Sorry about the wait - I'll try to get the next chapter done sooner.
A big thanks Stephanie O for her help with this
Chapter 11
Ginny walked into the kitchen of the Burrow to find Harry, Fred and George sitting at the table. The table was covered in parchment and quills as well as potions and charms textbooks. The three men were whispering amongst themselves with George taking notes. Ginny quietly walked up until she was standing right behind Fred and was intrigued to see that none of them had realised that she was there.
"What are you three whispering about?" she asked quietly.
Fred, George and Harry visually jumped in their seats and spun to face her.
"Oh, holy mother of Merlin, Ginny!" Fred exclaimed.
"You scared the magic out of us," George added.
"You should know it's dangerous to sneak up on three of the most brilliant magical minds of this generation," Harry continued.
"Good Godric, Harry," Ginny sighed. "You've been spending way too much time with these two prats – you're starting to sound like them."
"Hey!" George exclaimed.
Fred nudged his twin brother with his elbow. "She means that as a compliment."
"No, I don't," Ginny stated as she sat down next to Harry.
"Yes, she does," Fred said. "We know that you love Harry and don't seem willing to think badly of him…"
"You're right, Fred," George agreed. "She must think the same of us."
"Idiots," Ginny muttered.
Harry leaned over and gently kissed her cheek. Ginny then turned her head and brushed her lips against his.
"Enough," Fred groaned, throwing a quill at Harry and Ginny. "We're far too busy for interruptions like that."
George nodded. "And if we can't get any action, neither can you two."
Ginny gave Harry one last kiss and then looked at her brothers. "How's it going?"
"We're close, it's a tricky thing because we have to use a potion and combine it with a charm," Fred explained.
"And we need to make sure that they last the exact same time otherwise it could be disastrous," George continued.
"We've made a few changes that we need to test out and then if it's working properly we'll be able to start our plan," Harry concluded.
"And she can get her just desserts," Ginny added with a smile.
"Who's having dessert?" Ron asked, as he walked in from the garden.
"How is it that he always enters a room when someone mentions food – even if we're not actually talking about food?" Fred observed.
Ginny ignored Fred and looked at her brother closest in age. "You don't want this dessert, Ron. This is about the dessert we're serving Rita Skeeter."
Ron walked to the table, spun a chair around and sat straddling it. "Right. Can I be in on this? I'd love to help you get even."
Ginny looked at Harry and he was smiling and nodding at Ron. She was a little excited because this could help Ron and Harry become closer friends – something she really wanted.
"Sure, Ron. We'd love your help," Harry said.
"You can help us test this," Fred suggested with a cheeky smile.
Ron gave the twins a wary look. "Hmm, I've been on the wrong end of some of your tests before…"
"It'll be fine, Ron," Harry said. "I tested it the last time and we've only made a few slight changes and they're all to do with timing."
"Okay," Ron agreed somewhat reluctantly. "Hey, Harry, when are you due back at work?"
Harry sighed. "Next week."
"Don't you want to go back?" Ron asked curiously.
"I've been told that I'll only be in the office for the first two weeks I'm back. It's going to be torture," Harry groaned, dropping his head onto the table.
Ginny patted his back sympathetically. "At least you won't be called out late at night."
"Mmmm, one small benefit, I suppose," Harry muttered.
"Such enthusiasm for his job," George joked.
"Harry, maybe you should quit and come and work with us. You seem to have a great pranking mind," Fred added.
"Don't get me wrong, I love my job and I want to be there. I just hate paperwork. And that's all I'll be doing for two whole weeks," Harry said in frustration.
"Aren't you working with the new trainees?" Ron asked.
"Not until the two weeks are up," Harry stated. "Apparently it's called light duties."
"Yuck," Ginny said. "Rather you than me."
"Thanks, Gin," Harry said, poking his tongue out at her.
"Would you two stop flirting," Ron groaned. "It's all hugging and snogging and flirting. It makes me want to vomit."
"It sounds like Ron needs some loving," George said, laughing.
"We know some nice girls, Ronny boy," Fred announced.
"Merlin, I don't want your discards, thanks," Ron said.
"Oi!" Fred and George exclaimed together.
"I'll find my own girl," Ron said. "When are we testing this then?"
