You opened up my eyes ¦ Harry

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

Christmas Morning 2027

It hadn't taken her long to sneak down the stairs. Harry had sleepily pulled her in for a cuddle, and then let her go after assuming she just needed to get up to go to the bathroom or something. But she just couldn't sleep. She was tired, but there was a restlessness in her. After shrugging on her dressing gown and slippers, she frowned at how cold it was in the house. It was fixed with a flick of her wand as she moved down the stairs. Once confident the radiators were filling themselves with heated water, another flick of her wand as she reached the last step turned the lights on the Christmas tree on, but none others. It was enough and created a coziness to the otherwise dark living area of the Potter's Godric Hollow home. As she moved past the couch, another flick of her wand made the lovingly prepared stocking and small gift piles appear; one for each of their three children that were currently upstairs asleep and dead to the world.

After a few quiet moments of rattling around the kitchen, she found herself sinking into the plush armchair she favored in front of the fire. With another flick of her wand, the fire in the grate burst back into life and breathed a hot flash of air into the room. It was heavenly. As she set her tea down on her lap again, she lazily gave a final flick towards the wireless radio in the corner of the room and instantly quiet murmurings of old fashioned music began to leach out into the snug living area of her home. Just loud enough for her to hear in the back of her mind, but not loud enough to wake any of the sleeping bodies upstairs.

Taking another sip of her tea, she smiled to herself; thinking about just how different things were from last year. Things were so up in the air. She was so unhappy with everything. Feeling so alone. Never in a million years did she think she'd have her family back together again, under one roof. Never did she think she'd have the love of her life back in her bed again to warm it.

As a step behind her creaked, her head whipped around and she tensed before she realised who it was and felt herself smile despite herself. "What are you doing up?"

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Consciousness stole over Harry Potter slowly. It came first as a slight awareness that he was rather chillier than usual. Then, he shifted slightly, noting the conspicuous absence of his wife in the bed beside him. He remembered pulling her closer to him moments ago - or how long ago was it? Time had a funny habit of passing in small steps and leaps. His eyes fluttered open and he squinted over at the clock. Dawn had broken not long ago, and as Harry pushed his old glasses onto the bridge of his nose, the quiet strains of music floated to him from downstairs.

Pulling on his dressing gown, Harry descended into the living room to find Ginny sat in her favourite armchair before the fire. His heart warmed, and not because of the merrily crackling logs or the groaning radiator behind him. The sight of Ginny, the love of his life, cuddled up and cosy with that soft, knowing smile of hers, a steaming mug of tea... it just looked so right. Harry couldn't imagine a time where he wouldn't find Ginny right where he needed her. But last year had been quite the different story.

The old staircase creaked beneath Harry as he took the last few steps, and Ginny whipped around to look at him. He returned her smile easily, padding into the room and coming to a stop beside the armchair. He swept down and kissed her cheek in greeting before settling onto the ground before the chair in a position that had become so familiar to the pair in the nearly thirty years that they had loved one another. "Missed you," said Harry with a crooked grin, his glasses flashing in the light of the fire. "Happy Christmas, Gin," he added after a moment, taking her hand and pressing a gentle kiss to the back of it. "What are you doing up at this time?"

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

Staring into the flames, and enjoying the quiet tones of the instrumental music coming from the wireless; Ginny had been caught unaware by the sudden appearance of her husband. All the same, it wasn't an unwelcome appearance even if she hadn't expected anyone to be up for another while.

A small smile spread on her face as she reached to place her cup on the side table by the chair. "I thought you were one of the kids. I was just surprised because they haven't been up this early for Christmas in years." stealing a look at the presents she'd laid out for them, she gave Harry a half grin again "Even if Santa does still come" With a quiet laugh, she paused and looked to the fire again. Merlin, how many Christmases had they spent together now? Even as kids she remembered Ron bringing Harry home to The Burrow to spend Christmas with them, or other years spent in the common room, around the fire. As years went on things changed, and right here they had watched their children wake to find their Santa presents, together. Now things had come full circle again and it was just the two of them in front of the same fire and same Christmas tree in the corner of the same living room. It was only last year that had held such odd feelings and had caused another ruction in the family when the kids had realized they were back together.

