Happy B-day Ginny Potter!
shruggingGinny usually woke up before the kids, it was a constant habit that lasted even after they left for Hogwarts, she got up early and did her things without worrying whether it was six in the morning or nine, in the end, she ended up being able to come home early and doing other things faster, and if she was very lucky, she would stop by to visit Harry at work.
But that morning it was different, there were bodies on top of her and many kisses were made on her face.
‘Wake up, Mum!’ Her daughter's sweet voice sounded loud, as she gave her an awkward hug
‘Someone is getting older,’ James sang, ruffling her hair and laughing at something. ‘I can already see the white hair.’ Ginny had to stay firmly on the mattress to keep from laughing, forcing herself to keep her eyes closed. It wasn't always that her teenage son showed such affection (not that he didn't, just now less often).
‘Don't talk like that James!’ Albus scolded. ‘Get up mom, we are hungry.’ He gave her some kisses that tickled her, and forced her to open one eye.
‘I can’t even sleep anymore?’ Ginny asked. Harry was still there, lying beside her, but he was laughing nasally and looking curiously at the kids.
‘Happy birthday to you..’ The three sang loudly, clapping and poking each other.
‘Dad said we had to make a surprise.’ James shrugged.
‘Oh.. yeah?’ Harry looked at her in love, kissing her quickly while their children imitated vomiting noises.
‘Happy birthday.’ Ginny felt like the most loved person, as she usually did when Harry planned something like this. He was always very attentive. ‘I don't remember you being so sick when you were the one who was kissing James.’
As if they were small, the three pushed Ginny and Harry aside and pushed each other, until they fit in the middle of them. Lily had to keep her head on her dad's chest and her legs on top of Albus, who was squeezed between her and James, who in turn, smiled big at his mum and laid his head on her shoulder.
‘But seeing you two is ew.’ He messed up his hair. ‘How does it feel to be 39 years old, mom? Already thinking about retirement?’ Ginny slapped him on the chest, laughing and denying.
‘Stop it, before I get mad.’ Ginny said, even though she was smiling.
‘Mum, we could go to eat at that restaurant near the Prophet!’ Lily perked up.
‘I said we were going out today.’ Harry said, shrugging
‘Where’s Teddy?.. And where's my coffee in bed?’ Before they could say anything else, a snap occurred on the first floor of the house, and since they had a security system, it could only be one person. In less than a minute, the door opened and a blue-haired man threw himself on the bed, hugging Ginny and crushing James, who complained vehemently about it.
‘Gin-Gin! You’re getting old.. I love you with all my heart, but please, do not be grouchy like Harry.’ Teddy kissed her on the cheeks as she used to do with him when he was a child, and lay down on everyone's legs, too big into that space, feet falling out.
‘Grouchy ? When you need my help, I'll remember that.’ Harry said, pretended to be angry.
‘Does that mean we're all here.. now can we go out?’ Albus asked, his big green eyes looked at her hopefully. ‘Where are we going? I was thinking-’
‘No, you always think crap-’
‘Language, James!’
The noise of conversations rang throughout the room, beastly discussions and pleasant laughter to hear. The children still squeezed and tried to make themselves all in bed, discussed where they were going and what flavor her cake would be.
Having everyone there, it made her feel very good, every birthday they made a point of lying in bed, singing happy birthday and staying there before one - usually Albus - got angry and jumped out, saying he was getting hungry.
She was getting older, she was 39 now, and when she thought of everything she had been through, the scared and lonely 11-year-old girl (the same age as her youngest daughter, for Merlin's sake!) She felt she had finally won.
They had won.
Harry was there, alive, by her side, making jokes with Teddy and Albus, playing and smiling. It was the same boy she had been in love with in her childhood, now no longer being hunted to death, which was really a relief. When the green eyes looked for her and found her, the husband blinked as if he thought so too.
Birthdays were always a reminder that everything had gone well.
‘How do you feel?’ He asked, over the noise.
‘In the same way as yesterday. But a little happier.’ Ginny smiled.
‘We're getting old,’ she denied vehemently, listening to the boys laughing as Teddy turned into something else, Lily complaining about something they ignored, but seemed to enjoy themselves too. All large and taking up a lot of space on the bed, no longer fitting in the middle of them without climbing on top of each other.
Teddy was 22, hadn't it been yesterday that they were celebrating his two years?
‘You are. I feel incredibly young.’ She straightened her red hair, feeling ready to get up.
‘And that white hair, mom?’ Lily asked. A wave of laughter took over the room when Ginny denied, faking a serious face; but she couldn't be happier.
