A Time of Reflection Part 2

Summary: As Harry and Ginny's wedding approaches, James reflects on Harry and Ginny's relationship and how they got here.

AN: Written in honor of James's birthday.

James walked along the grounds of Potter Manor, the moonlit pebbled stone pathway his guide back to the house. He could smell his Mum's flowers as he approached the flower garden. As he approached, he passed the marquee that Ron, Bill, Charlie, George, Sirius, Arthur, and he had set up that morning.

Tomorrow, his son was getting married. Tomorrow, he wasn't just gaining a daughter-in-law, but a daughter.

When he saw the garden next, it would be transformed into the wedding of Ginny's dreams. James couldn't help the proud grin as Harry repeatedly said all he wanted was for Ginny to be happy. He had stated the three things he would have a say in: the food, the cake, and his own attire. The rest? If Ginny was happy, so was he.

When Harry and Ginny shared that they had made a decision regarding the wedding a week after their engagement, James wasn't surprised when they announced that they had set a date for June. He and Lily knew they meant next June.

But what had come next took James by surprise.

They wanted to get married at Potter Manor.

James was stunned. He was sure they were going to choose the Burrow. Ginny explained when they attended Sirius and Hestia's wedding, which was held at Potter Manor, she had fallen in love with his mother's flower garden.

He was honored that they chose to get married here, and if his parents were alive, they would have been equally as honored. They would have adored Ginny.

If James was honest with himself, he saw it coming. He saw it sooner than Lily did.

He knew Ginny would be the one when Harry promised her he would write to her when he and Ron left for their first year. He kept his promise. Their letters from that year are pressed in a photo album. Lily had fixed it as a way to preserve their history. The letters and notes they wrote to each other, some they didn't see until after the war, joined them.

He wanted to shout how right he was the night he found Harry in the kitchen the summer after his fourth year, and Harry admitted he had feelings for the Weasley girl.

James admitted to only Sirius that he had been waiting for the day Harry would admit that he had feelings for Ginny for a long time. He saw it at different points during Harry's fourth year.

He had imagined having Ginny as a daughter-in-law as early as Harry's sixth year. Things were getting serious then between them.

He could see them married one day, even dreaming of future grandchildren. A little girl with red hair or a little boy with wild black hair, eye color always changed from Harry's green to Ginny's brown for either.

He couldn't wait.

Yes, he was getting ahead of himself, but honestly, it was the hope during the war. That Harry would survive, marry Ginny, and give him and Lily a few grandchildren.

When asked why he saw Harry marrying Ginny, he had a simple reply.

"Potter men for many, many generations have married a redhead. Call it a tradition, or we Potter men have a type. I'm not joking how many generations it goes back. In the black and white pictures, there's a note on the back saying the woman was a redhead."

He wasn't wrong.

As he walked along the flower garden, stopping to take in the scene, he reflected on his own relationship with his in-laws. Harold and Iris Evans had welcomed him into the family with open arms. Iris, so much like Lily, had mothered him after the death of his parents. Unfortunately, that didn't last long, as they were killed by Death Eaters a month earlier.

Something Petunia still blames Lily for to this day.

Shaking his head to rid the negative thoughts, James switched gears back to his son and soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

He could pat himself on the back for what a good job he did teaching Harry about chivalry and how to love and respect the woman he loves. Harry, of course, had taken James's example to heart. As a result, he treated Ginny like a queen. He saw that all her needs were met, even if it meant picking up feminine supplies at the shop on the way home from work. When she went shopping for dresses for Ministry events, he would go with her, giving her instructions such as 'Don't look at the price tag.' He would pay for the dress, which Ginny didn't argue with him about it now.

"I might as well turn and talk to the wall," He had heard Ginny tell Hermione about the last shopping trip.

"He wants you happy, Ginny," Hermione had said.

That was true. Potter men wanted their women happy and would do what it took to make them happy.

Deserving to be Spoiled (Fifth Year)

James was known for showering Lily with gifts, big or small. Sometimes, it was for a special occasion, like when they celebrated the success of one of Lily's potions she created or the ones she improved. Mostly, it was just because he could.

When he was promoted to Deputy Head, he surprised her with new diamond earrings. A thank you for your support gift, if you will.

