Favorite Days

The darkened room was quiet except for the labored breathing of Harry and Sydney. Both tried to regain a normal breathing pattern by taking deep breaths and holding it for a few moments before exhaling. Harry could feel Sydney exhale into his neck, her body pressed tightly against his back.

"We okay?" she questioned quietly, not wanting anyone to hear.

"Yes," Harry replied just as softly.

"We need to get going before they find us," Sydney whispered.

"Right, we'll go in by way of the west door. They'll never be expecting us to do that," Harry explained. Sydney nodded. Harry barely saw the movement of her blond hair in the darkness.

He stood carefully. Sydney stayed close knowing any noise at all would give them away, their secret would be out. She stayed close to Harry, matching her stride to his, so she wouldn't trip him up. At the door she slipped in beside him and looked him in the eye.

Harry pulled the door open quickly and quietly, "Stupefy! Stupefy!" He ducked and rolled left as he shot his spells.

"Expelliarmus!" Sydney's spell blasted its target as Harry dove and freed her line of sight. The instant her spell left her wand she dove straight forward, twisted onto her back and pointed her wand over the door targeting another defender. "Petrificus Totalis!" The assailant waiting on the ledge fell to the ground.

Harry was back up, scouring the room in a deliberate pattern, wand out and ready. Sydney jumped up and covered his back. After a few more agonizing seconds they heard the 'all clear' buzzer and the exercise was over.

"Potter, Buchanan! Well done, your time on the simulation was seven minutes, thirty-one seconds. Well done!" Mitchell Kroane announced from the observation deck above.

Sydney gave Harry a big smile, which he returned.

"Potter, Buchanan, what made you decide to use the east corridor to gain entry?" another Auror questioned from above.

Harry and Sydney turned and craned their necks to see the glass walled booth above. "It was the least protected way in," Harry offered to his superiors.

"No, it was protected by several wards and two curses. It was very well protected," Kroane called back.

"Depends how you look at it sir," Sydney took over their explanation. "We thought with the wards up the opponent might feel as though that particular entrance was safe and wouldn't defend it as much."

"And we were right," Harry added in. "We caught them all by surprise; they never got off a spell."

"We are aware of that!" Kroane replied tersely. His voice echoed and for some reason he didn't sound pleased.

"Tinkers, Evers, Chance, Sandberg! What have you got to say for yourselves?" Kroane now stared down at his training staff, completely unsatisfied with their performance.

"We got beat sir, I don't have an excuse. Nobody's ever made it through the east corridor before," Tinkers explained.

"You four in my office," Mitchell Kroane ordered the trainers. "Potter, Buchanan, we'll be talking about this again, later. Clean up and go back to the dorm. Well done."

After showering and pulling on fresh clothes, Sydney and Harry sat in the locker room conversing with a few of the other trainees about the simulation.

"No bloody way! Seven minutes and change? No way. You're lying." Beth Andrews shook her head in disbelief. "The all time record is just over ten minutes, and nobody's been below eleven minutes in years. Mike and I are the fastest pair here and we timed in at eleven and twenty-two."

"Ahem, were the fastest… past tense," Sydney corrected Beth with a confident smile. "Come on Harry, let's get dinner." Harry nodded and the partners left for the cafeteria.

Once sitting alone at a table, Sydney turned her gaze on her partner. "Explain Potter; no way we should have been able to do that."

Harry smiled. "Look, they set wards to keep us out. We both came up with the plan to go that way instead of down the chute and we guessed right."

"But the wards never touched us. And we waltzed past the curses without any repercussions," Sydney explained.

"Well, their defenses seem to be…lacking." Harry smiled. He noticed the girl picking at her broccoli. "Eat your vegetables."

"You know something, and you should be sharing it with your partner." She scowled playfully.

Harry debated the decision in his head. 'Do I tell her or not? I'm not supposed to keep secrets from her...I can't divulge that I can sense the wards, not until we know each other better.' With his mental struggle complete he addressed his partner. "Look Sydney, we both have skills that the other doesn't. It's why we're teamed up, to make the strongest possible pairing. I can find my way past lots of magical obstacles and I'm really good at defensive and offensive spell work." He took a breath.

"You best me in potions all the time. I can read the ingredients and make a potion, but you can change them, add stuff or take things out to change the potion's properties. We smelled bad for three days after the cauldron exploded when I tried to improvise a potion, and you can transfigure better than I can too."

"So as long as we stick to our strengths and trust our partner's strengths, we're unbeatable?"

"I don't know about unbeatable, but we've won every contest so far. We can be the best in the class, even if we did start later than the other group," Harry said without a shred of doubt in his voice.

