Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to Harry Potter, I am simply borrowing J.K. Rowling's wonderful characters, history and locations!
A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long! I've been finishing up end of the semester projects and finals. But here it is! I hope you like it!
It had been a month since the dinner with the Miffs. Ginny had spent every minute of her free time helping Hermione plan her wedding since then. Although it was somewhat aggravating, planning a wedding she knew should not very well happen; it was nice to have something to keep her mind off Harry. She had not spoken to him since that day in her parents' kitchen. He infuriated her to no end, and unfortunately, her family had to deal with her rants about his insensitivity and stupidity. At least Hermione understood where she was coming from.
Ginny had been about to leave for Hermione's house when she received an odd owl. Now, she was stepping cautiously into her brothers' shop. Their owl had been quite vague, evoking curious hesitation. It had been a few months since her last visit, but the shop was warm and inviting. She began to pull at her emerald green scarf as she eyed the expansive room. They had inflated the shop in the past year to help with the booming business they had been receiving. Ginny doubted that Filch was very happy.
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes was the one shop that parents did not want to enter, for obvious reasons. There were various children bouncing around the place between different stations of goodies. Two girls were fighting over the last Pirate Daydream Charm, each listing off ridiculous reasons why they should be the one to try it first. A young boy was walking around the shop without a head, due to the popular Headless Hats. And then there was a group of boys trying to coax a young girl into trying a Canary Cream. To most, the place seemed chaotic, but to Fred and George, Ginny was sure, it was merely a productive day.
Ginny unbuttoned her jacket as she walked straight towards the group of boys and the young girl. The girl was eying the candy warily, a look Ginny was immediately proud of. When she was close enough, Ginny bent down to the girl's level and whispered, "A word of advice, don't try anything unless you see them try it first."
The girl smiled and said matter-of-factly. "I know. I have three older brothers."
Ginny nodded and grinned in return. Then she turned to the boys, "I wouldn't let the management see you using these Canary Creams in the store. They're not responsible for any messes your newly transformed canary makes." She said, pointedly, glancing at the sign overhead.
"Ginny, you aren't patronizing the customers, are you dear sister?" George called from above, on the staircase that lead up to the newly remodeled defense section of the store.
"Of course not, I was merely explaining the rules." She said, stifling glances between her brother and the group of boys.
"Rules! What rules?" Fred jumped in from behind the cash register. "There are no rules here, unless Mum's stopping by…"
Ginny shook her head taking a few careless steps towards the registers, "You two are impossible. You owled?" She added, picking through the various quills set up along the counter.
The twins eyes met, their eyebrows rose in unison. "Ah, yes. We were wondering if you'd look at a new product for us." Fred stated casually.
Ginny took a step back. "I thought we had an agreement, I don't tell Mum about your Hogwarts mail service, and you will not make me your guinea pig."
"By of course not! We haven't even perfected this new one. We were just wondering if you would tell us what you thought…" George said as he skipped down the last few steps to come to stand in front of Ginny.
"Of this purely hypothetical product," Fred added, handing change back to a short pudgy boy who had just bought a Pygmy Puff.
"Somehow I don't believe you."
Both brothers looked offended. "But, Gin, how could you think such things of your own flesh and blood?" George cried his arms wide open.
Ginny laughed, "Oh I don't know, past experience?" Suddenly a faint crash came from somewhere behind Fred. Ginny jumped, startled. "What was that?" She questioned, standing on her tiptoes, to peer behind him.
"What was what? George?" Fred asked, moving to block Ginny's view.
"No idea, Fred." George answered, he pulled on Ginny's elbow slightly, steering her away from the desk. "So, about that new charm… You see we think it will revolutionize the world as we know it."
"Oh, really?" Ginny inquired, stealing another glance at Fred, who smiled at her obnoxiously. "Revolutionize the world, how?"
"I thought you'd never ask!" George said delighted. "We have created a charm to stop all fights known to man." Ginny opened her mouth to speech, but George shushed her. "It was simple really. You put someone in a room with whomever they are fighting with and say the charm… and viola! They're best buds again."
"But how?"
