Author's notes:
Personal milestone, I now have over 1000 followers on FF! Go me!
Standard disclaimer, it all belongs to JKR.
Harry Potter; the Unexpected Summer
Chapter IV
Monumental Embarasment
The morning after the shopping trip Ginny woke even earlier than her new routine. She blindly fumbled her way through her morning bathroom ritual and made her way down the stairs. All without tripping, though it was a close thing as she almost missed a step on the way to the kitchen.
"Oh," Molly exclaimed when Ginny came in. She glanced at the clock. "Well we are up early today."
"Morning Mother," Ginny said. She slipped across the kitchen to the door. "Back in a few minutes."
Molly stared blankly after her daughter. "Where are you going?" she asked, but the door had already closed. She turned to the window and watched Ginny walk away from the house to the top of a berm where she stopped and watched something in the distance. "What in the world?" Molly asked herself. She thought about calling Ginny back to ask what had brought about the sudden change in attitude, but then decided Bill must have finally managed to get through to her on their shopping trip yesterday. She most certainly didn't want to upset any fragile peace her daughter might be trying to offer by being civil for the first time in more than three weeks. She settled for just keeping an eye on her out the window while she went about preparing breakfast instead. It was becoming no small task to keep the two people she suspected Ginny was watching fed. Harry especially was devouring food at a rate beyond what even Ron could manage. It was nearly an hour later that Ginny turned and hurried back to the house. And she was just stepping in the door when Harry and Bill came over the top of the same berm she had been standing on.
I wonder what that was all about? Molly thought. "Eggs again, dear?" she asked when Ginny sat down.
"Yes, Please. Just one though." Ginny laid her head down on the table and closed her eyes.
"You're sure?"
"I want an extra sausage this morning," Ginny answered.
"Lovely," Molly said. She cracked an egg in the pan, and added an extra two sausages to the other, she was certain Bill or Harry would eat it, and continued to watch her daughter. "May I ask what you were watching?" she asked carefully.
"I just wanted to see what they were doing." The sound of feet clomping on the porch had Ginny quickly sitting up.
"Morning, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said as he came in. "Hey, Gin," he added on his way through the kitchen.
Molly watched him go and turned to Ginny. "Gin?" she mouthed. Ginny was already red in the face, and she flushed even further with her mother's scrutiny.
"I have no idea," she said. "He's hugging and kissing you and he started calling me that yesterday."
Molly smiled and thought she might try for just a bit of teasing. "Well, you know that's a good thing, don't you? Boys don't go around giving pet names to girls unless they like them."
"Mother!" Ginny exclaimed. "Please. I'm really not interested in him that way anymore… I'm not," she protested when her mother arched an eye at her. "Really, I'm taking a break from boys right now."
Molly couldn't help the next question out of her mouth. It was her nature to gently tease. The twins had to get it from somewhere after all. And it had just been too rare an occurrence for Ginny's attitude towards her to allow this kind of teasing between them to occur. Truthfully, she couldn't remember the last time. And she longed to hear 'mum' instead of the clipped formal tone of 'mother' from her daughter's lips again. "So who's the lucky girl then?"
"MOTHER!"
Molly giggled. "Oh, I'm just teasing you, Ginny."
Ginny buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe you just said that."
"Well why not?" Molly asked, her voice perfectly serious.
Ginny glanced up. "You're serious?"
Molly seized on the opportunity to try and tell Ginny she would always be there, no matter what. "Well certainly I am. I want to know whom my daughter's interested in. And I most certainly don't want her fretting about what her mother and father would think of her if she did happen to be gay. There's nothing wrong with it and I would want her to know she could always depend on the love of her mother and father."
Ginny stared at her for a few seconds; trying to decide if she was going to accept this olive branch. She eventually stood and moved to give her mum a hug, something she hadn't initiated since this past Christmas. "I love you too, Mum."
Molly hugged her fiercely and sniffed. "I love you too, Ginevra. I know you think I'm hard on you, but please don't you ever forget that."
Ginny squeezed her tighter. "I'm trying."
"Me to, Ginny," Molly said. She gave her another squeeze before she pushed Ginny back with her hands on the girl's shoulders. "Are you?"
Ginny frowned. "Am I what?"
"Gay?"
Ginny flushed. "No." She suddenly smiled. "We're you hoping?"
"Ginevra," Molly gasped.
Ginny giggled. "Well it's just that Hermione is kind of pretty and Ron just can't seem to get his act together."
Molly turned Ginny around, gave her a shove back to the table and a flick to her bottom with her kitchen towel. Ginny let out a little squeal. "You're incorrigible young lady."
"I mean we could always adopt," she mused.
The door to the kitchen opened and Harry sat down at his seat. "Why are you adopting? And aren't you a bit young?" Ginny shot a glance at her mother.
"Don't you dare," Molly said aghast.
Ginny smirked and turned back to Harry. "Because Hermione and I won't be able to have kids."
