Author's notes:
Remember, I moved Ginny's birthday to September 12th. She's nearly a year older than canon Ginny, only a few months younger than Harry, but still a year behind Harry at school.
Standard disclaimer, it all belongs to JKR.
Harry Potter; the Unexpected Summer
Chapter VII
Priceless
Over the next two weeks, Harry and Ginny continued to train with Bill and Fleur whose appearances were becoming more and more frequent. After breakfast, Harry would help Ginny with her various chores and then they would slip into either his room or hers, more often than not hers, as the mood struck them, where they would read the various books Bill and Fleur were giving them. That or something off of Ginny's bookshelf dealing with occlumency. Next they'd have lunch before going back to their rooms where they would revise their various school subjects for an hour before they would head outside to sit under the tree by Ginny's stream where they would help each other with their occlumency and more often than not nap till it was time to head back for dinner. After dinner entertainment usually took the form of them against Ron in a game of chess. Together they actually managed to give him a run for his money. They'd almost beat him the previous night and were hoping to perform well enough tonight to actually win. And they were just on their way to the family room after dinner and helping Mrs. Weasley with the cleanup when she stopped them.
"Hold up you two, I needed to ask you something."
The two teens exchanged a glance and turned to her. "What is it, Mrs. Weasley?" Harry asked.
Molly folded her towel and set it on the counter. "I wanted to talk to you about your birthdays."
Harry cocked his head back. Was it really nearing his birthday? "What about them, Mum?" Ginny asked.
"Well, Harry's is in just a bit more than a week."
"It is?" Harry exclaimed.
Molly stared at him, dumbfounded. Growing up, her children had started counting the days to their birthday six months or more ahead of the date. "Well yes, Harry," she said, today is the 22nd, and if I'm not mistaken, your birthday is the 31st. And Ginny's is coming quickly too."
"Erm," Harry said. "Is it really the 22th?"
Molly laughed. "Yes it is, Dear. You must be having a really good summer to have forgotten your birthday was coming."
Harry shrugged. "I've never really bothered remembering it. My aunt and uncle never did, and I just don't think about it anymore."
Molly pursed her lips distastefully. "Well," she said as if she'd suddenly decided something big, "you can bet we'll remember it this year."
"You really don't…
"Hush, Harry," Molly said.
"Shut up, Harry," Ginny said at the same time. "You'll have a party and you'll enjoy it, or I'll give you one of my round house kicks to the head," she went on.
"Ginny, I don't think that will be necessary," Molly said.
"It might be," she said darkly. "You listen to me, Harry Potter. I've been looking forward to giving you my present for weeks now, and I won't have you moping about on your birthday ruining it for me."
Harry grabbed her hand so she would quit poking him in the chest. "All right already, Weasley," he said with exasperation. "I won't mope about on my birthday and you and your mum can have as big a party as you want. Just quit poking me."
Ginny scowled at him. "Let go of my hand."
"Make me," Harry challenged.
"Now stop it you two," Molly said. "Honestly, I've never seen such incessant flirting in all my days and if you get going, I'll never ask you what I need to."
Ginny made a face at Harry. "Whatever, Weasley," he said and turned his attention back to Mrs. Weasley, but when he let go of Ginny's hand she took it back possessively. "Thought you didn't want to hold my hand," he teased.
"Shut it, Potter. Mum wants to ask us something."
Molly gave a long-suffering sigh. "Honestly," she said before beginning. "What I wanted to ask is if you minded sharing a party between you, Hermione and Ginny?"
Harry shrugged. "Fine with me." He had a moment of panic when he realized he didn't know when Ginny's birthday was and he didn't have a present for her. "When is Ginny's birthday?"
"September 12, Harry," Ginny answered. "The same day as Hermione."
Whew, Harry exclaimed silently, still got a bit of time. Out loud, he said, "Really? I didn't know. I'm sorry."
"Ginny squeezed his hand. "It's ok, Harry. And now you do. And no, Mum, I'm happy to share with them. "I imagine it's a bit difficult getting things put together right now and us being behind the Fidelius."
"Yes it is," Molly agreed. "You're sure you don't mind?"
"Mum, if I wait till my actual birthday, I won't get a party at all. Of course it's fine with me."
"Not at all Mrs. Weasley," Harry added. "Does that mean Hermione is coming soon?"
"She's coming on the 3rd, Harry," Ginny said. "It's the earliest she was able to talk her parents into letting her come. She told me in her last letter."
"And she's staying till we go back to school?"
"Yes, she is," Molly said.
"Good," Harry said. "I kind of miss her telling me what to do." He winked at Mrs. Weasley. "Not that I haven't found someone else bossy to pick up the slack for her."
Ginny gave Harry's hand a yank, spinning him to face her. "Excuse me!"
"Wait!" Molly cut them off. "Before you get going is the Saturday after she gets here ok for the party? I know it's quite early for you and Hermione, Dear, but Harry is already waiting and he really shouldn't have to."
"Fine by me," Harry said.
"Bossy?" Ginny demanded, still glaring at Harry.
Harry rolled his eyes and pulled her to the door. "She agrees too, Mrs. Weasley," he called.
Ginny stopped and stomped her foot. "Harry, James Potter, did you just say I'm as bossy as Hermione? I don't think I appreciate that."
"Who said I was talking about you?"
"You implied it!"
"No, you assumed it." Harry winked at Mrs. Weasley. She simply shook her head as he pulled her daughter into the sitting room. "For all you know I was talking about Bill or Fleur," he said.
"What were you saying about us, Harry?" Fleur asked from where she was cuddled against Bill's side on the couch. Ginny's face lit up gleefully.
Harry turned white. "You wouldn't," he pleaded.
Ginny grinned wickedly at him. "Harry was just telling mum that he kind of missed Hermione bossing him around but that you two had made up for it."
"He did, did he?" Bill asked.
"Yep," Ginny said brightly. "He said Fleur could even get the same bossy tone."
Harry turned on Ginny. "Oh, now you're going to pay for that!" Before Ginny knew what he was doing, he'd grabbed her about the waist and slung her over his shoulder. "I think someone needs to go swimming," he said and started for the door.
"Harry!" Ginny cried. "WHAT? NO! Harry, James Potter if you throw me in the pond again I swear you'll spend every morning for the rest of your life waking up with a new curse."
