Lily put down her fork and looked up at Ginny. 

"You all done?" Ginny said forcing a grin. 

Lily showed her mother her clean dinner plate, her cheeks stuffed full of food. 

"Good job, Lils," Ginny said. "Will you go put your plate in the sink? Then you can go play upstairs with your brothers."

Lily nodded and clambered down from her seat. 

The corners of Ginny's mouth returned back to being downturned as she began picking at her half-eaten plate of food once more. 

She looked across the table at Harry who's plate was clean but he had yet to stand up. Harry was already looking at her and their eyes locked instantly. 

Ginny's lip curled into a sneer and her grip on her fork tightened. Harry huffed and picked up his plate, bringing it to the sink. 

"Of course," Ginny muttered as she went back to picking her food. 

"What?" Harry snapped, turning around. "Of course what? Ginny!"

Ginny looked over her shoulder at him, affronted. "Nothing, Harry. Absolutely nothing." 

"Yeah," Harry scoffed. "I've heard that one before. What is it?"

"Oh please," Ginny snarled. "I said it was nothing, it's nothing."

"It's not nothing," Harry shot back. "It can't be nothing, because it's been nothing for over a  month and everything is the same as it was before."

"Exactly!" Ginny exclaimed. "Nothing has changed! You haven't changed! I haven't changed! Nothing has changed, and nothing is better."

"Well we agreed to try, and here we are. When are you going to start trying?" Harry questioned. 

"Me?" Ginny gasped. "Me. I've been trying, you're the one who's still a robot!"

"It's kinda hard to be anything else because whenever I broach the subject of what happened you start screaming at me and we can't even have an adult conversation! Because you insist on acting like a child!"

Ginny stood up and marched towards Harry. "You son of-"

"STOP!"

Ginny bounced back off of an invisible barrier falling to the floor. Harry looked perplexed and pushed his hands forward, they met an unseeable, but extremely solid force. 

Albus, Lily, and James stood on the stairs. James had his arms wrapped around Lily, whose hands were clamped firmly over her ears, James was staring at his parents with terror behind his eyes.  Albus was a step below his siblings and both of his hands were outstretched. 

"Did he just?"Ginny stammered from her position. 

"Al-" Harry said starting towards his son.

"Don't!" Albus yelled. "I don't know what I did."

"It was magic, Al." Ginny groaned as she pushed herself to her feet. "That was the imperturbable charm, it creates invisible barriers."

"Oh my God!" Harry exclaimed. "Albus, you performed magic! You're a wizard!"

"Oh no." Albus groaned lowering his arms. "That means the Aurors are coming for me, doesn't it?"

"Why would that mean there are Aurors coming for you?" Ginny questioned as she felt around to see if the barrier was gone. It was. 

"That's underage magic, I'm not allowed to do it outside of Hogwarts until I'm of age." Albus sighed. 

"Albus," Harry chuckled. "Are you currently a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?"

"No."

"Have you got a wand?"

"No." 

"Then you're not in trouble," Harry said. "This is a good thing." 

"But it's against the rules." Albus insisted. 

"You're a kid," Ginny said stepping in. "This is just like the time James teleported himself onto the roof. The ministry is not going to punish a child who has no control over their magical abilities for showcasing that they are magic in the first place. Okay?"

"Okay," Albus nodded in understanding. "Sorry for knocking you down."

"That's alright," Ginny smiled giving him a hug. You didn't mean to."

Ginny then went to put the leftover food away and Harry loaded the dishwasher. They did so in silence. 

Once finished Ginny sighed. "I'm going to retire."

"It's seven-thirty," Harry replied. 

"I just can't tonight." Ginny sniffed, rubbing her face tiredly. "I don't have it in me."

She sounded so defeated. 

"Are you alright putting the kids down in a bit?" She peered at him from between her fingers. 

"Yeah," Harry nodded, "Of course."

"Thank you," Ginny said and she went up the stairs to take a very long, hot shower. 

As the hours ticked by Ginny stood under the steady stream of scalding water and watched the steam cloud the glass walls. She slowly scrubbed every inch of her body, she then brushed her hair and moisturized her body whilst walking around in her white, fluffy bathrobe. 

Ginny put on a dark blue satin nightshirt with white buttons and a white pair of sweatpants that had owned since she was fifteen. She then began going through the piles of clothes that she and Harry had scattered around the room in the past months.

