Yet another filler chapter:) I'm a sucker for fluff and this is a romance story, so I don't feel too bad about it…anyhoo, hope you guys enjoy it!
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. All rights go to J.K. Rowling.
"You want me to what?!"
Harry grinned at his girlfriend, taking her hand. "I want you to try out for the quidditch team. As a chaser, I mean."
"You must be joking," Ginny blinked. "Harry, I've only been playing around for three weeks, you can't possibly think I'll be good enough to compete!"
"I've seen you fly, Ginny," Ron shrugged. "You're a fair chaser. If I can keep, you can chase."
"I won't pick you just because you're my girlfriend," Harry assured her. "You'll be picked according to how many goals you score. Just give it a try."
"I'll make a fool out of myself."
"Nobody will care, everybody loves you."
Ginny raised a skeptical eyebrow. "That's a bit much."
The three sat at a table in the library, waiting for Neville and Hannah Abott to show up and study. Ginny kept her shoulders squared and chin up, but part of her feared the idea of going out and playing quidditch in front of a bunch of people. It unnerved her.
"Think about it, at least?" Harry asked.
She smiled and kissed his cheek. "Of course. I'll be right back, I need to snatch an Ancient Runes study book."
Ginny maneuvered her way through the tall shelves in the Hogwarts library. She quelled the bit of fear that rose within her by standing for a moment among the shelves, surrounded by textbooks about Ancient Runes. It took a moment of closed eyes and deep breathing. When she opened her eyes, however, she noticed a classmate of hers flicking through the pages of the book in her hands.
"Ginny Weasley, right?" the girl smiled without looking up from her book. "You're in my Ancient Runes class and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Muggle Studies too, I think. All Gryffindor/Slytherin classes if I'm correct."
"Right," Ginny affirmed. She examined the bright green eyes and unruly black curls. The girl could've passed as Harry's sister. "You're Sarai White."
The girl finally looked up, eyebrows raised. "Oh. I didn't think you knew me."
"Of course I do," Ginny tilted her head. "In Muggle Studies, you sit with Daphne Greengrass. You two are friends."
"Sort of," Sarai grinned. "I'm a bit of a loner, actually."
"But Daphne..."
"We're only acquaintances," Sarai explained further. "We've never quite...spent quality time together, I suppose." Sarai suddenly looked mortified. "But you probably don't care, I'm so sorry, I'm just going to—
Ginny's heart twanged in the same kind of affection she had for Hermione. "No, actually, I think it's interesting."
"My life? Likely story, Weasley."
"Sassy, are we?" Ginny grinned. "Harry would love you."
"Who cares what Potter thinks?" a voice drawled from behind Ginny. She turned and saw Draco Malfoy with that trademark sneer.
"You should," Sarai rolled her eyes. "I believe Harry's attitude towards you greatly affects your current state of body, does it not?"
Malfoy blushed slightly. "Always a pleasure, Miss. White."
"Never a pleasure, Mr. Malfoy," she shot back.
Malfoy appeared miffed. Sarai simply set her book down and crossed her arms. "I would've thought that Potter turning you into a ferret would've taught you not to be such an arse, darling."
"I love it when you call me darling," Malfoy stepped forward. "You'll be calling me that the rest of your life."
Ginny was taken aback by the scene before her. Malfoy kept his smirk steady, Sarai kept her eyes stony and secretive. She didn't understand why an arrogant prick like Malfoy would flirt with such a kind-hearted person such as Sarai.
"Your dearest daddy wouldn't let you near me with a ten foot pole," Sarai smirked. "I'm muggle born."
Draco looked shocked. His smirk faltered for a moment, before shaking his head. "Until next time, Miss. White. Weasley."
When he'd turned the corner, Ginny rounded on Sarai. "What the bloody hell was that?"
"Malfoy used to bully me," Sarai huffed in obvious irritation. "When I had glasses, he called me names and tripped me in the corridors. In third year, I got so fed up with him that it punched him square in the nose, right before Hermione Granger followed suite, actually. She and I had been studying and he came up and said something and I lost it. I looked a bit mad, come to think of it." she giggled lightly. "Anyways, after that he seemed to think I was in love with him because I got rid of my glasses and got contacts, and no longer shied away from him."