Fortunately, things had settled not long after that and the pair were having a new lease of life as a married twosome.

Letting carry settle in on the floor in front of her chair and the fire, she shifted her legs just slightly to the side to give him space before moving to lean her weight onto him comfortingly. She let him kiss her hand before finding it settling on his shoulder, as her other moved to lazily rake through his bed head. Smiling slightly at the comforting messiness of it she returned his greeting with a tenderness. "Happy Christmas Harry and leaned in to plant a subtle kiss just behind his ear at the nape of his neck. Feeling his head flop back against her thigh, the ultimate sign he was comfortable, she felt her smile stretch.

"I just couldn't sleep. Thought I'd get up and let the dog out. Heat the house and get the meat cooking for later.Warm up the house a bit, then sorted out Santa" with a shrug she spoke with a quiet tone "And then just chill out for a bit till everyone else woke up I guess. I was just thinking about how many Christmases we've spent together now..." The cosiness consumed her and she closed her own eyes now, settling into it.


HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Harry smirked. ”You wouldn’t be able to lure Lily out of her bed before noon on a regular day - let alone a holiday,” said Harry, pressing a lingering kiss to his wife’s cheek before settling down on the ground before her. He rested his chin on her knee, then tilted his head and pressed his cheek there instead. ”How many Christmases have we had together?” asked Harry idly. Nearly every year since he was twelve. ”Around thirty-five,” he added with a chuckle. It was incredible that he could still be excited about the prospect of exchanging gifts with a family he didn’t know he would ever have. There had been so many times where his life had hung in the balance - on a knife’s edge of survival versus death. And every time, he’d come out victorious. He didn’t think he’d ever really get over it.

The luck that had been bestowed upon him had Harry questioning once again what had possessed him to disappear without a trace those years ago. He didn’t blame his family for their disgruntlement with him, despite the apologies he had poured onto them. It had been a moment of lunacy - especially for someone who had seemingly cheated death so many times before.

Ginny raked her fingers through his hair and Harry closed his eyes at the sensation, revelling in it. How could he have ever considered giving this all up? Had he not earned a bit of selfishness? Harry settled more deeply into his position, feeling very much like one of the dogs Ginny had woken up to let out.

The pair settled into silence, listening to the calming sounds of the radio and Ginny’s rhythmic breathing. It was bliss. ”Do you think it was cowardly of me to leave the auror force?” asked Harry in a very quiet voice. The question hadn’t necessarily lingered in his mind for long, but the more he considered it, the more it bothered him. Was it wrong for him to want the quiet life? After all, he’d been the chosen one. The one to bring about the end of some of the most fearsome dark wizards in Britain. What was he doing out of the limelight?

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

"Something like that" she murmured quietly, still raking her fingers through his hair. Harry's hair had always been messy of course, but it didn't help that one of Ginny's favourite comfort habits was pulling her fingers through it. It brought her more peace than she cared to admit and was only something she did while they were alone but it wasn't a new habit. In the warmth, she was quiet, her eyes closing as the heat seeped through her bones.

It was wonderful, and something that not even that long again seemed so far from reach.

Settled into a comfortable silence, she hadn't expected him to say anything. The still was something they'd settled into easily, slipping in with little thought for the others in the house. They'd wake up eventually. Now the kids were grown, it was much easier to get alone time with Harry of course, but there were also annoying life things that got in the way with little consideration for what the pair wanted. However, times like this were different. These were times to be savoured and heavily enjoyed. She found the quiet, the low crackle of the fire and the hum of the music in the background just perfect. Even more so with her Harry at her fingertips.

"No. Not at all" While quiet still, her tone was strong and she answered rather quickly, as if it was something she'd been half expecting him to ask for some time.

