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Author: Sassenach Story: Residual Remains Rating: Teens Setting: AU Status: Completed Reviews: 13 Words: 49,143
Four months later, Christmas Eve Harry watched from a distance as the Weasley family began to file into the house. He smiled to himself. “They’re my family now,” he thought happily. His eyes lingered on Ginny’s backside as she paused at the doorway to say hello to her mother. Instinctively, he rotated the gold ban on his finger. It had been a simple wedding with friends and family gathered to see. The affair had been kept a secret to avoid the publicity it would attract. There had been no reporters and especially no photographers, except one. It was under strict confidence that no photos would leak to the press. Ginny turned from the doorway then and called out to Harry, “You’ll catch a cold, Harry.” “Coming, love,” he answered as he stood up from the bench he had been sitting on. He met her at the door and grinned as she brushed the snow from his hair. “What were you doing?” she asked with a brow raised in question. “Just thinking how lovely it is tonight,” he murmured in response. “Oh, there you are dear!” Molly called out as she spotted him. “We were worried you’d miss the presents,” she stated with a smile. “Merry Christmas, Mum,” Harry greeted her as they hugged. “Oh, Harry dear, you don’t have to call me that,” she muttered in embarrassment as she pulled away. “Nonsense, you’ve only adopted me for more than twenty years now. Besides, I don’t know anyone else I’d rather have as my mother.” Molly blushed as she squeezed his hand. “I am so proud to have you in the family, Harry,” she murmured. “Oh, Mum, will you stop with the mushy stuff,” Ron groused from behind her. She twirled around and gave him a fierce look. “You’ll do right to hush. I wish I could say the same to you, Ronald Weasley.” Ron feigned wounded look. “Why, I never thought you felt that way, Mum.” “Well, now you do!” she huffed as she marched away and into the kitchen. “I think she’s still on about you not having had kids already. She’s been itching to get her hands on grandchildren. Bill’s kids are too far for her to really get a hold on,” Fred stated. “Yes, and since neither of us plan on having kids in the near future it really is up to you to make ole’ mother proud,” George added. “Well, there’s a bit of a problem there isn’t it,” Harry commented as he took a cup of punch from Ginny. “What problem is that?” Ron asked in a bothered tone. “You’d have to be married to have kids,” Harry stated. Ron glowered at him. “Wouldn’t you like to know,” he simpered. Harry raised a brow in query but before he could question his best friend, Molly returned with steaming mugs of cocoa. As soon as they were passed out everyone settled down in various areas of the living room. Harry took his place beside Ginny on the loveseat. “Hello, love,” he murmured as he shifted to give her more room. There was a knock at the door and everyone turned toward it. Arthur rushed toward it and opened it to see Remus and Dumbledore. “Are we late, Arthur?” Dumbledore asked as he stepped inside. “No, you’re just in time,” Arthur replied with a grin. “Please, do come in.” “I’ve come with a bit of news,” Dumbledore stated as he stepped toward the center of the room. “The Wizengamot has finally come to a decision. The Malfoys along with Bellatrix Lestrange are sentenced to life sentences in Azkaban prison. I’m happy to say that the end to the war has finally come.” “That’s wonderful!” Arthur cheered. Another person appeared behind Remus and pushed through the door. “Hello, everyone!” Colin Creevey greeted. “I’ve got a copy of tomorrow’s Daily Prophet. The front page is dedicated to their capture, and well you, of course, Harry.” He gave Harry a sheepish smile. Harry hastily took the newspaper from Colin and began to read the article. After a minute he declared, “They’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t defeat Bellatrix and Lucius at all. I believe that was Hermione and Gypsy’s doing.” “It sure was,” Hermione confirmed as she snatched the papers from his hands. She quickly scanned the article over before grousing in disgust. “Leave it to Rita Skeeter to go and muck things up! She’s completely useless.” With a sigh she smiled over at Colin and complimented, “At least the pictures are nice, Colin.” “Thanks,” he replied with a blush. “Oh, Colin, I’ve completely forgotten!” Ginny cried out. “How is the album coming along?” “Swimmingly,” he answered. “Sorry it’s taken so long, but it’s hard to get a dark room with no one around. It’s hard enough to convince people that I wasn’t the photographer that was at the wedding.” Ginny laughed. “It’s alright, Colin.” “I do have something for you though,” Colin stated as he pulled an envelope from behind his back. Ginny opened it and squealed in delight. “It’s our wedding picture! Oh, Colin, it looks amazing.” “It’s more of an apology than anything else. I was