Chapter Twenty-Eight

A Dinner At Shell Cottage

"Harry?"

"Mmm?"

"Are you awake?"

"Mmm."

"Can you get me something to drink? A glass of water would be nice."

"Sure, darling. Do you want anything else?"

"Why don't you get the water and when you get back I'll tell you what else I want."

"I meant, do you want anything else from the kitchen?"

"Not from the kitchen."

"Then I'll be right back."

. . . .

"Thanks, love. I was really thirsty."

"So, I'm back."

"I noticed. Come here, kiss me."

[Pause]

"You haven't worn me out yet, you know."

"I can tell. It's a work in progress. I . . . mmm, oh, Harry!"

[Long pause]

"Ginny?"

"Mmm?"

"You're so beautiful and you feel so good."

[Giggle] "This is nice. This is the best holiday I've ever had."

"Ginny? Let's celebrate the holiday again."

[Giggle] "Not worn out yet? Oh, no, you're not."

[Long pause]

"Ginny?"

"Mmm?"

"Would you mind getting me a glass of pumpkin juice?"

"Not at all, sweetie."

. . . .

"Here it is. What were you just looking at?"

"Everything. I love to watch you walk, coming and going. It's the most beautiful sight on the planet."

"Which do you like better, coming or going?"

"That's not a fair question. I don't want to hurt the feelings of either coming or going."

"You're quite the diplomat. Both my coming and my going are flattered."

"That's the idea, to have everything be grateful."

"Everything is extremely grateful, so grateful . . ."

[Long pause]

"Harry?"

"Mmm?"

"Are you sleepy?"

"Mmm."

"Me, too."

"Mmm."

# # # #

They had no idea what hour of the night or day it was, nor did they care. Harry cast a dozen Orchideous spells in front of the picture window and blocked it completely with hundreds of roses, daffodils, carnations, orchids, and tulips. They drew curtains over the other windows and didn't bother with clothes. Whenever they were hungry, there was food in the kitchen. They spent Sunday night and Monday making love, showering together, bathing each other, lying on the rug in front of the fireplace, or curled up in the love seat.

But things became even more intense when they noticed in the morning (at least they thought it was morning) that their minds and feelings had become connected again. The link had been there during the summer at the Burrow, but they now realized that it had vanished when Harry's troubles began, when he had started directing his anger at Ginny. Now that the connection was coming back, they both realized how much they had missed it.

The best part was when they made love. They knew exactly what the other one wanted, what touch of the fingers or caress of the lips caused the most pleasure; they could tell the exact moment when the other was about to explode. They began to see as though looking through the other's eyes. Harry saw the red and gold pattern of the bed's canopy as Ginny saw it from underneath him, and Ginny saw her own sweaty face, grimacing with pleasure, slightly out of focus because Harry was not wearing his glasses.

They were up most of the night and morning, and in the afternoon they slept. Somehow Ginny awoke in time to take a quick shower, throw on her clothes, and for them both to hurry off to Hogwarts, where they beat the curfew by a few minutes. They clung to each other in the entrance hall, oblivious to Filch's scowls, growls, and tapping of his foot. Harry watched Ginny climb the marble staircase, and just before she disappeared around the corner they both pressed their fingers to their lips at the same instant.

Harry walked slowly back to the inn. Ginny had actually come pretty close to wearing him out, but he had never been more happily exhausted, walking through the village with a smile on his face. He was surprised when people greeted him and asked how he was feeling. He had expected anger when news about the poison got out, but no one was hostile. When he walked into the inn, a wizard sitting at the bar got up and clapped him on the back, and Tony Trostle came up and totally surprised him with a bear hug. Harry mumbled an embarrassed thanks, but declined invitations to sit down for a drink. Up in the flat he fell face down on the unmade bed and was asleep before his eyes closed.

He didn't awaken until very late the next day, and lay in bed for a long time remembering every detail of yesterday's passion. Three days ago he had feared that his life had ended; now he couldn't believe how happy he was. A load had been lifted the instant he decided to drop the inn, and the decision to enroll in the Auror program felt completely right, although he was concerned about starting it so late. Still, it gave him the feeling that he was taking his destiny back into his own hands. For three months he had been buffeted and manipulated by the plots and schemes of people who wanted to hurt him and Ginny. Now he knew exactly what he was going to do, and he knew that he would succeed.

It was Ginny, he realized with a smile, who had never doubted him, even after he had sunk into a miasma of despair and resignation. It was a wonder that she had remained faithful to their love, but she had always told him that her love for him would never die; now he knew what that meant.

He buried his face in the empty pillow next to him, smelling her fragrance and sweat; he wanted her again. Thoughts of her lips, her skin, her arms and legs, her breasts, swept him away, but he pulled himself back and took a deep breath. He had things to do, and he wanted to get them started.

