Chapter 43 - It's just family

The next day, after a good night sleep, Harry waked up rested and in a good mood. A bit of sun could be seen time to time peeping between the clouds; the rain had stopped completely to fall.
Ginny was not in bed probably scurrying around the house in various occupation she deemed indispensable when there was somebody coming over and Harry had always considered only an unnecessary hassle.
Despite she wasn't there however she had left on the bed side table a cup of coffee, a present and a card.
The coffee was on the cold side already; he had definitely overslept judging by the light outside, but he took the cup lazily resting his back against the wall. He sipped it eyeing the box and the card.
He took the card. It was a white square of thick paper and in her graceful calligraphy there was written:

Happy birthday my love,
This year has been tough and difficult and there had been moments when I truly thought I just couldn't bear it but every time that happened, I found you on my side.
Thank you for being always there whenever I need. Thank you for the sustain and the tenderness. Thank you for being always the amazing man I married seventeen years ago.
You surprise me every day with your strength, courage and loyalty. And despite you are not perfect (as I'm not either), of one thing I'm sure, you are perfect for me.
I'm grateful every day that you chose me, and I've never loved you more than I love you know.
Many happy returns and I truly hope that together we will make them so.

Yours forever,
Ginny

Harry smiled, a warm feeling expanding in him as always when he received this kind of words from Ginny. She wasn't a person that indulged very often in these effusions which made it even more special when she did.
He took the present, a light and flat box, wondering about the content. There was just a single picture inside. It was he and Ginny at Hogwarts in their sixth year. They were under that very tree where he and Hermione were sitting not many days before. Harry had a bit of annoyed smirk while nodding at the camera. Ginny sitting on his side was nudging him in the chest entreating him to smile.
Looking at it, the warm feeling expanded a bit more. He didn't have many pictures of his youth. Virtually none of his childhood (only one of when he was a toddler, found in 12 Grimmauld place) and then only a few of his Hogwarts days. It was a nice discovery.
Ginny was in the kitchen cooking. He approached her and hugging her from behind whispered a thanks in her ear.
'Where did you find the picture?' he asked.
'Dennis Creevey. He discovered it between his brother things moving some boxes. When he found out our address, he sent it to us. I didn't tell you because I wanted to make you a surprise' she said stirring some gravy in a pan.
He remembered with a pang the poor Colin Creevey died too young in the Hogwarts battle. Another victim that weighted on his shoulders. He was always getting pictures of Harry who never enjoyed it much back then but now, so many years later, he was glad that one had been taken. He felt touched as well; it could have been sold to any magazine but, instead, he had sent it to them. Harry promised himself to write a note of thanks.
'A nice surprise indeed. Thank you for the card too, very sweet. But I'm afraid, despite I'd like to believe the opposite, it is you who chose me, not the other way around.' He said his chin resting on her shoulder, his fingers interlinked on her tummy. 'Now give me a kiss' he entreated her.
She turned from the stove laughing softly and pecked his lips tenderly.
A sweet embraced followed and, feeling that lump that had been separating them for already a few months, he said 'I can't wait to be able to hug you properly'
She simpered 'Not long now, barely two months' and returning back to the stove 'Why don't you go to have a run? If you go in the wilderness, you should be able to avoid people'
He was more than willing to follow the advice, and, with it, he hoped to start his plan to bond more with James. After he got ready, he looked for him in his room. He was doing his homework listlessly.
'Wear some sweatpants and a t-shirt; we are going to have a run' he addressed him.
James was all amazement 'Me?! With you?'
Harry laughed 'Yes, you with me, come on. I'll wait for you outside'
A few minutes later James caught up with him wearing a tracksuit and some very unsuitable trainers.
'We will need to get you some proper shoes' Harry remarked, after some stretching, starting for the wilderness followed by his son who enquired about the motive.
'From now on I'd like you to come to run with me every day if we manage'
It was quiet in there; being bank holiday there were only a few people strolling about from the nearby town, but they avoided them quite easily following the less travelled path.
'Why?' James asked trying to keep up.
'First of all because it's important to keep fit. You are not a child any longer. The moment is come to train you up. I'll teach you some work out and I'd like you to do it even when you'll be back at Hogwarts.' And reflecting on it he decided to elucidate him on his hope for his future 'And also because you are very talented in Defence against the dark art, and I believe you could make a great Auror. I'll train you for it, if you agree, notwithstanding that if you decide to pursue another career it's fine by me'
