Disclaimer: I don't own JK Rowling's stuff. That's it. It gets a little tiring after a few chapters of repeatedly disclaiming claiming things.
Chapter 14: Izzy, Love
She squinted as the sunlight hurt her eyes. And then a second later she forgot all about the sunlight. By instinct, she winced, and put her palm against her forehead. She was having the worst hangover of her life.
"Great! If only Greece can see me now! Then they might think twice in having me as their queen. Oh look at the great Ysovielle de Lune, suffering from a massive headache caused by her failed suicide-by-drinking attempt all because of Harry freakin' Potter!", Izzy groaned. All her ranting made her head throb more and more because of pain.
"You know it's really easy to make that hangover go away, right? Mum keeps a hangover potion in the medicine cabinet downstairs, and in a matter of minutes, you'll be as perfect as ever!, Ginny's voice said. This made Izzy jump. She's forgotten that she wasn't alone—in fact, she was currently inside Ginny's bedroom.
"Oh. I forgot that I was actually here. Aaaaaargh! There's no way I'm leaving this room, not after what happened last night!", Izzy groaned.
Indeed, last night was a very embarrassing night for Izzy. She never really learns from her mistakes. After all the guests at Ron and Hermione's wedding had gone away, and after Ron and Hermione bade them all goodbye to head for Paris for their honeymoon, the rest of the Weasleys, Harry, Marius, Izzy, Andromeda and Teddy all proceeded to the Burrow.
Andromeda was invited by Mrs. Weasley to stay with them for the night, since Teddy had fallen asleep and it's along way to their house. And besides, the whole family thought it would do Mrs. Weasley some good to have Andromeda around for a few days. Merlin knows it will keep her mind off Ron being married for a while. Izzy offered Percy's room to Andromeda and Teddy, saying she wanted to stay with Ginny that night.
Harry on the other hand, didn't need a formal invitation to be asked to stay for the night—he was practically family, anyway. He stayed in Ron's room—which was now occupied due to being in his own honeymoon.
"Hmm, you know what, you have a point there. I mean, if I were in your place, why would I go down and face the very people who saw me pissed last night just to get me some hangover potion? If it were me I'd change my name, hide in a distant country, and live as a muggle. Or I'll stay here all day—never mind if I die right in this room. I just won't let them—and most especially Harry, ever see me again", Ginny said sarcastically.
"Ouch!", Ginny dodged a pillow.
"There'll be more from where they came from if you don't shut your mouth. I'm serious Ginny! It's not just about getting drunk. Harry knows! Didn't I tell you that? Wasn't it obvious last night? Why else would I get drunk like that?", Izzy explained.
"And your point is?"
"My point is, he knows! Isn't that a good enough point for you?"
"And so what if he knows? He's not mad, Izzy! In fact, he's trying to win you back! Or are you too dense to see that for yourself? I thought you're about as smart as Hermione?", Ginny crossed her arms.
"Aaagh! I don't care! I just—I—ah! That's it! Where's Marius? Is he in his room?! I need to see him—right now!!", Izzy said all of a sudden and she stood up, and was about to turn the bedroom door's handle. Then she stopped.
"Oh. B—but Marius' room is way up there right? A—and t—to go there you have to pass by—Har—er—Ron's room, right?", Izzy checked this information with Ginny, looking like a paranoid little girl.
Ginny chuckled. "Would you look at yourself, Izzy! You're acting like someone on the run! Calm down, won't you? First of all, Marius isn't here. He left early for a meeting. And secondly, you might be very very relieved to know that Harry went to that meeting with Marius. And so, there's no need for your day to be full of paranoia and hiding. Why were you looking for Marius anyway?"
Izzy sighed. "I—I wanted to go home—right now. Er—Are you sure—they—they're really not here?", Izzy double checked.
"Uh huh. I'm sure. They're not here. And wait, what do you mean you want to get home? You know that's not possible! It takes several days in advance to schedule an international portkey activation. You can't just leave now! And it's not like you can go back to Greece illegally! They'll know! Since, duh, you're their queen. Now, why don't we get some breakfast? Your sudden insanity is making me hungry.", Ginny rubbed her stomach.
