Author's Note:
So, I totally forgot that it's Thanksgiving this weekend until my mom texted me this morning to remind me we have relatives coming down tomorrow from out of town so in honour of 🇨🇦Canadian Thanksgiving weekend🇨🇦, you get the post a whole day early!
This is the first of the epilogues. They are honestly more like mini novels with some time jumps. Many of them occur at the same time so you might see some overlap between the characters. Some of them only cover a few years, and some many more. But this one belongs to Hinny. Let's see how their happily ever after is going.
Thank you for over 900 reviews on ff and over 500 reviews on Ao3.
Reviews and Comments: To Tmrpotterhead250: Wow, what a review! I know, I can't quite believe it's reached it's end either (well almost as I consider the epilogues still to come a big part). To know that you've been with me since almost the beginning of ASC way back in 2018 is pretty hard to imagine, thank you! Of course Theo was the Man of Honour, he definitely deserves it. I loved Charlie officiating as well, I thought it would be cute. Having Molly walk her down the aisle just had so much meaning behind It, I thought. Bringing back Sirius and Zee was so important to me and it took me a really long time and talking to lots of great authors to help me plan it just right. Thank you for loving Zee. Remus and Tonks were a fun pair to work with as well, I love how they had their own struggles to deal with and yes, I left them alive to raise Teddy. Theo does deserve a happily ever after and thank you for finding his love story with Sebastian both hilarious and heartwarming. Showing Bas as being tongue-tied at the Quidditch League Awards was a fun bonus. It is nice that Bellarosa found love in the end. Her engagement ring being a trap just made so much sense to me! Don't worry, Rossi bought her a new one, without a trap. Blaise really likes Rossi and I think he feels a bit relieved to know he doesn't have to worry about his mum anymore. Draco is enjoying making wine, but it won't be forever. Thank you for loving the Hinny domesticity — more to come! Hannah's baking does sound amazing! Greg making friends and joining regular pub night was a fun bonus. Thank you for loving their magical day and how the Weasley brothers all reacted to seeing Ginny in her wedding gown for the first time. Thank you very much for following along with me all of these years and for enjoying their wedding. Thank you!
To anamigeller: Thank you for following my story for the last two years and thank you so much for the Tony Stark quote on the beautiful journey. Thank you! To Quill will 1981: Thanks for loving the wedding! I love Theo working as a mind healer already and ha, well he still has a full year where he's supervised and has to have weekly discussions with a senior mind healer, but yes, I think we all wish schooling was a bit faster. Thank you! To scrappy8: Thank you for saying it was awesome from the beginning to the end. Thank you! Wow! Two reviews from the incredibly mysterious scrappy8 and the second said it was so awesome you had to read it again? Wow! Thank you very much! To Read and Fly: Thank you! The vows took some work and some coaxing from the amazing celtics534 to get them just right! I loved Ginny's dress! It wasn't at all what I was originally going for, but I saw it and fell in love. Thank you very much! To Finnspa23: Thank you for saying it was the "best Hinny wedding" you've ever read. Thank you! To Sunny JS: If I'm honest, I was worried I was dragging it out a bit too, but I had so much more story left to tell and I'm very pleased with how it all turned out. Thank you so much for loving it with me. I needed to give closure to a lot of things and this story was needed to do. Thank you very much!
To alix33: Harry and Ginny definitely wanted to make sure they had room for Mina, Leo, and Teddy to come over and visit and stay overnight. Thanks for loving how Fee and Monty helped Harry with his wedding robes (even as portraits). Leo and Teddy high-fiving the groomsmen was too cute to pass up. Thank you very much! To MrsHJSnape: Thank you! I'm sorry that you cried buckets, but also it was so beautiful! Thanks for loving Molly being the one to walk Ginny down the aisle. Thank you! To Nightwing2013: Bas has a little Quidditch obsession and needed to fanboy out lol. Of course Ginny and Molly butted heads (it was inevitable) and I think Zee and Molly knew Ginny really didn't have much planned for the wedding lol. She needed them. Thanks for loving Leo and Teddy in their little fedoras! Thank you very much! To : Thank you very much for loving my kismet trilogy and for saying it's "so incredibly detailed, well-thought out and beyond emotion provoking." Thank you! As to James and Lily never visiting Harry from the afterlife, I do think they avoided it because he was so young when they died it would have been confusing for him and then, there was no need for it. They watch over him and love him and he knows that. Thank you very much for saying this series is your favourite fanfiction ever. Thank you! To TW: Thank you!
To Charlotte: Thank you! I love that you've laughed and cried, even if it was loads on the latter lol. You're very welcome for "giving these characters the lives they deserved." Thank you very much! To Chelsea Greenwell: Thank you for thinking the Hinny wedding is the perfect ending for this story. Oliver and Alicia were the ones that Harry walked in on back when he was a third year. Yes, 'Because You Loved Me' is definitely a big song from that time period so it made sense to include it. Thank you very much! To darkhk: Thank you very much! I'm so glad you found the story too! To Architect of Light 2: Yes, the main story is done, just some epilogues left. Thanks for sticking around since Harry's fifth year. Thank you very much! To fanfic enjoyer 2000: I'm also sad to see this story come to an end, but it's time. I do not plan on writing anything after TTTC finishes in the near future. I need a break, but we'll never see what the future brings. Thank you! To I'm a Ravenclaw: Thank you! Sorry to make you cry, but yes, I do think the wedding embodied Hinny very well! A little over three hundred people was massive enough and he invited the important people. There's smut coming in the epilogues — don't worry! LOL. Thank you very much! To Freedom-In-Fantasy: Thank you very much for following as long as you have. It means a lot to know people have been with me for so long! Thank you! To Cassiopeia Anastasia Black: Thank you for saying "the wedding was just so absolutely wonderful and so perfectly fitting for Harry and Ginny." The photos were thanks so much to Ellioeryan7447 who made them look just like I wanted. I hope you enjoy how the epilogues play out. Thank you very much!
To todivya: Thank you for reading my world over the last few months, a late arrival is still very appreciated! Thank you so much for saying the chapter was perfect. Thank you! PS — I agree, unfinished fanfics are the worst! Thank you! To George R: Thank you for saying this was a "fantastic climax to the whole story." My "vivid imagination and superlative writing has had us all enthralled. Taking such a beloved story with well loved characters and weaving such a wonderfully reimagined tale of adventure and romance, whilst keeping true to canon, is truly amazing. I can honestly say I've felt every emotion as I've read your words." Wow! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Thank you! To Nuno Neves: Thank you! I'm glad you loved the wedding from their engagement to their vows to their wedding songs. It is only the beginning of this new journey for them. I love showing Harry acting like the big brother to Luna, he truly adores her. You think the person she met was Rolf? We will have to see. Thank you very much! To Sets: Yes, Luna will meet Rolf in her epilogue. Aw, thank you! I guess it would kind of fit to use, but I had something else in mind. Thank you! To ellyann13: Thank you for loving my attention to wedding detail including name cards (and course my readers were on the list as well). Yes, Rolf was invited to the wedding and yes, so were Greg and Pansy. Thank you very much for joining my world in 2020 and still being around today. Thank you! To Jeong Hyeon Park: Thank you very much! To The Lazy Storyteller: Thank you very much! I hope you enjoy what I bring to the epilogues. Thank you!
To Hellpony: Thank you very much! To bandhoez9194: Thank you for loving the speeches and of course Theo made a joke only his friends would understand lol. Sirius embarrassing Harry in some way only made it cuter. Thank you for saying it was "so freaking perfect and beautiful and so so so so them." Thank you very much! To briana_t: Thank you! I love that the speeches made you emotional. I loved them dancing to multiple songs as well. Yes, six years, hard to believe. Thank you for being around as long as you have. Thank you! To AQuickRead91: You are very welcome! Thank you for following along as long as you have. Thank you! To corneliastreet_28: Thank you! Thanks for saying that the Harry and Ginny wedding was "the greatest way to finish the story on the highest notes." Thank you! To Lizzy_i19: Thank you! I'm glad so many people loved everything about their wedding (in fact, I haven't actually gotten any complaints which is amazing). We will catch up with Luna in chapter 32. As to writing tips, just write. No matter how much or how little, get your ideas out. Thank you! To skyreader_183: Thank you so much for saying this "was an amazing ending to one of the best works of art." Thank you very much! I really hope people enjoy the epilogues. I have no plans of writing anything after this in the neat future, I really need a break, but we'll see what the future brings. Thank you! To Mrs_Norway: Yes, six years, it's pretty hard to believe myself. Thank you for saying their wedding was perfect. Thank you!
To denthefirefly: Sorry to make you cry, but yes, they are finally married! Ha, a monthly reread of all of the Hinny chapters? How adorable! Thank you very much! To Delusional_Me: Thank you! Putting an end to it was incredibly difficult, so I can relate. Thank you very much! To MABK_Potter_Fan: Thank you! Yes, to end it with a celebration of the century. Thank you very much! To Emltct (Emmathomas1992): Sorry to hear you cried during the entire chapter, but also thank you for finding it so beautiful! Arthur was definitely there with them in spirit. Thank you for saying the scene "with Ginny's brothers waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs was beautiful." It was important to me to have that moment between them. Thank you very much! To NeroTheJoiner: Thank you for being with me for a year and enjoying my world. Thank you! To Chafmushiman: It was an excellent time to catch up! Yes, ten more chapters to epilogue. Thank you very much! Hermione is very lucky to have Ron and we'll catch up with them in chapter 34. I am also a sucker for a happy ending. Thanks for finding Bellatrix's and Crouch's end poetic, I agree. Thanks for loving Harry's proposal, even him forgetting the ring. Thank you very much! To RiverFord: Thank you very much! Sorry it had you tearing up though (a little LOL). Thank you! To Arabella_SG: Thank you very much for saying this series is "one of the best pieces of fiction" you've ever read. Thank you very much!
To Yeyel27: Thank you! I love that the ending made you cry! Thank you very much! To Djones9417: Thanks for following along as long as you have and for saying that "my writing skill and style are phenomenal, beyond that of a lot of professional authors." Wow, thank you very much! To marauders_mowopapr: Yes, so many emotions. Thank you for long the Bryan Adams song, it really does describe them so well. Ha, no I'm not a wedding planner at all, but I have been to a lot of weddings. Ginny definitely got her chocolate, she was very happy. Thank you very much! I hope you like where the epilogues take the story. Thank you! To kyciona: Thank you for saying it's the "officially the best Hinny wedding" you've ever read. Thank you very much! To 1: Sorry, but yes, this story is coming to a close. Thank you very much for all of the enjoyment you've taken from it. Thank you! To Breige: Thank you for liking part two and three of the trilogy (I do hope you take the time to read part one as well). Thank you very much! To katelyn453: Thank you very much! To BigMackie: Thank you very much for following along and loving this story as much as I have. Thank you! To EnigmaticEmperor: Yes, Harry does have his side of the family which is so important because he deserves that more than anyone. Thanks for loving Molly walking Ginny down the aisle. Ellieoryan7447 is a genius and I will pass that along as the photos are gorgeous. Harry and Ron are definitely platonic soulmates and their bromance is very real. Thank you very much for following along for over three years, it means so much to me. Thank you! Yes, you will see Harry's reaction to Luna dating Rolf lol. Thank you very much!
To Bianca: Thank you! I'm very sorry to hear about the difficult time you've been going through, but I am honoured that my story was something that you could escape into. Thank you for saying that "reading about so much love, so well written that the emotions jump off the page, has been so evocative." Thank you very much! Thanks for recommending my story to others and thank you for loving my world. We will see Luna meet Rolf in her epilogue, yes. As to where I got the gowns, no sorry, I honestly just google like tangerine bridesmaid gown and then click on images and go through them until I find one I like. Thank you very much!
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Your reviews give me life! They give me inspiration! And they make me want to keep writing for more than just myself! Thank you for all of your continued support!
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE:
Kismet Trilogy Epilogues:
The One With Hinny's Epilogue,
Part One
23rd July, 2002…
Ginny couldn't wait for Harry to come home from work. Today was their second wedding anniversary and with the help of Luna, she had finally picked out the best anniversary present for him ever. She was so excited to give him her gift that she kept scowling at the clock; it was definitely moving much slower than normal.
Harry was usually pretty good at coming home right after work. However, being an Auror, he sometimes did get stuck working on a case. Ginny was desperately hoping that tonight wouldn't be that night. He had promised her that he just needed to run into work for an hour, two tops. Then he was taking the week off for their holiday and they were planning on taking a trip to Barbados to enjoy the sunshine and relax as a joint anniversary and birthday holiday for them both. It would be their own private celebration of two years married and Ginny couldn't wait.
But first, she really wanted to give him his present.
When she heard the front door, she jumped to her feet, covering her mouth to hide her excited squeal.
"Gin?"
"In here!" Ginny called out.
Harry stuck his head in the living room doorway a moment later. "Hi."
"Hi," Ginny said, jumping up and throwing her arms around his neck to kiss him. "Happy Second Anniversary, Husband."
Harry grinned, his green eyes twinkling. "Happy Second Anniversary, Wife."
He kissed her this time and she beamed at him.
"I know that we already said that, but I felt it needed to be said again."
"Not disagreeing," Harry said, stealing another kiss.
"I have a surprise for you," Ginny said, biting her bottom lip.
Harry immediately let his eyes move down to the Holyhead Harpies shorts and vest she was currently wearing. "Oh?"
"That's later," she said, slapping his chest. "This surprise is in the kitchen."
Harry lifted an eyebrow. "Is it treacle tart?"
"Shush," Ginny said, her eyes lit up in mischief. "Just come see!"
"Well, I actually want to show you —"
Ginny cut him off with her mouth. "Shush and come!"
She grabbed his hand and led him towards the kitchen to where she had hidden his gift. A moment later she moved around the island to where she had charmed a sectioned off area to keep the little guy safe and out of trouble. She pulled Harry around the counter and shoved him in front of her.
"Ta-da! Happy Anniversary, Harry!"
Harry's eyes widened in astonishment as the Cream Retriever puppy yipped in excitement. "You… a puppy!" he exclaimed, completely at a loss for words.
Ginny nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! I know that you miss Marauder and Padfoot is more or less Leo and Mina's dog. We always talk about it, but we've never actually made any effort to get a dog. I thought it was time we have one and I thought an adorable Cream Retriever was a good choice."
Harry was already bending down to scoop the puppy up into his arms, laughing as the dog licked his chin, his green eyes full of emotion. "Gin…"
Ginny reached over to scratch the puppy behind his ears. "He's adorable, right? We have to come up with an adorable name for him. Don't we, Mr Cutie Pants?"
"That's not going to be his name," Harry said, shooting her a look.
Ginny grinned. "We'll come up with something much better. Oooh, what about Oswald?"
Harry wrinkled his nose. "Veto."
"Horatio? No," Ginny said quickly. "What about giving him something very regal like Ahenobarbus or Quintus?"
"Veto," Harry said, biting back a laugh. "We need to work on your name choices for when we have children."
Ginny's lips twitched. "I think Ahenobarbus Potter is a lovely name."
"Liar," Harry said, making her laugh. Harry held the puppy against his chest like a baby before he sighed. "So, I love him, Gin — truly — but this might have been a bad surprise on our parts."
Her eyebrow rose. "How is a puppy ever a bad surprise?"
Harry reached out to take her hand, holding the puppy on his shoulder with his other arm. "Come with me."
Ginny frowned as she followed Harry out the front door. Her eyes widened in disbelief when she saw the brown basket with a red bow sitting on the small stoop by the front door. Nestled on top of a red blanket was an adorable black and white English Border Collie puppy.
"Erm, because I may have had the same exact idea. Happy Anniversary, Gin."
Ginny burst into laughter, bending down to scoop the puppy up into her arms. "Oh my goddess! Harry, he's beautiful! Is it a he?"
He nodded. "Yeah, it's a he. Bloody hell, we each got each other a puppy."
Ginny grinned and blew him an air kiss. "I love you, Harry Potter."
Harry lowered his head to kiss her properly as the two puppies leaned in to lick each other. "I love you, Ginny Potter. Guess we have two fur babies to take care of."
Ginny's lips twitched. "Arnold is not going to be happy."
"He'll get over it. He just hides anyway," Harry said, thinking about the pink pgymy puff that he'd purchased for her over six years ago now.
The pink ball of fur tended to just lounge around on his cushion or he got into mischief by burrowing under blankets, rolling in clean piles of laundry, and most recently, sleeping in their bathtub.
Ginny scratched the puppy in her arms behind his ears. "Can we tell Mum that she's going to be a grandma again?"
Harry chuckled. "And watch the light disappear from her eyes when she discovers that you're talking about puppies? Cruel, Gin." He winked. "Let's tell Zee and Uncle Siri first."
Ginny laughed and snuggled the puppy in her arms. "Deal."
"So, how about I name this guy and you name the one I got you?" Harry suggested. "Just please don't name him Ahenobarbus."
"Spoilsport," Ginny said. "Arnold and Ahenobarbus would be the best of friends."
"How about something more like… Bandit?"
Ginny wrinkled her nose. "He doesn't look like a Bandit. What are you going to name yours?"
