"Stop putting yourself down ... James" Ginny said smiling as she used Harry’s new name for the first time. "We will get through this, I have waited to long for your ‘return’ to let anything as ‘trivial’ as my family get in my way.”

"As for your injuries, we will go slow in restarting the physical side of our relationship. But I wish it clearly understood that any hesitation is on your part not mine.”

"I have almost finished my healer training Harr... James. I have worked extensively in both the CCT ward and the burn clinic, and haven’t lost my lunch once. By the way I had a case of food poisoning the day I saw you three years ago. The only time I was ill that whole year, just chalk it up to bad luck that the one-day I was ‘ill’ was the same one that I did rounds in the Critical Care and Trauma ward. Which is what CCT stands for by the way, it certainly doesn’t stand for ‘Considered close to Terminal’ ward and we never, ever, call it the death ward.”

"I am too tired right now to apparate back to my flat in Diagon Alley, after all it has been a real busy day. So I am going to try to get a room at the bed and breakfast inn here in Hogsmeade.

I know its way too soon for you, but I am going to offer you the chance to share my bed tonight, even if all we do is cuddle. Because that’s how confident I am about us and our future.”

"Nothing and no-one ... James. We hadn’t gotten very far at all in ‘that’ area, when you went off for your final face to face with old Tommy. A bloody frustrating time for me I might add, there I was a hot-to-trot young girl, arching for it. Hopelessly in love with a boy who was very reluctant to "take advantage’ of a teenage virgin.”

"You have no idea how often I have regretted over the last three years, not outright raping you, that last night we ‘wrestled’ on that couch in the common room. I have the same hot blood in my veins as Ron does. My parents had seven children remember, so I know full well, where Ron and I get our ‘carnal appetites’ from.”

"Do you have any concept how many times Ron shagged the then sixteen-year-old Hermione before she put on that dam necklace to become Frances biggest tart. Well I do, and have the pictures to prove it. Three thick folders stuffed full of wizard moving photos of the two of them behaving like rabbits. Pictures that I ‘rescued’ from Fred and George not two months ago, among other ‘things’ those two shouldn’t have had.

"Harry ... I am sorry, ... I mean James, you really are clueless about some things aren’t you. I just knew in the pit of my soul that you weren’t dead, so ‘cheating’ on my man was out of the question. But if you remember anything about me you should recall that I say what mean, and mean what I say. So when I said three years ago that you, and you alone, were going to be the only man that I ever intended to let inside my knickers, I meant it.”

"I set my sights on you when I was ten-years-old, and you might remember that was a whole year before you saved my life down in the chamber. We play hot and cold with each other for several years, until finally in my sixth year, we ‘discovered’ each other.”

"You insisted that we take it slow, not wanting to force me to do anything I am ‘not ready for’ what a laugh that was. I have been in love with you ‘James’ since I was a kid and have wanted to ‘jump your bones’ since I was fourteen. It just took me the longest time, but eventually I sweet-talked you into getting a ‘little physical’ with me.”

"Once I finally get your hands roaming under my school robes, things start going great between us. It takes three bloody frustrating months of careful groundwork to get you to the point, where at long last, I am about to get shagged and of course that was the moment that Tommy boy decides to attack, spoiling my entire game plan.”

"Forgive me for rambling, but it has been one hell of a day for me.” Ginny said with a casual wave of her hand. "Two people I cared a lot about all but literally came back from the dead. First the old Hermione and then you. I don’t really think it has all sunk in yet.”

By the way Harry, how did you pull that little stunt in the great Hall, I mean I know you a powerful wizard and all that, probably a lot stronger than even both Dumbledore’s combined, but two places at once?

"But you were hit by at least three stunning jinxes. I saw that with my own eyes, how did you stay conscious?” Ginny asked clearly puzzled.

"How did you manage to speak, I though professor Evander couldn’t?” Ginny inquired sitting there amazed at her back to life boyfriend’s abilities.

"Why don’t you use it now, this telepathy is unnerving" Ginny said with a shudder.

"Where do I fit into the new life of James Evander" Ginny asked with puppy-dog eyes that Harry had always found to be irresistible.

"James, you’re such a boy, that is such a silly question, but just so you know, my goal has not changed since I turned twelve. I set my heart and mind to become your wife and the mother of our children. My other boyfriends in case your wondering were just to kill time until I developed enough to get the man I was destined to marry.

Due primarily to you running off and saving the world, my timetable (* for us*) is way out of queue here. We should be married by now and I should be working on popping out kid number two. Now I am more than willing to forgive you for putting us behind schedule.” She said with a grin to prove she was just kidding.