Although Izzy followed Ginny down the stairs, it was as if she wasn't even inside the Burrow. Her mind was drifting away, making her totally incapable of listening to whatever it is Ginny had been telling her all the way to the kitchen. She was thinking of last night's events. Her memories of Harry's revelation was very clear in her mind. This came as no surprise to her. She wasn't drunk yet when he told her everything. In fact, it was the very reason why she got drunk in the first place. What really surprised Izzy was the fact that she remembered in perfect detail the events that took place after she had finished a whole bottle of firewhiskey. She was supposed to be drunk by then—really, she had been swaying as she walked towards the kitchen door, but her mind was more sober than ever.
It was weird yet funny, the way she didn't have control of her emotions, and her actions while she was drunk and yet she was fully aware of them. It was like being under a milder imperius curse—you can't fight the voice inside your head and so you do what it tells you too and yet when the curse has been lifted, you remember exactly what it is that you have done.
And that's what happened last night. She lost control, and yet she remembered. Things may have turned out better for her today if she just forgot about the whole night. How she wished she could have just forgotten, or that she could just find it in herself to pretend she has forgotten. But then again, didn't she try that a few years ago, only to realize that she isn't capable of such a feat? There's no point in trying to run away. She'd just have to deal with it.
Flashback…
"Who told—hic—you—I'm drunk? Am not!! Am not!!", Izzy shouted at Harry's face, which caused it to crumple, his eyes wincing and his nose wrinkling.
"Right. You're not drunk. Really, you aren't! Who told you you were drunk, anyway?", George said sarcastically.
"Oy! D'you tink I'm stu—pid? I know you're making fun of me—aren't you? Arenchoo?"
"George, just let me handle this, okay?", Harry asked George as he supported Izzy in her walking.
"Okay okay", George lifted his hands up in surrender. "What did you ever do to her to make her want to drink herself to death?", he asked.
"Oh, I told her. You know, that I already knew", Harry grimaced.
"Oh, that's why!", Ginny said from behind them.
"What's why??", Izzy suddenly shouted. Harry, surprised by her shouting, almost dropped her, and with his quidditch reflexes, picked her up just in time.
Izzy giggled. Their faces were inches apart from one another.
"Haaaaaryyyy!! I like your eyes! Do you know that? They're sooooooo greeeeen!", she said. Behind them, Ginny and George sniggered, along with all the other people who were in the Burrow's kitchen—Charlie, Marius, Draco and Mr. Weasley.
"Er—Izzy, I better get you coffee. Yeah, that's right. Uhm—do you want some coffee? You really need to—", Harry said frantically but Izzy put her finger against Harry's mouth.
"Sshhhh! Why only Izzy? You—hic—know—hic—Harry, I missed the way you—hic—used to call me. Izzy, love!! You called me—dat! Izzy, your love!! Izzy love!!", she grinned with sleepy eyes.
"What?!", Harry asked dumbfoundedly.
"Izzy, love!", she repeated.
"Oh!", Harry said as he realized that Izzy was backtracking to the days when they were pretending to be a couple to make Ginny jealous. His term of endearment for her was 'love'.
"Do you know that—hic—that your lips taste sooooooooooo good? Can I taste them again? Pleeeeeeeaaaase? Come on! Harry! Harry! Haaaaa-reeeeee! For Izzy love?", Izzy cut Harry off like a little girl begging for sweets, coupled with a pout on her face.
And bit by bit, Izzy closes the gap between them. Harry's eyes widened when he realized what she was trying to do, and immediately distances himself from her. It's not that he didn't want to kiss her. Merlin knows he'd want that more than anything else in the world—but just not when she's drunk and doesn't know what she's doing.
But Izzy was faster. She moves forward all of a sudden, planting a small kiss on Harry's lips. Harry's eyes widens even more (if that was possible), and Izzy giggles uncontrollably.
"For someone who's drunk, Izzy love seems to have a pretty good aim. Don't you think?", Marius joked.