Ginny frowned. "What are contacts?"
"Irrelevant," Sarai waved her hand.
"Well." it took Ginny moments to make a decision. "You're going to start studying with me and my friends."
Sarai blinked. "Were we not just talking about Draco?"
"I thought you called him Malfoy?"
"What were you saying about studying?"
"My friends," Ginny laughed at the sassy and spastic girl. "We're studying for Defense Against the Dark Arts and you should join. Also, Hermione and I have been studying together and you should join those as well."
"I'm a Slytherin," Sarai shifted uncomfortably, suddenly seeming shy again. "Would your Gryffindor friends mind?"
"Of course not," Ginny said hesitantly. She suddenly smiled and grabbed Sarai's hand. "I've got an idea."
Ginny tugged her new friend along and stopped in front of her boyfriend and brother, who had by now been joined by a good bit of their other friends, Hermione included.
"Hey you lot," Ginny beamed. "This is Sarai. She's a Slytherin, but she knows Hermione and she punched Draco Malfoy in the face."
The entire group stared for just a moment, eyes wide and mouths slightly agape. They looked around at each other before Ron stood up quickly, holding his hand towards his seat.
"You can have my chair."
)-(
Ginny could honestly say that never in her life had she been happier.
As she sat at the breakfast table, munching on her croissant and drinking the espresso Kreacher had taken to preparing, Ginny took in the warmth of her surroundings. Harry sat next to her, Neville across, and Ron beside Neville. Over at the Ravenclaw table, she saw Hermione and Luna, and even glimpsed Hannah Abott at the Hufflepuff table. The other Gryffindor seventh years chatted around her as well, giving her a small sense of home. Her friends were laughing, her heart was full, and life didn't seem nearly as daunting as it had in August.
Since then, she'd learned to have a little more carefree fun. She took Harry's advice and tried out for the quidditch team—and surprisingly, she'd scored the most goals in try outs, thus making the team. Katie Belle and Dennis Creavey joined her as chasers, Cormac MacLaggen and a surprisingly burly third year named Thomas Yangley were the beaters. Ron was keeper, and of course Harry was seeker.
Ginny felt something hit her hair lightly and turned to see Sarai sitting towards the end of the Slytherin table. When she made eye contact with Ginny, she pointed to how Blaise Zabini was somehow making Daphne Greengrass smile and then pointed her wand at her skull, mimicking her own suicide. Ginny shook her head and smiled at her friend. Sarai and she had gotten to know each other a bit over the past few months and Ginny found her to be one of the nicest people she'd ever met, despite her occasional sassy comment that made Harry and Ron accept her so easily. (She also happened to play quidditch, so naturally that made them accept her even more.)
It was now December, nearing the end of term, and Ginny almost wished she could stop time and stay there. Hogwarts was becoming her home. It was almost as if she should've been there all along, among the casual social groups and the variety of people. The environment was much different than Beauxbatons, which had the pristine feeling of expensive furnishings and elite groups of people.
"Oi," Ron waved his hand in front of Ginny's face. "You hear me?"
"Come again?" Ginny frowned.
"What are we getting Mum for Christmas?" Ron repeated with a slight amount of agitation. "What's going on in that head of yours?"
"I'm only thinking, calm yourself," Ginny rolled her eyes. "Mum's been talking about wishing her kitchen supplies weren't so pathetic. What if we go her some of those? New pots and such?"
"Yeah," Ron agreed. "I've got money saved up from my job this summer, I could do that, finally get her a good gift and all."
"I've got to go shopping in Hogsmeade this weekend," Harry added in. "I've got loads to get."
"We can meet up with Fred, George, Percy, and Bill," Ginny suggested. "I'll write to them all tonight."
"Perfect," Ron nodded. His face turned red as he cleared his throat. "Right. I'm going to ask Hermione to make it official and all, but I need a really nice gift. What do I do?"
"Why can't you think of something yourself?" Seamus teased, but Lavender made him quiet down.
