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Author: KEDme Story: Bring Me to Life Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-DH Status: Completed Reviews: 23 Words: 42,493
Don't try to hide, Though they're screaming your name. Don't close your eyes, God knows what lies behind them. I’m frightened by what I see, But somehow I know there’s much more to come. Immobilized by my fear, And soon to be blinded by tears. I can stop the pain if I will it all away, If I will it all away… ~Evanescence~ Harry had never known this feeling, even before the spell took hold of him. As the new day dawned inside their room at the Leaky Cauldron he found that he had not slept a wink all night. Looking down at the still sleeping form of his wife, love greater than he had ever known welled up in his chest, bursting forth like a tidal wave of raw emotion. His heart filled with excitement at the prospect of a new life free of Voldemort, free of despair, and full of hope. Everything from here on out was going to be different. Life was perfect. The spell was lifted, he was back on track in his career, and he now had a wife – a family of his very own. Ginny Weasley… no, Potter. Ginny Potter. He stared at her sleeping form beside him, mesmerized, trying to memorize every freckle on her face – particularly the light dusting across her petite nose – grateful that he was near-sighted and didn’t need his glasses to see every detail this close up. As he ran his fingers through her silky hair that fanned out over the pillow like a beautiful crimson sunset, he tried to count them. She opened her sleepy eyes and smiled back, causing his chest to do a small leap of joy. “Morning,” she said huskily, stretching slightly. “Good morning, Mrs. Potter,” he answered cheerily. He propped up on his elbow and grinned. She wrinkled her nose. “That sounds strange.” His smile faltered. “You’re not… regretting it, are you?” “No, no,” she assured him, smiling shyly as she rolled over. “Not at all! It’s just going to take a bit of getting used to is all. I’ve been a Weasley for eighteen years. Being called something different is just odd – lovely, but odd.” She touched his face gently and ran a finger down his jaw line, sending shivers down his spine. “We have a lot to figure out.” He frowned slightly too. “Like what?” “People have got to be told, we have to face Mum and Dad eventually, then there’s Ron and Hermione…” she said, ticking them off on her fingers. “And we have to decide where we’re going to live, how we’re going to pay for it-” “I have plenty of money,” he interrupted her. “Trust me… that’s one thing you definitely don’t have to worry about, love.” “Well, I have plans for a career, Harry,” she said hesitantly, “and I don’t want to give them up. I’m not the type to want to stay home and have babies, you know – not like Mum. Maybe one day, but not until I’m much older.” Harry smiled reassuringly. “I know you had plans before we got together, Ginny, and I want you to go on with them. I’m not ready to be a father yet, either. One day, of course… but not any time soon.” He leaned over and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I want to keep you all to myself for awhile.” She smiled warmly. “Thanks.” “Speaking of your parents and my best friends…” he said with a small frown. “How are we going to break the news to everyone?” She deflated like a balloon and sunk back into her pillow. “They’re going to murder us, aren’t they?” A worried knot began to form in his stomach and he sunk down into his pillow, too, staring at the ceiling. “How angry do you think they’ll be?” “Remember when Mum learned about the twins leaving school without finishing to open their joke shop?” she inquired. Harry nodded, his eyes wide. “That will be nothing compared to this news.” “Can’t we just… explain, or something?” he asked hopefully. “Surely they’ll understand.” Ginny laughed. “What are we going to say, Harry? I mean, honestly… I don’t think they’d want to hear that you shagged me silly until I had no choice but to agree to marry you.” Harry chuckled along with her. “I can just imagine your Mum’s face as we tell her exactly what that tree out back can be used for…” “She’d be scandalised!” He pulled her close so that she was cradled in the crook of his arm, her chin lying on his chest. It felt very natural and he knew that no matter what happened, he wouldn’t regret what they had done. “I don’t care what anyone says, Ginny,” he whispered, holding on to her tightly. “I want to spend the rest of my life proving to you and everyone else that we made the right decision. I love you.” He was rewarded with a brilliant smile. “I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of hearing you say that.” “And I don’t think there’ll ever come a time when I grow tired of saying it,” he said truthfully. She crawled on