Tripping the Light Fantastic
Harry's eyes snapped open to a cream colored ceiling and the weight of Hermione next to him, her back pressed against his side and a cat down by his feet. His mind started slowly, with the last comment he heard the night before.
"I'm pregnant."
The words echoed in his head and after a brief stomach lurch he managed to grasp onto those words and really think about what this meant for her, for him…basically for the rest of their lives.
`I'm going to be a father, I can't believe this. I never thought of me being a dad,' Harry thought to himself staring at the blurry shadows on the ceiling. `I have a job, I'm getting married…I'm where I want to be in my life…there's enough money if she wants to stay home…yeah, that'll be interesting. I can't see Hermione staying home full time…wonder what we'll do for child care. Holy shit! we need to tell Ron. Damn…that'll be an experience….' Harry turned to his side, an arm automatically wrapping around Hermione's waist. She snuggled back against him, then relaxed still asleep. Thoughts bounced around in his head until he settled them down and sorted them out, giving priority to them and thinking about which ones he should talk to Hermione about first.
The wedding was the first thing on his mind. He felt they should get married sooner than later. After all, he proposed to her and it's not like they had to get to know each other and had a baby in the way. A wedding could happen very quickly, depending on how elaborate she wanted it. He just wanted her to be happy and to be married to her, however she wanted.
Hermione's arm moved and found his hand, at the same time her cat jumped off and raced out of the room, probably
hearing something only cats could hear. Based upon the change in her breathing, he guessed that she was awake, but not
saying anything yet. Feeling her move sleepily against him as she stretched, moving her legs and arching her back, he
felt warm inside. He loved the way she curved into him and the slow way that she woke up; not bouncing of bed with a
million thoughts on the tip of her tongue. Gently, he moved closer and using his chin nudged some hair away from her
bare shoulder and kissed it. He felt the smoothness of her short nightgown against his bare legs and knew in a moment
that she would feel how awake he was.
Not saying anything, not even moving her arms, she tilted her head back letting her hair fall away from her neck. Harry pushed closer and planted a kiss under her ear, then sucked gently feeling her fingers tighten against his. The thought that she was pregnant didn't deter him from wanting her. He knew, from conversations with Bill, that having sex wasn't going to hurt the baby, but it just got a bit more uncomfortable for the mother as her pregnancy progressed. He sucked in a deep breath as she pushed her bottom into him and he couldn't help but to push back against her, feeling so aroused that he thought he might lose it right there.
Never, in the time they had started becoming `more than friends' had his hormones taken off so fast and so furiously as they were doing right now. He moved his hand up and cupped her breast, her fingers trailing along his arm. He barely took notice that she felt fuller, heavier, from the pregnancy because she was making slow movements against him rendering him incapable of thinking anywhere above his body. He heard a soft sigh pass through her lips as his lips brushed her ear, his hand making slow circles under her nightgown. She suddenly shifted so she was facing him, grabbed the back of his neck and pressed her lips against his, her hands tangling in his hair, her hips pressed against his. One hand cupped the back of his head, ensuring their tongues didn't separate as her other hand slid down to his boxers and tugged at the band. Getting the hint very quickly, he managed to push them off, feeling her do the same to her undergarments.
Hermione had no idea what made her suddenly go from sleeping to being totally turned on. When she stretched, she had felt him behind her and felt his warm, lingering kiss. As she tilted her neck back, letting him kiss her without getting a mouthful of hair, she felt him press against her rear and she couldn't help but press back feeling shivers shoot up her spine and straight down to her stomach. And then, when his hand slipped under her nightgown, she couldn't help the rush of hormones that made the blood pound in her ears and make her fight for her breath. She had spun around in his arms, surprising him with the forcefulness of her kiss. After a moment's hesitation from him he had responded just as willingly. His hand was pleasantly warming her back as he pressed into her, his lips dancing over hers, tongues twisting around each others and, with a confidence Harry hadn't seen since the moment in his Library, she had shed them of their undergarments and rolled on top of him, both of them moaning softly as they joined together. She wanted to be as close as possible to him, to hold him forever; awash in maternal and romantic feelings she had never felt for anyone before.
