Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
The Path to the Platform
Australia: Part II
June 1998
"Come on, let's get to the main road and start trying to find a place to sleep. I've brought the tent just in case but I don't fancy a night in it again if it can be helped," Hermione said as she tugged Ron along.
Ron wanted his jacket, but he also wanted to take a moment to look at the beach. The dark sea extended out in front of him. It was cool outside as it was Australia's winter, and a fine cool mist made his hair already wet. Despite the less than ideal weather, it was beautiful. Suddenly, Ron realized how grateful he was to be away from home.
He remember the night before Fred's funeral when Hermione had told him that one day he would wake up and Fred would not be his first thought. He believed he could find some of that peace here. Away from home, away from the place where he had grown up with his brother was a new world that was ripe for the taking. He wanted to explore it all, especially with Hermione at his side.
"Come on Ron, focus. Hotel, not sleeping in the tent," Hermione huffed as she tried to pull him across the sand. He was a quite a bit larger and stronger than her and she was struggling.
"Breathe in that air, isn't it wonderful," Ron exclaimed as he remained still.
"Yes, it's lovely. Come on, Ron. We can smell it all day tomorrow. I want to sleep in a bed, not a sleeping bag." Hermione continued tugging at Ron's arm. He still would not come willingly. "We can sleep in the bed together if you- will- bloody- walk!" a frustrated Hermione huffed as she tugged on his arm.
Ron turned towards her and smiled. "That better be a promise," he laughed as he followed her across the sand. It felt as if a million pounds had been taken off his shoulders. He felt so light and free. He wanted to laugh. It seemed to dawn on Ron for the first time since he had seen his brother's lifeless body that Voldemort was dead and the world was a much safer place to be.
"It's only a promise if we can find a hotel which may not be likely. What time is it here anyway?" Hermione asked as she marched towards the riverwalk.
"We're what - three hours ahead? So it's about eight o'clock. A bit too late for dinner isn't it?" Ron asked as he looked down at his watch.
Hermione sat on a bench as they left the beach and removed her trainers, draining the sand from them. "You can't possibly be hungry. We only just had an early dinner."
"I'm always hungry," Ron said as he raised his eyebrows at her. "Don't you know me at all?"
Hermione shook her head at the accusation. "Let's prioritize Ron; lodging, then food. Okay?" Ron nodded his head dismissively. Hermione stood up and gripped his shoulder to balance as she shoved her trainers back onto her feet. "Let's just walk until we see something."
Ron reached for her hand as they walked along the path. She smiled at him as his fingers grasped hers. "Cold?" he asked when he noticed her shiver.
"A little, hold on a moment," she reached into the beaded bag. Taking a quick look around for muggles, she took out Ron's knapsack and then reached for her own jacket. Ron quickly took his jacket out and then handed his bag back to Hermione.
"Better?" he asked. She nodded her head. They continued to walk hand in hand.
"Look, let's try there," Hermione said as she pointed to bright lights. "I recognize the name from home."
The pair walked in the hotel. Ron let Hermione speak to the lady at the front desk. He stood back and looked at the pamphlets by the front door. There were nearly a hundred packets that listed places to go visit and eat. Ron reached for one and looked at it. His sister had all but ordered him to take Hermione out, arguing that she deserved to be treated like a girl after having spent a year in a tent with two boys. Ron had not understood exactly what Ginny had meant by the comment, but he decided his sister had offered good advice in the past.
"You ready Ron?" Hermione sad as she walked over to him from the front desk. "They have a room," Hermione showed him the key. Ron shoved the pamphlet into the inner pocket of his jacket. He nodded his agreement. They rode silently in the lift up to their room.
The hotel room was small with two full beds and what Ron recognized as the muggle contraption Hermione and Harry called a television. There was also a telephone between the beds.
"How serious were you about sharing a bed?" Hermione asked quietly as she tossed the beaded bag onto the closer of the two.
Ron looked at her with a serious look on his face. "I would never pressure you to do anything you didn't want to do, Hermione," he said.
