A Day For Family

A groan split the silence of the night, and Ginny Weasley jerked awake as a strong arm elbowed her in the ribs.

"Ouch!" she whispered, leaping out of bed to avoid more flailing limbs. "Harry," she said, leaning as close as she dared. Harry Potter continued to moan and thrash about, clearly in the throws of a nightmare and unable to hear her. "Harry," she repeated. Reaching out a hand, she caressed his cheek and smoothed his furrowed brow. "Harry, darling, wake up."

"Dumbledore!" Harry shouted as he sat up, awakening at last.

"Shhh, Harry, it's all right," Ginny soothed, sitting on the bed and holding her husband in her arms. He was trembling and kept shaking his head as though trying to rid it of the lingering dream. "You're safe, Harry, my love. The war is over. Voldemort's dead. You don't have to worry."

Ginny continued to reassure him the way she did every time Harry had one of his nightmares. Sometimes he awoke so confused and disoriented, he hardly remembered where he was. Many times, when he woke up, he would start shouting jinxes as fast as he could. Fortunately, without his wand, he didn't do too much damage, though there had been one memorable evening when the bedside table, where he kept his wand while he slept, turned into a ferret. Once Harry had calmed down and they were able to assess the damage, they had laughed about it. The ferret in question was now sitting in a cage on the other side of the room, fast asleep. Ginny had declared the ferret 'adorable' and wouldn't let Harry change it back into a table, so they christened it 'Draco' and kept it as a pet. Draco Malfoy, for whom the ferret was named, was not at all amused by this. But, as Harry said, it was good for Malfoy to be humbled once in a while.

Harry shifted in Ginny's arms, turning to look at her face. His eyes were wide and his face a little pale, but otherwise he looked calm. Ginny kissed him and felt the last of the tension go out of his body. When at last they pulled away, she gave him a questioning look.

"I'm all right," he assured her, his voice still rough with sleep.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked. Harry shook his head. "Are you sure?" she prompted.

"I'm sure. It was just...just a dream. Dumbledore...the cave..." he trailed off, lost in the memory, his eyes taking on that faraway gaze that made him look a thousand years old, instead of twenty-eight. It hurt a little that Harry so often went to a place where Ginny could never follow. There was something inside of him she could never touch.

"What time is it?" he asked, breaking her from her thoughts. Ginny glanced at the clock where the hand was pointing at 'too early'.

"Not time to get up; we can sleep a little longer." But Harry shook his head.

"No, I don't think I can get back to sleep. You go ahead, dear. I'm sorry I woke you."

"It doesn't matter," Ginny assured him. "I might as well get up too."

Ginny had just started making a strong cup of tea when Harry came downstairs an hour later. He came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder. Ginny patted his arm with her left hand as her right waved her wand over a skillet, making the eggs there begin to scramble themselves. Harry kissed her cheek before releasing her to get cups and plates.

Ginny yawned impressively over her tea making Harry wince guiltily.

"I'm sorry I woke you so early," he mumbled into his eggs.

"Don't be stupid," she admonished. "You know perfectly well that I don't mind."

"But today...it's such an important--" he began.

"Harry," she said sharply, fixing him with a stern glare. "I will not listen to you when you're like this. Every year, it's the same thing. We get to this day, you start feeling guilty, you get all moody, and then you sulk."

"I don't sulk," Harry muttered sullenly. Ginny raised an eyebrow at him; he couldn't help but smile. "All right, sometimes I sulk. But only on special occasions like today." His tone dripped with sarcasm. "I suppose we have to go?" he added with a sigh, looking up at her as though hoping she would tell him differently.

Ginny grimaced. Truth be told, she did not want to go at all, but the responsible part of her knew that it was necessary.

"I'm afraid we have to," she sighed. Harry turned a gloomy countenance on his breakfast.

"Ah, well. Can't be helped, I suppose. Perhaps we can slip away early. We'll need a distraction..." he trailed off, lost in thought.

"I could set fire to the decorations, but I suppose that would be frowned upon," Ginny offered, forcing a laugh out of Harry.

"What we really need is a good Death Eater attack. What a shame most of them are either dead or locked up...I know! We can get Malfoy to find his old mask and uniform and burst in demanding my head on a platter! Then I could pretend that I've got to fight him to The Death, or something."

"A brilliant plan, with a few minor drawbacks."

"Yeah, you're right; the fifty thousand Aurors would probably just kill him and ask questions later. Ron would be happy...Actually, come to think of it, I don't think that is such a bad plan." He looked suddenly devious.

"Harry!" she exclaimed in what would have been a shocked voice if she wasn't laughing.

