A/N: It is chapter 50! No way!
Posting a day early so I can update my Regency (on AO3) on Wednesday :)

Shortly after Easter, Ginny walked into the living room. "Can we talk?"

Harry's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh, god. What?"

"What?" she asked.

"The last time you said something like that, you told me you were pregnant," he told her.

She sighed, shaking her head. "I had my period last week."

"Aha. Yes, you did." He patted the spot beside him. "Go on then."

She settled down and folded her legs up on the couch. "I have been considering what type of career I want to do after we graduate."

"Okay."

"After all I have learned about the agency," she continued. "The people out there, the work you do, even how you saved Fred and George… It is all so impressive and important. I think I want to be an agent too."

Harry nodded. "I will be the first to agree we do important work. If it is about providing help, there are tons of jobs you can do."

"True." She hesitated. "But people like Tom Riddle make me think I should know how to handle a gun. There are so many ways to make a difference, and I feel like the agency is the right place for me to be."

Harry leaned his head on his hand. "I feel like you are hesitating, but I'm not sure why? What do you need from me?"

"You already work there, and I would completely understand if you do not want me there. You already have your parents there, and then it can become perhaps a bit much."

Harry smiled at her as though she had said something stupid.

"It is also dangerous at times, I am aware of that and we have a baby at home so we need to discuss that risk," she continued. "And all of this of course assuming that they'd want to hire me."

"Gin." He squeezed her knee. "Minerva already expressed interest in you. I did not bring it up to you because I want it to be your choice, but I am pretty sure they'd love to welcome you into the agency."

She looked dumbfounded. "Why?"

"Because she has heard many great things about you and when she met you, you had just had a baby while managing exams and doing rather well all around. They tend to like people who are not afraid of a challenge."

She nodded slowly. "And you? What do you think? Would you mind?"

"I would love to have you at the agency! Us together has worked well until now, I don't see why that would have to change."

She breathed out in relief and smiled.

He kissed her cheek. "Now, I do think there are things we need to agree on, because we do have a kiddo at home, but that is all in due time. My parents would probably have tips."

"Of course," she agreed. "There are definitely things we need to talk about."

"We have time for that." He nodded in agreement. "When you become an agent, they will also ask you what you want to do. You can be a solo agent, have a partnership or a set team," he continued. "Obviously they do mix and match and create certain teams for projects, but you do have the default groups you'll do most of your work with."

Her eyebrows rose. "Your parents have a partnership, then?"

"Not at first—they thought they were better off solo for different reasons—but since their first undercover mission when they fell in love, they have been partnered together." He tilted his head. "Is that what you want?"

Ginny could see the hopeful look in his eyes, so she was not going to bother to ask about teams or solo work. "Do I want to be your partner?"

He nodded lightly.

"I think I would prefer to work with you," she admitted. "We do our better work together."

"June would have to agree." He grinned at her.

Ginny opened her mouth to disagree but then changed her mind. "There we have it."

"There is a dreaded compatibility test," Harry said. "It is a personality test to see if you are aligned to work together efficiently long-term."

"Why is it dreaded?"

He bit his lip. "According to my parents it is a good indication if couples will stay together—evidently they passed but there have been other couples who did not fare so well. If you'd rather not know, do not take that test."

"That does sound scary," Ginny said. "But I don't see why that should stop us. I want to be your partner. Bring on the test. We clearly make an excellent team. A little test is not going to scare me."

"Great." He kissed her. "I am not afraid of it either." His fingers drummed against the couch. "Can I make one selfish request?"

She leaned towards him. "Let's hear it."

"We are planning on more kids—if June does not repeat whatever she did last night—so I would prefer if you would limit the dangerous field work as soon as we know you are pregnant." He sighed. "And this isn't about you, you can handle yourself, but I know how I get."

She laughed. "Oh, yes. I think it is better for both your sanity and mine that I leave the dangerous things to you then."

"Good. Thank you." He grabbed his phone from the table. "I will send you the application—you have to be referred, you can't just apply to the super-secret service," he said with a grin. "You simply fill it in and send whenever you are ready. If you need help on any questions, you know where I live."

She chuckled. "Remind me again."

His fingers walked over her breast. "In your heart."

She waited for a moment and Harry held eye-contact with him. "Wow, I can see you fighting to cringe so hard," she teased.

