Are We Pregnant Again?

Almost two years have passed since James came into their life, and Harry and Ginny couldn't imagine a life without him. As he was approaching his second birthday, he was entering the terrible twos. He was defiantly living up to his namesake. Since it had been almost two years, Harry and Ginny started discussing having another baby.

Ginny knew Harry didn't want James to be an only child.

It was a cold February day. Ginny was getting ready to head to the Ministry for a meeting she was covering for The Daily Prophet.

Ginny zipped up James's coat. He walked over to the child-size table and chair she kept in the kitchen and sat down.

"Stay there. Mummy will be right back," she directed, knowing leaving the almost two-year-old alone was asking for trouble. "Mummy needs to find her boots," her voice trailed away as she walked towards the front door.

Sitting by the front door was her trainers and Harry's old boots. It was a trick Hermione picked up in a self-defense class. Leave a pair of men's boots by the door. This way, whoever came to the door would know a man lived there.

She backtracked into the kitchen, glancing at James at his small table. It was one of the Christmas presents she and Harry had given James. So far, it was worth the investment. It was where he often ate lunch if he was home and not at the Burrow with Molly. Sometimes Ginny let him eat breakfast there if she didn't want to deal with the booster seat she had bought months ago to replace the high chair he had outgrown. Other times he sat there, colored, or played while she made dinner.

He was staring out the window, wondering where the snow went to. There was plenty yesterday, and it's gone today.

Ginny walked into the scullery. Her old trainers, James's rain boots and play shoes, and Harry's old boots were sitting by the door. He had downgraded his old boots to around the house. He was wearing his new ones to work today. But hers was nowhere to be found.

"Think, Ginny, where…." She trailed off. She sat them yesterday when she put on her snow boots.

Turning around, she opened the cupboard. There were her boots.

"How did they end up in here?" She pondered.

Bending down to pick up the boots, she paused as a wave of nausea washed over her. She hoped she wasn't getting the stomach flu Harry had last week. She had sworn she had taken immunity potions. When she felt the nausea ease, she walked back into the kitchen.

Pulling out a chair at the table, she sat down to put on her boots. She paused when she felt something in her left boot, only to find a toy car inside. She slipped the little blue car into James's knapsack.

Standing up, she slid on her coat, zipping it, and picked up her handbag and James's knapsack.

"Are you ready to go to Grandmum's, James?'

James hopped up from his chair, following Ginny into the sitting room.

"Will Granddad be there?" he asked. Granddad meant going to the ice cream parlor in the village after lunch.

"Yes, I think so," Ginny replied.

She reached down and picked up her son, grunting at the heavy toddler.

"What are we feeding you?" she asked her son. He giggled in response.

Picking up floo powder, she called out, "The Burrow."

James pressed his face into Ginny's neck. He usually did that when floo traveling.

Stepping out of the fireplace, Ginny was met with the smell of bread, apple tarts, and roasting chicken. It wasn't a pleasant combination all at once. She dropped James onto the sitting room rug before sprinting up the stairs to the bathroom, hearing James as he began to work himself up into a wail.

She vaguely heard Arthur say to James, "It's okay, Jemmy. Come here to Granddad."

She slammed the door to the bathroom, rushing to the toilet in time for her to lose her breakfast. She sat down on the floor, breathing heavily. If this was the stomach flu, she was going to kill Harry. Slowly.

There was a knock on the bathroom door. "Ginny?" Molly's voice came from the other side of the door. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute, Mum." Ginny approached the sink, rinsing her mouth out and wiping her face. She opened the door to find Molly in her blue lace apron, her wand sticking out of the pocket. She was holding a basket of laundry.

"Let me make you some tea," Molly said gently. She had thought Ginny had escaped from catching Harry's stomach flu, but now she wasn't so sure. She had another suspicion but wasn't ready to mention it.

Ginny followed Molly downstairs and into the kitchen. She peeked into the sitting room. Arthur was sitting on the floor with James, playing with blocks. She slipped off her coat, laying it on the chair where she flung her handbag and James's knapsack.

"Are you alright, Ginny?" Arthur asked his daughter.

"I'm fine, Dad." She bent down and kissed James's head. "Sorry about that, sweetie." She returned to the kitchen to find Molly had placed a cup of tea and a plate of toast on the table in front of the chair she usually sat in.

"Eat," Molly said. Ginny knew it wasn't a request. She had used the same tone with Harry last week after he had recovered from his illness. He immediately obeyed.

"I swear I took the immunity potion like I was supposed to. Every day Harry was sick. Maybe I was exposed to it before Harry told me he was sick."

Molly hummed in response before joining Ginny at the table.

