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SIYE Time:17:23 on 28th March 2024
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A New Normal
By CharmHazel

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Category: Post-DH/AB
Characters:Harry/Ginny
Genres: General, Romance
Warnings: Mild Language, Mild Sexual Situations
Story is Complete
Rating: PG-13
Reviews: 129
Summary: Harry has spent much of his life being hunted by Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Now the Dark Lord is dead, it is time for Harry to live the life he has always wanted. It it time for Harry to create for himself a new normal.
Hitcount: Story Total: 70763; Chapter Total: 3438





Author's Notes:
Apologies now, because I think this chapter is no where as good as the previous. I am not even sure where half of what I wrote came from. Anyway, after this you will be getting the much long awaited engagement and from there we will moving through all the major events of their lives as we are now fast approaching the end of this story!




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Making sure the final of her possessions were packed, Ginny closed and locked her trunk. She couldn’t help but sigh in relief and contentment at the thought of finally being done with school. It was definitely not the experience she had been expecting, but she knew that she wouldn’t change it for the world, because she knew she wouldn’t be who she was today otherwise.

Had someone told her seven years ago that on leaving Hogwarts that she would be leaving having been awarded the Order of Merlin, would be joining the Holyhead Harpies as a reserve chaser and was the girlfriend of Harry Potter with whom she was about to move in with, she would have thought that person to be barmy. But here she was, about to leave the castle for the final time as a student and it was all true.

Ginny moved over to the window and looked out over the grounds. The peacefulness she saw caused memories to wash over her of the good times she’d had here at school, especially those of her relationship with Harry and the many hours they spent together down by the lake. She smiled as she thought about how their lives were truly going to begin when she stepped off the train in just a few hours’ time.

Leaving Harry the morning following the memorial had been hard, but as he had reminded her, once she was done with school, they would finally be moving into their new home. And it had been that comment that had kept her going during her long and relentless revision sessions and eventually her exams. That and all the encouraging letters that Harry had sent.

She was so excited to be finally heading home to be with Harry, but she was also nervous. She knew that tonight may well be the night they finally made love for the first time. She was not worried about the act itself; she had no reason to be. She and Harry had pretty much done everything else physically. They had become familiar with each other’s bodies, where each other’s sensitive spots were and they knew each other’s likes and dislikes. No, the problem was that she didn’t want to be presumptuous in hoping tonight would be the night. They had not even discussed it. In all honesty, it was a subject they had seemed to avoid, but she understood why. Their physical relationship had progressed at a pace at which they were both comfortable with. She just hoped that Harry was in the same place that she was and ready for that final step.

To be honest, if she thought about it, there was a very good chance that tonight would be the night. They hadn’t seen each other in nearly two months and it had been even longer since they had been physically intimate. Something would be happening, no matter what. But whether they took the final step was what remained to be seen.

“Ginny?”

The voice calling her name startled Ginny out of her thoughts. Turning away from the window, she saw Hermione looking at her, concern written all over her face.

“Are you ok?” the older witch asked.

“Oh… yeah, I’m fine,” Ginny replied distractedly. “Just thinking.”

“Are you sure you’re ok?” Hermione asked again.

Ginny shook the lingering thoughts from her mind and forced herself to focus. “I’m sure. Anyway, we need to get going or we’re going to miss the train.”

The two witches grabbed their trunks and the carriers that held their cats and began their final walk from the Gryffindor Tower to the carriages.

*

“What’s going on with you?” Hermione asked an hour into the journey to Kings Cross. “I thought you would be excited about leaving Hogwarts with you and Harry moving into your house today.”

“I am, but…” Ginny paused, biting her lip as she figured out how she was going to broach this topic with her brother’s girlfriend. “Can you cast some privacy charms?”

Hermione looked at the younger witch for a second before carrying out her request.

“What’s this about that you need privacy charms?” Hermione asked once she was done.

“Sex,” Ginny bluntly stated.

Hermione gaped at her before she realised where this was heading. “You and Harry haven’t…”

Ginny shook her head in confirmation, not at embarrassed by the fact they had not taken that step in their relationship yet.

“Are you being serious?” Hermione replied in disbelief. “Everyone seemed certain you were already sleeping together. I mean you share a room, a bed!”