After showering and dressing he rearranged the flowers that covered the picture window, put them into vases, and placed them around the room, on the mantel, the floor, and the little tables that he and Ginny had picked out in Diagon Alley. As he was standing in the middle of the room admiring his decorative skills, Bailey flew in the open casement window and alighted next to McPherson on his perch. She had a message in her beak, and Harry took it and scratched her head. Ginny had written it between classes.

My sweetest love,

I am still so sleepy. I had a nine o'clock Arithmancy this morning, and I barely made it. I hope you are more rested than I am, although I have to say that being awake is wonderful because I can think of you and remember how you touched me and how happy I was in your arms. That is where I want to be, and it is making it hard for me to concentrate in my classes.

I will be very busy today and this evening, catching up (except Defense Against, since they don't have a teacher yet). I have heard some rumors about the Slytherins, which I don't want to put into a letter, but since you will be here tomorrow, we can talk about it then (and...?).

I love you more than I can ever tell you, and I want to be with you so I can show you. I live for tomorrow when I will see you again.

Your Ginny

There was a lipstick smudge under her signature; Harry pressed it to his lips and wrote back:

Ginny,

I have been thinking of you ever since I woke up, which was later than you did, I think. I have some things to do today, too. It will be hard because I won't be able to get you and your "coming and going" out of my mind. Do you know how much I love you? I will tell you again when I see you tomorrow.

But tomorrow is so far away! I want to touch you and squeeze you. I want to feel you, all of you, against me. I want to kiss you and never stop.

Writing this is making me crazy. I really need to get going. I love you.

Harry

He gave the letter to Bailey—who was busy grooming McPherson's back feathers—and she flew off looking slightly annoyed. Harry stroked McPherson and smiled. "Sorry, mate, I know how it feels. Go after her if you want." The owl flapped his wings, gave a loud hoot, and took off out the window. Harry heard his hooting and what sounded like answers from another owl; he turned away feeling satisfied.

He had lots of things he wanted to do today, and the first was to talk to Madam Rosmerta about the inn. He checked with his staff to see how things were going—Stan said they were running out of butterbeer since all the Potio Vitae had been confiscated yesterday by the Ministry—and walked down the High Street to The Three Broomsticks. People called to him when he came inside, and Rosmerta hurried from behind the bar, a butterbeer in hand.

She grabbed his arm. "Harry! Did you hear the news? No, how could you? Come!" She thrust the bottle into his hand, pulled him to a corner table, pushed him into a chair and sat down next to him, leaning forward and speaking in a low voice.

"I just got an owl from Saliyah Ushujaa. They traced the Turntongue. The whole thing was cooked up by Bella Lestrange last year. What a pervert! Molly should get an Order of Merlin." She chuckled, and became serious again. "It seems that the idea was to make lots of people a little angry and a little frightened. It's like Slughorn said, the poison wasn't strong enough to cause violence, just to keep everyone mad at everyone else. Voldemort must have figured he could exploit all that fear and anger to keep people in line."

Harry stared at her. "My God, that's unbelievable. Poisoning the whole country, kids, everyone." He thought a moment. "But they screwed up. Lot's of people don't like it, unless they have Muggle grandparents."

"They didn't screw up. That's what Bellatrix wanted. They came up with a potion that somehow reacted to non-magical ancestry and put that in the PV too. It's the third ingredient that Slughorn couldn't identify. The funny part is, Saliyah said there's a story floating around that Voldemort tried it and liked it."

Harry snorted. "His father was a Muggle." He shook his head. "It sounds like something Dolores Umbridge would dream up."

"Exactly. She was head of the . . . what was that place?"

"The Muggle-born Registration Commission. I was there."

"Well, they gave Potio Vitae to everyone in the Ministry, and if you liked it you were in trouble. Then the Death Eaters set up that fake company, A Witch's Brew, and started making the Potio Vitae with the poison in it."

"That doesn't explain the Crescerio. Someone here in Hogsmeade doctored the PV, but if it was Turquoise, then she didn't do it by herself. She didn't have the knowledge, she's uneducated. She must have had a partner."

"But at least they solved the mystery of where the Turntongue came from."

Harry sat back. "Ros, I need your advice about something."

"Sure, Harry. Advice is free." She grinned.

He smiled back. "Do you know anyone who could run the inn for me? I want to . . . to try something different."

Rosmerta cocked her head. "Are you selling?"

Harry hesitated. "Probably, eventually. But . . ." He looked around and dropped his voice. "Please don't say anything. I don't want everyone to start bothering me. I just want someone else to manage it for now."

"That person is right under your nose. Stan Shunpike. To be honest, he's been running it for the last month. You weren't in any condition to make rational decisions. Stan made sure you didn't do anything stupid."

