REVENGE IS SWEET, OR IS IT?

CHAPTER 16

Utter fatigue and the feelings and thoughts associated with the knowledge of the tremendous burden he had been laboring under for so many years, made for a really long night for Ron. When he kissed Mione on the cheek and climbed the stairs for bed, he found himself wishing that she,d remained with him so that he could cuddle up to her and feel her comforting arms around him in sleep. As it was, he hardly slept at all. Tossing and turning, he finally got up and decided to call on Nanny.

"Nanny, please," he called softly. Nanny's Elvin senses guided her to the need felt by her Master's friend, Ron. She appeared noiselessly in his room and seeing the look of pain and fatigue on his face, she knew what she needed to do to help him. She left for a moment and returned with a potion for him to drink.

"Here Ron, get back into bed and drink this. You will have a refreshing sleep for the rest of the night, and will feel much better in the morning. This is my own special potion and what's even better, it's not addictive either. It's not a dreamless sleep potion; however you will experience a thoroughly relaxing dream experience"

Ron climbed under the covers and before he took the potion, he thanked her profusely for her help. Within seconds, he knew no more as he sank into a peaceful sleep filled with calming scenes of soft moving clouds above a flowing stream of water.

Ron would sleep until nearly noon, waking to a wonderfully unexpected surprise, and would not even hear the children or anything else either because of the potion, which Nanny had given him during the wee hours of the morning.

However, in the master suite, it was an entirely different scenario being played out. Harry woke to soft kisses traveling slowly down his cheek from just behind his ear lobe and traveling slowly to all the sensitive spots that Ginny had learned of during their year and a half long relationship in Hogwarts. Meanwhile her soft hand was gently stroking his warm chest stopping just above his boxer line. As he moaned out her name in desire, she said, "Happy Birthday my Harry". His eyes opened fully and he answered, "thank you my Ginny, now come here you". He grabbed her in a tight embrace.

"Do you know what you do to me", he huskily asked her. She could answer yes quite honestly as she could feel his reaction to her wake up call.

"It won't be much longer love. I feel confident that there will be more progress tomorrow. Harry kissed her deeply and as one they said, "Mood killer, morning breath, ugh!!' , and turning slightly away from one another Ginny said teeth first, kissing later". Just then Lily could be heard calling to Narcy and Lucius to wake up. They quickly took care of their morning ritual, and donning robes they went to the nursery.

"Happy Birthday Harry," called out Nanny.

"Why thank you Nanny. It has started out to be a wonderful birthday. Harry hoisted Lily up into the air and sang out, "Happy Birthday to you too Lily. You're two years old today, and you're getting to be Daddy's big girl now", and at these words, Lily giggled happily. She wasn't too sure what the fuss was all about, but the hugs and kisses from her daddy was a great way to start her day. Nanny and her Mum also sang Happy Birthday to Lily, which had her chuckling with glee. These adults were funny, singing to her and then hugging and kissing her as well. She loved all the attention she was receiving.

After the greetings were over with, Nanny then informed Harry and Ginny of her visit to Ron during the night and told them that he would sleep for hours yet.

"Thank you again Nanny. Last night's confrontation was brutal for him, and I was afraid he would have a hard time sleeping. We don't know what we would do without you to care for us. He didn't even have Mione to comfort him", said Ginny as she hugged Nanny in thanks.

"You're welcome Ginny. He was actually in pain from fatigue. I'm happy he trusted me to help him" Harry spoke up at that point and added his thanks to Ginny's.

Even with the children at the table, breakfast was a fairly quiet time as both adults were still reeling with the memory of Ron's testimony. The floo flared up and Harry went to see who was calling at this hour of the morning. He saw Mione,s head in the flames and crouched down to speak to her. Before he could ask what they could do for her, she spoke.