“We decided to take it slow,” Ginny calmly explained. “We wanted to wait until I was done with school.”

“Oh,” Hermione gasped in realisation. “Tonight?”

Ginny sighed. “That’s the problem. I don’t know if it will be. I mean I hope it will be. It’s not like we’ve talked about it though. We have allowed our physical relationship to develop naturally, only doing what we have both felt comfortable with.”

Hermione didn’t immediately respond, but Ginny could tell she was thinking about how to respond.

“I think you are putting too much pressure on yourself,” Hermione finally said. “If you have allowed everything to develop naturally already, then you need to do the same for the final step as well. If it is meant to happen tonight, it will.”

Ginny smiled. “That’s what I thought too, but I just needed to hear it from someone else. It is good to hear someone else agree with me. Thank you!”

“You’re welcome,” the older witch responded as she accepted a hug from the red head. “So, are you looking forward to moving in with Harry?”

*

As his girlfriend chatted with his best friend on the train, Harry was at The Burrow packing up the last of their possessions so they were ready to be taken over to the new house. Even though the house had officially been ready for the last week after the final pieces of furniture had been delivered, Harry had chosen to wait for Ginny to arrive home from Hogwarts before actually moving in.

There was still a small amount of work to do on the house, but it was something he had wanted to do with his girlfriend. Photos and pictures needed hanging as well as any other decorative pieces they had brought or already had. Therefore the house was a little bare right now and Harry had not wanted to be there looking at blank walls for a week.

However, with them officially moving in tonight, he was feeling nervous. He wanted to make their first night in their home special. With help from Kreacher, he had planned for a romantic dinner before they retired to their bedroom. It was to be decorated with rose petals and candles in the hopes of setting a romantic atmosphere and the possibility of them taking the final step in their physical relationship.
He thought that perhaps he should have spoken to her or even written to her about their plans for tonight. But he realised that he wanted everything to be a surprise and for the final step to happen naturally.

He shook himself out of his thoughts and double checked everything had been packed before levitating the last of the boxes down the stairs.

“Are you all packed, dear?” Molly asked as he walked into the kitchen.

“Yeah, I’ve got everything from our room, including what you left out for me,” Harry replied. “Though I didn’t get the chance to go through anything in the attic like you suggested. I figured that Ginny would be better doing that.”

“I’ll tell you what I’ll do then,” Molly said as she made a cup of tea for them both. “I’ll sort out what belongs to Ginny and then she can go through it all herself.”

Harry sat at the table accepting the cup of tea from Molly. “Thanks Molly.”

They made small talk for a few minutes until Harry decided to ask about the party they were throwing for Ginny to celebrate her finishing school.

“Is there anything you need me to do for tomorrow?”

“Oh no, Harry. You and Ginny just enjoy settling into your home together,” Molly responded with a wink, causing Harry to blush.

Harry couldn’t believe that his girlfriend’s mother had just winked at him. Did that mean she knew what they were planning to do tonight? It would make sense that she did because, while she and Arthur had never said it, they had allowed Harry and Ginny to share a room with an unspoken understanding that they didn’t go too far physically. Thinking it would probably be best to get the boxes to the house; he drained his tea and stood up from the table.

“Thanks for the cup of tea, Molly,” he said as he gave her a hug. “And thank you for letting me live here.”

“There’s no need to thank me dear,” Molly replied as she gave him a pat on the cheek. “You are part of the family and hopefully someday soon it will be official.”

Harry laughed knowing what she meant and knowing he had a plan in mind.

*

Having apparated back to Godric’s Hollow with the last of their possessions from The Burrow, Harry had Kreacher place them all into one of the spare bedrooms until they were ready to organise it all. He was now ready to pick Ginny up from the station and he was feeling excited about seeing her for the first time since the memorial and starting their new life together. He had even taken a couple of weeks off work to give them time together and for settling into the house.

As he walked into Kings Cross Station and made his way over to where the barrier was, he thought about the first time he had come to Platform 9 and 3/4. It was the day he had met the Weasleys, the day that his life had changed. He doubted his eleven year old self would have believed anyone if they had told him he would end up falling in love with the little red headed girl he had watched chase after the train. Harry smiled at the memory, realising he had been fascinated with Ginny that day, but it had taken him five years to realise it and what she had meant to him.

