Chapter 10: A Question of Need

Harry and Ginny made their way down to the kitchen hand in hand to see Mr. and Mrs. Weasley standing beside the table that was occupied by Ron and Hermione, and Ginny's older brothers: Bill and George. Harry and Ginny sat next to Ron and Hermione who were looking expectantly at the Weasley parents.

"Well now that everyone is here I can give an update with the house" Mr. Weasley said, looking at everyone around the table. "The Ministry has deemed it an act of dark magic, and will therefore have to be investigated." Everyone's shoulders slumped a little and their faces turned from quizzical to grim.

Ron's head fully dropped when he groaned, "I thought we were finished with all this." Hermione rubbed his back so he lifted his head and rested his chin on his hand.

"Well it looks as though we've only just turned a chapter on the evil in this world" Mr. Weasley replied, equally solemn.

"No matter" Mrs. Weasley said with an air of disappointment about her make-believe cheer. "We'll just be here a bit longer, and the Ministry has even offered to rebuild the house for us." The members of the table all gave small smiles back to their mother at the slight ray of sunshine in an otherwise overcast meeting. Mrs. Weasley turned to busy herself at the stove top, and through the chatter at the table and the clanging of the pots and pans at the stove an occasional sniffle would be heard. After everyone dispersed from the table and into the sitting room Bill left shortly, saying he really shouldn't leave Fleur too long. Before George left he held Ron back in the kitchen.

"Ron, wait up a bit" George said peering around to check their surroundings. "I need to ask a favor."

"Sure, anything for my big bro" Ron said trying to grab George in a head-lock to, but without success. George's face bore no outward signs of amusement as he looked back into his brother's eyes. Ron noticed that his usually dancing eyes that had a remarkable resemblance to molten chocolate, now had cooled and was turning slowly into an old wooden plank.

"I need you to run the shop for me while I'm away" he continued. "Just for the summer obviously" he added.

"W-what" Ron stammered out, "you're opening the store back up?" "And you're leaving, where are you going?"

George's eyes flickered "Of course, and I've got another poker in the fire. But we shan't be speaking of that yet." He told Ron to meet him at the shop tomorrow morning before it opened. "Oh" he remembered, "best keep this between us for now though, eh?" George winked and wheeled around to disappear down the hall.

_

That night Ron and Hermione were sitting on the bed of her room discussing their theories of where George could be leaving to. "Maybe he just wants to get away, you know? Have a bit of a holiday" Hermione offered.

"Probably" he replied. "I think Fred's de-" Ron seemed to choke on the last word. "I think Fred hit him the hardest."

Hermione looked down at that, but decided to not press the subject, instead asked, "How long will you be gone" she asked, trying to remain indifferent by picking some lint off her trouser.

"Not too long" he answered lightly. She looked up and glowered at him. "13 weeks" he answered assuredly. He slid closer to her and draped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her head to him and kissing the top of it. "Hermione" he started. She looked up at him, gazing into his blue eyes. She always wondered why he, of all the children, was given his father's blue eyes; while the rest of the offspring had Molly's deep chocolate eyes. "I was wondering" he started again by taking his hand and running it through the troop of red hair and down behind his neck. "Er, could I come with you to Australia to help you find your parents? I'd, er, really like to meet them." He smiled lamely. She looked at him in utter astonishment before wrapping him up in her arms and holding him tight.

"What the bloody hell do you think" she whispered. "I've been waiting on you to ask me that for ages. I was about to stun you and take you as my carry-on."

Ron grinned, "great. What's carry-on?"

She laughed "never you mind." "My goodness" she exclaimed "we need to get to bed."

"Yeah and I've got to wake up early tomorrow" Ron said kissing her on the cheek.

Hermione tilted her head questioningly "what are you doing tomorrow?"

Ron's smile flickered "Er, what? Early… I-I don't know why I said that. I don't have to wake up early, it's summer." He laughed nervously, crossing his arms and uncrossed them before settling against the doorframe.

"You're a horrible liar" she stated with a smile. Her smile twisted into an angry snarl. "I won't stand for you lying to me Ronald." She had stood at this point, advancing on him with her hands on her hips. "What are you hiding" she demanded.

"Nothing-" he started until he saw the shadow that passed across her face. He sighed "Ok, but you can't tell anyone" he whispered, ushering her back to the bed. "I'm going to help George with the shop in Diagon Ally over the summer. He didn't want me to say anything to anyone."

She looked relieved "I'm sorry" she repented. "Sometimes I get a little crazy."

"No problem" he smiled and pecked her on the lips. "Just don't tell anyone" he reprimanded, wagging his finger at her in a joking manner.

_

Ginny spent every minute she could with Harry. Every day was spent taking walks, going out to eat, even venturing into muggledom to pursue their dating activities. They usually stayed out late and when they came back to Grimuald Place and had a hearty session of snogging before bed. Their relationship had progressed to a phase that can be only explained as physical. Their exploration of the other's body was becoming routine. While they openly decided that the ultimate physical experience was too much for them now, they did not mind expressing their interest in each other as physically as possible.

They both felt a pull toward each other more intense than at any time during their short relationship. At the same time, a void was beginning to form. It was as indistinguishable as it was undeniable that the attraction was there but an underlying repulsion was building.

That's number ten. Mostly this was filler to give a little some closure, and open up something else between Harry and Ginny. Let me know what you think, and I'll get the next chapter up in a while (it'll be better).