Coming Home

Ginevra Weasley threw herself bodily against her apartment door, groaning as it gave a little. This bloody door. She made a mental note to call the landlord, finally managing to force her way into the apartment.

"I'm home!" she called out, tossing her bag onto the couch and shrugging off her coat.

"Mummy!" a small voice cried, and a ball of energy burst into the room and latched onto Ginny's leg.

"Emmy!" she mimicked, grinning at her daughter. "How was your day, lovey?"

"Si ate a bug today!" Emmy exclaimed, eyes wide.

"By accident," the man in question said, a grimace on his face. "There were ants in the crisps."

"And he ate some!" Emmy squealed. Ginny chuckled as Si snatched up the girl and tickled her wildly. She kissed her daughter's forehead, nudging her towards her bedroom."

"Go on and get your outside clothes on and we'll go to the park," she instructed, and Emmy dashed off to change.

"She sure is something," Si murmured, watching her go. Ginny nodded, smiling softly.

"How was she today?" she asked, moving into the kitchen to pack some snakes. "Si followed, shrugging.

"Fine as always. Oh, before I forget, someone came by to see you. He wanted to come in and wait, but Emmy and I were just about to go out. So I got his name and phone number." Ginny stopped, turning a nervous glance to Si.

"Who was it?"

"'H' something. Henry?"

"Harry..." Ginny breathed, setting down the jar of peanut butter she'd just gotten out.

"Yeah, that's it. ...Hey, what's wrong? You're all pale. Are you okay?" Si asked, grabbing Ginny's arm and leading her to the table.

"Yes... Yes, I'm fine. I'm just...surprised. I haven't seen him in ages. Since..." Since the war ended. Since Dumbledore died. "Since school."

"Well, I got his phone number... I think he was surprised to see me and Emmy. Probably wasn't expecting you to have a kid."

"No...Shit," she cursed, a thought striking her. "He'll tell my family where I am. And that I have a kid. I have to leave." She made a move to stand, but Si held her firmly, keeping her in place.

"Hey, hey! You don't know that. Why don't you just call him and tell him not to. At least talk to him. He seemed pretty desperate to see you."

"...Yeah. Okay. I'll call and have him meet us at the park." She gave Si an imploring look, chewing her bottom lip. "Come with? Please?" Si smiled gently, kissing Ginny's forehead.

"'Course, love. I'll go help Emmy while you call." He went off to do just that as Ginny turned to the phone and punched in the number written on the pad. It rang twice before he answered.

"Hello?"

Ginny hesitated. "...Harry?" He sounded so much different than she remembered. Almost like... Ron.

"No, hold on." There was a small scuffle, and Ginny silently thanked whoever was listening that he didn't recognize her.

"This is Harry." A clear voice came on the line, and Ginny froze up. It was him. After seven long years, they were talking again. "Hello?"

"Harry. It's Ginny," she said softly. She could hear him breathing on the other end of the line.

"...How are you?" he asked gently, sounding like he was trying to hide his conversation from Ron.

"Meet me in the park at the corner of Grant and Magnolia," she instructed, ignoring his question for the time being. "I'll be there in five minutes. ...Don't bring Ron." She hung up before he could object, taking a shaky breath.

"Alright, Ginny?" Si asked with a worried look on his face as he stood in the doorway with Emmy. Ginny pasted a smile on her face as she turned.

"Just fine. You ready to go, Emmy-Bee?" The five year old nodded happily, and the three made their way out the door.

Harry was waiting at the park when they walked up. Ginny swallowed hard, motioning for Si to watch Emmy as she approached. He was taller than she remembered. And so grown up...

"Hello, Harry," she said softly. He spun around, and she had to suppress a gasp. He was beautiful. His emerald green eyes sparkled happily behind his glasses, and his lips twisted into a wide grin.

"Hi Ginny," he replied, just looking at her for a moment before striding over and pulling her into a tight hug. "Merlin's beard, it's good to see you."

"No magic," she whispered quietly, hugging him back. Harry blinked, pulling away.

"What?"

"No magic, no magical reference. You're in a Muggle neighborhood," she explained softly. Harry frowned, glancing over to where Si and Emmy were playing in the sandbox.

"Oh. So your husband isn't..."

"No. And he's not my husband. That's Simon, my nanny."

"So she is yours," he said, watching Emmy in an almost awe.

"Yes. Her name is Emily. Emmy."

"What about her father?" Harry asked, still watching the strawberry-blonde girl. She dragged Si towards one of the slides and went down, squealing the whole way. A smile played on Harry's lips.

"A musician named Theo. We dated for a while, but it didn't work out. I was already pregnant, though. He loves her to bits regardless. He sends money and visits when he's in town." Ginny slipped her hands into her pockets, shifting from foot to foot. "Harry, why are you here?" Harry finally looked at her, sighing heavily.

"Why did you leave, Gin? Everything was going to well. Voldemort was dead. We were finally free, and you just disappeared."

"...I can't explain my actions, Harry," she replied after a moment. "There wasn't any one specific reason that I left."

"Your mum misses you. She cries every Christmas you don't show up," Harry said, making Ginny look away. "And Charlie's getting married. The wedding is in three weeks. He wants you to be there. I told him that I would bring you."

"Harry, I... I can't. I mean, I have Emmy and..."

"Don't you think your mother would like to meet her granddaughter?" Harry interrupted, his voice rising the slightest bit. "You haven't been home in seven years, Ginny. Do you have any idea how much you've hurt your family? How much you've hurt me?"

"You don't understand, Harry. I can't come home. Not now," Ginny tried to explain, looking up as Si and Emmy started towards her slowly. Harry followed her gaze, giving her a disapproving look.