Harry chuckled. "I did plenty of stupid things, but I guess Stan bailed me out with the inn, and Ginny with everything else."

Rosmerta smiled. "You're lucky to have people like that around you." She shook her head. "No, that's not true. It's not luck. People want to help you." She put her hand on his. "I'm glad you came and talked to me, Harry. I'll do whatever I can."

Harry squeezed her hand. "Thanks, Ros. I don't really understand it. I figured that everyone would be mad at me for bringing all these problems here, but . . ." He looked around at the room. "I guess not."

"No. Maybe a couple of idiots think that, but people know they can count on you. When they think about what you did last year, how could they be anything but grateful?"

Harry got to his feet. "So you think Stan could do it? Do you think he would want to?"

She smiled. "Ask him."

Harry hugged her. "Thanks, Ros, thanks for everything."

Harry left The Three Broomsticks thinking about the news Rosmerta had told him. He was beginning to wonder about Dolores Umbridge and whether she could have had a hand in his troubles. Could the little toad have done all those things even if she was out of the country? Harry could certainly see that revenge might motivate her; he'd been a thorn in her side going back to his fifth year at Hogwarts.

And Stan as manager of the inn? Well, why not? There was a lot more to the man than a conductor on a wizard bus. He had a head for business, and Harry would certainly be comfortable knowing that he was in charge. Stan and Kreacher got along, and Winky hadn't threatened him with her ladle lately. Harry decided to think about it for a day or two.

But now he had another task to take care of. He Disapparated to Diagon Alley, ran an errand and spoke briefly to Bill, and finally made a stop at Shell Cottage and talked to Fleur. He returned to the inn just before dinner and up in the flat saw the two owls perched in the elm tree outside the picture window. He opened the casement window on the other side of the room and in a moment Bailey flew in followed by McPherson. Bailey lifted her leg and Harry took the letter.

Darling,

I can't believe it's been less than a day since I saw you last. It seems like an eternity. I blew up my cauldron in Professor Slughorn's class this afternoon because I was thinking of you instead of how many newt eyes to add. Poor Luna's hair was singed, but she wasn't hurt. You should stop making me do things like that!

Then again, I really don't want you to stop distracting me. It makes me feel so close to you, and that is the best feeling in the world.

I can't stop thinking of you. Let me know how your day has been, and everything you did so I can picture all those things in my mind. I love you so much.

Ginny

Harry sat down in the love seat and smiled to himself, thinking of the things that he liked to do to "distract" Ginny. Bailey roused him from his daydream with several loud chirps, and he penned an answer.

My beloved Ginny,

I was just thinking about what I like to do to distract you, and also about what you do to "wear me out." I don't know how I can get through the rest of the week without you. I'm sure that by the time you are here on Friday I will be completely insane and ready to be worn out again.

Today I talked to Madam Rosmerta about finding someone to run the inn when I start the Auror program. She had a great idea: Stan! But don't say anything to anyone yet, until I think about it for a while. I like the idea, but I want to be sure. Rosmerta also told me that the Ministry has solved the Turntongue mystery, and the culprit was Bellatrix Lestrange! Riddle wanted to make everyone mad at each other so he could exploit all the discontent, and Bellatrix figured out a way to do it. I'll explain it more when I see you tomorrow.

I will be spending the rest of today and all of tonight doing nothing but thinking of you and your "coming and going." I hope that when I see you tomorrow I don't do something too outrageous, but I probably will. So be prepared.

I miss you so much. I love you so much.

Harry

The two owls departed together, and Harry went down to the dining room where he ate with Tony and his wife. All the customers were full of the news that had appeared in the afternoon edition of the Prophet about the Potio Vitae affair.

"There's gonna be a swarm of reporters up here," Tony grimaced. "I'm surprised they haven't shown up yet."

"Patience," Harry grinned. "They'll be here just in time for dessert, you watch."

Sure enough, an hour later as Kreacher was serving the first order of carrot cake, two young wizards and a witch walked into the inn; one of the wizards had a camera. They looked around the dining room and spotted Harry, now sitting by himself all the way in the back, having no luck balancing his ledger which was open in front of him. When the reporters descended on him he closed the ledger and waved at the chairs around his table; they moved backward in unison.

"Have a seat," Harry gestured. "Can I get you a drink? Potio Vitae?"

They looked at each other, but the witch laughed. "Nice try, Mr. Potter, you won't get rid of us that easily."

"It was worth a shot. What can I do for you?"

The reporters interviewed him while the photographer snapped pictures of him, the dining room, the D.A. plaques, and Stan, who was busy behind the bar and wouldn't show his face to the camera. Harry tried to steer the questions away from his own problems with Potio Vitae, but the witch kept coming back to them. Annoyance replaced tolerance as the witch pressed.