"Good morning and Happy Birthday Harry, how is Ron? I know he must have been in a bad way, because I could hardly sleep until about three or so in the morning, when a wonderful peace entered my very soul and I drifted off into a sleep filled with clouds and a gently flowing stream. I have no idea where that all came from, but I still feel very peaceful. Can I speak to him please?"

"Good morning yourself, Mione and thank you for your wishes! Ron's still sleeping and will be until at least noon. About three or so this morning he called for Nanny, she gave him her special sleeping concoction and he's been out like a light since then. Can you come over for breakfast with Ginny and the wee ones, and me? We have lots of food left with Ron sleeping", he added with a chuckle.

"I'll be right over", she answered happily, and within minutes, true to her word she exited the floo with an overnight bag. Harry looked inquiringly at the bag, and she answered his unspoken question. "We'll talk after we eat, okay?" Harry agreed happily and after hugging her tightly, he called on Denny to take her bag up to the suite, which had been prepared for her and eventually Ron, to occupy.

Harry took Mione by the hand and led her into the breakfast room. Ginny and the three little ones set upon her with hugs and of course there were loads of kisses from the children. Narcy and Lucius loved their auntie, and Lily was just getting to know her, but if her siblings loved her, then of course she loved her also.

Everybody sat down again, and dug into the still magically hot and excellent breakfast. The somber mood from earlier on changed and soon talking, laughter, and eating combined to make this a very happy occasion.

After eating, Hermione opened the serious conversation saying, "Mum and Dad were devastated at the evidence last night. They asked me this morning why I didn't know what was happening since I was supposedly the cleverest Witch in Hogwarts. I told them that my cleverness came from books, and that I depended on my books for all the answers to everything. In retrospect, you know I've just realized that this mania of mine, blinded me to the world and the very people who were in plain sight to me all the time. I needed to prove to myself that because I was Muggle born, that I could be just as great if not greater than any Pureblood Witch or Wizard was. I am so ashamed of myself. I should have seen that Ron was under a spell all the time, but I was too busy upgrading my knowledge, instead of nurturing our relationship. I hope he can find it in his heart to forgive me"

Ginny spoke up before Harry could respond. "You know something Mione? We were all guilty of not seeing the obvious. None of us saw that Dumbledore was becoming so ill. We all heard him called many things, among them eccentric, the greatest Wizard, most powerful, but never mentally ill. We had so many more things to worry about, and when Harry and I finally became a couple we tried to make up for lost time by nearly snogging ourselves to death in every broom cupboard in the school. We didn't even notice what was going on with any of the other students either. It was funny that Smith said he wanted to punish Harry for taking me away from him. I never dated the git even once. He asked me continuously to go out with him, but I told him I loved Harry and would wait until he came to his senses and noticed me. So you see Mione, we were all guilty of being blinded by the obvious"

Harry had a guilty look on his face at the revelation of his denseness concerning Ginny. As she spoke to Mione he was thinking of his actions or lack thereof. He'd wanted to ask her out more than once, but first she was with Corner, while he was mooning over Cho, then she was with Dean Thomas, then he finally got his chance after her breakup with Thomas. Of course, they had to make up for lost time, but not at the expense of their friend and brother. "Like Ginny said, guilty as charged", he replied remorsefully.

Hermione spoke up. "All that you have done and said is well and good, but I lived with him for four years, and so I should have been aware of the changes in his personality from time to time. But again, it's all in the past now and we need to go on from here. We can't wallow in our mistakes, but we must learn from them. Okay my friends?"

"Okay Mione. Now go up, crawl into bed with my brother, and cuddle up so that when he wakes up, you are the first thing he sees. You really look tired"

"Yes I really am, so I'll do just that. Thanks, Ginny and Harry, I'll see you later okay?"

