Disclaimers: Harry Potter © JKRowling. No copyright infringement is intended.
Harry and Ginny's new looks mi-chapter are inspired by the beautiful artwork of © blvnk.
The Reasons We Fought
V. Roxanne
(born October 2002)
The New Year had been celebrated two days ago. At this time tomorrow, Harry would be a married man.
Dazed, the young Auror looked through the glass of the Gryffindor common room's window and smiled at the snow that was falling upon the ground of Hogwarts, the Quidditch's pitch, Hagrid's hut, and the forbidden forest.
A feeling of satisfaction and of utter peace settled in his heart.
Home.
This was home, the first 'real' home he had ever known, and now that the months – years – had passed since the war, an absolute feeling of safety, of power and of magic had settled once more upon the magical school.
"This is all so very cozy," commented Audrey behind him, a former Ravenclaw who, for the first time, was allowed into the Gryffindor common room. In her arms, baby Molly – who'd turn one year old in a few days – cooed. With her pale blue eyes, her freckles and her newly brown curls, she was one adorable baby.
"I wish we had this view from Hufflepuff living quarters," added Hannah Abbott with a smile as she stood next to Harry by the window. And then, as an after-thought, she exclaimed, "I wanna see the dormitories." If Harry thought she was asking one of the girls, he was amused when he turned around and saw the young woman glancing at Neville with a rather naughty smile. Harry's former roommate and dear friend just grinned and grabbed her hand.
"Hey! No funny business in my bed," cried out Ron who was by the fireplace with Teddy.
"Except that, it's no longer your bed, is it?" asked Ginny with an amused smile aimed at her brother while she approached Harry.
"Well, it is for tonight!" replied Ron.
"Ah, I feel like I'm seventeen again," sighed Molly Weasley with a contented smile as she walked in the room with her husband. Arthur passed a hand in her hair and kissed her cheek.
"Oh. Slytherin common room was just so posh," said Andromeda who'd followed with Luna on her heels. "Gryffindor's feel like a wild family's room."
"That's good, though. The children will feel right at home," Fleur commented as she looked at her daughters who was now playing hide-and-seek with Teddy Lupin. At sixteen months old, Dominique had now learned to walk on her own.
Bill and Charlie were talking amongst themselves in the corner, reminiscent of their time here.
"Well," said Minerva McGonagall by the door, "I hope you'll all enjoy your stay! Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, the professors will soon start to install the outside tents for the ceremony tomorrow, if you want to come and tell us your preference."
"Alright," Ginny smiled, rather giddy. "Thank you, prof—Er, I mean, Headmistress."
McGonagall just smiled fondly at the girl. Harry grinned too and approached the strict woman.
"Yes, thank you, Headmistress."
"Ah, Mr. Potter," McGonagall said. "Anything for you." She cupped his rough cheek with a soft little pat; she was not looking so strict anymore. With one last smile, she left the common room.
Hermione walked in his field of view and poked his rib. "Congratulations, Harry. You are officially Professor McGonagall's favorite student!"
Harry gave her a bashful smile. "Yeah, I kind of figured it out when she offered me biscuits instead of detention, in our fifth year," Harry admitted with a cocky grin. People around them chuckled.
"Dude!" exclaimed Angelina with a smirk. "She let you play Quidditch on your first year!"
"She bought you a broom," George added. "Richest kid in Gryffindor and she buys him a freaking broom!"
Harry laughed.
"Let's face it, Harry," added Ron with a roll of his eyes, "you've always been McGonagall's favorite. Even Hermione didn't stand a chance."
Harry grinned some more and shrugged awkwardly.
"Well, I, for one, don't mind it, as it allows us to actually get married on Hogwarts' grounds," said Ginny with a little grin as she wrapped her arms around Harry's ribcage. "I love you," she added once Harry had also wrapped his arms around her and was looking down into her beautiful, happy eyes.
"And I love you," Harry repeated, bending down a bit to kiss her lips.
"Ugh! Get a room," Ron groaned, at which point Ginny flipped him the bird.
"Children, behave," scolded Mrs. Weasley. "Besides, no one is allowed to use the bedrooms for such activities."
"Aw, Mum," booed Bill who was quick to receive an elbow in his stomach from his wife who arbored pink cheeks.
Ron and George sniggered.
Molly put both hands on her hips. "Minerva was kind enough to allow all of us to sleep the night in the common room while the students are out for the holiday, but let's all show a bit of respect, will you?"
"Yes ma'am," her boys answered while most of her daughters-in-law hid a giggle.
"Tell that to the marrying couple," commented an amused Charlie as he noticed that, while all the couples hold themselves a bit straighter and untouching, Harry and Ginny were still pretty much in an amorous embrace, whispering sweet nothing to each other.
"That won't be a problem," stated Mrs. Weasley, "as they won't even sleep in the same dormitory."
Ginny and Harry turned their heads at that, and Ginny frowned at her mum. "Why not?" she asked, somehow indignantly, but she never got her answer as Neville and Hannah choose this moment to walk down the spiraled staircase that led to the boys' dormitories, hand in hand with bright eyes and a very healthy glow.
"Really?" snapped Molly Weasley, way more exasperated than angry. There was a loud, raucous laughter and while Hannah blushed, Neville just puzzledly blinked.
"Uh—what? How did'ya know?" Really, he just seemed relieved that it was Mrs. Weasley who was scolding him and not his own grandmother.
George genuinely smiled at the scene and Angelina smiled down at him before she went and took place on his lap, offering him a comforting hug. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," he assured her. He had never really been at Hogwarts without his twin brother. It was also the place where said brother had died, but that was not too bad, for the good memories far outweighed the bad ones.
"We'll make new memories," promised Angelina, as if she had read his mind. She then glanced over at Mr. and Mrs. Weasley who were in a conversation with Andromeda and Fleur, and she closed her lips around George's unique earlobe. "What about the prefect bathroom?" she breathed invitingly.
George slow grin told her everything she needed to know, but oddly, it was Percy who replied – how he could've heard her was beyond her.
"You won't have the password."
Angelina and George both looked at him. "Wanna bet?" teased George before he raised his voice. "Hey, Harry! Tell me you brought the map."
If Angelina and Percy were confused for a short moment, Harry rather smirked at his soon-to-be-brother-in-law. "Do you mean, this map?" He got an old, wrinkled sheet of parchment out of the pocket of his grey hoodie.
"Yes! That's my boy," devilishly smiled George as Ron and Hermione laughed.
oOo
Eventually, Harry and Ginny, accompanied by Mr. Weasley, Ron and Hermione – Harry's best men – as well as Neville and Luna – Ginny's bridesmaids – put on their winter cloaks and went to see the accommodations for tomorrow's wedding.
"Harry," resonated a voice behind them when they reached the tents, and the young man turned to see Hagrid walk towards them. With a genuine smile, the Auror went to him and was quickly engulfed into a bone crushing hug.
"How do you do, Hagrid?"
"I'm ecstatic! I cannot believe you're getting married tomorrow. You were such a tiny little babe the first time I saw you—" He choked on the emotion and dried his tears with his dotted tie. "Excuse me."
"There, there, Hagrid. Why don't you put your wand out and help us with levitating those tables," suggested professor Hooch as she patted Hagrid's huge arm.
"Right," said the half giant, taking said wand out, which had for effect to make Harry and his friends gasp at him.
"Hagrid!" exclaimed Hermione. "What happened to your pink umbrella?"
The huge wizard sent her a pleased smile. "Oh, that." All three young wizards gave him a look that pretty much meant 'yeah, that!' "Professor McGonagall and Kingsley Shacklebolt pleaded my case and made me take my N.E.W.T.s examinations last year," he told them with a beaming smile.
"That's wonderful, Hagrid," cried out Hermione before she hugged him, disappearing for a moment into his large brown coat.
"Yeah, congratulations," exclaimed Ron.
The half giant beamed, sent Harry a grin, and levitated those tables like a champ!
Harry looked at his best friends with a soft grimace. "Poor Hagrid, we haven't been very present for him if we didn't even know about that."
Ron shrugged. "We're all pretty busy with our lives, he knows that. I don't think he minds. Plus, he's been invited to all our birthday parties;" – and with all the Weasley family's members, new and old, that pretty much meant one party each month – "he could've told us at any time."
"That's Hagrid for you, though. He's not one to boast," added Hermione and the guilty feeling in Harry's stomach vanished somehow.
The Boy-Who-Lived turned his head towards his future bride, who was under her father's arm as both talked to professors Flitwick and Sinistra at the place where the altar was – or would be, once the professors were done.
"This looks gorgeous," Hermione commented at his side as she looked at Neville and Luna who were helping the professors at fixing lights and lilies garlands on the ceiling of the tents. "Marrying at Hogwarts, why didn't I think of that?"
Harry smiled at her, but all three friends restrained to comment on the obvious; one year after the war, no one would've dare to make such a bold request. But almost four years had passed now, and when Harry and Ginny had discussed their wedding ceremony, the idea had slowly infiltrate Harry's mind until one day, he'd dared to ask Ginny about her opinion. They had lived their best moments in that school... as well as their worse. The episode with the Chamber of Secret, for starter, then Dumbledore's murder and Ginny's atrocious six year, without even mentioning the actual battle, Fred and Remus and Tonks' deaths amongst others. Was it disrespectful to have a wedding at such a place? Or would it be a statement of hope, as well as a way to honor the fallen – for those were people who should have been at the wedding in the first place.