"So, Harry, how badly did you react to Turntongue, not being a pureblood yourself? And what about the rumors that you threw your girlfriend down the stairs after you went on a PV drinking binge?" She smiled sweetly; she had dark brown hair and didn't wear much makeup, but her demeanor reminded Harry of another reporter.

"Is Rita Skeeter your mother or your role model?" he asked. "Or both?"

The witch clapped her hands. "Oh, I adore her! Did you read that marvelous book she wrote last year about Professor Duddlemore?"

"Yeah, I read that drivel, and if you ask me again about Gin—about what the Turntongue did to me, I'll have to ask you to leave."

The male reporter put his hand on her arm. "That's okay, Mr. Potter, I don't think we have any more questions." He pulled the witch out of her chair and pushed her towards the door. "Sorry about that," he said to Harry before following her. "Cub reporter, a little too impressionable. She'll be okay."

Harry followed them to make sure they left, and went to the bar. "I hope that's over with," he said to Stan.

The barkeep smiled and poured firewhiskeys that Kreacher reached up for and took to a table where three witches were having dinner. "You ought to be used to it."

Harry shook his head. "I hate it." He waited while Stan served butterbeers to two wizards. "Oh, by the way, Stan, I wanted to ask if you could handle things this weekend. We got invited to Shell Cottage, and I'd like to leave Friday evening and come back Sunday afternoon. Is that okay?"

"Sure, 'Arry, that's fine. You and Ginny need a vacation. I'm 'appy to do it."

"Good. I appreciate it."

Harry wandered back to his table and the ledger, greeting customers along the way. He gave the ledger another try, but when his vision started to blur and the numbers began floating around on the page, he gave up, but noticed that he felt no frustration like he had in the past; in fact, he didn't even care. He sat back in his chair and looked around; his customers, many of them his friends, were eating, drinking, laughing, having a good time. He closed the ledger, took it back into the kitchen, and put it in its drawer.

That evening Harry and Ginny exchanged love letters—lust letters, more accurately—and he sent a package of Chocoballs as a good-night present. He took out the Marauder's Map and watched her dot do a little dance on her bed, wondering whether she was actually standing on it, but deciding she would be bashing her head on the canopy if she was; he would ask her when he saw her at lunch.

He didn't have to wait until lunchtime to see her the next day. When he approached the castle for his morning Charms lesson, Ginny was waiting at the top of the stairs in front of the great oak doors, and came flying down the steps and threw herself at him. They kissed and stood gazing at each other until they noticed Emma and Claire standing in the drive, watching; they had just come from Care of Magical Creatures.

"At least you're not snogging," Emma said. "Hi, Harry. Doesn't Ginny look good?"

Harry grabbed both girls at once and hugged them. They squealed and laughed as he planted a kiss on each of their cheeks.

"Yes, she looks great, thanks to you two very brave and very smart young witches. True Gryffindors." He and Ginny both laughed as the girls turned bright red. "Sit with us at lunch," he said. "You can tell me what's going on."

The twins promised and left Harry and Ginny on the steps. "I thought you would meet me at lunch," Harry said. "Is everything okay?"

"I forgot that I had Defense Against the Dark Arts this morning. No teacher, no class."

Harry took her hand and they walked into the entrance hall. "There's no word yet on who'll replace Pester? They can't just let it go, it's the most important class."

"That's what we all think. I talked to Hagrid yesterday, and he said they're taking their time so that they can get it right."

"They should give up and just hire someone for a year. No one in their right mind will take it for longer."

"Maybe, but you're right about it being the most important class. They need to get their act together, and soon."

They were on their way up to the seventh floor. "What are you going to do while I'm with Flitwick?" Harry asked.

"Do you mind if I ask the Professor if I can watch? Maybe I'd learn something."

"You just want to distract me. By the way," he stopped a few yards from Flitwick's office and looked up and down the empty corridor. "I love you." He pushed her against a tapestry of a banquet hanging on the wall, and kissed her. Ginny kissed him back, and for several minutes they were oblivious to everything, including the wizards and witches on the tapestry who stopped eating to watch them.

"That's what I missed," Ginny cooed into Harry's ear.

"Me too." He brushed a lock of her hair from her face. "Well, time for Charms."

Professor Flitwick was pleased to have Ginny watch the lesson. "And don't feel shy about joining in," he added.

"Professor," Ginny said as Flitwick climbed onto his stool next to his desk, "what's happening with Defense Against the Dark Arts? Do you know when the class will start again?"

The Professor shook his head. "Sadly, no. The position has a reputation that was unfortunately enhanced by the last holder. We're trying, Miss Weasley, I assure you."

"It's not fair. All I've had since my first year is bad luck with that class. I do want to learn something."