"How about now?" Fred replied.
Ron took a deep breath. "Okay."
oooOOOooo
"Are you ready, Ginny?" Harry called from his kitchen.
"Coming," Ginny replied as she looked at herself in the mirror again.
Tonight was the start of their revenge on Rita Skeeter. Ginny was wearing clothes that she usually wouldn't dream of wearing and she was feeling more than a little uncomfortable.
"You look great," Tonks declared from the other side of the room.
"I look like a tart," Ginny responded. "It's a good thing that my mum won't see me in this. She'd be calling me all sorts of things."
"She might see a picture if she has her way," Tonks stated.
"Argh – don't tell me that," Ginny said.
"Your mum knows what you're doing. Just tell her it's all in the name of getting even with Rita Skeeter," Tonks consoled. "You can't go out looking too much like you. You have to look different."
"I know, I know," Ginny replied. "The next time we do this, I'm going super casual."
"Sloppy, you mean?" Tonks asked.
"Yeah, and then I think I'll do dowdy – like a female Percy," Ginny said laughing.
Tonks joined in her laughter and they both headed for the door to go and join Harry.
"There you are," Harry said as they walked into his kitchen. "We have to…"
Harry stopped talking and stood open-mouthed, staring at Ginny.
"What do you think?" Ginny asked, spinning around to show off the very short black skirt, the tight red shirt, and the thigh high black boots she was wearing.
"Oh, for Merlin's sake," Ron said from near the door where he was eating an apple. "Here we go again. More flirting and snogging."
Sirius stood and joined Ron. "I hear you. It gets a little nauseating, doesn't it?"
"Honestly, it puts me off eating," Ron declared dramatically.
"Yet there you are stuffing your face," Ginny pointed out. She then turned back to Harry who was still staring. "Harry?"
Harry walked over to her and leaned close so he could whisper in her ear. "Do you have any idea what you look like in that?"
"Is it that bad?" Ginny asked, feeling more worried than before.
"Oh, Ginny," Harry said in a sultry voice, "It's not bad at all. In fact it's the total opposite and I have no idea how I'm going to control myself while we're out."
Ginny could feel her face blushing at Harry's words. She looked up at him through her eyelashes and whispered. "Perhaps we'll just have to make it an early night."
"Sweet baby Merlin," Harry groaned and he grabbed her arm and led her out of the kitchen and into the hallway.
As soon as they were out of everyone else's sight Harry pulled her hard against him and his mouth swiftly covered hers in a demanding kiss that Ginny didn't mind at all. In fact, she was returning the kiss with just as much passion and desperation.
"Oi!" Sirius and Ron yelled from the doorway.
Harry stopped kissing her and they both looked towards the door, not moving apart or adjusting their hands.
"Potter, can you please move your hands from my sister's…er, chest," Ron choked out, before muttering. "That's not something I ever wanted to say."
Harry started to move his hand, but Ginny stopped him. There was no way she was letting any of her brothers interfere in her relationship with Harry, especially when they were currently in Harry's house.
"Is there a problem?" she asked smoothly.
"Only having to see you two like this," Ron stated.
"You two really need your own love lives," Harry said. He then moved them both so that Ginny was standing right in front of him and he encircled her in his arms.
Ginny nodded in agreement and leaned back into Harry's embrace. "Then they might stop interfering in ours."
"Whatever," Ron said.
"Enough of this. You two need to get moving or our plan won't work. The owl alerting her will get there very soon," Remus said from behind Sirius and Ron.
Harry looked at his watch and nodded. He gently pushed Ginny back into the kitchen and sat her down on one of the chairs. "Pass me that vial, Tonks," Harry asked, pointing towards the bench.
"So what does this do?" Tonks asked as she carried it over to Harry.
"This will make Ginny's appearance change - well for Skeeter and her cronies - for two hours and we also have to place a charm on her so that if a photograph of her is taken it will come out as normal Ginny not pretend Ginny. Part of the potion is also like a slight Confundus Charm so that anyone who has no interest in the situation will not come near us and if Rita Skeeter tries to interview anyone about us, they'll just appear confused and walk away from her."
"Whoa!" Tonks exclaimed. "That's pretty specific. How did you come up with that?"
