“Yeah, pumpkin?”

written for @hinnyfest  prompt #21: you stole my heart, i’ll let you keep it though

“But then Mummy was taken-”

Lily gasped in true terror, Ruby copying her a beat too late and Harry had to bite back a grin.

They were sitting in the rocking chair, one girl on each knee and a stack of books piled high on the dresser. Bedtime had come and gone but no story had been good enough. They’d started at least a dozen different ones, just for Lily to stop halfway through and declare the tale inadequate. Harry had given it up as a bad job and started telling his own story. Their story. Only in a way he hoped was appropriate for a six and a three year old.

“Were you scared?” Lily asked with wide eyes. 

He didn’t even have to think that hard to remember. “I was very scared.”

“What did you do?”

“Well,” Harry adjusted Ruby further up his chest and she laid her head on his shoulder. “Your Uncle Ron and I went looking for her.”

Lily furrowed her little brow. “How did you know where to find her?”

“We didn’t,” Harry explained. “That’s why it was so scary.”

Movement caught his eye and Harry looked up to see Ginny leaning against the door frame. A knowing smile played at the corners of her mouth. 

“Why they taken her, Daddy?” Ruby muttered sleepily. 

“Er,” Harry winced slightly. That definitely wasn’t age appropriate. He supposed a metaphorical explanation would have to suffice. “They were trying to steal her heart.”

“Her heart?” Lily asked skeptically. “What did they want with it?”

“Who you give your heart to is very important,” he replied. “There’s power in giving your heart away.”

Ruby perked up. “Like magic?”

“Exactly like magic,” Harry tried for an air of seriousness. “But you can’t give it to just anyone. You’ve got to be careful.”

“I’m never giving my heart away.” Lily scoffed and pointed at the center of her chest. “I’m keeping it right here.”

Harry grinned. “Good girl.”

Ginny huffed out a laugh and pushed off the wall. “Alright, you lot. Time for bed.”

“No, wait!” Lily called. “Five more minutes!”

“You said five more minutes fifteen minutes ago,” Ginny raised an eyebrow and gave Lily a quelling look. 

“But-” Lily whined. “Daddy hasn’t finished the story yet!” 

“I’ll finish tomorrow night,” Harry reassured, giving Lily a pat on the back.

Crossing the room, Ginny grabbed Ruby beneath the arms and lifted her from his lap, then carried her the short distance to her bed. Harry did the same with Lily. 

“But you found her right, Daddy?” Lily asked urgently as Harry pulled the blankets up to her chin. “You found Mummy and you saved her?”

One side of Harry’s mouth stretched into a soft smile. “No, not this time.”

Lily blinked in confusion. “But how come she’s alright?”

“Because,” Harry knelt next to the bed and brushed a stray lock of raven hair away from her face. “This time she saved herself.”

He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and stood. They traded positions at the girls’ bedside, Ginny giving Lily a firm talking to about going to sleep and Harry crouching down to tell a half-asleep Ruby goodnight. 

“Daddy?” she asked, her heavy lidded eyes forest green in the dim light. 

“Yeah, pumpkin?”

“You stole my heart.”

Harry froze, his breath going shallow and his chest tight. “I did?”

“Yeah…” Ruby murmured, “but I’ll let you keep it.”

“I-” He faltered, trying to swallow down the lump in his throat. “I’ll take good care of it. I promise.”

Ruby sighed. “Thanks, Daddy.”

Her eyelids fluttered shut and Harry pressed a soft kiss to her copper hair. 

He crossed the room quietly, pulling the door shut behind him to find Ginny waiting in the hall. 

Her amber eyes sparkled with affection and she looked to be holding back a smirk. “You alright?”

“Y-” Harry cleared his throat roughly. “Yeah, fine.”

let him be a bludger

Written for @hinnyfest Prompt #14: family quidditch

It had been Harry’s idea, as most of the colossally dumb things they did were.

We’ll use the Shooting Stars, he’d said. James will be fine.

Well, in typical James fashion, he was decidedly not fine. He was practically vibrating with excitement and zooming around the back garden as fast as the ancient broom would allow.  

