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After the Horcrux | ||||||
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Category: Post-DH/AB Characters:All Genres: Action/Adventure Warnings: Death, Mild Language, Rape, Sexual Situations, Violence Rating: R Reviews: 138 Summary: Harry and Ginny were meant to be together, but that doesn't mean things will be easy. They must deal with a rebuilding British magical community, fame, and even overprotective family members. Hitcount: Story Total: 76671; Chapter Total: 1382 Awards: View Trophy Room |
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Harry looked in the mirror as he tried for the millionth time in his life to get his hair to lay flat. He was getting ready for the Christmas/New Years Eve Celebration at the Burrow. He and Ginny had been working all day in preparation for tonight. Ginny had been in the kitchen most of the day baking and cooking with her mother. He had helped also, but he also was spending time checking on Christmas decorations. To be more specific, he was making sure that George, who had been popping in and out all day, wasn’t sabotaging any of the decorations. Ever since he and Angelina Johnston have been dating, he has been more like his old self. He still has times when he will be distant and surly, but they are coming less and less frequently. With his return to normalcy, George’s love of pranking had also returned. Harry had caught several things he had done. Some he disarmed others he left. The fireworks stuck to the wood for the fireplace he disposed of, but the Muggle whoopie cushion stuck in the sofa he left for the party. He figured as long as it didn’t cause bodily harm or could possibly scare Victoire or Teddy, then a little fun would be nice. Ron in the past week applied for an Auror job, because of George’s recovery. Harry admired Ron for helping his brother with the shop and recovery from the loss of Fred. It hasn’t been a total sacrifice for Ron. He has earned more money in the past year and half than he would have being an Auror. George had always harassed Ron while in school, but he treated Ron as a full partner, while they worked together. The partnership had helped Ron in other ways. He has become more confident than ever before. He also made contributions to the shop or the business. Those contributions have been more along the lines of defensive items. Fred and George had started to sell Shield cloaks to the Ministry before the war. After the war was over, Ron had suggested selling them to the parents of the students at Hogwarts; this made the defense products sales soar. The shop now has an entire line of defensive products. Harry looked out the window of Ron’s old room. The glow of the outside decorations illuminated the melting snow and the foggy air. The heavy snows and bitter cold that had gripped England the past two weeks was finally over. It had warmed up and now it was raining a fine misty rain. That combined with the cold temperature of the ground created a bone chilling fog. It was actually a miserable day to be out, but the fog added something special to all the Weasley Wetstart-Everlasting-Fireworks that George and Ron created for today. He couldn’t help but smile as he saw Father Christmas made of Fireworks flying around the Burrow, being pulled in his sleigh by eight tiny Hippogriffs. George had originally wanted dragons, but Mrs. Weasley told him no. There were stars stuck to the outside of the house that made it glow in the fog. Harry worried about Muggle neighbors seeing the glow, but it looked so beautiful at night that no one cared. It was Christmas after all. If the Muggles can put ten thousand light bulbs outside to illuminate their homes, than what was wrong with a few Everlasting-Fireworks. With a sigh Harry walked out of the room and down the stairs to Ginny’s room. They dressed in separate rooms tonight, because of her parents and that bloody Caterwauling Charm that was activated when someone tries to shag one of the unmarried Weasleys. Harry remembered Rostis telling him that Mr. Weasley was good at Charms, but that Caterwauling Charm was exceptional. It somehow knows that the children are unmarried to begin with, and then it can tell when someone wants to shag them. How he ever was able to Charm the entire house and property to do that was just amazing. He activated it on Christmas night. They had returned from the Grangers. The Grangers didn’t have a Floo connection so everyone had to walk to a secluded area and Apparate home. The night was bitter cold. The walk to a safe place from the Grangers and from the outside of the Wards at the Burrow had everyone shivering. He and Ginny had slept together the night before without incident, so no one thought anything of them doing the same that night. The normally warm Burrow was chilly. Harry had gone to bed first. As he lay under the covers shivering, Ginny walked into the room from the loo. She was wearing her house coat, which she dropped to the floor in front of him. She was wearing a white silk negligee and that wicked mischievous smile that made Harry randy just looking at it. The negligee seemed to be made for her body as it followed all of her curves down to mid thigh, slightly revealing what was underneath. He was worried that she just wanted to sleep with him. With her in that, he would never be able to just sleep in the same bed with her. When she proceeded to reach up under the skirt part and pull down her knickers, Harry’s heart hammered in his chest along with other physical reactions. Her knickers hadn’t even reached the floor, before that bloody alarm kicked in. It filled the house with a wail that sounded like it might have been produced by a Banshee. They slept in separate beds that night and every night since. The past week was hell for Harry, because all he could think about now was the sight of Ginny standing in front of him sliding her knickers off. They planned to go to his house tonight after the party and before Ginny leaves with the Harpies. He was hoping that she would bring that same negligee. The team was going to the America’s for a New Year’s Day match. Ginny was due at the Harpies Pitch at two o’clock in the morning. They were due to leave via Portkey at three o’clock in the morning for America. Ever since that article appeared in Quidditch Today, the Harpies had sold out every Pitch they were scheduled to play in, and several more matches had been scheduled. It bothered Harry that Ginny was going to play that many matches without a backup. She will be a major target for Bludgers now that the mag claimed her to be the next