Harry & Cho
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HANGING TIME
By: Karen Kinkaide
Chapter Seventeen: Letting your Love Show
HARRY POTTER AND GINEVRA POTTER’S DIVORCE FINALIZED
In an exclusive newsbreak, The Daily Prophet, has confirmed that the divorce between ex-Minister for Magic, Harry Potter and Ginevra Potter has been finalized. Mr. Potter, who stepped down as Minister for Magic, was unable for comment. His wife, Ginevra Potter hasn’t been available for further comment. Updates will be published as we receive them.
“Bugger,” Cho murmured in disgust, as she slammed the paper on Harry’s desk.
“Problem?” Harry asked, removing his glasses to wipe them on his shirt.
“Oh, just the usual. The Daily Prophet publishing every possible detail that they can dig up on your divorce.” She sighed with defeat and sank into the nearby armchair.
Harry went and sat beside her, and ran his fingers through her hair, as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “I know it’s hard.”
Cho sniffed loudly. “Hard does not even begin to cover it. I am just so tired. Tired of having to plan our wedding in secret, while we keep dodging the owls that keep pouring in.”
“I am sure David is having a rough go of it as well,” Harry pointed out.
“Goes with the territory,” she mumbled, nuzzling his neck with her face. “I love you, and I am tired of having to hide that.”
He kissed her hair lightly, and patted her head. “Things will work out. Trust me, okay?”
Not being able to come up with an answer, Cho settled for nodding her head.
“ ”
“Ginny Weasley?” the medi-nurse called out, as she lifted the clipboard up.
Ginny looked up when her name was called, and stuffed the letter back into her purse. Ever since her divorce had gone through, he had been sending owls to her. Most of them just checking in, asking how she was. His latest one had been a change from the usual. Ginny could not quite figure out what was so different about it, only that the tone seemed to have changed.
“How are you today, Ginny?” the nurse asked, as she led her down the sterile hall and into an equally stale room.
Having been interrupted from her daydreaming, Ginny smiled politely. “Not bad. I could be better.”
“Not to worry.”
Ginny was given quick instructions, and then the medi-nurse left the room. She quickly stripped off her clothes, before donning the standard issue disposable gown.
After a couple minutes, which Ginny was sure had been hours, her doctor entered the room. “Hi, Ginny,” she said, putting her silver clipboard down, and pulling a pair of gloves on to her hands. “How are you?”
“Could be better,” Ginny replied.
Her doctor smiled. “That is to be expected. If you will just lay back for me and put your feet in the stirrups, we can get started.”
Ginny did as instructed, and soon, she was staring at the ceiling waiting for her doctor to begin her exam.
“ ”
5 years later
From the desk of the Minister of Magic.
Dear Harry,
Pearl is doing great. She is eight now. I still cannot believe it! It seems like only yesterday that she was three. Little Breanne is three. She starts to look more like Seamus everyday. Hope you and Cho are doing well. How far along is she now?
Take care,
Hermione.
From the desk of Lavender Weasley
Gin,
I got your owl. I am so glad to hear David, you and Ian are doing well. How is David’s next book coming along? I recently got back from Switzerland (big PR convention) and believe it or not, Hawaii (book tour). I have to tell you, Gin, Hawaii is nothing like I expected. There are so many muggles – lots of them tourists.
Ryan is growing up so fast now! He is off to school in three years! The twins are due any day now, and I cannot wait until you can come and visit us. We just bought a new place now. It is a lot bigger, and Ryan absolutely loves the yard.
I did manage to talk to Hermione a couple days ago, and she is concerned about you, and what we last spoke about. Please think about what I told you.
All the best,
Lavender
From the desk of Ginevra Philips, Head of Wizarding Foreign Affairs – Ministry for Magic, UK
Lavender,
I am terribly sorry I did not respond to you sooner, but we have been in the process of moving. We are all settled in now. I would love to come and see you. I read in The Daily Prophet that you had the twins very soon after your owl arrived.
I recently met with Hermione and we discussed what you and I had talked about. I have been thinking a lot about it lately, and you are right, I should. It is not fair to anyone involved. David agrees, and I can tell he is a bit relieved. Speaking of which, he has a new book coming out, and he leaves for Romania next week.
I am owling him as soon as we speak. Hopefully, he responds soon.
Take care,
Ginny
From Harry Potter
Ginny,
I never expected to hear from you. I have some time next week. Does that work?
- Harry
From the desk of Ginevra Philips, Head of Wizarding Foreign Affairs – Ministry for Magic, UK
Harry, Yes, that works perfectly. Shall we meet at around two o’clock?
Harry sat outside their pre-assigned meeting spot and shifted The Daily Prophet in his hands, before glancing at his watch. She was late. Which was odd. For as long as he had known Ginny, he had never known her to be late, unless some extenuating circumstance prevailed. His gaze traveled over the playground, watching the mothers chase after their children, or mop the last remnants of food or juice from their face, before the children ran back to the equipment.
Where in Merlin’s name was Ginny?
Almost as if she could read his thoughts, he spotted her walking towards him, with a little boy in tow.
“Hello, Harry,” she said as she approached him. “Sorry I am late, but Ian was being uncooperative.”
Harry nodded. “It is good to see you.”
Ian tugged on Ginny’s dress. “Mum, can I go play?”
Ginny zipped up her son’s coat, and ruffled his dark brown hair. “Say hello to Mum’s friend first.”
Ian turned his blue-green eyes towards Harry. “Hello.”