Hermione shrugged nervously. "I know, it just being here, I'm scared, it's all so real. What if I can't find them and I'll never have my family back? I just need to feel close to someone," she said as she walked around the bed and started untying her shoes. She slid out of her jacket once she had carefully lined her shoes up against the edge of bed. She curled up her knees and brought them towards her chest resting her chin. "And I'm sorry. That sounds like I'm using you for something, but you're my best friend. I feel close and safe with you already."
Ron looked at her. She looked so small and afraid. He could not imagine what it would be like to have no family in this world, to have sent you parents away in order to protect them. He had thought about the sacrifice Hermione had made many times throughout the past year. He had often wondering if he would have been able to do the same. He did not think he would have been strong enough.
"I'm here for you," he said as he walked over to her and hugged her crunched up body to his. There was no passion in their embrace. It was as Hermione had described it: two best friends being there for one another. Hermione leaned into his hug. He felt her take deep, steadying breaths.
"Let's go hunt down some food," Hermione said as she pushed away from Ron. "As I recall, you said you were starved."
He laughed, "I said I could eat, not that I was starved. I'm not a pig," he said.
"Could've fooled me," Hermione laughed. "I'm going to change into some warmer clothes," she said as she reached across the bed for the beaded bag and headed into the bathroom.
Ron sat on the bed and looked at the television. He had no idea how to turn it on. Instead, he pulled the pamphlet out of his jacket. He looked at the picture on the front. A beautiful couple sat eating dinner by the candlelight. The nightscape of Brisbane was lit up behind them. It was a beautiful picture. Ron imagined he and Hermione were the couple in the picture.
"Ready?" she asked as she emerged from the bathroom. She had changed into a different pair of jeans and a thick jumper. She slipped into her trainers.
"Yup," Ron said as he shoved the pamphlet into his jacket pocket again. The two left the room and began to walk out of the hotel.
"Street food?" Hermione asked as they left the hotel.
"If I've said it once, I've said it a million times. You're incredible Hermione Granger," Ron nodded his agreement. He captured her hand and pulled her back to him. He leaned down and captured her lips in a passionate embrace. "You're incredible, and I want to kiss you in every city in the world," he said as he pulled away for breath.
Hermione blinked up at him with loving eyes. She kissed him back fearlessly.
"Harry and I are going to go for a walk," Ginny said as she pushed away from the kitchen table. She winked devilishly towards Harry.
"Ginny, you promised me that you would help me organize the cookbooks today." Mrs. Weasley said from the kitchen sink.
"I promised I would help you with that on Wednesday, today is Tuesday," Ginny said as she rushed out the door towing Harry behind her.
"Ginny-" Mrs. Weasley called with a hint of anger in her voice.
"Finally, we're alone," Ginny said after they were twenty paces from the Burrow. She stood on tiptoe to kiss Harry squarely on the lips.
"Not yet you aren't," Bill said as he a Fleur strode up the lane hand in hand. "Didn't mum have chores planned for you today?" he asked with a smirk.
"Sod off," Ginny said as she made a rude gesture towards her brother.
He laughed and mumbled "young love," under his breath.
"Oh come off, you're what, twenty-eight, let me be," Ginny said as she reached for Harry's hand and pulled him further away from her home. "I have entirely too many brothers at home right now," she said as she leaned against his body as they walked in stride.
"I agree," Harry said as he looked over his shoulder to see Bill go into the Burrow. Once Mr. Weasley and Percy left for work at the Ministry, Bill and Fleur would show up. Charlie, Percy and George were all staying at home as well. The well oiled rotation of Weasleys prevented Mrs. Weasley and George from ever being alone. Of course the side effect of that was that Harry and Ginny were rarely alone as well.
Harry often thought back to that first night after the battle when Ginny had snuck up to Gryffindor tower and the pair had spent most of the night horizontal in his four poster bed. He remembered how at home he had felt with her lips against his. He had missed her so much over the past year, and being with her made all the suffering and pain dissipate into the night. Harry knew that the entire family being close and constantly together was their own way of healing. He could respect that; but he also knew that he felt most whole when he was alone with Ginny, when he felt her soft skin against his fingers and when her curtain of red hair fell over his face and he became lost in her scent.