great Seeker. He has had too many bad experiences with being a target not to worry about her safety. The door to Ginny’s room was open, so he stepped into the doorway. The sight of her was breathtaking. She was standing in front of her mirror finishing her makeup. He enjoyed that she rarely wore any makeup and when she did it was never very heavy. She had a natural beauty all her own that didn’t need much help from makeup. She was brushing out her blush as she stood there staring in the mirror. She had a little eye makeup on, that accentuated her brown eyes. Her hair shimmered in the candlelight of her room. It cascaded down to her waist. Ever since he told her how much he loves the feel of her hair, she has always left it hang loose, for him. He couldn’t see much of her royal purple dress, except below her hair and what was reflected in the mirror. The neckline plunged to expose some cleavage, but not too deep to bring the glare of her parents. It didn’t look as if it had sleeves as her bare arms and shoulders emerged from her glorious hair. The dress gathered at her waist and hung loosely to just below her knees. The lower section was just tight enough to show a hint of her curves. She was wearing black high heels. As he stood in the doorway admiring his beautiful fiancé, she noticed him in her mirror. She smiled a coy smile at him while still looking in the mirror. The candlelight reflecting in the mirror showing her cheeks becoming slightly redder with her own natural blush. “What do you think?” she quietly asked. “Magnificent,” was Harry’s choked reply. She laughed her little laugh that he loved so much, making him even closer to setting off the alarm again. “I am glad you like my new dress robe. Hermione and I had a bugger of a time picking it out.” “Yeah, it is pretty nice also.” “Harry!” she said with a half pout, but that was quickly replaced with smile. He realized something looking at her. Ginny was no longer a girl, but a mature woman. Her height wasn’t much different than when they first started dating. Her face had changed a little, becoming slightly thinner, but she was so different in so many ways. Her figure was definitely womanly. Her chest had become larger, and her waist was more defined. The main difference in her though was so much more. It was beyond the physical changes. It was her very actions and reactions. She was so mature, and it showed in her smile, her eyes, and the way she carried herself. As she stood here in her room, it became obvious to him. This is the same room that they shared a kiss on his seventeenth birthday. Then he thought how this room matched her so well. Now it doesn’t, she has outgrown her room. This was a teenager’s room, and she was a mature woman, at the age of eighteen. “Some help?” Ginny asked as she held up the golden heart necklace that she has had since Australia. Harry knew what she wanted without any more being said. He walked up behind her, as she held the necklace out to him. He took it and looked at the words “Harry loves Ginny” wrapped around it. He remembered last Christmas and all the pain he had caused her. Yet, she still loved him. He thought of this year and again he made her suffer. He chuckled to himself, as he realized that he has made her suffer through three Christmases in a row. “What’s funny?” “Not funny, ironic, Ginny. I seem to have a knack of making Christmas miserable for you.” She smiled at him. “You always seem to make up for the suffering.” Looking at her reflection in the mirror he became very serious. “I promise that I will never make another Christmas miserable to you.” She smiled and shook her head at his promise. “You can’t keep that promise. Besides, it has rarely been your fault that some wankers cause trouble at Christmas time.” They stood there staring at each other in the mirror. She lifted her hair to allow him access to the back of her neck. “We need to get downstairs before the guests arrive.” Harry refocused his eyes and was surprised to see her dress was a halter, exposing her upper back. He stood there looking at her when he heard her clear her throat. He tried to get the necklace clasped behind her neck while not staring at her and letting his mind think about the large amount of exposed porcelain flesh just below his hands. His hands were shaking so bad that he almost dropped the pendant twice. “Be careful Harry, or you’ll drop that down my dress,” Ginny said with her soft sexy voice. “You will have to get it for me.” Harry looked down to where the pendant would fall if he dropped it. His hands started to shake even harder and his throat went dry trying to focus and getting the clasp to catch the loop. His mind kept drifting to the thoughts of exploring for the pendant and so much more. He finally caught the clasp and released a breath that he had been holding. Ginny dropped her hair and turned so she could clasp her hands behind his neck. “Thank you,” she whispered before pulling his face down to kiss him gently on the lips. Harry thought he heard a high pitch squeal start around them. He realized that he needed to refocus his thoughts before he set off the alarm. He started to think; Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss, Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss, Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss. The alarm kept getting louder even with him thinking about those disgusting things, but he was snogging the most beautiful woman in the world. Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss, Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss, Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss, he thought to himself. When the alarm kept getting louder, he broke off the kiss. Ginny seemed to sway with her eyes closed. Then they popped open and she started to whisper, “Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss, Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss, and Flobberworms and Bubotuber Puss.” The Caterwauling Charm quieted finally. She looked up slightly embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Harry. I guess, I am anticipating tonight a little too much.” “Ginevra, Harry,” yelled Mrs. Weasley. “Stop whatever you are doing and get down here. The guests are going to arrive soon.” They shared a laugh before walking downstairs hand in hand. The smells of the night made Harry’s stomach grumble with hunger. The smells of cinnamon, cloves, cookies, fresh baked bread, and roasted turkey filled the air with delicious odors. The smell of the wood smoke and pine trees completed the feeling of an ideal Christmas. They reached the bottom of the stairs