But with that said and considering I am going to turn twenty on 11th August. When we do become physical again and make note James I said ‘when’ and not ‘if’. You have a lot of bunking up to do with me to make for being a no good layabout for the last two years. Although I will be nice and not count your year in hospital"

"You say ‘Yes dear, what ever you want, consider me your slave’ and leave it at that!” Ginny said grinning at the hooded figure sitting across from her at the table.

"No I am not, I have just been extremely randy for three solid years, aching to snog and shag my boyfriend. Something for which I might add, I am big-time overdo for.”

But if you think that I am being a bit forward sexually, Just consider how randy poor Ronnikins must be feeling right now. He hasn’t so much as looked at another woman in four long self-imposed celibate years. In a way I can’t help but feel sorry for the Countess.

After all, if I have a three-year dry spell to make up for, my lack of hands on experience in the pleasures of the flesh lessens the blow somewhat. My poor git of a brother on the other hand hasn’t been shagged in four years. As a result he must be by now, the most extremely randy bloke in the entire United Kingdom. So I would say that the good Countess has her work cut out for her.”

"Sorry folks, its closing time," a voice from the bar area declared

So on the way to the bed-and-breakfast James Evander spotted an alleyway between two buildings. Making up his mind, Ginny felt the fully covered Professor, take her gently by the arm and guide her into the shadows, between the two buildings. As it just so happens there was a full moon that night in a cloudless sky so there was more than enough light for what ‘James’ had in mind. They stood there facing each other for a moment without speaking, before the scared to death ex-seeker gently raised both hands to open and then slowly lowered his hood.

Braced for the worse Harry’s actual appearance came as somewhat of a pleasant surprise to Ginny. After all from what ‘James’ had said, he was only just barely human underneath his robes. Ginevra instinctively knew that she would miss her boyfriend’s expressive green eyes, but if Harry’s eyesight was the price for his survival, during that last battle with Voldemort, Ginny could live with that.

"This isn’t all that bad ... James" Ginny said "Is the rest of you scared like this or is it worse?”

"I never did, it was food poisoning remember I told you, and now I will prove it once and for all.” And reaching up gently with both hands she cupped his scared face and tilted it down, close enough for her to reach up and tenderly kiss with clear and intense passion her old school boyfriend for the first time in three long years.

When the kiss at last ended, Ginny stepped back and sighed in pleasure "you know" she said "I had all but forgotten how much I enjoyed snogging you.”

In spite of the full moon, Harry had felt secure about lowering his hood in that alleyway for at one in the morning, he felt certain that the streets would be for the most part be deserted. In this he was almost right, for the streets were deserted of any casual passer-by’s. There was however, a single witness to Harry Potter’s first kiss in three years from the woman he adored. Hidden in the shadows of a shop doorway stood a single observer of the entire scene, Aberforth Dumbledore.

>>>>>>>>>>>

Fr om: A. D. The spy

To: Still awake?

Subject: Re (2): De-latest

Hey, are you awake you old goat? You said you would be up for awhile. Reporting from the front line trenches, I can confirm lip contact between both principles. A most touchingly romantic bit of snogging took place this One A.M. in an alleyway of Hogsmeade. Yes that means that he lowered his hood and yes it means the sight didn’t sicken her.

That’s all there is to report really. He took her to the bed-in-breakfast after the snog, got her a room and headed back to his own private instructor’s quarters within Hogwarts castle.

I am beat, being a spy is hard work. Although I bet it’s not as hard as a part of a certain scared wizards anatomy after the snog he got. (he-he

"A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste" (* H. Hefner*)

See you tomorrow

Abie

>>>>>>>>>

From: Its seven bloody thirty in the morning

To: My little brother who gets to sleep in

Subject: Houseguests

Read your report first thing today, I must have dozed off last night, sorry old chap. Glad to hear he snogged her, about bloody time. If you’re wondering what prompted such an early reply to your Mmail of only six odd hours ago, blame it on the young Ronald Bilius Weasley.

I doubt the boy, well man now, closed his eyes for more than a moment since leaving here thirty minutes after midnight. Seven hours later the dratted boy is back pounding on my (unlocked) front door entreating entry and audience with his ladylove.

Tell me Aberforth, was I ever the kind of lover that young Ronald appears to be, as in losing a nights sleep pinning away for his newly re-won hearts desire. Not that the highborn Countess d’Ormon of France, behaved any better this morning. Rushing unannounced into the room half dressed and rumpled by sleep. Staring at the chief strategist for the United Kingdom’s national Quidditch team as a starving woman would at her first full meal in a fortnight.

