Ch. 11 Illogical Jealousy

A/N: Just as a reminder, I'm not JK Rowling. I realize that might be a shock, but there you go. It is what it is. - DG

Sunlight drifted in through the blinds of the lounge. It shown down on the figure lying on the couch, arm draped over his myopic eyes. The hand knitted afghan which covered him last night was kicked off, lying ineffectively on the floor. He was still wearing the same clothes, only removing his official Auror robes. They were draped on a chair in front of the bar which doubled as the eating table. He was in a nightmare, abstract yet thrashing in his sleep, trying to find Ginny. She was lost, and as hard as he searched, she wouldn't be found. His wailing around in his sleep hit a crescendo, calling for her name.

"Ginny!" he bellowed. He awoke with a start, feeling like a piano hit his head. "Oi!"

"'Bout time you woke Mate. Come eat some breakfast."

"Wazzime izzit?" Ron spoke fluent Hung-over Harry.

Ron laughed. "Half-ten."

"WerezGin?"

"Not here, mate. Neither's mine."

"Werezego?"

"Dunno that either. So until they walk in that door, we need to eat. Oh, and I've already owled Roberts. We're on hiatus until Monday. Seems my wife sent him a note last night to him along with Kingsley. Hermione's bloody brilliant, thinking of everything."

Harry put his hands on his head, feeling the hangover raging in his skull, and the shame of what he said to his beloved fiancée the previous night. How could he be so stupid? They've been together for years, and she loved him for even longer. She would never do that to him, regardless of what happened. What provoked him into such a jealous rage, and why in Merlin's bollocks did he accuse her? Why not take it out on Malfoy? If anyone earned an arse beating it was that poncy git.

"Come on, Harry. Breakfast is ready."

"Ain't hungry. Feel like hippogriff shite."

"'S'ok. But you need to get a shower and eat something. You stink from the Firewhiskey. If they came back right now, she'd hex me for letting you look like you wallowed in dragon dung."

"Fine. Toast and a cuppa."

Harry went to the bathroom to scrub his mouth out. The taste of cotton from the whiskey was too much before coffee and toast. He peered in the medicine cabinet and found various bottles and vials. Harry smiled. Hermione still was prepared for almost anything, especially the oversized bottle of contraceptive potion.

He came back and they ate in silence, hearing the Muggle clock on the wall tick away the seconds of the morning. The toast smelled good, even if it tasted as ashes in Harry's mouth, and the coffee did nothing to help his roaring headache. Ron's eating, taking large bites of pan fried bangers, made his ears pound. What he needed was that hot shower, a swig of hangover potion, and Ginny, not in that order. He'd suffer a hangover to see her again.

Harry looked at his best mate, watching him eat with abandon. His stomach couldn't handle the meal. The hangover couldn't even be blamed in this case.

"Go on Mate. Go get a shower. Grab a purple vial from the cabinet while you're at it. You'll feel better from that too. If they show while you're in there, I'll keep her here. "

"Thanks Mate." Harry left for the loo but stopped at the door from the kitchen. He looked lost. "Why'd I say that to her?"

"I have no bloody clue man. That was mental. You know she's got a temper like Mum and prodigious power like Hermione. You're lucky she just slapped you. She could have hexed you so bad that St. Mungo's couldn't fix you."

"How bad did I fuck up things with her?"

Ron looked at his best friend. "It's nothing that can't be fixed. There's gonna be hell to pay for it. Merlin knows I've done that with Hermione too."

"But why run? We could have settled it then and not had an issue going on? We've said worse during a row before. Sure, I insulted her but what was so terrible that she left rather than dealing with it right then?"

"Are you daft? You said it in front of Malfoy. His cheekbones are sharper than your wit sometimes." Ron sat quietly for a minute while finishing the rasher on his plate. "But why did she leave? Have you ever thought something so harsh in your mind that you fear saying it and having the other person know you thought that? It's a thought so frighteningly cruel that you rather run than tell the other person what you are thinking?"

"Not really," Harry stood there dumbfounded a second. "You've done that?"