Harry scratched his new puppy behind his ears as he looked down into his dark brown eyes. The puppy was lighter than Marauder had been, more cream than Marauder's golden. He had warm brown eyes that Harry was pretty sure melted his heart.
"I think I want something kind of Marauder like," Harry murmured. "Something like… Mischief? Nah. Um… what's another word for a marauder?"
Ginny looked pensive for a moment, kissing the head of the English Border Collie puppy in her arms. "Um… Looter? Pirate? Outlaw? Buccaneer? Ravager?"
"Buccaneer," Harry said, his eyes lighting up at the name. "I like that. Buccaneer. What do you think, Buccaneer?" The puppy licked his hand and Harry grinned. "Buccaneer it is then. Welcome to the family, Buccaneer."
"Bucky," Ginny said. "He looks more like a Bucky."
Bucky barked at that and Harry grinned. "He likes that one. Bucky. Hi, Bucky."
Ginny smiled and snuggled the puppy in her arms. "And what are we going to name you, darling? Harry doesn't like the name Ahenobarbus. What do you think of Peregrine?"
"Veto," Harry said. "He's a puppy, Gin. Let's not name him something so long and boring."
Ginny scowled. "Fine. I'll think of something else."
They headed inside, puppies in tow, and got them some fresh water to drink while Harry and Ginny organized the things they'd both bought for the puppies. Once their two food bowls were situated and they oohed and awed over the toys they bought did Ginny sit on the floor to rub her puppy's belly as Harry did the same to Bucky.
"I've got it," Ginny said. "Egbert after the King of Wessex. You're such a king, aren't you, sweetie? Aren't you, Egbert?"
"Egbert? Really?"
"Stop hating on my names," Ginny whined, elbowing him. "Doesn't he look like an Egbert?"
"No," Harry said with a chuckle. "I'm not even sure what an Egbert looks like."
Ginny reached over and flicked her husband in the forehead. "He looks like this. My puppy, my name. I think Egbert is perfect."
Egbert barked and rolled over to expose more of his stomach for Ginny to rub.
"See, he loves it. Don't you, Egbert?"
Harry reached over to rub Egbert's belly as Bucky moved closer to sniff at Ginny. "It's a mouthful that's for sure."
"Funny because you don't usually complain when my mouth's full."
Harry's neck flushed red. "Not the same, troublemaker."
Ginny clucked her tongue. "Good to know. If you stop teasing my puppy's new name, maybe I'll let you fill it up later.
Harry blushed darker. "Let's take Bucky and Egbert outside for a run. We'll get takeaway later; that fancy place you like in Luminescent Walk."
"Sounds perfect," Ginny said.
Ten minutes later they were outside in the makeshift Quidditch pitch chasing puppies. The two of them were rolling in the grass, laughing as puppies bounded all over them in an attempt to play.
"Bucky, down!" Harry ordered as Bucky rolled over to expose his stomach. "Come here, Egbert. Bucky wants to play with you, Eggsy."
Ginny's head turned to look at her husband. "What did you just call my puppy?"
"Come on," Harry teased. "Eggsy. It's cute."
"It's Egbert," Ginny insisted.
But by the third day, Egbert would only respond to Eggsy much to Ginny's dismay.
Harry pulled her close when she scowled at him. "Admit it, you love it."
"I won't," Ginny replied. "His name is Egbert, like the king."
"Eggsy," Harry said, leaning down to kiss his wife. "And he's perfect."
Ginny stood on her toes to link her arms around her husband's neck. "You're lucky I love you, Harry Potter."
"I know it," he said, capturing her mouth in his. "Come on. Let's let the pups run on the beach while we plan how to tell the family all about our new babies."
Ginny's smile widened. "This is going to be so much fun."
~ KE: Hinny I ~
When they returned from Barbados a week later, the first thing they did was stop by Black Cottage to see Mina and Leo. The twins were five years old now, turning six in December, and absolutely adorable. Harry loved how much they lit up at the sight of him and he thoroughly enjoyed playing with them, especially in his old treehouse. It gave him a lot of joy knowing that they were loving it as much as he had growing up. Some day, when he and Ginny had their own kids, he wanted to build something just as awesome for them to enjoy.
Harry held Ginny's hand in his as they headed around the back of the house, following the sound of AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" blaring from the wireless. To Harry's surprise, he found Zee lying on her back with her head under the 1954 Adler MB250 as Remus handed her a wrench. When he looked out into the garden, he realized that Sirius and Tonks were at the top of the treehouse with Mina, Leo, and Teddy in the pirate ship. He could hear their loud shrieks of laughter as he greeted Remus with a hug.
"Harry! Ginny!" Remus beamed, kissing his son's cheek. "How was Barbados?"
"Wonderful," Harry said. "Weather was perfect. It was just the week of relaxation we needed."
"Very much," Ginny agreed.
Harry took in Remus' appearance with a smile, still finding it hard to believe at that forty-two Remus Lupin was completely silver. Tonks' prediction had been pretty true as hitting forty had made him greyer, but the last two years had taken away any and all of the brownish-blond hair he'd once possessed and had been replaced by a full head of silver hair. His whisky eyes were lit up in delight at the sight of Harry and he'd recently acquired glasses for reading in black rectangular frames that, according to Tonks, made him look very distinguished. They were propped on top of his silver hair at the moment where nine times out of ten, he forgot about them completely and then couldn't find them. He was wearing a Hogwarts tee shirt over khaki shorts and sandals. He'd been Headmaster of Hogwarts since September of '99 and he was loving it.
Zee slid out from under the bike, her eyes lighting up at the sight of them. She looked as gorgeous as ever. At thirty-eight, her dark curls were pinned up in a messy bun, a few loose tendrils hanging down. She was wearing denim shorts and a purple tee shirt with some engine grease stained down the front. The tee shirt was tied in a knot on the side. She was barefoot with bright pink toes over her tanned feet. Her big brown eyes were wide when she saw him.
"Sweetie! Come give me a kiss."
Harry kissed her cheek. "What's wrong with the bike?"
"Brakes are completely shot," Zee said, tossing the wrench on the ground. "Sirius is letting me replace them."
"Really?"
Remus chuckled. "Well, we sent him to the treehouse. He was micromanaging a little."
"A lot," Zee corrected.
Harry laughed. "That sounds much more likely."
"I think he forgets that I happen to know how to take apart an engine just as well as he does," Zee said.
A hand squeezed his shoulder from behind and he turned his head to grin at the man in question. Sirius was going to be forty-three in November and unlike Remus, he didn't have any grey hair. Harry knew a few had sneaked in from time to time as Zee always made a point of pulling them out while Sirius whinged and yelped. His black hair fell just so around his face and he was wearing a white tee shirt with his usual black jeans, most some of his tattoos on display. He'd gotten a new one a few months after he'd returned. It was just under where Harry's name was tattooed over his heart: Mina and Leo's names and birth had been added.
"Harry! Ginny! How was Barbados?"
"Great!" Ginny said with a bright smile, hugging Sirius. "We have some news to share."
Zee's eyes lit up at her words and Harry noticed that her gaze immediately dropped down to Ginny's flat stomach. "Oh? What kind of news?"
Ginny and Harry exchanged a look before they hugged Tonks and greeted Mina, Leo, and Teddy who ran out to see them. Teddy was four years old and chasing his older cousins in delight. He had his father's brownish blond hair and whisky coloured eyes though the last few months he'd decided he loved purple and his hair was a deep violet. Mina and Leo both had dark curly heads of hair, though Mina's was a bit more brown like her mother's.
"So," Zee began, taking Sirius' hand in hers as the kids finished greeting them and ran back to the treehouse. "What's this news that you have to share?"
Harry linked his fingers with Ginny's, a soft smile on his face. "Well, Gin and I have been talking and now that we've been married for two years, we thought maybe it was time to expand our family a bit."
"Oh!" Zee exclaimed, jumping to her feet. "You — oh my goddess!"
Ginny bit her lip as she stifled a laugh and Harry pinched her hip. "Oh, it's so nice that you're excited for us," Ginny began. "We surprised ourselves with more than we expected, but we love them already."
Tonks frowned. At twenty-nine, she still wore her hair short and spiky in the same bubblegum pink, but today Harry noticed that she had dark pink highlights in it. She was dressed in denim shorts as well, but was wearing a cropped Weird Sisters tee shirt that barred her midriff and showed off her wolf belly button ring.
"Wait — them? What are you two talking about?"
"Our new puppies," Harry said, lifting an eyebrow at Tonks. "What are you talking about?"
Zee reached out and cuffed Harry across the head. "You little brat!"
Harry laughed and tugged her into his arms for one-armed hug. "Aww, Zee, did you think we were pregnant?"
"You bloody-well know I did!" Zee exclaimed, giving Ginny a glare. "The two of you planned this, didn't you?"
"Maybe a little," Ginny admitted, moving to hug Zee. "We're not quite ready for babies yet, Zee. When I'm twenty-five, we'll talk about it."
"I suppose that's a wise choice," Zee said. "So, what about puppies?"
Ginny bit her lip. "Um, Harry and I each bought each other a puppy for our anniversary."
Tonks laughed. "Wait — both of you? Like by accident?"
Harry nodded. "Yup. We went to surprise each other and well, we ended up with two. Want to meet them?"
A moment later, Ginny called for Basil. He appeared a moment later with a loud crack alongside of his new wife, Esmerelda. They both held the puppies in their arms. They put them on the ground and the two puppies yipped in excitement as they stumbled and tripped over their own paws in their hurry to see everything and everyone in sight.
"Puppies!" Mina screamed before all three kids came running towards them. Half a second later, puppies and kids were rolling around together on the ground as Padfoot barked and tried to make room among them.
"Wow," Sirius said with a laugh. "That escalated quickly."
Zee rested her head on his shoulder. "Look how happy they are. You know, I have been thinking that Padfoot needs a friend."
"We're not getting a cat," Sirius insisted. "I'm putting my foot down."
"You loved Lady Godiva."
"She was a bloody panther and one of a kind," Sirius said. "A cat is… well, a demon. No cats."
Zee kissed Sirius' cheek. "We'll talk."
Sirius scowled and turned back to Harry and Ginny. "What did you name them?"
Harry pointed to the Cream Retriever with a bright smile. "Well, the retriever was from Ginny and we named him Buccaneer as a kind of tribute to Marauder, but he's been answering to Bucky. As for the Border Collie, he's Eggsy."
"Eggsy?" Remus repeated, his eyebrow rising. "Oh, erm, that's nice."
Ginny scoffed. "It's hideous! I named him Egbert after the notable King of Wessex and Harry started calling him Eggsy and now he won't even answer to Egbert."
Sirius laughed. "You named a dog Egbert?"
"It's a very noble name!" Ginny insisted.
Harry's lips twitched. "Eggsy is our compromise."
Sirius grinned. "You two are never not going to be entertaining, aren't you?"
Ginny stood on her toes and kissed Sirius' cheek. "You love it."
They settled down into chairs in the gazebo and when the kids finally settled over greeting the puppies, Harry and Ginny pulled out the gifts they'd gotten for them. They'd found Barbados tee shirts for all of the kids (Mina's and Teddy's were both purple and Leo's was green). They'd also found a kid's surfboard for each of them.
"It can be used on the water," Harry said. "But it's like a kid's broomstick and only hovers about half a metre above the ground. Gin and I thought they'd get a kick out of just using them out here."
Mina immediately jumped onto hers and when it hovered, she squealed in delight. Hers was bright purple with turtles all over it. Leo was more tentative with his. His surfboard was green and painted with waves. He sat on it and when it lifted, he jumped off nervously. It took him about four tries, but once he was up, he was having as much fun as his sister. Teddy's was purple and covered in sharks. Unlike his cousins, he decided to lie down on his and laughed like a loon when it lifted, using his arms like a bird.
"That's bloody brilliant," Tonks said. "Wish I had something wicked like that when I was a kid."
"They're always coming up with cool new toys," Ginny agreed. "We got some for the girls too. We're going to the Burrow for dinner tomorrow so we'll give them out then."
As the kids played in delight with their new toys, Harry and Ginny filled them in about their trip; telling them about the surfing and the jet-skis they'd gone on along with some of the touristy things they'd ventured out into including shopping, a historic walking tour, and a boat trip around the island.
"Sounds like you had a great time," Remus said. "You both look very relaxed. I'm glad the holiday was so good. Did you get the puppies before or after?"
"Before," Ginny said. "A day before and we took them both with us. They loved running on the beach with us every day. I still can't believe we both bought each other a puppy not even realizing that the other had done so."
"I'm not even remotely surprised," Tonks said. "You two have always had a freakish connection like that."
Harry stuck his tongue out at her and Tonks stuck hers out in return.
"Children," Remus said, his lips twitching.
Sirius leaned back in his chair, putting an arm around Zee who was in the chair next to him. "Well, I for one think puppies are a great gift. I already told Harry that I really think he should let our kids go to Hogwarts before he makes us grandparents."
"But that's still a handful of years away," Zee said with a pout. "Sirius, look at them. They would make the most beautiful babies."
Sirius smiled at his wife. "Yes, babe, they will. But you don't really want to be a grandma already, do you?"
Zee wrinkled her nose. "Well, when you put it that way…"
Ginny chuckled. "No babies yet. Just puppies."
Harry reached over to take his wife's hand with a smile. "We're just enjoying it being the two of us."
Ginny brought his hand up to kiss his knuckles. "Exactly. But we would like to take Teddy for the night one day this week."
"What about Mina and Leo?" Sirius asked. "I mean, having all three is a splendid idea!"
Harry's lips twitched. "Don't worry, Uncle Sirius. We're going to take them too, but first we just want to have Teddy for the night. I need to spend some quality time with my godson."
Remus smiled warmly. "Any night you want; he's yours. Now, let's hear all about how you're going to tell Molly that you have puppies."
Ginny laughed. "Oh, that's Sunday's plan."
Zee sighed. "Poor Molly."
Harry couldn't help but smile.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
Harry returned to work the next day, anxious to be back, but also wishing he was still on holiday. Coming back after his holiday almost felt strange which was why he was even more surprised to learn that Robards had asked him and Ron to run a welcome week for the new Auror recruits. The plan was to meet the new Aurors who had been assigned to the various departments and get a chance to know who they were.
"They seem to be getting younger and younger, don't they?" Ron asked after they finished their welcoming bit.
"Because we're so ancient at the ripe old age of twenty-two," Harry teased.
"I'm just saying, they seem young!"
Harry couldn't disagree with that.
"Is Ginny ready for the new season?" Ron asked. "I heard Chudley's really going to be the team to beat this year."
Harry rolled his eyes. "It doesn't count if you're the only one saying it, Ron. The Harpies are going to take the cup this year."
"They were close last season, I'll admit, but no bloody way."
"Did I hear you say that you think Holyhead's taking the cup this year?" a voice asked from behind them.
Harry turned to see one of the new Magical Patrol Unit Aurors named Dalton Majors. "I definitely think they can do it. I know the season hasn't started, but I have faith in that team."
"You hear that, Eman? Potter thinks Holyhead's taking the Cup," Majors exclaimed, shaking his dark head of hair. "There's no way. The season hasn't even started yet and I know that they were close, but there's no way they're making it all the way next season."
Eman Hutchins scratched his nose as he approached them. "Sorry, Dalton, I actually don't follow Quidditch much."
"What?" Majors exclaimed in surprise. "You don't follow Quidditch? Hutchins, do you even have any idea who Auror Potter is married to?"
"Um, no?" Hutchins said, giving them a bewildered look as he ran his hand through his shaggy blond hair.
"Ginny Potter of the Holyhead Harpies! She's like the greatest Chaser ever!" Majors said in excitement. "I still don't think Holyhead has a chance, but your wife is bloody brilliant!"
Harry chuckled. "Thank you. That she is."
It didn't take long for a small crowd to emerge around them as people peppered Harry with questions about what it was like being married to a celebrity. At one point, he'd even pulled out a photo of the two of them with their dogs and Majors had squealed in excitement.
"Does she maybe ever come and you know, visit? Do you think that I could get her autograph?"
Harry smiled. "Maybe; if you ask nicely."
By the time they cleared the welcome week for the day, Ron draped his arm around Harry's shoulders.
"How does it feel to not be the most famous person in the room anymore?"
"Bloody fucking brilliant," Harry said, grinning at his best mate. "Now, I'm going home to shag my super famous wife."
"I didn't need to know that," Ron said with a grimace. "Listen, Hermione's still in Paris to spend some time with her godmother and mum and I could use your help with something. Can you come over tonight?"
"Sure. After I shag my wife."
Ron rolled his eyes. "Git."
"What do you need, Ron?" Harry asked, his lips twitching in amusement.
"Labour," Ron said. "I'll explain when you get there. Neville and Greg are coming too."
"All right," Harry replied. "Sounds good."
"You coming to the Burrow for dinner on Sunday? Hermione will be back on Friday so we'll both be there."
"Of course," Harry assured him. "We'll be there. We have some news to share."
"What kind of news?"
"I'll tell you on Sunday."
Ron pouted. "But I'm your best mate!"
Harry grinned. "Which is why I'll tell you on Sunday."
