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Morag · 04-12-2011, 09:51 AM

Oh Ron... what to do do with him?
I'm glad Harry is back. I'm quite delighted now lol.
Ginny should just forget about Hermione, she go Harry at the end of the day!
PAMS Lilly!
Great Chapter, though I'd like to know whats going to happen over on the dark side...
Soph xx

lilly_luna · 04-16-2011, 08:42 AM

Chapter Fifty One

‘You’re not going Harry’ she walked down the stairs,
‘Gin’
‘Give me one reason why you should’
‘For the fate of our kind’
‘Let the ministry deal with it’
‘I’m a ministry worker, an Auror, it’s my job to stop these criminals, I’m in the Order of the Phoenix to protect our world, and I can’t just abandon them now with a gigantic threat looming’
‘But you can abandon me and your daughters’
‘Gin’
She paused on the bottom step ‘I’ll always come second, we’ll always come second with you won’t we?’
‘It’s not like that at all’
‘Then say that you’ll stay, say that you’ll leave it up to someone else’
‘I can’t do that’
‘You’ve left me plenty of times already why should I be surprised about now’ she turned to walk back up the stairs,
‘This is different’ he started ‘I have to help, would you rather I let Charlie and Bill and Ron and Arthur do this on there own?’
‘Dad…’
‘He’s going too, Molly’s letting him go, reluctantly but she is letting him go’
‘But he’s too old to get mixed up in this’
‘He’s going to help his sons; I want to help my brothers’
‘I don’t want to lose you, any of you why can’t all of you leave it alone and let other people save the world’
‘It wouldn’t get done Gin’ he walked up behind her ‘It’s up to us because we know we can do it, we know we can stop them’
‘How do you know, how do you know you won’t get killed hey – that you won’t just leave me with them to raise by myself and tell them how stubborn and horrible and -’ she turned round to kiss him ‘– and amazing and lovely you are’ he held her in the embrace ‘Why won’t you give yourself a chance to be happy at the sidelines with me and them and not nearly dying every time you leave the house’ she spoke looking in his eyes ‘Why won’t you stay?’
‘Because it’s not in me to back away from the fight Ginny, especially when it puts you in danger, when it puts the people I love in danger’ he kissed her this time fervently, ‘If they were to raise him who do you think he would come after first Gin?’ she held his cheek their foreheads touching,
‘You’
‘And you and the girls and our mother and our father and our brothers and our sisters – they would come for my family Gin, for our family and I can’t lose you or them, not now I have you all, not now I’m happy’ He kissed her again lingering ‘I love you Ginerva, and I refuse to lose you or let you go or give up with you because you hate me for walking away right now’ he kissed gently stepping back, her lips still caught in the kiss as he left her standing there eyes closed and tears falling.
The door closed and she heard him apparate.
‘I Love you too Harry’

lilly_luna · 04-16-2011, 08:45 AM

Chapter Fifty Two

They walked in the shadows of the building; Harry whispered a spell in the silence,
‘They’ve moved’ he twitched his wand slightly ‘I know where they’ll go’ he breathed in closing his eyes and opening them again in anticipation ‘I’ll have to take you; I know where it is, who wants to go first?’
‘How do you know?’ Ron muttered ‘Sophia’s voice like Charlie or is it Hermione?’
‘It’s actually because I happen to know where the perfect place to reanimate Voldemort would be Ronald and that would be where he was born’ he saw the surroundings of the work house, the dark damp room and the small witch telling the other woman her new sons name,
‘Tom after his father, Marvolo after mine, Riddle for his last’
‘No one knows where that is’
‘I do’
Ron glared ‘You a death eater in your spare time?’
‘Ron shut up’ Charlie cut in ‘Harry take me first’
‘Why are you sacrificing yourself Charlie?’ Bill said with a smirk ‘Or hoping to be a hero for Soph’
Charlie knew he was joking and punched his arm lightly ‘Oh yeah that’s me, hero all over’ he grinned ‘You’ve got too much to lose little bro, and I reckon I can slow my psycho ex down for a bit to give you guys a chance to jump in and save me’
He apparated him to the spot in a nearby alley,
‘Back in a sec’ he disappeared and reappeared with Bill, then Arthur and then Ron,
‘What is this place Harry?’ Charlie asked,
‘It used to be a work house like years ago – his mother came here pregnant to a muggle, Tom Riddle, and died shortly after bring the monster into the world and naming him’
‘No wonder he was a fruit cake, who wouldn’t be born into this, it’s bleak’
Harry smirked at Charlie’s words,
‘My thoughts exactly when I was shown the memory of this place’ he led them out ‘We’re on unchartered ground, I don’t know my way around this place I was only shown the outside but I remember the basement door – it was the coal tunnel for the furnace’ he unlocked it with a wave of his wand,
‘How’d you know not to go in the front way?’
‘Muggle films’ he smiled ‘You get killed that way’
‘That must be how Soph knew too’ he followed him into the dark cramped space as Harry lit his wand and the others followed after,
Harry said the same spell to identify human life as he had done previously and found they were directly underneath a circle of them, thirteen of them’
‘We need to stop them’
‘They were looking for two more people to sacrifice, they need your soul to or they can’t do it’
Harry swore ‘I go in there anyone of them could do the same spell Jade did’
‘You’ve got your cloak’ Charlie said ‘Jade couldn’t see her under it but she could see underneath disillusionment charms give it to one of us to go in and distract them while the others attack’
‘I’ll go in first - Problem solved’ he grinned,
‘Harry’ Arthur said ‘Maybe it would be better for you to stay here’ he placed a hand on his shoulder ‘You’re the most at risk of all of us, even under the cloak’
‘You’re worried about Ginny’
‘Something happens to you and she’ll have nothing’
‘I’ve sorted this out with her, I’m going in, and I’m going to stop them – let me please’ he threw on his cloak they went in wands drawn after him, up the stairs and to the main room.

Harry shot them down from the door way moving round the room stealthily hitting them. Jade and Draco shot out at the invisible assassin, hiding behind a large alter made out of a boulder at the rear of the cauldron in the centre of the room. Foul black smoke billowing from it went threw a hole blasted in the ceiling and out into the sky.
‘Honestly Jade, did you think I would let you get away with this, that the order of the Phoenix or the ministry would let you?’ Charlie said walking in wand at her chest,
‘No but I had thought you would bring company – who’s hidden now or is it still little Sophia?’ the others cornered Draco to tie him up with the other cloaked death eaters in the back of the room,
‘Leave her out of this’
‘Come on Charlie, while would you marry a little kid when you could have a grown up, when you had a grown up’ she smirked ‘Or is that what you like, the inexperience in the bedroom, the helplessness of a damsel in distress and you’re trying to stay the free spirited dragon chaser she can get attached to instead of a boring thirty year old – or is the other way round are you trying to be a daddy not a hubby? Are you thinking being with a teenage you’ll feel younger and she’ll be older and love you still – that she won’t get fed up because you want to go to bed and she’s ready to go out?’
‘Shut your mouth and leave her alone’
‘She needs you I bet, she wants you to defend her all the time to feel wanted, to feel loved – the ever protective Charlie when her own daddies dead and she’s desperately in need of a father figure, tell me, how did you tell her about me, did it hurt her, did she cry and hit you?’She spoke like silk, smooth and dangerously ‘Did she tell you not to touch her, not to come near her?’ she grinned walking forward with a bottle in hand ‘Did she forgive you and hug you and kiss you?’
‘Stop it’
‘Did she let you say sorry Charlie, did she let you take her then and there on the living room floor as you begged her to forgive you?’
‘Shut up’
Harry was behind her slowly getting angrier at each word his wand at her back, she moved to him and he flinched as she whispered in his ear,
‘Did she say your name Charlie; did she scream it just like I did?’

He grabbed her by the throat to pin her against the wall wand at her neck,
‘Hmm Charlie, down boy’ she prodded him in the stomach with the wand biting her lip in breathless anticipation,
‘I hate you’ he said harshly in her ear ‘I can’t stand the sight of you, I wish you had died when they found your stuff at the top of that cliff, I wish I’d never laid eyes on you or been stupid enough to trust you – it’s been five years and I forgot you ever existed until you poped up – hell I forgot you the day after I slept with you, you only got me to marry because you used magic I would have never have done it if I wasn’t under the influence’
‘Don’t say such horrible things to me, I’m your wife’
‘Ex wife’
‘Watch it now, my wand is in a dangerous place’ she moved it down to poke so he got the idea, ‘Or I could just decide to be a widow’ she returned it to his heart,
‘I’d rather death then another moment breathing the same air as you’ he held her tighter at the throat pointing his wand to jab it at the skin, ‘I like the thought of being a widower’ he whispered in her ear ‘Would you like to die in pain or just suffering slightly?’
‘Charlie’ Arthur said from beside him ‘Don’t be hasty son, think about this’
Harry put an invisible hand on his shoulder ‘What would Soph do eh?’ he smiled,
‘Kill her painfully and slowly’ Charlie smiled and stepped back, she was too quick, he fell to the floor and the familiar white mist form was screaming in Charlie’s familiar voice as it was sucked from his body and into the bottle.

Harry stunned her and caught the bottle as she fell to the floor. He gave the bottle to Arthur as he took her wand and tied her up. He woke her, taking off the hood to reveal himself as Charlie gasped to come back to life,
‘Harry Potter’
‘Where are his ashes?’
‘Now why would I tell you that?’
‘You don’t have them’ he smirked ‘Draco had them’
Her eyes failed her for a second before she replied ‘I know where they are I’m just not telling’
‘Jade’
‘Yes’
‘I consider Sophia Black as my sister and I’m currently very, very annoyed with you, I would advise you that as an Auror I have the power to kill you and just say it was because you were breaking the law and I have four witnesses that won’t say otherwise’
‘Draco had it, and then he put it in there’ she gestured to the cauldron ‘He’s only half way here, you can save him Harry, you can give him life – just your soul, Charlie’s and Ginny’s’
He struck her with curse and she screamed in agony on the floor as he let go,
‘Harry’ Bill said watching,
‘She suggested killing Ginny and Charlie to bring Voldemort back’
‘Oh – as you were then’ he smirked,
Harry released her from the pain after a moment and went to the cauldron. He felt his scar burn and stepped back holding onto it,
‘See you can feel the pull, he’s still in there; my master is still there’ Draco said grinning from the corner ‘He will rise again’
‘Don’t be so stupid’ Ron said stunning him to keep him quiet, ‘Let’s get out of here, all these crazy’s are freaking me out with there zombie talk’
‘Harry, are you alright?’ Charlie said as Harry held his head backing to lean against the wall behind the alter,
‘Just being that close, it took something from me’ he slid to sit on the floor, ‘I’m not strong enough to apparate out’ he rubbed his temples, ‘What ever in there sucked something out of me, I feel like I just need to sleep’
‘Not a good sign – Bill give me a hand to get him out of here’ Charlie said ‘Dad, Ron take them to the ministry’
‘I’ll make a portkey, it’ll be easier’ Arthur said touching the rope that bound them all together ‘Ron, come on give me a hand’
He was looking between his father and Harry, ‘I’m coming’ he grabbed on as it glowed blue and they disappeared,

‘Charlie you have to destroy the potion’
‘Don’t know how though’
‘Set it on fire – fyend fire, that’s what, destroys Horcruxes unless one of you has a spare Basilisk tooth on you’
‘Fire it is’ Charlie and Bill raised their wands the cauldron exploded and they ducked behind the boulder alter.
‘Merlin that was nuts’ Bill smirked ‘You think its dead?’
Charlie looked up to see the whole room on fire,
‘Definitely’ they apparated out and to Mungo’s,

‘Back again Mr Potter’
‘Aren’t you glad I’m alive this time round’ he grinned held up by Charlie and Bill,
‘We most certainly are’
‘Guy’s it’s all good’ he made to take a step on his own and fell forward to be levitated unconscious onto a stretcher; the healer ran his wand over him,
‘Should be fine, he’s exhausted – what happened to him for that much power to be taken out of his system? – it is by magic, I can tell that much’
‘You’ll see it in the prophet tomorrow I imagine’ Charlie sighed ‘I’ll go tell Gin, she’ll want to be mad at someone’
‘Rather you then me bro’ he smirked ‘I’ll see how there going at the ministry’
Charlie apparated to the front door but didn’t get to knock Sophia was there and threw her arms around him happily,
‘I’m so glad you’re alright’ she sighed into his arms, ‘I don’t know what I would have done – what I would do without you’ she reached to kiss him but he replied in it hesitantly,
She pulled away ‘- what’s happened?’
‘Harry’
‘Is he ok?’
‘Mungo’s, the thing in the cauldron was kind of alive – I should tell Gin first’
‘Sure’ she led him in to her feeding a twin, his eyes drifted away from the blanket covering her chest but he could still hear the sucking noise, to was too weird to think she was his little sister and she had – had…
‘Charlie get a grip will you brother’
‘Hmm’
‘I can’t, not feed them unless you want to sit with them crying at us’ she noticed he wasn’t behind Charlie, where he should be ‘Where is Harry?’
‘He’s going to be fine’
‘But’ she couldn’t let her go she was still feeding,
‘He’s in Mungo’s, they had Voldemort in a cauldron and it kind of sucked some of Harry’s life, his magic – he’s just going to sleep for a bit, but he’ll be completely fine – no shortened life expectancy or anything’
‘I told him not to go’
‘He was doing this for you and them Gin, don’t begrudge him that, he loves you more then his own life’s value you should be happy and proud he was willing to fight – is still willing to fight him after seven years of it’
‘Happy and proud he’s back in hospital – sure’ she burped her on her shoulder ‘Happy he’s throwing himself into danger and saying its for us, happy he’s leaving me to look after them while he gets to be the hero and save the world then staying with his family where he belongs – happy he’s making me angry and hate him for always coming back broken and never in one piece, happy he’s -’
‘Gin’
‘I’m not happy!’
‘He’s trying’ Soph whispered ‘But doing what he has to, what he feels he has to is part of who he is, you know that, you said it’
‘Hmm’ she shifted the happily fed one and Soph took her middle name sake as Ginny reached for Faith, ‘I’ll feed this one then go and see him – would you guys be ok to-?’
‘-Sure we’ll look after them’ Charlie grinned ‘Go shout at him once he’s awake’
‘Thanks’
***
‘I still hate you’
‘I can live with it’
‘No you won’t’ she muttered ‘I’m taking the girls and we’re staying at the Burrow until I decide otherwise’
‘Gin’
‘Don’t’ she crossed her arms as she sat in the chair, ‘My minds made up, I need to think about our future and so do you’
‘I know my future it’s with you, forever, you and our girls and the other kids you agreed to’
‘That was before you chose running to the rescue over us’
‘Fine then, go, take as long as you want – I’ll get out of here and I’ll find Hermione and wait for you to stop having your hissy fit’
‘This is not a hissy fit, this is me walking out on our marriage because of you, this is me saying I might not come back, this is me saying I might just send divorce papers and move us to Scotland, this is me saying that if you keep leaving and I don’t think your coming back I’m not going to be here waiting’ she stood up ‘Goodbye Harry’
‘Gin’
‘I said goodbye Harry’
‘Bye Gin’ he sighed and flopped back into his pillows, she walked out in tears back to the cottage and saw them sitting on the couch playing with a twin each.
‘Ginny?’
‘Don’t’ she waved her hand ‘Charlie when you go to the Burrow tell Mum I’m coming to stay, I’ve just got to pack’
‘I’ll go now – you girls talk’
‘Mmm’ she moved to the toy box waving her wand so those strewn around the room returned as Sophia placed the twins in the pram,
‘Gin’
Charlie’s disappearing crack could be heard outside,
‘I’m just going to stay there for a little while’
‘And…’
‘And decide whether to come back’
‘Why leave?’
‘It won’t be for long’ she moved around the room packing her school truck from under the stairs as everything floated down the stairwell to fold itself neatly and fit inside.
‘Ginny’
‘Come and see us when ever you like, Mum needs to get used to seeing you around there then she’ll warm up to you’
‘You can’t keep avoiding it’
‘I am not; I don’t want to talk about it because I just have to think about it’
‘Don’t leave him like this – have you told him your going?’
‘Yes’ she pulled on her cloak and checked for anything left behind or needed to be done -‘Yuck you need a change, it can wait we’ll be there soon’ she touched each nose, ‘Bye Soph’ she smiled ruefully and pushed the pram out levitating the trunk behind her.
‘Bye’ she shook her head and then went outside to go to the hospital.

lilly_luna · 06-02-2011, 01:39 AM

Chapter Fifty Three

‘I can’t believe you just let her go’
‘What do you expect me to do, what can I do but wait for her to come back?’
‘Go after her - fight for her, for your daughters’
‘She’ll come back when she’s ready’ he rubbed his forehead ‘Or at least I hope so, if her mother doesn’t poison her against me’
‘Of course she will that’s what Molly’s good at – that’s what she’s wanted from the beginning isn’t it, to be proven right – that it won’t work’
‘Sounds like you’re projecting your own problems with her on to the situation with me and Gin’
‘Am not’ she muttered,
‘Then don’t tell me what I should and shouldn’t do, I know Gin – she’ll come back when she’s ready to, I just have to give her time – I’ll go and find Hermione’
‘Maybe that’s not the best thing to do’
‘She’s my best friend and she’s missing’
‘Ginny is your wife and she thinks there’s something going on – you going after her looks like there is’
‘Why does she have to be so flaming paranoid?’
‘Why do you keep trying to save everyone when it’s not your job anymore – when the prophesy is over with’
‘All I know how to do is to fight him, to stop him ever coming back – you don’t know what it’s like with him – for me it was a thousand times worse then what every other witch and wizard went through’ he reached for his glass of water ‘He was always in my head, he was always trying to kill me for seven years he dedicated his time between killing me and enslaving humanity’ he closed his eyes lying on the pillows ‘He did kill me, he made me think I’d never be allowed to be with Ginny let alone have any sort of future with her – he made me give her up so he wouldn’t kill her, he made my life miserable – my very existence miserable and the only joys I had were Ginny and Hermione and Ron’
‘He’s not coming back’
‘Because I helped stop him this time round too – I was born to stop him and now it’s my job to stop his followers, to stop them trying to reincarnate him, to stop them trying to become him before it’s too late’
‘Your job has set hours – your job does not include going around the world searching for Hermione because she’s gone on holiday to get away from Ronald trying to force himself on her’
‘She said that to you – I’m going to kill him’
‘She just said he was very persistent with it when they were alone and she wasn’t ready to give in yet – she said she knew she would but just not yet’
‘And still he pushed and she snapped and now she’s missing’
‘Not missing, she’s hiding, she’s forgetting about ever being in love with Ron – give her that chance and she’ll be back’
‘How do you know?’
‘She’ll always be your friend Harry, even if she does want something more, she’ll always be your friend because she could never hurt Ginny that way and she could never hurt you by taking you from her’
‘I would never go’
‘She would never let herself be a temptation, she will always be your friend, but she’ll always have a part of her that loves you more then that and she’ll always have a part of her that still loves Ron but for now let her just be alone and not have to worry about it all’
‘Fine but it doesn’t explain how you know any of this’
‘I read a lot of magazines – a lot – Charlie will tell you how many I left strewn around his place to get blown up – plus me and Hermione were pupil and teacher for a while, we did talk as friends as well’
‘Hmm’
‘Don’t worry about her, worry about your wife and whether she’ll come home or not’
‘I am but I need not to or I’ll start to believe she won’t’
‘You have to go after her – to change her mind’
‘She doesn’t want me near her right now, she’s took my daughters to stay with the one person she can’t stand for more then a few days at a time and it means she wants to be alone – just like it did when she ran away last time, just like it always is because she’s still a little girl and she still needs her mother’
‘Don’t begrudge her that’
‘Ron’s right – I’ve forced her to grow up when she doesn’t want to, to make her a wife and a mother when she should still be at school, when she should still be having fun and travelling around’
‘She doesn’t want that, she wants you’
‘If she did she would never have left’
‘Stop being so self absorbed and pathetic little brother’ she said telling him off sharply ‘Your just like Charlie worrying that because we want you we’ll resent you for settling down – Gin wanted that with you, I on the other hand just want to be with Charlie and I don’t care what we do – we could sit at home all day at the four walls and I’d be happy, but lucky for me my man wants the same as me – he wants to travel, to live – Gin wants to raise her daughters and then do what ever comes next – she's adapted to the life she chose because she wanted to be with you, because she wants to be with you’
‘But – but-’
‘No buts, so she’s gone for a few days, so she’ll come back and you’ll be happy again, it hurts her to be away from you – she worries way to much about you and if you come back late from work you should see how nervous and anxious – the other day she cleaned out the oven the muggle way because you were an hour late and didn’t tell her’
He swore and put his head in his hands,
‘She won’t be gone for long but that is only if her mother doesn’t get in her ear about you and I’m going to be there to stop it if you won’t’
‘I can’t go after her, she doesn’t want me to’
‘I’ll come and see you tomorrow – I’ll see if she’ll let me bring the twins’
‘Thank you’
‘Just think about everything Harry, don’t make the same mistake my mother did by waiting to long’
‘Love you Soph’ he got up to hug her ‘You make a great sister you know’
‘You’re not so bad as a brother – overly protective and a bit of a hero complex but a good one all the same so I can safely say love you too you fruitcake’
‘I am; I’m slowly losing my mind a long with everything else’
‘Just rest – you’ll feel better in the morning’ she kissed the top of his head ‘See you tomorrow’ and released him to go.
He flopped back on the pillows feeling completely drained but still alive which he hadn’t felt when the monster in the cauldron tried to suck out his life force.

lilly_luna · 06-26-2011, 02:25 AM

Chapter Fifty Four

‘Ginny’
‘I don’t want to hear it’
‘You’ve just walked out on your husband; you need to talk to me about it’
‘Mum’
‘No – tell me why’
‘I don’t want to talk about it’ she shifted the weight of Faith in her arms to rub her back ‘Time to sleep again sweetheart – off you go’
‘This is not something for you to just dismiss – this is your life, your babies’ lives, you can’t rob them of a father you fought to be with’
‘He can see them and they can see him whenever they want, this is a break for me from him’
Molly held her neck in worry for her, ‘For how long?’
‘However long it takes for me to trust him again, for me to want to be in the same room as him again – I still love him, I still want to be with him’ she sighed as Faith continued to cry restlessly ‘I just need some time away from him’
‘You’re not supposed to – you can’t just run away from him’
‘I’m not’ she stood up hoping the pacing back and forth would calm her and Faith,
‘You are you’re here and not working this out with him’
‘Haven’t you ever wanted space for a little bit – a chance to – to think about where it was going, where your marriage was going’ she was still trying to soothe the crying in her ear ‘Faith please’
‘Do you want me too-?’
‘- No’ she sighed ‘She wants him’ she held onto her securely ‘She’ll go off eventually’
‘Gin’
‘Stop will you please mother’ she snapped and went into the living room to Patience fast asleep in the crib closing the door behind her.

