Disclaimer: Nothing you may recognize is mine.
A/N: All of my thanks to Nutters4Potter; knitchick; sweet-tang-honney and Sampdoria for their reviews. And of course thank you to everyone who has been reading and giving this story a chance.
.lily
Harry wrapped his arms around his wife as she slid into bed and pulled her close, burying his face in her bright auburn hair. He had always been secretly grateful that the fates had decided to tone things down a bit when Ginny had been born. The red of her hair shone brightly in the light like some fiery nymph, but in a sea of cartoonishly red Weasley's, Ginny stood out for the understated tones in her hair.
Harry was so happy to have Ginny home with him. He loved how passionate she was about her Quidditch career, and she was a truly brilliant seeker, but he missed her when she was gone. He tried not to hold it against her when she swooped in on her days off, and then swooped right back out again. Harry lived for the off season.
Ginny was a good mother to Teddy when she was around and did her best to let the little boy know he was loved, but Harry hoped deep down that they could be a true family someday and that Teddy would grow up with two parents and little brothers and sisters. Harry dreamt of little red-headed, green-eyed girls.
Ginny turned in her husbands arms and looked into his eyes; so dark and sunken after the miserable day he'd had. By the time they had stepped through the floo into their home in Godric's Hollow it was well into the following morning and the sun would soon be rising over the horizon. It had been an incredibly long night for all involved.
"Harry," His eyes were closed, so she whispered his name lightly in his ear, hoping that he was awake. A light grunt was all she received in reply, but she decided to press on, "Harry, what is going on between 'Mione and Snape? I didn't even realize she had seen him since Hogwarts, except to pick up the odd potion from time to time. She called him Severus. It was weird Harry. I mean, I know she always defended him all those years, but… And he called her Hermione too. I think he fancies her Harry." She wriggled her nose a little in distaste.
Harry opened his eyes to his wife's scrunched up face as she contemplated Snape wooing her friend. He thought she looked so innocent and young when she did things like that; nothing like the wild aggressive woman he had come to love.
"I don't know Gin, I mean; I know he helped with that potion. You know, the one she needed to get pregnant. It wasn't easy from what I gather. But what I heard was they had been having lunch together once a week for nearly a year now, even though she never once mentioned it to me. Apparently the only one she told was George, who thought it was some weird joke," he paused while he tried to stifle a yawn. "But yeah, seeing him with her in that hospital room, and they way he looked when I first got there last night, I'd say he fancies her. Don't know how I feel about that to be honest. I have to say though, I'd be happy to believe he's not thinkin' of my mum in the shower if you know what I mean."
"Eeeww. Harry! Do you have any idea what kind of sick images are floating around in my head now? Thank you oh so much, you git." She smacked him lightly on the arm and they both laughed a little for a moment.
"Harry? Why didn't she tell us what he was doing to her?" The sadness in her eyes was clear, both for the pain her friend had been living with and for her shattered family. One brother dead, one on his way to Azkaban, and one on the run. Her family was falling apart and she hadn't been home to see it.
"I don't know Gin but, it's like she said; she was always good at hiding it all. She always thought it was her job to hold us all together and it was always her in the middle playing mediator. She never let on when she was in pain. Do you know that I didn't even know that her parents had died until after she had their bodies brought back to England, and their estate was settled all on her own? She never let on that she was grieving and she still blames herself for what happened to them but she never talks about it. And well, I promised Bill I would keep it to myself, but apparently she has more secrets than I ever knew and I hate to think of her dealing with all that pain on her own." Harry touched his forehead to Ginny's and closed his eyes, "She's gonna need us all to help her through this, and when she's ready we will be here okay Gin. For now, I need to sleep and so do you love."
"I know Harry. I hate this all, but let's get some sleep. We can all figure this mess out tomorrow, or today rather. Night love." She gave him a light kiss and turned back around, cradling her body inside of his.
Harry stepped out of his shower later that morning, still completely exhausted and worn down, to the smell of brunch cooking down in the kitchen. The sight that greeted him as he made his way down the stairs was something he would always treasure. Opening the door that led into the sunny yellow and blue cottage style kitchen he saw Ginny. She was the absolute epitome of domesticity, cooking away in a floral apron, swaying her hips lightly to the music playing on their charmed muggle radio. Teddy was sitting at their large wooden farmhouse table with Victoire, sharing a coloring book while Bill and Fleur sat across from them sipping coffee.
"Well now, no one told me we were having a party this morning," he said, as he leaned his shoulder against the door jamb.
"Daddy!" Teddy jumped up from the table and ran to Harry who had to brace himself for the force of the little boy's impact, "Mummy said we had to wait for you to get up on your own today because you were with Auntie Hermy all night and needed rest. Ohh, look Daddy, I made Auntie Hermy a get well card." He darted back to the table and grabbed up a little hand made card that had been wedged under the coloring book, "Does she have Dragon Pox Daddy? Is that why I can't visit? 'Cuz she's contagerous?" he asked his daddy.