Chuckling Harry replied as she rose and walked toward the stairs. "Goodnight Mione and sleep well" "I will Harry, I will certainly do just that"

Ginny rose and knelt in front of Harry's chair and seriously told him how she felt. "You know Harry, Mione will be the potion Ron needs more than anything else, when he wakes up and she's nestled closely with him. I know all about that, because spooning into your body and sleeping with you does the same for me. It makes my body and mind relax and I'm sure I heal as we sleep. Thank you more than words can ever say, for the patience you have with 'just sleeping' with me. I do love you more than life itself, and I can't wait until we can marry and add to our family".

Small tears ran down Harry's cheeks at her words of love. To think of what they lost for so many years, and because of the ugly word 'revenge', he had very nearly lost it again. He thanked Merlin every night before he drifted off to sleep for giving him the wisdom to see beyond his desire for revenge, and urging him to look at the bigger picture.

Harry pulled Ginny onto his lap, and hugging her tightly, he tearfully assured her that this act of restraint on his part was because of his love for her. Ginny wiped the tears from his cheeks, and kissed both cheeks and eyes softly. Three little ones scrabbling down from their seats, and wanting equal time on their Daddy's lap, interrupted this tender moment. Laughing, their parents grabbed the three of them into a hug.

"Ginny, we are so blessed. I just hope the chair is strong enough to hold us all, but just look what we have here on our laps. We have beautiful Lily and Narcy. We have handsome Lucius. I have you, you have me and I like to think you are as happy with me as I am with you. We could hardly ask for more, except maybe another half dozen little charmers", he added cheekily at the end of his little speech.

"I wish I could hug you right now, but I'll make it up to you later, but know that I'm prepared to become pregnant with your children as often as possible. This is a big home to fill, and because of their premature death, your parents didn't have the chance to do so. We will do our best to make them proud of us, I promise you that. Just think of the variety of red, black, blond and dark brown haired kids we'll have running amok around here in time", and she began laughing aloud at the thought.

Harry began laughing too but decided they had better put the children down on the floor before they lost complete control and dropped them. Nanny had been listening quietly to the conversation between the two people she loved so dearly. The joy in her heart was immeasurable. She called to the three charmers to follow her upstairs for their morning ritual promising them a trip outside later on.

After kisses all around, the children happily followed their Nanny upstairs. Lily and Lucius walked up one side of the staircase holding onto the 'their height' hand rail that Harry had conjured for them. Nanny followed behind, holding tightly onto Narcy,s tiny hand. They made such a sweet picture that Harry couldn't stop himself from snapping a picture with his ever present camera which he carried everywhere around his children and Ginny. He had no such record of his growing years, but he would see that Ginny and he would have enough pictures to fill dozens of albums. He was in dozens of the pictures also as Ginny insisted that in her estimation, he was the most important person in this little family.

The two of them remained at the breakfast table for a while completing the plans for the dual birthday party on the following Saturday. Hedwig came through the open window carrying a dead field mouse in her talons. She'd heard their voices and wanted to visit with her two favorite people for a bit. "Owlry right now girl", ordered Harry. "We don't need a mouse on our table", Harry told her as he scratched her in her favorite spot behind her ears to take the sting from his reprimand. Hedwig retrieved her prey from the tablecloth, and huffily flew out through the window again and soared to the nearest tree to enjoy her meal.

Ginny laughingly said. "No Owlry for her. She's like a kid, doing only what she wants to do. She's so cute. Look at her; she has her back to you in order to teach you a lesson".

Harry laughed too and said, "You know something love? I don't think she believes she's anything other than a person. When I was still a titch, she treated me like a fledgling, preened my hair, picked at any grime off of me after Quiddich, and acted like a mum in many ways. She did this until I was about sixteen or so. I guess she was my family for a long time. I truly love my Hedwig and I'm sure she loves us too".

Ginny chuckled at the picture that came to mind of an Owl preening her fledgling, but was impressed at the same time at Hedwig's ability to nurture a human. She really is his familiar, she thought.

