Betrayal

CONCLUSION

It took some time for the new parents to calm down and compose themselves. Once that was accomplished, however, they set about deciding on how to both introduce the children to each other and get the step-parents, both present and future, to bond with them. Molly advised them to pretty much let the children do the bonding themselves and let the problem basically take care of itself.

Of course, it might take a little more time in Ginny's case, but little Solomon was a mixture of Harry and Hermione at their best--for instance, he had Harry's green eyes and was likely to have his mother's curly hair, not to mention her brains. If only for the fact he was Harry's child could it possibly be made easier for Ginny to bond with him. Ginny was personally more concerned with how the children were likely to get along when they were older, as opposed to now, when it wasn't that much of a problem.

There was also time to determine whether or not the children had magical abilities--and whose abilities would be greater. Once that had been ascertained, Harry and the mothers of his children would register them for eventual attendance at Hogwarts. It would also be interesting to see which (if either) developed an aptitude and love for Quidditch. Meanwhile, he was waiting for Faber Construction to owl him and let him know when the new house had been completed. He would then contact those who knew how to put down the most effective protective wards in order to make sure he and his family stayed safe once in residence.

* * * * *

Three days later Harry picked up Ginny and little Rose at St. Mungo's and took them home to--or at least their temporary home--the Burrow. To his delight, it was shortly after he had gotten her and the baby settled in their room, there came a large tawny owl which turned out to be from Tignarius Faber, informing him that the house had been completed and that final furnishing and preparations to move in could begin. Harry then made arrangements for the final lump sum payment from Gringotts to be made to Faber and his company so the house would be his free and clear. Wait until he told Gin and the others!

* * * * *

After he went downstairs, told the others the good news and discussed the particulars of putting the proper wards on particular areas of the house with them, he heard a soft sound from Ginny's ground-floor room. Either she was waking up or the baby was; whatever the case, he needed to go check on them. He excused himself and returned to the room. Ginny was awake and had the baby in her arms, nursing her. She looked up at his entrance and smiled at him. "I notice our little flower is hungry."

"She woke up that way," Ginny replied. "And I was feeling top-heavy anyway, so I thought I might as well feed her." The look on his face prompted her to ask, "Do you have something to say?"

"I got an owl from the construction company. The house is finished. All we need to do is finish furnishing it, or specifically, the master bedroom, then we can move in ... probably within the next week or so." He moved to sit down beside her and stroked the baby's head, then leaned over to kiss his wife.

"That's great, love. Now we can get the bedroom furniture out of the vault and set everything up." Ginny then looked down at the baby, having noted that her mouth had loosened from the maternal nipple and that she felt heavier in her arms. "She's asleep again." After checking the baby's nappy, she laid her in the cradle again next to her side of the bed. Harry smiled as he gazed upon his little daughter and thought Ginny might be mellow enough to agree to his bringing Solomon over to bond with his little sister once they had moved into the new house.

"You know, I was thinking ..."

"What?"

"Would it be all right to have Solomon over for the weekend? He hasn't seen his little sister yet and I wanted to introduce them."

There was a long and, to Harry an ominous, silence, then Ginny nodded and smiled. "Probably wouldn't hurt as long as we're there."

"I'll owl or Floo 'Mione, then, and see if she can bring him over. That is, if he isn't with her mother or Molly. Thanks, love."

Ginny shrugged. "It's time they met anyway, since they're going to be pretty much growing up together."

Harry could sense she was doing it simply to please him and still wasn't all that comfortable at the prospect, deciding to let her off the hook if necessary. "If you'd rather not, I understand."

"No, it's all right," Ginny assured him.

Harry frowned sceptically at her but didn't argue. "If you say so. Meanwhile, may I join you? I'm kind of tired."

Ginny really wasn't, but knew how much Harry enjoyed sleeping in her arms, so she didn't argue, just simply slid her arms around her husband, stroking his hair for a time before kissing the top of his unruly head and resting her cheek on it and sighing contentedly. Soon he was deeply asleep, his head heavy against her bosom and his breath warm on her skin. Surely she couldn't ask for any more than to belong to Harry, be his wife and have his child. That was what really mattered; it would take time, of course, to get used to his having another child and having been married to Hermione, however briefly, but those were the fortunes of war. The past was in the past; it was time to work toward making the future everything they had ever dreamed of ... or at the very least, everything they could realistically make it.