Sydney nodded in agreement. "Eat your damn vegetables," she scolded with a smile, watching him push some lima beans to the side.

Harry and Sydney pored over a set of plans laid out across the table in their shared dorm. The dorms consisted of two small bedrooms, a shared bath and a common living area. Each pair of partners shared a dorm to facilitate the bonding process. Harry and Sydney contemplated the best way to defend the area marked on the schematic of the house for their upcoming assignment. A knock at the door interrupted their studies.

"Mail call." Two letters were slipped through the crack under the door. Harry retrieved the two envelopes and passed Sydney hers. He quickly tore into his.

Dear Harry,

I was going to start this with 'Hey Seeker Boy' but that doesn't fit now. We'll have to come up with a new nickname for you.

Glad to hear things are going so well for you and Sydney, and that the first week wasn't too bad. Well other than your mishap with the Carnuple Stinkweed. That must have been horrible (but funny).

I've been on my game the last two weeks, for sure. My second string team has outscored the starters almost half the time in scrimmages. That's all but unheard of, Gwenog has to put me back to starter soon or the starting chasers are going to revolt.

Mum handled the last bit of the flower delivery details with Neville last week. Bill started to layer in the wards for the wedding. He says it's better to do them slowly in layers than all at once. As long as you can talk to Sam about getting the Auror details finalized, then all the planning is done. I CAN"T WAIT!!!

How's Sydney holding up? It sounded in your last letter like Kevin wasn't taking the separation very well. Is he still acting jealously towards you? And here I was all worried about Sydney chasing after you.

I'm at the end, so now I can be mushy. I love you, of course you know that. I miss you, and I think you know that too. Two weeks down, four to go, then you're mine forever.

Love,

Your Soon-to-be-Starting Chaser Girl.

Ginny

Harry finished reading and checked to see what Sydney's reaction to her letter was.

Sydney looked glum and let her letter fall to the table.

"You okay?" Harry asked.

"He's being a prat. How many times do I have to tell him I don't fancy you?" She sighed.

"You don't fancy me? Why not? I thought all the witches in Britain want to steal me away from Ginny?" He smiled trying to get her to lighten up. "It's what Witch Weekly says."

"Well, not me. I've only lived with you for two weeks and I'm completely turned off." She turned her head in mock disgust.

"Maybe that'll work with Kevin, write him a letter that goes into all the things you don't like about me, maybe then he'll lay off," Harry offered.

"That might work, if I can find enough paper for the list. It could get pretty long." Sydney smiled.

"Knock yourself out. Ginny's list was forty-one items long." Harry smiled at the recollection of his first morning back at the Burrow after the Final Battle.

Sydney chuckled. "Wow, forty-one…but, I can see it." She grabbed a fresh sheet of parchment and started to compose a letter to Kevin.

Ginny paced the sidelines scowling in intensity. The Tornadoes held a one-hundred ten point lead over the Harpies. The game was in danger of being a blow out.

"Come on Caitlin!" Ginny screamed. "Change the plays! The ones you're trying aren't working!" Ginny gave a pleading look to Gwenog. Gwenog pointed her to the bench. Ginny fumed, but sat as directed.

Wendy managed to score once on a broken play, but before any of the Harpies regrouped the Quaffle was at their end of the pitch with the Tornadoes on a three versus one breakaway. Two feints and a roll was more than the keeper could adjust too without help from the beaters. The Tornadoes scored with a clean toss through the left hoop.

The Quaffle was brought back into play, the Harpies attack was thwarted and soon the Tornadoes had another goal.

Ginny bounced up from the bench but just as quickly Gwenog motioned her to sit. Ginny was fairly stewing at the rebuke. A dull thud and the sound of splintering wood from the high above the pitch wrested Ginny's attention from Gwenog's stare. Caitlin was clutching her ribs, flying her broken broom to the sidelines.

Ginny again stared at Gwenog. Ginny got the nod of approval and streaked into the sky on her custom fitted Firebolt. The home crowd cheered crazily as she swept into the fray. Ginny immediately called two defensive schemes, one for the chasers and one for the beaters. The quick adjustments caught the Tornadoes chasers off guard. Ginny swiped the quaffle. A soft pass to Wendy, followed by another fingertip pass to Sandy and the score was ten points closer.

Another steal and a fast break on the right hoop caught the Tornadoes keeper off guard. Ten more points to the Harpies. The once subdued Holyhead fans caught a whiff of the run, and screamed their approval. The crowd noise inspired the red haired chaser calling the plays to designate a more aggressive strategy. Soon the Tornadoes chasers spent more time playing defense than offense and the tide turned for good.