She knocked and wandered in when Molly’s answer came through,
‘Mrs Weasley’
‘Miss Black’
‘Is Ginny here?’
‘The living room’
‘Is it ok if I’ she gestured to the doorway,
‘Faith is restless, she doesn’t need the distraction’
‘Erm… ok’
‘Soph is that you?’ Gin appeared at the door ‘Come on in, I need a favour’
‘Sure’ she followed on,
‘Close the door will you’
She did so hesitantly on Molly’s angry face,
‘I need you to – I can’t get her to sleep, she wants him’
‘He wants to see them too – I offered to bring them to see him tomorrow’
‘I just need you to take her to him to settle her and then bring her right back’
‘Ok’

He held on to her smiling ‘Shhh little one, shhh’
‘How do you do it?’
‘She’s like Gin; she won’t sleep unless she’s in my arms most of the time’
‘She’s going to have many a restless night without you’
‘It’ll be one of the reasons she’ll be back though she’ll probably never admit it’
‘I’m going to bang your heads together and when I’m done I’ll take you to see Ron and bash your two heads together’
‘Molly’s not going to ever like you; you’re too much like Sirius’
‘She didn’t like Dad?’
‘Not much – they would be civil enough when the time came for it but they always argued over what was best for me and for them and for the others, about how to stop Voldemort’
‘So she’ll never like me, I can cope with it, loving Charlie and having him love me is enough, is more then enough for me’
‘Sirius never cared much for what she thought either’
‘I guess we’re more alike then I ever knew – thanks for robbing me of him mother’ she said annoyed with her and herself for letting it get to her
Harry went for a change in topic ‘I guess she wants Faith back now she’s asleep?’
‘But I’ll bring them both tomorrow’
‘They said they’d let me out by the end of the week’
‘You need to have made up with her by then’
‘Don’t worry about me and her, it will work it’s self out’
‘Hmm’
‘Don’t worry – plan your wedding or something’
‘Yeah …about that’
‘What?’
‘Me and Charlie – we set a date’
‘I know that you told us’
‘We changed it’
‘You did?’
‘Are you free next Friday?’
‘What – a week – you’re getting married in a week?’
‘We need to leave – before – no scratch that we just have to go because I can’t stay and have Molly hate me and he can’t stay and listen to it, we’re getting married and we’re going away for a year or two because we have too’
‘But so soon’
‘If we stay any longer we’re going to be torn apart – between Molly and Jade I don’t think I can cope and he can see I can’t’
‘I – right well I’m free’
‘You will walk me down the aisle, right?’ she sat on the edge of the bed, he still held Faith,
‘If it’s still what you want’
‘To give me away and to stand with me up there, maid of honour, best man, bridesmaid in one’
He frowned worryingly ‘Just me up there?’
‘You’re my brother, I want you there’
‘But you don’t want your mum to give you away?’
‘From when I brought that ring for Charlie to right now my mind has been set on it being you that gives me to him Harry – you’re the best link to Dad I’ve got so I’m asking you – will you give me away to Charlie?’
‘Yes – but’
‘No buts’ she grinned ‘You said you would and it’s done’
‘Alright – but have you at least told your mother?’
‘Not yet…’
‘I wouldn’t feel comfortable unless she knew, unless she was ok with it’
‘She can’t stand the idea of me getting married this will not be good news to her as will me getting married next week which is why we won’t be doing it publicly – I want you, Charlie wants Bill’
‘And anyone else?’
‘Well Gin, Cara and the brothers are all in’
His forehead creased ‘And Arthur and Molly?’
‘Arthur wants to tell Molly’
‘You need to tell Molly’
‘Hmm’
‘You need to tell Molly and you need to tell your mother’
‘Why it just makes things complicated, I just want to get married and go off on our long, long honeymoon and forget about all the mess we’re leaving behind so we can come back Mr and Mrs Black and be happy’ she twisted the diamond ring around her finger anxiously.
‘Mr and Mrs Black’
‘He wants to take my name’
‘Right’
‘Molly doesn’t want me to be a Weasley, but he wants to be a Black’
‘Ok – that’s weird’
‘Ginny’s going to be anxious; I should take her back now’
‘Yeah – ok’ he looked down at her sleeping ‘Tell her if she wants me to put her to sleep too she just has to ask’
‘Don’t be such a smart Alec Harry or she won’t want you back’
‘Just tell her – I guarantee she’ll smile’
‘Hmm’
‘See you tomorrow’

She took Faith back and apparated them to the Burrow, Charlie was just opening the front door,
‘Charlie’
‘Hey’ he stepped away from the door to her,
‘Had to take Faith to Harry – she doesn’t sleep without him’
‘So like Gin – Patience is the one like Harry I guess’
‘Even if she has the same smart mouth he does she’ll be gorgeous because she’s related to you’
‘Smooth talker you’ he leant down to kiss her carefully avoiding the baby in her arms, ‘Hmm you look good with her you know – when do you want to start having kids?’
‘I’m in no rush’ she looked down at her lovingly ‘though if they’re this … if it’s like this and just so easy to have them…’
‘We’ll talk some more later babe - ok?’ he kissed her forehead,
Her eyes saw the curtain twitch ‘Yeah – let’s take her in Molly’s at the window’
‘Sure’ he wrapped an arm round her shoulder walking them in and Gin reached out as soon as she walked in,
‘It’s weird being away from them’ she held on ‘Even though I know it’s Harry, I just… hmm it worked’ she touched her cheek gently and put her in the living room crib with her sister and returned to stand at the door.
‘Gin Harry said something’
‘Yeah’ she crossed her arms
‘He asked me to tell you something’
‘Go ahead’
‘He said if you want him to put you to sleep too, you just have to ask’
A small smile formed on the right corner of her mouth and she looked away from her ‘Still Harry, still so flaming nice about everything’
‘He loves you’
‘He loves fighting and being the hero more’ she turned back into the room and closed the door – Soph made a move to go after her but Molly stopped her,
‘Leave her alone’
‘They need to just talk to each other’
‘You have no idea what they need, you have know idea what they’re going through, you have no-’
‘-you have no right to talk to her like that’ Charlie said cutting in ‘Just stop it alright, just stop mum cause I can’t take it anymore’
‘Can’t you see what you’re doing, why you’re doing this to yourself? One failed marriage and your ready to shack up with a teenager to try and stay young; you’re a grown man start acting like one Charles’
‘Charlie, my names Charlie and I am all grown up which should stop you from picking at everything I do but it doesn’t, it should stop you from picking at my fiancée but it doesn’t and it should stop you from getting mad when I tell you we’re getting married next week but I know it won’t!’ he shouted but lowered his voice remembering that the twins were sleeping next door, ‘For once in your life mother let me go to make my own choices and don’t make a fuss, release me from you apron strings because your choking me, because your keeping me tied up when I need my arms to hold her because I love her and I’m going to marry her whether you like it or not’
She held onto his hand firmly wiping away tears from her cheeks as Molly stared him down furiously,
‘I can’t believe that, I can’t believe that she makes you happy’
‘She makes me more then happy, she – she means more to me then anything else in the world, she’s my other half and I can’t be without her, you can’t change the way I feel about her or the way she feels about me’
‘She’s too young to know if she loves you, she’s too young to settle down’
‘She said yes! She planned to propose to me – what other indication can you possibly need that she wants to marry me when the need to be with me forever was there the same time I decided I could never be without her either!?’
‘You’re rushing just think about it a little while longer’
‘I don’t want to, we don’t need to – we’re completely crazy about each other’
‘I do love him Mrs Weasley, more then anything, anyone that I’ve been with’
‘How many have you been with hey – apart from Harry?!’
She broke down in his arms ‘You believe what Ginny said in anger?’ Charlie asked,
‘Why not – just look at how they met, what kind of girl asks the strange boy she just met to her birthday party’
‘He saved my life! He pulled me out of the way of a car!’
‘The same kind of stupid girl that stops in the middle of the road to tie her laces’
‘I had headphones on, I was jogging – I didn’t know – I mean I – I said thanks, I offered to buy him a drink to say thanks – what else can you say when someone saves your life’
‘You don’t have to defend yourself to her Soph’
‘She doesn’t believe me, she doesn’t believe that there was nothing between me and Harry but friendship from the moment he pulled me out of the way from a car that was about to squash me!’
‘People do not accuse without evidence, my children don’t accuse without evidence’
‘Ronald is a perfect example otherwise and you know it, look what he did to Hermione – she left the country to get away from him’ Soph replied and Molly slapped her round the face,

She held her cheek in shock; Charlie’s embrace was back around her in an instant,
‘I – I’
‘Save it Molly’ he replied stroking Sophia’s hair, as he walked them out,
‘Charlie please’
Ginny came out ‘What happened?’
‘She slapped my fiancée’ Charlie answered pulling out his wand ‘See you later Gin’ he apparated them from the front step and Ginny looked at her mother in shock,
She came out of her silent stupor ‘You – why would you do such a thing?
‘She’s not right for him – he’s making a mistake’
‘Then let him make it – it’s his life, he loves her let him go mother, just let him go’
‘I can’t, he’s my son’
‘And what am I, you let me be with Harry, you let Ron be with Hermione and then Pavarti’
‘I don’t agree with him on that, what he did to Hermione was harsh but they were both in the wrong’
‘He dumped her because she refused to sleep with him, what did he tell you? That they just didn’t love each other anymore?!’
‘I – eh – well yes but…’
‘And of course you believe him because he’s Ronnykins, he’s your baby boy, what about Hermione – trust me I’m not saying she’s perfect I hate her guts but honestly for him to treat another human being like he did was wrong – completely and utterly wrong’
‘Ronald is a good boy’
‘Ron is a pig’ she replied ‘Sophia is a good girl, a nice girl and she’s great for Charlie, he loves her, he’s never ever been with anyone like this before and you know for a fact it would take something amazing in a woman for him to bring her to meet you, for him to ask her to marry him’
‘You said it yourself – Harry considered cheating with her and she considered cheating with him’
‘He never would have, neither would she – I made a mistake, I was angry my Husband was dying I didn’t mean it’
‘Oh Ginny’
‘You’re tearing this family apart, you keep jabbing holes in everything and now no one wants to know you, to call you mother – he’s going to hate you for this unless you make up with her’
‘I can’t do that, she’s not right’
‘There is nothing you can do, they love each other you can’t change that, you can’t stop that, and you just have to live with it’
‘Go and look after your daughters Ginerva and make up with your husband – then I might consider changing my mind about her’
‘You know for a fact the situation with me and Harry is different’
‘It’s the same; you and Charlie are just as stubborn as each other’
‘And you know what – we get it from you’

lilly_luna · 07-17-2011, 02:30 AM

Chapter Fifty Five

‘Hey there little ones’ Harry grinned sitting up in his bed as she walked in with the pram, ‘hey there my big girl’
‘Hmm’ she frowned at him,
‘Couldn’t stay away?’ he smirked,
‘Don’t push your luck Harry’
‘So have you forgiven me?’
‘I’ve seen what Mum has done to Charlie and Soph’
‘And what happened’
‘She slapped her, told her she wasn’t good enough for Charlie and insisted they can’t get married’
‘Explains why she didn’t come yesterday and why she never answered my patronus’
‘They’ve gone Harry’
‘What do you mean?’
‘They’ve gone to wherever they were planning to go, they didn’t stick around after she abused her – they packed up rucksacks and they’ve left on there trip, she left you this’ she handed him an envelope,

‘Harry,
I know what I said and I stand by it, you will give me away and you will be back with Gin by the end of the week. I’m sorry just to leave like this but I can’t stay, neither can Charlie. He’s taking me to save me from this mess and her obvious desire to break us up. I don’t know why she doesn’t like me, I’m considering she’s seeing something between me and you that wasn’t ever there. Ron doesn’t help the situation and her own reluctance to let go of Charlie is holding her back. He’s still her little boy even when she tells him off for acting younger then he is and we both can’t come to grips with why she doesn’t want to see him happy – or to be more specific to see him happy with me. Charlie and I aren’t eloping we’re just escaping for a bit, the honeymoon before the wedding or maybe we’ll get married on our travels – in which case I’ll send you and Gin tickets, we’ll need witness’s . I know this is impromptu but we just need to go, I’ll miss you and we’ll look out for Hermione on our travels. I love you brother, take care of yourself and your girls and I’ll see you again soon, Soph xxxx

‘Wow’ he grinned,
‘She told me to trust that you love me above anything else Harry’
‘She’s right, I do’
‘I’ve had a hard time believing it’
‘I’ve been fighting him for seven years it’s a hard thing to let go off, I’ve been fighting to be with you for the last two and that’s even harder to let go of, you and them – you’re all I’ve got and I’m not giving you guys up without a fight’
‘We don’t have to fight anymore’ she left the pram beside the bed to sit next to him, ‘You know I’ve had the worst couple of nights Harry’
He smiled wrapping his arms round her middle from behind and resting his chin on her shoulder, ‘Yeah?’
‘You were right; I can’t sleep without you anymore’
‘Well tonight you should be ok’
She held his cheek with her palm resting her cheek against his, ‘Are you coming home?’
‘They’re letting me out this afternoon’
‘Mmm’ she smiled and kissed his cheek, ‘Then maybe an afternoon nap’
‘You know how good that sounds right?’
‘I know’ she shuffled to turn and kiss him properly, the urge becoming more apparent, the need for him rearing it’s head after nights alone and the hatred she’d been harbouring disappearing. It was all forgotten now because she was in his arms and she was where she belonged. Nothing else had ever felt as right as this always did to her and it was safe and warm and loving and constant.
‘Harry’ she said between kisses,
‘Uh uh’ he mumbled back against her lips,
‘I love you’
‘Love you too Gin, I love you too so much’ they kept kissing only to be interrupted as she had him pinned to the bed and he was pyjama topless underneath him but the healer in charge knocked. She jumped to sit beside him on the bed almost falling off; he steadied her with an arm around her waist and smiled,
‘Mr Potter’
‘Healer Anton’
‘You’re free to go this morning once I’ve checked you over, you really shouldn’t be alive you know’
‘I know, but I’m lucky I am I guess’ he grinned looking to Gin ‘really, really lucky’
***
‘Mmm’ she smiled and rolled over, ‘Charlie’
‘Yes honey?’
‘I was worried you weren’t here’
His fingertips ran over her shoulder,
‘I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere’ his held her back against his chest kissing the side of her neck to her shoulder,
‘Where are we again?’
‘Paris, don’t you remember?’
‘It’s all a blur, we just left, and I remember writing the letters to Harry and Gin and getting on the euro star…’
‘And last night?’
‘Don’t worry that is still on my mind’ she grinned and turned into his embrace to kiss him properly, ‘Still very, very fresh’
‘Hmm’ he grinned kissing back passionately ‘Now we’re going to have to wait a minute’
‘Charlie’ she groaned,
‘Hold on for a sec’
She frowned at him,
‘I just wanted to ask you something’
‘Go on’
‘Will you marry me?’
‘I am…’
‘As in today – will you today?’
‘I can’t’
‘Huh – but why not?’
‘Because I can’t do it without Harry, without some semblance of a family with me’
‘Ok’ he sat up a little miffed,
‘Charlie’
He looked away and distanced himself from her,
‘Charlie don’t be like this’
‘We ran for a reason, I thought that was it’
‘It is part of it, but it was to get away – not to run off and elope but just to be together, without the hassle’
‘So you won’t marry me without the hassle?’
‘Without people we love with us, without those who trust what we’re doing is right, no’
‘Hmm’
‘I love you Charlie, I want to marry you that hasn’t changed even after what happened with Molly’
‘I don’t want to talk about her’
‘Charlie’ she wrapped her arms around his neck from behind whispering softly in his ear ‘Will you marry me?’
‘When?’ his hands held hers in place,
‘Whenever we both agree on a date’
‘Sure’
‘And will you tell me you love me so I don’t feel so mean about this?’
He chuckled ‘I love you silly’ he kissed her cheek ‘It was just an idea is all’
‘I just – I want Harry to give me away and I want you to have your brothers and sister beside you, that would make the day perfect, I know people always say it’s not about who’s there, but for us – family’s a massive part of both our lives Charlie, we can’t cut them out, especially not for this’
‘I understand’
His lips pressed to soft skin again,
‘Now where were we before I was so rudely interrupted?’
‘It was you that-’ he cut her off with the kiss and the grin forcing her to lie back on the bed again as she gave in with the same happy smile.