"Oh Teddy, no. She doesn't have Dragon Pox and it's 'because she is contagious,' not 'cuz she's contagerous', alright kiddo. Maybe you can see her later today or tomorrow when she is feeling a little better, but I will be sure she gets your card and I just know she will love it," Harry made his way to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup, "Mornin' Bill, Fleur. Thanks so much for bringin' him by and for watching him for me. Truly. Are you going to go see Hermione today?" he asked as he took a seat at the head of the table, waiting for Ginny to finish the food. He was starving.
"Think nothing of it Harry. I was thinking of heading there after brunch, but Fleur's going to stay with the kids. Ginny said you needed to go into the office for a while; check up on the case. I figure it will be a good chance to visit with her, without you there to take all her attention away," Bill told him with a smile.
"Alright Teddy, you and Victoire go clean up, food's just about done. Clear your things and then we'll eat." As soon as the kids had left, Ginny started floating dishes over to the table. She had picked up a love of foreign foods on all her travels with her team and before long the table was set with frittatas, sausages, fresh fruit and toast.
As everyone was enjoying their meal and trying to keep the conversations away from Hermione, Ron and Percy, Ginny cleared her throat to get the tables attention. "Well, I have a little announcement to make. It's hopefully good news and I am happy about it," she began.
"Yes, well get on with it Gin, we can all use a little good news," Bill chimed in, "So, what is it?"
"I'm leaving the Harpies," she said, grinning. She put up her hand to stop any protests, "It's already done Harry. I spoke with Gwenog this morning while you were in bed. The team will be just fine without me but my family needs me and I need them. I am missing everything with Teddy and maybe if I hadn't left you to do everything on your own, Hermione would have had help sooner. This is what I want. It's done." She barely had a chance to prepare herself before Harry had swooped around the table and pulled her into his arms.
Harry spun his wife wildly around the kitchen until she was smacking his chest and giggling, "You mean it Gin? You're staying this time?" She gave him a little nod and he pressed his lips against hers in a heated kiss.
"Eeewww, gross Daddy. I see your tongue! Yuck!" Teddy's outburst had everyone in the room laughing.
"If you don't want to see it kiddo, close your eyes. Fair warning, I'm kissing her again."
And he did. He kissed her with such passion and gratitude. Grateful that she was giving him a real family, and with all the joy that he wouldn't be going to bed alone every night. When he finally stopped kissing her he whispered his love and thanks against her hair.
After the food was finished and the dishes all cleared to the sink and set to scrubbing, Ginny and Fleur took the kids to the other room while Harry filled Bill in on all that had happened the night before.
"So you're saying Snape tracked down some miracle potion and she woke up, and the first thing she said was his name? His first name?" Bill was flabbergasted, he never heard anyone use the mans first name except for a few senior Order members. For that to be the first word she spoke when she woke up was just unbelievable.
"Oh yeah. I don't really know what the potion was, just that they tracked it down in France. But she opened her eyes and called out for him - for 'Severus'. I think all of us were a little shocked but he just went to her side, told her was right there and that she would be okay. Bill, he stayed with her when the healer examined her. I mean, what's that all about?" Harry shook his head in confusion. He couldn't understand why she would want him there when she talked to the healer, even if they were friends.
"Well," Bill started, his face twisted awkwardly as he tried to come up with a reasonable explanation, "They are friends, obviously, and you know Snape is a healer technically."
"I don't know Bill, I mean; I forgot you had to train as a healer for a Potions Mastery, 'Mione mentioned something about that once I think. Merlin, can you imagine his bedside manner? 'Well you see healer Snape, I fell off my broom and broke my leg.' 'Obviously. You are clearly too dunderheaded to walk, let alone fly. I should do the world a favor and use you for ingredients,'" Harry chuckled at his bad Snape impersonation. "But in all seriousness Bill; I don't know what to think. I thought I was her best friend but everyone seems to know more about her than I do. I mean, you are the only one she talked to about Greyback and then there's this thing she has with Snape. And did you know that she and George have some little secret too. Apparently it's his secret and has to do with a girl, I guess, because they were laughing it up at the thought that Ron said they were shagging. You should have seen the juice shoot out his nose when she told Bill, it was hilarious." Harry smiled at the mental image of George dripping pumpkin juice from his nose.
"Well, Harry, I don't know. I think maybe Hermione just wanted to save you from all the pain. You were practically fighting a war since you were eleven. Maybe she just wanted to give you a few years without having to worry about everything. I don't think she meant to slight you by keeping secrets, or by confiding in other people. I think that she just wanted to give you a break, let you believe things were happy for once. She loves you," Bill placed a hand on the younger mans shoulder and gave it a light squeeze, "You can't keep the weight of the world on your shoulders or eventually you will buckle with the force of it all and I think she was just trying to spare all of us a little pain. She has always been a private person Harry. Don't take this personally."