""I'm sure she does love us, as we love her. I know that she missed you a lot when you were gone. Getting back to our party, I'll send the invitations out this afternoon, and should have answers and numbers by Thursday at the latest. I hope we will hear………" but just then she was interrupted by the sound of the floo flaring up. The two of them ran to the entry to see Glen's face appear in the flames. He was wearing a huge grin across his face and looked like the cat that swallowed the goldfish.

"What's got you grinning like a hyena?" asked Harry.

"Is the birthday party still a go?" asked Glen.

"Yes, you'll receive your invitations by evening. It's this Saturday, and you and Theresa will be here won't you?, Harry asked worriedly.

"Oh yes indeed. We wouldn't miss it for a million Galleons. We need a chance to show off our new family to you, Ginny, Mum Weasley, Ron, Nanny, Mitzi and Denny as well. Oh yes and everybody else too. I'm so excited I can hardly stand still"

Ginny squealed out in delight. "So your appointment with the Adoption agency was successful was it?"

"Well Ginny, you could say that. We are now the excited, happy and proud parents of now get this, four children. They are siblings, two girls and twin boys. On Friday night, their parents were killed in a Rogue Deatheater attack in northern Scotland and they needed to stay together. So we've been approved as their adoptive parents. Theresa is still crying and laughing in turn. We get them tomorrow afternoon." Glen said all this in nearly one breath. His happiness was catching as Harry and Ginny found themselves as excited as he was.

"Merlin Glen, we're so happy for the two of you. Now we'll be anxiously waiting for Saturday to arrive so that we can meet them. Maybe you could plan on the weekend as well so they can interact a bit more over Sunday with our three little ones", Harry suggested.

"We'll see about that Harry, but we'll see you all on Saturday none the less. Bye for now", and he was gone.

"Wow, now that was some floo call", remarked Ginny. "You can say that again", answered Harry bemusedly. "The thing that stands out in my mind is that there are still rogue Deatheaters roaming the country side, I had no idea there were still active ones around. I thought that by now they'd all be rounded up and either kissed or in Azkaban"

"Harry, maybe we'd better talk to Dad tonight", said Ginny, "or better still, floo Kingsley and Remus. They'll know what's happening on the Deatheater front. I guess I need to get a wand again, because Malfoy broke mine so I couldn't attack him in my defense".

Harry scowled angrily at her remark. Malfoy deserved to die many times over, in his opinion at least. Instead he said, "Yes love we need to go shopping for a new wand for you soon. In the meantime, maybe it's time I decided on a career as an Auror and apply to the Auror Academy and begin training. If there are too many Dark Wizards still active, the Ministry will need all the help they can get", Harry answered her.

Oh Harry, must you?" she cried out. He looked at her and saw that she was white as a sheet, and her lips were trembling. "There are no more than a few hundred Deatheaters still active, and there are still a few hundred Aurors to fight them, I'm sure. Please don't make that decision lightly. Speak to Moony first. I'm sure he'll dissuade you from pursuing a career in law enforcement. You've done your share and paid dearly for it, losing four years of your life. You don't even carry your wand in the house now, so I don't know if I could live with you as an Auror. I honestly do think that it would slowly kill me if I had to send you off each day to fight Dark forces. Living with a Deatheater for four years, turned me against violence for the rest of my life"

Harry blanched at her words. He hadn't thought what a decision such as this would do to her. He enfolded her in an embrace. "Okay love, I won't act rashly. I just couldn't believe there were still rogues out there, but after the mess with Smith and Knott I should have twigged to the fact that it isn't over completely".

"I won't act rashly you say? Well Harry hear this!! If you decide to rejoin the fight against the Deatheaters, you do it without Narcy, Lucius and me. I cannot live through another period like the last eleven years. I can't and I won't. You are my world, but I'm sorry. I just can't do it again. I need to be alone for a while" she said, and she ran from the room crying.