"Oh, all right, we can't kill Malfoy, even though he's a little worm that managed to wriggle free of prison."

"He's not a bad guy. Well, all right, he didn't make a lot of good choices," she added at the sceptical look on Harry's face, "but at least he didn't kill anyone, and I really do think he's sorry for ever joining Voldemort in the first place."

"He's still a haughty git with little personality and no sense of humour." Ginny looked as though she was really trying not to laugh at this, but without much success.

"That's not what you said when you asked him to dinner," she muttered into her tea, but Harry chose to ignore that comment. "Come on, let's get dressed," she continued when Harry remained silent. "Mum's probably awake by now and we can eat a proper breakfast."

"There's nothing wrong with these eggs," Harry protested, but he didn't sound very convincing, especially since he had only taken three bites and was now pushing the eggs around with his fork, apparently searching for the more edible bits. Ginny snorted.

"Don't bother. I know I can't cook, so let's just face facts and say it."

"All right, I'm pronouncing it," Harry held up his hands as though he was speaking to a crowd of people, "These eggs are lost. Bloody hell!" He pounded on the table and Ginny giggled. "I'm sorry, Ginny," he said suddenly, grabbing her hands. "I tried to save them with cheese, but there's just no way I could have brought them back to full edibility." His straight face was cracking at the edges as a smile danced at the corners of his mouth.

"Oh ha-ha, very funny," Ginny said, getting up from the table so he wouldn't see the amused grin on her face.

They were both dressed and ready in little under an hour, and they stepped out of their cottage into the cool, damp morning. They walked in silence, hand-in-hand down the garden path to the gate. There were no other houses nearby, their only neighbours being a forest and a large lake. The cottage stood at the top of a hill and was surrounded by gardens of herbs, vegetables, and potion ingredients, which were in turn surrounded by a low wall that encased the whole of their property. It was an important feature, this wall. It kept people from constantly banging on the door asking for an autograph from the famous Harry Potter, the Chosen One, the Boy-Who-Still-Lived-Despite-The-Many-Attempts-On-His-Life. Not only that, but it also had many protective enchantments on it in case there were any Death Eaters still roaming the world with a very large grudge against the aforementioned boy. The grounds inside the wall had also been warded so that no one could apparate or disapparate within; which is why it was necessary to stroll down the garden path and out of the gate in order to go anywhere.

At last, they closed the gate behind them and disapparated. Moments later, they popped into existence in front of the Burrow and, taking hands, walked up to the front door.

"Ginny! Harry! My, you two are here early!" Mrs. Weasley said as she hugged them both happily.

"I hope that's all right, Mum," Ginny said in a slightly muffled voice as her mother squeezed her tightly.

"Of course it is! I was just making breakfast. Bill, Fleur and Rose are already here, and Charlie said he'd come around 10:00. Ron and Hermione won't be here until this afternoon with Diana, but Fred and Angelina should be here any minute, and I suppose George won't be too far behind."

They entered the kitchen where Bill and Fleur were having a cup of tea and speaking quietly to each other in French while their daughter Rose played with one of Fred and George's fake wands.

" 'Arry! Ginny!" Fleur cried as soon as she spotted them, and she leapt up to kiss them both on the cheeks.

Bill shook Harry's hand and gave Ginny a squeeze. It was still somewhat shocking to see Bill's ravaged face, but Harry was mostly used to it now, and he didn't let it bother him. Rose stopped playing long enough to hug Harry who swung her up in his arms making her giggle. With a smile, Ginny watched them for a moment, then sat at the table while Mrs. Weasley began bustling around the kitchen making breakfast. Harry joined the other three and they discussed the Quidditch season, ("I still can't believe you turned down England when they asked you to play, Harry," said Bill) the Ministry, and Hogwarts. After a little while, Fred, George and Angelina arrived with some new products for testing, which was a great deal of fun, even if it was a little noisy and messy at times.

Charlie arrived just as Harry tried a Limerick Licorice, which made him spout increasingly ridiculous and dirty limericks, much to the guffawing of the rest. Even Mrs. Weasley laughed. Fred and George assured him it would end soon, though he might rhyme every other sentence for a few hours.

It felt wonderful to sit there with the people Harry had adopted as his family. It was especially helpful on this day of all days: the day when, ten years ago, he had delivered the final death blow to Voldemort.

Soon, Ron and Hermione arrived with their eight-year-old daughter Diana, who immediately wanted to show her Uncle Harry the new book she had gotten about him. Harry listened avidly as she listed all of the facts the author had gotten wrong, then laughed with her over the ridiculous pictures of him looking noble and troubled. Clearly, the illustrator had not even tried to capture the real Harry.

