Disclaimer: I own nothing! Please don't hurt me . . . well, I do own this story idea and any character you don't recognize, like that little butterfly that was around the café. Don't you remember? Or maybe I didn't put it in. Hmmm.
Note: Sorry about the lack of update for the Independence Day weekend. I wasn't happy with the progress of this chapter (six complete revisions, two partial changes and I am still unsatisfied.) My last summer school paper weighted me down. A minimum of 4 pages of the influence of culture on romance . . . Gah! I wasn't mature enough for that analysis.
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Chapter Nineteen: Hermione!!Ginny looked at Harry and his female companion. It didn't seem as though Harry wanted to be here. The woman practically dragged him to the restaurant. But he didn't straight out refuse did he? The skeptical part of Ginny's conscience was chattering off again. It was true that Harry's build is much stronger than the lady's. He could easily stand on his two feet and not move anywhere. Besides, it didn't seem like the woman wanted to break her nail pushing the auror.
"Hello Potter!" Draco called out loudly. "And good afternoon to you, Miss Cardigan." Ginny noticed the blonde had a predatory smile on her sickeningly flawless face. It might have only been Ginny's overheating imagination due to jealousy – her more rational mind finally had some input. Even so, the fact that the woman actually had an expression that seemed like that was not good news.
"Hello Malfoy!" Harry replied in the same fashion. Ginny smiled and waved. "Oh, hi Ginny. What a surprise to see you two here . . ." Harry trailed off with uncertainty.
Ginny realized the situation was becoming quite awkward. Here she was, eating desserts with Draco in a more or less romantic environment. But to make things more controversial, Harry was in the same setting with a woman Ginny had a bad vibe about.
"Would you like to join us?" Draco asked ending the brief moment of everyone glancing from one person to another. Draco led the group to the secluded table. "Excuse me," taking out his wand, he conjured two more chairs to the table. Ginny took her old seat. Draco maneuvered Harry rather forcibly to the seat next to Ginny. He then placed himself between his coworker and the modern Aphrodite making Ginny sit next to the instigator of her jealousy.
"An introduction please?" Miss Cardigan said as soon as she sat down.
The demand from the woman made Ginny like her even less. She seemed like the type of woman in the Middle Ages where they were always being taken care of. Servants would wait on her every second of the day. Simple task such as brushing her hair would be done by a servant girl. The man she would marry would be a rich duke or earl, or just a plain businessman, who would make sure she lived a live of luxury.
"This is Ginny Weasley, a new graduate of studies in journalism," Harry introduced with a smile directed at Ginny.
"She is also a new member of the writers at the Daily Prophet," Draco added. Perhaps doing so only to spite Harry. After all, what's more embarrassing than having someone else know more about one's girlfriend than he knows himself?
"Congratulations Ginny," Harry said with an uneasy smile. So maybe he wasn't as clueless about relationships as he acted.
"But there is more," Draco interrupted with another one of his Malfoy smirks. "She graduated at the top of her class, which earned her extra 500 galleons. I believe she is paying for this sugary treat."
"Great job!" the other two cheered. One sounding uneasy while the other in disdain.
"Okay, enough about me!" Ginny complained. The way Draco was taunting Harry would mean trouble afterwards. "Who is this lovely lady with you today, Harry?" Ginny hoped her own dislike of the woman couldn't be heard in the question.
"Right, this here, would be Annabel Cardigan. A member of the auror's department."
"I am not actually an auror," Annabel amended with a flirtatious slap on the table and a grin directed only at Harry. "I just help them with the details of their missions and such."
"They have another project?" Ginny asked with worry. She didn't want anyone leaving the safety of England, not when all three aurors will be in a wedding in July.
"Unfortunately yes," Harry replied wryly. "Malfoy, it seems as though the person we went after had no clue, at least that is how he acted. Either he is good at lying, or he just doesn't know—"
"Should we
discuss this in front of her?" Annabel Cardigan interrupted while motioning
discreetly at Ginny. Ginny had to refrain from sighing noticeably. Miss Cardigan
was another one of those freaks at the ministry that believes all writers of
newspapers are bad.