“He’s going to break his neck,” Teddy lamented, moving to stand next to Ginny at the far side of their makeshift pitch. His hair was a sandy blonde today, skin perfectly tanned in the late summer sun. 

She huffed in agreement then cupped her hands around her mouth. “James! Get over here, we’ve got to strategize!”

James did several corkscrews on his way back to the ground that had Teddy and Ginny grimacing in apprehension, but he landed relatively gracefully despite it all.

“Can I be chaser?” he asked in a rush.

“Oh,” Teddy laughed. “Can you throw the quaffle now?”

“Sometimes!” James replied indignantly, his little boy fury more cute than fearsome.  

Ginny knelt down so they were eye to eye. “I need you to be seeker, okay?”

“But I can score!” James whinged. “I know I can!”

“Listen,” Ginny insisted. “You have to get to the snitch before Ruby. That way we win. You want to win right?”

James looked over across the yard to where Lily, Ruby, and Harry all had their heads together. His expression hardened as he watched his sisters giggle at something Harry said. 

“Alright, but I want to be beater too-”

Teddy rolled his eyes. “We haven’t got any bludgers, mate.”

James’ honey eyes sparked. “I’ll be the bludger!”

“Yeah, alright,” Ginny let out a long suffering sigh. “You can be the bludger.”

Punching his fist in the air, James mounted his broom at a run and took off into the air again. 

Teddy raised his eyebrows and gave Ginny a disbelieving look. 

“He’s five,” she defended. “Let him be a bludger. It may actually work in our favor.”

Teddy shook his head with a grin. “Guess that makes me keeper?”

Ginny nodded and summoned her own broom into her hand. “Watch Lily. She feints left.”

“Aye-aye, boss,” Teddy saluted, grabbing a quaffle from the trunk and shouting after James to help him warm up. 

Turning her attention to the three conspirators across the lawn, she watched with narrowed eyes as Harry had them all put their hands in before breaking the huddle.

Lily and Ruby took the sky immediately, joining Teddy and James’ game of catch, but Harry stayed earthbound. He caught Ginny’s eye and met her in the middle of the yard. 

“Teddy is Keeper,” she announced, leaning on her broom and beginning their makeshift captains’ meeting. “James will be seeker.”

“Interesting line-up,” Harry replied with a smirk. “Lily is chaser, Ruby’s our seeker.”

Just as Ginny had predicted. She raised an eyebrow at him in challenge. “Sure you don’t want to switch with someone?”

“Nah,” he hummed. “You’re getting soft in your old age-”

She swung the end of her broom at him, which he dodged. 

“Two timeouts a piece,” Ginny detailed out. “First to three-hundred or first to the snitch wins.”

“Three hundred?” Harry laughed. “Someone’s confident.”

“Hate to break it to you,” she scrunched her nose to hide her smile. “But you’re not that good of a keeper.”

“Neither is Teddy-”

“I heard that!” Teddy called from twenty feet above. 

Harry ignored him. “Loser does the dishes?” 

Ginny nodded once. “Deal.” 

They shook on it, but when Ginny made to let go, Harry’s grip tightened. He pulled her a half step closer and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. 

His lips lingered against her skin and he murmured a soft, “Happy Birthday.”

let him be a bludger

Written for @hinnyfest Prompt #14: family quidditch

It had been Harry’s idea, as most of the colossally dumb things they did were.

We’ll use the Shooting Stars, he’d said. James will be fine.

Well, in typical James fashion, he was decidedly not fine. He was practically vibrating with excitement and zooming around the back garden as fast as the ancient broom would allow.  

“He’s going to break his neck,” Teddy lamented, moving to stand next to Ginny at the far side of their makeshift pitch. His hair was a sandy blonde today, skin perfectly tanned in the late summer sun. 

She huffed in agreement then cupped her hands around her mouth. “James! Get over here, we’ve got to strategize!”

James did several corkscrews on his way back to the ground that had Teddy and Ginny grimacing in apprehension, but he landed relatively gracefully despite it all.

“Can I be chaser?” he asked in a rush.

