A/N: Happy-go-lucky Monday to everyone :) please enjoy!

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Kiss kiss,

gryffindormischief & fightfortherightsofhouseelves


"So what you're saying is that you're taking her out on a date at the Natural History Museum?" Ron asks slightly perplexed from behind his best mate, who's still busy inspecting his carefully chosen attire in Hermione's hallway mirror for the upteenth time.

"Chill, I have a plan," says Harry, desperately combing his hair with the fingers of both hands.

"You do?"

"You're surprised?" Harry sets his gaze on Ron's through the mirror, quirking one ebony eyebrow as he fixes the collar of his shirt, you know, just in case it turned ugly since the last time he did it, which was really less than three minutes previously.

"Only a little." Ron grins in a way that reminds Harry of his sister so strongly his skin breaks into goosebumps.

"Thanks, mate," Harry laughs, lips curling into a grin to match his friend's.

"No problem, anytime," the red head replies and pats him twice on the shoulder good-naturedly. Harry can never stop appreciating his friendship with Ron. They've just been through so much together, good and bad. Smiling softly, he gives himself one last look in the mirror before bending to tie his shoelaces and peek into the next room to see if Teddy and Snuffles are still glued to the TV screen. Not even Harry's departure can overthrow the Babbity Rabbity special.

"And Harry?" Ron calls indecisively before Harry's hand can clasp the door handle.

"Yeah?" He turns on his heels to face his friend again.

"No shenanigans."

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Harry drawls, trying hard not to roll his eyes.

"I mean it. She's my baby sister," Ron points out genuinely, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Yeah, I'm well aware of that. You only bring it up every single time we meet." Harry reckons his sass might earn him a good punch in the face someday, but still it's not something he can control. It's genetic.

Deciding nothing good can come from further conversing with a stressed out Ron, he walks over to kiss Teddy's temple and pet Snuffles, then makes his way out of Hermione's apartment (sans the owner herself, who went book shopping five hours earlier and has since failed to return).


She said she'd meet him in front of the museum, so here he is, anxiously waiting, peering around to catch a glimpse of a long pennant of red hair. Harry exhales into his palm twice to check his breath and switches his weight from one foot to the other. It really doesn't help him that one woman took a single look at him on the tube and snickered, thus sending him into a spiral of self-doubt and paranoia. Up until that point, he was fairly certain he looked at least decent.

"Hey there, sexy," Ginny whispers, her breath tickling his neck, making the hairs at the base of his nape stand up.

"Where did you come from?" Harry turns around so quickly he fears he might trip and fall over her, which might not be so bad on a second thought. His heart thrums, blush creeping up his stubbled cheeks, as he quickly and not so subtly inspects her summery knee-length pale green dress. He'd even like to tell her that the colour suits her nicely, but somehow it always becomes hard to talk or think whenever she looks at him with that mischievous glint in her eyes and her plump lips twisted into a teasing smirk.

"You looked like you needed a surprise so," she pauses to kiss him lightly, standing on her tippy toes. "Surprise," Ginny winks and gives him another short kiss.

"Promise you'll always surprise me," he hums before wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Pinky promise." She winks again as her finger plays with the collar of his shirt, making him completely lose track of their surroundings. "Now let's see what you've got planned for us today, eh?" Ginny laces her fingers through his and drags him up the museum stairs, all the way up to the tourist crammed entrance.

Once he gets over his irrational fear of boring her with extra mummy and Ancient Egypt trivia (they went to see the Mummy special exhibit, after all), Ginny nodding as much as possible and smiling just as widely at him, glint in her eyes and cheeks coloured rosy, Harry manages to relax and enjoy their visit. The museum is his playground and seeing her interested in everything he has to show and tell her - and he does have a lot, as self-control was never his greatest asset when it came to things he was passionate about - well, quite frankly, it makes him fall even deeper than he thought possible. Head over heels, bug in his ear, completely gaga about her and, to quote his Mum's favourite novel, "bewitched body and soul."

Before long, they get lost inside the Blue Zone - Dinosaurs, Fishes, and Mammals awaiting their curious inspection.

"So the T-rex is a distant ancestor of today's pigeon," Harry scans the inscription and scratches at his chin. "I see nothing's changed in the looks department and by that I mean the modern day T-rex did not get any prettier."

"I don't know, I find him foxy in a gross sort of way," Ginny implies, a contemplative expression on her face as she leans in to take a better look at the dinosaur dummy.

Harry snorts loudly. "I am questioning your judgment of attractiveness right now and it concerns me that you like me."