"What's wrong?" Harry said quite miffed that he was interrupted. Ginny was agreeing with his tone whole-heartedly. What was wrong with talking about ministry business in front of her? She had so many friends and relatives working in the ministry that she probably knows more inside information then that blonde woman.
"She does work for the public media," Annabel replied as though it was the most obvious thing.
"Very well. I suppose for the sake of secrecy, I'll leave." Ginny got up not wanting to see another second of the woman who was quite visibly clinging on to Harry in a manner that was to intimate. She gathered her coat and bag, but paused before leaving. "Though just for your information. This is a public place. It wouldn't do much for confidentiality if you chose to discuss the mission over a dish of tiramisu."
Ginny's exit visibly displayed her displeasure at being talked to in a way most people would speak to an ex-criminal. Just because she would write articles that give people information Annabel automatically assumed she will tell everything. Who said Ginny was going to write about auror missions anyway?
Harry had followed her out a few moments later. Just as Ginny was about to disapparate, he called her name aloud.
"Ginny! Wait." Ginny turned. "Do you have anything planned for the rest of today?" Her eyes narrowed.
"No, why?"
"Would you like to have dinner with me? I know we had planned for our own celebration, but the meeting dragged on and then you left." Ginny would have enjoyed putting Harry in the awkward situation had his eyes been more defensive about his feelings. However, the reason Harry caught Ginny's affection in the first place was the same reason she could stay mad at him.
But, if an infatuation with a physical characteristic were love and trust, Harry would have easily had a dinner date.
"No thank you. I wouldn't want to pull you away from your meeting with Miss Cardigan," Ginny answered spitting out the blonde's name as though it was poison. "You were already delayed. Besides, your work is important. The safety of England, if not the entire British Isle depends on you doing it correctly. I will not be the reason security is breached!"
"Ginny, you are exaggerating," Harry said evenly. "Why are you mad?"
"Why what? I am not mad. I was leaving for the sake of your aurors' little secret remaining secret," Ginny nearly yelled back. "I didn't stomp out or anything. My actions were calm, not close to how I act when I am mad." Harry grabbed her hand in fear of Ginny disappearing with magic.
Meanwhile, the annoying and formerly skeptical voice in Ginny's head was taunting at millions words per minute. Right Ginny. Continue to lie to yourself. Tell him that you aren't mad at him. But will he believe you? No, because you are still yelling. Something is bothering you. That's why you yell . . .
That or because of the green monster named Jealousy and the Golden demon named Annabel are making you made. You are jealous, Ginny. Harry was being cozy with Annabel while he said he would be with you.
You ought to tell him the exact reason why you are making hiatus in your relationship. For this to actually work, no secrets must be shared. That's how trust builds.
"Calm down" Harry's voice ended the jumbled lecture from Skeptical. "I know what Annabel said offended you. I am sorry."
"What is there for you to be sorry for?" Ginny replied wrenching her hand from Harry's grasp. "There is nothing for you to be sorry for. She is the one that made the comment. If someone should apologize, it should be her!"
"Ginny, fine. She should apologize. But I am also apologize, not just for that." Ginny crossed her arms and waited. "I know we planned for a celebration. Now that Draco is getting the news, I can go with you."
"I had my little celebration," Ginny replied stubbornly, "even if it was with a Malfoy. There is no need for another celebration."
"Yes there is!" Harry dictated losing his temper finally. "I am your boyfriend. We had planned to celebrate together and we will!" Ginny laughed humorlessly at his little dignified (or undignified) outcry.
"No, no Harry. I planned the little outing. You had work, I completely understand. I planned without asking you if you were busy. I planned without caring about your obligations. If someone needed to apologize, it would be me. I am sorry Harry. Sorry for not caring whether or not you were able to celebrate with me, sorry for choosing to be a gossip that might ruin the balance of the world." Ginny stomped off for the third time that day.
"Ginny, come back here!" Harry got a hold of her hand again. "You are mad at me."
"No Harry, not problem in the world revolves around you. Not every bump in my life is about you," Ginny said softly.