George tutted and threw his arm around Ginny's shoulders. "Be patient. I was getting there, dear sister. You see, we would make it so the charm would not disband until the two have made their peace! It's brilliant."
"Absolutely brilliant," Fred mimicked from behind near a mountain of pretty glass bottles and jars full of different types of liquids. He stood pretending to rearrange the bottles, but Ginny knew he simply wanted to be a part of the conversation.
"You two don't honestly think that would work. That would take some seriously powerful magic, if it got into the wrong hands…" She trailed off.
George grinned. "You know we only use our powers for good." Ginny gave him an unconvinced look before George cried, "Oh no! Fred what have you done."
All eyes in the shop turned to where Fred was standing near a hearty batch of love potion. Five bright, purple bottles lay at the floor in front of Fred's feet. "Oops," He murmured. "What have I done is right!" The children around the store snickered behind their gloved hands.
George moved towards the mess, "Ginny would you be a doll and grab a few bottles of Love Me Do from the storage room. Pretty please…" His casual tone opted Ginny to trust him. Normally the two were horrible at lying, especially when the outcome was as exciting as pranking a sibling.
Ginny pulled open the door to the storage room forcefully, it was heavy. "What shelf?" She called back as she took a few steps in. It was dark and smelled rotten, as if some milk had spoiled months ago. She pulled out her wand ready to whisper lumos, when she heard Fred response.
"Um, the fourth?" Fred answered with false confidence. Ginny looked back to glare at him, he shrugged.
"Where'd George go-" She began, only to be cut off by her brother's abrupt appearance in front of the door. He blocked Fred's smiling face. "I could have found it you know."
"You still can." He said simply, plucking Ginny's wand from her hands. "Thank you. Let me know when it's all better." And with that, he shut the door in Ginny's still shocked face.
Harry felt the cold, hard floor beneath him. His hands were sprawled out behind him, holding him up. They had caught his fall a few moments ago. He was not sure what was going on. One minute he was standing at the cash register with Fred, discussing a possible new branch of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and the next he was here, wherever here was.
His thoughts traveled back to that moment the door chimed in the front of the store. Harry had glanced up expecting to see another group of rowdy kids or teenagers. The place had simply been crawling with various children since he had first arrived. However, before he could clearly see the visitor who had entered, Fred groaned and mumbled something inaudible. Harry had turned to ask what he said when a large puff of black smoke engulfed his senses.
He knew what had happened; someone had used Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder on him, but he could not be sure who. He was immediately on guard, pulling out his wand readying himself. Harry knew the effects of the Powder, having used it several times throughout the past few years, and knew his wand wouldn't be much help to him until the darkness cleared. He cursed himself for being caught in such a trap. He called out for Fred. Within a few seconds from his shout, he felt someone push into his shoulder, followed by a "Shush" in his direction. His bottom hit the floor and a door slammed shut.
Now Harry still sat in the dark. The only light that could be seen was from under the door in front of him. The frame was slightly illuminated by the glowing lights in the shop. He eyed the shelves around him. They were filled with odds and ends, bottles, boxes, and candy cartons. He stood slowly, assuring himself that he must have been accidently pushed into the storage room. Some child must have exactly detonated the darkness powder and in haste, Fred had knocked him into the room.
Harry rapped his hand against the door smoothly, wishing not to frighten or disturb any of the people paying at the cash register. He could hear muffled noises from the other side of the door, but no one responded. Harry's eyebrow rose, hadn't Fred wondered where he went? And why had the door closed on him? The voices were growing louder, closer.
There was no way they would hear him calling with the distractions outside, so Harry decided to look for another way out. Fred and George did love their secret passageways, there had to be one somewhere around here. He took a few steps forward, grabbing the shelf next to him for direction. His hand dragged along the edge for a distance until he felt it collide with a smooth object. It didn't take long for a crash to hit his ears. "Bugger," He muttered, glancing back at the door in hopes he was heard.
When there was no response, Harry pulled his wand from his pocket. A few words later and his wand lit the room ahead of him. There were many aisles of shelves and old inventions. One of them had to lead to an exit. He continued to walk forward, hoping that he'd find something that could help. The room smelled horrible.