and walked into the warm and comforting kitchen. As they walked around the table to see what Mrs. Weasley wanted, Harry noticed that someone had hung mistletoe up. He stopped below it and pulled Ginny into a kiss. “That was for the guests you two,” snapped Mrs. Weasley. When Harry looked up, he noticed that she was trying to suppress a smile. The kitchen door opened up and Ron and Hermione stepped in. “Lovely decorations outside,” announced Ron loudly. Hermione crossed the room and hugged Harry. “Do you have everything,” whispered Harry. “Of course,” Hermione whispered in his ear. “Hey you two,” shouted Ron. He didn’t finish his statement because Percy and Audrey entered the kitchen. Within minutes, the house was filled with laughter and talk. George had arrived with Angelina shortly after Percy. Charlie and Theresa were back from Romania. The Grangers arrived the Muggle method. They drove here. Cookies and other baked goods were disappearing quickly even with Mrs. Weasley trying to stand guard over them. It really wasn’t necessary, because she and Ginny had baked enough to feed all the students at Hogwarts. The kitchen door opened again and this time it was Andromeda Tonks with Teddy Lupin. Harry moved through the crowd to greet them. Even though Ginny wasn’t with him when the door opened, she appeared beside him when he reached Andromeda and Teddy. “Harry, Happy Christmas,” greeted Andromeda with hug then turned and hugged Ginny. “Happy Christmas, Ginny. Harry, Teddy here has been anxiously waiting to see you.” “’arwy, fwy,” said Teddy. “Teddy you are speaking,” gushed Ginny. “’arwy fwy,” he said again. “He has been waiting to see his Godfather Harry, so he can fly the broom Harry got him for his first birthday.” Andromeda pulled from her robes a little toy broom. Like the one that Sirius had bought him for his first birthday. Teddy let out a squeal at the sight of his broom and reached for it. “Here you go Harry, you can watch him while he flies with it,” she said with a smile. She handed him the broom and Teddy, who stretched to grasp the broom. Harry was trying to hold his godson as the toddler wiggled in his arms to get a hold of his broom. “Ginny, a little help, please,” he pleaded. Ginny snatched Teddy out of Harry’s arms and hugged the little boy. “We are going to have to let him fly, Harry, so get the broom ready,” laughed Ginny, as she tickled the toddler and made him squeal with delight. Harry kneeled down on the floor and held the broom level for Ginny to place Teddy on it. Ginny sat him on the broom and the little boy grasped the handle and let out a loud squeal. Ginny looked at Harry and winked. “Away we go, Teddy,” she said, as she pushed Teddy on the broom. The little boy wobbled a little as he slowly flew across the kitchen floor. Harry saw why Ginny winked, as the boy flew into the back of Ron’s left leg, who leapt up in surprise. The rest of the crowd helped to watch over Teddy as he flew through the Burrow. Everyone had their hands full keeping him from destroying the decorations. The coffee table, which had a winter scene with an ice-skating penguin, was moved out of harm’s way. While Teddy was flying through the house creating havoc, Mr. Weasley was drinking eggnog and talking to Mr. Granger as though nothing was happening around him. Percy had caught Teddy before he could fly into the tree. Harry noticed that Teddy seemed to be directing the broom towards the tree. He wasn’t sure if the little boy could control the broom that well. During the break in the action, Mr. Granger tried to find a seat. Harry didn’t notice until it was too late that he was sitting down on the whoopie cushion. When he plopped down on the cushion a loud noise was heard throughout the room. Everyone turned and stared at him, his face turned scarlet. “John, it is more polite to ask someone to budge over,” teased his wife. Mr. Granger reached under the sofa cushion and pulled out the whoopie cushion and looked accusingly at his wife. “How did you do that?” She lifted her hands in feigned innocence. Mr. Weasley glared at George, Ron, and then Harry. Everyone started laughing at the situation, and Percy released Teddy again to entertain everyone with his flying mishaps. There was an announcement from the kitchen that Bill and his family was here. All the women immediately rushed into the kitchen to see the baby, Victoire. Harry looked at Ron and rolled his eyes, at the private joke about all these girls rushing to hold the baby. The cooing and gushing from the women in the kitchen had them laughing. Soon Mrs. Weasley appeared from the kitchen proudly holding her granddaughter. She walked over and handed the baby to her husband, who eagerly took his granddaughter. Harry smiled at the look on Mr. Weasley’s face. He wondered if he would be as protective of his granddaughter as he was of his daughter. Harry felt Ginny step up behind him and run her fingers through his hair, while he was kneeling down trying to keep Teddy from flying into the fireplace. When he looked up at her, she was looking at the baby in her father’s arms with a strange look on her face. He stood up and whispered in her ear, “Jealous?” Ginny’s attention turned to him. “No, not really,” she replied. “You wouldn’t understand.” “I wondered if it would bother you to see another girl replacing you.” “No that isn’t what is wrong, actually nothing is really wrong,” she assured him, as she rubbed circles on his back while staring at the baby girl. Harry felt his throat constrict as he realized what Ginny was thinking. Mr. Weasley stood up with the baby and looked at some of his sons. “George, want to hold your niece?” George shook his head no, and Angelina scowled at her boyfriend. “Ron?” asked Mr. Weasley. “No, that’s all right, Dad,” Ron laughed as he waved off the offer. “Now, Ron you should learn how to hold a baby,” said Hermione a little too loudly from beside him. Ron snapped his head around as blood drained from his face. Everyone else in the room stopped talking and stared at the Hermione. Her face turned scarlet, looking like her father, at everyone’s attention. While everyone was staring at her, Teddy crashed his broom into the tree and squealed loudly, as it fell over. “I meant for a long time from now,” spluttered Hermione. “I am not — er — meaning now,” she nervously laughed. Everyone regained their composure and Hermione’s parents quickly drank their eggnog asking for another. As Harry was trying to set the tree upright, Mrs. Weasley asked everyone if they wanted to exchange presents or eat first. Every single redhead in the room shouted “eat”. This caused all of their