He left Ron calling out after him for a hint, unable to stop smiling. He couldn't wait to go home and tell his wife how great it was to not be the most famous person in the room.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
Arriving at the Burrow for their usual big family get-together was always a fun time. Harry loved walking up to the ramshackle old farmhouse and seeing all of the Weasleys together and ready to have a good time. It meant that Molly always cooked more food than was needed and that the place smelt delicious and was full of laughter. It always felt like home.
Ginny and her brothers had spoken to Molly about staying at the Burrow alone, but she wouldn't even hear them out about leaving.
"This is my home and just because I'm alone now doesn't mean that I can't stay here. I'm hardly a feeble old woman!"
"Mum, we're not saying that you can't stay here," Bill began. "We just don't want you to feel like you have to stay here. It's a lot of house for one person."
"Not when all of you come over," Molly said. "I'm good here. I promise."
Harry knew that she was. The Burrow was meant to have a Weasley in it and Harry knew that it would be strange if she wasn't there to fill it. One of them was always popping by to help out with something or other from fixing the chicken coop to helping take care of the garden to trimming trees or picking apples. It was nice to stop by and he always knew that Molly appreciated the visit. She always had a kind word, a cuppa, and a biscuit for him whenever he popped in. Sometimes Basil and Esmerelda even popped by the Burrow to help out Molly when Harry or Ginny asked (much to Molly's dismay).
Ever since Basil had married Esmerelda a few months ago, the two elves had been helping out with Clevedon Court even more. Since Theo and Sebastian still had Kiki and Clove (though Clove was slowing down due to age), Esmerelda only went to Norfolk Manor when she was needed. Instead, she'd moved into the little house in Clevedon Court with Basil and the two elves were as happy as could be. Harry only wished that he had more work for them as having two house elves was honestly more than he needed. Kreacher had passed away the year before of old age and Sirius had buried him in a house-elf cemetery in Canterbury where his other relatives were at rest. They'd decided not to chop off his head and mount it (despite it being Kreacher's wishes) as no one actually wanted the mounted head displayed somewhere. Harry had been surprised by how sad he'd been to say goodbye to the crabby old elf.
Hermione's House-Elf changes had really started to come into effect in the last year. There was still a lot of work to do as a lot of house elves really didn't like or support change, but a great deal of them had slowly integrated into the changes from taking wages, to taking jobs that were better suited to them. The wages were still not as high as they should be, but they were slowly escalating and the house elves were beginning to accept them as normal. The older ones were taking a lot more persuasion but the young ones, like Basil and Esmerelda, were doing very well with it.
Harry shook his thoughts from his head as they headed into the garden of the Burrow. His face lit up when Victoire spotted them first. At three years old, she absolutely loved seeing people arrive and the moment she spotted Harry, she squealed.
"Uncle Harry!"
Harry caught her mid-run, spinning the little girl around and making her laugh. Her long golden blonde hair had a hint of red in the sunlight and it flew behind her when she spun. Her big blue eyes were wide in delight as she threw her little arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"Hi, Vic. Are you having fun?" Harry asked.
She nodded solemnly and began to tell him all about her day; everything from what she had for breakfast to finding a mouse in the orchard with Felicity to hurting her knee four days ago. Harry nodded along to every word, kissing her knee tenderly. Ginny squeezed his hand. It was moments like this, watching him give his undivided attention to one of their nieces, that made her ovaries swell. This man was too bloody adorable and sexy for his own good.
She reached for Victoire, kissing her cheeks as the girl moved into her arms and began to babble at Ginny, repeating all of the things that she'd already told Harry. Felicity and Finley were going to be four in October and they hurried towards them when they caught sight of them. Ginny caught Finley first, kissing her cheeks and hugging her tight before doing the same to Felicity.
"Hi, my darlings!"
"Auntie!" they squealed.
Ginny beamed at them and kissed them again. Finley had brown hair that looked a bit red in the sunlight with her mother's sharp green eyes. Felicity's hair was more Weasley red with a brownish hue and she had hazel eyes. They were the spitting image of Fiadh and if it wasn't for the red in their hair, Ginny didn't see any of Fred in them at all. But two minutes after meeting them certainly proved that they were very much their father's daughters.
Aydin, who looked more and more like Charlie every day, was going to be six in December. Her hair was the same dark red as Charlie's was and she had her father's brown eyes and only a handful of freckles across her nose. Her long red hair fanned out behind her as she ran. It had been in a braid, but it was already half out from playing. She immediately began to tell Harry and Ginny all about how Finley and Felicity had put these balls into a tree called Quicksand Quaffles. They were Quaffle sized balls that when touched would ooze a sticky substance in bright colours that was similar to quicksand and cause anyone who touched it to stick in place until their suck limbs disappeared into the sand. Apparently the girls had thrown them up into the trees and when they ran up to climb them, Aydin had gotten stuck in the tree with a blob of bright pink quicksand on one hand and blob of neon green on the other. It sucked up the tree and her hands and she had to cry out for help.
"I had to call Papa to come get me," she told Ginny. "Gamma says they're a menace."
Ginny chuckled and kissed Aydin's forehead. "It sounds like they're just like their daddy."
"Angels," Fred said, coming up behind them. "If they take after me, that's exactly what they are."
Harry snorted. "Keep dreaming, Fred."
Harry and Ginny gave the girls each their own surfboard and tee shirt from Barbados. Victoire's was bright turquoise, her surfboard matched her shirt and was covered in tropical fish. Felicity's was bright pink and her surfboard had dolphins on it. Finley's was bright red and her surfboard had jellyfish on them. Aydin's was a deep green and hers was covered in dragons.
"Dragons!" Aydin exclaimed, hugging the surfboard to her chest. "Thank you, Uncle Harry! Thank you, Auntie Ginny!"
"You're very welcome, Aydin," Ginny said, kissing her cheek before her niece ran off to play.
Despite Molly's concerns, Aydin actually did have her own dragon on the reserve in Romania; a Welsh green named Raya who had grown up alongside of Aydin and adored her as much as Aydin adored Raya. When Harry and Ginny had gone to Romania to visit, they'd seen first hand how much dragon and girl loved each other. Aydin had her trained well and Charlie let her fly on her.
Once the kids were greeted, Harry and Ginny moved further into the back garden to greet the rest of the family. In the last two years, the Weasley family had grown even more. Ginny made an immediate beeline for her newest niece who was sleeping in her father's arms.
Bill smiled warmly at his sister when she reached for her. "She's probably going to sleep for a bit; had a restless night."
Ginny kissed the top of Dominque's head. Dominique Rose Weasley had been born in March and at five months old was already looking more and more like her big sister. Harry smiled as he picked up Molly Anna when she cooed at him. Percy and Audrey had surprised everyone by getting pregnant barely three months after being married. Molly Anna Weasley had been born on her grandmother's birthday and would be turning one in October. At ten months old, they'd taken to calling her by her full name so as not to be confused with the Weasley matriarch she was named after.
"Hi, beautiful girl," Harry said, kissing her cheek. "We bought little onesies for Molly Anna and Dominque so they can match their cousins."
"Oh, that's so sweet, Harry," Audrey said. "Thank you."
Percy was very much a broomstick father and every time Molly Anna made a motion to do anything, he was on his feet in a slight panic. Ginny thought it was good for her brother, especially because Molly Anna hadn't been a perfect baby. After all of Percy's lectures about schedules and what he thought childcare was supposed to be like to his siblings, he had definitely not gotten the perfect baby. The poor thing had suffered terrible colic for almost the first six months of her life and Ginny knew how stressful that had been on both him and Audrey. Molly Anna had her father's red hair with the same curls, but her mother's hazel eyes.
Harry and Ginny switched off girls as Molly came out with a pitcher of iced tea.
"Oh, Harry! Ginny! I didn't know that you'd arrived. How was your trip?"
"Lovely, Mum," Ginny said, kissing Molly Anna's cheek. "Where's Forest?"
Fred and Fiadh had given them another niece in February whom they named Forest Georgina Weasley.
"She's sleeping inside," Fiadh said. "She missed her nap today."
Forest was six months old and had dark hair like her mother but it held a distinct auburn shine to it that made Ginny think it would turn lighter in time. Finley and Felicity were in love with their new baby sister and spent all of their time wanting to help the baby. Ginny thought it was the cutest thing in the world.
Ginny still found it hard to believe that after how much her mother had wanted a little girl she now had seven granddaughters. She watched her mum fuss over a butterfly that Finley had caught in her hands to show her grandmother with a smile.
Percy clasped Harry on the shoulder. "How was the surfing?"
"Brilliant," Harry said. "You ought to try it out one day."
Percy wrinkled his nose. "Absolutely not."
Harry hugged Hermione when she came over to greet him. "Hey! How was your trip?"
"Very nice," Hermione said. "It was much needed with everything going on at work."
Harry nodded. "How are things at the office? Have you still working extra hours to make up for Aidan being off?"
Hermione nodded, her eyes sad. Aidan Cross and his wife Julia worked in Hermione's department in the Office of Communication and Cooperation. Julia had taken time off for maternity leave and they'd hired a new witch to temporarily replace her named Xena Cole. However, after giving birth in June to two beautiful fraternal twin girls named Devyn and Ivy, Julia had tragically died of complications leaving Aidan a single father of twins. Aidan was devastated and had been forced to take extra time off of work to deal with everything.
"Yes," Hermione said. "Barnaby insisted that I still go for my trip, but we did exchange owls while I was away for the week. Aidan's popped in a few times with the girls. The poor man looks completely lost. He's looking for a nanny to help out, but I doubt he'll be back to work before October."
"And the girls?"
"Adorable. Happy and healthy. He dotes on them. I wish Julia had been around to see them. She was… such a lovely woman. I really liked working with her," Hermione admitted.
Harry hugged his friend tight, sorry to have brought up the sad news. As much as he wanted to start a family with Ginny some day, it was moments like this that terrified him. Even with all of the magic in the world, sometimes women still died in childbirth. He really didn't want think about that.
"Work is wonderful otherwise," Hermione said, kissing his cheek. "Thanks for checking in. Thanks for helping Ron too. I love it, Harry."
He grinned. "See? Sometimes a holiday is good for you."
Hermione nodded. "Yes, it was fun, but coming home and finding… thank you."
"You're welcome," Harry said.
"Although, I am looking forward to returning back to work tomorrow," Hermione admitted. "I think it will be less stressful than Barnaby sending me owls constantly. On a different note and much happier note, Ron and I have an announcement."
Molly's head perked up. "Announcement?"
Hermione nodded, biting her bottom lip as Ron reached out to take her hand in his. "We're engaged."
"Oh!" Molly exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "That's wonderful, dears!"
"About time," Fred said, shaking his head. "You two have been together for years. It was almost embarrassing."
Molly turned to glare at her son. "Frederick Gideon Weasley, you have three children and are still not married."
"That's beside the point," Fred said, winking at Ron. "Fiadh and I haven't known each other as long as these two tossers."
George chuckled. "And yet you two still have three kids, brother. Congrats, Ron, Hermione. This is great news."
"Very good news," Angelina agreed, getting up to admire the ring on Hermione's finger. "Oh, that's gorgeous!"
"It belonged to my grandmother," Hermione said, turning give Ron a loving look. "Mum gave it to Ron to give to me."
Ginny leaned in closer to admire the beautiful diamond and sapphire ring. Blue sapphire was definitely the right choice for Hermione. It was a thin white gold band with a beautiful hexagonal blue sapphire centred between two pear shaped diamonds with two small diamonds next to the pear-shaped one.
"That's beautiful," Ginny said.
"Ron even spoke to my parents first," Hermione said. "He surprised me. We've talked about getting married, but he still managed to surprise me."
Ginny poked Harry in the ribs. "And you didn't tell me!"
"Hey! I didn't know that he was going to ask yet."
"But you knew that he was going to ask!" Ginny accused.
"Of course he knew," George said, shaking his head. "Ron and Harry are attached at the hip."
"Are not," Ron said.
"Are too," George replied.
Ron stuck his tongue out at his brother before he cleared his throat. "Anyway, we're engaged."
"Have you thought about the wedding?" Molly asked.
"A little," Hermione said. "We want to get married next year."
"In the fall?" Molly questioned.
"Actually, I was thinking about how a winter wedding might be nice," Hermione said, looking at Ginny. "I rather loved your engagement party with the blue and the silver and I've always been partial to blues."
Ron batted his eyes dramatically at his fiancée. "It's because of my eyes."
Fred snorted. "You're so full of it."
Hermione smiled. "Actually, his eyes are part of the reason why I love blue, Fred. They're beautiful."
"Ha! You hear that! They're beautiful!" Ron exclaimed.
"I question everything else about him daily," Hermione teased.
"Oi!" Ron bellowed as his brothers laughed.
Harry leaned in and kissed her cheek. "You're going to be a gorgeous winter bride, Hermione."
"Ooh, a winter wedding!" Molly beamed, clapping her hands together. "That sounds lovely! Oh, I have so many ideas! We can have ice sculptures and maybe make it a bit Christmas like. A December wedding!"
"No Christmas," Hermione said. "But yeah, maybe next December."
Ron smiled, taking her hand in his. "December sounds great, Mione."
Talk turned to weddings before Molly turned to George and Angelina.
"And what about you two? You've been married going on three years now and not a single grandbaby in sight!"
George rolled his eyes. "Mum, you already have seven granddaughters."
"And?" Molly prompted.
"And you have seven granddaughters," George repeated. "What's the rush?"
"No rush," Molly said. "I just think that I'd like to see a beautiful baby that's part you and part Angelina. Though preferably more Angelina."
"Oi!" George exclaimed. "I'm a bloody delight, Mum!"
Angelina chuckled. "We're talking about it, Molly, but not yet. George and I aren't in a hurry."
Molly looked slightly put out by this before she turned her gaze on Harry and Ginny. "And what about you two? Two years you've just celebrated and what have you to show for it?"
Ginny bit her lip before she exchanged a look with Harry. "Actually, Mum, Harry and I do have some news to share."
Molly shrieked, jumping up from the table. "Oh my goodness! I knew it! I knew it! I'm so happy! Oh, Ginny!"
Ginny was pulled into her mother's arms before she could say anything otherwise and squeezed tightly. "Mum!"
"Oh, Ginny, you're going to be such a good mum! I just know that you two are going to have boy! I can feel it!" Molly exclaimed, tightening her grip on her daughter.
Harry cleared his throat. "Erm, Molly, we —"
"—and you!" Molly said, throwing her arms around Harry. "A baby! This calls for a celebration!"
"MUM!" Ginny shouted, making Molly turn to look at her. "I'm not pregnant."
Molly's face fell. "Not pregnant? What do you mean by telling me that you are!"
"I didn't," Ginny said. "I said that we had some news to share."
"We um, got puppies," Harry said, his ears reddening.
"Puppies?" Molly said quietly, her face falling. "Puppies?"
Ginny nodded. "Erm, two actually."
Bill burst into laughter. "Oh Merlin! Ginny you just crushed Mum's dreams."
"Harry and I surprised each other for our anniversary," Ginny continued. "We each bought each other a puppy and had no idea the other had done the same. Their names are Buccaneer and Egbert."
"Let me guess who named who," Fred teased.
"Egbert?" Fleur repeated, wrinkling her nose. "'Ow dreadful."
"I'm calling him Eggsy," Harry said.
"Not better," Fleur told him.
Molly sighed and sat back down. "Puppies. Well then."
Ron pat his mother's hand. "Don't worry, Mum. You can help us plan a wedding to make up for it."
Molly's smile returned at that and when she immediately launched into potential wedding plans, Harry kissed his wife.
"Think she was disappointed?"
Ginny met his gaze with a grin. "I don't think disappointment quite covered it. When we're actually pregnant, she's going to be ecstatic."
"Do you think she's right?" he whispered. "About us having a boy?"
Ginny kissed his lips. "I think I'd love to have a baby boy with you one day."
Harry kissed her once more. "Me too. One day."
When their lips met again, Fred cuffed Harry across the head.
"Don't worry, mate. I'll save you from your wife's kisses. Ginny, stop sticking your tongue down poor Harry's throat."
Harry pouted. "But I like it."
Fred sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. "There's no hope for you, Harry. No hope at all."
And as more talk turned to another wedding, Ginny watched her family with a smile. It was nice to be home.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
31st July 2003…
Harry loved having time off to spend just with Ginny. The last three years as her husband had definitely been the best of his life. He loved coming home to her every night. He loved waking up beside her every morning. Over the last three years, they'd fixed up the rest of Clevedon Court, giving old rooms a fresh coat of paint and going through some of the storage to rid the house of things they didn't need.
Watching his wife (he still felt the thrill at saying those words) become one of the most well known Quidditch players in England was beyond incredible. She'd just finished her fourth season with the Holyhead Harpies and this year as Harry had predicted, they had made it all the way to the finals and brought home the Quidditch Cup. Seeing her with her team, watching them cheer and shout and cry in excitement: He'd never been so proud in his entire life. He'd rushed out with some of the other spouses, partners, and family members, down onto the pitch to grab his wife and kiss the life out of her in excitement. The photo of their kiss had been on front pages everywhere less than thirty minutes after it happened, but it had been worth it.
