"I think I left a potion brewing in the kitchen," Ginny Weasley said, turning away from the gate, hands clenched at her sides.

Harry Potter laughed, grabbing her arm and pulling her back towards the gate and the house behind it. "You didn't leave anything brewing."

He smiled at the multi-layered house, the first home he ever really knew. Chaotic and warm and so full of love. It had been a while since he stepped in the Burrow himself. Mrs. Weasley had continued to send Ron to invite him for Sunday Brunch like he'd occasionally done, but it had been too difficult to go now that he was with Ginny.

"I'm sure I did," she said, shaking her head. Her brown eyes were wide and she stared at the house, lips pursed. "Maybe we should go check. Hate to have our lovely home burn to the ground. Finding a place in this economy is a nightmare."

"Ginny."

Here was the ex-infamous thief, Fyrefox, quacking in her little boots. He grinned.

"Don't you laugh at me, Harry." She pointed her finger at him.

"I would never," he told her, opening the gate and holding it open for her. "In you go."

But she didn't move, except to run her fingers through her hair. She looked pale. Still. She'd been sick with something last week, but she had seemed to get better. "Are you feeling sick again?" he couldn't help but ask.

She waved away his words. "I'm fine."

He let the gate fall closed again and turned to her, laying his hands on her shoulders and crouching slightly to meet her eyes through his glasses. "Ginny, it's going to be okay."

The day he proposed, she told him she wanted to reunite with her family. After putting both Fyrefox and the hurt behind them, he knew this was a big step for her, for both of them. A big step away from a life of crime and a cell in Azkaban. He never told her, but he still had nightmares of her locked away and screaming in Azkaban, those nestled between his usual nightmares. He fought a shiver.

She ran her hands over her face and exhaled. "It's been years. What if-" She paused. "What if it's been too long?"

Regardless of the years and lack of communication between the family, Harry knew Ron had always passed along what little knowledge he got of Ginny, even though it had been brief. They were dying to see her, they missed her. Even though he told her repeatedly, he knew it didn't stick. The fear always won out.

Odd that this little woman, who cursed and verbally assaulted Malfoy while he threatened to kill her, was afraid of her family.

"You're smiling," she told him, her eyes narrowing, and even though he knew that look well, he couldn't help himself. He laughed, pulling her into a hug. "Harry," she growled against his chest.

He laughed harder. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry." He pulled back and caressed her cheek. "Yes, it's been a while. Things have changed. Life went on. But if there's one thing your family has taught me after all of these years, when you love someone, you can forgive them almost anything. Your family has always been about love and forgiveness. About acceptance." He ran his thumb over her bottom lip. "They love you, Ginny, and they miss you. I know that feeling well." He leaned over and kissed her softly.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and a moment later, she pulled away and leaned her forehead against his.

He knew she was worried and knew she had no reason to be. And when he'd spoken to Ron about their visit last night at the Ministry, Ron was ecstatic and promised that he and Hermione would be here for support. They hadn't told anyone else, mostly because he was worried to get their hopes up.

Months had passed since the closing of the Fyrefox case and his reunion with Ginny. She wanted this, but she'd been hesitant. Maybe she changed her mind.

"What's wrong?" he asked her now.

Her eyes opened. "What?"

"I thought you wanted to reunite with them. Did you change your mind?" Even though he knew this was best for her, he wouldn't push her. If she wanted to leave, he'd take her back home, and they'd try again another time.

She bit her lip. "I just..." She stopped, looking at her childhood home.

What was she thinking? He wondered as he brushed a lock of hair behind her ear.

"The last time we were all together." She paused, her face growing pale. She cleared her throat. "It was only months after the Final Battle at Hogwarts. Fred was gone... George was - It was bad. The family was in mourning. I was doubly heartbroken and things may have been said." The smile that flashed across her face was so bitter, it almost broke his heart. "You know what they say about redheads and tempers."

Everything went back to that one day. How different their lives would've been if he put Ginny and himself before the wizarding world? Never let her go. Well, he held tight now after five years. Nothing would drag her away from him again. There was no point to think about what could've been. Ginny was with him now, here. She loved him.

"Stop," she whispered.

His eyebrows rose. "What?"

"You're obviously worrying about something that happened a long time ago." She pressed her fingers between his eyebrows. "Stop."

He smiled. "So are you."

She snorted. "That's hardly the same thing."

"Your family loves you," he said.

"I know." She exhaled then met his eyes. "And what about all the questions of what I've been doing for all these years?" Her eyebrows rose.

"No one but me knows the truth." He laid his hands on her shoulders again and looked at the house. "Discovering yourself?"

She tossed her head back and laughed, and his heart skipped a beat. Merlin's Beard. Maybe they should come back another day.

"No," she said after she calmed down, but the smile was still there, and it made her eyes dance. God, he loved her so much. "No. Just odd jobs. It's not really a lie."

He chuckled, turning her towards the gate again. "Speaking of thieves who never let anything get in their way, would she back down here? Has every little part of her been completely retired?" he asked.

She smacked his arm. "Don't start, Harry."

"That's what I thought!" He laughed, opening the gate again. This time she stepped through and they walked over to the front door. He raised his hand to knock when she stopped him. "What?"

"Just- Give me a second." She cleared her throat and turned her back, shaking out her hands and exhaling.

He smiled.

She looked down, and he really wished, not for the first time, that he knew what she was thinking. He had an idea. She was worried, but she'd be happier with her family back in her life. She'd given up Fyrefox and stealing, her hatred for the Ministry, had trained and tried out for the Holyhead Harpies, had accepted his proposal and moved in with him. Her new life was blossoming before her. Her family would be just one more positive to help her. He would do anything to help her and make her happy. Anything.

"Okay," she said and turned around. "I'm ready."

He leaned over and kissed her. "Good," he said as he raised his hand and knocked.

*

PART ONE! There we go. The first part of ALL IN BAD COMPANY, book two in the BAD series, is starting. ARE YOU READY?? If you haven't, please read BAD to understand what is going on and what brought our couple together! Just a little information, this will be a short story and takes place months after BAD. Like BAD, it is a rewrite, so if you read the original, some things might be the same, some may be different, but I hope you enjoy this rewrite nonetheless!

Anyway, as always, thank you all for the support you've shown for me and the BAD series. I'm continually blown away by all the reads, votes, and comments. The love you've shown keeps me writing this series! So, thank you, thank you, thank you.

And lastly, remember to stay safe and healthy and kind during this crazy time <3