Ginny kept directing her team and within the hour the Harpies held the lead for the first time all day. Another ninety minutes after that and the Harpies were up by eighty points over their opponents. Ginny kept the assault going. Even a fresh set of chasers for the Tornadoes couldn't stem the tidal wave of goals being scored. When the Harpies seeker caught the snitch, the margin of victory was three hundred ninety points.

Ginny coasted around the pitch, enjoying the view. Flash bulbs from magical cameras flashed in her eyes, whoops and hollers from the crowd enveloped her. Soon her other team mates joined her, patting her back in congratulations.

"Gin-ny…Gin-ny…Gin-ny…" the crowd chanted. Ginny landed just behind the team benches and began to stow her gear in her dark green and gold equipment bag.

Gwenog approached from the opposite side of the bench. "You've redeemed yourself Ginny. You're starting in the number three chaser spot, effective immediately. You'll be calling all defensive and offensive plays. Welcome back."

"Thanks." Ginny smiled. She lifted the bulky bag and walked towards the tunnel for the press room. After the brief press conference she headed for the team lounge and locker room. When she got to the locker room to change she found a note in her locker. Ginny sat quickly and ripped open the note from Harry.

Hi Chaser Girl,

Well, just another week before I can see you for a little bit on Christmas. Merlin, I miss you Gin. You've no idea how much. We better get some alone time! Hey, I think I still have an hour or so left on that coupon you gave me for my birthday years ago.

I saw a copy of Quidditch Weekly; for no more playing time than you're getting your stats are really good, but you know that don't you? I wish Gwenog would just do it and change the roster. Even the beat reporter covering the team said the team wasn't as explosive offensively without you leading it, and he's a hack. We all know the only reason he got the job is because he's the publisher's cousin.

Training has been…

The note was pulled from her hands. "Oooohhh, a luuuuv letter from our favorite Auror," Wendy kidded.

"Give it Wendy! Not now okay?" Ginny stood up and grabbed at the note. Wendy pulled it back, just out of reach.

"My dearest most loveable Ginny-winny, how I long to feel the swell of your bosom against my bare chest…' Wendy giggled.

"Oh, it doesn't even say that!" Ginny shouted playfully, making another swipe to grab the letter.

Wendy jumped up on a bench. "Calm yourself psycho-girl…okay so it doesn't say that exactly….Wait here's a good part…When I feel the soft caress of your luscious tongue across my toes…" Wendy grinned wickedly at Ginny.

"Wendy, just because you have a foot fetish does not mean the rest of us do! I know it doesn't say anything about licking toes. My tongue was no where near his toes last time I licked…" Ginny quickly clammed up as her team mates all turned to face her.

"Uhhh huhh, does our favorite redheaded wacko need to confess something…juicy?" Sandy hopped up and joined Wendy on the bench in an attempt to read the letter over Wendy's shoulder. "If there's anything half as good as the leg thing in there you are duty-bound to enlighten us." Sandy laughed as she winked at Ginny.

Ginny smiled sweetly. "You poor misguided girls, he can do quite a few things that feel way better than the leg thing." Ginny watched her friends ponder the thought. "Accio note!" And just that quickly, she was once again in possession of Harry's letter.

"Now if you nine crazies will leave me to read this, I'll finish up and then grab a shower. We are going out tonight! No excuses. Floo the husbands and boyfriends and tell them we won't be home till morning. First two rounds are on me!

She nestled back into her locker, picking up where she left off.

Training has been grueling. We've had to do our work without sleep or good food for three days. It's not been that bad, we do get some food and water. Nowhere near as bad as what we went through, but the others aren't taking it very well. The grueling part has been the techniques we're learning to combat curses, I can't really give specifics, but the last time it took seven hours. I'm so exhausted.

On the good side, Sydney and I have clicked. We're beginning to anticipate each others' actions and we compliment each other well. On one simulation we set the all time record, in another we bested three of the trainers at once. So far we have the lead in total points scored. If we win, we get the last day of training off when everyone else has to attend.

Kevin has been pretty lousy about it all judging from Sydney's reactions to his letters. I told her to write him about all my faults. Maybe he'll see I'm no threat.

I miss you Gin, it's so hard to sleep without you next to me. I even miss your snoring. (yes, you snore, luckily not as bad as Ron) Keep flying your best. I do love you so much, and you make me proud to know you.

All my love,

Harry

With the note finished she quickly placed it in her jacket pocket and headed for the showers. Tonight was made for celebrating her return to the starting lineup.

Dear Harry,

I'm back in the starting lineup!! Finally! Oh, I wish you could have seen the game. I flew brilliantly. I was able to lead the team from over one hundred points down to almost two hundred up. And that was before we got the snitch! It felt pretty sweet to hear the fans screaming my name after the game. I'll never take starting for granted again.