"Oh, honestly," Molly huffed. Ginny was going to do it; she might as well enjoy the show. It promised to be entertaining anyway, it always was when Ginny put her acting skills on and turned them on one of her brothers. Poor Harry was in for quite a learning experience into how her daughter's mind worked.
Harry glanced between the two women but Molly had turned back to the stove and was platting up two breakfasts. "Erm," he said. "Why not?"
Ginny picked up her fork and dug into the plate her mother set in front of her. "Thanks, Mum."
"You're welcome, dear." Molly set a plate in front of Harry.
Food distracted Harry for a second, and after thanking Mrs. Weasley, he quickly dug in. He took a couple more bites, but then, just as Bill stepped in, he asked, "So are you going to answer or not?" He took a large bite of hash browns. Molly turned around to watch.
"Answer what?" Bill asked.
"Why she and Hermione can't have children," Molly said. Who says I can't pull a prank? she added silently.
Bill paused, shook his head and said, "Come again."
Harry took another bite while he waited for Ginny to answer. She swallowed, took a sip of juice, wiped her mouth, and said. "Well it's rather difficult for two women to have a baby," she said. Harry stopped chewing and frowned. "Unless," she mused, "Hermione did say something about asking one of my brothers to donate sperm." Harry spewed hashbrowns across the table and started coughing. "That works for her I suppose," Ginny continued, "but I might like to experience having a baby too. Maybe you could donate for me, Harry."
"Me?" he croaked.
"Well sure," Ginny said. "I mean it's not like we're related or anything, and if Hermione and I were really lucky, any baby I had with your sperm would get your eyes."
Harry gapped at her. "My eyes?" he choked.
Ginny shrugged. "We'll figure it out I guess. It's not like either one of us wants kids now." Molly hid her smile behind her towel. She knew Ginny could act, but this one took the proverbial cake. Her daughter was completely straight faced with not a hint of embarrassment. A glance at Bill told her he too had been taken in hook line and sinker. He was quite simply stunned silent. And poor Harry, he looked as if he couldn't decide if he wanted to run or just die of embarrassment. "And really, we haven't done anything but kiss yet. I'm not really sure I want to spend the rest of my life with her. But if I do, would you think about, Harry?"
Harry's face went from red to purple. "Erm," he managed. Molly had to give him credit. It was at least semi coherent.
Ginny turned to Bill. "And you too, Bill," she said. "If Hermione's going to have a child, I really want you to be the father. I'm sure the baby would be gorgeous. Oh, but I suppose we might need to ask Fleur if it's ok with her."
"Erm," Bill said. He glanced at his mother. "Mum?"
"Well William," she said. "I should certainly hope you would help your sister and her partner, or wife I suppose, have a baby if they asked you." Bill turned white.
"You would, wouldn't you, Bill?" Ginny asked.
"I," he said and faltered.
"I mean you wouldn't actually sleep with her." Bill's mouth dropped open. "She is mine after all. And I don't like the idea of sharing. Even for this. You'd just, you know, in a cup or something, and then I'd help Hermione inject it. I think they use a turkey baster or something. That would probably work."
Molly goggled at Ginny. "Ok, young lady. Exactly how do you know all this?"
Ginny giggled. "Didn't you read the last romance novel you bought?"
Harry finally managed to put together a coherent thought. "You and Hermione are…"
"A couple?" Ginny supplied. Harry nodded. Ginny grinned. "Nope."
"You're not?" Harry asked. "But…"
"Gotcha, Potter," she said. She took a sip of juice and smiled innocently at him.
Harry stared at her before cautiously looking at Bill. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Bill asked.
"Pond?" Harry asked.
"Yep."
"Eep!" Ginny squeaked. She tried to bolt from the table but Harry and Bill were too quick and had her blocked on either side.
"Now you two stop it," Molly said.
"Sorry, Mum," Bill said. "She can't ask me for a cup of sperm to impregnate her girlfriend with and not get tossed in the pond."
Ginny ducked under the table and made a break for the door but Harry and Bill were too quick. They grabbed hold of a leg and arm each and trundled her out the door, down the porch and turned to the pond.
"NO!" Ginny shrieked. "Don't you dare! Mum! Make them stop. I've already showered! And these are my new clothes. You'll ruin them! Mum!"
"I'm sorry, Dear," she called from the porch, but you really do deserve it."
"Oh! I deserve it because they're too stupid to know they're being pranked? How is that fair!"
Harry and Bill stopped at the end of the dock. "Gin," Harry said.
Ginny stopped her struggles long enough to figure out where she was. "Potter," she growled, "if you throw me in I swear you will regret it till you're dying day."
Harry smirked and winked at her. "Sounds like fun," he said. Ginny's mouth dropped open. He was bloody flirting with her! "Ready, Sir?" he asked.
Bill started swinging Ginny back and forth and Harry picked up the motion. "One," he said.
"NO! Bill, Please!"
"Two," Harry said.
"WAIIIIT!" Ginny screamed.
