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Warning: early chapters will contain a lot of fluff; darker themes will be in later chapters. I wanted to give the characters a break.
Chapter 2:
In a matter of minutes, the Burrow was silent. And if you are familiar with this asymmetrical home, you know that this was a rarity. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley retired to their room, as did all the kids. Even the ghoul in the attic didn't make any noise. The family was keeping to themselves and letting things sink in. The fact that the whole family was staying at the Burrow helped the overall morale a little bit.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in Ron's tiny room, talking in whispers. "Where is George exactly," asked Hermione in a concerned tone.
"We don't know, we haven't seen him since this afternoon," said Ron. Hermione grabbed his hand for support.
"I'm sure he'll come back sooner or later. He's just probably feeling lost. Maybe he wants space to clear his head," said Harry.
"Yea, well, he can do that without sending Ginny and Mum into a tizzy," said Ron.
"Don't make him sound overly selfish Ronald. He has a right to be. He just lost his twin brother: his best friend."
"Hermione, we all lost Fred. And we're all hurting. The least he can do is stick with the family. If he doesn't show up for a couple years, it will make everything worse," Ron explained. Hermione looked sick at the thought of George being gone for a couple of years.
There was a knock at the door. Mrs. Weasley peered in. "Harry, dear, if you would like your own room to sleep in, Charlie's is open… I'm afraid it's the only one open, since most of the family will be staying for a while. Otherwise, we can conjure you an extra bed in here." Harry nodded. "Hermione, Ginny said to tell you that you're welcome in her room if you'd like. If any of you need anything… just let me know," she ended will a sad smile.
"Thanks," they said in unison.
Harry waited until Mrs. Weasley was down a few floors before he asked the new couple, "Does she know you two are together?"
"Are you mad? Why would we tell her? Do you know that when Ginny told Mum and Dad that you and her were dating," Ron shuddered at the word, "that Mum went on a rampage for weeks that 'All my children are grown up! Where has the time gone? Little Gin Gin! I'm so OLD! ' " Harry raised his eyebrows and smirked. He was going to save Little Gin Gin for blackmail. Ron continued, "I do not want that to happen."
"Well they'll find out someday, mate. I just hope I'm there to witness it."
Hermione laughed, although it didn't seem real. They faced too many horrors to easily forget them and be truly happy right after. It got awkwardly silent, and Hermione and Ron looked at each other. Harry felt unwelcome so he abruptly stood up and asked, "Is anyone hungry? I'm going downstairs for some nosh."
"No, I'm whipped. I'm gonna hit the sack," said Ron.
"Yes. I should be off to bed too," said Hermione with a yawn.
Harry widened his eyes at them. "Yep. Sure… off to bed," wink wink "Me too." He said with a laugh and closed the door.
After Harry left, Hermione comfortably seated herself in Ron's lap.
""You okay, hun," she asked him.
"I just got better," he smiled. Hermione blushed.
"I'm not used to this," said Hermione.
"Used to what," Ron asked. He was scared she wasn't enjoying their new relationship. What if she thinks we should just be friends again? He thought. It caused his stomach to turn over a few times.
"You being so adorable all the time."
Hermione moved in to kiss Ron. It was probably the highlight of his day.
oOo
"Lumos."
It was around midnight and the ground floor of the Burrow was pitch black due to the lack of moonlight outside. Harry tried not to trip over the messy living room as he made way to the kitchen. That task was harder than fighting a dragon when you only had a little orb of light. Harry shuffled around the kitchen looking for a snack. He bumped into a few things on the way, but managed to grab a slice of homemade bread and a couple pieces of cheese. After a couple of bites he got bored, so he took his snack outside. Harry Potter liked to wander.
The sound of the wind running over the land calmed Harry, yet he had no inclination to sleep. He didn't actually know if he would have nightmares (he sort of lied to his two best friends) but the faces of the dead lingered in his mind during the day, so why wouldn't they haunt him at night?
"AH FOR THE LOVE OF MERLIN!"
Harry rushed towards the origin of the sound – Mr. Weasley's Muggle/Wizard shed. The light was on inside. Good sign, thought Harry. Instinctively, Harry's wand was raised. His adrenaline was pumping and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. Fortunately his scar was not tingling. Also a good sign, thought Harry. Harry peered into the shed window and knocked. Mr. Weasley was hunched over a television, tinkering, when his head shot up at the sound of Harry's knock. He gestured for Harry to come inside.
"Hello Harry," said Mr. Weasley. He sounded tired and defeated. "Why are you up so late? I would think you're pretty exhausted by now."
"Couldn't sleep. So I got a snack."
It was quiet. The only sound came from Mr. Weasley's tinkering.
"Do you need anything," Mr. Weasley asked politely.
"No, thank you sir. I was just wondering if you needed any help," Harry offered his Muggle knowledge as bait for conversation.
"No, son. I just wanted to take my mind of things."
Harry was shocked. Mr. Weasley just refused his greatest hobby. Harry felt shocked that he could cause so much pain to a family. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused your family."
"Nonsense, Harry. Just think of where we would be without you, Dumbledore and Severus. Don't pity the minor damage. It's in the past, and it was for a good cause. But I will accept if it makes you feel any better."
"It does sir. Thank you. I'll be going now," said Harry.
