Surprise!
Her eyes fluttered open and she took a deep breath. She stretched her arms and her legs, gasping when she hit something. She turned her head quickly, scared but then a smile spread across her face. He was there, by her side. His black hair was messy, like normal. His eyes were closed. He looked so peaceful. She looked out of the window, it was still dark. She lit up her wand and looked at the clock. It was two in the morning. She smiled, remembering the night before.
They
had been sat around the radio, listening to Potter watch. It was
herself, her mother and father, Remus, Tonks, Bill, Fleur, Angelina,
Katie and little Ted. She was sitting between her mother and father,
laughing at something that Fred had said on the radio. Her brother's
hosted the show with Lee Jordan and sometimes other guests. Today it
was just them three. As the show drew to a close, conversations
began; she did not say much, her mind was with him.
'Ginny,
dear?' Her mother asked, gently.
'Yes mum?' She answered.
'Will you help me take these cups out?'
She
was pretty adamant that her mother could use magic, but she clearly
wanted to talk to her daughter.
'Sure mum.'
She stood up
and gathered the cups up. Her brother Bill smiled at her as he passed
her his cup, before turning his attention to his wife, Fleur. Tonks
and Remus were playing with Ted, making pretty patterns with their
wands to amuse him. Ginny laughed at the bemused expression on the
one year old baby. As she entered the kitchen her mother pulled the
cups out of her hand and into a hug. She hugged her closely,
breathing in the welcomed scent of her mum. Before she knew it, she
was crying. Ginny rarely cried, she never sought reason, but today
she felt despair.
'My
dear, hush now.' Her mother soothed her.
'What if they…they
are dead mum!' She exclaimed.
'Now now, we'd know, they'd
want…they'd want to show us that there is no hope.' Her mother
reasoned.
'I miss them all so much.'
'Me
too but we have to be strong, we all have to-'Her mother stopped.
Ginny pulled out of the hug and looked at her mother's face.
She was wearing a look of surprise and staring at the clock. Her
mother had a special clock. Each hand had a picture of the Weasley's
and pointed at things like Home or Mortal Peril etc. Ginny followed
her mum's gaze, she gasped. Her brother, Ron's hand was pointing
at Home. It couldn't be.
A
knock on the door had everyone draw their wands. Tonks picked up Ted
and allowed Remus to step in front of them. Bill stepped in front of
Fleur. Her dad walked up to the door,
'Who is it?'
'Us
dad. Hurry up and let us in, it's bloody freezing.' Ron said.
Her dad gasped. But Remus stepped up,
'It could be a trick,
Polyjuice potion.' He suggested.
'No Arthur, look at the
clock!' Her mum said.
'It is just a clock Molly.' Remus said gently.
'It
cannot be fooled by magic, Polyjuice potion and things.' She
explained.
Ginny stood there, unsure whether to open the door or
not. She was beginning to get frustrated.
'Dad
it is dangerous for them to be on the doorstep.' She pointed out.
'But how do they know where to find us? Shacklebolt knows and
that is it. He is our secret keeper!'
'Dad,
we went to see him first. Please, it's us.' Ron begged.
'If
you are my son, then what did he give me for my birthday when he was
three years old?' Ginny's dad asked.
'Aww dad. I gave you a
flower that I had charmed so that it wouldn't die, but it went
wrong and tried to rip your throat out.' Ron said, cringing; by the
sound of his voice.
Everyone laughed, nervously.
'What
shape does Molly's patronous take?' He asked again.
'Arthur!'
Molly shouted.
'A
beaver.'
'Let him in Remus.' Arthur ordered.
The
door opened and in stepped three, soaked figures. As the door closed,
the one in the middle threw off their hood. It was Hermione. Her hair
was lank and clung to her thin face; her eyes were bloodshot and had
bags underneath them. She smiled at them. The other two removed their
cloaks. Both were painfully thin with lank, greasy hair. They also
had bags under their eyes and looked exhausted. Ginny noted that Ron
was holding Hermione's hand. He let go and stepped forward, just as
their mother ran forward and pulled Ron into a hug. She was sobbing
into him. Everybody started cheering just as two voices rang out.
'Aww
well it was a good show.'
It was Fred and George. They walked
into the kitchen and stopped, staring at the three in the middle.
'Oh steal our limelight will you bro.' George said, surprising everyone by pulling Ron into a hug. Fred followed suit. Ginny's heart was beating faster then it had done in weeks. She hugged Ron and then Hermione. She reached Harry, unsure what to do, but he pulled her into a tight hug. He released her quickly but an arm remained on hers.
'What
are you doing back?!' Her mother asked.
'We…' Ron looked
at Harry.
'Mrs
Weasley, I'm sorry to spring this on you, we need to get to
Hogwarts tomorrow night but we wanted to fill you in on the plan
first.' Harry said.
'Hogwarts? But Harry that is suicide!'
Angela said.
Harry turned to look at her, he did a double take.
George had his arm around Angelina's waist.
'Since
when did you two…you know?' He asked.
'A couple of months
ago, it's thanks to Fred here that we got together. Fred and Katie
have been seeing each other for a year.' He explained.
'Huh.'
Harry said.
'That is fantastic!!' Hermione exclaimed.
The
four of them beamed.
'Sit
down and explain.' Bill said.
'I'll make some tea.'
Ginny's mum said.
They
sat around the kitchen table, each with a steaming mug of tea in
front of them. Ginny was sat between Hermione and Ron. She was
listening to their story intently. Everyone was. There was a lot that
the three of them were hiding. For a start, they wouldn't tell them
what they were trying to find, just that it would destroy Voldemort.