Honestly little brother, I cannot recall a better example of unbridled lust outside of one of our old school chums bachelor party stag films, during the nineteen thirties. There the two of them stood, not three meters apart. Staring at each other with such heart felt longing that I felt compelled to leave the room in embarrassment. Knowing full well the moment I departed, that with eager lips and intimate touches, they would greet each other as honeymooners do, when parted only the briefest period of time.

I cannot recall, ever being as hungry for a woman as Ronald is for his Countess. And strange as it may seem, after the traditional British display of feminine modesty, his French ladylove, made it abundantly clear that she desires him as strongly as he does her, if not more. The honour of her once noble and proud bloodline which was her reason to reject him almost six years ago, now lays tossed aside valueless.

They left my cottage after a quick breakfast of kisses and toast, hand in hand to become reacquainted with the Countess foster parents. It is my turn now, to play the spy, and shall follow them discretely under an invisibility spell and report to you what happens. As I pray you will continue to do with ‘James’ and Ginny.

Albus

P.S. if you see them in the street, notice the appearance of the countess, she looks more like the Hermione I remember and less like Claudette every time I see her.

>>>>>>>>>>

From: I was already awake, and on the job by seven

To: Quit complaining

Subject: Be careful what you wish for.

You were the one who begged me, I repeat begged me, to do everything I could to get ‘him’ to look into the reasons for the d’Ormon departure from Hogwarts.

You started all this Albus, with your high-handed manipulation of every facet of Harry’s life. Don’t get me started on the base causes of all this, because you won’t like the truth as told with a raw straightforward telling of the tale.

Abie

>>>>>>>>>>

From: A confused elder brother.

To: My younger mistaken sibling

Subject: Slander

You know nothing.

Albus

>>>>>>>>>>< /P>

From: You asked for it

To: He in denial

Subject: Re: Slander

Deny this if you can: true or false

(*) You knew, long before Hermione abandoned Hogwarts that she was under some kind of spell that had drastically changed her loyalties. You did nothing about it at the time (although it was within your power to do so) because of your single-minded fixation on preparing your HP weapon to destroy Voldemort.

(*) You only accepted your mistake when you realized that your very human HP weapon was seriously weakened, without the emotional support of the now departed Claudette and the destroyed Ronald Weasley.

(*) So you frantically searched the female student population of Hogwarts, for a replacement for the two who’s problems you could have solved, but deliberately declined to do.

(*) You considered a love/lust potion for first, Cho Chang (too self-absorbed) then Luna Lovegood (to mental) to provide Harry with a source of emotion support and physical tension relief, in the form of non-emotional involvement sex. At the last moment you were saved of the crime of magically induced sexual enslavement by using a love/lust potion on one of the underage students in your charge. Only by the pure chance and accidental overhearing of Ginevra Molly Weasley’s confession of her unrequited love to a classmate, a love she felt for Harry.

(*) Then as the master manipulator you are. You did everything that you could think of to bring Harry and Ginny together as a couple. You instructed your staff to ‘look the other way’ in regard of any show of affection (up to and including sexual acts) between H/G

(*) You did this, knowing full well. The slim chances of survival that your weapon had in his final confrontation with his target Voldemort. But you were prepared to sacrifice without flinching, a boy who regarded you as almost a grandfather like figure. All for the ‘greater good of the Wizarding World.’

(*) You didn’t care at all for what might happen to your weapons paramour, who could have awoken the day after the final battle with her lover dead and herself unwed and possibly pregnant with a dead hero’s child in her belly.

Go ahead and try to convince yourself Albus of the lie, that you gave a single thought to the emotional or physical well being of the teenage-girl that you all but procured, like a London pimp for the sexual use of your weapon. Deceive yourself if you wish, but I among others know better.

The only reason that Ginevra doesn’t live a life of shame as the unwed mother of Harry Potter’s love child has more to do with his personal honour than yours.

You expected Harry to treat his best friend’s sister as a piece of meat, but he didn’t. You expected Harry to remain emotionally detached from the teenage girl he was suppose to be bunking up with. Instead he fell in love with Ginevra, refusing to cheapen her, by breaking her maidenhead when she was so young.

Consider this: The young and now the only ‘living’ Countess d’Ormon was born into a proud French noble family, the child of a man who had no conception of what a true gentleman was. Harry on the other hand, was born into a family of English peasants and yet grew up a natural nobleman. Ginevra saw this quality in him at ten-years-old, but you never did, to you Harry Potter was a weapon.

I am your brother Albus, and I love you. But you are also a manipulative idiot, who hurt a lot of people. Bringing these four back together is only the beginning of your atonement.