"Who said I think you're attractive?" She shoots back cheekily, as he expects her to.

"Only your longing looks and lingering touches." It's his turn to be cheeky, Evans-Potter sass flowing out untamed and Ginny scoffs.

"Yeah, right, I'd advise you don't read too much into it. Most of my affection is reserved for areas decidedly south of your little stress-scrunched face."

"Such as?" He says it teasingly, gathering enough courage to waggle his eyebrows for a stronger impact.

"Ha, you'll see." She flips her thick long hair over her shoulder, nearly whipping his grinning face with it in the process, and all Harry can do is laugh.

"Marine Invertebrates" is the last set of rooms they visit before finishing their exquisite tour of the Natural History Museum's Blue Zone. Although Harry's attention is focused on a certain ginger with very much spine, truth be told, rather than on the mysteries of the marine world. Behind the round spectacles, emerald green eyes follow that spot where her dress slightly slides up as she walks, follow the small cluster of freckles showing from beneath the fabric for less than a second before mercilessly being covered once again.

"Ouch, mother-," Harry swears, rubbing his forehead hard, glasses dangling from one ear because apparently he walked straight into one of the bigger tanks' triple glass.

"Yep, I guess my question about whether this is an attempt to get me alone somewhere dark for sensual purposes is answered," Ginny comments, trying hard to be serious and businesslike, yet failing spectacularly.

"Excuse me, I'm an amazing woo-er," Harry retorts as dignified as one can while still rubbing the throbbing spot, specs askew on the tip of his nose.

"Okay then, I defy you to find my hand right now."

It's all teasing, he knows, but still he twines their fingers effortlessly and holds on tight, rather enjoying his small victory as they pass to the next room.

"Hey, this isn't fair! I mean this room's all black light is corrupted with bioluminescent shite," Ginny scowls and Harry stares at her, a sultry look in his eyes twinkling in the dim light.

"Wow, I guess I'm really into impressive vocabulary."

"Oh yeah?" Her eyebrows shoot up and a mischievous glint sparkles in her chocolate brown orbs. "Boondoggle. Dichotomy. Equanimity. Quintessential." She mouths the last of the words as slowly as possible, tongue dashing out to lick her lips as it forms the final letter, which leaves Harry breathing hard and mumbling something to the effect of "I won't be held accountable for my actions."

"Imagine if someone came in here armed and threatened to kill every living soul if they wouldn't hand the rare species of butterflies over to him or her," Harry muses as they pleasantly stroll through the Orange Zone's Darwin Centre, an oasis of peace and tranquility.

"Yeah, crime is not sexy and also - what?" Ginny breaks into laughter, soft cheeks painting themselves pale pink.

"Well I beg to differ. Everyone would agree there's nothing as hot as handling salmon under suspicious circumstances," Harry chimes in matter-of-factly.

"That's actually one gross euphemism," she replies adding in a disgusted little eww sound and a giggle.

"For the love of - why would you say that, woman?" The young man asks, sounding positively scandalised. Lily Potter was right - Potter men do have a tendency towards the dramatic.

"Don't look at me like that, you started it!" Ginny dabs one dainty finger into his chest and pouts.

"Would the young Miss and Mister agree to cease their inappropriate behaviour in the middle of our museum's most quiet section?" A harried voice floats from behind them and they don't even turn to see who it is, but give into the impulse to run away in a heartbeat. Like two teenagers, they stop only when reaching a deserted corridor to giggle and kiss, and then kiss some more unobserved by the scanty passers-by.

All in all, they enjoy a fantastic afternoon time-travelling through each era and zone, laughing, holding hands, until they reach a door marked "Space." Harry stops, takes a steadying breath as his hands immediately fly to his hair.

"Uh-oh, you're nervous," Ginny remarks, brown eyes following his palms as they ruffle the jet black tresses.

"Is this really a sign of anxiety, doctor?" He chuckles.

"Nope, just a bit of behavioral observation and now you're an open book to me, sir," she replies, flaming long hair flipped back over her shoulder in a gesture of pure confidence.

"Am I now?" A whisper, a beat and their lips meet. He's unable to keep his hands to himself and distractedly he observes them roaming around freely, from the base of her neck, through the veil of thick red hair, to her hips and lower back.

"This book's getting more exciting by the minute." She smiles wickedly, kisses him at the corner of his mouth, leaving another pink lipstick mark, and takes him by the hand. "Now let's see what's behind door number one." Ginny pushes open the hard metal doors to reveal a room drenched in semi-obscurity, a mirror for the galaxy. She catches his emerald eyes reflected in the canopy of stars above and time stands still.