Harry dropped his head into his hands. "Oh Merlin what have I done?" he asked himself. "I've put her back in her healing with my need to be heroic. I didn't once think what she's had to live through during the last four years without me, and all because of the war with the Dark side. I am a right git. Well, I'll fix that right now", and he strode determinedly up the stairs to her room.

As a matter of course Harry checked 'their' room first, but she wasn't there so he proceeded to her room. It broke his heart to hear the sobs coming from her small body, and he gently opened the door. "Sweet one, can I come in please?" he asked.

"Yes, but only if you've come to say you've changed your mind", was her tearful reply. Harry neared the bed and she scooted over to make room for him on the edge. He sat down and took her small hands in his big ones, and bending down until their foreheads were touching he said very seriously.

"I can't believe how insensitive I was to your feelings. To unthinkingly blurt out such a thing as if the Light side can't do without me, was stupid. Yes, as you so aptly said it, I've done my share, and my new answer is a most emphatic 'no' to more fighting, I want no more of it. I was just thinking with my nobility streak, not common sense. I promise you, I will never become an Auror, or take any job where I have to fight Dark forces". He finished with the words, "I promise this to you on a Wizards Oath"

"Oh Harry, I feel as if I have been selfish, but truth be told, I can't live under the pall of even a small war if it can be helped. You leaving us every day to fight Dark Wizards and Witches would be just that, a small war. Do you understand where I am coming from?"

"Yes my love, and you have my Wizards Oath that I will never do that to you and our children"

Harry laid down beside Ginny holding her close. This was no contest at all. His choice was between being a hero or having Ginny and his children, and his family came first with him. Gin's ultimatum was just what he needed as a wake up call telling him that he wasn't the only Wizard left to fight this little war.

The two of them cuddled until the children found them and begged for some playtime. The rest of the morning passed pleasantly as Harry and Ginny after dressing, took Lily and her siblings into the back garden where the small animals played. It was fun, as well as relaxing, and made Harry's change of heart regarding a career a sensible one. It would kill him to lose all this.

In the meantime, Ron was stirring gently in his sleep. He woke slowly to find his senses filled with 'woman'. Not just any woman, but a very familiar woman. He opened his eyes to a sight he thought was lost to him. Bushy brown hair, hazel colored eyes, and the sensation of a soft body pressed against his own, was more than he had hoped for.

"Good morning Love", she said.

"Good morning Mione. Does your Mum and Dad know you are here?" he asked her chuckling lightly. Laughing she answered. "Ron, I'm 23 years old. Don't you think I'm old enough to live my life the way I see fit?"

Sheepishly he replied. "Sorry Mione, force of habit. You don't know what it does for me to wake up to your beautiful face. I feel as if I can face anything as long as I still have you and from what I see, now, I do have you, don't I?", he asked hesitantly.

"You do that Ron, and as for Mum and Dad, they asked why I didn't stay with you last night. I'm sorry now that I didn't. Harry told me what Nanny did for you. I couldn't sleep either, until about 3 o'clock, when suddenly I fell asleep to a beautiful scene of soft floating clouds and a stream of running water. It was so peaceful and serene. I don't know what happened but I'm glad it did"

The look of amazement on his face filled Mione with awe. "Mione, Nanny gave me a dose of her own Elvin potion, and I went into a deep sleep and saw the same things you just described. We must have been connected last night, because of your concern for me. Thank you my love for just being you, and being here for me this morning"

"I love you dearly Ron, and from now on you will come first with me and my books a far back second. I've lost sight of what is truly important in our world. Being clever is not as important as caring and nurturing those we love"

"I thought I'd lost you; my careers in Quiddich and my job as an Auror. I thought I'd lost my family too although Mum, Ginny and especially my best mate, believed and helped me. I feel as if I was reborn, and I'll never take anything for granted ever again. I have an appointment with Robert tomorrow morning, and we'll take it from there. Now let's cuddle for a while until lunch" At those words, Ron's stomach emitted a huge growl. Laughing Mione said. "Well I'd say it's lunch time now. Shower first, and then we'll join the rest for lunch. Come on lazy, let's go. How are you at water conservation?"