Harry and Ginny both thought so.
oOo
After the feast in the Great Hall, the Weasley family had returned to the Gryffindor tower for the night. If Andromeda, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had gone to the staff room for an after-meal drink with the professors, they had not stayed up late and were now up in the dormitories with the children. Harry, who had meant to read Teddy his bedtime story, rather spend an important amount of time telling him about his adventures at the school, especially how he and Ron had saved Hagrid's little baby dragon during his first year. Fleur, who had been listening with her two small daughters, smiled softly at him.
"The trouble you'd found yourself in," she said with a shake of her head.
"It wasn't like I was the one looking for it," Harry argued, "it usually found me."
"I have no difficulty in believing that," chuckled the Veela, remembering how his name had came out of the goblet of fire. "J'en ai été témoin." /I witnessed it./
When the kids finally felt asleep and that he and Fleur rejoined the others in the common roon, Hannah and Luna were already pushing Ginny up the stairs.
"Come on, now. You need your beauty sleep," commented Hannah with a grin.
The red-hair still managed to escape them and came to Harry, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I cannot wait to marry you," she whispered to him.
"Tomorrow," he assured her, like a promise, his green eyes shining with love. Ginny couldn't help herself and kissed him. What had started out sweet was getting pretty heated and eventually, the couple had to break it off when the girl's brothers started to boo them.
"Ginny," Hannah insisted, "you can't tonight; you need to spend the night apart in order to fully appreciate tomorrow."
"That's rubbish," complained the bride-to-be, but she gave in with a lighthearted chuckle and following her friends upstairs.
George and Angelina, obviously, had long escaped the common room. Everyone knew they now had to avoid the prefect bathroom!
Percy and Audrey were still upstairs with baby Molly, probably out for the night, and Charlie was by the fireplace with Neville, both wizards in deep conversation about plants and healing herbs that were strong enough for dragon's skin. Bill was having a conversation with Hermione about Gringotts and Goblin's rights while Ron yawned, spread out on the armchair at their side.
Fleur and Harry joined them and while Bill welcomed his wife back, pulling her on his lap, Hermione turned towards Harry who'd sat on the couch beside her.
"How do you feel?" she asked.
"Great," Harry said instantly, before he added, "nervous." He smiled then, looking around them, at the room they were in: Gryffindor common room! He never really thought he would be back here. "Favorite or not, I still cannot believe Professor McGonagall had accept to host the wedding here."
Ron and Hermione shared a grin. "You're Harry Potter," Hermione said. "When will you understand that no one would ever refuse you anything."
The young Auror had a grimace. "I didn't ask for this fame," he said simply.
"No," Hermione agreed, "but you earned it."
She hugged him then, and Harry let himself being embraced by the witch. Hermione's hugs weren't a novelty, but for her friends to be mature enough to graciously accept them was kind of new. Bill seemed surprised by the physical way their connection was suddenly revealed. This was no 'welcome back' hug nor any 'congratulations' hug. It was just an 'I appreciate you' hug; it wasn't any different than the way Ginny would hug one of her brothers, really, but for Harry and Hermione to have that kind of sibling-like relationship was peculiar to the eldest Weasley.
"I know, right?" Ron chuckled, having noticed his brother's wondering gaze. "This right here is the reason why I often felt left out of this friendship."
Both Harry and Hermione turned their head towards him.
"Please," the young woman actually scoffed. "You boys were inseparable, the two of you being the best of friends who actually had to put up with annoying bookworm-me. If anyone was anything, I was the one left out of this friendship."
Ron shook his head, not agreeing with what his wife was telling him, for Harry and Hermione had never quarreled the same way he and Harry had, sometimes. Bill and Fleur chuckled. Harry just looked at his two best friends as if a second head had appeared on both their necks.
"Uh—guys? You realise that you are actually married?" He raised a hand and pointed to his own head. "I'm the one who was left out, quite understandably at that." He laughed, only half-joking; Ron and Hermione had never made him feel like he was unwanted, and yet, they did become a couple.
"Huh," Hermione breathed out, like this was news to her.
"No way," Ron scoffed.
There was a small, suspended moment in time, as if they only just realised what it was that they were actually saying, and then all three friends dissolved into laughter! Was this truly the key to their friendship's success? That they all felt like they were the 'third friend', and at the same time knowing the other two were essential to their happiness?
"What you guys have is rare and precious," Bill said to them. "I hope you know that."
All three nodded.
"Well, I'm going to bed," Harry announced after a while. "I'm getting married tomorrow."
"Yes, you are," beamed Ron, giving him a high five.
"Goodnight," the other occupants of the room called.
"Goodnight, Harry," Hermione spoke more softly.
Soon after, Fleur and Bill followed. Hermione's gaze was on Charlie and Neville, who were still talking about dragon and healing before she nervously bit her lips, a mimic of Percy's girlfriend's habit, with who she'd spent a lot of time lately.
"What's on your mind," asked Ron gently. Hermione's head snapped up to him and she smiled tentatively.
"I have a surprise for you," she softly admitted.
Ron sat up straighter at that. "Yeah?"
Hermione nodded, gave the two former Gryffindors a furtive glance and stood up with a new resolution in her gaze. "Will you come with me?"
Ron grinned at his wife. "Always," he answered, standing up and taking her small, offered hand in his.
"Goodnight, lovebirds," came Charlie's voice when they passed through the Fat Lady portrait's hole, but Ron just smiled to himself. His brother Charlie didn't know his wife the same way Ron did. No way 'this' was what Hermione had in mind. And yet, when her steps led them to the massive staircase, Ron wondered for a moment if she was taking him to the Room of Requirements, for what better place to be intimate with the love of his life than in a room that would change and adapt to their every whim. He knew for a fact that the secret, magical room had been restored after the war. The best wizards and witches in all of Wizarding Britain had come to repair the damage done by the fiendfyre and try to give the room the same functionality as before. It now allowed students from various houses to have a place to actually mingle, a sort of fifth common room.
Ron liked to think it was sort of their Legacy to Hogwarts, what with the D.A. and all.
But Hermione took him downstairs instead, to the first floor, and Ron followed trustingly, never letting go of her hand.
'I should've known,' was Ron first thoughts when Hermione eventually pulled him into Hogwarts library after having unlocked its doors.
"Lovely," he said. Hermione smirked at him, but led him to the far end, passing in front of Mrs. Pince's empty desk and through the worktables and in between two aisles of books. There was a window there, that gave onto the lake, and a small bench that had been installed in front of it.
Hermione pointed it to him, telling him that she'd spent most of her seventh year in here, reading and thinking of him, and that she wanted to show him something important. Ron walked closer, put a knee on the bench and his hands on the window frame, and took a look around and through the window for the view.
"Alright, this is nice. What is it that you wanted to... show... me... woah!" He had turned around while speaking and his voice had died on a short gasp as his blue eyes widened with surprise at the view of his wife... now only wearing crimson lace underwear. "Hermione! Wh—?"
The young woman blushed, but smiled with delight, amused and pleased by her husband's reaction; one she'd had been maiming for.
"Wh—what are you doing?" asked Ron, his throat dry.
"I would've thought it was obvious," stated Hermione.
"Here?"
She nodded.
"Bloody hell!"
The red-hair passed a hand in his hair, quite baffled but elated by this bold move. Hermione took a step forwards and, while her lips found his – not without having to stand up on her tiptoes – her hands rather went directly for his belt. This felt a bit rushed, but Ron wasn't going to complain, lest he miss his chance! He bent down a bit to help her reach his height and with one hand, he cupped her neck and jaw while his other hand went to grab at her exposed breast. Hermione moaned deliciously.
As soon as his pants felt down his legs, Hermione pulled up on his t-shirt and discarded it on the floor. He was now naked, with a raging hard-on, by the window of the library in his old school, with his shoes still on and his pants around his ankles. He felt a bit ridiculous beside his wife who was, oh so gorgeous, but she looked like she didn't mind; if she wanted him like this, who was he to argue? She made a move to push him back to sit on the bench, but halted her movements with a sudden realisation.
"Wait!" she shrieked before she turned and took her wizarding robe, cladding the bench with it. Ron sniggered; of course, Hermione Granger-Weasley wouldn't want to profane any part of Hogwarts, especially not her precious library. "Shut up," she snapped with red cheeks as she finally pushed him down. She kneeled on the bench on each side of his thighs and grabbed his face between her palms as she kissed him deeply. Ron used his hands to caress every parcel of her soft skin. Their kisses and caresses grew in heat and intensity and quickly, Hermione found herself moving her hips with his.
"Merlin's beard, Hermione. I want you," whispered Ron with effort, trying to hold back and not urge her to do anything. She had instigated this; she clearly wanted the lead. In any case, Ron stopped kissing her delicious lips and, grabbing the lace in his grip, he pushed away the cute bra and attacked her breast and nipple with his hungry mouth.
