Today, Ginny Weasley Potter woke up a bit earlier than usual. Last night's match had worn her out so much that she fell asleep right after shower. Her dreams were blissfully filled with memories of her excellent performance and the cheers from Harry and the kids in the stands. After savoring the rare tranquility, Ginny shared a quick goodbye kiss with Harry and quickly made her way to the training grounds.
When she was taking off her shirt, her teammate, Gwenog, stormed in with a crumpled copy of The Daily Prophet in her hand, looking like she had stumbled upon some earth-shattering piece of news.
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“Ginny, you’ve got to see this!” Gwenog said firmly, grabbing Ginny’s arm while slamming the newspaper down in front of her with a loud smack.
Ginny, still reliving the thrill of last night’s match, instinctively pulled her arms up to cover her chest before hastily tugging her shirt back on. “Don’t talk to me when I’m half-naked!” she snapped. Despite her irritation, she shot the newspaper a skeptical glance and added, “What kind of gossip are you digging into this time—”
A familiar silhouette in one of the pictures immediately caught her attention.
The photo showed only the back of a man. He had a head of messy black hair, was wearing a set of pajamas Ginny knew all too well, and appeared to be cooking something in a kitchen. On the marble countertop, unmistakably familiar to her, lay a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
Ginny frowned and leaned in closer to read the advertisement’s text—and her eyes widened in shock.
"One thousand Galleons, limited-time offer—" she murmured, her heart skipping a beat. "Gwenog, this—"
"Absolutely Harry Potter," Gwenog said with a dead-serious nod, looking thoroughly enraged. "I know what you’re thinking—don’t even try to dodge this! Don’t tell me this isn’t Potter. We all recognize that back. Ginny! Every time he comes to your matches, he stands there like a bloody broomstick. We’ve seen him almost as often as we’ve seen you!"
Ginny’s mind went fuzzy for a moment. What was this ad supposed to mean? Had Harry been sold? Or... was Harry selling something? Or was it not even Harry at all?
"This has to be a prank, Harry couldn’t..." she tried to argue, but even she couldn’t convince herself—this was a photo of Harry in their kitchen. Who else but him could have taken it?
"Oh, I’m not saying Potter’s actually ‘selling’ anything," Gwenog said seriously, shaking the newspaper in her hand with a flurry of rustling. "But, Ginny, you’ve got to admit, that back looks exactly like Potter. In fact, it is him. Has he started some new side hustle he hasn’t told you about?"
"Gwenog!" Ginny's face had started to drain of color, and though she tried to stay calm, her hands were still trembling. "How could Harry possibly appear in an ad like this? Stop messing around, this has to be some journalist’s prank."
"‘Harry’?" Gwenog’s eyes sparked with anger. "Ginny, use your brain! If this is fake, don’t you think the journalist would be worried about getting caught? Besides, this article doesn’t look like something thrown together on a whim. How else do you explain terms like ‘limited-time offer’? It looks real! And tomorrow’s your birthday, and he’s being so irresponsible?"
Ginny’s heart tightened as she absentmindedly traced the outline of Harry’s back in the photo. Recently, Harry had been a bit absent-minded, as if he were caught up in something.
"You know? He’s been coming home late a lot lately, and he’s always writing so many letters," Ginny murmured softly. Her mind flashed to the recent times Harry had been acting oddly, sneaking around at night, smiling to himself when reading letters, then sneaking off to "take care of some business" before finally crawling into bed, exhausted, in the early hours of the morning.
"See, see?!" Gwenog said excitedly, her voice filled with fiery determination. "That bloody scoundrel! We’ve got to deal with him today!"
Ginny took a deep breath, anxiety flooding her like a tidal wave. Her mind unintentionally drifted to James and Albus, still at home—what would happen if someone told them? And Teddy, who trusted Harry so much, practically seeing him as a role model in every way! Ginny had a gut feeling that this was far from over.
"Alright," she finally nodded, "We’ll go find Harry. But if I find out this is all just a misunderstanding..."
Before Ginny could finish her sentence, Gwenog eagerly interrupted her. "We can’t tip him off! It’s just a thousand Galleons! Here’s the plan—I’ll cover half, and I’ll go to The Daily Prophet and buy him."
"Are you crazy?!" Ginny almost jumped up. "If he finds out I’m doing this, he’ll be heartbroken!"
Gwenog’s eyes widened in shock, her voice filled with intense emotion. "Merlin’s beard! He’s acting like a bloody tosser and you’re worried about him being heartbroken? This isn’t stalking, Ginny! It’s an investigation! We can’t just let him off the hook. Think about it—what if he’s started a new side hustle and passed some disease on to you? I can’t afford to lose a star Chaser!"
"Alright, alright, you go send the letter first," Ginny said, trembling. "There’s no way it’s him—Harry is worth at least ten thousand Galleons. Maybe it’s some Dark wizard..."
