Harry's Future

Chapter 45

Chapter 45

It was Friday evening of the last weekend in April. Harry was sitting in the living room of the Burrow, his three week old son, James resting quietly in his arms. Since the time when Harry first held him, standing like a statue for fear of dropping the less than two day old child, he had grown more at ease and would happily take his turn, few and far between as they were. Ginny had the proprietary notion common to most mothers that she should do most of the holding. At the moment Harry was exchanging glances with James, green eyes watching brown and vice versa. The dragon side of Harry's nature had also been watching. The cold reptilian voice murmured, 

"This one will be a challenge." 

This gave Harry a bit of a start and he looked closer at his son as if some sign or portent would make itself known. But after thinking on it a bit he had to admit it didn't take any great insight or an Abagail style vision to realize that James would very likely tend towards non conformity and rule bending. One need only look at the record of the boy's father, paternal grandfather and certain maternal uncles to see that the raw material was in place for future havoc. It could only be hoped that the mother and other maternal uncles might hold the key to some calming influence, not unlike the control rods in a nuclear power reactor. Harry sighed and then with a smile gave James a few gentle bounces and then said quietly, 

"We'll worry about that when the time comes, won't we, James?" 

"What are you going to worry about later, Harry?" Ginny asked as she came over to sit next to him. 

She held out her hands to indicate Harry should relinquish James but he said with a smile, 

"We're doing fine, thank you very much. As to worrying, I was just thinking we shouldn't worry about too much about anything right now." 

Ginny hooked Harry's upper with both of hers and looked at him. 

"No, we shouldn't. Tomorrow we get to see the new house. I can't wait," she enthused. 

"Well, it's not like you haven't seen it before," he replied. 

"Harry, I haven't seen it since it started snowing. By the time it all melted around here I was too big to be able to go see it. All I had were Mum and Dad checking on things and describing it to me. It will be so nice to be in our very own house," she said a bit dreamily at the end. 

"I dunno, Gin. I've been getting kind of used to the idea of poncing off Mum and Dad," Harry said with a straight face. 

Ginny's eyebrows shot up and then she started to giggle, then laugh out loud. Then she snapped her fingers and gestured that it was time to give up the baby to her. Harry, ever the dutiful husband did as his wife demanded. A few moments later a certain aroma indicated to him that the timing couldn't have been more perfect. He heard Ginny snort as she started to stand up. 

"Serves me right, I suppose." 

Harry was smart enough not to laugh until Ginny had disappeared upstairs to attend to the changing. As he did he caught Mrs. Weasley's eye and she crooked a finger at him. He got up and walked into the kitchen. 

"They'll be no poncing in this house, young fella me lad," and she tossed a dish towel to him and he spent the next fifteen minutes drying the dinner dishes and he was happy to do so. 

Saturday morning dawned clear and cool. Harry was dreaming of a long leisurely flight over the Scottish Highlands, a particular favorite when an insistent voice began to intrude. 

"Harry, Harry. Wake up, sleepy head. Today's the day." 

"Hmph? What? Oh, alright," he said and then let out a long yawn.