Just as he reached a third dead end, Harry heard the door creak open. "Finally," He whispered to himself. He had to be getting to the office; a month had passed without much of a job. The ministry said he deserved some leave; however, he wasn't much in the mood for it. There was too much to think about. Ron was overloading himself in work. Hermione was busy with wedding details and had started organizing her research for a new bill she hoped would give werewolves more rights. And to top it all over, he and Ginny hadn't spoken since the day he returned. He had excessively much time on his hands, something he wasn't used to.
"What shelf?" A voice called out from the door. Harry's head snapped up, the familiarity of the voice stifled him. He shook his head, she couldn't be here. Before he could add hearing voices back on his list of growing problems he heard the door slam shut again.
"Oh bloody hell. Mum will hear about this, you can bet that." The voice shouted again. This time, Harry knew it was there. He could her exasperating cry echo throughout the room.
"Ginny?" He said quietly, turning to face her along the long aisle, five rows away. She stopped her temper tantrum. Harry could see her fists clench, and for a moment, he was nervous. He watched her right hand, waiting for it to fall down to grab her wand. It never happened.
"Please let this be a horrible, horrible nightmare." She wished coldly. Slowly she turned to face him, her eyes closed. When she opened them again, her shoulders drooped. Her cheeks were red from anger. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Harry mumbled, shifting his weight from his left to his right.
"Well you could ask each other the same question over and over again, or we could tell you." A voice boomed from overhead. The two turned their attention overhead, where the sound was coming from. Harry intensified his light, causing Ginny to squint in the process.
"You could warn me before you do that," She grumbled, using her hand as a shade for her eyes. "That would be the gentleman thing to do, but then again, I suppose it's you I'm talkin-"
"Ginny, Ginny!" Another voice yelled overhead, this time Ginny could tell who it was. She could almost see the sly smile lighting up Fred's face. "What a temper you have. Don't worry Harry, you're safe. She doesn't have a wand." Harry chuckled lightly, earning him a stern look from the redhead.
"Now… back to business."
"Right you are George, business. We have grown tired of your antics. The both of you have been floating around the issues for much too long."
"Yes, much, much too long." George tsked.
"So, we've decide to make you a proposition."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Wait until Mum hears you two locked me in a closet. We'll see who gets the proposition then."
"Darling sister, play nice, please. You'll thank us later." Fred replied coolly, her threat hadn't breached his confidence. She crossed her arms in silent defiance.
"What's the proposition?" Harry spoke up, eying Ginny anxiously.
"Well thank you for asking Mr. Potter. You see, we'd like to try out a new idea. Ginny knows all about it." George laughed. "We've been working a spell, a spell that will revolutionize the world as we know it. And you two have involuntarily volunteered to try it out first!"
"Aren't you two sweet." Fred added politely.
"You new buddy charm? You didn't…" Ginny started.
"Did, and done. So have fun!" Fred said cheerfully.
"Oh my golly, you just rhymed Fred. You're a poet and you didn't even know it!" George exclaimed.
"I did, didn't I? Well, enjoy your company, you lovely love birds."
"Over and out." George made a scratchy sound, before silence ensued throughout the room. Harry was afraid to ask, but had no idea what just happened. Ginny's disgruntled face told him she understood.
"So… how are you?" Harry asked awkwardly. Ginny huffed and turned away from him, glaring at the locked doorway. "I suppose that's a good idea. If we stare at it long enough, it might break under pressure."
"You're not funny." She snapped. "I can't believe I'm stuck in here. I can't believe I fell for this. I lived with them for years! How could I not see this coming?" She exasperated, throwing her hands up in the air.
"What do you mean stuck? What were they talking about?" Harry asked slowly, he stepped closer to her.
"We're their guinea pigs. They testing a charm that makes people resolve their differences. We're stuck here until we can smile and say all is forgiven." She turned and flashed him a fake smile.
Harry shrugged, leaning beside a shelf full of old telescope looking things. "Well, that shouldn't be too difficult, should it?"
