The healers kept her in overnight, and Ginny didn't even argue. She returned to the Burrow the next day, sitting quietly in the lounge as friends and teammates came to visit. Gwenog and the head Harpy trainer paid her a visit to primarily check on her injury and recovery, reminding Ginny that the team had a month off before training began again for the next season.

For the first time since she had become a professional Quidditch player, she really couldn't care less. Her dream of winning the championship had come true, but she felt far from fulfilled. Other dreams filled her head now.

She was aware of the concerned looks of her family, but she simply kept trying to work out if what she had been through had merely been a dream, for what else could it have possibly been? But she was missing the children, her home, and most of all, Harry. He was the anchor to all of this, she was sure.

After three days of overthinking every aspect of what she had seen, Ginny finally ventured out to the real word again. She found herself at the Ministry of Magic, checking in the public archives for any mention of Harry Potter, both before and after the final battle.

There wasn't much in the archives that she didn't already know, about the events on All Hallow's Eve, that his parents had been killed by Voldemort, who then disappeared for many years. It was rumoured that Harry had been sent to live with relatives, but that was all.

James and Lily Potter were mentioned again in the paper when it was announced Sirius Black had escaped from Azkaban shortly before the anniversary of Harry's parent's murder five years later. Ginny shivered at the photo in the paper, of a snarling, desperate man. He had been imprisoned for the murder of the Potter's friend, Peter Pettigrew and several Muggles that same night that Harry's world had been torn apart, but she wondered why he had never been given a trial. She supposed the evidence and eyewitnesses was enough, although strangely, she couldn't seem to find anything in the paper to support this.

The next mention of Harry was speculation in the paper about whether he would be at King's Cross Station on September 1st, 1991, to begin his schooling at Hogwarts, and when he didn't turn up, there was much speculation the week after as to where he could be.

The papers had a recurring theme over the next few years, for there was many headlines screaming 'WHERE IS HARRY POTTER?' A desperate wizarding world, now aware that Voldemort had indeed returned and was intent on promoting his Pureblood agenda. Rumours surfaced of a prophecy, that Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, was the only one who could defeat Voldemort.

Ginny read the papers that had been brought out after the battle, looking for an actual quote or interview from Harry, but there was nothing, merely the words from the new Minister for Magic, Amelia Bones, speaking for Harry.

She reported he was not injured but he and his godfather had gone into seclusion, to mourn the dead, including family members, Remus Lupin and Andromeda Black. Remus had been Ginny's Defence Against the Dark Art's professor from her second year till her sixth year, where he was outed as a werewolf.

There was a grainy photograph of Harry and an older man who, to Ginny's surprise, was Sirius Black! He had been given a full pardon, and he stood by Harry's side protectively as Harry lay a wreath on an obelisk at Hogwarts representing all those who had died at the hand, or by the order, of Voldemort. Minerva Macgonagall stood by the two men, a strong silent presence.

Ginny had been there that day, having returned for her seventh year, but she had been comforting her mother and remembering the way her father and Percy had died, and barely remembered any of the sad ocassion. Harry and Sirius hadn't hung around after giving a short speech.

The following year the paper simply showed a photograph of him, stating that Harry wouldn't be attending any of the public memorials on the anniversary, and thanking the general public for all the letters he received, that their thanks were unnecessary. He simply did what he had to do, and his life was now moving forward, out of the public eye.

Ginny stopped reading to wonder what that meant to this Harry. She already knew he wasn't working at the Ministry as an Auror, having ducked in on the pretense of needing to file a complaint. The statement was given out two years previously, and there was no mention of him since, apart from the ocassional 'Where is he now?'

Except he had turned up at her Quidditch match, and was going to award the winning team their medals and the trophy.

Why? Why now?

It was while she was putting away the many tomes she had pulled off the shelves, that she heard someone call out to her in surprise. "Ginny? Ginny Weasley...it is you, isn't it?"

