The majestic white owl flew away with the letter tied to its paw, and Ginny left the kitchen table to look for her mother. She knew she would have to find a new dress or sew one at the last minute, as not even her best robes would be enough for this event. It was dinner at a duke’s house, after all, Ginny was supposed to be presentable.
“Mum!” She yelled, heading downstairs to the living room, where her mother was usually, enjoying hanging out there in the afternoon, embroidering and listening to the radio. “Mum, I got an invitation to dinner!”
Ginny didn’t want to be so excited, it was dinner and nothing more, but the prospect of doing something different (even if it was likely to be boring) made her jump up steps and run to her mother like a child at Christmas.
“Lord Potter invited me to dinner at their main house,” Molly’s face went through several phases; first a frivolous shock, high eyebrows and large eyes, then a simple glee, a smile rising at the corners of his lips, and then disbelief and suspicion.
“Lord Potter? Didn’t your father tell you not to date him?” Molly arched her eyebrows, leaving the scarf she was embroidering in her lap, looking at her daughter with complete attention.
Ginny shrugged, tossing her hair back and smiling at her mother as if she really didn’t care.
“I can’t refuse such an invitation, can I? How could I say no to a Lord?”
It’s been a while since I wrote something, right? anyway, I wanted to write something without any pretension, just Harry being a father of teenagers. sorry for the mistakes, it’s been a long time since i did this, and i’m still getting used to it all again
————–
“Dad,” James’ voice rang through the room, bursting the bubble that Harry was in. It was hard to have a quiet moment at home so he could just read a book, when all the kids were at home, arguing and yelling at each other.
Teenagers weren’t easy.
“Hello,” Harry put the book on his lap, looking at his son who was accompanied by Lily Lu, who didn’t look at all happy to be dragged along beside him. Great, another discussion that Harry would pretend to pay attention to. “What happened?”
“Tell her to stop being annoying please, I want to go out with my friends and she wants to go along!” James complained, while Lily imitated him without making a sound and rolled her eyes.
“I don’t want to go out withhim! I just want to go to the mall too. I don’t even need to be around him, Dad!” She stomped her foot, crossing her arms in annoyance.
“Why don’t you go out with your friends?”
“You know why!” Lily yelled back. Harry patiently placed a hand on his temples and massaged them, not knowing what to say or what to do; they had been arguing all day over things so small that Harry was considering locking the two of them in a room and only letting go after they got along.
“James, just take her with you, that’s all, it won’t hurt you and besides, it’s safer that way,” It wasn’t nearly the answer the boy wanted, but it was what Harry could offer right now.
When Ginny got home from her trip, he hoped to be able to take her out so they could have a adult time together and away from the kids.
‘’Ugh! Why doesn’t Albus take her!?“
’‘Please, both of you,” Harry stopped them before Lily could even open her mouth to retort. “Either the two go together, or no one goes!” They stopped, eyes wide and cheeks slightly flushed, watching their father with redoubled caution now. “You have five minutes to decide what you’re going to do. Otherwise, I would love to lie here on the couch in peace and read my book.”
Harry opened the book he was reading again, stretching his legs and pretending not to notice the silent argument that James and Lily were having as they walked to their rooms to get ready; He didn’t quite understand why they were fighting so much the last few days, even Albus, who used to start all the fights, was finding their behavior strange.
Maybe when Ginny got home, she could get one of them to talk about what was going on.
———
Spoiler; Lily Lu is dating one of James’ friends and he doesn’t like it at all.
On Sunday night (01) the world stopped to watch Harry and Ginny Potter walk through the Met Gala.
Faithfully following the theme, the couple bet on classic clothes and with an odd elegance, being the most disputed of the night to get a photo.
—-
@startanewdream asked me to draw Ginny following the Met Gala theme, and honestly, I loved drawing this. As much as I dare draw suits, I tried to make Harry’s not look so simple using the purple color, which is the color of nobility, but it’s hard.
I hope you like it, it’s been a while since I drew Hinny, but I missed doing these two❤️
I can’t help but wonder what winter at Hogwarts would really be like. Like the snow that falls, the excitement of going home, the warmth of the school and the magic feeling that comes with it.
This is by far my favorite Draco scene because he was really considering doing what he wanted and not what his parents wanted. You can’t really see the contemplation on Draco’s face
Seeing things through another’s eyes often gives us a new appreciation for the things we hold dear. Interacting with Cho and Dean give Harry and Ginny a new appreciation for their lives after the war and each other.
Happy birthday to my very first fandom friend! @thisismegz
Meg, I can’t believe it’s been been five years and I’m so happy that you reached out and shared your ideas with me. You’re one of my favorite people and I hope your birthday is full of all the best things! I hope this little story makes your birthday just a little more special! Love you, darling!