top of him and looked down, her eyes full of love. Harry smiled wickedly, loving the new intimacy between them and the feeling of her on top straddling his body between her legs. She seemed to belong there, somehow. Seeing her there, her hair wild and mussed from sleep, combined with the fact that she was only wearing knickers and his shirt – which she had used to sleep in last night – was practically intoxicating. He felt the emotions well up in his chest and revelled in them because it was just another reminder of how much his life had changed in the past few days. He could believe she was his and that they now shared a last name. It was incredible. Drawn to each other by the magnetism of their gaze, Ginny leaned down and kissed him slowly, seeming to savour every bit of it. Things were just beginning to grow more intense when…. Tap, tap, tap. They groaned in unison and broke apart, swivelling around to the window where the noise had originated from. An ordinary barn owl was sitting serenely on the window ledge, a large scrolled parchment in its beak. “Must be the morning paper,” Harry said. Ginny rolled off him in frustration, groaning loudly again as he chuckled. “Don’t go anywhere… we’re not finished yet,” he said cheekily, earning him a pleased smile from the luscious red-head. He padded over to the window and opened it with some difficulty – it seemed to be stuck. On the other side the owl hopped impatiently and gave an indignant hoot. “Hang on,” he said irritably. “I’m getting it.” Finally the window popped open with a loud thwack, and the owl hopped in, dropped the paper, then turned and flew back out again before Harry had time to find his money pouch and pay it. He shrugged as he picked it up, closing the window behind him. “Complimentary copy of the Daily Prophet… I bet it comes with the room.” “Well, bring it here and come back to bed,” Ginny said plaintively. “I’m cold and lonely over here without you.” He made his way back, grabbing his glasses as he went. “Just let me scan the headlines and make certain there’s nothing going on,” he said as he settled back into bed. “It’ll only take a minute…” She nodded. “Pass me the Quidditch section.” He raised an eyebrow. “That’s the headlines I wanted to check.” Laughing she jerked the paper out of his hands playfully. “Ladies first, Mr. Potter. You can have it when I’m done.” “Is this what married life’s all about?” he grumbled good-naturedly. “…being ordered around by my own wife? Having to wait to read the sports section? Don’t you want the gossip page instead?” He laughed at her look of horror and taunted her with the offending page, causing her to squeal in outrage, until his eyes focused on the headlines… “Bloody hell!” he cursed angrily. Alarmed, Ginny sat up. “What? What is it?” Showing her the front page, he somehow choked out, “I don’t think we have to worry about informing anyone. Something tells me they already know.” On the front page was a large photograph him. It must have been taken after the war because he looked incredibly miserable. His haunted, empty eyes stared back at him in despair, blinking from time to time, while his mouth scowled furiously. Alongside his picture was a photograph of Ginny looking very young and innocent from at least two or three years ago. She waved charmingly and blew the camera a kiss. “Give me that!” she said furiously, snatching the paper from his hands. As she read the article out loud, however, she became angrier and angrier as she progressed. Catch of the Day By Rita Skeeter In a shocking turn of events, this reporter has learned that Harry James Potter, otherwise known as The-Boy-Who-Defeated-You-Know-Who, has taken a wife. Late last night young Harry and Miss Virginia Weasley, daughter of Ministry of Magic Official Alfred Weasley, were seen leaving the office of Mr. Orinthaw Landers, a well connected Ministry Official licensed to perform the marriage spell. After a little digging, it was discovered that the couple had, in fact, eloped. Why, you may ask? That’s what we would all like to know... Miss Weasley, as some may remember, is the sister of Mr. Potter’s close friend Mr. Renaldo Weasley. He is also reportedly a major investor in Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes and has been known to frequent the Weasley home for many years now. Yet, strangely, not one Weasley – save the bride herself – was present for the impromptu, clandestine ceremony. Perhaps it has something to do with Potter’s long time, live-in girlfriend, Miss Herminny Granger, also absent from the blessed event. So far, Miss Granger has been unavailable for comment. I’m sure the Potter/Weasley union came as a nasty shock to the young witch, knowing what she has lost. Mr. Potter, in addition to being the saviour of the wizarding world, is also quite a catch. As the sole heir of both