She turned to see Hermione Granger standing there, staring at her curiously. With her arms full of books and scrolls, Ginny was taken back to studying in the Hogwart's library with her fellow Gryffindors, and of head girl Hermione reminding them often about curfew. She blinked several times.

"Ginny? Are you all right?"

Hermione had come to her side, her hand on Ginny's arm in concern. Just like at St Mungo's, when she had woken to find herself living a dream.

"Hermione Granger! How lovely to see you again," said Ginny.

"I'm surprised to see you in here," said Hermione, as the two shared a polite hug. She gestured to the many issues of the Daily Prophet she still had on her table.

"Oh, just a little light reading. You work here, don't you, at the Ministry?" asked Ginny. At Hermione's nod, she asked, "Which department?"

"I'm an Unspeakable, so I can't really say too much about what I do, but it's fascinating work," beamed Hermione. "How's your family...Ronald?"

"Ron's fine, doing well," replied Ginny, wondering if this Hermione was interested in Ron like the other Hermione was. But all she saw was a polite query, with no real interest shown. "We all are. Bill, our eldest brother, is married and they're expecting a baby soon."

"That's nice. And what do you do?" asked Hermione.

She had never really been interested in Quidditch, remembered an amused Ginny. "I play Quidditch for the Holyhead Harpies."

"Oh, that's nice, I seem to remember you playing for Gryffindor," said Hermione, showing she, at least, paid some attention. "Do you see anyone from our Hogwarts days?"

"Not really. I guess Hannah Abbot, she's dating Ron," said Ginny, noting that Hermione merely nodded in acknowledgement. "I hear from Dean and Seamus every now and then. Hey, we should get together, have dinner or something," she suggested. For Hermione Granger might be the very person who could help her understand what she had been through.

"Er, yeah, sure, sounds great," agreed Hermione. "Owl me sometime."

"How about Friday," suggested Ginny, before she lost her nerve. Would Hermione think she was off her rocker?

Hermione looked taken aback. "Um, I may have plans for Friday. Can I owl you and let you know?"

"Sure, no problem," agreed Ginny in relief. "I guess I should put this lot back then, and let you go back to work."

"Yes, I really should get back, I just came to do some research," she said, nodding at the scrolls and sundry in her arms, "a Ministry paid elf will put those away for you if you like."

"Oh no, that's fine," assured Ginny. "So, I guess I'll wait to hear from you then."

Hermione nodded. "It really was great to see you today, Ginny."

"You too." Ginny quickly put the books and papers away and left to return to the Burrow. It was only after she was eating dinner with the family that she realised she could have asked around the Ministry for the Audrey who had married Percy.

Oh well, it gave her a reason to go back another day. For truthfully, she was bored. She was not allowed to fly yet, or even jog, and when she lay around, she thought too much.

It took her a couple of days to realise she was almost grieving for a way of life she had never got to live, but had only gotten a glimpse of. She missed her boys, she missed Lily Luna and Teddy, but most of all, she missed Harry. As she lay in her childhood bedroom at the Burrow, she thought about all the moments with Harry, even the ones of the night before she had returned. She stared up at the ceiling, willing herself to sleep, but her mind was too busy.

Would she ever find a love like Harry and other Ginny had? Would she know passion and caring, fun and family with a man like Harry. Was there another man out there – in her world – like that Harry Potter.

She finally fell into a fitful sleep.

*HPGW*

" So let me get this straight. You were hit by a Bludger and when you woke, you were married to Harry Potter and the mother of three children," clarified Hermione, as they waited for dessert and coffee to be brought out.

Ginny nodded nervously. She had finally confessed all over their main meals. "I know it's probably a dream or something, but Hermione, it felt so real, all of it."

"And I was married to your brother Ronald and we had two children," recited Hermione, skeptically.

Ginny nodded. "You and Ron had befriended Harry his first year, and the three of you were best friends. You and Ron even helped him defeat Voldemort, by tracking down the Horcruxes."

"Sssh." Hermione hissed, glancing around. "Where did you hear that word?" she demanded. She cast a spell; Ginny thought she heard her say Muffli-something.

