Dumbledore was right about Madam Pomfrey wanting to give Harry a talking to, a stern one. The day after they had destroyed two Horcruxes (a remarkable feat), Harry came down to find himself at the receiving end of the Hogwarts' Matron's steely gaze.

"Hello, Madam Pomfrey," greeted Harry.

"Mr. Potter," she acknowledged.

It was very uneasy to look straight into her eyes. He had done nothing wrong after all. Well, atleast in the eyes of those who knew their time-travelling secret. Still he felt very guilty at the way Madam Pomfrey was looking at him. Harry Potter was intimidated only by the gaze of three women before - Hermione Granger, Molly Weasley and Minerva McGonagall. Madam Pomfrey was another addition to the list.

"Uh," Harry faltered. "You have come to check up on Ginny. Thank you so much for coming."

The matron gave no response. The one-way conversation was becoming uncomfortable.

"I must confess, Mr. Potter, of all the things you have done ever since rejoining the Wizarding World, this one simply is astonishing. Are you really trying to up yourself every year? First year, it was the Philosopher's Stone, second year it was the Basilisk," she had hit her stride now, "third year the Dementors and last year the deathly Triwizard Tounament - dragons, mermaids, and whatnot magical creatures. That doesn't include Merlin knows what happened in the maze at the end - "

"Poppy, I am sure that Harry has had -," Dumbledore intervened. Where did he come from? Harry supposed he must have escorted her to Grimmauld Place. Unfortunately, even the Headmaster was unable to stop her.

"Really, Headmaster. When you came to inform me about the patient with an unplanned pregnancy, a teenage one at that, this is not what I -," she finally took a breath to compose herself. "Not to mention, all the secrecy with the Fidelius Charm. Oh, I have noticed.

"What even is this place?" she asked throwing a glance around.

Even though the decontamination and the cleaning and the decorating of the place was almost complete, it was going to take a long time to bring the previous grim, old residence of the Blacks out of its former sullen glory. The best thing being that Walburga Black's portrait was removed by Kreacher, who then kept it in Regulus' room for the time being.

Before Dumbledore could make up a lie, Harry thanked the stars when his mother-in-law came. "Poppy, thank you for coming. We couldn't go to St. Mungo's, you understand. It's really a sensitive situation," Molly said.

"Of course, Molly," replied Madam Pomfrey, throwing a look of displease at Harry, who decided to keep his mouth shut, unless the matron reminded herself of giving him the talk. He shuddered.

"Now where is Miss Weasley?"

Dumbledore took their leave, bowing slightly. Molly led the matron to the room occupied by the young couple. Harry tagged behind them before he was stopped.

"Where are you going Mr. Potter?" Madam Pomfrey asked.

"You are going to check on Ginny, aren't you? So I am going to be with her," answered Harry, confused.

"I am afraid not, Mr. Potter. I would like check the patient alone."

"But I am her hus-," Harry bit his tongue. It was so frustrating to hide their true relationship, atleast they could be open with their family and friends.

"Yes?"

"Well, I am the father -"

The matron raised her hand to stop him. "Be that as it may, you both are underage. Which is why, I feel the mother of the girl would be comfortable during the check-up." Molly sent her only son-in-law a sheepish look, before following her into the room.

Ginny was sitting on the bed reading Witch Weekly for casual entertainment, not that there was anything interesting. Perhaps it was really trashy magazine before Harry became the saviour of the Wizarding World. She could remember how her and her boyfriend, then husband would become fodder for the reporters. Not a single week would pass without having a piece of news on them; be it as mundane as going on a date or scandalous like cheating, which never happened of course.

The door opened and her mother and Madam Pomfrey walked in. Ginny remembered that they had only one prenatal appointment in the future after they had found out she was pregnant.

"How are you feeling, Miss Weasley?" the matron asked kindly.

"I am alright. Thank you for coming," Ginny replied. Honestly, it was a bit odd to be called by her maiden name, when she was used to her married name for three years now. She found it odd that Harry hadn't joined them. He was bumbling with nervous excitement during the first appointment. She threw a questioning look at her mother, who only shook her head, before sitting at the edge of her bed.