the Potter and Black family fortunes, his wealth currently rivals the late Lucius Malfoy’s. He can be counted among one of the richest wizards in London society, and perhaps even the entire British Isles. Congratulations, Mrs. Potter! Whatever you did to attract the attention of such a fine prospect as our beloved Harry Potter must have been a powerful piece of magic, indeed. We wish you well and will be watching your marriage with great interest, especially the ‘new births’ section, as I am quite certain we will be seeing many new Potters in future. I’m sure this rags-to-riches tale will play out to be very entertaining, indeed, if it lasts. “Blimey, Harry, she makes me sound like some sort of scarlet woman, implying that I’m after you for your money, enticed you with a love potion, and practically accuses me of being pregnant! And not one of our names is right, save yours! My name is not Virginia, and she knows perfectly well whom Hermione is and isn’t involved with – and his name certainly isn’t Renaldo. I hate that cow,” she said disgustedly. “What are we going to do now? Within hours everyone is going to see this rubbish!” Harry didn’t know what to say. He couldn’t believe it. How had Rita got hold of this story so fast? He knew it was bound to come out sooner or later, but he didn’t think it would be today before they had a chance to tell the family. He threw the paper aside. “Get dressed,” he said, jumping up. “We have to go see your parents.” *** An hour later Harry and Ginny Apparated to the Burrow only to find it swarming with reporters trying to get the full story. He silently kicked himself for not using the Floo, but he usually avoided that form of travel at all costs if he could help it. As it was, he had to put an impenetrable shield around them that shocked anyone who got too close just to get through the throng of people. He tried to avoid looking at Ginny, who he could tell was torn between anger, fear, and apprehension. She put on a brave front, however, and boldly refused to answer questions, telling several persistent reporters to sod off and get out of their way. This only caused them to clamour for more comments, their enchanted Quick Quotes Quills writing furiously. Not since the defeat of Voldemort had he seen such a mess. What was supposed to be one of the best days of his life was quickly turning into a fiasco. Once they got through the crowd and to the back door of the Burrow, they then had to convince Molly that it was really them before she would even open up. “Oh, my goodness, there you both are!” she said scaldingly as she pulled them into the house and safely locked it behind her with a powerful spell. Harry heard her mutter a silencing spell too, just for good measure. “I hope you two have a good explanation for this!” she screeched, brandishing the Daily Prophet article in front of her. The kitchen was already full of Weasleys, all talking at once. Ron and Hermione were there, as was Fred and George, Bill and Fleur, Charlie, and to Harry’s surprise even Percy. “Now, Molly,” Arthur admonished calmly above the din. He was sitting at the head of the table, which was set to feed an army. “Give them some room. Let them catch their breaths first, then we’ll get the full story.” Harry looked around the kitchen nervously as it grew unnaturally quiet, holding on to Ginny’s hand for support. She gripped his hand back tightly, but it was the only indication he could see from her that she was even nervous. To him, she looked to be the picture of serenity. “Did anyone think to debug the house?” he asked, only half joking. Hermione answered for the group. Pulling the curtain open, she pointed, “Our favourite venomous insect is lurking out by that tree. I’ve done a thorough search of the kitchen and so far everything is secure.” “Good,” Harry nodded in relief. “You lot might as well sit down and eat,” Molly said tightly, “while we wait for your sister to fill us in on the details of her life. The food is getting cold.” She busied herself with last minute details but Harry suspected she was really too angry to eat. Harry shuffled to the table along with everyone else. As they all sat down in their usual places he suddenly realised they had a dilemma. Everyone had automatically sat down in “their” chair. The problem was that Ginny usually sat at the opposite side of the table from him. They both stopped, looking at each other and the rest awkwardly. He cast a helpless look in her direction and was relieved to see an amused glance in return. “Hehem,” she said, clearing her throat noisily. She gave the group at the table a pointed look. “What?” Ron asked irritably, already beginning to dig into the eggs and bacon. “If it’s not too much trouble, my husband and I would like to sit together.” There was a collective gasp from the table and Harry thought he might