"I wanted to sit down with you under a sky full of stars," Harry mouths sheepishly.

"Harry…" She simply squeezes his hand, gaze still lost somewhere between the shiny, bright lights and the symphony of colours unravelling before them.

"There's a blanket and pillows over there." He gestures to a heap right in the middle of the darkened room. "I thought it might be nice to sit down and enjoy some food and a glass of wine?" The young man finishes off on an inquisitive note, heart beating faster as there is no reaction, no sign of acknowledgement from her. "Gin? Erm - you still love food, don't you?"

"Who did you bribe to let you do this in the middle of the most popular museum in London?" Ginny asks as she turns to face him, an astounded expression glued to her features.

"Let's just say we history nerds have each other's back," Harry chuckles and feels encouraged to drape an arm around her freckled shoulders, slowly guide her over to the pile of pillows and blanket cosily arranged on the floor.

"You're brilliant, you are!" Her lips spread into the largest grin Harry's ever been blessed to lay eyes upon and, under the human-made starlight, he becomes fairly certain that he's not only in love, but he also loves the young woman sitting across from him. Loves her so strongly, so intensely, he'd spend a lifetime holding her in his arms, soothing her, taking care of her.

"You okay?" Ginny questions, right palm gently tracing his jaw and stopping under his chin.

"Yeah," he says and smiles.

"Good. Because I'm happy."

"I'm happy too, very much."

They spend a moment in deep silence, brown eyes locked with green, chapped and soft lips stretching into smiles so large their cheek muscles might soon give out.

"By the way, since when does the Natural History Museum have an exhibition on space?" Ginny smirks, having already guessed the answer.

"It's rarely open," Harry explains, gesturing haphazardly to hide the blush threatening to creep up his neck. "In fact, the whole floor is, unless you ask nicely." A smirk, a hand through his mussed hair and Ginny bites her lower lip.

"Intriguing. You've got so much up your sleeve, Harry James Potter, PhD."

"Wine?" Harry leans towards the edge of the blanket to pull out a bottle of rosé tucked inside a basket and mask the massive smirk engrossed on his face.

"Don't mind if I do." She gratefully accepts a glass, white teeth biting into her lower lip once more as she watches him arrange the feast he's prepared. "What else've you got in that basket, you charming man of mystery?"

"Patience, my dear Watson," Harry jokes, clinking his own glass to hers, the sound recoiling as it hits the walls of the empty room. He takes a sip, licks his lips and sets the glass down, ready to take out the pumpkin pastries, treacle tart, and cheddar dipped fries he's nearly destroyed his kitchen trying to get done perfectly because he knows how much of a cheese kind of girl she is.

"I don't do patience, you should know by now," Ginny breathes, placing her glass to the side and getting up on her knees to cup his face between her small palms.

Before he can think, before he can open his mouth to say anything, she crashes hers to his, fast and hungrily. Harry exhales and leans back, taking her with him. They fall backwards, impact smoothened by pillows, a whirlwind of limbs interweaving. Pushing her hair back, he kisses all over her face, lips caressing every freckle before descending to her neck and pausing over the place he learned in recent weeks she liked so much. His hands, independent of any command his brain might've given them, decide to travel to the hem of her summer dress, tickling the side of her thigh and gripping the flesh there if only for a moment.

Ginny exhales sharply, eyes searching for his bright green ones before their swollen lips clash against each other once again. Harry can see the stars reflected on her skin and presses his cheek to her shoulder, leaving a circle of open mouthed kisses right there and she moans, then blushes as though unprepared for the way her body is reacting to his own.

"The things you're doing to me, Harry Potter." She shakes her head, lips merely inches from each other.

"I'm simply offering you the dessert you've ordered." He smiles wickedly, pushing back another stray lock of fiery red hair.

"Then best prepare yourself, because I'm hungry for the whole cake."


One hour and seven hickies later, they hurriedly smooth out the creases in their clothes and scan the garments for any unclasped buttons and unzipped zips. Harry crouches down to pack everything and place them in a corner, as instructed, while Ginny flips open her pocket mirror to re-apply lipstick and tame down her hair. Changing the aim of the mirror, she is pleased to spot Harry's tight, blue jean-clad bum moving around as he gingerly picks up the remnants of their starlit picnic to store them back inside the basket. She's right beside him in three quick steps to cheekily smack his little arse to the effect of Harry rapidly spinning around and lifting her up in under two seconds. Up for the dare, she wraps her legs around his middle and there they are, back to snogging till they're out of breath, pupils dilated and cheeks burning red.