a prat, Ginny. I’m happy that you’re happy.” Ginny waved his apology off and hugged him. “Forget it, Colin.” Ron cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention. “I have something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. Since everyone is here, I thought this would be the best time.” He walked over to where Hermione was talking with Charlie and taking her hand, knelt down on one knee before her. She looked at him skeptically. “Ron, what are you–” He gave her a stern look. “Don’t or I’ll lose my nerve.” He grunted as he tried to keep his balance on one knee. “Hermione, you mean the world to me.” Molly squealed in delight. “Mum,” Ron groaned. “Sorry dear, go on,” she apologized. “Hermione, I’m just going to come right out with it. Will you marry me?” he asked as he pulled out a small box from his coat pocket. She seemed to sway in her spot. “Oh, Ron,” she mumbled. With a tentative nod she answered, “Yes, of course.” They embraced and Ron slipped the ring upon her finger. Everyone began to congratulate the newly engaged couple. Harry hugged Ron saying, “Congrats mate, I knew you had it in you.” “Good, I wasn’t so sure,” Ron laughed. Harry sat down and pulled Ginny onto his lap. He pressed a kiss to her temple and wrapped his arms around her. They sat there watching the family begin to unwrap their presents. The room was buzzing with happiness as everyone chatted away. “Everything’s perfect,” Harry murmured into Ginny’s ear. “Yes, yes it is,” she replied. Harry nestled his face into her hair and breathed deeply. Life for him was just beginning. “Harry, I have a present for you,” Ginny whispered drawing his face away from her neck. “Hmm,” he murmured in response as he looked at her expectantly. She turned in his lap to face him and smiled. “I don’t understand,” he said after a moment’s silence. She laughed and blushed deeply. “Harry, I’m pregnant.” His jaw dropped open in shock. Quickly, he looked down at her stomach for some kind of confirmation. It looked flat like it always was. Ginny giggled as she pushed his face up to look at hers. “You’re going to be a father,” she declared. “In eight months.” He hugged her tightly and choked out, “That’s the best gift I’ve ever received.” He looked into her eyes frowning. “Your gift blows mine out of the sky.” She chuckled as she rolled her eyes. “What exactly did you get me?” Harry reached into his breast pocket of his shirt and pulled out a photograph. He handed it to Ginny. She looked down into the photo and frowned. “A picture of a house, Harry, are you having me on?” she asked skeptically. Harry grinned. “That house is what I got you,” he answered. She looked up at him with wide eyes. “You bought me a house?” Ginny looked back at the picture. “It’s beautiful, Harry.” “It’s also conveniently not far from the Burrow. I thought we’d like to have your mum close when we started a family.” “Oh, Harry, it’s wonderful! When can I see it?” she asked excitedly. “Whenever we want,” he answered. “How did you do this without me finding out? Who helped you?” she asked narrowing her eyes over at Ron who was sitting complacently with Hermione wrapped in his arms. Harry laughed as he shook his head. “He did not help. It was actually Hermione who took care of most of the transactions. Besides, you were so busy with the wedding you wouldn’t have noticed if I’d cut my hair.” “That’s not true!” she retorted. “You haven’t cut your hair.” She looked at him thoughtfully and asked, “Have you?” “No, I haven’t,” he answered with a grin. Ginny squealed happily as she bounced in his lap. “I love you, Harry!” He laughed as he pushed a stray strand of hair out of her face. “I love you, Ginny.” He glanced over at Ron and Hermione and whispered, “We should keep this a secret until New Years. Let Hermione and Ron have their moment.” Ginny nodded in agreement, resting her head on his shoulder. Later that night as the last embers in the fire began to die out Harry lay behind Ginny in her narrow bed on the third landing of the Burrow, slowly stroking her hair. Above them he could hear the sounds of loved ones sleeping. He snaked a hand around Ginny and laid his palm across her belly. “Hello, little one,” he murmured. Ginny sighed in her sleep and placed a warm hand over his. As sleep came to claim him, Harry smiled. “Life,” he thought dreamily. “I can’t wait to start one.” Author’s Comments: First and foremost I’d like to thank my beta Arnel. She’s put a lot of time and effort into this story. I appreciate every moment she’s spent on it and I don’t know what I would have done without her. I’d like to thank all the people that have sat at their computers and read this. I appreciate all the reviews and positive comments as well as the critical ones. It’s been a long journey and I’m sad to see the universe I’ve created in this story end, but I do have more stories in store. Thank you and I hope you continue to read my work.
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