Forever Family

Chapter 44

Publish Date: 3/28/19

Weeks had passed very quickly. Harry and Ginny, though this was not their first time taking care of a baby, were worn out. And just like they had with Teddy, they were savoring every minute of James being sweet and innocent.

"We're taking him to dinner tonight, aren't we?" Ginny asked one Sunday afternoon as she helped Harry pack up things to take to the Burrow for the evening. Although they didn't do this every weekend, the Potters were spending the night there as well.

"Of course. Everyone will want to see him," Harry smiled down at his son, who giggled back.

"Harry! Ginny!" Teddy exclaimed from upstairs. "I can't find my blanket!"

"Which one, Ted?" Ginny called back as she made her way upstairs. "You've got multiple."

"The blue one." Teddy emerged from the doorway of his room looking worried. "Y'know, the one with my initials on it."

Harry and Ginny both made their way upstairs to help Teddy look for his blanket. They still had time to spare before they left for the Burrow, anyway. After a few moments of looking, Ginny pulled out her wand and summoned it. Teddy's blue blanket came zooming out from under a pile of blankets on his bed.

"There," Ginny said, satisfied. "Are we ready now?"

"Yeah. Thanks, Ginny."

The family made their way back downstairs to James, who was crying. Harry picked up his son and gently rocked him, which was apparently a great comfort to James.

"Got everything?" Ginny asked. "Mum asked us to be there a little early so we could get James settled in before everyone arrives."

"Oh, yeah, sure. C'mon, Teddy, it's time to leave!" Harry called. Teddy approached a moment later, with a small bag and his blanket draped over his shoulders.

"Ready?"

"Yeah." Harry took Teddy's hand as they Apparated to the Burrow.

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The Potters were the first ones to arrive, just as Mrs. Weasley requested. She ushered them inside as Ginny and James sat down on the couch.

"Hello, dears. Yes, Ginny, just sit down there, I'll be back in a moment." Mrs. Weasley made her way to the kitchen, only to emerge a moment later with a baby bottle in hand.

"You can feed him if you'd like, Mum," Ginny said. Mrs. Weasley's face lit up.

"Wonderful! Ginny, you can go help Teddy and Harry set the table while we wait for everyone else to get here."

"Sure." Ginny stood up and joined her husband and godson in the kitchen while they waited for the rest of the family to arrive.

A few minutes later, people started filing in. Teddy ran off to play with Victoire, and Hermione and Ron joined Harry and Ginny outside.

"It's so hot today," Hermione remarked absentmindedly as she sipped a cool glass of water. Ginny nodded in agreement.

"Hey, why don't we go to the lake?" Ron asked. "It would definitely cool us down." The others nodded and they began the short walk to the lake. Although it wasn't very far, the quartet was sweltering by the time they got there.

"Okay, I'm going in," Ginny said as she took off her shoes and waded into the shallow lake. A content sigh escaped her lips as the cool water splashed at her legs.

"I agree with Ginny," Harry said as he followed suit. "It looks too tempting." Ginny grinned as her husband followed her into the water. A moment later, Ron did the same.

"C'mon, 'Mione!" Ron yelled from the lake. Hermione was now the only one not in the water. "You know you want to!"

"Oh, alright!" Hermione smiled and followed her family into the water, which, she had to admit, felt wonderful. What they had intended to be just a little dip in the lake turned into a full blown water fight as Ginny splashed Harry on accident. (Or so she claimed.)

Soon enough, the four were laughing and shrieking and splashing each other with the cold water like little kids. Hermione let out a muffled shriek as Ron pushed her in completely, and she did the same to him as soon as she was up. It was hard to tell what was better—the relief of the cold water on the hot day or the fun they had during the water fight.

"I think we all needed that," Ginny grinned as they clambered out of the lake, dripping wet but incredibly cheerful.

"I agree," Ron smiled. He leaned over to brush something out of Hermione's bushy hair. "Sorry 'Mione, you had a leaf in your hair."

None of them noticed Audrey approaching until she caught sight of their sopping wet clothes and hair.

"Molly sent me to let you know that dinner was ready—what happened to you?"

"We may have had a little to much fun in the lake," Ginny smiled. Behind her, Harry, Ron, and Hermione cracked up.

"Right, well, just use a quick drying charm and join us inside, then," Audrey responded slowly, her eyebrows raised.

A moment later, once they were all dry, the four joined the rest of their family for a delicious, home-cooked dinner.

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Dinner passed slowly with casual conversation and delicious food. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny were sitting outside again, but this time with the rest of the family. It was growing darker and had cooled down a lot, but the sounds of summer were still all around them.

"Be careful, Teddy!" Mrs. Weasley called out as Teddy tripped over a tree root in the ground. Harry smiled fondly; relaxing out here with his loved ones was just what he needed.

"So," George said as he sat down beside the quartet. "I heard about your little adventure in the lake earlier."

Ginny rolled her eyes. "What, and you're sad you weren't invited?"

"You know me so well, Gin," George smirked. Harry laughed. Even though he'd known the Weasleys for years, the friendly banter between the siblings had always lightened the mood.

"How's work at the Prophet going, Ginny?" Hermione asked.

"Only you would ask about work on a weekend, 'Mione," Harry teased. Hermione gave him a playful shove.

"It's going well, and I enjoy it a lot. I know I said I'd probably only do it once James was born, but I think I want to stick with it," Ginny shrugged.

"That's nice, Gin."

They sat in comfortable silence for a bit, watching their chaotic family bustle around them. With so many people, it would be easy for the Burrow to feel overcrowded and trapped. Surprisingly, the homey and comfortable feeling never went away. It was consistent and reliable; always there when you needed it.

Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny's shoulders as Ron and Hermione sat down close beside him. This was family. Harry smiled at the thought. This was what love felt like. He let the feeling surround him and embrace him, almost like it was giving him a warm hug. And he didn't intend to let go any time soon.

A/N: This is the last chapter before the epilogue. I'll have a final Author's Note and the end of the story as well. Thanks for reading! 💛
Words: 1,125