"He's gotten better at telling you he's sick, though."

Ginny nodded. "I found out he was sick of finding him in the bathroom ….." she trailed off. She didn't need to go any further.

Molly sipped her tea, hiding the small smile behind her cup.

"By the way, thanks again for taking James. For sending Dad in the middle of the night to get him. I didn't want him to get sick too. When Harry's sick." Ginny paused. "He's like taking care of a child."

Molly chuckled. "You're welcome, dear. Anytime."

"It made it easier because if Harry didn't sleep, I didn't either."

Finishing her toast and tea, Ginny took the dishes to the sink. "If I'm running late, I'll send Harry to pick up James."

"Okay, dear."

Ginny went out to the sitting room to collect her handbag and coat.

"Come here and give Mummy a hug. I got to go."

James obeyed, knowing the sooner Mummy left, the sooner he could go and have ice cream. She hugged him and kissed his temple, telling him to be good. He went back to play with Arthur when Ginny left the sitting room.

"There's a clean outfit in his knapsack if he gets the one he has on gets dirty," she told Molly as she headed towards the door. "Bye, thanks."

She walked towards the apparition point on the other side of the gate. She disapparated, appearing in the ministry atrium. She walked through the visitor's entrance. In a matter of minutes, she was walking through security, having dug her badge of her handbag, the one Harry had given her to get through security quicker.

She walked towards the lifts, stepping onto one that opened just as she arrived.

"Which level?" a witch at the buttons asked.

"Two, please," Ginny replied. She was heading to Level Seven to cover the press conference regarding the announcement for the England team for the Quidditch World Cup. Ginny handed the job of going to Grace. Her husband was the newly announced captain. She would be going anyway.

Ginny could think of other ways to use Harry's vacation time, although the department owed him more time off than his allotted two-week vacation.

Her thoughts were broken when she heard the ding of the lift, and the witch's voice announced, "Level two, Department of Magical Law Enforcement, including the Improper Use of Magic Office, Auror Headquarters, and Wizengamot Administration Services."

Ginny got off the lift, heading down the corridor towards Auror Headquarters. She had made this trek so many times she could do it in her sleep. A group of Aurors came out just as Ginny approached the door. One of them held the door open for her while another one whistled.

"Cool it, Johnston. That's Auror Potter's wife."

Ginny smiled at the one who held the door open, murmuring a thank you. She headed to Harry's office, waving at Maisy, Harry's secretary. Stepping into the open door, she walked into Harry's office.

She found Harry sitting at his desk, rubbing his temples slowly.

"Why did I decide to work with the trainees again?" he asked out loud.

"Because you enjoy it," Ginny replied, smothering a giggle when Harry jumped at her voice. "Rough day?"

"Understatement," Harry groaned, leaning his head back as he closed his eyes. He cracked one eye open. "Would you happen to have a headache potion in that satchel you call a handbag?"

Ginny wordlessly opened her handbag and pulled out a bag she kept potions in it. She pulled out a headache potion. She sat it on Harry's desk.

"I love you," Harry stammered before grabbing the vial. He uncorked it, downing the contents. He picked up the bottle of water sitting on his desk. Taking a drink, he made a face when he realized it was no longer cold. "Thanks, babe."

"You're welcome."

Harry glanced at the clock as he tossed the vial in the trash. "Don't you have that press conference today?" he asked.

"I do at noon. It's eleven-thirty now. I dropped James off at the Burrow. We're supposed to wrap up around four. I'll let you know if you need to get James. It might take longer than I think."

Harry nodded, covering a yawn with his hand. "Alright then, I guess Molly will feed both of us and send something home for you."

"She will, Harry. I'm guessing roast chicken because I smelled it and bread when I came to the Burrow."

Harry imagined he would be coming home with some homemade bread. Molly always sent home food with them whenever they ate over. On Sundays, it was nothing for everyone to go home with enough food to last half the week. If she made bread, she made enough to sent to everyone. She wanted to make sure her family was taken care of.

He noticed his wife looked a little pale. "Are you alright?"

Ginny nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. I got a little floo sick when I got to the Burrow."

"That's unusual for you," Harry noted.

"Neither that or …." She trailed off. The scent of someone's lunch floated into Harry's office. It was right next door to the break room. She dove for the trash bin and retched the remainder of her breakfast.

She felt Harry pull her hair back and rub her back soothingly. She heard him curse softly.

"I was hoping I didn't get you sick," he whispered.

"If I'm not better in the morning, I'll go and see Holly," Ginny said, standing up. She accepted the water Harry handed her. She smirked at her husband as he vanished the contents of his rubbish bin without looking at it and waved his wand around the room to refresh the air. "Still can't handle a bit of vomit?"

