Part III

The Free Bird Returns

The Story of Harry and Ginny & Their Happily Ever After

I apologize for this getting longer than anticipated. It took on a life of its own. I kept it this way because I do not believe people will want the horribly foreshortened version.

- Tuzilla

Harry thought he had it all. He was a few steps from the summit of a once unscalable mountain. Then, he lost his grip. He plummeted to the bottom—a broken man. His vision of living happily ever after had abandoned him like a red streak on a Firebolt.

A month ago, he was the best man at Ron and Hermione's gala wedding. Ginny was Hermione's Maid of Honor. With everything going so well, he was prepared to pop the question to Ginny. Then, just before the big ask, Ginny announced during dinner at The Burrow that she was leaving to become a star with the Holyhead Harpies. Gwenog Jones had given her the call.

As the meal ended amidst all of the congratulations, Ginny got up to find Harry and talk. He had left the table before dessert. She assumed he was in the front room. However, he was nowhere to be found. It appeared that he had grabbed his broom and disappeared.

Harry was heartbroken. Another person was wrenched from his life. First, it was his parents. Then, Sirius, then Dumbledore. Now, it was Ginny. Life had orphaned him once again.

He flew aimlessly for hours. The wind bit at him as he skirted the coastline. Finally, he turned toward Islington and Nr. 12 Grimmauld. Once there, he instructed Kreacher to place protective enchantments around it. He did not want to be bothered by anyone. He wanted to ensconce himself away from the world in an impregnable oubliette.

Nr. 12 was immensely cleaner and more welcoming than the first time Harry had visited there. Even a muggle family might find it a very acceptable abode minus the house elf and Black family portraits. Kreacher had managed to keep the place tidy following the cleaning frenzy of their fifth year led by Mrs. Weasley. However, it seemed bleaker than anywhere he had been, even the castle's dungeons.

Days passed. Harry barely ate. He spent most of his time in a dim, unlit room with the curtains closed. His mood was like a bowl of cold oatmeal on a wintery day.

Suddenly, he felt the house shake. The picture on the walls rattled and a vase from a nearby table toppled to the floor shattering like his heart. Seconds later, Kreacher appeared in the room.

"Excuse me, Master," said the elderly elf. "It's Master Weasley and Mistress Granger. They are trying to break in again but my enchantments are stopping them."

"Thank you, Kreacher," replied Harry as he sat down the book he had been reading. "You're doing a fine job."

"Kreacher lives to serve you, Master. Please tell Kreacher if there is anything else that you need."

Outside, Hermione was casting spell after spell with the fury of an angry Valkyrie. One after another, Ron and she watched them skip, shatter, or bounce away.

"Eeeerrrr," she growled as she jammed her wand into its holder. A darkness she had not felt since the days of wearing the Slytherin Locket was eating into her mind. "I thought one of these would work. He needs to come out of there. It's been two months. He needs our help."

"It's okay, Mione," said Ron. "If anyone can figure this out, it is you."

"Stop pressuring me, Ronald. I'm not Dumbledore," she barked, her ability to deal with adversity overwhelming her. "I'm not as smart as you think I am."

"I—I—I'm sorry, Hermione. It's just that I…"

"...It's okay, Ron," she said, cutting him off with a much calmer voice. "I am frustrated. I should not have snapped at you."

Ron wrapped hug in a hug. "I love you, Mione," he said.

"I love you, too, Ron," she replied, a warm and soothing calmness coming over her like she was sliding into the bubbles in the Prefect's Bath. A moment later, they were gone in a swirling whoosh of apparition.

"They have left, Master," said Kreacher as he said a steaming cup of tea down next to him on the table.

"Thank you," said Harry.

Two hundred fifty miles away, Ginny was sitting by herself on a bench outside the Stolen Lamb Pub listening to the crickets and night birds. It was clear that something was eating at her like termites enjoying a favorite spruce tree. She was spending more and more time by herself in recent days. Inside, Celtic music was playing in competition with the revelrous voices. The Harpies were celebrating a huge victory over their arch-rival Puddlemere United. Ale and mead was flowing like the River Severn.

