Before you say anything... Sorry Sorry... I know it is another filler but I mean you have to make it through the summer somehow, it can't be non stop action all the time you know. Thanks for the reviews I love to read them they make my day and make me update faster. You guys are great I hope this isn't too short for you.
The end of summer
Chapter eleven
Two weeks later they celebrated Ginny's 17th birthday. She got a beautiful watch from her parents and a diamond and emerald jewelry set from Harry. It matched her ring perfectly, she couldn't imagine how he had found something that went with it so well when he told her that he had it special ordered. She was quite impressed with his creativity. They had decided to spend the day with the family and friends just swimming at the pond at the burrow. Hermione and Luna were there as was Neville, Seamus, a couple of girls from Ginny's year and Dean. Molly and Arthur smiled at their set of kids as they played happily either in lake or on the side as was Harry's case. He had his feet dangling in off the old dock and Ginny was standing in the water between his knees. It was blatantly obvious the difference between the two couples now that a line had been crossed by one of them. Ron was floating on a red float and Hermione was in his lap facing him. They were perfectly comfortable to be that close even in the small amount of clothing they were wearing. While Harry and Ginny stood close and he often touched her back or side, every time he did so she blushed and got nervous while his eyes would look anywhere but hers while they were touching.
It made her parents proud to know that it was because they were waiting they were so jittery around one another. The tension between them was palpable. Ginny was trying to convince him to take off his shirt and just get in the water but he shook his head and smiled at her flirtatious antics. Arthur walked over and sat down beside him while Molly readied the food.
"What's wrong son? I know you can swim I have seen you do it, and I know you like to swim. Or at least you used to." He said to the young man sitting beside him. Harry looked at his hands uncomfortably. "Harry, no one is going to say anything about your scars, they all have their own, if you look closely you will see them." He looked surprised that Arthur knew about his scars but still shook his head looking at the murky water.
"No that's not it, It's just that the first Horcrux, the one that I found with Dumbledore. Well there was a lake….a black one…..and well infiri….and I really don't want to go into anymore details other than its hard enough to watch her in there with me not knowing what's at the bottom let alone me get in there myself. Some Gryffindor huh?" he said shamefully. Arthur looked out at his daughter who was flitting under the water playing with Luna and Neville.
"Harry you are brave, very brave. Sometimes we become aware of things and it changes our perception. And there are times that it makes us more cautious bravery isn't jumping into things stupidly or rashly it is knowing you are scared but moving past it. I notice your feet are in the water." He said looking meaningfully at his visible knees.
"Yeah I didn't want Ginny to think I did not want to participate in her party." He said solemnly. He felt the older man's strong hand on his shoulder.
"And I noticed the sweat pouring down the back of your neck. Which, seeing as it isn't that hot out, means that you are terrified that something….or someone might touch them." Harry nodded embarrassed. "That is bravery, you are doing something you are scared to do reguardless of your fear to help someone else. You are brave." He said kindly as they watched Ginny swim over to them. She smiled at her two favorite men and splashed Harry gently.
"What cha doin babe?" she asked playfully.
"Nothin sitting here talking to dad about stuff." He replied with a small smile.
"Will you help me out?" she held her hands up to him for him to pull her out. Harry looked and her nervously and hesitated.
"Ginerva Molly Weasley if you pull Harry into that pond I will be the first to promise you that you will not like the result. He may have a soft spot for you and not get angry but I will." He said sternly. Harry grinned at him thankfully and reached out to her. She sighed and took his hands and allowed him to pull her out of the water and into his arms. It didn't matter that he hadn't gone swimming he was now soaked.
"I think I forgot my cover up." She mumbled into his shoulder with slight shiver. He smiled and rubbed little circles into the small of her dripping back.
"I dunno, I really like this look on you." He nodded at her very small bikini. It was deep purple and had tiny little strings holding it on that were tied at her hips. He absently fiddled with the bow not seeing the others watching the two of them.
"I bet you do but seeing as I am out of the water I would think that my fiancé of all people wouldn't want any one else seeing me in this, I wasn't aware that Ron had invited all of the guys in your dorm." Harry turned slightly and looked at her exaggerated all, and saw Dean covertly watching them.
"Hmmmm, well I will say I did not think about that." He said honestly. "Here put this on." He said muffled as he pulled his shirt over his head and helped her put in on to cover her suit. The shirt was as thin and white as all of his other under shirts, so it stuck to her in very conspicuous places and turned see through where her suit soaked into it. He raised his eyebrows at her and pulled her back into his arms protectively, whispering into her ear, "What am I going to do with you? I literally give you the shirt off my back to keep you under wraps and you look amazing. I am having a hard time not ripping it off of you."
"Well silly that is because it is your shirt. I would imagine that any other guy sees me in it and is thinking. She is in another man's shirt. You kind of marked your territory. I thought you didn't come in swimming because you didn't want to take off your shirt? Why take it off now?" she asked as she pulled him over to a nearby tree.
"No, it has nothing to do with my scars. You were the only one I was worried about seeing them. I hate them all the same but if you are okay with them, I am I guess." He sighed as she ran her fingers up and down the knife scar on his arm.
She heard a small thunk as he let his head fall back into the tree trunk and let his eyes close. They rested like that for a few minutes before Ron and Hermione wandered their way and sat facing them. Hermione sat cross legged and Ron sat behind her with his head resting on her shoulder. They were both still dripping, Hermione was clutching a fluffy beach towel around her.
"I can't believe we go back to Hogwarts in less than a two weeks." She voiced. "It is hard to believe we are actually going to be going back." Ron nodded his head in agreement.
"Yeah, to think I could be playing quidditch for the cannons." Harry and Ginny laughed at his sad face.
The day continued as such and into the evening ending with Harry and Ginny conveniently falling asleep cuddled together on the couch in front of the fireplace.
