Chapter 42 - Happy birthday
The embarrassing but necessary conversation had taken place and the dinner that followed had been strangely different from all the others since the kids were back from Hogwarts; James wasn't scowling anymore. He was actually communicating. Harry was aware the sulk was going to return sooner or later being James only at the beginning of that dark time called adolescence and knowing that just an afternoon conversation hadn't solved all the issues, but they were on the good path, and he hoped to see the happy change last at least until the end of their holiday.
He promised himself to work more on his relationship with James and a couple of ideas popped in his head.
When in bed that night, Harry was resting his hand lazily on Ginny's belly. The baby was unusually quiet, probably already sleeping and he was taking the chance to update her about the conversation had with James and Albus. When he was done recounting, she smiled serenely and kissed his brow.
'You are a good dad, you know…' she said.
'I'm not sure about that but I'm trying'
He was enjoying Ginny's cuddles while reflecting on how that dreaded day had, in the end, helped him in confronting some unresolved issues, and despite the grief, when thinking about Lily, was still there, and it would always had been there, perhaps he had found it a place inside him where to keep it, not repressed and imprisoned but free to surface when necessary.
'I think I'd like to invite somebody over tomorrow, if you don't mind' he said to her who was caressing his hair.
'Of course I don't mind. I'm glad you changed your mind'
'I don't want a fuss though; don't trouble yourself with anything, just something simple'
She nodded 'Who do you want to invite?'
'Hermione as one'
The caresses stiffened and slowly stopped. It was his turn now; he reached for her returning what she had received until a moment before.
'Ginny, I know what you think but I assure you we can be only mates. On her part too. She is important to me. You have plenty of friends, I don't. And it's very difficult for me to make new ones, if not impossible. I need her friendship.'
She didn't reply but Harry could still sense some sourness, therefore he went on.
'You are more important though so if you'll ask me to severe completely my contacts with her, I'll do it or at least I'll try, but I hope you won't'
'I wouldn't dream to order you anything of the kind'
Harry decided to overlook the fact that he had indeed received from her an implicit unspoken order in that direction only a few days before. She continued a bit grumpily
'I just don't think you are doing her a favour keeping so close, that's all'
Harry sighed 'I wondered that much. But then it would have continued the same if she wouldn't have revealed what she did, don't you think? And then she'll be gone again in a month anyway.'
The last sentence was said with some dejection and Ginny, detecting it, got closer to him.
'Who else do you want to invite?' she asked snuggling up under his arm.
Harry shrugged his shoulders 'Dunno. Perhaps Ted and George. You can decide but not too many people'
'All right… It's bank holiday anyway. They will all be home'
They were silent for some time while exchanging tenderness, an owl could be heard hooting softly from the outside.
'This bed is huge.' Harry said after a bit stretching his legs in it.
'It's a king size' Ginny replied sleepily.
'Why did you pick a king size for them? What's the point since they don't use it?'
'I believe they slept in it up a few days ago'
'That's exactly what I meant. If it has to be used just to sleep, it's a wasted bed'
Ginny chuckled 'Perhaps they did use it in some other ways too'
Harry raised an eyebrow sceptical 'I seriously doubt it. If Ron would have putted a bit more effort in that quarter, perhaps Hermione wouldn't have shifted her attention elsewhere'
Ginny sat bolt upright on her elbow scandalized slapping him playfully 'Harry! That was nasty and so shallow!'
Harry burst out laughing defending himself from her attack 'I was only joking!'
'It was not funny' she said undermining her assertion with a repressed snigger.
'I think somebody should use this bed for something more than sleeping though. Don't you think? Such a shame otherwise' he said sitting up too and starting to kiss her neck while sliding his hand under her night shirt.
'Harry, it's a bit late. We should sleep. What time is it?'
Harry looked fleetingly to the clock on the bed side table 'ten past midnight' he said reverting immediately to his previous occupation.
A smile spread on Ginny's face. She took his face in her hands and kissed him sweetly 'Happy birthday, baby'
Harry smiled and returning that kiss he felt exactly so. Happy.