Second Time Around
Ginny woke up at the sound of the alarm going off. She turned over as Harry groaned, reaching over the turn off the alarm. Harry turned off the alarm, sighing when he felt Ginny's hand on his back.
"Did the alarm wake you?" Harry asked, still half asleep.
"I need to get up anyway. I could get some work done while James is still asleep."
She pushed off the duvet, slipping her feet into her slippers. They were a Christmas present from Harry to replace the ones she had been wearing. Her old ones were still good. Ginny moved them down to the scullery to slip on for quick trips to the garage, where they kept the old refrigerator and the deep freezer to keep the extra drinks or food they kept in there or to take out the trash.
Harry took care of the rubbish bin. He took it to the end of the driveway the night before for the garbageman and brought the bins back to the garage, sitting by the garage door.
Ginny walked around to the bathroom to relieve herself and wash her face. As she began her morning routine, she pondered how to find out if she was pregnant again. With James, she took a pregnancy test. But she ended up going to St. Mungo's to confirm.
She had flooed Hermione because she didn't know what to do. This time, Hermione was pregnant herself. She was heading toward the end of her pregnancy. By the time she left the bathroom, she had made a decision. She was going to floo Shanti's office to make an appointment.
She stopped at the door, finding her husband was still in bed. She approached his bedside, sitting down on the edge of the bed. Reaching over, she laid her hand on his bare shoulder.
"Babe, you need to get up if you plan on going into the office early."
"I'm up. Give me a minute," Harry's voice was slightly muffled by his pillow.
Giving him a good smack on the bum, she left the bedroom. She descended the stairs, relishing in the quiet that was their house early in the morning. James liked to sleep in, and Ginny wasn't complaining.
She walked into the kitchen, tapping her wand on the kettle to fill it with water and for it to boil the said water. As she waited for the kettle to warm up, she wondered what it would be like to have two children. She had an idea when they had Teddy, but he didn't stay here full-time. James was still in nappies, so they would need to work on potty training him.
It's not going to be easy having two children. Especially two children under the age of two. James was a handful on his own, adding another one. Ginny shuttered.
"Are you okay?"
Ginny opened her eyes. Harry was standing in front of her, James on his hip.
"I'm fine," she said. She smiled as she reached for her son. "Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?"
"Uh-huh," James replied. His hair was tousled from sleep. His cheeks were still red. Harry had changed his nappy before they went downstairs.
Ginny sat him down. He walked over to his table where he had left his blocks from the day before.
"What do you boys want for breakfast? Eggs and toast, or do you want porridge?"
"Eggs and toast are quicker," Harry noted.
"I'll make breakfast. You go shower. I'll make your lunch while I'm at it."
Mornings at the Potters were usually chaotic, especially on the days Ginny worked. Today wasn't one of those days, but it was busy nonetheless. Two mornings a week, Harry left for work early to get some time in at the gym. He tried to keep the same gym schedule, going Tuesdays and Thursdays so Ginny would know his schedule and when to make breakfast.
To the family's amusement, Harry often had to go and drag Ron out of bed. Hermione even stayed to watch the show. The only person who didn't find it amusing was Ron.
If Harry had to be in the office early for reasons like today, security detail for Wizengamot sessions, he skipped the gym in the morning. Instead, when the weather was fitting, he took James outside to play. Harry joked chasing after James was more than enough exercise.
When Ginny was putting breakfast on the table, Harry came down dressed for work. It wasn't often Harry wore his uniform to work. He mostly worked in casual clothes or jeans and button-ups. He, of course, packed his uniform just in case he needed it.
"What do you have planned for the day?" Harry asked as they sat down to breakfast.
Ginny cut up some eggs for James. "I'm going to take James to Mum's. Come back here and clean. Go to the shop for groceries, and I have some other errands to run."
Harry helped her clear the table from breakfast before going to his home office and collecting his work bag. He returned to the kitchen with his coat, cloak, and work bag. The garment bag that held his uniform was in the scullery. He placed his work bag on the counter, laying his coat and cloak beside it.
