But I would hit him in a heartbeat now ¦ Harry

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

Will shift between various locations, 17th September2026


For the last eleven months Ginny & Harry had been caught up in some uncomfortable dance since his return. While part of her had been overjoyed he was back, the hurt and the mistrust that then surfaced far outweighed any good feelings she had had. The betrayal had been too much for her. They lived under the same roof, but they were really just like two awkward roommates; using the kitchen at opposite times, only choosing to relax in the lounge when the other wasn't there, texting the other when they need milk or other various necessities. They were civil of course, but it had proven difficult for Ginny to let him back in beyond that outer wall.

She had tried to keep up appearances to an extent. She'd told people they were going through a difficult time, that much was obvious to anyone who was in the same room as them for more than five minutes, but it was only her closest confidants who knew the full extent of it all; the kids.

Whoever had sent the joint invitation to them for the preseason Gala at the world Quidditch headquarters had obviously not got the memo that they were doing things like this separately now. There had been an cumbersome mumbled conversation between them earlier in the week saying they both wanted to go and would have to simply take the invitation and make it work.

Although now as she stood in the lounge waiting on Harry to make an appearance from the flat above the pub, or wherever he had been readying himself, she wasn't quite sure it was the best idea. Sighing quietly, she rechecked her hair for the millionth time in the mirror above the fireplace before moving to smooth some of the red material of the skirt of her dress down self consciously. She was to wait and meet him here and then they would apparate to the venue together, or that was the plan. Her head buzzed from the two glasses of Processeco she had had at the hairdressers earlier on in the evening; maybe all this was a bad idea. 

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Harry had known that trying to disappear to protect his family would have consequences. He hadn't realised just how deep the distrust had struck, and that it would affect Ginny too. Albus, he understood. Somehow, Harry's son never seemed to be able to forgive him for anything. But Ginny was supposed to be his rock, his support system, as he was to her. He would back any decision she made, no matter how daft or dim. But not only had Ginny refused Harry in the subsequent year - she'd all but thrown him out of the house.

It was a miracle the boys didn't ask too many questions. Ginny and Harry had come to a tentative truce over the holidays before she reminded him to go back to his pub and sleep there. For he certainly was not allowed to share a bed with his wife. Unendingly frustrated, Harry started spending less and less time at home out of spite, throwing himself into work at the pub, creating a new marketing approach to attract more muggle clientele.

An invitation came for the preseason Quidditch gala on the top tier stage, with both Harry and Ginny's names on it. There was a mumbled conversation about who should go, before they reluctantly agreed to attend together. Secretly, Harry was delighted at the prospect of attending with his wife, if only so he could get out of his head for one minute that she very nearly despised him for the pain he'd put the family through.

Harry dressed in a sleek set of black dress robes, opting for simplicity over ostentatiousness, and checked himself in the grubby mirror that hung in the private loo in the tiny flat above the pub. His belongings were strewn across the room, and Harry kept promising himself that he would get a more comfortable mattress to sleep on, but he was still convinced, even after 9 months, that it was only temporary. Harry looked tired - his scar was still stark against his pale forehead, even though it hadn't twinged in years. His bright green eyes - still the only bit about his appearance that he actually liked - stared back at him, flat and lifeless. He frowned, pressing down the messy shock of black hair that still stood at odd angles no matter how hard he tried.

It wasn't going to get much better, Harry told himself as he slid his glasses up his nose and pocketed his wand. Casting one final, forlorn look around the dilapidated flat, Harry apparated back to his own home. Ginny stood there, looking down at something and Harry's heart stopped. She looked absolutely stunning, as she always did. Her vibrant red hair stood out against her alabaster skin, and her warm brown eyes held her spirit, but he knew they would darken when she looked up to him. Harry cleared his throat to announce his arrival - in his own home, no less - and spoke "Ginny, you look lovely."