Tell Sydney I said 'hello', and thank her for the cinnamon biscuit recipe. Since I know you like them I'll try to get Mum to make you a batch for Christmas. I can't wait to see you.

I've been to the vaults three times looking for jewelry to wear for the wedding and reception. I found a stunning diamond choker necklace. It has two rows of diamonds and the front gem is a dark blue sapphire. It should accent the wedding colors perfectly. According to the ledger it was Lily's grandmother's necklace. There is a pair of matching sapphire earrings to go with it too. I found a pair of cufflinks carved with the Potter family crest for you to wear.

So, just five days till Christmas and I can snog you, I mean, see you again.

All my love,

Your Once-Again-Starting-Chaser Girl,

Ginny

Harry completed the last of his packing and set his bag by the door. "Hey Sydney, you ready yet?"

"Coming," she replied from her room. "I think that's it." She cast a shrinking spell on the stack of gifts resting on the table and dropped them into a small pocket on the side of her duffel bag.

"Good let's get to the floo. There's only about five minutes before we can leave." He checked his watch. "At least Sam let up and is letting us all go home tonight."

"Yeah, I can't wait to surprise Kevin." Sydney gave a feral grin.

"Poor boy has no idea what he's in for does he?" Harry smirked.

"Nope." She laughed. The partners locked their dorm and proceeded to the common floo point, where they waited for their turn to floo home for the holiday.

Harry arrived to the normal chaos of the Weasley family Christmas, which this year included the extended family of Andromeda, Teddy, Kate Bell and Jaclyn. Dinner consisted of turkey, ham and all the trimmings. Molly made the cinnamon cookies that Harry liked, from Sydney's recipe along with Treacle Tart, a few pies and a cake or two, just in case. After a rambunctious dinner, and saying their goodbyes to the family, Harry and Ginny spent a quiet Christmas Eve at their loft.

Once inside the loft the young couple all but attacked each other, pushing and pulling each other to the sofa, in an all out rush to disrobe the other as fast as possible. Just as Harry maneuvered Ginny's shirt to her arms, she grabbed his hands, thwarting his attempts to fully remove her top.

"Harry, we shouldn't," she objected, though it didn't sound like her heart was in it.

"Why the bloody hell not? It's been five weeks. Five bloody weeks!" he cursed.

"Because, we've held out this long…"

"Not by choice," he grumbled.

"We've held out this long and it is only a few days more than a week until the wedding, we can control ourselves, right?" She smiled hopefully. "Think how bad you'll want me."

"I want you all the time Ginny…Alright, but the second you get that ring on, I'm shagging you," he stated with a pout.

"Hmmm, right there on the altar, in front of everyone?" Ginny twitched her nose back and forth thinking about it. "I can hear Kingsley now 'Harry, you may now shag your bride'. I wonder…I think Mum would have stroke, Dad would cover his eyes, Bill would try to shag Fleur on the spot, George would cheer us on, Hermione would critique our style, and Ron would try to beat you to a pulp." She smiled. "Well it certainly would be the wedding of the century then wouldn't it?"

"More than it already is?" Harry laughed at the scene as Ginny described it. "Fine, we'll wait. I must really love you…"

Ginny gave him a chaste kiss and pulled her shirt back down to her waist. She pushed Harry off her lap and stepped to the kitchen to fix a pair of drinks. Harry retrieved a package from his bag and set it on the table. The clock struck midnight.

"Happy Christmas Harry." Ginny passed him a cup of hot chocolate and smiled at him while he bustled about the kitchen table. "What exactly do you have?"

Harry looked up. "It's a 'Make Your Own Magical Christmas Ornament' kit see?" He showed her the box he just emptied. "Come on, he motioned her to a seat." Ginny sat next to him and giggled.

"Lets see." He perused the instructions. "We extract a memory like if we wanted to put it in a pensive, then we say the charm…." He looked for the parchment with the charm wording "…Oh you have it…the charm will copy the memory and we drop the copy into the ornament."

"Okay, let me think of a good one." Ginny lifted one of the crystal globes from its packing. She read the charm and dropped the silvery memory strand into the ornament. "Your turn." She capped the ornament and started to apply the exterior decorations.

Harry replicated Ginny's actions and soon dropped a copy of one of his memories into the fragile glass globe he held in his hand. "All done." He charmed the last silvery bead onto the ornament he was making. He held it up so Ginny could see it. The clear glass globe sparkled; inside floated a magical image of Harry and Ginny standing on the landing after their first official 'date' then saying 'I love you' and kissing. Silver and gold beads glistened on the outside of the sphere framing the hologram.