"I'm sorry. As I said, we're trying. Now," he turned to Harry, "where were we the last time you were here?"

As the lesson went on, Harry discovered that his spells were almost casting themselves, and Flitwick finally had him try to do all of them non-verbally. Harry glanced at Ginny and smiled when he saw the frown of concentration on her face as she tried to follow the Professor's wand movements with her own. She looked up and smiled back, but gasped and looked past Harry. Flitwick yelped, and Harry spun around. He and Ginny sprang forward and caught the Professor just as he was about to topple onto the floor: Harry had inadvertently Levitated him without even using his wand, but Ginny's smile had distracted him, and poor Professor Flitwick had dropped back onto the stool and lost his balance.

"Merlin, I'm sorry!" Harry exclaimed. "Are you okay, Professor?"

Flitwick straightened his waistcoat and cravat and peered at Harry. "I'm fine, Harry, but what on earth happened? You lowered your wand, looked at Miss Weasley, and the next instant I was two feet in the air, a rather startling experience."

Harry looked at his wand, then at Ginny. "Uh, well . . ." He turned back to Flitwick, "I think I was thinking about . . . um, it's a little embarrassing, actually." His face turned red. "I'm sorry, Professor, I'll be more careful."

Flitwick eyes twinkled. "Maybe we shouldn't have the lessons with such an attractive distraction present." He sat on the stool and conjured a handkerchief which he used to wipe his forehead; when he was done it disappeared. "Let's call it a day. I need to recover my equilibrium before my next class."

Harry apologized again, and they hurriedly left. Out in the corridor Ginny burst out laughing. "Harry, what were you thinking? I thought he was going to float up to the ceiling."

Harry grinned, embarrassed. "I was thinking about the map last night. I saw your dot dancing on the bed, then I imagined you jumping up and down and hitting your head on the canopy."

Ginny laughed again. "I wasn't jumping, but I was prancing around. I had to keep my head bent down so I wouldn't smash it. But Harry, do you realize what you just did? You were imagining me, and you made Flitwick do the same thing."

They were in front of the Fat Lady, who was reading a book, ignoring them. Harry scratched his head. "I don't understand. How could that happen?"

"Ask him next time. I think he was too flustered to realize what you had done."

The Fat Lady's book snapped shut. "Either go inside or pipe down," she said. "I'd like some peace and quiet, if you don't mind." She sniffed and opened the book again.

"Fried liver and onions." Ginny made a face, and the portrait swung open. They went inside and Harry stood by the fireplace, leaning against the mantel while Ginny went up to her room to drop off her books. Nobody was there—lunch had already started—and Harry looked around the common room, feeling contented. They went down to the Great Hall and sat next to the twins who had saved two seats for them.

"So tell me how you found out about the Turntongue," Harry said to them.

"We didn't really do anything," answered Claire. "Zoro and Sean told us what they heard those prats say, and we told Keesha and Luna."

"Some people wouldn't have done anything," Harry said. "They would have been too scared, or decided it wasn't any of their business. You helped fix something that was really bad."

The girls squirmed, but smiled and looked at each other. "We're glad," mumbled Emma.

"So," Harry turned to Ginny, "what happened to the Slytherins? Ushujaa talked to them, I assume?"

"She did, but there's only rumors. People are saying that Jace and Serpens were in the Leaky Cauldron with an older cousin of Serpens, and they all got drunk and the cousin told them about the Turntongue. He must have been a Death Eater who got away."

Harry thought for a moment. "I don't think so. If he was a Death Eater on the run, he wouldn't be in a public place like the Leaky Cauldron. Lots of Ministry types must hang out there and someone would spot him. Remember Ron told us that some Death Eaters may have gone underground? I'll bet the cousin was working with Bellatrix on the Turntongue."

"That explains everything except for one thing," Ginny said. "How did this cousin know that you were going to be killed? Bellatrix's original plot was to nark everyone, not kill you."

Harry's brow furrowed. "You're right, it doesn't explain that." He shrugged. "At least we know a little more now. So what happened to Jace and Serpens?"

Ginny grinned. "They have detention every evening for the rest of the term, plus on Saturdays they have to work in the kitchen because of that firewhiskey still. It was in the dungeons near where they tried to jump us. I heard they'll be cleaning cauldrons without using magic."

"That'll be good for their souls," Harry chortled. "How about Zoro and his friends? They should get medals from the Ministry."

They turned and looked at the Slytherin table. Two groups of students were sitting there with a gap in the benches between them. Zoroaster, Sean, and Abigail were sitting together at one end of the table with about a dozen others, mostly young. At the other end sat a larger and surlier group of older students.