"Too many times to count – and actually said them once or twice. One time, Hermione slapped the shite out of me for it – and rightly so." Ron looked down on his empty plate. "You'll work through it, and it'll hurt, but blimey, it's worth it. Fight with her, work it out, and don't muck it up again."

"You're right. She's worth it." Harry nodded. "But blimey, why'd I call her a slag?"

"I dunno mate. That's the fucked up part. She waited for you, right?"

Harry nodded.

"You didn't shag her a week after you killed that monster, did you?"

"I'm not you." Harry shook his head. "Hell, you were there for my birthday party and hers. We weren't a couple until was of age and then we waited longer than that." Harry ran his hands through his hair. "When you found out we shagged during Christmas hols you beat my ass that day in training. I'll never forget that session of non-magical close quarters combat. It took a good week to recover from that beating you laid on me."

Ron smiled in a less than pleasant way. "Would you have preferred if Charlie did it? Would you have wanted the rest of the family to give you a hex you for dishonoring Ginny before she was married, much less out of school? I think your ears are still not the same since Mum went all banshee on you."

Harry looked mortified. "Tell me about it. I thought the Howler was bad. Facing Mum at home, yelling for an hour was horrible. And Ginny? I hadn't seen her that irate again until yesterday. I thought she was going to blow up the house from her anger."

"Now you see why Ginny stifles her anger. It's not out of fear but consideration. But you can't treat her like the other strumpets who hit on you. She loves you and has for years. She'll forgive you before anyone else. Well, Mum can too but that's different. I reckon Ginny's 'bout the only one who can handle you."

Harry nodded once more.

"You get annoyed that she won't fight you outright but she has her reasons. Ginny knows you as well as we do. She knows that what she could say would hurt you terribly. She would rather swallow her anger than take it out on you. Mum's the same way."

"I never thought about that. When'd you get so smart?"

"Look who I'm married to. Anyway, I know my sister even if she gets on my nerves much of the time. We're so alike it's not funny. That's how I know. But she's better 'cause she knows when to not let her mouth run her into trouble." Ron pulled the kettle to him so he could pour another cup of tea. "Go on, go get that shower. You stink like Grawp does."

Harry gave his best mate a proper British salute before hopping in the shower.

OoO

"Luna, give me your cup. I'm going to freshen up your tea, and I'll grab us another kettleful. I've been talking so much that I'm parched."

Luna handed over her cup when Ginny got up from her seat. Too much talking and not enough was being shared. Ginny looked at her sister in law in her chair across the table. Hermione's eyes never left the book she was reading, but she handed over her cup from the side table.

Luna wiggled into a new position on the couch. "Where is Harry?"

"They're out on a mission doing whatever they do, and I don't have to be at the Burrow until five to help Mum with dinner. We have time to talk right now. Mum thinks that my hiatus for the winter is a worthy excuse for a family dinner, so she's cooking for the Weasley Army yet again. She expects you at dinner tonight with us before you wander off to Dublin."

"You sure I can come? It's not like – "

"Hush. Mum always says the more the merrier. I can't disagree. You're always welcome to come over when you're in country. Mum would love to see you, and hear your tales."

Ginny went to the tea service table in the corner, working quickly on the tray of breakfast tea and putting more scones and croissants on the plate.

"Hermione, do you want anything else?"

Ginny saw her shake her head in the negative.

Ginny returned quickly, handing over the pot to Luna who freshened up her tea. Ginny waited until she was finished before sitting back down with her cup, taking a third sip before settling back into the story.

OoO

Hermione and I stepped out of the inn and walked to the apparition point around the corner. It was around 11 and we had two different views of what might happen.

She was excited, so much so that her wand work was sloppy, at least for her. It took us three tries to apparate to the landing point around the corner from their flat. Normally her shaky hands settle when she performs spells. Diligent practice and determination our last year of school made her wand work brilliant once again. From what I was told most don't recover from that intense trauma, especially to do NEWT level magic.

We didn't talk on the five minute walk from the apparition point to their flat. It's a ten minute run from my place to their flat, or walking twenty minutes but it was just enough for my mind to wander yet again.