Ginny watched from the door as Harry cheered on June. She didn't think he knew she was watching so she remained silent as she observed. Harry was trying to get June to roll over.

"Come on, you can do it," he said, wiggling her foot a little. "Daddy believes in you. Just go to that side."

For a moment it was silent.

"Alright, fine. We'll try again tomorrow." He laid down next to her on his side.

Just then June decided to start moving. Ginny watched carefully and then June finally flipped over.

Ginny gasped, which meant she was no longer hidden in the door opening. Harry looked at her and back at June.

"Did you see that?" he said excitedly.

"I did."

"Great job, Juney, I am so proud of you." He kissed her little head.

Ginny walked up to them and sat down beside Harry. "Isn't she the cutest little thing?"

"She's the best." He eyed her. "Did you send in your application?"

She nodded excitedly. "I did."

"Great." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek. "We are going to become amazing partners in yet another way."

Harry waited for Ginny to come back from the restroom while he waited in the corridor of the mall. June was asleep and strapped to his chest in a carrier. His eyes slipped over the crowd absent-mindlessly, when he suddenly spotted Lars.

He had to look twice, because to his knowledge Lars was in the Netherlands. Then Lars waved at Harry and he knew for sure it must be him.

"Harry!" he greeted, walking in his direction.

"Lars," Harry returned. "Fancy seeing you here. I didn't know you were back in the country."

"Not for long," Lars explained in that Dutch accent of his, his eyes drifting to the carrier for a moment. "My sister is considering doing an exchange year here as well, so we are here for the weekend so she can visit the campus and look around the city."

Harry remembered Ginny had been close to his sister. "I am sure she will like it here."

Lars nodded, and then he eyed the carrier again. "Have you had a baby? I did not have a clue!"

"Yes," Harry said. "I did." With a little sigh, he turned sideways so Lars could take a better look at June's face. Harry knew that Lars would be able to draw the conclusion for himself.

"Is this some weird arrangement or are you a couple now?" Lars asked bluntly.

"This is June," Harry said. "Ginny and I are together now."

Lars didn't look particularly offended. "I always thought you had a thing for her, but Ginny insisted that wasn't the case."

"To be fair, I hadn't figured that out for myself back then." He chuckled awkwardly. "Is it any comfort that I think you were one of her best boyfriends?"

Lars smiled. "I don't think so—speak of the devil." He nodded towards his left.

"Lars?" Ginny looked very surprised to see him there. She walked up and hugged him. She took in the situation.

"Yes, I was just meeting your daughter," he said. "I saw the red hair, strapped to Harry. It was a bit startling, I have to admit."

Ginny chuckled. "Oh, I can imagine. What are you doing back here? Surely not missing the English food?"

"No," he said. "I am here with my sister. She is considering an exchange program here."

Ginny immediately looked around. "Is she here?"

"Laura!"

A moment later, someone appeared out of the shop, gasped when she saw Ginny and then ran to her.

"Ginny!" Laura greeted, wrapping her in a hug. "Oh, I am so excited to see you here! I was hoping to see you but Lars thought contacting you would have been awkward."

"Maybe a little," Ginny admitted. "But I am so glad to see you again!"

"Me too," Laura agreed. "What have you been up to?"

Ginny held out her hands, Harry unclipped the carrier and placed June in her arms.

"Mostly this," she said casually.

"You had a baby?!" Laura let out excitedly. "She is so cute."

"This is June." She nodded towards Harry. "And that's her dad, Harry."

"The guy she told me not to worry about," Lars joked.

Ginny turned red. "Not then!"

"It's alright," Lars said. "I was not going to be it, and Harry is a good man."

Ginny met Harry's eyes for a moment and then her attention returned to Laura. "So you're doing an exchange?"

"Yes, it is very likely!"

"That is great!" Ginny said. "We are graduating soon but we probably won't move out of our apartment by the campus in the following months so if there is an emergency, you call me."

"Thanks." Laura smiled warmly.

They said goodbye and Harry continued on with Ginny.

"You should have seen his face when he saw June and put it together," Harry said with a chuckle.

Ginny smiled at him. "You did not try to lie?"

"I did not even tell him, he just looked and saw the ginger locks and cute little face, figured that must've involved you, so I only confirmed."

She glanced at June. "I suppose… yeah that makes sense."