"Well, Sirius, Fred, George and I sat down for a very long time and read a lot of books," Harry replied.
"And did plenty of tests," Ron muttered.
Ginny laughed and grabbed Harry's hand. "Let's go, Mr Potter."
Harry Apparated them to near Gringotts, reached for her hand and they started to slowly walk down Diagon Alley.
"Ron's still a little angry about that last test, huh?" Harry asked as they walked.
Ginny chuckled. "Well being stuck looking like a woman for two days instead of two hours is probably a little annoying."
"He was very lucky that he wasn't working," Harry remarked. "Can you imagine what the other Aurors would have done?"
"I dread to think," Ginny said.
They walked together quietly from one end of Diagon Alley to the other. Their plan was to make themselves quite prominent during the time they were out and not to rush around or hide themselves – something they found quite different to their usual behaviour.
"This feels weird," Harry declared as they walked.
"I know what you mean," Ginny replied. "We don't usually make ourselves so…prominent."
"At least we're not being pestered by your fans," Harry said. "Those Harpy groupies are a different species."
Ginny chuckled and looked around the lamp-lit alley. "Do you think she's around here somewhere?"
"She'll turn up," Harry predicted. "She won't be happy with how things turned out. She'll want revenge."
Ginny nodded, glanced ahead and then sighed. "Here we go."
"She's here?" Harry asked. "Where?"
"Up ahead, walking this way," Ginny pointed out.
Harry stopped them both and looked up the alley. "Oh, Merlin. She's like a battleship ready for war."
Ginny laughed at Harry's description. "Come on. We need to pretend that we haven't seen her."
They continued their walk and chattered about unimportant things, but at the same time kept their eyes on the reporter. Just as they neared Quality Quidditch Supplies, Rita Skeeter walked past them, stopped and spun around. Harry and Ginny pretended to be totally interested in the brooms on display, but were actually watching the errant journalist. Rita Skeeter stood still for a moment, then grinned evilly and pulled her notebook and acid green quill from her handbag.
"Well, well, well, Mr Potter. What do we have here?" Rita Skeeter drawled. "On to greener pastures already?"
Harry and Ginny turned and looked at the reporter with small smiles on their faces. This was going to be interesting.
"Whatever do you mean?" Harry asked innocently.
"You're in different company tonight." Skeeter stated, nodding towards Ginny.
Harry and Ginny traded glances and grinned.
"She is dressed a little differently to what I'm used to," Harry indicated.
"Yes, Miss Weasley never looked like that," Skeeter declared. "You must be…enjoying…your evening with such a stunning witch."
Ginny decided it was time to shake things up a little. She clung to Harry's arm and giggled. "We are having a lovely evening. Thank you so much for asking about it. You're too kind," she said in a sweet, simpering voice.
Harry burrowed his head in her neck and laughed at her act.
"Oh, you're such a sweet girl," Rita Skeeter gasped. "You must let me take your picture. I can put it in tomorrow's Prophet if we do it now. You wouldn't mind, would you, Miss…"
Ginny smiled but did not say anything about her name. "That would be absolutely brill," she giggled.
"Wonderful," Rita Skeeter rejoiced. She pulled a small camera out of her handbag. "My usual photographer isn't with me this evening, but I do have this new-fangled camera I can use. Hopefully it will work."
Harry removed his head from her neck but was still shaking with laughter as they stood and watched Rita Skeeter play with her camera. She looked as if she had no idea how the thing worked, but Ginny knew that she was actually taking lots of photographs.
"Here we go," Rita Skeeter said as she pretended to take a single photograph. "Now Mr Potter…Harry, you don't mind me using this picture in the paper, do you?"
"Ms Skeeter," Harry drawled. "You can use that picture of us, but please make sure the story is accurate."
"Oh, it will be, don't you worry your handsome head about it," Rita Skeeter almost cackled. "And now I must be on my way. Tootles."
As soon as the reporter had Disapparated, both Harry and Ginny broke down and laughed for several minutes.
"Oh, Merlin," Harry said between laughs. "You were brilliant – or brill I should say. I have to say the "you're too kind" was absolutely hilarious and where on earth did that sweetly sick voice come from?"