Hermione meowed. Her pants and cries of pleasure were music to Ron's ears who chuckled with delight. And moreover, his wife seemed to understand the hidden message when she finally raised herself up, pulled her pantie to the side before to set down on him again, taking him in.
"Fuck," the young Auror grunted, placing his head in between her breasts. His large hands moved onto her back and unclasped the garment, freeing her beautiful, pale mounds at last. His hands grabbed her hips and he guided her to go faster and harder on him.
"Uh, Ron." Her fingers pulled on his hair painfully as she went through the tremors of her first orgasm. She slowed her movement a bit and her husband let her some time to catch her breath, though he wasn't quite done with her. Using his hands that were still on her waist, he made her stand up and he straightened himself a bit in order to get her pantie down her creamy legs. He made her turn around and pulled her back on him as he crouched back down, his shoulders on the cold window behind him.
He re-entered her wetness from behind and his hands cupped both breasts as he kissed and licked and nibbed at her neck. Hermione's head was bent backwards on his muscular shoulder and, tossing her heavy curls on the side with one hand, she descended the other one between her thighs. Ron's dark blue eyes were open, and he looked over her shoulder, down at her hand as she caressed herself.
"Fuck, babe, you're so freaking delectable," he breathed in her ear, at which Hermione turned her head and kissed him, her cheeks warm; Ron had always been one to swear a lot, which was a habit Hermione still tried to correct on a daily basis, but when it came to sex, she had to admit it turned her on.
On the skin of her back, she could feel his abs contract with every deep thrusts. "More," she panted.
Slowly, Ron descended one hand on her soft belly and his fingers mixed with hers before he took the lead from her. She held on his forearms, her small fingers encircling his scarred skin. When the young witch got her second orgasm, it was all of her husband doing. It wasn't long before he followed her into blissful high, too.
They stayed like that a few moments unmoving, just catching their breath. Ron's hand kept on caressing his wife's exposed skin. Oh, how he adored her. His thumb followed the scar that was on her left breast, and if at first it had been a move Hermione had opposed to, she now knew how beautiful he truly found her and she accepted the caress.
"That was... more fun that I'd expected," said Hermione with laughter in her voice.
"Oh, it was, wasn't it?" Ron low laugh made his ribcage resonate behind her. "The library, huh? How long have you been fantasying about this one?"
"Not that long," admitted Hermione with a smile. "Only since we've been engaged."
Ron snorted loudly. "That's your whole final year." Hermione only shrugged and Ron kissed her shoulder. "I'd missed you, too, that year."
Hermione smiled at that. "I, uh—I never really thought I was going to dare it, though," she admitted with a laugh. In any case, she never thought she would be back at Hogwarts with Ron as her husband, so that had always just been a fantasy that made her blush to herself in the dark at night...
"Whose idea was it?" suddenly asked Ron. "To dare it?"
Hermione frowned and turned a bit towards him to look in his eyes, but since they were still 'joined', her movements apparated awkward.
"What do you mean? Can't a wife surprise her husband?"
Ron's eyes softened. He looked no longer amused, but grateful. "Of course, she can," he said, passing his fingers through her dark curls. "But she shouldn't feel obligated if this makes her uncomfortable." He slowly kissed her pouting lips and Hermione seemed to melt into his embrace. She loved that he realised the effort she had put into this naughty surprise. She also loved that he wasn't asking it out of her. He knew her and her limits. Beside, they had more passion and libido than your average couple and both Ron and Hermione were satisfied on that account, even if it meant to have routinely-planned sex in their comfortable bed, in their comfortable room, in their comfortable life. There was no real need to 'spice up' their sexual life.
"Who knows we're here?" asked Ron, which was pretty much the same question than before, only asked differently.
"No one," replied Hermione and then she shook her head with a sheepish grin. "Ginny might've her doubts, but no confirmation."
Ron chuckled. "Figure." He kissed her once more. "Thank you. Now I might remember Hogwarts' library as fondly as you do."
Hermione truly laughed at that, which made Ron grunt as his hands found their way back onto her hips. The tremors of her laugh had indeed sent the most delicious sensation back to his groin and he was gradually becoming hard again.
"Oh," Hermione gasped, feeling him grow wider inside of her. "Really?" She looked around, as if she was hoping to get her clothes on soon and get out of here, lest they get caught, clearly becoming uncomfortable and more aware now that her need had been somewhat quenched.
But Ron only smirked. "You know I have stamina, love," he told her. "Don't know why you're acting this surprised. I'm not done with you, yet." He stood up with her quite abruptly then, sliding out of her. He turned her to face him and gently pushed her down the bench, placing himself between her spread knees. Sweet Godric, his wife was beautiful in the moonlight! Her dark eyes were fixed on him with such warmth, readying herself to let him ravish her. She was reminded now why it was that fast and quiet sex in different locations wasn't in their habits, for with Ron, it was never quick nor restrained.
And, true to his words, he brought her to ectasia two more times.
oOo
They reached the Gryffindor common room, unaware of the couple who followed them, and so, when Ron entered first and extended his hand to help Hermione walk through the hole, he was unpleasantly surprised to see George clap his hand in his.
"Thank you, little bro! That's very courteous of you."
"Oof!" Ron took his hand back and wiped it on his pants while Hermione and Angelina followed with a few chuckles.
"Oh, it's so very late, we'll look awful tomorrow," cried out Angelina with a small smile. She didn't look like she regretted her evening though, as she carried an amused, brazen light in her eyes. "At least George and I have no important role in the ceremony, but you two," she accused, eyeing Ron and Hermione. "I mean, I was ovulating tonight, but what is your excuse?"
Ron opened his mouth as if to say that that was way too much information, but Hermione replied first with a loud, delighted squeal as she wrapped her arms around the beautiful witch.
"You guys are trying to conceive!"
"We are," Angelina responded with a smile and a soft glance towards her husband, who just looked so happy.
"Aw, can you imagine, getting pregnant at Harry and Ginny's wedding?!" continued Hermione, clearly charmed by the possibility.
Ron shared an alarmed glance with his brother. Oh, no, he couldn't imagine that, or anything related to that. Gosh, he hoped Hermione had not forgotten to take her contraceptive potion at the beginning of the month!
George looked equally panicked, but for a very different raison. "Merlin's knickers, don't tell them, or we would owe them a middle name!"
Hermione giggled at the imaginative swear, unaware of her husband inner's panic, and she made the classic move as if to zip her lips close. "Your secret is safe with us, right Ron?"
"Uh—yes," stammered the Auror, forcing a smile. George clapped a hand on his shoulder, took Angelina's hand, and the couple disappeared up the stairs.
"Angie's right, you know," Hermione told him. "We'll look awful tomorrow if we do not get some sleep, now." Imitating George, she took his hand and pulled him up the stairs.
oOo
Victoire was beautiful. Her little puffy white and golden dress made her look like a doll and her pale blond hair was held back with a lily flower. The darling girl glowed at the people's attention and awed murmurs.
Teddy followed, missing a step, but he straightened with the cutest little grin and people chuckled at him. His hair was the most vibrant shade of blue and it contrasted horribly with his swell little burgundy formalwear, but he clearly had not a care in the world as he winked at his godfather.
Harry smiled at the boy, placing him in front of him with both hands on his shoulders; Victoire had joined her parents in the first row of guests as soon as she'd finished her walk. Luna and Neville walked the aisle next, both gorgeous in their golden formalwear. Harry shared a grin with them both before he turned to look at Ron and Hermione at his side.
Always at his side.
Hermione's one-sleeved burgundy dress fitted her rich, dark eyes beautifully, but since the color contrasted awfully with Ron's hair, the young Auror wore only a black shirt with a dark-red tie that matched both his pants and Harry's tuxedo.
If getting married at Hogwarts had been Harry's demand, Ginny had asked for a Gryffindor-colored theme and at that point, Harry could hardly refuse her anything.
He raised his eyes when Neville and Luna arrived and took place on his other side, and he met Arthur Weasley's eyes, as he was now walking towards him, following the new tempo of the music. The man sent the nervous groom a wink and Harry relaxed as his eyes finally travelled to the petite witch walking towards him next to her father.
Ginny's long red hair was falling on her back in soft, curly waves. Her wedding dress made her look like a true princess – probably on purpose – the gold pattern on the puff tissue of her skirt and on her V-necked torso being a mirror image of the velvet pattern of his dark-red suit.
She had a discreet smile, big soft-brown eyes shining with raw happiness, but when she noticed his green eyes upon her, her smile transformed into the most beautiful grin as her nose suddenly wrinkled cutely and an amused tongue peeked through her white teeth. Harry chuckled; she irradiated beauty and love, and people in the audience looked at her in awe. Harry shook his head, amused by her giddiness, and he passed a hand through his wild hair that had refused to cooperate even for this one, special day. He wondered for a short second why, oh why, he had felt so nervous a few seconds ago, for this woman was everything he wished for, and more.
The Boy-Who-Lived had rarely felt this assured in all of his life. He'd woke up this morning with a flimsy feeling of fright in his stomach; not that he was having any doubts or second thoughts, but for one small, dreadful moment, he had realized just how amazing the Weasleys were, and how he considered them all like his own family and, his treacherous mind made him realise that, if for any reason he were to mess it up with Ginny, he wasn't going to just lose her, and her family...