Harry nodded, "I know; you're right. I guess all any of us can do is try to be there now. And find Ron, kill him, bury the body," He ran his hand through his hair and sighed.
"So Harry?" Bill asked, "You said something about Georgie boy having a secret lover. Who do you think my little brother could be shagging 'eh?" Bill waggled his eyebrows up and down and laughed.
"Don't know Bill; I just don't know. You don't think it could be Angelina or something? I thought she was seeing Fred before the war, but I know she's close with George. I suppose it could be her." He tapped his chin and raised an eyebrow, exaggerating how hard he was thinking about the possibilities of George's love life.
"Nah, don't think that'd be it. I mean, if it was Angelina, why hide it all these years? Why the mystery and secrets with Hermione? Whatever she has on him, it's good. Someone really embarrassing I bet. Who else do you think?" he asked. He was happy to keep his mind off things for a few minutes.
"Lets see. Embarrassing girls George could be seeing. Hmmm..." He thought on it for a minute before he came up with a reasonably embarrassing, and gross possibility, "I know! But it's so wrong, so gross. I hope it's not, but it makes sense, I mean she works right next door to him and she likes red heads." His face was one of pure disgust.
"Who? Isn't there some sort of bits and baubles shop next to Georgie's? Sells some girlie whatnots or something?" he asked
"Yup. Lavender Brown's shop. She opened it last year. 'Lav's Lovelies' I haven't a clue what she sells. Who cares really? But she used to be crazy about 'Won Won' maybe now she has 'Georgie Porgie,'" he suggested.
Before Bill got the chance to even consider the possibility the kitchen door swung open and Ginny came in with the subject of their speculation in tow. "Look at who just came through the floo Harry, not so much as an owl or a floo call first, just steps right on through," Ginny joked as she poked her big brother in the side.
"Hey Harry, Hey Bill. Heading to see our girl 'Mione, I wanted to know if you wanted to come with me," George told them.
"Oh George," Bill sang out in a high girly voice, "Harry here was telling me you have a secret lover. His money's on some Lavender Brown girl."
George was happy he didn't have any juice this time or he would have had it coming out his nose for the second day in a row. He decided instead to stick his fingers down his throat and make retching noises, "Oh Merlin's hairy balls Harry. That's disgusting, thank you, I nearly lost my breakfast."
"So then who's the girl you're shaggin' George? 'Mione seemed to know something about it yesterday," Harry said.
George ran his hand through his short red hair, messing it up even more than it had been, "Well, see, I'm not shagging any girl, so I don't know why you think I am and I am certainly not shagging that slag that works next to me."
"So you aren't seeing anyone? What was all that with 'Mione then yesterday? Wait, oh God's, your shagging 'Mione, that's what she meant by keeping a secret, the baby was yours. Oh shite George, I'm so sorry. Here I was making an ass out of myself and you're grieving for your baby. I am so sorry George, you know, it's okay, you love her, I see that now." Sometimes Harry just didn't know when to shut up, and by the time he was done rambling on about his theory George was nearly doubled over with the force of his laughter.
"Oh fuck, Harry, not you too," he laughed, "Look, lets all sit down alright, and I'll tell you all about who I'm seeing, and yes, I am seeing someone."
The four sat down at the table while George prepared to tell them the truth.
"Okay, so where to start?" George wiggled back and fourth in his seat a bit as he talked, "Well, I am shagging someone."
Harry gaped at him, "But you said-"
"You said you weren't shagging a girl," Bill said matter-of-factly, having caught on quickly.
"Always said you were a smart one Bill. Right in one. I am not shagging a girl, but I am shagging someone," Ginny and Harry looked at him wide eyed, while Bill just sat quietly waiting for his brother to continue, "It's more than that really, I love him. I have for a couple of years now. We are all but living together, I hardly use the flat. And before you ask, I can't tell you who he is yet. He isn't ready, I know that. Just know that he is brilliant and dead sexy. He takes good care of me. He saved me after Fred died. We make absolutely no sense together and that's just perfect. But that's all I can say. I would shout it from the roof tops and make up songs about our love, but he isn't ready for people to know and I respect that. I hope you all can too." They could all see the sincerity shining in his eyes, and none questioned him about it.
"Oh George, that's so sweet!" Ginny cooed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, "Dead sexy 'eh?"
"Oh yeah. He's gorgeous. I don't know how I got this lucky. Just, let me tell people in my own time. I don't want Mum hearing it from someone else all right." They all agreed.
They chatted for a few minutes and Ginny filled her brother in on her career change before the boys all had to head out; Harry to the Ministry to check on the status of the case and see if he had any messages on his desk, and Bill and George to St. Mungo's to see how Hermione was doing.
Ginny loaded a tray with juice and snacks for the kids and headed back to the living room where Fleur was busy watching them, happy to have made the decision to stay home with her family.
A/N: Any guesses who Fred's mystery man is?