"It looks like there's a little rift in Slytherin House," Harry said. "What a shame. I just hope those kids can stick together." He turned to the twins. "When you see Sean and Zoro or any of them, tell them that Harry Potter thanks them for doing the right thing."

The girls nodded solemnly in unison. "We've already told them that they were brave," said Emma.

"They were."

They finished eating in silence. "I have Transfiguration in a few minutes," Ginny said. "Are you going back to the inn? I'll walk you to the gate."

Harry said goodbye to Emma and Claire, and he and Ginny left. They walked slowly down the drive to the tall pillars and Harry told her about Rosmerta's suggestion to let Stan manage the inn. They stopped when they got to the gates, and Harry held Ginny; she pressed herself against him.

"I miss you already," he said. She lifted her face and they kissed.

"I do too," she whispered. "I love you."

Harry sighed and took her by her shoulders. "If I don't stop now, I'll do something illegal." They both giggled. "I'll pick you up at the castle on Friday. We can Disapparate to Shell Cottage from the inn." Ginny kissed him and started quickly back up the drive. "I love you!" Harry called after her. She looked back and waved with a smile. Harry watched until she disappeared inside the castle doors.

He spent the rest of that day and the next two trying to keep busy. He went to Honeydukes to buy a box of Replenishing Chocolates as a present for Fleur, and stocked up on goodies for Ginny's nightly gifts. On Thursday he helped Stan sort out the beverage problem; Jake Sipper had been cleared by the Ministry of any suspicion, but Harry asked Stan if he thought they should find a new supplier.

"I don't think anyone else would be any better," Stan opined. "Old Tom thought they were all a bunch of crooks. We dealt with Sipper, and at least 'e usually showed up with the shipments so we could yell at 'im in person when 'e screwed up. It didn't do much good, but it felt better," he grinned.

"I guess we'll stay with him," Harry said. "I still want my money back for that lot of bad PV."

"'E'll probably tell you 'e was doing us a favor. 'E'll make up a story that the rats died because the poison in that lot was stronger."

Harry chuckled. "If he says that, I'll drop the whole thing just for giving me a good laugh."

Stan looked at Harry for a moment. "You know, 'Arry, Tom never took anything seriously, even when someone got drunk and smashed up the bar with a spell. If you want to run a public place like this, you've got to roll with it, otherwise . . . well, otherwise you end up going nutters."

"Which is exactly what happened. But you're looking at the new me, Stan. Jake Sipper will be my best mate from now on, and if Turquoise Southeby shows up, I'll give her a kiss. No," he laughed, "I'll shove my wand up her nose like Ginny did and then I'll kiss her. It would be something for her to fondly remember during her long years in Azkaban." Stan didn't smile. "I'm sorry," Harry said quickly. "I shouldn't joke about that."

Stan shrugged and began polishing the counter. "Don't worry about it. No one who 'asn't been there could know what it's like. I guess she deserves it, but I dunno if I would send anyone there, even if they did try to kill someone."

Stan didn't appear to want to talk about it anymore, so Harry went up to the flat and started packing for the weekend, even though they were not leaving until tomorrow. That evening he sent Ginny a package of honey toffees via McPherson, and fell asleep holding the note she sent back that had another smudge of lipstick on it.

On Friday he counted the hours and then the minutes, and when he couldn't stand waiting any longer, he went to the castle. It was only three o'clock, so to pass the time he walked down to Hagrid's cabin. Hagrid wasn't there, but Grawp was happy to see him and they spent an interesting hour grunting and talking to each other in bad English. At four, Harry went back to the castle and paced the entrance hall while students and staff came and went and smiled knowingly at him.

Finally, Harry stopped at the base of the marble staircase. Ginny was on her way; he didn't know how he knew it, but in a minute she appeared at the top of the steps, wearing tight jeans, the dragon-hide jacket that Charlie had given her for her birthday, and a red bandana tied around her hair. She looked beautiful and sexy. When she saw Harry she ran down and jumped from five steps up into his arms. He was acutely aware of her body plastered to his as they snogged.

"Are you ready?" he asked as he slung her satchel over his shoulder. "They're expecting us around six." They walked down the drive with their arms around each other, and Ginny chattered about her classes and the Quidditch practice she had called yesterday.

"It was just to stay in shape. We'll have one more before the holiday, and we'll start up again in earnest next February." She grinned up at him. "I got a letter from the Harpies. It's signed by Gwenog, and I'm going to bring it home at Christmas to make Ron jealous."

"What's it say?"

"They have a tryout camp in Holyhead whenever they have openings on the team, and this was the official invitation. Oh, Harry, I can't believe it!" She danced around him and took his hands and they spun in a circle until they both collapsed laughing in the middle of the lane. Harry leaned over and Ginny grabbed the collar of his jacket and pulled his mouth down on hers.