jump out of his skin. How could she say it so calmly? “Tell us you’re only trying to wind us up,” Bill said as he shifted seats. “Not so, big brother,” Ginny said, holding up her left hand. Harry had transfigured her charm bracelet into a wedding band until they could purchase permanent ones. “You officially have a new brother-in-law.” “So, it’s true then,” Hermione said, leaning over to examine the ring. “Oh, ‘ow romantic,” Fleur sighed, shooting Bill a sappy look. He seemed caught in her Veela charm for a moment, his eyes glazing over slightly. They made goo-goo eyes at each other for a moment, and Harry was amused to see Fred and George making immature gagging faces when they weren’t looking. It didn’t last long, however. Soon all of Ginny’s brothers were shooting him murderous looks again, but he refused to be cowed by them; he was more worried about Mrs. Weasley’s reaction to this whole affair. By now, she would have been fussing over him, but today she refused to even look in their direction. He had seen her stiffen at Ginny’s words, but that was the only indication that she had even heard. Harry sighed in frustration and shot Ginny an annoyed look. She merely raised her shoulders and shrugged as she sat down. “It’s my fault, really,” he said as he sat down too. “I asked Ginny to marry me after we got back from our date, and she said yes. I suppose I was so caught up in the moment and feeling so good that I didn’t want to waste another minute apart. If you blame anyone, then blame me. Ginny wanted to wait until all of you could be there.” “Don’t take all the blame, Harry,” Ginny said, squeezing his hand reassuringly before letting go to fill her plate. “I wanted to do it as much as you did. You certainly didn’t force me into anything.” “Could have at least waited a bit,” Ron said in a slightly disgruntled voice. “I didn’t even know till this morning that the two of you were even seeing each other again. I know you had a good day yesterday mate, but… bloody hell! Did you have to go and get married?” “I agree with Ron,” Charlie said disapprovingly from the far end of the table. “Don’t you think this was a bit fast?” “You should talk,” Ginny scoffed. “You ran off with that secretary last year.” “But we didn’t get married after the first date, did we?” he said jabbing his eggs roughly. “Besides, we all know how that turned out.” George turned to Fred. “Speaking of which, you still owe me a hundred galleons. I told you it wouldn’t last a month.” “Whatever happened to Cassandra anyway, Charlie?” Fred asked. “I heard she’d hooked up with Puddlemere’s star Beater. Is that true?” “I wouldn’t know,” Charlie said tightly. “But seeing as how Professional Quidditch players make a lot more than dragon tamers, I’d say that sounds about right.” “Ouch,” Fred and George said in unison. “Well, I think you’re well rid of her,” Ron said between mouthfuls. “If she was that interested in your paycheque, then she deserves to be dating a member of that losing team.” Harry and practically everyone else at the table that followed Quidditch rolled their eyes at Ron’s comment. Everyone knew what he was alluding to. Ron’s team, the Canons, had been making a comeback and had actually managed to beat Puddlemere United once this season – but only because their Seeker had been knocked unconscious by a stray Bludger. They all started in on Ron about the hopelessness of the Canons and how they had only won by a fluke; it didn’t take long for Harry to decide that the conversations had drifted too far off topic. “Well, I know Ginny didn’t marry me for my money, no matter what Rita Skeeter implied,” Harry said loudly. “Money had nothing to do with it, right Ginny?” “Not at all,” Ginny said, but added with an impish grin, “…although I’m told that you are ‘quite a catch’ for a girl of my station in life. It was between you and Draco Malfoy, but you’re much cuter.” She leaned over and ruffled his hair while Harry grimaced. “So tell us sister, dear…” Fred quipped without missing a beat. “…how did you manage to land the most eligible bachelor in the entire British Isles?” “Yes, tell us,” George jumped in. “…What powerful piece of magic have you used on our young Harry? Inquiring minds want to know.” Ginny rolled her eyes. “Please! I’ve not done anything to Harry that he hasn’t wanted.” The entire table grew silent and stared at her as Harry choked on his pumpkin juice at her words. “Okay, that was entirely too much information,” Ron said, avoiding their eyes. His face was flushed scarlet and the rest of the Weasleys were frowning at them. “Oh, grow up, Ron!” Ginny said scathingly. “Harry and I are both adults – married ones at that. We don’t have to answer to anyone.” “Well, seeing as you are still our daughter and a member of this family,” Arthur said clearing his throat pointedly. “I do think you have someone