It shouldn't have surprised James when Harry started slowly following in his footsteps.

Harry had started small, keeping her stocked in her basic necessities like her feminine supplies and the chocolate she loved to have during that time of the month. He had paid attention to things she looked at in catalogs and made a note of the ones she looked at the most. The locket he had ordered for her for Valentine's Day was one of those things.

She saw a black and blue denim jacket in a shop at Hogsmeade. It was slightly more than she was willing to spend. She even tried it on when she found her size, trying to justify the price. Knowing she had other things to purchase, like a present for Fred and George's birthday, she hung the jacket back on the hanger and returned it to the display.

She didn't know that Harry had gone behind her and taken it to the till to purchase it for her.

James was on patrol that day in the village and had watched the exchange from a distance. He saw them leave the shop; Harry had a large bag in his hand, while Ginny had a small one.

Harry handed her the bag from the Witch's Closet as they left.

Ginny had asked what was in the bag before looking in.

James could make out Ginny saying, 'You didn't.'

Harry stopped any arguments with a kiss and whispered something in her ear.

James chuckled as he watched Ginny lightly punch Harry's shoulder with a grin and pull him in for another kiss.

He nodded approvingly when he watched Harry open the door to the next shop, the joke shop, for Ginny, holding it open as she stepped inside.

He resumed patrol, walking along the main street.

Ginny wore the jacket to a dinner Lily was having in her quarters. Lily commented on how cute it was. Hermione had ordered herself one in the catalog.

"Your son surprised me with it when we were leaving the shop last Hogsmeade weekend," She explained. "I told him you're spoiling me."

"You deserve to be spoiled."

James knew Lily was looking in his direction when he patted himself on the back.

The denim jacket wasn't the only thing Harry had bought her. He bought her new dragon hide gloves to replace her old ones when one of the fingers got a hole in it. When she opened the packaging, Ginny knew who they came from.

She quickly learned there was no point in arguing with Harry.

Her friends told her she was lucky to have a boyfriend like Harry. She was.

James had to give Harry credit: he was more tactful in spoiling Ginny.

He was sitting by Lily when Ginny got a package in the post. Ginny opened it at the table, looked in the box, and then looked at her boyfriend. Even though he could only see the back of Harry's head, he knew his son was grinning like the cat who got the canary.

He could make out Ginny saying, 'You spoil me.'

He knew what Harry's reply was. "You deserve to be spoiled.'

James learned later that Harry had ordered Ginny the next two books in the teen romance series she had been reading. Lily had mentioned to Harry that the third one had just been released when he was writing the order.

"He's just like you," Lily said, cradling a cup of tea in her hands.

Even though they were in the Great Hall, James reached over to pat himself on the back. He had a good job teaching his son how to treat the woman he loved.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

James stood in the garden, taking in the smell of his Mum's flowers. Lily cared for them, something she had done since his parents' death. They recently learned that Judy, his parent's only neighbor, took care of the flowers during the months and year after they spent in St. Mungo's and was slowly returning to a 'normal' life after that Halloween night.

She filled in in caring for Effie's flowers for Lily while she was getting her potions mastery, something she had been wanting for a while.

Judy passed away that fall when Harry started primary school. Lily resumed caring for Effie's flowers and had been looking after them since.

There were spells and charms used on plants to help keep them alive a little longer, but Lily liked doing some tasks the Muggle way. Yes, she used the charms and spells Effie had taught her on the flowers, but there was something satisfying about pulling the weeds by hand.

Lily was able to save a lot of Effie's flowers the year they had a terrible frost.

"You would be proud, Mum. They're still growing."

James continued his reflection back on Harry and Ginny's relationship.

He took a lot of the credit for how Harry treated Ginny.

"I learned from the best," Harry had said once.

He had seen James's example of how he was to treat women in general by watching how James treated Lily.

Even the pet names James called Lily, Harry picked up and chose one for Ginny, which she more than approved of.

While James had different ones he used, Harry only had one.

Pet Names (Sixth Year)

Ginny had always found James's pet names for Lily endearing. He had a few different ones: Lils, Flower, Lily Flower, and Petal. Each one was a testament to the deep affection James had for Lily. They were sweet, personal, and filled with love.