"THREE!" Harry and Bill said together. They let her go and Ginny arched high into the air, shrieking until she plunged with a tremendous splash into the pond. She emerged spluttering and pushing the hair out of her face.
"Maybe that'll cool your hormones off a bit," Bill laughed.
"I am so going to kill the two of you."
Bill glanced at Harry. "Now, you see, this is a perfect example of how the training you've been doing can save your life."
"How's that, Sir?" he asked.
"We can run and she'll never catch us."
"Oh, I'll catch you," Ginny fumed. "You have to come home sooner or later. Sleep lightly," she warned.
Harry looked between her and Bill. "I can think of another way it might save my life," he said.
"How's that?" Bill asked, his attention focused on Ginny.
"By helping her get even," Harry said. He made a grab at Bill's wrist, twisted and gave a shove. Bill was taken by surprise. He couldn't block the attack but he managed to break the hold and catch Harry's wrist in an iron grip that pulled him along for the plunge into the pond. The two of them came up laughing a second later.
Bill advanced on him. "You have no idea how much trouble you're in, Potter."
Harry grinned and did his best to fend him off. "I think I've got a pretty good idea, Sir." He managed to avoid Bill's first strike but was caught in the counter and shoved under water. Bill held him there for a good ten seconds before Harry managed to break free.
He came up and backed slowly away as Bill advanced again. "Little help, Gin?" Harry asked. Bill glanced at Ginny and Harry attacked. He managed to twist Bill's arm behind his back and hold him for a second. "Get him!" he shouted. Ginny hesitated for a second but dove under the water and grabbed at Bill's legs, trying to upend him. Bill fended her off with his free hand and managed to break free of Harry.
"You've got a long way to go before you can take me, Potter," he taunted.
"Get his hands," Harry said to Ginny. Try and hold them."
"Yeah right," Ginny said. She and Harry circled Bill. Bill made a grab at Ginny and she latched onto him, wrapping her arms and legs around his upper body. Harry dove under the water, grabbed his legs and upended him.
Bill broke out of Ginny's grasp and latched onto her while still under water. When he came to the surface again he had her back pinned to his chest. He wrapped one arm across her front, pinning one of her arms in place against his side and held her other arm with his vice-like grip on her wrist. She was trapped with the top of her head just under his chin and he started backing away with her to the deeper water.
"HARRY!" Ginny squealed. "Help me!"
Bill pulled her to where she couldn't touch the bottom. "That's it, Potter," he taunted. "Come rescue your little girlfriend."
"I'm not! Blubb…" Bill dipped down about six inches, dunking Ginny into the pond.
"What was that, Sprite?" he teased.
"HARRR Blubb…" Bill dunked her again.
"I don't think lover boy is going to be able to do much to help you, Sprite." Harry's face was beat red from Bill's taunting but he advanced on him anyway in an effort to free Ginny. While still holding Ginny, Bill fended him off with one hand for nearly a minute before Harry managed to lock onto him. They struggled for a second and Ginny managed to break the hold Bill had on her. She put her hands on his head and pushed him under. She did her best to hold him there till Harry lost the battle to control Bill's hands and quickly scrambled to get behind Harry as Bill broke free.
Bill came up and lunged at her. Ginny shrieked and twisted around behind Harry again as he blocked Bill's advance. She wasn't sure how, but somehow, like had happened so many times growing up, she had become the prize in the water war. Only this time, instead of Bill or even Charlie fending off the rest of her brothers, it was Harry fending Bill off as he did his best to drown her. She floated just behind Harry, her stomach against his back with her hands on his shoulders, helping him to keep Bill away from her.
"Get to the shore and run," Harry said.
Ginny made a break for it, but Bill was past Harry in seconds, dragging her back again. She let out a shriek of laughter as he tossed her over his shoulder. Harry tackled him around the waist and they all fell into the water a tangle of flailing limbs. Harry somehow managed to come up between them and she started for the shore again. She was nearly there before Bill grabbed her and pulled her back.
"Going somewhere, little girl?" he teased. He was turning back when Harry kicked the back of his knee. Bill went down and Harry grabbed Ginny away from him. "Come on!" he cried. He pulled on her hand, dragging her towards the shore.
"Potter! You're going to pay for that!"
"Hurry!" Harry yelled. He managed to get Ginny in front of him and shoved her along just as Bill dove and clamped his hand around Harry's ankle. Harry fell flat on his face and Bill dragged him back into the pond. He fended off Harry's defense, got a hold of him and threw him out into the deeper water.
"Come on, Harry!" Ginny shouted. Bill turned to come after her. "You Can't Touch Me," she cried.
"Say's who."
"Those are the rules," Ginny said. "Once I get to the shore I'm safe."
"Says, Me," Harry growled. He jumped on Bill's back, locked his arms around his neck and his legs around his waist. Bill struggled for a second but then simply flopped to his back, taking both himself and Harry under water. The battle continued there, becoming a test of who needed to breathe first. Bill managed to break Harry's grip on his neck only to have Harry slip free and clamp down again.