Crouching, he held out his arms.
"Come here, buddy. Daddy's going to work."
James ran over, the force nearly knocking Harry over.
"I'll see you later, pal. Be good for Mummy and Grandma, okay?"
"Okay."
"I love you." He kissed the side of his head, James's wild hair tickling his face. As he stood up, Ginny was closing his work bag.
"I packed you Mum's casserole she sent home. There's the last of the pea and carrot salad I made. I put in an apple and a bag of cookies. Eat the apple before the cookies."
Harry mock-saluted her. "Yes, Mum." Ginny slapped him with her dishtowel.
She walked around the counter, standing on tiptoes to kiss Harry. She kissed him as if it was her last time every time he left for work. It was the downside of being an Auror's wife.
"I love you," She whispered.
"I love you too. I'll let you know if I'm working late."
Ginny followed him to the back door. Harry stepped out and turned around to give Ginny one more kiss.
"I love you," He murmured.
"I love you, too."
Ginny watched from the back door as he headed to the apparition point behind the garage. When he disappeared, Ginny looked down at her stomach.
"Okay, Ginny. It's time to find out if we're pregnant or not."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
As luck would have it, Shanti had a cancellation that afternoon. Ginny took James to the Burro to spend the day with Molly while she cleaned and ran errands. She came home, showered, and changed before heading to the shop. She went to Tesco, getting a trolley overloaded with groceries. They would have Teddy that weekend, and one of the things Teddy loved to do with Ginny was bake.
He wanted to make chocolate chip scones and muffins this weekend, and Ginny needed the ingredients. The snack cupboard was bare, and she needed something else to pack in Harry's lunch when they didn't have leftovers.
She accepted help from the bagger to load the stuff into the car. By the time she returned home, it was going on noon. She took what she could in the house, putting some things in the deep freezer or the refrigerator in the garage, leaving the heavy cases of fizzy drinks and water for Harry to get out when he came home unless one of her brothers popped by.
She started a load of laundry, sorting James's clothes he had outgrown, packing them away to either put in the attic or to take to a charity shop. There wasn't anyone in the family to give it to, or she would have offered it to someone in the family.
As the clock moved towards one, she fixed herself a quick lunch before heading out the door.
As she got ready, she thought of Hermione.
Hermione had struggled to get pregnant. She and Ron had been trying to get pregnant for two years. Harry and Ginny knew how frustrated Ron was, feeling like it was his fault. Hermione blamed herself. It was when they stopped trying they got pregnant. Harry was the first person they told before telling the family. She and Harry celebrated with them and pretended to be surprised when they told the rest of the family.
She showered, changed clothes, and put on a little makeup. Just like when she found out she was pregnant with James, Ginny decided to wait until she had confirmation to tell Harry. The last thing she wanted to do was to tell him and then turn around and tell him she was wrong. She couldn't find it in her to crush his hopes like that.
They had been talking about having another baby. Ginny knew Harry wanted more than one child. An only child himself, he didn't want James to experience the same loneliness he did. He had a completely different childhood than Harry already. James had clothes that fit (and overfilled his closet and drawers), plenty of toys (that seemed to multiply), and he was fed regularly (though they picked their battles when it came to something new). But most importantly, unlike Harry, James was loved.
Everyone loved him.
Teddy, of course, had what James had and more. Ginny and Harry were prepared to take him in when the time came. Andromeda had put it in her will that custody of Teddy goes to Harry and Ginny. In many ways, they raised him.
When Teddy was a baby, watching Harry with him made Ginny think he would make a wonderful father one day. And she was right.
She looked at the clock, realizing she would be late if she didn't leave soon. She summoned her coat and handbag. She locked the doors, activated the wards, and made for the floo. She picked up floo powder, calling out St. Mungo's. She was gone in a puff of smoke.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry left the file room empty-handed after moving case files to the file room. They were all cases that had been closed over the last month.
They had been sitting in his office in a pile, and Harry was tired of looking at them. Each file had been reviewed and went through with a fine-tooth comb. Harry had been senior Auror on the cases and had run them like a well-oiled machine. He had solved six out of ten cases within weeks of getting them. Robards was impressed.