According to Sirius, Remus, and Hestia, James used all of the names even when they were dating during their days at Hogwarts.

Not long after she and Harry started dating, he started calling her Gin. She couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement.

It was a simple nickname, but it meant so much for her.

It was one of the many ways Harry showed her his affection, making their relationship even more special.

Harry and Ginny had been dating for a year when James caught on Harry's pet name for Ginny.

"He's been calling her that for nearly a year, and you're just now noticing? Lily asked.

In truth, there could have been times when Harry called Ginny Gin in James's presence, but he couldn't recall them.

"Why Gin?" He asked once, mainly because he was curious.

"I would have been hexed if I called her Gin-Gin. Fred called her that once, and she sent her signature hex, you know, the one, towards him."

James laughed.

Then, some other names, such as Babe and Love, started being used. Harry always greeted Ginny with 'Hello, Beautiful.'

James knew Lily saw more of their relationship than he did because she was at the castle.

"I almost had to do a double take when I heard our son say, want to go out for a fly later, babe?" Lily paused to process what she just said. "Wasn't he six just five minutes ago?"

"He's sixteen. Remember when I called you Darling in front of Harold? I thought he was going to rip my head off for a second."

Lily smiled. "Dad wouldn't have done that. Mum wouldn't have let him. She liked you too well."

James tried to remember how his own parents reacted to his use of pet names for Lily. The only name he remembered his father ever calling his mother was Effie Girl. She called him Mont.

Now that he thought about it, he remembered Harold calling Iris Ivy once.

James should have known this was going to come. It was part of the relationship, calling each other by a pet name.

The first time James had overheard Ginny call Harry "love," it had stopped him in his tracks. It wasn't that he hadn't expected his son to hear such a term of endearment one day. He agreed with Lily's sentiment of how they got here so fast.

Now, Harry had someone saying "love" to him as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

When on the receiving end the first time, Harry had blushed and murmured a reply to Ginny's question about going for a walk later.

It's second nature now.

Out of respect for Lily, Ginny reserved the name 'Sweetheart' for her. But she did call Harry Babe or Baby a few times.

One such time was after a Quidditch match, the first since Harry and Ginny started dating. Ginny had leaped into Harry's arms, saying, 'Good job, Babe.'

James half-expected Harry to cringe or protest, but no—Harry had just smiled, the kind of rare, unguarded smile that made James's heart ache with pride. He'd realized then that this fiery, unrelenting girl had cracked through the walls Harry had built around himself.

Lily noticed it, too. It was very much welcomed, especially since it was the first time they had seen that smile in a long time.

Ginny had blushed at first when she realized what she had said out loud. But Harry, being Harry, just leaned down, kissed her cheek, and whispered something in her ear.

He had told her it was fine and asked if it was okay if he called her that, too.

While the pet names had taken some time to get used, James knew it was just a sign of where Harry and Ginny were in their relationship. It was one of the ways to make a relationship special and their own.

James knew it meant Harry and Ginny shared a deep affection for each other, and he hoped they never lost it.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

The stars above Potter Manor twinkled like old friends, winking down on the sprawling estate bathed in moonlight. James continued strolling through the gardens with his hands in his pockets, his messy black hair tousled by the cool June breeze. The manor had never felt quite so alive in years, now bustling with preparations for tomorrow's wedding.

James found himself thinking about the girl Harry had chosen.

In many ways, Ginny made him better.

Harry had found someone who loved him completely, who understood the weight he had carried without being crushed by it. James felt a swell of pride. He and Lily couldn't have asked for more for their son.

They also couldn't thank her enough for making Harry so happy.

He practically glowed when he talked about her, the smile so big on his face it made James's own cheeks ache. Sirius couldn't find it in him to get Harry to stop because he looked so bloody happy.

He still glows when he talks about her. It's now accompanied by a look of pride when he mentions her accomplishments with the Harpies. Ginny still had some goals to complete with the Harpies. Among them was winning the quidditch finals cup and playing in the World Cup.

Equally, she had a look of pride when she spoke of his accomplishments. With Kingsley's support and Robards' approval, he and Ron had revamped the entire Auror department. James couldn't help but be proud of the changes he and Ron had suggested, all of which were implemented.

