I want to warn you before you read that this is a very long chapter: 13 pages on Word! 5919 words not including the author's notes!
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Harry woke the next morning to Ron's snores and Pig fluttering in his cage. Not having anything planned for the day he laid there watching the Chudley Cannon players zoom around their posters. His thoughts turned from the posters to the week that lay ahead. This was his week off before Auror training. He planned on moving into Grimmauld Place with Ron sometime this week. Also, Ginny had Harpies try-outs on Wednesday.
The warm smell of bacon and eggs cooking floors below woke Harry from his daydream. While Ron slept Harry dressed and made his way downstairs to find Ginny sitting over a plate of breakfast.
"Good morning, Harry." Mrs. Weasley placed a plate next to Ginny's.
"'Morning," Harry replied quickly kissing Ginny when Mrs. Weasley's back was turned.
"What are your plans for the week?" Ginny asked once Harry sat down.
"Moving into Grimmauld Place with Ron and perhaps visiting Teddy."
"What was that?" Mrs. Weasley's ears perked up.
Harry swallowed his bite of egg.
"I'd like to visit Teddy."
"No, before that." She walked over to the table.
"Ron and I are moving into Grimmauld Place this week."
"Yes, that. Harry, dear, you know you can stay here as long as you like."
"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley, but I think it's time for me to go out on my own. I'm done with school, will be starting a job at the Ministry, and already have a house. It's time."
"Are you sure you want to live at Grimmauld Place?" Ginny asked.
"I don't know, but it's a good place to start."
"I'll miss waking up to you every morning," Ginny whispered.
"I'll come over for breakfast," Harry whispered back.
---
"Try-outs are a few days away," Ginny announced throwing open the door to the broom shed. "I'll need all the practice I can get." She picked up the Quidditch equipment and tossed it outside the shed. "You, Ron, are the Keeper, Harry, you're a Beater, and I'll be the Chaser."
Harry grabbed his Nimbus 2007 and walked out of the shed.
"Gin, you're a great player. You don't need any more practice."
Ignoring Harry, she went on. "Ron, can I use your Cleansweep?"
"Yeah, I'll just fly on George's."
The three spent the better part of the afternoon playing a strange game of Quidditch. Sometimes Harry hit Bludgers toward Ginny. He had no intentions of hurting her; it was what she asked for. Other times he tried to steal the Quaffle from her. At one point, Ron gave up being Keeper and Bludgers came at Ginny from all sides.
Ginny flew to the ground out of breath.
"Let's call it a day," she declared.
Harry flew towards her and dismounted his broom.
"Tired of dodging Bludgers?" Ron asked.
They put the equipment away, and then trudged inside.
"I reckon you're perfectly ready for try-outs." Harry put his arm around Ginny.
"What's this about try-outs?" Mrs. Weasley poked her head into the sitting room.
"I told you, Mum. I've been invited to try-out for the Holyhead Harpies. Try-outs are this Wednesday."
"That's right. Good luck, honey." She went back into the kitchen. Harry thought he heard her mutter something about the Ministry.
"I wonder what Hermione's doing," Ron spoke absentmindedly; his long body sprawled out over the couch.
"She started her job at the Ministry today," Harry said.
Hermione's job in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures started today giving her no time off since the end of school. It's what she wanted. She couldn't wait to get her hand in the Ministry.
"We're planning on visiting Teddy tomorrow. Ron, why don't you owl Hermione and see if she'll meet us for lunch at the Leaky Cauldron?" Harry asked. He had flopped on the floor with Ginny next to him.
"That sounds like a great idea." Harry knew he'd be up for anything involving Hermione.
---
The next morning after breakfast the group headed out to Andromeda Tonks's place.
"Good morning, Harry," she greeted him upon arrival. "Teddy will be so glad to see you."
Andromeda brought them into the sitting room where Teddy, currently sporting aqua hair, was trying to get his stuffed wolf to fly on his toy broomstick, a gift Harry had sent to him for his first birthday.