"If I see it makes me want to vomit, you know that," Harry deadpanned. "Sorry."

"What are you apologizing for?" Ginny asked. "It's not your fault you got sick and gave it off to me. Better me than James."

Harry nodded, agreeing. "True."

Ginny reached into her handbag, pulling her gum. She popped a stick of gum in her mouth, offering one to Harry.

Harry wrinkled his nose at it. "I hate spearmint," he reminded her.

Ginny sat her handbag in one of the chairs across from Harry's desk. She suddenly remembered something she needed to do that day. "I didn't go to the shop," she murmured.

"Need me to pick up anything before I pick up James or head home?" Harry asked.

Ginny reached across Harry's desk for a quill and parchment. "The cereal James eats for breakfast. I need milk, orange juice, and some bread. That will get me through breakfast tomorrow. I'll go tomorrow afternoon."

Harry took the list from her, sticking it in the pocket of his jeans.

Ginny glanced up at the clock. "Is that the time?" She asked.

"Yeah, I'll walk you to the lifts. I need to stop by Hermione's office anyway. The sooner I give her this," Harry picked up a file. "The better."

Ginny chuckled. "One would have thought pregnancy would calm her down."

"Gin, she's worse than she was when we were preparing for OWLs in fifth year."

Ginny shook her head. "At least you and Ron don't have to hide from her anymore."

"Who says we don't," Harry retorted.

As they left his office, Harry called to Maisy. "Maisy, I'm walking Ginny to the lifts. Then I'm going to Hermione's office. I'll be back in ten."

Maisy nodded. "Kingsley requested to meet with you before you leave today."

"Make it twenty," Harry amended.

He opened the door for Ginny, letting her go out first. They walked in silence to the lifts. Harry pressed the button for the lift.

"Annelle is meeting me there. If I'm late, I'll have her send you a note to pick up James. If you decide not to eat at the Burrow, there's."

"Leftovers in the fridge," Harry finished. "Gin, I could never say no to your mother. You know Molly. She'll send home food whether we ask for it or not."

Ginny nodded knowingly. "And if I'm still sick in the morning, I'll go and see Holly. Oh, that reminds me, you have."

"She sent a reminder Owl to the office this morning," Harry told her.

When the lift door opened, Ginny stood on tiptoes to kiss Harry. They murmured I love you and see you at home. She stepped in, waving at Harry before the doors closed.

Harry waited until the lift left before heading to Hermione's office.

How little did he and Ginny know their life was about to change?

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Daddy!"

James jumped up from his place on the floor in the middle of the mess of building blocks and toy cars when he saw Harry.

"Hey mate," Harry greeted, picking up his son. He placed him on his hip, pressing a kiss on the side of his head.

Molly watched the exchange from the stove, smiling softly. James often switched between being Mummy's boy and Daddy's boy, depending on the day and his mood. He often became attached and clingy to Harry when he came home from an assignment. The same with Ginny if she was gone for longer than overnight.

"Was he good?" Harry asked.

"Of course," Molly replied. James was a good kid when he was alone. Add Freddie and Louis into the mix, and they were known for finding trouble.

Arthur walked into the kitchen, greeting Harry. Molly packed away James's stuff in his knapsack.

"Did you tell Daddy what you did today?"

James looked up. "I went to the village with Granddad."

"And did you have fun, buddy?" Harry asked his offspring.

"Yeah, I got ice cream," James announced.

"It was after naptime," Arthur added. "I needed to run to the repair shop for a few parts. James wanted to come along. We went and got ice cream while we were in the village."

Molly chuckled as she began to pack some food for Harry to take home. "There is enough for you and Ginny for lunch tomorrow."

She closed the basket, handing it to Harry. "Are you feeling alright? You looked tired?"

"We're working a case that's keeping me up at night. But we're close to solving it. I might take a week off after it's closed to catch up on sleep."

"Tell Ginny if she needs me to keep James, I can tomorrow," Molly said, walking to the floo with Harry and James.

"I'll tell her," Harry assured Molly. He picked up James's knapsack, then James, before taking the basket from Molly. "Thanks, Mum."

"You're welcome." Molly leaned over, kissing James's cheek. "I love you. I love you both."

Harry stepped into the floo, deciding to floo home instead of apparating. He tumbled out of the floo into their sitting room, James giggling.

"Again, Daddy," James requested.

"Sorry pal, we're not flooing anywhere else tonight," Harry informed his son. He headed into the kitchen, putting the basket on the counter, and placing James on the floor, watching him wander off to the family room. He sat James's knapsack on the counter, opened it, and pulled out the clothes Ginny had sent him in. Molly had changed him. He took the clothes to the scullery, noticing Molly had pretreated the stains. He tossed them into the basket of laundry.