"Harry told me about them, they were what was keeping Voldemort alive. A diary, a locket, a diadem – that's what Harry was doing at Hogwarts that night, you know. Now, where was I? Oh, yes, a ring, a snake, a cup...and Harry himself."

Hermione gasped, her mind working overtime. "Fascinating," she murmured to herself, tapping her fingers on the table.

Ginny snapped her fingers. "Hey, pay attention here."

Hermione focused on the younger witch. "Sorry, Ginny, you're right. But to think that I played such an important part in our wizarding history? What did Ronald say when you told him?" she asked curiously.

Ginny shook her head. "I haven't told anyone about this, until now."

"Just me?" squeaked Hermione, alarmed.

Ginny nodded. "Just you, the smartest witch I know. Harry told me he couldn't have survived his Hogwarts days, or the months on the run, without the two of you."

"Wow, Harry Potter said that about me!" said a stunned Hermione.

"The other Harry, from the other world, " Ginny reminded her dryly.

"Oh...yes, right," ageed Hermione, shaking her head.

"Well...what do you think?" asked Ginny, leaning forward expectantly. Hermione always had the answers. "Did I travel to an alternate dimension? I mean, I've heard of time-turners and all, but -"

"Oh, please, time-turners are, if you'll pardon the pun, a complete waste of time. Besides, they only work for a few hours, not years," said Hermione, matter of factly.

Ginny sat back, stumped. "Then what happened to me?"

"I really don't know," said Hermione sadly. "A pleasant dream?

Ginny scoffed. Hermione reddened.

"Perhaps you could come by and we could run some tests on you?" she suggested.

"Tests for what?" asked Ginny suspiciously.

Hermione shrugged. "We'd monitor your brain patterns, check your REM sleep, check you out for charms and curses -"

"Bollocks to that," snorted Ginny, cutting her off.

"Well, what did you want from me, Ginny?" asked Hermione, crossing her arms.

"I don't know," admitted Ginny, defeated. "I really don't."

"I think you want me to tell you it was all a really nice dream," said Hermione gently. "Or perhaps you want me to tell you that there is an alternate universe, and somehow, while you were unconscious, you happened to cross over into yours?"

"I-I just feel like I belong in both," admitted Ginny quietly, tracing patterns on the tablecloth with her fingers. She looked up. "I had children, Hermione, I had a husband and a lovely home. I can't forget that."

"Ginny, you were only there for a couple of days, you don't know how things really were," said Hermione. She reached out to grab Ginny's hand. "This is the world you belong in. You're only twenty one, you still have plenty of time to meet that special someone, to fall in love, get married, have children. If you belonged in that other world, other you would have already experienced those things, so you'd miss out." She hesitated. "Time is precious, Ginny, don't wish it away."

Ginny nodded, miserably. She squeezed Hermione's hand back in thanks. "I know, you're right."

They were both quiet as the waiter served their desserts and coffees. "So I guess this will be goodbye for us," surmised Hermione quietly, "now I can't help you anymore."

"No!" cried Ginny. "I know that's how it looks, but no. Hermione, I don't know why we lost touch, but we will stay in contact, okay?"

"I'd like that," nodded Hermione. "Besides, I was your favourite sister-in-law in the other world," she teased.

"Ha, I never said favourite, Hermione," Ginny teased back. She then frowned. "I never got to thank other Hermione and Ron for being there for Harry back then."

"Well, if I see my other self, I'll tell her you said thanks," chuckled Hermione. She sat back. "Imagine, me married to Ronald...and two kids!"

"Ron said making them was very enjoyable," laughed Ginny, laughing harder at the look of disgust on Hermione's face. "Hey, they were cute. Rose and Hugo."

"At least we gave them good names," sighed Hermione, dramatically.

"Yeah, well, you'll never guess what Harry and I called our second son," teased Ginny.

*HPGW*

"Right, that's it," declared Molly, a week later.

Ginny, who had been staring out the window, turned to look at her mother. "Sorry, what?"

