Secret Love

Chapter 15: Navigating New Realities

The days following the revelation at the Burrow were a whirlwind for Harry and Ginny. They had expected their marriage to remain a secret for a little longer, but the moment the Weasley brothers discovered the truth, life at the Burrow shifted drastically. They were now a married couple in the eyes of the magical world, and though it was a shock to everyone, there was no going back.
Mornings at the Burrow had become more complicated. Ginny's brothers, particularly Fred and George, couldn't resist the opportunity to poke fun at their newly "married" sister and her husband. They took every chance to make jokes at their expense, which made breakfast a chaotic event."You know, Mrs. Potter," Fred said one morning with a smirk as he slid into his seat beside Ginny, "I think you should start giving Harry some husbandly duties. Like, oh, I don't know... laundry, dishes, a nice back rub every now and then."George leaned over the table, his eyes twinkling. "Or maybe you can give us all a crash course in 'How to Be a Potter Spouse: The Basics.' Honestly, it's only fair if we're all going to have to live with a married couple under one roof."Ginny rolled her eyes at her brothers, but she couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. She had always been close with Fred and George, and despite their teasing, she knew they were happy for her in their own way. Still, their constant jokes were getting a bit much.Harry, sitting next to her, took it all in stride. He had grown used to the twins' antics over the years, though being the target of their jokes was still uncomfortable. He shared a glance with Ginny and gave her a small, resigned smile."They're not going to let up, are they?" Harry whispered to Ginny as he buttered a piece of toast."Nope," Ginny replied, popping a piece of bacon into her mouth. "You're stuck with them—and me."Harry chuckled, a soft warmth spreading through his chest at her words. Despite the craziness, there was a comfort in this—being married to Ginny. It still felt surreal, but at the same time, it was like everything in his life had fallen into place.Across the table, Ron remained silent, still clearly struggling with the revelation. He had barely spoken to either Harry or Ginny since the truth came out, and though he no longer wore a scowl every time he saw them together, the tension was undeniable. He picked at his food without much enthusiasm, casting the occasional glance in their direction but refusing to engage in conversation.Mrs. Weasley, however, had begun treating them differently. Her motherly instincts had kicked in, and though she was still processing the fact that her fifteen-year-old daughter was married, she had started asking questions that made Harry's stomach churn with awkwardness."So, Harry, dear," she said brightly one morning as she refilled his tea cup, "have you thought about where you and Ginny might live once you've finished school? I imagine you'll want your own home eventually. You could always stay here for a while, of course, but I'm sure you'll want a place of your own at some point."Ginny groaned softly beside him, burying her face in her hands. "Mum, we're not even out of school yet. We've got time to figure that out."Harry blushed furiously, not quite sure how to respond. The idea of having a home with Ginny someday made his heart race in both excitement and anxiety, but he hadn't exactly planned on thinking about it right now. They had barely adjusted to the reality of being married, let alone what the future might look like."Er, yeah," Harry stammered, glancing between Ginny and Mrs. Weasley. "We've, uh... we haven't really thought that far ahead yet."Mrs. Weasley nodded understandingly. "Of course, of course. I didn't mean to rush you. But it's something to keep in mind, you know? There's plenty of time to make those decisions."Fred and George exchanged a sly look from across the table, but for once, they kept their mouths shut. It seemed even they knew when not to poke fun.---After breakfast, Harry and Ginny decided to take a walk outside. The air was crisp, and the sun was just beginning to warm the garden. As they strolled hand in hand through the familiar grounds of the Burrow, the weight of everything began to settle in."Do you ever think about what your mum said?" Ginny asked, her voice quiet as they wandered near the edge of the orchard. "You know, about where we'll live after Hogwarts?"Harry was silent for a moment, contemplating the question. "Honestly, I haven't had much time to think about it," he admitted. "Everything's been happening so fast. But... yeah, I've thought about it a little."Ginny looked up at him, her brown eyes searching his face. "And what do you think?"Harry stopped walking and turned to face her, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I think... wherever you are, that's where I want to be. I don't care if it's a big house or a tiny flat. As long as it's with you."Ginny smiled, her heart swelling at his words. She leaned up and kissed him softly, feeling the warmth of his love wrap around her like a protective shield. "I feel the same way, Harry. I just want us to be together."They stood there for a moment, lost in each other, before the sound of footsteps behind them broke the spell. Turning around, they saw Hermione approaching, her expression somewhere between concern and curiosity."There you two are," Hermione said as she reached them, slightly out of breath. "I've been looking all over for you.""Is everything alright?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.Hermione nodded but gave them both a pointed look. "We need to talk about this soulbond situation. Have you two really thought about what it means?"Ginny sighed, folding her arms across her chest. "We've been thinking about little else, Hermione.""I know," Hermione said, her voice softening slightly. "But I mean the *legal* implications. You're both emancipated now, which means you're considered adults in the magical world. That's a lot of responsibility, and it could affect more than just your personal lives."Harry frowned, considering her words. "What do you mean?""Well, for starters," Hermione said, ticking off points on her fingers, "you'll have access to certain legal rights that you wouldn't have had before. You can own property, make binding contracts, and—" she paused, glancing at Ginny with an almost maternal concern, "—and there are certain... protections you'll need to think about, like magical wills, legal guardianship if you decide to have children—""*Children*?" Ginny interrupted, her eyes widening in alarm. "Hermione, we're not even sixteen yet! Can we not talk about children right now?"Hermione flushed, looking sheepish. "I'm just trying to be thorough. You never know what could happen."Harry chuckled awkwardly. "We appreciate it, Hermione. But for now, we're just trying to take things one step at a time."Hermione nodded, though the concern in her eyes didn't entirely fade. "Alright, but promise me you'll at least consider talking to a magical lawyer about all of this. There's a lot to figure out, and I just want to make sure you're both protected."Ginny rolled her eyes but gave Hermione a small smile. "We will. Thanks, Hermione."---That afternoon, Harry and Ginny decided to take Hermione's advice and research a bit more about their situation. They spent hours in the small, makeshift study at the Burrow, pouring over books about soulbonds, marriage laws, and magical rights. It was overwhelming, but they knew they had to be informed if they were going to navigate this new reality.As they worked, they found comfort in each other's presence. Though the weight of responsibility was heavy, there was also a sense of security in knowing they were in this together. No matter what the future held, they would face it side by side.By the time evening rolled around, they were both mentally exhausted but felt more grounded in their understanding of the situation. Harry had been worried about how everything would work out, but as he looked over at Ginny—her face determined and her eyes sparkling with a fire he loved so much—he knew they could handle anything that came their way.Later that night, as they sat in Ginny's room, ready to finally rest after the long day, Ginny turned to Harry with a soft smile."We're really doing this, aren't we?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Harry reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers. "Yeah, we are. And we're going to be alright, Gin. No matter what."Ginny leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I know. I just never thought this would be our life, you know? Married, soulbonded, dealing with all this... it's a lot.""It is," Harry agreed, brushing his lips against her forehead. "But we'll figure it out. Together."With that, they lay down, wrapped in each other's arms, and let the warmth of their bond lull them to sleep. In the quiet of the Burrow, surrounded by love and family, Harry and Ginny knew they had found something worth fighting for—each other. And no matter what challenges lay ahead, they would face them hand in hand, stronger than ever.