Ginny chuckled. "Oh, that comes purely from listening to Lavender go on and on about Won-Won."
Harry pulled her into his arms and kissed her. "Well, you were amazing. Let's hope this goes according to plan. I wonder what her editor will think when he sees the picture and the story."
"Do you think he'll get in contact with you like he agreed?" Ginny asked.
"I'm pretty sure he will," Harry answered. "It will be interesting to see what he says though. I'm sure that Rita Skeeter will be adamant that she saw me with someone other than you and will not be happy when she's told it's you in the photo."
"Everyone else will definitely see me, won't they?" Ginny asked worriedly.
"Yes, they will. We tested it a lot, believe me, Ginny," Harry said reassuringly.
Ginny nodded. Harry's calmness made her feel a lot calmer. "Shall we go and let everyone know how it went?"
Harry agreed and pulled her close to him before Apparating them home. As they arrived in his kitchen, Harry lowered his mouth to meet Ginny's earning them both a loud groan from Sirius and Ron. Eventually Ginny pulled away from Harry and looked around the kitchen at their friends and family.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Ron asked shaking his head in disgust.
"It's my kitchen," Harry answered. "You should be glad that we were just kissing and not doing what we were doing last…"
"Enough, L'il Prongs," Sirius interrupted. "We really don't want to know."
"No, we don't," Ron agreed. "And the images going through my mind are not good at all."
"Oi, Ginny," Tonks said winking. "I wouldn't mind knowing. You'll have to tell me about it another time when all these men aren't around."
"Tonks!" Harry exclaimed.
Ginny walked over to Tonks and whispered near her ear. "Harry's just winding them up. Nothing happened in here."
Tonks sighed. "I'm disappointed in you two," she muttered.
"But it's a different story with some of the other rooms around here," Ginny said quietly to Tonks before looking at everyone else. "I thought you lot would be begging us to tell you how things went."
"Did it go well then?" Sirius asked.
"It did," Harry replied. "Ginny was brilliant. You should have heard her."
Harry and Ginny then told Sirius, Remus, Tonks and Ron about their exchange with Rita Skeeter in Diagon Alley.
"Great work," Sirius said. "You'll have to let me know if you get an owl from the Prophet and what they say."
"Do you think we'll hear from them tonight?" Ron asked.
"I doubt it," Remus answered. "They'll have to show Rita's article to some people that won't be there at this time on a Thursday evening, so I'm sure they'll wait until tomorrow."
Sirius nodded in agreement.
"If that's the case, I'm going to take my wolf home for the evening," Tonks declared grabbing hold of Remus' arm.
More protests and groans were heard from Sirius and Ron, while Remus turned a dark shade of red.
"I'm out of here, too," Ron said. "I'm hoping that Mum has some dinner waiting for me."
"You just ate pizza with us," Tonks said amazed. "You're still hungry?"
"He's always hungry," Ginny stated. "The poor girl he marries is going to have to be a good cook because he sure as anything can't cook."
"Oi!" Ron protested.
"You can't, admit it," Ginny said, poking her brother in the chest.
Ron shrugged.
Remus, Tonks and Ron made their way out of Harry's kitchen. Sirius pushed himself away from the bench where he was leaning and patted both Harry and Ginny on the shoulders.
"Well done," Sirius said with a grin, lowering himself onto one of the chairs. "When are you planning to get her again?"
Harry looked at Ginny with a smile. "Fancy going to a game of Quidditch?"
"I have to be careful about watching other teams, Harry," Ginny said with a small frown.
"I know, but there's that all-star game on the weekend after this," Harry replied. "That won't be a problem at all."
"That's a great idea," Ginny responded. "I'd love to see it. Gwenog is playing."
"Viktor Krum is too," Harry stated.
"You don't like Krum, do you?" Ginny asked. "I swear Ron used to fancy him. You should have heard him go on and on about him at the World Cup final."
"Did you go to the final?" Harry asked.
"We did. Dad managed to get tickets for the Top Box," Ginny explained. "Did you go?"
Harry nodded and smiled at his godfather. "We did. Sirius managed to get us in the Irish box. It was brilliant."
"Harry had to be disguised a little though so he didn't stand out," Sirius added.
"The after party was amazing," Harry continued.