She buried her face in the crook of his neck, hearing his tender cries against her ear as she moved rhythmically with him. Her hands gripped his shoulders and she could feel his warm hands on her hips, moving her the way he wanted, the way she liked. Again and again they crested waves and flew over the top; each one larger than the last. He breathed her name, the shortened version he had invented and she responded by gasping his softly in his ear, feeling a shiver also go through him. She could tell he was close; his hands were all over her, pushing their way up her back, around her shoulders, his thumbs grazed the sides of her breast making her tighten her grip on his shoulders; she couldn't hold on much longer. He was pulling her in with that force he managed to usually keep under control. His hands were now on her thighs, pulling her to him even though she couldn't get any closer. She wiggled her hips in a circle over his, moaning aloud together as she felt him brush past something in her…something only he could find. She kissed his ear, whispering his name into it and he jerked slightly, lifting them off the bed. A small smile graced Hermione's lips as she filed that little piece of information away…his ears were just as sensitive as another part of his body.
He was shifting beneath her, his hands shoving her hips down towards his, his fingers splayed across her back. She felt him bury his mouth in her shoulder and the combination of the nips with his teeth and the circling of his tongue pushed her over the rim, she arched against him crying out. His arms wrapped possessively around her, tightly clasping her to his chest. He rose beneath her again unusually loud in his cries which mingled with hers. As Hermione felt her insides seemingly explode, melt and begin to ooze a sensual feeling, quenching her want for Harry, she went limp, collapsing on his chest. Their foreheads were resting against each others shoulders, breath tickling each others collarbones. His hands slowly relaxed; his arms falling a bit from her sides as they rested above her hips.
"Am I too heavy?" Hermione whispered, first to break the semi-silence. In response he shook his head and tightened his arms around her. Hermione was happy to hear she wasn't…she enjoyed being this close, feeling a slight hum of his intense power radiating through her from him. She kissed his shoulder, his neck and worked her way up to his cheek where she finally pulled back to look at him. He helped her push the hair out of her eyes and they stared at each other for a moment. He was watching her so intently, his green eyes seemingly swirling around the darkness of his pupil that her breath caught. Involuntarily her stomach muscles clenched, just as they had when he had first kissed her. His hips twitched a little as certain muscles tightened around him, still embedded inside her.
"I love you," he said with such seriousness that Hermione could only nod, feeling his hands grip the sides of her head a bit harder. "I love everything about you…the way you rub your finger across your lips when you're reading intently. The way you look people in the eye when they are talking to you. The way your eyes light up when you see Will. The way you're looking at me right now because you're at a loss for words." Harry didn't crack a smile, wanting her to know how serious he was. Running a thumb along her cheekbone he watched a mixture of emotions cross her face pulling him to her. He leaned up to kiss her, loving her soft lips opening under his. She was the first to pull away, rearranging her weight on him, her arms now resting on either side of his head. He felt the need to keep going, to shower upon her the fierceness of his love for her-for them.
"I love you and the fact that you're carrying our child makes me love you so much it aches and hurts; and at the same time, I want to fiercely protect you from anything and everyone that would even look at you wrong. I want to…," he paused as she blinked and she squeezed herself around him again. He knew if she kept doing that, he'd lose his train of thought. He was responding to her slightest movement, surprising even himself that his body seemed ready to do this again with Hermione.
"I want to marry you sooner rather than later. I want to be with you forever, as long as humanly possible and call me selfish if that means getting married tomorrow."
Hermione's eyes were bright with tears as he softly rubbed her shoulders, then cupped her face again. Leaning down she kissed him lightly on the lips, his words echoing through her head. His words saying what he loved about her were touching, the idea borrowed from that movie they watched seemingly so long ago, "When Harry Met Sally", but he put a twist on them to make them his own…about her. And the fact he mentioned the baby had grabbed her heart. She knew, for awhile when he was younger, he never thought he'd live to get married, have children and become a father. She knew he was scared never having a good role model as a parent, but she also knew that he would make the role his own and draw upon the men in his life that had been, and still were, important. Sirius, Dumbledore, Arthur, Bill, Remus…he'd pick and chose what he liked about each of them and mix it up with his own self…making a wonderful father.