Ginny stood on the shore, watching the thrashing in the waist deep water. It had been nearly 30 seconds already. "Bill! Harry!" she shouted as they continued to struggle.
Underwater, Harry was beginning to tire. He'd already suffered a three-hour training session today and they'd been wrestling in the water for some time, much of it with him being held under for a few seconds before Bill would let him up again. And Bill was like a machine. He didn't seem to ever get tired and his body was like iron. Harry had a long way to go before he could go toe to toe in hand-to-hand combat against him. He knew he needed oxygen soon or he was going to pass out but he stubbornly held on.
Ginny fretted on the shore. They'd both been under for a long time; longer than any of the battles she remembered between her brothers. "That's Enough," she shouted. "Stop It!"
Harry's vision began to go spotty but he continued to hold on and then things went black. The next thing he knew he was on his hands and knees on the shore, coughing water out of his lungs.
"You Idiot!" Ginny shrieked. "You could have killed him." She knelt down beside Harry and pulled him protectively against her. Harry rolled to his back with his head in her lap, spots still dancing in his vision.
"He's fine," Bill said.
"He's not fine. He's half drowned!"
"I'm half drowned," Bill countered. "He's three quarters drowned."
"That is not funny, William Weasley!"
"I couldn't let him win."
Harry coughed again. "Easy, Harry," Ginny soothed him.
Bill squatted down next to him and gave Harry's shoulder a light slug. "Gonna live, Potter?"
"Yes, Sir," he managed to croak.
"That was good, Potter. You never gave up."
"Thank you, Sir."
"He nearly killed himself!" Ginny exclaimed.
Bill leveled Ginny with a hard look. "Sometimes, that's what it takes."
"It was a stupid wrestling match! He nearly killed himself to win a stupid water war! Is this what you're teaching him; to keep going till he either passes out or dies the next time Tom comes after him?"
"Yes."
Horrified, Ginny stared at him and then her eyes hardened. "I won't let you." She laid Harry down and stood up, stepping between him and Bill. "You stay away from him."
"S'ok, Gin," Harry said. He managed to push himself to a sitting position, and then his knees.
Ginny turned on him. "It is not ok!"
Harry rocked back on his heels and shook his head, clearing the last of the cobwebs. He looked up at her. "I don't have a choice," he said. "Trust me, I'm not going to rush off and get myself killed.
"What do you mean you don't have a choice? You always have a choice."
Harry scrunched his face up, shooting a glance at Bill. He shrugged, clearly indicating it was up to him what he told her. Ginny didn't miss the exchange. "What aren't you telling me? Bill?" she demanded turning on him.
Bill shook his head. "Not my place."
"What do you mean it's not your place?" She turned on Harry again. "What is going, on? Don't you dare," she said, grabbing him when he turned his head away. She squatted down in front of him. "Harry?" she said imploringly.
Something about her voice, and the look on her face made it impossible for him not to answer. Harry reached out and plucked a bit of lily pad from her hair. "It's me or him, Gin."
"Sorry?" she asked.
"Voldemort," Harry said. He was impressed to see the name had no effect on her. But then he reasoned that may have something to do with the diary. He stood and offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her to her feet. "Either I kill him, or he kills me. Simple as that."
"What?" She shook her head. "No, wait, slow down just a minute. What exactly are you two telling me?"
Bill put his hand on her shoulder. "It's down to Harry, Sprite; not me, not Charlie or Mad-Eye, or even Dumbledore. Either Harry punches Riddle's ticket or no one does. And you should know better than anyone what that might take." Ginny stared at him in horror. "That's what he's training for," Bill said quietly.
Ginny turned to Harry. Somehow it had escaped both their notice that they were still holding hands. He gave hers a gentle squeeze. "Sorry," he said. "I imagine you might have liked taking a shot at him. You certainly owe him."
Ginny dropped his hand and launched herself at him. Harry staggered back a step as she latched onto him. Because he didn't know what else to do and it didn't appear Ginny was going to let him go any time soon, he cautiously returned her hug. "You'll win, Harry. I know you will," she whispered fiercely. "And don't you dare think about sacrificing yourself to do it; because I kind of like you and I'd be really pissed if you got yourself killed." She let him go and turned on Bill. "I'm joining him." She poked him in the chest. "And don't you dare tell me I can't."
Bill gave her a confused look. "Joining him?"
"I'm training with him. He shouldn't have to do it alone. And don't tell me I can't."
"Gin," Harry said.
"Shut up, Harry," she said without taking her eyes off of Bill. Harry fell silent. It really was her choice, and he was rather grateful to her for saying she would suffer with him; even if she didn't know just how much she was going to suffer.
Bill studied her. "Ok," he shrugged.
"Ok?" Ginny asked, surprised that he'd given in so easy.
"But you're doing all of it; every single thing. I won't cut you any slack because you're my sister or a girl. And you follow all the same rules as Harry."
