Happy Birthday to the badass Queen of Quidditch, Ginny Weasley.

Harry’s true love and Bat Bogey Hex expert.

Eleven-year-old Ginny Weasley spending her birthday party trying to catch Harry’s eye and she blushes like mad when Harry gives her a polite but slightly confused smile.

It might not seem much to Harry, but to eleven-year-old Ginny, it’s the best gift she’s ever had.

Harry and Ginny dog sitting Fang for Hagrid

Fang drools on Harry’s knee,

Fang loves Ginny brushing him,

Fang loves to cuddle up to Harry, leaving Ginny slightly jealous, but she shows Fang love anyway,

Ginny brings Arnold the Pgyamy Puff and Fang slightly sacred of him,

Ginny suggests getting a dog, but Harry reminds her that they already have lots of cats and Teddy occasionally. Ginny wouldn’t mind more kids.

I’d like to think that after rescuing Harry from Privet Drive, the Weasleys would hold a small bleated Birthday tea for Harry. Harry would be all bashful, insisting that the Weasleys don’t have to do that for him and that Ginny’s birthday is more important but the Weasleys would insist and it would be the first time that Harry can remember that his birthday would be properly celebrated, although a little late.

Mr Weasley would be asking Harry if there are any muggle traditions for celebrating a birthday, Mrs Weasley would be insisting that Harry eat some food, Fred and George would be their usual entertaining selves and Ginny would be blushing the entire time and would not say a thing.

The Holyhead Harpies were in an intense final with their opponents and it was going down to the wire. Their new Chaser, Ginny Weasley made a name for herself as she scored impressive goals that many pundits didn’t believe was possible. Soon, she was able to get the Harpies ahead in a comfortable lead.

As soon as the Snitch was caught, the Holyhead Harpies won the game and the championship and their supporters went wild. Leading the charge onto the pitch was Ginny’s boyfriend, Harry Potter and he ran straight at her. Without thinking, Ginny kissed Harry in front of the whole stadium and the crowd went wild. They ended up on the front cover of Witch Weekly and their copy still hangs in Harry’s study to this day.

I Don't Dance

Elegant music played in the marquee at Percy’s wedding and Harry Potter stood awkwardly at the side of the dance floor, his burgundy dress robes feeling a little too tight at the collar. Harry remembered back to the Yule Ball in his fourth year when he had to dance and he was just as awkward about dancing back then.

Despite being back with her for almost two years, he and Ginny had yet to dance together. He stood by the barrel of Butterbeer and watched the guests dancing.

Mr and Mrs Weasley were slow-dancing together, having a private moment and Mrs Weasley looked far happier than Harry had seen her for months. She was bursting with pride during the wedding ceremony and Harry was glad that Percy was on speaking terms with his family again.

Ron was dancing with Hermione and he seemed to have read that dancing book that Hermione had lent him because he was dancing perfectly and had eyes only for Hermione. Their relationship had grown a lot after the war and after many years of bickering together, Harry was pleased to see them happy. Ron had spoken to Harry about proposing to Hermione soon and Harry was over the moon about the prospect of his two best friends getting married. Ron whispered something to Hermione and she let out a giggle. Harry looked away from them feeling like a third wheel.

George Weasley and Angelina Johnson were dancing energetically and Harry saw a glimmer of the old George shining through. He had had a tough two years and Angelina had helped George a lot in coping with the loss of Fred.

Bill and Fleur were just holding each other and swaying on the spot. Fleur was heavily pregnant with her first child and didn't want to tire herself out too much and Bill was very protective of his wife.

Luna Lovegood was dancing on her own like some sort of butterfly. It was as if she was floating to the music. Harry smiled and looked away, having been used to Luna’s eccentricities for a while. He had a strong suspicion that she was trying to ward away the Nargles or some other creature she believed in.

In the centre of it all was Percy, dancing with his new wife, Audrey. He was dancing with such robotic formality, that Harry thought he looked like one of those wind-up toys that Dudley had when they were children. His face flushed with happiness and his horn-rimmed glasses flashing in the candlelight, Percy easily stole the show and a couple of his Ministry colleagues clapped them on.

Harry would rather face Voldemort again than dance if he was honest with himself. As if drawn to his thoughts, Ginny appeared next to Harry, her face was flushed with laughter and her fiery red hair was shimmering in the candlelight and the sight of his girlfriend made Harry’s stomach do somersaults.

"What are you doing standing around the Butterbeer barrel for?” She asked him. “Come and dance.”

“I don’t dance,” Harry said automatically and Ginny rolled her eyes, but she wore a playful smile.