“Oh,” Teddy laughed. “Can you throw the quaffle now?”

“Sometimes!” James replied indignantly, his little boy fury more cute than fearsome.  

Ginny knelt down so they were eye to eye. “I need you to be seeker, okay?”

“But I can score!” James whinged. “I know I can!”

“Listen,” Ginny insisted. “You have to get to the snitch before Ruby. That way we win. You want to win right?”

James looked over across the yard to where Lily, Ruby, and Harry all had their heads together. His expression hardened as he watched his sisters giggle at something Harry said. 

“Alright, but I want to be beater too-”

Teddy rolled his eyes. “We haven’t got any bludgers, mate.”

James’ honey eyes sparked. “I’ll be the bludger!”

“Yeah, alright,” Ginny let out a long suffering sigh. “You can be the bludger.”

Punching his fist in the air, James mounted his broom at a run and took off into the air again. 

Teddy raised his eyebrows and gave Ginny a disbelieving look. 

“He’s five,” she defended. “Let him be a bludger. It may actually work in our favor.”

Teddy shook his head with a grin. “Guess that makes me keeper?”

Ginny nodded and summoned her own broom into her hand. “Watch Lily. She feints left.”

“Aye-aye, boss,” Teddy saluted, grabbing a quaffle from the trunk and shouting after James to help him warm up. 

Turning her attention to the three conspirators across the lawn, she watched with narrowed eyes as Harry had them all put their hands in before breaking the huddle.

Lily and Ruby took the sky immediately, joining Teddy and James’ game of catch, but Harry stayed earthbound. He caught Ginny’s eye and met her in the middle of the yard. 

“Teddy is Keeper,” she announced, leaning on her broom and beginning their makeshift captains’ meeting. “James will be seeker.”

“Interesting line-up,” Harry replied with a smirk. “Lily is chaser, Ruby’s our seeker.”

Just as Ginny had predicted. She raised an eyebrow at him in challenge. “Sure you don’t want to switch with someone?”

“Nah,” he hummed. “You’re getting soft in your old age-”

She swung the end of her broom at him, which he dodged. 

“Two timeouts a piece,” Ginny detailed out. “First to three-hundred or first to the snitch wins.”

“Three hundred?” Harry laughed. “Someone’s confident.”

“Hate to break it to you,” she scrunched her nose to hide her smile. “But you’re not that good of a keeper.”

“Neither is Teddy-”

“I heard that!” Teddy called from twenty feet above. 

Harry ignored him. “Loser does the dishes?” 

Ginny nodded once. “Deal.” 

They shook on it, but when Ginny made to let go, Harry’s grip tightened. He pulled her a half step closer and planted a quick kiss on her cheek. 

His lips lingered against her skin and he murmured a soft, “Happy Birthday.”

February 14th, 2013

written for @hinnyfest prompt #12: valentine’s day

Piles of snow lined the cobblestone path as Harry and Ginny walked hand in hand up High Street. The Three Broomsticks’ front windows glowed warm and inviting as they passed, but they didn’t duck into the crowded pub. Instead, they continued further up the slope past Hogsmeade Station and toward the towering winged boars in the distance. 

It was slow going, between the slush and snow and Ginny’s protruding belly, it took twice the amount of time to hike up the hill and into the shadow of the castle. 

They veered right before they got to the oak front doors, a trench dug path leading them around the side and in the direction of the forest. 

Ginny squeezed Harry’s hand. “Are you nervous?”

“A bit, yeah,” his own grip tightened around her palm. “You?”

She shrugged. “More excited, I think.”

Nodding to himself, Harry helped her across a particularly slippery patch as the silhouette of Hagrid’s hut came into view. The postage stamp windows shone bright in the distance, smoke curling up from the chimney and half a dozen hippogriffs in the paddock around back.

Approaching as fast as Ginny’s stunted waddle would allow, Harry mounted the front steps and pounded on the door. 

They heard a high-pitched bark followed by some muffled grumbling, then the door was thrown open and Hagrid appeared holding a wiggling mess of dark fur. His hair and beard had streaks of gray threading through the tangled black, and he had new wrinkles around his nose, but his black eyes were just as warm and kind as ever. 

