Harry stepped into his lounge, breathing heavily. He wanted to cry, to smash something. Not his grandmother, dear Merlin, not her, he wanted to yell. She still looked healthy, and was alert in both mind and body. What damned disease or illness was this, draining her life source?
Harry realised the shower was running; Ginny was awake. He went to the bathroom and knocked on the door. "Hey," he called out, his voice thick.
"Hey, back," called Ginny, her voice muffled. "Be out soon, to catch up."
"I'll make you some tea," he offered, needing something to do.
"Cheers, mate," she called, in her best Aussie accent, which was dreadful. Harry chuckled, despite himself, and went to the small kitchen.
He waited for the kettle to boil, pulling Ginny's favourite mug down from the cupboard. He stared at it, his hands clenched tight around it. Without meaning to, he threw it against the wall with all his might.
"Damnit," he said, as the kettle boiled. He used his wand to cast a Reparo spell on it, then set about making Ginny her favourite chamomile tea. Then he decided to make jam sandwiches, and added a couple of slices of fruitcake that Molly Weasley had sent over a couple of days ago, expecting her daughter home soon. He carried them all over to the coffee table, then returned to add the water to her cup and let it brew.
He smelled Ginny's flowery fragrance before she even reached him. "Bless you," she said from behind him, her arms encircling his waist and laying her cheek against his back. She squeezed lightly. "Merlin, I'm glad to be home."
Harry turned, handing her the mug. She inhaled the calming aroma, smiling at him before taking a small sip. Her eyes closed happily. "Mmmmm, thanks."
Harry gestured to the lounge, and her eyes widened at the feast he had prepared. "Feeding your Weasley, well done," she nodded, her eyes showing him she was happy.
"How was your trip?" he asked, settling down and taking a sandwich. Ginny's stories were always amusing, and he really needed the distraction right now.
"Brilliant, although the country is still recovering from the war. I mean, we were quite removed from where the main fighting was, in Sydney, but even out in the Outback, we came across Muggleborns still afraid to return to their homes on the east coast. Oh, I even met him, the Boy-Who-Lived! Only now they call him the Chosen One. I thought he'd be a right arse, really up himself, but he was actually quite nice," said Ginny.
Harry snorted. "You sound like you're in love with him." Somehow that idea didn't sit well with him.
Ginny scoffed. "You have to admit, what he went through was pretty damn amazing. And to defeat the darkest wizard of our time with a simple Expelliarmus, well, I think Barry Trotter is a real hero," she said, staunchly.
Harry actually agreed, having heard the story of the Australian teen who had defeated the evil Lord Voldemort. He shuddered to think about his family, his world being affected by a war.
"Besides, he's got a girlfriend, and I met her too. Jenny, something or other. She was lovely, and the two are very much in love, so there," said Ginny, sticking her tongue out him. "So, what's been happening around here?"
Harry opened his mouth to tell her nothing much, but found he couldn't speak. His throat was thick again, and to his embarrassment, his eyes welled with tears.
"Harry?" Ginny quickly put her tea cup down and moved to his side. "What is it?"
He shook his head, needing a moment. Ginny sat beside him, her hands covering his. "You can tell me anything," she said softly.
"It's my grandmother," he said, almost painfully. "She-she's dying."
Ginny gasped. "Oh, Harry," she consoled. She put her arms around his shoulders, drawing his head to her neck. "I'm so sorry."
Ginny felt her eyes fill with tears too. She had spent a lot of time with the Potter family, having known them since she and Harry went to kindergarten then primary school together, albeit a year apart. Both Euphemia and Lily Potter were women that Ginny admired and had grown to love, and she knew Harry was very close to them both.
"I found out by accident, only a couple of hours ago. My gran even says my grandpa will possibly follow her, one or maybe two months after."
"No," said Ginny, closing her eyes to Harry's pain. "Both of them? Does Rose know?" Harry's sister was Ginny's best girlfriend, the two had been friends due to Harry and Ginny's friendship, but had become closer when Rose joined him and Ginny on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. As two of the Chasers, Ginny and Rose had worked closely together, and Harry was happy his little sister had an older female to confide in at Hogwarts.
Harry shook his head, already feeling better that he had unburdened himself slightly, and Ginny was really good at comforting. "No, and I'm not sure yet I will. Gran wants to spend as much time as possible with the both of us over the next few weeks, and she plans to tell us after the holidays, just before she..." Harry couldn't say the words.
"But-but that's just weeks away," gasped Ginny, again. "Oh, Harry," she said, hugging him even closer. "Is there anything I can do to help you?"
Harry shook his head, and pulled away. "I just wish I could fulfil her last wishes. I overheard her telling my mum she would be happier if Rose and I were in love; settled," he said.
"She said that?" asked Ginny. Harry nodded.
"You and Cho couldn't-" Ginny didn't finish that question, as Harry sent her a withering look.
"Cho always thought it strange that I spent more time with my family than anyone else, including her," he said. "Nope, that ship has sailed." His voice was firm. Cho Chang was a thing of his past.
Ginny tried not to show her relief. Harry had fallen for the dark haired beauty in his fourth year at Hogwarts, and while initially it had been fun to see her best friend stutter around the girl, and put his elbows in butter dishes when she glanced his way, by the time they actually became a couple in Harry's fifth year, the fun had worn off.
She barely saw Harry for those few weeks, and had felt bereft, missing him terribly. They had made plans to go to Hogsmeade together before the term even started, and on the actual day, she had waited, only to see Harry and Cho head off to the town, hand in hand. She had sat with Luna, Demelza and Rose, half listening to their conversation, when Harry had come bursting into the Leaky Cauldron, apologetic that he had forgotten. They had spent the afternoon together, and Harry never mentioned his abysmal trip to Madame Puddifoot's with Cho. No, Ginny had heard about their big argument through the grapevine; Harry choosing Ginny over Cho.