"I love you, Harry. And, if I say anything else, I'm going to break down and cry," Hermione whispered, touching his scar, then his cheek.
"You don't need to say anything," he whispered right back, tentatively moving against her. Her eyes fluttered shut then opened again as she answered his movements.
No words were necessary for either of them to express their devotion, their love and commitment to each other. For it had been cemented when Hermione first set eyes on Harry over ten years ago and showing this boy how to fix his glasses. But, over those years their feelings and their bond were buried by the events that flew around them--causing Harry to spend more time on surviving then trying to live like a normal child growing into a teenager. Now, that he was free to live and had accepted the death of Ron and Ginny, he had managed to let the dust sift away from around the feelings he kept for Hermione buried deep inside him.
And, as they managed to finally get up and start their Sunday, it was with silent touches and soft kisses that they communicated their deep, unbreakable feelings for each other. They hung around the house cleaning up, answering congratulations owls on their engagement and by the time the sun went down another important decision had been made.
August 18th was to be their wedding day. A small affair, done at the Ministry of Magic. No advertising, no publicizing. Just close friends and family were to attend. And, by the time the public got wind of it, they'd be on their honeymoon to Australia for a week. Then, they'd begin their lives, and their jobs, as Mister and Misses Harry J. Potter, Professors at Hogawarts.
During the passing of the nine months of pregnancy, Ron managed to get a hold of Phinneas and had found out that he was the one who managed to steal the Prophecy. He tricked Hyprasia Potter (who later married into the Trelawney family) into thinking he loved her, knowing that she had heard a Prophecy about the future of her blood line and the possibility it could affect his. And, as soon as he convinced her to write it down and seal it, he had stolen it out of her room and left without a trace. Upon hearing that his very own daughter would be marrying Charlus Potter, he had hidden the Prophecy in the house and sold it to the Gladrags, hoping against hope that if no one found it, that his Black blood-line wouldn't end. Obviously, that was a very skewed way to think, Ron had told him and Phinneas had only nodded sadly. Now, that it was out in the open among Harry's friends they couldn't wait to see what color eyes the babies would have.
And, on March second, when little Holly and James Potter were born, they refused to open their eyes. It wasn't until the second day that Harry had been the first to see them open their eyes as they lay together in their hospital bassinette, Hermione napping in the bed next to them. Holly's green eyes fixed onto Harry and widened as if recognizing him. Her tiny movements woke James who looked sleepily around and finally up at Harry who had gently called his name. His eyes, too, were green and right then Harry felt a peacefulness spread through him, knowing that the Potter blood line was going to live on, stronger than ever because Potter was now fused with Granger…who was, after all, the smartest witch of her age. But, Hermione did get her share, as three years (then another two passed by), with two more children, boys with brown eyes just like their mother's...and, as it turned out years later, the brains of their mother also as both the younger boys were sorted into Ravenclaw as their older siblings stayed the course in Gryffindor.
----
On August first, Ginny hit the ground with a thud and couldn't move, couldn't breathe and all she saw was bright sun streaming down through puffy white clouds.
"Damn," a low voice said near her ear. She turned her head slowly, feeling as if it was a big weight attached to her body and saw Draco laying next to her staring up at the sky, slowly moving his neck in a circle. She could hear some faint pops coming from the movement and winced.
"Portkey's are so much better," Ginny mumbled taking a deep breath and feeling glorious air fill her lungs. Coughing, as she got used to inhaling and exhaling again, she felt the oxygen slowly bring feeling to her numbed limbs and mind.
The ground beneath her was damp and smelled of earth and freshly cut grass. The ground. She could feel the ground! Her breath hitched in her chest as she struggled to support herself on her elbows, her body feeling strangely heavy, yet distantly familiar. Finally pushing herself up she turned to Draco next to her and saw he was doing the same thing and instead of looking around was staring at her.