"Want to go for a fly?" Ginny asked. Harry looked towards the end of the lane leading up to the Burrow. The hoard of reporters still waited by the gate. The looked right towards the couple but did not see them. Harry was grateful that the Ministry's concealment charms worked so well. He was not ready to face the press, he did not know if he would ever be. Instinctively, Harry knew his seclusion from the rest of the wizarding world would not last forever. Owls arrived on a near daily basis from Kingsley asking when Harry, Ron and Hermione would be ready to take interviews, when they would be ready for ceremonies, when they would be ready to face the truth of what they had done.
He was the Boy Who Lived, but for a while longer he wanted to be just Harry who stayed with the Weasleys at the Burrow every summer, who spent the long days flying in the orchard with Ginny and spent the nights talking to his best mate in the small orange bedroom. He was not ready to carry the new epithets that the wizarding public waited so eagerly to bestow upon him. He was not ready to become the symbol for victory, for good's triumph over evil. He just wanted to be here, to relish in the fact that he was alive and the girl he loved was an arms length away and she wanted to fly with him.
"Let's," Harry said as he turned away from the blissfully ignorant throng of reporters and started to jog towards the broom shed.
"Wait up," Ginny giggled after him. She quickly surpassed him and the young couple raced towards the broom shed. Ginny touched the doorknob first. "I beat you," she said triumphantly as she stuck her tongue out at him.
"And what do you get for winning?" Harry asked as he gave her a playful shove.
"Fifteen minutes alone with you in there," she said with an eyebrow cocked towards the broom shed.
Harry laughed at her boldness. Gone was the shy preteen who ran every time she saw him. In her place stood a confident young woman who knew what she wanted and never hesitated to ask. "And you have to do what I say," Ginny said wickedly as she grabbed the front of his shirt and pushed him ahead of her into the cupboard.
Harry gulped as her body pressed against his in the dark space. She started nibbling at his neck. "Gin, you'll leave a mark," he whispered into the top of her head.
"You can heal it," she mumbled as she moved away from his neck for a moment. "Now stop talking, stop thinking," she moaned. Harry was instantly turned on by the huskiness of her voice. The world outside of the broom shed melted away as she pressed her breasts against his chest. "Just feel me," Ginny breathed. She continued biting the sensitive skin near his ear. At the same time, she reached for his hands and placed them on her arse. She moved from his neck and trailed kisses along his jaw until she reached his mouth. She captured his lips in hers and forced her tongue into his mouth. She was completely in control of him. He followed her lead, relishing in the feeling of her hips gyrating against his growing erection. She moved her hands from his hair to his chest and then trailed her fingers down his torso until she was toying with the button on his jeans.
"Mm, Gin, wait," he said as he moved his hands from her bum to grasp her searching fingers. "What are you doing?" he asked.
"I would hope it's obvious, I'm trying to remove your trousers," she whispered against his lips.
"No- that's not what I mean," he mumbled as he moved his head back from hers shaking his head as if he were trying to force away nargles.
"I won fifteen minutes." she pouted. "Do you not want to fool around," she teased as she reached for the waistband of his jeans again.
"Of course I do, it's just- well- it's a broom shed, wouldn't you want somewhere more romantic?" he finished lamely.
Beads of sunlight entered in through the cracked openings in the shed. Harry could see a look of utter confusion on her face. "Are you serious," she asked him as she moved even further away from him. "Do you not want me?" her voice sounded suddenly small and scared. A woman may have replaced the shy little girl, but the little girl still lived inside her.
"No, Gin, it's just- well shit, I've buggered this. I've only been back for two months. You don't think this is all moving a bit fast," Harry said as he leaned against the opposite wall.
"A bit fast," she repeated. She seemed to be mulling over the words. "I've waited for you for an entire year. I thought about you in pain, I thought about you suffering alone. All I wanted was to be with you, be with you like this," she said as she gestured her hand between them. "I wanted to feel you, to know you were alive. I dreamt of you every night, I dreamt of this," she said shyly.