"Hey, you're blocking the road!" someone called. They looked up and saw Neville and Keesha walking towards them, and scrambled up.

"You just couldn't wait to get it on," Keesha laughed. They started walking together, and Keesha told them they were off on a camping trip to the Isle of Wight for the weekend; they would be collecting specimens for Neville's classes at the College of Herbology.

"In the middle of winter?" Ginny asked. "You'll freeze to death."

"It's not winter yet," Keesha said, "and there's lots of ways to stay warm." She giggled and Neville blushed.

"I bought a magical tent from Dervish and Banges," he said. "It's got warming spells built in. We're on our way there now to pick it up. And I saw Hermione yesterday and she taught me some of those spells you used last year to keep Muggles away." He looked at Keesha. "I think we'll be okay."

"I think we'll be great!" she said. "And I'll come back knowing everything there is to know about brackish water lilies of the Atlantic littoral." She smiled at Neville and he looked at her proudly.

"We're off to Shell Cottage for the weekend," Ginny said.

"Well, you'll be eating better than us, I suspect," answered Keesha. "French cooking and all."

They parted at the top of the High Street. Neville and Keesha went into Dervish and Banges, and Harry and Ginny went around to the back door of the inn and upstairs to the flat. Ginny squealed when she saw the bouquets everywhere; the flat looked like a florist shop. She clapped her hands. "It's beautiful! Let's keep it like this, always."

"If it pleases my lady, that's the way it will be." Harry went into the bedroom to get his bags.

"Oh, by the way," Ginny called, "Fleur asked me to bring my veela necklace. I think she's planning something special for dinner tomorrow."

"Really? What will you wear with it?" he said, back in the parlor.

"My party dress, the one you can't take your eyes off."

Harry laughed. "Good. It's easy to take off, and the necklace looks spectacular when it's the only thing you're wearing."

"You just like me naked. I will have to actually wear the dress at dinner, I hope you won't mind."

"Not at all." Harry kissed her and they went downstairs, where they said goodbye to the elves, and Harry checked with Stan one last time. Back in the kitchen they held hands and Disapparated to the front yard of Shell Cottage.

Fleur appeared at the door almost immediately. "Ginny! 'Arry! Zis is wonderful! Bill will be 'ome any minute, but I 'ave started a fire for you. Let me take your bags. Non, non, I insist." She pulled them from Harry's grasp. "You are my guests zis weekend and you shall do not'ing but relax and 'ave a wonderful time." She took out her wand and the bags floated through the open door and up the stairs.

Ginny took Harry's arm and smiled happily as Fleur followed the bags and led them to one of the tiny bedrooms on the second floor; it was the room Ginny had used last summer. Now, however, there were frilly curtains in the window, pictures of pretty sea-side cottages on the walls, and a magical throw rug on the floor that looked and felt like real sand. The bed was piled high with thick, down comforters.

"It gets a little cool in 'ere at night," Fleur said, "so you must use lots of covers to keep warm. Put your t'ings away, and zen come down. We will wait for Bill and we will open our best bottle of French wine. I am drinking 'ot chocolate because of zis one." She patted her abdomen and smiled.

Ginny sat on the bed when Fleur had gone. "It's small," she grinned, "like my bed at home. This will be cozy."

"We do have to keep warm," Harry sat next to her and put his arm around her.

"Nope, you'll have to wait, Mr. Potter." Ginny removed his arm and stood. "For now we'll stay warm with a glass of wine."

They went downstairs and joined Fleur in the parlor in front of a crackling fire. Harry gave her the box of Replenishing Chocolates, wrapped in pink tissue paper and a red ribbon. "Zis will be just for me, not Bill. 'E will beg for some, but I will be strong," she laughed. The room was warm, and the wine in their glasses glowed a deep ruby red in the light of the flames.

Bill arrived home shortly, and they all sat and talked for an hour. Fleur went into the kitchen and delicious aromas soon wafted out. They sat at the small table and ate by the light of the veela candelabra. Afterwards, they went out back to Dobby's grave and Harry lay a fresh bouquet that Bill had bought from a Muggle flower shop near Diagon Alley. Harry looked up at the stars in the clear sky and wiped away tears for Dobby, who would never know the beauty of life again.

It was cold, but Harry and Ginny decided to walk down to the beach in their winter cloaks. Harry's wand lit the way, and they watched the waves break on the sand and marveled as the half-moon rose out of the English Channel. They waited until it was clear of the horizon and went back to the Cottage.

Bill and Fleur had already gone to bed, so they tiptoed upstairs, lit a candle on the dresser, quickly put on pajamas and nightgown and dove under the comforters. They held each other for a few minutes, shivering until their body heat warmed the sheets. Soon after, pajamas and nightgown were on the floor next to the bed. When they finally slept, they slept pressed to each other and dreamed the same dream of starlight on a calm sea.