significant others to chuckle. Placing the tree back in its original spot or someplace close to it, Harry turned to Ginny, who was holding a squirming Teddy. “You want to eat in here or out in the kitchen?” Ginny twisted her mouth up in concentration, as she contemplated the question. “I think in here would be best. You put him in the highchair and I’ll get him something to eat,” she said, offering the squirming child to Harry. Harry held onto Teddy as he tried to twist out of his grasp to get the toy broom. “What highchair?” asked a frustrated Harry? Ginny smiled indulgently at him as though he was gormless. She pulled her wand and conjured a wooden highchair. “That one, dear,” she chided him, before walking into the kitchen. Harry struggled to get Teddy into the chair. That boy could twist and turn in directions that Harry thought impossible. After finally wrestling him into the highchair, Harry sat down on an ottoman in front of his godson. “Bwoom,” demanded Teddy as he pointed at the toy broom on the floor. “No, you will have to wait until the adults are done enjoying their dinner,” said Harry to this soon to be two-year old. Teddy clunked his forehead down onto the tray of the highchair and started to sob. “Bwoom” “No!” “Bwoom” “I said no!” “Waaaaaaa!” screamed Teddy, as he clunked his head off the wooden tray of the highchair. “Anything wrong, Harry?” asked a concerned Andromeda Tonks. Harry snapped his head around and, when he saw her look of concern, felt his face become a little warm. “Nothing really, Teddy wants his broom and I told him he would have to wait.” When Harry said the word “broom”, Teddy let out a loud wail and pointed at it lying on the floor. Andromeda Tonks smiled at him. “I see. He does remind me of Nymphadora at that age. All right, good luck with him, Harry. I am going back in the kitchen to eat.” Harry sighed and ran his hands through his hair trying to block out Teddy’s pleas for his broom. He sat there with his hands on his head and staring at the floor, until Ginny sat down beside him. “What’s wrong, Harry,” asked Ginny sardonically. “Nothing dear,” was Harry’s cheeky reply. “What would make you think anything is wrong?” Ginny smiled as she placed a couple green beans on Teddy’s tray and some small pieces of turkey. The little boy stopped his wailing immediately and grabbed the longest green bean by it one end. He waved it around like a wand before biting off the other end. Harry laughed at the boy’s sudden change of attitude and antics with the green bean. Ginny smiled as she took a spoonful of mashed potatoes and fed them to Teddy. The broom was quickly forgotten, and he was focused on eating. George and Angelina came into the room. George had a plate filled so full that he must have used magic to keep it from spilling. “You two better get in there and get something to eat. Ron is inhaling as much as he is putting on his plate.” “There should be enough, George. I helped cook today,” replied Ginny, as she placed another spoonful of mashed potatoes in Teddy’s mouth. George sat his plate down and leaned down to stare at the happy little boy as he shoved a piece of turkey in his mouth. “Hungry little bugger, isn’t he.” “George!” shouted Ginny and Angelina at him for calling the two-year old a “bugger”. “Can you do this?” asked George. “Brrrrrrrrrrrrr.” Teddy squealed with delight at the sound and tried to do it himself. He still had partially chewed turkey, green beans, and mashed potatoes in his mouth. Bits of the food flew from the little boys lips. George expecting that had stood up, but Ginny was sitting holding onto a bowl of mashed potatoes and couldn’t move out of the way of the projectiles. Harry snapped up his left hand and created a small shield protecting Ginny from the bits of food flying from Teddy’s lips. Ginny glanced over at him in appreciation. He snapped his wrist and the shield almost caught George in the face. He was too fast for the move, so Harry let the shield disappear and the particles of food fell onto Teddy’s tray. George went over and sat down beside Angelina, who slapped his shoulder for his latest prank. Ginny ignored him and went back to feeding Teddy. Ron and Hermione entered the sitting room. He had his plate piled higher than even George’s. He sat on the end of the sofa, precariously balancing the plate on his knees. Hermione sat down beside him, with a disdainful glance at his plate. Ron ignored her actions and started shoveling food into his mouth. “Leave anything for the rest of us, Ron?” asked Harry. Ron swallowed the food he had in his mouth without chewing, before speaking, “Plenty mate, but you better hurry. I am planning to go back for seconds. Don’t want to pass up on the opportunity to get some good cooking.” Hermione huffed at his last comment and slid away from him on the sofa. Everyone else in the room looked at the two of them and waited for an argument to start. “Now, love,” said Ron with his most apologetic voice. “I love you and all, but you have to admit this food definitely outstrips anything you have ever made.” Hermione turned and glared at him, not pleased with his attempt at an apology. “Ron,” said Mr. Weasley from the entrance to the kitchen. “Your mother has about thirty years more experience cooking than Hermione. There were many meals that I ate out of courtesy and hunger when we were first married.” “I bet you enjoyed getting good cooking then as much as I do now,” countered Ron. Hermione clicked her tongue and glared at him. Everyone else in the room laughed at Ron’s comment and Hermione’s irritation. Hermione turned towards her fiancé and started to say something. Harry, knowing what was coming, stood up. “I’m going to get something to eat. Ginny, do you want me to get you anything?” “No, I’ll be fine, but you can take that with you,” she said, while nodding her head towards Teddy’s toy broom lying on the floor. Teddy was distracted attempting to pick up a piece of turkey on his tray and didn’t notice the two of them plotting against him. Harry quickly snatched the broom off the floor and walked into the kitchen. