Harry Potter Oneshots

thirty six-ginny/harry

ship: ginny/harry

prompt: "So uh, he's dead. Again." "What the hell happened?" "We were on a raid and he got hit from behind. The Healer said it was an organ bursting curse. Must've been really pai--oh sorry."

setting: over the phone, but mainly at Ginny's house

category(?): sad

warning/tags: mentions of death

notes: im sorry. so sorry. like, i almost cried. so very sorry.

also, the ages of the kids are TR:22, JS:16, AS:14, LL:12

words:

Ginny was sitting at the kitchen table helping Lily Luna with her summer homework when Albus yelled, "Mum! Mum! Mu--"

"What is it Albus?!" She yelled.

He ducked around the corner. "You've got a call from Uncle Ron. He says it's urgent!"

Ginny shook her head. "Okay, Lily I'll be right back."

Lily nodded at her, flipping the page in frustration.

"Hey Ron. What's wrong?"

"So uh, he's dead. Again."

"Harry?"

Please don't let it be. Please, please, plea-- "Yeah, sorry."

She cursed. Of course he was. "What the hell happened?"

She had to be strong. If not for her, for the kids. Harry wouldn't want them sad.

Ron seemed to sigh, and she knew he was rocking on his heels. "We were on a raid, he had an idiot partner--"

"Who?" She demanded.

"I think his name's Erik Francis, he's new."

"I'm going to kill him."

"I feel you. Anyway, he was hit from behind. The Healer says it was an organ bursting curse. It must've been pretty pai--oh, sorry for that. You probably don't want to hear that."

"So he's 100%..."

"More like 99.999999999999--"

"Okay, I get it. What do I do?"

"Well you should probably let the kids know. I'll be here all night, so--"

"Are you hurt too?" Ginny interrupted.

"Not too bad, Harry got the worst of it. Luckily I had a good Auror with me. He threw up a shield charm."

"Dammit I'm so mad at Frank."

"Erik."

"You think I care?"

Ron sighed again. "Look Gin, just do what you need to with your kids, you'll figure everything out."

"I'm not ready to be a single mum, Ron."

"You said the same thing sixteen years ago, but without the single part, and you turned out fine."

"But I had Harry! This is completely different."

"Hey, Harry practically raised himself and he turned out fine."

"Whatever. Thanks for the call, we'll be up in an hour."

She slammed the phone down and let her head hit the wall.

"Mum?" James asked, a handful of peanut butter in his hand.

"I--what on earth are you doing?"

"Um, nothing. What are you doing?"

She stared at him. "Do me a favor and I won't ask about the peanut butter."

"Okay, sure."

"Call Teddy and get your brother in the kitchen. I have to do something but we need to have a family talk."

"Is Dad coming?"

She swallowed. "He's at, uh, work."

James nodded. "Kay, will do!"

Ginny nodded at him and went to the bathroom to cry without them knowing. Harry wouldn't want her bottling up her emotions.

---

"So you don't know why I asked you all here." Ginny said, taking a seat next to Teddy.

Albus shook his head. "James just said you wanted us in here and that you looked sad."

Lily looked at her mum. "You've been crying." She had the habit of pointing uncomfortable things out, much like Aunt Luna.

Ginny smiled grimly. "There's no good way to say this. Dad was hurt at work today."

All four voices rang out in alarm.

Teddy spoke loudest. "Is he okay?"

Ginny shook her head. "I got a call from Ron. He didn't make it."

Teddy's hair involuntarily turned messy and black, and Albus let out a cry.

"Are we sure? Like 100% sure? Maybe Uncle Ron didn't--" James was in denial, and Ginny shook her head at him. "If it makes you feel better we can go see him."

James nodded his head. "Please."

So they went, where James saw his dad, deathly pale.

Lily completely shut off, refusing to talk, Albus stared, and Teddy left the hospital completely.
—-
Years later, Lily became selectively mute.

James didn't talk about it to anyone. He often pretended Harry was still there. He always set a place for him at the table, and no one dared to remove the plate.

Teddy helped Ginny as often as he could. He came over for dinner most days and helped clean up.

Albus took it the best out of them all. He talked to his dad's grave every once in awhile, and was happy discussing him with anyone who listened.