"This moping around, it's not like you, Ginny," said an exasperated Molly, her hands on her hips.

"I'm not moping, I'm laying around, recovering," argued Ginny. "I thought you'd be happy."

"I would be, if this was just about you resting and recuperating...but there's something more," guessed Molly. She came to Ginny's side. "Did something happen on the pitch, love? Before you were hit?"

Ginny shook her head. "No. That is, I don't think so, I really don't remember. Mum, I'm fine, really."

"This isn't you," replied Molly, gesturing at her, wrapped in a blanket.

"What do you mean?" asked Ginny, sitting up.

"When have you ever listened to the healers when they tell you not to fly?" asked Molly, rhetorically.

Ginny supposed she had a point. "I'm just taking the time to rest, to think about my future, Mum, that's all," she said.

Molly smiled, brushing the ginger hair off her daughter's forehead. "Well, that's all right then. Perhaps I can help with that."

Ginny frowned. "How?"

"I can tell you that you'll be going to Ronald's for dinner tonight," chuckled Molly.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "I already told him no, Mum."

"And I owled him to say you'd had a change of heart and you'd be delighted to go. Oh, don't worry, Hannah is cooking."

Ginny sighed heavily. "I suppose I could go."

Molly cupped her daughter's cheek in her hand. "That's my girl," she said approvingly, " seven o'clock, all right. And Ginny...?"

"Yes?"

"Be delightful, dear...and wear something pretty."

*HPGW*

" and so we had to kick them out," finished Hannah, checking the roast in the oven. She looked over at Ginny. "How's the peas coming along?"

"Nearly done...and potatoes all peeled. I've definitely earned my dinner tonight. Where is Ron, anyway?" asked Ginny, showing Hannah the bowl of peas she'd been shelling. "I'm hungry."

"He had to finish something at the office and, er, pick up something for tonight," stammered Hannah, not meeting Ginny's eyes.

"So, things are going well between the two of you?" asked Ginny, conversationally.

"Oh yes," beamed Hannah. "Actually, he's asked me to move in with him. We haven't told your mother yet," she added hurriedly.

"That's great...and don't worry too much about mum. She'll start dropping hints about marriage but that will be on Ron, not you," assured Ginny.

Hannah giggled. "I'd marry him tomorrow," she confessed, " but I think it will do us both good, to see if we can live together. It's quite an adjustment, you know."

"Yeah, I know," agreed Ginny, thinking back to Harry watching her in the shower. She became aware Hannah was looking at her curiously. "I mean, yeah, I'm sure you're right. Living together first does make sense."

They heard the sound of the front door opening, then Ron called out, "Hannah, love, you there?"

"In here, Ron," called Hannah, checking her reflection in the oven window and straightening her hair.

"Is Ginny here?" he called.

Hannah smiled at her, gesturing for her to go ahead of her to greet her brother. "Yes, she's here, Ron," called Hannah.

"I'm here and I'm starving," called Ginny, standing up to move into the small lounge. "What kept you - oh!"

"Surprise!" said Ron, standing aside so she could get a clearer look at the man standing next to him. "Ginny, this is -"

"Harry Potter," breathed Ginny, hardly able to believe he was here, not five feet from her.

"Hello," said Harry, obviously nervous.

"Oh my, are you really Harry Potter?" asked Hannah, from behind Ginny. Ron nudged her and she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh, please excuse me."

" Harry, my girlfriend, Hannah Abbot...and of course, you remember Ginny," teased Ron.

"Hello, Hannah," said Harry, nodding his head at her. "It's nice to meet you. Thank you for having me over for dinner."

Hannah bobbed her head in excitement. Harry's attention turned to Ginny.

"You're here," she breathed, still in shock.

"He has something for you," said Ron, rocking back and forth on his heels, obviously proud of himself.

Harry stepped closer to her, as he pulled something out of his pocket. "I never got the chance to give you this."

Ginny's eyes were only on him as he stepped closer again, to place the medal around her neck. He was very careful not to touch her, but once he had finished his task, he looked down at her. She was staring at him intently, completely unaware of anyone else but him.