"Shaking in my boots, Gin," Harry teased.
"Harry, No!" She grabbed the doorframe as she went by and held on. Harry reached back and pried her fingers off. "Harry, No. I don't want to get all wet. Bill, stop him!" she cried when Harry kept going.
The rest of the Weasley household sat in stunned silence. "Told you a male dragon, didn't measure up," Charlie said.
"He wouldn't," George said.
"Would he?" Fred asked.
"He'd have to be bloody insane," Ron said. "Course the way he winds her up already, who could tell."
Bill patted Fleur's thigh. She sat up and he stood, pulling her with him. "This ought to be interesting," he said heading for the door. There was a mad scramble behind him as everyone rushed to see if Harry really would throw Ginny in the pond. They caught up to them just as Harry managed to drag Ginny out to the end of the dock. She'd managed to fight her way off his shoulder but Harry had her wrists trapped in one hand and was pushing her along.
"Harry, no!"
"Think he'll really do it?" Charlie asked. He, Bill, Fleur, Fred, George and Ron all stood where the dock met the shore.
"No doubt in my mind," Bill said.
"HARRY!" Ginny cried. He'd managed to push her right to the edge so that she was actually leaning out over the water and the only thing keeping her from falling was the grip he had on her wrist. "DON"T! "I SWEAR IF YOU LET GO I'LL FEED YOU POLYJUICE WITH ESSENCE OF SNAPE!"
"Gin," Harry said seriously.
"What?" she asked, catching the change in his voice.
"If you'd asked nicely, I might not have let go." As he said it, he did just that and stepped back.
For a second, Ginny seemed suspended in space above the water. "You're dead," she said just before she dropped out of sight. Harry stepped to the edge of dock and looked down into the black water. He just managed to jump out of her reach when she burst through the surface and made a grab at his ankle.
"Nice try Weasley," he taunted as she slipped back into the water.
"It's actually kind of nice," she said. "You should come in."
Harry snorted. "Sure it is, Gin. There's no way I'm getting in there."
"Bill," Fred said.
"Yeah?"
"We can't help but think," George said,
"That this requires a bit of retribution for young Harry," Fred said.
"And we still owe him for the whole shagging our sister thing," George said.
"Actually, it was Ginevra who said she was zzagging, Harry," Fleur pointed out.
"Eh," Fred and George said together. "Semantics."
"So how about it Bill?" Fred went on.
"Can we toss him in?" George asked.
Bill considered for half a second before he took out his wand and flicked it at Fred, George and Ron. "You can try," he said.
"What was that?" Fred asked. He touched his head gingerly. It felt like it was wrapped in padding.
"Sparing charms," Bill said.
"Padding?" George asked.
"Don't want anyone to get hurt," Bill said.
"Why would anyone get hurt?" Ron asked. "We're just gonna toss him in."
"Like I said, you can try. Potter!" Bill shouted.
Harry turned around and Ginny craned her neck out of the water to see what Bill wanted. He, Charlie and Fleur were standing just on the shore. Ron, Fred and George were advancing down the dock. "Oh, you're gonna get it now," Ginny teased.
"Yes, Sir?" Harry asked. He kept a wary eye on the three brothers advancing on him.
"You might wanna put on some sparing charms."
"Shit," he muttered. He quickly triggered the action on his wand and cast the sparing charms on himself.
"Once you're in the water you're done," Bill said.
"Yes, Sir."
"Kick his ass boys," Bill said.
"Tree against one, William?" Fleur said. "'e 'as only been training for six weeks."
"He's picking it like he's been at it for six months." Bill said. It's like he was born to learn this stuff. Trust me, he'll be fine."
"We owe you, Potter," George growled.
"Been havin' nightmares of you and our sister for the last two weeks now," Fred said.
"And you can't go tossing her over your shoulder like that," Ron said.
"Time you learned a bit of respect," Fred said.
Harry beckoned them forward. "Bring it on Weasleys."
"Don't hurt them too badly, Harry," Ginny said.
"Define badly."
"Time to go swimming, Potter," Ron said and rushed forward.
Harry simply sidestepped, caught Ron around the neck as he went by and held on for the few seconds it took him to pass out. Harry turned and dumped him unceremoniously in the pond. The water woke him almost instantly and Ginny swam over to help him regain his bearings.
Harry smirked at Fred and George who, typically for them, had let someone else make the first charge as they measured their opponent. "Next," he taunted.
"I'm thinking a bit more cautious approach," Fred said.
"Simultaneous," George added.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with," Harry growled. He stepped forward, bringing the attack to them. A round house to the head sent George plunging into the pond. Harry dropped down and spun back the other direction with his other leg and swept Fred's legs out from under him. He crashed onto the dock and Harry was on him. One good punch to the nose and even with the Padding Charm Fred was seeing stars. Harry then put his hands under him and heaved. Fred splashed into the pond a second later.
"Bloody hell," Ron said quietly.
"What the fuck was that?" George demanded. He closed his eyes tightly and shook his head
Fred came up from under water holding his nose. "Ok, that hurt."
"Bravo, Harry!" Fleur shouted.
Charlie hadn't moved from where he stood with his massive arms crossed next to Bill the entire time. "That was rather embarrassing," he observed dryly.
"Thank you, Ms. Delacour," Harry shouted before he turned back to the four Weasley's in the water.
"My turn?" Charlie said.
"Fancy a go do you?" Bill asked.
"There's nothing like a good brawl."
"No wrestling. You've got at least five stone on him. It wouldn't even make you breathe hard."
So striking blows only?"
"For you."
"You know how hard I hit, Bro," Charlie warned.
"Try not to let him embarrass you," Bill said.
Charlie snorted, cracked his knuckles and stepped onto the dock. "Oi, Potter," he called.
Harry turned back to the shore and the good mood he was in disappeared. He'd not been concerned with Ron in the least; not with the training he'd had so far, even if it was rudimentary to date. The twins had been slightly worrisome because they worked as a team so well and were very calculating. He'd overcome that by taking the attack to them, striking before they even knew what they were going to do. And none of them were all that much bigger than he was. They were taller sure, but unlike Bill they hadn't filled out their frames yet. And they were all soft; just as he'd been six weeks ago.