“Harry!” he called in shock, then those sparkling eyes slid past Harry’s shoulder and he broke into a grin. “Ginny!”

“Hi, Hagrid!” Ginny beamed back. 

“Wha’ in the ruddy hell are ya doin’ here?” Hagrid stood aside to let them in and nearly dropped the puppy in his arms in the process. “Don’ you know it’s Valentine’s Day?”

“We’re in town for dinner,” Harry explained, stomping the chill from his feet as a swooping feeling leapt in stomach. “Thought we’d surprise you.”

“Lily with you?” Hagrid looked around like they had her stashed beneath their coats. 

Ginny unraveled her scarf and shook her head. “She’s with mum for the night.”

“Bring her next time, will ya?” Hagrid’s eyes crinkled in the corners. “Brutus needs sumn’ to play with.”

Brutus chose that moment to finally wriggle free from Hagrid’s grasp. The Newfoundland pup sprang at Harry, nearly knocking him into the curio cabinet and jumping on his back legs until Harry scratched behind his ears. 

While Hagrid busied himself at the grate, putting the kettle on and pulling a plate of rock cakes from the cupboard, Ginny and Harry found seats around the overlarge table. They chatted about Hogwarts and the Ministry and Neville’s new use for the school pumpkins. 

Hagrid set down two steaming cups of tea in front of them and nodded at Ginny’s middle. “Won’ be long now.” 

Ginny grazed her palm around the top and smiled. “Two and a bit weeks, though I feel like I’ll pop any minute.”

Hagrid chuckled and took a seat. “Lily ready?”

“No,” Harry laughed. “She hasn’t got a clue what she’s in for.”

“Neither does that little one,” Hagrid chortled behind his tea mug. “Havin’ Lily for a sister.”

Ginny kicked Harry’s foot beneath the table and gave him a pointed look.

The swooping feeling came back in full force and he swallowed around the sudden tightness in his throat. “That’s actually why we stopped by…”

Hagrid blinked curiously, his brows knitting together. 

“So,” Harry hesitated, wondering how he’d forgotten all his carefully rehearsed words. “We haven’t told many people yet, just Ginny’s family really, but we’re having another girl-”

“A girl!?” Hagrid boomed. In his excitement, he knocked into the table and sent tea spilling over the brim of all their mugs. 

“Yes, and,” Harry couldn’t hold back the grin spreading across his face. He reached for Ginny’s hand and slid his fingers between hers. “What with everything you’ve done for- Well, we want you to know how much you mean to us. To both of us. And if it’s alright with you, we’d like to call her Ruby?”

Hagrid stared at them for the space of several seconds, silence lingering in the cabin. A log popped in the fire and Harry had just begun to think they’d made a huge mistake when Hagrid’s eyes welled with tears and he buried his face in his hands with an almighty howl. 

Ginny’s eyes shone with moisture as she reached over to pat Hagrid’s massive forearm. 

“You’ve always been family to us,” she spoke softly, her voice a bit thick. “We wanted to make sure you knew that.”

Pulling out a massive handkerchief, Hagrid blew his nose loudly then turned his watery gaze to Ginny. He tried to speak, opening and closing his mouth twice before bursting into gasping sobs again. 

It took several mugs of tea and a little bit of brandy for Hagrid to get back to halfway normal. He asked them on three separate occasions if they were really sure about it. Sure that there wasn’t some other name that held more meaning, someone else they could honor in such a way?

“No one,” Harry said firmly.

Hagrid’s only response had been to pull Harry into a backbreaking hug.

ron interrupts… again

written for @hinnyfest prompt #7: getting caught in the act unofficial sequel to five times ron interrupted, and one time he didn’t

Harry had spent enough time at the Burrow to know which floorboards creaked, so as he crept down the stairs, the wee hours of the morning remained undisturbed. He’d intended to make his way to the kitchen for a cup of tea, but when he reached the first floor landing, he paused. 