"Look at him," Hermione said to Ginny as they watched Harry and Diana talk and laugh. "He's so good with her." She glanced sideways at Ginny who was watching her husband with a small smile on her lips. "Ginny?" Hermione nudged her gently.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, he's very good with children," Ginny agreed vaguely. She still had a silly smile on her lips and Hermione wondered what she was thinking about.

After breakfast, Ron, Hermione, and Harry went for a walk, just as they did every year. Diana, an incredibly clever child, knew that this was something her parents and her Uncle Harry had to do and stayed behind to play with Rose. Ginny also insisted on remaining behind, saying that she didn't want to intrude, even though Harry often told her she was welcome. Still, it was nice with just the three of them. They didn't need to talk really, they just walked and remembered, and offered each other support with understanding smiles.

Ron and Hermione had been the only ones with him that day. While others fought the Death Eaters, the trio had gone to face Voldemort. All of them had fought valiantly and had sustained injuries. Ron now walked with a limp and Hermione had a scar that went from her forehead straight down through her left eye, which was shut forever. Harry had been the one to kill him, but he never could have done it without Ron and Hermione.

When at last they returned, the whole family donned their best robes and prepared to leave. They would meet Mr. Weasley and many others who were already there, setting up and organizing security. Harry lagged behind as the others stepped out, preparing to take the Portkey.

Telling the others to go on ahead, and that she and Harry would apparate, Ginny took his hand. "I'm sorry, Harry," she said quietly. "I know you hate this. I know that you'd rather..."

"Just forget about it?" Harry supplied.

"No, you would never want that," she said with a shake of her head. "I know you too well, Harry, and I know that you could never just forget. Too many people that you loved have died. You would not dishonour their memory by forgetting their sacrifices, as well as your own. But I know that you would rather not go to a public celebration where they're going to fawn all over you, and make big speeches..."

"Yeah, you'd think that after ten years they couldn't have anything more to say about it, wouldn't you," he interjected with a sigh. Ginny looked as though she were fighting an inner battle.

"Oh!" she burst out finally. "Let's not go, Harry! I hate going! It's the same thing every year and it's ridiculous! Why can't they just let you have your peace? Don't they see that this is a day to spend with family, not with a bunch of fake strangers trying to make you endorse their products or sign their elbows?" Harry looked mildly amused.

"Well, no one has yet asked me to sign their elbows, so I think we'll be safe," he said, suppressing a laugh. She gave him a begrudging smile. "Ginny, I know that you love me and that you're trying to look out for me, but I think we should go. I hate it, it's true, and I wish that they would leave me in peace. But don't you see? This is the best way to ensure that. If I didn't go, there would be an uproar unlike any we've seen before. At least if we go tonight, we can politely turn down invitations to all the other stupid functions they want me to attend without getting an earful about 'duty' and 'keeping up morale'. I really can't say that I mind sacrificing one night of the year for peace and quiet during the rest."

"Hmph. I suppose you're right," Ginny said with a pout. With that, they apparated just outside Hogwarts where the rest of the family was waiting.

The grounds of Hogwarts were alight and filled with people. An open-air carriage was waiting for Harry and Ginny and they stepped into it, trying to steel themselves for the ridiculousness that was to follow. The celebration was open only to specially invited guests, but that didn't stop the rest of the Wizarding world from lining up outside Hogwarts to get a glimpse of Harry. They stood, straining to see over the heads of the Aurors who held them back, as the carriage, pulled by a thestral Harry patted kindly before stepping up, swept up the long drive to the castle. Other carriages carried the rest of the invited guests behind them. The crowd was cheering loudly and Harry tried to remember to smile; he was holding Ginny's hand very tightly. A group of teenage girls came into view and jumped up and down at the sight of him. One of them actually fainted, and an Auror rushed forward to revive her. It was all rather embarrassing and Harry found that he was hunching his shoulders as though trying to hide.

The far-too-long ride finally came to an end, and Harry stepped down, helping Ginny after him. Camera flashes blinded them both, and reporters (Rita Skeeter prominent among them) started firing questions. Harry couldn't imagine what else they wanted to know; they had written hundreds of articles about him, and he found it hard to believe that the public wasn't as sick of it as he was.

Then they were inside, being escorted into the Great Hall where the celebration was to take place. The hall was already filled with people who went silent as Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione (Diana was under instructions to stay close to Mrs. Weasley) entered together. Ron and Hermione were almost as famous as Harry now, though it wore heavily even on Ron's nerves. Applause broke out as though they had just performed some type of song and dance, and they made their way to the head table where the Minister of Magic and other important people were seated. Harry saw Lupin and Tonks sitting very close to the High Table and he grinned at them. Tonks was pregnant again, he saw, and realized it had once again been too long since their last visit. There weren't many children other than Ron and Hermione's daughter, but Harry spotted little Sirius Lupin sitting next to his mother; he waved at his godson, who waved back so energetically he fell off his chair. Looking around as they continued to move toward the High Table, Harry saw many other Order members and smiled at them.