He was going to lose his entire family.
But now, just now, seeing her here, seeing her like that, remembering who she was, what she meant to him, how could he have ever doubted that she might not be the one?
"Wow," he breathed when Arthur and Ginny finally arrived at his side and people laughed softly, making Harry realise that he hadn't been as quiet as he had thought.
The officiant, Kingsley Shacklebolt himself, asked, "Who gives this witch to be married to this wizard?"
"I do," Mr. Weasley spoke up. "Oh, I gladly do," he added with pride, kissing his daughter's cheek and placing her hand in Harry's waiting one.
"Daddy," Ginny murmured with emotion, but Arthur Weasley just stepped back and went to sit next to his wife who was kind of already crying. "Mum," Ginny whispered with a startled chuckled.
Harry tightened his hold on her fingers, and she gave him and Teddy all of her attention, then. She smiled at the former and winked at the latter. Despite the extravagance of their grandiloquent decorations, and her stunning wedding gown, Ginny wore very little make-up, making her look like herself, freckles included.
"You're beautiful," Harry whispered with raw emotion and, unable to hold herself back, Ginny smiled and stepped in to kiss him, her arms wrapping around his shoulders. There was laughter and several ushered exclamations from the crowd as Kingsley chuckled softly.
"Let's get you married before we get to that point, shall we?"
"Sorry," Ginny giggled, taking her lips away from his and stepping back. She looked at their guests and family. "Sorry," she repeated with a falsely cringed-smile.
Unlike Ron and Hermione, Harry and Ginny had decided against exchanging very personal self-written vows. They just wanted to get married already, and Harry found that, considering his dislike for being the center of attention, as well as Ginny's urgency to be declared his wife, they had chosen right.
Teddy stayed to their side until the rings were given, after which he found himself up in Ron's arms.
"Harry James Potter," Ginny started, placing the ring on his finger and taking her wand out to seal the vows around their wrists, "today I join my life to yours as your friend, your lover, and your confident. Let me be the shoulder you lean on, the rock on which you rest, the companion of your life. With you I will walk my path from this day forward."
A soft-blue light settled against the skin of their joined hands.
"Ginevra Molly Weasley," Harry repeated with the same words, the same gestures, the same vows, "today I join my life to yours as your friend, your lover, and your confident. Let me be the shoulder you lean on, the rock on which you rest, the companion of your life. With you I will walk my path from this day forward."
They were pre-rehearsed vows, but they did choose them personally and found them fitting.
"In the name of Merlin, Nimuë and the four Founders, I now pronounce you husband and wife," finally declared Kingsley, having added the last part because of the emplacement they had chosen. "Ginny," he then said with mirth, waiting for the girl to actually look at him before he continued. "You may now kiss your husband," he allowed.
"About time!" commented the bride. People in the crowd laughed and applauded as Ginny Potter literally jumped in Harry's arms and attacked his mouth, her teammates of the Harpies laughing the loudest, while the DA clapped with hilarity and her brothers protested at the heated kiss.
oOo
Harry and Ginny's wedding had truly seemed otherworldly and fairy-tale like, filling most of the dreams and fantasies Ginny must've had as a little girl. And Harry had humored her because that boy was just so smitten with the young Weasley, there was no other word for it. And yet, Ginny was a strong, independent and fierce witch and when Ron had forgotten that for a moment, teasing her with his amusing speech, it had changed the flavor of the reception. What had started chic and elegant had turned into this big family party with boisterous laughter and silly dances and SO MUCH alcohol.
Angelina, obviously, didn't indulge. And so, she was practically the only one who could recall the whole evening. People had been chatting and having a good time, drinking champagne and eating various kind of tapas as appetizer when Ron had interrupted by clacking his fork on his glass of champagne:
"I would simply like to say a few words." The crowd became quiet and all eyes were on the young Auror as he looked at his best friend and sister. "First of all, Harry, welcome to the family, mate!" People applauded while the Weasley brothers hooted and whistled their joy. Harry blushed and nodded his thanks. But then, instead of keeping on talking about Harry – his best friend and soul-brother – Ron rather looked at his little sister. "Ginny, sweetie."
That should've been the first clue, for Ron never really gave his sister any cute names. "I prepared a little speech for you—"
"Ron, don't," Hermione interjected but Ron shushed her with a sign of his hand and Hermione only pinched her lips, a mix between contrariety and amusement.
That should've been their second clue.
Ron cleared his throat and got a small sheet of parchment from the front of his shirt. He waited dramatically for everyone to truly listen before he opened his mouth.
"His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad,
His hair is as dark as a blackboard.
I wish he was mine, he's really divine,
the hero who conquered the Dark Lord.
"Well, congratulations, sis; he's yours now!"
There was a silence of uncertainty, but when the first snort of laughter came from Mrs. Weasley herself, and that she had to put a hand on her mouth to keep from laughing, all hell broke loose. People laughed and clapped at the well-draughted poem. Harry couldn't help but laugh along, for which Ginny gave him an annoyed look.
"That's it. I've had enough, Ronald Weasley," the witch shrugged like she had no other choice, "I'm gonna kill you!" And then the bride got out of her seat and bolted towards her brother quite murderously. Ron squeaked his fright and jumped on his feet, running out of the tent and into the dark and the snow. Ginny followed and people laughed.
"A real spitfire, this one," commented Auror Dawlish, Harry's new boss at his side, at which the newly married man could only agree. His eyes met Dean's and he felt a bit awkward for a moment, though his former dormmate smiled at him genuinely.
"I'm sorry," said Hermione, walking towards Harry. "I told him that it wasn't a good idea."
"What are you talking about?" Charlie asked at their side. "That was brilliant! Fresh pickled toad," he added for himself, cackling with mirth, having only heard of said poem and never having known its content before tonight.
Harry just laughed, readjusting his glasses and hiding behind a long strand of dark hair – as if it could shield the color of his eyes – and Seamus clapped his shoulder with amusement.
When both Ron and Ginny came back, the young bride displayed an air of satisfaction despite the wet, ruined bottom of her skirt and her bruised knuckled.
Ron's black eye was magnificent.
Unlike Angelina's wedding to George, during which half the happy tears had been shed with a heavy heart at her husband's missing twin, Ginny and Harry's reception was light and amusing. There was only one moment, really, where people got emotive, and it was during the traditional father-daughter dance which, per usual, asked for the groom and his own mother to join them. And so, when Harry and Mrs. Weasley got to the dance floor with soft smiles, people aww'ed.
Ginny danced with Teddy next, while Harry entertained Andromeda Tonks until she got swept away by Mr. Lovegood. And for the next hour, both the bride and the groom switched partners; Ginny danced with all of her brothers, Neville and Kingsley Shacklebolt while Harry spent three dances with Hermione, before he partnered with Luna, Hannah and Professor McGonagall. Eventually, the married couple joined again and, despite their guests' hilarity, they snogged more than they actually danced, lost in their little bubble of happiness.
Angelina got dragged on the dance floor by an enthusiastic Lee Jordan for a few songs while her husband entertained both Victoire and Teddy. George was very different when he was with children, and Angelina really wished she could get pregnant soon. They had been trying for over six months now, and even though she knew it wasn't that long, as Katie and Alicia had assured her, when it came to the Weasley family, she also knew it had been the longest 'trying to conceive' period to this date. She couldn't help but wonder if she was the problem, here.
She left her dance partner and her friends for some refreshments and sat at one of the tables for a breather. This was Harry and Ginny's wedding and there was no need to put any baby-pressure on her shoulders right at this moment; what were meant to happen would happen, she thought rationally.
Nonetheless, her gaze went to Bill and Fleur, who'd conceived so easily; they were together now, and talking softly. Bill had sixteen-month-old Dominique on his hip and was telling something to his wife who threw her head back and laughed out loud. The half-Veela was truly beautiful when she laughed freely. She went ahead and took Dominique from him then, and Bill left her to invite his mum to the dance floor, next to where Neville and professor Sprout were performing a jig.
Angelina looked at Percy and Audrey next, as she thought about their surprise-daughter that neither of them had really planned. The ministry employees were sitting at one of the tables and were talking with Kingsley, Hestia Jones and other witches and wizards Angela didn't particularly recognized. Percy was nibbling a second serving of the wedding cake while Audrey looked around in order to locate her daughter, her fingers tenderly caressing Percy's arm somewhat unconsciously. Angelina wondered if they realised just how close they'd grown over the last year.
The witch followed Audrey's gaze and saw little Molly in her grand-father's arms. But then she did a double-take and focused on a scene that was happening behind the Weasley patriarch; Charlie Weasley was currently shamelessly flirting with Gwenog Jones from the Harpies.
They weren't even subtle about it; his lips were stuck to her earlobe while her hand touched the waistband of his pants and caressed his abs. Luckly, they were close to the door of the tent and a few seconds later, they both disappeared outside.
Angelina chuckled to herself.
"You saw that, didn't you?" asked a voice behind her and the dark-skinned witch turned to see the bride smile down at her.
"You did too?"
Ginny nodded with an amused grimace as she sat, her cheeks red and her eyes shining. "I hope they freeze their butts off in the snow, that would teach them." Angelina laughed; she knew Ginny was hoping that her team's captain et her brother's actions wouldn't impact on her team. But both were free spirits and if anything, they had entered into this 'thing' tonight knowing that neither of them wished for more.
