I was barely able to slip the Alarm Charm by Ginny last night before bed. I needed to ensure I arose well before her. Of course with the way her stomach revolts most mornings there is no predicting when she’ll arise. Thankfully, this is proving to be one of the mornings that her stomach is settled and she is able to sleep in late.



My second stroke of luck is that once I reminded Tina that it was Mumma’s birthday she was instantly alert, rather than her normal dazed self. She’s much like her Mumma in that respect, actually.


She cooperated fully as I dressed her in a special yellow summer dress and didn’t complain once as I fumbled to braid her hair into pigtails. She grinned at me like the cat that had the cream as we slipped by Ginny still asleep and down to the kitchen.


On my birthday Ginny and Tina prepared a special breakfast for me. I intend for us to do the same for Ginny. Unfortunately, given the state of Ginny’s morning sickness there is very little that she can keep down. I allow Tina to assist by stirring her Mumma’s cinnamon oatmeal as it heats on the stove. Meanwhile I’m using a Whipping Charm to stir the mashed potatoes that Ginny can’t get enough off lately.


The look on Tina’s face tells me exactly what she thinks of Mumma’s strange eating habits lately and I tend to agree, but as tempestuous her moods have been I’m willing to do any and everything to keep her happy.


I sigh and close my eyes as I think back to picking the two ladies up at The Phoenix House a couple of nights ago. Ginny was fit to be tied after watching the smoke, flames, and Dark Marks hovering over Hogsmeade and unfortunately her anxiety easily transferred to our daughter. They both alternated between smothering me with hugs and kisses and berating me for not coming home sooner and letting them know what was going on.


Finally, I won the peace by allowing them to split a gigantic tub of homemade chocolate ice cream. The night ended by being one of the few nights we allowed Tina to sleep in our bed. I smile when I remember waking up the next morning with both of my girls snuggled up to me. It was nice, but Ginny and I agree that it shouldn’t be a regular occurrence.


Ginny’s cereal and potatoes are finished and sitting in her place at the table with Warming Charms on them. I set up a Barrier Charm to keep the scents from the kitchen from travelling through the house and set to work making Tina’s favourite breakfast: a giant cheese omelette with a giant stack of pancakes. The Barrier Charm was a suggestion of Hermione’s after we found out that all it took was the smell of certain foods cooking to send Ginny to the loo.


I look longingly at Tina’s omelette but resign myself to sharing Ginny’s cinnamon oatmeal. I felt guilty about enjoying my food when she was stuck to such simple fare. While I don’t think she’s noticed it yet I’ve been limiting myself to whatever it is she can eat. I scrunch my nose when I think about the mashed potatoes though… I do draw the line at some points and mashed potatoes for breakfast is one of them.


The table is finally set and I stare longingly at the stairs, torn between my desire to scoop Ginny and bring her to breakfast and to just allow her to sleep as late as she wants on her birthday.


My choice is made when Tina stares at me with giant, serious eyes. “Mumma come eat now?”


Not certain as to what I’ll find and given how much Ginny being ill upsets Tina I divert her attention. “Tina… Angel… why don’t you and Nevaeh go and bring your Mumma’s gifts in from where we hid them in my study?” Tina giggles like tinkerbells and gives me a look of mischief. She’s not up to anything, but she loves to think that she’s sneaking something by her mum and I. She tromps off to the study with Nevaeh nipping at her heels.


I make use of her distraction and hurry up the stairs. When I find the bed empty I’m glad that I sent Tina off. I creep into the bathroom to find Ginny bowed over emptying the contents of her stomach. Her hair is plastered to the sides of her face and I can see tears streaming down. Ginny is someone who hates being sick more than most, so for her to be suffering morning, evening, and everything in between sickness seems almost like divine punishment.


Given how edgy she’s been since her last run in with Carrows I’ve learned to announce to her when I’m in a room. “Firefly, I’m here. I’m going to massage your back for you.”


She moans and I take that as acceptance. I kneel down beside her and begin rubbing her lower back. She groans, but doesn’t flinch. I run my hands gently up and down her back and finally after a few minutes she flushes the toilet and sags back into my lap. I pull her tightly to me, kiss the top of her head, and let her go limp against me.


I learned the hard way a couple of days to go that it is best for me to be silent during the time after she’s been ill. Nothing I said brought relief and my attempt to extend sympathy resulted in me first being sworn at in English, Egyptian, and Gobbedygook. She finally stopped with the sound of the air rushing from a bag then burst into tears and clung to me like her life depended upon it.


Groaning weakly, she turns her face into my shoulder as she says, "How do women do this?"


I kiss the top of her head again and gently flick my wand casting a Cleansing Charm on her. I follow it up with a mild Cooling Charm and then a Mint Charm. I gently peck her on the lips. “I don’t know luv, but I’m sure your Mum might, she did go through this six times.”


She scoots off of me with a sigh. I stand and pull her to her feet. I wrap my arm around her shoulders. “C’mon, our daughter is waiting for the birthday girl.”


She smiles weakly and leans her head against my chest. She’s a bit unsteady on her feet for a couple of steps, but we arrive in the kitchen with no problems.


We turn the corner and Nevaeh lets out a loud meow and Tina squeals out, “Happy Birfday Mumma!,” in between her giggles.


