheart, and we hope you've had a wonderful day and evening, celebrating your birthday." Arthur was on the brink of tears whereas Molly was actually crying. They both grabbed Ginny, giving her yet another bonecrushing hug. She uttered an "I love you guys" before they let her go.
At eleven, practically on the dot, Hermione grabbed a hold of Ginny and dragged her into the Burrow, so they could Floo to Harry's. They didn't even wait for Harry, Ron or anyone else who was coming, they just went. They landed in Harry's living room to find buckets full of Butterbeer, Firewhiskey and what Hermione informed Ginny was some really good Muggle alcohol that she had organised. Hermione actually grabbed a 'Double Black' and handed it to Ginny, saying that it would really put her in the party mode. It burnt Ginny's throat as it went down, as she wasn't used to the feeling of vodka. Bu after a few more sips, she found herself really liking it. After a few minutes, other people started arriving, whether by Apparation and knocking on the front door, or by entering through the fireplace. Neville went straight for a bottle of Firewhiskey, pouring glasses for himself, George, Harry, Ron, Dean and Seamus who had all just arrived. Harry ran to Ginny, having been worried when she had just disappeared. However, it was his worry that disappeared as soon as he saw her in his living room.
"I had no idea this was happening. Ron and the guys just grabbed me, saying we had to come here now. Did you plan this?"
"No! Hermione did, I think. Actually, I'm really not sure. She told me about it but not who planned it. Ron might've!"
"Whatever, let's just have a good time yeah?"
"Sounds like a magnificent plan Mr Potter!"
"Shall I get you another drink Miss Weasley? Yours seems to be empty."
"Oh why thank you." Ginny leaned up and kissed her boyfriend, before he went and retrieved her another drink.
The group of young people, which also included the Gryffindor Quidditch team, Luna and some more Hogwarts friends, drank, talked, played games, danced and had fun, for the first time in a very long time. Ginny couldn't've asked for a better birthday.