A/N: Oops, has it been a month already? I do apologise! I did say it would be busy and it has been... The next few chapters are all shorter but I have some written so the next chapter should be quicker than in a month.

Their high school friends are back after well... quite a few chapters.

Beta-reading pending!


Ginny nudged Harry. "You know who we haven't talked to in ages?" She looked up from her phone as they sat on the terrace, enjoying the summer sun.

"Uhm, no?" Harry replied, not attempting to start guessing what popped into her head.

Ginny smiled. "The high school gang."

Harry's eyes widened. "Oh no! I completely forgot I had a pact with Robbie." He facepalmed himself.

"As in not date in the group?" she asked, only mildly judgemental.

He nodded. "Yep. It wasn't really fair considering he is gay but I thought…" He threw her a resigned look.

She bit back a smile. "Yeah, yeah. You don't date. I wonder if they know…"

"I am sure they have heard about it."

Ginny took out her phone and scrolled to the group chat. "Let me video call them and see who comes on."

It dialled for a minute and then someone appeared.

"Vicky!" Ginny let out excitedly.

Vicky was resting on a sunbed. She took her sunglasses off to look at them. "Who dares to disturb me before noon?" She smiled widely.

Ginny cleared her throat. "Your oldest friend, but if this is not a good time; I'll go."

"No, no! Stay!" Vicky insisted quickly.

Then Siobhan also answered the call. "Well well, if it isn't the traitor."

"What did I do?!" Ginny asked.

Siobhan raised an eyebrow. "I think you know. At least have the decency to tell us… No, I—We had to hear rumours." She shook her head gravely.

Harry leaned in closer so he was in view of the camera. "Hi, guys."

"Aha!" Siobhan said. "There he is, the other traitor."

Harry waved at them. "Good to see you too."

"So it is in fact true, you two are together?" she continued, determined to have the rumour confirmed.

"Yes, since April," he confirmed, placing a kiss on Ginny's cheek.

Vicky spluttered objections. "Please! No PDA in front of me. Not from you two."

Ginny chuckled, locking eyes with him for a moment.

"You know how much I like gossip!" Siobhan shook her head. "And you didn't tell me for several months! The utter betrayal." She frowned at both of them. "And why isn't this like… Facebook official?"

Ginny grimaced, squeezing Harry's hand. "There is a good reason, I promise. And it's really good gossip." She bit her lips. "And things have been a bit… busy."

"I am listening intently." Siobhan waited for them to speak.

"We found out I was pregnant," Ginny admitted.

"Ha!" Vicky let out. "Good joke, guys."

Ginny handed Harry the phone and he turned the camera around to show them.

After a moment he switched the camera back to them. "How's that for gossip?"

Siobhan looked utterly shocked, mouth half-open and speechless.

"Ew," Vickey let out. "Now I have to think about you two having sex. That's worse than the PDA."

"Then don't think about it!" Ginny argued back.

Vicky rolled her eyes. "Everyone does, most people just have the decency not to say!"

"Siobhan, don't forget to breathe," Harry told her. Siobhan had not made a single sound.

Siobhan nodded, recovering. "How long were you together when you got pregnant?"

Ginny shared another look with Harry. "We don't know… probably twenty minutes?"

"Christ," Vicky went.

"But anywhere between minus two days and five days," Harry clarified.

"You had sex before you were together?" Vicky asked, eyebrows raised.

"It's complicated." Ginny sighed. "We knew there was something there but we hadn't really… talked about it."

"So then you just had sex?" Siobhan asked.

Harry nodded. "Pretty much."

Robbie joined the call. "What did I miss?"

"Everything ever," Siobhan answered dramatically.

"Harry… we had an agreement," Robbie said. "And you two are sitting cuddly close together… I assume rumours are correct?"

"Yes, they are." He smiled. "But in turn, I am willing to release you from the pact as well."

Robbie scoffed. "As if!" He shook his head. "No no. You'll have to pay up." He pretended to think about it. "How about your firstborn, in true evil witch fashion?"

Vicky and Siobhan broke out in laughter simultaneously so loud their speaker crackled. Robbie looked puzzled. Harry turned the camera around again. Ginny's hand came across her bump to show it off.

"How early do you want that?" he asked calmly, turning the camera back. "Earliest we could do is January?"

"I take it back," Robbie said over the laughter of the two girls.

"I would think so!" Ginny said. "You're not getting this one!"

Robbie shook his head, still baffled. "I could have never in my life guessed…"

Siobhan hiccoughed, wiping a tear from her eyes. "I think I need a glass of water, oh my."

"That must have been a surprise," Vicky said.

"You could say that," Harry agreed.

"And how does it feel to be pregnant?" she asked.

"Weird, wonderful…" Ginny shrugged. "I had nausea of course and some small pains but overall I don't think I can complain much up until now."

"But she does complain," Harry offered.

"Harry!" Ginny scolded him. "That's not true at all. I am a delight." She turned her chin up at him playfully.