"Jewelry is always a good option," Lavender suggested.
"Hermione isn't like most girls," Ginny shrugged.
"But doesn't she like flowers?" Pavarti contributed.
"She loves roses," Ron nodded. "And the ballet. And that's about all I can think of."
"You've spent four months getting to know this girl and you can't figure out anything else about her?" Ginny groaned and shook her head. "Boys."
"I've learned more about her personality, thank you very much. Even if I don't always get everything she likes, I know her as a person?"
"And what kind of person is that?" Lavender snorted.
"Intelligent, compassionate, and morally set," Ron answered snappily. "She's a girl who uses her wit and brains for good."
"We'll figure something out, mate," Harry assured his best friend, pulling him away from Lavender's comments.
"Yeah, it can't be too hard to find something," Neville enouraged.
Ron only groaned into his eggs, looking slightly defeated.
Ginny rolled her eyes and finished her fruit before standing up. She kissed Harry on the lips, ignoring the people around her. "I'll see you in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Behave yourself in potions, please, it's your last class."
"I'll try," Harry grinned. "No promises, though."
She leaned down and whispered in his ear. "You'll be rewarded if you do..."
Ginny stood up with a smile, enjoying Harry's flustered face. They hadn't been intimate yet, but they could still have fun teasing him. "Good luck in Potions, you lot."
Harry watched her go with a bursting heart. He couldn't believe she was his, sometimes. It amazed him that at so young an age, he found someone he cared about so much and could himself with for the rest of his life. Sure, the marriage was arranged when they were toddlers and they honestly had no say in the matter, but Harry felt as if he'd go in with no regrets.
She would be his wife, and it was beginning to scare him less and less.
)-(
Of course, Harry would be stuck with Draco Malfoy for his final exam in Potions.
For some reason, Snape thought it a brilliant idea to pair them up for the final exam, where they would have to simultaneously brew three potions: Felix Felicis, Drink of Despair, and Veritaserum. Harry considered simply making a Draught of the Living Dead potion to put him out of his misery when Snape instructed "Malfoy, with Potter."
Clearly, Snape enjoyed twisted forms of torture.
"I'll make Felix Felicies and Veritaserum. Malfoy said in a bored voice the moment they sat down. "You do the other one, and we'll pass just fine."
"I'm not too bad at potions, Malfoy," he sneered. "How do I know you won't muck it up?"
"Potions is my forte, Potter," Malfoy said drolly. "I actually find pleasure in this, so if you could simply back off and let me get a good grade, it would be greatly appreciated."
Harry's mouth dropped open slightly. Since he had turned Malfoy into a ferret, the Slytherin bloke had been very reclusive about bullying. He didn't seem as cold towards Harry and Ron in the corridors, but made no effort to speak to them at all. All around the school, people had noticed his lack of shouting offensive comments or shoving younger children into the broom closet. He even showed up for prefect duties.
It was a bit odd, Harry had to say. Malfoy hadn't changed, exactly, he'd just...lessened in arrogance a bit. It was as if he was trying to make himself a recluse instead of aiming to be feared and popular. Harry almost didn't know what to do with it.
"Fine," Harry decided. "Though at least let me get all the supplies, alright?"
Malfoy looked surprised. "Alright."
Were they being civil to each other?!
In the supply closet, Seamus approached him. "Oi, Potter, what's going on with Malfoy?"
"Dunno," Harry replied. "But it's a bit curious, don't you think?"
"You turn him into a ferret and he shoves off?" Seamus shrugged. "Not curious at all, if you ask me."
"Shoving off is one thing, but he's being civil and it's strange..." Harry trailed off. "Whatever. I'll just make it through this exam and then I won't have to deal with him until the New Year."
"Right. Well…we having a bash at your place?"
"No, actually, Christmas Eve with the Weasley's."
When Harry and Draco had completed their potions, Snape came to their table to inspect. He took his sweet time in doing so, almost driving Harry's teeth on edge, but eventually tested all of them and declared them practically perfect—particularly the Veritaserum and Felix Felicis.
Harry almost pouted. Clearly, Potions was Malfoy's forte.