"Maybe it's a little selfish of me but I'm pretty pleased about it." For another moment there was a beat of silence while she chose her next words. Realisation crept over her as she thought about how this was the first time she'd told Harry she was happy about the whole thing. Ginny had always been a stoic sort for the most part. Once her family was happy that was enough. It was unusual that she would take any of that for herself, or be selfish about anything. Now was different though, but all the same it was strange actually saying it out loud "You gave them too much. You always did. You had long done your part in everything and truthfully I think the retirement was overdue. I think it's pretty brave of you to admit it and actually act on it.." with that, one of her hands moved now to trail along his jawline with her long fingers, and the other stayed in his hair.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

The words burst from Harry’s mouth before he could stop them, but he didn’t regret the question. Nor did he regret leaving the force, though the thought did niggle at the back of his mind. It certainly stopped the ageing process, and he felt much less mentally drained. Ginny’s confirmation that he’d made the right choice lifted a weight off his shoulders that he didn’t know he carried.

”I don’t think it’s selfish,” said Harry. ”I think it’s honest. We should talk about this sort of thing, shouldn’t we?” asked Harry with a lazy smile. ”At least I didn’t give them the best parts of myself,” he added after a moment.

”I feel like I owed it to them. The people. Like I was always a beacon of hope, of light in the darkness. But also, I kind of knew that everything would be fine without me,” he mused, more to himself than anything. Harry didn’t regret quitting as an auror. ”I love being able to come home to you and not be worried that this could all fall apart around us.”

Ginevra Molly Potter

[Ginevra Molly Potter]

"I suppose we should but I don't always feel the need to bring things up unless you do I suppose" Reaching for her cup of tea, she paused at rubbing his head briefly. After a long sip, she raised an eyebrow. "Well, I still debate that and think you gave far too much, but anyway" half a smirk lingered as she set the mug down and resumed her position.

Quiet for a moment she wondered if she should share her thoughts, but eventually she continued anyway.

"Mm, I know what you mean. I went for Lunch with James during the summer and we were talking about Albie adapting to it; the late nights and having to head off at the drop of a hat. Saying I'd been there. The long times I was left worried, and then, well..." growing quiet, her voice dwindled as it settled on the elephant in the room. They both knew what went unsaid. The fact he had gone away for such a long period; the circumstances surrounding it. The fact they had all mourned him and let their lives fall apart over it only for him to not actually be dead at all. The unspoken facts sucked some of the warmth out of the room, and for a second her hand slowed to a stop in his hairline as her gaze focused on the fire, the memories flooding back.

After a moment she was able to shake it off, and bring herself back in the room. "But you're back now. That's what matters." In some ways it had breathed a new lease of life into their marriage. Just last year they had been trying to sneak around and hide from the kids. As her nails brushed through his hair, she settled into quietness, unsure of what to really say after that.

HARRY JAMES POTTER

[HARRY JAMES POTTER]

Harry breathed a sigh of relief, a weight he didn't know he was holding lifting from his shoulders. He smirked at his wife as she claimed that he had given far too much - but had he really? Was it not his duty as the chosen one, so to speak? Harry said nothing for a long moment, watching the merrily crackling fire. Ginny mentioned Albus, and Harry frowned slightly. "You coddle him," said Harry plainly. He'd never had so much issue with Lily or James - though Harry supposed that he and Albus were fundamentally very different. And yet, were they? He was the only of their three children who had elected to become an auror.

Running a hair through his already tangled hair, Harry didn't deign to answer about his absence. He regretted as much, and Ginny knew that. Resentment simmered as Ginny broached the topic, and the crease between his brows deepened. What else was there to say? He was pretty certain he'd never garner Albus' forgiveness, if such a thing was possible anyways. He was always looking for a new thing to blame on his father.

Harry didn't know what else to say after that, but was saved from further conversation as the stirrings of their children sounded upstairs and their peace was broken. Harry looked up at Ginny, and gave her a chagrined smile. "It doesn't always feel real, you know. The peace," he added rather unnecessarily. He got to his feet, and kissed her on the cheek. "I'll be back for the gift opening in fifteen," said Harry. He needed a bit of air before the festivities got underway. "I love you," he reminded her quietly, before retreating upstairs to get changed into proper clothes.

[end Harry]