Chapter 13

The emotion during the meal taking place at the Burrow was one of relief. It had been a few weeks since Harry had received the letter from Draco Malfoy, and neither the Potters, nor any of the Weasleys had been peppered with threats, nor news clippings of their impending demise in that time.

After Pansy had left that day, Harry had inked a note back to Malfoy Manor. In it, he agreed that a truce was in order. He made it clear that he wanted to trust what Draco and Pansy were trying to do, get on with their lives, but it was still difficult to change heart so quickly. In his mind, Harry chuckled to himself at the irony that Malfoy probably felt the same way. But he also let Draco know that he was willing to give it a go, and hoped he and Pansy would be happy together. In true Harry Potter fashion, he did want the best for all involved.

He never heard from Draco after that, and he didn't expect to. Part of him hoped that someday they would pass on the street and could exchange pleasantries. But an even larger part of him hoped that he would never have to see or hear about Draco Malfoy again.

Now, dancing around the yard at the Burrow, with his wife in his arms, Harry had pushed all thoughts of Draco Malfoy far from his mind. Ginny was radiant, so much more at this moment, than ever before. Her laughter rang with a peace and joy that he never heard before. Looking around at the rest of the family, Harry noticed a lot of things. Molly and Arthur were sitting on a swing together, gazing at the stars, and occasionally stealing glances at each other. Harry hoped that his marriage to Ginny would be as wonderful when they reached their years. Fred and George were at the table, with Angelina and Katie. The four of them were laughing and reminiscing about their Hogwarts days, more specifically their Quidditch days, when Oliver Wood pushed them hard, and then harder still, to win that Quidditch Cup. Remembering Oliver, Harry wondered what was making them laugh so hard. Harry looked past them to the lawn. Charlie had gone back to Romania, and promised to come back soon. But Bill and Fleur were dancing, arms wrapped around each other, as if no one else existed.

Suddenly, Ginny drew his attention back to her. Her kiss was soft and sweet, and so full of love. It was pretty hard for Harry to contain himself. "Harry," she began, "look over there. Under that tree. Is that Ron and Hermione?" She pointed with a nod of her head. Harry's eyes followed the direction she indicated. In the moonlight, under a tree in the darkness, sat Ron and Hermione, heads bent close together. Turning back to Ginny, Harry just shrugged.

"Harry Potter," Ginny cried, "you know something!"

"I know lots of things, love," he replied.

She playfully punched him in the side, and dragged him off to sit down for a drink. They sipped their ice-cold pumpkin juice, and watched as Hermione and Ron skipped down the hill toward the light and sound of the party. It was a sight that Harry never thought he'd see … Ron skipping. As they came into the light, you could see the grins plastered across both their faces.

"We have some news!" Ron put his arm around Hermione's shoulders.

Molly looked up, and guessing what he was about to say, started to nod with a smile on her face.

"Well, son," Arthur said, "get on with it. What's your news?"

"Well, uh," he started. "Hermione has agreed … what I mean to say is …"

"Oh, Ron," Hermione interrupted. "Ron has asked me to marry him!"

Ginny squealed, and jumped out of Harry's arms, pulling Hermione into a big hug. Harry stood to slap Ron on the shoulder and congratulate him. Bill and Fleur actually managed to hear the announcement, even through their invisible cocoon of love, and broke from their dancing to celebrate the engagement. Angelina and Katie had moved to congratulate the pair, but before they could Fred suddenly grabbed Ron with a whoop and George likewise reached for Hermione. Together, the twins gave them each a full-on-the-lips smack of a kiss – with a back dip and all! Hermione managed to stand up, looking a bit flushed, but was pleased that the twins were so happy for them. Ron, on the other hand, threw Fred from him with a snarl, obviously totally disgusted, and wrapped a protective arm around Hermione.

Laughing, Harry and Ginny found each other again. Wrapping their arms around each other in happiness seemed so natural. Harry couldn't imagine ever being without Ginny again. As Harry took a sip from his glass, Ginny whispered in his ear, and he nearly choked on his juice. "What was that?" he croaked.

Ginny pulled Harry away from the throng. "I said, 'I am pregnant.'" Upon seeing the look of stunned disbelief on Harry's face, she added, "We're going to have a baby!"

* * *

Eight months later ...

Sitting in the parlor at the Manor, Pansy brought Draco the paper, which had just been dropped by Owl Post. Pulling out the society pages, she handed Draco the rest of the paper, and let out a hearty guffaw. "Oh my!" she exclaimed, as she sat next to Draco.

There, on the front of the society pages, was a large picture of Harry and Ginny Potter, and their new son, James. Their smiles seemed to be permanently affixed, and the baby, she hated to admit, was quite cute. "They let them multiply? We'll never get away from those Gryffindors."

Beneath that story was another story, with a smaller, but still quite noticeable, picture of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Draco snorted at the headline, Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger to wed — the Union of Heroes. "Well," he drawled, "Weasley always did try to pair up higher than he deserved. Being friends with Potter really raised him up a notch. I supposed if you're going to marry a Mudblood, might as well make it a smart one." He shook his head.

Draco put the paper down, and pulled the rest of it out of Pansy's hands. He pulled her into a big hug. "I hope we never have to see any of them. Ever."

"We don't have to, you know," she replied.

"Thank you, Pansy." Saying those words still felt odd, and did not roll off his tongue smoothly. "Thank you … for you." With that, he crumpled the page, and tossed it in the fire. As the moving pictures of the Potters and Ron and Hermione froze with fright at being faced with such an ashy fate, Draco leaned in to kiss Pansy.

THE END