Ginny’s door was cracked open, just enough that he could see the first hints of dawn stretching across the far wall. 

Impulse taking over, he pushed it open and winced at the squeak of hinges. Ducking into her room, he found Ginny sitting in her large bay window with a blanket around her shoulders.

“Hi,” he breathed, shutting the door as quietly as he could. 

She smiled at him sleepily, her silhouette backlit by the creeping yellow light glowing along the horizon. 

Harry crossed over to her and pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head. “Figured you wouldn’t be up for hours.”

Ginny sighed. “That was the plan, yes.”

Breathing out a chuckle, he joined her on the sill and leaned back against the opposite panel. “Happy Christmas.”

She tucked her legs into her chest and propped her chin on her knees. “You too.”

He watched her for a long moment, trying to figure out if the sluggishness in her eyes was drowsy or weary. Ginny watched him right back, her head tilted in contemplation.

“Do you remember last Christmas?” she asked finally.

Harry grimaced. “I try not to.”

Ginny tucked her cheeks into her elbow to hide her smile, and he felt his own stretch across his face.

“I was so angry with you,” she continued, her smile turning sad. “Now I can’t even remember why.”

“Well, I’m not going to remind you-”

Shaking her head, she leaned forward so Harry could pull her into his arms. Ginny slotted herself into his side, like she was made to be there, and he began to rub slow circles into the space between her shoulder blades.

“I have a feeling this year will be much better,” he murmured against her hair. 

Ginny snorted. “Not hard to be.”

Harry wrapped his arms more tightly around her. “I missed you last night.”

“I missed you, too.” She tilted her head back to look at him. “I left the door open.”

He gave her a bewildered look. “Your room is across the hall from your parents.”

Ginny rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why they insist on that stupid rule. We live together, what does it matter if we aren’t engaged?”

“Wait,” Harry feigned surprise. “I haven’t proposed yet?”

Extending her left hand, she scrutinized her empty fingers. “Doesn’t look like it.”

“Damn, I really thought I’d done that.”

“Make it memorable, would you?” Ginny shifted so she could face him fully. “Flowers, candles, firecrackers, a whole big speech about how I’m way to good for you-”

Harry’s hands settle against her ribs. “Firecrackers?”

“The more the better.”

“Sounds like you’ve got it all planned out,” he taunted. “Why haven’t you done the proposing then?”

“Didn’t want to steal your thunder.”

Harry chuckled and the sleepiness in her eyes disappeared, replaced by a playful spark that quickened his pulse in anticipation. 

“It’s only half six,” Ginny breathed, a knowing smirk twisting the corners of her mouth. “Want to risk it?”

Harry shook his head and muttered, “You’re barking.” 

Ginny quirked a copper eyebrow. “That wasn’t a no…”

Of course it wasn’t, because when had he ever actually been able to tell her no. 

Instead of answering, he lowered his head into the crook of her neck and found the spot just beneath her ear that sent her squirming. He pressed his lips into her skin in the barest, most torturous of kisses. 

Her breath hitched and he grinned.

“You know,” he asserted, speaking against her ear. “You aren’t exactly quiet.”

Ginny hummed. “If only there was a spell or a charm for that sort of thing.”

Harry ignored her, returning his attention to her pulse point. He grazed his teeth along the freckles there, then smoothed it away with his tongue. When he sucked, Ginny pulled in a sharp breath through her nose. 

Fisting the hair at the top of his head, she tugged his face around and captured his lips in a punishing kiss. Harry gave into her easily, their tongues rolling against each other in such a way that he didn’t even try to hold back the soft moan that clawed its way up his throat. 

“Don’t start something you don’t intend to finish,” she murmured against his mouth. 

“Your mother can hardly kill me for kissing you good morning.”

“Is that what we’re doing?” 

Harry shrugged and leaned in to kiss her again, but he found no purchase as she slipped out of his reach. Ginny grabbed his hands and pulled him up from the window seat after her. She walked backwards, leading him over to her bed and she just looked so damn smug, Harry couldn’t help but grab her by the back of the head and crash his lips into hers. 