"Hey, Teddy." Harry bent down to the boy's level.
Teddy turned from the broom and gave Harry a curious look. Andromeda whispered something in his ear.
"He-yee!" Teddy squealed.
"Hey, Teddy." Harry picked up the aqua hair boy and placed him on the broomstick.
Watching him zoom around one foot off the floor Harry marveled at how much Teddy grew since the last time he saw him. He was eight months then and was now almost fifteen months.
"Teddy, let's show Harry what you've learned." Andromeda stopped the broomstick and placed the baby on the floor where he sat sucking the tail of his wolf, never taking his eyes off Harry who sat on the couch with Ron and Ginny. "Come on, Teddy, go to Harry."
Teddy got to his knees and began to crawl.
"No, Teddy." She placed Teddy on his feet.
Holding onto his grandmother's fingers he took a step. Slowly, he let go. A few wobbly steps almost sent him to his bottom, but he righted himself and took two more before Harry scooped him up. Teddy giggled as Harry placed him in his lap, his hair changing to pink, yellow, and back to aqua.
"He loves that color," Andromeda said. "What are your plans for the day?"
"We're having lunch with Hermione at the Leaky Cauldron and then I think we're heading into Diagon Alley."
"How would you like to take Teddy for the day? I could really use the break."
Harry exchanged glances with Ron and Ginny.
"That'd be great. Would you like that, Teddy?"
Teddy grinned up at Harry showing off more new teeth.
The four went upstairs to dress Teddy and get his bag. Soon, they were off.
Roughly, around noon, they made it to the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione was already saving them a table. Ron kissed her before sitting down.
"How is your job at the Ministry?" He asked, putting his around her.
"I haven't really done much yet, just parchment work. Hey, Teddy." She tickled the baby in Harry's lap. Teddy giggled.
"Teddy, can you say 'Hermione'?" Harry instructed.
Teddy shook his head.
"Try 'Hermy'," Hermione said.
Again, he shook his head with his lips tightly shut.
"Can you say 'Mione'?" Hermione offered.
Teddy grunted.
"Oh, well."
Ron and Ginny went to the counter to get sandwiches and butterbeer.
"I miss you lot," Hermione said.
"We'll be at the Ministry on Monday."
"It's not the same. We'll be in different departments."
"Ron and I will be moving into Grimmauld Place tomorrow. Why don't you come over some time?"
Ron and Ginny returned with the food. Harry pulled a bottle of milk out of Teddy's bag and broke off pieces of his sandwich for his godson to eat.
"Tom's not the barman anymore," Ron said between bites.
"Hannah Abbott works here now," Ginny added.
Harry turned to look for the pigtails of the Hufflepuff from his year, but instead found a mature young woman.
"So, Ron, I was thinking we should have a small get together Friday. Just a few of our friends from Hogwarts," Harry said after retrieving the bottle Teddy dropped.
"Sounds like a good idea. You'll come Hermione?"
"Of course."
After lunch they said goodbye to Hermione and headed into Diagon Alley. Ginny held Teddy as they passed Quality Quidditch Supplies.
"Blimey, the new Firebolt's out." Ron stared dreamily in the window. "It's faster than the original…maybe you'll fly on that with the Harpies, Gin."
"Firebolt 2," Harry read.
"I don't have the position, yet, Ron." Ginny traced the outline of the broom in the air. "But, it would be a step up from the Cleansweep."
"More than a step up and you'll get the position." Ron made for the door.
"Gwenog Jones would have to be out of her mind to not put you on the team." Harry followed Ron.
Instead of going to the broom, Ginny gravitated toward the Chaser equipment. Harry watched her finger the new gloves. The pair she had now were cracked and peeling. He had a feeling when Ginny received them they were already used.
"Would you like a new pair for your try-outs tomorrow?"
"Oh," she dropped the gloves on the floor. Teddy squealed. "It's best I don't break in a new pair tomorrow, thanks. I'll be fine with my old ones." She made to pick the gloves up, but Harry beat her to it. "Let's go to Weasleys'."
