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Author: Grandma Kate Story: The Early Years Rating: Everyone Setting: Pre-OotP Status: Completed Reviews: 8 Words: 16,838
The Harry Potter Universe belongs to J. K. Rowling. I'm just borrowing the characters for a while. This is for pleasure only, no profit is being made, and no copyright infringement is intended. Molly was over the moon about having given birth to a daughter at long last. So much so, that she held Ginevra most of the time the baby was awake and Molly wasn't cooking or doing household tasks. Arthur told the older boys to keep Fred and George busy and out from under their mum's feet. He said she had enough to do with Ronnie still getting over dragon pox and caring for a three-week-old baby. As Molly carried her precious bundle down the stairs she checked to be sure that all her boys were busy before she turned on the Wizarding Wireless and settled into her comfy chair to nurse. "It's never too early for you to start learning about Days of Destiny." Molly put her feet up and adjusted her blouse so Ginevra could begin nursing. "Olga just told Rodrigo that Fiona is unfaithful. But she is lying to him. Don't believe that hussy, Rodrigo!" Sixteen-month-old Ronnie toddled over to where his mum and baby sister were sitting and commented, "Baby eat." Molly smiled at her youngest boy. "Yes, Ginevra is drinking mother's milk. You can have a snack along with her. Your pumpkin juice is on the little table." Ronnie carried his two-handled cup with a top over to his mum and sat on the floor next to her chair. They listened to Days of Destiny. "Molly, are you home?" asked a voice from the Floo. 'It's Lily and Harry and we'd love to see your new baby. If this is a bad time, I can call you later." "I'd love for you to come and visit. I'm almost finished feeding her, " Molly used her wand to allow Lily and Harry to enter through the Floo. "Lily, would you mind turning Days of Destiny off? I can listen to today's episode on the weekend marathon." Lily, holding Harry, came out of the fireplace and went over to Molly, Ronnie, and the new baby. Molly continued to nurse as she chatted, "I'm so happy to see you and Harry. Ronnie was still contagious when it was Harry's birthday. He's completely over the dragon pox now but I am keeping him inside for a few more days. I know he is happy to have someone his own age to play with. Percy is up in his room reading and the twins and their big boy minders are outside in the garden." "Oh, Molly, she's beautiful but she is so tiny!" exclaimed Lily as she held Harry up so he could see the newest Weasley. "Look Harry, this is Ginevra. She's Ronnie's baby sister and she will be your friend, too." Harry looked at the baby and then at Ronnie drinking juice. "Baby din-din," he announced. "That's a new and different nickname for you, Ginevra. I think I like it better than Ginny," Molly smiled as she shifted her baby to the other side. Lily laughed. "I don't think Harry meant it as a nickname. We called nursing 'din-din' so I think Harry was telling us what she's doing rather than calling her Gin-Gin. But it is a cute name for her." Lily put Harry down next to Ronnie and pulled a cup out of his nappy bag. She twisted the top so he could drink the pumpkin juice inside. "Here is your big boy cup, Harry. Why don't you sit next to Ronnie while Mummy and Molly have a visit? Two friends having a drink together," she said with a laugh. Molly smiled at the two toddlers sitting side-by-side, drinking juice. "I keep calling her Ginevra hoping the boys will follow suit but she is already Ginny to them. It's all Professor McGonagall's fault. She thinks Ginevra was named partly after her and told the boys that all her friends called her Minnie when she was a girl." "I hadn't noticed that their names are the same except for the first letter with the 'r' and 'v' reversed. Now you have scarred me for life. I will think of Professor McGonagall as Minnie every time I see her. I can't wait to tell James," Lily laughed. "Arthur says there is also a Muggle mouse named Minnie," added Molly, with a smile. Lily enlarged Harry's nappy bag and began to pull packages out of it, saying, "Harry's outgrown these green and yellow shirts and nightgowns. They will look smashing on your little redhead." Molly smiled at Lily and said, "That was very thoughtful of you, Lily. Babies outgrow clothes very quickly, so we will be delighted to use some that Harry has outgrown. We'll be very gentle with them and return them when you need them for your next baby." "I could not resist buying these lilac robes. I got them big enough that she could wear them for her first birthday." Lily sighed. " My mum dressed me in lilac quite a lot. She'd say 'Purple for my fair-haired Petunia and lilac for my red-haired Lily.' Her mother dressed her in rose pink to match her name, so I guess it is a family tradition." "Oh Lily, the robes are lovely. You are so generous," Molly was very touched by Lily's presents for her girl. "And I will tell Ginerva that her friend Harry gave her this soft unicorn." Lilly suddenly grew serious. "Molly, I have