"What's up?" asked Maisie Knightmare, her team's keeper and best friend on the team, as she walked up to her. "Why are you out here? You should be inside. You scored enough goals to beat those Mudpuddlers all by yourself."

"I know," replied Ginny, her voice sounding like a damp blanket on a cold night. "I just don't feel in the partying mood."

"Something's bothering you. We can all see it, You've been spending a lot of time by yourself," said Maisie. "You're playing like a warrior, but you act like you're not enjoying it. You're not the same feisty, crazy redhead who joined us a couple of months ago."

"It's alright. I'll be okay. I'm just thinking," replied Ginny unconvincingly.

"We can talk if you need to," said Maisie. "We're not just a team. We're family."

"Uh—well—uh it's hard to explain. It's my heart. It feels hollow—no—it feels broken—like a piece is missing," moaned Ginny, apparently ready to unload things and try to sort them out."

Ohhhh," gasped Maisie, suddenly unsure of how to react.

Just then, Gwenog Jones approached from out of the darkness between the pub and them.

"What are you two doing out here," she asked. "C'mon back inside. This is supposed to be a team celebration.

"Gi–Ginny is feeling down about something," said Maisie. "You're the captain. Maybe the two of you need to talk."

"Okay," replied Gwenog as she sat down next to Ginny. Maisie turned and headed back toward the pub. She felt bad about leaving but did not know what to say or do.

"Now, what's bothering you, Ginny? How can I help," asked Gwenog.

"I'm not sure," started Ginny, the word sticking in her throat like a bad taste. "I don't know if I made the right choice coming here."

"Of course, you made the right decision," said Gwenog, her words completely off the mark. "You fit in great. You are going to be a superstar. Just wait."

"No. No. That's not it. Being a quidditch star has been my dream for as long as I can remember. This is great. But—but I may have left my other dream—my happily ever after dream when I chose to leave home. I think Harry was going to ask me to marry him," said Ginny, tears welling up. Then, I up and left to pursue my quidditch dream. I think I blew it with him. I think I made a huge mistake."

"Oh my," gasped Gwenog, her hard-as-steel persona melting away. "I had no idea what I stepped into the middle of. I'd seen you play. I knew about your dream of being a star. Now, I've put you in a terrible situation."

"I think I put myself in it," replied Ginny.

Gwenog sat down and put her arm around Ginny. "What are you going to do?" she asked in a motherly voice.

"I don't know," sniffed Ginny. Her tears were beginning to fall to the ground like the first drops before a cloudburst. "I'm sad. I'm confused. I don't know."

"I think you do know," said Gwenog, lifting Ginny's head and looking her straight in her teary eyes. "Your place on the team will be waiting for you if you decide to come back."

Ginny looked momentarily stunned. Then, she wrapped her arms around her captain and let the dam break.

"Excuse me, Master but…" said Kreacher as leaned over to pour Harry his evening cup of tea.

"...I know, Kreacher. Hermione and Ron are outside casting spells. I can feel them hitting the house like a hailstorm," said Harry as he looked up from his book. They seem more persistent than normal, today."

"It is not Mistress Granger and Master Weasley, Master," replied the elderly elf as Harry's ears perked up. "It is Mistress Ginny Weasley…and she is without clothes.

"Merlin's beard," shouted Harry, jumping up like Kreacher had poured the tea in his lap.

Harry ran to the window and yanked open the curtains so hard that he almost removed them from the wall. Sure enough, Ginny was standing in the road casting Reductor charms one after another. She was naked as the day she was born.

"Kreacher! Open the shields," yelled Harry, pulling out his wand and bolting toward the door.

Kreacher snapped his fingers as the door flew open. Ginny was on her knees sobbing by the time Harry reached her.