I was apprehensive. I really wasn't ready to face Harry and deal with any consequences. I even entertained the thought briefly of breaking the engagement. All I wanted was my study and away from the world for another day or two. Hermione I could tolerate, but everyone else could sod off. I wouldn't have that luxury, no matter which deity I'd beg to.

Before I realized it we had walked up the three flights of stairs to their flat and were at her front door. Hermione put her Muggle key in the door after unlocking the wards. A quick twist of her wrists and we walked into their small flat. Before I made it in the door, I was shoved aside as that git of a brother practically assaulted Hermione in the doorway. Well, I can't say much, since I've been on the giving end of such behavior to him on more than one occasion.

"Hi, brother of mine."

Sure enough, I got a proper British salute, and he went back to snogging her so much I think I saw her toes curling. She sure wasn't standing on the ground by that point. It was entirely possible that they wouldn't even make it to the couch before the clothes went flying.

I left them there, and wandered into the miniscule kitchen. When I checked, the tea was hot, so were the bangers, and the scones were ready for a slathering of butter. The groans and platitudes from the front hallway were obnoxiously loud. Imagine that – those two being loud. I don't recall a time they weren't quiet.

I wouldn't stay long if I had to hear them practically shagging.

I looked out into the den and they were still just inside the doorway. They hadn't come up for air, and I wondered if they would at any point the rest of the day. I'd seen enough for a lifetime already after living with them for over a year. I didn't want to see his freckly skinny arse pounding away. I didn't want to see her tits unadorned either.

I took a bite, and I thought I heard water running. Blimey. He's still here taking a shower. What now? Do I leave or do I stay and row here?

I heard my brother groan. Those two garden gnomes in the next room made the decision for me. My nerves couldn't take it, not today. I grabbed a couple of scones, and made my way to leave.

My hand hit the knob before my brother's paw grabbed my wrist and held it there. Bloody sod was blocking my path of departure.

"Sorry, Sis, but you're not going anywhere."

I tried to shrink out of his grip but he wasn't budging. I looked over at him and gave him such a scowl. Before he started his Auror training he would shrink back from my glare, but this time, he stood his ground. Damn that Auror training.

"Like Hell I'm not. Let go now."

"No can do. Harry's here and I promised that if you returned while he was here you'd stay. Now go sit."

"Sod off, Ronald Billius Weasley! Take your bleedin' hand off of me. "

"Ginny!"

I turned around, scowling still, while my heart dropped into my toes. That one look muddled my thoughts. No matter how many days he's gone, or how mad I get at him, those piercing deep green eyes melt me. I would drown and say thanks as I go under.

It didn't mean that I wasn't still furious at him for running his mouth before his brain could engage.

My other problem is that he was standing in their hallway in nothing but a towel, still water logged from his shower. Dripping wet Harry wrapped in a towel. Dripping wet shaggy haired Harry in a towel showing off those legs that always turned my knickers.

Blimey Buggering fit bastard!

If I wasn't enraged, I would be shagging him on the wall, just like my brother.

"Eh. We'll leave you two…"

I didn't even notice my brother and best friend leave the room. I heard noises from the next room and further into the flat, but I didn't deign to notice. The blood pounding in my ears drown out everything else.

All I saw was Harry. "Harry." I couldn't decide to shag him or slap him. Both sounded like a great idea.

I took one step, wondering what the hell I was doing. I certainly wasn't going to listen to my heart and capitulate yet again. I'd given in one too many times before. I can't let him walk over me, not after his bumbling stupid comment. I have to fix this once and for all otherwise I will invite his illogical jealousy to continue. He might be The Chosen one, but I will be damned if he will treat me like what he accused me of. If I don't tolerate it from my brothers I certainly won't tolerate it from my fiancé.

I don't care if I never take another lover rest of my life – No one treats me that way and gets away with it.

I took another step, deciding on my course of action. It's impulsive, and brash, and could break me, but I'll be buggered if he's going to treat me like a house elf.