She had the privilege of pinning Harry's badge to his uniform when he got it officially six months after joining the Aurors.

Now that James thought about it, Ginny had been Harry's biggest source of support since the end of the war.

Really, they were each other's source of support.

Unpacking after the War.

James carried a box upstairs labeled Harry's room that was accidentally taken to his study. As he approached his son's bedroom, he could hear another voice in the room. James quickly realized it was Ginny's voice that he was hearing. She had come over to help Harry unpack, returning the favor as he had done the same for her.

"I found a box of yours in the study," he announced as he entered the room.

"How many were there?" Harry asked.

"I think ten. Some of it was..."

"Clothes," Harry finished.

Harry opened the box that James had brought up.

"You must have packed this one. It looks like you took the drawer from the nightstand and dumped it into the box," Harry commented.

James cleared his throat.

"I did."

Harry paused, realizing how quickly his parents had to pack up the house.

"Don't even say it," James said, knowing what was about to come out of his son's mouth—another apology.

Harry sighed, closing his mouth. Ginny noticed how thin Harry's lips got, realizing a trait he had inherited from Lily.

"Fine," Harry said softly.

James couldn't help but laugh when the first thing Harry pulled out was the snitch they used when Harry was sick.

"Is that the...?" Ginny trailed off.

"Yeah. I've had this since I was six. When I had chicken pox."

James nodded.

"I had gotten tired of that blasted bell. I had gone to Diagon Alley for potion supplies for your mother and stopped in at the quidditch shop since they had children's quidditch books back then."

"Still do," Harry supplied.

"I thought I would get you a few new books to give you something to do. While in the shop, I found this snitch. I thought it would be a better alternative to the bell."

"You tossed it out the window after you gave me the snitch," Harry reminded him.

"You did?" Ginny asked, laughing.

James nodded. "And I had to go retrieve it because Lily wanted to keep it for some reason."

"A task you dragged Sirius in to help you."

James nodded, remembering how even Sirius was annoyed at the bell. When they found it, he wanted to set it on fire. But James wouldn't let him.

Harry asked a question he had been pondering on for years.

"Dad, who charmed it?"

James's answer was instant.

"Your mother. I brought it home, showed it to her, and told her my idea. She charmed it to fly when you released it. It would fly to either me or your mother to tell us you needed us. Over the years, she worked on it to add charms that if you wanted her or me, it sensed which one you wanted and would go to her or me."

"Have I mentioned how amazing your mother is?" Ginny asked.

"You have, and she is," Harry replied.

He remembered Professor Flitwick's comments on the essays he turned in. He wasn't the least surprised when Harry told him Lily checked them before he turned them in.

"I think the last time this was used was when I had appendicitis when I was fourteen?"

Harry held the snitch in his hand, rolling it around with his fingers.

James nodded. "I think that might have been the last time. We could ask your mother, and she'll remember a different time."

"True," Harry murmured.

Ginny laughed.

"What are you going to do with it?" James inquired.

"I'm going to put it back in the drawer. It might come in handy someday."

"Yeah, but we'll need to charm to change the person it finds," James said, winking at Ginny with a grin.

Ginny could feel a light blush on her cheeks. He was referring to her.

"I'm going to let you two get back to unpacking. I'll bring up any more boxes that belong in here if I find more."

"Thanks, Dad."

"Are you staying for dinner, Ginny?"

"Yes, I've told Dad."

James smiled softly. "Molly still in the bed?"

Ginny nodded. "Since Dad and Bill got their room set back up."

James watched as Harry pulled her in for a hug. It took her a moment to bring her arms around his waist.

"I'll let Lily know if you haven't told her. I'll be downstairs if you two need help."

As James returned downstairs, he realized the recovery following the war might be more difficult or longer than most. He had an idea of what Arthur and Molly were going through. He had lived it briefly before Harry revealed himself to be alive. Lily's screams when they thought their son was gone sometimes echoed in his head.

He walked downstairs, knowing it would take time to adjust to the new normal, a life without the threat of Voldemort but also without some loved ones.

If James was being honest with himself, he couldn't wait to see what the future held.

