When Gigi thought it about it, she had never experienced feelings like these. When she was younger, of course, she thought she had. Ryan had been perfect in her eyes. But she had soon learned his flaws, and after a while, she had stayed with him for convenience, rather than anything else. But things were different now.
When Gigi saw Harry doing rounds in the office, she wished he would stop by her office first. She longed for the stolen moments when he would kiss her, careful not to press his glasses against her face. She couldn't wait to hear him say her voice in the tone he reserved just for her. Gigi imagined the moments when Harry would hold her, slipping his hands around her back like he always did, hooking his hands together, creating a flesh cradle in which he would house her.
But then again, as much as Gigi enjoyed these feelings, as much as she ravished in them, she was scared of them as well. For different reasons, but mostly of getting hurt like she had before. However, just looking at Harry was enough to squash those feelings.
Harry had never been happier. It was possible that while Hogwarts had been his best years, he had never been on a higher cloud. His relationship with Gigi made him feel giddy all the time. Something Harry had never been accustomed to. So, a few weeks after they first kissed, Harry did something special, something major.
Gigi had just returned to the office after lunch. She held a bottle of water in hand and her purse in the other. She marched her way past the guard outside the Ministry, through the golden doors, and into the lift. She waited patiently as it swept her up to the Auror's office. When the doors opened, she jumped. Harry was waiting outside the lift, his hands clasped.
"Hi," Gigi said, her hand flying to her chest. She walked out of the lift, her legs shaking slightly at the sight of him. "God, you scared me."
"Sorry," Harry said apologetically, but he grinned at her. "Come with me for a minute."
"But…" Gigi glanced towards the office, and then back at Harry, who was watching her expectantly. "I can't really say no to you."
Harry smirked widely. "I was kind of counting on that."
Gigi slipped her hand into Harry's, glanced behind them, and then followed him down the Hallway. As they approached the loos, Harry suddenly pulled her to the left, into a closet.
"Is this a broom cupboard?" Gigi asked incredulously, groping around in the darkness.
"I had to get you alone," Harry said. He murmured something, and then the closet lit up. Harry held up his wand to the side of Gigi's face so he could see her features. "I wanted to ask you what you're doing Saturday night."
"Besides spending time with you?" Gigi quipped, sidling closer to Harry. She jumped on her toes so she could kiss him. "Nothing."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. See, I was wondering if maybe…you would want to go to dinner with me?"
"Sure," Gigi replied, giving him a perplexed look. "We could get muggle food. There's this really good place, Zizi's. They make the best four cheese pizza."
"No," Harry said. "No, I mean, I want you to come to dinner with me…" he paused. "At Ron and Hermione's house."
Gigi drew back slightly, her dark eyebrows arched.
"Together? In front of other people?"
"We don't work with them, remember?"
"True," Gigi mused. And then she smiled brightly. "You want me to meet your friends?"
"This is a big test," Harry said in a teasing tone. "Since my parents aren't around, this is as close as you will get to meeting family."
Gigi bit her lip, but the corners of her mouth were still turned up in a smile. "I'm nervous," she confided.
"Don't be," Harry whispered, brushing his lips across her brow. "I have a suspicion that you and Hermione will get on better than you expect."
Gigi snaked an arm around Harry, her hand working under his jacket. She pressed herself against his frame, so his arms encompassed her. Harry raised a hand to stroke her hair. Gigi raised her head slightly, so she could look him in the eyes.
"What do we tell them?" She asked.
Harry paused. "About what?"
"Us," Gigi said, and Harry noticed that she looked worried. Her hands shook the slightest bit. "What we're doing….dating wise."
"You mean, if we're official?"
"Yeah." Harry realized that Gigi wasn't asking because she was nervous about meeting Ron and Hermione, but because she wanted to know, from Harry, about their relationship.
"Tell them the truth," Harry said. "We're dating…exclusively."
"Really?" Gigi brightened like a light bulb.
"Unless you're dating someone else on the side," Harry said hurriedly.
"No," Gigi replied with a slight laugh. "Have you met me? Of course not."
Harry grinned her. "I've met you. That's why I asked. You're beautiful and witty and commanding and quite funny. I was worried I'd have to fight others off for your affections."
"No, you just had to fight me for a while," Gigi joked.