Charlie though, he was different. He wasn't as tall as the rest of his brothers, though at 5'-11" he still carried a few inches on Harry. But while Harry tipped the scales at 150 lbs, Charlie pushed 250. And not an ounce of it was fat. Charlie was just built short and heavy. His bones were big and he had naturally bulging muscle to filling out that heavy frame. Add to that the fact that he lifted weights. Charlie's muscles rippled whenever he moved his arms. He was hard; like iron. And his job was physically demanding. He might not be in shape like Bill was and Harry was getting to be, but he wasn't going to be done in by two minutes of sparing with Harry. It took everything Harry had to control Bill's wrists when he was working on different holds with him. It hadn't taken Charlie more than a minute to pin Bill's arm to the table when they'd arm wrestled last week.
"Big isn't always better, Potter," Bill encouraged. "You've only gotta catch him once."
"William, 'e es not using ze zzarm," Fleur said worriedly.
"Trust me," Bill said, "Charlie doesn't need any padding.
Harry straightened his back and assumed a ready stance. "Bout time you lot put out a real challenge," he taunted with as much bravado as he could muster.
He's a street fighter, Potter," Bill warned. "That means he's got no style you can key off of. Street fighters are the worst cause you never know what they might do next."
"Helpful as always, Sir," Harry said.
Charlie laughed. "I gotta hand it to you, Potter. You've got nerve. Anyone with the stones to stand in my mum's kitchen and tell the lot of us he'll shag my sister if he bloody well wants to and anyone that's got a problem with it is welcome to step outside, well, let's just say that's the kind of man I want my sister shagging."
"So no hard feelings then," Harry said.
"Nope."
"Good, cause after I kick your ass, she was talkin' about the orchard again."
Charlie laughed and lunged at him. Harry smashed his hand down on Charlie's wrist to break free. And then he tried to cover that his wrist was throbbing. Hitting Charlie was like hitting a steel post. He had the mild satisfaction of seeing Charlie shake his hand out. At least I know he felt that too, Harry thought.
"I know you two ain't datin' she told me herself the next day."
"Yeah, well why don't you ask Ron about the friends with benefits arrangement Ginny and I have," Harry said. Charlie narrowed his eyes.
"He's just trying to distract you, Charlie," Ron said. "Get him already and restore some of our wounded pride, will ya."
"How exactly does it restore your pride if Charlie kicks his arse? Ginny asked.
"He's a Weasley," Fred said.
"We stick together," George agreed.
"Whimps," Ginny sniffed. She turned back to the scene on the dock. "Come on, Harry, make me proud."
Harry snorted. "I think the only thing I'm gonna do is make myself dead."
Charlie suddenly straightened. "All right, Potter, let's see what you've got. Free shot." He tapped his jaw. "Right here."
"Yeah right," Harry said. "Do I look stupid?"
"He's not kidding, Harry," Fred said.
"Took Bill's best shot without going down," George said.
"And didn't have no charms on when he did it," Ron said.
"Nobody's dropped me yet, Potter," Charlie said. "Go on, right here."
Harry eyed him warily. "Sir?" he asked.
"It's true, Potter," Bill said. "You put him in the water and you can have tomorrow off."
"Oh!" Ginny squealed. "Do it, Harry. Kick his ass."
"Come on, Potter," Charlie egged him on. "One shot. Drop me and you stay dry."
"You're just gonna stand there and let me have a go; not gonna do a thing?"
"Potter, this passes for entertainment in the preserves. We got girls with stronger jaws than that lot." He waved his hand at his three brothers in the pond
"Oi now," Fred protested.
"Oh shut up," Ginny said. "I've got a stronger jaw than you lot."
"Bill laughed. "If that weren't true it'd be a whole lot funnier."
Come on, Potter," Charlie said.
It came like a crash of lightening. Harry's roundhouse slammed into the side of Charlie's head and turned him half way round. His knees buckled but he took a staggering two steps, caught his balance and braced his hands on his knees. After a second, Charlie started to chuckle. He shook his head a few times and as he turned around to face Harry again he straightened. "That was almost as good as…"
What it was almost as good as no one heard, because just as he turned Harry delivered another roundhouse to the other side of his head. This time Charlie was spun in a complete circle. His knees buckled and he went down on his hands and knees where he weaved unsteadily.
"He's gonna have a headache tomorrow," Bill remarked.
"'e es an idiot," Fleur huffed. "People die from getting 'it like zat."
"I don't believe it," Fred and George said together.
"Finish him, Potter."
Harry didn't need Bill's order and was already stepping forward when it came. Unfortunately for him Charlie wasn't done. He waited till Harry was within reach, grabbed his leg, yanked and twisted. Harry went down, rolling with the twist. He landed on his stomach, pushed to his knees and delivered a kick straight back into Charlie's face. Charlie saw it coming and ducked his head down so Harry ended up kicking him in the top of the head. He still hadn't let go of Harry's leg and he sat back to his knees, dragging Harry with him as he did.
"He's in trouble now," Fred said.
"Not gonna be pretty," George agreed.
Instead of fighting him, Harry let Charlie pull him back. He pushed himself up, placing his free foot flat on the ground and used it to drive back into Charlie. As he moved, he drove an elbow into his stomach.
Ron flinched. "Ouch."
It actually turned out to be a mistake on Harry's part because Charlie's abs, like the rest of his body, were like iron. He brushed off the elbow as if it had been a mosquito, let go of Harry's leg, grabbed him by the shoulder, spun him around and delivered a right cross that sent Harry sprawling to the edge of the dock where he lay on his stomach unmoving.
"HARRY!" Ginny cried. She started to him but Bill stopped her.
"Leave him alone, Ginevra," he ordered. Ginny stopped, clearly torn on wanting to check on Harry but knowing the vows she had made to do, without question, what Bill or Fleur told her when they were training. And that had clearly been his command voice. She didn't dare disobey him; he might refuse to let her join Harry anymore and she couldn't bear the thought of letting him go forward without her.
"William, es zis necessary?" Fleur asked.
"You know the answer to that," Bill said. "Come on, Potter," he shouted. "That wasn't any worse than when Ginny laid you out yesterday. Get up and finish him."
"You laid him out?" Fred asked.
"Only because he didn't cast the Sparing Charm right," Ginny said.
"You were sparing with him?" George cried.
"Of course I was you idiot. What do you think we're doing; playing house?"
"But how?" Ron asked. "He nearly laid Charlie out."