"What?" Ginny asked apprehensively, thinking maybe all her body parts were in the wrong place. Her eyes swept over his short blond hair, the clothes he wore when he had committed suicide and noticed he had on sandals. A Malfoy in sandals struck her as funny, but she managed to bite down the laugh that bubbled up inside her chest.
"You're hair is brilliantly red," he finally said and she looked down at a piece that had fallen over her
shoulder onto her chest. Indeed it did look redder than it had last year.
"Maybe because we haven't seen color on ourselves in awhile," Ginny answered thoughtfully, managing to unlock their gaze and let her eyes sweep over her first encounter with Echo. She was surrounded by trees, at least three-quarters of the way around her. She still didn't feel strong enough to turn over and look behind her. In the distance she saw a figure walking towards them and he looked vaguely familiar to her.
"Who is that?"
"No idea," Draco groaned as he managed to get to his hands and knees, breathing deeply. Ginny watched him as she managed to stand, stumble then regain his balance. He caught her watching him and gave her a smirk.
"Remember, it's only been a bit over a month for me being Light…you've been that way for over a year," Draco explained, holding out his hand. Ginny shook her head at his gesture.
"I don't think I can stand up yet. My legs feel like jell-o." Draco lowered his hand and turned around, seeing the figure walk towards them. Ginny managed to sit up straighter, using her hands to guide her legs into a cross-legged position as she watched the tall, thin figure get closer.
"Welcome Draco and Ginny," a familiar male voice called across the grass.
"Holy…I'll be dammed," Draco murmured then started laughing, stopped as if surprised by the feeling it evoked, then chuckled again.
"No way!" Ginny struggled to her hands and knees, felt a hand grab her arm and effortlessly haul her to her feet. She collapsed against Draco, her arms going around him and she gasped both in the feeling of something solid and warm beneath her arms and with the recognition of the form walking towards them.
"Cedric!" Ginny called as she saw him walk towards her. A smile ran across his face as he approached them. "I never thought…I mean…it's great to see you!" Ginny felt an overwhelming happiness and tears pricked her eyes. Tentatively, she pulled her arm away from the front of Draco and wiped her eyes. He must've felt her emotion because he squeezed her arm harder then slowly helped her stand on her own. She still wasn't too steady on her legs, so Cedric took a couple of steps towards her and gave her a quick hug.
"Yeah, I'm here. It's a pretty cool place to live actually. I met a girl from Ireland that was hit by a Muggle car a few years back and we're together just down the street from where you'll be staying." Cedric stepped back and looked at Draco. "You two are staying together?"
Ginny looked up at Draco, not realizing how tall he really was (as they could float to each other's height when they were in the Magical world as Light). Their eyes met and a flush flew through Ginny's body, feeling her hormones respond in a way that shocked her. Draco gave a slight nod then turned back to Cedric.
"We'll stay in the same one."
"Good…can you walk yet Ginny? I know it's a rough entry and tough to get back onto two feet and solid ground," Cedric smiled at her and Ginny smiled back, still not quite believing she was talking to the person that died by Harry's side all those years ago.
`If I could only tell Harry who I am talking to right now,' Ginny thought. She berated herself for thinking that; there was no way to contact him, not until Halloween and only through Ron at that point. So, she experimentally moved her foot and found that her legs were a bit stronger. After a slow start, both of them walking behind Cedric, she got the rhythm down, her muscle memory kicked in and within ten minutes the three of them were walking out of the small clearing and onto a sidewalk lined with trees…towards her and Draco's new home.
Ginny stood in awe of the adorable house before her. Cedric had walked up and pushed open the door beckoning her to walk on in. Draco had already walked by her and ducked through the door. It was a one level house white with blue trim and Ginny had to say it was one of the cutest, most charming houses she had ever seen. Carefully, still a bit shaky on her legs, she followed Draco into the house, Cedric right behind her.
"Feel free to walk around, get acquainted and so on. Tomorrow, you have appointments with the resident healer to talk about aging potions and such and a tour around Echo. I'm sure you're tired and ready to just relax and get used to having a full body form again," Cedric told them. He nodded down the hall behind where Draco was standing, watching Cedric intently.