Morag · 07-19-2011, 09:32 AM

HEY LILY-REMEMBER ME!
I'm back after a looooonnnnnnnnnng break.
So I'm catchin up on your ff.
I feel bad for Charlie and Soph for having leave, but its also sort of mysterious and cute!
And it is so typical for Harry to end up being nearly dead- AGAIN lol
But I'm loving the fic more that ever, I've certainly missed it!
Soph xx

lilly_luna · 07-28-2011, 08:11 AM

Chapter Fifty Six

‘It’s been ages’ she sighed ‘Over a year, I can’t believe we’re going back’
‘But we are for a reason’ he held her ringed hand to his lips smiling, ‘Christmas day – we sure can pick’
‘We’re doing it and then we’re leaving Charlie, I’m not hanging around I want to get out as soon as we can – to see the rest of the world before they try to keep us tied there’
‘We missed last Christmas – the twins first Christmas, we can’t miss their second’
‘We are kind of plonking a wedding on them for that day though’
‘They’re not likely to remember honey; I think we’ll get away with it’
‘Hmm – you are ok that we see Harry and Gin first?’
‘Yeah, its three days until Christmas so we have to round them up’ he smirked ‘start with the ones who actually approve hey’
‘Hmm’ she leant her head against his shoulder looking at the passing landscape in the train window,
‘Don’t be worried or anxious, we’re still together – we’re married according the captain of that boat in Vanuatu’
She giggled ‘I don’t think that sticks’
‘We jumped over that broom together in Fiji that was pretty much the same’
‘Not in the eyes of any law I’ve read about’
‘This is our official one, our home grown one’ he grinned ‘the one that matters to them’
‘And to us though the other ceremonies were pretty cool’
‘That they were’ the train came to a halt, ‘Back on the English soil my love, take a deep breath and prepare for the cold’
‘I miss the sun’ she groaned, ‘its flaming miserable but its home’
‘Exactly, its home’ he grinned kissing her gently before they picked up their bags,
‘Charlie I can manage it’ he took it from her hand as she protested,
‘Can not, you’re already carrying him, you don’t need anymore weight’
‘You can’t even tell’ she frowned trying to take the bag back,
‘I can because I know, it won’t be long before they will’ he frowned back holding on ‘I wouldn’t let you carry it the entire trip since we found out, I’m not starting now’ he smirked,
‘Urgh, I’m not even that-’ she stopped and stared at the arrivals bay on the platform, ‘CHARLIE!’
He grinned as she jumped up and down and then on him ‘Thank you!’
‘Thought you’d like it’ he dropped the bags and held on,
The door at the end of the carriage opened ‘Sir, Madam its time to exit the train now please’
‘Harry?’ she said recognising the voice and then leaping on him,
‘Aww jeez sis you haven’t half put on weight, all that foreign and strange food you could get your hands on hey’
‘Oi!’ she punched his shoulder lightly and then waved out the window to Ron, Percy, Fred, Cara, George and Yvonne, Bill, Fleur and baby, Ginny and the twins waving back and then her mother…
‘What is she doing here Charlie?’
‘Came to say hi, she misses you honey, she said she was sorry’
‘You spoke to her’
‘Well I figured it would help to have the mother in law on side and then maybe Molly would follow her example – try and beat her in their who can be the best and worst mother competition’
‘Oh’
‘Come on guys they’re waiting’ Harry said with a grin and led them out,
‘Wow the girls got so big’ she picked them up one by one and hugged them,
‘Hello’
‘They talk now?!’
The little one giggled in her arms,
Harry grinned, ‘Faith’s the quiet one’ she looked at her clinging to her mother’s leg, ‘Patience is the one with the big mouth like her Aunty’ he gestured to the one she was holding,
‘Don’t be mean, it’s not like you get credits to use for everyday we were gone’ she replied sticking out her tongue as she gave her to Charlie and kissed Ginny’s cheeks before hugging her,
‘It’s so nice to see you’
‘I’ve missed you so much Soph – there’s no one to talk to but Fleur and that’s only ever about “zee little angel”’ she made a puking sound after she whispered,
‘I’m so sorry I stuck you with her’ she whispered back ‘but we have sooo much to catch up on now’
‘Ah no – we have a wedding to plan for Christmas day’
‘He told you guys too – when did you do all this Charlie?’
‘You were passed out Moscow to Switzerland never mind through China – it’s along time when you have to go by train’
‘Why didn’t you fly?’
‘Erm…’
‘The scenic route’ Charlie said with a covering smile, ‘It was her suggestion only being Soph she slept through the scenery and woke up when we were in the tunnels’
They laughed and then made there way out side, Charlie still wouldn’t hand over the backpack insisting she was too tired to carry it and she was glad to be able to wrap her arms around herself when the cold winter air hit.
‘Apparition time’ they grinned and wandered to the alley way in small groups,
‘Charlie, we tried apparition remember – the puking mess that followed was not something I want to repeat’
‘We’ll take a portkey, should be ok’
‘And if I throw up all over you and our guests…’
‘We’ll tell them the good news’ he grinned and she smiled leaning up to kiss him
‘Ok but I was just going to use it to blag our way out of not getting them Christmas presents’
‘Oh yeah – well I’ll go shopping then’
‘Stop thinking of reasons to get away with things honey’ she kissed him again,
‘Stop thinking of reasons of why not to tell them’ he replied,
‘Shotgun wedding’
‘No one is holding one to my back – my mother might be to you but since we’re expecting she’ll have to put it away and live with the fact we’re happy’
‘Very, very happy’
She reached out to the old newspaper as it glowed blue and found them selves outside Grimmald place. She turned and puked in the bushes,
‘Soph’
‘Don’t’ she held out her arm to stop him coming closer,
‘I’ve told you before Dragon puke is a lot worse, this I’m fine with’
‘Urgh’
‘The party is not such a good idea now’
‘Uh huh’ she threw up again,
‘I’ll tell them you’re not well’
‘No’ she tried to get up but he dropped the bags to support her weight as she struggled,
‘Soph’
‘Mmm – I don’t feel so good, portkey was worse’
‘Bed’ he lifted her up and she curled into his warmth. He tapped the bags with his wand making them small enough to carry in his pocket and carried her in.
‘You have to come too, I’m cold’ she yawned,
‘Sure, I’ll just clear them out K’
‘Uh huh’ he walked her up to their room – newly decorated thanks to his brothers – and placed her on the bed with a sigh
‘Be right back gorgeous’
‘I don’t feel so gorgeous’
‘Yet you are’ he kissed her forehead, held her cheek and then apparated downstairs,

‘Guys I’m sorry – I just had to put Soph to bed, she’s really not very well, reckon it’s food poisoning - she tried this thing on the train, tentacles and stuff I didn’t go near it’
‘I’ll check on her if you want’ Cara suggested ‘give her something to calm her stomach’ she winked at Charlie and he nodded,
‘That would be great thanks’

She wandered up as Charlie said his goodbyes, agreed to one drink with them all and then waited for them to go. Her mother said her goodbyes when the one drink turned into three and asked to see Soph before the wedding to which he agreed jovially.
***

‘Soph’
‘Hmm – Cara … have I got puke in my hair? – be honest’
‘You did a good job to miss honey’
‘Yay’
‘Congrats love’
‘Huh’
‘I kind of figured with the puking and Charlie carrying your stuff…’
‘Do they know too?’
‘No – no, I’ll let you have the pleasure love don’t worry’ she stroked her hair, ‘Feel better right, I know apparition is rough when you’re knocked up’
‘You do?’
‘Had a little one of my own while you were gone, he’s with his dad’
‘I didn’t even know you were dating’
‘We’d been together a while, years… just didn’t tell cause he’s a muggle’
She smiled ‘Who?’
‘Dylan Saunders’
She sat up holding her head as it spun ‘Whoa – but he’s like – does he know?’
‘Oh yeah, he’s kind of the first person that knew, remember primary school and the way the trousers fell down on Mitchell Waters when he tried to punch Dylan – that was me’
She giggled ‘With great power comes the responsibility to kick bullies butts’
‘Exactly’ she smiled back, ‘we’ll I’d best be getting back to them, little monsters gonna be awake for a feed soon’ she leant in for a hug,
‘What’s his name?’
‘Nathan, cute but a big mess just like his dad – you remember the state of his uniform, well he hasn’t changed one bit’ she grinned ‘Only to fall madly in love with me’ she sighed ‘He hasn’t asked me to marry him however and I’m glad, Nathan wasn’t planned exactly but marriage – I love him but I don’t think we’ll ever want to get married, it’s not for us, we’ll just be partners for life instead’ she grinned ‘I hear your getting married in three days’
‘Yeah, it was a kind of spare of the moment, spontaneous we might as well go home and do it moment – the thing is we can’t leave and I’ve only just realised that was his plan all along, he’s ready to settle down Cara and I don’t know if I can’
‘Sure you can, but why would he – he’s a dragon tamer, a free spirit surely he wants to keep going’
‘A baby changes everything, we can still travel, and I mean going on a train takes a long time but once he’s old enough-’
She stared ‘- He?’
‘Oh I’m like four months it’s just I don’t show so much its weird’
‘Right’
‘He’s not very big I guess or my body is just strange’ she shrugged ‘He’s fine, we’ve been for scans and stuff, he’s just – he just doesn’t show on me’ she shrugged ‘It took a lot for Charlie to persuade me to come back Cara, and I don’t know if I can be happy here – I mean for one we’re pretty much married in every other country in the world’
‘You are?’
‘The first few blissful months were spent in bed or finding what strange wedding ceremonies we could do before we got back – we’re married already’ she giggled ‘Just not legally here where we are supposed to be married’
‘Hmm’
‘Whoops I’m not supposed to tell you’ she covered her mouth still giggling,
‘I think you have to be checked out at Mungo’s’
‘Why?’
‘You’re showing delirium; a symptom to Merlin knows what’
‘No silly I’m just happy’ she hugged her ‘I’ve got my man, my son, my family, happy is great’
‘I’m glad – are you going to make up with your mum though?’
‘Maybe… is she nice yet?’
‘When my mum found out about Dylan she kicked me out, when she found out about Nathan she swore she’d never talk to me again, when she realised we’d probably never get married I was cut out of the will’
‘Ouch – she really doesn’t like muggles’
‘No one bit, but your Mum – she took me in, she helped me and Dylan get a house and get ready for Nathan, she’s been crazy helpful and I don’t know what we would have done without her’
‘Hmm’
‘When she sees’s how happy you are she’ll forget ever being mad at you’
‘Maybe I should tell her now’
‘You need to rest and get ready for it don’t just do it on a whim or you might say something you’ll regret’ she leant in for a hug and kissed her cheek, ‘I have a feeling I’m going to be roped into helping with the wedding preparation so I’ll probably see you tomorrow’
‘Later Cara – and thanks’
‘No problem’ she waved and then left, Sophia rolled onto her side to get more comfortable as Charlie wandered back in,
‘Hey honey, you feeling any better?’
‘We have to tell our mothers about him first’ she stroked the slight bulge ‘tomorrow, is that ok?’
‘Sure’ he took the news in his stride with a smile ‘Shall we try getting them together again?’
‘Please’
‘Ok, the guys said Mum’s warmed up a bit since we left so it shouldn’t be too bad’
‘Warmed up to what the temperature of the north pole?’
‘More like a bag of frozen peas’
‘Brilliant’
‘Don’t worry; worrying isn’t good for you or him’
She sighed and gave in to the question pressing on her mind, ‘Charlie do you want to stay here and raise a family? Are you ready to settle down?’
‘Are you?’
‘Tell me first’
‘Now we’ve done the far away exotic places can we travel closer to home?’
‘I want him to have seen the world too’
‘He will, but there’s no point taking him when he won’t remember – can you hold off until he’s like five?’
‘Five years…’
‘Soph, I know it’s a big ask of you, I know that if you had the choice you would have waited longer but can’t you see my reasoning?’
‘Hmm’
‘Honey I’m not saying we’ll never travel again, but we have to fit him into our plans now, it’s hard to be spontaneous and carefree when you’ve got a big responsibility, when we’ve got to raise a child’
‘I know’
‘You’re not mad at me are you?’
‘Me – no Charlie, don’t be silly’ she smiled shuffling towards him but turning, back against his chest as he held their arms around her belly, ‘I’m just nervous is all, he’s our first and I want to do what’s best for him and as his mother I should know that – I think it’s because I know he’s there but I can hardly tell’ she rubbed the belly gently ‘It’s not like Ginny who got completely massive as soon as she hit four months’
‘She was having twins and you’ve got five months yet – maybe he’ll have a growth spurt’
‘Hmm’
‘I’m gonna be here every step of the way, we’ll do this together just like we always talked about’
‘You’re going to have to accept that job offer aren’t you?’
‘We need the money’ he smiled ‘The hours are good, the pays great and it’s a nine to five with weekends off and I get to do something I’ve never done before’ he smirked ‘Work in an office’
‘Isn’t there something else?’
‘I have to take what I can get for now’
‘I’m sorry’
‘Don’t apologise – it’s a change of pace – granted a slow dreary pace but different is good, at my grand old age of twenty seven I should be working the pipe and slippers look’
‘Charlie’ she frowned,
‘Joke honey, just a joke’ he squeezed her gently and kissed her cheek
‘Night’ she sighed holding onto him a little tighter,
‘Night gorgeous’

***
They sat at the dinner table in the basement of Grimmald place staring each other down. None of the four wanted to speak first but Charlie gave in,
‘How have you been mother?’
‘Fine’
‘Have you changed your mind?’
‘No’
‘Dare I ask why not?’
‘She is not good enough for you’
Gwen took her chance to cut in, ‘Your son doesn’t deserve my daughter’
Sophie sighed ‘And to think we thought this was a good idea’ she muttered to Charlie,
He smiled a little, ‘It was a good idea, and it still is better then watching muggle TV’
‘Charlie’ she frowned at him,
‘Yes Honey’ he smirked back and she stuck her tongue out at him when the mothers had stopped bickering enough to watch them,
‘Just like a child, still a child’
‘And your son’s no better for polluting her mind’
‘We’ve been together like two years isn’t that good enough for you Molly’ she said icily ‘and you – I was told that you might actually be seeing sense and would support me – support us’
‘When you’re not making life changing mistakes I will’
‘Two years together means nothing, that we’re getting married in two days means nothing that we’re expecting your grandson means nothing?!’ she shouted at them both, Charlie trying to calm her with a hand on her shoulder,
‘Grandson…’ they gawped together ‘You’re pregnant’ they managed to say in both the most shocked and exasperated tone either Charlie or Sophia had ever heard,
‘Four months’ he replied, ‘we came back to tell you, we came back to stay for a little bit if either of you had gotten over yourselves’
‘Obviously they failed’ she crossed her arms ‘They’re still just as stubborn and mean as they always have been’
‘I don’t understand why’ Charlie said staring them both down, ‘I don’t see how they can’t see we’re happy, that we’re crazy in love with each other and we are together – that we want to be together for ever’
‘How can you be happy? With her of all the girls you dated’
‘Sorry but you don’t know who I’ve dated – I’ve never dared to bring them to meet you’
‘Instead you bring her’
‘Sophia is perfect for me, she’s my other half and I love her’
‘Love is not just sex!’
‘The one time you found us kissing’
‘On my bed – you would never have done that, never been that disrespectful if it wasn’t for her’
‘Argh!’ he said in frustration ‘We kissed big deal – you’ve had seven kids, shoot me for having one with the woman I love, for marrying the woman I love’
‘She broke your brother’s heart’
‘Seriously is that what you’ve based your hate of me on – that George fancied me and I turned him down for Charlie! He’s engaged to Yvonne or was he too scared to tell you?’
She flinched at the news but still gave way to angry words ‘She’s played games with you, she’s turned you against your family, and you need to be with someone your own age that you respect not a little girl you have to play house with’
‘Stop with the little girl you miserable old hag! I love Charlie, I’m having Charlie’s baby, I’m marrying Charlie and there’s nothing you can do or say that will change it – he loves me, he wouldn’t be with me otherwise – and don’t even suggest that it’s now only because I’m pregnant or I will hit you this time!’
She gawped and gaped and huffed before storming out of the room,
Charlie made no attempt to go after her quite pleased with the way Sophia had protected herself although there was a slight irritation that he didn’t get to help too,
‘Are you going to say anything?’ she turned to her own mother angrily,
‘Congratulations, I’ll see you on Christmas day’ she walked round kissed her forehead and hesitantly patted Charlie’s shoulder before leaving.

Sophia burst into tears and he pulled her into his arms,
‘Don’t cry’
She sobbed but nothing coherent was emerging from her mouth,
‘Shhh it’s alright honey’ he stroked her hair, ‘It’s going to be fine, I promise it’s going to be fine I’ll do what ever it takes to make it happen for us ok?’
‘Uh huh’ she mumbled holding on tightly ‘Love you’
‘Love you too Soph, love you too’

lilly_luna · 08-21-2011, 10:21 AM

Chapter Fifty Seven

Arthur sighed placing the cup of tea in front of her ‘Molly, see sense will you’
‘Sense – that girl has addled his brain, I bet she’s not even pregnant, she doesn’t even look pregnant’
‘Charlie’s shown me the scan love’
‘Fake’
‘What will it take for you to come to terms with this – to see how happy he is with her?’
‘He only thinks he’s happy, he’s never even been with a girl properly for years’
‘They’ve been together years, he has done better with her then Ron has with the parade of airheads he’s brought into this house’
‘Ron’s young, he’s still searching’
‘He let go of the only girl who would ever put up with him and she’s still wandering the globe to escape him only sending the occasional postcard to her parents’
‘Charlie is making a mistake’
‘He doesn’t seem to think so’
‘She’s just like her father – out for whatever she can get’
‘It’s not like we have a fortune he’s going to inherit Molly, it’s not like she’s going to be taking anything from him or us for them to be together’
‘She’s taking my baby’
‘Charlie is twenty seven!’
‘My first born’ she sobbed,
‘He’s a grown man!’
‘She doesn’t even have her own mother’s approval!’
‘She is as daft as you are for attempting to get in the way of there happiness – they fell in love after three months, they were ready over a year ago to get married and you’re the reason they’re waiting Molly, they want you there, they want your approval to be happy still, after years and I think the only thing there being stupid about is waiting for it when it’s never going to come because your as stubborn as your own mother was about me’
‘With good reason’
‘We were married at sixteen’
‘We were completely different’
‘Were not, they’re waiting for you so do the right thing and let him go Molly, release him from your apron strings or he’s going to leave again and this time he won’t be coming back, and you will never see your grandson’
She grumbled, crossed her arms and frowned ‘I’ll think about it’
‘You’d better because in two days it’s going to happen with or without you’

***
‘Pregnant – but you don’t even – your not even showing’ Ginny said staring trying to tell, ‘That’s not fair I got sooo fat’
‘She weights like a ton more’ Harry grinned ‘Her hugging me was like being hit by a car’
‘Just think how lucky it was that I wasn’t hey Charlie’ she smiled turning to him, ‘Or I would never have met you’
‘Think about it every day’ he sighed kissing her forehead ‘Thanks for not letting her get squashed Harry or I’d have ended up alone forever’
‘You would have found someone’ she put in with a frown, ‘surely, you would have?’
Gin shook her head ‘Really he wouldn’t have Soph – he never, ever looked – not like Ron when a slightly attractive girl walks past and his mouth hangs open, not like the twins when they charm the girls with there jokes, not like Percy when he bores them to sleep with his cauldron thickness reports – no that doesn’t get him girls only there strange looks… or Bill – even though he’s married to a half mystical creature he still give them occasional glance’
‘Are you sure your not -’
‘- Soph I never looked cause I was waiting for you, I knew you were out there somewhere and you would just wander into my life one day because we’re both so laid back we knew it would just happen and it would just be right, it would just feel right’
‘Then why in Merlin’s name can’t your mother understand it’ she held his arms around her,
‘I don’t know’
‘I think I should go and see her – alone’
‘Not a good idea, stress is not a good idea for you or them, trust me she caused more then enough for me and Harry’ Gin said before Charlie could ‘Stay away from her because she’ll only make things worse if you try and make peace, she has to make the first step so she feels like she has some facade of control’
‘That sucks’
‘She’s raised seven kids over twenty seven years she knows what she’s doing Soph’ Charlie put in ‘She knows exactly what she’s doing’
‘Argh – I could just – let’s go dress shopping Gin’ she stood up ‘I need retail therapy’
‘Sure – Harry could you -’
‘They’ll be fine, me and Charlie will go see Bill about some other stuff, Fleur will take over before I can even do anything for them anyway’
‘Alright’ she kissed his cheek affectionately ‘We’ll see you later’

***
Sophia stood admiring the gown and then wondering aloud to Ginny ‘You’d think after Jade she’d be happy he was settled’ she twirled in the mirror looking at the shape of the dress,
‘It’s not in her nature to be happy – ever’
She tilted her head ‘You can tell I’m pregnant in this – I don’t want people to know yet’ she frowned, ‘but then they’d wonder why we came back and frankly he is the main reason cause it’s not like it’s to see Molly because Charlie missed her – he didn’t mention her the entire time we we’re gone, though that may have been a silent agreement we’d both come to because she just makes us both upset’ she stood hands on hips, ‘What do you think?’
She laughed vivaciously ‘The dress or Molly?’
‘Oh I don’t know – both’ she shrugged ‘Anything you can say that makes me think she’ll eventually come to terms with it would be nice’
‘Once she holds that little one for the first time she’ll forgive you for stealing her son’ Gin said smiling ‘And honestly the back of this thing is hideous – you need simple, let your figure and face do the job, Charlie always says your gorgeous and you are so don’t hide it under a diamante tent’
‘You know how awesome it is to have a sister right?’
‘Right’ they half hugged and then she stopped and touched the bump
‘Whoa’
‘It feels really strange doesn’t it’ Gin said watching ‘Like they’re trying to tell you something’
‘Exactly – hmm this ones going to like football never mind Quiditch’
She went to the rack for another dress ‘That the first kick?’
‘Yeah – he’s moved but nothing like that, he’ll be about five months on New Years Eve’
‘Once there bigger it’s not so weird’
‘Still worried that this one’s not going to be very big’
‘It’s just your body – your actually all filled out already where I was – well honestly I’d had the body of a twelve year old until I popped out those two, I’m lean thanks to my dads genes but I was still growing, where as you got Sirius and your Mums DNA and the age over me, you got the curves and the height every girls wants and you got it in the right places’
‘Way too nice Gin’ she grinned ‘And you’re just as hot – you made Harry Potter fall crazy in love with you for just being awesome you, when every single teenage girl in our world wanted him’
‘I did didn’t I’ she smiled to herself ‘Hmm – anyway you think he’s small have Mungo’s said anything – what about the doctors when you were away?’
‘The doctors and healers told us not to worry and he’s a good weight’
‘Then don’t worry – you have every right to – but if they’re saying he’s fine, they’re not often wrong’
‘Charlie says the same’ she turned to her just in time to see the dress Gin held up ‘That’s the one’ she smiled beaming at the white gown with the black detailing at the bust and hem with a black ribbon at the waist ‘I know and I haven’t even tried it on yet’ she reached for it holding it in front of herself in the mirror ‘It’s perfect – I mean I wanted something different and this is definitely different’
‘You are working the whole black theme’
‘You don’t think it’s too funereally?’
‘There’s nothing morbid about you two, your not even Goths’ she laughed ‘Black is fabulous and you make it so – now try it on!’