The smell of cooking bacon awoke them. Bill was sitting at the table reading the Prophet when they came down, but he put it down and smiled. "Did you sleep well? It gets a little chilly upstairs. I hope you were warm enough."

Ginny blushed. "Plenty warm," she mumbled as she stuffed a corn muffin into her mouth.

"Do you remember zat little village up ze coast?" Fleur asked from the sink. "Zey are 'aving a fishing tournament zis weekend, and we t'ought we would all take a walk today to see it."

"Isn't that where those gits live," Harry asked, "the ones we met on the beach?"

"They live nearby," Bill said, "but their ringleader moved away after what, um, happened. People started to complain about him, even two of his mates. They all got jobs or went back to school. You did a good deed, Harry."

It was almost noon when they left for the fishing village. The weather had turned cloudy and cold, but the sea breeze brought a fresh salty tang to the air. They bundled up in their heaviest cloaks and walked briskly along the beach. The village was crowded with fishermen and tourists, and the four magical people became attractions themselves, especially Fleur with her long silver hair and bewitching looks. Several of the villagers remembered Harry and Ginny, and welcomed them warmly. The fishing tournament was in full swing, and fishermen were bringing their catches to weighing stations set up along the main street. Harry thought he recognized one of the young men from their encounter on the beach, helping judges with the scales; the man looked at him and Ginny for a moment, but turned away.

After lunch in a rustic inn and enjoying themselves for two hours, they walked back. It began to drizzle as they trudged along the beach, and the snug cottage was a welcome sight when they saw it up on the cliff. Bill stoked the fire, Fleur brewed a pot of tea, and the rest of the afternoon passed in toasty warmth and occasional naps.

As dusk fell, Fleur went into the kitchen to begin preparing dinner, and Bill told Harry and Ginny they would eat in the parlor because Fleur needed more room in the kitchen for all the courses. Ginny went upstairs to change, and when she came down wearing her short, low-cut party dress and the veela necklace, Harry beamed and went halfway up the stairs to meet her.

"It was a little chilly in the room while I was dressing," she giggled,

"You look fabulous," Harry said while they were still on the stairs. "Thanks for wearing this."

Bill set the table and placed the veela candelabra on it; he lit it and extinguished all the other candles around the room. It filled the parlor with a flickering, swirling glow. Ginny's necklace shimmered and the diamond sparkled with a thousand reflected colors. Harry held a chair for her and she sat. "I'll be back in a minute," he said to her. He went upstairs and came down in a few minutes wearing his dress robes. Ginny's back was to the stairs, and when she turned and saw him she started.

"You didn't tell me you brought those. Why didn't you tell me?"

"I wanted it to be a surprise. This is a special night."

Ginny's brow furrowed. "Special? How so?"

Harry gestured around the room. "We were so happy here last summer, and now we're back, after all the troubles. You are so beautiful, I thought I should look good too." He touched the diamond resting on her bosom, and then her lips. "Fleur said it would be special, didn't she?"

Ginny was about to say more, but at that moment Fleur walked in with the first course—bouillabaisse—and Ginny forgot what she was going to say. Course followed course and the veela candelabra cast its silvery glow. Bill kept their wine glasses full, but their afternoon catnaps kept them from becoming sleepy. Finally Bill and Fleur cleared the dishes from the final course—beef flambé in a delicious golden-red sauce—and disappeared into the kitchen.

Harry sat back and sighed.

"Full, love?" Ginny smiled at him. "There's still dessert."

Harry smiled back. "Not quite yet." He stood and Ginny looked at him in surprise.

"What?" she said. "Do you want to take a walk? Isn't it still raining?"

Harry pulled his chair away from the table and turned Ginny in her seat so that she was facing him. He took something from his pocket and fell to his knees in front of her. He opened his hand; on his palm lay a gold ring with three large mounted rubies surrounded by a dozen diamond chips. When he held it up it flashed in the veela candlelight. Harry paused while Ginny stared at it. She swallowed and looked at him.

'What is it?" she whispered.

"Ginny, Ginny, I love you so much. Will you marry me?"

The candles pulsed; the room swirled with silver, gold, blue, and white luminance. Ginny's necklace felt hot on her chest. Her vision swirled and she grabbed the back of her chair to steady herself. She looked down at Harry and saw herself from his eyes, felt the cool ring in his hand, saw her wide-eyed freckled visage staring back at him, smelled the faint aroma of her fragrance in his nostrils, felt his desire for her and saw her face flush in response.

She blinked, was back in herself, and took his hand holding the ring and brought it to her lips. She put her other hand on his cheek as Harry stared up at her, holding his breath.

"Yes," Ginny whispered, "I will marry you, Harry."