"Goodnight."
Outside, Harry looked up towards the heavens. A million stars dazzled the sky. They made Harry feel miniscule and insignificant. He liked it. He wished he wasn't the Boy Who Lived. Then he wouldn't have all of this drama. Harry's eyes drifted to the Burrow, where a light turned off on the top floor, and a lamp turned on on the second floor. Ginny walked to the bench next to her window, sat down, and opened a book. She didn't read though. Instead, she looked up at the stars. Harry stared at his girlfriend. He still felt guilty about causing her pain. He had never seen her cry before this mess. It was unbearable for him to watch. After a while of admiring her, she sensed his gaze and looked down. She gave him a quizzical look and lifted up her hand in a wave. She pointed down and mouthed come up here. Harry didn't have to be asked twice.
Inside, Harry climbed the stairs carefully. The second level contained Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's room along with Percy's. Both the room's lights shone from under the door. The third level contained Fred and George's empty room and Ginny's. He knocked on the door and peeked inside. "Come in," she said with a smile.
Harry was self-conscious. "What?"
"You don't have to ask, you know. You're so formal."
"I don't," asked Harry.
"Not after I've already invited you. Just hurry in before I change my mind," Ginny joked.
"Lay off Gin," he joked back. "Or I just might change my mind." Ginny smiled. She still sat at her window, book closed in her lap. Her hair was in a loose braid. She was wearing a Gryffindor t-shirt and yoga pants.
"Pajamas," Harry asked.
Ginny blushed and looked down. "Even though I can't sleep."
"Me neither." He sat down next to her. "How are you?"
She took a deep breath and kept her emotions partially in check. Harry could see threw it though. "Let's not talk about that," she said. "I've publicly cried for more than a lifetime's worth."
"I'm not public." Harry said offended. He wanted Ginny to be open with him. Not hide her feelings.
"No I know," she said grabbing his hand. "I just want to be happy for a while okay?"
Harry looked at her suspiciously. She was avoiding a topic by guilting him. Ginny put on her angel face… you know, the titled head and big round eyes. Harry smiled and pulled her closer. He savored the moment when their faces were inches from each other before he kissed her. It was beautiful and warm. The only thing that broke them apart was a door closing below. Harry realized that at some point during the kiss that his hands moved to hold Ginny's face and neck and hers were in his hair.
"Damn," said Harry.
"What?"
"Your blinds are open…"
"So…?" Ginny said.
"Your dad was outside in his shed. He probably saw us and ran inside."
"Oh. Great!" said Ginny sarcastically.
Harry got up and gave Ginny his hand. They walked toward the door, as Mr. Weasley ran upstairs.
"Thanks for taking my mind of things," said Ginny with a flirty smile.
Harry smiled back.
"GINNY! Time for bed," Mr. Weasley called and threw open the door. He was baffled to find them hand in hand, right in front of them. It showed on his face.
"Right. Goodnight Gin." Harry kissed her on the cheek and let go of her hand. "Mr. Weasley." And he ran up the stairs.
"Harry," said Mr. Weasley, all the while staring at Ginny.
"'Night Dad! Love you!" Ginny gave her dad a quick hug and shut the door in his face.
"Love you too?"
Ginny' short term happiness faded after Harry left. Her deep magenta room seemed too bright for her dark mood. She slowly walked to the window and shut her magic room darkening curtains. She slid into her bed; the usual comfort of her squishy duvet didn't help her. Ginny looked at her cherry wood four poster and sighed. She pointed her wand at her lamp which darkened.
oOo
Harry' excitement faded with each step. Harry walked briskly up the stairs and reached level three of the Burrow. His (Charlie's) room was on the left and Bill and Fleur's was on the right. Their light was off.
Charlie's room was a tad more spacious that Ron's. There were posters, covering the walls, of dragons. They were all sleeping (since Charlie had been gone so long). Their names were in gold lettering. As Harry passed the Horntail, Ridgeback, and Welsh Green, the poster covered walls came to life. As soon as they saw Harry instead of their master Charlie, they began to snort and breathe fire in their pictures. Harry looked around Charlie's room. Everything was dragon related. His four poster had carved dragons on the headboard, and stacks of books lay around the room about dragons. Harry picked up Dragon 101: A Way to a Dragon's Fire-Breathing Heart and flopped on the bed. He slid under the covers and opened the book.
"Lumos." Wait. Harry didn't feel like reading. "Knox." But he wasn't tired. "Lumos." I don't like reading, he thought. "Knox." Sigh. He stuffed his wand under his pillow. He thought of Ginny sleeping sound below. Or maybe she wasn't sleeping soundly. What if she was having nightmares? What if she was scared? Harry's thoughts always got drastic at night. What if she's hurt? Or under a spell… Hours passed. Harry still lay wide awake. Below, there was a creak of a step. A few moments later there was another creak, this one closer. Harry grabbed his wand from under his pillow and pointed it at the door. His heart pounded. The doorknob turned slowly, and creaked open a sliver. Harry aimed his wand.
THE END… for now
Bum bum bummmm
Yep… it's a cliffie. Me and the cliffster and bffls. Get used to it.
Let me know: Do you prefer long chapters every couple of weeks or shorter chapters every week?
Thanks!