Two of the six cases were going to trial. They were being presented before the Wizengamot next month. The others would follow the following month.
Harry's closed and solved cases were the highest in the department. The rumor was that Robards was retiring sometime in the next year. Harry was at the top of the list for his replacement. Hermione said as much when he and Ron met her for lunch around Halloween. They had celebrated the day they became friends with lunch at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, starting their fourth year. They still did, only moving to the Leaky Caldron for convenience as it was closer to work.
"Robards would be an idiot not to pick you," Hermione had commented.
"Would it be something you would want?" Ron asked, knowing Harry wouldn't take it if he didn't want it.
"That's the thing. I don't know if I do. I'll have better hours. I won't be on missions anymore. I can move some responsibilities to other Aurors."
"But," Ron prompted.
"I don't know if I would be a good boss," Harry admitted.
"Harry, you've been the senior Auror on ten cases this year alone. The other Aurors look up to you. Yes, the new recruits seem to be intimated by you. But once they get to know you, they warm up. Even the Aurors that have been there longer than we have respect you," Ron reminded him.
"That didn't happen overnight. Remember, some didn't like how we started with the Aurors with no NEWTs or training. One said Kingsley did it for a publicity stunt."
"We proved them wrong, didn't we? Didn't we bring in four Death Eaters our first month?"
"We did, and I still say we got lucky," Harry said.
The conversation had replayed in Harry's head for the rest of the day. Once James was down for the night, he approached Ginny about the topic.
"So Hermione found out Robards would be retiring sometime next year," He began.
"Really," Ginny commented, sitting on the bed, rubbing lotion on her hands.
"She said I'm at the top of the list for his replacement."
Ginny smiled. "I called it. I knew he would consider you. Honey, you've put in so much work into the department. He would be an idiot not to consider you."
Harry leaned against the bed, wrapping his arm around the bedpost. "But what if I don't want it? I don't know if I do."
"Why?" Ginny asked. "And don't say it's because you don't deserve it."
"I'm too young for this." Harry climbed into bed, sitting beside Ginny. "I feel there are Aurors that have been there longer."
"Do they have the highest solved cases? What about the highest closed cases? Did they reform the training? Overhauled the whole system?"
Harry sighed. "I'll think about it, okay?"
Ginny kissed the side of his head, pulling him into an embrace. "If you don't want it, don't do it. But something tells me you do want it."
Someone whacked him on the file with a file, bringing him back to reality.
"What?"
"Alright there, mate?" Ron inquired. "I've been trying to get your attention for the last two minutes."
"Sorry, what do you need besides being a pest?"
"I was asking if you wanted to go with Hermione and me for lunch unless Ginny packed yours."
"She did," Harry confirmed. "And I already ate."
"Alright. Can you help me move some files from my office?"
"Sure."
After Ron left, Harry turned back to what he was doing. He returned to his office to resume working on the report he needed to get turned in that day. He had already written it, but was proofreading it to ensure there weren't any mistakes. Harry had turned in a report that was half clear words and half gibberish. In Harry's defense, it was after James was born, and Harry had worked on it in his sleep-deprived state. Thankfully, Robards was more than understanding. He still laughs about it.
When he finished, he left his office, told Maisy to go to lunch, and headed to Robard's office.
"Thanks, Harry."
Kingsley was coming towards Robard's office as Harry left. He held the door open.
"Hello, Harry. How are Ginny and James?"
"Alright. Ginny's at home, and James is probably at the Burrow. How's Camellia doing?"
Kingsley's wife Camellia had surgery a week ago.
"She's recovering fine. Tell Ginny and Molly thanks for the food."
"I'll let them know."
When Harry returned to his office, he resumed working on clearing off his desk. He looked up when there was a knock at the door. Kingsley came in carrying a bag. He sat it down on the chair across from Harry's desk.
"I think these belong to Ginny and Molly."
Harry stifled a chuckle. "Was one greenish-blue with a white design?"
"Yes, why?"