"What rules?"
"Potter can explain them."
Ginny glanced at Harry. "You're gonna regret this, Gin," he said.
"Shut up, Potter," Bill said.
"Yes, Sir."
"Fine," Ginny agreed. "I'm doing it. When do we start?"
"You're going to do two things for me first," Bill said.
"What?" Ginny demanded.
"No petition," he said. Ginny seemed to recoil.
"Petition?" Harry asked.
"None of your business, Potter. Well, what's it gonna be, Ginevra?"
"You wouldn't," Ginny said.
"I'll always be there, Sprite. But I'll fight you tooth and nail all the way to the ministry. They've lost one and I won't just roll over and let them lose another. I can't stand to see that pain in her eyes again."
Ginny scowled and her eyes shifted between Harry and Bill a number of times before settling on Harry. Harry sensed she was measuring something deeply important with this decision and forced himself not to look away as she studied him. After a few moments something seemed to shift in her eyes. "All right, Bill," she said slowly, "no petition." Bill seemed to sag as if a huge burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "But I swear, Bill, if she messes up one more time I'm going through with it; with or without you. I'll go to the twins if I have to."
Harry wasn't sure exactly what the decision Ginny had been weighing was, but it was plainly evident from the way her eyes never left his as she made and announced her decision that he'd been deemed the more important than whatever this petition was. He found himself immensely relieved and pleased that she had chosen him and he made a silent vow then and there that he'd never give her a reason to regret the choice she'd just made.
Bill sighed. "I know."
"What else do you want from me?" she asked, still not taking her eyes off of Harry's
"Train Harry in occlumency."
Ginny blinked. "Me?" she asked finally turning back to Bill. Harry slowly let out the breath he'd been holding.
"You'll be better than me."
"I don't know how."
"Figure it out." Ginny opened her mouth to protest more. "That's the price, pay it or forget it."
Ginny looked back to Harry, once more their gaze locking. Harry found himself holding his breath again. He'd been measured by Bill and Fleur a number of times in the past weeks. And he'd been gratified to find he'd measured up, but this sudden examination by Ginny turned something in his gut that left him in little doubt that for her to find him lacking would be a thousand times more devastating than if Bill or Fleur did.
"When do we start?" she asked. Harry did his best not to sag in relief as he found himself worthy for the second time in less than two minutes in her eyes.
"Tomorrow morning," Bill answered. "You need to get in shape."
"I am in shape," Ginny retorted. "From quidditch, she added. Harry couldn't help the snort that escaped his control. "What?" she demanded.
"Nothing."
"I think you can manage the first two hours without me, Potter," Bill said.
"Sir?"
"You know the drill. And if you go easy on her you will regret it."
"You aren't going to be there?"
Bill grinned. "Nope, gonna sleep in."
"I hope you suffocate under your pillow, Sir."
Bill gave Ginny a last look. "Have fun," he said and walked away. "And don't forget to teach him occlumency."
Ginny turned to Harry. "Don't ask," she said.
"Ok," he agreed, not needing to be told she was referring to whatever the petition was. "So it looks like we're going to be spending some time together."
Gee thanks, Harry. If that's the way you feel about it, then you can just forget everything." She whirled around to walk away. Harry caught her wrist. She yanked hard but while he couldn't hold Bill, he had no trouble holding her. "Let go, Harry."
"I didn't say it would be a bad thing," he said. He dropped her wrist. "It might even be kind of nice. Though I doubt you'll agree tomorrow morning." He and Ginny watched each other for a few seconds.
"Why don't you think I'm going to like it?"
"You'll see," Harry said. "Shall we?"
"Harry," Ginny whined.
"Trust me. You'll find out soon enough. Do you mind if we go in? I kind of forgot to eat, and I'm famished."
"Ok," she agreed, though it was clear she wasn't really happy that he wouldn't just tell her. She fell in next to him as he hurried to the house.
"When do you want to start the occlumency lessons?" he asked.
"Harry, I don't know how I'm going to do that. It's really difficult."
Harry stopped at the door. "Bill said you were pretty skilled."
"He did?" she asked pleased to hear the secondhand compliment.
"Yep, and if he says you can teach me, than I believe him."
"You do?"
"Well you can't be any worse than Snape." Harry disappeared through the door and she followed him.
"Oh, good," Ginny said. "There you are. I was afraid you'd disappear before I could finish."
Harry closed the latest book Bill had given him. This one was actually from Fleur and was about yoga. He didn't find it as interesting as the books Bill had given him but he was hoping Saturday night would bring another massage and he was fairly certain it wouldn't happen if he brushed off Fleur's reading assignment.
"I was waiting for you."
"You were?"
Harry nodded. "I've looked for you in the afternoon but you always disappear and I can't find you. Your mum said you were down by the stream, but I never saw you." He shrugged. "So I figured I plant myself here and wait for you to come down."
"How come you were looking for me?"
