Ginny yawned as she trotted down the stairs. Her hair was knotted and tousled from sleep and she felt groggy from sleeping badly.
Throughout the night she had awoken several times and each occasion Harry had been missing from bed. Ginny had been tempted to get up to make sure her husband was okay, but then the memory of their first serious argument they'd had as a couple, that evening, would replay itself and she turned over, determined that Harry would be the first to apologise.
Then she'd woken up at eight in the morning, still alone, and she had become worried enough to get out of bed. Ginny knew about Harry's fear of abandonment and her guilt won over.
Ginny first peered into the lounge and found it empty. Her worry increased tenfold and she almost sprinted to the kitchen, all tiredness forgotten.
She stopped in the doorway and visibly deflated with relief. Harry was slumped over in his chair, his head resting on the oak table, softly snoring. Ginny stepped closer to Harry and her heart broke at the faint sign of tear tracks on Harry's cheeks. She should have realised earlier that the argument would have shaken Harry. Ginny kissed Harry's hair lightly before gently shaking him.
"Wha'?" Harry mumbled as his eyes blinked open.
"What time did you get to sleep, honey?" Ginny asked softly, her hands playing with Harry's hair.
"About six." Harry slurred in reply as he sat up.
Ginny winced. Harry had only had two hours of sleep and today was a Monday - Harry should have been working. Ginny looked at how Harry was starting to fall asleep again, his body pitching forward before he jerked awake; he was in no fit state to work.
"Why don't you go lie down and I'll floo the ministry to tell them that you're ill." Ginny ordered lightly. It was a testament to how ill and sleepy Harry was feeling that he stood up and shuffled off without complaint.
Ginny walked to the fireplace in the kitchen and threw some floo powder into it. "Ministry of Magic: Auror department." Ginny monotoned. "Password: 23478."
Ginny stuck her head into the flames and, after a few dizzying moments, she found herself face-to-face with head auror Robards.
"Everything okay, Mrs Potter?" He asked, his forehead creasing with concern.
"Harry's ill so he won't be coming into work." Ginny spoke authoritatively. "He's suffering from extreme exhaustion. You've been working him too hard."
Robards sighed. "Tell him he's got today and tomorrow off. We'll reschedule the meeting for Wednesday."
Ginny nodded and pulled her head out of the flames without saying 'goodbye'. She stood and walked into the lounge, hoping to catch the news on the radio, to find Harry slumped onto the sofa, fast asleep. Ginny shook her head and placed Harry's feet onto the sofa. She then grabbed a cushion and lifted Harry's head, thankful that he was a deep sleeper, and placed the pillow under it. She grabbed the throw off of the back of the sofa and draped it over Harry.
Ginny yawned and decided that she was going to go back to sleep, too. Breakfast could wait and she doubted that Harry would be up before her.
*
Ginny had been right.
She had descended the stairs at one in the afternoon, surprised she had slept so long, to find Harry in the same position she'd left him in. Ginny shook her head and went to prepare a light lunch for them both, knowing that neither of them had eaten yet. Once the ham and cucumber sandwiches were prepared and waiting on the kitchen table, Ginny went to wake Harry up.
"Harry, lunch is ready." Ginny sang as he gently shook Harry.
Harry merely groaned and turned onto his back. Ginny started to slap his cheek lightly and Harry soon opened his eyes.
"Gin, is it time for work?" Harry asked blearily.
"No, I called in sick for you. Have you been sleeping badly, recently?"
"Yeah." Harry muttered. "My muscles are really sore at the moment."
Ginny nodded in understanding, thankful that she was on holiday so missed the daily vigorous training session Gwenog held. "If you eat lunch I'll give you a massage."
Harry nodded and allowed Ginny to pull him to his feet. Ginny guided Harry into the kitchen and sat him down at the table.
They ate in silence, Ginny watching as Harry finished his lunch and nodded off while Ginny finished hers.
Ginny jumped up as she saw Harry tilt to the side and almost fall off the chair. She grabbed his upper arm which startled him awake.
"I'm going to bed." Harry mumbled.
"Good. I'll come with you to give you that massage."
Harry gave a nod and together they made their way up the stairs, Ginny supporting Harry whenever she felt him sway on his feet.
When they reached the room Harry made towards the bed. "Pyjamas." Ginny ordered, holding out a fresh pair of pyjama shorts.
Harry clumsily changed before he climbed onto the bed, Ginny positioned him on the correct way and started the massage.
She could feel the tension in Harry's shoulders as she had helped him up the stairs so she started there. Harry hummed in pleasure as she worked on the knots in his back and worked towards his neck. She then, noticing that Harry was on the verge of sleep, gave Harry a head massage. He was snoring in a matter of minutes. Ginny covered Harry in the duvet and left the exhausted auror to sleep.
