Chapter Three
Ginny took a deep breath and rang her mother's doorbell. Mrs. Weasley opened the door and gasped in delight. "GINNY!" she exclaimed, and gathered her youngest child into a large bear hug.
"Ouch, mum, you're suffocating me!" Ginny protested, laughing all the while. Her mother released her from her death grip, but would not let her in until she had looked her over to see how she had grown. Mother and daughter had not seen each other for a long four years. Suddenly, her maternal instinct kicked in, as it hadn't needed to for so many years.
"Ginny Weasley, you must come inside immediately! You look starved to death! Hurry up, now, I've just made a nice warm pot of chicken noodle soup—great Muggle recipe. Come on, come on!" Ginny stepped into her childhood home, as comfortable as ever. She heard her mother calling to her father to come and meet their guest. Her father lumbered down the stairs, mumbling "Molly, I really don't understand all the fuss... I'm in the middle of a big report due tomorrow... just tell whoever it is I said hi..."
Suddenly Arthur Weasley cut off, staring in amazement at his only daughter. "Gin!" he yelled joyfully, picking her up and spinning her around as he had always done when she was a child.
"Oh, daddy, it's so good to see you. You too, mum!" Ginny exclaimed happily, all of her cheerful memories flooding her mind as she was home once again.
"What are you doing here?" asked her father.
"I heard Harry and Herm are getting married, and I wanted to congratulate them," Ginny fibbed. Fortunately, her mother wasn't as good at spotting liars as she was in her prime.
"Oh, how lovely! In fact, they're coming here tomorrow! What perfect timing! Everyone's coming...Fred, Angelina, George, Katie, Bill, Charlie, Ron, Luna... and of course, Harry and Hermione! And now you! Oh, it's so wonderful! The whole family back together again! Oh, it'll be just like old times..." rambled Mrs. Weasley.
Ginny grinned, thinking of all the times she had spent with the whole family... even the members that she wasn't truly related to. Harry, Hermione, Angelina, Katie, and Luna had always been considered honorary members of the Weasley family. It didn't matter that she hadn't seen any of them in so long. It didn't matter that she was completely jealous of Hermione. It didn't matter that just earlier she had been plotting to break up Herm and Harry. All that mattered was that for the first time in four years, Ginny was home.
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Harry woke at 10 A.M. the next morning. Thankfully, it was Saturday, and he always made sure that no interviews or press conferences were to take place on Saturdays. He tossed on a Chudley Cannons jersey and jeans and went downstairs, sniffing the sweet aroma of pancakes from the kitchen.
Hermione seemed to glow in the light of the kitchen. Flipping pancakes like mad, while spoons stirred more batter, her eyes sparkled. Mione had recently taken up cooking, and loved it. Harry smiled to see her so happy. He came up behind her and brushed his lips tenderly across her cheek. She dropped the pancake she was in the process of flipping.
"Harry!" she cried. "You scared me half to death!"
"Well let's hope I don't do it again," he joked. "Because I'd have to propose to a less worthy woman."
"Oh, you're so sweet," she said lovingly, and returned her attention to the pancakes. "How many would you like?"
"However many you're not going to eat!" he replied. He was starving!
"Oh, and dear, don't forget we're going to the Burrow in about an hour to see everyone."
"Oh, great! I've been needing to talk to Ron about our practices."
Hermione stopped her pancake extravaganza and sat down at the table. She summoned butter, syrup, the pancakes, plates, and silverware as the couple began to dig in.
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Harry and Hermione walked into the Burrow 10 minutes early. It was a flurry of activity. They seemed to be the only ones missing. Ron and Luna were watching a soap opera together on the couch. Angelina and Katie were reminiscing about Hogwarts by the table. Bill and Charlie were catching up on each other's lives in the past couple of months. Mrs. Weasley was cooking madly, and Mr. Weasley was setting the table. Fred and George were showing off a new line of joke products to...Ginny?
Yes, indeed, Ginny was there. Harry couldn't believe his eyes. He hadn't seen the youngest Weasley family member in almost eight years! Hermione seemed as stunned as he was. Hermione did the only thing she could do. "Gin!" she cried, running up to her and giving her a tender embrace. Harry was on her heels, and shouted "Ginny!" before sweeping her up into a huge hug.
Ginny's stomach was full of butterflies. Harry Potter, Wizarding legend, and her brother's best friend, was hugging her. Yes, hugging her! She felt goose bumps crawl up her arms as her stomach gained a warm feeling. Harry set her down and exclaimed, "What in the name of Merlin have you been doing all these years?"
"Living more on the outskirts of London! And I hear you and Herm are engaged, huh?" she asked, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
Harry missed it, but Hermione noticed.
"Harry, would you like to go for a walk?" Ginny asked casually. "I haven't spoken to you in forever, and we really need to catch up."
Hermione had some suspicions, but let the offer go unnoticed, for Fred and George suddenly swooped down on her and bombarding her with questions and offers to do entertainment at the wedding.
Once outside, Ginny turned to face Harry. "We really need to talk," she put as much emphasis on the word 'really' as she possibly could.