Harry stopped in front of a nondescript office and waited for Ginny to step out.

"I was surprised it wasn't at the agency," Ginny said.

Harry shook his head. "You can't have potential hires see the inside of that building, because if you do not hire them…"

"I've been there before!" She unclipped her seatbelt.

"It's protocol," he said. "June and I will be in the park around the corner so message me when you're done. Good luck, you've got this."

She stared out at the building. "This feels high stakes."

"It'll be okay. And if not this then something else. Just be your usual self, they are going to love you." He smiled reassuringly at her.

She nodded, leaned over and kissed him. She opened the door and stepped out.

"Go get them, honey!" he said before she closed the door.

He waited until she had made it inside the building and then he continued to the car park in the following street. He got out of the car and opened the door next to June's seat.

"Hello."

June smiled at him. He unclipped her and took her out. He grabbed her diaper bag and then locked the car, walking to the park across the street.

"We'll go find some pretty trees for you." He kissed June's head. He walked through the park, holding her in one arm so he could point out trees to her as he talked.

He was standing by a particularly old oak—so old it had a sign to tell him it was old—when a lady stopped next to him.

"Hi," she said.

He looked at her. "Hi."

"Is that your daughter?" she asked him, eyeing June.

He held June closer. "Can I help you with something?"

The lady looked taken aback and continued on her way. Harry watched until she was a bit away.

"When you can walk and talk, I will tell you about stranger danger," Harry said. "It doesn't matter if she is interested in you or me, we don't care. Right, June?" He walked on. "Let me see if I can find you another fun tree, mum may be a while."

Ginny pushed open the door to the building. It was grey and dull in every sense. There was a small waiting area with plain off-white stairs and a large potted plant that did nothing to bring life to the place.

On the other side there was a young receptionist, who raised an eyebrow when she walked in. She walked up to him.

"Hi. I am Ginny Weasley. I have an appointment," she said, as was instructed by the application email confirmation.

The man typed into his computer. "Miss Weasley. They have been notified. Please take a seat, they will come and get you."

"Thank you." She walked to the chair closest to the door and sat down.

The receptionist opened his phone, and she could hear several clips of audio as he scrolled through it. She tried to tune it out and relax.

She wanted to do well so badly. She had set her mind to this job, and not getting it would feel awful. She also did not want to let down Harry, or his parents though they had not told them yet. She felt like she had to prove herself.

She heard the clicking of high heels coming down the corridor. Then a woman appeared. She looked to be in her thirties and had her hair tied back in a ponytail. Ginny tried to discern anything about her, but nothing stood out.

"Miss Weasley," she greeted. "Welcome."

Ginny shot up from her chair. "Good morning."

"I am Hestia Jones," she introduced herself. "I will be interviewing you."

Ginny shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."

Hestia smiled. "Nice to meet you." She gestured towards the end of the corridor. "Follow me."

Ginny followed the woman down the corridor and into a waiting lift. Hestia held her badge by the sensor next to the buttons and the door closed, taking them up.

The lift pinged and the doors slid open. There was more grey and beige in this corridor. Hestia guided her into the corner office.

"Have a seat. Would you like some water?"

She smiled. "Some water would be nice, thank you."

While Hestia walked out, Ginny took a seat and put her handbag on the floor next to her chair. She wondered what they were going to ask, considering they could likely have all info about her life at the push of a button.

"There you go." Hestia set the water done in front of her and then walked around the table.

This office was fairly empty. No pictures or personal items. It would definitely not tell her more about Hestia Jones.

"So, Miss Weasley, please introduce yourself briefly."

She took a deep breath to calm her nerves. "I am Ginny Weasley, I'm 23 years old. I am the youngest of seven, so I am used to chaos. I am getting my master's degree in political science. I have a daughter who is almost 5 months together with my boyfriend, Harry."

Hestia typed on her laptop. "And why did you choose political science?"

"I found it difficult to choose a degree coming out of high school. Political science gave me an insight into how politics tie everything together, how it matters what people say and do, and who they vote for. I wanted to peel back the layers and find that out. It left options open for jobs, I always considered going into diplomacy or journalism to be good options for me."

"Journalism?" Hestia asked.

Ginny took a sip of water, allowing her to formulate a reply. "I have always been fond of writing. Journalism forces you to look at things with a critical eye in an unbiased manner. I like to play around with words and find the best way to relay information to a wider public."

