Fall was beginning to arrive on the British Isles when October came knocking on everyone's door. The weather had started to play tricks on them, never being clear in the morning how the day would turn out. At that early October, Ginny had already flown to every type of weather, being good to train how to handle them in case they were to happen during a game. For Harry, on the other hand, it was quite horrible the sudden changes, since he was out of the office during some elementary surveillance work with his partner, and best friend, Ron. That day they had been assigned to watch over a little muggle village in Wales. There had been some unfamiliar magic traces on the area and so they were there to look into the situation. Once stationed on their lookout, the silence and boredom of surveillance started to reign. 

"How's the house work doing, mate?" Ron asked his friend. It had been more than a month that Harry and Ginny had taken everyone to meet their new home. The couple started to do some repair and painting work back in late August, but for the last few weeks they were setting up the furniture little by little, room by room, to make sure everything was done properly. They had decided to take their time and only move in once everything was perfect or when the baby came, whichever happened first. 

"We just had the living and dining room done. It's hard to plan a place where there might be Weasley's reunions with so many people." Harry joked with a big grin. "And we are about done with Teddy's room as well. We'll be doing the nursery last though. We want to know the baby's gender first."

"You know, mate? It's a little surreal that you are going to be a dad. Aren't you freaked out? I know I'd be if Hermione turned out pregnant any time soon."

"I thought I would, but after I gave it a little more thought and then Teddy's little reaction to the news, I realized Ginny and I already are parents for a while now." Harry explained. "It shouldn't be much different than with Teddy, I guess. And he will be with us full time soon, anyways."

"How come?"

Harry forgot he didn't tell anyone just yet about Andromeda's illness. When he was about to explain all about it to Ron, they heard a blast a few yards from them. They were alarmed and with a jump had their wands ready and went the way they heard the noise. Arriving to the site, they slowed their pace and hid to take on whatever it was happening. It wasn't long before they noticed they were dealing with a former Death Eater. 

"Wands down." A voice told the two Aurors when they acknowledged what was going on. They seemed to be torturing a couple of muggle men. They both turned around slowly to face the Death Eater that spoke. “Now”. Although it seemed he had the advantage over them, he didn't know there was a very specific partner pairing at the Auror Office. They were chosen so that both Aurors can develop perfect synchrony with one another to handle any situation. And it surely wasn't the first time someone tried to surrender this pair. As Harry pretended to put his wand down, Ron took the opportunity to hex the Death Eater. By then, Harry had already turned around and captured the second one they had their eyes on. By a inch, a curse missed Harry's head, but before he knew it, Ron had petrified the responsible. 

"Who do you think you are trying to kill my best friend, hah?" Ron yelled at the moveless body in front of him. Harry laughed and surveyed the area to make sure it was only those three. Once he had sure there wasn't any more magic trace in the area, the pair modified the two muggle men's memory and took the captured wizards back to the office. Great, loads of paperwork now, Ron thought. Definitely, nobody enjoyed that.

Instead of the paperwork that would have to be done once they got back, Harry couldn't get out of his head how closed that curse passed by him. He looked to his watch and noticed it was still early. With a bit of luck he would be able to surprise Ginny at St. Mungo’s later in the afternoon. 

Ginny was flying at the Holyhead Harpies pitch that day, going over the 100th time the play her coach Gwenog Jones had given then that morning. Pass the quaffle, down, up, left, get the quaffle, up, right, shot to the hoop, SCORE! But before Ginny could celebrate, Gwenog was already yelling to do it again. Most of the morning was spent repeating over and over again until the players didn't have to think about it and it turned automatic. The team was released for the day early afternoon, but not before Ginny's broom got hit by a runaway bludger that hadn't been captured yet. Luckily, Ginny was only few feet over the ground and had a light fall on the grass. The young player's first move was to put her hands over to her lomb, as to make sure everything was alright. Gwenog went to her aid, but before she got to the girl, she was already up, massaging her head. The coach couldn't help to notice how her player was more worried about her belly than the cut she clearly had on her arm. But still she couldn’t accuse Ginny of anything since Quidditch robes were so big. 

"Potter, everything alright?" Ginny nodded and gave her a fading grin. "Well, can I see you in my office, then?”

"Coach, I'm so sorry, but I have an appointment at St. Mungo’s in half an hour, but I can come to your office afterwards, is that alright?" 

"Alright, then. Take care of that cut in your arm since you’ll be there." Ginny looked out acknowledging for the first time the injury. "I'll see you later, Potter. Go ahead." 

Ginny headed to the locker room to shower and change to get to her appointment. It was the first time she was getting the baby checked out. Too close, Ginny, the redhead scolded herself. 