Ginny’s voice trailed off, eventually turning into a sigh. "Alright, I’ll tell Harry Potter that I’m staying at the training camp tonight, and just say you’re celebrating my birthday early for me."
"It’s not just 'saying,' Ginny, we will."
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The next morning, the Potter family owl flapped its wings and arrived again.
"Haven’t you got the reply letter form Potter last night?" Gwenog stared at Ginny, clearly exasperated. "That bloody tosser knows how to put on a show."
Ginny swallowed her unease and forced herself to stay calm. She reached out to the owl and took the letter, its string tied neatly around the envelope. She hesitated for a moment, unsure whether she should open it. After a brief internal struggle, she finally decided to see what Harry had written.
She tore open the red envelope, but suddenly, the letter popped up and shouted:
"Gwenog :
You actually want to sleep with Harry Potter? What are you thinking?! Who do you think you are? Ginny Potter is the one who belongs with Harry Potter! And she’s our mother, while you—you're just a second-rate player who thinks too highly of herself. No wonder every time you come to see Dad and Mom, you wander around like an old hag! Do you think that’ll make Dad care about you?
(Gwenog: "I have to emphasize I’m a Chaser! Bloody kid!")
You even pretend to be friends with Mom, but all you want is to get close to Dad! Do you want to replace her? No way! Even if Dad agrees, we won’t! Dad cares about Mom and us!
(Gwenog: "I can already predict how this little boy pursues girls.")
You vicious woman, so naive. We’ll be keeping an eye on you! Looking forward to seeing you fall flat on your face in a match!
We won’t let anyone hurt Mom, especially not you, you nasty old hag! Mom’s way better than you!
(Gwenog: "Fine.")
So, Mrs. Jones, stop deluding yourself. I hope you do better in the next match, because that’s the only thing you mean to Mom. We certainly don’t want her to lose—maybe there won’t be a next match, I’ll tell Mom to vote to get you expelled tomorrow! (You won’t get a refund, homewrecker!)
We won’t cause trouble today, but you’d better not mess with Mom. It’s her birthday."
"This… What the hell is this?" Ginny’s blood boiled, her voice trembling so much she could barely form a sentence. "Gwenog, darling, I have to apologize—"
"I… It’s fine, but—" Gwenog’s face showed shock, suddenly realizing. "Harry isn’t being a tosser!"
Ginny’s anger flared, turning her face crimson, blending with her fiery red hair. "Yeah, but those two little bastards, Merlin, I’m definitely going to deal with them when I get home today."
"It’s alright, happy birthday, Ginny! You should head home early today and rest!" Gwenog said with a complicated expression. "The kids are just helping you avoid danger, right? But be careful—don’t let them sell off the famous Quidditch player Ginny!" She silently mourned for the children in her heart.
"Thank you, darling, you’re my best friend!" Ginny was deeply touched.
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When Ginny walked in, the kids immediately pretended to be roughhousing in the living room, and the air was filled with the smell of cake and fresh juice. Her mood lightened instantly, but as the thoughts of those furious letters returned to her mind, the fire in her chest reignited.
"What are you doing?" Ginny asked casually, though there was an almost imperceptible edge of anger in her tone. James and Albus’s smiles froze immediately, and even Teddy showed a hint of unease in his eyes.
"Mom, happy birthday!" James forced a smile, his lips twitching as he held up an elegant box. "This is my gift to you." He opened the box to reveal a delicate pair of earrings, glowing with a clear green light. The emerald stones were set in a fine golden base, small but obviously expensive. "It’s the color of Dad’s eyes," he added.
"And mine, Ginny," Teddy said, lifting up an exquisite model. It was of Ginny in the middle of a match, looking fierce and graceful, and it even moved.
"And mine, Mom!" Albus chimed in, presenting a fine greeting card, decorated with a family portrait. Ginny stood in the center, smiling brightly. The card was so finely crafted it even had gold foil embedded on it.
"Thank you, kids." Ginny smiled faintly, her anger starting to fade as she looked at their thoughtful gifts. "But these look awfully expensive. Can I ask where you got the Galleons for these—"
"Mom, we’ve got a special surprise!" Albus cut her off, clearly eager to distract her. "We’ve planned a huge party! And… we’ve got Dad cooking!"
"Is that so?" Ginny nodded calmly, her eyes scanning the room.
Just then, Harry popped his head out from the kitchen, holding a pan in one hand, his face adorned with a puzzled smile. He clearly hadn’t heard the kids’ conversation, fully absorbed in his "cooking endeavor."
"Ginny, come see what I’ve made!" he waved at her excitedly, his eyes full of eager anticipation.
