Hey everybody! Long time, no updates! Sorry about that, it's been really crazy. Anyway, here comes chapter seven.
Disclaimer: Don't own, don't sue.
"Do something? Like what?" Harry asked, not exactly wanting to know the answer. Hermione had grown mischievous after spending years with him and Ron. He knew that she could cook up the most devious and daring plan out of the three of them.
"Well, I did have a little something in mind…"
"Oh, mum, isn't it wonderful?" Ginny exclaimed to her mother, who was trying out a new recipe on her. "I just can't believe I'm going to be married to the famous Harry Potter!"
"Yes, dear, it's absolutely fantastic," replied Mrs. Weasley, somewhat unenthusiastically. It wasn't that she wasn't excited for her daughter's fortune. It was just that she had never pictured Harry and Ginny as a good couple. Whenever she had played matchmaker in her mind, it had always been Ron and Luna, Fred and Katie, George and Angelina, Ginny and Malfoy, and Harry and Hermione. But when Hermione went missing, all those hopes disappeared…
"You don't sound incredibly excited for me," remarked Ginny, sounding hurt.
"Oh, no, sweetheart! I'm terribly excited! I'm just…tired, that's all."
"Oh. Alright," replied Ginny, but she didn't sound entirely convinced. Just then Fred and George walked in the front door of the Weasley home. "Mmm…mum, what's that delicious smell?" George inquired.
"That would be banana bread. It's an old-fashioned Muggle recipe, and I decided to try it."
"Well if it tastes as good as it smells, it'll be gone in minutes," said Fred cheerfully.
"Hey, Gin!" exclaimed George, noticing his youngest sibling standing nearby. "How's Harry?"
"I don't know, actually," she said in a confused and sad tone. "We were supposed to meet at Madame Malkins to pick out wedding garb nearly two hours ago, and he never showed up!"
"Well, if I know Harry, he just forgot," Fred assured his little sister.
"Or maybe he had to run to an impromptu Cannons practice," offered George.
"Yeah, I guess you guys are right. There are a million reasons he could not have showed." But secretly Ginny still wondered where Harry was, and she intended to find out.
"Hermione, that's insane!" Harry shouted. "It'll never work, she'll think someone's cursed me, and that'll just make her stay by me more than ever!"
"Trust me, Harry! It'll work!"
Harry glanced at Lupin pleadingly, but all Lupin did was nod his head in approval. "I think she's right, Harry," he reasoned. Harry's pleading look changed to one of loathing. "Thanks for nothing, Remus," he said under his breath. He let out a deep sigh. "Alright, Hermione, I'll try it. But if anything goes wrong, I will blame it on you."
"Fair enough," replied Hermione with a smile.
"Harry!" cried Ginny as her fiancée burst through the door to the Burrow. "Where have you been?"
"Wandering around Hogsmeade, looking for you."
"Oh, we must have just missed each other. Come, sit down, and have some of this delicious banana bread."
"No thanks, Gin."
"Why not?"
"Because we need to talk. Now."
Fred, George, and Mrs. Weasley leaned towards Harry, eyes alert and ears open, looking expectant.
"Privately," Harry amended.
The three eavesdroppers sank back into their seats as Ginny followed Harry out into the Burrow's broom shed.
"Gin, I can't do this."
"Can't do what?"
"THIS! I can't be your husband."
Ginny looked as if she'd been slapped. "W—w—why? And…why so sudden? And…oh, Harry, WHY?" she exclaimed, starting to tear up.
"I've found…someone else…and…"
"WHAT? SOMEONE ELSE? WHO? I DEMAND TO KNOW WHO THIS WOMAN IS!" Ginny screamed.
Harry took a deep breath and replied rather calmly, "Hermione."
Ginny stared in disbelief. Then she proceeded to laugh. "Hermione?" she choked out between chortles. "Harry, darling, Hermione's been dead for nearly two years now!"
"She is not dead," Harry responded.
"What are you talking about?" Ginny inquired, ceasing her laughter as a furrow creased her brow. "Harry, she's been missing ever since that episode in my backyard! We've searched the globe numerous times with no success. Of course, she has to be dead. Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm perfectly fine Ginny. And I assure you, Hermione is alive. In fact, I'll show you. Come on."
At this point, Ginny was starting to worry about her husband-to-be's sanity, but played along with his game. "Alright. Where are we going?"
"The Shrieking Shack," Harry revealed promptly.
Ooh..cliffhanger! Hehehe…hopefully an update will come much faster than last time, but who knows, with school coming up. May have to discontinue, especially if I don't get any reviews!