Harry and Ron finally reached the Auror Office floor back at the Ministry after handling the Death Eaters' arrest which took forever to have it cleared. Like at Hogwarts, Harry noticed how the Ministry was also filled with gossip. As soon as the young men stepped into their department, everyone started to clap their hands and to congratulate them for their accomplish earlier that day. 

What neither Harry nor Ron understood was that it wasn't very normal for two young Aurors to take on three fully trained dark wizards by themselves. After all those years, it still seemed natural for the boys to be on situations where they didn't stand a change. They had been at it since the early age of eleven! But apparently they were the only ones to think that way.

Ron was grinning self-consciously while receiving all that recognition for their work. Harry though was desperately wanting a hole to hid from all the attention they were getting. He thanked his way back to his desk, wanting to start on the paperwork before he clocked out early to meet Ginny for her appointment. Surely, it wasn't meant for him to be with his wife that afternoon: halfway through his third parchment of report, he received a yellow intradepartmental note from Gawain Robards, his boss, asking him to his office. Harry heavily sniffed before getting up and heading to his boss' office. 

"Excuse me, sir?" Harry knocked on the door. "You wanted to see me?" 

"Yes, Potter, come in." The older Auror invited. "Please, sit." Robards was a aged wizard, with many years behind him serving the Ministry and working for the Order undercover during the war. Harry shared great respect for his boss, and the same happened the other way around. Over the years, Harry had earned his position on the department for his work, despite of who he was. After offering some tea, Robards continued "I've heard of yours and Auror Weasley's doings of this morning. I'm quite impressed, as usual."

"Thank you, sir. I didn't know it would be such a big deal, really."

"Always humble. I appreciate that. And it's one of the reasons why I called you in. You see, Harry," the Head Auror got up and sat on his desk while taking off his reading glasses, matching with the informal tone he started talking to his employee "I've decided to retire by the end of the year and I've been thinking for a long time about who I would promote to take my place. I would be honored if you accepted the job."

Harry considered what the wizard in front of him was saying. Was he really getting a promotion? Was he offering Harry the post of Head Auror? "Sir, it'd be me who'd be honored! Thank you!"

"You've earned it, son!" He extent his hand and Harry took it for a happy handshake. "It will be official first thing after the December holidays. Congratulations. You're off the rest of day, enjoy it with your wife. I've heard she's pregnant, is that right?" Harry nodded and the man congratulated the young couple and led him out of the office. 

Harry found Ron waiting outside. He too was called in. Ron grinned at his friend and mimicked the confirmation for that night's dinner at Grimmauld Place. When Harry confirmed, Robards invited Ron in. The dark haired wizard looked to his watch once again to find he was already too late to meet his favorite redhead. Instead he went straight home after he had bought some flowers to offer his wife. Although he could simply have transfigured some once he got home, he found it more romantic to do it the muggle way. 

Ginny was leaving St. Mungo’s when she ran into Hermione at the hospital reception. 

"Hermione? What are you doing here?" 

"Gin! Hey! Oh, just some Ministry work. What about you? How was the appointment?" Hermione asked. 

"Everything was really great. It's a healthy baby I've got in here." Ginny caressed her belly which you could start to see a little bump, indicating the life growing inside of her. "Anyways, the Healer said that it's time to quit Quidditch, before something more dangerous really happens."

"What do you mean more dangerous?" Hermione got alarmed as she finally noticed the bandage Ginny had on her arm.

"Well I had a little fall today at practice. Nothing serious, but it could have been." Ginny looked a bit guilty about it and Hermione decided it was best not to push the subject. They said their goodbyes and promise to talk more over dinner that night. Ginny got out of the hospital and spun in the spot to Holyhead to have a talk with her coach. As she got there, she knocked on Gwenog's office door. A "Come in" was heard from inside.

"Oh, there you are, Potter. Everything's ok, I reckon?" 

Ginny entered the office, full of medals and trophies from previous championships, and greeted the woman sitting behind her desk. She could see she was working on one more play to be practiced on the next day’s practice. 

"Yes, everything is better than great." She paused for a moment and continued. "Gwen, I have to inform you that I quit. I'm so sorry, but it's time. I'm pregnant." Ginny let it all go at once, hoping to be over with. 

Her coach eyed her curiously for a moment. She was loosing another one of her players, the best she ever had, to motherhood once again. She should be used by now. It wasn't unexpected nor unheard of. But still it hurt her to loose a player. Gwenog nodded. 

"I see. I'm not surprised, although I'm sad to have our best chaser leave us, but I'm happy for you, Ginny." She got up and hugged the young woman. They talked a little more before she asked. "Do you have any idea about what you want to do next?" 