Teddy had grabbed a pair of gloves off the shelf and aimed to put them in his mouth. Harry swatted his hand and Ginny pried the gloves away. Teddy began to cry.
"Harry, let's just go to the shop NOW."
Harry agreed thinking if they could get Teddy fixated on something else he would stop with the tears.
"Ron, we're going to the joke shop!" Ginny called out.
Ron had been staring dreamily at the new brooms and nearly jumped at Ginny's words. He stared back longingly as he exited the store.
Once they stepped outside Teddy's tears stopped and something else happened.
"Oh, Teddy." Ginny sniffed his bottom. "I'll get George to let me use his flat to change his nappy."
"I'll do it," Harry offered.
"Have you changed one before?" She asked.
"No, have you?"
"Honestly, no."
"I'm his godfather."
"Alright, Harry, I really don't mind doing this."
"Why don't we do it together?"
"Fine."
"You two are very strange," Ron said, opening the door to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes.
"George, can we use your flat?" Ginny blurted.
"Is that your baby?" Lee asked incredulously.
"What?" George asked.
"You remember Remus Lupin? This is his son, Teddy. Harry's his godfather," Ginny said. "Teddy, this is Lee, George's friend. Can you say 'Lee'?" Teddy buried his head in Ginny's shoulder.
"How'd he get his hair that color?" Lee asked.
"He's a Metamorphmagus," Harry replied. "Takes after his mother."
"What do you need my flat for?" George asked.
"Teddy needs his nappy changed."
"Oh, I reckoned that smell was coming from Ron."
Ron glared at his older brother.
"Yeah, you can use my flat."
Ginny lead Harry to the back of the store and up a flight of stairs into George's two-room flat. She laid Teddy on the couch. Harry placed the bag next to him.
"What do we do first?" Harry asked.
"First, we get the supplies out of the bag." Ginny unzipped the bag and pulled out a nappy, wipes, and Teddy's plush wolf to distract him. "Now, we take off his trousers and remove the dirty nappy." Ginny spoke slowly as she went through the motions.
"Whew, that stinks." Harry waved his hand in front of his face. "You need any help?"
"Clean this up." Ginny handed the dirty nappy to Harry.
Harry scourgified it clean enough to go back in the bag. He folded the nappy and placed it in the bag by the time Ginny finished.
"It's not that hard." She picked up a yawning Teddy.
"You want me to hold him? He is my godson."
"You don't mind? He's not that heavy."
"I'm glad you two are bonding."
Harry watched Ginny adjust Teddy in her arms. He leaned over and gave her a deep kiss that was interrupted by Teddy hitting him on the head with his wolf.
"You'll make a great mother someday."
Ginny's cheeks turned red at the compliment.
"Let's go downstairs."
Ginny followed Harry back to the shop. George and Lee were busy with customers. George tried to convince a young boy of about twelve or thirteen he should buy a Headless Hat. Ron was in conversation with Verity. He must have said something funny, because she was laughing.
"Oh, hey, Harry," Ron said catching his eye.
Harry walked over to the two wondering what Ron could have said that was so funny. He didn't find out as Verity stopped laughing and Ron changed the subject.
"Hey, Harry."
"Hey, Ron." Harry sent Ginny a weird look. She just shook her head.
Having given up on the boy, George walked over to the group.
"George, we're having a small get together in honor of us moving into Grimmauld Place. Would you like to come?" Harry invited him.
"You and my baby sister?!" George said shocked.
Harry and Ginny's faces reddened.
"Me and Ron," Harry corrected.
"When is it?"
By this time, Lee had joined the group.
"Friday evening. You're invited, too, Lee, Verity."
"Thanks, Harry, but that's when I do my radio show. I'd still like to have you on."
"I'll get to that sometime," Harry said not meaning what he said.
"Yeah, I'll be there," George said. "Mind if I bring a guest?"
"That's fine. Who do you have in mind?"
"Angelina." Harry must have had some look on his face, because he quickly added, "She's just a friend! I help her out and she helps me. Honest!"