* * * * *

By the time the couple was able to make love again, some weeks later, and shortly after they had moved into their new home, a radiant Hermione brought little Solomon over for his regular visit with his father, flashing a ring on the proper finger. "Guess what, Ginny! Ron proposed to me!"

"That's great, 'Mione. Harry should be thrilled when he hears." She heard little Rose awaken and went to pick her up and bring her out to show her friend; the babies began to play with each other in their playpen as their mothers talked.

"Where is Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Not home from work yet, though he should be any minute." Almost before the words were out of her mouth, Harry Apparated in.

"Hello, love." He smiled in Ginny's direction, kissing her in their customary greeting. Only then did he turn to greet Hermione. "'Mione, what are you doing here?"

"Bringing Solomon for his regular visit ... and to bring you some good news." She lifted her left hand and Harry noted a ring glittering there upon placing Solomon in his father's arms. Harry hugged and kissed his boy, then positioned him on his shoulders, holding his tiny hands in his.

"Does that mean what I think it means?"

Hermione smiled radiantly. "Ron proposed to me last night. We're thinking of getting married in the next three months, when he has a week off from work."

"Congratulations. All the best and every happiness to you both." Harry moved over to kiss his ex-wife on the cheek. "Chosen your attendants yet?"

"Not officially, but it's basically a foregone conclusion. You and Ginny, our closest friends." Hermione then checked her special witch's watch. "Oh, it's time for me to go. I need to be at work in a few minutes." Hermione had recently gotten a job in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement as a legal assistant. It was a paid position, so it wouldn't be much longer before Harry wouldn't need to give her alimony, although she would probably still need child support.

"That's right, you just started working at your new job. Congratulations," Ginny said.

"What she said," Harry echoed.

"Thanks. I'll let you know when I don't need alimony any longer, Harry. Now I've really got to go. See you all later. Put Solomon with Molly if you have to; just owl me so I know where to pick him up." With that, she Disapparated.

However, the new parents were in for a surprise when they turned to face the playpen again. The babies were lying next to each other, heads touching and sound asleep. One of little Solomon's hands were even over those of small Rose as if to calm her. "Oh, Harry, look! Isn't that adorable? Where's the camera? I've got to get a picture!"

"One moment." He went to the nearby desk drawer and retrieved the camera which took wizarding pictures and handed it to Ginny; she quickly took pictures of the sleeping babies at different angles.

"Well, that's that. What do you want to do now?" But Ginny knew the moment she met her husband's eyes. The last six weeks had been as hard on her as on him and he had been very pleased--to put it mildly--to learn that she had recently been given the all-clear to resume their lovemaking. "Harry, you're not very subtle," she remarked with a cheeky smile.

"Why should I be?" he threw back. "The last six weeks has seemed like six months."

"I know, love. Meet me in the bedroom in five minutes. Just need to put a blanket over the babies."

"I'll be waiting." Ginny waved her wand over the babies, the blanket settling over the sleeping infants, then turned for the bedroom.

No sooner did she step through the door than she was gently pulled against a warm, aroused--and very naked--body, and hands that automatically found the most sensitive areas of her body even as they removed her clothing. She tried to speak, but warm, delicious lips silenced her. The next thing she knew, she was literally swept off her feet and carried to bed. At no time did he say a word, preferring to let his actions speak for him. A moment later she found herself on her back with her legs spread, her body being passionately possessed even as his strokes gradually increased in frequency and intensity, her arms and legs tightening around him before he tensed against her and became almost incredibly hard before softly crying out in pleasure. Oh gods, how she'd missed this ...

She kissed his nearest ear and crooned, "Harry ... Harry ..."

"Gin ... that was bloody incredible, but I've got to sleep now ..." His voice was drowsy, and the next thing she knew, he began to softly snore.