She stood looking in the mirror eagerly taking in the dress ‘I love it’
‘It’s as if it was made for you – you can’t tell you’re pregnant the fit hides that but doesn’t squash him and my god will Charlie gawp when he sees your butt and boobs’ she giggled ‘Pregnancy does wonders for the female form’
‘That it does sister, that it does’ she rubbed him gently, ‘Now I have one more question – what do you think of white roses?’
‘Perfect – you need one in your hair though since you don’t want a veil’
‘I was actually thinking that – Charlie’s got their shirts and dress trousers – suits are just not him, black trousers white shirt, black shirts for Harry and Bill but white roses and the bouquets… so is it daft if I can see you three in black holding only a single rose?’
‘Three?’
‘Didn’t I tell you – Hermione’s coming back’
‘Oh’
‘Oh Gin – I could have sworn I said something, I’m sorry’
‘It’s ok’ she smiled ‘It’s your day honey, show me the dresses you had in mind for us’
‘Well Cara actually has them at her place – if you can believe it she sent me a picture of them this morning through the fireplace and I sent her the money through to grab them’
‘Sweet – they better be good though’
‘Trust me – Harry won’t take his eyes off of you’
The woman walked in to the room ‘Oh that’s perfect for you, absolutely perfect’
Soph grinned ‘I think we’ll take it’
‘And when is the wedding?’
‘Erm… Christmas day’
Her smile faltered for a second ‘So late in picking a dress?’
‘We’ve just come back from a round the world trip – kind of a spare of the moment let’s get hitched thing, he did ask me to marry him a year and a half ago but we never really got round to it’ she shrugged ‘It’s a big thing for us but it’s a bigger thing for our families’
‘And who’s the lucky fella?’
‘Charlie Weasley’
‘Weasley’ she turned up her nose ‘Really’
‘Do you have a problem with my brother?’ Gin said defensively,
‘And I thought I recognised you – Ginny right – the girl that got Potter’
Her face turned to thunder, ‘What do you mean “Got Potter”?’
‘I mean you guys – so fast – then with the babies and weddings not even out of school yet’
‘You work in a wedding dress shop; learn some tact and some manners’
‘But everybody knows about the Weasley’s they’re – they’re’
‘They’re what’ Soph stood hands on hips ‘Loyal, loving, honest, and completely family orientated?’
She gulped ‘I’ll just get the other assistant to tend to you shall I?’
‘You do that’ Sophia replied glaring at her while reaching to hold Gin’s hand, ‘don’t worry on it Gin’
She laughed apprehensively ‘I’m pregnant again’ she sat down ‘There must be something in the flaming water’
‘What – but – wow!’
‘Harry doesn’t know’
‘You’re going to tell him soon right?’
‘Christmas present, it’s only two months in so they’ll be younger then yours’
‘And you want a boy or a girl?’
‘I think a boy – Harry’s surrounded by women so he’s always got a nervous edge on him, a son will give him something to do about it I guess’
‘Are you – are you ready?’
‘I’ll get there, another baby is another adjustment to the life plan but hey, Harry wants five, maybe this will be triplets and I’ll be off the hook’
‘Gin’
‘Don’t worry about me, I’m not like that – I just, I was getting ready to start my life now, I love the twins and I would never give them up or this one, it’s more I’d finished school and I was going to start looking for a job and putting them into care so they’re ready for school – I’m not like my mother, I couldn’t home school in this day and age’
‘After this one you still can’
‘Not if another comes along’
‘Weren’t you guys using-’
‘- oh yeah but I got the stats on that, and guess what there are more than we all think that were using something end up pregnant’
‘Huh’
‘What about you and Charlie? This must put a dent in your plans to travel’
‘Big time’ she stood up twisting the ring around her finger ‘But I love Charlie, and CJ only adds to that, I can give up travelling for them – he’s still promised we can go places, but he’s right when he says it makes sense to do it when he’s older and can appreciate where we go – can you imagine me on a plane with a screaming baby?’
‘I’m still considering CJ’
‘Charlie junior’
‘Does he like it?’
‘It was his joke’ she grinned ‘He doesn’t think I’m serious about it though’
‘It’s cute’ Ginny grinned ‘We’re supposed to be thrilled about being pregnant aren’t we’ she smiled now sitting back in the chair ‘But it was never like that the first time for me, I love them but – but they weren’t something I wanted so soon and I know I sound heartless and selfish talking about my own daughters like that, but I mean they just weren’t part of my plan straight out of school and I had to change my life for them’
‘You love them and want them now’ she sat beside her and held her hand ‘We have to adapt, life never ever goes to plan’
‘I should be so happy’
‘If you’re worried about not feeling right why not talk to someone at Mungo’s do they have counsellors in our world?’
‘Yeah… potion for this, talk it out for that, what would Harry think though?’
‘He’d just be happy you were getting help Gin’
‘Do I have to tell him?’
‘Definitely’

lilly_luna · 09-07-2011, 02:09 AM

Chapter Fifty Eight

‘Collin said he’d love to’
She beamed ‘Yay!’
‘As long as you give him complete control over the photographs’
‘He’s working Christmas day for us; he can do whatever he likes’ she hugged Harry but let go to look at him ‘within reason of course’
‘You’ve seen mine and Gin’s photos the kids a professional, has been since he got hold of a camera’
‘I know, so what’s left… oh yeah’ she giggled ‘Cake and food and stuff…’
‘Erm hold on where are you actually getting married?’
‘Oh Charlie’s said he’s found somewhere perfect only he won’t tell me’ she frowned ‘He said I just need to get a cake and he’d sort out the rest so I’m guessing the reception is in the same place’
‘Ok’
‘I trust he’ll know exactly what I’ll like – he also knows the colour scheme and he knows what the flowers look like’
‘Hmm’
‘You know it’s going to be awesome’ she said smiling ‘You look more nervous and it’s going to be my wedding day’
‘It would be nice to know where I’m walking you down and for that whether your mum said it’s ok’
‘I haven’t told her and she hasn’t asked’
‘You need to sort it out because if she gets there expecting to give you away…’
‘Come with me?’
‘Really’ he sighed ‘Ok’
‘Thank you’ she groaned ‘Urgh I don’t know if I could if you had said no’
‘You would have had to or I would have changed my mind about the whole thing’
‘Hmm’
‘Come on, let’s get it over with’ he grabbed a cloak calling up, ‘Gin, going to see Sophia’s mum won’t be long’
‘Love you’ was shouted back down the stairs and he grinned back shouting up the same to her.

They took the knight bus to her front step and knocked on the door, Michael answered,
‘Sophia, Harry, good to see you’
He attempted to hug Soph and she frowned at him and didn’t reciprocate the movement, he stepped back and sighed
‘You haven’t forgiven me’
‘Pig’
‘Little mistake, I’d had a few drinks, I was confused about your mother’
‘Don’t care ok, where is she?’
‘Work’
‘Fine, we’ll go there’
‘Come in’ He stepped out of the way ‘she’ll be back shortly, her shift ends in ten minutes’
‘It will take ages for her to get home’
‘She’s been using – that stuff again – she’ll be here soon’
‘She’s using magic again…’
‘Harry told her she shouldn’t deny herself’ he shrugged ‘Apparently his advice is something to be followed’
‘It is, Harry’s a hero in our world’
‘Don’t please Soph’
‘Hmm’ he led them into the sitting room ‘so the wedding, assume that’s what this is about’
‘Yes’
‘Why’s he not with you?’
‘Charlie is at a job interview’
He crossed his arms ‘For?’
‘Assistant coach to the Holyhead Harpies’ she grinned ‘They used to watch him play for the interdepartmental ministry games and offered him the job instead of the boring office one he was going to take – it’s quidditch by the way, our replacement for football’
‘Shouldn’t he be thinking about a reliable desk job at his age?’
‘He’s not old’
He frowned ‘How old?’
‘Twenty seven’
‘Oh… Wendy always made it sound like he was – well my age’
‘Yeah well he’s got twenty more years until then’
‘Hmm’
‘With the magic, when did she start using again and why?’
‘When you left, she asked me if I could get used to it, I told her yes and she started practicing’
‘Right’
‘Look she said she’d take his advice because it sounded familiar’
‘Huh’ Harry said with a grin ‘Bet it was dad’
‘You mean yours or mine?’
‘Both, Sirius and James were best buddies, sounds like something they would say’
She apparated the front door and walked in,
‘Oh, hello’
‘Mother’
‘It’s so nice to see you; I thought I wouldn’t until Christmas’
‘Just wanted to ask you something’
‘Ok’
‘Do you – are you ok with Harry giving me away?’
‘I – I erm – but – whatever you want I’m happy with’
‘I would have said something sooner, but I mean, when Charlie asked me – even from when I brought his ring I wanted Harry to give me away’
She gulped and sat down ‘But what about Michael?’
‘I’m fine with it’ he said looking Soph in the eye, ‘It’s her day’ she glared at him and turned back to her mother,
‘So it was just in case you though you would – I would really like it to be Harry’
‘Why?’
‘Cause he’s the closest to dad I’ve got, he’s my brother’
‘Ok’
‘Are you alright with it though Gwen?’ Harry asked ‘I mean with it being me?’
‘Yes’ she sighed ‘Sirius would like that’ she smiled ‘He’d like Charlie too’
‘He did like Charlie, they were friends’ Harry said ‘They fought in the order for nearly a year and a half together’
‘Oh’
‘He didn’t think you’d want to talk about it mum’ Soph said ‘He didn’t think you’d want to know about him now, about how he was before he died’
‘Has he told you?’
‘Yes, I asked’
‘Ok’
‘We’re going to go’ she stood up ‘See you in like a day and a half ok?’
‘Ok – but we still don’t know where it is’
‘Erm – neither do I but Charlie’s sending port key’s to everyone that morning’
‘When is the wedding?’
‘Late afternoon, give people sometime with there families first’
‘Will you be going to the Burrow?’
‘I erm…’
‘If you would like to come here, I could give you your presents, this years and last’s; I mean you’re not supposed to see the groom before the service, its bad luck’
‘Ok’ she hugged her ‘See you then’
She led Harry out and sighed,
‘Don’t be such a worry wart Sister’
‘Urgh, how can I not with a family like mine?’
‘I take it you still haven’t gotten over him trying to kiss you?’
‘Would you if Molly had?’
‘Merlin don’t that’s going to give me nightmares’
She giggled ‘Well then’
‘I see your point’
‘Hmm’ she held out her wand for the bus and waited for it to appear ‘Ok what’s next?’
‘Erm… how about we try Molly’
‘No’
‘Soph’
‘No’
‘You said you wanted to go alone, I won’t allow that neither will Gin or Charlie, so why don’t I come, she likes me again’
‘But – but’
He helped her onboard the bus ‘The Burrow please Stan’
‘Alright Mr Potter’
‘Harry!’
‘This is me fighting for my family ok Soph’
‘Ok’ she sighed and slumped into an armchair ‘but I’m not saying I will be able to hold off from hitting her’
‘That’s fine’
‘What?’
‘I think although she’s my mother in law and I love her dearly, she hasn’t treated you right and that quite possibly a good slap might knock her brain into gear’
‘Right…’
‘Soph, she put me and Gin through a lot, she’s doing the same to you and Charlie, you make it through this she’ll trust you, she needs to be able to respect you, you stand up to her and she will’
‘Gin said as soon as she holds this one she’d be happy, can’t I wait till then?’
‘No, although grandchildren are what she craves just as much as seeing her own children happy’
‘Charlie is happy’
‘You have to turn to her for help, make her feel needed’
‘But – help with what?’
‘I don’t know – is there anything you need?’
‘Erm… well Charlie said I had to do the cake but I couldn’t find anywhere that could make us a one on time’
‘Perfect – ask her’
‘What?’
‘Ask her to make your wedding cake, tell her that you need her’
‘Really…’
‘It will be brilliant I promise, she made mine and Gins’
‘If you’re wrong I’m going to kill you’
‘Fine’ he grinned ‘If I’m right though – you have to – to tell me what Gin’s hiding from me’
‘Huh – nope can’t do that’
‘Aww please’
‘Nope’
‘Fine, you have to babysit the twins with Charlie so I can take Gin out at some point’
‘Deal’

They got off the bus and stood on the front step,
‘Harry’
‘Trust me’
‘Why didn’t you say anything sooner?’
‘It took me going through it to figure it out, she’s needy and it’s your love she wants’
‘I could love her if she wasn’t so horrible’
‘I could say the same for you young lady’
She popped up out of the grass, Gnome in hand,
‘Hmm… hello Mrs Weasley’
She ignored her ‘Harry, so nice to see you’
‘Molly’ he hugged her and the gnome squirmed in her grip, ‘May I?’ he gestured to the creature,
‘Here you go’
He grinned and grabbed firmly by the feet, dropping it on the ground to kick it over the fence and into the fields,
‘Fair shot’ Molly smiled ‘Not as good as Ginny’s record, no one seems to be able to beat it’
‘She was very angry at me though Molly, I doubt she could do it again’
‘Come in for some tea, I’d just put a treacle tart in the oven before I came out, it should be done by now’
‘Brilliant, my favourite’ he followed her in, Soph behind him with a sigh, they sat at the table,
‘Here you go’ she placed a large slice in front of him and a slither in front of Soph,
‘Molly’ he took a spoon cutting his slice and evening out both his and Soph’s share ‘Sophia has something she’d like to ask you’ he munched watching with a smile,
‘And what might that be?’
‘Charlie and I were wondering, that since we don’t have a wedding cake yet, if you would make it for us’
‘You were?’
‘We were’
She beamed instantly ‘Of course! How wonderful, now we’ll need the colour scheme and the flowers and of course I’ll have to see the dress for an idea for the table cloth and the figurines on top – is three tiers enough or would you like it bigger?’
‘I err… I think three’s enough, is that what we’d usually have?’
‘Oh no, this will not do, Harry pass me that book on the shelf just behind your head and be a dear and get Ginny, we’re going to need her help’
‘Sure’ he grinned passing the book, finishing the slice, taking a sip of the tea and going to apparate as they looked over the pages.

***
‘You’re a miracle worker you know’ she grinned pulling on a cloak and going to kiss him, ‘They’ve had lunch, they’re down for a nap, you’ll have to give them dinner – it’s in the fridge just warm it up, they’ll need a change and mum will want me to stay forever so you’ll probably have to put them to bed – you are good at that though so they should be ok’
‘Gin, I know what I’m doing, you say the same every time you go out’
‘I just worry’
‘We’ll be fine, go and make a cake’
She grinned, kissed him and went outside to call the knight bus.

He sighed flopped on the couch and looked through the reports that had been waiting for him. Having Christmas week off was brilliant but he was thinking about all the work waiting for him when he got back. He wanted to be able to go to the interview ready, he wanted the job because he could do it not because they knew he was hero, or because of his name. He wanted to prove he could be department head at nearly twenty and he wanted to surprise Gin when he told her he had even applied.

He read over the files made the appropriate notes and stacked them up on the table just as they woke. He went up to them with a smile,
‘Hello girls’
‘Daddy’ they grinned back,
‘Come on then, time for a change and a play before dinner’

He’d just sat them down with there little knife and forks to eat at the high chairs when the doorbell rang. He checked they wouldn’t try to get themselves out – they were busy eating – and went to answer it.
He stared, she smiled and then they both jumped in for a hug at the same time,
‘Where the hell have you been Hermione?’
‘Just away’ she laughed ‘It’s good to be back though’
‘Come in and tell me everything’ he sighed and let go before looking at her, shaking his head and hugging her again, ‘I missed you Hermione, you didn’t even write, I lost my sister for a year and a half and she didn’t let me know she was ok, or still alive even’
‘I’m sorry, I just thought – well it would annoy Gin’
‘She would have understood’ he squeezed her ‘Don’t you ever leave and not tell me again ok’
‘Ok’ she nodded crying on his shoulder ‘I promise’
‘Come on and see the girls’ he held her hand firmly and led her in to them at the table,
‘They got so big’ she stood hesitantly as he let go,
‘Faith, Patience, this is Aunt Hermione’
‘Aunty Mione’ Patience grinned scooping up the mashed potato,
‘That’s right’
She laughed happily and he gestured for her to sit down,
‘Where’s Ginny?’
‘The Burrow – helping Molly make the wedding cake’
‘Ah’ she smiled ‘They getting on now then?’
‘From today hopefully, she was against them getting married from when they asked each other to this morning so I don’t think she got over it completely but she feels needed now so it should be ok unless they disagree on icing or something’
‘She’s so like Sirius, I didn’t think it would be possible for them ever to get along’
‘They both love Charlie; they might get never get there if that’s all they can agree on though’

lilly_luna · 10-31-2011, 08:37 AM

Chapter Fifty Nine

‘Are you ready?’
‘As I’ll ever be’ she bit her lip ‘Did he say how we’re getting there since I don’t want puke on my wedding dress?’
‘It’s outside waiting’ he smirked, ‘It’s already picked up Gin and the girls, and Hermione and Cara and your mum’
‘What on earth is that big?’
He put a hand over her eyes and led her out ‘Here you go’
She started to laugh looking at the Knight Bus; it was white instead of purple and decorated with white ribbons and roses,
‘He’s a shocker for surprises’ she grinned ‘we all have to have a photo with it’ she held her dress skipping to the doors, Stan opened them, ‘Guys come on out quick’
They trooped out smiling and huddled in the group as Colin stood waiting with his camera,
‘Stan and Ernie too’ she laughed gesturing over to them as they shuffled into the shot.