"Ginny. What are you doing?" said Harry as he grabbed her jersey and pulled it over her.

I'm—-I'm—-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Harry," is all she could choke out.

"Let's go inside," said Harry as he gathered up the rest of her uniform and pulled her to her feet.

They made it inside and Harry guided her to the armchair where he had been reading. He stood quietly, waiting for her to regain her composure.

Kreacher returned after a few moments with fresh tea and some biscuits for them. Harry looked at Ginny and said, "What's going on Gin? Why are you here, now? And why were you naked?"

"You wouldn't answer my knocks. I was desperate," she answered in an uncharacteristically weak voice for her. "I had to do something."

"You certainly did that," said Harry. "You're lucky the muggles didn't see you and call the police. So, what's up?"

"I realized my mistake," said Ginny, her eyes tearing up. "I thought my dream was being a quidditch star—but—but it's not. My dream is us. It was always us. And—and—and I destroyed it. Quidditch is nothing without us. I want us to be together, again, if—if you'll have me—if you'll forgive me."

Harry knelt in front of her. He pulled her to him as he said, "Of course, I forgive you. I want us together. This is not all your fault. It's my fault, too."

"Wha—wha—why is it your fault? I'm the one who flew off."

"I should have chased after you. I should have flown to Holyhead and fought to save our relationship. Instead, I crawled in here and hid from the world like a garden gnome in its hole."

"You look dreadful, Harry. Have you eaten or…" They talked until the sun started to rise. When Kreacher finally asked them if he should prepare breakfast, they said they needed to sleep and went upstairs.

It was early afternoon. Hermione and Ron were enjoying the last two pieces of Molly's apple pie. They were considering a walk in the warm, late Autumn sun. They had all but given up on contacting Harry. Suddenly, the sound of an owl startled them.

Hermione walked over and took the message off its leg. She exclaimed 'OHMIGAWD!' as she read it. "It's from Harry. He wants us to come there immediately."

"Bloody hell," replied Ron with an air of indifference. "He hasn't spoken to us in months. Now it's a bleedin' emergency."

"Shut it, Ron. We're going. Now!"

Her words hit him like when his Mom called him Ronald. He took her arm and they disapparated. A few seconds later, they were standing in the street next to Ginny's missing shoe.

"Come in," said Harry as he opened the door. The pair hurried up the steps and inside.

"You've lost weight—and—and you need a haircut," all Hermione could manage, her eyes scanning him like an eagle sizing up a salmon.

"Great to see you, too," he responded.

"Blimey!" said Ron in a low-key exclamation. "Is that my Mom's cinnamon rolls I smell?"

Harry did not say anything. He led them toward the savory aroma emanating from the kitchen. As they entered, they saw Ginny turning around from the oven. She had a baking sheet full of fresh rolls.

"OHMIGAWD!" screamed Hermione as Ron hollered "BLIMEY!"

"Hi, guys," said Ginny like this was nothing unusual…nothing unexpected. "Let me frost the rolls. Kreacher, fetch some tea for our guests."

Three cups of tea and a whole lot of rolls later thanks mostly to Ron, peace and happiness were restored. Ron and Hermione's angst over Harry was sated. Harry and Ginny were back on the path to happiness.

Much later, once Ron and Hermione had left, Harry said, "Are you sad about leaving Holyhead? Quidditch was your dream forever."

"I thought that, too…but it's not," said Ginny as she moved over and climbed into his lap. "You and me together, that's my real dream."

"Mine, too," replied Harry, wrapping his arms around her. "I think if we tried, we could work it out so you could still play quidditch."

"What?" Ginny responded with a jerk. "What do you mean?"

"I'm thinking that I am still planning to train to be an auror with Ron. You can go back to the Harpies and play while Ron and I study to become aurors. Then, if you want to, we could get married after that."

