Let's Imagine
It was breakfast time at The Burrow, everyone was tucking into Mrs Weasley's mouth watering food with gusto. While Ron and Hermione were bickering, Ginny watched the two of them with amused exasperation. Ron and Hermione were even worse than an old married couple. Mrs Weasley looked on fondly at her extended family, although she sent annoyed glances at Fleur Delacour, her to be daughter-in-law, who kept reminiscing about her homeland, France, to anyone who would listen. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Well, except Harry Potter.
Harry stared glumly at the piece of parchment he was holding. His OWL results. He and his friends had received their result earlier. Sure, he had done remarkably well for someone who had studied at the last minute. He wasn't Hermione who planned on these things ages before with detail, and he had scored much more than Ron had. But, this was his only hope of becoming an Auror when he grew up. That is, if he didn't die before that. That was a happy thought.
'I don't know how you deal with them.' Said a voice next to him. Harry jumped, to see the youngest Weasley, Ginny, shaking her head, looking at his bickering best friends. 'If I were you, I'd shove them in a broom closet and be done with.' Harry gaped at her and then cracked a smile. 'Try being best friends with them.' He retorted and Ginny laughed. She glanced at Harry's results, 'Hey, good marks.' Harry grimaced, 'But not good enough.' Ginny raised an eyebrow. 'I was supposed to get an 'Outstanding' in Potions to be able to do NEWT's, and it's not like Snape would let me take his classes.' He explained. 'Why do you care about Potions anyway? Last time I checked, you hated it.' Said Ginny, looking confused. 'McGonagall said that I had to do well in Potions to be an Auror. If I don't die, that is.' 'Aren't you optimistic.' Ginny remarked sarcastically, 'Cheer up. I think you can still be an Auror. I mean, you do have more experience than others. Besides, you did way better than my git of a brother.' Harry laughed and threw her a grateful look, 'What about you? What do you want to do after Hogwarts?'
To his surprise, Ginny turned red, 'You'll laugh at me.' She muttered. 'Fine. I want to play Professional Quidditch.' She looked at him fiercely, as if daring him to laugh. Instead, he nodded, 'That suits you. I saw you play last year and you were good.' Ginny looked surprised, 'You think so? I've always wanted to join the Holyhead Harpies.' Harry gave her a small smile, 'It won't be easy, but then again, when has that stopped you?' Ginny grinned, 'Let's just imagine you're not the boy-who-lived, with the burden of saving the world and all you have to worry about is becoming an Auror and me a Quidditch player. How about that?' Harry sighed, 'If only that were true.' He felt a warm hand on his shoulder, 'I know things are going to get harder, here on out, but you're not alone. You have friends and the Order behind you. So we won't need to imagine. But until then, we can pretend.' Harry looked at her, 'I hope so.'
'Hey, you two!' Called Ron, while helping himself to more sausage, while Hermione looked on, slightly disgusted. 'Up for a game of Quidditch? Ginny and I versus Harry and Hermione?' Harry and Ginny shared a smile. 'You're on.'
Little did they know that this was the beginning of something beautiful.
Author Note: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters in this story.