Ginny smiles brightly and scoops Tina up into her arms, “Thank you baby girl.” They rub noses and then Tina gives her mum a sloppy kiss.


She sets Tina down and scratches Nevaeh behind the ears. “Thank you too, Nevaeh.”


“Mumma, Mumma… look what Nevaeh and I made you.” Tina is holding out a giant yellow parchment that has been folded over like a card. The entire think is covered with red, blue, purple, and green handprints and cat prints. Inside it reads, “Happy Birthday Mumma! Love Tina and Nevaeh.”


Ginny’s bottom lip quivers and her eyes go all glassy. Finally, she crushes a Tina into a hug and sobs out, “Thank you baby girl, Mumma loves it.”


After a few moments Ginny composes herself. Tina backs away and grins widely. “Dadda and I made breakfast Mumma!”


Ginny flashes a look of horror momentarily until she sees the oatmeal and mashed potatoes. She breathes out a sigh of relief then leans down and gives Tina a sloppy kiss. “Thank you, baby girl.”

---

Breakfast runs smoothly and Ginny is able to keep both the oatmeal and the mashed potatoes down. With a few flicks of my wand I clear the table and set the dishes to cleaning.


Tina bounces up to Ginny, “Go get dressed Mumma, we are going swimming!”


"Swimming?" She looks between us and gets stuck on Tina's hopeful face. "Sounds lovely."


Tina squeals and dashes up the stairs to get her bag. Ginny rounds on me and gives me a critical look.


I shrug my shoulders and hold my hands up. “Sorry luv, I tried to convince her that you should get to pick what we do on your birthday, but she’s been going on and on about building a sandcastle on the beach ever since her uncles spent an afternoon regaling her about spending time at the shore when you guys were kids.”


Ginny frowns, “we never went to the beach when we were kids… “ she stomps her foot on the floor. “Fred and George… I’ll kill them.”


I step up and begin rubbing her shoulders. “Relax luv, I was able to locate a very private beach so we don’t have to worry about anyone leering at us.” I glace down at my watch, “but we need to finish getting ready, the Portkey is set to go in an hour.”


The shoulder massage diffuses her temper and she tilts her head back and purrs. “Okay Harry, I’ll go to the beach with you.”

---

The next hour was a blur of activity. Tina was ready in five minutes, although she managed to forget to get her bathing suit on, get her beach towel, and had her sandals on the wrong feet. I was already wearing my trunks and had a bag with my towel, a couple of beach chairs, and a picnic basket full of goodies from Mum waiting by the door, so I volunteered to get Tina ready again so that Ginny could focus on rapidly packing an overnight bag.


We now are standing in the entrance hall to the house holding to a length of rope that I had Dad get charmed as an International Portkey. Ginny and Tina are wearing their bathing suits under their matching yellow sundresses and both are now wearing their hair in matching ponytails. Tina’s hair is Weasley red today. Apparently Ella bragging about having her mummy and daddy charming her hair different colours has rubbed off and Tina refused to leave the nursery until I charmed her hair to match Mumma’s.


Ginny is giving me an incredulous look, “Harry? Where are we going? And why did you have me pack a couple of changes of clothes?”


As she speaks I’m distracted as she is fingering her bikini top under the dress (I made sure the one piece disappeared.) She catches my gaze and gives me a questioning look, “What? The bloody thing is smaller than when I bought it.”


I grin back at her, “or maybe you’re getting bigger?”


She glares at me, “just what are you implying Harry?”


Oh bugger, I’ve stepped in it now. “Um… er… well you see your… “ I glance down at Tina to see she’s paying us no mind, instead she is entertaining Nevaeh who isn’t exactly thrilled to be in her carrier. “Um… you see… you’ve gotten… bigger… up there.”


My voice is barely above a whisper and Ginny’s jaw drops and she suddenly begins feeling herself. Her eyes widen and she hisses, “Shite!”


“What Mumma?”


Ginny pales momentarily, “Nothing baby girl.”


I wink at her and she blushes as completely as I can ever remember.


Ginny huffs, “you still didn’t answer my question, where are we going?”


I scoop up my bag and Nevaeh’s carrier. “You are going to find out in ten seconds. Grab your things and grab the Portkey.” Ginny slings her bag over her shoulder and scoops Tina up.


We are both holding the rope when the familiar sensation of being pulled behind the navel starts.

---

The sight that greets us when we reach the end of the Portkey is breathtaking. It is considerably warmer where we are and the sun is just cresting the Eastern horizon.


We are standing on a white beach. Before us is blue ocean, behind us is a seaside cottage.


Tina immediately sets Nevaeh lose and the two of them begin racing up and down the beach.


Ginny starts to call for Tina to not wander off, but I stop her. “Don’t worry luv, Bill was here yesterday and set up a complete set of privacy wards and set up a barrier around the site that won’t let either Tina or Nevaeh outside.”


Tina begins dodging the surf and I can feel Ginny squeeze my hand tighter. “Don’t worry the barrier won’t let her go any deeper than one foot unless one of us is holding her.”


I pull Ginny into a hug and gently kiss her. “Happy Birthday Firefly, this weekend in Jamaica is my present to you.”

---

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