Nexus
Chapter 1
Cho took a seat at the table while Stephen went to the bar to get them drinks. She and Stephen had decided on an unconventional honeymoon - three months traveling across the world while Stephen worked. Stephen was an international business consultant and had mapped out his next three months so the two of them could see a large chunk of the world. He’d called it time for her to heal, and heal she had. Steven made her laugh, made her want to live, to smile, to look forward to the future. And sitting at the hotel bar in San Francisco, Cho was happy.
Which was good, because she’d just seen someone she thought the sight of might pull out every terrible and awful memory in her.
Harry Potter stood at the bar.
Thankfully the sight of him didn’t up-end her happiness, which was a relief. It was then she realized he was talking to a woman, a blonde woman.
Hadn’t Harry been with Ginny?
Cho watched as the blonde woman batted her eyes at Harry, flipping her hair over her shoulder. Harry could do better than a woman who was just attracted to his accent and the fact that he was from a different country. Then again, if he’d let Ginny get away maybe he didn’t deserve better.
“Here, love.” Stephen slid into his seat and set her drink down with a kiss on her cheek. Then he caught her eye. “Everything alright?”
“Yes, I just know him.” She gestured towards Harry.
“From where?” Stephen linked their hands.
“School.” Cho shrugged and let out a long breath. That word brought more pain than seeing Harry did.
Stephen shifted his chair to be able to wrap his arm around her shoulders. “Was the woman at your school too?”
Cho went to say no, but a bright streak of red caught her eye, a streak that threw her right back to Quidditch matches and trying to out maneuver one of the best Seekers she’d ever flown against.
“Yeah.” Cho smiled as Ginny slid into Harry’s arms and the blonde woman quickly retreated. Harry whispered something in Ginny’s ear and they both laughed. His lips brushed hers briefly as his arms kept her close.
“Do you want to say hello?” Stephen’s arms tightened against her, holding her up both literally and figuratively.
Cho watched as Ginny and Harry talked easily at the bar, and caught sight of the ring on Ginny’s hand as she linked her wrists behind Harry’s neck. They were happy, and if she knew anyone who deserved to be happy, it was Harry and Ginny.
“No, I don’t want to intrude.” Cho rested her head against Stephen’s shoulder. “Besides, it’s our honeymoon, and tomorrow you promised to take me to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory.”
“Then you should finish your drink so we can head upstairs.” Stephen smirked at her as he picked up his glass. “Big day after all. We’ll need plenty of rest.”
Cho laughed and within a few minutes let Stephen lead her up to their room.
Harry watched them go and smiled.
“I’m glad Cho seems happy.” Ginny threaded her fingers with his.
“Me too, she deserves to be happy after the hell we all went through.” Harry leant against the bar and pulled Ginny flush against him.
“You do too, Harry.” Ginny kissed him lightly before pulling back.
Harry gave her arm a sharp tug to pull her back, shifting his hands to cradle her face and allow him to deepen the kiss.
“I’m happy with you.” He murmured before losing himself in her flowery intoxicating scent again.
“Maybe we should…” Ginny fisted his shirt in her hands and pulled him forward.
Harry smirked against her before pulling away to lead them up to their room, only running into the wall three times in the journey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 2
Dean took a deep breath as he looked at the door to the tent in front of him.
“It’ll be fun, mate.” Seamus put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
That was easy for him to say. He’s kept contact with everyone over the years, especially Harry and Ginny. Dean was honestly shocked to have received the invite at all, let alone a spot in the VIP section and boxed seats. Sure he’d been a part of Dumbledore’s Army, but after the battle he’d cut ties with everyone but Seamus. He hitched rides across the world and spent five years working through the trauma and chaos in his brain as he saw countries he’d only ever read about. The last two of those five years had been the ones that counted though.
Those two had included Valeria.
He’d met her in Mexico City and after six months of her showing him around her home country, she’d decided she was going to follow him to the next one, and the one after that. And then somewhere along the way, they were setting up homes in Mexico and England and Dean let his past go in order to embrace this amazing life that he’d created with Valeria.
But being here now, this was his past coming back, and Dean didn’t know if he was ready.
“Dean?” Valeria took his hand.
“Right, sorry.”
“Todo estará bien.” She squeezed his hand and he took strength in her words as he followed Seamus and his wife, Maeve, forward.
The Potter’s tent was enormous inside, obviously picked out specifically to be the place to host their old group. Dean felt the guilt hit fast as he saw faces he hadn’t seen in sixteen years.
And then he saw Ginny.
