Chapter X
Harry lay next to Ginny in bed the next morning wide awake. She was still sleeping, wrapped peacefully in his arms. He knew it was early, the clock on the night stand said that it was only twenty after five, but he was awake and nervous. They were going to speak to Dumbledore that afternoon. He already knew that he wasn't going to have anything else to say. He had explained to Harry his reasons and Harry knew that those reasons were not about to be changed. Dumbledore may have regretted his decision but he still thought it was for the best.
Harry closed his eyes as Ginny snuggled closer. He placed his hand on her stomach and grinned. They were having a baby. He wanted Dumbledore to be apart of their baby's life. But how could he ever forgive him for what he had done? He grinned at the idea of their child calling Dumbledore Great-Grandfather. He wasn't really of course, but Harry had always looked up to him in a similar fashion. He glanced down at Ginny, wondering what she would think of that. He grinned, she would love it. She had been just as hurt by Dumbledore. He wanted his old headmaster to be apart of his life but he wasn't sure if he could allow it. He shook the thoughts from his head and instead looked down at his wife.
She was snuggled close to him, her long hair the colour of wild fire was flung across the pillow and his chest and shoulders. She wore only a small silk nightgown in bright blue. He grinned mischievously as he slid his hand up the silk to run his fingers along her bare skin. Ginny made a groaning noise and cuddled closer. Harry continued to let his hand ride up her body. When his fingers stroked over her breasts her eyes flew open.
"Mr. Potter, just what do you think you're doing?"
Harry grinned and covered her mouth with his. Her arms wrapped themselves around his neck as she returned the kiss. When he pulled away, she smiled up at him, her brown eyes dazed with happiness and pleasure. "I believe I was trying to get your attention."
Ginny laughed, sitting up and tossing the nightgown over her head. "I believe you got it, now what are you going to do with it?"
Harry grinned and pulled her down on top of him as she laughed. "Enjoy it." Then he crushed his mouth to hers.
Harry, James, Lily, and Ginny all arrived at Dumbledore's office the next afternoon. They all wanted an explanation. Dumbledore just watched them silently as they all took their seats.
"Well, I take it you all want to talk to me, again."
Harry nodded. "We would like an explanation as to why you did what you did."
Dumbledore sighed. "I have already explained this."
Ginny shook her head. "No Albus, you didn't. Do you know what you did by keeping James, Lily, and Sirius away from Harry his entire life? You forgot to remember that he is first and foremost a person. He was only a child when he first started here but you saw him as a weapon."
Dumbledore nodded. "You're absolutely right, Ginny; I did see Harry as a weapon. I didn't worry much on his emotions and he suffered because of it. But there's nothing I can say now. I made a mistake."
Harry spoke quickly, blinking away tears in his eyes that he didn't understand. "I was emotionally deprived as a child, Dumbledore, I mean; I never understood what that meant until I met the Weasleys. Molly and Arthur took me in so to speak and then when I fell in love with Ginny she showed me what I was missing in my life. I could have had parents and you just … you took that all away! You never gave me the choice!"
James sighed. "Albus, Lily and I both understand where your choices lay as we were there when you were deciding this, but is it true that you were looking at Harry as a weapon and not as a person?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Now that Ginny has mentioned it, yes I suppose I was. Not consciously I don't think I was, but in the long run, that's exactly what I did. I suppose it was hard not too. Think about it, I'm known as a brilliant wizard but everyone makes mistakes especially old men like me. When was the last time that someone ever told me that I was wrong? I can't even remember. Yes, I made a mistake, but again there is nothing I can do about it. It happened almost twenty years ago. I'm sorry because it may not have been the best decision but Harry was the weapon and I needed him. The magical community needed him. If I was to go back I would probably choose the same path again. Because at that time, I believed that it was the right decision."
Lily sighed. "Well, James and I forgave you a long time ago Albus, as we understood where you were coming from."
Harry stood up slowly. "I don't know if I can forgive you."
Dumbledore sighed. "Harry, I don't expect you too. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a meeting with the Minister."
James, Lily, and Ginny left the room, but Harry stayed where he was. "Dumbledore, Professor … I just don't understand why you thought I would be better without my parents?"
Dumbledore sighed. "Sometimes Harry, neither do I."
Then he walked into the green flames that had erupted in his fire and disappeared. That was the last time that Harry ever spoke to Albus Dumbledore.
Harry never did forgive Dumbledore for what he had done. He didn't regret it either, even when Dumbledore passed away a few months later in his old age. James and Lily found a small cottage near by and were thrilled with the prospect of being so close to their son and their grandchildren. Remus, Sirius, and James grew close again and were just as much fun and just as much trouble as they had been in their youth. James and Lily never had anymore children and Harry never asked why. Sirius even met a beautiful blonde woman named Anna. They were married quickly and by the time that James and Lily were made grandparents the second time, Sirius was expecting his first child.
The Weasleys gladly allowed Remus, Tonks, their kids, James, Lily, Sirius, Anna, and their kids as part of the family. The holidays were filled with people. Harry was so thankful every day of his life that he finally had his family back. Now as he looked down at his newest child, a beautiful baby girl named Gwendolynn, he knew that he was the happiest man alive.