"Are you having a good time?" Ginny asked her sister-in-law.
"Yeah," Angelina smiled genuinely.
"You don't drink?" Ginny pushed, eyeing the glass of flat water in Angie's hands.
"Uhm... no."
A slow grin appeared on Ginny's face. "Are you—?"
Angelina shook her head. "I don't know. I mean... I could be." Ginny just smiled and hugged her, not asking for more, for which Angelina was grateful.
Teddy Lupin came to join them suddenly out of nowhere, and he snuggled on Ginny's lap, looking quite tired.
"My, my, Sweetheart," Ginny cooed. "We will have to ask Grandma Andy if she's ready to leave soon; you look knackered."
The little boy nodded sheepishly. His grandmother was currently speaking with Hermione and close to them, Ron and Harry seemed to be having one of their private conversations. Angelina smiled at their closeness, thinking that once upon a time, it was her husband and twin brother who had seemed the closest of all.
"Thank you," Angelina said after a while and the red-haired witch just looked at her for an explanation, her fingers soothing Teddy as they played with his hair. "Having such an event here forced George to come back, and I think that was good for him. It gave him some sort of closure; he needed this."
Ginny just nodded, her eyes searching for her drop-out brother. George must've felt the witches' gazes on him because he raised his head from his talk with Lee and Alicia and waved at his wife and sister.
"You're very welcome," Ginny murmured with understanding.
Angelina smiled to herself. If she and George had indeed conceived over the weekend, at Hogwarts, then she would owe Harry or Ginny a middle name, she decided.
oOo
"Ugh. What time is it?" Harry groaned while Ginny sat in the bed and stopped the alarm clock.
"Five," she said, raising from the bed and tiptoeing around to get some fresh underwear from her discarded luggage on the floor. She hadn't taken the time to unpack yesterday since, as soon as they'd entered their house, Harry had wanted to 'celebrate' their return.
Ginny and Harry had gone to the Continent for their honeymoon. Since it was January, it wasn't such a good idea to go to romantic cities like Paris or Amsterdam, like Ron and Hermione and George and Angelina had done before them, and so they rather got a cabin in the Alps of Switzerland, spending the best of the week making sweet love in front of the fireplace and drinking wine in the bathtub that came with a gorgeous, snowy mountain view!
They'd arrived home late in the night.
"Why so early?" Harry moaned grumpily.
"Quidditch practice," his wife explained, walking towards the bathroom and turning on the faucet. She waited until the water was hot before she stepped in, enjoying the way her muscles relaxed. Cold or tempered water was better to wake her up, but giving her activities of the past week, she preferred to sooth her sore muscles, even if she would appear draggy at her practice.
Ginny was about to step out when suddenly, the door of the shower opened, and her new husband stepped in.
"Harry!"
"Good morning," he smiled, his hand cupping Ginny's jaw and his mouth crashing on hers.
"Hmgf—don't make me late," protested the young professional Quidditch player, small hands caressing the bare torso that pressed against her own.
"I promise, I'll be quick," Harry answered with jumping eyebrows, which amused his wife immensely.
"Not too quick, though."
"No," he promised with a laugh, "not too quick."
His mouth found her lips again and with his whole body, he trapped her small, athletic one between his and the shower wall. Harry still wasn't the tallest, biggest wizard out there, but he'd grown somewhat between his teen years and his twenties. He was now a good four inches taller than his wife. His shoulders had also gotten broader with the Auror training, and his stomach was flat and started to be chiselled. His thighs were getting muscular, too, since the training focused on the legs just as much as it did the upper body, making him lean and proportionate. His short beard was – most of the time – unkept and unshaven, and his hair was getting longer and longer; soon, he would be able to knot them at the back of his head.
Ginny loved the new look. Her hands grabbed the dark hair and pulled on his head gently until Harry got the message and descended his kisses in her neck and on her breasts.
"Mhm, sweet Circe," Ginny gasped as her head hit the tile wall behind her, relishing in the sensations Harry induced on her body. Caressing her neck, breast, rib and belly, Harry descended a hand between her thighs and touched her there, delicately. He sniggered boastfully when he noticed her advanced state of arousal – which quite honestly matched his – and he wrapped the hand behind her knee next, raising her leg around his hip. With just the right bend of knees and angle, he slid into her. "Oh!"
The water fell on his back as he thrusted slow and deep into his wife, repeatedly and intensely. They weren't kissing anymore, brown eyes fixed into green. One of his hand was on the wall on the side of Ginny's head while the other still held her leg up; Ginny's both hands were into his hair while she tries to keep the foot on the floor from slipping away. When she finally lost footing, it only brought her closer to Harry's pelvis and they both moaned.
"Fuck, love—"
"Just... just keep going," Ginny commended, panting. "It feels so good."
Harry groaned his approval, pleased; he loved to make Ginny lose her mind! He redoubled his efforts, thrusting more vigorously into her and against her, rubbing his lower body against that sensible part of her. When his head went down and he grabbed a nipple between his lips, Ginny's walls clenched around him as she cried out.
If all those sensations and her intoxicating body responses hadn't been enough for Harry to find his own release, then the look of utter love, devotion and desire his wife gave him would have sufficed to send him over the edge.
Unlike her, he didn't manage to keep staring at her and he instead closed his eyes as he shrugged and emptied inside her. Ginny's hurtful hold on his hair loosened and she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. Harry let go of her leg and, as she stood up on her own, he slowly slid out of her and wrapped both arms around her back.
"The honeymoon's over," whined his wife against his shoulder.
"For now," said Harry, "but you know, we might see each other again. Tonight, in fact."
Ginny giggled.
They finally let go of each other and Harry stepped out of the shower while Ginny quickly washed her thighs and center. Harry's semen disappeared down the drain.
"At what time do you have to pick Teddy up," Ginny asked through the shower's door.
"I haven't set a time with Andromeda, but I promised Teddy it would be early."
The witch nodded as she stepped out of the shower and started to dry herself and her long hair, which reached her waist now. She fought with it for a while before she managed to get it knot-free and into a ponytail.
"You know, I'm thinking about cutting my hair," she told Harry conversationally. The young wizard just gasped at her, stopping his movements halfway with his pants unbuttoned on his hips, his feet still bare and his shirt open, uncaring about his wet hair dampening it. Ginny frowned at his reaction. "What? You don't think that would be a good idea?" she asked, putting her knickers and sport-bra on.
"I don't know," Harry confessed, unsure about those kinds of things. "You'll be beautiful no matter what; I'm just used to seeing you with long hair."
Ginny chuckled. "Smooth, Potter." Harry grinned.
They kept on getting dressed for the day. By the time they arrived in the kitchen, Kreacher had prepared tea and porridge with a plate of fruits. Ginny ignored the breakfast and with her wand, she put flames into the fireplace.
"You're not eating?" asked Harry, surprised.
"It's past six. I'm going to be late," argued the young Harpies chaser.
"Ginny," Harry insisted. "Eat. We barely slept; we had way too much sex; and you hardly ate anything yesterday either. No one in your team will thank you if you faint."
The red-haired witch rolled her eyes. "Okay, Mum."
"Husband," Harry clarified, which made Ginny laugh. "It's my job now to take care of you."
"I love you," she said, taking a seat at his side and kissing him some more before she grabbed a cup of tea and a bowl of porridge.
By the time Ginny got into the Quidditch's pitch, she had fifteen minutes late, which made her teammates laugh.
"Morning shag?" Karrie O'Neil, one of the beaters, asked with mirth.
"Just eating breakfast," Ginny denied with a roll of her eyes.
"Alright, bitches, gather 'round," Gwenog suddenly called, using her bat to slap her co-beater's bum. Ginny and her teammates walked closer to their captain. The proud woman nodded towards Ginny, silently stating that she was glad that she was back and got her wand out. "Before we start, the team have a little something for you, Weas—uh—Potter."
Ginny smiled. As much as she'd wanted to be married to this man and wear his name, it would be an adjustment for everyone, including herself.
Slowly, she looked at the huge white box that flew into Valmai's hands at Gwenog's accio, and her fellow Chaser gave it to her. Opening the lid, Ginny noticed one of their usual green Quidditch robe with the proud logo of the Holyhead Harpies on it. But on its back, instead of her usual 'Weasley', it was written in gold letter:
006
POTTER
Oh, the Daily Prophet, the Witches' Weekly and, more appropriately, the Seeker's Weekly would have a field day with her new name. Ginny grinned, somewhat giddily. "Brilliant! Thanks, girls."
Gwenog nodded with a smirk. They didn't like unrequired publicity, but this, they would allow.
"Okay, listen up. A year and a half from now, there will be the Quidditch World Cup 2003." The news was welcomed with acclamations amongst the small group of women. The break during the war had the 1998 World Cup reported in 1999, which pushed down a whole year all of the World Cups to come.
Gwenog continued, "Some captains or coaches from the League's teams don't like it when their players tryout for the national team, as they often found themselves less focused on the yearly matches, but, as I – myself – want to try to be selected, I think it only fair to allow you the same courtesy. So yeah, let's practice and kick asses!"