The guilt hit harder there. He wished he’d been better to her. They had been teenagers and he could look back and appreciate where they’d both made bad decisions, but he still felt guilty for how miserable they’d made each other.
“Dean! Seamus! Maeve!” Ginny ran over with a smile he couldn’t ever remember seeing on her face. “I’m so glad you made it.” She then pulled Maeve into a tight hug. “I’ve missed you! Why did you move all the way to Ireland?”
Maeve laughed. “Ireland pays their Quidditch coaches better. And we’re closer to family.”
Ginny gave a huff before turning back to Dean. “And who is this beautiful lady?”
“This is my wife, Valeria.” Dean kicked himself for being not only out of it, but rude also. “Valeria, this is Ginny Potter.”
Valeria shook Ginny’s hand. “It’s so nice of you to invite us. This has been a wonderful experience.”
Ginny went to answer when Harry stepped up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist. “We’re glad you could come. I’m Harry, Ginny’s husband. Mucho gusto de conocerle, Valeria.”
Ginny’s smile increased further and something Dean had never realized seemed to dawn on him in that moment. She hadn’t been happy with him because he wasn’t Harry. Just like he hadn’t been happy with her because she wasn’t Valeria. They hadn’t been right for each other, though at sixteen he couldn’t see that. But the realization pulled the drain on all the residual guilt he’d held, and for the first time since he had arrived in Argentina, Dean felt like he could breathe.
He also realized he’d completely missed what his wife and the Finnigan’s had been saying to the Potter’s.
“We’re glad we could come too.” Dean smiled as he shook Harry’s hand. “It’s been too long.”
Ginny nodded and gestured around the tent. “That’s why we decided to do this. We needed a good reason to bring us all back together.”
“Hannah and Neville have created some drinks for the occasion too,” Harry gestured to one side of the tent where Dean saw a small group of people he’d once felt as close to as his half-siblings. “Go say hi and grab something to drink and enjoy the afternoon. We’ll head over to the boxes about thirty minutes before the match starts.”
“Now we’re talking,” Seamus pulled their little group forward and Ginny laughed and waved them forward.
“I honestly didn’t think he’d come.” She leant back into Harry as she watched the gorgeous Valeria whisper to Dean as they walked away. He was smiling again, looking down at her like she was everything.
The way Ginny knew Harry looked at her.
“I told Seamus to work his magic, and it helped that Dean and Valeria were in Mexico already.” Harry kissed her temple and Ginny closed her eyes as she leant into it.
“Maybe we could take the kids to Mexico, ask Dean and Valeria for good places to visit.”
“I think they’d enjoy that. Why not invite Dean and Valeria and their kids along?”
“I don’t want to scare them away. This is the first contact they’ve had with anyone from school outside of Seamus and Maeve.” Ginny watched Dean slowly settle in. “I worry it’s me that’s kept him from the rest of his friends.”
Harry pulled her flush against him. “You know that isn’t true. Dean is too good for that. And so are you.” His lips touched her cheek and Ginny smiled.
“You’re right. I just want us all to be happy. We deserve to be happy.”
“You deserve to be happy.” Harry slowly spun her around and kissed her. Ginny melted into his kiss and was just realizing that they should probably ease up when…
“Ew! Dad! Mom! Not again!” Ginny laughed as Harry pulled away.
“Jamie, do you want to meet Victor Krum?”
“Well, yes, but-”
“Then kindly stop shouting at your mother and me.”
Jamie grumbled but dutifully quieted, though their guests were already laughing at the display.
“We’ll pick that up later, yeah?” Harry spoke against the shell of her ear.
Ginny indulged herself and turned to kiss him further. Everyone was already laughing with them, and with all their old friends around them, Ginny couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate.
Ginny is used to the teasing, but Harry is always happy to help when the teasing gets to her. Post-War Ginny fluff.
Happy birthday Deadwoodpecker!!! I tried to be sneaky and found out your favorite trope, and wrote you a birthday story around it! Love you, darling!
Exclusory
Ginny shut her locker door and grabbed her bag.
“Heading out, Weasley?” Gwenog snagged her before she could escape through the door. Ginny realized she probably should have waited for her captain and Valmai and Cynthia to move away from the door before trying to slip away.
“Yep, I’ve got plans tonight.”
“Man plans,” Valmai snickered.
“If I were dating Harry Potter I’d have plans too.” Cynthia waggled her eyebrows and Ginny laughed. She was used to this kind of teasing now.
“Be honest with us, Ginny,” Valmai grinned, “Is he really better than anyone else in that area?”
Ginny paused, trying to decide how she wanted to answer the question. “Well, to me, yes, because he’s the only one I’ve ever been with.”
Her teammates went quiet.