Harry reached the barrier and leaned into it, coming out onto the platform. He still found it weird to see it without the beautiful scarlet coloured train, even if the platform was beginning to fill with parents waiting for the arrival of their children. He began walking up as he thought about how this would be the last time he would be here. Well at least it was until Teddy began Hogwarts in ten years and then hopefully he would bringing his own future children.

“Harry!”

The voice pulled him from his thoughts and he turned to see his best mate jogging over to him.

“Hey Ron,” he said when the red head reached him.

“I thought we were going to head here together,” Ron said in confusion.

“Oh yeah, sorry about that,” Harry shrugged in response. “I had to take the last of mine and Ginny’s stuff over to the house.”

Harry saw the tips of Ron’s ears turn slightly red, causing him to sigh internally. He knew that Ron was struggling with the idea of him and Ginny living together, especially since Hermione had said no to moving in with him.

He wasn’t entirely sure about how things stood in Ron and Hermione’s relationship. He was happy that they were finally together, but quite honestly he didn’t want to know details, just as Ron didn’t want to know details about his and Ginny’s relationship. He figured Hermione had her reasons for not wanting to live with Ron just yet. The way Harry saw it though was that he and Ginny had been together for a year longer than them and were ready for that step, especially considering the amount of time they had been kept apart over the past two years.

“Of course,” Ron replied as he attempted to keep his opinions to his self. “I guess you must be excited.”

“Yeah I am,” Harry replied gleefully. “I’ve taken a couple of weeks off just so I can spend some time with Ginny. Plus we have a few things still to unpack at the house.”

“Are you coming back to The Burrow tonight?” Ron asked hopefully.

“Oh… um… no,” Harry replied distractedly, having heard the train whistle in the distance. “We’ve got plans tonight, but we’ll be there tomorrow for her party.”

Before Ron could respond, the Hogwarts Express pulled into the station. Harry’s heart rate seemed to rise in excitement as he scanned the train for Ginny. As the students began to leave the train and reunite with their families, he spotted Ginny a couple of carriages down with her head out of the window. Both broke out into huge smiles as they spotted each other, before Ginny waved him on down.

“Ron, down there,” Harry said pointing out where Ginny was.

The two wizards quickly moved down the platform and through the crowds to get to the carriage where their girlfriends were. By the time they managed to reach the carriage, the two witches had disembarked with their trunks and the carriers carrying their cats.

Harry only had eyes for his girlfriend, who immediately threw herself into his arms allowing him to bury his face in her sweet smelling hair.

“Ginny,” Harry breathed out happy to have her in his arms once again.

“Harry,” Ginny whispered in response, revelling at the feel of being back in her boyfriend’s arms.

Harry leant down and kissed her, happy to know that this would now be a daily occurrence. There was nothing to keep them separated months at a time any more.

“Let’s go home, Harry,” Ginny said softly as they pulled apart.

The young couple said their goodbyes to Ron and Hermione, who seemed to be bickering about something, before Harry grabbed Ginny’s trunk and the carrier containing Tigger. Quickly making their way through the barrier and out of Kings Cross, they found a safe spot from which to apparate home from.

*

Any nerves, fears or worries that either Harry or Ginny had, had seemed to have eased by the time they sat down to dinner that evening. On arrival at their home, Harry had taken Ginny around the house to see all the rooms that now had furniture in them before they spent the next couple of hours unpacking and putting up the last of the furnishings, including a variety of framed photos.

They were now sat at their dining table enjoying a candlelit dinner. Both were feeling relaxed and comfortable, both enjoying the lack of interference from the Weasleys. They talked of inconsequential things, of Harry’s work at the Ministry and of Ginny’s final two months at Hogwarts. They flirted with one another as they enjoyed their time together.

It was as they were finishing up their desserts that the nerves of what could or would happen between them when they retired to bed reappeared. Harry decided to bring it out into the open, rather than allow it to ruin what had been, so far, the perfect evening.

“I’m nervous,” Harry plainly stated.

“Me too,” Ginny confessed.

The couple looked at each other and burst out into laughter, allowing them to relax once again.

“Why are we so nervous?” Harry asked once they had calmed down. “It’s no different to any other night. Not really.”