"Water conservation is my middle name right now, so yeah let's go"

After a long leisurely shower, Ron and Hermione descended the stairs and joined the others in the dooryard. Lucius was the first to see his uncle, and like a small whirlwind, he heaved himself into his arms and yelled delightedly, "Unca Ron, come pay" Hearing this, the others were wrapped around his legs in record time as well. Ron hugged them all, and told them that Mitzi asked him to announce that lunch was ready, "and I for one am starving"

"So what else is new, mate of mine? Did you sleep well?" Harry smirkingly asked him as they walked into the breakfast room. "And where did you find this lovely lady I see here hanging onto your arm?"

"You're a sly one Potter. You sent her up to me, and I've never been happier than when I woke up and felt her in my arms. She's here to stay. If I stay away from anyone who can say the magic words until I see Robert tomorrow, I will be safe and able to control my moods. With Dumbledore's magic harnessed, it will only be a matter of weaning myself off of the drugs. I know it will take time, but I have lots of that commodity as long as we can stay here away from the outside Wizarding world for a time"

"What about Quiddich and your job with the Ministry? Won't some Deatheaters know the phrase to control you?" asked his worried sister.

"No sis, it was only Smith and Dumbledore who could do that. Dumbledore used Smith to keep me under control, while he in turn controlled Smith. For better words, Smith was his lackey, and did his bidding. You know I thought I'd hate the Headmaster for what he did to me, but instead I feel sorry for him. I heard an expression once, a bit of it was something like, 'and how the mighty have fallen'. The Wizarding world placed him on the highest pedestal possible, so I guess there was only one way to go, and that was down."

After washing up, the small family sat down to a delicious lunch, which Ron ate with relish. Ginny told the two of them the news about Glen and Theresa's new family members.

"Oh that is such wonderful news, Ginny. I bet it goes without saying that they are thrilled"

Harry answered, "Glen told us that Theresa hasn't stopped crying with joy, and laughing from excitement since their meeting with the Lawyers yesterday morning. It seemed that in northern Scotland, a band of rogue Deatheaters attacked a family over the weekend and the Aurors got there just in time to save the children. There were four little ones. I would imagine that the parents hid them well, because the things that Deatheaters do best is to torture the children to death forcing the parents to watch, and then in turn torture them to death. The Aurors probably took the children to the nearest Children's shelter and with perfect timing, Glen and Theresa applied to adopt. They will take over the children's charge tomorrow afternoon, and we'll get to meet them on Saturday at the party"

"In regards to the party, I think we're going to have a great time here on Saturday. We've received confirmation of attendance from at least a dozen guests so far, and I haven't even sent out the invitations as of yet. Of course, all the Weasleys are coming, as well as your folks, Hermione, and Glen and his family, Sean and Robert and their wives told us last week that they wouldn't miss it for anything short of a disaster. We will have a house full and I can hardly wait", remarked Ginny breathlessly.

The rest of the day and evening passed uneventfully with visiting, playing with the youngsters, and a couple games of chess between Harry and Ron. Ron was a bit preoccupied during the evening because of his upcoming meeting with Robert the next day, and Ginny had to attend another session in the afternoon. The four adults ended their day watching a movie in the games room. It wasn't long before loud yawns were heard and Ron decided his bed would be a welcome place to be right about now. The others agreed and followed suit, trailing after him up to their respective suites.

The Healers were the only ones who could help the two siblings now. Their fate was in their hands, so to say. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow night they would know what needed doing to wean Ron from the hallucinogenic drug he had been subjected to for so many years, and Ginny would have a few more strands of Spells removed from her body. Settling down for the night, the hopes and dreams of these two couples lay in the hands and expertise of a small, dedicated staff of Healers. Tomorrow would tell the tale.

TBC.