"Sleep then, love. I'll be here." She had made sure to leave the door open so she'd hear the babies should either or both of them awaken--then allowed herself to fall asleep as well. Truly, life had taken a 360-degree turnaround over the last year and she couldn't be happier, now or ever.

THREE MONTHS LATER

Everything seemed like a blur to anyone who tried to recall the events of the last three months with all the preparations for Ron and Hermione's upcoming wedding. Little Solomon would even be the ring-bearer for his mother and her new husband; Molly would carry him down the aisle while he carried the rings tied to a small white silk pillow. This time Hermione decided on a veil with a rose headdress, accompanying an off-white, lacy dress with a scoop neck just low enough to show a bit of cleavage, short cap sleeves and a string
of pearls around her long, slender neck. Her hair was styled in a manner reminiscent of the style she had worn it in for the fourth-year Yule Ball.

Ginny wore a lacy, pale blue empire-waisted dress as matron of honour, blue silk roses around her head and her hair curled almost all the way up to her head. She had lost virtually all the weight she had gained from her pregnancy, but considering the way she and Harry had been going at it lately, the only thing that kept her from getting pregnant again was the special Contraceptive Charm used especially for those with strong libidos. As it turned out, it was a good thing Ron and Hermione were getting married, for she had been sporting the same symptoms as Ginny herself had for the last couple of weeks and the latter strongly suspected that her friend was pregnant again.

Knowing her brother's sexual appetite, it wouldn't surprise Ginny one bit. The only thing she wondered about was whether or not he had yet been able to bond effectively with the child who would soon be his stepson. But the next thing she knew, the Wedding March had started and she shelved her question for the time being.

* * * * *

By the time she thought of it again, just after Colin Creevey had taken pictures of the wedding, just as he had for Harry and Ginny--including one of Molly with little Solomon in miniature dress robes and the pillow holding the rings for Ron and Hermione. She had been all ready to ask when Ron had taken Solomon from Harry and positioned him comfortably yet familiarly in his arms, acting for all the world like his actual father. If 'Mione was pregnant again like Ginny suspected, Ron would indeed be a father in the not-too-distant future.

"Well, it looks like you've bonded nicely with Solomon," Ginny commented upon noting her brother's actions.

"It was mainly he who did the bonding," Ron claimed, but it was obvious that he now had great affection for the child, if only for the fact he was Hermione's son. That Solomon also belonged to Harry seemed to be only incidental at this point. What mattered, though, was that the bonding had taken place. Ginny had already told everyone about how the babies had bonded some weeks back and even showed them the pictures she had taken of them sleeping together.

"The babies seem to be getting along too," Hermione remarked as she recalled the pictures Ginny had showed her. "Of course, it remains to be seen how they'll get along when they're older."

"We'll just have to wait and see on that," Harry added, now holding little Rose, dressed in a frilly pink dress with a rose appliqué and matching bootees. "For the moment, I think our friends should get started on their honeymoon. Hand over my son, mate," he directed, handing little Rose to her mother. Hermione had already thrown her bouquet and it had landed in the arms of Susan Bones, another of Hermione's bridesmaids, so if the old tradition held, she would be the next to marry. Of course, it didn't necessarily follow, but stranger things had happened, so they couldn't rule it out.

A short time later, the newlyweds headed off to the nearest Portkey, heading for their chosen honeymoon spot of Oahu, Hawaii. Of course, due to the distance, they would have to do it in thousand-mile increments, but they would get there eventually--and once they did, they would be there for a week, having already made reservations at a secluded beach house. Both Harry and Ginny could only hope that Ron wouldn't come home with his skin as red as a lobster because redheads' skins were notoriously sensitive to sun; probably the best thing for him to do was use a strong sunblock or a special spell to protect him from the worst of the sun's UV (burning) rays.

It was only when they all got home and settled back in, having changed back into their everyday clothes and put the babies down after feeding them, that they realised once and for all that a year ago this time, Harry had been married to Hermione. Incredible how much could happen in just a year, but what mattered most was that all concerned were now each married and parents with the ones they truly loved. Only at this point was Ginny able to forgive Harry for what had happened between him and Hermione which had prompted her pregnancy. He belonged to her now, and if she had anything to say about it, he always would.