"There are three bedrooms down there, each furnished. There are two bathrooms…you'll probably be using just the shower as we don't have any need to eat. Though there are some fancy spells and charms if you want to go that route, but you can take all that up with the healer. Are there any questions?"
Ginny shook her head as she surveyed the living room they had walked into. Nice hardwood floors, comfortable looking neutral colored furniture.
"Are there stores around here to purchase clothes and such?" Draco asked, his arms crossed as he looked around the room too.
"Sure are. And there's an envelope to get you started on the table. We take galleons…," Cedric started to explain.
"I have money still on me," Draco said quickly. Ginny felt her heart beat faster, an unfamiliar feeling so she jumped a bit when she recognized what it was.
"What is it?" Cedric looked at her curiously, his hands now shoved into the pockets of his jeans.
"I don't have any on me…money," she stammered.
"Don't worry, check out the envelope on the table. If you want jobs, you can get them, too. This place is just like home, except the glaring reality that we aren't really alive."
Draco snorted and smiled a bit. Cedric left a card with his address on it in case they needed anything, then said he'd be by around eleven in the morning to pick them up. Ginny gave him a hug, Draco shook his hand in a matter of minutes it was just Ginny and Draco standing in the living room looking at each other.
"Well…what now?" Ginny asked softly. She watched him walk towards her then reach out and touch her hand. There was the shock again, a warmth that tingled through her and she gasped as he answered her. Through the pounding resonating in her body all she could hear was his voice, no distinguishable words. Without any second thoughts she wound her arms around his neck, lifted herself up on her toes and pressed her lips to his.
The effect she had on him was not the one she thought. Instead of the hesitation, and maybe the slow kiss back, he wrapped his arms around her practically lifting her up off the floor. With gasping kisses and hands clutching each others clothes, seeking and finding the solidity of each other they tumbled onto the sofa. Draco was a delicious warmth on her, his mouth assaulting hers as if he couldn't get enough of their touches. When her hands encountered bare skin on his back he jerked back as if suddenly realizing what they were doing. Their eyes met and the hand that was cradling her head slid to her cheek, their chests pushing against each others.
"I'm sorry," Draco's low voice caressed her ears and she shook her head telling him to not apologize.
"Don't be. I…we," Ginny started but fell silent as words escaped her. Her hand that had been laying on his shoulder traveled down his back, taking in the broadness she felt and he dipped his head towards hers.
"Yeah, I know," he agreed not knowing how to explain what they were feeling.
"Hey," Ginny whispered and he lifted his eyes to hers. "You can continue if you want too," she smiled shyly at him and saw him actually smile back. His answer was another deep, sweet kiss that she never thought Draco Malfoy would be capable of giving. They both seemed surprised as they began rocking against each other, the instincts coming back to Ginny on what felt good, where to touch to hear the soft, male groan in her ear. A sharp ache developed where his hips pressed into hers and she tugged at his shorts, letting him know exactly what she wanted. It had been over a year since she had sex. For all of those seemingly stored up hormones his kisses released them and they came rushing back so fast she was sure she'd lose it before he even shimmied out of her own pants. She nodded when he asked her quietly if she was sure. Her hands clutched his back, feeling his fingers leave a hot trail as he pulled down her lightweight pants. His fingers scraped her thigh, her knee and she struggled to kick them off.
"Ohhhh, hurry," Ginny gasped as his hand seemed to take it's time trailing up her thigh and lightly brushing an area she never thought she'd ever let him touch. His rough hands scraped the very sensitive part of her as he pulled her knickers to the side and in one swift move buried himself inside her.
"Fuck…," Draco groaned feeling her legs wrap around his waist and her body moving under his. "I
can't…," he panted not being able to hold back any longer, and Ginny pushed up into him as an answer. Her body
shattered against him and she cried out grasping his back and holding him to her barely registering his low cries in
her ear.
"Draco…oh Merlin…," she panted feeling him shudder against her, his voice now just heavy pants in her ear.
