Harry Potter, the Head Auror of almost 44 years was tired beyond words. It was approaching 10 o’clock in the night, yet he was cooped up at his small cabin in the American Auror office, San Francisco division, typing frantically on his Laptop. When he had signed up for the Auror office at the British Ministry of Magic, he had been filled with the sense of duty to keep the Wizarding World in peace and revenge against the Death-Eaters, who had blindly believed in the blood Supremacist ideals.
But, what he did not anticipate was, the unending load of paperwork and reports, that had to be filled at every stage of a case.
Even though he was the Head Auror of the British Ministry of Magic, he hadn't been spared from this chore. He was now a consulting Auror for the American Board of Investigators, of the MACUSA, sent by the Minister of Magic, Malinda Brown, stating that he should be prepared to take up the position of head of the DMLE, who should have the experience of providing consultant services for other magical law enforcement divisions of other countries.
Hary Scoffed at this reason every time he remembered the meeting with the Minister. "Load of Bullshit", he thought, everyone knew that if it were in her hands, it was her son who would be taking up that position. If she wanted the head of the DMLE to have experience abroad, she would have sent her son, not him.
But soon, she would be getting down from her seat in the upcoming election. Obviously, because of her poor handling of Covid19 crisis that spread to the Wizarding World, folks were tired of her administration and will be voting her out.
His fingers were aching, his report was almost up, and he saw and cheered tiredly. He leaned back, his jaw cracking with a wide yawn.
It would be early morning in the UK. Ginny would be awake now, he thought a touch wistfully. If he were at home, his wife would wake him up with a good kiss and a lovely morning cuddle… in his warm and comfortable bed…. She would murmur about that day's plans…
The beautiful aroma of coffee would waft gently from their kitchen, reminding Ginny to get their morning energy drink, with A... Cigarette?
Wait, what? Since when did he, or Ginny start smoking?
", Potter, wake up, man. Time to go home.".
He woke up. It was not his home. He was still in the Auror office.
It was his colleague, Jake Robins waking him up.
"Sorry, Jake. Didn't notice the time.", Harry apologised to the older man.
"No worries, Potter. Go home. I'll submit these docs. And, don't forget, tomorrow is a day off for you. Drinks in the evening I hope.", Jake asked with a grin. "Sure, we can go for a drink." He confirmed, "And, Jake, thanks a lot. I owe you.", he thanked his colleague.
"No problem. Mail those to me.".
Harry mailed the typed report to Jake and left home, thinking blearily of pubs to take his colleagues for a birthday drink.
With a small pop, Harry appeared at a driveway leading to a two-story house.
When he was sent to the USA, Harry had wanted to stay in housing provided by the MACUSA. But, a visit to Gringotts Wizarding Bank had led him to discover the Black's property in San Francisco, which served as his temporary home.
He shivered as a cold breeze passed by. He drew his cloak tighter to his body. Suddenly, he longed for his home, in Deven, with his Ginny, the comfort her arms provided, the chaos his kids made...
He wanted to call his wife, immediately. Even it put him at risk of a hex for disturbing her sleep.
And so he did.
When he thought she wouldn't pick up, a sleepy voice answered, "Lo.".
"Hello, beautiful. Good morning.". "G night, handsome, or is it evening? You still awake?", she asked.
He sat on the front stoop. "Yes, it is still night. I finished the report for a case late, and slept off for a while in the office.", he answered, a bit sheepish.
"Hmm, by the way, wish you a happy birthday, Har... Harry.", Ginny wished with a yawn. "Thaan... Thank you, love.", he said, her yawn spreading to him.
"How are the kids? What are they doing?".
"Lilly must be still asleep, James must be too, at his flat, and Al must be awake, reading his newspaper in his flat.", Ginny replied, sounding more awake.
Before he could reply, Harry heard something. Or someone walking inside.
"Gin, I'll call you tomorrow. Ask the kids to be home, and we'll do a video call. I've got something to deal with.".
"Ok, Harry. Will do that.", Ginny said. After they exchanged goodbye, he hung up and crept towards the front door.
He thought he heard someone whispering. With a quietly murmured spell, he opened the door and stepped inside.
A portrait of a Black ancestor glared back from his painting, situated at the large entrance. The house was quite big, which could support a huge family of 8 or 10.
He removed his shoes and hung his cloak in the hanger. Walking slowly towards the entrance, he heard more than one person breathing. He hadn't turned the lights, but a small flicker of light caught his eyes.
As he entered the living area, a very familiar voice started singing "Happy birthday to you". His jaw dropped open.
Another voice joined the first. Then 2, then 3... 4... and many familiar voices joined the singing.
One candle flicker became two and many. Finally, all the lights lit up revealing the faces of his family, the people he loved most.