"See?" Harry chuckled. "Ron and Hermione will love you. Be yourself Gigi. You're perfect."
Harry leaned down and kissed Gigi, pressing her back against the wall of the closet. Gigi cupped her hands around Harry's jaw, breathing in the scent of his shaving cream and savoring the sweet mint taste of his breath.
Although Harry had reassured Gigi that Ron and Hermione would love her, Gigi was still nervous when Saturday night rolled around. She dressed and undressed nearly six times. When she finally settled on a red, wrap-around dress, Gigi turned to her hair. In her busy schedule, she hadn't had time to have her hair trimmed for a few weeks. Her hair was longer than usual; it was wavy and nearly reached the base of her neck. Gigi picked up her wand up off the sink and began to curl her hair, slowly creating large curls that spaced out between straight pieces. She had just finished when there was a loud rapping on her bedroom window.
Gigi jumped a foot in the air, and then peered out around the bathroom door. Her house was empty, save for her, and there were no other sounds except the small taps her flats made on the tile as she took tentative steps towards her bedroom. Gigi held her wand out in front of her, her stomach contracting nervously.
When she entered her room, Gigi felt like laughing. The loud noise had come from the tree outside her balcony. In the wind and rain, a branch had snapped off and hit the window.
"God," Gigi said aloud, rolling her eyes. She turned and went back into the bathroom to perfect her make-up before Harry arrived. Gigi's stomach calmed itself almost immediately. Though she had seen the branch, Gigi had missed another element outside her window. In the shadows of a tree was a figure, perched on another branch, holding onto the trunk for dear life. The figure tensed as she watched, but when Gigi left, it quickly scrambled further up the tree.
Harry came to pick up Gigi at six sharp. He held a small bunch of lilies in his left hand as he climbed her front steps, and raised his right hand to knock sharply on the door. The door swung open almost immediately to reveal Gigi, looking beautiful but slightly harried.
"You look beautiful," Harry greeted her, and immediately, Gigi relaxed.
"You look handsome," she countered with a smile.
"These are for you," Harry said, brandishing the flowers. Gigi accepted them, and leaned in to smell them. The flowers fluttered slightly, as if the wind was blowing them. "They're leaning lilies. They move towards energy."
"Lilies are my favorite," Gigi gushed, placing them in the glass vase in the front hallway. "I took a trip to California as a kid and I remember seeing them and just being fascinated. Didn't have anything like that in Boston." Gigi shut her front door and locked it behind her.
"I'm glad you like them," Harry responded.
"I like everything that has to do with you," Gigi replied.
"Ready?" Harry said, reaching his hand out towards Gigi. Gigi smiled, and linked her fingers with his. Harry placed his other arm on Gigi's shoulder and apparated on the spot.
Gigi and Harry ended up on a small, lilac-lined street. Modest, brick houses with green lawns were prevalent, and at the end of the street, a beautiful brick chapel with wide windows loomed over the houses. Gigi breathed in deeply. "This is it," Harry said, pointing at the first house, which had a shiny, red car out in front.
"They drive?" Gigi asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hermione does," Harry laughed. "She's been bugging Ron about it for a few years now."
The door opened wide and light spilled out into the lawn. A figure appeared in the doorway.
"Harry!" A voice said. Hermione Granger, bushy haired and obviously pregnant, tottered out of the house and down the driveway.
"Hello, Hermione," Harry said with a smile. He took a few steps forward to reach Hermione before she could walk any further. Hermione hugged Harry, and then pulled away to pat his cheek. "Hermione, this is Gigi." Harry looked back at Gigi and held out his hand.
Gigi smiled nervously and walked towards them, clutching the handle of her purse so tightly that the leather strap nearly cracked.
"Nice to meet you," she said, extending a hand to Hermione, who shook it strongly.
"Finally," Hermione laughed. "Harry's said so much, it's about time we met. Officially, that is. I saw you once, in that restaurant…"
"Hermione," Harry said in a warning tone, the back of his neck turning red. Hermione just smiled happily at Gigi, who grinned at Harry. Harry tucked his hands in his pockets, and Gigi linked an arm through his.
"Come inside," Hermione told Gigi and Harry. "Ron's setting up the table, and I've made some really good pork chops."