to answer to, young lady.” He looked over at Harry, a disappointed expression glinting in his eyes. “Both of you.” Harry sighed. “I’ve already explained what happened, and as much as I want your approval Mr. Weasley, I won’t be sorry for what we did. Why not be happy for us?” he pleaded with the group, looking at each in turn. “It’s difficult to be happy for you, Harry,” Hermione said gently, “when you didn’t give us time to get used to the idea that you’re even together again.” “I still say it was a very immature thing to do, running off like you did,” Percy said, looking down his nose at Harry. “And you’ve upset Mum.” “That’s rich coming from you, Percy,” Ginny mumbled tetchily. “You’ve certainly done your share of upsetting Mum in the past.” “You know why I did that,” he sniffed indignantly. “And I’ve already apologized.” “Too little, too late,” she snorted. “Now hang on,” Percy said loudly. Harry thought he’d better intervene before Ginny picked a fight with each and every one of her brothers. “Listen… we’re sorry we didn’t tell you. It caught us as much by surprise as it did you. I want you all to know that you’re…” he paused to swallow. “…you’re like family to me. The only family I’ve got, really. I’m sorry if we hurt you but I love Ginny and I’m glad we’re married. I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long to realise what I was missing.” Arthur cleared his throat making them jerk their eyes away from each other. “Yes, about that…” he said with a hint of disapproval that made Harry wince. “The two of you have got to understand our concern. Your relationship went from non-existent to making a huge commitment to each other literally overnight.” Mrs. Weasley finally sat down at the table and made a ‘humph’ noise that Harry took as agreement. She still did not look at them. “And no offence, son,” Arthur said, addressing Harry, “but you’ve had a rough time of it for a very long time. Molly and I are very glad you’ve reached a resolution on that score, but we have to wonder if you aren’t taking things too fast. You don’t even know if this reprieve is permanent.” No one needed to explain what he meant; everyone at the table was aware of what Arthur was talking about. Harry didn’t know what to say. Maybe they were right. Maybe they had rushed into something. “Let me worry about that, Dad,” Ginny said from Harry’s left. She gave his hand a squeeze. “I think I have a little more insight into this than anyone.” Harry couldn’t discern what she meant by that; it sounded as if there was something she wasn’t telling him. He was about to ask her when Bill interrupted. “Ginny, what about your plans to go to Auror school? Surely you’ve given up on that now, haven’t you?” Harry turned around quickly in his seat. He had no idea she was considering Auror training. Before he could open his mouth, however, Ginny was already retorting. “Harry told me just this morning that my plans don’t have to change. I can do whatever I want, isn’t that right Harry?” she said indignantly, turning to him for support. Harry didn’t know what to say. He didn’t want to make her angry. Certainly, he knew very well he had said that but did he really want his wife to be an Auror? But he couldn’t very well say that now, could he? So he settled for the safe thing to say, keeping his voice neutral. “Yes, we had that conversation this morning.” Ginny turned back to Bill with a smug expression. “See? Harry doesn’t mind that I want to be an Auror. Some people respect the fact that I want to do something useful with my life.” “Er…” Harry said apprehensively. “Right.” He took a deep breath then said, “But isn’t there anything else you’d rather do, Ginny?” His comment was met with dead silence as everyone at the table stared. He felt Ginny stiffen and instinctively he recoiled. “Just what are you trying to say, Harry?” she said a little too quietly. “Nothing! Well…” he stammered, licking his dry lips, “…um… it’s just that Auror training is very demanding.” “Demanding?” she said, furrowing her brow. She seemed to want him to go on but everything in Harry’s experience screamed at him to shut up. “Yeah,” he said weakly, snapping his mouth shut. Sensing that he was in dangerous territory, he seized on Ron, his best mate for help. “You tell her, Ron.” Ron shook his head soundly. “Nope, you’re in this one alone, mate, sorry.” His eyes were wide and full of sympathy, but there was a hint of nervousness in the way he was looking at him that set alarm bells dinging in his head. “No, I really want to hear from you, Harry,” Ginny said turning to him. This time there was definitely anger in her voice. “You don’t think I can handle it, do you?” “I didn’t say that,” he said stiffly, beginning to get angry himself. It didn’t help that almost everyone at the table was looking at them in amusement. Really, there was