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

As her fingertips ran over the silky material of the skirt, she paused, wondering if she should open a bottle of prosecco while she waited, or perhaps Harry would be late and she should just go on alone. Maybe it would be easier that way. Lifting her wand from the mantelpiece, she slid it down the side of the bodice of her dress. Hidden away but easily accessed if needed. She had just dropped her hand from fixing her hair when she heard the soft Pop on the other side of the living room that announced the awaited arrival.

Turning slowly, she took a deep breath and steeled herself.

At first she was unsure of ow to even greet him, but then he beat her to that, a quick compliment tumbling out of his mouth. Oh. That had caught her off guard and caused her cheeks to pinken just a little. "Harry...Hi.." she answered breathlessly with a small smile. "You cleaned up pretty well yourself" she countered before trailing off and standing awkwardly.

"Do you want a drink before we go, or should we just get a move on?" Tilting her head to the side she watched him, honestly not sure which of those would be a better idea.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Ginny looked as stunning as ever, perhaps even more so than Harry remembered. Usually, however, she would light up at the sight of him, basking in the glow of his love for her. Together, Harry had always felt like they were invincible, like they could get through anything. If the defeat of Voldemort had taught him anything, it was that love was the most powerful magic. But as he stood before Ginny, her cool gaze at odds with her pink cheeks and small smile, Harry wondered if the most powerful magic of all was stubbornness.

"Hi," said Harry again, forgetting he had already greeted her. She always sent his mind spinning, even after nearly thirty years together. "Thanks," he added, his own cheeks flushing to match her own. "Er, yeah, a drink would be lovely," said Harry. He hadn't had anything before coming here, but now he wished he had. He hadn't seen Ginny alone in ages, and she was looking sinful enough to make his heart stop. But he remembered that she was cross with him, and even though it had been for her safety, she couldn't quite forgive him yet. Harry swallowed, then crossed the room to his wife.

Pouring them each a glass of prosecco, Harry slurped down the bubbling contents, and winced. He'd never much liked the stuff, but it was better than the awkward tension that blossomed between the pair of them. Harry cast his gaze around, searching for something to talk to her about. "Well, who do you reckon will be top of the league this year?" asked Harry, settling on their shared love of Quidditch as a place to start, gulping down the remainder of his prosecco and pouring himself another glass.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

She hoped the colour in her cheeks died down, or at least wasn't all that noticeable in the dim light of the living room. With a nod, she decided to busy her hands and moved across to the bar cart in the corner of the room, and yet Harry was on the ball before she was. Handing her a glass of prosseco, she was pleased. It was like he had read her mind. Or just like They actually had been together thirty odd years or something. The air was heavy, with something....something she said hadn't felt in a long while. Subduing that thought, she pushed it away and sipped for the glass.

The ostentatious dress had proved a little difficult to sit in, so instead she perched on the arm of the chair, facing him and clasping her glass as she watched him pour another. Self consciously she reached up and adjust her old fashioned curls. "Well, Arrows are doing well in pre-season games, but they always do, and then they choke." Pursing her lips she gave a small shrug "The Harpies always have a good chance, but then I'm biased.." trailing off with a small smile she realised they hadn't spoken that freely in a long while, and she became almost self conscious and shut her mouth, busying herself with taking a sip from her flute again. She paused before glancing up to her Husband again.

"What do you think?" Raising an eyebrow, she held out her glass, signalling for him to top her glass up. The movement felt awkward and staged, but she didn't know what else to do for now. He eyes flitted, for a split second, to the clock on the mantelpiece, they were far from late, but they probably shouldn't dally.

And yet there was something comfortable about this she was actually quite enjoying.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Harry gulped down the last of his prosecco, before pouring himself a fresh glass. He tilted his head slightly at Ginny. "I still can't believe Rob let you off not supporting the Cannons," said Harry blithely. As long as Harry had known him, Ron had practically bled orange, which clashed magnificently with his hair. "I'm hoping for a bit of an underdog. The Bats were atrocious last season, maybe they can pull something out of the hat. Heard they've got some new recruits as well, and McLaggen's boy is the captain now. Honestly, I think if he doesn't win at least half the matches, Cormac will have words and more with the refs," Harry added with a chuckle.