"You dreamt of this?" Harry asked with a bit of shock.
"Well you didn't normally reject my advances in my dreams, but yeah, I dreamed about being with you," Ginny said with a shrug.
"What do you mean by being with me," Harry started. He continued to shake his head as if he the motion would clear his thoughts.
"Well I don't think we should shag in here with the cobwebs, but I wouldn't mind a good healthy dose of messing around. I mean snogging you has been great, but I've been trapped with my family and Great-Aunt Muriel and I have a lot of pent-up frustrations…" Ginny trailed off as her mind seemed to wander.
"What are you suggesting?" Harry
"Stop playing, Harry. I'm not going to spell it out," Ginny started.
"I'm not playing," Harry said seriously. He was grateful for the dim light of the shed. He could feel his face blushing furiously.
Ginny leaned back against the wall farthest from Harry. "Really?" she asked as a smile danced across her lips. "You've never fooled around with anyone, done some exploring with these hands? Unclasped a bra? Pushed aside some knickers and…" her voice trailed off again as she stroked her fingers along the hands.
"No," he said firmly as he tried to pull back his hand.
"Really?" Ginny purred. The smile on her face grew and soon she had to cover her mouth to keep giggles from escaping.
"Don't you dare laugh," he said darkly. He wished that Ginny was not situated in between him and the door. His blush deepened.
"I'm sorry. You're the Chosen One, there were so many rumors floating around at school, so many girls claimed that had hooked up with you. I'm just a bit shocked- you're so virginal," Ginny giggled. Harry wished the floor would open up and swallow him whole. He thought he might pass out if he blushed any more.
"With that, I think I'll be going," Harry mumbled as he tried to push past Ginny and leave the cupboard.
"No, you're not going anywhere," she said as she shoved him forcefully back. "My fifteen minutes aren't up. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'll just have to show you. You were always a very tactile learner," Ginny said. She grabbed the waistband of Harry's jeans and slid down gracefully to her knees.
Harry prayed that no one would find them in this compromising situation and Ginny drew down the zipper of his jeans.
"It's. Just. So. Fucking. Frustrating." Hermione cursed. With each word she removed another layer of clothing. First was her scarf, then her jacket, he jumper followed, and then her trainers. With the final word, she flopped herself onto her bed.
Ron tried to not look amused. Hermione curing was entertaining. Hermione taking off her clothes while cursing was downright sexy. "We've only been looking for a couple days," Ron said as he shrugged out of his own jacket and tossed it onto his bed. He sat down on Hermione's bed next to her and tried to console her by gently rubbing her upper back.
"Yes, a couple days and we are no closer than when we first arrived," Hermione said as she sat up and slid next to Ron. Ron tried to focus on her words and not the fact that he thigh was touching his.
They had been wandering around Brisbane with little direction. Hermione had seemed overwhelmed by the sheer size of the city, and Ron had enjoyed walking around a new place while holding Hermione's hand. They may not have had a definition for what they were to each other, but the rest of the world seemed accepting of their status as a couple when they walked hand in hand.
For several moments throughout the day, Ron worried that Hermione had held his hand in a maternal sort of way. She dragged him away from things that looked interesting to him like the beggars on the street and shops full of Muggle contraptions and pushy salesmen on the street shoving their wares in his face. He wanted to experience all of it, but Hermione wrapped her fingers tighter around his hands and dragged him along behind her. Ron smiled to himself as she realized that she had not and probably never would grow out of her bossiness. It was something so intrinsically Hermione that made him fall in love with her anew each day.
"Ron, are you even listening to me?" Hermione demanded. She seemed to have just finished a rather long rant about their lack of success in finding her parents.
"Erm yeah, of course," Ron said. He blushed. He was never a good liar.
"You're not." Hermione signed. She moved her legs around to the edge of the bed to look at Ron who reclined on his identical queen bed. She let her bare feet swing against the edge. "Where's your mind at?" she asked.
Ron was a bit shocked for a moment. He wanted this trip to be about Hermione finding her parents. "I'm good, really," he said without any hint of untruth. "I like being away from everything. The distance is great. I wish you were happier though. I wish I was brilliant like you and I could help you more with the search," he mumbled as he looked down at his long fingers.
