Eternity

Eternity
by hgseeker

(rated R)

Fortunately she was able to get to sleep almost immediately, and had yet another intense dream of her late young husband.

Ginny was all but walking on air upon leaving the Healer's office. Wait till she told Harry! She was indeed pregnant and due early next year. He would surely want to celebrate privately, with just the two of them, once he heard ... then they could tell everyone else, including her parents and their friends in both the Burrow and the Order first.

She could hardly wait for him to come home from his job at the Ministry; it seemed like a literal eternity before she heard him arrive on his broom, then stash it in their outside broom shed.

"Gin?" he called when he came in, looking for her. "What did the Healer say?" he asked upon spotting her.

"Oh, Harry, luv, it's the best possible news!" Ginny enthused, all but throwing herself into his arms. "I'm pregnant!"

"Brilliant! That's the greatest thing I've ever heard! Have you told your folks yet?" He hugged and kissed her and spun her around until she laughed out loud.

"I wanted to tell you first. As the father-to-be, you have that right."

"Do you know when you're due?"

"The Healer said probably January or February of next year ... that is, if it's a single pregnancy. If it's a double one, like Fred and George, it'll probably be either December of this year or January. Either way, we've just got a few months to bone up on parenting skills."

"In which case, we'd better book some sessions with Arthur and Molly to find out all we can and get all possible advice. We're going to need all the help we can get!"

"What would you like as names? Any ideas yet?"

"Ideas, yes. Real suggestions, no ... at least not for a girl. You know my preferences for a boy, though."

"Your Dad and mine, Sirius, possibly Dumbledore, Remus, maybe Ron ..." Ginny rattled off. "Well, even if you don't have any ideas for a girl, being female, I do. I love the names Jessica, Elizabeth, Courtney, Rose, Christine, and in a pinch, your Mum's or mine's name."

A short time later, Ginny sobered and Harry asked her what was wrong.

"I can't help wondering what you'll think of me once I get big with the baby. How could you possibly want me at a time like that?"

"I'll still love you, lady, you know that--especially once you're big with my child. You'll never be more beautiful to me than at that time." His eyes became soft with love and tenderness. "You've made me so happy, Gin."

"I couldn't have done it without you, luv," she reminded him. "And I know you'll be a great father."

"Just as I'm sure you'll be a great mother ... and we'll be great parents. But right now, all I want is for us to be lovers." He lifted her face and smiled provocatively.

"I declare, Harry, you're insatiable!" Ginny laughed even as he began to kiss and caress her.

"No more than you, minx. Now shut up and kiss me or I'll tickle you until you beg for mercy!"

"Not if I can get off a Bat-Bogey Hex first, you won't," she declared just before Harry effectively silenced her with his lips, then swept her off her feet and into his arms to carry her upstairs into their bedroom, sealing the door behind him with a nonverbal Locking Charm before placing her on the bed and proceeding to undress her. It wasn't long before he joined her on the bed, equally and gorgeously naked, and soon made her forget her own name with his incredible hands, lips and body.

Once again, Ginny wanted to cry upon waking up alone once again. She still wasn't used to it and doubted she ever would be. Why couldn't she and Harry have been able to make love at least once before he was ... taken? It just wasn't fair that she'd never had the chance to have him truly make love to her, feel him move and come inside her, make her pregnant the time-honoured way so they could have both gotten some pleasure out of it, instead of her having a cold, sterile medical procedure done in a Healer's treatment room.

They had done virtually everything but sex, agreeing that it was best, albeit old-fashioned, to wait until marriage for that. And look where it had gotten them! If they had the chance to do it over again, she would definitely have insisted on their making love at least once before he had to leave, even if it was before they married. They were going to get married anyway, so what real difference did it make when it was done?

It wouldn't have changed their love for each other, not one iota. At least she would have some beautiful memories to cherish instead of dreams that always left her empty, aching and longing for the husband she loved ... the husband who was forever denied to her. Of course, maybe she could even name a boy child after his father, that way Harry would have a namesake, if nothing else. Maybe she could even use her own name for a daughter at some point, even if it was only a middle name.

For the time being, though, she could pass the time by learning to knit ... and she knew just which somebody to ask for tips on that--two somebodies, in fact. She scribbled notes to both her mother and Hermione detailing what she wanted to learn, then had Hedwig take them, making sure to reward her for a job well done upon her return.

At least this way, she could make some things for the baby: bootees, sweaters, bonnets ... some blue, some pink, maybe even some yellow to go for either one, since yellow was supposed to be a neutral colour. Perhaps she could even make some rough sketches of the type of things she wanted to knit ... With that, Ginny grabbed her parchment pad and her Self-Inking Quill once again and began sketching.

* * * * *

Molly was of the old school and could knit both with and without magic, so Ginny decided to learn both methods. Hermione did her best work with magic, although she could also do it without in a pinch. They acquainted her with magazines and newsletters all about the basics of knitting, got her plenty of different colours of yarn and different size needles.

There was even something called 'baby' yarn, thinner and finer than the other yarn, and Ginny had already decided that her first project was going to be a baby blanket. She had found some multi-coloured yarn and a perfect pattern that worked up to a blanket about four feet square, plenty large enough to cover even two babies should she have them.