He grinned at her. "Of course."

"Can you stop looking at each other like that?" Vicky said. "I am still adjusting to you two together."

"I think they're cute," Robbie commented.


Harry walked in with his godfather behind him. The man carried himself with a certain elegance and his face seemed stern, but his eyes were friendly as they landed on her.

"You must be Ginny," he said, walking to her with open arms. "Can I hug you?"

"Of course!" She wrapped him in a hug. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise," he agreed, releasing her. "I have heard so much about you."

She smiled. "Yet, I have barely heard of you," she replied.

Sirius glanced over his shoulder towards Harry. "Apparently so…"

"I apologised, didn't I?" Harry muttered.

Sirius frowned. "I can't recall."

They walked to the lounge and sat down. Harry sat next to Ginny.

"So, I heard you wanted to apply for the position of greatgodfather," Ginny started. She raised an eyebrow.

Taken aback, Sirius blinked a few times and then laughed. "Yes, yes, I would."

"You know, we could otherwise consider you as a godfather for a future child." She folded her hands in her lap.

Sirius nodded pensively. "True." He crossed his legs. "Future children are not a guarantee, however. I could be greatgodfather of this one and any next one."

"Do I get a say in this?" Harry interjected.

She turned her head towards him, a smile teasing her lips. "No."

He nodded. "Okay, because I did think you were planning to have those kids with me." He cocked his head.

"I am."

Sirius chuckled. "Oh. Now I understand what your parents meant."

She looked back at Sirius, frowning. "Meant what?"

"The teasing," he said, pointing between the two of them. "They said you do it constantly."

Ginny squeezed Harry's knee. "It's done with love."

"It's much different than what I am used to from him," Sirius continued. "But lately it's been 'Ginny this' and 'Ginny that'…" He winked at Harry.

Harry's arms wrapped around her and squeezed her closer. "And what about it?"

Sirius shook his head. "Nothing. I am glad you found someone and that she makes you happy."

"Please tell me you teased him about the whole no-dating thing?" Ginny asked him, ignoring Harry's groan.

"Only a little," Sirius said with a straight face.

Harry scoffed. "A little ?!"

Sirius grinned. "He used to be so adamant about it too." He shook his head. "Now you're moving in with her after…"

"Four months," Ginny helped him.

"That is a welcome necessity," Harry retorted. "For the nugget."

Sirius looked back at her. "Harry said you always wanted to have a big romance. What's your view on it now?"

She glanced at Harry, wondering when he would have brought it up. "I wanted to find love and I went looking… and I never realised it was closer than I thought." Her thumb rubbed Harry's hand. "The great thing about Harry is that I already know who he is as a person. There are no surprises, I know he is witty and kind and…" She looked at him. "I am glad I get to share all these things with him—I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else."

"See, I told you it didn't matter," Sirius told Harry.

"What?" she asked, looking back at Sirius.

"He thought he had ruined your big romance because you got the order a little mixed up," Sirius clarified.

Her heart sunk a little. "Is this about the baby?"

His gaze dropped. "Yeah."

"I don't care about that." She squeezed his hand. "Why didn't you say anything?"

He shrugged, his gaze averting. "I don't think I completely knew what it was about until I talked to Sirius, and then he put me at ease so I didn't feel like I had to bring it up."

"I never said I wanted a typical romance, and you should know me better than that," she told him softly.

"I know. And maybe in five years I won't think it matters, but I felt guilty and I just wanted to offer you a perfect romance." He smiled slightly. "I wanted that for you before I came into the picture."

She nodded, deciding to come back on this later. "So you talked some sense into him?"

"Had to. His parents weren't going to." He righted his shoulders, looking determined. "One of my many amazing godfather skills."


When Ginny went to talk to his parents, Harry looked over to Sirius. "So…?"

"From what I heard from her, I thought I'd like her so no surprise there," his godfather told him.

Harry nodded. "But…?"

"I know you are very in love with her and that's very nice, but I was worried she wasn't meeting you at the same level," Sirius continued.

"I had that too." He looked towards the kitchen. "Her track record wasn't great but then she started speaking about the future and told me she loved me… I stopped worrying about that." He raised an eyebrow. "But what did you think?"

Sirius's expression softened. "I think she loves you to bits."

Harry couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. "I am glad to hear you think so too. I could be totally delusional about it."

Sirius patted his back. "You're not the delusional type."

"No." He shook his head. "But I know Ginny is my blind spot."

His mum walked out, carrying apples. She threw one at Harry and he caught it. She handed one to Sirius too. "Apples for everyone!"

Ginny and James came out next, setting down the drinks on the table.

"You're going to have to explain about the apples," Sirius said as Lily handed one to James and Ginny as well.