Harry wasn't so sure he believed that, but he wasn't going to say anything.
"What about you, Verity?" Ron asked.
"I'm flattered, Mr. Weasley."
"Ron," he interrupted.
"Ron," she repeated. "But, I'm busy that night."
"Hot date?" George asked causing Verity's cheeks to turn a slight shade of pink.
"I think so," Lee added causing Verity's cheeks to turn pinker.
"Leave the poor girl alone," Ginny butted in. "Honestly!"
"Well, we need to get back to work. I don't pay you two to stand around and chat," George ordered.
"We'll see you around," Harry said.
Harry led the troop out of the shop. He thought he saw someone stare at him for an extra long amount of time. Harry was not getting the same amount of attention he did right after the battle, but he was not ignored. He rubbed Teddy's back. Teddy had placed his head on Ginny's shoulder and fallen asleep, his left hand holding loosely to his wolf.
Harry kept Teddy for the rest of the day. They went back to the Burrow where the infant received a proper nap. When he woke, he and Harry spent some good time playing together. Harry enjoyed spending time with his godson, giving him the kind of life he never had. People who loved him and wanted him there surrounded Teddy.
---
"Good morning." Harry kissed Ginny after sitting in the seat next to her at the table.
Mrs. Weasley placed a bowl in front of him.
"'Morning," Ginny replied stirring her spoon slowly through her cereal.
"What time are the try-outs?" Harry asked.
"10:00," Ginny squeaked.
Harry reached for her hand.
"Nervous, are you? Ginny, you're an amazing Chaser. You've nothing to be nervous over."
"'Ve you ever tried out for a professional Quidditch team?"
"No…"
"Then you can't tell me not to be nervous."
"Sorry. Gin, I've complete faith you'll be fine."
Ginny smiled wobbly at Harry. He pulled her closer and lost himself in a deep kiss until he heard someone clear her throat. He quickly pulled away, ears turning pink.
"Sorry, Mum," Ginny said.
"Have you two picked a wedding date?"
"Mum, we're not even engaged!"
"Yes, I know," Mrs. Weasley replied sadly.
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Mum," she muttered.
---
"Good luck, Gin," Harry stood outside the fireplace in the kitchen with Ginny, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley.
"You'll do fine, sis." Ron patted her on the back.
"Have fun," Mrs. Weasley said.
Harry pulled Ginny in before she used the players' entrance to floo to the Harpies' stadium. He looked into her deep brown eyes wondering when she became a woman.
"I love you," he whispered kissing her on the cheek.
"Love you, too," she whispered back.
Holding on to Ron's Cleansweep Eleven and wearing her old Chaser's gear, she shakily threw in a pinch of floo powder, stepped into the floo, shouted "Holyhead Harpies Stadium!" and disappeared.
Harry turned to Ron.
"Have you packed, yet?"
Ron shook his head. That did not surprise Harry. Of course, Ron would leave it to the last minute.
"And I suppose you have?" Ron asked.
"I don't have much stuff," Harry replied, following Ron out of the kitchen and up flights of stairs to the attic bedroom.
Harry's trunk, already packed and full of his possessions, sat ready at the foot of the camp bed. Ron's trunk, at the foot of his bed, sat open with clothes spilling out. Harry sat on his bed to watch Ron struggle to pack as much as he could.
"We can make multiple trips, you know," Harry stated. "And you don't have to fit everything in your trunk."
Harry reckoned Ron would ignore him and was proven right when he threw an entire drawer full of clothes into the trunk.
"I reckon I remember a spell Tonks used on my stuff when the Order rescued me from the Dursleys." Harry pulled his wand out of his pocket and pointed it at the trunk. "Pack!" The clothes hanging partially out of the trunk fell in, but nothing else happened. "Tonks wasn't much good at it, either. She claims her mother was fairer, able to get the clothes to fold."
Ron laughed at Harry's lame attempt with the spell.
"Sure that's a real spell, are you?"