"I didn't mean it like that," Harry corrected hurriedly. "But you are unhappy about something." He pulled Ginny into a hug. "If it wasn't because I had Annabel taking my time, it must be something else. That was the only thing I knew of that could bother you."
"Geez Harry, it has nothing to do with you." This time, Ginny pulled herself away and apparated without a second glance.
She went home, to her living room and cried. Ginny wasn't sure why she was being so emotional. There was nothing to be mad about it. Harry had apologized for not going with her. She was there fifteen minutes early, usually people were supposed to be late. Also, what does what the Cardigan woman said mean to her? They weren't friends, not even acquaintances. Ginny shouldn't care what the woman said. She shouldn't care at all. Besides, Harry didn't care she was going to be a journalist.
Yet somehow what Cardigan said does matter. Ginny never cared what others have said about her. So many people made fun of her infatuation with Harry; her brothers, classmates, even Harry himself had teased her, or commented on the hero-worshipping as everyone called it. Others also made fun of her family's poverty. There were so many other parts of her life that people disapproved of or poke fun at. She didn't care what the others said. Not until now, when the last of her wish was fulfilled.
That was what's wrong! Her finally being Harry's girlfriend has caused the change. Their relationship was the one that turned her into an emotional wreck . . .
"Ginny? Are you in?" Harry's voice permeated through her walls. "Ginny, please. Talk to me. Please don't be mad." He was pleading in the last sentence. The knocking grew harder.
Ginny wiped her tears and went downstairs to open the door. She didn't care whether or not Harry saw her frizzy hair, tear-stained cheeks, and red eyes. All she knew was Harry Potter caused her mental episode; he must help her fix it.
"Come in."
"Oh Ginny," in a rustle of his cloak, Ginny was brought into his warm embrace. "What did I do to you?" Ginny fought the urge to pound him hard and explain to him that he didn't cause all the problems in the world.
"You did nothing." Harry didn't believe her. "At least nothing direct. Come in and sit down. We need to talk." He obediently followed.
"Now we talk." Ginny smiled at the memory of finding Harry at her door right before the they had their first meeting to plan the mysterious wedding. She had said the exact same thing. Only it was "Now we plan."
"First, we need to define our relationship," Ginny began expertly.
"You know, that is hard to define," Harry answered nervously after a moments thought. "Are we really dating? Or is this something forced upon us by our friends and family?"
"Good, you get my drift!" Ginny said happily. At least he didn't think she was weird doing so. If it was any other man, they might have dashed out the door as soon as possible or just leave with an owl the next day to apologize.
"I think we are boyfriend and girlfriend. At least I do hope so."
"I hope so too," Ginny answered quietly. "Harry, you know I had this crush on you when I was younger. I don't know if you remember Valentine's Day my first year at Hogwarts, but that whole poem dropped my self-esteem to negative degrees. I had never been so embarrassed. That didn't help me act normal in front of you. It was until I was able to push aside the klutzy-ness from the infatuation that I was able to talk to you. Then, I had dated other boys, believing the infatuation was indeed hero-worshipping and the usual star struck reaction girls have when they see their idol." Harry only nodded and motioned for Ginny to continue.
"Anyway, to make this spiel short, it took me so long to get you to like me that I am quite insecure about myself."
"You weren't so at the parties. You were quite normal," Harry countered. He looked confused and Ginny wondered whether or not Harry was clueless about women.
"It's a female thing. Anyhow, the point is I am insecure. We haven't done anything as a couple. You never courted me or took me to dates. The only thing that make us seem like a couple is the announcement at the press conference."
"I suppose. I did mean to take you out to celebrate, but you disapparated ignoring my pleas," Harry pointed out. Ginny dropped her head down in frustration.
"See? That's the problem. We already met a slight bump in our relationship and the tunnel end doesn't look so bright."
"Are you jealous of Annabel Cardigan?" Harry exclaimed suddenly. His eyes were wide as though a supernatural force just enlightened him.
