by FIRE
Dreaming's World
Up. Down. Up. Down.
Harry Potter pushed the swing in which his squealing three-year-old son was seated.
"Faster, Daddy!" the little boy shouted, above the rushing wind in his small ears.
"I can't, Aidan," said Harry with a small smile. "I'll be in trouble with Mummy again, and you know that your sister doesn't like it when Mummy shouts."
"Let me fly!" said Aidan.
Harry looked thoughtful for a moment as his eyes fell on the broom shed in the large back garden.
"Promise me you won't tell Mummy," said Harry, catching the swing and slowing it to a stop.
"Promise," said Aidan with a large grin.
"Okay, let's go," said Harry lifting his son out of the swing.
Aidan wiggled his way out of Harry's arms and ran as fast as his legs would carry him across the lawn.
"Hurry up, Daddy!" he shouted.
Harry couldn't suppress his grin as he pointed his wand at the lock on the shed.
"Alohomora," he said. "Aidan, open the..."
But Aidan didn't need telling. The door was already open and the toddler was dragging Harry's trusty old firebolt out onto the grass.
"You're a cheeky little thing aren't you," said Harry ruffling his son's black hair.
He took the broom and swung one leg over. Then he lifted Aidan, and sat him firmly between his own arms before kicking off from the ground. Harry flew round, only about seven feet from the ground, with Aidan laughing the whole way.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER!" an angry voice rang out from the kitchen door.
Aidan stopped laughing, and Harry gulped. Both knew what was coming. Harry quickly guided the broom back to the ground, and allowed Aidan to jump off.
"What do you think you are doing!" Ginny Potter asked angrily.
"Flying," said Harry innocently.
"Flying?" said Ginny.
"Yes," said Harry. "That's what it's called when we use a broom to take us into the sky."
"You think it's funny do you?" Ginny shouted again. "Taking your three-year-old son on that thing. You were never very safe on your own, let alone with a toddler in your way."
"Ginny, come on," said Harry. "It's not like I'm taking him on a Wronski Feint or anything. We barely hit thirty miles per hour."
"I don't care," said Ginny. "What did I tell you when Aidan and Emilia were born?"
"No flying until they're five," Harry muttered.
"Exactly," said Ginny. "And the last time I checked they're still two years short of that."
"Sorry Ginny," said Harry, deciding it was best to keep the peace.
"Well, the two of you had better come inside," said Ginny. "Your tea is ready. Oh, and you'll need to give Milly a hug."
"You didn't shout at me in front of her again?" groaned Harry.
"She's in the kitchen," said Ginny. "She's bound to have heard me."
"Alright," Harry sighed. "Come on, monster."
He snatched Aidan up of the ground and carried him kicking and giggling under his right arm back into the house.
She's an angel, Harry thought as he gazed upon his wife's sleeping form. He knew that in many ways she had saved him, and he knew he couldn't do without her. He leant over and placed a gentle kiss on her temple. Ginny stirred and rolled over. Her eyes flicked open.
"Hey," she whispered. "What you thinking 'bout?"
"How I never thought I could be this happy," he whispered back.
Ginny smiled softly.
"I love you so much," he said.
Ginny raised her hand to his chest.
"Don't get all mushy on me," she said, with a small giggle.
Harry grinned.
"Get used to it," he said before capturing her lips in a tender kiss.
Harry leant against the doorframe of his children's bedroom. He watched as his twins dreamt peacefully, never knowing the troubles that led to their being, and the horrors of their past: Voldemort, Riverstein, wars and death. He gazed at his beautiful red-haired daughter, Emilia, who was the spitting image of her mother, and went over in his head, the day when he saw her face, which he had thought he would never see again.
She'd been there, running through the streets of the enclave, lost and scared, and he'd spoken to her and learned everything. About how her uncle looked after her and the truth about what had happened to her mother, why she had never escaped to find him and the reconciliation between him and an old friend, who now had one more thing to share.
His eyes moved to his handsome black-haired son, and he remembered how the little boy ran into his arms, when he went to collect him from the Weasleys' house.
Harry sighed and crept away from the room. He walked slowly to the kitchen and pointed his wand at the kettle. He opened the cupboard and lifted the jar of chocolate powder down.
"I thought I heard someone was up," said a voice from the doorway. "I went and checked on the twins but they were both asleep."
Harry stayed silent as he mixed himself a hot chocolate.
"Couldn't sleep," he said as he moved to the breakfast table.
"Was it the dream again?" asked Ron Weasley as he sat down opposite his brother-in-law.
Harry nodded.
"It's like the universe's final laugh," said Harry. "Showing me everything I could have had. It just drives the knife in deeper, you know."
"Believe me, Harry, mate," said Ron. "I know exactly what you're going through, and I promise it gets easier. The pain never really goes away, but it does get easier. Just give it time."
"It's just so hard," said Harry. "I've got to be strong for the twins and yet I feel my insides withering away and leaving me an empty shell."
He smiled a hollow smile.
"She'll always love you, Harry," said Ron. "She was never so sure of anything as she was about loving you, and you and the children were the best thing that ever happened to her, and never forget that."
"Thank God you're here, Ron," said Harry. "I don't think I could do this on my own."
"You'll never be alone, Harry," said Ron. "And neither will I. Hell, we've got a whole army behind that veil watching out for us."
The two men chuckled.
"I guess you're right," said Harry. "You know, when I saw you grab Milly that day in the enclave, I just wanted to rip your head off."
Ron laughed.
"I'm not surprised," he said. "The last time I saw you I put you under the cruciatus for God knows how long."
He paused.
"Sorry 'bout that," he added. "I was suffering, and with everything that was going on, nobody had time to help me, except Ginny."
"She always wanted to believe you'd be okay," said Harry.
"I know," said Ron. "Everyday I'm sorry for what we put you through."
"Do you remember what we were like at Hogwarts?" asked Harry. "When are biggest problems were homework, or you know, Voldemort, but it never really mattered because we had everything to live for."
Ron smiled.
"It was always one thing after another, wasn't it?" he said.
"Yeah," said Harry. "But we always came through it with smiles on our faces, even when Sirius died, and Dumbledore, it was almost easy to carry on. But now look at us, we're not even thirty and we're both broken wrecks."
Ron gave a hollow laugh.
"Hermione and Ginny wouldn't want us to be like this," said Ron.
"I know," said Harry.
Harry stood alone on the hill, the autumn breeze blowing his hair. He rested his hand on the cold grey tombstone and bowed his head.
GINEVRA MOLLY POTTER 19812005 Gone but not forgotten And her daughter ABIGAIL JANE POTTER Who brightened this world for May she be cherished in Paradise
just two short hours
A/N: This is the final chapter of this story. I hope you've all enjoyed reading it, and I'm sorry if the ending is a bit too tragic for you. I'd like to say a big thankyou to Bill for beta reading this story and improving it loads.