"I think we're losing track of what we're supposed to be doing," Harry murmurs, overly aware that the position she's in compels him to caress her bottom - not that he's particularly inclined to stop it though. Quite frankly, it feels so nice he's afraid he might start giggling soon, which he admits would be kind of an overkill.

"Aww, spoilsport," she laughs then kisses his nose and slides down until her ballet pumps touch the ground.

"Believe me, I'd be mental to stop if I had any other option, but my friend who works here promised to give me an hour before anyone would notice that he's locked an entire floor for our culinary and, erm, general pleasure."

"You've such good friends," Ginny responds as they exit the space themed museum floor. "Why can't Ron do something useful like this?" She jokes and softens when he squeezes her hand.

"Actually, Ron and Hermione did babysit Teddy today so," he points out, jumping two steps at a time to reach the museum's landing, Ginny close behind him.

"He'll be sure to rub it in, the prat."

"As long as that means I can spend more hours like these with you," Harry grins, giving her hand another squeeze as they walk out into pale hue of the setting summer sun.


"Finally," Ron grunts as he swings the door open, nearly tearing it off its hinges.

"Good to see you too, dear brother," Ginny scowls, stepping inside Hermione's flat, her posture as tall and dignified as possible.

"Harry, Ginny, so glad you came!" A harried Hermione pokes her head from the adjacent room, hair frizzled to a whole new and slightly alarming level.

"Are you aware you look like Gloria Gaynor today?" Harry asks amusedly as he picks up a running Teddy and spins him twice through the air, to the boy's utter pleasure.

"You know how much I love you both and how I wish you eternal happiness, but don't ever do this to me, alright?" She goes on, completely ignoring Harry. "I cannot handle three children. No, scratch that. I cannot handle an adult acting like a child because his sister is on a date with his best mate and no one is responding to his prying texts."

"I heard that," Ron grunts, visibly pouting.

"You were supposed to hear it," the bushy haired young woman throws her arms in the air.

"As much as I enjoy watching this, I have to take my godson and dog home," Harry interrupts, a distracted smile lingering on his face as his palm finds Ginny's lower back and guides her towards the entrance door.

They listen to Teddy recount his day of fun activities with "Ron and Hermy" while the cab rolls down the fifteen streets dividing Harry's apartment from Hermione's. He sits back on the car's cushions and relaxes, flowery scent filling his lungs courtesy of the half-opened window on Ginny's side. Suddenly, he wishes all his days could be like this, blissful and happy and simply good.

The feeling remains as the foursome enter his apartment and make themselves at home, Snuffles collapsing in a lazy lump on an armchair, Teddy diving headfirst to hug his stuffed collection of dinosaurs, Ginny barefoot and gracefully dancing between the cupboards and stove, where she sets a kettle of tea to brew, and Harry taking them all in as his heart swells so hard it might burst out of his chest.

"You alright, cutie?" He feels Ginny's lips on his cheek as he slowly comes out of his daytime reverie.

"Never better," Harry replies, smiles and turns to capture her lips.

She looks at him when the kiss breaks, really looks at him as though there's something she'd truly want to say but somehow can't. Maybe it's not the time, maybe it's not the place, so she takes a couple of steps backwards, back to the kitchen, a blazing look on her face that makes him go dizzy.

Before he can walk right after her, close the door and continue what was left unfinished on the museum's floor, his phone buzzes inside his pocket, the little green icon indicating an invitation to join a Facetime call flashing on the screen.

"Hi, Mum," Harry sighs, for the first time not so thrilled to answer a call from Lily.

"At least act like you're happy to see us," James shoots, messy hair so like his son's taking up all the space on the mobile screen.

"Hello, Mr. Potter," Ginny waves, gently taking the phone out of Harry's hand.

"Oh, Ginny! Hi, love," Lily exclaims as her face meets Ginny's and Harry finds it interesting and somehow ironic that the women his father and himself had fallen for have long red hair and a sky high level of cheekiness.

"I reckon they were actually calling to see you," Harry laughs, arm sneaking its way round her shoulders.

"Young love," Sirius sighs dramatically, elbowing both James and Lily out of the screen.

"'Lo, Sirius. Are you going to check in after each of my dates?" The youngest Potter asks suspiciously.

"Nah, I'm too excited you used plural so my job here is done," Sirius smirks, looking so pleased with himself it makes his godson snort.