"Ginny tore the kitchen apart, looking for it. Then she went to the Burrow and tore Molly's kitchen apart. Molly wasn't amused, but Ginny did put everything back. For our kitchen, she decided to clear out some we don't use. Molly gave it to her, that's why special to her. She already bought a replacement. That's why I'm trying not to laugh."
Kingsley's booming laugh filled the room. "Well, I can say that is amusing. I had to replace a set of dishes Camellia loved because they broke in a move. She wanted to return them to their rightful owners."
"I'll take them to Ginny. She knows Molly's stuff better than I do."
"Also, Camellia wants that recipe for that pasta dish."
"The one with the twisty noodles?" Harry asked.
"Yes."
"I'll let Ginny know."
When Kingsley left, Maisy returned from lunch. She peeked in to tell Harry she was back and had stepped out for a minute when she returned.
"Ginny's here."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Ginny left St. Mungo's in a daze. She was pregnant. Again.
In a daze, she flooed to the Ministry, took the lift to level two, and walked down the corridor to Auror Headquarters. She opened the door, still dazed, as she walked towards Harry's office.
"Are you okay, Ginny?" Maisy asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," Ginny replied, returning to reality. "Is Harry in?"
"Go on."
"Thanks."
Ginny walked into Harry's office, closing the door behind her. "Hi, babe," she greeted.
"Hi Gin, is everything okay?" He asked.
Ginny nodded. "Remember when I was sick a few days ago?"
"Yeah, you said you would go to the healer. What did Holly say?"
"I didn't go to see Holly. I went to see Shanti."
Harry paused. "Shanti…..why would you….?" Realizing what she was saying, he asked. "Are you…?"
"I'm due in September."
Harry jumped out of his chair, pulling Ginny into an embrace, momentarily picking her up.
"I take it your happy?" Ginny asked once Harry put her down.
"Happy? Of course, I'm happy. We've talked about having another baby. Yes, this is sooner than we planned. But how can you not be happy about a baby?"
"True," Ginny agreed. "Maybe this one will be Lily."
"Might be, but we'll need a boy's name in case it is another boy."
Ginny nodded. "I think I want to wait to tell the family."
"Because why?"
"Well, Ron and Hermione is one reason. They deserve the spotlight for a little bit. But the main reason right now is Angelina."
Angelina and George had found out they were pregnant again recently, only for Angelina to miscarry. George had broken the news to the family the previous Sunday. Ginny didn't feel right announcing a pregnancy so soon after a loss like that.
"I understand that. You're Mum might even guess it, but she won't say anything until you confirm."
Ginny nodded. "I can't imagine losing a pregnancy. Then having my sister-in-law announce she's pregnant. I can't do that to Angelina."
"We'll wait, besides it's too early to announce it. I would hate to tell the family, then losing the," Harry trailed off. Ginny didn't need to guess what he was thinking.
"So we'll wait a month or so?"
"Whenever you want, I'll follow your lead."
"Harry," Ron called, opening the door. "Hi Ginny, can I borrow your husband for a moment?"
Ginny shook her head. "You don't need to ask for permission. You're not a child."
Harry kissed Ginny's cheek. "I'll be right back."
Ginny smacked his bum, causing Ron to call, 'I don't need to see that!'
Ginny walked around to sit down in Harry's desk chair. She looked around, noticing the changes. He had a picture of her in her wedding dress with one of the two of them alongside it. There was a picture of her, Harry, and James Hermione had taken for them when they brought James to the Burrow for his first Sunday dinner. Beside it was a picture of James in the park with Teddy, spring flowers in the background. On the opposite corner was a picture of Harry and James was taken on James's first birthday. They had taken one with James and her was on the same day. Both pictures were in another side-by-side frame.
The newest addition was Teddy's recent school picture and a picture of Harry, Teddy, and James. It was taken at Christmas. They had attempted to take a picture of James and Teddy on the stairs on Christmas morning, but James didn't want to stay still. Harry held him on his lap to take the picture.
Ginny looked up at the push pin board Harry had displayed Teddy's artwork. Now some of James's accompanied it.