She put the dirty clothes in a hamper to wash tomorrow, the clean ones flew back onto their assigned hanger or the drawer they originally came from. 

She could hear Harry putting the kids to bed around nine. Lily was first, he read her one of the muggle storybooks that she treasured so. James and Albus could be heard clattering about in their conjoined bathroom as they brushed their teeth and dressed in their nightclothes. 

Albus insisted on the fact that he was too big for bedtime stories, but he still let Harry tuck him in. James was opposed to both tuck-ins and stories, but Harry did have the honor of turning his light out. 

Soon thereafter Harry entered his bedroom. All the lights were on, including the bathroom, and both of their closets. Harry peaked into Ginny's closet to see her sitting on the floor examining her many pairs of shoes. 

While looking around the newly clean room Harry's eyes landed on their bed. Ginny had enlarged it once Harry started sleeping at home again. The sheets were rumpled at either end of the bed, but the middle lay untouched. A barren no man's land, that laid between him and his wife each night. Neither of them rolled across the cold space, not in the depths of sleep.

Harry sighed and walked into his own closet, Changing into a pair of red and yellow flannel pajama pants, as he rooted around for his favorite white nightshirt. He wandered back out into their bedroom, shirtless, and called for Ginny. 

"Hey, since you're cleaning do you know what happened to my white shirt?"

"The one you sleep in?" Ginny called back. 

"Yeah," Harry said, "it wasn't in my closet."

Ginny walked out of her closet and began surveying the room. She dug around the pile of clothes that were on the bench at the end of their bed and held the shirt out to him. 

"This it?"

"Yeah," Harry said, but his voice was distant and he wasn't looking at the shirt. His eyes were slowly scanning Ginny. 

"Well here," Ginny said shaking her hand with the shirt. "Take it." 

"Hold on," Harry still wasn't looking at the shirt. "Just let me- Let me look at you for a second."

Ginny pursed her lips and lowered her arm. Becoming hyper-aware of her husband's eyes traveling all over her body. She tried not to stare back, but Ginny couldn't remember the last time she saw Harry even half-naked. 

"What's different?" Harry asked. "You look different, Gin."

"I braided my hair?" Ginny offered. "I haven't worn it in anything other than a ponytail for ages."

"No," Harry shook his head. "You look different. Not your body."

"Come again?"

"You're still Ginny. But you're not my Ginny. Where did my Ginny go?" Harry questioned. 

Ginny dropped the shirt and took a step towards him. "I don't understand what you mean."

Harry inhaled deeply and stepped towards Ginny. "I- I miss you."

"I'm right here," Ginny said feeling her eyes glisten. 

"But you're not," Harry said grabbing either one of her elbows. "You disappeared on me once, Gin. I can't lose you again and I can't have it be my fault." 

Harry's eyes were wide, and he was begging Ginny to be with him in the moment. He was a man of desperation. 

"Hey," Ginny whispered. She lifted her hand up and cupped his cheek. "I'm right here."

This was the closest they had stood together in months. Ginny couldn't remember the last time Harry had actually touched her, not some fleeting accidental touch, but really feeling her, and Harry couldn't remember the last time Ginny had looked at him with anything other than hurt in her eyes. 

So it was inevitable when their lips collided. The sound of them both breathing in was synchronized as Ginny opened her mouth to truly and actually kiss her husband. 

And then suddenly as if they were waiting for permission the couple's hands began roaming everywhere. Harry's arms snaked around Ginny's back and explored in a way that reminded Ginny of the evenings they used to share at the lake on the grounds of Hogwarts. 

Ginny ran her hands over Harry's chest and shoulders. It was as if fireworks exploded behind her eyes and a blaze awoke from within her. The same seemed to happen with Harry because he was grabbing Ginny's legs and the next thing she knew she had her legs wrapped around Harry's and he was carrying her over to the bed. 

Ginny was let down right in the center and Harry crawled over her where they quickly resumed kissing. Ginny's hands began frantically working at the buttons on her shirt. Once undone Harry took this as his queue to work his way down. 

His kiss trailed from her mouth to her jaw, to either side of her neck, along her collar bone, and while he took a detour at her chest that didn't stop Harry from continuing his journey down. Ginny lifted her hips up to easily remove the pants she just put on. 