Izzy, even though she was drunk, took advantage of Harry's obvious surprise to strike once more. But this time, she's up for more. She moves forward for another kiss—but a more passionate one. It was sweet, tender and yet very passionate—as if Izzy put every emotion inside of her into that kiss. That kiss was so alive that it was hard to believe that Izzy was actually drunk. It took Harry about 10 seconds before he found the strength to pull away.
"Izzy, Izzy listen to me!", Harry grasped Izzy by the shoulders. "Oh dear. I can't do this. Merlin, help me! You are drunk! So, I—I really need to—erm—get you some—uhm coffee", Harry said with his eyes tightly shut. The onlookers can be heard sniggering still somewhere in the kitchen.
"Harry you're such a jerk!", Izzy punched him lightly on the chest. "D—don't spoil all the fun! You know what—I hate you! You must be the biggest—hic—jerk I ever knew! Why? Why didn't you tell me that you knew? But then again you probably think I'm a total bitch for pretending to forget you right? Yeah. That's right. I can't blame you for me being stupid!", Izzy rambled. But Harry wasn't listening.
"Right, you really are", Harry said mindlessly, and with a lot of effort too. His eyes were still shut tighter than usual. It was like he was trying to take something off his mind.
But Izzy continued her drunk-talk. "I know, I know! Funny I think that's the word of the night. Oh wait, that's 2 words—I and know! Hhihihihi!!", Izzy giggled like a true drunkard.
"WAIT!!", Harry shouted desperately. "I have to think! Think.Think of something disgusting! Malfoy in a tutu!", Harry said out loud.
Hey! I heard that, pothead!", Draco spoke.
"Okay, it's not working, er—Voldemort in polka dot underwear.", Harry tried again.
"Hahaha! Now that's really funny!", Izzy giggled.
"No wait.. Umbridge in a bikini.", Harry finally said.
"Ugh. Where do you get those ideas from? That's just totally disgusting, Harry! If anything could distract you—that one should!", George said in disgust.
"I bet that one worked, did it, potty?", Draco asked.
Harry had no time to answer Draco's question. There was a loud thump and Izzy was suddenly on the floor—unconscious. And that's the last thing Izzy remembers.
…End flashback.
"Hullo Ginny! Oh good morning, Izzy love!", George greeted the two girls with a huge grin on her face.
"Shut it George! Izzy's got a hangover. If you've got nothing better to do than to tease her, you might as well get her some potion. That way, you can do on teasing her with less threat of a jam spreader.", Ginny said.
"Good morning you two.", Charlie greeted them after George had left for the medicine cabinet.
"Morning Charlie! Good morning mum, dad, Andromeda. Where's little Teddy?", Ginny asked them.
"Oh he's still upstairs in our room, sleeping. That one's a late riser. Likes to sleep a lot", she replied with a loving smile on her face. She always looks like that when she's talking about her grandson.
"Anyway, how did you two sleep? Are you quite alright, Izzy?", she asked concernedly seeing how Izzy was massaging her temples, obviously trying to make her hangover go away.
"Oh this is nothing. I just drank too much last night and hangover's getting the better of me this morning", she replied politely.
"Too right you did! Arthur told me what happened last night. Oh, Ysovielle de Lune, don't look at me like that! I know all about it! I am disappointed in you having to pretend about something like that! And breaking our Harry's heart—you should have seen him when you were gone! He was half-dead! Oh but past is past—just make sure you don't make the same mistake, dear.", Mrs. Weasley went from mad, to disappointed, to concerned, and loving. All in one breath.
"Er—of course, Mrs. Weasley", Izzy didn't know how to reply at being addressed by Mrs. Weasley like her very own daughter.
"Welcome to the family, Izzy love! Looks like we got more than one new family member last night! Good job Izzy love! Now, she scolds you like she scolds us!", George joked.
"George! Will you stop calling her Izzy love? Do you have the potion?", Ginny asked him.
"Yeah. Here you go, sister Izzy love!", he handed the potion to Izzy.
"Thanks", Izzy ignored George's teasing, and then she drank her potion.
"Feeling better?", Ginny asked her.
"Mmm hmmm. This stuff's great. Took my hangover within seconds!", Izzy looked at the empty vial—clearly impressed.