One day another child's artwork will be added to the board.
She realized she was excited about this baby. Maybe it would be a girl? If it happened to be another boy, she would love him regardless.
But Harry and Ginny faced a bigger challenge than growing their family from three to four. It was bigger than how she would adjust to having two children under two.
It was keeping this a secret from the family.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
James leaned against Harry as he listened to the bedroom story Harry was reading him. James had picked The Tale of Peter Rabbit again. It was one of his favorites. It had gotten to the point where Harry could quote the book without having it in front of him. Hermione had gifted them the entire Beatrix Potter collection when James was born.
"Wonder if you're related?" She asked Harry.
"I don't think we are."
Ginny leaned against the doorway, watching. She watched as Harry finished the book, picked up James, and laid him in the cot.
After they said goodnight, gave kisses, and murmured I love you, Harry and Ginny headed down to the kitchen.
"So I was thinking," Ginny began, sitting at the table.
"What were you thinking?" Harry asked as he emptied his work bag, moving his uniform to the laundry.
"I was thinking about the room on the other side of the hall bathroom. Maybe we could put the baby in there. Make it the nursery."
"They'll be in our room for the first couple of months. I think that would work. Do we buy another cot or transfer James into a toddler bed?" Harry pondered.
"It would be best to transfer James to a toddler bed. He's started climbing out of the crib."
Harry took out his lunch bag. He emptied the containers, putting them in the dishwasher. "We can do that. Maybe next weekend we'll go to London and go shopping."
"There's another thing. We might need to get another car. Three kids in the back seat is going to be tight."
Harry leaned against the counter, nodding as Ginny spoke.
"And even though we have Teddy on the weekends, it would be crammed in the car we have now. Would we get another car or trade in the one we have?"
"We'll just buy another one. You might need to drive to work if you're doing surveillance in London. This way, I still will have a car."
Harry walked around the counter, approaching the table. He pulled out the chair next to Ginny, sitting down.
"We can manage another car and the insurance. You do have a point.
It will be crowded in the back seat. Even when we don't have Teddy, you will be in back with the baby until their older."
"Maybe we can start looking this weekend? We did plan on going on a date Friday."
"And your parents will have James," Harry added.
"So, do we have a plan?"
Harry knew they would be better off getting some things done now.
"We do."
Now it was just a matter of keeping the pregnancy a secret. In this family, secrets didn't stay secrets very long.
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Somehow they managed to keep the news of the new baby to themselves for a couple of weeks. During lunch with the sisters-in-law, Angelina made the announcement they were going to start trying again. Ginny decided to tell the family about the pregnancy the following Sunday. After lunch, Ginny was going to go shopping.
She had gotten an idea of how to announce the new baby to the family when she saw Big Brother shirts. She found one in James's size. She purchased it along with some other clothes James needed and headed home.
When they arrived at the Burrow for lunch on Sunday, it didn't long for everyone to find out.
Upon seeing the shirt, Hermione screamed, causing everyone to jump.
"What did you do that for? Are you okay?" Ron asked.
"Scared the daylights of me," Molly commented.
"Look at James's shirt," Hermione said, pointing.
Everyone looked at James as he joined Freddie and Louis to play with blocks.
"He's going to be a big brother," George said. Then he realized what he had just said.
"What?" Molly said, leaving the kitchen as she wiped her hands on her apron. She approached James, picking him up. "What does your shirt say?"
Before they went to the Burrow, they told James about the baby. Of course, he understood as much as he could at two years old. When Molly asked him what did his shirt say, he answered.
"Mummy's having a baby."
Molly put James back down before turning to her daughter. "Are you pregnant?"
Ginny nodded. "I'm due in September."
Then like with all other announcements of a new grandchild, Molly screamed. She ran to Ginny, pulling her into an embrace. The family soon joined in. Ron approached his best mate pulling him into a brotherly hug.
"Congratulations, mate."
Molly traded places with Ron and pulled Harry into an embrace. Arthur patted his shoulder once Molly moved out of the way.