Harry tipped some of the bubbles into Ginny's glass, understanding her wishes without her even having to speak. Already, there was a pleasant buzz knocking about in his blood, subduing the anxiousness that threatened to rear its ugly head. "Harpies went down hill when you left, never been able to pick it up again," said Harry with a shake of his head. "Reminds me of Slughorn - remember when he used to tell everyone he knew Gwenog Jones? And when you joined the team, he made sure everyone knew that you'd been one of his favourites?" said Harry. "Interesting bloke. Rest his soul," he added, more to himself than anything.

"D'you reckon any of the players will be there or are they too busy being booted into shape for the season? Don't reckon they're allowed to get on the booze," said Harry, his tongue loosening the more prosecco he drank. He wondered idly if Ginny thought him terribly boring.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

With a small smile she gave a shrug. "Well, he had to let it go after they signed me" Pondering his points about the Quidditch league, she only managed to half mask her smirk. "No I don't think even with McLaggen giving backhanders they'll be any good. The Cannons have far too much work to do elsewhere to be even counted as Underdogs this season; they're more dead in the water.."

As the conversation moved onto the topic of Slughorn and Ginny being his favourite, it became even harder to hide her growing smile. "I was one of his favourites since her first set eyes on my Bat-Bogey Hex on the train. After that I had him wrapped around my little finger. He loved it even more when I could get him season tickets." Rolling her eyes at the fond memories, she pursed her lips just slightly before laughing quietly "I remember him dancing with Mum at our wedding that was....interesting..." That admission, the memory of their wedding hung in the air before she took a sharp intake of breath and downed the end of her glass for something to do that wasn't looking at Harry.

Instead she stood to pour herself another glass, now not wanting to rely on him to refill it.

"Hm, they'll probably be there. But they're training. Two drink Maximum maybe.." It was easier now to focus on that question than any other memories that were so close to bubbling to the surface. "Early night for training tomorrow probably." Shrugging it off, she concentrated on pouring herself the glass, giving it more attention than it probably needed for now.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Harry gave Ginny a smirk, his bottle green eyes surveying her carefully as he took another long drink from his glass. ”Shame for them, really,” said Harry. ”Just once, I’d like to see them not be at the bottom of the league. Thought with some of the new talent this year, they’d be able to pull themselves together, but I suppose not,” he added after a moment. He felt the tension slowly slipping away from his shoulders the more he drank and the more invested in Quidditch chatter the pair became. It had always been easy, talking to Ginny. How had he forgotten that? And why had he forgotten that at a crucial crux in their relationship - when he had left.

It hadn’t been for selfish reasons. Ginny had to know that, right? And yet it seemed that she had poisoned her childrens’ minds to think the opposite. Thankfully, James and Lily had come around and forgiven him, but he knew Al would be a tough nut to crack. He’d always favoured his mum, and his mum had favoured him. How many times had Harry tried to explain that his disappearance was for their own safety? That they would be in more danger if the hunters found out he was affiliated with them - best to just fake his own death for their protection. Yet Ginny had slung back insults and pointed out that they had a family now and this wasn’t Voldemort. He’d come back though… he always knew he would come back. But the suffering that Ginny and the children had shouldered in the meantime seemed to be a very deep chasm that Harry wasn’t sure how to cross.

Blinking, Harry realised he’d zoned out for the past thirty seconds. ”Sorry,” he mumbled, shamefaced. He mentioned Slughorn, and Ginny thankfully grabbed onto the topic. ”Haven’t seen one of those in a while. You still got your old talents about you? Or waiting for the right moment?” said Harry, a hint of a challenge in his town. ”Well, season tickets to the Harpies never led anyone astray.” Harry exhaled slowly, and took another long drink of his prosecco. He too remembered Slughorn and Mrs Weasley dancing at their wedding. ”I couldn’t tell who was more red faced - Slughorn or your dad, but for different reasons,” Harry added with a chuckle.