"So. Harry's not any bigger than me than Charlie is bigger than Harry."
"But you're a—"
"Finish that sentence, Fred," Ginny warned, "and I'll knock every one of your teeth out."
Harry blindly began moving, trying to clear his head. He didn't care what Bill said; hard as Ginny had kicked him, Charlie hit like a hippogriff kicked. His head felt like a cave troll was trapped inside, beating on his skull with his club to get out. He slowly pushed to his knees and crawled away from Charlie. He didn't want to let him get his hands on him again. He turned to face Charlie, and staggered to his feet weaving unsteadily.
Charlie stood as Harry did. "I said one shot, Potter," he growled.
"At least let Ginevra 'elp 'im," Fleur said. "Et will be fair zen, non?"
"There's no such thing as a fair fight, Fleur," Bill said. "And no, it wouldn't be fair at all because Charlie will never hit Ginny; not in a million years."
"There's no such thing as a fair fight, Weasley," Harry said at the same moment as Bill. "It's not my fault you were dumb enough to think I wouldn't hit you again if you didn't go down."
"Why don't you take that charm off and we'll see how hard your head really is."
Harry triggered the release on his wrist holster. He flicked his wand. "Done," he said reholstering it.
"Non!" Fleur cried. She started forward. "Zat es enough, Charles."
Bill grabbed her arm. "Fleur."
She turned on him, the full anger of her veela nature unleashed. "You will unhand me, William. Now."
Bill let her go. "Don't," he said, "interfere."
She continued to glare at him for another second. "You and I will 'ave words later."
"Fine."
Harry beckoned Charlie forward. "I'm waiting, Weasley." Charlie was only too happy to oblige. There was a flurry of hands as Harry fended him off, and then they were both staggering back, Harry holding his ribs from the punch he'd taken to the solar plexus, Charlie hobbling on one leg from the kick Harry had delivered to his knee."
"Had enough, Weasley?" Harry gasped.
"Just getting' started, Potter." Charlie tested his leg and inched forward. Harry edged to his left and stepped in again. Once more there was a flurry of action as they both ducked various blows. Harry stepped inside another cross from Charlie and as his punch went behind Harry's head Harry slammed his elbow into Charlie's temple. It spun him around and as he came back to face Harry, the full momentum of a spinning backhand smashed into Harry's jaw in a crushing blow that sent him sprawling to the dock. He crashed down on his stomach, black spots forming in his vision.
Fred cringed. "That's gonna leave a mark."
"Think he'll get up?" George asked.
"He's a bloody idiot if he does," Ron said.
"What? Far as I can tell, he's doing pretty well," Fred said. Ginny pushed through the water to the dock and pulled herself up to see Harry.
"I told you to leave him alone, Ginevra," Bill warned.
"Go bugger yourself," Ginny retorted. She heaved herself out of the water and knelt by Harry's head, leaning down by his face.
"Well spoken, Ginevra," Fleur said. Bill shot her a look and stepped on the dock, moving to stand behind Charlie so he could see better." Harry pulled his arm up and placed his hand flat on the dock. He managed to pick his head up an inch and dragged one leg up, trying to get to his knees.
"Harry?" Ginny asked.
"Mmmfine," he said.
Charlie leaned with his hands on his knees watching Harry. His head was swimming, and staying on his feet was accomplished by force of will alone. He could hardly believe Harry was even conscious after that shot. It had been a shot in the dark, spinning backhand, that he'd picked up in one of the dozens of brawls he'd been in over the years. But it had been solid; as good a shot as any he'd delivered and not many people had stayed on their feet after taking his best shot. None had managed to take two of them. "Just stay down, Potter," he said.
"Get up, Potter," Bill said.
"Harry," Ginny said so only he could hear, "you've already earned his respect."
"S'not his I want," Harry said through gritted teeth. He pushed himself to his knees.
"Harry," Ginny pleaded. "You have, Bill's, mine, Fleur's. Whose do you want?"
Harry sat back on his knees and looked her in the eyes. "Mine, Gin. If I can get up I will. I'd have thought you knew that by now."
A tear slipped down her cheek. "I do, Harry. I've known it since the moment you pulled me from the Chamber."
"Then you know I have to get up."
"Please try not to get hit again."
Harry gave her a rueful smile. "I'm trying. He's like fucking iron. I think I broke both my feet on his head. He put one foot on the ground and pushed himself to his feet.
"Bugger, me," Charlie muttered. He shook his head and straightened.
"Is that all you got, Chuckie?" Harry taunted.
"Bring it, Potter," Charlie growled. Harry stepped forward with a series of kicks that Charlie either ducked, avoided or took in the upper arms or his thighs. Each one was going to leave a massive bruise the next day, but he ignored them all as he waited for an opening. When it came, he took his shot only to have Harry spin and catch him with a round house in his exposed ribs. He stepped back holding his arm tightly against his side. He couldn't be sure but it felt like Harry had separated his ribs with the shot.
Harry threw caution to the wind, pressed his advantage and it was his undoing. Charlie caught him by the back of the head and forced it down. In seconds Harry was trapped in a Guillotine Choke. Charlie applied the pressure with his massive arms and Harry was out in seconds. Charlie lowered him to the dock and set him on his back. "That is one tough son of a bitch," he said.
"Get out of my way," Fleur hissed. She elbowed her way past Charlie causing him to gasp and clutch at his side. Ginny met her as they knelt on either side of Harry. "Is he ok?" she asked nervously.
"Oui," Fleur said. "'e is just blacked out."
"I woke up a lot quicker," Ron said.
"You were dumped in the pond," Bill said. "And you hadn't just taken two of Charlie's best shots. He's coming around now."
Harry blinked his eyes open. "Harry?" Ginny asked.
He gave her a confused look. "Gin? What happened?"
"He caught you in a Guillotine Choke," Ginny answered. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, eventually."
"Bloody hell," Fred said. "She even knows the names of this shit."
"Of course I do you idiot. I've only had Harry put it on me a dozen times."
"Bill," Charlie said, "I don't like the sound of that."
Bill shook his head as he caught the look on Ginny's face when she looked up at Charlie. "Charlie, Mate, it's been nice knowing you," he said.
Ginny stood up and moved to a clear area of the dock. "Charles Gideon Weasley," she said quietly. "Come here."
Fred winced. "Oh, middle name."
"You're dead," George said.