James was silent, struck by his words 'Do you really believe it?' he asked in awe in the end.
'Of course I do, otherwise I wouldn't have said it.'
'So, then I'd like you to train me. It would be great to be an Auror!'
'Brilliant. You'll take your wand tomorrow too then and I'll teach you as well something more advanced than what you are doing in school'
James could barely contain his glee to this new development 'I've always hoped to be talented enough for that, but I thought I wasn't' he said starting to pant slightly.
Harry, noticing it, slowed down 'Why so?'
'Because, you know, everybody said you were a top student and everything and it didn't seem to me I was so good after all. I cannot even cast a Patronus' he said mortified.
'James, stop believing whatever people say about me. Most of it it's only rubbish. They don't even know me. But for Defence against the dark art, I was a very mediocre student. You are getting much better marks than mine at your age'
'Do I?' he asked eager.
'You definitely do. And anyway, for what it concerns the Patronus, most wizard never get bothered to apprehend it or, if they do, it's later in the years. I had to learn it just because the effect Dementors had on me. Nothing more than that. It is not that important. With probability you'll never meet a Dementor in your life. Nevertheless, I'll teach it to you at the first chance we get if you want.'
And again, he found himself wondering what was going to be the shape of his Patronus.
What's gonna be the happy thought that will trigger it?
He mentioned the necessity of finding it so to be prepared when the moment would come, and James became thoughtful and also, breathless.
Realising it, Harry stopped running continuing to a fast walk.
'And, as well, I would like you to join me and Aunt Hermione in our research to save the house. You can be of help and it will be a way to take responsibilities for your foolishness.'
James nodded ashamed walking side by side to Harry. He was silent for some minutes and then, unasked, started to open up about this girl that had made him crazy enough to behave so stupidly.
He revealed to Harry what, thanks to the eavesdropping and the letter, he knew already. How this girl was the prettiest of her year, how she was using him to aggrandise herself but how much he liked her and how he hoped that one day she would realise she liked him for what he really was.
Harry sighed, the conviction that it would have been better to move somewhere else other than England getting stronger. His sons were only going to have distorted relationships as he had with the serious risk to undermine their self-esteem or, on the opposite side, to boost it unreasonably.
It is true he had decided not to interfere when reading Bianca's letter with the conviction that James had to experience on his skin and decide for himself but now, after his confession, seeing his dejection and mortification over a silly selfish girl, he couldn't contain himself.
'Chuck her. Chuck the snotty brat' he intervened 'No matter how pretty she is. She isn't the only one'.
James raised his eyes to him surprised by this advice.
'It's true that probably it's not gonna be that easy for you to find somebody that likes you for yourself' he continued hesitantly, sorry to reveal this truth that James had started to find out already.
'But you will eventually' he continued with more assurance 'you deserve it. And if you don't, thank god, there are always muggles who have no idea whatsoever who you are, they wouldn't believe it if you'd explained, and they don't give a damn anyway' he concluded while James was sniggering 'now back to work'.
And that being said, Harry made James completely forget about the unworthy brat in his first training.
When getting back, a couple of hours later, they heard some cheerful talk coming from the garden. It was lunch time and whoever Ginny had invited was already there getting profit of the few rays of sunshine that were making way between the clouds.
A roar of "Happy birthday" deafened and welcomed him. Everybody was there: Arthur and Molly, Bill with Fleur, Charlie with his family who got there only that morning, Percy with his wife and his children, George, Ted and Victoire, Hermione with Rose and Hugo and Luna with Stella. George gave him a glass of mead, Molly hugged and kissed him, Arthur patted him on the shoulder, everybody was talking animatedly, filling his arms with presents. The table was covered with dishes of food, kids were running back and forth and Ginny, round and lovely, beautiful in a light summery dress approached him beaming.
'Didn't I say no fuss and not too many people?' he whispered in a mocking anger in her pretty ear.
She tittered gaily 'This is not fuss and not too many people' she cooed in his ear 'It's just family'.
He smiled and not finding anything to say against that, he joined the Weasley family, his family, in celebrating his birthday as many times in the past and, as he hoped, many in the future.