Holyhead had defeated Puddlemere United for the Quidditch Cup: Four hundred and fifty to two hundred and ten. It had been a hell of a match. He knew with a win like that, Ginny would definitely be bringing home another award from the Quidditch League Awards this year. She'd won something every year so far, though not as many as her first year. Cheering her on was the greatest thing and he loved celebrating her accomplishments. He was so bloody proud of her that sometimes he felt like he could burst.
The last three years had been the best of his life. He loved his job and he loved his wife. He loved hanging out with his friends for pub night or coming home and finding his wife drinking wine with Theo or the two of them just playing with the dogs or even dinners at the Burrow where his brothers mocked him over the Witch Weekly articles.
Witch Weekly found something to write about concerning him almost every week including for the last four years in a row, as George had happily announced at dinner on Sunday, voting Harry in as Britain's Sexiest Wizard Alive. Not only was this possibly the most embarrassing thing to ever happen to him, but the ensuing articles that followed included shirtless photos snapped by paparazzi, ones of him in his Auror uniform, and even one of him in wet swim trunks that quite frankly revealed a lot more of him than he wanted publicized. Or as Theo told him: Yowza!
The only good thing about the article was that Ginny didn't tease him about it because for the last three years in a row, she'd been voted as Sexiest Witch Alive. Yet it was interesting that none of her brothers teased her over that, but they did tease him.
Now it was his twenty-third birthday and the two of them had made a trip out to the Potter home in Barbados for the third year in a row to enjoy some sun, some surfing, and each other. Harry had two weeks of holiday time this year and he was enjoying some time off with Ginny until mid August when she would have to return to training.
He'd been looking forward to it, not only for some sun, sex, and fun, but also because he just loved spending uninterrupted time with her. But ever since they'd arrived at Potter's Paradise, Harry couldn't help but sense something was off with his wife. He knew that there was something going on in that head of hers as of late, but he didn't know what. At first he'd thought it was the overwhelmingness of winning the Quidditch Cup that had her looking a bit dazed, but they'd been in Barbados for three days now and the look hadn't waned.
He'd asked, but she'd only shaken her head and distracted him with a kiss, but he knew something was on her mind. He'd thought about poking her about it again today, but it was his birthday and she seemed to be doing everything possible to make it one of his best birthdays ever; he didn't want to ruin that.
He watched his wife now as she moved around the small kitchen, popping raspberries into her mouth and wiggling her hips as she danced along to the Britney Spears song playing on the wireless. She was making them both sandwiches for lunch and Harry couldn't stop watching her. He was supposed to be cutting up tomatoes and slices of cucumber, but he couldn't keep his eyes off of his wife.
She wore one of his tee shirts and nothing else and every time it rode up when she moved, he was greeted to another stretch of milky white thighs and he licked his lips. He thought the song was only all right, but watching his wife sing along and shake her bottom was making him appreciate it more and more with every passing second.
"All my people on the floor, let me see you dance!" Ginny sang.
Harry dropped the knife on the counter, grabbed her hand and spun her into his arms, making her laugh.
"Get on the floor, baby, lose control. Just work your body and let it go," she sang.
Harry tugged her up against him, grinding his erection against her. "Oh, I'm definitely going to work your body, Gin."
Those deep brown eyes darkened and she let out a shriek when he lifted her up onto the opposite counter and stepped between her legs.
"Have something on your mind, Harry?"
He didn't give her an answer. Instead, he captured her mouth with his and kissed her deeply.
Ginny pulled back and danced her fingers over his lips. "I was dancing."
"Mmm, I want to dance with you," he murmured, sliding his hands up her thighs and under his shirt.
Ginny laughed and shimmied away from him, hopping down from the counter. "Nuh-uh. Food first, Mr Potter. I'm starving."
Harry groaned and she gave him a saucy look over her shoulder before moving back to take care of their lunch. He came up behind her, slipping his arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck.
Ginny leaned back against him while she took over chopping up tomatoes and cucumbers for the salad. "You need sustenance, Harry. We skipped breakfast."
"That's because you were too busy giving me a birthday blow job."
Ginny's lips twitched. "Exactly. You shouldn't be this hard up. You've already come twice today."
He grinned. This was true. She'd not only woken him with her mouth wrapped around his cock, but they'd also had rather hot sex on her surfboard in the ocean an hour ago. It didn't mean that he didn't want her all over again.
Or always.
Moving in together the year before they married had given Harry lots of time to work on her. He was pretty proud to say that he made her come: A lot. Twice a day was really the minimum and when they had time away like this, he made sure she came ten, twelve times a day easily. Her record was fourteen and Harry had happily got her there last New Year's Day with a smug smile. Every time he hinted at surpassing that number since, she'd snog him senseless.
But he had a new goal in mind and he was hoping this holiday would be the record keeping one.
"But it's my birthday," he whined, kissing her neck while his fingers slowly lifted her shirt. "And you have too many clothes on."
She didn't stop him when he lifted the shirt up and over her head, leaving her naked before him. He dropped the shirt onto the kitchen floor and let his hands slip up to cup a breast in each hand. His thumb brushed over her nipple and she bit her lip.
"Bloody hell."
Harry kissed his way over her shoulders, lifting her left arm to kiss his way from her wrist to under her arm and she shivered.
"Harry… I… I told you, we need… I have to tell you something."
"Mmm, so tell me," he teased, slowing falling to his knees behind her, his hands still cupping and fondling both of her breasts while he kissed his way down her spine.
"I can't…" His lips brushed the crease of her arse and she reached back to grip his hair. "Mmm, stop that."
Harry grinned and rubbed his stubble across her arse. "Make me."
Ginny pushed his hands off of her and spun around. Harry took this opportunity to kiss her abs, planting kisses lower and lower. Instead of pushing him away, she only gripped his hair again and dragged him closer. Harry didn't let the opportunity go to waste. He buried his tongue inside of her and she moaned.
"Oh, gods, yes!"
He took his time, enjoying every lick and suck, worshipping her with his tongue and his fingers until she gripped his hair tighter and came with a loud groan. He kept kissing and licking her until she was done and then he kissed his way back up her body to suckle her breasts.
"Happy birthday to me," he teased as he licked her nipple. "Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to Harry," he whispered, sucking her nipple into his mouth.
Ginny chuckled and shoved his swim trunks down his hips. "Happy Birthday Harry." Then she wrapped her hands around his cock and gave him a slow tug. "Now fuck me."
Harry crushed his mouth to hers and lifted her back onto the counter half a second before he plunged into her. She cried out his name, her legs locking around his waist. Harry turned back to her breasts while he worked himself in and out of her, his thumb rubbing her clit until she came again. He followed a moment later, gripping her hips and going deeper, rocking himself in and out of her until he saw stars.
Ginny kissed his forehead when he finished, sighing as her lips brushed over the lightning bolt scar. "I love you."
Harry's lips curved at her words and he turned his head to nuzzle her neck. "Love you, too."
He slowly disentangled himself from her and after a quick clean up, turned back to the sandwiches and salad they'd been putting together on the opposite counter. Harry frowned when Ginny pulled the tee shirt back on, but didn't say anything. She was so insistent on not making food naked; it was a real bloody shame.
Ten minutes later they were sitting on a towel by the pool and Harry had urged her to take her shirt off again so that they could eat their lunch naked. He reached for the white wine he'd taken from the cellar and Ginny placed her hand over his.
"Let's not open that just yet."
He frowned. "Okay."
Ginny moved into his lap, placing her legs on either side of him before reaching for the scrunchie on her wrist and tugging her hair back into a high ponytail. "There's something that I want to talk to you about," she said, putting her arms around his neck.
Harry's thumb brushed over her nipple and he swore her breasts felt even more fantastic in his hands than usual.
"All right. Are you finally going to tell me what's been on your mind?"
She let out a small sigh and then cupped his cheek. "You noticed, eh?"
"I have. You've been acting strange."
Ginny bit her lip. "That's… probably true. All right, you see, after we won the Cup… Harry, do you remember how I went to see the team healer for a final checkup until we head back to training at the end of the summer?"
He nodded.
"As you know, I've been working with a weak ankle and the physio has been helping me strengthen it."
He nodded again. She'd broken the same ankle twice during the war and despite being fully healed, it still sometimes acted up or ached.
"Voss was giving me the regular full physical, to see why I've been nauseous lately and well… there was a little surprise."
Harry lifted an eyebrow. "A surprise?"
Ginny bit her lip, her thumb brushing over Harry's bottom lip. "The nausea really should have been a sign. My nipples have also been really sensitive lately, but with the stress of being in the finals, I kind of overlooked the signs."
"Gin… what are you saying?"
"I'm pregnant. Three and a half weeks."
Harry stared at her for a full minute, his face completely blank. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. He tried again and only a small squeak escaped.
Her lips curved. "I know that we've talked about it and we both decided that we wanted to wait and have children after I turned twenty-five and this is a little earlier than we planned…"
Harry's mouth opened again before he moved his hands down to sit on her flat abdomen. His thumb brushed over her skin in awe.
"Say something," she whispered.
His green eyes met her wide brown ones and he blinked back the sudden tears. "We made a baby?"
Ginny nodded.
Harry's thumb stroked her stomach again. "Gin… this is the best birthday gift you ever could have given me."
Her brown eyes softened. "Yeah? I know it's fast and we didn't plan it…"
"Do you want it?" he asked.
"Yes. Of course, I do! Do you?"
Harry pressed his forehead against hers. "Yeah, yeah, I… I really do."
Ginny smiled. "We're going to have a baby, Harry."
"A baby," he whispered. "Gin… how did you keep this under wraps from me for almost a week?"
She smiled, running her fingers through his hair. "With extreme difficulty," she admitted. "I've almost told you a dozen times, but I thought telling you today, on your birthday, was a nice idea."
"The best," he agreed. "It's the best gift you ever could have given me." He kissed her softly before he tilted her head back to look into her eyes. "Wait, is this why every time I've asked you what's wrong you've either kissed me or taken off your shirt?"
Ginny chuckled and put his hands back on her breasts. "Distraction is the key to keeping secrets from your husband."
"Are you saying that if you only show me your tits to distract?" he teased.
Ginny leaned in to nip at his bottom lip. "It worked, didn't it?"
He couldn't even deny it. His wife had amazing tits and she knew exactly how much he loved them. He gave them a little squeeze before he slid his hands down to rest over her flat stomach.
"I can't believe we made a baby."
"Me neither," she admitted. "A bit sooner than planned, but I think we're ready."
"Yeah, me too," he said before his slow grin made her pause.
"What?"
"I just thought of something. Your mother is going to go absolutely mental when she finds out."
Ginny laughed and pressed her cheek against his. "How long do you think we can keep her guessing?"
"Is that a challenge, Mrs Potter?"
Ginny's brown eyes flashed in mischief. "Absolutely."
Harry pecked her lips. "Accepted." Then he pushed her back down onto the towel, kissing his way down her throat. "We'll work that out later when we get home."
Ginny wrapped her leg around his and flipped them so that she was on top, pressing her lips against a nipple. "Yes, now I think the birthday boy needs to behave or he won't get his present."
"Another present? What kind of present?"
Ginny flicked her tongue over his nipple, a hand moving down his abs to grip him in her hand. "Trust me."
Then her kisses went lower until she wrapped her mouth around him for the second time that day and he groaned.
"Best birthday ever…"
She chuckled around his cock, the vibration only making it better, and he reached down to grip her ponytail. He kept his eyes on his wife as her lips stretched around him and he knew that this holiday and this birthday were definitely worth it.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
Harry was still beaming in happiness when they arrived home from Barbados a week later. They decided together that they weren't going to tell anyone about the pregnancy until Ginny was at least twelve weeks along. They also needed to find a healer to work with whom they could trust to keep Ginny's appointments quiet as the last thing they wanted was their news getting out to the papers before they had a chance to even tell their family and friends.
However, the problem with wanting to keep it under wraps was Remus. Harry knew that his father would immediately know about the pregnancy which was why Harry caught his eye the first day that they stopped by Black Cottage for a family dinner a few days after getting back from their holiday.
Harry grabbed Remus' arm and tugged him over by the back door as everyone gathered by the gazebo in the garden. "Uncle Rem, I need you to do me a huge favour!"
Remus' lips curved. "Does it have anything to do with me noticing Ginny's scent changed when she hugged me?"
"Yes," Harry said, grinning. "Please don't tell anyone. We're waiting to tell until she's a bit further along."
Remus pulled Harry into a tight hug. "Bloody hell! You're going to be a dad. Congratulations, Little Prongs. I promise, your secret is safe with me."
When Harry told Ginny later that evening, she swore.
"Damn him and his supersonic wolf senses! Now he won't be in on the surprise!"
Harry grinned. "He'll keep it a secret for us and knowing Uncle Rem, he'll even help cover for us if we need him."
Winnie Voss, the Harpy's team healer, answered as many questions for them as she could, including why they'd ended up getting pregnant when they were both on the potion.
"Yes, you've both been very cautious," Voss said with a smile. "But with the stress of the playoffs and everything that was happening with the team, it sometimes can affect the potions. You're both positive that you didn't miss a dose?"
Harry said he hadn't but Ginny hesitated.
"I might have," she admitted. "One dose can affect that quickly?"
Voss nodded. "Not always, but sometimes yes. Especially if both parties are particularly fertile."
Ginny frowned. "I don't know if I am, but my mum always said that Prewetts and Weasleys are very fertile."
"That tracks with your family," Harry teased, kissing her hand.
"Well, I suggest you both stop taking the potion now as it's not necessary. You can talk to your family healer about when to begin taking it again in the future," Voss said.
When they left, Ginny linked her fingers with Harry's. "I think I know when."
Harry's eyebrow rose. "When what?"
"I'm almost five weeks along," Ginny told him. "So if my memory is right…"
Harry grinned. "The night you won the match before the final playoff game. Bloody hell," he said as he remembered how in the excitement of her win, they'd practically ripped each other's clothes off in the doorway.
They'd made fast love against the wall by the living room door and then he'd carried her up to bed and taken her again. They'd done it a third time in the shower and at some point, one of them had woken up in the middle of the night and they'd found each other a fourth time.
"That was a good night," he said, remembering that he'd made her come ten times before the dawn.
Ginny stood on her toes and kissed him. "It was. I think that's when we made our baby."
Harry felt like the words completely warmed him at the thought. "I love that. Now, let's find you a healer."
It wasn't until the end of August that they finally found Padma Patil.
Padma was working at Carmenta's Clinic and she specialized in pregnant mothers and newborn babies. Harry and Ginny immediately felt comfortable dealing with someone they knew and Padma was very understanding about signing a special non-disclosure agreement.
"Absolutely," Padma said with a smile. "I know how much you two are in the spotlight and I completely understand the need for it. I promise I'm not offended, but as your healer, it would be illegal for me to share this information as it is."
"We know," Harry told her. "But we still appreciate you signing the NDA for us."
Padma had a bright smile on her face as she did just that. Harry thought she looked truly happy. He knew that losing her identical twin sister in the war and her girlfriend had taken a toll on her, but to his surprise, she'd ended up in a relationship with the MIA Auror Yeona Jin. The two of them had become friends when Yeona first flirted and six months later, they had begun dating. They'd been together ever since.
Padma examined Ginny carefully and after assuring her that everything looked good. Ginny was seven weeks pregnant and Padma smiled brightly at them as she explained how big the baby was (the size of a small blueberry).
"Everything looks great. Do you two want to know the sex of the baby? It's too early yet to tell, but I like to know where my parents lie early on?"
Harry exchanged a look with Ginny before he shook his head. "No, I think we want to be surprised."
Ginny nodded. "Definitely surprised. We just want to know that our baby is healthy."
"This baby looks perfect," Padma assured them as Harry stared in wonder at the little magical vision of his baby floating above Ginny's flat stomach. "Any nausea?"
"A bit," Ginny admitted. "It's mostly been around suppertime. Almost never in the morning."
"Yes, calling it morning sickness isn't always the case. Saltines and orange juice work well if you can't keep anything else down," Padma told her. "We'll meet again in a few weeks to check everything out. In the meantime, I have some potions to start you on, Ginny. Prenatal vitamins to keep you and the baby healthy."
"What about Quidditch?" Ginny asked. "I've just begun training with the team in prep for the new season, but my team healer is aware of my situation."
Padma nodded. "You're safe for now to play. Training is more than fine, but once the season takes off, you won't be able to play. You'll be in your second trimester and it will be too dangerous."
"That's what I thought," Ginny said as Harry squeezed her hand. "I'll have to tell Mallory and Gwenog soon. They'll need to make sure that I'm replaced for the season."
Harry kissed her forehead. "Whatever you need, Gin."
They left the clinic feeling happy and excited about the baby, but they kept it a secret just between them despite wanting to tell everyone the news. The problem was going to be keeping someone like Molly Weasley off of the scent. Harry was positive that Molly knew the very moment every one of her daughter-in-laws had conceived and from the moment they returned from Barbados, Molly was giving them a look.
"Ginny, dear, you're not eating much. Are you all right?"