They set off and she sat twisting the gift from her mother round her neck.
‘You’ll break it’ Harry said from beside her with a twin napping on his lap, ‘It’s your something old?’
‘From my dad’ she ran her thumb over it, ‘He gave it to Gwen when he left on the mission before the wedding, said it was his great grandmothers on his dads side, she gave it to him when he was sixteen just before she died, told him to give it to the woman he was going to marry’
‘I’ve seen it before’ he studied the black diamond on the silver chain at her throat, ‘In portraits we cleared out from Grimmald place’
‘I always wanted him to be here, to find out he was still out there and to be here’
‘I’m so sorry he’s not’ he held her hand gently taking it from her neck, ‘And I know exactly how you feel’
‘Oh god…I forgot, I’m so sorry’
‘Don’t be silly’ he shook his head ‘They were there with me just like Sirius will be there with you, right beside you’ he smiled ‘He’ll be holding your other arm as we walk down the aisle, he’ll put his hand on top of mine when I give yours to Charlie, he’ll be standing in the middle when we have to do the embarrassing father daughter dance’ he smirked,
‘He’ll be treading on my toes and I’ll start to wish he’d kept out of the way for that bit’
He chuckled ‘Exactly, so they may not be here, but they are, they’re still watching’
‘Thanks Harry’ she leant her head on his shoulder,
‘It’s what I’m here for’ he turned to kiss her forehead and squeezed her hand ‘I bet he’s just as nervous about this as you’
She laughed ‘This is just another night out for him, he gets to drink – that’s another thing out of the question for me’
‘The high you’ll get from saying “I do” is ten times better I promise’
‘You’d better be right or they’ll be no wedding cake for you’
‘Just complain about not drinking with Gin hey’ he whispered and she grinned,
‘She told you’
‘Yeah – bit of a shock’ he smiled ‘She said if it’s a boy she’ll tell me that as my birthday present cause that’s her due date’
‘Aww, just like she said there’s something in the water – I won’t be surprised if Yvonne mentions something next or even my mum’
‘I’m betting it will be Fleur again, she said she can’t wait to have some more of “Zee little angel’s” urgh’
‘I never asked; what is she called?’
‘Angelica’ he chuckled and she burst into laughter as the bus came to a stop.
They trooped out and all but Harry, Sophia and the bridesmaids remained after her mother gave her a good luck kiss and went to join Michael inside. She looked around the little church, the snow had settled and she was glad she had a black crop jacket and they all had fur stoles on against the harsh cold. It was perfect and quiet and out of the way.
‘Let’s get this show on the road’ he said with a grin,
‘Not yet’ she bit her lip ‘Take a glance and check he’s in there will you’
Harry spoke with a frown, ‘Seriously, Soph?’
‘Deadly, because if he’s scarpered I want to blow things up and you’ll have to get the guests out the way’
He rolled his eyes and walked forward to open the door a little bit, he was standing at the altar with the little wizened celebrant and Bill with a reassuring hand on his shoulder. They laughed at something Bill said and Harry caught his eye. Charlie stared and then made a face that simply said hurry up before I freak out completely.
‘He’s there’ he smiled,
‘Ok’ she took a deep breath and linked her arm with his; Hermione went first, unaccompanied and stood waiting and watching with a smile. Ron stared at her but she made no sign she noticed, she was looking at Fred who was smiling back in away that said he knew she felt alone up there but she’d be ok.
Cara came next and grinned as Nathan waved from his fathers lap in the seating. Ginny followed holding the hands of her daughters, she switched them with Molly and Arthur for her rose and stood with Hermione and Cara as Harry and Sophia made there way in. Charlie just stared and she stared back smiling all the way to him. Harry kissed her cheeks, shook Charlie’s hand and then gave him Sophia’s hand just like he said he would. He stood with them and the ceremony was simple and short.

‘I do’ she grinned and knew then Harry was exactly right.

‘You may now kiss your bride’
He did so with such enthusiasm he lifted her up off the ground with a grin and set her on her feet as everyone cheered.
‘Way to embarrass us’ she giggled looking up at him,
‘First kiss as husband and wife, it had to be epic’ he chuckled ‘You look gorgeous by the way’
‘Not so bad yourself’ she leant up for another quick kiss and then they turned to the crowd to walk back down the aisle.

‘So the reception…’
She asked as they posed for photos out the front of the church,
‘Being taken care of’ he squeezed her to his side gentle as the brothers emerged ‘All taken care of now’ they joined in for the family pictures as people began to drift back inside the building. She heard a lot of “Wows” and bit her lip looking up at him ‘What have you done?’
‘You’ll see Mrs Black’
‘You have me worried Mr Black’
‘Then stop’ he grinned ‘We’re going for a walk first’
She stared ‘you what?’
He held her hand with a grin, ‘Come on, I haven’t given you your Christmas present yet’ they didn’t notice Colin taking photo’s as they walked and then leaving them as they turned a corner. They walked a little more down the road and he stopped them at the gate to a house, with the For Sale sign stamped over with sold.
She started to laugh, ‘Really?’
‘I know you said Grimmald place seemed to be our only option, and you didn’t really want to give it up’
‘But… this we can’t afford this’
‘Grimmald place is now ours to rent out, but this is our home’
He held out a key on a black ribbon, ‘How?’
‘The Cannons offered me a job too, the offer was upped by the Tornado’s and then it went back to the Harpies and they offered me an obscene amount for them and I took it’ he shrugged ‘The freelance work I did while we were gone meant we had money from the flat, and we can use the rent from Grimmald place to pay the bills since George and Yvonne want to live there to save for there own place, then that means we can save for holidays and trips and well stuff for the baby’
She took a breath, squealed and then jumped on him in a hug,
‘I love you Mr Black, so much its ridiculous you know’
‘I know and I love you back just as much’
‘So sneaky’
‘Come on, it wouldn’t be a surprise now would it’
‘Hmm’ she kissed him happily ‘But all I got you was the broom’
‘The latest and fastest broom in the world’ he touched her cheek with a chuckle ‘you gave me something better then that though silly’
‘You’d better not say me or I’ll puke at the cliché from you’re lips’
‘You’ he grinned
She realised he hadn’t said “me” and frowned ‘Yes you’re a clever clogs’ she kissed him ‘that’s why I married you’ he linked her arm through his and lead her back to the church. The doors were closed and she looked at them nervously,
‘Don’t freak out it makes me twitchy then too’
‘Hmm’
There was a little sliding door built into the wood on the left door and it opened with Harry’s face looking out.
He grinned at them, ‘You cold enough to come in?’
‘Definitely, my fingers are going to drop off’
‘Give us a sec then’ the door shut and then music started and there was shuffling, the door opened and she only managed to gape. The room was twice as big as it had been, there was a roaring fireplace at the back where the altar had once stood and black tables and chairs around the edges on the white carpet that looked like snow but was thousand times warmer. They looked with awe with a packed dance floor fall of people who cheered as they walked in. There were white roses every where, the ceiling was bewitched to look like the snowing night sky and candles floated in the air.

***
Ron approached her hesitantly,
‘Hermione’
‘Ronald’
‘Look’
‘No you look, I don’t intend to have any sort of relationship with you, I don’t want to know you, I don’t even particularly want to be your friend, so let’s not talk, I’ll be civil to you for Harry’s sake but other then that – I’m going to forget you even exist like I have done the last two years’
‘Alright then’ his fists clenched and he took a breath ‘You look well by the way, it’s good to see you happy at least’
‘So do you, I’m glad you’ve found someone’ she gestured to the blonde waiting at his table watching them,
‘Yeah…’ he’d met her in the Leaky Cauldron the other week; she didn’t speak much English,
‘Well, bye Ronald’
‘Erm…bye Hermione’ he sighed as she walked away and went to see Svetlana,
She flicked her hair, ‘Who is she?’
‘School friend’
‘She very – how you say – pretty’
‘Yeah she is’
‘You date her no?’
‘Yes, a while ago’ he smiled ‘she’s not as pretty as you though’
She giggled ‘You so nice’
He kissed her and Hermione rolled her eyes watching from a distance as Molly came over to tell him off for being over zealous as he attacked her face. She smirked as Molly pointed at him shaking her head but was distracted when Fred asked her for a dance. ‘Sure’ she grinned ‘It’s nice to see you again Fred, how’s business?’
‘Good’ he nodded ‘I may need some help with some potions though’
‘Ah was that your ulterior motive in asking me to dance Mr Weasley?’
‘Maybe’ he grinned as they moved from side to side, ‘It’s good to see you too, and you look, well for one very different’
‘Good different or bad different’
‘I think travelling suits you’ he spun her around and pulled her in, she noticed they were closer then before and smiled,
‘I think it does too, I know myself a lot better now’
‘So are you going to travel some more or stick around?’
‘I’m not sure just yet’
‘Can I ask what would make you stay?’
‘Fred…’
‘We’re friends, I’m in no rush to know, it’s just it would be nice if you stayed for a while and I could – well I could get to know you again’
‘That would be nice -’ she smiled ‘- How about coffee sometime and I’ll go over the potions with you?’
‘Sure’ she leant in for a hug resting her cheek against his as they danced.
‘Those two look cosy’ Soph said to Charlie as they danced across the floor from them,
‘Very - huh’ he smiled ‘Never expected that’
‘She needs someone nice and you Weasley boys are all lovely, well with the exception of that one’ she gestured with her eyes to Ron who was whispering things to make Svetlana giggle as she sat on his lap,
‘He was an idiot to let her go, but if there was a brother I thought was her type it would so be Percy’
She shook her head, ‘Hermione likes a guy that can make her laugh’
‘Yeah ok, Percy might have bored her to death’
‘Exactly, and anyway, they look good together’ she smiled ‘Like Harry and Gin do’ she turned to them just as they kissed and smiled at each other in there dance, ‘Or you’re mum and dad’ they were sitting watching from a table hand in hand as Arthur stood up to escort her to the floor,
‘What about us?’
‘I don’t have a mirror’ she shrugged ‘but I know we look awesome’
‘That we do’

lilly_luna · 12-06-2011, 05:43 AM

Chapter Sixty

‘You can’t date Hermione’
‘What?’
‘You heard me’ he said over the hum of noise in the background, they stood in the back room of the Weasley shop as Ron stood angry with Fred,
‘Well I’m not’
‘Oh – well alright then’
‘But if we chose to see each other like that what’s it got to do with you?’
‘She’s my ex girlfriend, it’s just weird’
‘Oh Merlin, get over yourself will you Ron, she dumped you because you were a self absorbed moron and that hasn’t changed in like – well since you were born actually’
‘It’s not like you’re perfect’
‘No but I’m not some idiot who broke up with her because he couldn’t wait to get laid’
Ron aimed to punch him but some how he bounced back, ‘What the hell?’
‘Invisible shield hat, I’m not daft, I knew you’d come eventually’
‘God fight fair for her will you’
‘There is no fight, she doesn’t want you, she doesn’t know if she wants me, we’re friends and if it becomes anything more it’s still none of your business’
‘It’s been like a month since the wedding, I thought you’d worked quicker then that big brother’
This time Fred moved to punch him, and this time it made contact ‘Don’t you talk about me and her like that, Hermione is lovely and I’m not going to rush her into doing something she doesn’t want, I like her and we are just friends’
The door opened,
‘I like you too’ she smiled ‘You ready to catch the film?’
‘Sure am’ he walked to the door, ‘I’ve just got to let George know’
‘Ok, I’ll wait outside, it’s kind of crazy in there as always’ he left and she made to go too,
‘So you’re just going to ignore me’
‘Fred’s right, him and I, us being whatever we are is nothing to do with you’
‘And what, you’re going to take him home to meet your parents and mums going to be happy you’re with a different brother’
‘Whatever happens is no concern of yours’
‘It’s my family, he’s my brother’
‘You left me ok, you didn’t want me anymore so you don’t have any say in what I do, now or ever, to me you don’t exist and if you feel the need to keep your presence known to me I promise you won’t to everyone else either’
‘Fine’ he muttered and she left. He held his nose and apparated back to the Burrow,
‘Ronald – what happened?’
‘Fred’ he shoved himself in a chair and let her fuss over him,
‘Why – was it one of his contraptions?’
‘Yeah, his fist’
‘That boy -’ she shook her head, ‘- but why would he hit you?’
‘Cause I told him something’
‘What?’
‘I warned him off of Hermione’ she slapped him round the top of the head ‘Oi!’
‘Serves you right he punched you Ronald’ she poked his nose with her wand, ‘you’ve no right to interfere with them, they’re happy leave them to it’
‘She’s my ex, its flaming weird alright’
‘You let her go, you broke it off with her, you ended any sort of chance with her when you did that so you have no business in getting involved now’ she made him a bacon sandwich as he sat in the chair huffing, ‘You leave your brother alone and you leave her alone’ she put the plate in front of him ‘And you find yourself someone nice and sensible and who can put up with you’
‘She was the only one’ he pushed the plate away,
‘There’s nothing for you to do, she doesn’t want you and to be honest I doubt she ever will so move on son, you won’t do yourself any good by not eating though’ she pushed the plate back and he poked the sandwich, ‘Eat up, I’m not making dinner for another couple of hours yet and there’s nothing in the house, I have to go shopping once your father gets paid’
***
‘Ginny?’ Harry said wandering in ‘Gin, are you home?’
‘Hold on’ she called down the stairs and then appeared in her dressing gown,
‘Gin it’s like five o’clock, why are you in pj’s?’
‘I’m not in Pj’s’ she rubbed the bump in her frame through the thin silk, ‘I was measuring him’
‘Oh… ok then, and we’re still not even sure it’s a he yet, Penny couldn’t tell’
She stuck her tongue out at him, ‘He’s grown a couple more inches’
‘Really, are you sure it’s not going to be twins again?’
‘Penny looked over every inch of the scan honey, she’s sure it’s not twins and anyway he’s not so big’
‘Like she was sure last time when we could only see Patience’s feet - Where are the girls?’
‘Mum took them so I could have a bath in peace, they’ll be back before their bed time’
‘Does that mean I have you to myself for a little while so we can celebrate?’
‘OH MY GOD YOU GOT IT!’ She squealed and leapt on him in a hug, ‘Congratulations honey’
‘Thanks’ he squeezed her gently, ‘It’s going to mean a lot more work though’
‘You’re good at your job, they know that or they wouldn’t have given it to you – and don’t you dare say it’s because you’re Harry Potter or I am not going to celebrate with you, I’m going to punch your lights out’
He kissed her but pulled away to say, ‘I just don’t want everyone else to think that’s why I got it’
‘They won’t and if they do, I’m very hormonal and I might curse them into oblivion’
‘I don’t know if I can use that in your defence when you murder countless wizards and witches honey’
‘Ok, ok I’ll just do the bag bogey on them’
‘A bit better’
***
They sat at the table in Fred’s flat drinking coffee and talking, she spoke up after laughing at his joke,
‘Fred?’
‘Yeah?’ he sipped his coffee,
‘You know what you said about us being friends the other week?’
‘Uh huh’
‘I don’t think that’s enough for me anymore, I mean I really like you and everything…’
‘But you don’t want to be my girlfriend’
She laughed ‘that’s not what I was saying silly’
‘A – Duh’ he grinned as realisation set in ‘Hermione?’
‘Yep’ she smiled at him leaning her head on her hand,
‘Would you like to be my girlfriend?’
‘Ok’
‘Awesome’ he leant over the table to kiss her lips softly and sat back down, ‘That just made my day you know’
‘I know’ she chuckled ‘It made mine to’
She got up to sit on the chair next to him and rested her head on his shoulder; he moved his arm round her back,
‘I haven’t felt this close to someone since – and he turned out to be a pig’
‘He did but although we’re related there’s nothing like him in me’ he kissed her forehead ‘shall we go get dinner?’
‘Why not’
She let him lead her down Diagon Alley holding his hand until they reached there favourite restaurant. The place they’d stop off for a quick meal before going to the cinema or visiting muggle art galleries or joke shops.
‘Erm…’ she looked in the window,
‘I know right, let’s find somewhere else’ he grinned holding her in a hug,
‘Definitely, I mean this was good when we were friends’ she smiled up at him, ‘but since we’re seeing each other properly let’s not go back again please’
He shrugged ‘The leaky cauldron?’
‘I hope you’re joking’
‘Yes’ he laughed, ‘that look of horror, priceless my dear’ he leant down for a kiss and she smirked moving her head away and biting her lip about to move back and kiss him when,
‘Ouch, denied big brother’ said a voice, he emerged from the restaurant with a girl hanging on his arm and a bottle in his hand. Hermione reached with her hand for Fred’s cheek and kissed him meaningfully as she had intended to. He replied in the same tone and they only pulled away when the bottle smashed on the ground near their feet.
Fred moved Hermione behind him and took out his wand,
‘Ronald, go home’
Ronald let out a torrent of obscenities at them, too foul to write and Fred took her hand in his and apparated them to the Burrow.
‘Why here?’
‘I just need to tell them he’s lose and drunk’
‘Ok, I’m going to stay out here; I don’t think Molly will appreciate my presence given the situation’
‘If you feel that way, but she’s always liked you’ He squeezed her hand reassuringly, ‘Don’t worry’ he left her standing there and she sat on the bench,
‘Mum?’
‘George?’
‘Fred mother’
‘Oh, Fred, what are you doing here – if you’re looking for Ron he’s not here, I haven’t seen him for days’
‘I know where he is, he just threw a bottle at me and Hermione in Diagon Alley and he’s blind drunk’
‘You didn’t bring him home with you!’
‘He was throwing stuff and swearing like a sailor, I’m not getting involved in that, he needs to get over himself, I mean she’s only just said yes to being my girlfriend’
‘But you don’t need to go parading it in front of him’
‘We were going out for dinner, are we not allowed to be seen out of the house together anymore or something?’
‘Have you – you know - with her?’
His ears turned a shade of scarlet Ron would be proud of ‘MOTHER!’
‘I – I just thought I’d ask so I know whether this is serious or not’
‘She agreed to be my girlfriend like twenty minutes ago and anyway, we’re not crazy about that like Ron is, we like getting to know each other whereas he likes what he can get from the cheap drunks!’
‘He’s lost her to you how do you think he feels Fred!’
‘He didn’t lose her, he dumped her ages ago, he broke her heart and she ran away!’
‘But he still likes her’
‘She doesn’t want anything to do with him, she came back and she came back different to the girl that left, she came back a woman and we started talking and we get along, we like the same things – she’s not the same person that left, would you like her to tell you herself?’
‘Is she here?’
‘Outside’
‘You left her out in the cold – what kind of hospitality is that?’ she hurried to the door, ‘Hermione dear, come in and have a cup of tea’ she lead her in,
‘Don’t be angry with Fred about leaving me out there, I didn’t want to cause anymore anger by coming in’
‘Don’t be silly dear’ she boiled the kettle and made a pot of tea while sending a patronus to Harry. ‘I know he’s got a lot going on with his promotion and Ginny being pregnant again but he’ll know what to do with Ron’
‘Mrs Weasley’
‘Now for a start it’s Molly’ she smiled sitting at the table with her as Fred did beside Hermione,
‘Molly’ she smiled back politely if not hesitantly, ‘I’m sorry to cause all this mess, I mean I’ve told Ron over and over that I don’t want anything to do with him, Fred and I, well that just happened and we’re happy’ he reached out to hold her hand and she grinned at him, ‘I really like him and when we got to know each other all over again – I’m not the same bushy haired book worm’ she bit her bottom lip gently ‘I saw the world, I saw what was out there and then I came home, he knew I was different from the moment he saw me so did Ron – it’s not just the use of a hair straightener I tell you that – I want different things, I want, even though its hard for Ron to grasp, I want to be with Fred and as strange a match that it might have seemed nearly two years ago, he wants to be with me’
‘Alright’ she patted their joined hands, and a stag patronus charged into the dinning room table and out the other end to stop next to Molly,
‘I’ve got him, he’s sleeping it off in our spare room, and I’ll drop him off in the morning’ she sent back the thank you with a sigh,
‘We’re gonna go Mum’ they stood up,
‘Why don’t you stay for dinner, toad in the hole?’
‘You know how to tempt me with my favourite Ma’ he looked to Hermione,
‘We can stay if you want; I like Toad in the hole too’
‘With my roast potatoes and some carrots your father grew’ she waved a knobbly looking orange vegetable at them
‘Sure’ Hermione sat down again, ‘They look….organic’ she grinned as Fred went to sit down laughing but missed the chair and landed on the floor,
‘Ouch’ he grinned rubbing his backside, ‘Well that snapped my tail off, you should be relieved Mione, once less weird thing about me but you’ve still got my family’
She moved to sit next to him and kissed his cheek, ‘I like your family’
‘And we like you too’ Molly said moving round the kitchen with ease and a smile on her face. ‘Now just to sort out Ronald’ she thought to herself.

lilly_luna · 12-30-2011, 09:41 AM

Chapter Sixty One
Harry knocked on the door, unlocked it with his wand and went in. Ron sat with his head in hands on the bed.
‘You look rough’
‘Thanks that’s just what I needed to hear’
‘You chose to do it to yourself’
‘What else have I got to do hey; I’m not the chosen one, I don’t coach the top quidditch team in the league, I don’t run a massive magical joke shop or measure cauldrons for the ministry and I don’t work for the only massive magical bank in the country’
‘Then find something to do’ he set the plated fry up on the draws ‘Gin made it – better then your mums, eat up’
‘Hmm’
He put a potion next to it ‘This ought to get rid of the hangover’
‘Thanks’
‘You need to stop wallowing and pull yourself together Ron, she doesn’t want you’
‘She wants Fred, yeah, yeah, I get that’
‘So don’t make it so difficult for yourself’
‘Gimme my wand so I can go and not have to listen to you lecturing me when you have the perfect life sitting in your living room of your house’
‘Eat, wash, gain some dignity and I might consider it’ he left and locked the door again.

