Disclaimer: It all belongs to Jo Rowling, I'm not claiming anything!
The days of Christmas break flew. Ever since the wedding day, the end of break was creeping closer. These days were short and quite uneventful. There were plenty of Order meetings going on. Of course, the "children" weren't allowed to stay in on them.
However, toward the last days of the break an unpleasant though definitely eventful announcement was made. Bill had brought home his girlfriend and decided to surprise the family by announcing that they were engaged.
Mrs. Weasley was thrilled... at first. In retrospect, all of the girls were thrilled, until they got to meet this one and only, Fleur Delacour.
Harry grinned to himself, knowing that Fleur, although had pretty looks, was as feisty as a hungry tigress. She launched herself at Harry, giving him two sloppy kisses on the cheek at first sight. Harry caught Ginny glaring at her from afar. He instantly seperated himself from her and walked over to Ginny. He gave her a reassuring squeeze of the hand.
'Who does she think she is, agreeing to marry my brother, and then throwing herself at my husband?' Ginny mumbled, her eyes riveted at Fleur. She had a look of contempt and began to size Fleur up.
Harry felt the comforting shiver of being called Ginny's husband. It was strange, yet welcoming. He looked at Ginny strangely, and she just shrugged her shoulders, still keeping her eyes of Fleur.
He grinned. 'She'll get over that stage, don't worry, as soon as she sees that death glare your mum is giving her,' Harry said to Ginny, pulling her closer to him, letting her know that he had eyes for only her.
Ginny giggled. 'You're silly' she whispered to him while rolling her eyes.
Unfortunately, Harry wasn't all together right. Fleur may have noticed the hostility she received when she walked into a room, yet that didn't stop her from swooping down and planting a wet one on him everytime she saw him.
'If she says your name, 'Arry, one more time and I will have to strangle her with the long hair she flaps about everyday,' Ginny said through clenched teeth on their last morning of break.
Harry smiled for now he was used to it. Ginny caught his grin.
'I suppose you like zee way of her zaying 'Arry?' she said, putting on an accent, with a little bit of attitude.
Harry stopped smiling. 'Nope. I love you,' he said, before getting back to his toast.
Harry wasn't the only one that was getting in trouble because of Fleur's actions; Ron was too. Hermione had a glare worst than Mrs. Weasley when she saw Ron stumble because of his attraction to Fleur. He had it hard when it came to girls, and Hermione wasn't cutting him any slack.
Then there was the big argument.
'I see the way you look at her, Ron! You look like a big, bright, hott-pink, street sign that says "Kiss me Fleur" on it. You drool all over the ground when she she flips her ugly, blond hair at you and swoops around kissing the Weasley men right and left!' Hermione shrieked loudly to him one morning after Bill and Fleur left to go bridal gown shopping.
Ron didn't say anything, he just mumbled to himself.
Hermione didn't look very happy from then on. Yet, she seemed quite glad that it was the last day of break and Fleur wasn't there to give any of them good bye hugs and kisses. She had Ron all to herself.
'Come on we must go, the train will be leaving any moment!' Mrs. Weasley shrieked, causing Harry to stop daydreaming about the past few days.
They were at King's Cross and preparing to get on the train. Their luggage was already packed on, and it was time for the goodbyes.
'Be careful Ginny, you and Harry. We love you,' Ginny's mother whispered to her, as she gave her a large, tight hug.
The train whistle blew. 'Goodbye mum. Love you too!' Ginny called, climbing onto the train after Harry.
They quickly found a compartment together with Ron and Hermione. They were told that sixth year prefects were off duty because some fifth year prefects were taking over on Christmas breaks.
After silencing and sealing the compartment door, Hermione asked, 'Ginny... where are your rings?' she realized that Ginny didn't have on her wedding band, and neither did Harry.
Ginny looked at her bare finger almost sadly. 'Dumbledore won't allow us to wear them. He said people might question a few things. I've got them on a chain though,' Ginny said, pulling a necklace from her robes and showing Hermione how she wore them around her neck.
Hermione smiled. 'Clever,' she said looking at it.
'Thanks,' Ginny said, tucking the necklace back down her shirt.
Harry took ahold of Ginny's hand and smiled at her.
'So what did Dumbledore want?' Hermione asked, the curiosity getting the better of her.
Ginny looked at her questioningly. 'What do you mean?' she asked confused.
'The day we cleaned, before Christmas, you know,' Hermione looked at Ron and nodded.
Ron then took up the arguement. 'Yeah, he visited, didn't he?' he asked them.
Ginny looked at Harry and then hesitantly nodded her head.
'Well, what did he want?' Hermione asked again.
Harry began speaking. 'He's been showing us memories of Tom Riddle, remember?' he asked them both.
Hermione nodded. 'I forgot about those,' she mumbled to herself.