"Fine, Mum," Ginny said, drinking the wine in her glass that Harry had discreetly turned to cranberry juice. "Just ate a big lunch."
"Harry's cock doesn't count as real protein," Fred said. "Ow!" he bellowed when his sister kicked him from under the table.
"Ginny's been getting over a stomach bug," Harry said. "Caught something in Barbados and her appetite's been a bit down. Nothing to worry about."
Molly's eyebrows shot up. "Stomach bug? What are you symptoms? Nauseous? Tired? Achy breasts?"
"Mum, if she was pregnant she would have told us," Bill said, rolling his eyes. "Leave her be."
But at the next family dinner, Ginny had gotten one whiff of beef wellington and it had all been over. Harry covered for her by pulling her into the bathroom. He put a silencing charm on the bathroom half a second before she began vomiting. He knelt on the floor behind her and held her hair, using a cooling charm on the back of her neck.
"You don't have to do that," Ginny whispered once she contained herself.
"I want to," Harry told her, kissing her ear. "That's my baby too and I wish you didn't have to go through this."
Ginny hugged him tightly and then turned to vomit again. When they came out of the bathroom, George wiggled his eyebrows at them.
"Seriously? You two are married now. You have your own house. Stop shagging at the Burrow."
"Have you seen my husband?" Ginny taunted. "I can't keep my hands off of him."
George sighed. "Well, he is the Sexiest Wizard Alive, so I guess I get it. But seriously, keep your knickers on!"
Harry and Ginny used the excuse that they snuck off to shag twice more over the coming weeks when Ginny was feeling sick. Remus covered for them more than once and Ginny gave him an extra long hug each time they left.
When arrived September, Ginny had trouble buttoning her blouse. She was swearing under her breath and when Harry came out of the bath with a towel wrapped around his waist his eyes immediately fell right to her breasts.
"Bloody hell!" Ginny exclaimed, throwing her blouse to the floor. "None of my bloody shirts fit properly! How is it that my stomach is still flat and yet I've gone up a full cup size?"
Harry licked his lips, his hands immediately cupping her breasts. "Because I'm a very, very lucky man?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Really? Now?"
"You're so bloody gorgeous."
Ginny slapped his hands away. "Harry! Stop, this is serious! What am I going to wear? All of my tops are too tight over my tits and I can't let them out anymore or it will be obvious I charmed the shirts!"
Harry grabbed one of his dress shirts from the closet and passed it to her. "Wear this."
"Mum's going to ask."
"Let her," Harry said. "I'm sure that you can come up with a reason for why you're wearing your husband's clothes."
Ginny pulled the shirt on, rolling the sleeves and tying it around her waist leaving her midriff showing above her denim shorts. "All right, how does this look?"
"You look gorgeous," Harry said, his hands coming up to cup her breasts again.
"You love my tits, don't you?"
He grinned and leaned in to kiss her. "So so much."
They were late for dinner because Harry had to show her just how much.
Molly did notice her shirt and made a mention of it.
"It was all I could find quickly," Ginny said. "We were running late."
"They were late because they were shagging," Fred said.
Molly did notice her breasts anyway and mentioned something to her when they were alone in the kitchen.
"They're not bigger, Mum," Ginny insisted. "You're imagining things. It's just this new push-up bra I bought."
Molly pursed her lips. "Ginny, are you sure that you don't have something to tell me?"
Ginny kissed her mother's cheek and grabbed the treacle tart. "Come on. Harry's dying for this."
The next dinner had Ginny's appetite finally returning. And not just for food. She was pretty positive that she was randier than she'd ever been and Harry barely made it back into the house after work before she was on him. In the last week alone, they'd had sex in every room of the house and an hour before they came to the Burrow for dinner, Harry surpassed her number and got her to number fifteen.
She'd come so hard, she choked on her scream and Harry had given her a long satisfying lick, his green eyes smug.
"Time for a new goal," he said, sucking on her neck.
Ginny let out a strangled sob. "I don't think I can move. Or walk."
"Twenty minute nap," he said. "Then we'll shower and head to the Burrow. I can carry you."
She laughed. "That won't raise any questions."
"Well, I can always tell them how many times I've made you come today, but I don't think they'll appreciate it," Harry said.
Ginny grinned and pinched his nipple between her thumb and forefinger. "Apparently spending over eight hours in bed has its perks."
He wiggled his eyebrows. "It wasn't only in bed, Gin."
She laughed and kissed him. By the time they got to the Burrow, she was deliciously sore and bloody starving. For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could eat everything in front of her and still need more. She was on her third helping of mashed potatoes and she'd stolen the bannock from Harry's plate.
"Ginny, dear," Molly began slowly. "Did you not eat today? One would think you're eating for two with how much you're packing away?"
Harry winked at his wife and put his hand under the table on her stomach. "Don't worry, Molly, this baby is being very well fed."
"Baby!" Molly squealed, jumping to her feet. "Did you say baby?"
"Food baby," Ginny corrected, scooping up another spoonful. "You know how much I love mashed potatoes."
Molly scowled at them. Harry merely gave Ginny's stomach a little pat and kissed his wife's cheek.
As September ended and October rolled in, Ginny was officially thirteen weeks along and they both agreed that it was time to tell their family and friends the news. Harry and Ginny invited everyone over to Clevedon Court for dinner. This was nothing unusual as the Weasley siblings tended to take turns once month hosting everyone over while the other Sundays of the month were spent at the Burrow and whenever it was Harry and Ginny's turn, Harry usually invited Sirius, Zee, Remus, and Tonks as well.
It took no time at all for the house to be full of girlish laughter as Mina, Felicity, Finley, Victoire, Dominque, Forest, and Molly Anna ran around. Leo and Teddy looked hesitant and ended up playing in the corner by themselves as the girls decided that the boys weren't welcome to play with them. Charlie and Aydin were in Romania. Charlie took a month off every summer to spend at the Burrow and catch up with everyone, but otherwise they didn't usually see him until Christmas. Molly often made a trip two or three times a year to visit and sometimes Charlie brought Aydin to stay a month with her grandmother. Though this year Charlie was coming down in late November and staying until Ron and Hermione got married in December.
Zee passed Ginny a glass of red wine and Ginny took it with a smile. Harry immediately discreetly waved his hand over her glass, changing it to cranberry juice with a wink.
Remus accepted a glass from Zee as he leaned back in his seat. "This is nice, Harry. Thanks for including us."
"We love having you, Remus," Ginny said.
Molly was snuggling Molly Anna in her arms. "I love that I get to go along to each of my children's homes for dinner."
"It's hard to believe that they've all grown up," Zee agreed, passing Molly a glass of wine.
Harry kissed Ginny's cheek. "We love having everyone here."
Eggsy and Bucky chased after a laughing Teddy in glee and Remus sighed.
"Teddy! No running in the house."
"Oh, let him be, Rem," Tonks teased, kissing her husband's cheek. "Harry and Ginny know what happens when they invite all of us here."
"Complete and utter chaos?" Ginny said with a laugh.
"When you have your own kids you'll understand," Molly said.
Ginny put her wine glass full of cranberry juice on the table in front of her and rested her head on Harry's shoulder. She was still feeling very sleepy almost every day. She was no longer vomiting in the evening, but she was napping most days and today she'd missed it because she'd been randy as fuck and instead decided to suck Harry's cock before everyone arrived. She had no regrets. She stifled a yawn again and Molly gave her a look.
"What's wrong, Ginny?"
"Nothing, Mum. Just a bit tired," Ginny said.
"Harry keeping you up at night?" Sirius teased.
"No," Ginny said, giving Sirius a look.
"I'd ask if you're pregnant but apparently that's something you're vehemently denying me," Molly said in defeat.
"Probably for the best," Harry said. "Eating for two is hard work."
"It so is," Ginny agreed, patting her stomach. A tiny bump was there, barely noticeable under her jumper or to most people, but Ginny could feel it.
Molly rolled her eyes. "You two are always pulling my leg."
"Not just yours," Zee said. "I've thought Ginny was pregnant twice in the last two months and both times I was told that I was imagining things."
Harry put his hand over Ginny's, circling her wedding band and engagement ring with his thumb. "Maybe we took it too far?"
"It's possible," Ginny agreed.
"What are you two whispering about over there?" Tonks demanded.
Ginny gestured towards the plate of cheese and crackers on the table and Harry immediately got up and carried it over to her. She popped some in her mouth and beamed when Harry made her up a little plate.
"Hungry?" Tonk asked in amusement.
"Starved," Ginny admitted. "None of you ever warned me how bad the cravings would be. Last night I woke up at three, determined to have French toast with chocolate sauce. I was practically salivating over it."
"She was," Harry said. "I got up and made it for her."
Audrey smiled. "That's really sweet of you, Harry."
"Well, she is eating for two now."
"Oh for goodness sake, Harry!" Molly exclaimed, scowling at them. "You have to stop claiming that Ginny's food baby counts as eating for two! Just because she's developed a habit of eating as much as Ron —"
"—Oi!" Ron said in defence.
"—doesn't qualify her as eating for two!" Molly finished.
Ginny bit her lip as Harry passed her the wine glass full of cranberry juice. "Do tender and sensitive breasts count?"
Zee's head shot up, her dark eyes moving over Ginny critically. Then she reached out and snatched the wine glass right out of Ginny's hand and sniffed it.
"Cranberry juice!"
Molly's head spun around so fast, Harry thought it was almost comical. "What?"
"She's drinking bloody cranberry juice," Zee said, her eyes on Ginny.
Ginny popped another piece of cheddar into her mouth as Harry's hand returned to her stomach. "I like cranberry juice with my cheese."
"Ginny!"
Harry's lips twitched. "We told you, she's eating for two."
Molly and Zee both squealed at the same moment. It was so loud that Molly Anna and Dominque both started to cry in alarm. The two women jumped to their feet, their eyes wide.
"Are you?" Zee demanded.
"No more jokes?" Molly exclaimed.
"We are," Ginny said.
"We just wanted to be sure," Harry replied.
The next five minutes were a complete blur of congratulations and squeals. When Molly discovered that they were due at the beginning of April, she narrowed her eyes.
"How long have the two of you known?"
"Since July," Ginny admitted. "But Mum, we wanted to get through the first trimester, you know?"
Molly looked like she wanted to lecture, but she shook her head, pulling Ginny close for a hug. "Oh, Ginny! My baby is having a baby!"
Sirius clasped Harry on the shoulder. "Hogwarts, Harry. We talked about this."
Remus chuckled. "And we knew that they wouldn't wait that long, Padfoot. Congratulations, Harry. You're going to make an amazing father."
"I hope so," Harry said. "I had some pretty great examples."
Remus smiled. "Well, I look forward to being Uncle Remus all over again."
"You don't want to be grandpa?"
Remus chuckled and shook his head. "No, uncle works for me. I think Sirius needs that bestowed upon him."
"I'm way too bloody young and sexy to be called Gramps," Sirius scowled. "I'll be uncle too."
Harry grinned and let his fathers embrace him. "We'll see."
"Wait!" Ron exclaimed, his voice rising above the others. "Did you plan this?"
"Plan what?" Harry asked. "The baby?"
"Of course the baby," Ron said, rolling his eyes.
"No," Ginny said. "We talked about starting a family and we both decided that we wanted to wait until I was twenty-five, but this was a very happy surprise."
Ron grinned. "Called it! You owe me ten galleons, Potter."
"What? Why?" Harry demanded.
Ron gave him a haughty look. "Because I knew that you'd have an accidental pregnancy."
Ginny kicked her brother's shin. "You prat!"
"Hey, don't hate the messenger," Ron sang. "I told Harry that I'd bet him the two of you would have a million accidental kids."
"We're not having a million kids, Ron," Ginny said, rolling her eyes. "We're having one."
"For now," Ron teased. "Who wants to bet on how long it takes these two to get knocked up again on accident?"
"Hermione, hit him please," Ginny said.
Hermione flicked her fiancé in the forehead. "Stop being such a bloody prat, Ron Weasley!"
"I'll take that bet," Fred called out.
Ginny sighed and looked at her husband. "I want four. Not a million."
"Four," Harry agreed, kissing her forehead. "But let's just worry about this one for now."
"Remus!" Zee exclaimed, startling them as they turned to look over at her. "I just remembered! When I was pregnant, you knew almost before I did! You said that you could hear their heartbeats!"
"Did I?" Remus asked. "Funny, I don't recall."
Tonks punched her husband in the arm. "You bloody knew the whole time, didn't you? You've been covering for them!"
Remus shrugged. "Never say that I'm not great at keeping secrets."
Zee glowered at him and Harry hugged her.
"We asked him not to tell, Zee. We wanted to wait to announce it."
Zee sighed and kissed his cheek. "I know. But I'll remember this, Remus Lupin."
Remus grinned and moved to hug Harry in turn.
As the women crowded around Ginny to talk babies, Harry found himself surrounded by the Weasley men, grinning broadly as they all congratulated him.
"Going to be a long few months for you, mate," Fred said, slapping Harry's shoulder. "I hope you're ready for it."
"I'm ready," Harry assured him. "Whatever she needs I'm going to make sure she has. Late night cravings, no problem. Foot rub, absolutely. Extra time to sleep? No worries."
Bill shook his head. "No, Fred's not talking about that. We know you'll be great at that. It's the fact that Ginny's heading into the second trimester."
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"Well, you know, you can't have sex," Percy said.
"You can't?" Ron exclaimed, his eyes wide. "How come?"
"Ron, where do you think the baby is?" Fred asked, staring at Ron like he had three heads. "That thing is going to poke the baby in the eye, especially someone of Harry's size."
Harry frowned. "That doesn't sound right."
"It is," Bill insisted. "Sex is completely off the table during pregnancy. It's dangerous for the baby."
"And as Fred said, you have a huge cock, mate. That thing could cave in the baby's skull or something," George said.
"I didn't know this," Ron insisted, looking baffled. "Pretty sure you and Fiadh were even randier than before she was pregnant."
"We were," Fred agreed. "And it was torture because we couldn't do anything about it."
Bill nodded. "Same with Fleur. It was so hard to deny her."
Harry frowned as Tonks called him over to talk.
When everyone finally left for the night, Ginny plopped down into his lap and linked her arms around his neck.
"Well, I think that was fun."
He chuckled and kissed her. "You would think that. I love you."
"I love you," Ginny said.
Harry placed his hand over her stomach. "I love this baby so much already, Gin."
Ginny's brown eyes softened. "I know. Me too."
Ginny leaned in to nibble on his neck and he stood up, scooping her up into his arms.
"Come on, let's go on up to bed. I'm beat," Harry said.
He carried her upstairs to their room and they got ready for bed. He crawled under the covers and Ginny snuggled close, her hand moving down his chest and lower to grip him firmly.
"Mmm, I want to ride you."
Harry closed his eyes as he remembered what her brothers had told him. It sounded completely illogical in his head, but he couldn't stop that other voice from telling him that it made sense. He was well endowed. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt the baby.
Harry kissed her forehead. "Let's just sleep, Gin. I'm really tired."
Ginny frowned, looking at him in surprise. "All right. If you'd rather sleep…"
"I would," Harry said.
Then he rolled on his side and faced the other way, much to her surprise.
When they woke in the morning, Ginny snuggled close, kissing her way over his chest.
"Morning," she said, her tongue sliding lower and laving over his balls.
"Erm, I need to shower," Harry said.
"Hold it," Ginny ordered, grabbing a hold of his very obviously hard cock when he tried to scramble out of the bed. "Explain yourself, Harry Potter."
Harry sighed and closed his eyes as he explained what her brothers had said the night before. "We can't, Gin. We'll hurt the baby."
Ginny stared at him for a full minute before she burst out laughing.
"What? Gin, stop laughing at me!"
Ginny rested her cheek against his chest as she laughed. "I love you, Harry."
"I know," he whispered. "I love you, too."
"Harry, you know that they were fucking with you, right?"
He sighed. "I thought they were. I mean, it doesn't really make any sense to me, but then I started thinking about it and well, I am… bigger."
Ginny pressed her forehead against his. "Yes, you are, but you also know my body doesn't work like that. Harry, the baby isn't in my vagina."
His face reddened. "I know."
"So, there's absolutely no way for you to hurt the baby by shagging me."
"I know," he said. "I mean, logically I know that, but —"
"—but," Ginny interrupted. "My brothers are tossers. Now you promised to take care of me, didn't you? Give me everything that I wanted?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Good," Ginny told him. "Lie down. I want to ride you and then if you're good," she teased, her lips trailing down his chest. "I'll let you try for number sixteen."
Harry's lips twitched at her words and when she straddled him in their bed and did just that, he knew one night of denying her had already been too much. He was definitely going to give her everything she wanted and then some.
And they were definitely going for sixteen.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
October 2003…
Ginny left practice a few days later feeling elated to have finally told her team her news about being pregnant and feeling a bit sad to know that she wouldn't get to play in the season. They'd kept it under wraps after announcing it to their family and friends. Only her coach and captain had known the news.
"People will want to know why you're on the bench," Gwenog told her. "We can play off the ankle injury from last year for a bit."
"That would be great," Ginny said. "The less time we have for the press to be all over us the better."