Aberforth

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Albus

To: Aberforth

Subject: Re (2): Slander

I cannot deny any of it, how long have you known?

The elder D

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Glad you have accepted reality, at last

To: Disgraced former Headmaster

Subject: Re (3) Slander

Since the end of the war, I think Arthur also knows. That’s why your request for retirement was accepted without any fuss. Ginevra knows too, I am sure of it, perhaps even before I figured it out. And of course ‘he’ knows, that’s why Harry won’t speak to you that kind of betrayal is a lot to take from someone he trusted as much as he did you.

Beyond the group I just mentioned it is hard to say, who does and doesn’t know, what you did. But believe me it’s more than you think.

Let us change the subject before I become angry, where are the Countess and young Ronald right now?

Abie

>>>>>>>>>>

To: The honourable D.

Subject: Whereabouts R/H-C

Outside of Honey-dukes candy shop, killing time. I don’t think they want to show up at the Granger’s cottage too early. What about the pair you are suppose to be watching and where are you by the way?

Albus

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Hanna Abbot, flat mate

To: Ginevra Weasley apprenticed healer

Subject: Where are you?

Hey Ginny, where are you girl? I have had numerous Mails, from Neville-Luna and Colin concerning you. Apparently you Mmailed your whereabouts to your parents last night for all I can get out of them is that you had some ‘personal’ business to attend to. That answer as you can guess is unacceptable to Mr. Creevey and the Longbottoms. So do me a favour and drop them a note.

You have also received an owl from work, I guess your boss wants to know what’s going on too. Have you read the prophet this morning, it seems that both your brother Ron and your mum Molly were found safe and sound last night, the reports of their kidnapping a cruel hoax.

Also a Lee Jordan dropped by in person at eight this morning, woke me up he did, what a git. He asked me to pass on to you a request for the return of certain set of photos he believes, are presently in your possession, photos of a very personal nature of his ‘Lady friend.’ He seemed to indicated that he is willing to do, and this is a direct quote: "anything at all, pay any price" unquote, to get them back.

I am in the dark here, could you shed some light on what’s going on?

Hanna

>>>>>>>>>>

To: Flat mate

Bcc: Mum and Dad

Subject: Re: Where are you?

Just so you know, and don’t repeat this to anyone. I was on a sort-of date last night and I am going to see him again in a few minutes. I have Mmailed work and been given some time-off, so no need to worry on that score.

No Hanna, before you ask, I doubt you know him. I don’t know him myself all that well, he has changed a lot since he attended Hogwarts with us during the war. I swear to give full details when I get back to the flat tonight.

Cross all your fingers for me, because with a bit of luck. I just might just have a new boyfriend before the day is through, my first one since the war.

Ginny

P.S. I will divulge this much as a teaser, his first name is James.

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Hanna Abbot

To: Grapevine of old school-chums (main list)

Subject: Ginny is dating

After what many of us felt, was an overly long period of mourning, for the late Harry Potter, Gin has finally met someone who has given her a reason to move on.

Don’t have many details, so don’t ask. All I know is, his first name is James and this bloke was at Hogwarts during the war.

About bloody time I say

H

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Gred and Forge

To: Entire family except Gin and Percy (de-git)

Subject: Good news

Fwd: Ginny is dating

In case you haven’t heard from other sources, (read Fwd) our sister is ‘seeing’ someone. Gred and I are not upset at this development in itself. We honestly didn’t want Ginny to spend the rest of her life as the grieving (unwed) widow of Harry.

No, our problem isn’t that she may be dating some bloke, our problem is a total lack of information on who this James chap is?

Let us make ourselves quite clear, we are not advocating any kind of interference with Ginny’s re-entry into the dating world. In fact there will be Merlin to pay (from us) for any of our siblings who try anything to muck this up for her.

We don’t remember any bloke named James in Gryffindor during our time at Hogwarts, nor anyone with that first name among her age group. So maybe this chap is out of one of the other houses and who pays attention to who-is-who in the other houses, we never did.

Anyway, the identity of this James fellow and his background needs to be investigated thoroughly to ensure that this bloke is good enough for our only sister.

De twins

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Mum

To: My little girl

cc: Arthur

Subject: Dating again

You were right about the ‘old school grapevine’ spreading the word that you are ‘seeing’ someone. Thank-you for Mmailing us last night to give us a heads-up before the news became too well known.

Neither your father nor I know all that much about Professor James Evander beyond the fact that he is the duelling master at Hogwarts, and Minerva trusts him, with good cause. He put up quite a fight last night from what I could see tied up and all. It took six of the Weasleys clan allies and friends to bring him down.

He was horribly injured in the last battle and physically disfigured.