Once they sat down and the feast began, Harry looked up to see Draco Malfoy a little ways down the table next to Percy Weasley, an arrangement that was clearly unsatisfactory to both parties. He couldn't help but grin at the thought of those two trying to make polite conversation; unfortunately Draco chose that moment to look up at him. He appeared startled by the grin, but recovered enough to scowl. The fierce expression lacked bite, however, for Harry could see the reluctant smile just behind it. Ginny was right, Draco wasn't really a bad guy. He'd gotten off to a rocky start in life, but he did the right thing in the end. Harry had even gone so far as to invite him to dinner along with Ron and Hermione. Those dinners had been very strained at first, but they were starting to relax now and, while Harry never thought Draco would be a good friend, there was at least the possibility of it.

When the feast ended, the Minister of Magic stood up and began to give a very long-winded speech about the Chosen One and his great deeds. Harry wasn't really listening. He looked around the hall where he had spent so much of his youth, as well as his adulthood. He and Ginny were both teachers at Hogwarts now, along with Hermione. Ron had decided to pursue his dream of being an Auror and was now one of the finest in the Order. Harry taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, Ginny taught Transfiguration now that McGonagall was Headmistress, and Hermione taught Potions. It felt safe working at Hogwarts, the place that had been his first true home, and Harry was glad that he had decided to turn down the many other job offers.

Once the Minister's speech was finished, there was another official-looking person to give yet another speech. And then another after that and another after that, until Harry was sort of wishing that there would be a Death Eater attack, just to break up the monotony. At last, the final speech had been delivered, and they all raised their glasses to toast Harry Potter and those who fought beside him to rid the world of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

Now it was mingling time. Harry particularly hated this part, because everyone wanted to shake his hand and say a few words, and expected him to remember them from last year's celebration. He could only endure it with Ginny by his side and, when he finally broke free of a group of ministry workers who wanted him to sign things 'for their children,' he made his way over to Remus, Tonks and little Sirius.

"Guess what, Uncle Harry!" Sirius demanded as soon as Harry had hugged both Remus and Tonks and exchanged a few words.

"What?" he asked, pulling Sirius onto his lap.

"I'm coming to Hogwarts next year! I got the letter a week ago!"

"You did! That's wonderful! I'll get to see you all the time, then. I hope you'll do well in my class, young man," Harry said mock-sternly. "I won't have you getting into trouble like your namesake." Sirius giggled.

"I'll be just as good as you, Uncle Harry," he said with a mischievous smile.

"Hmmm, I suppose I deserve that," Harry sighed. Remus and Tonks laughed and Ginny grinned, squeezing his hand. Ron, Hermione and Diana wandered over and they were soon joined by Bill, Fleur and Rose. Immediately, the three children started whispering and giggling.

Eventually, they were forced to part company, but promised to have the whole family for dinner soon. Harry and Ginny moved through the room, talking and shaking hands until Harry was dizzy with it all. He spoke with many old friends, including Neville and Luna and their son Frank, who was Diana's age. But as the hours rolled on, Harry decided he'd had enough. He said goodbye to the Minister, who insisted on toasting him one last time, then left.

Everyone returned to the Burrow for a nightcap. Diana and Rose were sent up to bed, and everyone else sat by the fire. Conversation came and went, interspersed with long silences. Fred and George entertained them all with a cruelly accurate impression of the Minister giving his speech. They made Harry stand up while they pointed out all the features that made him awe-inspiring.

"It was this very nose which smelt the smell that was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's dirty socks!" Fred said reverently, and Harry laughed with the rest.

Soon, beds were conjured and the company split up to squeeze into what space they could find. Harry and Ginny lay on the floor in the living room, next to the fire.

"Ginny?" Harry whispered after the last sounds of movement died away.

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Harry." There was another long silence. "Harry?" Ginny said tentatively.

"Yes?"

"I'm pregnant."

Harry blinked in the darkness.

"What?"

"I'm pregnant," Ginny repeated. Harry sat up abruptly, looking down at her.

"You are?" he asked. Ginny smiled and nodded. With a whoop of delight, Harry swept her up in his arms and hugged her. "Oh, Ginny, this is so wonderful! This is just what I've always wanted."

"What's that?" she asked gently, tracing his face with her fingers.

"A family," he replied, interlacing her hand with his and kissing her deeply.