"Right." Hestia folded her hands together. "And what changed your mind to come work with us?"

"I think it is important work you do," she said. "And I would like to be part of it. My boyfriend, Harry Potter, told me about the agency when we found out we were expecting a baby. Since then I have been in a safe house, and I learned a little more about what it all entails."

"That did not scare you?" Hestia asked.

Ginny thought about it. "In the moment, I was scared. I was pregnant, and I wasn't sure what was happening or how long it was going to take." She sighed. "But it made it all the more clear that there are so many people out there who keep slipping past the radar who are doing truly heinous things. Fraud, terrorism, smuggling… the big operations that affect so many but so little people know about… I do not want to sit idle now that I have had a glimpse into that world. I want to be able to do what is right, I don't care if it is grunt work, I only care if it's getting done. If I dedicate myself to something, I am determined to get it done."

Hestia nodded as she spoke, typing a few things down. Ginny took another sip of water, wondering if she had been talking too much.

"How stress resistant are you?" Hestia asked.

"I took exams past my due date, so I think pretty good," Ginny quipped. "I grew up with many siblings, who all wanted their own way. I'm used to there being yelling and shouting, it doesn't really deter me. I allow myself to feel nervous, but I try not to let it overwhelm me and attempt to stay focused."

Hestia lifted up a piece of paper. "As connections to the agency you listed Harry Potter, James Potter, Lily Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. That is quite a list."

"I have known Harry and his parents since high school," she said. "And after I found out about Harry's work, I was introduced to the rest them. I suppose it comes with hanging out with the Potters."

Hestia paused for a moment, something flickering past her eyes. "And you would prefer a partnership with Harry Potter?"

"Correct," she said. "We have been close friends," she said, feeling like 'best friends' felt too childish, "for years. We were together for every team work in school, now we are studying for the same degree and we are a couple. We are raising our baby… I can't explain it, we simply work together. We don't need many words to communicate, we trust each other implicitly… and we understand what the other person needs."

As soon as Ginny texted that the interview was done, Harry turned around. He strapped June in her seat and drove back to the office. Ginny got into the car.

"How did it go?"

"I don't know," Ginny said. "I think it went okay?" She looked at him. "She also asked me to tell you that you 'had passed your test'."

Harry's eyes widened. "Oh."

"What does that mean?" Ginny asked.

Harry smiled. "Sometimes they do little tests on us, without warning, if they know where you're going to be. To see if you are paying attention and not being too trusting of strangers who may become a risk to you or your family." He breathed out. "I assume that the lady who came up in the park was the tester. I told her to eff off."

Her expression brightened. "You didn't!"

"No, I asked her what she wanted when she asked about June, and then she left," Harry said. "I am not always that blunt, but I had a weird feeling and there weren't many people in the park."

"Wow."

"Who did you have?"

Ginny shook her head. "Hestia Jones, she was impossible to get a feel of."

"Ah. That makes sense." He smiled apologetically. "She usually only interviews for specialised jobs—a computer engineer who then only does computer work or a doctor who only gives medical assistance—but they may have had a hard time to find an impartial interviewer who had not met you yet."

"Great. So I'm toast?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. She is a very reasonable person, but she may have asked more detailed questions than most would." He squeezed her knee. "Now you get a little treat. Where do you want to go for lunch?"

She glanced at June. "Was she fussy?"

"Not really, no. She seems happy."

She nodded. "Then how about that place near your parents? Antonio's Antoinette?"

Harry hesitated. "I know my mother recommended it because of the food, but he gets… the owner is a bit much."

"I know," Ginny said. "Your dad said I should go there if I was in need of a laugh."

"Antonio's it is then," he agreed.

He parked across the street and grabbed the bag while Ginny took June out of her seat.

"I am really proud of you, interviews are daunting," he said.

"I've never cared this much," she said, following him across the street. "It's a good thing you are sure about your job, at least we don't have to worry about that."

Harry nodded in agreement and opened the door, and the bell rang. Someone walked up to them.

"Hi Lucia, table for 2 and a baby," Harry asked her.

She smiled in greeting. "Is the usual table fine?"

Harry nodded, he took two steps towards it but then the owner appeared.

"Junior Potter!" the man greeted. "I have not seen you here in months!"