"One of my favorite days." She smiled at him.

Ginny showed him hers. The scene was also from the Burrow maybe a week after Harry's memory. He and Ginny were sitting under the tree near the pond after just finishing a swim. He was brushing out her hair; she fell asleep in his arms and he laid them down for an afternoon nap inside the glass globe.

"That was the first time you let me," he reminisced.

"It was the first time I let anyone, other than Mum and Dad," she added. "I feel so close to you when you brush it out for me."

Harry sipped his cocoa as he stepped to the small tree and hung his ornament. Ginny hooked hers on the tree as well. It was now adorned with Harry's muggle twinkle lights, the paper chains Ginny made the previous year and the new ornaments.

Harry sat in front of the tree and patted his lap. Ginny curled onto his lap and pulled the two gifts from under the tree, placing his gift in his waiting hands.

"Happy Christmas Harry, I love you." He ripped open the paper to reveal his Hogwarts diploma matted and set in an elegantly etched silver frame. "I was never more proud of you than that day, after everything you'd been through, you still made it. I was, I am, so impressed by you."

"Thank you Gin." He kissed her. "Happy Christmas." She pulled off the ribbon and opened her box. Inside rested a set of keys. "It's downstairs." He led her down to the main floor of the carriage house and walked to the far corner of the garage. His hand felt around in the air, soon he grasped the air and pulled.

The air shimmered and his invisibility cloak slid to the side revealing a gleaming motorcycle. The stark forest green paint and golden trim sparkled in the soft lights. What little light landed on the bike reflected off the dark green paint and mirror-like chrome. This bike was smaller than Harry's, so it would be more comfortable for Ginny to ride. Harry explained, "Doug and Randall finished it last week. I had Hermione hide it for me and then bring it here this morning after we left for the Burrow."

"Oh Harry!" She climbed on the bike, it fit her well. "This is incredible! It's even in the Harpies colors! We can ride together now!" She inserted the key in the ignition and fired up the bike. Ginny grinned wildly at the sensation of the bike rumbling between her legs. She revved the motor a few times, filling the carriage house with noise. She turned the bike back off, letting the last staccato notes of the exhaust echo about.

"Yes, but I would like us to still ride double sometimes," he suggested hopefully. Ginny dismounted the chopper and rested it back on its kickstand. She pulled him into her and kissed his cheeks. "Thank you."

"Oh, you get this too, from Doug and Randall." He passed her a wrapped box. Ginny quickly slipped her finger under the ribbon and flipped open the box. She held up a black leather jacket with the 'Serious Customs' logo on the back. She quickly pulled the jacket on and twirled so Harry could check it out.

"Doug says if we get him enough customers he'll open a shop here in England," Harry joked. "Evidently, those three guys I spoke to on our ride that day all ordered custom bikes."

Ginny smiled. "We should send them a bill, you know, a finders fee."

"Maybe we should," Harry laughed back. "Old Randall will go spare, the way he watches the finances of the shop."

The couple went back upstairs and sat on the sofa watching the tree. They held each other until they finished their drinks and then headed for bed. Harry and Ginny spent a restful night together, enjoying being close, but not crossing Ginny's lines of 'good behavior' prior to the wedding.

Christmas Day flew by at the Burrow in a frenzy of activity. Presents were opened and family members played or talked as they saw fit. Harry was able to spend quite a bit of time with Teddy. He caught up with Kate and Jaclyn too. Just after lunch Harry had to get ready to head back to the training center.

"Bye everyone, see you soon," Harry called out. Everyone called their goodbyes back to him. Ginny led him to the fireplace, giving him a set of passion filled, yet soft kisses.

"I'll see you in just over a week, love you," Ginny said as she kissed him again.

"I know, we're almost there." He kissed her back. "Bye, I love you too." With a whoosh he was gone.

Harry and Sydney smiled nicely for the pictures as the ministry photographer snapped away. Each held a small silver plaque, given in commendation for completing the initial phase with the highest marks in the class.

Mitchell Thorne stepped in front of the assembled group, speaking clearly, "Alright everyone settle down. You've all done great. Enjoy the next four weeks off. We'll meet here on February first for the next round of training. Like this session, it will be six weeks of sequestered training, tell your families. Now go on, go have fun. Especially you Potter."

"Bye Sydney, see you and Kevin at the wedding," Harry said. "According to this," he indicated his wristwatch, "I have exactly three hours until my bachelor party begins. I should be present for that, right?"

"Yes, you most definitely should," Sydney laughed. "Bye Harry, see you at the wedding."