"Oh but Ron, you are helping, you're keeping me sane," Hermione said as she jumped up and pulled him into a hug. His nose was nestled between her breasts as she clutched his face to her chest. "I don't know what I would do if you weren't here. It makes all of this more bearable," she said. Ron could not focus on her words. Being this close to her was making his head spin. Feeling the softness of her breasts against his face was taking his mind to dangerou places. He could feel blood rushing to his crotch. His heartbeat quickened and it was becoming difficult to focus.
He pushed himself away from her. "I'm glad I make it better," he said cautiously. "But I want to be helping. I feel like you're doing all the work," he finished. He tried to casually place his hands in his lap to cover his growing erection, but he noticed Hermione's eyes follow his actions.
"You could offer a distraction," Hermione huskily replied. Her eyes twinkled with an emotion that Ron had never seen on her face before. She leaned down towards Ron and rested her hands on his upper thighs. "You could be the perfect distraction," she whispered against his cheek. Ron's eyes wandered towards the gaping between her shirt as she leaned over him. He could see the edges of the cups of her bra. His breath quickened. She leaned forward and kissed him deeply. It was one of their more passionate kisses. The kiss in Hogwarts had been rushed, filled with emotion, but also filled with fear that they both might not survive the battle. Their kisses back at the Burrow had been consoling for the most part. Hermione kissed Ron to make him feel better. Ron kissed Hermione so he could feel grounded. This kiss was different: there was no hesitancy. Hermione's tongue immediately sought entrance into his mouth. Her fingers ran along his thighs causing tingles to shoot out from where she touched. He instinctively moved his hands up to her hair and tangled his fingers in her bushy curls as he pressed her face closer to his.
Hermione moved her hands up to his chest and she pushed him down onto the bed. She followed him back, their mouths not parting as they shifted to a horizontal position. She moved her legs to either side of his body, straddling his hips. She could feel him underneath her center. She leaned up from his face for a moment to hastily remove her tee shirt. She flung it behind her to land on her bed. She leaned back down to kiss Ron again. He stared at her with an open mouth. His eyes ran over her naked stomach, her bare shoulders, the dips of her collar bones and the gentle swell of her breasts. He did not think it possible, yet his heart began to beat even faster.
"Take off yours," she murmured against his lips. She leaned back and he was able to sit up slightly. She grabbed the hem of his tee shirt and moved it over his head, tugging at it with frustration. Ron was baffled by this new, forceful Hermione. She seemed to know what she wanted and she was taking it without hesitation. She roamed her hands over his chest feeling the sinewy muscles clench every where her fingers traced. She sat up again and reached behind her, unclasping her bra in one swift motion. Ron's breath caught in his chest. Hermione's breasts were uncovered and were within his reaching grasp. Without even thinking about it, he reached his hand up and cupped her left one. He ran his thumb over her nipple, mesmerized as goosebumps appeared under his fingers and the nipple hardened.
Hermione smiled shyly at him. She leaned back down and started kissing him again, allowing her hair to cover her face.
"Trousers?" she asked. Her boldness when she had ordered him to take his shirt off seemed to dissipate. Her sudden nervousness made Ron freeze. She felt his lips stop moving and his tongue moved back into his mouth. He tried to slide away from her so she was no longer straddling his cock, but she stopped him by pressing on his shoulders. She sat up again. "What are you doing?" she asked. Ron could see the hurt on her face.
"I can't," he said miserably.
"You can't what," she said indignantly. She reached for his shirt which was the nearest piece of fabric to her. She brought the fabric over her to cover her breasts. "Is it something I did…" she started by trailed off. There were so many emotions running across her face, Ron could hardly be expected to keep up.
"No, it wasn't something you did. It was something my mum did," he finished with a shrug of his shoulders. Instantly, he realized he said the same thing.
"What?" Hermione screeched. She seemed embarrassed and confused. "What the bloody hell did your mum do that would make is so that I can't take off your trousers," she demanded. The angry Hermione who knew what she wanted was back.
