Choices

Chapter 5

Harry POV:

I wake up to the smell of breakfast cooking, making my stomach growl. I rub my eyes and sit up in Ginny and I's bed in our small cottage out in the woods. Albus Severus Potter, my son, sleeps peacefully in his crib next to me. He has blue eyes from his mother, but he has my hair. Every time I look at him, I wonder how I got to be so lucky as to have a beautiful son. He was born two months ago, but I still can't believe he's real. It's still hard to believe that I finally have love in my life after all those years without it.

I get out of bed and get ready for the day as quietly as I can, trying not to wake him. After I shower and change, I creep close to Albus' crib and watch his little chest rise and fall evenly in his sleep. I bend down and place a kiss on his forehead, then I smile to myself. I have the best life ever.

I walk downstairs to see Ginny, my beautiful wife, cooking breakfast.

"What's cookin', good lookin'?" I asked.

"Good morning hun! I'm making bacon, eggs, and French toast." She smiled.

I snuck my arms around her waist from behind and rested my chin on her shoulder. "Thank you for cooking."

"Please. It's the least I could do, with you so busy all the time."

"Hey, I'm sorry I'm not here all the time, but I have a job."

"Yes, I know. 'Head Auror at The Ministry of Magic'". She mocked me from earlier when we had already had this conversation.

"Hey! It was my dream job. Not to mention it pays good."

"You got me there." She turned around and pecked me on the lips. "How's Albus?"

"He's asleep. Isn't he so cute?"

"Mmhm. But I know someone so cute they're considered handsome."

"Who?" I got slightly defensive.

She looked at me, confused, and smiled. "You silly." She started to set the table.

I relaxed. I don't know why I hadn't understood she meant me. Maybe I'm not that smart sometimes. It was probably too early in the morning for thinking anyway.

I sat at the table and Ginny served me breakfast. As I was eating, we I heard Albus start to cry. "It's alive!" I said.

Ginny looked confused. "What?"

"You know, Frankenstein?" I mimed him, my arms in front of me and my hands hanging limp. I furrowed my brow. "Fire bad!"

Ginny stood for a moment, then shook her head. "OK...I'll get him."

As she walked upstairs, I continued to eat my breakfast and began staring out the window above the sink.

I don't really understand why, but for some reason I feel like Ginny and I are becoming distant with each other. The morning is really the only time we show affection for each other, besides in front of reporters to get them to shut up. I feel like we're on the brink of some argument that's bound to happen that will end our relationship. I know that's ridiculous though, because we have nothing to argue about.

Ginny comes downstairs cradling Albus in her arms. "Harry, can you hold him for a minute? I know you have to leave for work soon, but I really want to take a shower and get ready for the day."

I snap out of my reverie."Sure!"

I stand and walk over to Ginny, taking little Albus into my arms. I rock him a bit, and he smiles contentedly and closes his eyes again.

"Wow, He really likes you. It takes me at least five minutes to get him to sleep." She looks at me. "Right, I'll be right back." She walked back upstairs.

I took Albus into the living room and sat down with him in the wooden rocking chair in the corner facing the fireplace. His breaths evened out as I rocked him, meaning he was asleep. I looked away from my son's face and watched the fire crackle and burn.

I had asked Ginny to marry me one year after the war, and she had Albus a year after that. It's funny, how time flies. If I'm being honest, I really do miss Hogwarts. I miss my friends too. Sure we keep in touch from time to time, but that's all really. Luna, Neville, Seamus and Dean, Draco....
Wait, Draco?

I shook my head, as if to clear the thought from it. No, I didn't miss him. There was nothing to miss. He was my bully, and that's all he'll ever be.