"Now, Squirt," Charlie said. "I'm just worried. I don't like what I'm hearing about you doing this training with Bill."
Ginny pointed at the dock. "Come. Here."
"I'll get the shovels," Ron said.
"Anyone got ideas on an epitaph?" George asked.
"Here lies Charlie. He pissed his sister off," Ron offered.
"Oh shut up," Charlie muttered. He stepped through them and stood where Ginny had pointed on the dock. "Ginners," he began.
"Eh," she stopped him.
"But."
"Not a word, Charles." Charlie fell silent and awaited whatever retribution she decided on
"Still with the given name," Fred said.
"How exactly does she do that?" George asked. "She's not even half his size."
"No idea," Fred said.
"I want my free shot," Ginny said.
"But of course," Fleur said with approval. "Very appropriate, Ginevra."
"Thank you, Ms. Delacour."
Charlie blinked. "Your free shot?" he asked.
"Yes. Just like you gave Harry. I want mine."
"You've got to be joking."
"Afraid I'll be the first to drop you?"
Charlie snorted but stopped himself from saying anything demeaning. "Sure, Squirt. Let's see what you've got."
"Brilliant," Ginny said. She stepped back and set her feet. "Ready?"
"Anyti…" Charlie's side exploded in searing pain with the impact of her roundhouse kick to the same spot Harry had hit earlier. A telltale crack indicated she'd broken at least one of his ribs. Charlie went down on his knees hard. He leaned forward on one hand while he held his side with the other.
Ginny leaned down by his ear. "Don't you ever try to decide what is or isn't appropriate for me again.
"K," he gasped.
"I knew you'd see things my way." Before he knew what was happening, Ginny slipped her arm around his neck in the same Guillotine Choke he'd put Harry out with and stood up. Charlie flailed for a second but his arms went limp before his overwhelming strength could force her to break the hold. When he went unconscious a few seconds later, he was much too heavy for her to lower slowly and she let him crash down unceremoniously on his face."
Ginny looked at the rest of her brothers. "Anyone else want to tell me they don't like me training with Harry?"
"Nope," Ron, Fred and George said together.
"Good. I'm tired of telling you lot to mind your own business. She walked back over and held her hand out to Harry. "Come on, Potter. It's past our bedtime. And somehow I don't think the fact that you got your arse kicked is going to convince my favorite brother to give us the day off."
Harry took her hand and let her help him to his feet. He took a moment to get his balance and she slipped under his arm, supporting him as he weaved slightly. "Like I'd want to miss your smiling face in the morning," he teased.
"Watch it or I'll leave you to make your way to bed by yourself."
"Ok, I surrender. Merlin, my head hurts." The two of them set off, bantering back and forth till they were out of sight and earshot.
Ron shuddered. "Does she have to talk like they're going to bed together?"
"She only does it cause it bugs you so much," Bill said.
"Well it's bloody damn effective," Fred said.
George shuddered. "I'll say."
Bill nudged Charlie with his toe. "Hey, Dumbass, you awake yet?"
Charlie groaned and rolled over. He hissed painfully and clamped a hand over his ribs. "What happened?"
"Ginny choked you out."
Charlie glowered up at Bill standing over him. "She wasn't enough to handle without you teachin' her that shit?"
"You want Fleur to heal those ribs."
"I am not 'ealing anyzing for 'im tonight," Fleur snapped. "'e can suffer till ze morning. Per'aps it will 'elp 'is pea brain examine why 'e needed to fight wiz a boy 'ho es 'alf 'is size. And you," she turned on Bill. "If you even dare to dream about me tonight, et will be a week before you put your 'ands on me." She whirled and stormed off.
"You know," Fred said as he watched her go. "I was thinking Potter's a right pain in the arse."
"How do you figure?" Charlie asked.
Fred held his hand up and ticked his points off on his fingers. "One, he started this by tossing Ginny in the pond. Two, he then tossed us in the pond. Three, he then proceeded to go toe to toe with you for longer than anyone I've ever seen but for Bill. Four, the fact that he's put choke holds on Ginny is the reason you opened you mouth and Ginny proceeded to bust your ribs and then choke you out. Five, you've finally been dropped with one shot by our five foot nothing, not even a hundred pounds little sister—"
"That doesn't count," Charlie protested.
"—Six, Bill is now cut off. And seven, he's got our sister running around tormenting us with the idea that he's shaggin' her. And she's such a bloody damn good actress that half the time we don't know if she's full of shit or not, and instead of being terrified of us killing him, he stands up and says, 'I'll bloody well shag her if I want to. What are you going to do about it?' If that isn't a right pain in the arse, I don't know what is."
Bill nodded as he considered it. "Fits right in, don't he?"
"Why exactly did you tear the wards down at his aunt and uncle's and bring him here again?" George asked.
Bill set off for the house. "Cause he's family."
True to Ginny's prediction of the night before, she and Harry found themselves slogging through another training session with Bill and Fleur. They'd survived the conditioning portion for the day and were now sparing with each other as they worked on the various strikes, blocks and holds Bill had taught them so far.
Harry stepped back from Ginny's attempted roundhouse to the head. The particular strike seemed to be her specialty. There was just something about her body that allowed her to generate massive amounts of force as she whipped her leg around and Harry had become very conscious of not letting her hit him with it; sure she may have hit Charlie in the same place he had last night, but he still went down. And she had broken three of his ribs. Further heightening his awareness of that particular move was the fact that he had two very black eyes from where Charlie had hit him the previous night. They were tender and he had no wish to get hit there again right now. Harry caught her spinning into his left cross as she came back around from the missed kick.
"Argh!" she cried. She spun half around and sank to her knees.
Harry cringed. He really hated sparing with her. Even with all the padding charms they used it was fairly often that one of them would get knocked loopy; 90% of the time it was her. And if it made him a chauvinistic pig, he simply didn't care. He didn't like hitting a girl. "Gin?" he asked when she didn't stand right away.
"Fuck this," Ginny muttered angrily. She tripped the release on her wand holster and canceled the sparing charms. "I'm done."
"No you're not," Bill said.
Ginny stood up. "I don't mean I'm done for the day, dear brother. I mean I quit." She stalked over to where she'd discarded her heavy jumper and snatched it up.
"Quit?" Bill asked.