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, The Grangers, Andromeda Tonks, Bill and Fleur Weasley were all sitting at the kitchen table, near the sitting room entrance, eating. Harry walked over to Andromeda Tonks and handed her Teddy’s broom. “If it is all right with you, could you keep this?” Harry nervously asked. “I think Teddy has had enough flying today.” “Of course, Harry,” she said as she took the broom from him. “How did you get it away from him?” Harry picked up a plate and started loading it with food. “I waited until Ginny was feeding him.” “You’re learning quickly,” Andromeda complimented him on his tactics. Harry had filled his plate and was about to leave the room, but he remembered something. “Ah, Mrs. Tonks, I didn’t have time to get anything for Teddy for Christmas. I hope that is all right.” “But you did,” she replied. “I did? What?” “You gave him justice. You killed the people who took his father and grandfather away from him.” Harry suddenly felt ill. It had been days since he had thought about what he did at Azkaban. Everyone else at the table had tensed up at Andromeda’s comment. He tried to say something to her, but he couldn’t think of anything to say, so he took his plate to rejoin Ginny. He walked through the sitting room lost in thought about what Andromeda said to him, and how she said it. She seemed genuinely pleased that he had killed those Death Eaters. He had killed the people who took her family away from her and Teddy. “Harry, are you all right? We heard,” Ginny softly said, as she laid a hand on his arm. He looked up and noticed everyone looking at him. Ron had even stopped eating with food still left on his plate. He didn’t know what to say to them, as they stared at him. He looked over and saw Teddy staring back at him. “Nda-da,” the little boy said. That little statement hurt Harry. “No. Harry.” “Nda-da Harwee,” Teddy said this time. “No, Teddy, I am not your Dad, but I will tell you about him, when you are older. He was a wonderful man, just like your mother was a wonderful woman.” Teddy gave him a confused look. It might have been that look. Harry wasn’t sure, but at that moment he had an epiphany. What Andromeda said, suddenly made sense to him. He remembered how he felt when he learned his parents were murdered, and the murderer was still alive and on the loose. He remembered how that burning rage for revenge drove him to do stupid things and hurt people around him. How it put up walls between him and his friends. Maybe, now, Teddy won’t go through the same type of feelings that he had. His parents are gone, but so are the murderers. Now maybe Teddy can move on and think only about the future instead of trying to get revenge for the past. It may be a weak justification for what he did at Azkaban, but it seemed to have made it suddenly seem not so terrible. A gentle squeeze of Ginny’s hand on his arm made Harry realize, everyone in the room was still watching him and waiting for an answer. “I’m fine,” he said, but everyone still looked skeptical. “Honestly, I am fine. You don’t need to worry about me.” He used his free hand to grab Ginny’s hand. He pulled it to his lips and kissed it. “Relax, love, we can talk later.” Ginny finally seemed to relax and believe him. ‘I’m going to get something to eat,” she told him, before standing up. “You can clean up Teddy.” Harry looked at his godson. He was a mess with food smeared on his face, hands, and the tray. Grabbing a cloth, he proceeded to wipe the toddlers face and hands clean. After finishing them, he cleaned up the tray before lifting Teddy out of the chair and placing him on the floor to play. “Bwoom?” asked the toddler. Harry groaned to himself as Teddy looked around for his most prized possession. He looked for something else to distract the boy but saw nothing that would be appropriate. Ginny had by now returned with her dinner and saw Teddy getting upset. She handed Harry her plate and walked to the pile of presents in the corner of the room. She started digging through them while muttering to herself. She finally stood up and produced a small square present for Teddy. “Here Teddy, open this one, while everyone else finishes eating,” she said, as she offered the present wrapped in green and red paper. The little boy pulled at the paper but didn’t tear any of it until Harry and Ginny started a rip down the one side. Soon though he had the paper off it and was shaking it joyously. It rattled as he shook it. Harry noticed that it was a Muggle item by the designs on the box. Ginny finally took the box from Teddy and removed the noisy prize from inside. It was a toy with interlocking plastic rings. Teddy shook them and squealed at the noise that they made. “That’s a plastic Muggle toy,” stated Harry. “What, is there something wrong with that?” tartly responded Ginny. “No, it’s just that I was surprised.” “I thought they looked like fun. We just need to make sure Dad doesn’t realize that or he will be stealing them from Teddy,” she laughed. Harry and Ginny finished their meal as they watched Teddy play with his new toy. Soon afterwards everyone congregated in the sitting room and started to open gifts. Victoire received the most gifts from everyone with Teddy coming in a close second. Many of the couples saved gifts to give each other until tonight. The most humorous gift was from Ron to George, with George’s to Ron’s gift coming in a close second. George gave Ron a box that once opened it had a boxing glove come out and punch him in the eye. It was a variation of the spy glass that Hermione looked into her sixth year. Ron gift was a box. A special box that was Charmed so it would stick to human skin but nothing else. George unwrapped it and looked at like it was the stupidest present in the world, until he tried to set it down. He quickly realized that he could not let go of it. At first everyone was upset at Ron, until he told them how to break the spell. Since it was Charmed to stick to human skin, then all George had to do was eat a Canary Cream. When he sprouted feathers, the box fell off. It finally came to Harry and Ginny’s turn. Ginny had received a present from Millie and Kendra. It was a picture of them working at the St Mungo’s self-help ward for sexual abuse. Ginny seemed to glow with pride at the picture of the two of them. Ginny gave Harry a Holyhead Harpies jumper like what she wears with the number seven and Weasley on the back. It was large enough for Harry to wear. When she handed it to him, she whispered, “You will get the rest of my present tonight.” Harry’s heart hammered at the thoughts of that promise. He looked at her and calmly said, “I had plans for your Christmas present, Ginny, but some things came up.” “I understand Harry,” she consoled him. “I wanted to get you a custom made Firebolt.” “Harry, those are extremely expensive,” she nearly shouted at him. “I realize that, but you are probably one of the few professional Seekers without a custom-made broom.” She went to interrupt him, but he held up his hand to stop her. “I went to Quality Quidditch Supplies the day after I returned from Bulgaria. I asked about getting a custom-made broom. The