something I need to tell you in strict confidence. I came over today not only to see you and your beautiful new baby but also to tell you that James and Harry and I are going away for a while and I don't think it will be safe to be in touch. Professor Dumbledore thinks we are in danger of being attacked by Death Eaters, or even by Voldemort himself." Molly gasped. "You-Know-Who? Why would he want to hurt your family?" "James and I have both fought against him and his Death Eaters several times. And we've refused to join forces with him," said Lily. She looked around to be sure they were alone except for the baby and toddlers. "I value your friendship very much so I wanted you and Arthur to know that we have to go into hiding in a secret place. I've resigned from the Department of Mysteries and will stay home with Harry." "You'll be busy enough with Harry. And didn't James say you were going to try for another baby?" Molly held her baby up against her shoulder and patted her back until she burped. Ron and Harry laughed and tried making burping sounds themselves. Molly turned Ginevra around so Lily could see her rosy cheeks and the red fuzz on the top of her head. "Oh Molly, she's beautiful! May I hold her? I want to show Harry his first girlfriend." Lily took Ginevra and Harry stood and peered in her face. "Harry picked something out for Ginerva. Harry, show her what you got her. Every little witch needs a unicorn of her own," said Lily as Harry held up a white plush unicorn with a gold horn. "Baby yitt-o," said Harry. "My baby!" announced Ronnie. "Yes, Ronnie. You are her big brother and Harry is her friend." Lily smiled at both boys. "You are big boys who drink from cups. She is still too little to play now but she will get big enough soon. Then you can both play with her." Lily handed Ginevra back to Molly. "Do you think her eyes will stay blue like Ronnie's?" asked Lily. "His are so blue. I think Harry's eyes are definitely going to be either green or hazel." Both mums stared at the eyes of the toddlers. The boys got up and walked over to the toy basket in the corner and began running cars on the floor. "She could have blue eyes like her dad or brown like mine or maybe even green or hazel. I guess we will just have to wait and see." Molly smiled as the eyes being discussed closed. "Let me put her down," she said as she stood and put the sleeping baby in a basket on the table. "I'll make some tea and we can have a good visit while Harry and Ronnie play. The rest of the boys will be in for lunch soon enough." "I need to be home by lunchtime. James is one of the Aurors at King's Cross today being sure the Hogwarts Express is safe for the students going to school. He'll probably pop in to check on us. I have so much to pack. Thank Merlin, Harry takes a long nap after lunch." Lily helped herself to tea and biscuits. Ronnie and Harry came over and sat at the small table looking hopefully at the biscuits. "Only one for you, Harry. It will tide you over until lunch." Molly and Lily talked about Harry's birthday party and about what the older Weasley boys were doing to get ready for Hogwarts. Molly sighed, "Bill will go just one year from today. He is really ready now but isn't eleven until late November. It seems like only yesterday he was a toddler like Ronnie and Harry." The Potters going into hiding was not mentioned again until Lily and Harry were getting ready to leave. Ginevra woke up and Molly carried her to the fireplace to say good-bye. "Oh, Molly, I am going to miss you. You have been my source for mothering questions. You've always been just a Floo call away. Thank you for your friendship and help!" said Lily. "I am not sure how long we will have to be away. I'll try to get word to you somehow about how we are doing. I am sure I will need more advice as Harry gets closer to the terrible twos." Molly kissed Lily and Harry goodbye. Lily hugged Molly and kissed Ginevra on the top of her head. "Bye-bye, dear baby. We hope to see you soon." Harry leaned over and kissed the baby on her forehead. "Bye-bye, baby Dinny!" Ginevra smiled at him. "I don't think that was gas. That was her first real smile. She smiled at Harry!" said Molly with a twinkle in her eye. "I'll have to tell Arthur she already fancies Harry. But remember, he said, 'No matchmaking until she has teeth', so Harry will just have to wait. Maybe he can start courting on her first birthday. I know she will have beautiful lilac robes on." Lilly laughed, "It's a date. We can start planning the wedding then. Oh, I hope we will be back before next August." Harry waved to Ronnie. "Bye-bye!" Lily picked up Harry, walked into the fireplace, and said, "James and Lily Potter's." They vanished in a puff of green smoke. Molly and her two youngest watched them go. "I hope they will be safe and that we will see them soon. I feel like making a really big lunch and starting a pot roast with carrots and potatoes for dinner. And maybe I'll bake a chocolate cake. I guess Arthur was right when he said that I cook when I am worried. I will miss my friend Lily, so much."
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