"What?" shrieked Ginny as she jumped off Harry and spun around in the air to face him. "Are—are—are you asking me to marry you?"

"Yes, I think I am," replied Harry in a way that sounded like he was checking what he had just said. "Do you want to—-uh—what you said—get married?"

"I—I—I was expecting you to do it on one knee with a big ring—but—but…"

"So, no?"

"No—uh—yes—YES! But I still want a ring."

"Great! Great! We'll go to Gringotts tomorrow and get a bag of galleons."

"I want a big, muggle ring, not some magical one that ends up with a curse or something."

"Okay. Brilliant. We'll talk to Hermione. She can help us with that."

It was a rare, sunny day in London. They met Hermione at Tiffany's on Bond Street. Once inside, a woman in a very professional dress suit and nose piercing named Clemence walked them through selecting a ring. Finally, Ginny selected a platinum ring with a 1-carat, flawless, brilliant-round-cut diamond. It was going to be custom-fitted with scarlet, natural rubies on each side.

A week passed as the ring was delivered by a courier in a limo. Their rekindled love had grown into a raging wildfire before settling into a comfortable, glowing bonfire—the kind ideal for roasting marshmallows, telling ghost stories, and singing songs.

Harry and Ron left for auror training. Ginny returned to the Harpies. They were thrilled for her. She wore her ring on a chain under her uniform. It had more protective enchantments on it than Nr. 12 Grimmauld during Harry's isolation. Her play on the field was more intense than ever.

They managed to keep their love burning by meeting whenever they could both get away. They married when the off-season arrived and Harry had finished his training.

Harry purchased a modest house overlooking the Irish Sea. He took a position in the Wales Auror Office. This allowed them and their love to grow in richness and depth like a fine wine. Then, one month before the end of Ginny's fourth year on the team, she came with a strange grin.

"I hope you're ready to have me around a lot more often," said Ginny as she walked into their home. "I need to retire from quidditch."

"What? What's the matter? Did you get hurt?" said Harry as he looked up from stirring the pot of stew he was making.

"No. Not exactly…"

"...Then what is it? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong if you'll give me a chance," said a smiling Ginny. "I'm trying to tell you that I'm pregnant."

Harry felt like he had been struck by a Stunning spell. He froze, unable to speak or move for a moment. Then, he ran over and embraced her, his hug tightening before he released her and stepped back.

"I—I—I don't…" sputtered Harry.

"It's alright to hug me, you git. You can't hurt me or the baby," she laughed.

Six months later, James Sirius entered the world. Over the next years, he was joined by brother Albus Severus and sister Lily Luna. The love within the house was expanded exponentially.

The children grew, filling their parents' hearts with joy and pride to the point of bursting. The house echoed with happiness, pranks, and wonder. Almost too soon, it seemed, they were enrolled in Hogwarts. James and Lily were Gryffindors. Albus was placed in Slytherin.

We've done well, Harry," said Ginny as she plucked a white hair from her head. Their life was much quieter with the kids at school. It was a time to explore their lives and relationship.

"Yes, we have, Gin," replied Harry, pulling her hand away from her hair. "You should leave them. We have earned them."

"I don't like them. They remind me of my age."

"I love them," responded Harry. "They remind me of how long I have loved you with all of my heart and how much I want to continue loving you forever."

"You don't think they make me look old?"

"They make you look beautiful."

Ginny's heart melted as she wrapped her arms around him. After a long hug, she took Harry's hand. She led him to their favorite, hidden spot overlooking the sea to enjoy some of their vintage love.

The End

Please consider reading my entire Happily Ever After Series.

Part I – A Quiet House by the Sea - Harry & Luna

Part II – Harmony – Harry & Hermione

Part III – The Free Bird Returns - Harry & Ginny

Part IV – The Unlikely Pear – Harry & Daphne Greengrass

Part V – Double Your Pleasure, Double Your Fun - Harry & The Patil Twins (pending)

Your suggestion - possibly