"Yes." Ginny thumped her head on the nearby hard object, which was the coffee table in front of the couch. "That was what I meant when I said I was insecure."
"Oh."
"Oh?" Ginny looked up rubbing her forehead. "That's it?"
"Well," Harry began shifting under Ginny's gaze. "I don't see why you should be jealous of Annabel. How was I supposed to respond?"
He is clueless! The skeptical part of Ginny squeaked increasing the pain of her developing migraine.
"Never mind," Ginny mumbled wishing for an ice bag for her throbbing temple. After crying for fifteen minutes, the area between her eyes was already in pain. With Harry being frustrating, blood rushed to her head even quicker intensifying the hammering headache.
"So what should we do?" Harry asked. Ginny couldn't refrain from giving him an accusing glare. She was quite sure he was being ignorant now on purpose. "How do we make this relationship work?"
"We can't," Ginny answered in a monotone. "How can we when I suffer an insecurity complex?" Harry looked lost. "Let me put it in your word, would you to have a constantly jealous girlfriend?"
"But you aren't constantly jealous."
"Good point, but I am insecure." Ginny bit her lips in thought. "Insecurities will eventually turn into jealousy. See? This relationship isn't going to work. I am the girl-next-door who doesn't like the spotlight. Dating you would mean plenty of other women vying for your attention, and quite frankly, I am not the modern woman that just walks up to a man and takes them to dinner. I don't like that type of life."
"Ginny," Harry began running his fingers through her hair again. It was something that always comforted Ginny and it still does. "You don't have to feel insecure. I'll give you my word that I wouldn't do anything that will hurt you . . ." he had trailed off staring into the air.
"Oh, I really should have paid attention to Hermione's lessons on how to talk to a girl," Harry continued with a laugh. He turned to look at Ginny in her eyes. "I have liked you, and now I like you a lot. I suppose the reason I needed more courage to face you than Voldemort was because . . . let's just say I am a coward when it comes to rejection."
"Ah, Cho incident," Ginny answered imitating the misty tone of the Divination professor. Harry laughed at the memory.
"Yes, definitely that incident." The laughing atmosphere died as emerald eyes lost its happy gleam. "Any way Ginny, I don't want you to feel insecure. I am not sure if I truly, absolutely love you, but it is darn close."
"You can't do anything about the insecurity!" Ginny rolled her eyes. "Not unless you want to wear a sign that tells all eligible females to back off." Harry looked thoughtful once again.
"That might be good . . ."
"Don't even think it! It is my problem that I am insecure. Just give me a bit of time." Just then, a gray ministry owl flew in barely missing Harry's head. He dropped the letter he was carrying before heading out the window in the same breakneck speed. Harry quickly openly the letter.
"I am so sorry Ginny," Harry said after he finished reading the letter. "My presence is requested at the ministry now. The situation Annabel was debriefing apparent got worse." Ginny merely nodded her head continuously.
"Shoo, get out. You have a job to do. Don't worry. I'll handle my insecurity. You did mention Hermione helping you out right?" Harry agreed hurriedly. Ginny's waving hands and rapidly moving mouth was making it quite hard for him to give her a goodbye kiss, or even a hug. "Good. I'll talk to her. Maybe she could help me deal with my insecurities."
"Good. I am sorry we couldn't celebrate."
"When that get's fixed, I probably will get enough confidence to ask you out," Ginny continued ignoring Harry's apology. "After all, putting a sign that tells women to leave Harry Potter alone is impractical."
"Wait, did you just end our relationship?" Harry exclaimed.
"Yes," Ginny looked up at him with her head tilted. "I thought we went over that awhile ago. Anyhow, why are you still here? You ought to be at the ministry by now. First of all, I don't want Percy yelling at me. Second of all, I am sure your coworkers would want you there."
The door was closed in Harry's face leaving the hero stunned.