A slight tension hung in the air as the memory of happier times wrapped around the pair. Ginny looked away and downed her prosecco, and Harry followed suit. He went to get the bottle but Ginny beat him to it, promptly topping herself up. She didn’t offer to do the same for him. She could be petty and stubborn sometimes, couldn’t she. Ginny had always been a woman of strong will. Harry snorted at Ginny’s suggestion. ”And did you ever listen to the two drink maximum during your time as a player?” he asked, knowing full well the answer was no. They’d spent these galas together, getting more and more drunk. Harry refilled his glass with a refilling charm rather than picking up the bottle. ”I suppose we should get going soon though, right?” asked Harry, though he made no move to leave.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

Watching him, Ginny tried to work out what he was thinking. Obviously lost in his thoughts, she wasn't quite sure what to say to fill the silence that stretched out in front of them. With a silent pause, she pursed her lips and downed the dreggs of her Prosecco. After an internal battle for a moment, she wondered should she have more. She was feeling buzzed, but like it could slip into sloppy territory with very little teetering. She supposed it would depend on how she wanted the rest of the evening to go.

After a millisecond, she decided she'd let it go however it was meant to go, and reached for the bottle anyway. With a mumbled response about her Mum and Dad she nodded "Mmm" With a moment of hesitation she looked away from him and lifted the tip of the bottle to her lips and downed the rest of the bottle without checking to see if Harry actually wanted any of the end. His question seemed to answer itself as she set the now empty bottle down on a side table with a clunk.

"Well no" A wry smile began to cross her now somewhat hazy face. "You know that." Truly he knew it better than anyone else. He had had to looked after her many a night she had taken it too far. lily luna potter did not lick her wildness off the ground, but Ginny had just been better at hiding it maybe. Pursing her lips she stood and thought about how nice this was. It was almost like the reason she was hurt and betrayed had slipped her mind. Or at least it had slipped away for now. For tonight it seemed easier to pretend it was like the old days. Even if it wasn't. Even if the hurt and sadness still plagued her. Maybe tonight she could just forget about it all and enjoy herself like the old days. The prosecco was certainly helping that along anyway.

Standing to meet him, she nodded quietly and held out an arm to be escorted. "I suppose we should though, yeah" Her tone was light and airy. Possibly too easy going. But for now she had put her feelings aside and let her heart go. Keen to see where the night would take them, she gave him a small smile, the corners of her pout pulling up. They had had their 'quick drink' not to calm their nerves, or whatever this was. She couldn't really think of another reason to stay in the living room of the house they had once shared any longer, no matter how much her heart ached and wanted to. 

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

The pair looked at each other for just a heartbeat longer than necessary. The clunk of the prosecco bottle as Ginny dropped it onto the table brought Harry from his reverie. He'd been so lost in their happy memories, he nearly forgot that there were plenty to still be made. If only he could get Ginny to see reason...

Tonight, they would let themselves forget. Forget the betrayal that Ginny felt, forget the sense of obligation Harry knew he carried. He had wanted to keep his family safe, and even if he had hurt them in the process, they hadn't been hunted by the witch hunters. At least, he had succeeded in protecting them. Now he had to work on the forgiveness part. Harry observed that they ought to get a move on, and Ginny agreed. However, neither of them moved. Harry kept looking at Ginny, remembering all the reasons he had fallen so deeply in love with her. And Ginny looked torn, as if she wasn't sure what to feel.

Harry offered Ginny his arm, and apparated them to the venue. It was grander than he had expected, though Harry supposed it was to make up for the fact that the gala had been cancelled last year in the wake of the World Cup explosion. Harry still felt a pang of agony at the memory, where Hermione had fallen. He took a deep breath, covering Ginny's delicate hand with his own and giving it a squeeze. He glanced over at her and she gave him the strength to step forward and face the many people shuffling about to greet them.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

Post-Gala;

Surprisingly the gala hadn't been totally insufferable. Arriving on Harry's arm had caused a little bit of a stir, and sure she could feel peoples eyes on them, watching, but overall she didn't hate it. It reminded her of the early early days of their relationship when she had been reasonably unknown, apart from what had been in the papers about her previously as Harry Potter's love interest. There was whispers for sure, last year when they had started showing up separately at events and barely interacting. Now there was even more that they had shown up together.