"I’ll be right there," Ginny replied, walking slowly toward the kitchen. "What have you made?" she asked curiously, her eyes scanning the kitchen, only to find the counters covered with various ingredients, but no finished dishes in sight.
"I thought I’d make you a special birthday lunch," Harry said confidently, seemingly full of pride in his culinary skills. "I even wanted to try some new dishes!"
Ginny swallowed nervously. "I think I’ll love it," she said with a cautious smile.
At that moment, a loud crash suddenly echoed from the kitchen, as if the pan had collided with something. Harry’s smile instantly faded, replaced by a flurry of awkward panic.
"I—I just wanted everything to be perfect..." Harry stammered, flailing a bit as he tried to salvage the situation.
"Don’t worry, darling, we can finish this birthday lunch together," Ginny said softly, walking over to his side and beginning to help him clean up.
Harry took the opportunity to walk over to a cabinet, dramatically flinging it open and pulling out a document. "Surprise! It’s your birthday gift—a house right next to your team’s training camp!"
Ginny froze for a moment. "What? A house? Are you saying we’re moving?"
Harry nodded enthusiastically, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Yes! I’ve already renovated it and wanted to surprise you. It has a big garden and is close to your workplace. Once Teddy heads back to school, we can move in!"
Ginny grabbed Harry’s messy hair and planted a big kiss on him. "So, all those late nights recently were for this?"
"Exactly. I was so worried you’d spot me during the day—you’re always flying so high! I had to go at night," Harry said earnestly, his gaze filled with love and anticipation. "Our story is far from over, Mrs. Potter."
She couldn’t help but laugh, her anger and anxiety melting away in an instant. Ginny stepped forward, tightly gripping Harry’s hand, her eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you, Harry. This is incredible!"
Harry smiled warmly, then suddenly added, "Lunch is ready! Your brothers and Hermione will be here soon, along with your parents. Do you want to invite anyone else?"
Ginny waved her hand quickly. "I already celebrated with my friends last night. Today, just us family!"
"Alright, love." Harry leaned in for a quick kiss.
At that moment, the lively sounds from the kitchen were interrupted as James, Albus, and Teddy burst in from the living room, waving balloons and decorations like a flock of jubilant birds. "Mom, are Grandpa, Grandma, Uncle Ron, and Aunt Hermione here yet?"
Ginny glanced at them, muttering inwardly, Looks like today’s going to be a busy day. But her face lit up with an uncontrollable smile, her excitement radiating like sunshine.
"Of course! I’m ready!" she replied enthusiastically.
Just then, the kitchen let out a cheerful ding, and Ginny couldn’t help but laugh. "Harry, we’ll spend this birthday together. Who needs perfection?"
Amid the laughter and joy, the warmth in the house grew even stronger. Ginny knew that, despite the day’s ups and downs, as long as Harry and the kids were by her side, she could face whatever challenges life threw her way.
The next day, James couldn’t hold it in anymore and dragged Albus to tell Ginny.
“Mum, I didn’t want to say anything on your birthday, but Gwendolyn’s up to something bad!” he shouted. “She’s trying to replace you! It’s disgusting!”
Ginny raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. “You mean, she wants to take my spot on the team?”
“Yeah, but it’s worse than that!” James continued, voice rising with indignation. “She’s been going around saying you have no skill in the matches, trying to get everyone to vote for her! And the worst part? She wants to flirt with Dad, trying to be the other woman!”
“She’s gone too far!” Albus chimed in, his face twisted with righteous anger. “We can’t let this continue! We should tell Dad to shut her down! She even wants to make Dad her sugar baby!”
Harry, panic-stricken and toothpaste still hanging from his mouth, rushed out of the bathroom. “Ginny, I swear on my life, I’ve never let anyone be my sugar mommy! What are they talking about?!”
Ginny couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re talking about the Daily Prophet, right? You’ve misunderstood Aunt Gwenog! Actually, I was the one who bought Harry using her name!” (She was pretending not to notice how the kids had gotten their hands on the money for their gifts.)
“You put me up for sale in the Daily Prophet?!” Harry blurted out.
The boys stammered, “Sorry, Dad! We were just worried! Yeah, worried about…”
“It’s alright,” Harry said, trying to hold back his laughter. “But you two definitely need to write Gwenog an apology letter.”
With that, he shooed the boys off.
That evening, as they sat together, Harry grinned, his eyes twinkling mischievously. “So, dear Miss Weasley, are you interested in hiring the playboy Harry Potter for the evening?”
Ginny raised an eyebrow and, pretending to dig into her pocket, pulled out a handful of coins. “Sure! One thousand Galleons per night.”
She tossed the coins at him. “Last night was good, darling. Keep up the good work.”
Harry burst out laughing, clearly delighted by the joke. “Deal,” he grinned, showing his teeth.
They both laughed, enjoying the warmth of their home and the playful atmosphere that filled the air.