"If you are looking for Mr. Potter, I have told him that this appointment will just be between us. Your mother should be here, seeing as you are underage," the matron said.

Ginny nodded.

"Before we begin, it is my duty to ask in situations such as this, that there was no undue influence or pressure of any kind involved?"

Ginny frowned, perplexity showing on her face. She wasn't sure what the nurse was hinting at. Her mother laid a hand on hers, "She is asking whether you were forced by Harry -"

"No!"

Both the women jumped at the firm and stern tone in which Ginny replied. "I mean," she blurted out, "It was completely consensual." The two older women shared a look between them, before focusing their gaze at the young girl again.

"Alright. But if it is otherwise, you can tell me. There is no need to be afraid. It doesn't matter if he is Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, all will be judged and punished fairly," said Madam Pomfrey.

Ginny again confidently shook her head. The matron sighed and began her diagnosis. She performed some quick spells on her, and pulled out a patient file out of her medical bag.

When it came to working out the due date, Ginny had immediately said, "May 16th." She could remember it very well; it was the night the Harpies had won the league title and the celebrations went a little bit out of hand. After having a crazy party with her team, Ginny had gone home to celebrate with her husband privately. Cut to four weeks later, they had found out that their family of two was soon going to be a family of three. Unfortunately, that couldn't be said to the matron, so Ginny had gone on to describe that things happened between her and Harry in a moment of passion. She wasn't sure if it was convincing. But thankfully her mother had intervened, crying she had failed to give her daughter the safety and precautions talk. Ginny hid her smile, knowing from she had got her dramatic skills.

"I had no idea that there was anything going on between Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter at school," said Madam Pomfrey. "Oh, don't look so surprised Miss Weasley, the staff room thrives on the student gossip and tales. Although last year was full of parties and celebrations, so I shouldn't be surprised. However not from a fourth and a third year!"

She then added grimly, "But you should understand the implications of your actions. Pregnancy at this age. Perhaps I should start taking a more proactive role in both witches and wizards' sexual education. So that such things can be prevented in a timely manner, which is what happened in your case, ignorance and carelessness in first time."

Before Ginny could think, her mouth had responded, "It wasn't our first time."

"What!"

Ginny quickly came to her senses, "I meant, yes, it was my - our, well both of ours first time." She was so red in her face that she couldn't bear to look at her mother.

The diagnosis continued, with Ginny being asked about her symptoms - morning sickness, backache and fatigue settling in at odd times. Taking her age into account, she was prescribed with a mild Strengthening Solution and advised to eat properly, alongwith what foods to avoid.

"Don't worry Ginny dear, I will be there. I have had six pregnancies after all," Molly said in reassurance.

Ginny then laid back on the bed. With a wave of the matron's wand, the room was filled with a rapid little thumping within seconds.

"There you are," said Madam Pomfrey briskly. 'Sounds perfectly healthy to me. Almost 3 months" she said, jotting down the observations in her file.

Molly squeezed Ginny's hand.

"I take it that you are not going to return to Hogwarts for your fourth year?" asked the matron. When Ginny answered positively, she continued, "A wise decision. Your due date is early next year, around the end of January. I would suggest that you keep yourself active, preferably go for walks and do small exercises. I hope that you wouldn't have to be assigned to a bedrest. Also, it would be better if you move back to your original home, and not stay in this dark, unsettling house. The surroundings matter a lot too."

Molly nodded.

Madam Pomfrey stood up, finishing her treatment. "I should also inform you of the option that the pregnancy can be terminated, should you wish to. You are currently a bit longer than 12 weeks along, it would be safe. The law dictates up to 20 weeks. However, for that procedure, you would have to go to St. Mungo's. It can only be done by the trusted practitioners, seeing how strongly regulated the practice is. But I have the feeling that it would be the last thing you would want to do, if the rumours and the claims of our Headmaster and Mr. Potter are to be believed. Not to mention, the scandal it would cause. So take your time, consult with your parents, most importantly with Mr. Potter and make an informed decision.

