Growing Pains

Chapter Twelve

"Neville! Hannah! Come in!" Ginny said, opening the door for the couple. It was mid-December, and Hogwarts had just gotten out for break.

Hannah stepped inside first, her large cloak wrapped around her loosely. Neville followed her inside.

"Harry! Hannah and Neville are here!" Ginny called to Harry, who stepped out of the kitchen wearing an apron.

"Oi, hey!" Harry cried, lifting the apron off o­ver his head and walking over to his friends.

"Ron and Hermione aren't here yet?" Neville asked, looking around the living room curiously.

"No, surprisingly, they're a bit la-" Harry was interrupted by Ron and Hermione stepping out of the fireplace, large smiles plastered on their faces.

"Hannah! Neville! You're here! See Ron, I told you we'd be late!" Hermione turned to her husband and gave his arm a light thwack, but her smile never faded.

"Sorry we're a bit late, we had some uh- business to take care of," Ron said, grinning.

"Oh Ron, keep it to yourself, we don't want to hear about it," Harry said, a disgusted look on his face.

"Oh shut it you big git," Ron groaned, thwacking Harry on the arm.

Ginny just rolled her eyes and turned back to Hannah.

"Boys," she said, scoffing. "Hannah, you must be boiling, please, let me take your cloak! It's a billion degrees in here!"

"Gin, it's 63 degrees. It's freezing," Harry said, pointing to the large sweater he had on. Ginny, however, was running around in one of Harry's old, oversized t-shirts and a pair of leggings.

Regardless, Hannah shrugged off her bulky cloak, and everyone gasped. Hannah and Neville looked at each other and grinned.

"Oh Hannah! You're pregnant!" Ginny exclaimed, throwing her arms around her friend excitedly.

"Congrats mate!" Harry slapped Neville on the back, and Ron gave him a one- armed hug before trading places with Hermione and Ginny to congratulate Hannah.

"Oh Neville! Congratulations!" Ginny gave her friend a hug, Hermione following suit.

"We've known for a while now, and we've wanted to tell you so bad, but we figured it'd be better to surprise you in person!" Neville said, straightening his sweater vest, a sheepish grin on his face.

Neville was a professor at Hogwarts, so he and Hannah lived there during the school year up in one of the towers, and during the summers, they had a small flat on the outside of London. They spent most of their time on campus at Hogwarts, only coming home for holidays and to go to St. Mungo's each month to visit Neville's parents, and now, grandmother.

"I'm so glad you did! This is so exciting!"

"I'm about four months along, so our kids will be in the same year at Hogwarts. That'll be nice. We can be overprotective, worrisome parents together," Hannah grinned.

"Definitely, and think about the playdates and all of that!" Ginny squealed.

"Hermione, it's your turn. We've got to have all of our kids together!" Hannah exclaimed.

Hermione raised and eyebrow at Ginny and Hannah, giving them an amused look.

"I am Minister of Magic. I don't have time for a kid right now, so I'll just play the role of aunt and godmother for now, but I think Ron is ready, so maybe in a year or so."

Ron grabbed her hand and kissed it. Hermione gave him a gentle smile.

"Well, I'm so hungry, so let's celebrate!" Ginny exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.

A few hours and three courses later, everyone was stuffed.

Ron stretched back in his chair, rubbing his chubby stomach and letting out a satisfied belch. Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgusted and swatted at her husband's arm to remind him of his manners.

"Thank you so much for dinner Ginny. You too Harry," Neville nodded at his host and hostess. Ginny beamed and Harry gave him an acknowledging nod.

"We'd better get going, but we'll come visit again before we go," Hannah said as everyone migrated to the foyer. Hannah shrugged her cloak on, Neville pulling his own on once again.

Everyone said their goodbyes, waving as Neville and Hannah stepped out the door and walked to the apparition spot just down the street.

Suddenly, a wispy white lynx patronus came charging purposefully into the room. Harry and Ron stood up immediately, knowing the patronus belonged to their boss at the Ministry, Kingsley Shacklebolt.

"Potter, Weasley. You're needed on a case immediately. We have been given intel about where one of our guys might be. Pack enough things for about a week and come down to the Ministry at once."

The patronus turned around and galloped out of the room. Everyone stayed still for a moment, the air thick with tension.

"You have to leave?" Ginny turned to her husband, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Gin..." Harry began, stepping over to her. He placed a hand on her cheek and wiped a tear away. "You know I don't have a choice."

Ginny nodded and placed her forehead against his. Harry removed his hand from Ginny's cheek and placed it on her stomach.

"I promise, I'll be back before you know it."

They looked up and saw Hermione and Ron going through the same routine.

"Hey," Ron said, looking up at his sister. "How about you and Hermione stay together for the week?"

"Yeah, 'Mione, you should come stay over here for the week," Harry said.

"Please," Ginny turned to her friend, sniffling to add extra effect.

"Alright. We'll go pack, and we'll be back soon," Hermione said, giving her friends a watery smile.

She and Ron stepped through the fireplace, and Harry bounded up the stairs, Ginny padding up behind him.

Harry was already throwing things into a bag, waving his wand around crazily as he tried to pack everything as quickly as possible.

He stopped as he saw Ginny, arms crossed and resting on her large stomach, standing in the doorway.

"Oh, Gin, I'm so sorry. I forgot this week was... I'm sorry," he ran his hand through his hair.

"It's okay. We can just move the appointment. I want you to be there. I love you," she kissed him passionately.

"I love you too," he turned to the bed and grabbed his duffle bag, throwing it over his shoulder.

"I'll see you in a week, I promise."

"Be careful."

"I will be. I love you Ginny."

"I love you too Harry."

And with that, he was gone.