Clarity

Last Chapter folks Thanks for all your support and reviews. =)

Finally Home

Peace touched every corner of the Wizarding World that night. The sun slowly sank below the horizon and for the first time in years, the world did not shiver in fear. Across Europe Wizarding families rejoiced at the demise of Voldemort. Harry leaned against the fence outside the Burrow and watched as neighboring Wizarding homes sent off fireworks in the early December sky. For once he did not feel the stress of the war on his shoulders. He felt free.

He also felt tiny hands circling around his waist, a head resting on his shoulder blades, and a protruding belly snuggling up against his back. He smiled and turned around to hold Hermione close to him. “What are you doing out here?” She mumbled into his chest. “Its cold.”

Harry smiled. He could see her breath in the night air and felt her skin prickle from the cold. “I was about to ask you the same thing. What do you say we go inside, love?”

She nodded into his chest again and then turned to go back inside. He caught her arm and pulled her back into him, this time he brought his lips to hers. He had kissed her several times since he had returned earlier that afternoon, and every time it felt brand new. He knew it would always feel knew and refreshing. He broke the kiss and looked deep into her eyes. She whispered to him, “I’m not cold anymore.” He chuckled and guided her back into the house.

“I love you.” He whispered in her ear as he opened the door for her.

“I love you too.” She stole a short kiss from his lips as she walked by.
“Oh get a room you two.” Ron joked from the kitchen table.

Harry moved behind Hermione and wrapped his arms around her, placing his hands on her stomach. “I think I earned those kisses, Ron.”

“That you did, Harry. That you did.”

The smell of Molly’s biscuits called to him like a summoning charm. He tried to snatch one out of the basket, but Molly caught him and slapped his hand away. “Ow!” He mocked being hurt. “Come on, Mum. Just one? For the savior of the Wizarding world?” He pouted at her.

She looked at him sternly. “I don’t care if you saved Merlin himself, you aren’t getting a biscuit before dinner.” Regardless of her reprimand, her face broke into a smile as she moved the biscuits to a better hiding place. “Now run along and be with the rest of the family.”

Harry chuckled. He loved being at the Burrow. He felt as though it was his childhood home. He took Hermione’s hand and led her into the living room. A small gaggle of red heads ran up to him and clung to his legs. “We missed you, Uncle Harry!” They all chanted. Harry ruffled their hair and started to walk with stiff legs as they clung to him. The kids giggled and tried to weigh him down. Unknown to them, he had silently charmed them to be weightless. He paraded the kids around the living room and dropped them off at their respective parents.

Hermione had watched the scene from where she stood with the other women. They rubbed her belly and speculated the sex of the child, but she kept her eyes glued to her boyfriend. He’s going to be a great dad.

As she turned her attention back to the women in front of her, Harry slumped down on the comfortable couch. He sat taking in the rest of the Weasleys. Merlin it’s good to be back. He tried to push the last seven months out of his mind. He wanted to spend as much time as possible taking in the changes. Fleur apparently was pregnant again. Oh Merlin, I am not looking forward to Christmas dinner. He thought, remembering her mood swings the first time she had been pregnant. She wasn’t nearly as far along as Hermione was.

The kids had grown up so much, the no longer toddled around the living room. At the moment they were running away from Fred who had charmed his face to look like a monster. George had told Harry earlier that they had opened a second joke shop in Hogsmeade and was looking at another location in a Wizarding town in northern England.

His gaze landed on Ron, who was talking to his father – but his eyes kept flicking over to Luna. He winked occasionally and Harry saw Luna blush in return. Ron had changed the most since he had left. He had matured and controlled his protective nature.

Hermione had said he was very protective of her when Harry was away; he was grateful. He looked at his girlfriend. There was no doubt that she was glowing. Her stomach was massive, but to Harry she looked even more beautiful then when he left. Her hand rubbed her stomach lazily as she sipped pumpkin juice and talked to Luna. His heart ached that he hadn’t been around to help her through most of the pregnancy. He would have wanted to go with her to appointments, hold her hair when she was sick, or massage her feet when she needed it. He sighed, I suppose I’ll be there for the most important part.

Hermione felt Harry’s gaze and excused herself from talking to Luna to go sit with him. They hadn’t spoken very much since he got back. He mainly dealt with the press or fended off unwanted acknowledgements.

“Hello, love.” He smiled up at her as she walked over. She sat next to him and snuggled into the crook of his arm. He instinctively put a protective hand on her stomach. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”

“Oh just fine, Harry. A little tired, but fine.” He kissed her forehead. “I have been waiting a long time to sit with you like this.”

“It’s perfect, isn’t it?” She nodded in response. “How has it been? The pregnancy I mean?”

“Lonely.” She replied honestly. Although she couldn’t see Harry, she knew he was frowning. “Ron and Luna helped out a lot. Harry, I didn’t even know we had made love the second time until I was pregnant – I was in complete shock. Until I read your letter about the prophecy, I was scared out of my mind.”

Harry’s face reddened. “You seemed like you had known.”

She laughed. “I was half dreaming it.” Harry laughed with her and pulled her closer to him. “How come you didn’t use a contraceptive charm?”

He shrugged. “I honestly didn’t think about it at all. I was more concerned about leaving you.” His hand started to rub her stomach absentmindedly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here, Mione.”

“Oh hush!” She said sternly. “The worse part was missing you. Once I knew about the prophecy, I knew you were coming home.” She felt him nod into her head. “I haven’t got anything ready.”