)-(
"I've got no bloody clue what I'm getting Ron for Christmas," Hermione groaned.
Sarai smirked. "I've got a few ideas."
"Err, moving on," Hermione blushed deeply.
"Anti-nargle glasses would be beneficial," Luna suggested lightly. "Or—
"I don't think that's really what he's looking for," Ginny cut in, saving Hermione's already flustered attitude from going over the top at discussion of nargles. "Maybe something to do with quidditch?"
"The Force is strong with this one," Sarai said in a deep voice. Ginny and and Luna looked confused, heads tilted quizzically while Hermione threw her head back and laughed, some tension easing from her features.
"Does this mean I'm smart?" Ginny asked.
"It's a muggle thing called Star Wars," Sarai shrugged. "Something which you will be educated about if it kills me."
"Very well," Ginny grinned. "I look forward to it."
"Oh yes you do."
"Let's go into Zonko's," Hermione decided. "Maybe I'll find something there."
"You lot go ahead," Ginny nodded towards Zonko's. "I've got to go get Dad something, so I'll just head into the supply store. He's bound to need new office things."
"Oh, I need a new quill, I'll come along," Sarai chirped, taking Ginny's arm. Ginny blushed, ashamed she couldn't get a reason to be alone. She really needed to get to a particular shop though, as it would be her only chance without Mum or her brothers breathing down her throat before Christmas...
"What's your real reason?" Sarai asked when they were alone.
"What do you mean?"
"Your nose twitches when you lie, and your nose definitely just twitched when you said you were going to the supply store."
"My nose just…itched, that's all."
"Weasley, don't make me have to murder you, I'm really not feeling up to it today."
Ginny tucked herself and Sarai into the supply store that was blissfully empty. "You can't tell anyone, it's really embarrassing."
"You couldn't possibly surprise me, love, just say it."
"Right," Ginny took a deep breath and clasped her hands together. "I'm going to buy lingerie, just something really nice for Harry for Christmas because...well..."
"I've got the picture," Sarai stopped her. "I didn't realize you and he hadn't shagged yet."
"Harry refuses for our first time to be in a broom closet or risk dorm mates finding us or a teacher..." Ginny shuddered at the thought. "So for Christmas, this is what he's getting." she motioned to her own body.
"And you don't think you'll be able to slip away at home to buy it?"
She shook her head.
"Well come on then. We haven't got much time, have we?"
Sarai surprised Ginny by whipping out her wand and immediately murmuring spells. Ginny recognized them as Disillusionment charms, causing a grin to spread across her face when Sarai took on the appearance of a thirty year old woman with frizzy blonde hair.
"Before you ask," Sarai chuckled. "You look like a thirty something brunette with a strangely hot body."
The two girls laughed, before reappearing again in the streets as women nobody had ever seen. Together, they made their way to the lingerie store a little out of the way and ducked into the dark warmth of it. Ginny immediately blushed at all the fancy knickers on display, wondering how in the world she was going to pick something.
"Merlin's beard," Sarai said in amused awe. "It's bloody color coded."
"Damn," Ginny murmured. "Where do we start?"
"Well Harry always comments on how lovely your hair looks when you wear navy blue," Sarai said. "But green also looks quite nice on you. Oh, what about this plum color?"
Ginny tried to shed some of her nerves and look at it with as brassy of a mind as Sarai was and noted how right she was. Harry tended to compliment her when she wore jewel tones most often, but especially navy blue. They made their way to those sections first.
After leaving the shop with a black and plum set, along with a navy blue one, and a particularly nice grey one, Ginny felt satisfied. She kept her purchases hidden in her bags from the clothing store and bought a few things in the supply store. Then, she and Sarai met up with everyone in the Three Broomsticks.
"Did everyone have a successful shopping day?" Lavender asked in a chirpy voice, eyeing Ginny. "Where did everyone go?"