Ginny scuffed, "Sure, any time you're willing to apologize, I'm listening. What are those?" She questioned, motioning towards the toy-like things beside Harry.
He pushed aside her apologizing remark and tried to act civil. "They look like an old toy Dudley used to break all the time. I think it was called a kaleidoscope." Ginny tentatively reached out to grab one. She twirled it around in her hands, unsure of what to do next. "If you look through it, and twist it around, it'll show colors and patterns. It's actually a pretty cool creation." He added. She shifted her weight onto one side, causing her to lean closer to Harry.
Gingerly, the redhead brought the toy up to her eye. She peered through it. It glimmered, inviting her in further. She turned it around, watching the lights change colors. The colors seemed never-ending. "Wow." She said breathlessly, pulling it away from her face. "Those muggles are-"
Harry was stifled a laugh as he fell back against one of the large shelves behind him. Ginny had taken the toy from her eye and was now staring at him with an apprehensive glare. She looked menacing with her magical black eye, one in which she was oblivious of. Harry shoved his hands in his pockets, trying to compose himself.
She brought the toy back up to her eye level, scaling it for any sign of trickery. "What?" She snapped, unable to understand his sudden elation. His eyes were smiling at her, she could tell her wanted to tell her but was on edge about it. She gulped, afraid of what he was seeing. "You best tell me Harry Potter, I don't need a wand to hurt you."
Harry grinned, "Gin…" He started. She narrowed her eyes at him again, clearly not in the mood for nicknames. "You have a… It seems Fred and George have been putting their own twists on muggle tricks… " He said unable to keep a straight face. His laughter boiled over. "Here." He finished, tossing a small mirror her way from the shelf behind him.
She caught it easily, those years practicing Quidditch clearly paying off. With a disgruntled sigh, she flipped the mirror over and gasped in horror. "Bloody tossers, how dare they!" She hesitantly touched her eye.
"It's not too bad really, quite fetching on you." Harry tried seeing Ginny's cheeks redden as the seconds passed.
"Come off it." She groaned. "This is your fault! You told me how to use this bloody thing."
"My fault? How is this my fault? You're the curious one." Harry scolded, taking the kaleidoscope from Ginny's hands. "I was just trying to help you out."
"A lot of help you were. Look at me. I should have known. This must have been a first draft of those Punching Telescopes Hermione fell victim too. What if it never goes away?" Ginny whined nervously.
"I don't think there's a chance of that. It looks like paint…" He took a step closer and lifted his hand to brush at the black underneath her eyes. He was only inches away when he realized what he was doing. In those few short seconds, Ginny had stopped breathing and was looking at him incredulously, almost waiting. "I mean, don't you think?" He back away and merely pointed at the spot.
Ginny shook off his look and turned from him. She slid down to the floor, leaning her head back and sighed. "I suppose I'll see if we ever get out of here. I'm supposed to be at Hermione's right now. I don't have time to be stuck under some charm."
Harry crossed his arms, and watched her close her eyes. Even in the dark, with a circle under her eye, she was still the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He had missed her so much being away. It killed him that he couldn't admit that. "I should be at the office. I need another assignment." He said, trying to be honest.
Ginny laughed coldly. "That's always what it is with you, isn't it? Work this and work that. You always use it as an excuse."
"I do not."
She stared at him through half-opened eyelids. "Yes, you do. You act as though it is a huge feat to leave, even though it is what you want. You want to get as far from here as you can."
Harry's eyes widened. "Are you serious?"
"Why else would you never write? Why else Harry Potter would you never stay in England for more than a month?" Ginny straightened her back, and leaned towards him in her attack. He glared silently. But she knew better than to think she had won.
"You have no idea." He brooded, shaking his head.
"Then tell me! Unless that is too much for you. Can you bear to let me in your life for once? Or am I always going to be left out here waiting and worrying?" This came out more distressed than angry. Ginny was tired of being angry with him. She was tired of having to pretend that his lack of interest didn't cut at her to the deepest core.
"If I tell you anything, it could hurt you." Harry whispered. The silence surrounded them. Both of them sighed in exhaustion.
