Snapshots From Life

Chapter 10 - Home

Ginny had taken a portkey to The Leaky Cauldron and apparated home from there. She was nervous standing outside the front door of 12 Grimmauld Place. She wasn't even this nervous on her wedding day or her first match with the Harpies. Ginny smoothed out the front of her jumper and opened the door. She thought to herself 'I should have changed before I left.'

Ginny walked into the house and left her suitcase by the door. She could hear Harry and Kreacher talking from the kitchen but couldn't make out what they were saying. She quietly walked down the hall towards the kitchen. From the hall she could see the two of them standing almost toe to toe, arguing. Neither one of them had noticed she was there.

With a stern look on his face, Harry told Kreacher, "Kreacher, I told you to use Ginny's recipe for the pot roast, not yours."

Kreacher asked, "Master Harry, why does Kreacher have to use Mistress Ginny's recipe?"

Harry replied, "I told you that since Mr. Weasley is feeling under the weather, I wouldn't be going to the Burrow to eat dinner, so I need you to use Ginny's recipe."

Kreacher mumbled, "Kreacher still doesn't understand."

Harry closed his eyes and gritted his teeth in frustration, "Since Ginny's not here to cook, I need you to use her recipe. It helps me not miss her so much."

Ginny's eyes welled up with fresh tears as she smiled just a little. Hearing Harry say he missed her made her heart swell. Ginny ran to her husband and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him like she never kissed him before. The kiss was long and deep, filled with passion and fire.

Taken by surprise after Ginny broke the kiss, Harry asked, "Ginny, what are you doing home? Is everything alright? I thought you were in France."

Ginny looked up at Harry with tears in her eyes, a smile on her face and held up a piece of parchment, "I found this in my suitcase when I was unpacking in Paris."

Harry immediately recognized the piece of parchment as he put his arms around Ginny's waist. He smiled, "That was so long ago. I forgot all about that."

Ginny pulled Harry closer to her, "Harry James Potter, I love you."

Harry kissed Ginny's head, "I love you too. What does an apology note I wrote ages ago have to do with why you're here and not at the pitch?"

Ginny looked up at Harry as her eyes welled up with tears again, "Your note made me remember just how lucky I am to be married to you and how much I love you."

Harry wiped Ginny's tears away, "I'm not sure I follow. How does my apology note do that?"

Ginny smiled, "Always the modest one. After I found and read the note, Gwen checked in with me. She saw that something was up. I show it to her, and we talked. I told her about the fight we had about the housework. I also told her how you always get word to me that you're safe, that you miss me, or you love me. You always find a way to let me know not to worry. I told her about how you always pick up little trinkets and nick knacks when you travel for work just to let me know you think of me."

Harry kissed Ginny, "I do that because I don't want you to worry. I do all that because I want you to always feel loved. I don't want a single moment to go by that you don't know that I love you. I pick up those little things because when I see them, I do think of you."

Ginny smiled, "All that got me thinking. When I travel with the girls, I don't give you a second thought. I'm always worried about the match or getting to the portkey on time. I never write to you or anything." Tears started falling down Ginny's cheeks again, "I just feel like I've taken advantage of you all this time."

Harry wipe Ginny's eyes dry, "Oh Ginny. I know you love me. I feel it all the time. I know the league is extremely competitive and you have to stay focused. Have I ever complained before?"

Ginny shook her head, "No, you never have."

Harry pulled Ginny in close, "Has anybody ever told you that I've complained to them?"

Ginny replied, "No, but I know you. You wouldn't say anything anyway."

Harry chuckled, "You're right. I probably wouldn't have said a word. You're happy playing quidditch and I'm happy for you. You're a great chaser and you've had a great career so far. That's the thing Ginny. You're happy, so I'm happy."

Ginny smiled, "So I'm not taking advantage you?"

Harry held her tight, "Not in the least."

Ginny kissed Harry, "I'm the luckiest woman."

Kreacher then said, "Will Mistress Ginny be staying for dinner, or will Mistress Ginny be going back to Paris?"

Ginny laughed, "I'll be staying."

Harry led Ginny to the table while Kreacher set out her plate and silverware. Kreacher then served them their dinner.

Ginny looked lovingly across the table at Harry. She still felt a little bit of guilt tug at her heart even though Harry told her not to worry. Ginny said, "Love, I want to hear everything about your day."

Harry nodded, "Alright then." He then proceeded to tell Ginny everything he could remember about it. Harry told her about the morning meeting and how bored he was sitting through those two hours. Ginny giggled has Harry rolled his eyes. He told her how his latest case was solved, then he told her how it was somebody else's work that really did it though. All he did was put it all together. She smiled because it was just like Harry to give somebody else credit for his work. Ginny hung on his every word as she reached across the table and took his hand. Harry told her about his lunch with Kingsley and Hermione and how the restaurant over cooked Hermione's fish. He laughed as he told Ginny about the expression on her face when she bit into it. Ginny giggled when Harry tried to recreate it.

Ginny thought for a moment that maybe it was time to hang up her broom and start a family. She knew Harry wanted children and so did she, but with both of them gone a lot, it just wasn't the right time. Ginny really did miss eating dinner with Harry and hearing about his day. She needed this. Harry sat through enough dinners with Ginny just to hear her complain about what she didn't do well enough or a play that didn't go right. Then, Harry wouldn't even get a chance to talk about his day before she went off for a hot soak in the tub to relax. That bit of guilt was starting to tug at her heart again.

A couple of hours later Ginny climbed into bed next to Harry. He was already sound asleep. She could hear his light snoring, Ginny snuggled up next to Harry as he rolled over and instantly wrapped her up in his arms. She laid there in bed feeling so much love from her husband. Ginny looked at her left hand. She looked at the engagement ring and the wedding band that were around her ring finger. Rings that she never took off, not ever. Some of the girls that were married took off their wedding bands for practices and matches, but not Ginny. It didn't matter what she was doing, they never came off.

Ginny thought about family. She thought about Harry's family. Sure, he had the Dursleys, but he rarely spoke to them. He had the Weasleys. They took him in without a second thought. Ginny's parents treated him like another son and her brothers treated him like another brother. All that was great but, Harry wasn't a Weasley, and they were Ginny's family. All Harry really had for a family was her. Ginny was his family.

Maybe it was time. Maybe it was Harry's time. Maybe it was Harry's time to get what he craved his whole life. Maybe it was time that Harry got a family that loved him as much as he loved them. Ginny thought of all the selfless acts that he did, all the time. Maybe it was time for Ginny to be selfless. Harry did and then did some more and never expected anything in return. Harry did what he did because he cared. He cared a bit too much at times. Maybe it was time for somebody to, not just care, but to care too much about him. Maybe it was time for Harry to finally get what he wanted, not just what he accepted was his share. Maybe it was time for Harry to receive what he's been giving all this time.

Maybe it was Harry's time.