"I figured you'd say that," Gwenog said. "The press just loves you and Harry."
Ginny had to agree with that. She and Harry had done what they could to dodge the big wizarding events that would make the press follow them the first December they were married, but it hadn't lasted. In December of '01, they attended the St Mungo's Fundraising Ball and were formally introduced as the Marquess and Marchioness of Somerset. They then attended the yearly Wizard's Ball that was on New Year's Eve and had attended both balls yearly ever since. On top of the Quidditch League Awards every September, it was three huge events every year and the press always printed photos of them and wanted to know every single thing about what they were wearing, what they were doing there, and how their relationship was going. Harry groaned and complained every time the invites came, but Ginny not-so-secretly loved going which surprised her. She rather loved getting all dressed up and dancing with her man who dressed up almost as well as he had at their wedding.
The shocking part of it all, Romilda Vane of Vane Fashion, had personally designed every one of her ballgowns for all three events every year and they were incredible. The first one event they'd went to was the Annual Wizard's Ball which was for everyone who worked at the Ministry of Magic, but historically was led by the original aristocratic families who had helped form the Wizard's Council which eventually became the Ministry of Magic. It was to raise money for local community centres as well as the Cambridge House for Children. The first year they attended in December of '01, she'd worn a gorgeous burgundy gown with a plunging neckline and an attached cloak while Harry had dressed to match in dress robes of black with a gold collar and gold buttons. He finished off the look with a velvet cloak the same colour as Ginny's dress. Harry and Ginny had had found an unlocked office halfway through the dancing and Harry had gotten on his knees, his head under her dress, and feasted on her like a starving man. She'd come twice before they went back to the ball to dance in the atrium of the Ministry of Magic under the Tree of Life and the Wall of Heroes monument.
After that, it became a thing. They attended every ball, fundraiser, and award show and snuck off to do something naughty somewhere they shouldn't.
In February of '02, they attended the St Mungo's Fundraising Ball which was the yearly fundraiser to help raise funds for hospital supplies, upgrades, and anything else the hospital needed. Ginny showed up in a stunning low cut spaghetti strap evening gown in black silk that molded to her every curve and left her back completely bare. Harry was dressed in robes of silver with a black cloak to match her and she'd been unable to stop ogling him from the moment he'd finished getting ready. They'd barely been able to keep their hands off of each other and they'd ended up in a dark stairwell, with her dress bunched at her waist while Harry rode her against the wall, his mouth on her breasts.
For the Annual Wizard's Ball in December of '02, she'd worn an off the shoulder gown in a deep emerald green with a high front slit. Harry was dressed in black and green to match, his velvet cloak the same shade as her dress. They'd unfortunately been unable to sneak off, but the high slit had made it very easy for Harry's fingers to work her under the table during the auction and she'd barely contained back her moan when she came; twice.
Then in February of '03 for the St Mungo's Ball, Vane had made her a beautiful silver and gold evening gown that had spaghetti straps and was translucent over her stomach outside of the rich gold embroidery with a deep burgundy shawl. Harry was dressed to match in silver and white dress robes with his red burgundy cloak again to match her shawl. They'd almost been caught that time with her propped up on the bathroom counter and Harry's face buried between her legs. She'd cried out his name as she came and she'd barely finished straightening her gown and cleaning up Harry's face when the door had opened and Cho Chang had walked in. Her eyes had widened comically at them.
"Oh, sorry," she said quickly.
"No worries," Harry told her. "I was just helping my wife get my whisky out of her dress. I was clumsy."
Cho gave them an unsure smile and when they hurried out, Ginny pinched his arse.
"How much longer do we have to stay here? I need to get you out of those robes," she told him. "Your ex girlfriend almost catching us has made me even more determined to get you home and have my way with you to remind you of why you married me."
Harry wiggled his eyebrows at her. "Mmm, I always love a reminder. How about another hour and then I think we can escape safely. I want you in that dress, tits out, as you suck me off."
Ginny thought it had been the longest hour of her life. But she remembered that it had definitely been worth it when they'd gotten home.
They events were for a good cause and Harry and Ginny always donated very generously, but these events were also used as a time for people to make connections among some of the who's who of magical Britain. This also included members of the Wizengamot asking Harry when he was going to take his seat.
Harry always carefully avoided answering, but Ginny knew that he was thinking about taking that step soon. The good thing about these events was that Theo and Sebastian were usually there as were Neville and Hannah and Ron and Hermione, so they always requested a table for the eight of them and their friends always gave them looks when they disappeared that resulted in teasing.
This year Romilda had already designed a beautiful strapless gold gown for Ginny to wear to the Wizard's Ball and black dress robes with gold trim and gold buttons for Harry which reminded her that she was going to have to reach out about getting it a bit bigger to fit over her larger breasts and the bump she'd have by New Year's.
"Speaking of," Gwenog began, dragging Ginny's attention back to her captain and team mate. "Did you tell that devilishly handsome husband of yours about the owl you received yet?"
"No. It was just one letter," Ginny said, shrugging it off. "I don't want to worry him needlessly. He's already very overprotective over me and the baby."
Ginny had received the letter three days ago. It had come directly to the Harpies' training facility with her name on it as most of the fan mail did. It hadn't contained any dangerous spells or potions so it had sailed into her letter carrier without question, but when she'd opened it, it had chilled her to the bone.
To My Beautiful Harpy,
I know that you don't know me yet and I wait with bated breath until that changes. I want you to know: I see you. You are not only the best chaser, but also the most beautiful. Nothing can stand in your way when you have your mind set. You and I are alike in that way. You'll see in time. One day soon, I will make you mine.
Love you for all of eternity
Your Most Devoted
Whoever had sent it was clearly a very intense fan as they spoke in vivid detail about every part of her that they loved. Ginny was ready to ignore it entirely, but the last line had really creeped her out.
One day soon, I will make you mine.
"Ginny, things like that can't be overlooked. These people can be dangerous," Gwenog insisted, tearing Ginny from her thoughts. "It's the same person who's been sending the flowers, right?"
"I think so," Ginny admitted.
Ever since they'd won the Quidditch Cup last season, Ginny had been getting flowers sent to her at the Holyhead Quidditch Stadium. Twice a week like clockwork, a gorgeous bouquet made of lavender, tuberose, and pink camellias. There was always a card that simply read: To My Beautiful Harpy, Love Your Most Devoted.
"I know," Ginny told her captain. "Miller knows and my letters are being more closely monitored. I don't want to worry Harry needlessly."
Gwenog sighed. "I get that, but the flowers have been coming for over three months now, with the arrival of the letter… I don't like it, Ginny."
"If I get another one, I'll talk to Harry," Ginny promised.
Gwenog reluctantly agreed and Ginny headed home, eager to play with the dogs and relax. She found a stack of mail on the table and she sorted through financial statements to an early holiday card before the letter caught her eye and this time, the letter did make her nervous because it had come directly to her house. When she opened the envelope a dried pink camellia fell out and her heart pounded in her throat.
To My Beautiful Harpy,
You were magnificent today. The way you held that broom in your hand, your hair flying behind you. It was a sight to behold. You almost looked as beautiful as you did this morning when you stopped at Serendipity Sweets for a hot cocoa and a chocolate scone, extra cream. The look on your face when the chocolate touched your lips was pure bliss.
I dream about the day you come to be with me. I would give you chocolate every day if you asked. Your husband doesn't know how good he has it... but you know what they say about hindsight being 20/20.
You'll see in time.
Love you for all of eternity
Your Most Devoted
Ginny dropped the letter on the floor in surprise, her hands shaking. Eggsy immediately made a beeline for it, picking it up and passing it to her.
"Thanks, boy," she said, scratching his head before she pulled put her mirror to call Gwenog.
"Ginny, what's going on? Forget something."
"No, I… Gwenog, another letter came. To my house."
Gwenog was quiet for a long moment and when she spoke her voice was deadly calm. "Give it to Harry. This isn't a one time thing, Ginny. If the letter got to your house, that's not a good thing."
"But how?" Ginny demanded. "This place is warded stronger than the bloody palace! No one can get in. I don't understand how this letter did."
"Ginny, tell Harry. He's an Auror. He'll know what to do."
"Tell Harry what?" Harry asked, coming into the kitchen. He leaned over to peck her cheek and smiled into the mirror. "Hey, Gwenog."
"Hi, Harry," Gwenog said. "Ginny, we'll talk tomorrow."
Ginny nodded and said goodbye, closing up the mirror.
"Tell me what?" Harry repeated.
Ginny tucked her mirror away and let out a small breath before she met his eyes. "I… can you just hold me?"
Harry frowned, moving closer and wrapping his arms around her. Ginny snuggled her cheek against his heart and Harry ran his hand down her spine.
"Gin, what's going on? Are you all right? Is the baby all right?"
"Baby's fine," Ginny assured him. "And I'm… I don't know how I feel exactly."
"What's going on?" Harry repeated.
Ginny let out a slow breath. "A few days ago, one of the fan mail letters that I received had kind of a creepy vibe to it. It gave me the chills, you know?"
"Creepy vibe how?"
"It was in the wording," Ginny said. "It was signed from my most devoted and… for the last few months someone's been sending me flowers to the pitch signed the same way. I didn't think anything of it, I mean, people send flowers and stuff all the time, but this was… twice a week and always signed the same."
"Ginny…"
"I know I should have told you," Ginny said quickly. "I just thought they were only flowers and then… this letter came a few days ago and it was signed the same and I brushed it off, but then…" Her hands trembled and she fisted them in Harry's shirt. "A second one came and they said that one day they would make me theirs. It was just creepy."
Harry's fingers gripped her chin, tilting her head back to look at him. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't know," Ginny admitted. "I just didn't think it was anything. I mean, it was a bit creepy, yeah, but I didn't think I had anything to worry about until this second one came… here."
Harry's eyes narrowed. "To our house?"
At her nod, he stepped back in surprise. Ginny pointed to the letter on the counter and Harry did a quick charm, sealing the letter in a protective spell to preserve evidence before he reached for it. She watched him read the words, his green eyes flashing angrily.
"All right. Go to Theo's."
"What?" Ginny exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Norfolk is safe. Go to Theo's for a bit. I'm taking this in."
"Harry—"
"—No," he interrupted, framing her face with his hands. "Until I know how this letter got passed our warding, I need you somewhere safe. Please."
Ginny nodded. "Okay."
Harry kissed her, deeply before he tucked her hair behind her ear. "Use the Floo. I'll leave after you do."
Ginny knew that it was better not to argue. She grabbed her bag and a handful of Floo powder before disappearing into the fireplace to go to Norfolk Manor. She came out in Theo's living room and was treated to a full frontal peek of Sebastian Kane sitting completely starkers on their sofa, his legs spread wide. His arms flexed as his fingers ran through Theo's thick brown hair where he was kneeled in front of him. Sebastian's eyes met hers in surprise and his hands immediately tightened on Theo's head.
"Erm, baby, we have company."
"Mmhm?" Theo mumbled, his palms sliding up over Sebastian's eight abs as he took him deeper into his mouth.
"Theo, we have… oh, fuck…" Sebastian groaned. "Baby, baby, you have to stop. Ginny's here."
"I'll just…" Ginny began before she turned around to face the fireplace, her face bright red.
"Ginny!" Theo exclaimed half a second later.
Ginny heard some rustling behind her and a moment later Sebastian told her that she could turn around. When she did, she found a shirtless Sebastian with unbuttoned jeans and Theo walking towards her.
"Chick, I love you, but very bad timing," Theo said, holding out his hands to her. "My mouth was deliciously full."
"I saw," Ginny said, blushing even more. "I didn't mean to interrupt, but next time maybe close your bloody Floo."
Theo grinned and pulled her close for a hug. "All right, fair point. But we were celebrating my birthday week because I just turned twenty-four which means that Bas gets to come in my mouth twenty-four times. For his birthday, he does me. It's the perfect gift that keeps on coming. Get it?"
Ginny snorted. "You're so crude."
"Bas loves it."
Sebastian cleared his throat. "Anyway, ignore him. He's ridiculous."
"And poor Bas has blue balls now," Theo teased. "Don't worry, Auror Arsehole, I'll make it really good for you later."
He blew him a kiss and then took Ginny's arm, leading her over to the sofa.
"Come sit. Tell me what this impromptu visit is about, not that I don't love having you of course, but like I said, I was a little occupied when you arrived."
Ginny nodded and then to her horror, tears began to flow down her cheeks.
Theo held her closer, frowning. "Chick, what's wrong? You know I'm just kidding! I'm not trying to get you to leave! I'll suck off my man later. Promise. Don't cry! You never cry! Like ever."
Ginny tried to fight back the tears as she looked up at Sebastian when he came up to put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I just… hormones are making me weepy, but Harry sent me here tonight and… he says that it's safer."
Sebastian lifted an eyebrow. "Safer? What happened? Are you all right? Is the baby all right?"
Ginny nodded, charmed that Sebastian thought of her baby too. "Yes, I'm fine and the baby's good, thank you. No, this is something else."
She quickly explained about the letter and Theo frowned.
"What? No, that's unacceptable! This bloke is bloody stalking you!"
"No," Ginny said quickly. "Just… someone's sending me these letters and flowers."
Sebastian frowned. "Theo's right; that sounds like a stalker, Ginny. Harry's looking into it?"
She nodded. "Yes. He took the letter and went to work to deal with it. But it came to our house, Theo."
Theo wrapped her in his arms, holding her tight. "Hey, Harry will find this arsehole and you'll be safe. You can stay with Bas and I as long as you need."
"Absolutely," Sebastian said.
Ginny smiled at them, feeling a bit better. Theo ushered her to sit down, but Ginny couldn't help but wonder how Harry was making out at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
Harry was furious. He stormed into the Ministry of Magic, his red Auror cloak fanning out behind him. He wanted to know who was sending these creepy letters to his wife and he wanted to know now. When he stepped into the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the first person he ran into was Maverick Proudfoot.
"Back so soon, Potter?"
"Mav," Harry said. "Something happened. Is Maddox still here?"
"I think so," Proudfoot said.
Harry didn't give him a chance to finish, he just turned and headed towards the Auror Inquisitors Unit and straight towards Maddox King. He dropped the sealed letter on Maddox's desk and crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"Someone is stalking my wife and I need to know who."
Maddox lifted an eyebrow. "I have other cases, Potter."
"My wife, Maddy," Harry growled.
"Don't call me Maddy," he muttered, snatching the sealed letter up. "I'll look into it."
At Harry's look, he sighed.
"I'll look into it right now."
"Thank you," Harry said, keeping his eyes on him.
"Just because you're staring at me doesn't mean it's going to go any faster," Maddox insisted.
Harry sighed and leaned back against the wall. "I can wait."
Maddox muttered something under his breath that Harry didn't care to hear as he waited for results. The fact that this letter had come to their home and not just to the Harpy's pitch was worrisome. Of course owls had a canny way of finding anyone and Harry knew that logically a simple letter would of course find its way without issue, but it was the content that he didn't like.
He turned when someone called his name and he nodded his head towards Higgins when he saw him walking over. Harry was an A3 now and had been one of the fastest recruits to make it up the ladder in over a century, having accomplished his A3 status in just under two years. He'd been working in the Dark Arts Unit for four years now and he truly loved coming to work every day. As an A3 he was no longer required to be in full uniform, outside of his red cloak, but he usually still wore black dress trousers, a button-down shirt, and suspenders to hook his wand holster on under his robes. Not to mention he rather liked the suspenders because Ginny loved to tug on them while she pulled him out of his trousers and sucked him off, but that was just a bonus.
Rexford Higgins had been a great partner and Harry felt like he'd really learned a lot from him over the years. He was funny and smart and they complimented each other well, knowing when to lean on the other and knowing when to jump ahead. Ron had been almost another full year before becoming an A3 in the fall of '01 and Harry knew that his best mate loved working in the unit as much as Harry did.
Higgins had been dating Catherine Paddington, an Arcanum in the Department of Mysteries, for the last few years and Harry knew that he was thinking about proposing soon. He liked seeing his former partner so happy.
"What are you doing back here?" Higgins asked. "Proudfoot said that you demanded to see Maddox."
"Being a hindrance," Maddox called out. "I already told him, watching me doesn't make me work any faster."
Higgins lifted a brow. "Explain."
Harry let out a slow breath. "An overzealous fan has been sending Ginny flowers for months and in the last few days, he's upped the stakes to two creepy letters. The second one came to our home."
"Oh. I can see why you're a bit worked up."
"You think?"
"Did you call Ron in?"
Harry shook his head. "No. He was meeting Hermione's parents for some last minute wedding stuff. I'll leave him be."
When Higgins only made a sound of agreement, it was moments like this that Harry realized how much he missed him. One year after Ron had passed his A3 test, Robards finally agreed to let them be partners in the fall of '02. Higgins and Baxter were reassigned and Harry and Ron matched together. Harry had to admit, he loved it.
He and Ron had always just clicked and he loved working day in and day out with his best mate. Where Harry often thought with his heart first, Ron was more logical and strategic, but where Ron was often clueless, Harry tended to be more rational. They made a great team and Robards had said as much at their yearly review in September.
"What are you and Baxter up to?" Harry asked.