Ginny frowned. She had been so worked up with the new house and baby plans she hadn't thought about. 

"I hope to figure it out soon" Ginny answered with a bit of concern stamped on her brown chocolate eyes. 

"Don't worry, you will. In mean time, be sure to come visit. Ex-players and their immediate family members have full pass to every game!" Gwenog said leading her player outside to the Apparition point. They said their goodbyes and Ginny popped disappearing into thin air. 

The sun was beginning to fade in the horizon when Ginny apparated in an alley next to Grimmauld Place. She enjoyed the short walk between the alley and number twelve. It was nice to take in the neighborhood around her. She thought about their new house and she was so excited to move in. Now, without the Harpies, she would have more time to shop and finish the preparations on the house. She was imagining ideas for the master bedroom when she unlocked the door and walked in the hall of number twelve. Flory was there to greet her and inform her Mistress that Master Harry was up in his study. Ginny smiled to the news and went straight upstairs to meet him. She found him sitting with his back to the door, outlooking the window. His mind seemed a thousand miles away. She stepped quietly in the study and covered Harry's eyes when she approached him. 

"Guess who?"

"Is it my loving wife?" Harry joked moving his chair around and pulling Ginny onto his lap and kissing her softly on the lips. "How was the appointment?"

"It was fine. Little James or Lily here is strong and healthy." Ginny answered. 

"James or Lily?" 

"Well," she hesitated before continuing. "I thought that after all we've gone through, it would be nice to honor the ones who died in order to give us a better world to live in. And who better than the firsts to give their lives for my husband?" As Ginny completed her speech, she noticed how watery her husband's green eyes had become. He was speechless. Harry pulled his wife close and kissed her once again more passionate than the first time. 

"All these years and you still come up with ways to surprise me, Gin! I love you so much! And I loved the idea!” Ginny grinned at him and he continued. "But, I have some news of my own." 

"You do?"

"Yes! Guess who's the next Head Auror?" Harry left the question hanging in the air as Ginny took her hands to her month. With that, Harry noticed the bandage on her arm, immediately forgetting about his promotion. "Merlin, Ginny, you're hurt?" 

"It's nothing, I just fell off my broom today, no big deal. Harry, YOU ARE HEAD AUROR? That's fantastic, love!" Ginny kissed him once again but he barely kissed her back. Harry had that look he got when something was bothering him. 

"What's wrong? Tell me." 

Harry took his time before answering the question. He placed his hand on her lomb and caressed. He decided to let the fact Ginny got hurt in practice go. Then he looked up again and started "Ron and I captured three Death Eaters today." He paused and Ginny could tell he hadn't got to the point just yet so she kept silent. "And a killing curse missed me for an inch, Ginny, ONE bloody inch!" Harry started to get worked up about it but soon calmed himself down while caressing the little baby bump on Ginny's belly. Ginny held a grasp. "And for a second I thought of Teddy and how would he have managed if Remus hadn't named me his godparent. And obviously, I thought of Sirius." He paused with the memory of his own godfather, his dad's best friend. "What I am saying Ginny is: I want Ron and Hermione to be the baby's godparents. Do you agree?" 

The young woman's chocolate eyes went blurry for a second and back. For a moment, it sinked in the fact that Harry's job was dangerous. There were still all kinds of evil out there and most of them shared this crazy common interest in killing Harry Potter. That would make her vulnerable as well. Then she understood what he meant and how important naming godparents was. And who better than her brother and best friend? 

"Yes, I agree" she finally said. It wasn't pleasant to think of a possibility where Harry or herself or both were dead was it should be considered. They discussed how they would ask them and it was settled Ginny would ask Ron, as he was her brother and Harry would ask Hermione, since she was like his sister as well. After everything was decided, Ginny got up and announced "I know this was something we had to discuss, but no more of these sad and morbid subjects okay? I don't want to think about losing you ever again! I had enough of that for a lifetime." 

"Fair enough, no more sad subjects" Harry got up and hugged Ginny. They headed out to their bedroom to have a shower and dress up for the usual thursday night dinner with Ron and Hermione. Harry was wondering why Robards called Ron to his office as well and Ginny was excited to share her ideas for the master bedroom with Hermione.

"Hey, Ginny" Harry spoke standing at the doorway to the drawing room after they had freshen and dressed up. Ginny took her attention from the book she was reading and turned it to Harry instead. He was holding something behind his back, but she couldn't really see it from the couch seat she was. The green-eyed man came to her and gave her a simple red rose. "I bought it on my way home as I didn't get out of work before your appointment as I had planned." 

"Oh, honey, it's beautiful" Ginny cried with a smile on her face.