Go slowly dear, a heart takes time to heal

Mum

>>>>>>>>>>

From: All grown up

To: The parents I adore

Subject: James

He is not as disfigure as many people think he is mum I have seen his face. He is however extremely self-conscious about his injuries and that is why he covers himself completely from head to foot.

Being blind doesn’t help either, although he wears a variation of Moody’s all seeing eye, it doesn’t work with mirrors so he has no way of knowing what he really looks like. It’s his mental self-image of himself that is inhibiting him more than anything physical.

He isn’t a supper-model in looks I will admit that, he has been and is seriously scared physically. It’s the person inside the damaged exterior that attracts me.

He makes me feel whole again, something I haven’t felt in three years. I have mourned for Harry as is proper, he wouldn’t have wanted me to waste my life in unending grief. So wish me luck mum, I will go slowly with James but I get the feeling that this one is a keeper.

Gin

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Your woman

To: My man (once again)

Subject: Heads-up concerning Ron and Hermione-Claudette

Honey, I am not the only one who knows you are still alive. I kinda lit slip this fact by accident to the Countess d’Ormon, in spite of being warned not to by your secret-keeper. Well, … I sort of lost my composure a couple of times during the last twenty-four hours and had a few slips of the old tongue. Ron knows too by the way, but I made them both promise to be discrete and I am sure they will be.

The reason I bring this up right this moment is, while standing here in my room at the bed and breakfast, looking out my window. I couldn’t help but notice the Mademoiselle and my brother sitting on a bench outside of Honey-dukes candy shop.

Do you think you could find it in your heart to expand those ‘officially in the know’ to include them? They have missed you almost as much as I have. I only ask this, allowing you to decide what is best, if you want to wait awhile, I am sure they will understand.

But with that said (darling sweetie-pie, kiss-kiss) I should warn you that the old-chum grapevine from Hogwarts already know I am ‘seeing’ someone named James, another slip of the tongue … oops (he-he)

Love you lots

Gin

>>>>>>>>>>

From: Glad I don’t make you sick

To: The love of my life

Subject: Re: Heads-up

Yes I see them too, and was thinking along the same lines myself. I will bring them up to your room, to expose the truth, I believe that a little privacy for this kind of disclosure is best. What do you think, is this plan of mine acceptable to you?

Just be prepared, they might not take my appearance as well as you did. Still, I started this thing, so I knew this would happen someday. There is an old saying that fits this situation and it goes something like this: "in for a penny in for a pound.”

James

>>>>>>>>>>

F rom: Apprenticed Healer eager and ready to check you out

To: Turn your head and cough

Subject: DO NOT bring them up here too quickly!

Yes, by all means bring them up, but give me a few minutes first, to get dressed. I had intended to spend our first entire day together in three years, in this very bedroom, giving you an every square inch complete examination. So as to determine to my own satisfaction, that all your body parts are fully ‘functional.’

With the hope of finding you, I had brought with me last night, a specially modified version of a St. Mungo matron uniform, which I was sure you would approve of. By wearing this short skin-tight fitting outfit, I am confident that you would have found yourself ‘up’ for the kind of functionality testing that I had in mind. So be a luv and stall them for a bit, For what I have on now is fine to show you, but completely inappropriate for my brother to see.

Gin

>>>>>>>>>>

To: Doctor of Love

From: impatient patient

Subject: You’re killing me here

God above woman, don’t joke about things like that! All I have had to keep me going for the last three years is dreams of doing… that with you. It took every ounce of self-restraint I had to ignore the innuendo of last night, chalking it all up to the Weasley sense of humour.

If I had believed for one nanosecond that you were actually serious, and not just engaging in nervous banter to cover up the awkwardness of our first Hogsmeade ‘date’ in three years. You would have come out of that alleyway last night with your knickers in my pocket and my child firmly implanted in your belly.

Believe me when I tell you, that I am not just hungry for your love, I am starving for it! It is only my fear of rushing you that has stopped me, from making love to you non-stop, for the next month. So please sweetheart, tone down the teasing a bit. You have no idea how truly tempting a morsel you are.

Signed: In need of another cold shower

James

>>>>>>>>>>

To: the clueless one

From: Growl

Subject: Pratt’s who don’t comprehend subtle

Don’t bother waiting, I’ll throw on a robe, but understand this, me-boy-OH

When Ron and the Countess have departed for the long awaited re-union with the Grangers.

YOU AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE A FEW WORDS

GINNY

>>>>>>>>>>

To be continued but only due to the helpful plot bunny suggestions and reviews of my readers

Sorry about the lack of beta proofreading, not my fault I assure you.