“Except for the fact we are finally in our own home with no one who can interrupt and… well…” Ginny paused, dropping her face as she looked for the courage to say what she wanted to say.

“We’re both hoping tonight will be the night,” Harry finished for her knowing he didn’t need to explain further than he had.

Hearing Harry say those words helped Ginny to say what was in her heart. “I’m ready, Harry. I want tonight to be the night we make love for the first time.”

Harry grinned knowing his plans had now not been for nothing, “Me too.”

They both relaxed at hearing the other say what they did. Harry held out his hand to Ginny as he stood from the table, which she quickly took, letting him lead them up to their bedroom on the second floor of their house.

Ginny couldn’t help but gasp when she saw their bedroom. An array of flowers were scattered around the room, rose petals were scattered over the bed with a selection of candles gently lighting the room. It was so much more than she had hoped for on their first night together in their new home.

She turned to her boyfriend, reaching up to gently caress his cheek, causing her to softly smile as he leaned into her touch. “Make love to me, Harry.”

Harry smiled and led her further into the room, shutting the door behind them.

*

Molly couldn’t help but watch the interactions between her daughter and her boyfriend. She could tell something had changed in their relationship, she could see it in their actions and their affections that it had. And she knew just what had changed. It definitely did not surprise her that it had happened, especially considering they had been in their own home last night with no chance of being interrupted. While it saddened her that her baby girl was now a woman in every way possible, she was genuinely happy for Ginny and Harry. They both deserved the happiness that she could see lighting up their faces. She was also pleased and impressed that they had kept her trust by not going too far physically while living at The Burrow and sharing a room together. She just wondered now how long it would be until Harry proposed to Ginny. She just hoped it wouldn’t be too long a wait.

“I take it you’ve spotted it too,” Arthur said as he came over to his wife.

“It’s not exactly hard to do so,” Molly replied. “I just hope her brothers leave them alone if they figure it out as well.”

“You know Ginny will deal with them if they do,” Arthur said with a chuckle. “I mean, she did deal with them very well when they discovered her and Harry sharing a bed last year.”

Molly sighed as she looked over at the couple in question. She couldn’t help but smile at the two as she watched as they openly flirted with each other.

“And now you are wondering when you will get to help plan their wedding,” Arthur stated before Molly could speak or even think it herself.

“Look at them Arthur. Can you blame me for thinking that?” Molly protested to her husband.

Arthur looked over and watched the same scene as Molly was and smiled. “No, I can’t say that I do, dear.”

As the afternoon passed in laughter and conversation, slowly but surely every person present began to recognise the change in Harry and Ginny’s relationship. And even though the couple themselves appeared oblivious to the recognition, they were actually carefully observing everyone’s reaction as the day went on.

Fleur, Angelina, Audrey and Hermione had been quick to understand what had caused the change, though none had approached Ginny about it. For this, she was eternally grateful as she had not wanted to share what had happened with them. The night had been special and perfect and she desperately wanted to hold onto the memory of it for as long as possible. Even Harry had told her he had felt the same way.

It was when her brothers had begun to realise what had changed that Harry and Ginny had found the most amusement.

Obviously, Bill had been the first to cotton on, having given the couple suspicious looks from the moment they had arrived at The Burrow. When it had finally clicked, he looked ready to come and have a brotherly chat with Harry, but Fleur had intervened, whispering something into her husband’s ear. Whatever had been said had worked as Bill did not seek Harry out to speak to him directly. Ginny had flashed Fleur a grateful smile in response.

George was next and he had his pranking face on. Whatever he was planning to do never even got started as Angelina had immediately spotted the look on his face and had dragged him by his one remaining ear to a quiet spot in the garden where she proceeded to lecture him. He was slightly more subdued when he returned, but while it did not stop him pranking anyone, he chose to stay away from doing anything to Harry and Ginny.

Percy came to the realisation as George was being lectured. He seemed like he was building up to giving them a stern lecture on propriety, but then he seemed to slump in his seat as though he had come to his own realisation about something else. Which he had as he realised that he had no right to lecture them when he had been estranged from the family for three years. Audrey had to step in to make him understand that he needed to stop feeling guilty about his mistake and make him see that he was very much a part of the family.