"Enlighten me, how did you help?" He quirks an eyebrow and a corner of his freshly bitten lips.

"Lily, James, I did not realise until now that you've raised your son to be so ungrateful," Sirius snarls. "How 'bout when I told you that chicks dig tongue so use it?"

"LALALALA, I cannot hear you," Harry cuts through. "Also you trying to sound American is pitiful, remember that."

An incensed scowl and Lily's face re-claims its place on the screen, James squeezing in as much as he can.

"You both look so happy," she says and her voice is soft and soothes Harry like nothing else can.

"We are, Mrs. Potter," Ginny chimes in, her expression set and unfaltering but her chest heating up in waves of red, so Harry knows strong emotions are stirring fast inside her.

"Call me Lily, dear," she adds kindly and Ginny nods sheepishly. Harry gives her shoulder a light squeeze and rests his chin atop her ginger head.

"This is too much, I can't take it! Give us grandchildren," James cries as Lily looks at her husband utterly scandalised, and Harry blushes so hard his ears might've caught fire.

But it's when Ginny laughs and says, "Promise," that he feels his legs turn to jelly and his brain so overwired it's a wonder he doesn't faint right there.

The conversation lulls at a peaceful, enjoyable pace, with mostly Ginny chatting with his parents and engaging into a one-liner competition with Sirius as Harry prepares dinner.

"Your parents are brilliant," Ginny comments after the videocall ends.

"Yeah, although I reckon they'd disown me and try to adopt you if we break up," he laughs, back turned to her as he reaches for the topmost shelf to grab the jar of pasta.

"Good," she says, her voice serious and Harry spins around so fast he fears his neck might've cracked. "Because it's not going to happen," the young woman continues and again Harry has the distinct impression that there is something more laying underneath her words, something much more important that she doesn't yet say.

Still, he decides not to press her and settles for a couple of kisses shared while the pasta water boils and they sit next to each other, lips switching from their respective mugs of tea to each other in a steady rhythm.

"So how's the article going?" Ginny asks as she snuggles into Harry's side.

"You'll be shocked to hear it, but I'm actually close to reaching my goal and submitting it by the end of next week."

"Oh my god, Harry!" She jumps to hug him, pressing her chest to his, heartbeat meeting heartbeat.

"Yeah," he squeaks, one hand tousling his hair. "What about your thesis?" Harry dares ask, knowing fully well he's stepping on dangerous territory while Ginny's shoulders slump and her expression changes from delighted to depressed in a matter of milliseconds.

"Dunno. I hate it. I have like less than two weeks to get it done and, no matter how hard or how much I write, it's still no good." Her lower lip quivers and Harry leans in to nurse it. She follows through, sliding her mouth on his slowly, hands tickling their way from the base of his neck to the chaos of his dark hair.

"Gin," he breathes.

"Shush," comes her response, lips working hungrily to keep his shut. "No talking, just kissing."

"Gin," he tries again against her lipstick stained lips. "We'll - ah, we'll fix it. We'll do surgery on it, I promise," Harry tries to utter as her mouth locks on the pulsepoint of his neck. "We'll work on it all night tonight," he tries again, nails digging hard into his palms to maintain his flow of thought.

"Gee, Harry, you sure know how to seduce a girl," Ginny drawls as she slumps once more against the kitchen settee.

"Hey, it's going to be alright, yeah? We're both gonna make it," he hums, lightly kissing the knuckles of both her hands, ragged five day beard scraping at her skin. She nods and flashes him a small smile before closing her eyes and taking in a long breath.

"I think the pasta's ready," Ginny says, changing the subject, and gets up to taste it. "Mhm, definitely ready. I'm going to help Teddy prepare for dinner."

Harry watches her leave, silently promising himself that he'll do whatever it takes to give them more time together once they're both over with mind numbing academia writing madness.

Just as he's launching into daydreams of free time and family trips to the sea, his phone buzzes from the insides of his pocket for the second time.

It's when Ginny re-enters the small pasta scented kitchen, Teddy holding on to her hand and letting out peals of laughter, that she finds Harry dumbfounded and looking aghast.

"I'm doing the dig," the young man speaks as his voice visibly shakes.

"What?" Ginny blinks and Teddy stops mid-sentence, understanding that something important is happening in the adult world.

"I sent an updated draft this morning and my head of department called to tell me that I'm doing the dig," Harry speaks again, eyes still fixed on some invisible spot on the ceiling.

"That's brilliant, that's -"

"I'm leaving two weeks from today. For three months."