Sirius chuckled. "You didn't feel so good the next day, eh L'il Prongs."
"Why?" Ginny asked.
Harry groaned and Sirius laughed loudly.
"He ended up with a hangover," Sirius said through his laughter.
"What?" Ginny asked amazed. "You would have been…what, fourteen?"
Harry nodded. "It wasn't my fault. I was handed this goblet which I thought was Butterbeer. Turns out it was ale."
"He was so sick," Sirius said. "And he only drank the one. But the good thing was he never went near the stuff again until he was seventeen."
"Is there any pizza left?" Harry asked, pointedly changing the subject.
"Had enough of that conversation, Harry?" Sirius joked. "And, no, there's no more pizza. Your brother can really eat, Ginny."
Ginny nodded. "He sure can. We can go and get something if you like, Harry?"
Harry shrugged.
"I should go," Sirius said as he rose from the table. "You make sure you Floo me as soon as you hear from the Prophet."
"Will do," Harry replied.
Once Sirius had left, Harry stood and pulled Ginny gently out of her chair so her chest was resting against his. Harry moaned and started to kiss his way up her neck.
"I thought you were hungry?" Ginny asked breathlessly.
"I am," he replied as he nibbled on her ear.
"We can get a pizza at the shop down the road," Ginny said arching her neck to allow Harry to kiss her under her jaw.
"Not hungry for pizza anymore," Harry muttered huskily.
"What do you want?" Ginny asked as her hands made their way up Harry's chest.
"You," he stated.
Ginny groaned, cupped Harry's jaw with her small hands and pulled his mouth to meet hers. "Upstairs?" she said a little later when their lips separated.
"How about we make good on what I said to Ron."
Ginny pulled him closer and showed her liking of the idea by kissing him even more passionately. Harry pressed her against one of the benches and moved his hands to the hem of her shirt.
oooOOOooo
It was while they were eating breakfast that a strange owl appeared at the window. Harry jumped up, opened the window and removed the letter from the owl's leg. Ginny joined her boyfriend at the window and gave the owl some bacon rind. Harry opened the mail and Ginny looked over his shoulder at what was written.
Mr Harry Potter,
I am writing to you, as agreed, about an article that was submitted about you. The article in question is short and not defamatory at all. Unfortunately it doesn't quite make sense to me or the other editors. I have not put it to print because of this, but the journalist in question assures me that it is totally true. In fact we had quite an argument about it. I've included a copy of the photograph and corresponding article for your perusal.
"Let's see it," Ginny said excitedly.
Harry shuffled the paper in his hands and pulled out a photograph with a paragraph of writing underneath it.
Greener Pastures
Harry Potter was sighted in Diagon Alley last night with a new and very glamorous companion on his arm. The identity of the lovely (and lucky) lady is yet unknown but it seems as if she is extremely comfortable with our wizarding hero. Mr Potter appears to be well and truly smitten with his new love (as can be seen in the photograph above taken by yours truly). We hope that this lovely lady will repair the hole that was left in our hero's heart by his last girlfriend.
Both Harry and Ginny burst out laughing at the sickly sweet article.
"You certainly caught her attention," Harry said eventually.
"I can't believe she was so…nice," Ginny declared.
"I really like this photo," Harry stated.
Ginny took the page out of Harry's hand and looked at it closely. "It is quite good."
Harry smiled at her and pulled the letter to the front again.
As I'm sure you can see this is a photograph of you and Miss Ginny Weasley, but Ms Skeeter insists it is of you and another witch. All the other editors at the Prophet agree with me, much to Ms Skeeter's anger. In fact the only other person who doesn't see Miss Weasley in the photograph is Ms Skeeter. You can probably see why we are a little confused. Feel free to reply to me if you feel it is warranted. I will continue to monitor and advise you of any new articles that concern you.
Yours sincerely
Walter Jennings
Editor The Daily Prophet
"Sirius will be pleased," Ginny said.
"I'll let him know after you leave for training," Harry responded. "Are you ready for the game tomorrow night?"
Ginny smiled and nodded. "I am. We've been training really hard for this one."
"The Arrows have had a good start to the season," Harry mentioned. "Though, the Harpies are doing well too. It must be that new starting Chaser they have."