Mum certainly felt my ire – and my frustrations – when she accused me of being a strumpet that first Christmas. Daddy put an end to that row but it didn't change what was said. Staying with Harry almost a full week felt like expiation for what she accused me of. Why be honorable and keep promises if they think the worst of me already?

I took one last step, keeping my wand holstered, no matter how much I wanted to hex him. I wanted him to feel my wrath sans magic. I didn't want this to turn into a block blowing brawl. There is something bitterly satisfying by holding off using magic.

I looked up at him, seeing those idyllic eyes, fighting the urge to fall in.

One shot.

"Bastard!" as he caught my hand an inch from his cheek. I tried again, and he caught the other one. Damn fast reflexes; faster than mine.

"Don't do that again," he growled before letting my hands go.

I was frustrated and I couldn't trust myself not to indulge in the seething animosity I felt. The words running through my head were horrible – terribly cruel and vicious. They would only wound – and I wouldn't do that, not for this. I wasn't going to indulge in tears either. Stupid bints fight that way and I'm not one of them. I backed away and remembered I still had my wand. I didn't want to resort to it since that would break us completely. Well, I would shatter. I don't know about him. Worse things have broken upon Harry.

"You are an arse, Harry James Potter," I growled.

"You run away, and that's all you've got to say? You don't let anyone know where you are, or that you're safe? That's bloody selfish of you! It's fortunate that Hermione knows your hiding places."

I was fighting the words running through my head. I wanted to yank that towel off of those beautiful hips and have my way with him. I stood there staring at him, hearing the taunting whisper float through my mind, a memory of a monster who fucked me over. I wanted to yell, scream, and berate him senselessly. I couldn't say what I was thinking. I didn't dare say them, even in my temper.

Instead, I turned around and walked to the door of the flat.

"Running away again Ginny? That is so like you. Can't even argue like an adult."

I looked over my shoulder, seeing him standing there in the lounge still wrapped in his towel. Nothing seemed like the right answer.

"I don't want to hurt you." I turned back to the door, putting my hand on the knob. "You don't want to know what I'm thinking." I barely heard my own voice, so I didn't expect him to hear me either. "I'm going home."

Instead of running my mouth, I walked out, closing the door behind me.

I heard him yell down the hallway as the door to the stairwell shut behind me. He wouldn't chase me out the hallway in nothing but a towel. He's not that brash. Once I made it to the bottom step of the building, I ran to the apparition point and went home.

There was no question he would chase me. The question was what I would do when he caught me.

Once I got home there waiting for me was a Howler from Mum. Sure enough, she saw the front page of the Prophet that morning. Ever since I started flying professionally, Mum's tirades pale in comparison. The picture wasn't flattering, and neither was the article by Vane, accusing me of stepping out on Harry. The article above the fold was salacious gossip about me and Malfoy. Mum's as bad as the rest, reading the news and making assumptions about me.

At least they didn't get a picture of Malfoy from his bloody nose. That would have been really bad.

I was honestly surprised that Mum wasn't at our doorstep waiting on us. She's normally irate at any negative news about us and especially Harry. Sometimes I wonder if she loves him more than I do.

So I let her howler berate me yet again, not even noticing her diatribes and insinuations. I love Mum, but this was something I needed to do with Harry before we handled anyone else.

I didn't want to row with Harry but we needed it to work out our problem. I wasn't going to do so while at Ron's place when they were shagging in the next room. Merlin! They are so distracting! I love my brother and my best friend, but damn, they are so noisy when they forget to silence themselves. I didn't want that distraction while I was yelling at my Harry, or forgetting I was pissed at him.

Anyway, I locked the Floo – I didn't want to deal with any of the family much less anyone else for a day or two – and set the stronger wards. Once that was done, the only ones who could come into the house were Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Yes, I even locked out Mum and Dad. Mum would have been the absolute worst: she always sides with Harry. She'd drag Dad along too and I didn't want him caught in the middle yet again.

I went into the lounge, and picked out a book from our personal library. It wasn't anything that exciting – just a Quidditch strategy book from the 1930's – and went to my study. I figured I had about another five minutes before he came home in a rage for walking out on him.