"I guess I could get this started," Harry murmured. He returned to the kitchen, pulling out the empty sippy cups. He untwisted the lids, adding them and the cups to the dishwasher.

He left the small toys and books on the counter and took the knapsack to the hallway, hanging it on the banister. He or Ginny would grab it to refill with clothes, wipes, and nappies.

Returning to the kitchen, he took off his boots, sighing as he wiggled his sock-clad toes.

He added pain, headache, and stomach potions to the list on the fridge with a note that it was him to keep at work.

Molly had fed, bathed, and put a clean nappy on James before Harry picked him up. All Harry had to do was put him in pajamas and change his nappy. Harry sometimes wondered if they should buy a set of pajamas to keep in his knapsack. It would be in case he needed to spend the night with Molly and Arthur or Ron and Hermione. The only problem with that idea was James got obsessed with a certain set of pajamas, not wanting to change.

Currently, his favorite was his SpongeBob Squarepants ones. They had Spongebob's face on the front, while the sleeves and pants looked like a sponge. He was introduced to it by Teddy, much to Harry's chagrin.

One time the cadet class had started to sing the theme song, only stopping when Harry threatened to add another lap.

Harry made himself a plate, fixing one for Ginny while he was at it, putting hers in the microwave, covered with a warming charm. He sat on the sofa to eat, turning on the television for a kid's show for James. He summoned a can of Coke before he ate dinner, annoyed that SpongeBob was on the telly.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, buddy?"

"Where's Mummy?"

"She's working," Harry replied.

"When will Mummy be home?"

"Soon, Jemmy."

James went back to watching the show while Harry finished his dinner. He took the plate to the sink, rinsed it before adding it to the dishwasher. He glanced at the clock, noticing it was an hour before James's bedtime. He summoned his pajamas, taking them into the family room. While SpongeBob was on an advert break, Harry changed James's into his pajamas, checking his nappy before he concluded he'd change him before bed.

Harry yawned as he headed to the scullery and began to sort laundry. He put in a load of whites, and sorted the colored clothes into two separate loads.

"Oh crap, we didn't go to the shop," Harry murmured. Ginny needed stuff for James's breakfast in the morning as they were out.

Pulling out his mirror, he called Ron.

"Hey mate," Ron greeted.

"Can you do something for me?" Harry asked.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Can you come over and keep an eye on James?" Harry asked. "Ginny asked me to go to the shop, and I forgot."

"Yeah, give me a minute, and I'll be over."

"Thanks, Ron."

True to his word, Ron walked through the back door. James turned around, thinking it was Ginny.

"UNCLE RON!" James exclaimed as he jumped up, running towards his favorite uncle.

"Hey buddy," Ron greeted.

"I owe you one, mate," Harry said. He made his hasty retreat, grabbed the keys to the car, and walked out the back door. He got into the car he often drove to work if he needed to do a stakeout in Muggle London.

He backed out of the driveway, heading to the Tesco that was five minutes away from the house by car. Unlike when Ginny went, Harry was in and out in ten minutes. He grabbed James's cereal, getting two as it was on offer, picked up milk, two bottles of orange juice as it was on offer as well, and the bread. He grabbed an advert for Ginny and a bag of crisps and Oreos. Harry also grabbed a bag of Ron's favorite Muggle candy and a bag of Hermione's as a 'thanks for babysitting last minute and sorry I borrowed your husband' gift.

Just after he finished at the store, one of their neighbors approached him.

"Hello, Harry."

"Hi, Ester. How's the hip?"

"Better, but I think I'll need to have the other one worked on, too," She explained. Esther Collins lived down the road at the corner. She was Harry and Ginny's only neighbor. Ester lived alone since her husband passed before Harry and Ginny moved into the neighborhood a year into their marriage. Harry often offered to do yard work for her. She reminded him of Mrs. Figg without the cats.

"Sorry to hear that. You have our number. Call if you need anything?"

"Oh, I will. How's the wife?"

"Working late, I have my brother-in-law watching James, so I can run out a get a few things," Harry explained.

"Tell her I said hello. I hope you know just lucky you are."

"Believe me, I do," Harry replied, smiling softly. They parted as she was going in and Harry was going out. He loaded the stuff in the back seat, putting the bread in James's car seat. He returned the trolley and got in his car to head home.

When he walked into the kitchen, Ron was on the floor lying on his stomach, and James was on his back.