"Perfect," Gigi said, falling into step with Hermione. "I love pork chops, but my mom hated making them when I was a kid."
"You've come to the right place," Hermione told Gigi. "I was raised by muggles, so I'm used to cooking traditional muggle dishes to perfection."
When Gigi entered Ron and Hermione's house, she paused to look around. The front entry was painted a soft orange, set aglow from beautiful amber lamps on a side table. As Harry shrugged off his jacket, Gigi looked at the framed photos on the table. There was one of Hermione and Ron at their wedding, kissing demurely. One of Hermione, Ron and Harry as teenagers, and another photo of them as teens, standing with a redheaded family that could only be the Weasleys. In the photo, Harry was standing next to a very pretty longhaired girl who looked to be his age. Harry and the girl in the photo glanced at each other, smiled, and then blushed.
"Harry!" A voice said. Ron emerged from the next room. He clapped Harry on the shoulder and then stared at Gigi. "Good work."
"Ron!" Hermione said in an astonished voice, as Harry and Ron laughed uproariously. Gigi grinned and stuck out her hand.
"Gigi Meyers."
"Ron Weasley," Ron introduced himself.
Hermione might have been a brilliant legislator, but she was also a great cook.
"Hermione, this is great. Really," Harry said, gesturing to his plate. "I haven't had food this good since Hogwarts."
"Kreacher was decent," Ron argued. He sighed and let out a small belch, and then placed more pork chops on his plate. "It pains me to say I miss Kreacher."
"It shouldn't pain you," Hermione said, squinting at Ron. But then she smiled. "Poor Kreacher. Bless his soul, he was the weirdest house elf I've ever met."
Harry chuckled at that.
"Have you ever met a house-elf Gigi?" Ron asked.
"No," Gigi replied, taking a sip of her water. "Um, we don't use house elves in America. Dwarves are primarily used, but they can be rather rude. My mom wouldn't let them in the house."
Hermione nodded at that.
"So what do you do at the Ministry, Gigi?" Hermione asked politely, even though Gigi knew that both Ron and Hermione knew exactly what she did.
"I'm a publicist," Gigi responded. "I uh…I used to work under the Minister, but now I work for the Aurors office and Magical Law Enforcement, under special occasions."
"So that's how you met Harry?" Ron asked.
"Yes," Gigi replied, smiling at Harry. Under the table, Harry brushed his foot against hers.
"She hated me at first," Harry teased and Gigi blushed deeply.
"Hate is a strong word," she mumbled, and Ron and Hermione laughed.
"So you two are dating then?" Ron asked shrewdly. "I mean, seriously?"
"Ron," Hermione interrupted. She leaned across the table towards Gigi. "You'll have to excuse my husband, he has no filter." Ron stole a kiss from Hermione as she leaned back in her chair, and she tried to stifle a smile.
"It's fine," Harry said.
"Yeah," Gigi said, glancing at Harry. "I…"
"We're dating," Harry confirmed.
"Thank God," Ron said, taking another bite of food and shoveling more down. "Harry's been babbling about you since you came to work for him."
"Someone's putting their foot in their mouth an awful lot tonight," Harry said, raising an eyebrow at Ron. Gigi smiled gently and took a sip of her oak-mulled mead.
After dinner, Harry and Gigi thanked Ron and Hermione for a wonderful evening. Hermione hugged Gigi and told her not to be a stranger, and Ron gave Harry a thumbs up behind Gigi's back.
"See you guys next week." Harry waved back at Ron and Hermione as he and Gigi stepped over the threshold to their home.
"They're great," Gigi said to Harry as the door shut behind them. "I always knew Hermione Granger was supposed to be clever, but she's brilliant. I'm in awe."
"They liked you a lot," Harry told Gigi, leaning down to whisper in her ear. He placed a hand on the small of her back, and Gigi felt her insides melt, like butter on mashed potatoes.
"Why don't you take me home?" She asked him, placing a hand on his arm. "Have a glass of wine?"
"Are you sure?" Harry asked with a grin. "Because I was just planning on letting you walk home by yourself…"
"Shut up," Gigi said, tapping smartly on his elbow. She grabbed Harry's hand, and this time, Gigi was the one to apparate, leading Harry home. Gigi and Harry entered her house, unaware of a figure watching them from the roof. When the door shut, the figure climbed onto the roof of the next home and apparated.