nothing remotely funny about it. “Then what?” she asked sharply. “Is it too difficult, too competitive, or just too dangerous?” Surprisingly, it was Mrs. Weasley who intervened. “Now Ginny, dear. I’m sure Harry didn’t-” “Harry didn’t what, Mum?” she retorted, her voice shrill and loud. Everyone close save Harry backed their chairs away from her as if expecting something bad to happen. “Didn’t mean to insult me or didn’t mean to tell me what I can and can’t do with the rest of my life?” “Ginny,” Harry said, feeling as if he was addressing a child, “you’re blowing this out of proportion.” Drawing her wand faster than Harry could blink or defend himself, she cast an engorgement charm on his head, making it swell to twice its normal size. Harry sat stunned. He didn’t hear the twins’ laughter, or Hermione’s gasp, or Mrs. Weasley’s stern, scandalized, “Ginevra!” He couldn’t believe she had done it. Ginny had been plenty mad at him before, but she had never hexed him. “What’d you do that for?” he asked, wincing at his bigger than usual voice. Pointing his wand at his head he spoke the counter curse, feeling immediate relief as his head returned to normal size. “How many times have I told you children not to use magic at the table?” Mrs. Weasley tutted disapprovingly. “He deserved it!” Ginny insisted loudly. “You may be right,” her mother agreed, making Harry drop his jaw in surprise, “but drawing your wand is no way to solve your differences, young lady. If I had hexed your father every time he deserved it, I dare say he would have been permanently disfigured by now. You’re a married woman, Ginevra, and you need to learn to control that temper of yours and find a more mature way to settle your disagreements.” Ginny scowled but averted her eyes in shame. She still seemed angry when she said, “You’re right, of course, Mum,” she said, eliciting shocked gasps from her brothers. Looking at her husband, she mumbled somewhat begrudgingly, “I’m sorry, Harry. I shouldn’t have hexed you.” “Maybe we could discuss this another time when we’re both calmer and have had time to gather our thoughts on the subject,” he suggested warily. She nodded her head curtly. Looking at her so out of sorts, he couldn’t stay angry. Softening his voice, he said tentatively, “For the record, I do think you can handle yourself. Look at how you just handled me.” She twisted her mouth into a wry grin. “Too right, Potter… and you’d do well to remember it in future.” Feeling as if they had reached an impasse, he laughed with her and took the ribbing he got from the rest of the table. Ginny seemed to enjoy the good-natured abuse her new husband was getting, and Mrs. Weasley had stopped scowling and was almost acting normal again. All in all, Harry thought it was worth having his head enlarged if it broke the tension that had enveloped the kitchen from the moment they stepped foot inside. They spent the rest of the meal discussing the recent events and getting an edited version of how they had gotten together. Mostly the family was curious about the changes Harry had seen in the last few days and how it had all come about. Hermione, in particular, asked many discreet questions and Harry had the feeling he was going to be cornered some time soon on the subject. Although Mrs. Weasley still seemed distant, her temper had cooled and she was now talking to them again. Harry was grateful. The support of their family almost made him forget the mass of reporters staked out at the door. Unfortunately, he was forcibly reminded of their predicament when one would pop up at the window and try to take their picture. To combat the pesky reporters they decided to put dampening charms on all of the windows in the house so that they could see out but no one could see in. It was during this time that Harry had an opportunity to confront his new mother-in-law. “Molly,” he began tentatively. She was clearing the dishes and he was doing the windows in the kitchen. Everyone else had scattered to charm the windows of the rest of the house and do a sweep to make sure no unwanted intruders had found their way past the wards and charms they had erected. Harry suspected it had been designed by the entire Weasley clan that the two of them were left alone. It was obvious to everyone that Molly Weasley was still upset by all this and they wisely knew she and Harry needed to clear the air. “Yes, dear?” she answered him curtly as she bewitched the plates to the sink for washing up. Harry winced at her tone and swallowed hard. This might be more difficult than he thought. “I- I’m sorry – not for what we did, but how much we upset you.” She paused but didn’t say anything. Clearly, she wasn’t going to make this easy for him, so he ploughed on. “Last night you and Arthur gave us your blessing, and in one night I managed to muck it up. You have every right