His hands slipped beneath the hem of her jumper and the skin of her waist was heated beneath his fingers. Not to be outdone, never to be outdone, Ginny took it one step further and hauled Harry’s sweater halfway up his chest so he’d either have to tug it back down or divest himself of the garment completely. 

He chose the latter. 

Only, as soon as he’d tossed it aside, the bedroom door burst open. 

“Hey, Ginny?” Ron said in a rush. “Can you help me with th-”

He stopped talking abruptly, taking in a shirtless Harry with his hands up the front of his sister’s pajamas and a flushed Ginny with her face buried in Harry’s chest. 

“Why?” Ron groaned, his entire body deflating. 

“Do you ever knock?” Ginny hissed. 

Ron visibly bristled. “It’s seven in the morning! And he’s meant to be in Bill’s room!”

Harry took this accusation in stride and instead worried about the goings on across the hall. “Would you keep your voice down?”

“Oh, yeah, right.” Ron snapped. “Because I’m sure whatever going on in here was noiseless-”

Ginny made a disgusted sound. “Get out!”

Grumbling under his breath, Ron escaped the room as quickly as he appeared. 

Harry snatched up his jumper and pulled it back over his head. 

“Where’re you going?” Ginny asked indignantly. 

“Kitchen.” Harry pressed a quick kiss to her lips. “Before your mum wakes up.”

someone new

written for @hinnyfest prompt 4: harpies locker room *content warning* mentions of casual alcohol consumption a day late for reasons we don't need to get into right now

Collapsing onto a sofa, Ginny watched as the rest of her teammates slowly trickled into the players' lounge. Early morning meetings were always a bit subdued, but the first Saturday back after holiday break was an entirely different type of sleepy silence. 

Val plopped down next to her, her head falling back to rest against the cushion. "That was some party."

Snorting, Ginny couldn't help the grin that stretched across her face. Val had been a sight to behold. Ginny couldn't remember the last time she'd seen someone drink Charlie under the table.

"It's been two weeks?" Ginny asserted. "You still haven't recovered?"

Eyes fluttering shut, Val shook her head with a soft moan.

Ginny chuckled under her breath. "You know they make potions for that sort of thing?"

"This is just age," Val sighed. "No potion can cure that I'm afraid."

"Alright, you lot," Gwenog called in her most commanding captain's voice. "Hope you had a Happy Christmas and all that."

As Gwenog took off, detailing out the upcoming months of pre-season practice, Ginny let the familiarity of it all seep into her bones. A deep attachment to this building, and to these women, rippled out from her middle. The camaraderie that she'd found within these walls, the solidarity, the friendship, hit her with such force that she could only describe the feeling as a profound belonging.

This was her place. These were her people.

And they always would be.

Ginny could usually curb her more sentimental tendencies, but recent events had her living in such a golden glow of joy, she couldn't seem to find a way to come back down to earth. Oblivious to the warmth of fondness now taking Ginny over, Gwenog continued on, speaking about schedule changes for opening weekend and the training schedule for every which week in between, and it was all just so damn exciting. The prospect of a new season, a fresh start, a new year. Coupled with the last few weeks, Ginny found herself blissfully optimistic. So much so, she had to bite back the smile threatening the corners of her mouth.

She was fairly certain Gwenog caught the expression, because she shot Ginny a sharp glance when she paused to check her notes.

"And lastly," Gwenog smirked, eyes roving over the squad all gathered around the room. "We have someone new joining us for the season."

Ginny blinked, and noticed several others all looking at Gwenog in equal states of confusion. 

"It's a lot of pressure," she continued, a wicked glint in her eye. "Replacing such a an integral member of the team."

A few looked around, most of the gazes landing on Val. Ginny did as well, wondering if this was the retirement announcement they'd all been dreading.

"But I'm confident she's got what it takes," Gwenog paused, no doubt for dramatic effect, then her face broke out into a wide grin. "Everyone welcome to the squad, Ginny Potter!"

After a beat of silence, the room erupted into laughter and wolf-whistles. 

"Ha Ha," Ginny called back sardonically.

"We were all there, Gwenog."