Ginny came home that night completely beat from her day, and her head filled with the possibilities. If only she could qualify for the World Cup! She would be the youngest woman player in history – youngest Chaser to be sure – and only second youngest player overall after Viktor Krum in 1994!
With this new goal in mind, the next several weeks passed in quick succession of days full of intense Quidditch practices, late nights filled with unhurried lovemaking with her new husband, and early mornings brimming of laughter and joy shared with her sweet little boy. If she made sure to attend to George's weekly gathering with her siblings, she did skip a few family brunches in favor for intensive Quidditch practices on the weekend.
Ginny Potter had a new dream, and she focused on it the only way she knew how: with devotion and determination.
oOo
March had come around with its warmth weather and Charlie smiled as he entered the secluded Quidditch pitch in Wales, looking up at his little sister as she scored beautifully.
"Woot! Way to go, Gin!" He shouted with both hands around his mouth.
Seven heads turned towards him with mixed expression of startlement, amusement and confusion.
"Hi, Weasley," cooed a low, feminine voice as Gwenog Jones landed next to him. "This is a private practice," she told him with a sexy smirk.
"Aye," Charlie approved. "I just need to borrow my little sister for lunch," he told her with a seductive smile in return. Gwenog cocked an eyebrow.
"What's going on?" asked Ginny as she landed at their side.
Charlie looked at her with an annoyed expression – very different from the look he had been giving Gwenog just a few instants earlier. "Ginny, you promised Angelina you would be there for today's brunch," he reminded her.
The red-haired witch blinked. "Oh. Well, something came up," Ginny explained uselessly as she looked around at the pitch and her teammates. Right now, training was important, her priority. Family brunch could happen later. Charlie knew that.
But Charlie frowned and shook his head. "Come on, now. George and Angelina postponed their announcement for weeks, waiting for you to be present. We all guessed it, but you."
Comprehension and guilt filled Ginny's chest as she deflated, thoroughly berated. "You think she's pregnant?"
"Yes."
"Did they tell Mum and Dad?"
"They told no one, but each week you don't show up, Angie gets wistful, and George gets irked," he told her. "Be there today," he added with a plea.
Ginny nodded and looked apologetically at her captain.
"Just go," Gwenog told her with a smile.
"Thank you!" Ginny smiled and followed her brother out of the training pitch. He passed a muscular arm around her shoulders and was commenting on her broom when a voice stopped them.
"Hey, Weasley!"
The siblings stopped and turned their head toward the Harpies' captain. Knowing her teammate did not call her Weasley anymore and thus was clearly addressing her brother, Ginny looked up at the dragonologist's face. His salacious smirk made her giggled.
"Yes?"
"What are you doing tonight?" asked Gwenog. She shushed her players with a wave of her hand when they sniggered.
Charlie's eyes darkened as he looked at the woman in her Quidditch attire, her tight pants and jersey showing her fit body; her long braided hair matching her dark gaze. She looked different but as sexy as she'd been in her dress at Harry and Ginny's wedding.
"You?" he replied after a few second of intense ogling. Ginny fake-heaved with disgust at the lewd reply.
But Gwenog didn't seem to mind. "Count on it," grinned the witch.
"Ew, Gwen," Ginny exclaimed, but her brother just tousled her chin-length hair into a bird nest before he pushed her away with a laugh. Ginny cackled, knowing exactly why it was Charlie who had come to get her from the pitch.
He'd hoped for an encore.
oOo
"Oh, Ginny, your hair," cried out her mum as soon as she and Charlie arrived trough the floo, the delicious odors filling her senses. She'd gone home to change first and was now wearing a nice blouse with tight jeans and flat shoes.
"Hi, Mum," she smiled while Molly cupped her cheeks and forced her to turn her head from one side to the other. If the front fringe reached her chin, the back of her hair was cut short – shaved really – on the nape of her neck. Bill smirked at her from the back of the kitchen, understanding better than anyone the situation she got herself in.
"Oooh, it is even shorter than Harry's now," Molly disapproved, though if she was against Ginny's short haircut or Harry's long one, it wasn't clear. Probably both.
"Molly," intervened her dad. "She's beautiful. Let her be."
Ginny escaped her mother's grip and took place at the table beside her husband, eyeing his manbun and dark bearded jaw with satisfaction; Merlin, that man was sexy! "Hi."
"Fancy meeting you here," Harry replied with a softness in his green eyes, bending over her to slowly kiss her full lips.
There was a disgruntled sound. "They're so sweet they're making my teeth ache," commented Bill with amusement and disdain. Charlie snorted while Audrey and Percy, sitting at the other side of the table, chuckled softly, their fourteen-month-old daughter on Percy's lap.
Ginny forced herself to pull back. "Am I really gone too often?" she asked, kind of self-conscious about her behavior of the last few months.
Harry replaced his glasses and shook his head. "Ted and I are your biggest fans," he assured her. "You know that."
"But?" Ginny insisted when she saw Harry's smile felt at the corner.
"But yeah; we miss you." He grinned sheepishly and passed a hand on his tied, dark hair.
Ginny pinched her lips and lowered her eyes. "I'm sorry."
"Ginny! You came!" a voice suddenly exclaimed as Angelina, George, Ron and Hermione joined the rest of the family in the kitchen. "Yay!" added Angelina as she passed her arms around Ginny's shoulders and hugged her from behind, her long tresses falling over the red-hair's arms.
"Hey," smiled Ginny. "I told you I would come, didn't I?" she said, meeting Charlie's amused gaze. He looked down when something hit his legs and bend over to pick Dominique up.
"Unca Zarlie," cooed the little girl, her red curls bouncing around her chubby baby-cheeks.
Fleur looked at her daughter and smiled. "Where are Teddy and Victoire?" she asked, suddenly aware that her oldest was missing. Unbeknownst to her, they would ask this question a lot over the upcoming years.
"Last I saw them, they were in the garden," Hermione said.
"I'll go get them," Ron proposed.
"Wait!" George stopped him. "Since we have all of you here for the first time in a long while—" His eyes accused Ginny, who fidgeted uncomfortably in his wife's arms. "—we have some news to tell you all."
Ron smiled at his brother and stayed put, placing both arms around Hermione's middle as he leaned against the doorframe and pulled her into his embrace. Angelina let go of Ginny's shoulders and joined her husband as he took her hand and kissed it.
"Ohhh!" Molly Weasley sighed emotionally, looking at George and then at Angelina with a shaky hand on her lips. "Are you pregnant, then?" Behind her, Arthur looked at his son and his wife with the same hopefulness in his blue eyes.
Angelina grinned at her in-laws. "We are," she confirmed with a happy sob. Oh, how she'd waited to say that!
"Oh, dear girl," smiled Arthur, pleased for them.
"Oh, Georgie," cooed Molly. She took a step forwards and enveloped her son into a hug. George passed his arms around her, grinning.
"What the f—k, Mum! You practically ignored me when I told you my wife was pregnant, but oh, Georgie, how magnificent he is!" cried out Bill, which made all of his siblings laugh. The whole atmosphere in the kitchen was amused and joyful.
Molly completely ignored her eldest as she addressed George and Angelina. "Do you already know what you're having? A boy, perhaps?! A girl…? Twins?"
George's smile felt a bit at that, but his eyes stayed happy and contented and oh, so proud when he confessed: "It's a girl."
"Aww!" cooed Ginny, happy for her brother. So far, every Weasley boy had had a little girl and knowing exactly how her brothers had been with her growing up, she thought it absolutely fitting! It was like some sort of reversed karma – a deserving gift, rather – for having taken such good care of her.
"We already have a name for her," added Angelina with a pleased smile. "Roxanne."
"OH!" most of the Weasley siblings exclaimed with glee – even Harry –, while Hermione, Audrey and Fleur shared a confused smile.
"Like Roxanne Davis, the best beater of the Appleby Arrows," Ron explained to his wife and sisters-in-law. "She was – is – Fred and George's favorite player. She's literally the reason her team won that famous 16-day-long match against the Vratsa Vultures!"
"A Quidditch's reference, go figures," Hermione chuckled.
"Yeah, well, we do hope she'll like Quidditch," Angelina confessed, "for we want her full name to be Roxanne Ginevra Weasley."
Ginny's head swiped toward the future parents, flabbergasted. Beside her, Harry grinned, passing a hand on the nape of her neck. "Me?" she asked, her brown eyes wide, her smiled hesitant. "Why me?"
George grinned. "Well, Roxanne Harry didn't have the same, nice ring to it." Amidst the laughter, both Harry and Ginny frowned at that.
"Uh—what?" Harry questioned, confused.
"The prefect bathroom," Percy suddenly laughed. "You guys conceived at their wedding!"
"The prefect bathroom?" Molly Weasley exclaimed, appalled. "Oh, no, you didn't!"
The whole kitchen was filled with sniggering sounds as George opened his mouth, then closed it, and opened it again, shrugging. "Well, what did you expect us to do, Mum? We were on a schedule," he explained, referring to Angelina's ovulating period.
Molly's only answer was to smack the back of his head.
"Who else had marital relationship in that school?" She asked quite outraged. There was a heavy silence around the table, at which Molly took great offense. "Unbelievable!"