Ron turned at hearing Harry come in. "Ginny sent a message. She's going to be another hour before she's home. She's at the office now."

"Alright," Harry murmured, laying out the candy he got Ron and Hermione.

After Ron left with the candy and Oreos, Harry took James upstairs. Ron had changed him while he was gone. All Harry needed to do was read him a story.

"What book are we going to be tonight?"

James walked to his bookshelf. It was crammed full of books, thanks to Aunt Hermione. He pulled out one. He handed the book to Harry.

"Peter Rabbit? Again?" Harry asked.

"Again," James confirmed. He walked over to where Harry was sitting in his rocking chair, pulling him onto his lap.

"The Tale of Peter Rabbit," Harry said, opening the book. He began to read. "Once upon a time, there were four little Rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter."

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

It was late when Ginny came through the back door of her home. She took off her boots, noticing the baskets of laundry she had left full were empty.

"Harry, you didn't have to do that," She murmured.

She walked into the kitchen and found her dinner in the microwave. After she warmed it, she took it to the table and summoned herself a drink. Harry had left the light on downstairs for her. She did the same when he worked late.

She sighed as she listened to the silence of her house at night. James would be asleep, and she hoped Harry was in bed. She got her answer on the latter when she heard someone coming downstairs.

"Hi, babe," She greeted once Harry entered the kitchen.

"Hi, how was it?"

"Long," Ginny sighed as she tipped her head back for a kiss. Harry kissed her before sitting down beside his wife. "The article is done and ready for publishing. It will be in Tuesday's edition." She looked towards the scullery and then back at Harry. "Did you do the laundry?"

"I did when I figured out the shirt that goes with my uniform was in the wash. I'll need it tomorrow. There's a Wizengamot session tomorrow, and I'm heading security for it."

"What's on the docket?"

"The trial for the man who threatened to blow up the ministry."

"Did he ever give a reason why?"

"He wanted revenge for his wife. She was one of the ones who died because of the Muggle Born thing during the war. While Umbridge wasn't charged with her murder officially, some claim she had something to with it. But she'll be in Azkaban for life."

"If you hadn't spoken up," Ginny said, looking down at Harry's hand. Thanks to Molly's scar balm, only if it hit a certain light could one see the scars. Harry had submitted memories of using the blood quill for evidence. Without it, Umbridge would have only gotten a twenty-five-year sentence. Her defense wanted to remove Harry from the case as he was also the arresting officer. Kingsley denied the request, using his Minister's veto power to push the denial.

"I know," Harry murmured. "Do you work tomorrow? Molly said she could watch James."

"I don't work tomorrow, but I might send him over for a few hours so I can clean." Ginny looked up at the ceiling. James's room was directly above them. "Is he asleep?"

Harry nodded. "He wanted to read Peter Rabbit. Again. I think I can quote it without needing the book."

Ginny chuckled. "Like you could with that book Teddy was obsessed with, wasn't it The Tale of Benjamin Bunny?"

Harry nodded. "It was."

Ginny glanced over at her husband, reaching over to touch his face. She noticed how tired he looked.

"Why don't you go on to bed? I'll be up in a minute," Ginny suggested.

"Alright."

Harry checked the backdoor, locking it. He checked the front door, closed the floo. He returned to the kitchen to make sure he locked the back door. Once he was sure downstairs was secured, he headed upstairs.

Ginny finished her dinner and took her plate to the sink. Rinsing it, she added it to the dishwasher and turned off the light as she left the kitchen. She headed towards the stairs, turning off the light in the hallway. Harry had turned on the lamp on the table on the left-hand side of the door. They left it on at night in case they needed to go downstairs or if Harry got an emergency call from the Aurors.

Before she headed to her bedroom, she slipped into James's room. She leaned over the cot, watching her son sleep. The stuffed black shaggy dog was tucked in beside him. Ron had found him in a toy shop and bought him as part of her baby shower gift. Harry had named him Paddy as he reminded him of Padfoot. The stuffed stag was sitting in the corner beside the stuffed wolf.

She leaned over, pressing a kiss to James's cheek, pushing his hair away from his face, and left the room quietly, pulling the door almost to a close.

She walked into her and Harry's bedroom. Harry was already in bed.

"What time do you need to be at work?" She asked.

"Early." Harry yawned. "I need to get some things sorted for the cadet class before I head to the Wizengamot session."

Ginny headed into the bathroom for a quick shower and changed into her pajamas. As she was brushing her teeth, she realized she hadn't given any more thought to her sickness from earlier. During a tea break, while writing the article, Ginny realized something. She had been having some symptoms, familiar symptoms. Ones that she had when she was.

"Dear Merlin, am I pregnant again?"