Cho held her head high, appearing at dinner that night on the arm of Cedric Diggory. Harry had pretended not to care, but Ginny knew him well enough to know he was hurting.
Cho continued to play Harry and Cedric off for the next year, but by the time he hit his last year, Harry decided to concentrate on preparing for his NEWTS, hoping to be offered an apprenticeship at the Ministry. He was happy to just spend time with his friends, Ron and Neville, and Ginny and Rose.
Unfortunately, as far as Ginny was concerned, Cho still played her games with the two men even after Hogwarts, and after a bitter break up with Cedric, had latched onto Harry, yet again. But this time it was Harry who said enough. He was sick of all the drama, believing that a relationship wasn't about playing games and just shouldn't be that hard.
Harry smiled, knowing Ginny was relieved he had broken off with Cho. The two had never gotten on, even at Hogwarts, although at least Ginny tried to make an effort to pretend to like the pretty Ravenclaw, for his sake. Cho had made no qualms about hating the closeness Harry and Ginny shared, and doubly so when she learned they lived together now. She had bad-mouthed Ginny, which had been the final straw for Harry.
"I just wish I was seeing someone, so that I could pretend to be in love with them. Anything, to make my Gran's last days be happy ones," sighed Harry, resting his head against Ginny's, which was resting on his shoulder.
Ginny sat up, her eyes wide. "I'll do it," she offered.
Harry scoffed, "Yeah, right."
She nudged him. "I'm serious. I'll do it, although it will be a right pain to pretend to be in love with you-prat!"
"Come on, don't you listen to everyone we know? You and I are in love, we just don't know it," quoted Harry.
"Exactly, it's perfect. Everyone thinks we already are a couple, why not pretend, for your gran's sake. Please Harry, let me do this for you, for your gran," she pleaded.
Harry knew Ginny admired his grandmother and mother, and she was considered one of the family; always invited to spend time with them at Potter manor. "Do you really think we can do this; pull this off?" he asked her, his voice hopeful.
Ginny nodded excitedly.
"What about your family? I don't want to lie to them, but if they hear about us as a couple, they'll want to know details. I can't lie to your parents, Gin, but this isn't my secret to tell. My gran doesn't want anyone to know, except my parents," said Harry.
Ginny shook her head. "Mum and Dad are leaving tomorrow to visit Bill and Fleur in Paris. They'll be there for at least a month, Mum wants to spend time with her granddaughters, and they'll want to stay for Bill's birthday. If we still have to keep the secret when they return, well, we'll just pretend for them, too," she decided.
Harry looked doubtful. "What about the rest of your brothers?"
Ginny shrugged. "I rarely see Percy, and Audrey is too well mannered to ask me directly. The twins and Ron both know we're close, so I can shrug them off as the usual rumours if they ask me directly."
"Um, you do realise if we do this, we may have to kiss, and touch," said Harry, suddenly realising this.
Ginny looked taken aback. "Oh, yeah, I guess we will. Well, we already hug a lot, and we have kissed before, remember," she grinned.
Harry grimaced. "We played Spin the Wand, and I also kissed Hermione Granger that night, yuk. Thanks for reminding me," he said, disgustedly.
Ginny grinned. "At least you didn't respond to my kisses that way, in fact, I'd almost say you liked them. Nice to know I kiss better than the Head Girl, although Ron quite liked hers." Hermione Granger, a year ahead of Harry, had been coerced into a game with several of her fellow Gryffindors. Ginny's brother Ron had developed quite the crush on her after that night. They'd been a couple ever since.
"Harry, I'm sure your parents and grandparents don't expect us to snog in front of them. We'll be fine with a peck on the lips, or the cheek," said Ginny.
"We do that now," agreed Harry. He recalled the night they played Spin the Wand, and Ginny was right, her kisses had been nice. Harry had ignored the sparks her kisses caused, but spent sleepless nights wondering why Ginny's easy kisses were better than Cho's passionate ones.
"Exactly, which is why it practically has to be me," said Ginny, her eyes shining.
"Do you really think we can pull this off. If we get caught, it will only upset my gran even more," said Harry.
Ginny's eyes dimmed. "Of course we can. Harry, I won't let you down. I want to do this for your gran, for your family. I want to be there to help you through this. You're my best friend, Harry. I do love you, you know that, don't you?" she pleaded.
Harry nodded. "I know, I love you, too. So, we're doing this?"
Ginny nodded, sitting back. She swung her feet onto his lap. "Would my sweety darling please rub my feet?" she teased.
"Anything for my snookums," replied Harry, and they both burst out laughing.
"We can do this, Harry," assured Ginny. "Together, we can do anything."
"We'll go to Potter Manor tomorrow, and tell them the good news," nodded Harry, rubbing her feet.
Ginny moaned appreciatively. "Keep that up and I'll love you for real," she told him.
They spent the rest of the afternoon plotting, before leaving to go to dinner at the Burrow, to farewell Molly and Arthur. Molly was ecstatic at the thought of seeing her new granddaughter, Dominique.
She sent home enough food to keep Harry and Ginny going for the two or three weeks she expected to be away. They placed it in their freezer, then went to bed.
Tomorrow, they'd Floo to Potter manor, and it would begin.
Harry and Ginny, a couple. The things you did for love.
A/N SO there you have it, the wizarding war still happened and Barry Trotter is the Boy Who Lived!
