Life Goes On, II

7 - Life Goes On, II

One day, shortly after the dissolution had become official and Harry had moved into Grimmauld Place, he wasn't really surprised to find Ron at the door after he had answered the knock, charming the curtains over the portrait of Sirius's mother to stay closed so she didn't start shrieking racial epithets.

"I need to talk to you, mate," was all Ron said.

"I figured that," Harry replied and could well guess what about ... or more accurately, who.

He went into the kitchen, and while Kreacher got them some food and drink, Ron stated just what was on his mind, as was his habit. "I want to talk to you about Hermione."

"What about her?"

"Gin says the two of you have broken up."

"That's right. The dissolution became official last week, so 'Mione is free to go out with whomever she wishes."

"Including me?" Ron prompted.

"Including you," Harry confirmed. "In fact, I was kind of hoping you'd come by so I could tell you in person that you have my blessing to do so and that, if it makes you too uncomfortable to have little Solomon around, I'd be glad to take him temporarily while you're out with her...at least for a while."

"That might be a good idea, at least at first," Ron agreed. "It's going to take some time for me to get used to the idea of knowing that 'Mione is free again without having to deal with a child."

"But you'll have to, sooner or later, because I won't always be able to take him...nor will anyone else. It might be a good idea to start preparing yourself to meet and spend time with him because he's definitely a permanent fixture."

"What about you and Gin?"

"Oh, I plan on officially proposing to her in the not-too-distant future because I want us to be married before she has the baby if we can manage it. I'm also looking for a flat to accommodate all of us. Gin, myself and the baby, that is ... as well as a room for when Solomon visits. Molly is making the plans for the wedding, but we have told her to make sure to consult us because it is our wedding and we have the right to have some input."

"It'd be a good idea to remind her of that now and again because she tends to forget it," Ron cautioned. "Remember how Bill's wedding was."

"Oh, do I ever," Harry sighed after taking a drink of butterbeer and another bite of bacon and eggs. "If it wasn't for Fleur and her mother making sure they had input ..." His voice trailed off.

"Mum loves to be in charge of things, but you've got to watch her or else she'll take over completely...and trust me, you don't want that," Ron remarked in between bites of food and drink. "Oh, one other thing I wanted to ask ..."

"Yeah?"

"Has Gin been able to spend time with Solomon yet? If so, how do they get along?"

"Oh, I think she'll eventually get used to him and learn to love him, if only due to the fact that he's my child. However, she's still a bit standoffish at the moment. After all, it's going to take her longer than overnight to get used to the fact of both my former marriage and the child. For that matter, I'm not even sure if she's completely adjusted to the fact of what happened while we were out looking for the Horcruxes."

"Do you think she'll say yes to your proposal?"

"I can't be totally certain, but I believe so," Harry returned, finishing his butterbeer and food in one last bite.

Ron had finished some time before and was waiting for Harry to catch up.

"Here's the ring, in fact. Don't tell Gin about it, though. I want to surprise her with it next time I see her."

Harry pulled something in a dark blue velvet box from his pocket and pushed it across the table so Ron could look at it. Even Ron's untrained eye could tell that the centre stone had to be at least a carat with ten smaller diamonds surrounding it in a Tiffany setting and 24k yellow gold.

"Beautiful, mate. She should love it. Is it a family heirloom? It doesn't look new."

"It isn't. It's the ring Dad gave to Mum when he proposed to her. They left their rings to me. I officially acquired them when I became of age."

Ron sighed deeply and pushed the ring back across the table. "I'd better go now, mate. Just wanted to get a few things clear. Best of luck with Gin."

"Thanks. Same goes for you with Hermione. See you later."

"Later, mate." Ron patted Harry's nearest shoulder and left the room.

Not long afterward, Harry directed Kreacher to clean up and then went to clean up himself.

* * * * *

Shortly after this, Hermione came by to help Ginny move downstairs, since Harry was still looking for a proper flat to accommodate her and the coming baby. She put little Solomon with Molly and deposited Ginny on the couch in the living room, admonishing her to stay there while she moved her things to a downstairs room, since she was now too large to safely go up and downstairs, especially alone. Harry was working and wouldn't be coming by until he got off. Hermione was looking for work, but meanwhile, she was depending on the alimony and child support Harry gave her for a means to live and care for herself and the child.

On the other hand, if she felt she had to get away from motherhood for a while, she called upon either Molly or her own mother to take little Solomon off her hands for a while so she could rest and relax. Also, to her delight, Ron had finally approached her and asked her out for that Saturday night, the one night he himself was off work ... They were going out to dinner at the Three Broomsticks. That was three days away, so she had that much time to figure out what she was going to wear and what she intended to do with her hair.

Ginny couldn't help thinking that Hermione was as fussy as her mother when it came to mollycoddling, but the look her friend gave her checked the protests on her lips. She looked like she would be willing to take her chances with even the Bat-Bogey Hex, and deep down Ginny knew she meant well. She just didn't like to be babied when she was perfectly capable of doing things herself. Less and less these days, of course, but that was beside the point. What she was able to do, she preferred to do herself.