"I promised her something before we left," Ron said. Hermione had finally moved her hands off his shoulders when she had covered herself with his tee shirt. He was able to slide his body out from under her and he moved into a sitting position.
"What did you promise your mum," Hermione said with her eyes blazing.
"I promised her that we wouldn't be shagging across the outback," he finished with a shrug of his shoulders. He knew it was a lame excuse.
"You what?" Hermione exclaimed. She seemed angry, but a deep blush creeped up her neck. Ron tried to calm himself when he saw that her blush extended all the way past his tee shirt that she was using to cover herself. He did not think repeating what he had promised his mother would help the situation. "Why would you be talking to your mother about shagging," Hermione said as she moved one hand away from her chest to rub the bridge of her nose as if she was trying to massage a growing headache away. "Just why, Ron? How does that possibly come up in a conversation?"
Ron shrugged again. He did not want to rehash the conversation he had had in his living room with his parents before they had granted their blessing for he and Hermione to go to Australia together. "I just promised her, okay. And even though I'm here thousands of miles away from home and I can forget about Fred every once in awhile, I'm still me and I promised my mum that we would not do this here. I told her we were coming here to find your parents, not to get out of their house so we could do this," he said as he gestured between himself and Hermione. "I promised," he said again, a bit more self-assured this time. "You may have taken me out of Devon, but I will always be the bloke who listens to his parents and wants to make them happy."
"What did you just say?" Hermione asked. Her wheels seemed to be turning and she had the look on her face that she would get when she had finally decided how she would conclude an essay for a History of Magic assignment.
"I said that you can take me out of Devon, but I'll always be me," he summed up.
"That's it!" Hermione exclaimed. She scurried off the bed, dropping Ron's tee shirt in the process. She didn't bother to reach for her own shirt. Rather she walked away from Ron and moved over to a big yellow book that was on the small table in the hotel room. Ron watched the way her elegant back curved over the book as she bent down and started flipping through the pages. "You've done it Ron! I may have wiped my parents' memories, but I could never take away who they are. They always wanted to help people, medically speaking. But I didn't forge them any documents so that they could do anything here. They must be in school somewhere, or in training so that they can help people as they would feel driven to doing," her voice rose as she spoke. Her excitement was apparent in every move of her body as she continued to turn yellow pages. "Ron, can you pass me the pen and notepad by the phone?" she asked.
He stood up and grabbed both. He also reached over to her bed and grabbed her tee shirt. He placed the pad and pen on the table by her. "Put this on, please, for my sake. I'm trying to keep a promise to my mother here and you are making it very difficult for me," he offered a small smile as he handed her her tee shirt. She blushed only slightly as she took it from him and quickly ducked her head into the material. She felt a bit wistful as her breasts were covered. He knew that he would probably get another chance to see them of course, but he could not believe that when a half naked girl had offered, he had said no. He shook his head at himself and mentioned something to Hermione about going into the bathroom for a quick shower. She simply nodded at him, not even looking up from the fat book.
Harry felt a little sheepish after his encounter with Ginny in the broom cupboard. After all, he was staying at Ginny's parents' house and three of her older brothers were staying with the family for an indefinite amount of time. He felt as if the giddy pleasure he felt whenever he looked at Ginny was painfully apparent on his face.
Harry was staring at Ginny from across the breakfast table. She was telling Charlie a story about something that had happened while he was gone. Harry only caught flashes, but it looked like it may have been about Tonks. Ginny was animated and laughing. A large part of Harry was impressed that Ginny could focus on the good aspects of Tonks without thinking about her lifeless body lying next to Remus's, their hands outstretched towards each other. Harry did not know if he could speak about the passed couple without feeling a huge burden of responsibility weighing on his shoulders, especially when he thought of his godson.
Ginny caught Harry staring at him. She smiled at him devilishly and winked. He felt his face blush. She was so confident, so sexy, so beautiful, so exuberant. Her presence seemed to suck up all the light in a room. It was if everyone oriented themselves around her when she was around. Harry was constantly amazed that such an incredible creature would want to do what she had done to him the other day.