"Flatterer. It's the whole team that's playing really well, not just one new Chaser," Ginny stated.
"I don't know," Harry said, rubbing his chin as if in deep thought. "She's definitely a star. Gorgeous, too."
Ginny laughed and slapped Harry on the shoulder. "I love you, Harry Potter."
"Likewise, Ginny Weasley."
oooOOOooo
Ginny cheered loudly as the Quaffle flew through the middle goalpost. She and Harry were at the men versus women all-star Quidditch game that was being played to raise money for St Mungo's. The female all-stars were currently fifty points ahead of the men and as she had bet Harry that the women would beat the men, she was starting to feel good.
Ginny was dressed extremely casually to watch this game – nothing like what she had worn in Diagon Alley just over a week ago. Her jeans were old and faded, her checked shirt that she had borrowed from Harry was loose and quite unflattering. She had a Muggle cap on her head hiding her hair which had been pulled back messily into a loose plait. She was told that her hair would appear a mousy brown to Rita Skeeter and her complexion would be tanned. All in all, she looked the total opposite of her previous effort of changing her appearance.
Harry started yelling loudly as Viktor Krum hurtled straight down towards the pitch with the female Seeker close behind him. When it became apparent that Krum was feinting Harry sat back and sighed.
"You've got no chance of winning this bet, Potter," Ginny stated, as she laughed at his frustration.
"You just wait and see, W…"
A camera flash stopped Harry talking. Both he and Ginny turned to where the flash had come from and were immediately blinking from another flash.
"Merlin!" Ginny exclaimed holding her arm up to shade her eyes.
"Mr Potter," Rita Skeeter was heard drawling. "Here you are."
Harry and Ginny quickly exchanged glances and grimaced before turning back to face the reporter with smiles on their faces.
"Here I am," Harry answered. "What can I do for you Ms Skeeter? I thought you would have been happy with last week's picture."
"It's a funny thing, Mr Potter. Something strange happened to the photograph and it couldn't be printed in the Prophet," Rita Skeeter claimed.
"That's a shame," Harry answered.
"And it doesn't seem to matter now, does it? You're here with another beau…er, lady," the reporter said, looking down her nose at Ginny. "You seem to be getting around a bit Mr Potter."
"I guess I do," Harry replied. "You did see me at Diagon Alley and now here and in-between those I've been to lots of places."
Ginny giggled at Harry's roundabout answer. Harry hadn't lied, but had not answered the journalist's statement at all. He needs to go into politics with that skill, Ginny thought, but then quickly changed her thinking as she knew that Harry would definitely not like that life at all.
"That's…oh…" Rita Skeeter muttered looking very flustered. "Anyway, who is this lovely lady you're with this evening?"
"You know who I am," Ginny said loudly, standing up to shake Rita Skeeter's hand vigorously. "We've met before many times."
"We have?" the reporter asked dubiously.
"Oh, yes. Surely you haven't forgotten me," Ginny continued as she sat again. "That's very disappointing Rita…after everything we went through."
"Oh, right…yes," the journalist replied quickly. "Of course I remember you. I just had a momentary block."
"Good, good," Ginny said forcefully. "Well, I hate to cut you off, Rita, but I'd really like to watch the game. I've bet Harry that the girls will win and I'm looking forward to having him pay up on that later tonight." With a wink Ginny deliberately turned her back on the reporter and watched the game intently.
"Lovely," Rita Skeeter said. "Well, Mr Potter, I hope you enjoy your evening and for your sake I hope the men win."
As soon as the journalist had departed, Ginny turned to Harry. "What was that?"
Harry chuckled. "I think she thought you were a little rough, Gin. And a little loud. Definitely not the girly girl that she seems to think I should be with."
"You want a girly girl, do you?"
"I didn't say that," Harry replied quickly holding his hands up. "She loved you when you were all dressed up. Apparently she doesn't like this look."
"I guess the article won't be quite so flattering this time then," Ginny said.
"Probably not," Harry responded and then jumped up, cheered and waved his hands above his head as Viktor Krum caught the snitch.