"Oh my," said Hannah, looking between the two, for Harry was now staring into Ginny's eyes too. Ron too, was looking between the two of them, aware that something was happening, even if he had no idea what it was.

"There you go, Ginny, you've finally got your championship medal. Harry here has been holding on to it since the match. He finally came to my office, asking if he could visit you personally to finally present it to you," beamed Ron. His beam turned to a frown when there was silence, as the two continued to stare at each other as if mesmerised, as if they were the only two people in the room. "Psst, Ginny, say thank you," he whispered loudly

"Thank you," said Ginny automatically, even though she had yet to look at her medal. She was too busy cataloguing all the differences in this Harry to the other, older Harry. She could clearly see the man he would become, the man she had been intimate with. She flushed at the memory as a longing welled up in her. To step into his arms, to kiss him, touch him...

"Er, I'll just go check on dinner," said Hannah. "Ron, a hand?"

"Sure," agreed Ron. He removed his Gryffindor scarf and hung it up, then patted Harry on the back. "Be right back, mate."

Harry nodded, although he hadn't listened to a word Ron had said. Instead his attention was all focused on Ginny. "Hi," he repeated, almost shyly.

She dismissed her thoughts and smiled. "Hello...er, thanks for bringing me this." She picked up the medal and finally studied it, and Harry studied her.

Merlin, she was gorgeous. Even more so than her photos in the paper. He had loved to watch her play Quidditch, she was so fierce and clearly loved to fly. "You really deserved that," he told her, gesturing to the medal. "You played an incredible match."

"I just wish I could remember it," sighed Ginny.

"Ron said your family has been really worried for you," he stated. She nodded, and winced. Another damn headache was forming.

Before she could reply, Hannah announced dinner was ready. She waved away both Harry and Ginny's offer to help serve, insisting they sit and Ron could help her.

Their two hosts contributed much of the conversation at dinner. Harry watched Ginny, who spent most of the time staring down at her plate, stirring the food around rather than eating.

Her head was all muddled. Harry was here, right here, but it all was so different, yet the feelings were the same. She felt heated just sitting across from him, flushing as she recalled their last night together, when they had come so close...

"Dessert?" asked Hannah.

"Actually, I think I should go. My head is starting to hurt," she said, standing.

Harry stood too. "Are you all right?" he asked gently.

Tears welled in the back of her eyes at his gentle tone. She shook her head, willing them away. She felt so confused, having the same feelings for this man, but he was different too.

"I'll open the floo," offered Ron uncertainly.

"No, it's fine, I'll walk for a bit, then Apparate," said Ginny. "I could do with the fresh air."

"I don't know, Gin, if you're not feeling well, you probably shouldn't be out walking alone. I'll just -"

"I'll walk with her."

Harry's offer made Ginny and Ron turn away from each other to look at him. He shifted uncomfortably under their gaze, but didn't look away from Ginny. He did not want the night to end yet, not now, when he had just met her.

"Well, that's so sweet, thank you, Harry," said Hannah. She nudged Ron.

"Oh, er, yeah, thanks Harry. Gin, is that all right with you?" he asked.

Ginny nodded, wincing as a flash of pain ran through her head. "Sorry about dinner," she told Hannah.

"Another time, maybe," nodded Hannah.

Harry held the door open for her, and she smiled her thanks as he closed it behind them. They walked in silence for a little while; Ginny taking deep breaths of fresh air. It seemed to help, her headache was already easing.

"You really didn't have to do this, you know," said Ginny.

"What, be seen out with a beautiful woman?" asked Harry, smiling. " It's a hardship, but I think I can handle it."

She stopped to look at him. "You think I'm beautiful?" she asked, in an uncertain voice. No one had ever told her that before, except her mother on her graduation day.

He flushed, but nodded, looking up at the sky, completely pants at talking to women. They continued walking in silence.

"So, what do you do? No, wait, let me guess. An Auror?" she asked, even though she had asked about him at the Auror office.