"Yes!" Harry glared at him. "You don't have to take everything, you know. Your mum won't throw anything out," Harry assured him.
Thirty minutes later, R on was almost finished. He went through a bunch of clothes and discarded those that no longer fit. He stood up from the crouch he had been, stretched his long legs, and closed the trunk.
"That's as much as I can fit now." He strolled over to the other side of the room and fed Pig and owl treat.
"Let's make our first trip. We'll come back for anything we've left behind." Harry dragged his trunk out of the room.
"I made lunch before you go," Mrs. Weasley called from the kitchen as Harry clomped down the stairs with his heavy trunk. He dragged it into the kitchen and left it by the fireplace.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley." Harry sat down to a stack of bacon sandwiches.
"I can't believe you two are going out and living on your own." Mrs. Weasley sat down to a bacon sandwich herself.
"We'll be back for dinner tonight."
"We will?" Ron entered the room with his trunk and Pig's cage. "Oh, good, lunch!" He immediately sat down and took a large bite out of a sandwich.
"I promised Ginny I'd be here for dinner."
As soon as the boys finished eating they floo'd to Grimmauld Place leaving behind a tearful Mrs. Weasley. The boys promised they'd visit, they'd be there that night for dinner, and, of course, would be back to get more of Ron's stuff.
"Kreacher!" Harry called out after stepping out of the floo with his trunk.
"Yes, Master?" The hook-nosed house-elf appeared before him.
"Ron and I will be moving in here today."
"That is fine with Kreacher. Kreacher is happy to have company. Kreacher is to begin tonight's dinner."
"No, thank you. We're having dinner at the Burrow tonight. We are having a small party on Friday, which I'd enjoy your help with, but we'll discuss that later."
Kreacher nodded and went back to what he was doing before.
"Let's pick our rooms." Ron headed for the stairs, leaving his trunk and owl behind.
Harry looked around the kitchen. The last time he stayed here he was on the run and thanks to the Fidelius Charm was a good place to hide. He didn't need to hide anymore, though.
Harry stepped around the long wooden table thinking back to all the meals he'd had there. The summer before his fifth year at Hogwarts he'd been rescued by the Order of the Phoenix and they used this house as headquarters. Harry sat at this table with Weasleys, Lupin, Tonks, Kingsley, McGonagall, Dumbledore, Doge, Hermione, and Sirius Black. This place had been Sirius's last home before he died. The thought made his heart heavy. Was this really a place Harry wanted to call home?
"Harry?" Ron called from the top of the stairs. Pig squawked in his cage.
Sighing, Harry took his trunk and brought it up two flights of stairs. He'd already decided on Sirius's old room. If he couldn't have Sirius at least he could have his room. Not quite the same, but it would do.
Entering the room he placed his trunk at the foot of the bed and began emptying its contents. When they cleaned this past summer they'd left most of the furniture. They'd taken everything off the walls except one read and gold Gryffindor banner.
"This room is very dull." Ron bounded in. "We'll have to do something about that."
Harry shrugged, placing his two framed pictures of his parents and of Ginny on the bedside table. That was pretty much all he needed in the room.
"I'm going back to get more stuff. You coming?"
Harry shook his head. He wanted to stay here and get used to the idea of Grimmauld Place being home. Ron left the room and Harry lay on the bed. He stared at the walls and wondered if he could forget the bad stuff that took place around the house.
Late in the afternoon, Harry and Ron, unpacked and moved in, used the floo network to get back to the Burrow.
"Hello, Mum," Ron said upon arriving right after Harry, acting as if he hadn't just seen her earlier that day.
"Hello, dear," Mrs. Weasley replied, waving her wand to chop potatoes.
Harry walked into the sitting room and immediately took notice of the red headed girl asleep on the couch. He walked over to her and planted his lips on hers.
"Harry." Ginny smiled, slowly opening her eyes.
"Hey, sleepyhead." Harry sat on the edge of the couch. "How was the try-out?"
Ginny sat up and motioned for Harry to sit next to her. He scooted over and put his arm around her.