"Hi," he said. "Sorry, I have been busy."

He crossed his arms. "So I have heard. Please tell me you have brought the bambina?"

"Of course." He stepped aside and Ginny smiled at him, and showed the baby. "This is my girlfriend Ginny, and that is June."

"You must be Mr Antonio," Ginny greeted.

"Antonio was my father." He gestured towards a picture on the wall, showing a large Italian man with a moustache. "I am Marco. It is so nice to meet you and the little one."

Marco walked to the table with them, telling Ginny about the history of the restaurant, a tale Harry had heard a dozen times before. He took the time to take the carrier out of the bag and put it on.

"Junior, we can get her a high chair!" Marco said, "for the little June-ior." He laughed at his own joke.

"It's fine," Ginny said. "She can't sit up yet." She handed her over the Harry. "What do you recommend, Marco?"

"For the appetiser, the antipasto to share and for dessert the tiramisu." He pointed them out on the menu that lay in front of Ginny. "For the main course you need to let your soul speak." He promised to come by later before he walked off.

"He is delightful," Ginny told him.

Harry only replied with a grunt, occupying himself with choosing a main course from the menu.

"I don't think I'll do tiramisu, but the gelato is looking rather good," Ginny thought out loud.

"What about the main?"

Ginny looked up at him. "I don't think I've had carbonara since before June was born."

He snorted. "It looks like we have a pre-June and post-June distinction fairly often… like Jesus!"

"When she learns how to walk, we should check if she can walk on water," Ginny said. She beamed at him.

"Good thinking."

Lucia came to take their order shortly after. Ginny looked at June with a frown.

"What's wrong?"

"She is very quiet," Ginny said. "Do you think she's getting sick? Does she feel warm?"

Harry shook his head. "No, she isn't warm. She is happy." He raised an eyebrow.

She reached out over the table to feel June's head. "Okay, I suppose she feels normal."

"Just enjoy it."

Ginny breathed out. "I'll try."

When they were finishing up dessert, Marco came up again.

"I have to ask why you call Harry Junior?" Ginny tried.

Marco looked as though that was obvious. "He walked in here first time with his mother, and I just knew he was a Potter. It is all in the hair."

Ginny smiled widely at him and he had an inkling she was going to tease him for the rest of the day.

"So I figured he was the James Junior," Marco explained. "I guess it stuck in my mind." He turned to Harry. "I have been meaning to ask something to your father, but he has not been in since last month."

"What is it?" Harry asked as he put his fork down next to his tiramisu.

"Before you moved here, your parents and the gang would come here sometimes after work," Marco started. "It was the calm one, the aristocratic one and the nervous one."

"… Sure." Harry wasn't sure where Marco was going with this.

"The nervous one came in, ordered only a soup and asked about the Potters casually," Marco told him.

Dread settled in his stomach.

"I am not so easily fooled. I know he has not joined you for years so I knew it was suspicious."

Harry grabbed a napkin and took a pen out of his bag. He scribbled down a phone number from the agency and signed it as 'Junior'. "If he comes by again, ring that number, say you are Marco and that you have a message for Junior."

"I don't want trouble, you know that," Marco said, taking the napkin from him.

"I know, that is why you need to ring that number. He is not a good man, he has betrayed us more than once."

Marco stared down at the number, nodded and then wordlessly walked off.

"Peter?" Ginny asked.

He nodded, softly rubbing June's head. "I believe so."

"Does he know about your work?" Ginny asked, glancing towards Marco.

Harry looked behind him, but no one was near them. "We suspect he has a good suspicion. He likes to keep his head down—had some trouble with the Italian maffia when they started out, thought he would want to partner and use this as a front—he takes pride in his food, so he refused. He doesn't want to mess with any of it, and that is fine by us."

"He is right to take pride in it, this is really good," Ginny said. "It's alarming he was here, right?"

"A little, but he is also an idiot so it's hard to say if it means anything. I'll pass it on to my mum just in case."

Ginny nodded, taking a sip of her water. "What does the Antoinette stand for?"

"It was Antonio's drag persona."

She looked up at him, amused.

"That wasn't a joke," he clarified, pointing at one of the pictures on the wall. "Quite the legend."

Ginny's gaze slipped to the photo. "Oh. No kidding. Go Antoinette, she looks great."