As much as Remus, Bill and Tonks tried to get it out of them, they
held tight.
'I know it is hard, but trust us please. I have
some information that will be sent here if all does not go according
to plan. Then it will be up to the Order, but right now, this is our
job. That is how it has to be, Dumbledore made it so.' Harry said.
They nodded silently.
'Right, well we have to get off.'
Fred said, giving Angelina his hand.
They stood up, George and
Katie following suit.
'I thought you were fugitives. Where are
you going?' Ron asked.
'We
have had our own places for a while now. Mum and dad are secret
keepers.' George explained.
Bill and Fleur also decided to
leave, back to shell cottage. Remus and Tonks had to get back to
Tonks parents so it ended up being the six of them. Ginny's mother
cooked Ron, Hermione and Harry a meal before hugging them all and
saying goodnight. After they'd eaten Ginny cleared up.
'Hermione…do
you want to stay in my room tonight?' Ron asked, going red.
Hermione nodded, also going red. Ginny raised her eyebrows.
'Huh.' Ginny said. 'How long?'
'on and off for the
past year.' Harry answered.
Ginny
laughed.
'Goodnight you two.' They said, walking up the
stairs.
It was just Ginny and Harry in the kitchen. They looked at each other awkwardly.
'Don't
take this the wrong way, but you look like exhausted.' Ginny said.
Harry laughed.
'Thank you. It has been a pretty hectic
year.' He said.
Ginny looked at Harry. He had filled out since
they had last seen each other. He was well toned. His glasses were
still there, but so were some new scars. She could see some on his
arms. She walked over to him and lifted his arm. She traced her
fingers down some of the scars. She looked up at him. He was gazing
down at her. His eyes were different. They were still green but they
had more depth then she had seen in anyone's eyes. Her stomach
tugged, she had missed him so much. He lowered his head and his lips
connected with hers. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled
her closer. Her fingers wrapped themselves around his hair. She
moaned. Harry chuckled, pulling himself away. He sat on a chair and
pulled Ginny on to his lap. She tucked her head under his.
'This
is a bad idea.' He whispered.
'Cut the noble crap.' Ginny
replied.
'This
is putting you at risk.'
'In case you hadn't noticed Harry,
we are already at risk.'
Harry
grinned.
'All the same.'
'Damn it Harry.' Ginny said,
pulling herself away. She went to stand next to the window. After a
minute she felt a hand at her waist. She turned to see Harry stood
there.
'I'm sorry.' He whispered.
'No I am. I'm
just angry.' Ginny replied.
'Why?'
'Because He has taken you away from me for the past year. Now
He has put the idea into your head that you are putting me at risk.'
'Ginny…it's-'
'Save it Harry.'
'You
didn't even know what I was going to say!' Harry said, his temper
rising.
'No doubt 'It's more complicated then you think.'
Or some other crap like that.'
Ginny snapped.
Harry was
silent. Eventually Ginny had had enough.
'You
have a big day ahead of you tomorrow. You should get some sleep.'
'Not without you.'
Ginny
turned to look at him, with her eyebrows raised. Harry sighed.
'You
have a point. Right now Voldemort doesn't know I'm here. You are
in no more danger then you would be alone. And no offence Ginny, but
I'm a little bit sick of having to push people away because of some
unforeseen circumstance. Tonight I want you with me. Tonight may be
the last time I ever get that chance.' He finished.
Ginny looked at him. Her heart beat faster. She put her hand on his chest, feeling his heart beat.
'I
have faith in you. I know you will make it.' She whispered.
Harry
smiled. He pulled her closer. She rested her head against his chest.
'Come on then. You can share my bed.' Ginny said.
They had fallen asleep in each others arms.
It couldn't of been later then ten when they fell asleep. Four hours sleep and yet she felt wide awake. She turned to face Harry; she started when she saw him awake. He smiled and pulled some of her hair back.
'You
have changed so much.' He whispered.
'You are one to talk.'
Ginny replied.
'You're still stubborn.'
'Some things
never change.' She smiled.
'Hmm. We have to be out of here in
six hours.' He said.
'That soon?' Ginny moaned.
Harry smiled. He pulled her to him and rolled onto his back so that she was lying on his chest.
'I've
missed this.' He sighed.
'Me too.' Ginny smiled.
Hermione snuggled into Ron's chest. She sighed contently. Ron chuckled.
'How
do you think Harry and Ginny are?' She asked.
'Hopefully
okay.' Ron replied.
'You are okay with it?' Hermione asked,
surprised.
'It's either him or some total ass. So yeah I am.'
Hermione smiled. She loved Ron's protective side.
'You
know, I haven't felt this relaxed in a good while. I don't seem
too fussed about tomorrow. I am living for the moment.' Ron
continued.
Hermione laughed. Then she stopped abruptly.
'Is your mother going to be okay with this?' She asked, suddenly worried.
'Right,
we face You-Know-Who tomorrow and all you are worried about is
whether or not my mother cares if we share a bed?' He asked,
laughing.
'Ron?'
'No she won't. I think she has
accepted that I am a man now.'
'Barely.' Hermione retorted.
'Funny.'
'I thought so.' Hermione chuckled.
Ron pulled her closer. She sighed again and felt sleep tugging at her. Ron's voice became a distant murmur.
'Hermione…if
tomorrow goes badly…if one of us doesn't come back then I want
you to know something.' He said. He waited for her reply.
'Hermione?' He asked, shaking her slightly.
She was out cold.
'Damn it!' Ron growled. He wrapped his arms tightly around
her and gradually fell asleep.
