Post-Match Euphoria
"Party in the common room, Seamus said!" Jimmy Peakes's voice rang out from amidst the mass of red and gold clad Quidditch heroes.
Grinning broadly, Ginny shoved her Quidditch robes in her changing room locker. There was a lot to grin about today: she wasn't in a relationship (or looking for one), Ron was no longer cold-shouldering her (fighting with her brothers hurt her more than she'd ever let on), she had no homework, no essays to compose, no spells to practice, and to top it all off, like a shiny red cherry on a perfect caramel sundae, they'd just won the Quidditch Cup! She felt positively light-headed as she was half-carried by the throng of jubilant people walking towards the Gryffindor common room.
Ginny walked automatically, helped along by her team mates, her mind a long ways away. She'd just barely caught the snitch. Once they had 300 points she'd started looking for the elusive ball in earnest. She'd spotted it near the Slytherin stand but a bludger came her way, she'd ducked and lost track of where the Snitch was. Then she'd seen it again, hovering near the teacher's stand. It had almost escaped her again, but in a desperate bid to catch it she'd slipped further up her broom, swiped the air with her hand, and caught the miniscule ball in her fist. Cho who'd been hot on her trail had let out a wail of despair at this and sunk to the ground.
Immersed in her reflections, Ginny didn't realise that they'd reached the portrait hole. She was pushed (none too gently) by the impatient Gryffindors through the portrait-hole. Once inside she was immediately handed a Butterbeer by a seventh year boy who congratulated her on the match. Murmuring a thank you she made to go towards Neville who was sitting with Seamus, but the Creevey brothers caught up to her. They started over-analysing the match, roundly abusing the Ravenclaw beaters for targeting Ginny the whole game. She looked through the crowd for Hermione (she'd lost the frizzy-haired witch in the crowd), half-heartedly taking part in the Creevey brother's enthusiastic discussion of Katie's 17 goals. She found Hermione amusedly listening to Ron recount every one of his 'brilliant' saves.
Renewed screams filled the room. Ginny looked up just in time to see Harry stumble in from the portrait hole, looking slightly punch-drunk. He was accosted by a mob of cheering Gryffindors; then Ron, who brandished the Cup in front of Harry's face like some sort of a bizarre flag. Harry grinned momentarily at Ron, but she could tell he was looking for someone; Hermione perhaps? But his eyes roved over the spot where Hermione was sitting... and came to a rest on her. The boyishly coy grin was still on his face as he looked at her with an expression she couldn't quite place. Ginny rose from her chair and, after a moment's hesitation, threw herself into his outstretched arms.
It was supposed to be a strictly platonic hug, but even as she willed herself to ignore the feel of his arms around her, Ginny felt Harry's hands inch lower to the small of her back; coming to a rest almost on her buttocks. She looked up indignantly at him, but the reproving words she was going to say were cut off when Harry lowered his lips to meet hers.
Fireworks imploded inside Ginny. Her brain had gotten so fuzzy she was positive that a herd of Luna's Wrackspurts had taken hold of her. Meanwhile, Harry's tongue slid over her bottom lip and her brain melted completely. Ginny had no inkling how Harry had gotten so damn good. She'd have to ask him later. Harry's tongue did sinfully wonderful things in her mouth so – just to show him who'd be in charge in this relationship – she did sinfully wonderful things back. Revelling in Harry's shiver, but not wishing to go any further in front of everyone, she pulled back slightly. Harry reluctantly loosened his grip of her waist. Panting, she leant her head against his shoulder, closing her eyes so as not to see Ron's surely purple face.
The room had gone unbearably quiet. She could've heard a pillow drop. There was a sudden outbreak of wolf-whistling and several girls giggled. Ginny could feel Harry looking around the room, and she knew that he was asking permission from Ron. Scowling, she turned her head sideways to survey the room: Dean was clutching a broken glass, Butterbeer dripping to the floor; Romilda Vane was looking daggers at her (Ginny smirked); a gaggle of girls standing close to the fire-place looked close to tears; the seventh year boy who'd given her a Butterbeer looked crestfallen. She turned her head a bit more to look at her brother.
Ron had an expression that suggested he'd just seen a fully grown mountain-troll dance the Nutcracker in full costume; not his best friend and little sister have a – er – spirited snog. He mouthed silently for a while, like a fish out of water. Then he gave the slightest of nods, and Ginny felt Harry's stiffened body relax.
Ginny looked at Hermione; the older witch looked like she couldn't decide between an 'I'm deliriously-happy-for-you' or an 'I-told-you-so' expression. Hermione had given her a lecture about how Harry had finally started fancying her. Ginny had then given Hermione a lecture about how she shouldn't get her hopes up and to leave her alone already. Now, Hermione mouthed 'good luck'. Ginny smiled up at Harry, he was grinning so hard it looked like his face would break. He gestured in the approximate direction of the portrait-hole. Ginny flashed him a brilliant smile, grabbed his hand and pulled him towards their way to sweet privacy.