"Bugger!"
oooOOOooo
Ginny quickly made her way into the Leaky Cauldron and looked around for Harry. He was sitting at a table right in the middle of the pub, somewhere they normally wouldn't sit. She had changed after training, even though she was running late, as this was going to be another chance to taunt Skeeter and she needed to arrive ready just in case the reporter arrived before she did.
"Hiya, Harry," she said as she slipped into the seat across from her boyfriend.
Harry glanced up quickly and did a double take. "You're looking a little…dark…today."
"You don't like it?" she asked sweetly.
"Well…"
"It's fine, Harry. I'm not much of a fan of it either. Apparently I'll look even worse to Skeeter. My hair will be black and kind of dank looking and my skin will be very pasty, plus my makeup will be very dark and slightly overdone."
"Well, that's certainly different to before," Harry agreed. "Do you want something to eat?"
"Yeah, I'm starving. The roast looks good," she said as she looked at the couple nearby who were eating a lovely looking roast pork.
"Righto," Harry answered. "I'll go and order at the bar."
"Thanks," Ginny replied. "Could you get me a Butterbeer please?"
"Sure," Harry answered as he walked away from their table.
As soon as Harry had left, his chair was filled by Rita Skeeter.
"Um, hi," Ginny said quietly.
"You're here with Mr Potter, yes?" the reporter asked impatiently.
Ginny only nodded. She intended to be quiet and shy this time.
"He certainly likes a bit of variety," Rita Skeeter stated.
Ginny made no reply.
"Hmmm, you're very quiet, aren't you," the journalist observed. "Have you been seeing him long? You do realise that you're probably only one of many. Mr Potter has been seen with plenty of other witches lately and they've been a lot…friendlier than you are. He'll find someone else next week, you know. He seems to be sowing his oats since he split with that Harpy girl, though no one else can see it. I'm determined to find out what he's up to. Is he paying you? Is that it?"
Ginny should have felt dreadful with Rita Skeeter's comments, but all she could do was feel inwardly happy. Their plan was working. The journalist was getting frustrated. And now she had to try really hard not to start smiling or laughing.
"Nothing to say then?" Skeeter asked. "I feel it's my duty to warn you. Mr Potter does not seem to be looking for a permanent relationship, so you should get as much out of him as you can before he moves on."
Ginny looked coolly at the journalist and yet again said nothing. Just then Harry appeared at her side and leaned down to kiss her cheek.
"Ms Skeeter," Harry said almost sweetly. "How are you?"
"Fine, Mr Potter, just fine. And here you are. With another lady friend."
Harry smiled and rubbed his hand up and down Ginny's arm.
"What are you up to Mr Potter? There's something going on." The journalist then stood, reached into her bag and pulled out a camera with which she quickly took a picture of them before tottering away.
Harry slid into the vacant seat and looked at Ginny curiously.
"She knows we're up to something, Harry," Ginny stated gleefully. "She's getting frustrated. You should have heard her."
oooOOOooo
Ginny was extremely happy that she could be herself this evening. After having to dress differently for their past three dates, tonight she was allowed to dress however she wanted. Tonight she was meeting Harry, Ron, Fred, George, Remus, Tonks and Sirius for a celebratory dinner. Ginny was a little worried that they were planning their celebration too early, but Harry and Sirius insisted that they would definitely have something to celebrate at the end of the night. By all counts Rita Skeeter was at breaking point.
Harry had received a letter from an editor at the Daily Prophet after their last encounter with Rita Skeeter. The editor was concerned that Skeeter was trying to defame Harry with her stories and pictures of Harry with different women. And that when it was pointed out to her that it was Ginny in all the photos, she became angrier and angrier and started ranting and raving about plots against her. Finally she had vowed she would get proof once and for all, so the editor had decided to warn Harry.
Sirius and Harry had decided that they would have one last confrontation with the woman and hopefully then she would leave them alone once and for all. Tonight they had decided to go about things a little differently.
Ginny arrived in Diagon Alley where she was meeting up with her brothers.
"About time Gin-Gin," Fred declared as soon as she had arrived.
"We're going to be late," George added.
"We're supposed to arrive late," Ron stated as he walked past the twins and gave Ginny a hug.
Ginny hugged her brother. They had been getting along a lot better recently since he and Harry had become closer friends.