"I've already been hurt. I know what is out there. I've been around to see all the horrors your job entails. In case you forgot, I was at Hogwarts when Death Eaters overran it… And I'm still alive and kicking. I don't need you to worry about me getting hurt. I'm far past that." Ginny blurted. She glanced up at Harry. His green eyes pierced through the darkened room. They were sad, and unforgiving.
"I leave because I can't bear to see you all hurt anymore. Ginny, I'm the one that brought all of that death to Hogwarts, all of the death to the wizarding world. I brought death to Hermione's parents! I can't go around pretending it wasn't my doing." He shoved his hands in his pockets, unwilling to look in her eyes. "I won't lay that burden, the burden of being near me, on you. Bad things always happen to the people I care about."
Ginny's jaw dropped slightly. As soon as she recovered from his admission, she pulled herself up tall and brushed herself off. He wasn't going to do this again. "We're back to that again are we? When will you understand that you didn't do anything to anyone. You did not decide to storm Hogwarts, or to make Horcruxes."
"But I'm the reason it all happened, Ginny! If it can happen once, it'll happen again." He interrupted, throwing his hands up in the air.
With a deep breath, Ginny tried to call her temper. This self-loathing kick he had turned onto was infuriating. It only took a few steps until she was standing directly in front of him. "You didn't choose to torment or to kill. You chose to save. And I'm sorry, but I will not let you sit here and act as though you're the worst thing that ever happened to us. Without you, we wouldn't be here now. So stop trying to be so modest." She stood tall, waiting for his eyes to meet hers. When they finally did, she could see the guard beginning to drop. "We miss you when you're gone, Harry. I miss you. No job in the world will stop that from happening."
"I could try."
Ginny nodded. "You could. But it won't work. I've been holding out for you to understand. I won't leave. I can't, it's impossible for me to now. And soon, you won't be able to get rid of me so easily."
Harry blinked, "So you are training to be closer to me."
"That could be part of the reason. I'm a big girl though, Harry. I know it seems like I need protecting, but I can take care of myself. I want to help and be a part of something great. It's only an added bonus that you're there." Ginny shifted in her spot, waiting, hoping something would happen." His eyes clouded over, but before he could protest, she placed a finger over his lips. "There is only one way in this world you would have any say in the matter."
He sighed against her finger. His warmth breath sent shivers down her spine. "I'm sorry, Ginny. I'm sorry I didn't write. I'm sorry I hurt you… again. But I'm not sorry about wanting to keep you safe."
Ginny gave a weak smile. "Well, that's where this plan comes into play perfectly. We'll both be Aurors… and you can keep an eye on me out in the field. I do think my plans through."
"I don't like it." He muttered as his hand fell on her shoulder. "I don't like it at all." Inch by inch, his fingers moved closer to her face, where his hand played with the hair at the base of her neck.
"I know. But its happening." Her finger moved from his lips to his face. She caressed his cheek the way she had only ever been able to dream about since Hogwarts.
Harry's breath quickened. His hand trailed up her neck. "Yeah, it's happening…" He whispered. He pulled her towards him as an agonizingly slow pace. Ginny's eyes closed as she held her breath for what was to come. She licked her lips in apprehension, feeling his warm breath on her lips was almost too much. His lips brushed against hers. They were soft, so very soft. She pressed hers against his vigorously, wanting him to know just how much she missed him. His other hand wove around her waist, pulling her closer.
"Step away from the sister!" A voice boomed from the doorway. Ginny groaned when Harry let go of her and jumped back a few paces. "You didn't think we'd let you snog our baby sister in our storage room, did you, Harry?" Fred teased.
"You're a right git, you know that Fred?" Ginny scolded.
"I believe thanks are in order for your dear brothers, missy?" George reminded, stalking order to the entrance. "Come on, store's closing."
Harry was blushing, as he walked shamefully past the twins. "Um, good room in there. Very… spacious."
Ginny, however, shook her head, and whacked Fred in the shoulder on her way out. Harry waited for her at the door, and held out his hand for her to take. With a smile on her lips, Ginny glanced back and mouthed, "Thanks," to her grinning brothers.
Thanks for reading! Please review!