"Only five witches showed up. Jones had us doing everything. We're trying out for Chaser, but she had us at every position. I reckon I flew very well, except I'm not great at Keeper."
"Know if you made it, do you?"
Ginny shook her head. "She's going to notify us by owl sometime next week."
Dinner at the Burrow was great. Mrs. Weasley served roasted chicken and mashed potatoes. Ginny talked of her try-outs going over details of her finest and worst moments on the pitch. Mr. Weasley discussed his day at the office and how he heard Percy should be receiving a promotion soon.
Harry and Ron stayed to chat after dinner, but eventually it got late and they had to leave. Ron went first after saying goodbyes. Mrs. Weasley was in serious tears this time muttering about her babies leaving her.
Harry stood in front of the fireplace staring into Ginny's brown eyes, tears forming in them. He didn't want to see her cry. She rarely cried in front of him. Placing fingers under her chin, he tilted her head up and kissed her.
"I'll miss you," she said softly.
"I'll miss you, too."
"Why can't you stay here? You've a room and…"
"Ginny," Harry interrupted. "I need to be on my own."
She nodded. "I'll miss waking up to you and going to sleep after spending the whole day with you."
"You're making this incredibly difficult. You know I'm just a floo away."
A sly smile spread on Ginny's lips.
"Can I come anytime?"
"I'm not sure your mum and dad would like that."
"What they don't know won't hurt them."
"Ginny!"
"Yeah, yeah, okay."
"I love you, Ginny."
"I love you, too."
They kissed one last time before Harry returned to his new home at Number 12, Grimmauld Place.
---
Ron and Harry had been at Grimmauld Place for two nights. It still didn't feel like home for Harry, but he decided it would do for the time being. He sat in the sitting room, thinking, while Kreacher cooked up a feast in the kitchen downstairs. He told the house-elf it was just a small party with a handful of friends, but Kreacher would not budge on the feast.
"Harry?"
He snapped back to reality at the voice calling him from the bottom of the staircase. Ginny had planned on flooing over for a few hours to help set up for the party. Harry didn't care her reasons, he was glad she was here. He was also glad Ron was out.
Ginny walked up the stairs and into the sitting room slowly. Harry smiled noticing her shorts and t-shirt. He motioned for her to sit next to him, which she probably would anyway.
"I hope you don't mind the way I'm dressed." She nestled close to Harry. "I reckoned I'd just go home and get my robes before the party."
"You're fine," Harry said. "It's not a fancy party."
Harry and Ginny snuggled for a few minutes before deciding to clean the first floor. Harry did have a house-elf, but he didn't ask or want him to do everything. The house wasn't that dirty so it didn't take long to make it presentable.
"I'm going home to change." Ginny kissed Harry lightly on the lips.
Harry went down to the kitchen and watched Ginny disappear in the floo before heading to the second floor and changing himself.
"Harry?" He heard a female voice call out, a scuffle of feet, and the closing of a door. It was such a joy to not hear Mrs. Black's screams and shouts whenever someone entered the house.
Throwing on his robes, Harry walked down the stairs and into the entrance hall where Ron and Hermione had just entered. Hermione wore the Ministry robes and had her bushy brown hair pulled back into a plait.
"Hello, Harry," she greeted her friend.
"Hey, Hermione. How's work?" He led them into the sitting room so they wouldn't be standing around the entrance.
"Fantastic!" Hermione sat so close to Ron she was practically in his lap. "Mr. Quigley, my boss, wants me to present S.P.E.W. to my co-workers so we can begin working on it. He thinks it's far from perfect, but if we can get many ideas and loads of input we can make it work."
"Spew, Hermione?"
"Yes, Ron, S.P.E.W.," Hermione grunted.
"I think it's a good idea," Harry butted in before an argument started. "If anyone can do it, you can."
"Thanks, Harry. See, Ron, Harry has faith in me."
Fortunately, the guests started arriving via the door and via the floo network.