"Nothing much," Higgins admitted. "We just closed an assault case from East London. We're pretty free if you need a second set of hands on this."
"I'll take them," Harry said. "I don't know what this is yet. It could be a simple case of an overzealous fan, but it's Ginny. I'm not going to take any risks."
"Where is she now?" Higgins asked.
"I sent her to stay with Theodore Nott. I didn't want her at the house alone."
Higgins nodded. "Good call."
Maddox waved them over and Harry perked up.
"What did you find?" Harry demanded.
Maddox wrinkled his nose as he levitated the letter above the desk. "Standard parchment made of high quality fir trees and cotton. The watermark in the corner tells me it's from Flourish and Blotts. The ink is gold, nothing special about it, but I did manage to pull prints. I'm running it through our Criminal Charms Log to see if it anything matches, but so far it looks like they're unregistered."
"That's it?" Harry asked.
"Give me a second, Potter," Maddox said with a scowl. "I also found traces of Tyto Alba saliva on the envelope which as you know is a barn owl. This is good news as there are only about 4000 of these birds left in the UK. They're easily identified by their white underparts, golden back, and heart-shaped face. As to the flower, the pink camellia is a flower often associated with romantic longing for someone which I admit, is a bit creepy to send to a girl you fancy."
Higgins clasped Harry on the shoulder. "It is a start. I'll grab Eric and we'll head to Diagon Alley and talk to the shopkeeper at Flourish and Blotts. We'll get a copy of their records going back for the last three months on those who purchased this kind of parchment and gold ink together."
Harry nodded. "Yeah, that's… thanks, Rex."
Higgins gave him a reassuring smile. "We'll find this mad hatter, Harry. Don't worry."
Harry was grateful for Higgins' assurance and after asking Maddox to memo the results to his desk, he headed to the Magical Menagerie to work on the owl aspect. He found Zee working at a clear board in her office, her wand drawing diagrams and writing notes on the board as she looked pensive.
"Got a minute for your favourite Auror?"
"Harry!" Zee exclaimed, grabbing her wand out of the air and moving to hug him. "This is a nice surprise. I thought that you had a half day today?"
"I did, but something came up," he said, kissing her cheek. "I was hoping you could help me track down an owl."
"Well, I'll certainly try," Zee said, urging him to sit down.
Harry took a seat in the armchair across from her desk. "Thanks. It won't be easy. I'm looking for a Tyto Alba."
"Oh?"
"Well, it's owner more specifically."
Zee nodded. "Well, there are over 4000 of them in Britain, but they are considered domestic."
Harry watched her wave her wand and a cabinet opened on the left where a bunch of folders came out, pages flipping before her eyes as she spoke.
"I think your best bet would be to speak with Tripp Forrester in the Being Division. He was my old partner and he does specialize in birds. It is law for all owls to be registered with the DRCMC so he should be able to help you narrow it down."
Harry thanked her and headed up to level four to find Agent Forrester. It took another thirty minutes for him to pull up the list of registered owls in Britain and a bit longer for him to narrow it down to those who owned a Tyto Alba, but when he did, the list was extensive.
Forrester whistled. "Over 2000 names, mate."
"I'll take it," Harry told him. "Thanks."
By the time he met up with Higgins and Baxter, they had a list just as long.
"We forgot to account for back to school shopping," Baxter said. "The list of people was a lot longer than you'd think, but thankfully, not a lot of people are fans of gold ink."
"How many?"
"One hundred and fifty," Higgins said. "Let's get to work."
The three of them stole a conference room and as Baxter read off each name from his list, Harry did a find-the-word spell over his own extensive list. When they came up with no matches, Harry swore.
"Fuck!"
Higgins sighed. "It was a long shot. We can go back and look at the records for another three months back."
Harry ran his fingers through his hair. "Yeah, maybe we'll do that. Ginny said she's been getting flowers as well so I'll talk to Neville at Serendipity Blooms and the flower shop in Diagon Alley. I need to go to Holyhead and see the original letter as well. Maybe there will be something on there that we don't already know."
"Worth a shot," Baxter said. "I'll go with you, Rex here has a date."
"An important date," Higgins said with a grin.
Harry smiled at his old partner. "How important?"
"Important," Higgins replied, his eyes wide. "I'm taking her to Luminescent Walk and I'm going to propose."
"Blimey!" Harry exclaimed. "Congrats, mate!"
"Thanks. I hope so."
Harry and Baxter wished him off and then the two of them headed out to head to Holyhead and find the original letter. Harry thought it was rather going to be a long night.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
It was a long night and an even longer few days after that. The letter from Holyhead had turned up nothing new and going back to check records for the previous six months turned up no connections between Flourish and Blotts and those who owned the Tyto Alba owl.
Harry had Sirius and Remus help him triple check the wards at Clevedon Court before he asked Basil to check all letters before leaving them out for them. If Ginny received another one from this devoted fan, he wanted to see it first.
He and Ron cased Apricity Lane and spoke to everyone up and down the place asking to keep an eye out. He interrogated Hannah and Neville so strongly that Hannah teared up in alarm.
"Bloody hell, Harry!" Neville exclaimed, grabbing his friend's arm. "You're bloody scaring her!"
Harry gave Hannah an apologetic look. Her and Neville had married last year and their bakery and flower shop was doing great.
"Fuck, Hannah, I'm sorry. I'm just worried and I don't know who this bugger is. I guess I was hoping you might have better records."
"We don't keep records like that," Hannah told him. "It's a bakery. Unless people are doing a catering order, we hardly card them for a fairy cake and a hot cocoa."
Harry knew that Hannah was right, but it didn't make him feel any better. Someone had been in this shop and had been watching his wife. He needed to find out who it was. The problem with stalkers was that it generally was someone Ginny had met at one point, but it didn't mean it was someone she knew. One interaction with her could be all it took to make this person believe that they belonged together. Ginny could have merely smiled at them and that was all it took.
It only made him more determined to find out who it was.
Talking to Pansy and Greg didn't get him any further. When he stepped into Sophistication by Pansy on Saturday morning, he found Greg holding a crying Grant in his arms as Gavin and Gabriel played on the floor with Grayson doing his own thing around them. It still boggled Harry's mind to think about Pansy and Goyle having four sons. Grayson had just turned six, Gabriel was five, Gavin was three, and Grant would be two in the new year. He couldn't imagine how much chaos that was for the young parents.
"We'll keep an eye out," Greg told him, bouncing Grant in his arms in an attempt to soothe him. "But there hasn't been anything out of the ordinary that we've noticed and we do get some strange people in here wanting to ogle Daphne when she's modelling."
"And I kick their arses right out," Pansy said, marching over and taking Grant from her husband. "It's all right, dear, mummy's here."
Grant sniffed into her shoulder and Pansy patted his back.
"He needs to go down for a nap. Can you take him and Gavin home, Greg, and put them down?"
"Of course, love," Greg said, kissing her cheek. "Sorry we can't be more help, Harry. Gavin! Come on, son."
Pansy watched her husband leave with their two youngest boys before she turned back to Harry. "There's no one that stands out, but there a few random people who wander in here around lunch a few days a week who are a bit odd, but I can't say I've noticed anything in particular."
"All right," Harry said, pulling out his card. "If you think of anything or see anything, please let me know."
Pansy took his card and turned to help a customer and Harry hurried out of the shop to talk to the next shopkeeper. When he met up with Ron, he was disappointed to learn that his partner was as empty-handed as he was.
Harry cursed when he got the owl from Gwenog claiming another letter had arrived in the last few days and he and Ron headed to Holyhead to get it. Harry's blood ran cold when he read the words:
To My Beautiful Harpy,
The way you move your body in the yoga studio moves me to tears. I lie in bed at night imagining that body moving next to mine, touching mine. Harry Potter doesn't deserve you. You are a star that outshines all the rest. I will give you the world and worship you like the goddess you are.
I will pay homage to your body, to your soul. No one will love you like I love you.
You'll see in time.
Love you for all of eternity
Your Most Devoted
Harry swore under his breath and decided that they needed to do something to keep Ginny safe while they searched for this tosser. This stalker was getting bolder and his words more daring. It made Harry worry that he was going to reach out by more than just a letter. The escalation level was starting to worry him. When he said as much to his wife, she shook her head.
"No," Ginny said when Harry finished telling her his plan.
"Ginny, this man is starting to sound really dangerous," Harry began.
"I know that you're worried about me," Ginny interrupted. "But I'm not going to start walking around with bodyguards following me all over the place."
"Not bodyguards," Harry said. "Patrol Aurors in plain clothes… just to keep an eye out."
Ginny frowned. "To watch me, you mean. No."
"You're not being rational, Gin."
Ginny spun around and glared at her husband. "I'm not being rational? Harry, do you think I'm not worried? Of course, I'm bloody worried! Some nutter is stalking me! But I've already lost my sense of privacy. I haven't gone anywhere alone. Someone is always with me. What more do you want?"
"To keep you safe!" Harry shouted, his fists clenching at his sides. "You will have protection!"
"No, I won't!"
"Damn it, Ginny!"
Ginny's hands sat on her hips and she narrowed her eyes. "If I catch wind of even one bloody Auror following me, they're going to have Bat Bogeys coming out of their noses and so will you!"
Harry knew better than to let think her threat idle.
Ron attempted to make light of the situation when he came home with Harry the next night for a drink.
"Think of it this way, Ginny," Ron began. "It's a sign that you've really made it. You know you're brilliant if you have a mad fan obsessed with you."
"Gee, thanks, Ron," Ginny said, rolling her eyes.
"We already know she made it," Harry said. "My incredible wife's won Player of the Year two years in a row and she's taken home Rookie of the Year, the Cadmus Hughes Trophy, the Most Valued Player Award, and took home the Quidditch Cup. We already know she's a rockstar."
Ginny grinned and leaned in to kiss her husband. "My biggest fan."
"Never doubt it," he said, capturing her mouth in his again.
"Did you two forget that I'm in the room?" Ron demanded.
Ginny made a rude hand gesture behind her back at her brother and slipped her tongue into Harry's mouth.
"Bloody hell," Ron muttered.
Harry licked his lips when Ginny pulled away and cleared his throat. "Anyway, she's bloody brilliant and while I appreciate people admiring her skill on the field, this is a step too far."
But when another letter arrived in Holyhead for her a week later, he was furious.
"We're not arguing about this anymore," Harry said when he got home that night. "You're going to have Aurors on you and that's final!"
"Harry, I don't want to be followed around! You're not going to stand there and tell me what to do! You're my husband, not my bloody keeper!"
"I don't care," Harry said, grabbing her arm and turning her around to look at him. "I'll be your bloody keeper if you force me to be! You're my bloody wife and I'm going to do everything possible to keep you safe even if it means having bloody guards on you twenty-four/seven."
"I'll hex them," Ginny said.
Harry pressed his forehead against hers. "Why are you so fucking stubborn?"
"Takes one to know one."
He scoffed and let her go, burying his face in his hands. "Bloody hell, Gin! Will you just listen to me for once? You need protection!"
They yelled at each other until they were hoarse. The yelling turned into some really incredible angry sex against the living room wall and then on the coffee table, which they broke. After laughing themselves silly over breaking the table, Harry rested his chin on her stomach, her fingers in his hair.
"Please," he whispered.
Ginny sighed and finally caved over that one word and the next day, Harry spoke to the Head of the Magical Patrol Unit about assigning Aurors to tail his wife. Candace Billings and her partner, A2 Dalton Majors, took the first shift. They were going to alternate along with Nox Thompson and his A2 partner, Eman Hutchins.
"Thank you," Harry told them when Thompson and Hutchins volunteered to take the first shift. "I really appreciate this."
"Hey, when someone messes with family, it's all of our problems," Thompson told him. "We'll keep her safe, Potter."
"No one will ever touch her," Hutchins promised.
Harry felt immediately better knowing that she would have someone to keep an eye on her at all times even if Ginny had only reluctantly agreed. He liked the MPU Aurors, having vetted them himself, and felt much better about letting her leave the house.
The flowers kept coming as November arrived, twice a week like before. Whoever was sending them was making their own bouquets and buying the three types of flowers (lavender, pink camellia, and tuberose) separately at different locations making it impossible for them to track them. Sometimes the flowers were pressed into the letters as well.
When Gwenog called Harry to tell him that more flowers and another letter had arrived, he and Ron went to the Holyhead Stadium to investigate.
To My Beautiful Harpy,
You bought a scarf today. It was blue and made of silk. When you wrapped it around your ivory throat, I imagined it was me holding it there; tightening it just enough to make you gasp for breath. I'd like to hold it to your throat like that while I'm pumping deep inside of you; giving you everything you've ever wanted.
Would you like that, Ginny? I can show you things that you've never even imagined…
After the scarf, you stopped at Gringotts and spoke to a tall red-headed man. He put his arm around you like he had the right. Someone called him Weasley which is the only reason I relaxed.
No one is allowed to touch you but me, Ginny.
You are mine and mine alone.
You'll see in time.
Love you for all of eternity
Your Most Devoted
Harry put the letter in his bag before he turned to Gwenog. "Did she see this?"
Gwenog nodded. "Yes. The letter and the flowers were in her cubicle when we arrived in the change rooms."
"In her bloody cubicle?" Harry demanded. "How? Who has access in here?"
"Staff," Gwenog said, but also some press and security. The season doesn't start for two for more weeks so it's not as tight as it usually is."
Harry swore under his breath and demanded that Gwenog make sure the place was locked down. Gwenog promised to make sure Harry was informed the moment another letter arrived at the Harpy pitch.
"We didn't see anyone suspicious," Auror Hutchins told him when Harry approached and demanded that they recount their day.
"We took over from Billings and Majors an hour ago," Thompson said. "Everyone who's been through here is no one out of the ordinary."
Harry and Ron spent four hours vetting every person who had gone in and out of the stadium and came up with no results. He wasn't sleeping well and while he usually only stopped to talk to Auden McCraight once every two months now, he was finding himself there more often to try to deal with his fears. McCraight did what he could to soothe him, but Harry was too worried about his wife and unborn child to make sense of it.
When the photos arrived, his fears grew to new heights. He was grateful to Basil for handing it over to him before Ginny saw it and he immediately charmed it all to be sealed for evidence, levitating it above the table as he studied what was there. It made his blood run cold to see it.
There were over a dozen photos of his wife taken over the last few weeks. One from her training facility in Holyhead, one of her leaving the yoga studio in Diagon Alley with Theo, one of her stepping into Gringotts, one in a café, and they only got spookier. His eyes narrowed as he took in the ones that seemed to be more focused from a close up of her breasts, to a closeup of the left side of her face, to one of her hoping onto the Knight Bus.
The envelope they came in had one message written on the back: I'm watching you. Then each photo inside had a comment written on the back that said something like: To My Beautiful Harpy, I love you in red or To My Beautiful Harpy, I love watching you walk or To My Beautiful Harpy, you held the door open for me and I know it means you love me as much as I love you.
Then the photos of her and Harry together were even scarier. Deep black indentations marked an X over his face, some so deep they went through the photo. Wherever Harry's body touched Ginny's, like a hand on her back, it was crossed out. Written in gold ink across every image of Harry were the words: Tell HIM To Back Off What's Mine!
Someone was closely stalking his wife and he didn't like it.
"Harry, there you are," Ginny said, coming into the kitchen with Arnold on her shoulder. "I'm going to pick up Mum and we're going to do a final fitting of our dresses for Ron and Hermione's wedding in three weeks. I'll be back late as I think we're turning it into a bit of a girl's day. What is it?"
"Nothing," Harry said quickly, tucking the photos and envelope into his bag. "Have fun."
Ginny tilted her head and gave him a knowing look. "Harry."
Harry sighed and pulled her into his arms. "Another letter came for you. I'm on it."
"Another… what did it say this time?"
"Much of the same," Harry said.
"And?"
"You don't need to know, Gin," Harry told her, kissing her forehead. "I'll take care of it."
Ginny furrowed her brow. "Harry, we don't lie to each other. Tell me."
The last thing he wanted to do was lie to her, but he also didn't want to worry her needlessly either.
"Whoever this is, they sent photos," he said, keeping his eyes on hers. He picked up her trembling hands and held them in his. "I don't want you to worry about it, but I also don't want you to go anywhere alone until we find this prick."
"Harry, I'm already being followed by MPU Aurors, what more do you want?"
"Gin, please," Harry insisted. "For me. For the Little One."
Ginny sighed and linked her arms around his neck. "You fight dirty, Harry Potter."
"Only because I love you more than life," he said, knowing she'd conceded.
"Charlie's in town early for the wedding," Ginny told him. "We can make him come with."
"That will work," Harry said. "If you see anything or feel uncomfortable even for a second, call me. All right?"
Ginny nodded. "I promise."
Harry kissed her forehead again. "I love you. Have fun today. I'll take care of this, I promise."
Ginny gave him a grateful look before she kissed him and hurried off. Harry grabbed his bag from the chair and headed to work. He really hoped Maddox could pull something off of these photos.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
Ginny tried her best not to let anyone see how nervous she was, but the idea that someone was actually stalking her was incredibly terrifying.
Who was this person?