Ginny took a deep breath and kept her back straight.
“Really?” Valmai’s mouth was down by her trainers.
“That’s so sweet!” Cynthia swooned. “You found your soulmate right away.”
Ginny decided she’d much rather focus on Cynthia right now. “We like to think that.”
“But, but,” Valmai stuttered, “you’ve never been with anyone else?”
“Like Cynthia said,” Ginny hiked her bag higher on her shoulder, “We found each other pretty much first thing.”
“But surely he-”
“Nope, it’s just the two of us.” Ginny silently counted to five to make sure her response wasn’t clipped. “But like I said, I’ve got plans. I’ll see you later.” She pushed out the door and moved to the Apparition point.
That certainly wasn’t the first time someone had been shell shocked, but even after being together for nearly two years post-war, it still got under her skin when someone was so surprised by her and Harry’s situation.
It wasn’t to say that she hadn’t thought about maybe letting it get that far before Harry, but it never felt right with the guys she dated, she never felt ready, and honestly, every poor bloke before Harry was being held to his measuring stick, and none of them could hope to live up to him. But when Harry kissed her after they’d won the Quidditch House Cup, she knew that was it. She didn’t want anyone else, ever. If he’d not come back to her after he’d left to destroy Voldemort she would have happily lived the rest of her life alone.
Ginny shook her head as she landed at Harry’s flat. They were supposed to have a fun evening together eating dinner and relaxing. She needed to get a grip.
“Gin!” Harry opened the door and pulled her into his arms. Ginny felt some of the aggravation melt in his embrace and she sighed in relief. “Hard day?”
“It wasn’t really, at least not until the last minute.” She let him pull her into the flat and shut the door behind him.
“What happened on your way out?” Harry frowned.
Ginny buried her head into his chest. “Does it bother anyone you know that we’ve only been with each other?”
“We both dated people before each other.” There was a hint of bitterness in his voice.
“Not dated.” She looked up and kissed him. “I mean intimately.”
“Oh,” Harry frowned. “Why are you talking about that?”
“Don’t you remember what the locker room was like at Hogwarts?” Ginny laughed. “It’s a regular part of the conversation there.”
Harry shoved his hand in his hair. “I guess I thought that wouldn’t be the case on a pro team?”
“Love, I’d wager it’s worse.”
Harry took a deep breath and pulled her to the sofa with him, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “Well, to answer your first question, the only two people I’ve said anything to are Hermione and your brother, and only because Hermione asked me straight out.”
Ginny laughed, “Do I want to know why she asked that question?”
Harry shuddered. “No, you really don’t want to know.”
Ginny made a mental note to ask Hermione what had happened for her to ask that question. “Alright, well, a few people more than that know, also because they asked straight out, but they’re not the type to go blabbering it everywhere, just with the team.”
“So,” Harry paused, “I probably shouldn’t ask questions I might not like the answer to, but I think I need to here. Does it bother you that we’ve only been with each other?”
“No!” Ginny turned to look at him, his green eyes almost as vulnerable as the first time he told her he loved her. “I kind of love that it’s only ever been you.”
Harry’s whole body relaxed against her and he brought his hand up to cup her face. “Me too.”
“I’m sorry I came home in a state,” she rested her forehead against his. “It just bothered me that Valmai was so shocked.”
Harry nuzzled her nose with his. “You did not come home in a state, and I get it. But if you’re happy it’s just you and me, and I’m happy it’s just you and me, then that’s what matters right?”
“When did you become the voice of reason?” Ginny moved closer, almost, but not quite climbing into his lap.
Harry huffed when she stopped short of his lap and moved his hand from her face to grab her hips and pull her into him. “Better.”
She giggled as she used her new position to tease him, keeping her lips just out of reach, her body just far enough away. “Are you sure?”
He groaned and gave her hips a tug. “This is still better than you on the other side of the sofa.”
“I was not on the other side of the sofa.” She moved a fraction closer.
“Might as well have been.”
“Harry, could you be any more extra right now?”
“I’m distracting you.” He slipped his hand up from her waist, slowly climbing up into her hair.
Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck to brace herself as she melted into the feel of his hand in her hair. “From what?”
“Exactly.” He pulled her down to him and finally brought their lips together. As Harry’s lips undid her, his hands were moving, pulling her closer to him, melding them together, creating that blissful state where Ginny wasn’t sure where one of them ended and the other began.
It wasn’t until Ginny stole Harry’s shirt to pull over her head that she remembered what Harry had been distracting her from, and she smiled. He was right, as long as they were happy they’d only ever been with each other, that was what mattered.
And maybe after dinner, they could distract each other again, this time in their bed and not nearly falling off the sofa.