The first to arrive was Neville Longbottom. He stepped out of the floo mere seconds after Hermione's comment, looking a bit sad. Harry went downstairs to greet him and reckoned he was still deal with a broken heart over his mutual breakup with Luna. Ginny and Harry wanted to invite Luna, but she had apparently left for her trip around the world. Neville followed Harry to the sitting room and sat on the couch not really wanting to talk.
Shortly after his arrival, Dean arrived with a guest.
"I hope you don't mind," Dean said after Harry opened the door. Standing next to the dark skinned boy was Lavender Brown.
Feeling awkward Harry didn't know what to say. He very well couldn't say no with the girl standing right in front of him, but he also couldn't say yes without knowing how Ron felt. Lavender stood in the doorway looking as awkward as Harry felt. Being the gentleman, Harry motioned for them to come inside. If Ron had a problem with it he could explain it to him later.
He led the two into the sitting room. Hermione and Ron were so engrossed in each other they didn't them walk in. Neville's eyes went wide at the sight of Lavender, but he said nothing. Dean and Lavender sat in armchairs across from the couch. Harry squeezed in between Neville and Hermione. It was at that moment Hermione and Ron noticed the unexpected guest.
"How are you, Lavender?" Harry asked hoping to defer anything anyone was about to start.
"Doing much better, thanks. You know, Seamus is in Egypt working for Gringotts. I plan on visiting him there next week."
Harry nodded. He wasn't a big fan of Lavender, but she was here so he'd be nice.
Fortunately, at that moment, Ginny arrived via floo and George with his two guests arrived via the door. Ron answered the door while Harry greeted Ginny at the fireplace.
"Something smells good." She kissed Harry hello.
Harry took hold of her waist noticing she'd changed into her black robes.
"You smell good," he complimented. "Let's stay in here. I don't want to share you with anyone else."
Ginny smiled coyly.
"Is the food ready?" Ron questioned from the top of the stairs.
Harry and Ginny broke apart. Ron had impeccable timing.
"Kreacher?" Harry called out.
"Yes, Master?" Kreacher stuck his head into the dining area.
"Are you ready to serve us?"
"Yes, Master Harry."
Harry walked into the sitting room. Someone had turned on the wireless. Lee Jordan babbled on about something he didn't care to pay attention. George had taken a seat on the floor with Angelina. Angelina's good friend and one of Harry's old Quidditch teammates, Alicia Spinnet, sat in Harry's spot on the couch.
"Dinner's ready," Harry announced.
The group trooped down the stairs and into the kitchen to see the long table filled with food. There were pork chops, steak and kidney pie, mashed parsnips, butterbeer, pumpkin juice, and firewhiskey among other things.
"Kreacher, you outdid yourself," Harry called to the house-elf.
Harry chose a seat in the middle and began piling food onto his plate. Before Ginny sat next to him she hugged Hermione hello.
"How's work?" She asked her friend.
"Great. It looks like we might be implementing S.P.E.W." Hermione sat next to Ron and across from Harry.
"Is that the house-elf thing she started our sixth year?" Angelina whispered. George nodded.
"How did Holyhead try-outs go?" Hermione asked.
"Tiring. Gwenog Jones had us do everything," Ginny replied, digging into the parsnips.
"You're trying out for the Harpies?" Alicia asked. "I heard they were invitation only."
"Yes. Slughorn invited Jones to our last game of the season. She was impressed by my flying and invited me." Ginny tried not to sound like a braggart.
"Slughorn?" Alicia asked confused.
"Professor Slughorn took over for Snape at Potions my fifth year when Snape moved to Defense Against the Dark Arts," Ginny explained.
Dinner went fairly smoothly. Lavender sat as far away from Ron as possible and would not look in his direction for anything. Hermione tried to hide that she was stealing glances at her.
After everyone finished the meal, Kreacher came out with the pudding—treacle tart and treacle fudge.
"'Ank 'oo, 'Rea-er," Ron said with a mouthful of fudge. Hermione sent him a menacing look. He quickly swallowed. "Sorry."