Was it a man?
Was it a woman?
It sounded like a man, but did she really know for sure?
What did they want from her?
She tried not to look back at the two MPU Aurors discreetly following behind them. She was tired of having so much protection just to run out and get a cuppa.
Ginny smiled gratefully at her brother when he draped his arm over her shoulders. "Thanks for coming with us today."
"It's no problem," Charlie said. "Though I'm still waiting for you to tell me why exactly I'm here."
"Can't a girl just miss her big brother?"
"Well, I know you miss me every minute of every day, but this isn't that," he said, giving her a knowing look.
Ginny looked over at where their mother was chatting up ahead to Hermione. "I'm swearing you to secrecy. I don't want Mum to worry."
Charlie frowned. "What is it?"
"Someone's been… stalking me," she whispered.
Charlie's eyes widened in alarm. "Bloody fucking hell! How long?"
"A few months," she admitted. "Only in the last month and half has it really gotten serious. Harry's investigating, but he doesn't want me to be anywhere alone."
"He bloody-well fucking not," Charlie hissed. "What the fuck's going on?"
"I don't know," she whispered. "I've been getting flowers and now letters and today there were some… photos. I don't know who it is or what they want from me."
Charlie tightened his grip on her. "Do not leave my sight, Jitterbug."
"I won't," she told him, feeling better with her brother's arm around her.
They headed into the little bridal boutique in London to meet up with Hermione and her mother, Jean. Hermione was doing another fitting for her dress to finalize the last ins and outs as were the bridesmaids. They were getting married on the seventh of December and it was fast approaching. Ron had decided that despite the old church being small, he wanted all of his brothers in the wedding party and of course, Harry as his best man. Hermione asked Ginny to be her Matron of Honour and the only other person she wanted to stand in her wedding was Luna which worked since Charlie didn't have a significant other. To make up for Ron wanting the rest of his brothers, she asked Fiadh, Angelina, Audrey, and Fleur to stand for her as well.
Ron and Hermione were getting married in Canterbury in an old Muggle church called St Martin's where Hermione's uncle Garth was a minister. Most of the wedding was going to be very Muggle-like and Ginny was excited to see how it differed from a magical wedding.
She smiled at the older woman who passed her the dress to try on. Hermione had chosen a bright turquoise for their dresses. They were beautiful, slim-fitting with a long sleeved translucent lace over the arms and collarbone. The top of the dress curved like a heart with lace over the chest before disappearing up into the translucent lace. It had a thick band at her ribs before it flowed straight down in soft layers of tulle. Ginny loved it.
Charlie insisted on standing outside of her dressing room while she changed and she didn't fight him on it. It made her feel safer, despite the plain clothes Aurors outside discreetly watching her. When she came out, the dress was open in the back and she gave the seamstress a nervous smile.
"Sorry, I'll need this to be let out a bit," Ginny admitted.
"Oh, Ginny," Molly said, beaming at her.
Ever since Ginny had told her family about her pregnancy, her mother always seemed to smile brightly at her whenever she saw her.
"Will it look all right, do you think?" Ginny asked, turning to look at herself in the mirror. "I'm not showing too obviously, am I?"
"Are you pregnant, dear?" the shopkeeper asked with a smile.
"I am," Ginny said. "Going on seventeen weeks."
The woman gave her a dazzling smile. "Oh, congratulations! No worries about the gown. It lets out nicely here at the waist so you won't have to worry. I can loosen the zip to make it easier."
The flash of a camera had them all turning and Ginny winced when the man came inside.
"Lady Potter! Is this what you're wearing to your brother's wedding in December? You look stunning! Can you turn to the right for us?"
"Out of here!" Charlie bellowed, shoving the bloke towards the door. "You got your photos now scat!"
The photographer glanced back at where Ginny had her hands on her stomach and he snapped another photo.
When the door closed behind him, Charlie scowled. "Vultures."
"I think you might have a bigger problem," Hermione said. "I think he might have realized you're expecting."
Ginny sighed. She knew that it was going to have to come out eventually, but she had hoped to make it a few more weeks before that happened.
"Well, it was bound to happen sometime. Let's talk about your wedding!"
Ginny pushed her worries from her mind and focused on Hermione and on her special day as her sisters-in-law all joined in. She gave Charlie a grateful look as he stood off by the door looking bored. It was going to be a long day for him.
Sure enough, the Evening Prophet had gotten wind of the story. No sooner had Ginny walked into her house did the front page catch her eye.
MARCHIONESS OF SOMERSET PREGNANT?
LADY POTTER ATTEMPTS TO HIDE BABY BUMP
IN MUGGLE BOUTIQUE!
"That didn't take long," Ginny muttered, looking up at Harry when he came into the kitchen. "The press knows about the baby."
Harry pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply before he looked at the photo of her in her bridesmaid dress. "You look gorgeous." He lowered himself to his knees and lifted up her shirt to kiss her belly. "You've made the papers, Little One."
Ginny smiled when he kissed her small bump again. "How was work today? Any leads?"
Harry shook his head, standing up and pulling her close. "No, nothing more. I don't want you to worry about it, all right?"
"I can't help it," Ginny told him. "It's like I can feel him watching me. Like something creepy crawly is all over me."
"I'll find him," he promised, kissing her forehead.
Ginny knew it was driving her husband mad that he hadn't been able to find him yet. She felt him tossing and turning next to her and when she snuggled closer, he pulled her tight against his body at night so that she could listen to his heartbeat. The stress and worry of the case was starting to get to him and she was grateful that he was taking the time to talk to Auden before it ate at him. But her own worries were just as bad.
She trusted Harry. She knew that he and Ron were going to find this psycho but until they did, she worried as much about her husband as she did herself. Especially when Harry shuffled the prophet to go through their evening mail and they found another letter. Ginny froze when she recognized the golden ink.
"I don't want you reading it, Gin," Harry said, plucking it from her hand. "It's only going to make it worse."
Ginny nodded. She knew that he was right and was grateful to him for taking the option to read it away from her.
"I'm going to go have a bath. I'll… yeah."
Harry watched her walk upstairs before he put the letter into evidence and sealed it with a charm before he magically opened it up to read it as a tuberose fell to the floor:
To my Beautiful Harpy,
Turquoise is your colour. The way the lace cupped those perfect breasts today, I couldn't take my eyes off of you. You're going to outshine the bride without a doubt. I can't stop thinking about you. I can't stop picturing us together. Your room is almost ready, my love. When I bring you home, it will be the happiest day of both of our lives. You'll see.
Love you for all of eternity
Your Most Devoted
Harry swore before he sent the evidence to Maddox King in the AIU. He really needed to find this prick.
The next letter came the following morning and when Ginny caught sight of the gold ink, she paled.
"He sent another one, Harry. It's barely been twelve hours and he…"
Harry snatched the letter from her and despite his protests, she insisted on seeing this one.
To My Beautiful Harpy,
Is it true? Do the papers have it right? Did you actually let Harry Bloody Potter put a baby inside of you?
You. Are. Mine.
Time is running out, Ginny. We belong together and this is a sign. You're waiting for me to rescue you, aren't you? I know you're calling out for me, begging me to take you away from a life as Potter's trophy. We'll raise OUR child together. You are mine, Ginny. It's almost time for you to come home.
I'll come for you soon.
Love you for all of eternity
Your Most Devoted
Ginny's hands trembled as she read the words and Harry pulled her down into his lap.
"I'm so sorry," Harry whispered, kissing her brow. "I'm so sorry that this psycho is getting to you like this."
Ginny shook her head, turning to bury her face in Harry's shoulder. "Gods, Harry! I hate that he's making me feel afraid. I won't let him make me cower like this. I won't!"
"Absolutely," Harry agreed, kissing her hair. "Just take a minute first."
"Yes, a moment," she agreed.
Harry held her in his arms until she eventually leaned back to look into his eyes. "You'll stay home today? No yoga?"
Ginny scowled. "No, I will not! If I stay home and cower here, he's winning, Harry!"
Harry frowned. "Ginny, I don't want you going out. This is a direct threat this time. He's no longer just mentioning the vague future here. He wants you and he wants our baby."
"I'll be with Theo," Ginny said. "I'll be careful."
Harry looked like wanted to argue so she cupped his face in her hands.
"I love you. I'll mirror call you when we arrive and when we leave."
"You'll come straight home after?" he prompted.
"No," Ginny said. "Then I'm going to have breakfast with Theo as is our usual tradition. Then I'm meeting Hermione at the Ministry because she can't make it to our yoga this morning."
"You'll call?"
"So much you'll be itching to be rid of me."
"Never," he said, kissing her. "I love you. Please be careful."
"You already have Aurors following me around, that's pretty careful."
When he scowled, she kissed the lightning bolt on his forehead.
"Go catch bad guys."
Harry watched her head out and despite her assurances that she would check in, he couldn't help but worry. Right now he only wanted to catch one bad guy and despite his efforts, he wasn't finding him.
~ KE: Hinny I ~
1st December, 2003…
Ginny linked her arm with Theo's a week later as they walked to the yoga studio called The Tree Warrior for their usual class. She did her best to ignore the MPU Aurors who had been following her for the last month, though today she thought there was only one behind her instead of two which only happened sometimes. She focused instead on Theo and what he was telling her.
"And then Esmerelda told me that I needed to be better organized and she redid my whole office with a much more efficient filing system," Theo explained. "I'd be lost without her."
"I love that she's your secretary," Ginny said. "Seeing house elves do jobs they didn't before is really amazing. Hermione has done such great work with that. Esmerelda and Basil are so adorable together. You know that they're talking about having kids?"
"Really? Aw, little house elf babies! We'd be grandparents!"
Ginny laughed. "I don't think it works like that, Theo."
"Is Hermione coming today?"
Ginny shook her head. "No, she's still busy with wedding stuff and said she can't make it."
They stepped inside the yoga studio and the welcome witch smiled brightly.
"Good morning, Lord Norfolk! Good morning, Lady Somerset! This arrived for you, my lady."
Ginny frowned as she looked at the large bouquet sitting in the desk. "For me?"
The welcome witch nodded. "Yes. It has your name on the card."
Ginny approached the flowers cautiously, taking in the familiar big bouquet of lavender, tuberose, and pink camellia with nausea rising in her throat. She opened the card:
Soon.
Ginny's fingers trembled and she dropped the card.
"Chick?"
Ginny shook her head and hurried out the front entrance to throw up on the sidewalk. Thankfully there were no cameras in sight as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.
"Ginny? Are you all right?"
Ginny looked up into the brown eyes of Eman Hutchins and nodded. "Yes, thank you, Auror Hutchins. There are some flowers inside that… you'll have to take them."
"Flowers?" Hutchins asked.
Ginny nodded. "Yes. They were sent from… him. I'll need to tell my husband."
Theo poked his head out. "Hey, I just called Harry. He's on his way to deal with these."
"Thank you, Theo," Ginny said gratefully.
"And we're about to start if you still want to come in," Theo said, eyeing Hutchins in confirmation that he was protecting her.
"I do. I'll be right there," Ginny assured him.
Theo nodded and disappeared back inside.
Ginny turned back to Hutchins with a small smile. "Thank you. I appreciate you being here."
She turned to go back inside but the Auror's words stopped her.
"You didn't like the flowers?"
"Excuse me?"
"The flowers," Hutchins said. "Seems to me that if someone goes out of their way to send you some posies the least you can do is say thanks."
"Usually yes," Ginny said carefully as a sudden chill ran down her spine. "But this isn't a usual circumstance."
"Lavender symbolizes devotion," Hutchins said.
Ginny carefully reached for her wand and cursed internally when she realized she'd dropped it with her bag on the floor of the lobby before coming outside to vomit. "Does it? I didn't know that."
Hutchins moved closer to her and she took an automatic step back. "You're supposed to be grateful."
"Am I not?" she asked.
"It's my job to save you from a life as nothing more than a trophy for Potter to brag about owning. You're my beautiful Harpy. Not his. Mine!"
Ginny took another step back and felt the brick wall behind her, cursing. She made to run but the Auror's hand gripped her wrist and he shoved her back against the wall; pushing her between the two shops and out of the sight of the street. Ginny's knee shot up, but he slammed his leg against her, stopping her efforts.
"Don't fight me, Ginny. I know you want this as much as I do."
He pinned her hands above her head and she squirmed in his grip. "Auror Hutchins, let me go!"
"Eman," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "Call me, Eman."
His lips moved over her cheek and Ginny smelt onions on his breath. She grimaced and when he shifted, moving towards her mouth, her knee shot up again. This time she succeeded and his eyes crossed as she kneed him in the balls.
"Bitch," he spat, loosening his grip on her hands.
Ginny broke one hand free and with an elbow to his gut managed to pull his wand from his holster. Hutchins was faster. He slammed her hand back against the stone, but Ginny tightened her grip on the wand. When he slammed it back a second time, she felt something break and a cry shot through her.
"You're mine!" Hutchins cried, tears in his eyes. "Stop fighting me! I love you!"
Ginny finally managed to hold the wand well enough to use it and before Hutchins could slam her hand into the stone again, she sent a curse flying at him. Half a second later he screamed as humungous bat bogeys flew out of his nose. He made to grab her again, but she elbowed him in the face and ran out of the alley, cradling her broken wrist in her hand.
She crashed directly into Theo as she hit the street and he caught her, his eyes wide. "Hey! Where's the fire?"
"It's Eman," she whispered.
Theo's eyes darkened and he drew his sword, shoving her behind him. Ginny gasped as Eman Hutchins came stumbling out of the alley with Bat Bogeys flying out of his broken and bloody nose, howling.
"You're my beautiful harpy! Mine! We belong together, Ginny! Why can't you see that?" he cried.
He attempted to reach for her, but Theo's sword slashed towards him. His arms and legs slammed to his sides as his eyes widened in surprise before he fell back to the ground with a crash, completely petrified. Ginny dropped his wand, her heart beating wildly in her throat as she caught sight of Harry heading towards her. She turned and ran right into his arms. Harry's eyebrow rose in surprise as he pulled her close.
"Hey, Theo called and said you got — bloody hell! What happened to Auror Hutchins? Theo! Let him up!"
"Don't think so, lover," Theo said, holding his sword pointed at the Auror's heart.
"What's going on?"
"Eman's the one," Ginny whispered. "He grabbed me."
"He — what?" Harry exclaimed. He let go of Ginny and marched over to where Theo was holding the petrified MPU Auror at wand point.
Ginny quickly explained what had happened and Harry's eyes narrowed. "It's him, Harry. He's been sending me the flowers and the letters and…"
"Bloody hell," Harry said. "I fucking ordered him to guard you! I put you in more danger!"
Ginny shook her head. "Harry, how could you have known?"
Theo grabbed Harry's arm when he made a move towards Hutchins. "Don't blame yourself for this, lover. Stalkers are trapped in their own minds. He wanted Ginny and he made himself believe that despite not knowing her, she felt the same about him. If you wouldn't have put him on the case, he would have volunteered."
"He… fuck, he did," Harry whispered. "He volunteered to guard her and I…"
Ginny burrowed herself back into her husband's arms. "It's not your fault, Harry."
Harry let out a slow breath and called for backup before he yanked the petrified Auror to his feet. "Finite incantantem."
Hutchins barely caught himself as the spell wore off and Harry slapped his cuffs on him. "You don't deserve her, Potter!"
"Yeah? Too bad because she's my wife, not yours, and you're under arrest, Auror Hutchins." He read him his rights just as Ron arrived, looking between them in confusion.
"Bloody hell!"
"About sums it up," Harry said. "Let's bring this tosser in. We have a lot to talk about."
Ginny watched her husband and brother march Hutchins off and she turned into Theo's arms. "Is it over?"
"It's over," he said, kissing her forehead. "But your fool of a husband is going to blame himself for this."
"We'll talk to Auden together," Ginny promised. "He'll be all right."
Theo smiled. "I know he will be. He has you after all."
Ginny hugged her best friend tightly and thought even in the best of times, there was never a dull moment.
End Author's Notes:
Here are my Weasley family trees up until December of 2003:
Bill and Fleur Weasley (1997):
Victoire Gabrielle Weasley (2 May 1999)
Dominique Rose Weasley (16 March 2002)
Charlie Weasley:
Aydin Dora Weasley (1 December 1996)
Percy and Audrey Weasley (2000):
Molly Anna Weasley (30 October 2001)
Fred Weasley and Fiadh Alexander:
Finley Artha Weasley (16 October 1998)
Felicity Ciara Weasley (16 October 1998)
Forest Georgina Weasley (7 February 2002)
George and Angelina Weasley (1999):
Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger-Weasley (2003):
Harry and Ginny Potter (2000):
Sirius and Zee Black (1999):
Minerva "Mina" Euphemia Magnolia Black (31 December 1996)
Leonardo "Leo" Sirius Mikhail Black (31 December 1996)
Remus and Tonks Lupin (1995):
Edward "Teddy" Remus Lupin (11 April 1998)
PS — The amazing Ellieoryan7447 is working on photos of Harry and Ginny's dress robes for their fancy balls mentioned. I will post them on my tumblr when they are finished. Thank you!
Thanks for reading and please review!