Harry looked startled. "Me, an Auror. No, I'd had enough of fighting dark wizards when I was a teenager. No, I'm a potion maker."

She was taken aback. "Potion maker?" she asked.

He nodded. "It's a talent that seemingly runs in my family. I bought the Apothecary in Diagon Alley but I work from home. I keep the Apothecary supplied, but I also research and test new potions."

"You should meet my brothers, they work with various potions in their shop," she said. "Where is your home?"

"I live in Godric's Hollow. I bought a small house there, and my workshop is out the back," he revealed.

Godrics Hollow. The village Voldemort had attacked and killed his parents. Her heart went out to him.

"I'd like you to see it one day," he told her shyly, " and meet my godfather."

Sirius Black. "I'd like that too," she assured him, and he smiled in relief. Sirius visited him most days, but now that he was back with Amelia Bones, he lived at Grimmauld Place, close to the Ministry.

They chatted easily as they walked, about Ron and Hannah, about his potions, about Quidditch.

"You know this might sound crazy, but I feel like I already know you," he told her. "I'm never this at ease around people I don't know. Like, never!"

"I-I feel the same," she assured him. "Well, this is me," she told him, as they arrived at the Apparation point.

" Oh, sure," he said, although he was disappointed. He'd hoped to spend more time with her.

"Thank you," she told him, turning to face him fully. "For bringing me my medal, and for walking me here."

He shrugged, his hands in his pockets and head down as he scuffed his shoes on the pavement. " May I...may I owl you sometime."

She smiled at his nervousness. "I'd like that."

His head snapped up and he looked at her in surprise. "Really?"

She walked closer and, feeling daring, stood on tiptoes to lightly kiss his cheek. She smelled homemade bread, broomstick polish and Harry's woodsy cologne, and a memory sharpened in her mind. It was her Amortentia potion, sixth year. "Really," she whispered.

The last thing she saw before she Apparated home, was a huge smile on Harry's face.

* HPGW *

She had a dream that night. She found herself walking along a completely deserted Platform 9 ¾. Looking down at herself, she saw she wasn't dressed in her school uniform, nor did she have any baggage. She was still her regular twenty one year old self, dressed in her every day clothing.

"Hello?" she called out. Only silence answered her call, until an approaching train blew it's whistle. Ginny watched as it pulled in, and stopped; she waited for someone to disembark.

But nobody did. "Why am I here?" she wondered aloud.

She walked closer, looking left and right for someone, anyone. She was about to peer into the window of a carriage when she felt a hand on her shoulder and spun around.

And found herself facing – well, herself. Older Ginny, that is. " Er, what's happening?" she asked.

"Let's take a walk."

Older Ginny slipped her arm through the other woman's and led the younger girl away.

"You have a wonderful family," said young Ginny; anything to break the ice.

The older version of her smiled softly. "Thank you."

"So, is that my future? A marriage and three children with Harry?"

"Your future isn't written yet," said Older Ginny, gently. "Don't be in such a hurry. And who said we're stopping at three?" The two Ginny's grinned at each other.

The train whistle blew, and both Ginny's looked over at it. "Are you going somewhere?"

Older Ginny nodded. " A day trip to Hogwarts. Harry likes to take the train."

"Well, keep an eye on James. That kid will be in the Forbidden Forest before you know it," quipped younger Ginny.

Older Ginny threw back her head and laughed. " He does keep us on our toes."

"I envy you." The words were out of younger Ginny's mouth before she was even aware. Older Ginny looked surprised by them. "When I woke up after the accident, back in my real world, I missed your Harry and the kids so much, it hurt," the younger girl explained.

They both looked over to see Harry standing in the doorway of the train, watching them both, and waiting for his wife.

"And I envy you," said a wistful older Ginny. " You are at the start of a wonderful journey. You have so many firsts to look forward to. First date, first kiss, first dance...and so many more."

"With Harry?" A blush spread over younger Ginny's face, remembering her night with other Ginny's Harry. And remembering the Harry – her Harry – who she had bussed on the cheek, mere hours ago.