I made my way to the second floor study – my room that stays disheveled. Hermione tried to clean it once and I immediately cluttered it. Harry could care less to see my room untidy. The desk stays cluttered with books, parchment, and baubles. I'd have it no other way.

The only other thing in there is an oversized recliner. I love sitting in there, reading, and drinking tea. Not this time, however. I went in my study as choosing my battleground. The few rows we've had follow the same plan – no plan on his part, pure reaction. I knew I wouldn't have long to wait. If anything, Harry is predictable when it comes to our knock down drag out fights.

"Ginny!" came Harry's voice from the front foyer.

OoO

Luna laid her teacup down on the table. Her eyes shined with a temper that wasn't there before the war. "I saw that edition. I think it got delivered to me about a week later while I was out. I read that headline and knew something had gone terribly wrong. You'd never have done something like that. Draco is half the man Harry is."

The three witches sitting in the room cackled at Luna's honest assessment.

Ginny was the first to recover. "If anyone unfortunately knows that, you do. Then again, I think having Dean and Neville help you cope and overcome did wonders for you."

"They might have shagged me but you two helped me heal." Luna looked at her closest friends and smiled warmly. She took Ginny's hand in her own, squeezing it affectionately. "I'll never forget it, and you'll always be my friends for it. I have to thank Ron for breaking Draco's nose, and I do appreciate that, but you two were the ones who helped me cope and overcome what happened."

Hermione smiled over her book, warm chocolate eyes reflecting the set of blues. "Same goes for me Luna."

The three girls sat quietly a few moments, reflecting back on their last year at school.

"Anyway, I'm glad that your dad held off from printing it too. I swear the Prophet is nothing more than a gossip rag now. I guess that's what happens when they promoted Rita Skeeter to an editor position. Honestly, she should have been canned years ago, or had Hermione hex her into next year. I'd pay some serious galleons to see that happen. Just the thought of Hermione hexing that scab makes images flitter through my head."

Ginny reached over for the pot of tea and found it empty. Hermione perked her head up over the top of her book. "Sorry. I finished the last of it. I'll make the pot this time. You go on and tell her the rest. It's not like I don't know this part of the story."

Ginny smirked at her sister in law while Hermione took the empty tray with her back to the kitchen to make more tea and heat up more scones.

"Shall we wait for Hermione to get back?" Luna said in her tinny voice.

"Nah. She knows this part all too well," she said with a grin. "I just wanted all of the details straight before I finished."

Ginny sat back into the cushions, getting comfortable once more. "Anyway, I found out about what happened from Harry and Hermione the week after. Ron was furious at me for some reason which I can't fathom. Maybe he was taking it out on me because he promised to keep me there and he let ickle Ronnikens think for him that hour. Figures. At least I didn't see what Harry saw before he ran out of their flat."

"What were they doing?" Luna asked as she looked at her cold empty tea cup on the table. "Do share since I need some foreplay for tonight."

Ginny laughed, letting her mind wander for a second on Luna and Dean. Luna has as much modesty as Angelina – and less shame. She unfortunately knew both people too well not to have her imagination run wild. She blushed when it went too far in her own head.

"Harry told me last week that after he chased me into the hallway in his towel, he went back into their flat. He saw them up against the wall, in view of their patio, already going at it. I'm glad I didn't see my brother getting his knob polished. You'd think they would know about disillusion spells!

"What I thought was a door closing was actually Ron breaking something in the living room. Five minute later, when Harry ran back through, he saw those two on the couch. Ron's freckly arse was trip hammering while he heard Hermione saying things that she normally doesn't say. If it wasn't my tosspot of a brother, I'd be impressed."

"Ronald seems to take after his brother then in appetite. I'm sure they share other common physical traits as well." Ginny smirked, seeing Luna smiling at nothing in particular. "They are so good for one another. Ron appears to keep Hermione happy."

The witches shared a knowing look.

"Now, what can I get for you?"

"I'm just waiting on Hermione to freshen up our tea. I could use some biscuits from the kitchen if you have them, or maybe a sandwich."