"Of course it's great! Mum made it, what do you expect?", Charlie grinned.
"Thanks Mrs. Weasley!", Izzy thanked her.
"No problem dear. You're as good as family, anyway", Mrs. Weasley smiled sincerely.
"Uh huh. But you have to promise us that you'll make being a family member official by getting married to Harry.", Charlie joked.
"Charlie!", Ginny told him off.
Mr. Weasley chuckled. "What's wrong with that, Ginny? Izzy here knows what Harry's been trying to do, right? He's trying to win her back. It's no secret now. And anyone can see that they're still smitten with one another. Merlin knows they're really made for each other! What do you say, Izzy? Give it a shot? Take Harry back!", Mr. Weasley grinned knowingly.
"Er—"
"Arthur! Don't pressure the girl. Izzy, don't listen to them. You alone should decide on matters like these. Listen to your heart, my dear. You'll never go wrong if you follow that, mmm? Now, how about some breakfast, girls? Who wants bacon?", Mrs. Weasley asked.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
"Ugh! My back really hurts.", Ginny groaned as she did some stretching.
"Are you okay, Ginny? What happened to your back, anyway?", Izzy asked her.
"Er—my back? Uhm—uh it's probably the position I slept in last night, yeah, that's probably it", Ginny said awkwardly. Izzy raised her eyebrows. She had a feeling Ginny wasn't being entirely truthful.
"Gin Gin? Your back still hurts? Ron's bed is really tough, eh? Hold on, lemme get you something from the medicine cabinet for that, okay?", Charlie told her before leaving the room.
"Ron's bed, Ginny? What's Charlie trying to say?", Izzy questioned her.
" I dunno. Ask him. Didn't get him either. Dunno what he's talking about.", she tried playing innocent, shrugging her shoulders for the full effect.
"Here you go Ginny!", Charlie said, sitting next to her and handing her a vial of a pinkish potion.
"Ah. Thanks, Charlie! That was quick, and thoughtful too!", Ginny kissed her brother on the cheek.
"Wow, I even get a kiss from my favorite sister!", Charlie teased.
"I'm your only sister, you prat! But you are my favorite older brother, don't worry", Ginny winked.
"Hey, you told Bill that he was your favorite older brother!", Charlie crossed his arms.
"Can't a girl change her mind? Well, actually, Bill really was my favorite older brother. But ever since he married that—that whiny narcissistic girl, I was thrown totally out of the picture. So now, you're my favorite older brother", she told Bill.
"How comforting it is to know that you're only second best. I guess I shouldn't get married so that I'll forever be your favorite brother", Charlie grimaced.
"Right, you are", Ginny grinned toothily.
"Uh huh. Anyway, how are you feeling, my favorite sister? Did the potion work?", he asked her.
"Yup. Of course it did—it's mum's! What did you expect! Thanks Again, Charls!", Ginny winked at him.
"Anything for little Gin Gin. Ei! Why'd you stay in Ron's room last night, anyway?", Charlie scratched his head.
"Ron's room, Ginny?!", Izzy suddenly stood up, raised her eyebrows at Ginny and started tapping her foot.
"Ooh. Didn't she know?", Charlie asked.
"No she didn't. But thanks to you now, she knows!", Ginny said sarcastically.
"So it's true? You slept in Ron's room? I thought I wasn't bothering you, sleeping there last night?", Izzy asked. The look on her face very much telling them that she was hurt.
"Or—or—oh! Wait, you stayed with—oh—", Izzy had a look of horror on her face.
"Oh really, Iz. You weren't a bother. You'll never be a bother by just sleeping over at my room. The problem was—well—you got drunk last night. A—and you know what happens—er—when you get drunk.", Ginny said sheepishly.
"Oh. Right. When I get drunk I—", Izzy bit her lip.
"Snore. And really loudly too!", Charlie chuckled. But he immediately stopped when Ginny elbowed him in the ribs.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. Well, I guess now that I have my facts straight, it really is quite understandable for you to want to sleep somewhere else last night.", Izzy apologized shyly. She has this really bad history of snoring very loudly after getting drunk—and so she wasn't surprised at all that Ginny wanted to be away from Izzy last night.