Older Ginny chuckled. "It's fine. I don't blame you one bit, he's quite a man. Although he does feel he took advantage of you."

"He didn't...I should have told him," replied Ginny quickly, and they both looked at Harry, who seemed to know what they were talking about for he grinned and winked.

The train whistled again. "Ginny, it's nearly time." Harry's voice called out to them both.

Younger Ginny threw her arms around the older woman. "Percy...and Dad." She couldn't go on, her throat was thick with holding back the tears.

The older woman smiled sadly, patting her back. "And you'll have many wonderful years with Fred...and Sirius."

They looked at each other. " Will I ever see you again?" asked younger Ginny.

Older Ginny nodded. " When you look in the mirror in ten, fifteen years time."

Younger Ginny chuckled, then sighed. "I guess you better go."

The two walked side by side, back to a waiting Harry. He held out his hand for his wife, and she took it and boarded the train. With his arm around her, she and Harry turned to wave goodbye.

"Wait!" cried Ginny. "Was it real? Or was I just living a dream?"

The train began to pull away, slowly moving on. She ran to keep up.

"Please tell me, I need to know!" she called, but the pair merely waved to her, then closed the door.

"Goodbye," called younger Ginny, gasping as a carriage went by, with Teddy, James, Albus and Lily in it, all waving at her. "Goodbye."

She stood there watching until the train turned the bend. Then she turned to leave, to go back through the wall, back to the real world. With a smile on her face and a lighter heart. The train whistled again.

And that's when she woke up.

* HPGW *

The sound of the whistling kettle woke her, and she stretched, feeling none of the melancholy of the previous days. She showered quickly, and dressed, then lightly ran down the stairs to the kitchen.

Her mother looked up as she came into the kitchen. "Good morning, dear. Breakfast?"

"Morning, Mum, yes please." She made a fresh pot of tea while her mother prepared her usual.

Molly watched as Ginny took the plate and her cup of tea, and went to sit at the table, unfolding the daily paper to read. There was something very different about Ginny this morning.

"Oh, a letter came for you," said Molly, gesturing to the window.

A gorgeous white Snowy owl waited patiently at the window, a letter clutched in its talons. Ginny somehow knew it would be from Harry.

"You seem in an awfully good mood this morning," noted Molly, offering the owl some bacon rind after Ginny had removed the letter and petted the owl. "Did you have a nice night with Ron and Hannah?"

"I had a great night," confirmed Ginny, dangling the letter between her fingers, almost reluctant to open it in front of her mother. Who was she kidding? She ripped it open, reading the words several times to make sure.

Harry hoped to see her today, if she was free. She felt giddy with excitement.

"And you slept well? No bad dreams?"

Ginny smiled. "Only good dreams, Mum, promise."

"Any more thoughts on your future?" asked Molly.

Ginny looked at the envelope. "I think it may be a bit clearer after today, actually."

Hermione and older Ginny were right. She was at the start of a journey with Harry, and she didn't want to miss out on any of the firsts with him at all.

Starting with their first date!

~ HPGW ~

She tried not to make comparisons with one life over the other, and now she was pleased she hadn't asked too many questions about her other life, like marriage dates and children's birthdates. For now she and Harry had their lives ahead of them, to live as they pleased.

Of course she told Harry about her 'dream', and her life with other Harry. After quiet contemplation, his only concern was that she was confusing this life with the other and trying to make it fit.

But Ginny pointed out the many ways their lives were different, how they were different people, shaped by different circumstance. And so they continued on, and never spoke about it again. Indeed, she never told anyone else about that dream, but she did remain good friends, close friends with Hermione. As time went on, thoughts of her 'other life' faded, for she was now the happiest she had ever been.

Older Ginny was right, there were wonderful new memories to make with Harry, and so many wonderful firsts.

Harry proposed to her a year to the day they had met, and of course, she said yes. The wedding had been at the Burrow, and in the absence of her father, her mother had walked her down the aisle, till they had arrived at the front row. Then Sirius stepped down from his place next to Harry, to escort her the final steps to her future husband. All of her brothers had stood with their mother when the minister asked "who gives this woman."