Luna stretched out while Ginny went to check in the kitchen on Hermione. "Knowing Hermione, she's probably got lost in her reading and forgot the tea."

The girls laughed while Ginny went out of the den. She stopped at the door from the parlor. "When I return, I'll get back to the story. I hope that my trials with the man who lived stupidly will help you later on. Merlin knows Harry tries my patience at times with his noble dumb fuckery and his lack of functioning brain cells."

Ginny stepped into the kitchen and knew she was right. The pot was sitting on the table in front of Hermione, completely engrossed in her reading once more. Ginny crept quietly up to her sister in law, tucked her head on her sister's shoulder and enveloped her best friend in a warm hug.

"I didn't forget. I knew you'd follow me in here after you mentioned what happened that day. I didn't need to hear both of you laughing at our antics."

Ginny kissed her sister in law on her temple. "And how many times have you and Ron caught me and Harry on the couch, on the table, in a closet or anywhere else for that matter?"

Hermione smiled. "I've seen your breasts flouncing too many for me to count, honestly."

"Exactly. It's not like the three of us has seen one another in our kit, or in a compromising position. Luna was worse than either one of us. She didn't care who saw her shagging Dean."

"It's still not that funny."

"Yes it is and you know it."

Hermione quit pouting. "Did Luna laugh at us?"

"She actually asked as mental foreplay for tonight when she's with Dean. I had to stop that thought real quick."

Hermione quit smiling. "She knows you did more than snog Dean, right?"

"She's known the entire time. We talked most nights when she was keeping me company, mostly about Harry and also about Dean. Talking with her was the only thing that helped me get to sleep during those months at school. But I was honest with Harry too. The rest of my family hasn't been told and I will keep it that way. Mum thinks bad enough of me already."

Hermione turned and gave her favorite sister-in-law a hug. "It's not my place to tell and I never will. Some things should be kept secret."

Ginny pulled out of the hug and went looking for a tin of biscuits. She worked quickly, putting the kettle of water, tea, scones and biscuits onto the tray. "Come on back in and get some more reading done. I know you'd prefer the company."

"I do and I shall. I just didn't want Luna laughing at me again. You know that bothers me."

Ginny stopped and leaned against the stove counter.

"Look at me, please." Hermione looked up from her book. "I will say this once more: I owe you my life and everything in it. That is fact. You brought Harry and my brother home, in one piece. You brought George back from the abyss. As for Luna? You were the only person who could understand what she went through and help her deal with her kidnapping and torment with those sods. You were there helping me cope when I wanted to fall apart – and were there when I did. Because of you, and some serious bollocks on your part, I have most of my family and friends still in my life. Because of you and the courage you've shown in healing and coping from most things no one else would understand, you've taught me how to deal with all the shite I went through. You showed me what courage is, dealing with everything you went through. You're my sister in everything but blood and because of how fucking amazing you are and every bloody thing you've done, I will love you until my last breath."

Ginny sat down on the bench next to Hermione. "Now," she took the smaller ink stained hands into hers. "Would you feel better if we didn't laugh with you? All of us have cried a lifetime's worth of tears. I'm sick of crying."

"Sometimes it bothers me, honestly. Then I remember that the guys laugh at me too and that makes it better."

"We've not laughed at you in years." Ginny picked up the tray of tea and biscuits. "It's when we're not laughing with you that there is a problem. Just remember that, okay?"

"Sorted." Hermione picked up her tome and followed Ginny back out into the parlor.

The two witches returned to the parlor, a fresh pot of tea on the tray with a plate of chocolate chip biscuits.

"Here you are, as my lady requested," laughed Ginny with her put upon airs. "I hope this pleases my lady."

Luna laughed right along with her. "Dear me, I have missed your tea."

Ginny settled back into the couch with her own cup of tea.

"Do you remember how dark and dusty that front hallway was? I think it took us what, a whole two weeks to get the place renovated and redecorated. I know Harry hated spending the galleons for it, but once we did that, it was so much nicer to live in."

Luna looked up from her cup of tea, motioning for Ginny to continue.