Harry hesitated; he didn't want her to take this the wrong way like his comment about spending time together that morning. "Look, don't get all upset with me, because you aren't a last resort, but you and I are the only kids here most of the time. I mean Ron's working at the shop till 6:00 every day. So I can't hang out with him. And Bill and Fleur are off doing stuff for the Order in the afternoon. So I can't hang out with them. And you're mum is great and all but I think she was starting to worry with me sitting in the kitchen all afternoon. And it's really bad for me to just mope about without people around too much right now. And we're friends, or at least starting to become friends, so I thought I'd hang out with you if you didn't mind. But then you were nowhere to be found. And trust me, I looked. I've been over every inch of the area inside the Fidelius."
Ginny gapped at him. "I'm sorry," she eventually said. "I didn't even think to ask if you might like to join me."
Harry shrugged. "It's not like I've given you much reason to think I would in the past."
"Ok, that does it," she said. "Who are you and what have you done with the clueless, oblivious, insensitive berk I know as Harry?"
Harry ran his hand through his hair. "That bad?" he asked sheepishly.
"Let's just say you can give Ron a run for his money on a given day."
"Hermione says he has the emotional range of a teaspoon."
Ginny smiled. "Well you'll be glad to know you are up to a tablespoon."
Harry grinned back. "So does that mean I can hang out with you?"
Ginny rolled her eyes and sighed dramatically. "The things I suffer for you, Potter."
"I'm going to make you pay for that," he paused and added. "Cheeky bint."
Ginny's mouth dropped open. She eventually put her hands on her hips. "Harry, Potter, are you flirting with me?"
Harry furrowed his brow and pretended to think. Eventually, he shook his head. "Can't be," he said.
"And why not? I'm not cute enough?" Ginny could hardly believe she was standing in her living room bantering back and forth with Harry like this. Two years ago she could hardly string a sentence together in front of him and now here she was flirting openly. The most surreal aspect of it lay in that she really had no interest in him romantically. It wasn't that she no longer thought he was cute. Or that he occasionally didn't do something that made her heart melt. It was just that she had outgrown her crush and after breaking up with Michael she had decided she was well and truly done with boys for the time being. Friends were great, but she didn't want anything to do with their roving hands for a while. And what she heard from her roommates had her convinced they all had roaming hands.
"Nah," Harry said. "You're plenty cute. I just don't know how to flirt so I can't actually be doing it."
"Well," Ginny huffed. "If only the rest of the boys at Hogwarts didn't know how to flirt."
Harry smirked. "You might want to be careful though. I don't think Hermione would like it if she knew you were flirting with me."
Ginny hesitated for a second but then brazenly sauntered across the room to him. If he wanted to play, she decided, she was more than capable of returning fire. She stopped in front of him and reached to play with the sleeve of his shirt. "What she doesn't know won't hurt her, will it?" she asked in a husky voice. She leaned in close by his ear. "I can make it worth your while," she whispered. She pulled back and looked in his eyes. "If you don't tell her."
Harry swallowed. She didn't just have nerve, she bloody well had balls. "You might want to be careful," he managed.
Ginny pursed her lips. "Oh?"
"I might decide to take you up on that offer."
Ginny smiled and as she turned to walk away, she said, "I look forward to it." Harry stood rooted to the floor, staring after her. "Coming?" she called. Harry shook himself and hurried to follow. He had work to do if he was going to keep up with her. Ginny was waiting for him in the kitchen, grinning madly.
Harry stopped. "You, are dangerous," he said.
Ginny giggled. "Would that be good dangerous, or bad dangerous?"
Harry considered for a second. "Just dangerous."
Ginny laughed. "So, I'm a chic, exotic, sexy and dangerous Warrior Maiden?" She ticked each point off on her fingers. "Is there anything else you'd like to add?"
Harry shook his head. "Nope. I think that's good for now."
Ginny laughed and grabbed his hand. "Come on, Harry." She pulled him to the door. "Or we're never going to start your lessons. Harry let her lead him out into the yard, and she didn't drop his hand till she spotted her mum in the orchard. "We're going to the stream," she shouted, waving.
"Be back in time for dinner. And make sure you stay inside the ward."
"We will," Ginny shouted back. "God she really thinks I'm stupid," she added quietly.
"Ok, enjoy yourselves."
Ginny pasted a smile on her face. "Thanks, Mum."
Harry followed Ginny into the woods and then back along the stream to where it fell over a small ledge. "Um, aren't we close to the edge of the ward?" he asked. The ledge was only about ten feet or so high, and the way the trees hung over the pool below the falls he couldn't see the ground below.
"Almost," Ginny said. "She led him around to a path he hadn't seen leading down from the ledge and they came out under the trees above on a small grassy area bathed in dimpled spots of sunlight as it filtered down through the leaves and branches. "The edge is right there," Ginny pointed. There was a large rock prominently painted red sitting on the ground. "I threatened to hex Bill's bits if he didn't get my secret spot inside the ward."