"You can send me an owl anytime. I will see you again in four weeks."

Ginny was left to her own thoughts when her mother came back from seeing the matron off.

"What are you thinking, dear," she asked, drawing her daughter into a hug.

"It's just... Well, here I am - an adult, married and pregnant with our first child. It was in our plans to start our own family. This was unplanned, but it fit perfectly within our lives. We both were at that point - we were settled, happily married, our careers were going well. After playing for the Harpies for five seasons, my dream of professional Quidditch was completed. It was time for another and above all give Harry what he has always craved - a family of his own."

"I am sure that the future was perfect. But, dear, this isn't about Harry anymore. This is about you and your choice and the remarkably difficult situation you find yourselves in. The question is - are you ready and prepared for that tiny bit of life that is going to enter this world? We all will be there to help and support you, don't forget that. The decision is yours to make."

After what was a long minute of silence, Ginny said -

"I am ready."

Harry watched the two women enter the room. Not allowed to join them, he went off in a search to occupy himself with something else, until Ginny's check-up was done. The house was deserted, although the residents of 12, Grimmauld Place were still there, scattered across in different rooms. The service men were at work, leaving only Molly, her four children, Hermione, Harry and Sirius at home.

The twins were holed up in their room, while Sirius was being usually quiet since yesterday and had decided to be alone in the room tending to Buckbeak. Harry thought to join his best friends, Ron and Hermione and see what they were up to. He found them in the library, an unusual place for both of them to be there together, though not for Hermione alone. It appeared that Ron was roped in, seeing that he was lazying on the sofa, humming some tune to himself.

"Really Ron, would it kill to read some books while we are here? The Blacks do seem to have quite the collection," remarked Hermione.

"Really Hermione, don't you know me at all?" Ron retorted in jest.

"Yes, Hermione, you know Ron doesn't open books unless the exams are starting tomorrow!" said Harry, standing at the threshold of the library. His friends turned to greet him, as he went and sat beside Ron, shoving his legs down in the process of making room for himself.

"What have you found interesting enough to read in the Blacks' collection? You know, there must be some Dark Arts books in there too," said Harry.

"Oh, nothing just light reading," replied Hermione. She then showed the cover of the book she was leafing through. 'Witches' Guide to Pregnancy'. Harry felt a surge of affection for his bushy-haired friend, knowing exactly why she was reading this type of material.

"Why aren't you with Ginny? Isn't Madam Pomfrey coming to check her?" asked Hermione.

"She's here. Told me, since I am underage, I can't be there," said Harry, bitingly. "Your mum is there though," nodding to his other best friend.

"And you are not happy because -," prompted Ron.

Harry ran his hand through his hair, "Well, it's just I can't tell her that we are married. Nor can we to the rest of the world. It just hit me that everyone else is going to think -"

"That you knocked up the Weasley's only daughter," finished Ron.

"Ronald!"

"Exactly," sighed Harry.

"It will be alright, Harry," said Hermione.

Silence descended upon them. Hermione went back to her book, while Ron remained silent. It piqued Harry the wrong way. Never did they have silent pauses between the three of them, unless they were studying, though even then he and Ron would goof around, while Hermione would berate them. Harry realised that he had not spent much time with his two best friends. Last time, the three of them were in a tight-knit group. They would be engrossed in their own world, they would forget the rest existed. But even after Ginny and he had started dating and then eventually married, the three of them would meet up whenever they had the time. Also, they were a family to him - they were his brother and sister-in-law in the future (Ron and Hermione had gotten married a year and half later that they had). Even without the familial relationships, they would always remain his first family. He understood that out of the three of them, he had lived longer and had more experiences, built a life outside of them which they knew nothing about and couldn't be there to witness it. Ron and Hermione felt a little left behind.

"So, Hermione, are you readying yourself for the OWLS in advance?" asked Harry.