"Wine? Water? Beer?" Gigi asked, placing her purse on the kitchen counter and opening the fridge. Harry didn't answer, but instead, walked forward, grabbed Gigi's waist and pulled her out of the fridge. "What are you doing?" She asked. But all Harry did was lean down and kiss her, running his tongue over Gigi's bottom lip, leaving her light-headed. "No beer then," Gigi said, shutting the fridge with a kick of her foot.
"You look really beautiful tonight," Harry told Gigi, moving a hand through her hair, shifting it off her neck. He leaned down and kissed the nape of Gigi's neck lightly.
"I…" Gigi paused and bit her lip. She contemplated what she was about to say next, and then decided in the moment. "Give me a moment. I have to run upstairs." She pressed a finger to Harry's lips and smiled. "Just a moment." She leaned in and kissed Harry, and then pushed herself off the counter and darted from the room, faster than a hummingbird.
Gigi had planned this moment in her mind for nearly months now. She would run into her bedroom, light the vanilla candles that resided on the shelf above her bed, and then strip off her clothe. As Gigi walked down her upstairs hallway, she deliberated further. She had lingerie she could wear, of course, but black or cream? Should she even be thinking of this? Was this all happening too fast? However, Gigi's brain stream stopped as she reached the end of the hallway. Her bedroom door was creaked open. Gigi cocked her head slightly. She was sure she had closed it on her way out. Gigi took a few more steps forward and laid a palm on the front of the door. She pushed it open gently.
Harry, who had been sitting on a bar stool this whole time, was startled as he heard a shrill scream come from overhead. Harry jumped from his chair, knocking it to the ground. He dug into his pocket and ran up the wood stairs, taking them two at a time.
"Gigi?" Harry called out, making his way down the pristine hallway. The hallway creaked slightly, but he could hear Gigi's voice over the sound.
"Oh my god," she was saying. Gigi appeared in the doorway at the end of the hall. She was shaking. "Someone broke into my room." Harry moved forward, still holding his wand out in front of him like a gun.
"Jesus," Harry said, pushing open the bedroom door further. A mirror was pushed down on the ground shattered into a million pieces. Gigi's bed covers were slit open, as were her pillows, and the feathers were scattered everywhere. All the books were taken down off Gigi's wide, mahogany bookshelf. Many were cracked open and the pages were torn and crumpled. The curtains were slit from top to bottom, and the glass in the balcony door was shattered. Harry had a flashback to his second year, to his dormitory room, where his belongings were scattered and torn to shreds. Gigi's room almost mirrored that scene exactly.
"There was a note," Gigi said in a quavering voice. She held up a parchment envelope. On the front was Harry's name written in rich, green ink. Harry took the envelope from Gigi, turned it over, and slid his finger under the slit, opening the letter.
You think you were rid of me, Potter? Not quite yet. I will persist until I succeed, and until I do so, I will ruin you and the ones you love.
Harry exhaled deeply and stuck his the letter in his pocket.
"Come on," he said to Gigi. "Pack some clothes. You aren't staying here tonight." Gigi, who was still shaking, nodded. She sauntered closer to Harry, and then hugged him, pressing her head against his chest.
"I don't want to know what the letter said," she said in a small voice. "I just need to know that I will be safe."
"You'll be fine," Harry re-assured her. "You'll sleep at my place tonight. No one will find you there."
Gigi nodded, patted Harry on the arm, and then walked into her closet. Harry heard her take down a suitcase and begin to fill it with clothes. Harry looked around the room and waved his wand, sending a notification to Magical Law enforcement by way of patronus. Gigi returned, a blue leather suitcase in hand. She shakily looked around the room once more, shivered again and grabbed Harry's hand. He rubbed her shoulder consolingly and took her other hand in his.
"I know it feels violating," he said quietly, and Gigi nodded. "We'll put extra security around. No one's going to mess with you."
"Thank you," Gigi said gratefully. Harry looked around the room once more, making sure he didn't miss anything, and then apparated. When Gigi and Harry arrived outside of 798 Bute Sumner Place, the residence of Mr. Harry J Potter, Gigi held onto Harry's hand as he lead her inside.