"They try to eat the food items the baby's size is compared to," Lily explained, sitting down next to her husband. "Today is apples." She shook her head. "The old lady who saw me weighing five apples one by one in the fruit section was judging me… so I told her why and then she just refused to believe I was becoming a grandma!" She frowned, nearly pouting. "That I am far too young to be a grandma, that is was impossible. I don't look that young."

"You are too sexy to be a grandma," James told her.

"Dad!" Harry complained.

"If the position of grandma opens up, it's yours to take," Ginny told Sirius with a grin.

Sirius shook his head quickly. "Lily will kill me. I won't attempt to take that spot."

"You're a fool to think Ron wouldn't fight you for the godfather spot," Harry added. "He is very honoured."

Sirius nodded sagely. "I guess I should leave him the honour. I was already very honoured to be godfather of you."

Lily cleared her throat. "Yes, yes. Very nice." She held up the apple. "To the baby nugget."

Harry placed the apple in front of Ginny's stomach. "I can't believe she's already that big."

"Will you be devouring a watermelon by the end or…?" Sirius asked.

Ginny shook her head. "No, it's just easier to visualise and we may as well, right?"

"I think it was especially nice when the bump wasn't there yet, I felt like we could grasp it better that way." He bit into his apple. "And it's good to get some extra vitamins in."

"Cheers." Sirius bit into his apple.

"Am I approved?" Ginny tried.

Sirius smiled at her. "I heard of you long before you became his girlfriend. Ultimately it's Harry's decision, it's not up to us to decide."

"True," she agreed. "Doesn't mean you have to like me."

"We have to like her, otherwise she might stop us from visiting the grandbaby," James said.

Ginny gasped. She put her hand on her bump. "I would never do that, but good to know you don't actually like me." She smiled at them.

"Please," Lily said, nudging her husband. "We're so glad it's you. We wouldn't want anyone dull and boring for Harry. He needs someone who is a little… spirited."

Ginny looked at him fondly. She searched for his hand and squeezed it.


After Sirius had left, Ginny pulled Harry into the garden away from his parents. They walked by the hedges, following the outline of the garden.

Harry shoved his hands into his pockets and looked at her, as if he could already tell she was going to say something.

"I know we said no serious talks this week but…" She met his eyes. "What Sirius said…"

He shrugged, looking away from her. "It's not important."

"No, but it is." She paused and he turned to her. She snaked her arm around his waist.

He looked at her silently for a moment. "Did you think I simply didn't feel guilty… about getting you pregnant?"

She bit her lip, considering it for a moment. Then she shook her head and sighed. "No. I thought I'd stop feeling guilty after I found out it wasn't Dean's… but then I figured out there was more to it."

His hands escaped his pockets and came to her waist. "It's not only the baby. I know if you're in pain, or you're nauseous… if something happens…" A frown settled between his brows. "That's on me."

"That was my choice, Harry." She tried to smile to emphasise it was a choice she was still happy she made.

He hummed. "Sure. The same way you could choose to cut your hand off to escape a hostage situation. That doesn't mean it's a choice you were meant to make."

"You can be a little dramatic sometimes," she muttered, leaning in closer to him. "I don't blame you, for any of it. And you are my big romance."

"It's not perfect."

She smiled softly at him, trying to make him see wasn't easy. "It doesn't have to be perfect. I wanted someone I could trust wholeheartedly, someone that I love that loves me. And I found out loving someone isn't always… it doesn't come when you expect it." Her hand reached out to his cheek. "I love you and I don't care if some of what we do is backwards or what's expected. We know each other so well, the element of surprise may be in our favour."

Harry laughed softly. "Is it?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I just know that we can face whatever comes our way when we're together. We can depend on each other. I know we'll get through it together even when it isn't easy. And that's much more important than perfection."

Harry leaned down and kissed her softly. His hand softly caressed her back. She smiled up at him and then stepped back, taking his hand again as they continued walking.

"Sometimes I do get a little sad," she admitted, avoiding his gaze. She didn't want him to think it was about him, there was just simply a lot going on and there were a lot of changes in their life.

But then he said, "Me too," and she knew he understood.

"It's like grieving a part of myself I can no longer be," she continued. "And maybe I no longer want to be." She took in a deep breath. "Everything just happened so fast."

When she looked up, he was already looking at her. She stopped again and turned to him.

"I guess it's okay to be a little sad sometimes," Harry added. The grip on her hand tightened. "It doesn't mean we aren't happy."

She nodded. "Precisely."

Harry wrapped her into a hug and she rested her head against his chest. She hugged him tightly and his arms tightened a little too.

Lily called their names from the house and they both looked towards her. "Do you two want tea?"

"You?" Harry asked her without releasing her.

She nodded. "Tea is good."

"Two, please!" he answered. He let out a little sigh and then kissed the top of her head. "I am glad we could talk about this."

"I think we both understand, but it isn't always easy to talk about," she mumbled. "And I think we want to guard each other's feelings."

"Who knew having a baby could be this complicated?" Harry commented.

She chuckled. "Yeah."