~*~ to be continued ~*~
Omni's Note:
Considering I have never dated or anything like that, Ginny's fluctuation in her emotions is merely a guess. I figured it must be overwhelming to suddenly date a long time crush that also happens to be an international icon with women plopping at his feet. I suppose the only comfort is that Harry is clueless about that as well. He is still naïve in that aspect. ^^
I know this chapter was jumpy. It could be deemed as one of my worst. Romance isn't my thing and I wonder why I chose to write about this particular lovey-dovey based story. I was supposed to end at the revelation of the bride, but things just kind of went on. For a few weeks, I was tempted to just end it somehow, with the reincarnation of S. Slytherin or something. But alas, reviews kept me going. Now I don't feel deserving of all the good comments. I can tell this was a less than satisfactory chapter.
Thank-YousRhiain: I hope so too. But then again, how do you knock some sense into his head?
Eclipse: Don't worry about the last comment! I hope I didn't come off as too defensive. Though that is probably difficult in that I am a defensive person. The research paper was okay. 90% isn't that bad, is it? And to think, I got points deducted for not having enough sources. It wasn't my problem that only 2 biographies that were written about Paddy Chayefsky were in the libraries! Well, I just have this newly finished paper to worry about. ^^
Arkaynn: Acky, busy bad. Come to think of it, I haven't had a break even though summer started. And to think, school begins August 13th. Darn, where did the time go?
Lily-Potter: So do I, but my hands and shoulders needed a break. My shoulder injury from swimming was acting up again so I had to stop. *frown* Cliff hangers usually end my train of thought too, I really have to stop doing that.
HopefulTears: I will read your ficcy as soon as I can. For a while, ff.net wouldn't let me on. Grr for the system. And poor you! SAT practice during the summer? Well, at least you can have a better guarantee of having a good score. But actually, colleges tend to care more about AP scores (that what those college representatives told me) since the tests could only be taken once – technically.
Silver Witch: No, don't. Otherwise there will be no Harry for Ginny. And that's bad, right? We could give Ginny Draco, but that probably won't settle well with the rest of the Weasleys . . .
And I think I did read your stories. I think I lost track.
Devil: nice, succinct review. Got the point across. ^^ Don't ask why I am reviewing your review. But thanks for the encouragement.
Loopyloony: Welcome to by odd ship of Harry and Ginny issues! Enjoy the ride, and complain about seasickness (criticism) or lack of better scenery (scenes) whenever you feel like it!
The Dragon Guardian of the Sea: Uh . . . got any more comments now? ^^
Lois: Annabel Cardigan is not the "other" woman. Well, I suppose she could be, but it was just Ginny's nerves making her have assumptions and doubts. Anyhow, thanks for the advice. I'll make sure do that after a few good dates and perhaps ruin a wedding. ^^
Ella Wood: Well, at least Ron is married in this story. Harry is still the free bachelor who just had a relationship ended by an emotionally unstable Ginny.
Hplova4eva: I am trying, but this story is getting really stubborn. There are too many crossroads in the highway of plots and ideas.
Aindel Druida: Yes I had to beg a dog to eat. She won't eat her Pedigree canned food. She had ordered a special combination of human food and processed beef from Pedigree, as well as a side of hardboiled eggs. And well, it isn't the blonde's fault completely. She just has a flirtatious nature that doesn't bode well with girlfriends of her coworkers. You shall see Aurora's reaction, and of course, expert Hermione's judgment in the next chapter. ^^
One last Newsflash:
I'll be on a three-week vacation back home, across the pacific in the middle of next week. It would be highly unlikely for me to update anything, but I'll write. My parents have allowed me to carry the laptop with me everywhere, so maybe I'll find a substitute muse while in China. The Buddha statues might enlighten me. The disappointing part is by the time I get adjusted to the U.S. time zone, school starts and there goes my time. This year, I get all 4 AP classes with economics that contains macro and micro . . . another wonderful year. I could tell already.
~Omni
Postscript:
Thank you for putting up with my writing. You have seen my best and my worst in this story so far, I am trying my best to not loose hope. It does get difficult when my expectations rise while my writing skills remain stagnant.
Anyhow, happy day for everyone and may cool climates come for you while others endure 100 degree heat. ^^
A completely random comment: does anyone know anything about Dreamweaver? I am having my first attempt at creating a website . . .