"Yes, quit. I've had it with getting out of bed before the rooster's even up. I'm tired of feeling like I've been clubbed by a gurg and having to apply anti swelling charms a half dozen times a day so my face doesn't look like my boyfriend beat me."
"I'm sorry, Gin," Harry mumbled. Ginny gave him a scathing look. "What?" he asked confused.
"Fine," Bill said. "Quit."
"I'm done teaching him occlumency too."
"What?" Harry yelped. "Why? I'm sorry I hit you. You know that. You know I hate sparing with you." Ginny continued to glare at him. "Why are you angry with me?"
Ginny put her hands on her hips. "Oh, I don't know, Harry," she said. "Maybe it has something to do with you not respecting me."
"What are you talking about?" Harry demanded. "You're bloody amazing. I've been in awe of you since you tried to stand up and fight on a broken leg at the ministry this spring. And you kept going out here even though you threw up every day for the first week. How can you possibly say I don't respect you?"
"Then why won't you hit me?"
Harry's mouth flapped. "Sorry?" he asked after a second.
"You heard me, Harry. If you have so much respect for me why won't you hit me?"
"Ginevra," Fleur tried to interrupt.
Bill put his hand on her arm. "Let them figure it out."
"But…"
"You had to learn the hard way too," he said quietly.
"Couldn't you at least try to talk to 'er?"
"She's reckless, Fleur. She continually leaves herself open to counter strikes. Harry might not be willing to make her pay for that but someone else will. She needs to learn respect for the power people bigger than her can generate. It will make her a better fighter." Fleur pursed her lips. "You wouldn't be half the fighter you are today if you hadn't learned the hard way," Bill pressed.
"At least make her use zee Sparing Charms. Harry broke 'is foot on Charlie's 'ead. 'E will crush 'er skull if 'e 'its 'er zat 'ard wizout et."
While Bill and Fleur were settling things between them, Ginny had continued to lay into Harry. "No," he said angrily. "Absolutely not. There is no way in hell I'm going to hit you as hard as I hit Charlie."
"Fine," Ginny snapped. "If you don't have enough respect for me to drop me when I make a mistake, then I quit." She waited a few seconds to see if Harry would say anything before she turned away from him. "Thanks for nothing, Harry," she muttered.
Harry cast about for something that might keep her there. He hated sparing with her but he'd grown to rely on her presence when he felt like he was going to die from some new torture Bill had introduced to the training regime. "Can't you talk some sense into her?" he pleaded with Bill.
"Sorry. I have to agree with her."
Ginny turned around and stuck her chin out. "Thank you, Sir," she said in a sneering tone directed at Harry.
Harry gaped at Bill and then turned desperately to Fleur. "You can't agree with this. I broke my foot on his head last night."
"Oui. You did. But Ginevra will be using zee charms."
"Will not," Ginny said.
"Will," Bill said. "Your skull is nowhere near as thick as Charlie's. You want him to hit you, fine. But you're using the charms."
"Fine," Ginny snapped still glaring at Harry. "What's it going to be, Potter?"
"Gin, please," Harry said.
"Don't," Ginny interrupted, "call me that."
Harry stiffened. "You're really going to throw our friendship away because I won't hit you?" he asked quietly.
"Our friendship is based on us being equals, Harry. I don't hold anything back when I hit you. I expect you to show me the same respect and not hold back when you hit me."
"Ginny, I don't want to hurt you."
"Would you hold back against Ron?"
"No. But I would against Hermione. Merlin, Ginny, I hold back against Fleur and she's been doing this for over a year. You've been out here four weeks. And if that makes me a chauvinistic bastard, I don't care. "
"Well I care, Harry. I'm out here busting my arse every day for you, Harry; not for Bill or Fleur or anyone else or even myself. I'm out here for you. And if you can't respect me enough to treat me as your equal, then I quit."
Harry closed his eyes and sighed. "Will you give me one more chance?"
"Yes."
"Then put your charms on and let's go again."
"No, Harry. Just like Charlie." She tapped her chin. "Free shot."
"I can't," Harry said. "I can't just line you up and level you. If you want my best shot, then spar with me."
"Potter," Bill said. "Just do it so we can move on already."
Harry's shoulders slumped. "Yes, Sir."
"I'm waiting, Harry," Ginny said. Harry triggered the release for his wand, stepped close to Ginny and proceeded to examine her sparing charms. "I'm perfectly capable of casting them, Harry."
Harry twisted his wand around. "You want to talk about respect," he said glaring at her. "Did you honestly think I'd let you get away with purposely miscasting them?"
Ginny's hard exterior cracked slightly at his rebuke. "Sorry," she said.
"You should be."
Ginny raised her chin stubbornly. "Are you going to do it or not?"
Harry backed away from her and set his feet. "One thing, Ginevra."
"What?"
"I'm far from your equal." Ginny barely had a chance to register what he'd said before she crumpled like the proverbial wet noodle. Harry stood looking down at her as she stared dazedly up into space. "Is she ok?" he asked after Fleur had performed a quick wand scan.
"Oui. She es just dazed. I zink you would have cracked 'er skull wizout ze charms zough."
"But she's not hurt?"
"Non."
"Good," Harry said. He turned and headed for the Burrow.
"We're not done yet, Potter," Bill said.
Harry didn't turn around and he didn't stop walking away. "When she can remember her name again, tell her not to talk to me till after dinner."
"Let 'im go William," Fleur said.
Bill scowled but let Harry go. "It's nearly time to quit anyway," he agreed. "He squatted down and brushed Ginny's hair back from her face. "That's gonna be one hell of a shiner."
Fleur patted Ginny's cheek. "Ginevra?" Ginny blinked her eyes and tried to focus on her.
"You ok, Sprite?" Bill asked.
She nodded slowly. "I think so."
"Go slow, Ginevra," Fleur said.
Ginny frowned and began a slow inventory of her body. "What happened?"
"Harry hit you," Bill said. "Remember, you were pissed at him because he was holding back and wouldn't hit you like he hit Charlie."
"Oh, right," Ginny said as it came back to her.
"Come on, let's sit up," Bill said. He helped her sit up and steadied her while she got her balance. "So have we learned our lesson then?"
Ginny frowned. "Lesson?"