"And then Tonks ruined the entire mission even though she had convinced him that she was his cousin by tripping over a corner of the bookshelf and knocking over the entire display of dark objects in the bloke's home. Apparently she knew exactly what the things would do when broken, and he suspected that his young cousin shouldn't be that knowledgeable about his side business" Ginny finished. Charlie roared with laughter.
Harry regarded the second oldest Weasley sibling. He looked very much like George, more burly rather than lanky; but he was more built than the George. His arms were muscled and so covered with freckles that they appeared tanned. He was also covered with several scars.
After the shock of losing his brother, Charlie's personality returned quickly. He laughed easily. He would sometimes remind Harry of Bill with his ability to manage his parents while acting a leader among his siblings; yet he was also a great deal more relaxed than Bill. Charlie's laughter was infectious, much as Fred's had been, and Harry found himself joining in with Charlie and Ginny.
"She always was a right klutz, Tonks was. Imagine having potions with her, she nearly blew the school up on several occasions by knocking the wrong ingredient into the cauldron," he added as he gripped his side with a laughing-stitch.
"Speaking of Tonks, aren't you going to see Teddy today, Harry?" Mrs. Weasley asked as she placed another plate of scrambled eggs on the table. "Andromeda sent me an owl saying she hoped you would come by today."
Harry tried to avoid Mrs. Weasley gaze by becoming seriously involved with rearranging the foods on his breakfast plate. "I don't know if I'll make it today. Kingsley's sent me another owl and says he would like to speak to me about a security warlock detail," he mumbled.
Mrs. Weasley made a sound that Harry could only decipher as disappointment. He felt guilty, but it was hard to hold the baby in his arms. It was more than hard really, it was utterly terrifying. He did not know the first thing about being someone's godfather. He had only had Sirius as a godfather for about two years. And even though Harry loved Sirius, he knew that Sirius may not be the best example of fatherhood, especially when it came to a baby.
"I'll go with you Harry. I would love to see Teddy again," Ginny chirped from her end of the table. Harry regarded her. Having her there would probably make the awkwardness he felt around Teddy dissipate.
"Ginny, no, you're not leaving. It's too dangerous and you're still underage," Mrs. Weasley chastised from the end of the table.
"I'll be seventeen next month! Besides, if Harry goes to talk to Kingsley before we go to Andromeda's, he will probably come back with a security detail so we'll be perfectly safe. I just want to see the baby, mum, how dangerous could it be. Percy's gotten the floo network back and connected. We'll just pop over for tea," Ginny argued indignantly.
Percy nodded head, "She's right mum. The floo is good to go, and I'm sure Kingsley will ensure that Harry is safe. He won't want to keep Harry here forever. The community needs to see him, he means so much to so many people," Percy finished in his matter-of-fact tone that he used whenever he discussed ministry matters.
Harry could blush. He did not like thinking about what he now symbolized to the wizarding world. Furthermore, he did not want to face reporters until Ron and Hermione were back so that they could face them as they had handled the past year: together.
"But Ginny is still underage, she can't protect herself," Mrs. Weasley argued.
George snorted into his tea. It was not quite a laugh, but it was still a pleasant sound. George had been quiet since the funeral.
"Mum, I can protect myself." Ginny stated in a deadpan.
"Just ask Michael Corner, Dean Thomas, and any other bloke who's managed to cross her," George mumbled. He raised a finger for each name he said apparently counting his sister's boyfriend.
"That's not what I mean," Mrs. Weasley started.
"Well then, let's ask the Death Eaters from fifth year. Oi, wait, they're all dead," Ginny thundered. "I'm sick of being treated like some fragile porcelain doll. I'm going to see Teddy with Harry and that's the end of it. Come along Harry," Ginny ordered as she stood up from the table.
Harry stood as well and followed her out the door. He first paused at Mrs. Weasley's spot on the table. "I'm sorry Mrs. Weasley, but I promise, I would never let anything bad happen to Ginny," he said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. Mrs. Weasley patted her hand on his. She did not say anything, but he knew that she was giving them permission to leave.