“If you’re worried about looking like a prat, then don’t be,” she said. “Percy’s dancing is much worse, but don’t tell him I said that.”

Harry laughed and Ginny’s eyes blazed mischievously. Suddenly, an energetic song started playing and Ginny’s eyes lit up.

“I love this song,” she said.

Ginny grabbed Harry's wrist and led him to the dance floor where Harry spent the next few minutes looking down at his feet, trying not to tread on Ginny's toes. He chanced a glance at his girlfriend and Ginny was enjoying this.

But Harry dreaded seeing them on the front page of Witch Weekly dancing like they were trying to squash an insect, so he looked up and readjusted his grip. With a deep breath, he took the lead and out of the corner of his eyes, Harry saw heads turn to look at them.

Harry focused on Ginny, whose eyes were sparkling softly in the candlelight and willed with every fibre of his being to not make a fool of himself as he danced in beat to the rhythm. He could hear several people clapping them and he even heard Lee Jordan wolf-whistle.

Harry and Ginny continued dancing to the music and Harry was getting into it, but the song ended too soon for Harry's liking and when Harry and Ginny stopped dancing, applause erupted in the marquee.

“Bravo, Harry and Ginny,” Percy exclaimed. “Such excellent dancing, the pair of you!”

“Dunno why they’re making a fuss for,” Harry muttered. “I spent most of the dance trying not to tread on your toes.”

“I thought you said you didn’t dance,” Ginny said with a grin.

“It was a good song,” Harry shrugged and Ginny’s grin widened.

Harry could see by the way her eyes shone how much their dance meant to him. Suddenly another song started to play and he got a surge of inspiration.

“Want to dance?” he asked her, holding out his hand.

Ginny took Harry’s hand and gave him that blazing look he loved so much.

“I thought you’d never ask,” she said, smiling softly.

Harry laughed and the two of them danced all night.

Harry and Ginny dancing together at a wedding and stealing the show together despite Harry claiming that he doesn’t dance. Ginny teases him about it, but she loves that he made an effort for her.

Bit of a Weasley twin throwback: Harry and Ginny decide to swap their Weasley jumpers one Christmas to the embarrassment of their children. When challenged by a curious Albus, they replied that they knew that they were called Garry and Hinny to George’s amusement.

A Snapshot of Two Years

Summer 1992

Harry was playing Chess at The Burrow with Ron and thought that someone was watching him. Rather than watch Ron's Queen batter his Bishop, Harry looked up to see Ron's little sister, Ginny staring at him.

Ginny saw that Harry was looking at her and she went bright red. Harry smiled at her and Ginny flushed an even darker red as she felt her stomach do somersaults.

She tried to smile at him, but the muscles in her mouth wouldn't move, but her legs could and she ran from the living room as fast as they could carry her.

Christmas 1996

Harry was supposed to be playing Chess at The Burrow with Ron, but Ginny kept distracting him. She was doing impressions of Fleur flicking her hair and Harry couldn't stop looking at her.

Ginny knew Harry's eyes were on her and she was doing her best to entertain him. She caught his eye and grinned at him and Harry went bright red. Ginny flicked her hair like Fleur again and blew him a kiss and Harry flushed an even darker red as he felt the beast in his stomach do somersaults. He tried to smile back, but the muscles in his mouth wouldn't move.

His hand did, and it knocked over his King, causing Ron to whoop with delight. Harry also found that his legs worked and he muttered something to Ron about needing fresh air before running to the snowy garden as fast as they could carry him.

Ron Weasley to Ginny after finding out that she and Harry got back together after the war.

Whenever Harry starts to get worked up about something, Ginny always does an exaggerated impression of him which never fails to make him laugh.

For Harry’s Birthday, Ginny would try baking Harry a cake. She wasn’t good at it and the edges were always burnt, but Harry would always laugh and say that it was the thought that counted.

As he was Harry’s little helper in the kitchen, Albus would help Ginny by reading out the recipe. He would correct her whenever she was about to make a mistake and as he grew older, he would take charge. 

Lily would be there, waiting to decorate the cake with flowers made from icing as well as fairies, gnomes, golden snitches and a ziggy zaggy pattern that she would say is Harry’s scar.

James was mostly there to lick out the bowl. Although he would help by getting out the utensils and pretend to have a sword fight with them.

Although Harry would say that he didn’t want anything for his birthdays, Ginny could tell that he was touched by their gesture and she did it to remind Harry that he’s loved now.