After a few brief moment's Harry's lips began moving upwards again once close enough Ginny grabbed for his belt and helped Harry in the removal of the rest of his clothing. 

Stark naked the couple kissed for a little longer before Harry drew away and began positing himself. But he paused and looked down at Ginny, her back was slightly arched in anticipation, her head was thrown back and her chest heaving. 

After a couple of seconds, Ginny looked at him. "Christ Potter, what's the holdup?" She questioned, "Stick it in already." 

Without further hesitation Harry obliged. 

It was pure ecstasy. Ginny felt her legs quake and her insides go hot and runny. Harry's chest exploded with passion and desire. It had been months since either or the pair had been subject to anything quite as enjoyable as this and if not for the silencing charm that permeated their bedroom the children would have heard about it. 

An earth-shattering ninety minutes later Ginny rolled off from utop of Harry and wrapped a sheet around her exposed body. 

She took a moment to catch her breath before looking over at him, Harry was already looking at her. 

"What?" Ginny questioned. 

"I could ask you the same thing." Harry said, "What does this mean?"

"I don't know," Ginny replied staring up the ceiling. "It could mean nothing."

"Or it could mean everything," Harry added.

"How could it, after everything that's happened?" Ginny demanded. "It's been nearly five months since we've done something like this. Sex isn't just going to fix all of our problems. We have to want things to change." 

"I want things to change," Harry said rolling to his side, with a hand supporting his head. "Don't you?"

"Of course I do," Ginny answered, rolling to her said to face him as well. "But despite all my efforts the past two months nothing has. Why would they now?"

Harry sighed deeply. "Because I'll start trying to." 

Ginny laughed dryly to herself. "And you gave me so much shit for shutting down after the twins."

"I'm sorry," Harry sighed. "I haven't been putting effort into fixing things because last time I did you weren't there to help me."

"So I should suffer as you have?" Ginny cried. "That's an unbelievable stance."

"I agree." Harry sputtered. "One I'm fixing right now."

Ginny gave him a look of skepticism. 

"I miss you so much, Ginny. Every single day is a reminder of how far we strayed from one another and I can no longer bear it. You are my wife, the one person who I love more than anyone and I can't live like this for a second longer. I want us back and I am willing to do whatever it takes to get us there." 

Ginny only blinked at home for a moment before she slowly nodded. "Okay."

"Okay?" Harry asked with tentative joy.

"Okay," Ginny confirmed. 

Harry let out an excited gasp while grabbing Ginny by the waist and pulling her close. "I love you so much."

Ginny smiled into his chest. "I love you too." 

A little later Ginny laid on her stomach, her eyes closed and arms supporting her head from underneath the pillow, her hair was swept back away from her face and her skin was glowing in the moonlight shining in from between the blinds. 

Harry traced the outlines of her shoulders and vertebrates on her spine as he watched her sleep. He couldn't remember the last time he had truly looked at Ginny. In all of her beauty and all of her glory. 

She was the most exquisite creature he had ever had the pleasure of laying his eyes on. It baffled Harry how he had almost managed to lose her twice. Right then and there he vowed to never do it again. 

"I'm so sorry, Gin," He whispered, gently stroking her hair. "For every ounce of hurt, I ever caused you. I am truly and deeply sorry."

Ginny's soft breathing was the only response he received.

"I had forgotten you," Harry said as his eyes began to leak. "I left you behind and forgot you were hurting too. I promise to never do that again. We are in this together and we always will be." 

Ginny murmured something in her sleep as she readjusted her body. 

Wiping his eyes Harry gave a soft smile. "I love you more than anything and I am never abandoning you, ever again." 

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Ahhhhh shiit!

What's popping my babes? How ya been? How's 2022 treating you? Has Ms. Omicron gotten to you yet? I'm very curious cus I haven't heard from most of y'all since I updated last in October. So lmk I worry about you lovlies. 

but like woah! SEX! 
MAKEUP SEX
it's crazy stuff 

how'd y'all feel about that, I felt my first draft of a bit too graphic so I had to rewrite most of the steamy stuff. 

(there was a whole paragraph about harry kneading ginny's ass as a baker would with bread that I hadda scarp so I think it was for the better.)

But anyways I hope everyone liked it, I hope you get the next update out to you all asap. 

But I love you all so much and thank you for reading. 

See you next time Loves! ;) ;)