"Don't remind her, Harry. She has already started talking my ears off," said Ron.

"You should start taking them seriously Ron," Hermione glared at him. "They are only a year off."

"No, Hermione. There are a year off. You really need to get a different perspective - preferably one that doesn't get you all worked up!"

Harry felt the awkwardness wearing off. "It's really nothing to worry about. And that's me saying who knows your OWL grades. Even if I wasn't from the future, I wouldn't bet against you."

Hermione smiled. Ron asked, "That's right. You could tell us the questions."

"It's been nine years for me, mate," said Harry as that explained why he couldn't.

"So, you are coming back with us? To Hogwarts?" questioned Hermione.

"I have to. There are some things to take care of and talk with Dumbledore and plan regarding how to proceed further," answered Harry.

"And you are okay with Ginny not coming?" Ron asked, tentatively.

"I have a way to keep in touch. Not that it's the same as having her with me," Harry said, with a wistful expression.

"You are truly gone mate. My sister has wrapped you around her finger," smirked Ron.

"And you are okay with that?"

Ron shrugged. Hermione knew what Ron meant. She hadn't quite known what to expect with Harry and Ginny's new (or rather years old) relationship, given how, frankly, she had never seen Harry in a close relationship with a girl that wasn't her. But the ease with which her two friends acted with each other and how in love they looked, she felt a bit jealous. Jealous that she wasn't the only one close to Harry anymore and how lucky her only girl friend was in finding her right life partner. Not that she ever fancied Harry.

Hermione gazed at her other best friend, Ron. Every time she convinced herself that fancying Ronald Weasley was about the stupidest and illogical thing she'd ever done, he would do or say something that made her fancy him all over again. But she couldn't get an inkling whether Ron felt the same way about her. Being friends with boys for almost five years now had taught her that they didn't really had heartfelt conversations like girls did. She didn't try to think much about this so-called Mrs. Ronald Weasley of the future.

"Well?" Harry asked again.

Ron's ears were red, "Yeah."

"You seem really good together," commented Hermione.

"It's just that.. It's going to be different," Ron said.

"Well, we'll just have to find a new normal then, won't we?" she said kindly, hoping not to have an argument erupt between her two boys.

Harry had his cheeks flushed. "Er, sorry about that, I know it's weird…"

"Nonsense," said Hermione quickly, before Ron could say anything. "It's sweet."

Hermione overcame by the feeling that had been building in her during the past few days, "Harry, I'm really happy for you. We both are, me and Ron."

Ron nodded meekly beside her.

"I just wanted to say, you and Ginny seem so good together. And I just," she was embarrassed to feel tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly wiped them away, as she knew Harry really hated it when she cried. "I've just never seen you this happy before. And I can't think of anyone else who deserves something good more than you." She recalled how Harry had looked after the Third Task, so defeated, hurt.

Harry looked touched. "Yeah, I am. Happy, I mean."

It looked Hermione wanted to say so many things just then. So instead, Ron piped in, "Ginny seems happy, too."

"Well, I hope so," Harry laughed.

Ron then surprised them, "Come off it, mate, Ginny's been waiting for this since she was ten. As long as she's happy, I am happy"

Harry shrugged, "I dunno. Things with me are always going to be complicated, aren't they?"

"What are you thinking, Harry?" The Boy-Who-Lived didn't answer straight away. He didn't even look at his two friends. Instead, he focused his attention on a spot on the floor. How was he feeling?

"People I love are always going to be in danger, aren't they? Until Voldemort is gone," he explained, running a weary hand over his face. "He has to be defeated again, if I ever am to have a normal life."

Hermione wished he were closer so she could grip his arm. "Harry, you can't always feel guilty for being happy."

Ron just watched his friend intently, watched as the turbulent emotions that normally swirled beneath the surface play across his face. Ron was often rebuked and teased for not noticing things, but he actually saw a lot more than people thought. Being Harry's best friend for four years had taught him not to push him, to wait for him to be ready to speak if he really wanted to know what was going on in the youth's mind. While Hermione normally ploughed right in and demanded their friend confront his feelings, Ron knew that staying quiet was the best way to get Harry to open up.