to hate me, and I don’t blame you if you did.” Her face paled as it registered surprise, and she left her task and walked over to him, resting her hands on his shoulders and forcing him to look at her. “How could you possibly think a thing like that, Harry?” she asked. Her voice was a little harsh, he noticed, and a tad disappointed but her eyes were full of love. “After everything we’ve been through together, do you really think I could hate you that easily?” “Then… then what’s wrong?” he asked, confused. “Why are you avoiding looking at us, and why do you seem so distant?” She sighed. “It’s not important, dear. Just an old woman’s fantasy…” Harry looked perplexed and she laughed. “I certainly don’t expect you to understand these things,” she said, patting his cheek. “I have raised six boys, you know.” She glanced out the window at her yard full of reporters. “I’ve always dreamed of helping my daughter plan her wedding and being there when she promised her life to the man she loves,” she said softly, a faraway look in her eye. Shaking herself out of it, she smiled and patted his face. “But I never want you to think that I’m disappointed with her choice. If I could have picked anyone for my daughter, I would have chosen you, Harry.” A lump had formed in his throat. “I love you too, Mum.” His choice of words was met with shock. He realised then, he had never spoken those words aloud. Certainly they were true and Harry had felt them for a very long time now, but he had never said them. The look on her face was all the reward he needed and he felt a lump form in his throat. “You know, we talked about this last night… before we eloped,” he told her. “We are going to plan a ceremony, and we want the whole family to be there when we say our vows again. But last night… it was just something between the two of us.” He paused, choosing his words carefully. “But I do want to marry your daughter, Molly – properly – with your permission. I want the whole world to know how much I love her… how much I need her. And I want to give her – and you – the wedding she deserves.” “What’s this about a wedding?” Arthur’s voice said pleasantly from behind as he entered the kitchen. Harry turned to see the majority of the Weasley clan filing into the kitchen, each with varying degrees of guilt written on their faces. It didn’t take a genius to figure out they had been listening at the door. Harry searched the group for Ginny. When he found his wife in the assemblage he noticed her eyes were wet as if she had been crying, but she broke out into a happy smile of approval when their eyes met. Harry crossed over to Ginny and grabbed her hand, then knelt down on one knee. Her face flushed crimson, but he knew her well enough to know she was very pleased. “Ginny Potter, will you do me the honour of making me the happiest man alive by marrying me all over again, this time in a proper ceremony with all our friends and family present?” She grinned widely and helped him to his feet. “I will marry you any time, anywhere, you prat! Just tell me where and when to be there.” Harry chuckled, looking around at the rest of the family. “How’s next week sound to you? …Out back in the garden?” “Perfect,” she grinned amid her family’s nods of approval. They leaned in and kissed each other soundly amidst good-natured catcalls, murmurs of approval, and congratulatory statements. When he looked up, he noticed the women were openly crying while the men were grinning madly. Percy was the only one who seemed less than happy about the whole situation, but even he did not put forth his usual sour expression. All in all, he thought, it had been a good start to their new life together as a family.
[A/N: There you go folks… OBHWF, as it should be, lol! Thanks to Arnel for her speedy work over the holidays, even if there wasn’t anything much to do. I certainly appreciate it, regardless. That just meant I could get it out to you faster! I started a new job last Friday, but it shouldn’t affect updates on this fic since it is completed. Please remember to leave me a review and let me know what you think. This chapter went through a major rewrite, so I’m curious to see what you thought of it. It was originally written post-OotP, and I felt like the characterizations were a bit off after taking into consideration HBP. I worked hard to make certain neither Harry nor Ginny was OOC as I interpret them. I know they’ve both been affected by this curse, but hopefully they are still true to canon as far as their personalities go. Let me know if you think I succeeded, and if you think I didn’t, please be nice… it may be a stressful week for me! New jobs are never easy, and this one is going to require a lot out of me… it’s definitely going to be a challenge. Wish me luck, and happy reading!]
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