"Do you know if anything has happened yet?" Fred asked. "Have you heard from Harry?"
"No," Ginny said. "Though Sirius has organised someone to alert Skeeter as soon as they arrived so hopefully we'll walk in and see a huge production."
"Shall we?" George said, indicating towards the pub down the alley.
The Weasley siblings linked arms and walked down towards the Leaky Cauldron. The pub was crowded when they arrived. In fact they could barely see from the door to the bar. Many of the customers seemed to be trying to look at something or someone on the other side of the room. One wizard was standing on a bar stool trying to get a better view.
"Do you think this is the huge production?" Ron said in her ear.
Ginny looked at him and nodded. "I hope it's going as planned."
The four Weasleys pushed their way through the large crowd until they could see what was happening.
Harry was standing facing an irate-looking Rita Skeeter. Behind him were Sirius and Remus and to one side of him was Tonks who was looking just as angry as the reporter.
"I tell you, this is Ginny Weasley," Skeeter yelled pointing at Tonks. "I don't know how you did it, but you've been making her look different to trick me."
"I thought I was seeing a different witch every week," Harry said calmly. "Now you're telling me that I've been out with the same girl but she's looked different every time you've seen her. Which is it?"
"I was sure you were spreading yourself far and wide, Mr Potter," the journalist declared. "But now I'm not so sure. My editor insists that the Harpy girl is in all the photos I took, but I don't see it as her. So now I'm thinking that all this was planned."
"And why would I do that?" Harry asked.
"To get back at me," the reporter replied.
"For what?" Harry returned.
"For that article I wrote about you being anti-wizard," Skeeter declared.
"And why would I want to get back at you for that?" Harry questioned.
"Because I didn't write about anything that you actually said," Skeeter said.
The crowd that had been watching the drama quietly made a disbelieving noise together. Harry looked away from the journalist and seemed to realise that there was a large crowd gathered around. He looked towards his godfather who gave him a quick wink and then turned back to look at Rita Skeeter.
"You freely admit that you didn't report what I actually said; that you twisted my words and made up a sensationalistic story and that you do this regularly," Harry asked venomously.
"Yes," Skeeter answered.
The crowd started whispering and gesturing to the people nearby, discussing the revelation of Skeeter admitting to telling lies. Ginny moved and tried to make eye contact with Harry but he was intently staring at the reporter. However, Tonks saw her and gave her a brief nod.
Harry wasn't finished with the reporter. "So this woman here is Ginny Weasley?"
Skeeter nodded. She raised her wand towards Tonks. "It is. And I'm going to show everyone. Finite."
Ginny chuckled as Tonks stood, unchanged, looking at the reporter with disdain.
"Finite. Finite. Finite…Oh, damn it. Work. Finite."
Ginny knew it was time for her to be seen. She moved from the crowd and over to Harry. She gave him a hug and a kiss on the lips. "What's going on, Harry? What's she doing to Tonks?"
Rita Skeeter spun on the spot to face Ginny and Harry. Her lower jaw dropped seeing Ginny with Harry's arm around her shoulder. She looked back at Tonks and then back at Harry and Ginny. "What the…"
"I think you need to take a long holiday, Ms Skeeter," Harry said. "And perhaps you should think about your career and how you go about doing your job."
"Or maybe find a new job," Tonks suggested.
"Away from journalism," Sirius added.
"And if you raise your wand at my girlfriend again, you'll be lucky to have a career," Remus stated.
"Oi!" Tonks said.
"Because she will kick your arse," Remus concluded.
"Don't you forget it," Tonks said.
Rita Skeeter threw her hands up in the air and stormed out of the pub with quite a few of the customers heckling her as she made her way out.
"Let's hope that's it from her," Sirius said. "You did really well, L'il Prongs."
"Thanks, Padfoot," Harry replied.
"Time to celebrate," Fred declared.
"Oh, yeah," George agreed and dragged his twin brother to the bar.
Harry pulled Ginny to face him and gave her a tender kiss. "We did it."
Ginny smiled up at him and sighed. "We did."
"And now we can go back to living the quiet life," Harry said softly. "Well as quiet a life that an Auror and a Quidditch player can have."
Ginny pulled Harry close for another kiss and ignored the groans from her brother and Sirius.