He walked down the stairs to Ginny waiting at the bottom,
‘Is he ok?’
‘He loved her but not enough to go after her’ he shrugged ‘He’s just making himself depressed and drunk so he can complain and wallow in misery’
‘Big baby’ she sighed, ‘He’s so lucky the girls were asleep when you brought him back swearing his head off’
‘You still bat bogeyed him, stunned him and then got me to levitate him into the room’
‘Pain in the butt’ she crossed her arms ‘He’s not going to see the girls until he cleans up his act, I’m not having him around them like that so he has to go back to the Burrow by this afternoon’
‘I told Molly I’d bring him this morning, let him eat and shower and then I’ll take him’
‘You’ll be late for work’
‘I won’t, I’ll go in and come back after the morning meeting ok’
‘Ok’
‘See you later love’ he kissed her cheek and then grabbed his cloak to leave. She went into the living room to the girls just as Charlie walked through the fireplace,
‘Hey Gin, is he still here?’
She sighed sitting on the couch and rubbing the bump, ‘Ron or Harry?’
‘Ron’
‘Locked upstairs’
‘Mum sent me to come get him’
‘Uncle Charlie!’ Faith reached up to him and he picked her up to sit her on his lap,
‘Alright love’ he grinned and lifted her onto his lap, Ginny heard the shower go in the en suite,
‘Let him clean himself up a bit’
‘Did he tell you what happened?’
‘No, mum just sent Harry a message at work, he found him walking down diagon alley and he was levitating rubbish bins at the joke shop windows, didn’t do any damage he’s lucky they bothered to put a protection charm on the place’
‘It’s been ages why hasn’t gotten over it, I mean he dumped her’
‘He’s just vying for attention’ she muttered ‘Harry dragged him in swearing and shouting’
‘How does he have the money to be getting drunk all the time – he doesn’t work’
She frowned, her jaw clenched, ‘Harry might have lent him some just until he found a job – getting fired from his last one didn’t help’
Charlie cringed ‘How much and does he ever think he’s ever going to see it again?’
‘His bonus for the Pendragon case… it was quite a bit, we were going to put the girls in the local child care place but it will wait’
‘Gin’
‘He was helping his best friend out, I don’t begrudge him that, just wish he’d told me before he did it and not after’
‘You’d think mum would have done something by now, I mean tied him up in his room or erased his memory of her’
‘She says he’s just trying to find himself’
‘Getting drunk and sleeping with anything that moves is not doing that’ he rubbed his forehead ‘I’ll have a word with him, I know Harry will have tried, maybe if enough people do he’ll start changing his attitude’
‘You could try’ she patted Patience’s hair as she reached up to sit on her lap,
The little girl spoke up, ‘Mummy?’
‘Yes sweetie’
She looked around ‘Where Daddy?’
‘He’s at work; he’ll be back for dinner’
‘Aww’
‘I’ll just have to do till then’ she grinned kissing her forehead, ‘How’s Soph?’
‘Eight months, we went shopping for clothes and stuff for the nursery the other day, I never realised how much we need’
‘I would say you could have some of the girls stuff but I don’t think CJ will appreciate dresses’
‘Nope, you could save them for your next though’
She shook her head ‘Finally got the proof it’s a he’
‘Harry’s happy I bet’
‘Very, and he’s glad that we don’t have to paint another room pink’ she smiled, ‘He’s out’ she nodded her head upstairs ‘These two get up to mischief when I’m not here, would you?’ she asked,
‘Sure, does he have his wand?’
‘Ah no, Harry hid it in the office – urgh the door’s locked too so they don’t sneak in – I’ll put them in the pen and get it while you get him’
‘Ok’
‘Patience don’t’ she touched her daughters hand gently to lower it as the teddy she was reaching for floated towards her ‘You won’t be able to do it at play school so you can’t do it here until you’re old enough’
She started to cry,
‘Honey if you want your teddy ask me’
‘Mummy’
‘Yeah’
‘I want my Boo-boo’
‘Here you go’ she picked her up as she stood and walked to the teddy on the floor, she gave it to her and then put her in the play pen, going for Faith in Charlie’s arms, ‘Look forward to when yours figures out how to get the ice cream out of the freezer without moving from the high chair’
He laughed ‘I can’t wait’ and went up to Ron’s door,
‘Ron?’
‘What?’
‘Are you dressed and ready to go?’
‘I can’t go anywhere without my wand and I don’t need you to escort me’
‘I’m here because Mum’s worried about you’
‘Go home and worry about your perfect life, with your perfect little wife – oh yeah she’s a whale now I forgot’
Charlie swore at him,
‘You know it’s true, anyway how is she now you’ve made her settle, I bet she resents you for it’
‘Shut up and grow up’
‘You know if she leaves you, I promise she will, it will be with some surfer muggle – you know the daft ones that jump out into the ocean on there pieces of foam and hope not to drown’
‘Stop acting like such a brat, she’s not going to leave me; she loves me, nobody loves you and by the sound of things no one ever will’
‘I don’t need people to love me I need them to leave me alone’
‘Then you can just stay in there’
He went back down,
‘And…’
‘If I come face to face with him I’m going to punch him’
‘Merlin, you know what watch the girls will you, I’m going to have a go’
‘I’m not letting you take that, I couldn’t listen to him insult Soph, you’re in no condition to put up with it after what happened with you and stress last time’
‘We’ll be fine; James is like his dad, he’ll be able to cope’
‘Gin’
‘Charlie’ she smiled ‘Thanks for your concern but it’s ok, I want him out of the house and I’m going to get rid of him, he can say all the nasty things he wants in the three seconds before I stun him’

She walked up to the door, ‘Ron’
‘What now?’
‘Are you ready to go?’
‘Yes’
‘Are you going to apologise for insulting Charlie’s wife and my sister?’
‘I haven’t seen you in a while are you just as big as her, is that why you won’t open the door?’
‘Don’t be so mean brother’
‘That’s what all the guys I know are good at though – I mean knocking up girls, marrying them out of obligation’
‘You never loved her, you could have never have fathered her children because you’re so spiteful and pathetic she would never have let you near her – in fact as I recall she refused to on several occasions’
‘I bet she pounced on Fred without a second thought’
‘So what if she did, I may not like her but she’s a damn sight closer to being family to me then you are right now – you’re acting spoilt and mean and ignorant’
‘Things a child would say, have you grown up yet sissy or are you still waiting to frozen as a teenage housewife’
‘I maybe eighteen but I have a family who love me, I have a husband who loves me and our children, I’m expecting my first son and I live in a lovely little cottage and I have what I’ve always wanted – albeit sooner then expected – but I have a life and you Ronnykins, you have nothing, and unless you change your attitude you’re going to end up alone and miserable for the rest of your life’ she pointed her wand and unlocked the door,
‘You may have it all but look how you got it, you used what ever you could to get Harry flaming Potter’
She stunned him and he fell to the floor with a thump, she tied him up and levitated him down the stairs,
‘Don’t worry girls Uncle Ron’s just taking a little nap’ she dropped him on the floor without caring if it hurt and handed Charlie Ron’s wand,
‘If you could take him back that would be great, I’ll sent a patronus to Harry telling him to stay at work and then put the girls down for a nap before I break into hysterical tears’
Charlie hugged her to him, ‘What did he say to you?’
‘Just horrible things’ she felt the tears, ‘I said mean things too but he was – I’ve never heard him like that, so bitter and twisted even when me and Harry first started dating’
Charlie kissed the top of her head, ‘You should go see Sophia, talk baby talk it will make you feel better and she misses you – having to catch the knight bus to see people drives her nuts’
‘Drives me nuts to – with them as well’ she gestured to the twins ‘I’ll have to make sure they’re dead to the world before I put them in a pram on that thing or they don’t sit still’
‘Why don’t I get her to come to you?’
‘She’s more pregnant then I am, I’m not that mean’ she laughed ‘They’ll be off soon, I’ll go then ok?’
‘Sure’
‘Aren’t you at work today?’
‘Yeah – later, trainings this afternoon, then I’ve got interviews and stuff’ he scratched the back of his neck ‘Not used to them yet’ he smirked,
‘You will’ she leaned in for hug and smiled ‘She’s already on her way, thank god’ she glanced at Patience lying on the bottom of the pen sucking her thumb as Faith played with the doll and teddy,
‘See you later sissy’ he squeezed her, let go and then levitated Ron out,
She left them in there just to sleep as she wandered to the kitchen; she stopped holding the side feeling a sharp pain in her belly. She held onto him and slid onto the floor.
‘Ahh’ she bit her lip trying to remember where her wand was,
‘Faith – Faith can you find Mummy’s wand?’
‘It’s on table’
‘Can you use your magic sweetie?’
‘You said no’
‘Sweetie mummy’s telling you it’s ok, she needs her wand and she can’t get it’ she was trying not to cry so hard, but it slowed when her wand floated towards her through the door.
She sent the patronus to Penny and then Harry.

potionsmaster22 · 01-09-2012, 10:26 PM

New Reader!! I have finally caught up.. I've been reading your story over my Christmas break. It is fantastic!

I hope Ginny and the baby are okay
PAMS
~sam~

lilly_luna · 01-16-2012, 12:25 PM

Chapter Sixty two

He came first; he rushed in and called out,
‘Ginny!’
‘Kitchen’
‘Honey’ he knelt down,
‘He’s coming, it’s too early and he’s coming’
‘It’s going to be ok’ he held her hand, ‘He’s going to be ok’
She came through the fireplace then,
Faith called, ‘Mummy, mummy!’
‘Go to them’ she said breathlessly, ‘Take them to mums’
Penny came in ‘Ginny?’
‘I can’t leave now’ Harry said stroking her forehead,
‘DO IT!’ She yelled ‘Please Harry’ she sobbed ‘Please, I can’t have them hearing this’
‘Ok’ he kissed her forehead and reluctantly let her go.

‘Ginny you’re going to be fine ok’ she held her hand ‘Now he’s early, really early and the best thing would be Mungo’s but right now, right now we can’t move you anywhere’
She huffed and heaved and tried to breathe raggedly nodding,

Harry picked up Patience laying her on his shoulder and took Faith’s hand,
‘We’re just going to see Grandma’ he smiled, swallowing dryly and led them to the fireplace.
They stepped though to Molly shouting at Ron,
‘Harry – shouldn’t you be at work’
‘Gin – labour – girls’ he said feeling the tears on his cheeks and remembering the last time.
She stared and stared, Ron stepped forward taking a sleeping Patience from his arms and reaching for Faith’s hand,
‘Come on princess - I’ll look after them, go on’
Harry nodded and turned back into the flames.

He got back and she was screaming. He wiped his eyes and went to her.
‘Gin – Gin, he’s going to be ok’
‘He’s not ready!’ she sobbed, as he shuffled to sit behind her knees at her waist and stroking her head as it lay on his collar bone,
‘He’ll be fine’
‘We’re going to be here a while Ginny’ Penny said waving her wand over her, ‘I can give you something for the pain’
‘I don’t want anything, I won’t be able to feel him, I want to – I have to feel him’
‘What ever you want’
‘I don’t want him yet, I’m not ready Harry, I’m not ready either’
‘You will be, just like last time, just think like that, once you hold him you’ll be ready’
‘We always knew him being premature could happen, we talked about this remember Gin, because of the girls and the problems’
‘I know’ she reached to hold his neck, to his cheek. He could feel the sweat on her palm, she was tired already and he felt her weight against his chest as they sat there.
‘I love you, but if we lose him – can you still love me if we lose him?’
‘Gin don’t talk like that, nothings going to happen, he’s just early’
‘Harry’
‘I love you no matter what’ he kissed the side of her head ‘always, till death do us part Gin remember’
‘Uh huh’ she mumbled and then squeezed his hand feeling another contraction.
‘How long is a while Penny?’
‘Hours, her waters broken he’s just pushing and moving’
‘What about a c-section?’
‘Last resort, being here, not sterile – there is no chance of moving them until he’s born and we’ll have to be quick being this premature’
‘What if I called an ambulance let the muggles take over’
‘I’m a witch; you’re a wizard I’m not going to a muggle hospital for them to cut him out of me!’
‘They’d have better experience with this Gin’
‘At home or at Mungo’s’
‘Ok’ there was no point trying to argue.

There was a voice in the living room, Harry recognised it as Arthurs.
‘Kitchen’ he called out,
‘Molly sent me to check up’
‘He’ll be a little while yet’
Arthur knelt down beside them, ‘Don’t be scared darling’ he kissed her cheek,
‘Daddy’ she mumbled,
He moved the hair sticking to her face from perspiration,
‘He’ll be alright, just like his dad hey, impatient to get things done’ he patted Harry’s shoulder, ‘Ron’s took the girls to the park, they’re distracted’
‘They need lunch’ she said barely breathing, ‘No junk, Mum’s not to spoil them with sugar or they’ll lose the teeth they’ve got’ she smiled,
‘Taken care of, you just think about this one hey’
‘Tell Charlie he was right, I couldn’t cope with Ron’ she smirked ‘I’m going to kill him when this is done with’
‘What did he do?’
‘Harry, it can wait for you to get mad at him’ Arthur said with a small smile, ‘I’ll get back to work, I’ll tell Rowan what’s going on with you ok, he’ll be fine this is emergency and well you to are best buddies anyway so he’ll cover’
‘Thanks Arthur’
She looked up at him ‘Dad?’
‘Yes’
‘You said – ah – you said Ron has the twins?’
He nodded,
‘I want mum to watch him with them’
‘Don’t worry, they’re fine, he’s their uncle’ he left before she could say anything else and she was too busy screaming in pain anyway.

It was another four hours before he arrived and Penny had called for two healers, transport and incubation to take them to Mungo’s.
She wanted to hold him, to look at him even but they had taken him away from her.
‘I feel empty’ she sat beside Harry on the hospital bed in the back of the van. They had a curtain up and around the clear plastic box he was in covered in tubes and they hadn’t opened them since they first got in the ambulance. ‘I want to see him’ she cried on Harry’s shoulder, ‘I want to see him, to hold him so badly’
‘Soon sweetheart, soon’ he stroked her cheek to wipe away tears,
‘I can’t do this again Harry’
‘Alright’
‘I mean it, my body doesn’t like it, and it keeps trying to hurt them’
‘Don’t’ he held onto her ‘don’t think like that’

They arrived and were bundled out separately. He was taken away and they got a parting glance as he was wheeled down the corridor and they moved into a private room. Penny came in,
‘Ginny, Harry’
Ginny spoke up to her ‘Why can’t we see him?’
‘He’s very small, very delicate, he’s got some problems breathing and the incubation will help with that’
‘When can we see him?’
‘Soon, I promise, very soon – for now does he have a name?’
‘James Arthur Potter’
‘Lovely, ok, so little James is three pounds two ounces and not quite ready to be held yet’
‘So small’ she mumbled ‘He’s barely--’sobs cut off her words as Harry embraced her gently,
‘– I know how much you want to but it’s just not going to happen while he’s so fragile. He’s going to have a feeding tube for now and once he’s strong enough we can see how he goes out side the incubator’
Harry continued the questioning, ‘How long will he have to stay?’
‘The average stay of a premature baby is six to eight weeks; we can’t rush getting them to a healthy weight’
‘What about holding him?’
‘That is – you can visit him anytime you like, we’ll show you how to sterilize your hands and give you gowns and you can touch him with gloves on in the incubator, but holding would usually be two or three weeks’
‘That long until – I can’t wait that long to hold him’ she sobbed into Harry’s arms, ‘I can’t wait to know if he’s ok, why couldn’t he wait; why did he come so soon?’
‘Too eager to see the world, to meet his mum and dad’ she smiled gently and stroked her head,
‘I’m going to see if they’re ready to let you in now, I’ll be back shortly with some more answers’

She left as Charlie arrived. He looked in through the door and was about to leave thinking better then to disturb them,
‘It’s ok’ she beckoned with a hand, ‘Come in’
‘Are you guys – there’s no point in asking if you’re ok, I can see things aren’t’
‘He’s so small and they’ve taken him’ she said wiping her eyes, ‘We have to see him through a box and we can’t hold him, I’m his mum and I want to hold him but I can’t for weeks’
‘He’s a fighter, he’ll come through, he’s tough, he’s got your and Harry’s genes’ he smiled ‘He’s got mums too so no doubt he’s a stubborn little fella, he won’t give up’
‘Hmm’ she sighed, feeling like she couldn’t cry anymore,
‘You need to rest Gin’
‘Not till I’ve seen him’
‘Nap, I’ll wake you as soon as she comes back’
‘I can’t’ she let out a yawn; trying to fight closing her eyes against his warm and comforting embrace.
‘You have a name and weight?’ he said softly ‘So I can tell the others?’
‘James Arthur, three pounds two’ Harry noted the worry on Charlie’s face at that ‘Born at four thirty six’
‘Ok’ he wrote it in a note pad in his pocket and read it back to check it was right. ‘I’ll let them know, Ron hasn’t let the twins out of his sight, they’re ok, they ask for you two’ he saw she was sleeping against his arm and smiled ‘I’ll check on them, we’ll see you soon’
‘Thanks Charlie’ he left and Harry lay her on the pillows gently and tucked her in. He sat watching for half an hour before Penny came back.
‘If you’d like to come with me you can see him now’ she smiled reassuringly,
‘Gin – Gin honey’ he said softly moving hair from her cheek as she stirred and woke up,
‘Hmm’
‘We can see him’ he grinned watching her face light up and she sat up urgently,
‘Gently now Ginny, you’re still quite fragile yourself’ Penny tapped the chair beside the bed turning it into a wheelchair and Harry picked her up and plonked her in it softly,
‘Just a couple more minutes and you’ll be able to say hi’ she said as they walked down the corridor, ‘He’s stable and everything’s looking good, his heart rates stronger and they’ve cleaned up his eyes so he can open them – he’s quite a wriggler I imagine he moved a far bit and kept you awake at night’ she smiled as she spoke,
‘Not so much’ she bit her lip anxiously as they got the doorway of the room,
‘Here we go’ she handed over conjured blue gowns and gloves before opening the door to the room and walking to the only baby in the room.
‘Little James is the only one today, hasn’t been that many wizarding births of late people are waiting longer to settle’

She stared helplessly into the box and reached to touch the plastic,
‘So… so tiny’ he said for the both of them looking in at the doll sized, baby grow clad little one sleeping with tubes on his nose and a line into his ankle,
‘He’ll be bigger and stronger before you know it’
‘Hmm’ Ginny said,
‘We’ll keep you in over night Gin, but after you’re discharged you can come day or night – that goes for the both of you – he can have up to three visitors in here at a time, I’m sorry but no other children, the risk of infection is too high’
‘Only the girls – they’re not old enough to understand yet, I mean they don’t know he’s here or he was coming – they just thought mummy was getting fat’ she smiled ‘We’ll tell when he’s ready to come home’ she stroked the clear plastic,
‘You can reach in and touch his hand’
‘I can – I don’t want to wake him’
‘You just let him know you’re here, he’ll know it’s you, he’ll know you’re mummy’ Penny said pushing her chair forward,
She touched his hand with her pinkie, his fingers wrapping round it as he yawned and blinked,
‘He’s awake – Aww’
‘It’s ok’
His dark eyes blinked and took in her smiling face,
‘Hello sweetheart, its Mummy and Daddy to come and see you’ she felt his hand let go and reached to touch his forehead softly brushing a finger over it,
‘He’s so soft and cute, Harry, say hello to him’
He was wiping his eyes on his wrist anxiously trying not to let her see him cry, she pulled her gaze away when she noticed Harry didn’t move any closer,
‘You big softy’ she mumbled and stood up to hug him ‘Just like you were last time’ she reached up for a kiss and then they both turned holding each other to take in James again.
‘He’s going to look just like you’ she said with a grin ‘James’ genes aren’t ever going to die out in the boys of this family are they’
‘Hmm’ he reached in to him watching his hand grasp his little finger just like it had with Ginny’s,
‘Good motor reflexes, I reckon he’ll be a seeker too’ Penny added, ‘I’ll leave you two to him for a bit and then they’re going to want to ask you something’s, sort out the paperwork’
They both nodded neither of them taking their eyes from him closing his and going back to sleep.