"You haven't told them," he stated matter-of-factly. Ginny shook her head sadly, giving Harry a pleading look.

"Please just go, Harry. Please."

"Is there something wrong here?" Si asked, frowning. Harry stared hard at Ginny for a moment, and then shook his head, taking a step back.

"No, I'm just leaving," he said. Ginny let out a breath that she hadn't realized she was holding. "...Take care, Ginny. Think about what I've said." With a slight nod towards Si, and a pat of Emmy's head, he started off.

"Odd sort of bloke," Si observed, nudging Ginny gently. "Alright, love?" Ginny jerked, blinking.

"Huh? I'm...fine. I'm fine." She watched Harry round the corner, then looked back at Simon. "We need to have a talk."

"So what is it you need to tell me?" Si asked as they sat on the couch, sipping their mugs of hot cocoa. Ginny extracted a slim box from under the couch and opened it, holding it out for Si to see.

"Do you know what this is?" she asked. Si gave a thoughtful hum, picking up the wand that Ginny hadn't used for seven years.

"Looks like...Maple?" he guessed. Ginny shook her head, gently taking it.

"No, it's Willow, 13 ½ inches, with a dragon heartstring in the core." Si wrinkled his nose, tilting his head.

"Oh. Is that some rare plant, dragon heartstring?" he asked. Ginny shook her head again.

"No. It's a small bit of the heart of a dragon. ...This is my wand. I'm a witch, Si."

Si blinked, setting his mug aside so he didn't drop it. "You're...you're a what?"

"A witch," she replied, placing her mug next to Si's. He stared at her in shock, mouth hanging open.

"...No bloody way. That's impossible, Gin. There's no such thing."

"I assure you there is, Si. And I'll prove it." Ginny sat up straight and pointed her wand at Si's mug. "Wingardium Leviosa."

"Bloody hell!" Si cried as his mug levitated a few inches. He pointed at Ginny, stammering. "You... You made... You're really..."

"A witch, yes," she agreed softly, lowering the mug and putting the wand back in the box. "But for the past seven years, I've been living as a Muggle - someone without powers. My family is all wizards and witches. Harry is a wizard. And Emmy will most likely be a witch."

Si stared at her in awe, mouth hanging open. "That's...that's bloody incredible."

"You're not angry?" Ginny asked meekly. Si leaned forward, hugging her tightly.

"Of course I'm not, love. How could I be angry? You...you and Emmy... You two are my whole life," he said softly, kissing her cheek. Ginny choked up, hugging him back.

"Oh, Si. You're wonderful, you know that? You are just...so good to us." She closed her eyes, leaning heavily against her best friend. Si cooed in her ear, stroking her hair softly as she sobbed into his shoulder. They sat like that for almost an hour, Ginny crying and Si trying to comfort her. Ginny finally felt calm enough to pull away, wiping her eyes.

"Thank you, Si. I don't think I deserve your love sometimes."

"You deserve every second of it, dear-heart," he murmured, kissing her forehead. Ginny sighed, looking away in thought.

"Si...Will you come with me to visit my parents? Please? I haven't been there in so long..."

"Of course," he agreed quickly, squeezing her hands. Ginny smiled, slowly pulling away.

"I should call Harry..."

"Yes, you go do that. I'll make sure Emmy's sleeping." Si nudged her towards the phone, slipping off to Emmy's bedroom. Ginny slowly punched in the number, cradling the receiver to her ear with her shoulder. It rang once.

"Hello?" A woman's voice floated over the line, and Ginny almost dropped the phone in surprise.

"Hermione?"

"Yes. Who is this?" she asked. Ginny took a shaky breath.

"It's Ginny. Ginny Weasley," she said softly. Hermione gasped, then gave a squeal.

"Ginny! Ron, Harry, pick up the phone! Oh my word, Ginny. How are you? Where are you living? What have you been doing all these years?"

"Give her a chance to breath, 'Mione," Harry's voice came on the line, making Ginny shiver involuntarily. "Ron went to pick up some groceries. He should be back in a few minutes."

"Actually, I'd rather not talk to him," Ginny said quietly, ignoring Hermione's persistent 'why?' "And I'd appreciate it if you wouldn't tell him I called. I don't want to cause a lot of excitement."

"Are you coming back, Gin?" Harry asked cautiously, a hopeful tone in his voice. Ginny smiled in spite of herself.

"...Yes." Harry whooped loudly, and Hermione squealed in glee. "I'll come to the Burrow tomorrow for Saturday dinner. Will you all be there?"

"You bet," Hermione replied happily.

"Good. Tell mum to set three extra settings, but don't tell her I'm coming. Tell her you invited friends from work or something. Just...let me surprise her," she requested.

"Of course, Gin. Leave it to me," Harry promised.

"Thank you, Harry," she murmured. The three slipped into a comfortable silence before Ginny burst out suddenly, "I missed you both so much!"

"Oh, Ginny," Hermione whimpered. "I missed you too."

"Hermione, don't cry," Harry pleaded. "Ron'll be home any second, and if he sees you crying, he'll want to know what's going on."

"Oh, you're right. I have to go wash my face. Ginny...I'll see you tomorrow." There was a soft click as Hermione hung up her phone.

"...Do you want me to come over?" Harry asked quietly. Ginny shook her head, forgetting for a moment that he couldn't see her.

"No. Si's here. And I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay. ...Sleep well, Ginny."

"You too, Harry," she murmured, loving the sound of his voice.

"Goodnight."

"'Night." She hung up the phone, feeling more satisfied than she had the seven years she'd lived on her own. She was going home.