Typically it was Ron that figured it out last and the brother who had the biggest reaction. All of which happened while they were sat down for dinner in the garden. But instead of taking Harry aside, Ron chose to blow up at him in front of the entire family.

“YOU SHAGGED MY BABY SISTER!” Ron screamed as the realisation of this washed over him.

“No, I didn’t SHAG your sister as you so crudely put it,” Harry said quietly and calmly. “I made love to your sister, something which is completely different from shagging.”

The entire table stared at Harry, shocked that he had been open about something they knew would be incredibly personal for him. Ginny, however, was beaming in pride. This was a conversation that neither of them wanted to have as it was something that was important and personal to the both of them, but to see him so calmly stick up for their relationship yet again made her feel proud of the man he had become over the past year.

“I knew the moment you two moved in together that you would take advantage of her,” Ron said in fierce accusation.

Ginny could feel her temper beginning to flare but before she could even unleash her anger, Harry laughed.

“Throw as many accusations around as you want,” Harry said with a threatening undertone to his voice. “But I am no worse than you are, than any of you boys are.”

Each brother shot a glare at Harry, all of them receiving a cuff round the head from their other halves as a result.

“I could let slip some of the secrets I know about you all,” Ginny said threateningly. “That might teach you all to keep your noses out of my and Harry’s business. And trust me, if any of you decide to write to Charlie and get him involved, I will let slip every piece of dirt I have on all of you.”

Molly and Arthur exchanged a smirk as they listened to their daughter’s threats. Not that Ginny’s words would make much difference; they knew a lot more about their children and their secrets than they all thought their parents did.

“I think it is time to put an end to all of this,” Arthur declared. “The simple fact is that Harry and Ginny chose to move into their own house and what they choose to get up to there is none of our business or concern.”

Ginny threw a triumphant look at her brothers, knowing they were about to get into trouble.

“However,” Arthur continued. “What you all do under my roof is most definitely my business.”

The Weasley brothers all paled at the understanding of their father’s words.

“I know for a fact that you have all gotten up to things you should not have here at The Burrow,” Molly said sternly, before turning her glare onto her youngest son. “But as Ron brought up the subject and so crudely as Harry put it, let’s talk about you.”

Ron attempted to shrink away as Hermione’s eyes began to well up in tears at having their relationship singled out. Harry couldn’t help but feel sorry for his best mates. He knew that Ron’s reaction was probably more in response to Hermione’s current reluctance to move in with him, but his reaction had still been completely uncalled for.

“We know you have been sneaking down to Hermione’s room most of the nights she has stayed with us,” Arthur took over. “This has happened in spite of the fact we have never permitted the pair of you to share a room.”

“But you let Harry and Ginny share a room,” Ron protested. “And me and Hermione are older than they are.”

“Doesn’t make you more mature,” Bill stated as he finally understood as to why his parents had allowed the young couple to share a room so quickly and without issue so soon after the final battle.

“Bill is definitely correct about that,” Arthur said in agreement. “Even so, your relationship was brand new and encouraging you to share a room would not have been the best decision when you were still adjusting and becoming comfortable in the change to your relationship
status.”

The table’s occupants were growing increasingly uncomfortable with the nature of the conversation, but at the same time, they all understood that it was something that needed to be discussed, especially since the brothers were still very much overprotective of their sister. It seemed like the original argument a year ago had never even happened.

“It is the reason we have the house rule of not allowing couples to share a room unless they are married,” Arthur continued before Ron could protest once more. “Yes, we did make an exception for Harry and Ginny. Our reasons for doing so are still the same as we told you last year. However, what you all decide to do outside of this house is none of our concern, therefore, you will all, especially you
Ron, apologise to your sister and Harry and then this conversation is over.”

The usual muttered apologies came from all the brothers with Ron slumping in defeat after he had said his. Ginny and Harry exchanged a look with a decision made in that moment to speak individually to Ron and Hermione to find out what was going on between them.

The rest of dinner passed quietly and quickly with Arthur ending the night with a toast similar to the summer before.

“It has definitely been a tough year for all of us, but we have made it through,” Arthur said as he raised a glass. “So let’s raise a glass to continuing moving on and moving forward with our lives.”
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