Welcome my new reader, this chapters for you :-) ! it's so good to have one after so long of writing just for me lol xox

potionsmaster22 · 01-16-2012, 08:24 PM

Aww thanks! Oh im so glad he's okay... and ironically, i was born premature and i weighed 3lbs. 2oz

haha
Can't wait for more!!
~sam~

lilly_luna · 01-23-2012, 12:44 AM

Chapter Sixty Three

‘Premature – but everything was going ok wasn’t it?’ Soph asked of Charlie as she banged around the kitchen in agitation,
‘It was – honey what are you doing?’
‘I don’t know, I think I might bake something, I need something to do I’m going mad and now I’m worried about them’
‘You stress out and you’ll just be in hospital sooner just like Gin’
‘What stressed her out?’
‘Ron’ he mumbled and rubbed his neck nervously,
‘What happened Charlie?’ she folded her arms on top of her eight month belly and gave him a frown not so unlike her mother in laws,
‘He was drunk last night I told you and mum asked me to get him from their place this morning because she knew Harry would be at work and Gin had the girls and the baby so she couldn’t drop him off’
‘He was drunk and throwing stuff at Fred and Hermione I got that, what happened this morning Charlie?’
‘I went up to get him, he said something’s about you and it ended up I left him in there – he was locked in so he couldn’t leave and wander again’
‘And then’
‘And then Ginny went up and had a word with him’
‘You let her get angry and stressed in her condition after what happened last time!’
‘I tried to stop her, I really did but she wouldn’t listen, she said they’d be fine so she went up spoke to him, stunned him and levitated him down the stairs’
‘She managed that but he said something about me and you couldn’t?’
‘I’m extremely protective of you, he called you a whale’
‘Right I’m going to kill him!’
‘And now you’re stressed, I’m not very good at this’ he sighed,
‘Yes you are, it’s just him he makes people angry and combined with these hormones I’m ready to kill someone’
‘Calm down love’ he smiled wandering over to hug and kiss her ‘they’re all fine; I stopped by the hospital so I could come back and tell you so’
‘Hmm’
‘He’s little and they weren’t allowed to see him when I was there, they won’t able to hold him for a few weeks but they’ll take good care of him at Mungo’s’
‘Uh huh’ she started to cry,
‘Soph’
‘Poor Harry and Gin’ she was soaking through his shoulder, ‘Where are the girls?’
‘With Ron’
‘What!’
‘Harry dropped them off at the Burrow, Mum was – is – in shock, she hasn’t moved from her chair in the kitchen, Ron’s been looking after them’
‘We have to go and see them’
‘They’re fine’
‘I’m not having my nieces looked after by your horrid brother’
‘Soph’
‘He’s nasty and rude and violent, he doesn’t know the first thing about looking after them’
‘He’s babysat before, he loves them – if he’s not nice to anyone else he is to them no matter what, he turns into a big wet blanket around them and they have him wrapped around their fingers’
‘I want to see for myself’
‘Ok’ he nodded ‘Tell you what why don’t we stay for a few days, you can be with Molly and bake and be anxious together’
‘Not that hormonal and crazy yet’ she muttered ‘we go for a visit and not a stay’
‘Sure’ he smirked and kissed her cheek, ‘Get ready and then I’ll call the knight bus for a ride’

They arrived and Ron answered with a twin hanging on his leg and the other attached to his arm fast asleep,
He mumbled ‘Hey’ looking down and letting them come in,
‘Uncle Charlie’ the one on his leg released him and held her arms out to Charlie,
‘Hello Faith’ he lifted her up,
‘Auntie Sophie’ she waved, ‘Where’s mummy but’
‘They’ll be back soon darling’ she kissed her forehead and stroked her hair, she saw Molly in the chair and the cold tea beside her. ‘Help Ron put them to bed’ she gestured ‘They’ll be in Gin’s old room won’t they?’
He nodded and went up with them, she sat beside Molly and took her hand,
‘You know they’re both fine Molly’ she smiled, and she nodded, ‘There’s nothing to worry about, they’re being looked after’
She nodded ‘Why haven’t you gone to see them yet?’
‘I don’t want to get in the way’
‘If anything you’re who she’ll want there Molly, I’d know I’d want you and Gwen with me’
‘I can’t leave Ron with the girls’
‘He’s been fine all day, Charlie said you haven’t moved’
‘Hmm’
‘Charlie and I are here, you can go, Arthur will want to go with you or he’ll be there already and waiting for you’ she checked her watch ‘He’ll have finished work by now surely’
She nodded again,
Sophia went to the door way and retrieved Molly’s cloak, ‘Here you go’ and placed a handful of floo powder in her palm before guiding her to the flames, ‘Go and meet your Grandson, I’m sure he’ll want to meet you’

She stepped in and said her destination arriving and still in a daze as she made her way up. She asked for directions and was led by a healer who was worried about her. Cara took her arm and guided her up to them and even put the gown and gloves on her before opening the door and persuading her in the room.
‘Mum’ Ginny rushed up and out of the wheel chair and hugged her tightly ‘I’m so glad to see you’
‘Sweetheart’ she kissed her head, ‘Is he ok?’
She nodded in her arms, ‘Come and see’
Harry was sitting in the chair in the corner passed out in sleep,
‘So – so tiny’ she sighed ‘Just like you were’
‘I was?’
‘You were a couple months early, they said because I’d had six already there was going to be no doubt about you just being an easy birth – done with in a half hour love – but you were small too’
‘Oh’
‘But here you are now so he’s going to be fine too’
Harry stirred in his sleep,
‘Make him go home with you will you mum, he needs sleep – proper sleep in a bed and to see the girls’
‘Alright love’
‘Dad’s popped in, he’s had to go back to work though, things are mad with some muggles getting hold of flying pigs’
‘Oh, alright’
‘How are the girls?’
‘Fine, fine, Ron’s been with them the entire day, Sophia and Charlie are there now helping him put them to bed’
‘Faith won’t sleep in a strange place without Harry putting her down first; they’re going to have fun’
‘Ron’s tired them out with the park and games first’
‘She’s been known to stay awake for hours while Patience sleeps on and on – she’s always last to go to sleep and first to wake up’
‘Ok’
‘Penny’s going to be back soon, she has to make sure I go to bed before she finishes her shift apparently’
‘Good, you need sleep too honey, you all do’
‘I know, I’ll say bye to Harry first’
‘I have a feeling that Soph will be here to see you tomorrow; she looked so worried when she arrived’
‘She needs to just worry about her own for now, we’ll be fine, and worrying about us won’t do her any good’
‘She sends her love to the three of you’
Harry yawned and woke up,
‘Oh, hey Molly’
‘Harry’ she wandered over and hugged him, ‘Now I’m not taking no for an answer you have to come home with me’
‘Mmm’
‘Faith won’t sleep without you’ Ginny put in ‘It’s taking three of them to put them down at the Burrow’
‘OK’ he stretched ‘I’ll say goodbye then’ he looked in on James,
‘See you soon son’ and then went to Gin, ‘I’ll be back as soon as I’m awake’
‘Make it after you’ve given the girls breakfast’
‘Sure’ he leant in for a kiss, ‘Love you’
‘Love you too’
They let go and he waited for Molly to hug and kiss her before following her out and to the fireplaces.

lol funnily enough i picked 3lb2 cause thats what i was too !

potionsmaster22 · 01-23-2012, 01:12 AM

wow such a coincidence haha

Loved the chapter. I hope baby James gets to come home soon!!
PAMS
~ Sam ~

lilly_luna · 01-31-2012, 10:35 AM

Chapter Sixty Four

Three weeks later

‘Gin, I’ve got some news’ she grinned walking in to her sitting by the incubator with her hand touching his,
‘Yep’ she turned to Penny,
‘They’re saying you can hold him this afternoon’
She allowed the grin to spread ‘Really’
‘Really, they know you’ll want to wait for Harry to have finished work and they want to weigh him again to check he’s ok but other then that, tonight he’s all yours’
‘Awesome’ she tickled his belly gently as he wriggled and wrinkled his nose gurgling.
‘I’ll be back later sweetheart, I’ve just got to see your sisters and tell your Daddy the good news on his lunch break’

***
Sophia yawned and pulled her self up off the couch, he squirmed as he had been for the last ten minutes.
‘You’re a week early I’ll give you that’ she waddled to pick up her wand and the over night bag by the door, ‘It’s ok though, you’ll take a little longer to get here I’m guessing’ she locked the door and put out her wand for the knight bus. The bouncy trip to the hospital was done in record time; they’d taken one look at her and bumped her up the list to be dropped off first. She paid, said thanks and made her way to the hospital entrance.
She found Cara, who led her to a room and she sent the patronus to Charlie, as she held her belly feeling the contractions getting stronger,

He was on his broom in the middle of instructing the team though a drill when the lioness appeared on the pitch,
‘I’m at Mungo’s, I’m in labour, don’t fall off your broom Charlie’
The team cheered, he swooped down to land and grinning apparated to the hospital.

‘Soph’ he went straight to her,
‘Hey’ she held his hand, ‘You look scared’ she giggled ‘He’ll be a little while yet’
‘Ok’
‘They’ve been warning me it could go into tomorrow’
‘Oh – really’
‘He’s not impatient to get here I guess’
‘But he’s defiantly coming’
‘Yeah, the pains there I’m just good at hiding it – just you wait it won’t be long before I’m screaming like Gin’
‘Merlin, can I leave for that bit then?’
‘I’ve got your hand, I’m not letting go’ she cringed and squeezed it feeling a surge of pain.
He laughed nervously and used his free hand to send a patronus to the Burrow, ‘She’ll tell everyone, that’s that covered’ he leant in to kiss her forehead ‘So now we just wait then’
‘Yep, don’t worry, I’m terrified too’

***
‘Here you go guys, he’s a lot bigger then he was you can tell now he’s out of the incubator’ she placed him in Ginny’s arms in a blanket with the tubes still attached,
‘But still smaller then the girls were’
‘He’ll be bigger soon enough’ Harry said watching the way she was looking at him like she never wanted to let him go.
Cara knocked on the door for Penny,
‘Yep’
‘Sophia Blacks checked - oh hi guys’
‘Sophia’s here?’ Harry said looking up ‘She in labour?’
‘Yep, be a while yet, you’ve got time to spend with James before you even have to worry about their little one’
‘Ok’ he stroked James head,
‘Erm, Penny, need to have a word with you about something’
‘Sure’ she looked at them with James ‘I’ll be back in a sec’ she left to go out to her,

‘What is it?’
‘The baby’s heart beat – it’s strange, it’s there but there is something weird about it, I think there might be a small hole – can you check it out?’
‘Sure – they have a half hour with him before he has to go back in, could you stay with them?’
‘Ok’
***
‘Hi, Mr and Mrs Black, I’m Penny, the healer in charge of the maternity unit’
‘Hi’ Soph smiled ‘I remember you from Ginny’
‘That’s right – they’re here, they’re having there first hold of little James this time round’ she fiddle with the sound on the machine attached to Soph’s belly, ‘But I’m here because there has been some concern about this little one’
‘What do you mean?’ Charlie said anxiously,
‘His heart beat is – ah its just a little off – hmm – yep’ she turned it down and prepared to tell them the news, ‘Ok, we’re going to make sure he’s fine but the best thing for him right now is a c-section because by the sound of the beat he has a small hole – the machines we use now are lot more sensitive so it wouldn’t have been as noticeable before but you are lucky you came in now before the contractions got any worse’
‘So can you fix it – the hole?’
‘Yep, but we have to get him out quick sharp before it changes and in case it gets worse during the birth – his heart rate would go up as you have to push him out and we can’t be sure it will be able to take it’
‘OK’
‘I’ll get an orderly to take you guys straight down – Dad can be in there too to hold your hand, you’ll be awake the entire time and then we’ll take him straight to be fixed up’
‘Ok’ she said again still in shock,
Charlie held on to her gently, ‘He’s going to be ok, she said he’s going to be ok they just have to fix it’
‘Uh huh’ she could feel the tears down her cheeks and he didn’t release his grip on her hand to lean in and wipe them away,
‘He’s going to be fine; they know what they’re doing’

‘And here we go’ Penny held the blanketed bundle to Sophia’s chest so she could see him,
‘He’s, he’s – Charlie he’s’
‘I know’ he reached to touch his head,
‘Now I know this seems so cruel but it’s good for him to meet you first, before we take him off for surgery’ they each gave him a kiss and then watched her take him into the next room,
‘We’ll close you up and he’ll be back in your arms soon enough’ a healer said as they worked and then they were lead to a private room to wait it out. Molly had been nervously roaming the halls waiting for them, had checked in on Ginny, Harry and James had told them when she found out about the c section and then spent time trying to find Sophia’s room.

Ginny stayed to watch James as Harry left to see Sophia after he was sure him leaving wasn’t going to annoy her and he’d asked her three times if it was ok.

‘Soph’ he opened the door and she held her arms out for him immediately, he smiled reassuringly and wrapped her in the hug, ‘How is everything?’ he nodded to Molly and Gwen sitting anxiously in the corner,
‘He’s going to be ok, they’re going to put him in with James and tell us when we can see him’
‘What was it that was wrong?’
‘A hole, a little hole in his heart – they said it’s a defect that just happens sometimes’
‘But they said he’ll be fine right, they know what they’re doing here, me and Gin wouldn’t have had the girls or James if it wasn’t for Mungo’s’
‘I know’ she sniffed ‘They let me hold him for a second when he came out, he’s got red hair’ she smiled
‘You guys named him?’
‘Hmm’ she bit her lip as Charlie laughed lightly,
‘We wanted to ask you first’
Harry looked between them ‘Erm… what?’
‘We want to call him Harry silly’ Soph said ‘Harry Tobias Black’
‘Oh’ he blinked ‘Are you sure?’
‘If it’s ok with Gin, I mean she won’t be annoyed after wanting to call your next Harry Jr or something…’
‘I don’t think we’re going to – it’s fine’ he swallowed nervously, ‘its fine with me… ’ he walked out and Soph made to go after him. Charlie stopped her and went himself,
‘Harry?’
‘She doesn’t want any more kids, after this, after the twins, she’s too scared too’
‘Oh’
‘She says she just hurts them’
‘And you want more?’
‘I’ll do whatever she wants, I won’t push her for more children if she doesn’t want more’
‘She probably does but from her history she has every reason to want to avoid it too, the pain of it all again and again – I don’t think she could cope to lose a baby Harry’
‘I know, and I know it’s extremely selfish of me to want more kids with her when she can’t bear the thought after nearly losing the three we’re so lucky to have’
‘Maybe given time, maybe when James’ ok and the girls are grown up a little more – you’ve still got time to change your mind about things, most people don’t have kids till there my age or older now’
‘I don’t think she’ll ever change her mind’
‘If you love her you’ll live with that’
‘Charlie I know, I just wish… I’ve always wanted a big family, like the one you’ve come from, were everyone has somebody, I had no one, for ten miserable years I had no one and now when I thought-’ he rubbed his forehead ‘- Just forget I said anything and tell Soph I’d be honoured to have him named after me’ he made to leave but Charlie stopped him again,
‘You have to tell her’
‘What?’
‘You have to tell Ginny how you feel’
‘No I don’t, not if it will hurt her, not if it makes her feel obligated – if we have more children it has to be because we both want it not because she’s trying to make me happy, not so that she feels she needs to keep me with her, it doesn’t matter what goes on, I’ll have her, I’ll have the twins and James, we’ll have a family’
‘A family you won’t ever be satisfied with’
‘Don’t say that’
‘But it’s true; you’ll always want more from Gin without even realising you’ll pressure her into it’
‘I will not’
‘You do it Harry – I’ve seen you do it and she knows you do it, it’s your kind of personality’
‘I – I couldn’t – I wouldn’t force her’
‘She moved in with you, she kept the twins, she agreed to marry you while she was practically on her death bed, she kept James – did she ever tell you she was seeing someone to talk to about it all, did she ever tell you she didn’t want him or feel ready for him?’
‘Don’t’ he shook his head,
‘You know what you’ve done to her and you know you have no right to ask her for more children after she never wanted this life in the first place’
‘You sound like Ron you know’
‘Maybe he’s right, in something’s maybe’
‘I’m not going to hit you because you’ve just had a kid and it would upset Soph’
‘Thank you’
‘I think I’m going to check on my wife and my son now’
‘Ok’

He left and Charlie returned to Soph,

‘What was that about – is he ok – has something happened with James?’
‘No, he’s fine, it’s nothing’
‘Then why didn’t he comeback in – tell me the truth Charlie’
‘He said he’d be honoured for you to name him after him’
‘What else – you didn’t spent that amount of time talking about that’
‘Don’t worry about it’
‘When you say that I can’t help but to do so – if you don’t tell me I’ll go and ask him’
‘Sophia, its ok’ Molly said carefully and got up to pat her hand, ‘Don’t you get stressed about it now, it’s not good for you, you’re still fragile’
‘I want to know what’s going on, what’s wrong with my brother Charlie, tell me’
‘It’s not for me to say ok, he doesn’t want you to know’
‘But you know, if you’d have let me go, then I would know’ she replied, ‘He wouldn’t just leave me in the dark about something, I’m his sister!’
‘Hmm’
‘Not hmm Charlie, I’m his sister and he tells me everything!’
‘Well he won’t tell you this unless you ask him ok’ he sighed and trudged to the door, ‘I’m going to see what’s going on with our son’
‘His names Harry’ she crossed her arms glaring at him,
‘And as of five minutes ago I would have been happy about that’ he left and she huffed, fuming in her bed,
‘Sophia, it will do no good to get upset about it, they’re stubborn boys, and they’ll tell you when they’re ready’
‘They think just because you’ve pushed out their baby they can’t tell you things anymore or something, did Arthur stop telling you things when you were pregnant each time or something’
‘Don’t fret on it, when they’re ready’
‘They’ll tell me, what if I’m more pushy and impatient than that though’ she got up and pulled on the dressing gown on the door but he came back in time to distract her,
‘They said we can see him now – where were you going?’
‘To see Harry, big Harry’
‘Merlin – look I’ll tell you later ok, just lets worry about our son for now’
‘Harry’
He sniffed refusing to say it,
‘Don’t act so childish, I’m naming him that no matter what so you can just get over it’
‘Whatever’ he followed her on to the ward only to see him and Ginny both in there looking at James and Little Harry as the Healer finished whatever she was doing to the incubator he was in.
Molly smiled ‘I’m going to go and tell the others everything’s ok with him, see you later alright’ she hugged them both and left.

‘He’s lovely’ Ginny said moving to hug Sophia when they came in gowned and gloved, ‘So one of the family with the red hair’
‘I know, but I got my wish, he’s going to look like his Dad’
‘What are you going to call him?’
‘Harry – didn’t he tell you – boys’
‘No, he didn’t’ she frowned at him,
‘I thought you would want the pleasure Soph’
‘So what are you calling him?’ Ginny replied turning to Soph again,
She laughed ‘Harry, his names Harry Gin’
‘Oh’ she hugged her again ‘Mmm Harry, this is going to be confusing’
‘I know’ she noticed Harry glaring at Charlie as he did back, ‘Oh for the love of God, tell me what’s happened I can’t take it anymore’
‘Nothing’ Harry replied and moved to James turning his back on them,
Charlie stared at him still ‘I’m not saying anything, it’s his problem not mine’
‘Shut up’
‘Or maybe I should, just so Ginny has a better idea of what’s going on, give her warning for once’
‘Spit it out Charlie’ Ginny frowned at him, ‘what do I need warning about?’
‘Nothing’ Harry muttered reaching in to stroke James’ head,
Soph continued ‘It can’t be “nothing” if you’re both like this – you were brothers what’s happened in the space of twenty minutes to change that?’
‘Tell her Harry, tell her what’s going on through your head right now as you stand there with your son’
He let go and walked out of the room again if only to avoid throwing punches as he had before, he wanted to show he could control himself and not let what was none of his business get to him.