Her hand was on the door, poised to push it open, when Ron yelled out, "Oi! Where do you think you're going?"
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Harry open his mouth to speak. He looked at her a split second before he spoke and she shook her head, he closed his mouth, looking bemused. Ginny looked at Ron who was trying, and failing miserably, to imitate her mum's worst glare. She seriously considered hexing him for a moment. But she thought her mother wouldn't be really happy with her if she lost her only son, so Ginny settled for a defiant glare and a smirk. She grabbed Harry's hand and led him into the hall.
The walk outside to the grounds (for that's what they seemed to have silently agreed to) was, well, silent. The silence wasn't uncomfortable but Ginny didn't feel particularly relaxed. She was over conscious of Harry's calloused hand firmly gripping her own small ones.
Harry trailed behind Ginny as she smirked at Ron and pulled Harry by the hand through the portrait hole. Harry looked back at his best mate; Ron looked scandalised. Harry was slightly worried about how Ron was going to feel about this new... development. Once the shock had settled in, however, he was confident that Hermione would do whatever in her power to convince Ron that Harry wouldn't 'hurt' Ginny. Whether she would succeed or not... that was another bridge to cross another time.
Ginny's small hand twitched inside Harry's own Quidditch-roughened ones. He looked at her; she looked like she was struggling with herself. A second later she burst out angrily, "What about Cho?" Ginny apparently couldn't hold the question in any longer.
Harry swallowed. He had expected her to inquire... but not about Cho. Never about Cho. Cho was, after all, done with. Caught off-guard, he stammered, "Er. What about Cho?"
Ginny appeared to still be struggling with herself. "Well, you fancied her, didn't you?"
"Well, yea... fancied. Past tense... I don't anymore..." he trailed off. He was hoping they could move on to discuss happier – and less awkward – things. But, Harry never knew Ginny to let up that easily.
"So it's definitely over, then?" She scrutinized him through slightly narrowed eyes.
"Definitely."
She sighed and looked at him, her expression apologetic. "I'm sorry, but I had to ask, didn't I? It was only last year..." there was a self-justifying note in her voice.
They walked in a slightly uncomfortable silence towards the great oak doors. Harry thought that Ginny was purposely not looking at him; instead she stared at their surroundings as if she'd never see them again. They had almost reached the doors when a blonde-haired, bubbly looking Hufflepuff witch bounced up to them.
Ginny's Hufflepuff friend (Lisa) was practically bouncing. "You'll never guess what's happened!" She trilled.
Ginny sighed wearily; Lisa could be a bit too bubbly. But she was sort-of Ginny's friend and so she said, in a perfect imitation of the shrill girl, "Ohmigod! Did Jon finally ask you out?"
Lisa's face fell comically, "No," she sighed, "he hasn't. I think he's too –"
Ginny interrupted her before she could get into full-fledged detail about her love life. "Yes, so what's happened?"
Lisa blinked confusedly, "Oh. Right." She brightened and went on, "Abby! She got an owl just now! She's had a baby brother! Oh, and there was a picture and he's so cute –!"
Ginny smiled, showing teeth, "Great! Listen – I'm a bit busy right now, so I'll talk to you two at dinner –"
Lisa nodded knowingly, "Of course! See you later!" She'd (thankfully, Ginny thought) taken a step towards the marble staircase when she noticed Ginny and Harry's linked hands. She stared at it. Harry, who'd been silent throughout the whole exchange, muttered "uh oh" under his breath. Ginny had to agree with him. Lisa looked at Ginny, then at Harry, at their joint hands, then at Harry again, as if to make sure. With baited breath Ginny waited for the explosion.
Sure enough, a second later, Lisa shrieked, bouncing up and down on her toes. "When did this happen?! You never said! Oh... Does anyone know? This is huge!" She giggled in a high-pitched voice and winked at Ginny. "Alice has got to know! I'll leave you two alone then!" She fluttered her fingers at them and flounced up the marble staircase.
As soon as she'd disappeared from their view, Harry turned to Ginny. "Who was that?"
Ginny sighed, "Lisa. From Hufflepuff. She means well, she really does, but, she can be a bit... shrill. Now that she knows about –" she stopped, and looked up at Harry to see if he thought of them as an 'us' yet, he smiled at her to go on. She took a deep breath and continued, "Now that she knows about us, I'll be surprised if it isn't all over the school in an hour."
Harry winced, "Nice to keep these things private."
Ginny laughed, "In Hogwarts nothing is private." She took the lead again as they continued out the great doors and towards the lake.
They had almost reached the shady alcove of a tree Ginny had in mind when Harry pulled back. Ginny looked around at him. He placed his hand on her waist and guided her towards a tree. He pushed her gently back on it; she felt her back bump softly against the rough bark of the tree. He took her hands and positioned them around his neck, then placed his own hands lightly on her waist. She watched him, entranced. This slow approach was more arousing than Dean's harried ministrations. She stared up at him, he was staring at her too, a look on his face she couldn't quite place. She could tell by the hot feeling on her neck that she was blushing, she must look dreadful. He leaned in halfway, but she must've looked scared, or nervous, or something because he stopped and asked, "Ok?" She nodded slowly, her eyes wide, still staring into those orbs of cool forest green. A half-smirk graced his features and he placed his lips tenderly upon hers.
She'd never let any boy take such complete control of her. She'd always been the one to start it, or finish it, whether it was a quick snog, or the whole relationship. Whether that was because that's just how her personality was or because she didn't trust them with her body completely, she could never tell. But now... it felt good to let Harry guide her. And she knew she could trust him; he was, after all, Harry.
She moaned; Harry's tongue again... Then several things happened at once: Harry leapt back, swearing loudly, and Ginny felt something furry brush across her arm and drop to the grass, mewling in pain. Harry had accidentally squeezed Arnold, her pygmy puff, who'd been in her pants pocket.
Harry looked at his bleeding finger; Arnold had bitten him. Then he looked at her, an incredulous expression on his face. Ginny swallowed her giggles with difficulty, "Sorry! I'd forgotten he was in there. He's so quiet... here let me..."
Harry stopped sucking on his finger and held it out to her. She took out her wand, and siphoned away the blood.
Harry leant against the tree, hands in his pockets, and watched as Ginny bent to pick up Arnold. She cupped the little creature in one hand and stroked it lovingly with her finger; Arnold crooned in pleasure; a small reminiscent smile lit Ginny's face. Then she seemed to remember where she was, she placed Arnold on her shoulder, where he immediately went to sleep. Ginny looked up and caught him staring; he looked away, turning a faint shade of red.
"What?" she asked, self-consciously raising a hand to her hair.
"Nothing." He said quickly.
"Well, it must've been something." She reasoned.
Harry shook his head and looked away, smiling.
Ginny grinned wickedly, "Has my beauty completely blown you away?"
Harry grinned, "Well, I'm here aren't I?"
"So, is the great Harry Potter calling me," Ginny gasped, "Ugly?"
Harry's smile slid off his face, "What? No! That's not what I–"
Ginny laughed, "Harry, relax. I was just teasing."
Harry laughed too, relieved. He stood up straight, took his hands out of his pockets and reached out to her. She took a step closer to him, completely ignoring his outstretched hand; she put a hand on his chest, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. Unsatisfied, Harry leaned in again but she shook her head. "People will see."
Harry sighed, "Yeah. Fine. Let's get inside now. Ron must be wondering where we –"
Her light mood changed quickly, the hard, blazing look on her face was back again."Why do you care about his 'permission' so much!?" she made fierce quotation marks in the air at the word 'permission.'
"He's my best mate, and you're his little sister! Plus he's just a bit taller than me if you haven't noticed. I don't think he's going to be completely happy that I'm dating his –"
Ginny laughed derisively, "You're kidding right?"
"No." He responded, affronted.
She laughed again. "Harry, you're so clueless. Ever since I started dating, Ron's been telling me that he'd prefer me dating you than anyone else. Not that I care but..."
Harry glared at her sceptically.
"Well, ok. So, he didn't exactly say it, but I can take a hint." Then she quoted, "Harry, you go with Ginny. Remember? At the Yule Ball?"
Harry gaped at her, "Blimey, you're right! And all these months I've been worrying –" Harry stopped abruptly, he'd said too much.
Her eyebrows shot up, "Months?" She repeated in a whisper. "Just how long have you been – let's see – romantically inclined towards me, Potter?"
Harry muttered something indistinct, looking at the ground; he was finding it incredibly difficult to look at her.
She smirked, goading him more. "You have a way with words, you do. You just make me swoon with you incoherent babbling! I just adore the way you speak in monosyllabic words! Oh and those –"
Harry pulled her to him, and growled, "Shut it, woman."
Ginny smiled sweetly up at him and asked, "Or what?"
Harry brought her closer to him, "Or this." And he placed his lips upon hers; the monster in his chest would not wait any longer. They broke apart ten minutes later and Ginny said, "Harry?"
"Yea?"
"I like you're threats."
The monster in his chest grinned.