Harry looked around. The stream fell over the steeply sloped ledge into a pool about twenty feet across before it flowed out beyond the ward. The grassy area was only about ten feet square and completely hidden from above. With the ward edge being so near, Harry hadn't bothered exploring past the ledge and because of it he'd completely missed Ginny's hiding spot.
"It's nice," he said.
"Don't go telling everyone now. Mum, Dad and Bill are the only ones who know about it. I haven't even shown it to Hermione."
"But you're sharing it with me?"
Ginny gave him a look. "Well I'm planning to obliviate you latter so don't get a big head or anything."
"Nice, Weasley," Harry retorted dryly.
Ginny stuck her tongue out at him. "You're cute when you're angry," Harry said.
Ginny set her bag on the ground and kicked off her shoes. "And you're full of shit. Give me a hand." She pulled a blanket from the bag and Harry helped her spread it on the ground. She sat down and dug in her bag again. She pulled out two well-worn books and contemplated them for a second before handing one to Harry.
Harry sat down next to her and took the book. "This?" he asked dubiously, "is occlumency training?" The picture of a muscled wizard without a shirt and a beautiful witch clinging to him on the cover told him exactly what kind of book it was.
Ginny lay down on her stomach and opened her book. "Trust me," she said. Harry stared at her. It was clear from the way her eyes moved from one side to the other and back again that she really was reading. She glanced up after a second. "Just read, Harry. Don't do anything else. Don't think about why or what, or anything. Just lay here with me and read."
Harry hesitated for a second longer. "If you say so," he said. He shifted around on the blanket so he could rest his head against a tree, opened the book and read the first page. He glanced up at Ginny.
"Just read, Harry," she said without looking up.
Guiltily he moved his eyes from her and went back to the book. Harry found he wasn't good at doing what she'd asked. It seemed even the smallest things distracted him; a squirrel chattering, a bird swooping through the sky, Ginny turning a page, a fish jumping in the pool below the falls. He'd just managed to read two pages without pause when Ginny shifted and rolled onto her back. She had one leg bent up with her foot on the ground and the other resting across it, hanging lazily in the air. She held her book at arm's length above her head, using it as a block against the sun in her eyes.
"Read, Harry," she said quietly; again without looking at him.
Harry quickly stopped staring at her and turned his attention back to the book. "Sorry," he said.
"It's ok," she said. She reached out and squeezed his lower leg. "Just read," she said again and went back to her own book. Harry's eyes fixated at her hand on his leg. "Read, Harry," she said quietly.
Harry flipped the page and made it through about five pages before Ginny rolled over on her stomach again. He found the loss of her hand on his leg rather upsetting and had difficulty getting his mind back on his book till Ginny sat up with a huff and looked at him as if he was irritating her.
"What?" he asked. "I'm reading; though I'm not sure how this is supposed to help me with occlumency."
Ginny seemed to reach some kind of conclusion, turned so she was crosswise to him on the blanket and laid her head on his thigh. She held her book up to block the sun again and sighed happily. "Nothing, you just have the only headrest."
"I can move," Harry said.
"Don't you dare."
Harry stared down at her. "Don't you think Dean would be a bit bothered by this?"
Ginny turned the page of her book. "Why would he care?"
"You said you were seeing him on the train."
"You fell for that too?" she asked. "Ron's been a pill about it every chance he gets."
"So then you're not dating him?"
"Nope," she said, popping the 'P'.
"Oh," Harry said. A grin climbed on his face and he pushed her book aside. "And what about Hermione?"
Ginny grinned back. "Oh, now her, I think it would be very bad if she found out. In fact, I think she'd be rather upset with me."
"I think Ron's going to be upset when he finds out his sister stole the girl he's been pining after since the Yule Ball."
Ginny sniffed disdainfully. "It's his own fault," she said. "It's not like she didn't practically tell him to ask her out. I can't help it if he didn't have the stones to do it." She moved her book to block the sun again. "Read, Harry."
Harry studied her for a second longer before picking up his book again. "Do you really like this stuff?" It's completely mindless."
"That's the point, Harry," she said patiently. Harry shifted a bit against the tree and she rolled to her side with the back of her head pressing against his stomach. With no place else to put it he rested his arm on her shoulder and they both feel silent for some time as they read.
Harry had made it through nearly three chapters when he realized he had a problem. His book was becoming rather… detailed. And his body was reacting rather noticeably. Annnd, Ginny's head was still in his lap. He set the book down and shifted.
"They do get rather graphic, don't they," Ginny said. Harry refused to look at her. Ginny sat up and took his book. She scanned down the page. Harry pointedly stared into the distance, his face aflame. Ginny giggled. "That is an interesting one. I'm not sure mum realized that was in there when she bought it.
"Girls really do," Harry waved his hand at the book, "that with each other?"
"Well yeah," Ginny said. "Lest ways some girls do."
"Have you?" Harry blurted.
"Harry James Potter!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Sorry," Harry hastened to apologize. "None of my business."