"Ginny, if you'd really watched that fight last night, you would have seen just how hard Harry worked to avoid getting hit. He had half a dozen different chances to hit Charlie but passed them up because he knew he'd get leveled if he took them. He waited to catch him when it looked like Charlie wouldn't be able to hit him back. It didn't always work because Charlie is massively strong, has a head harder than a minotaur, and is a damn skilled fighter for someone who has never had any formal training. Harry recognized the danger Charlie presented. He respected the damage one shot from his opponent could do to him. You're a tiny thing, Sprite. You need to respect the power and strength difference between you and Harry. That doesn't mean you can't kick his arse. It just means you can't trade blows with him. And while it's perfectly fine for you to hit him with everything you have, it's also perfectly fine for him to hold back. You shouldn't need him to knock you into next week to learn not to leave yourself open to him leveling you. The sign of a true student is one who can learn from a mistake that results in something as little as this." Bill reached out and gently tapped her where Harry had kicked her.
Ginny flinched with even that gentle touch of his fingers. "Why didn't you tell me that before?"
Bill smirked. "Cause just like Fleur, you had to learn the hard way."
"I fought wiz 'im for a week before 'e finally 'it me," Fleur said.
"Oh," Ginny said. She looked around. "Where's Harry?"
"He's a bit pissed at you, Sprite."
"He's mad at me? Why, I'm the one who got hit?"
"Ginny, Harry cares enough about you to stand up in front of your whole family and tell them to stay out of whatever his relationship with you is. He was willing to risk the only family he's ever known for no other reason than the fact that you wanted to make a point. To me that says he thinks you're pretty much priceless. You just threatened to take that away from him. You put a price on your friendship. If it were me, I'd be pissed at you too. I was pissed at Fleur for a week."
"Oui," Fleur agreed. "As you were today, I was a fool twice also."
"Ultimatums are a dangerous weapon, Sprite," Bill said. "And they have no place in a friendship."
Ginny's lip trembled. "I've lost him, haven't I?" she whispered fearfully.
"He doesn't want you to talk to him till after dinner," Bill said.
Fleur put her hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Harry is a very forgiving person, Ginevra. Look at 'ow badly Ron treated 'im for most of ze tournament. But as soon as 'e apologized, Harry forgave 'im everyzing. I do not zink zat you 'ave lost 'im. But you would be unwise to treat 'im so poorly again."
The rest of the day was an exercise in agony for Ginny as she forced herself to wait out the time Harry had told her to stay away from him. Not that she could have found him if she'd tried. It was like he'd vanished from the Burrow altogether. He wasn't at breakfast. He didn't knock on her door when it was time to do her chores. Lunch was eaten alone with her mother in dead silence; though it was plainly evident that she knew something had happened between the two of them. He didn't show up for their after lunch revising hour. And he didn't go down to the stream and her secret spot with her for the afternoon. The intensity of the loss of his presence in her day took her by surprise. It was utterly gut wrenching. Worse even than when she'd first realized Ron had new friends after he'd come home from his first year at Hogwart's and there wasn't room for her to join in. By the time she made her way back to he Burrow for dinner, she was quite late and she'd fairly well convinced herself he was never going to forgive her. She wearily climbed the steps and steeled herself against finding him missing from the dinner table before she opened the door. Just as she reached for the handle though the door opened and Harry stepped out.
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
Harry closed the door behind him. And she found herself caught in those damn eyes of his again. There was just so much power and emotion in them it didn't matter that she no longer had a crush on him. Those eyes would always own part of her soul. After a second, he quietly said, "Hey."
Ginny swallowed, still trapped by his eyes. "Hey."
Harry continued to study her and it was as if she was a cobra, mesmerized by the soft sounds of the snake charmers instrument. "Did you go to the stream?"
Ginny nodded. "Yes." His gaze shifted to stare out into the woods. With his eyes off of her she managed to focus enough to say something involving more than one syllable. "I missed you," she ventured.
"Oh."
Ginny started to reach for him but thought better of it. "Harry, I'm sorry I threatened you that way. I've been miserable since Bill and Fleur pointed out what I did to you. Please, please tell me we're still friends."
It didn't take him more than a half second to accept her apology. The dried tear tracks on her face had been plainly evident when he'd studied her before. He turned back to her, closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her. "Come here," he said softly. Ginny sagged against him. Harry rested his chin on her head. "Best friends, Ginny" he said with vehemence.
Ginny crushed him in her arms. "Gin, Harry. Please call me Gin."
Harry tightened his arms around her. "Best friends, Gin. Best friends." Ginny pulled her arms up and tucked them between them, giving herself over completely to his protective and possessive embrace. Harry eventually pushed her back to see her face again. He gently wiped a new tear from her cheek and cautiously touched the swollen spot near her eye. "Does it hurt?"
Ginny shrugged. "Not so much."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't you dare, it's the least of what I deserved."
"I didn't have to hit you that hard. I'm sorry."
"You still held back, didn't you?"
They locked eyes with her question and he knew he couldn't lie to her; not now, not ever. "Yes," he said and held his breath.
Ginny pulled him tight again. "Thank you."
Harry let loose the breath he was holding. With it went any of the lingering poison in his thoughts from the day. "I missed you, Gin. Merlin did I miss you today. Please don't do anything like that again, because I don't think I'd survive walking away from you.
"I swear, Harry. I felt like I was dying when I realized how much I had hurt you. I'm sorry; so very sorry."
Harry moved his hand to the back of her head and held her tightly in the hollow of his neck. "Hush, you're forgiven."
"Thank you," she whispered.
Later that night, Harry followed Fleur up the stairs a few minutes after she had gone to the bathroom. He timed it almost perfectly so that she was coming out just as he stepped into the hallway. "Could I talk to you?" he asked. "Privately?"
"Certainly," she said. She smiled and winked at him. "My place or yours?"
Harry coloured but didn't falter under her flirting. Gently teasing him was her way. And if they were sparing she made no pretenses about using her veela nature to distract him if she could. And she encouraged Ginny to do the same. In her mind, being a woman was a powerful weapon to use against a man if need be. Harry could hardly disagree because more than one occasion had found him flat on his back after he'd allowed her to fluster him.
"Yours, if you don't mind. We're less likely to be interrupted." Harry knew he'd made a mistake even as he was saying it.
She slipped past him, trailing her finger on his arm. "You little devil you?" she purred. She held the door for him. "Coming?"