Harry continued, 'Yeah, well he needs us to retrieve some type of memory from Slughorn about Tom in his early years at Hogwarts. He said that it won't be easy for us to get it,' Harry explained.
Hermione let out a soft 'Oh.'
'Well, didn't you two get some invitation to a Belated New Year's party or something during Christmas? It's supposed to happen tomorrow night. Hermione got one too, right?' Ron said to them.
'Yeah... what's that got to do with anything?' Harry asked, bewildered.
Ron smiled sheepishly. 'New Year's Party's always include Firewhiskey, mate. Just sort of corner him and start babbling on. You know, he'll soak it all up 'cause he loves you, and then he'll begin to drink some of the whiskey. Before long, he'll be drunk and answer all your questions. That simple,' he answered.
Hermione looked appalled. 'Ronald!' she scolded.
'What?' Ron said, looking sheepish again.
'That's a brilliant idea, Ron,' Ginny said, looking at Harry with excitement.
'Looks like we've got our homework done,' Harry answered smiling widely.
'You're actually considering this?' Hermione asked them seriously.
Ginny smiled. 'Why not, Hermione? Dumbledore never put restrictions on the matter,' she said looking devious, and a tad bit evil.
'You're insane. Officially insane. You could get in loads of trouble if you're caught getting a teacher drunk,' Hermione announced.
Harry laughed. 'Well when you put it that way, yeah.'
'But, really we were only talking casually with him while he was enjoying a small glass of whiskey. No one will know any better Hermione,' Ginny finished for Harry. Her eyes alight with excitement.
'Exactly,' Ron said, feeling proud that he thought of it.
Hermione narrowed her eyes at Ron. 'How'd you even come up with that?' she asked him.
'Something Fred and George would do, right?' Ron answered proudly.
Hermione groaned. 'No talking you out of this, I presume?' she questioned.
'Nope,' Harry said firmly.
'What if I tried to talk you out of using that blasted book, the Prince?' Hermione asked, changing direction of her scolding.
Ginny sighed. 'Enough Hermione, you've harped on Harry long enough about that book... and to think, I was just about to forget about it, myself,' she retorted, standing up for Harry.
Harry cast her a gracious smile.
'Please, just trust me on this one... that book isn't normal. I don't know why but, I don't trust it.'
'Hermione, please just be quiet for once, and enjoy the silence,' Ron said, calmy to his girlfriend.
Hermione was about to retort, but before she could, Ron grabbed her shoulders and began fiercly kissing her. Hermione stopped trying to restrain herself, and forgot all about scolding them.
Harry and Ginny laughed and continued on their own small conversational talk.
Before long, the train was at Hogwarts and they were walking up the cobblestone walkway to the entrance of the school. They just got off the carriages and were told by McGonagall to take a seat for the coming home feast.
After Dumbledore made a short speech, ('Freckle, turtle, salsa, duck,') everyone began eating away at the mounds of food.
'Oy, Ginny, have you been invited to Slughorn's party?'
Ginny turned to see Dean Thomas call up to her from a few seats down.
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George looked up. They knew that since Ginny was married, she wouldn't accept to go with Dean anywhere.
Ginny looked a bit hesitant. 'Uh, yeah,' she said shrugging.
'How would you like to go with me?' Dean asked, looking at Ginny as if expecting her to say yes.
Ginny then looked a little flustered. She glanced at Hermione and then at Harry.
'Actually, I'm taking her,' Harry said firmly to Dean, making his voice clear that him and Ginny were an item.
Ginny shot a grateful look towards Harry, but then realized that Dean hadn't moved and was continually staring at her for an answer. He ignored Harry's answer.
'Harry's right. I'm going with him,'she confirmed looking sheepish.
Dean went back to eating, looking indeed, very surly.
'Thanks Harry,' Ginny said as she smiled at him.
Harry replied, 'No problem'
'When is his party exactly? And why would Dean be invited?' Ginny asked quietly, looking at Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Hermione answered, 'It's tomorrow night. I overheard Slughorn was a big fan of the football team that Dean admires. Something about them meeting up at one of the games... even though Slughorn is a pureblood, he has some fettish with muggle sports.'
'Oh,' Ginny said as she went back to her roast.
Harry then noticed something. In an undertone he said to Ginny, 'Dumbledore's not here anymore. He left once dinner started.' he whispered.
Ginny looked up. 'We know why... must've went on a mission.'
'Exactly,' Harry replied.
Not long after, everyone was finished and filled to the brim. McGonagall dismissed them, and they began to leave.
Slughorn stopped them on their way out. 'Mr. Potter, Miss Weasley, I do hope you're coming to my belated New Year's get together? And you too Miss Granger? I believe you also mentioned that your guest would be Mr. Weasley,' he said, looking at the four of them.
'Yes Professor. Tomorrow night,' Ginny responded.
'Excellent, excellent,' Slughorn mumbled, as he skirted off, leaving the four alone to walk up to the Gryffindor common room.
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