Angelina hugged Ginny as she said, "I knew something was off with you the other day when we met for lunch. I didn't want to say anything."
"I wanted to wait and give you time since….."
"It's okay," Angelina assured her. "Shanti said we start trying again."
"Lunch is ready," Molly called from the kitchen.
As he passed his wife, Arthur kissed her cheek. "This family just keeps growing, Molly."
"I know," she murmured. They looked over the large table that held their family, watching their grandchildren as their parents fixed plates.
"You know what," Arthur said. "We might want to think about expanding the table. Again. We're going to need the room. One grandchild could come any time, one more on the way, and we don't know how many more we can have in the future."
OoOoOoOoOoOoO
Harry flooed Andromeda that evening after he knew Teddy went to bed to ask if she would like him to pick up Teddy after school. Andromeda agreed. She was about to call Harry to see if he could pick up Teddy from school. She had an appointment at St. Mungo's and wouldn't be home in time to pick up Teddy.
So when the clock reached fifteen minutes until three the Monday after they announced to the family Ginny was pregnant, Harry left the office early after dropping off the paperwork he needed to drop off to Hermione at her office. She was gone for the day due to an appointment herself. Harry left the paperwork on her desk. Her assistant was still there and assured Harry she would tell her he had dropped it off.
When 3 o'clock rolled around, Harry was waiting with the other parents for their children.
It didn't take long after the bell rang for Teddy to find Harry.
"Hey Teddy," Harry greeted when the seven-year-old approached him.
"Hi Harry, is Gran okay?"
"She's fine. She just had an appointment. Ready to go?"
Teddy nodded. He followed Harry out to the car, getting in the back seat. On the drive, Teddy talked about his day at school, an upcoming birthday party one of his friends was having in a few weeks, and a field trip his class was taking in a month. Information packets were going home that day, including information regarding where they were going. Reminders about scheduling parent-teacher conferences were going home that day.
Harry paused at the last part. He had attended the last parent-teacher conference with Andromeda. They found out Teddy needed tutoring in math and recommended the after-school program. It had knocked Teddy's confidence until he started improving. But that wasn't why Harry dreaded the conferences. There was always the conversation about why Teddy didn't have parents.
It made Harry wonder what Petunia would have said about his parents if she had attended his parent-teacher conferences. She didn't even attend Dudley's. She opted to pretend her son was bright and an absolute angel. In reality, he was dumb and a bully.
When they pulled into McDonald's, Teddy asked, "Why are we here?"
"Nanny Molly has James. Ginny's working, so I thought we'd get supper before heading home."
Teddy didn't question it. While he loved James like a brother, he enjoyed the time he got Harry to himself.
They walked in and ordered their food. After they had ordered their food, they made small talk discussing the plans for the weekend.
Teddy looked forward to going to the Potters. He was there as much as he was with Andromeda. Harry usually had something planned for them. Either it was just the two of them or with Ginny and James. Teddy altered his appearance to look like Harry and Ginny if they went out in public. No one would have guessed he wasn't their son.
When their food was ready, Harry collected it bringing back to the booth. Teddy told Harry about his math test, which he scored higher on than the previous test. Harry high-fived him, telling him he was proud of the improvement.
Harry waited until they were home to tell Teddy the news.
"Teddy, there is something I wanted to tell you."
"What is it?" Teddy asked.
"Well, Teddy, how would you like to be a big brother again?"
Teddy's eyes widen. "Is Ginny having another baby?"
Realizing this was easier than he thought it would be, Harry nodded.
"Yes, she is."
Ginny choose that moment to come through the back door, coming home from working at the Prophet office that day. Teddy ran to her, stopping right before he got to her as he didn't want to cause her to fall. He hugged her, exclaiming how happy he was to have another baby brother or sister.
"I take it your happy?" She asked.
"Yes," Teddy exclaimed.
Ginny ran her hand along the back of Teddy's head. He shared a look with Harry and smiled. Now, everyone knew they were having another baby. Everyone was excited about the news of a new addition to the Potter family.
But how little did they know what the future held?