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Harry stared at his alarm clock. He liked his muggle alarm clock, the same one he fixed the summer he turned 11. Next to it were his glasses; the glass had no prescription now, he’d fixed his eyes years ago and he could see the clock just fine without them, but only his closest friends knew that.
He was excited for today; he and Ginny rarely had time alone anymore since Lily was born but he was determined to make it happen.
And as if on que, just seconds before their alarm they’d purposefully set a half hour early, Lily started to scream.
Harry groaned; so much for his ‘coffee and flowers’ in bed plan; as he went to roll over Ginny was already getting out of bed
“Wait, I’ll get her!”
“It’s fine I’m up” a clearly half asleep Ginny mumbled; as she rubbed her eyes she noticed the flowers on the dresser and smiled. Flashing him a grin, she waved her wand and a box of chocolate frogs flew out of a drawer to land on his lap.
“Whoever’s card you find first has to change the diaper” she yelled as she walked down the hall.
~~~~
“What do you mean she’s busy? Alice, I told you to block her calendar!”
“I know I know, I’m sorry Harry! It’s just Witch Weekly called, they needed to replace their main article after it broke that Astoria has been cheating on Draco since Christmas!”
Harry groaned. “I guess you’re right, that wouldn’t make for a good Valentine’s Day weekend edition, would it.”
“No, it would not. And think of the impact this will make! Ginny will be the first Quidditch player on the cover for their Valentine’s Day issue! Don’t worry!” Alice quickly added as Harry visibly started to panic “we’re using a collection of Ginny’s Harpie shots, maternity shoot, and your family Christmas photos.”
Harry sighed, knowing there was no chance for his romantic lunch date now. “Well, make sure she at least eats something today, yes?”
“Don’t worry, I ordered her and the reporter Thai, and they’ve already opened the box of chocolates you sent.”
“Great, thanks Alice. See you later.”
“Of course. And Harry? Thanks for the extra box!”
Harry smiled as he waved on the way out. Alice had been brutally dumped by Katie Bell on national television, and he still felt a bit guilty for introducing them.
“What do you want, Potter?” a croaky voice answered the phone.
“I hear you’re suddenly free today. Care to join me for lunch at the Ritz as my wife is suddenly too busy with the press and I have a reservation for two at 11:30?”
“You bastard” Malfoy laughed “I’ll see you there.”
~~~
“Hermione, no!” Harry stood in the entrance to his living room, still holding the cooking oil in one hand, Lily strapped to his chest. The floo had shot to life an hour earlier than he expected, and instead of Hermione arriving to take his three wonderful children away for the evening, she was bringing another.
“I’m sorry Harry! Ron and George are both in St. Mungos, Angelina is cleaning up the shop but I have to go check on them! It’s the damn Fanged Drone they’re working on, I swear if either of them loose another finger - Rose, dear, go show James and Albus your new book.”
Rose ran to the play room, definitely not to show them her new book.
“Hermione - “
“We’ll make it up to you! A whole weekend next time of babysitting!” And with that, Hermione disappeared into the floo.
Harry took a deep breath and was about to turn around when the floo roared to life again and Ginny stepped out. They locked eyes just as a large CRASH echoed through the house and the sound of Rose and James yelling while Albus cried reached their ears. Lily, sensing her mother nearby, also started to cry.
“I’m taking it Hermione and Ron aren’t taking the kids tonight?”
Harry just sighed, handed her Lily, and with a quick peck on the cheek went to check on the older kids and order some pizzas.
~~~
It was quiet. Rose had returned home, along with her father who still had all eight of his fingers. All three kids were asleep, and Harry was lighting the last candle as he heard Ginny turn the shower off.
She entered their bedroom to find it empty, a freshly laundered bathrobe on the bed.
“Harry?”
But then she saw the note that said ‘in the closet’
Laughing, Ginny quickly pulled on her bathrobe and opened the closet door.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Ginny.”
“Oh my god, Harry! This is beautiful!”
Harry had strung their Christmas lights along the shelves, piled pillows around the edge, and set up a picnic spot with blankets. A plate of haphazardly cut brownies that Harry had made earlier and managed to keep mostly away from the kids sat in the middle, surrounded by candles and two wine glasses.
“I’m sorry I missed lunch today! I can’t believe you booked the Ritz! Although sounds like Malfoy needed a boys day anyway” Ginny said as she sat next to Harry. “And I’ll be honest, I think if I drink this wine I’ll fall straight to sleep.”
“Same - it’s sparkling water.”
“Clever man.”
And as they clinked their glasses, Harry and Ginny settled in to tell each other about their day, very content with their five star candlelit closet.