"Too right it isn't," Ginny said. "And for your information, no, I haven't. Though I wouldn't rule it out entirely." Harry goggled at her. Ginny suddenly buried her face in her hands. "Oh my God," she groaned. "I can't believe I just told you that."
"You," Harry said. "You should try it from this side of the equation."
"It's like you're Hermione or Luna or something."
"Excuse me?"
"No, I wouldn't even have told them that," Ginny continued. She suddenly looked up at him. "What in the hell is possessing me to talk to you like this?" she demanded. Harry opened his mouth to respond but she plowed forward. "I mean I'll be the first to admit I had a terrible crush on you. Hell, I could hardly string two words together if you were in the room. And today I'm flirting shamelessly with you. For Merlin's sake I asked you to give me your sperm at breakfast. Good morning, Harry," she parroted herself. "Would you please pass the salt? Oh and can you just go wank in this glass in the bathroom for me; because I really haven't completely tossed aside the idea of trading guys for girls?"
Harry's face went from red to purple and he bit down on his lips to keep from laughing. He was embarrassed as hell, but he knew she was going to be even worse when she realized what she'd just said.
Ginny gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "My God, I just did it again. She flopped to her stomach on the ground and buried her head under her arms. "I'm just going to die of embarrassment now."
"Well I think it's only fair that you have no control over your mouth," Harry said.
"You would," Ginny retorted. "You're not the one with the problem."
"Sure," Harry agreed sarcastically. "It's not embarrassing at all to have a girl's head in your lap when that happens. Serves you right, giving me a book like that to read."
Ginny groaned. "Why on earth did Bill think I'd be good at teaching you this?"
Harry laughed. "I have no idea."
"Thanks a lot, Harry."
"Seriously," Harry said. "Why that book?" He nudged her with his foot when she didn't answer.
"Because it's mindless, Harry."
Would you mind sitting up? It's a bit difficult to understand what you're saying with your face buried in the ground like that."
Ginny shook her head. "I'm still hoping a bolt of lightning will strike me." Harry leaned forward and jabbed her in the side. "Eep!" she squeaked and scooted away. She rolled and quickly sat up, glaring at him. "Don't do that."
"It's about time," Harry muttered.
"You're a pain in the arse."
"Yeah, I know," Harry quipped. "Voldemort tells me that all the time only he's not so nice about it." He grinned at her. A smile tugged at her lips and the next thing they knew they had both collapsed in a fit of laughter. They eventually calmed down and just lay on their backs on the blanket."
"So what have we learned today?" Ginny asked.
"That you shouldn't talk, and I shouldn't read books when you have your head in my lap," Harry offered.
"I think that about covers it," she agreed. They were both quiet for some time before Ginny turned her head to the side to look at him. "Harry?"
Harry turned his head so he could see her. "Yeah?"
"You're a ton of fun to hang out with."
Harry grinned. "Thanks, Gin. You're not so bad yourself." Ginny stuck her tongue out at him before she turned to look up at the clouds again.
"So did we accomplish anything in regards to my occlumency?" Harry eventually asked.
Ginny sighed and sat up. "No. I'm afraid I'm going to need to rethink my approach."
Harry sat up too. "So the book really was part of your plan?"
Ginny nodded. "Before you can do anything else with occlumenc, you need an empty mind. And those books are a good way to get there. I just didn't think about the problems certain aspects of them would cause." Her face flushed again as she gave him a sheepish smile.
Harry smiled back. "So we try again tomorrow?"
"If you're willing to risk another afternoon of monumental embarrassment."
Harry shrugged. "Why not? I haven't got anything better to do. I might as well hang out with you."
Ginny shoved him. "Nice, Potter." She started gathering her things up.
"I suppose we should get back," Harry said. He stood and helped her fold the blanket.
"Thank you, Harry," she said. Harry grabbed the bag from her and slung it over his shoulder. "I'm perfectly capable of carrying my bag, Harry."
"I know you are. I just wanted to do it for you."
"Oh. I suppose that's ok then."
Harry waved at the path. "Lead on, Warrior Girl."
Ginny gave him a shove as she set off. "And quit flirting with me."
"Whatever you say, Gin."
"You are seriously pushing your luck, Potter."
"Un-huh," Harry retorted. "So have you picked a girl to live out your illicit fantasies with, or are there slots still open?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"I just want to make sure I don't decide to go after the same girl. I'd hate to set my sights on someone and find out I never stood a chance because the chic, exotic sexy and dangerous Warrior Maiden, Ginny Weasley had already claimed her."
"And what if I wasn't setting my sights on a girl?"
Harry snorted. "Well you won't have to worry about me fighting for you over some bloke."
"And what if the bloke happens to be you?"
"I'd say you were insane."
Harry opened the door and held it for her. "Wotcher, Harry. Ginny."
"Tonks!" They both exclaimed."
Author's notes:
Well, to be honest, looking from the outside, one would have to think anyone desiring to be Harry's girlfriend might not quite be all there.