OoOoOoOoOoOoO

Stepping up the back patio steps, James looked up at the old manor. He could see lights on in the bedroom that used to be his parents, where he and Lily were sleeping that night. They decided to spend the night at the manor to meet the crew coming in the morning to set up for the wedding. The arch and the chairs were all in the Great Room off the kitchen, waiting to be set up in the garden tomorrow.

Jewels, the florist, is scheduled to arrive at eight to set up the flowers on the arch.

Ginny and the girls would be here around nine. Harry and the boys were supposed to arrive here by ten to start getting ready. Ginny, Luna, and Hermione were staying at the Burrow while Harry, Ron, and Neville were at the flat in London.

Opening the back patio door, he stepped into the Great Room. Even in the dark, he could make out the white chairs and the white arch, with a pathway to the doorway leading into the kitchen.

Walking into the kitchen, he looked around the table in the corner where Lily had laid out all the trays they would use for the food tomorrow.

They were ready for tomorrow.

He walked to the door, pushed it open, and headed out to the hallway. As he approached the stairs, he stopped at the portrait of his parents. Since they started using Potter Manor for special occasions, Lily had suggested minor rearranging. One of the suggestions was moving this portrait to the front hall.

It didn't move. They couldn't talk to them. It was more of a Muggle-style painting than a talking portrait.

"You would have loved all of this," James said. "I know you would have approved of Sirius marrying Hestia here and now, your grandson. I know you would have adored them both."

Since Sirius moved in, he was treated like he was their second child. James had called him his brother to allow him to stay to hear the healer's words. Unfortunately, there was no more they could do. Sirius had grieved their passing as much as James did.

Monty and Effie would have loved Hestia and enjoyed seeing Sirius finally happy.

"James?"

James turned to the voice to find Lily standing at the top of the stairs. She wordlessly motioned for him to follow her. He obeyed, walked up the stairs, and followed her into the bedroom with a garden view.

"What do you see that I see?" She asked.

James looked out and found Harry and Ginny walking along the pebble-stoned pathway in the garden, holding hands.

"I'm not surprised. I don't think they've had a moment alone all day." James turned to his wife.

"Remind of you of anyone?" She asked with a smile.

James smiled back. They had done the same thing the night before their wedding.

"I imagine it's not cold feet, but they probably just..." Lily trailed off, trying to find what she wanted to say.

"Wanted a moment alone to talk," James finished.

Lily nodded.

James pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her as they watched the scene unfold below.

Then, they watched as Harry and Ginny walked towards the apparition point. Harry leaned down for a final kiss, cupping her face in his hands. He said something that made her smile, and they kissed one more time before Ginny disappeared.

Harry looked around the garden and then towards the house. He could see James and Lily as there was no light in the room where they were standing.

He took one last look around before he disappeared.

"They remind me so much of us, it's unreal," Lily said.

James nodded. They noticed it more in recent years than in the early days of Harry and Ginny's relationship. Others saw it even in the early days, Remus and Sirius among them.

Lily cleared her throat.

"I know I've said this before, but I couldn't have asked for a better girl for our son."

James agreed.

"She makes him happy. For that, I'm truly grateful."

James nodded.

"She fits in our family like a missing piece we didn't know we had." James smiled as he thought of the future.

"I know what you mean. It's like Ginny has always been a part of our family."

James knew how true Lily's words were. They had included Ginny in every family event since Harry and Ginny started dating: Christmas, Easter, birthdays, celebrations, and so much more. At first, Ginny felt like she was intruding, but James and Lily made her feel like she was a part of the family.

"I know the wedding is tomorrow, but I can't wait to see what the future holds for them," James commented.

Lily smiled. "You are looking forward to more babies in the family."

James couldn't help the grin on his face. "I am," He admitted. "And so are you."

"I would love a grandbaby...when Harry and Ginny are ready."

James nodded, agreeing. He knew they wanted to wait until after they had been married for a year before they started a family.

Standing in front of the window, James imagined the future. He looked out to the garden, imagining grandbabies running around the garden with Lily holding a baby while he was chasing the others.

It was an image he couldn't wait to become reality, but they had the wedding first.

James knew he would have to wait for the dreams of grandchildren to become reality. But he could hardly wait to see what the future held for his growing family.