"We do, proudly," they all chorused, nodding to both her and Harry. She mouthed her thanks, and turned back to Harry and his blazing eyes.

Almost eighteen months later, she discovered she was pregnant. Initially, and with Harry's blessing, she planned to return to the Harpies after the birth and when she was match fit. However, when she learned they would be expecting twins, she officially retired.

Their daughters were born at their home, Potter Manor, where Harry's grandparents had lived with their son, Harry's father. Molly had assisted the midwitch, who was Percy's Audrey. It was the only time Ginny's other life seemed to connect with this real life.

Ginny had been certain they were boys, and had no girl names prepared, so the twins remained nameless for the first week.

To her surprise, Harry had been against naming them after his parents, feeling it was giving the children unnecessary expectations to live up to. So they decided on Jessica and Tabitha.

Their next daughter was Elladora, for Ginny could never forget Tonks and Teddy. It was different enough but close to Nymphadora, and Charlie had given his blessing and agreed to be her godfather.

Harry thrived in his house full of females, a more caring, loving father Ginny had never seen, apart from her own father. He learned, as good fathers did, to plait hair and brush tangles just the right way, to paint nails and help decide the merits of a pink pair of shorts or a tee shirt or lunch box over purple, or vice versa, depending on which daughter he was helping at the time.

Sirius too, was given a new lease of life when the children were born. He became the Potter children's Grandpa Siri and often stayed over, when he wasn't spending time with Amelia Bones.

Harry and Ginny's son was born when their twins were six. James Sirius had been considered briefly, despite Harry's earlier stance, but when she saw her son for the first time, Ginny knew it wasn't his name. "Evan," she had said decisively, a name she had stored in her mind. "He's our Evan."

Evan Arthur would carry the mantle of the Potter name into the next generation, continuing the tradition of potion makers in their family.

Matilda Molly Potter came into the world four weeks early, with no fuss, birthed by her terrified father at Potter manor in the early hours of the morning, and before the midwitch had arrived. She barely whimpered before being put to her mother's breast, such a tiny little thing. She would always find her greatest source of comfort in her father's arms, even in years to come.

"She's a daddy's girl," teased Ginny, tiredly. For their other daughters were strong, rambunctious and independent, terrifyingly so at times. Harry hadn't shared with his wife how many times he had caught Ella flying early in the morning, or the creatures Jess snuck into her room – where had she found that adder? – or that he had caught Tabs performing wandless magic, after merely reading about it in a book called 'Matilda', a gift from her godmother, Hermione. Tabs loved it so much she begged to name her new sibling Matilda, if it was a girl.

Five children may not have been in her plans – she refused to say she'd only wanted three – but seeing Harry cooing over the tiny baby in his strong gentle hands, made it all worthwhile, and now she couldn't imagine their lives without sweet Tilly.

"What's that look for?" Harry asked her, after rocking his newest daughter to sleep after her feed.

"Just you...with a baby. It does things to me," she told him.

He chuckled. "I think that's what you said with Evan, and next thing you know, this one is on the way." There was less than a year between their two youngest.

He sat on the bed beside her, Tilly on his bare chest. "Hmmm," murmured Ginny, picking up the tiny hand and kissing it softly. The baby didn't even move; full and content. "Five is such an uneven number...and poor Evan, he's surrounded by all these sisters."

"Are you saying you want to go again?" asked Harry, in surprise.

"I always want to go again, Harry," she winked, pleased she could still make his skin flush after all this time. She moved to sit next to him, her head on his shoulder. "But yes, I think six would be a good number."

Of course she would go on to have twins, both boys, Henry and Jackson. Not that it mattered; six, seven. She was married to the love of her life, with seven healthy children, five of who were already strong minded and showing signs of being magically advanced. Life was not going to be dull with their family.

She was living her dream, her new dream. Because dreams do, and should, change.

~end~