Her children started to laugh again. Actually, not all of them had had intercourse during that famous weekend. Charlie sure did, but he was on the grounds and not into the school. Harry and Ginny had floo'ed home before they'd engaged into anything, and Fleur and Audrey had kept their respective husband and boyfriend in check. But they'd all stayed silent to cover for the last couple.
It was Hermione's red cheeks that betrayed her as she took a step back from her husband, as if touching him was incriminating.
"Hermione, not you too?" Molly scolded with disappointment while the young Muggleborn witch put both hands on her hot cheeks.
"The library, wasn't it?" George chuckled with a wink at which Hermione's eyes widened.
"Shut up, George," Ron vehemently snapped, surprising his brothers and parents.
"The library?!" Molly screeched.
"Oh, my God," Hermione silently whined at Ron's side, closing her eyes and hiding behind her hands. This was not happening. How mortifying!
"Well," said Molly, trying to find her cool and make a joke out of it. "Well, perhaps that was what it took for you two to give me a grandson at last, yes?"
Bill and Charlie cackled while George stepped back, grabbing Angelina's dress to pull her with him. Audrey smiled and Fleur's beautiful eyes danced with humour. Harry and Ginny turned in their chairs to look at their friends behind them.
Ron's enraged face had lost all its color, looking blemish and bothered. "No, Mum. Hermione and I, we don't even want children. Not now, not ever. So, you can stop asking now."
Mrs. Weasley looked baffled.
The small brunette witch blinked first at her husband, then at the whole family. She forced a smile and a weak "Excuse me," and turned to escape the kitchen.
Her reaction only made Ron angrier. "I hope you're happy; you just ridiculed a very special moment. My wife is a private person; she isn't the kind to want a shag in every public location we found ourselves in…" He eyed his best friend and sister. "Unlike some."
'What?' mouthed a vexed Ginny to her husband for she felt unfairly targeted by the taunt.
"Hey, now, watch it," warned Harry in his most threatening Auror voice, defending his wife while her parents looked at them quite shockingly.
But Ron didn't care, for he knew Ginny was the only one to have known about their little sexcapade in the Hogwarts library. Had she told George? Did he guess on his own? Was it the map? Either way, the result was the same.
"You had no right to share that information, Ginny. Nor you, George," Ron spat, turning on his heels and following his wife.
There was an uncomfortable silence for a short moment, until Arthur cleared his throat and put both hands on his wife's shoulders.
"Well, Angie darling. Congratulations for your baby-girl."
oOo
Hermione looked around and let out a small, shaky laugh; Ron's childhood bedroom was ridiculous. All orange and cramped with countless of Chudley Cannons' posters. She wondered for a moment if there was a player Ron liked more than the others, until she realised it didn't matter. None of their children would wear a Quidditch's player's name, for there would be no children.
She sat on the bed, her hand caressing the quilt as tears filled her eyes.
"Hermione?" She snapped her head up at the voice, seeing her husband in the doorframe of his bedroom. "You okay? You want to go home?"
Hermione shook her head. "I just need a moment."
Ron nodded with a soft smile and he folded his arms on his chest. "You know, Mum is not really angry. She doesn't care that much about Hogwarts and she ought to have known we engage in sexual intercourse, that couldn't have come as a surprise." He shrugged. "They won't comment on the library incident; I told them you were prudish."
"I am not prudish!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes as big as an owl, offended.
Ron winced. "Did I say prudish? I did not say prudish. I told them you were a private person. That's the word I actually used, I swear."
Hermione's bark of laugher surprised them both. "Godric, Ron. You're an idiot."
The tall wizard grinned, relieved to hear her laugh.
Unfolding his arms, he advanced towards his wife, cupped the back of her curly head and kissed her forehead tenderly. Hermione smiled, feeling truly blessed and loved; she pushed her pain down her throat.
"I'll be down shortly," she promised. "Go and enjoy the waffles."
oOo
Harry climbed the stairs of the Burrow, looking towards Ginny's old bedroom and seeing his wife and godson through the window, playing outside with the rest of the family. He smiled to himself but, remembering what he had planned to do, he got serious again and keep on going.
Hermione had not come back to breakfast. Ron had assured she was alright, just mortified, and that they shouldn't worry, but Harry had seen something else in his best friends' eyes and he was pretty sure her reaction wasn't only linked to her sex life. Ron had been so busy glowering at his whole family that he missed his wife's hurt expression, but Harry hadn't.
The young Auror turned the corner of the stairs and collapsed into the witch.
"Harry!"
"Hey," Harry smiled. "I was coming to see you."
Hermione smiled at that. "Were you?"
Harry nodded and, taking her arms, he made them sit on the stairs, side by side. "What happened downstairs?"
Hermione bit her bottom lip and played with the edge of her long sleeves at her wrists, like she was known to do when she got uncomfortable nowadays. A new habit since the war. Harry grabbed one of her hand and held it in his.
"It was nothing. I got embarrassed," confessed Hermione after a moment.
"That wasn't nothing. And that wasn't just embarrassment," Harry pushed. "You shattered inside when Ron claimed you didn't want kids."
Hermione closed her eyes and two heavy teardrops felt from her eyes as her face contracted on a restrained sob.
"Hey," cooed Harry, passing an arm around her shoulders. The brunette hid her face into the crook of his neck and Harry let her, holding her to him.
"What is it?" asked Harry with a soft voice after a few moments. "Can't you not have children? Is something wrong with—uh—you know?" The female reproductive anatomy was still a mystery to grown-up Harry who blushed despite himself.
Hermione shook her head. "Nothing's wrong."
"Then what?"
There was a silence while Hermione debated on what to tell him. How to tell him.
"Ron doesn't want children," Hermione stated, at which Harry frowned. "He's adamant." This was news to Harry; Ron was such a family man! Harry had seen him with Teddy, he was a natural. If Harry had endorsed the role of Teddy's father, Ron had become his second godfather. And to this day, Ron Weasley was truly devoted to every one of his little nieces.
Ron fathering a child with Hermione had always been an evidence, an endpoint. It was just a question of 'when' – not 'if'. Knowing that Ron did not want children made Harry depressed more than he would've thought.
"Do you know why not?" Harry asked Hermione at last, for he still couldn't make sense of it.
His best friend only shrugged.
"I mean, I always thought you guys would have a kid someday." He stopped his train of thought, not knowing how he could explain the want – the need – he had for his best friends to have a child. A child that would be theirs also meant a child that would be 'his', in a special way Harry had no word to describe. It was just a feeling, deep in his chest. The possibility of such child was suddenly, cruelly taken away from him, and Harry hurt.
But it was a selfish train of thoughts and Harry kept it to himself, focusing on Hermione's pain as the witch took a deep breath and sat more upright at his side, and not so much in his arms any longer.
"To be fair," Hermione began, "it's not so much that he doesn't want children… He just doesn't want children with me."
Harry blinked, looking at Hermione like she was crazy, an unsure smile on his lips as he pushed his dark hair back. "Okay… now that makes NO sense," he told her.
Hermione chuckled sadly, her head bend down.
"He's afraid."
"Afraid? Afraid of what?"
Hermione shrugged. "Of everything and nothing. He's afraid something would go wrong. He's afraid of childbirth. He's afraid of being powerless... again."
"Oh." Harry was starting to have an inkling of what this was really about.
"He told me years ago – before we even married – that he might never be able to give me a child, and that if it was something I wanted, it would be best to tell him right away."
"What did you tell him?" asked Harry, curious.
"That it didn't matter. That I wanted him."
"But it did matter."
Hermione nodded. "I didn't think so at the time. It wasn't a priority. And to be honest, I would choose Ron over any hypothetical children anytime. I don't regret my decision, I just—"
"Just what?"
"I regret giving myself hope," Hermione confessed. "I thought this was a phase. It happened so soon after the war, I thought he might change his mind with time."
"But he didn't," Harry commented.
"No, he didn't. He became even more resolved within the years. And you know, it's not like I want a kid right this instant, but… I cannot even bring up the subject with him by fear he would think I'm getting back on my words. And starting a family is no spur of the moment decision. It needs planning. Even if we want a kid three years from now, with the career I'm planning to have, we need to start discussing it, but how can I?"
Harry sighed loudly, understanding Hermione's inner turmoil, yet feeling quite helpless. "That's a lot of feelings for such a small body," he commented, which made Hermione laugh.
"Thank you, Harry. I think I just needed to talk to someone, you know, to clear my thoughts."
"Hey, what are best friends for?" grinned the Boy Who Lived, hugging her to him. "So… Ron over the kids? You're sure?" he asked, wanting to make sure her choice was clear and final.
"Ron over any kids," she approved, resolved.
Harry only wished that he could feel that serene about his friends' decision.
oOo
By the time Audrey had successfully put Molly to bed, her head were full of thoughts of babies and decisions. Having Percy's younger brother claim that he and his wife would never have children made Audrey realise that she and Percy had never even broached the subject, either. She was an only child, and growing up, she had hated it. Fortunately, she'd had her crazy aunt Lucy who had made sure her life was full of family love and she didn't doubt for one moment that her little Molly would be adored and doted on by her father's whole family. And yet, Audrey felt like it was only right to give her daughter a sibling.