His entire family, along with Ron Hermione, his god-daughter Rose, nephew Hugo, and two other women he didn't know were gathered in his house, in San Francisco to celebrate his birthday.
It had been more than 6 months since Harry had seen them all.
His children looked the same. James with his black hair and brown eyes, with freckles scattered on his face. Albus looks just like himself in his early 20s, with healthier eyes and body. Lilly was increasing to resemble her grandmother day by day. And, his Ginny. He let out a sigh. She looked beautiful, with her coppery tresses mesmerising him, and her large brown eyes lit up with joy at seeing him. His friends and their children too, looked the same. Rose and Hugo, a perfect blend of their parents, cheering for his birthday.
The two young women had now the opportunity of seeing the Harry Potter flustered and speechless.
Harry cleared his throat and everything went silent.
"Well, Gin is the best actor ever, I have to admit.". Everyone chuckled, while the said woman preened at her husband's praise.
"Happy birthday Dad!", shouted Lilly and came barreling towards her father and giving him a tight hug. Rose followed next, and then Hermione.
She examined him after hugging her, her keen gaze taking into account every small cut and nick. "You look a bit worn, Harry. Why aren't you taking care of your health?", she pronounced.
"Let him go, Hermione, his kids and wife are still waiting?", called Ron, deftly unhooking him from her eyes. "Happy birthday, mate.", He wished his best mate, clapping on his back.
"Thanks, both of you. And Hermione, I don't have enough time to take care of what I'm eating and how my health is. That's all.", Harry assured, warmed by her concern. "I promise I'll take care soon after I come back to Britain.".
"Happy 44th, old man, you look positively aged.", announced James with a large grin plastered on his face. "Shut up you, you can't find one grey hair on my head.", he replied outraged. Even though it irritated him, He had missed his son's sass.
Albus came forward shoving his brother aside and wished him happy birthday. "I assure you that I can't find a single grey hair on your head, Dad. But is that...", Albus tilted his head left, "Aah... I think it is some salt stuck on your beard.", he finished his inspection with a straight face, his lips barely twitching, "You might want to trim it off, dad. It may not go that easily.", his lips were now a full-on grin.
"Shut it, both of you.", Ginny called. "My husband looks the same, but I swear, he just might be getting more handsome.", she said, her eyes on her husband.
She came forward, and they met in a tight embrace in the middle.
He held her strongly, inhaling her scent, that reminded him of his home. They exchanged words of love and longing they had felt, which were meant for their ears alone.
Others, feeling uncomfortable watching the exchange, moved around, setting up things.
After a while, they broke up from the embrace, and he kissed her cheek, mindful of the company. Usually, Harry and Ginny were not very public with their affection, to the point it would feel uncomfortable to their children and extended family. But the looks filled with love and adoration, and some small gestures between the couple told the story of the love they shared.
"go Harry. Change and freshen up a little. It may be a while for you to sleep.", Ginny said, moving towards the kitchen. With a last intense look, they left for their business.
Soon, everyone had gathered in the dining hall. A large cake was kept on the table with candles aglow.
James wearing a party hat forced one on his protesting father and brother. Lilly and Rose were also wearing their hats. James took two hats for his aunt and mother. But they immediately put on their witch's hats, halting James in the middle.
"Everyone, be quiet and stand in a semi-circle. The party is about to begin... With a small introduction.", James called. He pulled a Brunet Witch with a round face and blue eyes, towards his side.
"Dad, meet Natalie Jones, niece of Gwenog Jones, and my fiancee.". Everyone went quiet. Harry and Ginny were shocked. Ginny had told him on calls that James was dating a girl called Natalie. He hadn't expected her to be Gwenog Jones's niece and certainly not to be his Soon-to-be daughter-in-law.
"Welcome to the family, Natalie.", Harry said, coming out of his shock, smiling warmly at the nervous girl. "Thank you, Mr. Potter.", she spoke up for the first time, a little shyly.
Eyes turned to the other woman and Albus. But he looked very nervous, more so than his girlfriend.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Potter, I'm Samantha Wilson. I'm, as you may have figured out, Albus' girlfriend.", she introduced herself. "Sorry... We hadn't planned this. I just ran into Samantha here in the USA.", Albus said, recovering himself. "Yes, I had been in the LA area for research. It was quite a shock seeing my boyfriend's family in the MACUSA building.", Samantha added.
She was a bright woman with black curly hair and intelligent grey eyes. Her countenance spoke of a wealth of knowledge and confidence. "Nice to meet you, Samantha. And thank you for joining us. Both of you", Harry said, including Natalie as well.
"Now that the intro is over, let’s start the party!", James called. Harry blew the candles and cut the cake. Everyone sang Happy Birthday once more. After that, everyone had pizza, the cake and treacle Tart, Harry's favourite dessert for dinner. Drinks flowed freely.
