A/N: Credit for the idea of a Charlie & Ginny conversation about Ginny and Harry's night away goes to prewettpotter, who requested it in a review on "Faintest, Slimmest, Wildest Chance." This is an outtake from that story, set between chapters thirty-seven and thirty-eight (use the spelled-out chapter titles). This is also a THANK YOU for all my wonderful readers in celebration of FSWC winning the HP Fanfic Fan Poll Award for Best Romance and Best Drama/Angst in the Harry/Ginny category :D

August 13, 1998

Ginny had sat through some uncomfortable meals this summer, like the first morning she set a place for Fred. The first time Mum set a place for Fred, just a couple of weeks ago. The night Ginny served bacon sandwiches (for the third time in two days) because she had ruined dinner beyond all magical repair—again. Their first dinner without Percy. Their first dinner with Mum. The Sunday after George and Percy's fight, when neither one of them showed up. She could go on—there really had been a lot of them—but tonight took the cake.

Last night, she and Harry had spent the night together in London. Because he had not arranged a cover story for their absence, everyone knew exactly what they'd been up to and all her brothers—yes, all of them—had shown up for dinner tonight.

On a Thursday.

Fleur had tried valiantly to maintain a running conversation, but while no one had been rude to her, they hadn't exactly participated, either. Ginny thought her mother must be more upset with her than she had let on, for even Mum allowed the silence to drag out without enforcing the old family rule that everyone share the best part of their day. Goodness knew Harry had plenty of experience as the subject of gossip and dark looks, but even he was starting to wilt at the sheer size of the elephant in the room. Ginny was just about to straddle him and snog him senseless when Dad pushed back from the table, signaling the end of the meal. Harry sagged in his chair, and Ginny's sigh of relief was masked by the clatter of stacking plates. Finally.

"I'll get those, Fleur," Charlie said.

"Oh, but I was going to—" Fleur broke off as Charlie took the dishes out of her hands. Clearly she was no more interested in spending time with her uncharacteristically reticent in-laws in the sitting room than she had been in the kitchen.

"Ginny will help, won't you, sprite?" Charlie's smile was positively feral.

Ginny looked helplessly at Harry. She thought they would fare much better together, but Harry gave a sort of resigned shrug and followed Ron out of the room more closely than usual, as if hoping for protection. In seconds the family had left the kitchen and she and Charlie were alone.

"Whatever you have to say, just say it," Ginny said defiantly, stacking the serving bowls on the empty meat platter.

"Did you have a good time?"

Charlie's voice was mild, but Ginny caught the double entendre. She bobbled the platter and tossed, more than set, the dishes on the worktop.

"Yes," she said, turning back to the table.

"I take it he didn't throw you out of the bed this time."

Ginny gritted her teeth. She knew it had been a bad idea to ask Charlie for advice a month ago, but her options had been severely limited.

"No."

"Where did you go?"

"London."

"Ginny." Charlie's voice went stern. "I did not go to St. Mungo's at three in the morning only to be stonewalled by my baby sister."

She dropped a fistful of cutlery in the soapy water and shot him a quick glance. "Sorry. I didn't know Harry hadn't said anything until this morning."

"Obviously," Charlie said dryly, rinsing a plate and setting it in the drying rack. "You're much too experienced at getting away with trouble to make an elementary mistake like that."

Ginny felt the corners of her mouth turn up and when she looked at her brother again, he was smiling at her.

"Ron was prepared to give Harry an earful, I'll tell you that," Charlie said. " 'He spends months hiding from the most powerful wizard of all time, and my mum finds him out in less than twelve hours! It's disgraceful!' "

She giggled.

"George was right disappointed in you too. Says he and Fred taught you better."

"They did," Ginny agreed, bringing the last of the glasses and bumping Charlie over to take his place at the sink. "But I didn't know anything about it."

"No?" He pulled out a clean dishtowel and began to dry.

She shook her head. "Harry just said he was taking me into London for 'a proper date.' I thought we were coming back. Besides, I knew Hermione had helped with the plans, and she's nothing if not thorough." Ginny frowned. "In fact, it's more Hermione's fault than Harry's. He really didn't know better."

"Oh, Miss Goody-Two-Shoes was in on it, was she?"

" 'Miss Goody-Two-Shoes' has been sleeping with our brother for two months," Ginny retorted.

"I know. Bill says he's still missing a tent."

Ginny laughed. "I'll let her know he hasn't forgotten."

"So, what exactly is 'a proper date' by Potter's standards?"

"He took me to the cinema to see a film."

"Really? I've watched them with Amy, but I've never been to the cinema."

"You should ask her. It was fun. And he bought me popcorn and—" She thought for a moment, fishing for the word. "And pop. Then we walked through Muggle London. We were supposed to have dinner in the hotel, but—"

"You got ahead of yourselves?" Charlie said, amused.

"It was a good dinner!" Ginny said quickly. "Roast, and jacket potatoes, with vegetables and wine and cake and ice cream for pudding. Just … cold," she admitted. "We couldn't get a warming charm to work."

"Yes, your culinary magic leaves much to be desired."

Ginny swatted him. "Shut up! You ate it, didn't you?"

Charlie had abandoned the dishes and was leaning against the cupboards with his arms crossed. "Only because Dad and Bill insisted we not hurt your feelings." He smirked.

"Shut up," Ginny said, flicking water in his direction.

"So, it went okay? Even after the cinema?"

"It was better than okay," she said without thinking, then blushed when Charlie laughed. "Well, it was!"

"Good," he said, tugging her ponytail affectionately. "As long as you're happy."

She smiled. "That's what Ron said."

"Don't look so relieved, sis. Two conversations down, three to go!"