After numerous minutes, Harry opened his mouth. "It's... I don't really even know myself." He frowned as the words struggled to come to him.

"It's like... having a dream shattered, you know? Harry paused for a moment and swallowed thickly. When he carried on, his voice was heavy with sadness. "We're stuck here. Stuck in this horrible, frightening reality that we both thought we'd left behind." He stopped abruptly as his throat closed up. Acknowledging the truth aloud was hard and painful - he was going have to do it all again and, even though he had more knowledge than the last time, he didn't have a clue what to expect. It was a bit hypocritical of him to console Ginny and be afraid himself. Almost every night, he would stare at the ceiling, working things out in his mind, so that he wouldn't have to lose what he had gained.

Ron and Hermione shared a quick glance. Hermione watched sadly as the boy she thought of as a brother struggled to accept the truth. She could see that it pained him greatly to have his dreams and expectations crushed like that and she knew that he wanted to deny it with every fibre of his being. Neither she nor Ron said anything, they just stayed quiet as they waited for Harry to talk about it all. None of them spoke for a long time and the only sound in the room was the quiet scuffling of Hedwig on the wardrobe as she watched her master.

"I had a godson, you know. In the future." Harry eventually said. His voice cracked a little.

"What? You mean someone was actually stupid enough to make you a godfather?" Ron blurted out incredulously.

"Ron!" Hermione hissed scandalously as she whacked him round the back of his head. Harry snorted a little and a small smile crept on his face.

"Yeah, I thought the same thing to myself when R- I was asked." He nearly slipped up and told them that Remus was the one to ask him to be his son's godfather. He couldn't tell them that - it wasn't quite time for them to know.

"What was he like?" Hermione asked straight away. She wanted to ask who the boy's parents were but something told her that Harry would not answer that. She watched as a prideful smile spread across his face.

"His name is Teddy and he was like my own son." He looked up briefly to see the questioning look on their faces. "His parents passed away when he was only a few weeks old." Ron grimaced and Hermione gasped. "Oh no!" Harry nodded. "Yes. I took him in and looked after him, with the help of his grandmother. He was an orphan; I couldn't just leave him. Not after what happened to me."

Ron's eyes narrowed at the way he said that. Something told him that his best mate meant more than the fact that Harry himself had been an orphan. A brief flash of steel bars on a window flitted through his mind and he wondered if his friend was thinking of the Dursleys. Before either of them could speak up about it, however, Harry whispered a sentence in such a broken voice that their own hearts twinged painfully at the deep sadness that plagued the black haired boy.

"Oh, Harry!" Hermione murmured as she gently crawled up and wrapped her arms around the thin boy. Ron watched as she leaned her head on his before he moved over himself and placed his hand on Harry's arm. Hermione spoke as Harry struggled to get his emotions under control.

"Dumbledore explained it all to us, after he told you and Ginny the cause of your time-travel and I know you're worried." She paused for a moment before carrying on once she had seen Harry nod his head shakily.

"Harry, listen to me!" she said sternly as he opened his mouth again. "You've travelled back in time, which means that whatever you do from now on will influence your future! Don't you see? You're shaping a new future, which means that anything that has happened in your future won't exist anymore and it won't happen the same way." She ended in a soft tone.

Harry and Ron looked at her with confused expressions. "What do you mean, Hermione?" Harry asked in a quieter and wary tone.

Ron said nothing, but his eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Think about it, Harry. You've already changed the future. The things that happened last time for you have either already happened earlier than they should have or they won't happen at all. Plus, you'll be having your child now when you are 15 instead of when you would have originally had it at the age of 24!"

Harry gaped for her. Half of what she had said didn't make sense, but her point did. He was working towards a new future. Wasn't that the whole point of him appointing Slughorn and destroying Horcurxes ahead of time.