Lilly and Hugo too drank a small glass of Fire-Whiskey, trying and succeeding a bit in convincing their mothers that they were almost of age. Everyone felt a bit tipsy after the party was over.
"Presents!", Called Ron and Hugo. "Those are my presents, Ron. I'll open it and those are for me alone.", Harry warned his best friend, glaring, but failed spectacularly as he wobbled on his feet.
Gifts were opened with the sounds of wrappings being torn open filling the house. James and Natalie had given him a beautiful robe with all sorts of protective enchantments. Al and Samantha had given a Dragon hide wand holster, and a simple leather band to go well with it as a showpiece.
Sweet Lilly had brought all his favourite chocolates and candies from Honeyduke's. Hugo presented him a rolled-up canvas, which revealed a beautiful painting of their family on a small boat at the Atlantic on a vacation, with Harry in the middle.
"This looks beautiful, Hugo.", Harry commented, "Thank you so much.". Hugo blushed at the compliment.
Rose gave her uncle a lovely framed photo of their family on a vacation in Egypt. Ron and Hermione, predictably gave him a book of enchantments and country-specific Auror protocols of different countries.
Finally, Ginny handed him a small thick box. Upon opening it, Harry saw a thick book, with a Phoenix on the cover. It resembled Fox, Dumbledore's pet Phoenix.
The gold-coloured title said, "The Order Of The Phoenix", with the caption, "Tales Of Bravery And Bonds Forged By The Battle Against Blood Supremacy".
"This is a book I wrote about the first war. The story of every Order member in the 70s and 80s. This is the first volume.", Ginny explained at the stunned looks of everyone, timidly. Harry turned the book over.
And there, at the back, there was the list of every member of the Order in the first war. Albus Dumbledore, Aberforth Dumbledore, Alastor Mad-eye Moody, Benjy Fenwick, Emmeline Vance, Edgar Bones, Caradoc Dearborn, Marlene McKinnon, James Potter, Lilly Potter, Fabian and Gideon Prewett, Fleamont Potter And Euphemia Potter, Dorcas Meadowes, and many more, along with the author and supporter’s names.
"So this is what you've been doing all these months?", Harry asked his wife, amazed at her achievement. He knew she had wanted to write a book about the war. "Gin...", he had no words.
"I haven't published it, yet. I wanted you to look at your family in the book, and decide if you want them to be published... And it took years, Harry, not months. I had to trace the families and relatives of many of these members. Some were living in different countries and continents.", She answered.
"I want people to know, Harry. What happened decades ago? What kind of a monster Tom was, the destruction he brought upon the Wizarding World and the Muggle World. I want to tell the stories of people who fought in this war. I want the generations ahead to know that blood no matter magical or Muggle, is red and warm. The ability of magic may be present in some, but people without it are no less magical intelligent, or powerful...", she finished.
"Wo! Mum. I'm sure your speech is more convincing and charming, more than your book.", James muttered.
"Ginny, this is wonderful. More than anything, I'm happy that you did what you wanted to do. I'm very happy to receive this gift today, Gin. The book that will hold up the values we fought for, and the woman, who made these values in a way, her life ambition, and the same woman's precious love... This is the best gift, Ginny.", Harry said, his love for his wife increasing a millionfold, and he hugged Ginny still holding the book in his hand.
Soon, everyone congratulated Ginny for writing a book and wished for her success as an author. Harry too dearly wished for her success. He thanked everyone for coming and for their priceless gifts.
Soon, time passed, By the time everyone found places to sleep, dawn crept quietly over the Horizon.
Harry and Ginny, had retired to Harry's room on the first floor and were still murmuring in the bed.
"Did you like my present, Harry?", Ginny asked. For all her loud mouth and confidence, sometimes these vulnerable moments showed up. Harry had thought and was almost certain that her first book would be about Quiditch. But she had surprised him.
"Yes, Gin. I really loved it. I'm not saying this to encourage you or anything. Did you know, I had thought your first book would be about Quidditch or the Harpies? I didn't have a clue that you were writing about the war.", He confessed, drawing her close to his body.
"You amaze me Ginevra.", He placed a kiss on her forehead. "Your ambition", a kiss on her cheek. "Your passion", on another cheek. "You are the wonderful gift I've gotten from life.", he brought his lips to her's.
Her giggles at his antics were shut up by his lips. Soon, they lost themselves in each other's lips and arms.
Harry realised that for his 44th birthday, he had received the gift of a growing and loving family, his beloved friends who still stood with him with every step he and his family took, his children growing and becoming their own persons defined by their choices, and his Ginevra, the force that has kept him going, past the horrors of the war, past joy and victory, past sorrows and losses.
Her touch and kisses also reminded Harry, how long he had been away.
He made a mental note to take his MACUSA colleagues for a drink and announce his resignation and departure, his promotion be damned, as he drowned in Ginny's love Pacific.
The End.