“Ready for what?”

Hermione turned and looked at him like he was being ridiculous. “Ready for the baby! I couldn’t bring myself to buy anything or start the nursery. I wanted you home first.”

Harry gave her a gorgeous smile and kissed her lightly on the lips. “We’ll start all of that real soon, love. First, tell me about all these horrible things Ron said I missed out on.” Hermione’s face reddened and started to tell Harry about all the most embarrassing or difficult parts of the pregnancy.

On the other side of the room, Ron watched his two best friends and grinned. Finally happy. He looked over at his own girlfriend and caught her eye once more. He winked at her, loving the way her face reddened when he did it. He smiled at her and slid a hand into his pocket, slowly fingering the delicate ring that sat at the bottom. He carried it around in case the right moment happened upon him. Remembering something important, he excused himself and marched into the kitchen to find him mum.

“Mum? I’ve got to head to the office really quick.” He kissed her temple.

“But Ron! We’re celebrating!”

“I know. I know. But I need to get something for Harry.” His mother nodded in understanding, and he apparated straight from the kitchen.

“Well he could have at least walked outside to apparate.” Molly muttered under her breath while mashing the squash.

When Ron returned the family had just sat down at the dinner table. He pocketed the envelope in his hand and took his seat next to Luna.

Just like every other dinner, this one was filled with laughter and love. But something was definitely different about this particular one. It was Harry’s first family dinner as a Hogwarts’ Alum, but the atmosphere differed also. The knowledge of continued happiness for the future lingered in the air.

The Weasleys finished family dinner without once mentioning the war. Molly smiled at the nature of her family.
The kids, at the other end of the table, were throwing green beans at each other. She was about to reprimand them when Harry froze all the flying vegetables and gently placed them down on the table. He sent them all a stern glare and returned to his conversation with Ron. Yes, he’s going to be a fine father, she thought. The kids snickered at one another but continued on eating like little adults.

Ron jeered Harry about something that caused him and Hermione to blush. Luna smacked Ron’s shoulder lightly, and he laughed and kissed her as an apology.

Fred, George, and their girl friends were talking animatedly to Bill and Charlie about the new shops. Fred and George, to Molly’s dislike, were probably never going to propose to their long time girlfriends – but she hoped the girls would snap them out of that soon.

Fleur and Arthur were questioning Katherine on Muggle devices. As she’s half Muggle, she had grown up as such. Her and Charlie were making an effort to raise their boys with Muggle influences – regardless of the fact that both had shown they were magical already.

Molly’s eyes drifted to Hermione again. She had no doubt that their child would be magical. Hermione, the cleverest witch she’d ever met, and Harry, the savior of the Wizarding World, could never birth a squib. Too much power emitted from the two of them. Just as they sat at the dinner table, Molly swore she saw a glow around them. Soulmates. Molly smiled to herself and joined the conversation with her husband for the rest of the dinner.

After dinner all the women cleared the table and helped Molly set the charms on the dishes to wash. The chocolate cake had been passed out and the Weasley women slowly coaxed Molly out of the kitchen. “You need to relax with us tonight, Mum.”

Harry and Ron poured themselves a glass of wine and Ron asked to talk to him in private. Harry nodded as he took a sip of his drink and followed Ron out to the garden.
“So do you want to debrief? We haven’t spoken really since you got back.” Ron started.

Harry looked at him and shrugged. “I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop, Ron. You know my life – this will never be over.”

“It will if you let it, Harry. It’s time to let it be. You’ve done your bit.”
“I just wish I hadn’t missed so much of my life because of it.”

Ron nodded in understanding. All three of them had given up so much for the war – everyone did. “You know, Harry. She did great with the pregnancy.”

Harry gave him a small smile and looked up at the fireworks again. “Yea. I only wish I had been apart of it.”

“Well that’s why I wanted to talk. Regardless of the fact that you are going to be here for the last two months and the birth of your child,” Ron said it in a way to tell Harry to be happy for what he did have, “Hermione wanted you to have a piece of this pregnancy that no one else had.”

Harry looked at him questioningly. Ron merely took a sip of his wine and passed the envelope to Harry. Sighing, Harry put his wine glass down on the table next to them. He opened up the envelope and his eyes widened.

“Did you read this?”

“No. No one has. Hermione wanted you to have that information – no one else. You’re the only one who knows.” Harry let out a large breath he didn’t realize he was holding and then gave Ron a huge hug. “Are you going to tell us, mate?”

“No way. This is my little secret.” Harry grinned broadly, grabbed his wine glass, and walked inside to find his girlfriend.

As he opened the door to the living room, he spotted her standing with the other Weasley women. He circled his arms around her and whispered in her ear, “I know what it is.” His hands rubbed her belly lovingly. She spun around in his arms, pushing him back to fit her stomach. He laughed lovingly. “I’m keeping it a secret, love.” He nipped at her nose, leaned into her ear and said, “Lets go home, Mione.”

She nodded, smiling at him, and turned to say goodbye to the women behind them. He, in turn, kissed each one of them on the cheek and said goodbye as well. Hermione did the same for all the men, and Harry shook each one of their hands.

Harry and Hermione both thanked Molly for an amazing dinner and they exited to the garden. Under the fireworks and the stars, Harry pulled Hermione into a searing kiss and apparated them back home.

~FIN