Of course in the early even there was a stiffness to them. Unsure of what this actually meant or where it would take them, they were uneasy. But eventually Ginny found it easy enough to just let go and go with it. The bubbles clouding her mind certainly helped unmask her true feelings anyway. The more Harry held her close as they greeted people, the more she found she had been quite enjoying that feeling. It had only gotten better as she slipped into the role of the fun loving wife again; spun around the dance floor, laughing and smiling like their wasn't this massive void between them.

As the party had began to wind down at midnight and the traditional after party was starting elsewhere, they had stood in the line to floo too it, they had hung off each other like teenagers again. There was lots of reassurances to other party goers that sure, they'd see them at the after party. And yet when Harry had held her tightly in the flames and muttered "The Hound and Harriers" against her neck as he pressed his lips against her pale skin, there'd been no complaints on her side.

This was just part of it right? Having fun. Everything her therapist had pushed her to do the past year; Letting go of everything and just letting things be as they were going to be.

As the flames died down around them and they stood in the massive fireplace in the centre of the pub, Ginny laughed quietly. It was only a split second before they moved just enough to topple them. Losing their footing, they stumbled as one out of the fire and onto the scrubbed floorboards of the pub with another laugh. It was then the little logical part of Ginny's brain chose to kick in and question what was going on. Her face now pensive, her brown eyes bore into him, wondering what the hell she was starting here, and if she should stop it.

"Harry, I.." her mouth fell open, unsure of where she was actually going with this. But after a second, it dwindled off, and instead a husky laugh tumbled out of her mouth, before she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. She wasted no time in pulling him in for a kiss now in the quiet of the pub, where it was just the two of them.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

The gala had passed in a blur of dancing, delicious food, and unending glasses of champagne. Harry had spent the entire night with his arm snaked around the thin waist of his wife, basking in her effortless glow. They chatted with various different people, finishing each others sentences and grinning slyly at one another. At the end of the night, Harry had pressed a kiss to her cheek and titters surrounded them.

Though Harry wished things could have gone back to the way they had been before he'd vanished, he was wiser than that. He knew that things would have to change going forward, but he was confident that they'd be able to manage. Tomorrow, he thought to himself in a drunken haze, he would sit her down and re-explain his reasoning and beg for her forgiveness. For now, Ginny was looking at him in a very sinful manner, and Harry was certain that his self-restraint would last no more than about five minutes. They promised to meet friends at the after party but when it was their turn to floo, Harry gripped Ginny tightly and instead murmured the name of his pub against the cool column of her neck.

The pair tumbled out of the fireplace, with Harry giggling like a schoolboy. Harry jumped to his feet and offered Ginny a steadying hand. She rose, and opened her mouth to say something. For a fleeting moment, Harry was afraid that this was all a dream, and if she spoke she would shatter it. Instead, Ginny laughed, and the sound of it shot through his body, lighting him on fire. She pulled him into an embrace, kissing him soundly. Harry returned the gesture with fervour, lifting her off the ground. He carried Ginny to the bar, where he slipped between her slim legs, kissing her like they were teenagers again.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

She had forgotten how easy things were with Harry. How easily they slotted together. How they knew wat the other liked, and didn't. The evening had had her head in a spin that would envy the Floo Powder that had brought her here to his pub. The spinning didn't stop when they had landed of course; every little touch made her heart beat faster, fluttering here and there like it had any business falling for Harry again.

Then again, this was her Husband. They'd been through so much together.

When she had thrown caution to the wind, she hadn't thought as far as tomorrow morning where in the cold light of day her heart wouldn't be fluttering, and her brain wouldn't be in such a tizzy. But for now, she simply didn't care. She was too lost in the enjoyment it was bringing her. The meeting of their lips only broke briefly when she was taken by surprise as Harry lifted her, a quiet gasp escaping before a giggle took over against his lips as he set her down on the dark wood bar. It did nothing to distract her from the fact though, she didn't let it interrupt too much from the job at hand. Once she felt him try to get closer she let one hand drop and attempted to wiggle up the tight skirt of her dress. It was a little trickier than she had hoped, meaning she had to break away from him for a few seconds "Fuck sake sorry" she mumbled before achieving her gargantuan task and smashing her lips to his again in a rush and opening her legs to let him in closer.