Lily Luna and the Ziggy Zaggy Scar

After a Sunday lunch at the Burrow, the kids were outside playing in the garden being supervised by their many aunts and uncles. Harry sat in the living room with Ginny feeling peaceful and sleepy. Ginny had joked about him getting old, but all Harry did was laugh and close his eyes. Harry was dozing off when he heard a loud voice;

“Dad? Why do you have that cut on your head?”

Harry jolted awake to see Lily looking at him.

“Whatdidyousay?” Harry asked groggily and Lily giggled.

“I said, why do you have that cut on your head?” she repeated. “That big one that looks like lightning.”

Harry touched the old lightning bolt scar on his forehead; It had been fifteen years since it had last pained him and Harry thought that it would be a good few years more until he had to explain it’s meaning to his children.

Harry hesitated before answering his daughter. 

“Because a madman tried to kill me,” he said finally.

Lily gasped, a look of utter shock on her face and her eyes shone with tears.

“Oh, Dad, why would anyone want to hurt you?” she asked.  

Harry picked his daughter up and she sat on his lap.

“Not all wizards are good, Lily,” Harry said. “There’s some nasty wizards out there and that madman was the nastiest of the lot.”

“What’s the madman’s name?” Lily asked in barely a whisper.

“Tom Riddle,” Harry said after a long pause and next to him, Ginny bristled but Harry took her hand and squeezed it. “But everyone knew him as Voldemort.”

To Harry’s surprise, Lily giggled. Harry couldn’t help smiling at her infectious laugh.

“That’s a silly name,” Lily said, after she had calmed down.

“It is,” Harry nodded. “But a lot of people were scared of the name and wouldn’t say it.”

Lily frowned and shifted her position on Harry’s lap. She traced the scar gently with one of her tiny fingers.

“It’s all ziggy zaggy,” she said, staring at it in wonder. 

Normally, Harry would’ve been uncomfortable with someone staring at his scar so intently, but Lily’s fascination was tangible and he didn’t mind in the slightest. Ginny often joked that Lily had Harry wrapped around her little finger and Harry was inclined to agree. 

“Does it hurt?” Lily asked, her eyes full of concern. 

“It hasn’t hurt for a while,” Harry said and Lily looked relieved. 

“What happened to Tom Riddle?”  She asked in a hushed tone. “Is he- is he in Azkaban?”

“No, he’s dead,” Harry said grimly. “He’s dead and he’s never coming back to hurt me or any of us ever again. I made sure of it.” 

Harry was aware that his voice shook at the end and he took a deep breath to calm himself down. But Lily didn’t seem to notice and she was looking at him in awe and admiration.

“Your father saved the world,” Ginny said softly.

“Well done, Dad,” Lily said, the pride in her voice unmistakable and Harry and Ginny couldn’t help but smile at her.

“He killed a lot of people,” Harry continued. “He took my mum and dad away from me. It was because of my mum that Voldemort wasn’t able to kill me. She was called Lily, you know and she was kind and brilliant. She had a cheeky side to her, but she had a temper to match and you wouldn’t want to get on her bad side. She reminds me of someone.”

Harry gave his daughter a wry smile and Lily beamed back.

“She reminds me of you, Dad,” she said happily and Ginny laughed.

“I was thinking of someone else,” Harry chuckled, “But we’ll go with that.”

Lily suddenly wrapped her small arms around Harry.

“I’ll protect you, Dad” she whispered. “Like Nana Lily protected you.”

Harry felt a lump in his throat and a pang in the pit of his stomach and he hugged his daughter back.

“Sweetheart, it’s my job to protect you,” Harry said. 

An overwhelming love consumed Harry as he hugged his daughter, knowing that he would do the same for his children in a heartbeat just like his mother did for him.

“We can take it in turns,” Lily said simply, pulling out of the hug. “You can protect me when I’m still little and I’ll protect you when you’re old and wrinkly like Auntie Muriel.”

Ginny laughed at this and Harry was determined not to catch her eye.

“That sounds like a plan,” Harry chuckled. “Now, aren’t you going to play with your brothers and cousins?”

“Okay,” Lily said happily, hopping off Harry’s lap and skipping to the back door without a care in the world. 

Ginny caught Harry’s eye and grinned at him. Harry smiled back and took her hand. She squeezed Harry’s hand gently and Harry let out a laugh.

He was relieved that Lily took it a lot better than he thought she would. It amazed him how Lily could sometimes show a wisdom beyond her years and then revert back to a carefree girl.

He was pleased with how it had turned out, even if he had to endure Ginny teasing him about becoming old and wrinkly like Muriel.