man told me to Owl the factory and Mr. Mercury. Well, when Mr. Mercury found out whom I wanted to have the broom made for he refused to accept payment. He wanted you to represent the Firebolt brand. I figured that you wouldn’t mind getting a free custom-made broom, for some pictures. I was clueless at that sort of thing…” “So he asked me!” stated George proudly. Ginny turned and stared at George and then back at Harry. “No, Merlin, please no, not George.” Harry had to keep from laughing, because he hadn’t asked George, but Ginny’s reaction was too good to destroy the moment. “Why, yes, little sister,” continued George unaffected by Ginny’s reaction. “Who do you know is better at marketing? Why, just look at how the joke shop has taken off.” By this time Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were looking apprehensively at Harry. “The only thing you need to do is bring that bikini from…” “GEORGE!” yelled Ginny and her parents. Ginny turned and glared at Harry with fire in her eyes, but her expression quickly changed when he started laughing at her. Immediately afterward, George also broke out in gales of laughter. “Ginny, relax,” spoke up Hermione. “Harry asked me to work with the Firebolt Company.” With that statement, everyone in the room relaxed. “The advertising campaign isn’t finalized, but I am sure you will like it.” “What is it?” Ginny asked. “Please don’t tell me that I need a bikini.” Hermione laughed at her expression. “No, actually I got the idea from Ron.” He turned and gawked at her. “You did?” “Yes, when you talked about getting a Nimbus broom, because your broom wasn’t good for anything but sweeping the floor. I proposed that idea to the company and they accepted that as the advertising slogan. The debate is whether you will be standing in the pictures or flying. The ad will have you in your Harpies uniform and will say, ‘If it isn’t a Firebolt, I use it to sweep the floor.’” Ginny sighed at her statement. “I like that, thank you Hermione. Harry, it’s all right if you didn’t get me a present…” “He did get you one, or I should say had me get you one,” stated Hermione. “Mum, Dad did you get that present out of the safe deposit box.” “Yes dear,” said Mrs. Granger, as she pulled a rectangular present out of her purse. “Why did you keep it in our safe deposit box?” “You’ll see Mum,” replied Hermione with great emphasis. She took the present from her mother and handed it to Harry. “It wouldn’t be right for you not to receive a present from me on Christmas. I promised you that I don’t want to ruin anymore of your Christmases. Happy Christmas Ginny!” Ginny took the present and gently tore off the gold coloured wrapping to reveal a leather box with gold trim. She gently opened the box and peeked inside. She suddenly became peaky and closed the box again. “Harry please tell me those aren’t real.” “I hope they are real, Ginny. What’s wrong?” “You can’t afford to be giving me a present like this,” she said pushing the box towards him. “What did he get you,” seemed to be said by about everyone in the room. Except Bill, who was over in the corner. “I think Harry could afford to buy you anything he wants, sis.” Harry snapped his head over towards Bill. He was wondering how Bill knew so much about his finances. “I haven’t been in you vaults Harry,” said Bill. “Gringotts has been going through some troubling times since the Wizengamot passed the Potter Restitution Law. In the process of checking the death Eaters Vaults, we found some inconsistencies with the financial records. We discovered that a group of Goblins working at Gringotts were stealing or as they put it “reclaiming possessions” from various vaults. From 1200 to 1550 all coins were minted by Goblins. This group, which was headed by your friend Griphook, was going through dormant vaults and taking all the gold from them. They would then use the gold that wasn’t goblin made and place it in other vaults to replace the gold they took. “The Gringott family was furious about that and also that this group charged you for the replacement of the dragon and damages caused by it when you flew it out of the bank. The Ministry had promised to pay for all the damages caused by the three of you.” “You paid for it all, Harry?” asked Ron. “They took it from my vaults, so yes.” “Well all 1,327,008 galleons have been returned to you vaults,” said Bill. A general gasp of the amount went through the room. “Bloody Hell, Harry,” said Ron as he stared at him wide-eyed. “You have over a million galleons to your name.” Harry turned and saw Ginny had strange expression on her face. He didn’t think that hearing he had so much gold would bother her, but apparently it did. “Actually Ron,” stated Bill. “I am guessing that he has significantly more than that. You have the Black Family Vault and the actual Potter family vault which are both in the high security area. Those vaults require a minimum of a million galleons to be deposited in them. So whatever Harry bought you, sis, I think he could afford it.” “Marry him now, Ginny,” exclaimed George. “Be sure you are in his will.” Everyone laughed at his statement, even Ginny seemed to relax a little. Harry smiled at the comment. “She already is, and so are Ron and Hermione.” The three of them stared at him in surprise. “Who else do I have to give it to, my Uncle Vernon.” This seemed to break the tension in the room. “Open it Ginny,” he pointed to the box in her hands. Ginny slowly opened the box and showed it to everyone. In the velvet lined box was a ruby, diamond, and gold jewelry ensemble. It consisted of a necklace, two bracelets, and two earrings. The bracelets were a singles row of rubies with a small diamond in between them set in gold. The earrings had three strands like the bracelet that dangled several centimeters. The necklace was a gold chain with thirteen strands of the rubies dangling at different lengths to form a vee. “I see why you kept that in the safety deposit box,” exclaimed Mrs. Granger suddenly looking very peaky herself. “Try them on, Ginny,” begged Harry. He watched as she gently took them out of the box and put them on without any help. The rubies and diamonds caught the light beautifully. He was amazed at how beautiful they looked against her skin. “How much, Harry?” asked Ginny. “It doesn’t matter, love. Do you like them?” “Yes they are beautiful, but how much did these cost?” “Ginny, dear, it is not polite to ask such things,” reprimanded Mrs. Weasley. Ginny huffed at her mother’s reprimand. “Thank you, Harry,” she said, as she gently kissed him. Mr. Weasley changed the subject by asking the Grangers about the