‘Harry?’ she said softly behind him ‘Talk to me please’
‘They asked me if I wouldn’t mind them calling him after me, I said it was great’ he rubbed his forehead still facing away from her, ‘She said – she said she wanted to know if it would be ok with you, in case that’s what you planned to call our next…’
‘But you know after James – I can’t do it again Harry, I can’t risk losing a child, you said you understood’
‘It doesn’t stop me from hoping you’d change your mind’
‘I’m sorry, but you know full well why’
‘He said I’d pressure you into it, he said that’s what I do, I make you feel guilty, I make you feel obligated to stay with me, to be worthy of being with me that’s not right, I just want you and the family we’ve got, I can – I can be ok, be happy, without having more kids, you know that right?’
‘Hmm’
‘Oh Gin’
‘It’s ok, I know why you want more, it’s to have a family a big family and believe me I’d love that too, it’s just not going to happen if I’m scared – if I’m terrified of losing our baby each time I’m pregnant’
‘I understand’
‘I might change my mind; we still have time, we have plenty of time’
‘Charlie said the same thing’
‘Well then’ she reached to hug him ‘We have all the time in the world me and you, we didn’t before but we do now’
‘Uh huh’

potionsmaster22 · 01-31-2012, 10:47 PM

Aww poor Harry... I hope Ginny will change her mind. And Charlie needs to lighten up.. he knows Harry is good at heart.
Great chapter!!

PAMS
~Sam~

Vanity · 02-11-2012, 03:40 AM

Wow, you have no idea how long it took for me to catch up.
Amazing story by the way!

lilly_luna · 02-12-2012, 10:30 AM

Chapter Sixty Five

She sighed wandering down the stairs, ‘He’s down – finally, I can’t understand why it’s so hard, Harry goes out like a light for Soph’
‘I’m sorry I’m so late’ he slumped in the chair, ‘He was right there, we were that close’ he pinched his fingers together and rubbed his forehead, ‘Before he released the gas – your brothers need to pull that stuff from their shelves’
‘She got the perfect baby’
‘And Ron was about as much help as a chocolate teapot when we were doing the paper work – wait what, what do you mean perfect baby?’
She crossed her arms ‘He won’t settle for me, he doesn’t like me’
‘He’s asleep isn’t he?’
‘Just, but it took me two hours, it’s not supposed to be that hard, not even the girls were that difficult’
‘He’s getting used to being at home that’s all’
‘It’s been a week; he should be ok by now’
‘He’s had eight weeks of the hospital; he’s only known the nurses and the incubator’
‘I – I don’t know him like I thought I would, he doesn’t know me, I’m not his Mum’ she started to sob ‘I’m not his Mummy’
‘Of course he knows you, don’t be so silly’ he attempted to hug her but she wouldn’t hold back, ‘You’re his Mum, he knows that, this just isn’t home yet’
‘I thought I’d be ok, I thought once we were home and I had to look after him I’d – I’d be better’
‘There’s nothing wrong with you’
‘There is… the healers said there is – I didn’t tell you, I didn’t want to hurt you for you to leave me, because of it’
‘I keep telling you, I’m not going anywhere’
‘They said its post natal depression’
‘They can help, I’ll help – I’ll – I have time off, they owe me loads, we’ll get him settled in together and we’ll help you get better too’ He kissed her forehead and she held back tightly,
‘I can’t do this alone anymore’
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise’

Wailing ensued from upstairs and she burst into fresh tears against his chest,
‘Come on, I’ll put you both down, you both need sleep’

They wandered up and he took James in his arms, ‘Shhh’ he placed him in her arms and stood behind her wrapping his own around them both. James ‘crying became a throaty gurgle as he stared up into Ginny’s eyes, and reached out with little arms,
‘I’m going to take care of you now, like I promised to, like I’m supposed to’ he kissed the side of her head, ‘He’s just like his sister and his mother, he won’t settle in a strange place’
‘This isn’t strange, it’s his home’
‘He has to get used to it, he’ll be better eventually’
‘Hmm’
‘Don’t worry about it’ he rocked his arms enveloping hers and James. He gurgled, and closed his eyes. Ginny made a move to place him in the crib by their bed and he started bawling again.
‘Go to bed, I’ll take the spare room and his crib - I’ll stay with him’ he smiled reaching for him, ‘He’ll be fine and so will you after a good night’s sleep’
‘I love you’ she mumbled sitting on the bed, ‘So much’ she yawned and shuffled under the covers with a small smile watching him carry James on his shoulder as he wailed and levitate the crib out of the room.
‘Love you too’ he jiggled him hearing him quieten down by a miniscule amount.

He was snoozing with James sound asleep on his chest lying on the bed. Ginny peaked round the door crying before she looked in on the girls, kissed their foreheads and tightened the cloak at her shoulders. She crept out and with a flick of her wand arrived at the Burrow.

She opened the door and heard them talking in the living room, her Dad appeared first hearing the door go.
‘Oh Ginny… are you ok sweetheart?’
‘I just – I can’t sleep’
‘Is Harry at home?’
‘Hmm – yes, but he’s holding James and not me’
‘Silly Billy’ he reached out in a hug, ‘Is he not settling yet?’
‘No, he just keeps crying’
‘Hmm a drop of fire whisky used to put you out like a light when you wouldn’t sleep’
‘Thought that was a joke’
‘Even muggles do it, they use – now what is it… rum or that really stinky stuff they call alcohol – brandy, just a tiny bit, minuscule with their bedtime feed’
‘Hmm but I don’t want him reliant on fire whisky to sleep Dad’
‘He’ll get used to being home soon enough, don’t you worry about it’
‘Harry said the same’
Her mother came out, ‘and he’s right love, have a sit down, I’ll get you some warm milk and biscuits and you try to wind down before you go home’
‘I – I don’t know if I want to go back’
‘Ginny’
‘I can’t look after them, I know that now’
‘Sweetheart you just need some help that’s all’
‘Harry’s never there, he’s never got time to help anymore since the promotion’
‘He won’t know unless you tell him’
‘I have, it’s been the same as it was when the girls were born, the first few weeks he’s there, he’ll dote on them and then he gets distracted and pulled away on a case and I don’t see him for days, and nights – nights are the worst, trying to get them all off to sleep after missing him putting them down – they don’t sleep I don’t sleep’
‘I’ll come over tomorrow’
‘He’ll look after them, he has to now’ she rest her head on her arms on the table and closed her eyes as her mother stroked her head,
‘It’s going to be alright, I promise’
‘Hmm’

Molly looked to Arthur, matching worried expressions on their faces. Arthur stood up and went to the other room to check the time on the clock, Molly continued patting her hair until her breathing slowed to a gentle snore and she was sound asleep.
Arthur whispered ‘It’s too late to send a message, I’ll do it in the morning, and if he wakes and worries he’ll send a message here first’
She nodded and levitated her gently from the seat, to the couch in the living room conjuring a blanket over her,
‘What are we going to do?’
‘Just be there for her Molly, for them all, that’s all we can do’

***
He woke up, yawned and felt the weight on his chest. He shifted James minutely watching his little hand unfurl and mouth open,
‘Ah, you go back to sleep’ he whispered, sitting up but holding him to his shoulder with a smile. He wandered down the hallway still holding him as he looked in on the girls and then opened his bedroom door. He sighed seeing the empty bed but had a fairly positive idea of where she was. He checked his watch and saw they’d all be asleep. He went back to the spare room putting James in the crib, giving him a moment to settle and then going to bed himself.

potionsmaster22 · 02-12-2012, 09:49 PM

Poor Ginny

but she can't leave her babies or Harry.
PAMS
~Sam~

lilly_luna · 02-25-2012, 12:32 PM

Chapter Sixty Six

He sighed waking up to James crying,
‘Hello son’ he wandered over ‘I’m here, mummy will be back soon’
He gurgled and reached out with little arms,
‘Let’s get you some breakfast before your sisters wake hey’ he made it to the door with him in the bassinette before there was giggling from the girls room,
‘Scratch that Jamie’ he looked in on them sitting on the floor with dolls and teddies. ‘Hello princess’ we’re going to have breakfast, are you two hungry?’
‘Pancakes’
‘Strawberries’
‘Bumpkin juice’
‘Pumpkin juice’ he corrected with a smile, ‘Ok’ he levitated James up in front of him, knelt for Faith to hop on his back and took Patience’s hand to help her down the stairs.

He placed James in his arms to heat up the milk with his free hand and feed him first as the girls occupied themselves with toys.

‘Daddy – Daddy?’
‘Yep’ he turned to Patience burping James on his shoulder,
‘Where’s Mummy?’
‘Mummy’s with Grandma’
She pouted nearly crying ‘In the fire?’
‘Erm… yeah’ he reached to comfort her with smile, ‘she’ll be back soon, don’t worry’
‘I want Mummy’
‘She’ll be back soon, I’ll have to do for now love’
‘I want Mummy!’
‘So do I love, you need to just sit down and I’ll get you some breakfast; then we’ll go and see her ok?’
‘I want Mummy!’ they both said loudly and James started to bawl in his ear,
‘Just sit down will you’ he jiggled James to quieten him down, ‘You’re upsetting your brother’
They pouted identically, held hands and cried.
He shook his head set James in the crib and knelt in front of them,
‘Sweethearts, stop crying, you’ll see Mummy after breakfast, I promise’ he lifted them up together and placed each in a high chair,
‘I’m going to make you some pancakes, drink some juice’ he poured it out into the cups replacing the lids,
‘Red’ Faith reached out, as Harry tried to hand her the yellow one, he switched them and then made for James giving him a hug and a soothing jiggle to ease his throaty crying.

Faith looked up ‘Daddy?’
‘What honey?’
‘Whys Mummy not here?’
‘She’s just gone for a rest, she needed some sleep and to see grandma’ he replaced James in the crib and searched for the ingredients for pancakes in the cupboard. He didn’t know where anything was and rubbed his forehead, eventually finding and mixing the mess in a bowl.
‘Daddy’
‘Yep’
‘Hungry’
‘I know, I’m making it now’
He lit the stove with his wand and held James as he cried pouring out the mix in small circles in the pan. He was forced to change James nappy on the mat until he smelt the burning.
They both called ‘Daddy!’
‘I know’ he sighed cleaning up James and having no doubt about how much Ginny was struggling, ‘Girls let’s get you dressed, we’ll have breakfast with Grandma ok?’ he threw the pan in the sink and turned off the stove.

He managed to have them both dressed and playing in the pen as he sorted out James again. He was sleeping as they all got on the knight bus to leave.
He hesitated at the door with James in the sling at his front and the twin’s hands in each of his.

Molly spoke ‘Harry?’ the door opened, ‘Come on in’
‘Is she here?’
‘Still asleep; Harry, come in’
‘Can you take them, just for a half hour, I need to tell work, they won’t let me take leave unless I do it in person’
‘Won’t you just stay for five minutes, see her for five minutes?’
‘I can’t until I’m certain I can be there for her full time, I don’t want to upset her, I’ll go and sort it out and then I’ll be straight back’
‘Ok’
‘Erm… I attempted breakfast and failed miserably’
‘I’ll sort it, don’t worry’
‘Thank you Molly, I won’t be long’ he handed over the girls as Arthur came out and smiled ruefully, gesturing for him to give him James’
‘I’ve got him; he’ll sleep right though if he’s with me, I’ve got all his stuff so she doesn’t have to worry about him’
He transferred him to a pram, settled him with blankets and a mobile before nodding as they apparated.

He pushed it through the building ignoring the strange looks and hurrying to avoid cooing receptionists. He arrived at the department. It was chaos as usual but always organised. He looked for his boss heading to see his own secretary first,

‘Emma’
‘Morning Harry, we have the – oh… is it bring a baby to work to today?’
‘I need to put in a request for immediate leave I’ve – I’ve kind of got a family crisis at the moment’
‘I can see that with you left holding the baby’
‘Can you get me a meeting with him?’
‘Sure’ she scrolled down a piece of parchment, ‘Give me James and he can squeeze you in now for ten minutes’
‘Life safer’ he handed over the bag, ‘He’ll sleep, just don’t disturb him but if he wakes, he’ll just want a cuddle’
‘Harry potter using cuddle in a sentence, never thought I’d hear it’

He knocked and went through to the office,
‘Sir’
‘Potter’
‘I have to step down, I can’t really say anymore on it, I need to help my wife and I can’t look after three kids under three and do the job, they’re my priority’
‘You have sick leave and some paternity leave available, take it; you have six weeks to sort this out’
‘It’s going to take longer than that’
‘I can’t have you leaving for any longer, your one of my best men, they look up to you; they follow you without hesitation’
‘I can’t do that while my family is at stake’
‘After six weeks I can offer you a job, part time so you still have some money coming in, consulting - no field work, no long hours, you just need to be available to profile, come in for some meetings and write reports for cases’
‘Sure’
‘I’ll fill out the paper work, take care Potter’
‘Thanks’

He made to apparate back to the burrow with James but changed his mind. He found himself at Sophia’s door and knocked.

‘Hey Harry’ she smiled holding her little one in her arm his little head poking over her shoulder, ‘You look like someone’s died’ her face fell, ‘What’s happened?’
‘Ginny’
‘Come in’ she gestured behind her and wandered inside burping little Harry as she paced. He closed the door and sat down with his head in his hands, James beside him in the pram.
‘Harry’
‘She’s depressed, ill, she can’t cope and it’s my fault, I just ignored that she needed help – what’s wrong with me that I can’t see my own wife struggling, that I don’t recognise she’s in pain and she needs help!’
‘It’s no good to worry about it, do what you can to help her; can you take some time off?’
‘I have, just been and organised it’
‘Where is she, and the girls?’ she shifted the babies weight in her arms and soothed his gurgling before it turned into a cry,
‘The Burrow, she left last night while we were asleep, I tried to manage them this morning and I had no idea how difficult it is, how hard, I’ve been letting her live in hell for the past how many weeks and she won’t tell me because she’s scared I’ll leave her instead of try to work things out, do I seem like I could do that, I couldn’t ever abandon her or them’
‘It’s depression, it’s not rational Harry, go to the Burrow, tell her you’ve sorted out time off to help’
‘It’s not just time, I get six weeks, and then I’m demoted to a consultant, a favour from my boss to keep some money coming in’
‘You have to sacrifice what you want to be there for them, it’s hard at first… but when you see how much better off they are with you around, I’ve come to terms with the fact I won’t be doing that much traveling for a few years and so has Charlie, I mean he already gave up dragons for me I had to be able to give something back and Harry Junior is now my priority – you have to keep in mind Ginny never had a choice’
‘She said she wanted them and now – it’s just James, she doesn’t feel connected to him, it’s like he’s just a screaming baby she has to deal with not her baby boy’
‘Once you’re there to help things will get better, she just needs support’
‘I know…’
‘No you don’t, not really’ she frowned, ‘But you will, being surrounded by kids is not it’s all cracked up to be, it’s hard enough work with one’
‘She said you don’t have any problems with Harry?’
‘You think I know what I’m supposed to be doing – he sleeps well enough now and I’m lucky for that but once he’s the same age as the girls I’m gonna be lost, she has that to deal with times two and a baby that won’t settle, no wonder she’s depressed and stressed out’

lilly_luna · 03-31-2012, 01:27 AM

Chapter Sixty Seven

She woke and stretched out on the couch, and then she remembered where she was and what she’d done. She grabbed her cloak from the arm off the couch and hurried out only to stand in the kitchen and stare.
‘Mum…’
She had the twins in seats happily eating pancakes and James sleeping in the crib as she watched them drinking a cup of tea.
‘Ginny’ she stood ‘Sit down, let me get you some breakfast’
‘Mummy!’ the girls looked up, leapt and hugged her,
‘Morning sweethearts’ she hugged them back ‘how – they never settle to eat so quietly’
‘I told them you were sleeping so they had to be quiet; sit down Ginny’ she put her hands on her shoulders to get her into a chair,
‘You got James to sleep, he never sleeps for me’
‘Harry got James to sleep; he’s upstairs filling in paperwork, so you don’t have to worry anymore’
‘You told him to didn’t you’
‘I didn’t, he realises that he needs to help, and that’s all’
‘He can’t leave his job; it’s what he’s meant to do’
‘He’s meant to be looking after you and you’re three children as well, he’s sorting out his priorities and you four are the top of his list’
‘But – but he can’t give up – I can’t let him just give up’
‘You’re not, you’re a couple, he has to realise that and he is… it took him long enough’
‘Don’t be mean, he’s always found it hard to let go of you know who and his job lets him get it out of his system, he’s had years of – of fighting and that’s his normal life’
‘Well his normal life needs a revamp considering he helped you bring those babies into the world and left you to raise them alone while he goes off to work every day and ignores his responsibilities at home’
‘He’s home in time to put them to bed most days, and his days off we’re always together, or he takes the girls out for treats’
‘Ginny you know full well that’s not enough or you wouldn’t have come here crying last night’
‘I was tired and upset because he wouldn’t sleep’
‘He’s not a “he” his name is James and he is your son Ginny, your baby and you love him’
She didn’t speak, she got up and wandered to the crib, he was sound asleep and then ran upstairs to Harry.

‘Gin’ he smiled leaving the papers on the bed and standing up to hug her, ‘Morning’
‘I’m sorry’
‘Don’t be silly, it’s ok’
‘I shouldn’t have ran off’
‘Yes you should have, ran and got a good night’s sleep – it was well deserved’ he kissed her forehead, ‘Have you had breakfast?’
‘No… I don’t want to go down just yet; I want to talk to you’ she added manoeuvring them to sit on the bed as he tried to herd her to the door, ‘I really am sorry’
‘There’s nothing to be sorry for, I’ve missed out on seeing what it’s like for you and the chaos this morning was a good dose of reality, we’re in this together, like I said from the start – I’m the one that skipped out on you Gin, I’m the one that’s sorry’
He held her to him securely, ‘Things are going to get better, I promise from right this moment’ he leant over, signed his name on the parchment on the top of pile, ‘There – I’m officially on leave and all yours’
‘How long do we have you for?’
‘I’m an out of office consultant; I’m paid to stay with you at home now’
‘Really…’
‘Really’
‘But, but your job – it’s so important, not just for the ministry but to you, it makes you – it makes you, you - you know…’
‘I think so… with all the “you” that got thrown in there I was lost for a second but I’m sure I know that you think me leaving the ministry full time will make me miss out on what I’m apparently meant to do’ he rolled his eyes, ‘Things change Gin, I should have changed with them, with you, I should have known you needed me without you having to say anything or leaving or your mother and my sister having to point it out to me in a really isn’t it obvious way’
‘Oh’
‘Come on, breakfast honey’ He kissed her softly ‘And then we’ll go home and everything will be alright’
‘You promise Harry, you really promise?’
‘I promise, I swear, I vow to you just like I did on our wedding days’ he smiled ‘Everything is going to be fine, I love you, I’m staying with you and everything is going to be fine’
‘Ok’ she hugged him to her tightly; ‘Ok’ she started to cry into his chest,
‘Gin’
‘Kiss me’ she reached up, ‘Make me forget just for a little bit, I need to get away just for a little while’
He leant down to oblige with a small smile ‘Holiday, just you, you alone, when we’re sorted I’ll book you two tickets to anywhere you want and I’ll take care of the kids’
‘I’d want you with me’
‘You need some time for yourself first’

He smiled, held her and then led them downstairs; she cringed hearing James crying,
‘I’ll take him, you eat’ he placed her in a chair and reached for him from Molly’s grip, ‘Jamie, Shhh’
‘He needs a feed’
‘Change first’ he wrinkled his nose ‘Come on stinky’ he took him to the living room taking a change mat and bag on his way.
Ginny sighed and poked the two pancakes on her plate grimly.

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