Ginny bit her lip and let the others talk. Since she'd picked Hermione, Sarai, and Luna to be attached to, Lavender and Pavarti had been wary of Ginny, almost as if they were mad for being excluded. Ginny hadn't intentionally brushed them aside, but they could sometimes be quite...rude wasn't the word, but Ginny couldn't help but feel as if they felt so highly of themselves and yet didn't ever reveal their true selves. Hermione, Luna, and Sarai were so unabashedly upfront with their personalities that Ginny felt comfortable and right with them—nothing like Lavender and Pavarti's shallow selves.
Ginny diverted her attention from the snooty girls and focused on the boy sitting next her. Instantly, her heart warmed. Harry was a special kind of person, someone who cared very deeply for the people in his life. He was so patient with Neville and the way the other boy always forgot things, or struggled in social situations. He never failed to try and stop Ron from getting into arguments (aside from the ferret incident, but the one time problem was forgotten). With the ridiculous girls who craved his attention, he was able to politely brush them aside without being too hurtful, and treated the younger boys who idolized him kindly. He never used his fame to get him anything.
Ginny sighed. He was simply a really good person, and he loved her. Despite their strange coming together, Ginny was relieved at the fact that she would be spending the rest of her life with someone she cared for.
And it wasn't as if her life was ending, was it? Even after they married, Ginny could have the chance to travel, and to get somewhere with her job. She didn't need to immediately settle down and have children, and Harry didn't necessarily want that immediately. They had time. They could get to see how they were as a couple—there was no need to rush into a serious and routine lifestyle.
They were young. They would be married, yes, but it didn't mean they couldn't be young and experience life, did it?
"You alright?" Harry spoke lowly to her, taking her out of her thoughts. "Your foreheads getting all creasy, which means you're deep in thought."
"I'm just thinking," she spoke just as lowly. "I want us to travel after we get—after we leave Hogwarts." Ginny almost slipped and said "get married" in front of everyone, which would most likely bring up questions.
"Where do you want to go?" Harry asked earnestly. "Anywhere in the world, you name it. We'll even take the muggle way, in an airplane."
"I don't know what that is, but it sounds exhilarating," Ginny grinned. "Dad will have a fit that I get to travel like a muggle."
Harry beamed. He always seemed ten times happier when she was happy, and that made her heart flutter.
"Let's go to three places," Ginny went on. "I'll pick one, you pick one, and we'll pick another together."
"America," Harry blurted out. "I don't care where, just somewhere in the south, you know?"
Ginny smiled. "Japan. Tokyo, definitely."
"Fun," Harry squeezed her hand. "And the joint one?"
"Somewhere romantic," Ginny decided. "Beautiful, and Mediterranean."
"What about Italy?" Harry suggested. "We can do the beach, or something like Verona?"
"What about Tuscany?" Ginny suggested, seeing the sparkle in his eyes.
"Perfect," Harry grinned. "There are beaches, cute private villas, places to hike...it'll be wonderful."
Ginny felt blush darken her neck and ears. "Just you and I."
"Just you and I," Harry repeated. His own eyes were a much darker green than normal, his pupils dilated. This was a different aspect to their relationship Ginny was still adjusting to. They couldn't be together yet, as they were never alone, but she so desperately wished they were.
"Alright you two," Sarai teased. "Stop the gushy eyes."
"I do not make gushy eyes," Harry demanded, tearing his eyes away from Ginny. "Sirius would disown me if I did."
"Well l don't let him see you with dear Ginny then," Ron wrinkled his nose. "Hell, I might disown you, Ginny."
"Enough now," Ginny rolled her eyes. She tucked into Harry's side with a smirk. "Besides, at least I'm not making bedroom eyes like you do at a certain Miss. Granger."
Ron and Hermione turned scarlet.
"Nonsense," Lavender smiled, a hint of cruelty barely noticed by only Sarai and Ginny. "Granger's a prude and Ronald doesn't know what bedroom eyes are."
Hermione's nostrils flared. "First of all, Brown—
(The other girl's last name was said quite distastefully.)
"—I am the only one allowed to call him Ronald. And second, I am most certainly not a prude!"
And, shocking the entire group, Hermione turned in her seat and planted a large, rather intense kiss on Ron's lips that was gratefully reciprocated.
Nobody had ever seen Lavender Brown turn such a strange color purple.