"Some of us more than others."

"I heard that Ellis-"

"How was the honeymoon, Weasley?"

"Or do we have to call you Potter now?"

"Yes," Ginny laughed. "You do."

The commotion died down gradually, the merciless ribbing turning from Ginny to Val and her drunken dancing. As her teammates relived the more hilarious moments from their reception, Ginny lost herself in the memories of the day. The thin layer of fresh snow, the candlelit tent, Harry's grin as he waited for her at the end of the aisle. 

Standing in front of her locker, she pulled on her practice kit, her new name stitched across the back in bold, yellow letters. She was fairly certain the shimmery incandescence of her new life couldn't last forever, but at the moment, it definitely felt like it could last a lifetime. 

tenth anniversary

written for @hinnyfest prompt #2: i did something bad *content warning* death of a small rodent

The fire crackled merrily in the grate while snow floated past the front windows in gentle spirals. Ginny lounged on the sofa, basking in silence for the first time in a week. Christmas always had the tendency to come and go in a whirlwind, each year that much more chaotic as the girls got older, and this year had been no different. 

A whole host of new toys, books, sweets, and jumpers lay scattered throughout the cottage. She’d given up trying to tidy as it seemed every time she’d begun to pick up a room, someone, or several someones, would go behind her and destroy it all over again.

As an anniversary gift, her mum had blessedly offered to take the girls for the night. However, she’d said it with such an expectant expression that there was only one possible ulterior motive. In response, Ginny had rolled her eyes so violently they almost stuck in the top of her head; just because they had one night to themselves didn’t mean they would all the sudden try for a third.

Not a chance. They were too fucking tired. 

An echoing thud, followed by a loud swear, resounded through the ceiling and Ginny peered upwards curiously. Harry had disappeared a half an hour ago, but she hadn’t really thought anything of it. Until now. 

After a few quiet moments, she heard more swearing, then frantic footsteps in the upstairs hall.

Harry thundered down the stairs, rattling the whole house and whipping around the corner into the sitting room. 

His face was flushed and his expression panicked as he blurted, “I did something bad.”

Ginny sighed and sat up, her blissful reprieve from chaos apparently over.

“Reparo bad,” she yawned. “Or vanish the evidence bad?”

Harry stared at her with wide eyes. “Shovel bad.”

“What?”

She stood in a rush, following after Harry as he dashed back up the stairs. Ginny took them two at a time, her dozy brain returning to alert with each step. He led her halfway down the hall and then turned to stand in their daughters’ bedroom doorway. 

Peering around him, Ginny took in the riot of dress up costumes, toy broomsticks, and doll houses, until her gaze landed on a furry purple lump in the middle of the room. 

“Bridget!” she gasped and clapped her hands over her mouth. 

“I didn’t mean to!” Harry cried, his face positively miserable. 

Ginny took a few steps into the bedroom and crouched down next to the little pygmy puff. “You killed her!”

He winced. “Maybe she isn’t dead?”

“She’s squashed flat!”

“It was an accident!”

“Did you step on her?”

“No,” Harry scrubbed a hand down his face. “I fell on her.”

Ginny remembered the loud thud and bit back a laugh. “What were you doing?”

“I-” he faltered, embarrassment clouding his features. 

Eyes widening in clarity, her mouth dropped open. “You were wearing those dream specs they got from Percy, weren’t you!?”

“No!” Harry insisted, then he let out a resigned huff. “Alright, fine. I was, but it’s not my fault they’re brilliant-”

“Unbelievable.” Ginny scooped up the tiny corpse and grimaced. It was still warm. She held her hands out but Harry took a half step back. 

“Er-” He stammered. “You’ve got it handled.”

“Harry Potter, you take this dead pygmy puff this instant!”

“How about this,” he took another step backwards, fully into the hallway. “You dispose of the body, and I’ll go to Diagon and pick out another one?”

“How about you go bury it since you killed it!” Ginny shrieked. “And I’ll go to Diagon and pick out another one!”

Harry was shaking his head before she even finished speaking. “Seems like a lose-lose.”