“Hi,” Harry replied. “My name is Harry, what is yours?”
“Ian Harry Philips,” Ian enunciated. He looked rather pleased with himself after he finished.
“We have the same middle name,” Harry said.
Ian pursed his lips as he pondered what Harry said. His eyes brightened soon after. “We do. Mum, I have the same middle name as your friend.”
Ginny smiled, but Harry noticed a twinge of pain flicker in her eyes. “You do.” She sat down on the bench next to Harry, before she gestured for Ian to run on to the playground.
Harry watched as Ian took off like a lightning bolt. When he was sure he was out of earshot, Ginny cleared her throat. “It’s good to see you, Harry. How have you been?”
“Fine. Cho is having twins any day now.” Harry followed Ian’s unruly cap of hair with his eyes. “He’s mine, isn’t he Ginny?”
They were seated next to each other on the bench. It was a pose that invited conversation, and yet, Ginny couldn’t bring herself to look at Harry. She settled for looking at the ground. “Yes,” she whispered. “I’m sorry, Harry.”
“Why?”
“I just couldn’t. I wanted to, I really did.” She reached for his hand. “I just didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know …” Harry trailed off.
“I didn’t know whether I was going to keep Ian or not.” Ginny put her hand on top of his. “I was going to tell you after he was born, but I knew all the backlash that would follow if I did.”
Harry was silent, as he watched Ian run away from the monkey bars. “You were up for promotion when he was born,” he surmised.
“Yes. Hermione was an absolute love about the promotion to Head of Wizarding Foreign Affairs.” Ginny patted Harry’s hand gingerly. “She knew how badly I wanted the promotion, so she allowed me to do a lot of my work at home. That way it was less strain on me, and it allowed me to have Ian.”
“What does his birth certificate say, Ginny?”
She blinked. “I beg your pardon?” she asked, rather incredulously.
“I know you and David got married.” Harry turned to look at Ginny then. “It’s very hard to stay out of the spotlight when you’re the head of any department at the Ministry. I’m just curious as to who is listed as the father on Ian’s birth certificate.”
“No-one knows, Harry,” she said, as if this explained it all. “No-one that isn’t supposed to know. Ian’s birth certificate is sealed, and is only to be released to him, and only him. He doesn’t get to see them until he is eleven.”
“Yet, he has David’s last name.”
“Harry, you will always be Ian’s father, but David is his dad. He was there when Ian first crawled, his first steps, his first tooth. He’s been there for him.”
“You didn’t give me a choice in the matter.”
“Do you think I wanted to hide the truth from you? I wanted to tell you, Harry, but I just couldn’t.”
“What do you want from me, Ginny?” Harry asked.
“Nothing, Harry. I knew it wasn’t fair to keep going on this way. You had a right to know.” She brushed a strand of hair off his face. “I’m trying to make this right. I know you probably won’t ever forgive me for this, but I just thought you should know.”
Harry sighed, and removed his glasses to clean them on his shirt. “And the bank account, after I changed the clauses?”
“It’s only for Ian’s schooling. We haven’t touched any of the money.”
Ian appeared in front of Ginny then. She picked up her son, and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Why do you look sad, Mum?”
Ginny smiled. “I’m not. I’m just tired.”
Harry met her eyes, and smiled. “I should be going. I have a lot of work to catch up on.” He met Ginny’s eyes, and took both her hands in his, before leaning in to kiss her on the cheek. “You will keep in touch?”
“Of course.” Ginny took her son’s hand. “Say goodbye, Ian.”
Ian waved. “Bye.”
Harry turned and walked away from Ginny and Ian.
HARRY POTTER AND CHO CHANG WELCOME TWO NEW BABIES INTO THE WORLD
The Daily Prophet has just learned that Cho Potter has given birth to twins! The twins - two girls - were born early in the morning at St. Mungo’s Hospital. The parents were unable for comment at the time this was published. More updates will follow.
Harry sat on the edge of Cho’s hospital bed, and stroked Cho’s hair. “We need names for them,” he said. The twins, both swaddled in pink blankets, were resting peacefully in the crib next to Cho’s bed.
“I was thinking Lily for one of them,” Cho said. “What about the other one?”
Harry was looking at his newborn daughters, studying each one intently. Lily was for his mother, but what was appropriate for the other one. The thought struck him suddenly, and he raised his eyes to look at Cho. “Aislinn. Irish for dream.”
Cho blinked, but she smiled. “It’s perfect.” She hugged Harry as best she could. “I think they’ll like Hogwarts,” she whispered.
“I think they will, too.”
THE END - FIRST ENDING
Author’s Note: I made a slight name change for Harry and Cho's second child. It used to be Ginevra, but changed it since it was kind of awkward having them name their second daughter after Harry's ex-wife.
Phew, first ending is done. I cannot believe it! It seems like just yesterday I started the revised version of the Potter and Philips trilogy, but in reality, it has been close to two years. WOW. This story has been my baby for so long, I cannot help but feel kind of sad that one ending is done. Yeah, I am aware it took me a long time to update. I have had so much to do lately. Sorry!
I am truly grateful to everyone who has taken the time to read this story. I really appreciate all the support and the reviews. This story is dedicated to everyone who took the time to read it – whether you reviewed or not.
I am going to be starting on writing the second ending very soon. It will be posted as a new chapter on this story, as I feel it doesn’t really warrant a whole new story, due to a lot of overlap in pre-existing chapters.
Title of chapter comes from lyrics from Skye’s Love Show song.
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