Everyone laughed.
"You've been pretty quiet tonight, Neville. You okay?" Ginny spoke up.
"I'm all right," he replied softly.
"What have you been doing to keep yourself busy?" Ginny asked trying to strike up a conversation.
"Not much, really." He nibbled on a tart. "Been to the Leaky Cauldron twice. That's about it. Y'know, Hannah Abbott's the barmaid there. Tom works nights."
That made plenty more sense than what Ron told them days earlier.
"Gran was happy to see me leave the house for this party," Neville finished.
Merlin, Neville, Harry thought, you're depressing.
"Yeah, Hannah certainly has grown up," Ginny said.
"Oh, yes," Neville agreed.
There was a hint of something in Neville's voice, but what it was Harry could not figure out.
Once pudding was over the group mingled upstairs in the sitting room. Ron and Hermione found their spot on the couch with George and Angelina next to them. Dean sat back in the armchair with Lavender perched on the arm. Alicia leaned against Angelina's side of the couch. Neville sat on the floor near Ron and Hermione. If they were going to continue entertaining guests they would have to bring in more furniture. Ginny and Harry snuggled in the remaining armchair. Ginny sang along in Harry's ear to the Weird Sisters' song playing on the wireless.
George brought a full bottle of firewhiskey with him from the kitchen. He took a swig and passed it around. Everyone took a drink the first time. Slowly, they stopped until it became George, Angelina, Alicia, and Lavender. Then, just George and Angelina until the bottle was empty.
Feeling tipsy from only a handful of swigs, Harry knew George and Angelina must be outright drunk. Ginny placed her had against Harry's chest, laughing at something Alicia said.
"Do it!" Lavender shouted.
Harry hadn't been paying attention so he didn't know what Lavender wanted done. His widened severely as he witnessed Angelina embrace George in a kiss. They pulled away as Lavender, Alicia, and Dean laughed. Harry didn't get what was so funny. George and Angelina didn't either as they just stared at each other.
"I can't believe they did that," Ginny whispered to Harry.
"I can't believe you did that," Ron said out loud.
"I—I have to go," Angelina quickly stood up, almost falling over. Steadying herself she continued, "You coming, Alicia?"
"Yes. Thanks for the party, Harry and Ron."
Alicia followed Angelina to the entrance hall and out the front door. Both were drunk and unsteady on their feet.
"I'm leaving, too. I need to open the shop bright and early tomorrow." George almost smacked into the candelabra Harry wanted to remove but had not found a replacement before regaining his composure and walking out the front door.
---
Harry opened his eyes to a dark room. The wireless played a slow melodic love song. He twisted his body to see the time on his wristwatch, noticed most of the other guests gone, and felt the weight on him that must be Ginny.
"2:16!" he mouthed.
Running a hand through her red hair, he knew he had to wake Ginny, but he didn't want to. Knowing he had to do what's right, he gently shook her shoulder. She raised her arm almost smacking Harry in the face, mumbling something about not wanting to get up.
"It's 2:16," he whispered in her ear.
With that, Ginny's eyes popped open and she almost fell out of Harry's lap. Without disturbing Ron and Hermione, who snoozed on the couch, Harry and Ginny made their way down the stairs and into the kitchen. Before going downstairs, Harry turned off the wireless.
"Mum is going to kill me." Ginny rubbed her eyes. "Dad, too."
"Maybe they'll be asleep and have no idea what time you came home."
"Ha! This is my mum we're talking about. I may be seventeen, but if I want to continue living under their roof I need to obey their rules."
"Good luck." Harry gave Ginny a quick peck.
"Oh, you smell awful." Ginny wriggled her nose.
"Thanks," Harry replied sarcastically. He knew she was referring to the alcohol on his breath.
Ginny shook her head, threw in a pinch of floo powder, stepped into the fireplace, called out "The Burrow", and disappeared.
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Sorry it took so long to get this chapter out, but it took a long time for me to write! I didn't know it would be this long, I just knew what I wanted to include.