She had had such a hard time with her first pregnancy, Audrey knew she would never have as many babies as Percy's mum, and yet, the want for this second baby had descended on her quite suddenly and unexpectedly. She wondered for a moment if she should tell her boyfriend right away or if it was preferable to wait. It sure would prove useful to know his thoughts about it, in order to take a proper decision. She found him in their common bedroom, laying down on the bed with his back on the strengthen pillows, reading a manuscript with his socks on – a pet peeves of Audrey.
"Ugh, your socks, Perse," she whined with disdain as those put dust and cat hair on their beddings.
Percy didn't even comment, bent his legs and removed his socks, which he sent flying on the floor.
"Really?" snapped Audrey with a sigh, thinking that she was already responsible for two children; no need to add a third.
"This is quite extraordinary," Percy commented, ignoring her comments, and beckoning her to approach.
"What is it?"
"It's Hermione's proposal for the new werewolf's legislation. It's… it's thorough! So well-thought out, with every detail taken into account. It's respectful and—it's amazing! She's such a good lawyer; a good politician. There are no way people at the Ministry could refuse that, and at the same time, the werewolf population will see their lives improve tenfold."
Curious, Audrey sat beside her boyfriend and started to read the proposal.
"Wow. She really is the greatest-witch-of-her-age, isn't she," claimed Audrey, her eyes roaming over the manuscript of her new friend. The two witches had formed a rather unexpected friendship these past months, as their temperament rather fitted one another. Audrey still felt bad at how things had gone during the morning brunch at the Burrow. Poor Hermione.
Percy nodded absentmindedly and raised his eyes to her. He seemed to look around for a moment, until his eyebrows frowned, and he asked, "Where's Molly?"
Audrey chuckled. "She's sleeping."
"What?" Percy climbed out of the bed, picked up his discarded socks and put them into the laundry basket, before he walked out of the room and into his daughter's. Audrey smiled as she followed, thinking that she might've judged him too fast. Percy was a mature man and an exceptional father. Their relationship was kind of new (not exactly two years old since their "mistake" and only one since they'd moved in together) but it felt very right to her.
She watched from the doorframe as Percy bent over the crib's barrier to kiss his little girl goodnight, brushing her soft-brown curls away from her forehead.
"Goodnight, Sweetheart," he whispered. Molly wiggled in her sleep but didn't wake up. Percy smiled and when he turned around, he saw Audrey watching him. Sharing a smile, they walked out of their child's bedroom.
"You're good with her," Audrey told him.
The man chuckled. "She's good with us. Such an easy baby." Audrey could only agree. Was it worth it, to disrupt the dynamic their little family currently had, only to bring another child into the mix, one she only wished because she'd have liked to have a sibling when she was younger? Both she and Percy were rather career-oriented. They had been blessed with an easy baby, but there was no reassurance that the second one would be the same. And yet…
"Percy?"
"Mhm?"
Audrey climbed on the bed and placed her legs under herself before she looked at her boyfriend who was currently using his wand to clean his glasses.
"Have you, uh—have you ever thought about having another child?"
Percy's reaction was immediate as he blinked and raised his head a in swift, startled move, facing the wall. And yet, when he finally turned his inquiry eyes on her, the move was slow, deliberate. He swallowed.
"Are you trying to tell me that you're pregnant?" His blue eyes seemed far away, as if he was trying to remember when and how they had forgotten a contraceptive spell.
Audrey blinked and sighed a laugh. "What, no."
"You're not pregnant?"
"No."
"You're sure?"
"Yes. Percy! I'm talking hypothetically; would you like another kid?" Her voice, which had started with an amused tone, ended up sounding quite desperate.
Her wizard stayed silent for a few moments, eyeing her curiously.
"You mean with you, right?" he asked, startling Audrey who laughed.
"Well, yes. Ideally."
A slow smile apparated on his lips. "Are you proposing?"
Audrey bit her lips. The way he was looking at her right now, so hotly, would've made her blush a few months ago. Oh, how she'd wanted that man. There were days she still wondered how she'd managed to get him at all.
"Perhaps…" she teased.
Percy passed a hand in his dark red curls, approaching the bed and climbing on his knees. "Do you mean, like, in a few years, or like—soon?"
Audrey smiled, her eyes ogling her boyfriend in his pyjama pants and grey t-shirt. He was wearing casual clothes for a Sunday evening, and yet it turned her on immensely. His eyes were shining, and his rough beard-covered cheeks were turning red from pleasure and expectations.
"I'd say, rather soon," she confessed as his large palms cupped her petite face and brought her short hair behind her ears. "If it's something you want, too—"
"Yes!" he said vehemently before he crashed his lips to hers. Audrey giggled under the assault and passed her arms around his shoulders to hold herself, but since he pushed her down on the mattress, it didn't matter and they both tumbled in the sheets.
With Audrey's allergy, it would be easy for them to conceive, as there was no need for them to wait until next month for the potion to stop having an effect. Each new relation could get them pregnant and so they needed to be smart about it.
"You're sure tonight is the right night to take that decision?" asked Audrey, panting under Percy's kisses and caresses. "You have that—that thing next month, the—the traveling to Dublin. I won't be able to accompany you if I'm experiencing morning sickness as bad as last time."
That stopped the red-haired wizard quick enough. "Right. Let's be responsible about this," Percy approved, passing a hand on his face. Audrey chuckled, kissing his shoulder as he sat up beside her.
"Besides," he added, "my mum would kill me if we were to present her with yet another out-of-wedlock pregnancy."
Audrey blinked, analysing his words. "What?"
He turned his head towards her then, and replaced his glasses that were a bit askew, grinning big.
"Percy Weasley, are you proposing?" she asked, using his own words against him.
"What if I am?" He grinned boyishly – which was an odd look on him – and raised up from the bed to get to his dresser, opening the socks drawer.
"No!" Audrey exclaimed, a hand on her mouth.
"No?" Percy questioned, stopping his movements, his gaze intense on his girlfriend.
The witch's brown eyes looked frantic, going from his hand in the dresser to his face. A slow, flabbergasted smiled appeared on her beautiful face as she realised that he must've been thinking about it for a while to be this ready, and she suddenly found herself giggling at the turn of events.
Reassured, Percy got the little velvety box out of one of his socks and walked closer to his witch. He kneeled once more, on the floor rather than the bed, and Audrey walked on all four to get closer to the edge.
"Audrey Ann Jacobson, will you—"
"YES!" She jumped in his arms.
If they were both conscientious enough to cast the required number of contraceptive spells needed that night, neither of them thought much about moving back onto the bed!
oOo
Summer of 2002 went by in a flash. First of all, there had been numerous birthday parties: Teddy had turned four in April and Victoire three, in May. Harry celebrated his twenty-two in July, while Ginny turned twenty-one in August and Percy twenty-six. Last but not least, Dominique had just turned two-year-old in September.
Between Angelina's pregnancy, Percy and Audrey's sudden baby and engagement announcements, Ginny's wicked qualification for the England's team, and his own launch for his new line of baby products – the bubble-pacifiers had been such a hit! – George had not even realised that October had come at last.
And yet, his whole life changed on the third day of that month.
The day George Weasley met the love of his life.
He had, in all his twenty-four years, never felt such a strong emotion of euphoria. Not with Angelina, who he loved dearly, nor with Fred, who had been a part of him.
This was incredible. There was no word for it. This ecstatic feeling of holding his small infant daughter into his arms, nothing could've prepared him for that purest form of love and overwhelming adoration that he felt as soon as the nurse placed the little girl into his waiting arms.
"Hello, Roxy-baby. I'm your Daddy," he murmured gently, reverently. He chuckled to himself with such pride – he was a Daddy! A father to this perfectly little human being with drowsy blue eyes that would turn brown with time. Most beautiful eyes he'd ever seen. Her tiny curls looked kind of reddish, though it could be because of the blood. She was wrinkled and dirty and her skin color looked rather sickly pale – still darker than his own – and her soft nails were atrociously long.
She was utterly perfect.
His teary eyes raised up and through the very busy delivery room, George met Angelina's eyes as she smiled at him, looking tired but radiant. Her mother was at her side, caressing her sweaty hair as one Healer was taking care of some unfinished business between her thighs and the other one was telling her about breastfeeding technics. Angelina looked knackered but she forced herself to listen intently to all the suggestions. She would be an amazing mother, George knew.
The night had been long and stressful, but what a result! George chuckled once more, looking back at his child, who'd been born barely five minutes ago. He had cut the cord and the nurse had brought the little girl to Angelina first, who had held her a few seconds only, before she'd kissed her disgusting, tiny head and asked for the baby to be given to him immediately.
His precious, so wanted, long-awaited daughter. He knew he would have to give her back to his wife for nursing, but he couldn't bring himself to care at the moment, just basking in the small miracle that Roxanne was.
For a long time, George had had to convince himself that life was worth it, and that he should keep going despite his twin's absence. Now, there was not so much convincing that needed to be done. Living was no longer a sacrifice. Living suddenly became the only option. He had a new reason for wanting to live. A reason more than enough. A gift from up-above.
He would live. And Merlin, how he would live happy.
For Roxanne.
The Reasons We Fought
To be continued…