Harry shook himself. So I'm not entirely immune to her, he thought. I wouldn't be male if I was. "Knock it off," he growled as he stepped past her. She laughed and closed the door.
"Wat can I 'elp my favorite student wiz?" she asked.
"I thought Bill was your favorite student."
Fleur smiled devilishly at him. "'E is my lover; not a student."
Harry flushed. "You're bloody evil; you know that, don't you? And what about Ginny? You seem to like her plenty."
"I am veela," she said. "And Ginevra I love because William values 'er above anyzing else. You, I love because I do."
"I think he values you pretty highly too. At least as much as he does her."
Fleur smiled. "Per'aps. But zis es not why you sought a secret rendezvous wiz moi, non?"
Harry coloured again. "I need help with Ginny's birthday present."
Fleur's face brightened. "Conspiracy," she gushed gleefully. "I love conspiracy. Wat es et you need?"
Harry reached behind his back and pulled out the catalog he'd swiped from Ginny's desk the day before. His face went completely red as he held it out. "I want to get her something from here. The workout stuff," he added hastily with her arched eye.
"See anyzing else you liked in zere?" she teased as she took it.
Harry met her gaze without flinching. "Plenty, but nothing I'd buy for her."
Fleur flipped the catalogue open. "You are positive?" she asked playfully. "Ginevra might like to receive some of zese zings." She paused on a page of a particularly scantily clad model. "Per'aps zis?"
"She'd kill me," Harry answered.
Fleur laughed. "Well it might finally puzh 'er brotzers to do so."
"Can we please just look at the workout stuff?" Harry asked. "She had it open to that section when I swiped it off her desk. I know she was wants some because she's spends the whole time we're training muttering about your perfect outfits while she has noting but ratty old tee-shirts and cut off sweatpants. But I don't know what size to get her. I thought you might be able to help."
"So zat is where it went," Fleur said. "I zought William had stolen et to find somezing for moi." Fleur flipped through the catalogue to the appropriate section.
"I kind of figured she'd gotten from you."
"Do you know if zere is somezing en particular she wanted?"
Harry shook his head. "No. But I think any of it. She seems to really like the pants you wear."
"Yes, ze yoga pants are very nice. She tossed the catalogue on her desk. "I know wat we will do."
"You do?"
"Oui. You will tell me 'ow much you want to spend and I will buy 'er a gift card. We will rip ze appropriate pages from ze catalogue and wrap zem togetzer. Zen she will be able to order what she wants."
Harry grinned. "And if we rip the pages out, then she doesn't get the wrong idea, her brothers don't finally decide to just kill me and Mrs. Weasley doesn't have a heart attack."
Fleur laughed. "See, zere es a reason you are my favorite student. You zink of all zee, 'ow you say, angles. Non?"
"I've been trying to calm that down," Harry said. "If nothing else for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley's sake. We made our point. But Ron, Fred and George just keep opening it up."
"Zey are trying to get back at you."
"Yeah, I know. But they can't think they can actually embarrass us with that, and it's making it that much tougher for Mrs. Weasley to let Ginny be. It's starting to piss me off."
Fleur took his arm and pulled him to the door. "We could always tell zem you are sleeping wiz moi. Zat would get zem to let ze subject of you and Ginevra die."
Harry shuddered. "Not a chance in hell. Bill would kill me in a second and then raise me from the dead so he could do it again."
Fleur patted his hand. "I would not let 'im kill you."
"You'll forgive me if I say I'd rather not chance it."
"Only if you are as zhoughtful wiz my birzday gift as you are wiz Ginevra's."
"I'll see what I can do."
They parted as they entered the family room again with Harry moving to sit on the floor next to Ginny while Fleur went to sit with Bill. "Where'd you go, Mate?" Ron asked.
"Harry wanted to show me somezing," Fleur answered.
Harry groaned. "Thanks a lot, Fleur."
"Tossed our sister over for Bill's girlfriend now have you," Fred asked.
"Don't think I like the sound of that," George said.
"Mate, we let you live when you said you were sleeping with her, but if you've just been playing with my sister, we're gonna have to hurt you."
"Get in line boy's, Bill added."
"I hate you," Harry said to Fleur. She winked and blew him a kiss. Ginny scowled at her.
Fred laughed. "I sense a cat fight coming."
"So what is it, Potter?" Charlie asked. "Is Ginny old news now or not?"
Harry stood and held his hand out to Ginny. "Where are we going?" she asked. She took his hand and he pulled her to her feet.
"I figured I'd show you Fleur can't hold a candle to you."
"Harry, Potter," Fleur cried. "I am 'urt."
Harry pulled Ginny to the kitchen, pausing in the door. "Sorry Ms. Delacour," he said. "Everyone comes in second eventually." He let the door close on the ensuing silence.
Charlie chuckled once the door had closed. "Put you in your place, didn't he?"
Fleur huffed and crossed her arms. "Oh zzut up, Charles."
Charlie laughed outright. "You better watch out, Bro. He's got both your girls wrapped around his finger." Bill glared at him. "Ohhh, Scary," Charlie taunted.
"Arsehole."
"That the best you got? He's got both you're girls and all you can come up with is arsehole?"
"At least I didn't get dropped by my, not even a hundred pounds soaking wet, little sister."
"That didn't count! Potter'd already busted my ribs."
"Votes?" Bill asked.
"Dropped," Ron, Fred and George agreed.
"Going somewhere, Dears?" Molly asked.
"Just for a walk, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said.
"All right. Stay close please."
"Mother," Ginny sighed, "the whole place is under the Fidelius."
"Let it go, Gin," Harry said, pulling her along. "She's just worried about us."
"But she doesn't need to," Ginny protested.
"Well she does anyway, and you should be happy for it. I promise I'll bring her back safe, Mrs. Weasely."
"I want you back safe as well, Harry."
"That's her job," Harry said. "We'll be back soon." Harry let the door close behind them.
Ginny stopped and pulled her hand from his. "Harry Potter, I don't appreciate the way you're treating me right now."
Harry stopped, tipped his head back and sighed. "Gin, Please. We've already had one fight today. Is it really worth fighting with me, or her, over what she asked? I've had a miserable day, and I'd really just like to get away from the loony bin for a while; preferably with you."
Ginny stared at his back for a second before she stepped next to him and slipped her hand into his again. "I'd like that too," she said when he turned to her.
"Good." He tugged on her hand. "Let's go."