Once she started the knitting, her days seemed to go far easier and faster than she had ever imagined possible, especially when she played her favourite music; however, they weren't what she was concerned with. She could handle them. It was the nights that nearly drove her up the proverbial tree. If it hadn't been for the ongoing dreams featuring Harry, so real sometimes that she would almost have sworn that he was actually with her, Ginny didn't think she could have managed.

Her disappointment upon awakening always made her cry, but she had learned to accept this as naturally as she accepted her breathing and the fact of her pregnancy. And as long as she dared, she visited both Harry's grave several times a week, not to mention that of his parents, always bringing fresh flowers to both.

At first she knelt before each, but as her pregnancy progressed, the Healer informed her that two of her eggs had been fertilised and that she was carrying fraternal twins, a boy and a girl ... and consequently, she would both show her pregnancy earlier and her belly would grow that much faster. As a result, she would be unable to kneel any longer without assistance after a certain point.

As a result, in between knitting sessions and her other day-to-day duties, Ginny spent hours debating on what she should name her children. She tossed around several possibilities in her conscious mind, but it was what was in her subconscious that had prompted her to make a final decision. Her regular and extremely vivid dreams, which usually followed a chronological pattern over the duration of her pregnancy, also seemed to help her make difficult decisions such as this one--especially this latest one, where she and Harry had discussed names for their unborn children.

She was showing, around four to five months along, and Harry had apparently decided it was time to pick names. She had recently told him that the Healer had told her that they would have twins--no surprise, considering the fact of twins running in her family, Fred and George being a prime example.

"So what have you decided is best for a boy?" she asked him as she curled up next to him, his arms around her and her head on his shoulder. Of course, this was only one of her favourite positions; others featured him rubbing a special lotion into her legs and belly to prevent stretch marks and sitting with her legs across his lap to prevent varicose veins or lying fully clothed on their bed in his arms and taking a nap, his rhythmic breathing and heartbeat lulling her to sleep within minutes.

"I've narrowed it down to Harrison James, Jr. or Sirius Marcus. I think Padfoot would love to have a namesake every bit as much as I would."

"Have you been able to think of any preferences for a girl?"

"The only names I really know are ones from school, yours and our Mums' names. There are many, many combinations possible from them. All the same, I can't help liking Courtney Rose, using two of your favourites as examples."

"Sounds lovely," Ginny agreed. Certainly better than she had expected him to come up with; even now, though, there were times that Harry could surprise her and this was one of them. Just the same, she intended to choose two others, if only to have an alternative choice. But for the time being, the names they'd already come up with should suffice.

They had also long ago decided that pregnancy wasn't going to stop them from shagging just as often and as passionately as ever. They'd just have to do it in different ways as the pregnancy progressed, if only for the sake of variety. It would never do for them to allow their bedroom routine to get too ... well ... routine, because it could become dull and commonplace, and their love for one another was anything but. Which was what prompted Harry to kiss her deeply and with great yearning.

It went on so long, in fact, that Ginny broke it only because she needed to breathe--not because she particularly wanted to. If they belonged anywhere, Harry's lips belonged on hers, kissing her or a given part of her body, or else his hands should do what they did best, caress her body. She was certain that there wasn't any spot on her body that his hands and lips hadn't kissed or caressed or that his tongue hadn't tasted ... and that suited her just fine.

What's more, the reverse was also true. She had never tasted anything as delicious as Harry, any and all parts of him, never felt anything so warm, yet so firm and smooth as his skin beneath her hands and lips--well, most places anyway. One part in particular reminded her of velvet over steel. The part of him which could bring her to ecstasy time and time again, second only to his hands and lips. "You know, I'd almost swear that you taste even more delicious now that you're pregnant, Gin," Harry was unable to help remarking as he began to lick, kiss and caress her virtually everywhere.

"I could say the same for you," Ginny replied, returning the favour as the pair eventually lost themselves totally and thoroughly in the wonders of each other.

Once again, she half-expected Harry to be next to her and once again, she was devastated to find herself alone. She didn't know how much longer she could stand this. Her vivid dreams were both a godsend and a literal nightmare; however lovely it was to be with Harry in the dream, she had to wake up to a lonely, sad reality--the reality of his tragic, premature death and the fact that she would likely have to live the rest of her life without him. The only even marginally good thing was the fact that she would have his children to comfort her.

She had also gotten into the habit of keeping her craft work near her bed so if she awakened sad, she could grab it and immediately get back knitting. This act had saved her many times, not to mention accelerated her progress (at the moment the blanket was almost half finished), but there were just as many times when all she'd wanted to do was lie in bed and cry--and it wasn't just pregnancy-induced moods. Today was just such a day.

She looked at the pictures of her beloved on her nightstand and the tears began to flow so copiously that she could scarcely see him. Oh God, how she wished she could feel his arms around her, the warmth of his body close to hers, the sweetness of his kisses ... it just wasn't fair! Why couldn't they have had at least one night together? As it was, they'd had nothing--nothing! She was a widow before she'd ever had the chance to be a wife!

It was then that Ginny would almost have sworn that she'd heard Harry speak to her, as clearly as if he'd actually been there with her, even though it must have been in her mind.

"Nothing? Nonsense! Our love was everything ... more than a lot of people have in a lifetime! I'm sorry I can't be with you to raise our children, but what matters is that there's a safe world for them to grow up in. I didn't die for you to give up on living. Be the best you can be, if only for our children's sake; raise them to be offspring I can be proud of."

"I'll try, beloved," she told the image in her heart's eye. "I'll try ... but it's so hard. So very hard to go on without you! If it weren't for the babies, I'd lie down and die right now!"

Meanwhile, in the Afterlife (aka Heaven)...

It was almost more than Harry could stand to see the woman he loved most in so much pain--and what's more, because of him, even if it had been unavoidable! He had not been conventionally religious growing up, but the Weasleys had followed a religion of sorts which had believed in a Supreme Being, and it was this Being that Harry was in the presence of right now--or rather, his essence was.

"Lord, I don't know how much more I can stand! My wife cries virtually every day, no matter how many times I visit her in her dreams. I had no idea that pregnancy would make her even more miserable. I was trying to give her something to live for, since I couldn't be there with her."

"Understandable, dear boy, considering the depth of the love you two shared," came the infinitely compassionate, infinitely gentle and wise voice. "But it isn't generally done to send someone who's already died once to live again, particularly in the manner that you died."

"But you're the Supreme Being. Surely You must be able to do something to help me!"

"There are many conditions which would have to come about beforehand, such as another body. Your original is no longer usable."

"What about cloning? Maybe plant a suggestion in a Healer's mind to clone a body from some of my DNA that I left behind originally."

"You would also need your memories ... as many as you can muster."

"I've got an idea. I can plant clues in Gin's dreams that will lead her to my Pensieve, that was once Dumbledore's, then have You modify her memory or something. I've put many of my most memorable experiences into it, including the day of our wedding, as well as my memories of my happier times with her during our years at Hogwarts and at the Burrow, her family's home, where I spent every summer."

"That should help, but the life-essence your astral body possesses is also necessary for you to bring the cloned body to life, make it a living person," the Being pointed out.

"Is that all I would need?" Harry asked.

"You would be unable to use your real name, because to the world at large, you're dead. If you came back to life, as it were, you would need to use another name. Maybe devise one from the names in your family."

"My father's name was James, and that was my original middle name ... and Robert was his middle name. Not to mention the fact that my mother's maiden name was Evans."

"Which name would you use for your new Christian name?"

"I was thinking my father's middle name, then his first name for my middle name again."

"That is possible," the Being agreed. "Which Healer would it be best to influence?"

"Most likely the one who has the largest amount of DNA in her possession ... one Araminta Higgenbottom at the London branch of the St. Mungo's wizarding hospital. You could plant the idea in her mind and keep it from my wife until the proper time-- until we know one way or the other whether or not it will work."

"Cloning is not an exact science. Any number of things could go wrong."

"Maybe if you have the Healer in question contact an expert on the subject and work with them ..." Harry's voice trailed off. "I happen to know that there is a magical means of accelerating growth so that one can reach adulthood in five years rather than the usual twenty. I heard of it from a bookworm friend of mine who researched the subject while we were at school. Maybe even get her in on it."

"That's possible, too. Since she knew you and was emotionally close to you, her assistance could be invaluable."

"Then put her in contact with the Healer and the cloning expert and go from there ... and keep their work under wraps."

"But even if all goes well, Harry, there's no guarantee that your wife will accept you in your new body. There is something you must do or say in order to convince her that it's really you--something only the original could know."

"Maybe if I kiss her at the proper time. I've heard that kisses can be as individual as fingerprints. It would be virtually impossible for her to deny me after that, I think."

"I can give you virtually the same physiology and fingerprints as before, even your eye and hair colour and general body build. Do you still wish to wear glasses?"

"Might be a good idea," Harry agreed. "I happen to know that my wife kept my original pair, but I don't know how good they are. Haven't seen them for ages. I also know that she kept my wedding ring and wears it on a chain around her neck, even today."

"What about convincing the others who once knew you?"

"I believe I could think of ways to convince them, and if you decide not to give me back the scar on my forehead, we can say that now that the Dark Lord Voldemort has been vanquished, there is no further need for me to carry it, so it disappeared when he died. In addition, once my friends realise it's really me, we would have to discuss the situation and make sure they start calling me by my new name."

"That sounds reasonable, young man," came the soft reply. "Even at that, you would need to in essence create an entirely new identity for yourself."

"It would be worth the effort to be alive again, to be able to be with my friends, and my ... wife and children." Harry's green eyes became soft at the thought of Ginny, particularly now that he knew she was carrying his children, albeit posthumously.

"It will take five years, if you want me to start the wheels in motion, as it were," the Being warned. "You won't be able to be with them right away. You will have to maintain the status quo, visiting her in her dreams and such, at least for the time being."

"It won't be easy to have to watch her, know how she's suffering, watch our children grow up and I'm not there to guide them."

"If all works out, you won't have to be on the sidelines for long," the Being gently assured him.

"Five years isn't exactly a short time," Harry countered.

"Cosmically, it's but a blink of an eye," the Being returned patiently. "Take heart. It should pass much faster than you believe."

"I hope so," Harry threw back.

"You'll see."

FIVE YEARS LATER

"Mummy, who's this?" four-year-old Courtney Rose Potter asked upon walking into the downstairs living room, carrying Ginny's picture of Harry from her nightstand. Ginny was knitting a sweater for one of the children because he loved to stay outside most of the time, flying on his child-sized broom, swearing he intended to be a Quidditch star someday.

Ginny smiled sadly. Harry, Jr. was so like his father it was painful, even though she loved him dearly, every bit as much as she loved her pretty little daughter who also resembled him; the only difference was her brown eyes, which were from her.

After the girl handed her the picture, Ginny, having set aside her knitting momentarily, smiled, pulled her daughter into her lap, squeezed her and kissed her temple, then said, "That's your father, darling. It was taken just before we got married. If you got this where I think you did, you should also have seen our wedding picture, which was right next to it."

"Yeah, I did. You both looked very nice. But where is Daddy now?"

"He ... died before you were born, I'm afraid. You've heard of Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermy talking about something called 'The Final Battle,' haven't you? Well, your father was known as 'The Chosen One,' destined to kill the evil wizard known as Voldemort. Well, he did--but Voldemort killed him in retaliation. We had only been married a year, and I'd just found out I was pregnant with you and your brother when it happened. Uncle Ron and Aunt Hermy were with him when it happened, and they brought him home to me."

"That must have hurt."

"Oh, it did, love, very much, but having you and your brother around helps a lot. I also have ... very intense dreams where your father comes to me and I would almost swear that we're together again. Those are the only two things that keep me going. We are also living in the house your father had built for us. His grave and that of your grandparents, his parents, are close by us. Remember, we go visit them several times a week. We see your other grandparents, my mum and dad, the rest of the time. You've even stayed with them on occasion."

"Brother looks like Daddy," Courtney pointed out.

"That's the reason I named him after Daddy," Ginny told her. "You also look like him to a degree, except for the eyes. You have my eyes. Your father also had his mother's eyes--green eyes. People commented on that so often that your father said he got sick of hearing it." Ginny made herself laugh. "His hair was also very unruly; he said he got it from his father, your grandfather James, whom Daddy greatly resembled. And you remember my mentioning some friends of your grandfather called Sirius and Remus? Well, they had nicknames such as Padfoot and Moony, and your grandfather was nicknamed Prongs."

"Why were they nicknamed like that?"

Ginny sighed and continued. "They were Animagi, wizards who could turn into animals at will."

"What kind of animals?"

"Your grandfather could turn into a male deer, which have antlers--hence the nickname Prongs. Padfoot could turn into a dog and Moony a wolf. Your grandfather even made Padfoot your father's godfather, since he was his closest friend. He even met your grandmother Lily while they were at school and were married just over a year when your grandmother had your father."

"Do you think I could be an Animagus one day?"

"I don't know. That depends on what kind of animal you like best. One of our old teachers at our magical school, Hogwarts, is an Animagus too, so you'd have to talk to her about that. She could tell you one way or the other--but you're too young right now. You have to be eleven to go to Hogwarts, and you're not quite old enough to start regular school yet, which is why I'm teaching you what I can at home."

"Do you have pictures of my grandparents and their friends?"

"Yes. Your father was given a photo album of them when he was a teenager. I keep it around and look at it occasionally. Accio album!" Ginny held her daughter with one arm and held out the other while stating the spell; within moments the album was in her hand and she opened it.

When she reached the page where it showed the wedding picture of Lily and James with Sirius and Remus, Courtney pointed to Lily and exclaimed, "She looks like you, Mummy! Grandma Lily looks like you!"

Ginny laughed. "You know, that's just what your father said first attracted him to me, my resemblance to his mother. It turned out, though, that he'd just inherited his father's penchant for beautiful redheads."

She also said, "Grandpa James was very handsome, too, just as Sirius and Remus were. Can you tell me what happened to my grandparents, why they ... died?"

Ginny was hesitant, since it wasn't a pretty story to tell. Well, she'd just have to do her best. "Well, your grandparents worked as Aurors--dark wizard catchers--and had defied Voldemort three times. He was determined to get them for it ... and one day he did. Your father was just a baby when it happened, a little over a year old. Your grandparents were in hiding with him, but were betrayed by another of their ... former friends who had defected to the Dark side and told them where they were hiding.

"By the time their friends arrived, it was too late. Your grandparents had been killed and your father was found in the wreckage of the house, a lightning-bolt scar on his forehead, which he carried his whole life. It was a ... curse scar. There was also a prophecy which foretold that he was supposed to be the one to destroy Voldemort, so Voldemort was therefore determined to get rid of him while he was still small. But because of your grandmother's sacrifice for Daddy, the curse rebounded on Voldemort and nearly killed him.

"Unfortunately, Padfoot--Sirius--was accused of betraying them, as well as killing over a dozen Muggles ... non-magical people ... and was put into Azkaban, the wizarding prison, for over ten years. He was recently exonerated, but only after he had been killed in your father's fifth year of schooling at Hogwarts. For a long time, your father blamed himself because Voldemort had planted a vision of Sirius being tortured by him and Daddy felt a need to try to save him. But he wasn't actually there. He did show up eventually, and ... died in the resulting battle."

"What about Remus ... Moony?"

"He went on to teach DADA--Defence Against the Dark Arts--at Hogwarts and eventually married a witch named Nymphadora Tonks, whom you know as Dora. She dislikes her full name of Nymphadora. You've met them. And by the way, he's

a ... werewolf. He was bitten as a child and transforms at the full moon each month."

"He's such a nice man. But how could he have married or had children?"

"Most of the time he's not like that, as I said, only for a week every month. That's why there are times each month you don't see him, although he and his family visit as often as they can. Tonks is even ... pregnant again. She was pregnant with your friend Andi, named after Tonks' mum, Andromeda, her grandmother, at the time of your father's funeral. That was shortly before I ... found myself pregnant with you and your brother. That's why you're all so close in age."

"Who actually killed those people you mentioned at the time Padfoot was put into prison?"

"Their ... former friend, called Wormtail, whose Animagus form was a rat. And believe me, he truly was one, to do what he did and then frame Padfoot for it."

"What's framing?"

"Making it seem as though another person did what someone else actually did."

"How did Daddy feel about it?"

"He didn't know about it until he was a teenager, and when he did, and met Padfoot, he was sure he was guilty and intended to take revenge on him. But Padfoot managed to explain matters to him and your father realised that Padfoot was innocent and they became close as intended, since your grandparents had made him godfather when Daddy was born, someone who looks after children when the parents can't.

"But since Sirius was in prison, they had to find someone else to put him with. I personally think he'd have done better in an orphanage, since the ones he was put with, even though they were technically part of Grandma Lily's family, they ... didn't like magical people and were thus very abusive, both physically and emotionally, to your father. If it hadn't been for me, Uncle Ron, Aunt Hermy and my parents, who knows how he'd have turned out."

"How did you and Daddy meet?"

"I was ten years old; he was just getting ready to start Hogwarts and wasn't sure what to do, how to get to the train to take him there. We, that is, my family, had to help him. From that moment on, I knew he was the one for me. It's said that it's not possible to fall in love as a child, but I'm convinced that I did.

"I started Hogwarts the following year and for a long time, couldn't be in your father's presence and speak a word, although I'm generally not like that. Finally your Aunt Hermy, who was my best friend, said it would be best for me to get to know other boys, which would end up making me more attractive to your father ... and she was right. I dated several other boys, but your father was never far from my mind--or my heart.

"It took him until his sixth year, I was in my fifth, before we started dating. He even ... kissed me in public right after we won the Quidditch Cup at school. Nothing like snogging in front of fifty people, that was for sure, but the moment our lips met, I think we totally forgot anyone else was there. All that mattered was being close to one another and the touch of the other's lips."

"Did you get married then?"

"Oh no, we were too young. Just fifteen and sixteen at the time."

"When did it happen, then?"

"Three years later; I was eighteen and he was nineteen. He was killed shortly after our first anniversary, just before I learned I was pregnant."

"Tell me what your wedding was like."

Ginny closed her eyes in pain, remembering the day which stood out in her mind as both the happiest and saddest day of her life--to have both become Harry's wife as she had dreamed of her entire life, and then have had to watch him walk away forever ... but she couldn't deny her child information about her father, so she told her everything she recalled. By the time she looked up, she discovered that Harry, Jr. was sitting at her feet, thoroughly enthralled with her story.

"When did you come in, darling?" she asked her son.

"Some time ago, Mummy. It was ... fascinating." Young Harry then got up and moved to look at the picture of his father which was still in Ginny's hand. "That's Daddy, isn't it?"

"Yes. I keep it on my night table. It was taken just before we got married."

"Mummy?" young Harry asked.

"Yes?"

"Sister is asleep." Ginny looked down carefully and saw that he was right.

"In that case, I'd better take her and put her down. Which reminds me, it wouldn't do you any harm to have a nap, either, mister."

"But I'm not tired, Mummy," Harry, Jr. protested, fiddling nervously with his new glasses, which he had just gotten and was loath to take off. Ginny recalled that Harry had never been very fond of his, but had eventually gotten used to them and only took them off when in the shower or going to bed. He had rarely taken them off otherwise, even when they were snogging; she could only assume that he had shrunken them enough so they didn't get in his way.

When she'd asked him why, he had said, "Because I want to see your reactions when I kiss and touch you." He had then smiled provocatively and resumed his pleasurable ministrations.

"Don't worry, love, you can put your glasses back on when you wake up. Just make sure you put them in a safe place so they aren't broken by accident."

Young Harry sighed but couldn't argue with that. "Daddy wore glasses, too," he remarked.

"Yes. So did Grandpa James. Vision problems seem to run in the Potter family. Now come on, you. Off to bed. I'll put your sister down, then come to your room and tuck you in. You make sure to stay in bed now, and actually sleep, even if you end up having to count sheep or something. A regular nap at a set time is healthful for young children. Grandma Molly told me that from the time I was your age, so it's not just me being an ogre. It's true."

Young Harry frowned but didn't argue with her, simply detoured into his room as Ginny entered Courtney's, setting her down, then covering her up, brushing her raven hair back from her forehead and kissing her there before backing out of the room and turning out the light. Harry Jr.'s room was right next to it, while Ginny's was across the hall from them, so they could come and be with her if they had nightmares or something, which happened on occasion. Even at that, Ginny couldn't help imagining how Harry would have handled their nightmares.

She sighed sadly as she headed to her own room to rest ... but as it turned out, she was in for a surprise shortly after closing her door. Fortunately, she had a Silencing Charm put on her door as a matter of course, so the children weren't disturbed should she cry or anything like that. However, this time she hadn't even heard the faint pop of someone Apparating in. Ginny had meant to have anti-Apparition wards put up on the house, but she didn't know how and hadn't gotten around to contacting those who did yet.

For a long time Ginny was sure she was being watched, but didn't see anyone and couldn't imagine why she felt like that. Finally the feeling got to be too strong to ignore any longer. Someone was here, with her, in her room, even though she couldn't see them. She eventually called out, "All right, whoever you are, show yourself! And I mean now!" after grabbing her wand, ready to use it at the least provocation.

The next thing she knew, she saw a painfully yet frighteningly familiar face appear ... it couldn't be! "Harry!" she screamed, then fainted from shock after dropping her wand to the floor. Fortunately he caught her and placed her gently on her bed, sitting beside her and holding her hand until she came to.

She was equally shocked when she woke up, although the gentle smile on the stranger's lips indicated she had nothing to fear from him. But how could it be? Harry was dead ... had been for almost five years! "My name is Robert James Evans," the twentyish man who so resembled Harry, yet couldn't possibly be him, said. "I ... knew your husband. I was ... even there at the time he died."

"But his friends Ron and Hermione were also there. They never mentioned you."

"Oh, I was there. They just didn't see me."

"Why couldn't they see you? Did you have an Invisibility Cloak or something?"

The familiar stranger simply smiled enigmatically, knowing the true explanation would be far beyond her understanding ... or his ability to explain, for that matter. "Are you all right? I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's all right. I was ... surprised more than anything. You remind me so much of my husband, that's all. How in Merlin's name did you know where to find me, or know anything about me?"

Harry/Robert thought, There's a reason for that. It's because I am your husband--but you'd never believe me, especially if I told you now. Neither would Ron or 'Mione, for that matter, much less anyone else. "As I said, I was ... close to your husband. He told me. And because of this, I would like to get to know you and your children, be your friend, if you're willing."

"I think you're moving a bit too fast for my taste ... Robert. It's best that you and I get to know each other first--then if I feel safe around you, I'll consider introducing you to my children. They're all I've got of my husband and are very precious to me, so I'm not about to risk anything happening to them."

"I understand," the stranger said, smiling enigmatically again and his eyes, so like Harry's own, twinkled, as if he harboured many secrets. "But at the same time, could I ... please see pictures of them? That could do them no harm."

"I suppose not. Just give me a minute." Ginny turned over, opened a drawer and pulled out some framed pictures, then handed them to her companion.

"Beautiful," he pronounced. "They both resemble your husband to a degree, but I can't help noting ... your daughter. She has your eyes, if I'm not mistaken."

"Yes, that's true. I even recall my husband mentioning that people commented so often that he closely resembled his father too--except for his eyes, which were that of his mother--that he got tired of it."

"Can't really blame him, although it's not their fault either, if they happen to make that observation, you know," the strangely familiar man sitting beside her said. "Which reminds me--why don't you have your children's pictures out with those of your husband?"

"Because they're alive and I can see them whenever I wish. My husband is ... gone, so I keep his picture out where I can see it often. It helps me feel better, less lonely, to believe that he is still near me, and that knowledge gives me strength to live another day."

Harry/Robert nodded understandingly as he handed back the pictures, his heart aching, he wanted so much to pull Ginny close and kiss her, hold her, love her--and not just through a dream, as he had several times before. She was so beautiful ... but he couldn't.

It also pierced his heart like a dagger to see the sadness in her eyes at the mention of his death and what she'd had to do in order to go on living. It was hard enough for him to have observed it on the sidelines all these years; to see it close up was almost more than he could handle.

"I can imagine how difficult it must have been for you," he made himself say.

"Difficult! For years it was well-nigh impossible. If it hadn't been for my children, I'd have checked out long ago. They're the main reasons I go on living." Ginny couldn't help wondering how she could possibly be pouring her heart out to this person she barely knew, yet she was. She hadn't even told her mother or Hermione these things! But she must have needed to get them off her chest, and her companion didn't seem to be objecting to her confessions, so she continued.

"It wouldn't have been so bad if Harry and I could have had at least one night together, but no, bloody Voldemort had to make me a ruddy widow before I ever had the chance to be a wife! Why did I ever agree to Harry's suggestion that we wait until marriage for sex? Because he had to leave right after the wedding, we never had a chance for a wedding night--and therefore had no chance to make love."

"How do you have your children, then?" he asked, if only to keep her talking.

"Harry left me some of his DNA in his will. I ... had myself implanted a few months later. I had them around the middle of February 2002. Because of the timing, I couldn't help but believe that they were truly a posthumous gift of love from him."

"When exactly were they born?"

"2 and 2:30 a.m. on February 14th, Valentine's Day."

Harry/Robert closed his eyes, remembering that day as if it were yesterday. He had been there, if only in spirit, and marvelled at his beautiful children, truly glad that he had had the presence of mind to leave some of his DNA for Ginny to use.