“If you don’t take it right now,” she said in her most threatening voice. “I’ll tell Lily.”

His eyes sharpened. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“You want to try me?”

He stared at her for the space of three seconds, sizing her up. “How about I dig the hole, then we both go to Diagon?”

“That still leaves me holding a dead pygmy puff!”

“That’s the cost of being my accomplice, I’m afraid.”

Ginny groaned impatiently. “Fine! Just hurry! I can feel it’s little broken bones-”

Harry gagged.

.

.

.

EPILOGUE

Bridget 2.0 lived a long, full life of snickersnacks and cuddles. And Lily Luna never questioned why her royal purple pygmy puff all the sudden turned periwinkle. 

there is no third

The little bell above the door tinkled and a gust of frosty wind swept through Honeydukes until the door banged closed again. Not paying attention to the other shoppers crowded around, Harry leaned against a display of Cockroach Clusters and watched as Ginny perused the baking section.

In typical Ginny fashion, she had left her Christmas Shopping until the very last minute, which meant Harry was trailing along after her and fighting the horde of dawdlers who also refused to take advantage of Owl Orders. It wasn’t the worst way he’d spent a Saturday, but he could think of other, much more enjoyable, pastimes to participate in with his fiancée. 

Especially since in two weeks she wouldn’t be his fiancée anymore. She’d be something altogether more important. Something infinitely significant and meaningful. Something sacred. 

Warmth cracked open in his chest as he watched her let out an impatient huff and return a cellophane bag of instant melt caramels back to the shelf.

Wife. 

Ginny was going to be his wife. Home, family, and endless contentment, all wrapped up in his favorite person in the world. Bonded to him for life. 

Sometimes Harry had to pinch himself just for the reminder that it was real. 

The distinctive click of a camera pulled his attention away from Ginny chewing on her bottom lip and to the other side of the shop. Harry clocked the room but didn’t immediately notice anyone acting suspicious until the third go around.

A middle-aged bloke stood half-hidden behind a rack of Liquorice Wands and conspicuously stared in their direction. When he noticed Harry, he ducked behind an older couple passing by and disappeared from sight. 

“Do you think Mum would want Golden Syrup Drops?”

The bloke reappeared three aisles over, raising a camera in their direction and Harry swore under his breath

“Yeah,” Ginny hummed. “I didn’t think so either.”

Not bothering with an explanation, Harry grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the back of the store.

“What’re you-” she started but he yanked her down the rickety staircase and into the basement storeroom. 

“It’s that Bogdan fellow,” Harry explained in a rush once they were out of sight. “The photographer working for Rita Skeeter.”

Ginny made a disgusted noise. “That’s the third time this month.”

“Are we sure she doesn’t know?” Harry said with a pointed look. 

She shook her head. “If she did, she’d have published something already.”

Harry shrugged in agreement, shifting his palm and sliding his fingers between hers. 

Narrowing her eyes, Ginny tilted her head in question. “So, what’s the plan here?”

Harry blinked. “What do you mean?”

“I mean are we living in the cellar now or…?”

“Oh,” he faltered. “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”

She sighed, her eyes falling shut. A nearly all-consuming urge to snog her senseless came over him.

“So instead of getting an innocent photo of us Christmas shopping,” Ginny spoke slowly as if she was explaining a particularly difficult subject to someone very dim. “He gets one of us sneaking out of the Honeydukes cellar?”

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out. He smiled ruefully instead.  

“First,” Ginny remarked, her eyes sparkling with amusement in the dim light. “I love you.”

His smile stretched wider. He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of hearing it. 

“Second,” she continued, moving her hands to either side of his face. “You’re an idiot.”

Harry choked on a laugh. “And third?”

“There is no third,” Ginny pushed up onto her toes to give him a fleeting kiss. “I love you and you’re an idiot. It’s the tragedy of my life.”

He snorted then buried his face in the crook of her neck. “We could wait him out?”

A knowing giggle rippled through her. “He could be up there for ages…”

“Don’t worry,” Harry pressed the lightest of kisses to the skin beneath her ear. “I know how we can pass the time.”