For the first time in a long time, she had the longing to be with her husband. The rush was like they were teenagers again and Ginny wasn't able to get enough of him. The errant thought of it made another giggle escape her lips again against his lips before her hands moved up to throw off the outer layer of his dress robes. The whole thing was bizarre to her, and yet this was exactly where she needed to be.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Ginny pushed her dress up her legs, allowing Harry to draw closer until their bodies were meshed against one another. Harry made quick work of his belt and trousers, giving into Ginny without breaking from her.

Some time later, Harry and Ginny lay curled around one another in the tiny bed upstairs at the pub. Their clothes had remained strewn about the pub, a thought that didn't even cross Harry's mind at the moment. He drew lazy circles on her back, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, a slight grin on his face. How long had it taken to get to this point? Months and months of shutting one another out, months of Harry trying to repay his mistakes only to be shafted again. A thought sprung to mind - what if he actually asked Ginny and the children what they needed from him rather than assuming he knew best? But the thought was fleeting, and the pleasures of the flesh were so tempting.

Brushing his nose against the curve of her neck, Harry closed his eyes. He wanted to freeze this moment and live in it forever - completely wrapped up in Ginny's floral scent, her warm body curled into his. But time knocked unpleasantly, and a cramp grew in the small of Harry's back. With a grimace, he released Ginny and stretched, rubbing out the pain. "Blimey, I'll never get used to being older. Remember back when we could just fuck around as needed and never get hurt? I suppose there are potions for it but taking it every day..." said Harry idly, straightening his glasses so he could see Ginny better.

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

After the deed had been done, there had been a moment of dawning realisation in Ginny's mind that she had let her feelings take over and hadn't acted on rational decisions like she usually did when it came to Harry. Well, as she had been. Once upon a time of course she had let her feelings rule more, and she usually went along with whatever at the time. However since Harry's disappearance she had been a lot more guarded about everything, analysing critically before acting. That was up until now. Her thoughts on how she should just back out right now, and what a mistake it had been were overwhelmed by the fact she was actually enjoying herself and thought to hell with it. Harry had half carried her up the stairs to the small unfamiliar bedroom where Ginny instantly melted into him and the bed, like she had come home

It was somewhat cold, but there was enough heat radiating from Harry that she didn't complain, she just curled closer.

The feeling of him tracing his fingers along her back had been starting to tickle and she was about to say as much when Harry suddenly jerked away from her when the cramp in his back arose. Startled for a moment, she didn't really realise what was going on until he began to rub at his back. Ah. With a quiet giggle, she rolled her eyes, laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.

"Old Man" she teased with a small smirk on her lips before she watched him reach for his glasses, ok so the contacts had come out then. She had suspicions they had come out sometime when she had made a pitstop to the ensuite toilet off the bedroom, as he was slightly more fumbly after that like he always was when he didn't have his glasses on, but she wasn't all that sure. She supposed he hadn't need them before then; all he had been doing was holding her with his eyes closed but still, watching him slide them on was comforting in some odd way. Of course they were older than they had once been, but she supposed to had aged a little more graciously and supply thanks to her regular Pilates. With another quiet laugh she reached for the light duvet that was discarded at the end of the bed and draped it over herself to get some warmth, and to make herself feel just a little less exposed.

"Well, that was....a new experience I suppose. Maybe your muscles just aren't used to flexing that way..." She teased again reaching for her wand and flicking it to conjur a glass of water to the bedside table on her side. The bed wasn't uncomfortable, even if it was a little colder than she would like, and much smaller than their queen bed in the home house. Though it just meant they'd have to squish together a little closer she supposed. Setting the glass down again she eyed him, surveying his reactions to try and suss out how he was feeling about the whole thing.

HARRY JAMES POTTER