"Forgive my old-fashioned outlook, but I'd have much preferred to get pregnant the time-honoured way and have a bit of enjoyment out of it--but no, we had to bloody well decide to wait until marriage for sex ... and look where it got us!"

Sometimes she could barely speak for her anger and tears--and Harry/Robert could scarcely stand it. He wanted so much to tell her who he really was, so much that he could almost literally taste it, but she'd never believe him. Even once he'd gained her trust, she would be unlikely to believe him, and who could blame her? He wouldn't have believed it himself if it hadn't happened to him.

"It's usually more special if you can wait for marriage to ... make love. I'm sure that's why he asked you to do that. Neither of you could have known he would die so soon."

"Just the same, it wouldn't have made any difference when we made love, since we were going to get married anyway. At least not as far as I'm concerned, since that way, we'd at least have had a chance to know what it was like to actually make love. Up to the point of our marriage, we'd done everything but sex, virtually every type of foreplay imaginable."

This time Harry/Robert closed his eyes in remembrance, well able to picture and even feel again Ginny's hands on him and his own pleasuring her. How he wished he could do it now ... His hands became tight fists, he was fighting so hard not to touch her. But she smelled so good, looked so lovely and was so near; he'd missed her so much. How was he ever going to stand being so near her and not have her in his arms, feeling her sweet lips and delicious body beneath his hands? Not to mention feeling her lips and hands on his body?

It would also be something to explain, should they manage to get that far any time soon, that he showed no scars from his time with Voldemort. He would have to think of some explanation she was likely to buy, but it wasn't going to be easy. But then, life had never been easy for him, and it probably never would be, simply owing to the fact that he was Harry Potter, the Chosen One, the Slayer of Voldemort, the Boy-Who-Lived (again) so it was just one more difficulty to get through ... again.

Just then, there came a knock on Ginny's door. She took the Silencing Charm off it and her daughter's voice came through. "Mummy, Mummy! I'm hungry! Harry is too! Please come out and feed us!"

Ginny gave an apprehensive look at her companion. Courtney was awake. What if she burst in unannounced, as she had been known to do? How would Ginny ever explain the presence of the familiar stranger who looked so much like her husband and their father that it was uncanny? So much, in fact, that she would almost have sworn that Harry had been reincarnated or something ... She couldn't let it happen, not yet.

"Don't worry," her companion whispered with a smile, putting one finger on her lips. "I'd better go now, and you'd better go feed your kids. I'll be back tonight after they're asleep if you want me to come."

Ginny found herself wanting to see "Robert" again, so she simply nodded. "See you then." He then Disapparated after whispering, "Oh, by the way, don't have Anti-Apparition wards set up yet. I don't have a broom or anything right now. Apparition is the only way I can get around at present."

Ginny nodded in acknowledgment and he was gone. She then straightened her hair and clothing as best she could, opening the door and joining her young daughter, putting a hand on her nearest shoulder even as Courtney put a small arm around her as best she could and they made their way downstairs.

Epilogue:

But this was only the first of many visitations--and over time, Ginny found her feelings for "Robert" gradually deepening, despite all she could do and despite her guilt at her possible disloyalty to Harry. Even at that, she had never lost her conviction that "Robert" was uncannily like him, right down to the glasses and his mannerisms, such as running a hand through his hair at unexpected moments, his green eyes with their long dark lashes ... just to name a few things. It was almost like falling in love with Harry all over again!

Over the last month or so, "Robert" had been visiting her every evening, usually after the children were in bed for the night, and their talks had gotten progressively more personal. What's more, Ginny had found herself wanting "Robert" to touch her, even kiss her and hold her. Even at that, she had been unable to bring herself to tell him so, despite her difficulty at simply blurting out how she had come to feel. He seemed to feel the same way about her, although he had made sure to control himself and had never been anything but a perfect gentleman--again, almost uncannily like Harry.

Tonight, however, although she didn't know it yet, that was going to change.

* * * * *

Ginny showered and dressed in her fanciest, laciest nightdress with its matching dressing-gown, brushing her red-gold mane of hair so it shone like silk in the dimmed light of her room. She had again placed a Silencing Charm on the door and even a Locking Charm to be on the safe side. She looked at her bedside clock; "Robert" was due at any moment. Her heart began pounding in a mixture of nervousness and anticipation even as her ears strained to hear the faint pop of his Apparating in.

When she did, she almost literally jumped a foot, but what mattered was that he was with her again. The look in his green eyes was identical to that of Harry whenever he became aroused, right down to the flame in them. And this time she wanted him just as much ... Just wait until she showed him. He wouldn't know what had hit him!

"Hi," she smiled softly. "What do you think?"

"You're beautiful, Ginny. Dear God, so beautiful ... Forgive me, but I just can't resist."

She found herself on her feet and in his arms in the next moment, the warm sweetness of her companion's lips finding her own even as his hands gently pressed her against his obvious arousal, and he moved sensuously against her. She moaned as his kiss deepened, and he licked her lips to make them open.

Harry/Robert then found her tongue with his, provoking a moan from his own throat. "Don't stop me, please ... Dear God, I've wanted this for so long ... Ginny ... Ginny ..."