"You have a chance to do it all again, mate. We all know that it was bad for you and my sister, but you have the chance to prevent those bad things from happening. You can help Teddy meet his parents this time." This time, it was not just Harry that was gaping. Hermione stared at the red-haired boy, an odd glint of admiration in her eyes. Both of them went red as they held each other's gaze and Harry couldn't do anything but roll his eyes. Hopefully they won't decide to get together in the middle of a battle for the free world this time around.

"We'll be there with you Harry. Every step of the way," said Hermione firmly.

"I have no doubt about that," smiled Harry. "If it weren't for the two of you, I wouldn't be alive; neither here nor in the future. I know that I don't say it often or never actually, meeting you two on the first train ride was my luckiest day."

Hermione gave a big sob and flung herself at both of them, hugging them tightly. "I don't know what I would be without the two of you. I hope we would still remain friends for a very long time." That was her biggest fear. Until a few years back, it would be failing in exams miserably and being expelled; but now she feared that the three of them would go different ways after finishing Hogwarts, never to see each other again, laughing and forgetting that they had a irritating know-it-all girl for a best friend.

"Of course we will," said Ron, patting her on the back. "Won't we, Harry?"

"Yes Hermione. Don't worry about that. We still see each other almost every day. We work together, we have lunches together at the Ministry during the break, we make plans for the weekend," assured Harry.

She let them go and wiped her tears. "I am happy to hear that."

Harry decided that this was the best time to ask them what he wanted to. He cleared his throat, wishing that Hermione wouldn't cry again.

"There is something I wanted to ask the both of you." He then quickly added noting their panicked faces, "Nothing serious. Just a request from me. Ginny would agree too, if she was here."

"Harry, what is it?"

"You know, how you are supposed to assign godparents for the baby. So, I was wondering, and I would be really glad, if you would agree to be my baby's godparents?"

Ron and Hermione looked stumped. Neither of them said anything.

"Ron as the godfather and Hermione, you would be the godmother," said Harry, as if that was going to clear the confusion, if there was any in his request.

"Blimey!" said Ron finally. Hermione, on the other hand, looked shocked and was again on the verge of tears.

"Are you sure, Harry? I mean -," began Hermione.

"Who else? The baby would be proud to have Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermione as it's godparents."

Hermione threw her arms again around Harry agreeing enthusiastically, while Ron too nodded in agreement.

"Uh... what are we supposed to do as godparents," asked Ron, after Hermione again had calmed down.

"Just be there for the baby. Discipline, offer advice. Aunt Hermione can teach, read books. And Uncle Ron can play and have fun, perhaps even teach chess when it's older -"

"And ignore whatever Aunt Hermione says and do the exact opposite," chuckled Ron. The future aunt shook her head in exasperation, but had a fond smile playing on her lips.

"Hey," Ron snapped his fingers, "I can teach the baby to play Quidditch. I taught the father after all."

"Uh no. I am going to teach that. I am on the House team. I am sure it will be a Seeker like me," said Harry, interrupting Ron in his plans.

"Oh come on Harry. I am going to have to compete with five other uncles here, okay four if you don't count Percy. But still. Not to mention the dotting grandparents my parents are going to be. It needs to know fun uncle me. A one-to-one session between uncle and nephew or niece."

"Are you seriously arguing on this? It's a baby. It won't even be getting on a broom for years," said Hermione, but went unnoticed.

The two continued. Finally, she left them there - what goes on in their brains, she would never understand.

She bumped into Ginny who was coming down the stairs. "How did it go?"

"Everything is working in order," replied the expectant mother. "Where are our boys?"

"In the library. Bickering over who gets to teach the baby Quidditch."

"What!" exclaimed Ginny. "That's nothing to discuss."

"See. Tell them how ridiculous they are being," said Hermione.

"No I mean there shouldn't even be a discussion. If there's anyone who will train my baby in Quidditch, it's me, seeing I am the professional," explained Ginny, and made her way to the library, leaving Hermione gaping.

"Honestly!"