different Christmas traditions that Muggles have. Harry went over to thank Hermione. He sat there and watched as Ginny played with Teddy on the floor. She was still in her elegant dress and was wearing her new jewels, yet she didn’t look out of place to be sitting and playing with a two-year-old. He could tell that something was wrong with her. It seemed as though the idea of him being so wealthy was disturbing to her. Harry left Ron and Hermione and sat down beside Ginny. She looked up and gave him a small smile. “What is wrong, love?” he asked her. “It’s nothing, Harry.” Harry didn’t want to push the issue, so he sat beside her and listened to everyone laugh and joke while he and Ginny played with Teddy. The time seemed to pass quickly sitting there on the floor. He hadn’t even realized that it was getting close to midnight, until Mr. Weasley stood up and went to gather glasses for a toast to the New Year. Ginny seemed to be more cheerful, but he could tell that she was still bothered by something. “Happy New Years!” everyone shouted. George released some small fireworks that bounced around the room. All the couples started to snog their partners. Harry was still sitting beside Ginny with an exhausted Teddy. He leaned over to her and whispered, “Happy New Year, love,” before snogging her. Whatever was bothering Ginny, didn’t seem to affect her snogging ability. Harry’s head was spinning as he deepened the kiss. He ran his hand across her bare shoulders, enjoying the feel of her smooth warm skin and silky hair. Ginny started to pull him in tighter to her, when a certain young boy interrupted them. Teddy was trying to force his way between them to get their attention back on him. Harry pulled away from Ginny to accommodate his godson. Soon people were walking around the Burrow clinking glasses of champagne together and wishing each other a happy and prosperous New Year. As Harry was going around receiving handshakes from the men and kisses from the women, he noticed that Ginny had disappeared. He became panicked, but soon remembered that they had planned on going to his house tonight before she leaves for the Americas. By the time Ginny finally appeared downstairs again, the only people left were him and her parents. She had her Firebolt and suitcase. She was wearing her traveling clothes. She quickly hugged her parents’ goodbye and walked towards the front door. Harry was there to open it for her, and he followed her out into the chilly night. The rain was just mist now, or it was the thick fog soaking their faces. Ginny stopped part way to the boundary of the wards and stared back at the Burrow. She seemed to be trying to soak it all in as though she might never return to the place. Harry not wanting to disturb her stood there waiting for her to say something or to start walking again. “Do you still want to know what was bothering me inside?” asked Ginny without taking her eyes off the eclectic house. “Yes.” “You’ll think I’m barmy.” “All right so you are barmy, what was bothering you.” Ginny took her eyes of the house and flashed Harry a smile. “When I marry you, I will be wealthy.” Harry stared at her for a second, before responding, because he couldn’t imagine why that would bother her. “That is quite a burden to bear, Ginny, but I imagine with a little time you will be able to deal with it.” “You are an arrogant toe-rag, you know that,” she said while laughing. “All my life the entire wizarding world, and, in particular, the wealthy pure-bloods all looked down on my family because my father wanted to protect Muggles and was poor. It became a part of me. I have worn the mantle of poor-Weasley with pride all of my life. The two things that I immediately don’t like are Pure-blood fanatics and wealthy snobs.” She turned towards Harry. “I am afraid that I will be treated like I am one of them, and eventually I will become one of those arrogant arses. Harry, I have spent my entire life hating them for treating my father with such disrespect. Now, I will be one. I don’t want to become another snobby pure blood, but I want to marry you. Please promise me that if I start acting like the Malfoy’s and the Fudge’s that you will stop me and put me in my place.” Harry took her hand and tried to be as reassuring as possible. “I promise that if you start acting like a snobbish pure-blood, that I will do something about it. I will tell your parents and they will put you back on course.” Ginny laughed at his comment and walked into his arms. Harry kissed her as the Santa Claus being pulled by Hippogriffs flew over their head. They walked to the edge of the wards while still holding hands. “Are you ready to see my house?” asked Harry. “Let me guess, twenty-three bedrooms and loos, with a hundred servants?” “Yes,” drawled Harry, sounding like Draco Malfoy. “I decided that I could get by with only that many.” Ginny laughed at his comment and voice. She stood there staring at him lovingly. Harry had a sudden inspiration. He leaned down and kissed her. Before she could put her arms around him, he Apparated. The sensation was strange beyond words. They were pressed together as they were squeezed through a rubber hosepipe. They suddenly reappeared by Harry’s back door, in an enclosed portion of his back porch. Harry nearly fell backwards when the pressure was released. Ginny also seemed a little shaky, but she was the first to recover, as she hit Harry’s shoulder with the heel of her right hand. “We could have Splinched, you prat,” she angrily said to him. She half-heartedly tried to pull away from him. Harry held her tight. “Don’t move yet,” he whispered. He felt Ginny freeze in place. He could see a look of fear in her eyes. “Don’t worry, I don’t want you to set off any wards.” He took his wand and tapped an old hanging pot with it. “Use your wand on the pot now and it will recognize it the next time you are here.” Ginny took her wand out and followed his instructions. Harry led her inside to the kitchen. Ginny stood in the dark until Harry turned the lights on using a switch. Ginny looked shocked at his house. She walked around the neat kitchen. It didn’t appear as sanitized as his Aunt Petunia’s, but it was clean. “You’re living as a Muggle.” It wasn’t a question, but a direct statement. “Yes, it is close to the university that Dudley attends.” “Are you going to want to live as a Muggle?” Harry heard the concern in Ginny’s voice. “I will live however you want to live,” he assured her. He could see her relax at his statement. “Would you like to see the rest of the house?” Her expression changed completely as she smiled at him. “Yes, let’s start with the