"No problem. I told you, I wasn't there to endure the sleepless night that went with your snoring!", Ginny teased her.
"B—but why in—er—Ron's room, though? Y—you—are—well, are you and Harry—erm—", Izzy was about to say back together, but Ginny realized what Izzy had been thinking and so she cut her off.
"Oh goodness no! Of course not! Izzy! Don't even say it! Harry—er—wasn't in Ron's room last night!", Ginny said defensively.
"Harry wasn't there? But I thought—?", Izzy was confused.
"Huh? Oh. OH!! Oh you sly sly woman!! You didn't tell her about it either, Ginny?? Oh this is just great! Wait till she hears about it. She'll flip out for sure", Charlie practically screamed at Ginny's ear.
"Ouch, Charlie! I'm right beside you!", Ginny said irritably.
"Hey!! What's that you're keeping from me? Answer my question! Where was Harry last night?", Izzy folded her arms.
"Go tell her, Gin", Charlie said.
"Er—well, Harry actually—uhm—stayed with you last night", Ginny said.
"What?!"
"He—uhm—he watched over you last night—he stayed with you—in—er—my room", she explained once more.
"Why? What am I, a little helpless girl? I may be drunk but I can sleep by myself, thank you very much! You didn't have to let him stay with me! Oh Merlin, now how am I gonna face him? That's another reason for me to go home now!", she said rashly.
"Izzy, calm down! You couldn't possibly be left alone last night! You were snoring, and then standing up, and even sleep talking. Someone had to watch over you—we didn't know what you'll be doing next.", Charlie smirked.
"Oh but it's still embarrassing! After everything that happened last night? After everything that I told him!! And everything that he told me??", Izzy covered her face with her hands.
"Don't worry Izzy, it's not that embarrassing! He never made fun of you—he's not even mad! In fact what he did was very sweet, and very loving, really.", Ginny patted her back.
Flashback…
Knock knock knock…
Harry opened the door to Ron's bedroom while rubbing his eyes.
"Er—Harry, help?", Ginny bit her lip.
"What? Why? What happened?"
"It's Izzy. Well—you know she got drunk tonight, right? Well—she's snoring. I've asked Charlie if he know anything to help stop it—but he doesn't. And well, everybody else is asleep. We don't want to leave her alone like that, who knows what she might do next?"
"Oh. Where is she?"
"In my room—still snoring"
"Do you think it's okay if I stay with her tonight? You can sleep in Ron's room if you want", Harry offered.
"Really? That'd be great—oh but, I really don't know how Izzy will react to that tomorrow morning, when she finds out", Ginny said.
"Erm—then, don't tell her. Just admit it if she asks.", Harry shrugged.
"O—okay."
Harry and Ginny went to Ginny's room to see how Izzy was. She was still there, lying in a rather uncomfortable looking position and snoring her heart out.
"I've almost forgotten how loudly she can snore", Harry said. But he wasn't making fun of her. In fact, Harry was even looking at her lovingly.
"Are you sure it's okay with you to stay with her tonight?", Ginny asked.
"Do you even have to ask? I doubt it if she would let me stay with her if she's sober. I might not be able to have this chance of watching her sleep again", Harry smiled.
"Oh—okay, thanks Harry!", Ginny thanked him for the last time. And then she went to Ron's room to get some sleep.
Harry approached Izzy and sat on the bed next to her. It has been a long time since Harry had last watched the girl sleeping peacefully—snoring or not. But even though she was snoring so loudly, Harry still marveled at how she manages to stay beautiful in his eyes. Harry smiled to himself as he stroked Izzy's hair, pulling aside some strands that were on her face.
"Sleep tight, Izzy, love", Harry whispered.
Then he conjured a chair for himself, and it was there where he sat all night, trying to get what little sleep he can, while watching over Izzy during the times he was awake. They stayed like that almost the whole night long—Izzy on the bed, snoring loudly, and Harry on a chair by the bed, his head occasionally drooping from the lack of sleep. They stayed like that until sunrise, when Harry left early, in order not to startle Izzy.