Harry went out the door. He jogged over to Ginny who was heading to the orchard clearing. He looked wistfully towards the broom shed near the garden.
"She makes me so angry. The war is over, we need to start living our lives. All I want to do is go visit my boyfriend's godson," she growled. Harry froze in his tracks. Ginny also stopped having realized what she said.
"Boyfriend?" Harry asked cautiously.
Ginny laughed nervously. "I don't normally go down on people who I don't consider my boyfriend," she said suddenly shy as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Girlfriend," Harry pondered the word aloud as he began to walk towards the orchard. Ginny jogged to keep up with him.
"Well I would be the girlfriend and you would be the boyfriend," Ginny laughed nervously at her own lame joke once she caught up to Harry.
"No, yeah, I got that," Harry mumbled. "I…. Ginny, I thought we should break up last year because of how dangerous it would be for you to be with me. I'm not sure if it's safe yet," he focused all his energy on not looking at her.
"Harry, I am not putting up with that bull shit anymore. You will always be Harry Fucking Potter. There will always be some sort of danger. I am so fucking tired of having to put my life on hold for the likes of Voldemort and Death Eaters and your damned sacrificial nature. I have had to put up with so much shit this past year, and it would have made it all the more bearable if I had know that you were coming back to me. We both like one another, we both want one another. I want to be together, and I need you to stop acting like a frightened girl!" Ginny was breathing. Harry had backed away from her with each cutting clause.
"I'm sorry, but I don't want you to fucking die because of me. I guess that just makes me a horrible person!" Harry shouted back at her.
"If I'm going to bloody die, I would rather die knowing I'm with you than dieing and thinking about all the things we could have done together but never got the fucking chance to do. What do you think I've been doing this past year, just hanging around, going to Hogwarts, playing Quidditch, hanging out with my friends? Do you think I had a great year at school? Do you think I enjoyed it? How dare you think that. You left Hogwarts and the place turned to shit. No more detention, instead the cruciatus curse was suitable, on first years Harry! Neville and Luna and Seamus and everyone else who was left behind by the three of you had to take the cruciatus curse so those fucking Death Eaters wouldn't use it on first years. How many times did you have to do that to protect eleven year olds while you roamed the countryside with your two best mates, huh? Don't you dare try to undermine what I've been through."
"I'm not-" he started.
"Yes you are! If you stand there and act like you can't date me because you are afraid that some Death Eater might pop up and kill us, and you don't think for one moment that I can take care of myself after the shit I've been through this year, then you are undervaluing me. I can defend myself and I never want you to act like you are my sole protector again. Either be with me or don't, but do not treat me like I am fragile." Ginny stormed away from him. Harry stood frozen in place.
He had heard of Ginny's wrath from Ron a time or two. Never had he had the misfortune of having it turned on him. His thoughts wandered to the broom shed once more. She had given him so much pleasure, she had held the upper hand throughout the entire encounter. In so many ways, Ginny knew more about life than he did. She knew what it was like to be a sister, a daughter, someone's girlfriend. Harry had allowed himself to be vulnerable around Ron and Hermione. But he had gone through so much with them, he could not help but be vulnerable around them. He may have grown close to Sirius, but fate had other plans. Harry could feel angry tears pushing at the back of his eyes.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and he started to run full bore towards Ginny. He placed a hand on her shoulder. She spun around, her hair spreading out like a ginger colored windmill around her. She looked ready to yell at him again. He placed his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "You're right. You're right about everything. We should be together. I've been being a prat," he said between breaths. He stood up and clutched the stitch at his side. "If you can forgive me for the bull shit I put you through last year, then I want to be with you. I want to start fresh, get to know you again, get to know the new people we've become after all the crap we've been through," he offered her a gentle smile.
She moved towards him in on fluid jump. She kissed him hard. He tasted victory on her lips. "Finally," she whispered against his mouth.
Thank you for reading and please review! Now that I am four chapters in, I would love some feedback regarding how you think this story is going, how the flow is now that I have slowed it down, how you think the character development changes I have made align with the canon narrative, etc. Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated.