Swearing, Harry climbed off his bed to see the damage done. It was late morning and Harry Potter had overslept. When he had finally woken up and checked the time, Harry had scrambled out of bed and knocked his lamp over. The once beautiful stained glass lamp lay in ruins beside his bed. Having no time to waste, Harry chugged down a glass of orange juice for breakfast and hurriedly pulled on his pants and robes. With a stumble into the fireplace and a cough caused by the green powder held in his hand, he cried out "The Ministry of Magic!" and was gone.
"RON! Ron! RON!" Above the hustle and bustle of wizards and witches going to work, a flaming red head turned around. "Harry!" Ron turned around and pushed past disgruntled people. After many 'Watch it's and 'Oi!'s Ron finally reached a grinning Harry. "How are you, mate?" After getting married in a serene island near Italy, ('At least we didn't get married in a library' Ron told Harry gratefully.) Ron took Hermione to a remote and far off place that was a secret to Hermione (though not for very long.) Harry hadn't seen Ron in ages. Obviously the two of them were having fun in France."How was France?" Harry asked. "Bloody weird!" Ron exclaimed loudly, causing people to turn and send disapproving stares in their direction. "We went skinjing or something-" "Skiing." Harry corrected but Ron continued. "-it's where you go down a slope on two planks of wood, and muggles call that fun?" "Yeah, you've said that before." Harry grumbled. But Ron ignored Harry's last comment and pulled out his arm from the robe, revealing a bluish mark on his wrist. "That's from getting whacked with those planks." Ron said crossly. "And how's Hermione?" Ron turned a delicate shade of pink. "We're married." He said breathlessly. "Yeah, I know but-" "WE'RE MARRIED!" Ron shouted out gleefully. "This is amazing, Harry! I've finally realized it, I'M MARRIED!" A young man strode towards them purposefully. Ron stood next to Harry, stunned about his realization. ", I've come to give you this." He handed Harry a folder, thick with paper overflowing from its bound contents. "Thanks." Harry turned but the man had already disappeared. "So how about it then?" Ron asked as they made their way to their office. "What?" Harry had switched off right after the man had given him that folder. The man looked familiar, those startling grey eyes and crooked nose gave Harry a mixture of intimidation and recognition. He had seen that man somewhere...somewhere. "Harry! You're not listening!" Harry snapped back into reality. "Sorry! I'm just thinking about things." Ron rolled his eyes. "You, Hermione, me, dinner, tonight. Simple enough for you?" He asked, smirking a Draco-worthy smirk. Harry gave Ron an amused smile, "Yeah, I'll come around 7. AND I'll bring cake."
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With cake in hand, Harry walked up the neat pebbled path that was artfully decorated with pots of petunias and freesias. The path led up to a cosy wooden cottage with the smell of burnt food wafting from the open front door. Smiling to himself, Harry knocked on the door, peeking in to find a medium sized room that was littered with books and letters. All of a sudden, Harry found himself winded by the tackled hug from a rather curly head. "HARRY!" Hermione squealed, causing the apricot tart cake to fall to the ground. "Oh sorry! Let me help you with that." With a flick of her wand Harry's now squashed cake flew to what could only be the kitchen. Harry grinned, happy to see his friend again. "So what did you guys do in France?" "Oh my gosh! France was amazing! First we went to Paris because I really wanted to see the workings of the wizards and witches there but-" Harry tuned out. He turned his focus on Hermione's changed appearance. France had obviously done wonders on Hermione. Pink cheeked, flawless skin and a tinge of a tan on her arms and legs, Hermione looked like a pin-up model. The breezy summer dress she had on reminded Harry of Ginny.
Ginny. A few weeks after the battle of Hogwarts, the novelty of beating Voldermort wore off. Instead of feeling happy, Harry felt depressed and he couldn't quite place why. Then Ginny dropped the bombshell. "Harry, I don't know what's gotten over you lately. You seem like a whole different person.. I'm sorry. I've been offered a job in London, and I'm going to take it. When you're ready, you know who to call." Harry had just stood there numbly, nodding when necessary and smiling reassuringly when Ginny's chocolate brown eyes landed on his. But after what seemed like years, Harry found himself waking up with a lighter weight on his shoulders. He felt free, new, re-born. It was as if Ginny breaking up with Harry was exactly what he needed. And now here he was."-and that was that, really.
"Harry? Harry?" Harry blinked, turning his focus back on Hermione. Hermione, now concerned, patted Harry reassuringly on his shoulder. "Are you alright, Harry? Is it...is it Ginny? I heard from her just this morning...she misses you, Harry. She really does." Harry smiled gratefully at Hermione. "I'm alright, thanks. I was just thinking..." He trailed off, giving Hermione a smile. That seemed to do the trick. Smiling back, she led him to another room, the dining room. A wooden table stood in the middle of a small room. The plates, forks and knives were already set out and the napkins were neatly folded next to each plate. The smell of burnt food was ever more prominent in this room. Hermione smiled apologetically. "Ron wanted to prove to me that he could cook dinner." She explained, rolling her eyes. Just then, a sharp bang echoed from the kitchen. "Hermione! I've got the rosemary! Is Harry here yet?" Ron emerged from the kitchen, dark overalls covering his gangly frame. "Harry! How you doing? Brought the cake did you? Just went to the herb garden to get some rosemary!" He babbled, waving the crushed rosemary around. "Took bloody long too! All those herbs look the same!" Harry laughed, his moment of nostalgia vanished. "I know what you mean, mate. Want me to help out at the kitchen?" Ron waved him away, "Don't worry, now. Dinner is nearly ready!"
10 minutes later, Harry was stuffing his face with burnt roast chicken and potatoes. Apart from the burnt carbon on the skin of the chicken, the dish was surprisingly good. Ron sat with a smug look on his face. Surprise was etched on the faces of Hermione and Harry. "Told you I could cook!" He told them proudly. A knock on the door interrupted their laughter. Hermione was the first one to stand up. She giggled at the sight of Harry and Ron laughing and walked to the living room. "Ginny!" Harry and Ron froze. "Come on in! Please!" The sound of footsteps grew louder. "We're having Harry over for dinner but please, join us!" The sound of Ginny protesting could be heard. Harry clutched Ron tightly. "Ron, you have to understand, I love your sister and all but I'm not ready to see her now so if it's alright with you I'm going to..." His voice trailed away.
In front of him, Ginny Weasley stood. Her hair was tied back in a messy ponytail, wisps of auburn red hair escaped and framed her now frowning face. When she caught Harry looking at her, she broke out into a tight smile. "Hi Harry." Harry smiled back, acting as if everything was alright. "Hey Ginny." Ron watched them closely, as if expecting chaos to break out. "So Harry," Ron said loudly, filling up the awkward silence. "Want some coffee? Ginny, would you like some too?" He bustled into the kitchen, giving Harry a quick wink. Obviously Ron thought he was being tactful, providing Harry and Ginny the privacy to talk. That was the last thing Harry wanted. As soon as Ron was out the door silence followed. "Where's Hermione?" Harry asked abruptly. "She's getting the books I came here to collect." She replied nervously. "So how's...work?" She asked. Harry smiled. "Look, Ginny, it's alright, I'm not mad at your or anything, I understand why you did what you did so you don't have to talk me as if I'm going to bite your head off." He grinned. Ginny was one of his closest friends and seeing her again made him feel cheerful. Ginny sighed a sigh of relief. After that, easy conversation flowed and soon, Harry and Ginny found themselves with tears of laughter.
Ron and Hermione peeked at the sight of Harry and Ginny. "They look cosy." Ron noted. Hermione shushed him. Ron ignored her. "Why did Ginny have to come coincidentally at the time Harry was over?" Ron wondered aloud. Hermione shot him a glance. "I called Ginny to come and collect some books I've borrowed from her for our holiday and thought it would be a good idea to get the two together again!" Ron looked at his wife proudly. "Always the matchmaker!" He whispered to her.
"And what have you been up to?" Harry asked. Toying with a thread on her jumper, Ginny smiled shyly. "Um...I'm seeing someone." Harry felt a surge of anger shoot through his bones. It had only been a few months and Ginny was already seeing someone? Well, when you've got someone that looks like Ginny you don't expect them to be single for very long. He thought bitterly. Harry gave a small smile. "Who is he?" Ginny bit her lip, obviously, she was smitten. "I don't think you know him...but he's called Lucas Florence." Lucas Florence...a familiar name...the man! Lucas Florence was the man that gave Harry the folder this morning! No wonder he looked so familiar. Lucas Florence worked in The Department of Mysteries, an Unspeakable. Harry had met him a few weeks ago when Kingsley Shacklebolt was talking to him and introduced Lucas to Harry. "This is Lucas Florence. Head of The Department of Mysteries, Harry. He's a very important man, Lucas." Kingsley had laughed a deep throaty laugh while Lucas had grasped Harry's hand and murmured a word of hello. Everything about him seemed normal until Harry looked into his eyes. It was a startling grey that seemed to probe into every corner of your darkest secrets. "I know Lucas." Harry said quietly, his eyes on the table. "Oh yes? He's a quiet man, Lucas. But very sweet." Ginny continued, oblivious to Harry's grimace. "Don't go looking for him, will you?" Ginny joked, but her eyes were dead serious.