bedroom, or is it bedrooms.” “There are only two bedrooms and only one has a bed.” “Lead the way, Harry.” A lump formed in Harry’s throat. He suddenly became nervous about taking her to the bedroom. In the past when they had pushed the limits of their physical relationship, it had always been spontaneous and he never had time to think about it. Now he was a bundle of overexcited nerves at the thoughts of making love to Ginny. Plucking up courage and self-control, he pushed the swinging door, leading to the rest of the house, open and led Ginny out of the kitchen. She followed along without saying a word. The few times he looked back; she was looking around at the house. He pushed the door to his bedroom open and Ginny stepped through it. She was so calm and in control that it made Harry even more nervous. She set her suitcase down, opened it, and started looking through it. “Where’s the loo?” she asked after finding what she was looking for. Harry pointed to the door to her right. She walked towards it, but stopped when she reached the doorway. “How do I get the lights to turn on?” He walked over and flicked the switch. She watched him carefully then gave him a little shove out of the loo. “Let me get changed,” she said with a sultry tone, as she held up that white satin negligee that she wore Christmas night. Harry stood there dumbfounded as she closed the door on him. He could hear her taking her traveling clothes off, as he remembered the image of her in that negligee. Suddenly, he realized that he should do something to make his bedroom more appealing. He looked around and decided to light a few candles. He stood there staring at the loo’s door anticipating seeing Ginny walking through it. He realized that he was still wearing his traveling clothes. He quickly pulled them off down to his boxers. Looking at the bed, he thought that he should turn the covers down. Grabbing the divan on his side of the bed he gave it a sharp tug, and tried to flip it back, but it got twisted. Hopping up on the bed he started to straighten the divan, rather than walking around the bed. “That’s an interesting pose,” laughed Ginny. Harry felt embarrassed as he realized he was in all fours with his arse pointing towards the loo’s door. He looked back and saw Ginny laughing at him. He sat down on the bed and stared at her. She was absolutely radiant. Her long hair elegantly falling over her shoulders framing her milky white skin and white satin negligee. She stared at him while twisting a small strand of her red hair around her finger. She had a small smile that seemed to make her eyes sparkle with mischief. She took a slow step towards him, then another. Harry couldn’t do anything but stare at this beauty walking towards him. She stopped in front of him, and wordlessly pushed him backwards onto the bed, before leaping on top of him. She seemed to stop and stare down at him for a long time as she straddled his waist. He could feel her warmth against his skin, making him almost too randy to even think. All he could do was try to keep focused on this moment with her. She slowly leaned down to snog him. Her hair enveloped him with its scent of fresh flowers. Her brown eyes had a soft loving look to them. As her lips captured his, he regained use of his hands and allowed them to slide up over the soft warm skin of her legs and up the sides of the negligee, feeling her curves under its cool fabric. So many thoughts and desires were flying through his mind right now. He fought against the urge to grab her and make love to her. He wanted to take time and please her, but her snogging was making it difficult to resist the urge. She suddenly stopped and sat back up on him. She had a satisfied smile on her face as she stared down at him. It was as if she knew she had him twisted around her finger. She was in complete control at this moment and Harry loved it. “You don’t need these,” she softly said, as she removed his glasses. She turned and with a light toss landed them on the nightstand beside his bed. “How will I be able to see,” he croaked out. He could barely even talk with the feelings and emotions that were coursing through him. She lowered her lips down to his ear. “Use your hands Harry. I have heard that when you lose one of your senses the others become more acute.” Her warm breath tickled his ear and sent shivers down his spine, but, when she started to nibble on his ear and then his neck, he couldn’t contain himself any longer. He reached up and tugged on the thin satin strings over her shoulders. He dragged them down off her shoulders to the small of her back. Closing his eyes the sensations he was feeling were intensified. The feel of her skin beneath his hands, her lips on his neck the warmth radiating from her body made him forget his fears and doubts about what to do and just act. He rolled her over trapping her underneath him as he supported himself on his elbows and knees. He closed his eyes, as he brought his lips crashing down onto hers. He pulled his lips away from hers after just a moment and moved them along her jaw and to her neck. With his eyes closed he could sense so much more. The way her skin tastes and feels under his lips. Her lips were firm and sweet. Her jaw and neck were slightly salty when he kissed his way down to her collar bone. He could almost imagine he felt every freckle as his lips touched them. As he kept lowering his lips on her, her skin became even softer warmer and seemed sweeter. The feel of this soft sensuous skin under his lips made him tingle with excitement. When he first started kissing her there, she seemed to pull back from him. He stopped but she pulled his head back down to continue. He could feel her hands moving over his back, shoulders, and through his hair. His arms were at her side and were submerged in her silky hair. Her legs were caressing him as her feet ran up and down the backs of his legs. She would use her legs to pull him towards her then tried to slide his boxers down off him. Even with his eyes closed he could see in his mind the seductive image of Ginny lying submissively beneath him. Ginny’s breathing was deep and seemed to be labored. She would occasionally let out a low throaty moan encouraging him to continue what he was doing. His heartbeat was pounding in his ears, but he could also clearly hear her heart beating. He was sure that it was hers, because it matched the pulse he felt in her throat when he kissed her there. His hearing was so acute he could even hear the deadbolt on his front door slide open as if it were a clanging gong. |
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