"Merlin that was brilliant…short…but brilliant," Draco whispered into her shoulder relaxing somewhat on top of her.
"Just letting you know," he continued with a lilt in his voice that made Ginny smile, "that I can usually last longer than that."
"Well, me too, but it's been awhile…especially for me," Ginny answered her hands lightly running up and down his back, feeling so comfortable and such an overwhelming happiness that she really felt she could hold him like that all day. Somewhere along the line, during the past two months she fell hard for Draco. She could feel him physically and emotionally take over her thoughts, pushing Harry a bit further back into her mind.
"Do you think we should probably explore the house now?" Draco asked hesitantly, feeling a bit awkward just like she was. It sounded like a great idea, so she nodded against his shoulder and he pulled back but stopped before he pushed himself totally off of her. His eyes seemed darker, more gray than blue, and for a moment they just stared at each other, being able to see every freckle on her face, every dark blond lash on his eyes. Slowly, deliberately, Ginny trailed a finger down the curve of his cheek then splayed her hand behind his neck. Needing no further encouragement, he inclined his head and pressed his lips to hers whispering something so quietly against her mouth she pushed him back a bit.
"I didn't catch that."
"I said I think that living with you will prove to be very enjoyable," he saw her narrow her eyes a bit and recognized the warning signs of getting angry, "not for just…what we just did. But, experiencing this whole thing."
Ginny nodded a bit and felt him clamor off of her. Quickly, they gathered up clothes and pulled them on, purposefully not looking at each other, feeling that awkwardness during he aftermath of something unplanned. Ginny followed him down the hall and together they peeked into the three bedrooms. Coming upon the last one, at the end of the hall she saw two twin sized beds. Draco hesitated and she saw a somewhat sad look pass quickly over his face before he turned and looked out the window. Reaching out she touched his hand.
"Your son and daughter will be very happy back home once they are born. Especially if Charlie continues to be interested in Pansy."
Draco just nodded and turned away, his hand slipping from hers.
"Where are you going?" Ginny turned and watched his back retreating out the door of the small bedroom.
He turned and glanced at her, then gave a small smile.
"To check out the bed in our room."
Ginny's heart leapt at that comment and not needing another invitation she took a few quick steps and met him the first bedroom, the word "our" ringing through her head.
She never thought, for all the galleons in the Magical world, that she would end up with Draco Malfoy.
But, thirteen months later, on an early September morning Ginny gave birth to their daughter. A blond haired, blue eyed beauty that captured the hearts of her parents. And, just to make it interesting they named her Rue, after a rather powerful plant. And. just to wrap up the history of each of their lives in this tiny person, Ginny had also found at the library the following information:
"A person who carries it {Rue} is never bitten by venomous creatures. This argumentation is based on "fact" that "weasels, when about to fight with serpents, eat rue." Thanks to this story and the awful smell of the plant, it was believed to be an antidote against all kinds of poisons. In addition to this, we are reminded that rue "will turn off the light of Venus". It was also thought to have a power to repel evil spirits. And finally it protected people from plague and other deadly epidemics."*
What Ginny and Draco didn't know was that their daughter was the small soul of the twin that didn't make it when Pansy gave birth in early December, with Charlie by her side. The cord had been wrapped around her neck and there was nothing that could be done, as magic doesn't work unborn babies, magical or not. Her twin brother, Patrick, was the spitting image of his father but had the gentle disposition of a Weasley, thanks to having Charlie as his stepfather, and two younger redheaded little sisters.
~~~fin~~~
*A/N: definition & name found on a website entitled: Medicinal and Magical Herbs of Medieval Europe. The title of this chapter is from an album that I have personally never heard, but just love the name. And it had the word Light in it…and it makes me think of good, happy things so that's why I picked it! Finally, thanks to EVERYONE who read and stayed with me through this story. It was truly fun to write and, sometimes, a challenge. Thank you for your reviews; I read each and everyone one. Have a wonderful summer, my friends! I'm not sure if I will be doing another (maybe a one-shot at some point?), but I am trying to work on my own story. Keep me in your thoughts, fellow Port Keyers!
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