Ginny found her own hands beginning to wander, first stroking the back of his neck, then his back even as he once again moved sensuously against her and moved the straps of her nightdress aside to kiss her bare shoulders, his fingers having already flicked the dressing-gown off upon untying the sash. Ginny finally realised just why this young man was so like Harry ... it was because he was Harry, right down to the way he kissed!

Kisses were usually as individual as fingerprints, no two people could kiss in exactly the same way. There could be no other explanation. She was crying again even as they continued to kiss ... but this time, it was tears of happiness. Neither had she any idea how or why it had come about; what mattered was that it had happened. Harry was back! She hugged him tightly, unable to let go.

"Harry! Oh, dear God, Harry! Oh, my darling, you're back! But how is it possible? You're dead ... or you were ..." Ginny didn't know how to continue.

Harry reluctantly released her, still hungering for her lips and body, but knowing he had to explain things as best he could ... and what's more, tell her something she had to do in order for him to pull off his rebirth successfully. "And now that you realise this, luv, I need to tell you that I must remain dead--as Harry, that is. But as Robert James Evans, I am reborn!"

"But how did you ever manage it? At least tell me that much," she entreated.

"I can't make head nor tail of most of the technical details, but I'll say this much--it has to do with cloning, my Pensieve, Hermione and your Healer."

Ginny frowned at his ambiguity, then smiled again. "There's something else I've not told you."

"Such as?"

She reached out and placed his hand on her belly. "I recently went back to the Healer for another implantation. I'm ... pregnant again. About three months."

Harry was stunned speechless for a time. "You're pregnant again?"

Ginny smiled and nodded through her tears of happiness. "But this time you'll be here with me."

He was unable to resist stepping forward and pulling her close, this time putting a hand on her gently rounded belly on his own. "And I couldn't be happier. My child."

"The third," Ginny pointed out. "We had twins the first time around."

"I know. I was there, even though you couldn't see me at the time." He kissed her nearest ear. "You gave me a namesake, named our son for me ..."

"And you may have noticed what name I gave our daughter--the very one you once mentioned," Ginny remarked, putting a hand over his as it rested on her belly.

"There's only one thing I don't like," he murmured into her hair.

"What?"

"That it took so long to arrange things so I could be reborn that I was unable to make

you pregnant the regular way."

"That isn't your fault, luv. Certainly something you may be forgiven for. What's important to me is that we're together again ... and that you'll get to know our children."

"Can you imagine how they're going to react once they realise their father's alive again?" Harry couldn't help laughing as he squeezed her. It had been so long since he had a reason to be this happy, but now he couldn't help himself. He and Ginny had been reunited, she was pregnant again, and he would have the chance to get to know his older children. What bloke could ask for more? All at once he knew and lost no time in telling her so. "And another thing ... we're not going to wait one moment more to make love. We've waited too bloody long as it is!"

With that, he swept her into his arms and deposited her on the bed, kissing and caressing every part of her body as he undressed her, then she did the same as she undressed him ... and their life together truly began.

* * * * *

They awakened early the following morning, pleasantly tired and sore from numerous joinings, but at the same time, couldn't be happier. Ginny knew that this was what she had been denied five years ago and had no intention of allowing that again. She awakened with a smile, feeling Harry's sweet warmth beside her and feeling the steady beat of his heart as she rested her hand on his bare chest.

She had no idea it was possible to feel so happy, so content. It was as if she had only existed these last five years, not truly lived--but now that Harry had returned to her, that would all change. She looked up at him and smiled upon feeling a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

"Good morning, Sleeping Beauty. Sleep well?"

"Wonderful," she sighed. "Harry, please tell me that we won't wait five years before doing this again."

"I assure you, we won't wait five years before doing this again," he returned with a cheeky smile. "Not five months, not five weeks, not five days ... or even five hours, for that matter. We've got a lot of time to make up for and I intend to make the most

of it."

"But what do we do with the children? In fact, it's a wonder they haven't already pounded at the door."

"Don't worry, luv. I put a harmless Sleeping Spell on them, at least for the moment. They won't bother us until at least noon. By then, we should be able to get in some serious shagging. Later on, we can leave them at the Burrow or at Ron and 'Mione's house."

"I declare, Harry, if I'd had any idea you were this much of a sex maniac ..." she threw back teasingly, her voice trailing off.

"You would still have married me and you know it," he declared, lifting her face and moving so their lips were just barely apart.

"One last thing," she said with a smile and nod, putting a finger on his lips to stop him. He kissed it, looking impatiently back at her.

"Yeah?"

"Can you just picture the looks that are going to be on Ron and 'Mione's faces, not to mention those of my parents once they realise who you really are?"

"Oh, I think so," Harry laughed, moving to squeeze her. "And once they do, we'll have to tell them the same thing I told you ... that they have to treat me as someone else, at least in public, but privately, we'll be reunited again. It'll have to be that way with the world at large too; just say if anyone asks that you managed to find someone else you could be happy with, because that's what I wanted you to do ... and that you're already carrying his child--which is no lie. I could never give them the real explanation anyway, so that's the best thing to do all around." He pulled her close again and once more, his lips were just a breath away from hers. "Now shut up and kiss me, Mrs. Potter."

"With pleasure, Mr. Potter," Ginny crooned back before their own personal magic once again almost literally exploded between them, and they made up for lost time with a vengeance.