Just the same, she preferred not to risk antagonising her, if only because of the instances both she and Harry recalled when Hermione's temper had manifested itself. Just knowing of them made Ginny realise that it could rival hers and Molly's any day in the week and twice on Sunday. Besides, it was kind of nice to lie back with her feet up and sip a cold butterbeer, her shoes off, a pillow beneath her feet and behind her back. She even had a book in her lap, which Hermione had brought with her, but wasn't inclined to read just yet.

It was well into the afternoon when Hermione came to get her, smiling when she noted that Ginny had fallen asleep, having moved one of the pillows on the couch beneath her head. She watched her for a while, hardly wanting to wake her, she looked so peaceful, but knew she would be more comfortable on a bed, so she made herself gently shake her shoulder.

"Gin, wake up. I'm finished fixing up your room and want to take you to see it."

Ginny reluctantly opened her eyes and groaned as Hermione helped her up, an arm around her waist as she brought her to her feet before steering her toward her new room. She would have to make sure to remind Molly to tell Harry of the new room so he'd know where to find Ginny when he came by.

Once they reached the room and stood in the doorway, Hermione asked, "Well, what do you think?"

Ginny looked around and was instantly enchanted. It was everything she could ever ask for, all her favourite things in her favourite colours, including a place for the baby when the time came. "It's lovely, 'Mione. Everything I could ask for. I don't think I'll ever want to leave here."

"Oh, one last thing ... I've utilised wizard space on the bed. It doesn't look big enough for more than one, but I assure you it is. Just in case Harry wants to stay with you." She gave her friend a sly wink.

Ginny's eyes filled with tears as she hugged her friend. "What would I do without a friend like you, 'Mione?"

"Well, you'd probably have been married to Harry long before now, if it hadn't been for me getting pregnant, but other than that ..." Her voice trailed off. "Glad you like it. Let me know what Harry thinks of it. Now I've got to go home and rest, put Solomon down and the two of us will take a nap together. Give my best to Harry ... and guess what, Ron's finally gotten the message, and we're going out Saturday. Dinner at the Three Broomsticks."

"What are you going to do with Solomon?"

"I'm still debating on who to leave him with ... my mum or maybe even Molly. They've both offered, so I've got to make up my mind between now and Saturday. I've got to go get him now, get back home and leave you to settle in. Oh, by the way, I've even put up Silencing Charms on your walls, but leave you to put them on your door, along with Locking Charms, if you feel the need." Hermione winked wickedly at her.

Ginny hugged her friend again; Hermione hugged her back, then left after Ginny told her to kiss little Solomon for her and thanked her for congratulating her on Harry's having officially proposed to her some days earlier.

Within moments, Ginny had settled herself on her bed and fell back to sleep. Not long afterward, Molly tiptoed in and waved her wand to make a nearby blanket settle over Ginny so she would be warm and comfortable...then she gave her daughter a gentle kiss on the forehead and left again.

* * * * *

Ginny awakened to Harry's gentle kiss. She opened her eyes to see his beloved face above hers, his lovely green eyes gazing tenderly into her own. "Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty."

"Harry. Did you have a good day?"

He shrugged and tightened his hold on her hand. "It went about as well as it ever does. Oh, well, I suppose I should be thankful I don't have to chase down any Dark wizards or witches anymore ... at least not at the moment." He looked around the room, marveling at how charming and appropriate it was for Ginny. "My compliments to your decorator."

"'Mione came over and did it for me," Ginny informed him. "Mum told you where to find me, I assume."

"Obviously one of her many talents," Harry remarked. "And yes, she did."

"Oh, guess what. She even put a wizard space charm on the bed so we can share it if necessary."

Harry was unable to bring himself to be surprised at this, only able to say, "Very thoughtful of her."

"She even put Silencing Charms on the walls. However, she left it to me to put the appropriate charms on the door."

"She's really something else," Harry opined. "Oh, did you hear that Ron's finally asked her out?"

"Yeah, she told me. She's still debating who to leave Solomon with, in fact." The look on Harry's face made Ginny speak up again. "Don't you even think of offering to take him! We haven't had a chance to be alone for some time."

"But I want you to get to know him," Harry gently protested even as he joined her on the bed and put his arms around her, gently pressing her head down onto his chest.

"Plenty of time for that," Ginny reminded him as she slid her own arms around him. "Which reminds me ... have you found a flat for us yet?"

"'Fraid not, in between visiting my son, working and looking after you."

"Well, you'd better get with it, Mister. After all, I'm just a few months away from giving birth."

"Oh, I'm pretty sure I'll find something in time," he assured her. "Of course, if nothing else, I'll conjure something up and put a Permanance Charm on it." He smiled and put a finger over her lips, which she promptly kissed. "But no more talking now. Just shut it and let me kiss you."

But kissing wasn't all they did. After a time, their kisses and touches turned intimate, and they made tenderly passionate love after Harry had put Locking and Silencing Charms on the door of Ginny's room. After that, the lovers simply slept the rest of the afternoon away. Not until Harry had taken off the Silencing Charm and Molly had called everyone to dinner did they wake up. He helped Ginny out to the dinner table, and they sat side-by-side, squeezing hands periodically. After dinner, he took Ginny back to her room and settled her back in bed, staying with her until she was asleep again, leaving her a note for her to find when she awakened and a candle burning so she wouldn't awaken in the dark.