Ginny stared, speech impossibility. Harry and Ron regarded her with a kind
of shocked wonderment, but Hermione gazed again into her eyes, and the long ago
best friends shared a look of confirmation, a look that said, "It was you,
wasn't it?"
Then Hermione stood up, reached across the counter, and took the forgotten
girl in her arms.
Suddenly Ginny didn't feel so forgotten.
"Oh, Ginny," Hermione whispered into her hair, "I tried to get to you
before you left, I really did. I just found out too late. What with Ron and..."
"I know," Ginny interrupted, "I know."
The girls broke apart, and Ginny climbed over the counter with renewed
strength. Then she remembered that Harry was but a few feet from her, and nearly
fell to the floor as her feet reached it.
Unfortunately, or perhaps not so, Harry caught her.
Frozen, Ginny stared up at him, terror and deeply rooted passion lacing
her eyes.
Harry gazed down at her, and for the second time in his life noted that
she was stunningly beautiful. The first time, he'd realized this, well, he
hadn't been quite ready to accept it.
Ginny righted herself and stood staring at them.
No one spoke for a good while, until Harry finally managed,
"Ron..."
Ron looked up at him.
"What is it?"
"Do you understand why I was upset?"
"No, Harry, I don't. For years I was always second, your side kick, that
tall kid hanging around with
the famous Harry Potter. How many times do I have to tell you I felt ignored?
You knew, you knew I did, but you didn't do anything to make it better. And then
you lost my attention and you couldn't take it! And it was so unfair because
even before Hermione took over my heart, Ginny had already taken over y-"
"Shut up, will you!"
"What is it, Harry," Ron sneered, "Never did tell Ginny you loved her did
you? And now here she is, standing in front of you, and you still haven't told
her."
Ginny, positively shocked, looked from Ron to Harry, and then to Hermione,
who shrugged, obviously as ignorant as Ginny herself.
Ginny returned her gaze to Harry, and she found was looking at her out of shy eyes.
"Harry?" she said softly.
But he shook his head and turned back to Ron. Ginny looked down, dejected.
"Ron," Harry said, not looking at him, "You're right. I'm sorry."
He looked up to Ron's face, and the two men stared at each other for a moment,
neither saying a word. Then Harry whispered,
"I really am, Ron."
And Ron finally smiled.
"Apologie accepted, mate. And I'll give you and Hermione almost equal
attention from now on. Promise."
"Almost equal?" Harry asked playfully, as they shook hands.
"Well yeah," Ron grinned, "somebody's got to have my attention while
you're off doing things I don't approve of with my sister."
"Hermione laughed.
"Well that rules out talking to her, Harry! Better not look at her either.
You never know of what Ron might disapprove."
"Oh, you shouldn't talk Hermione," Ron said, obviously having forgotten
poor Harry again, and then in a high voice nothing like Hermione's, "No, Ron, I
don't think we're old enough to kiss, we're only twenty three!"
"Ron! We kissed long before we were..."
And their conversation carried on like this for several minutes. Harry and
Ginny watched them, and then Harry chuckled, turning to Ginny, now sitting on a
barstool.
"Guess this is the time I don't get his attention, huh?" he said smiling.
Ginny returned his smile, though weakly.
"You shouldn't let it bother you, I..." but she trailed off, not really
wanting to talk about that anymore. "Was Ron telling the truth, Harry?"
Harry looked at her, then he walked over to Ginny and got down on his
knees. This frightened her terribly, but harry made not marriage proposal,
merely rested his arms on her leg and placed his head on them.
"Yes."
Ginny was taken aback, but after the shock faded, she reached out
instinctively to stroke his hair. Then Harry stood, took her face in his hands,
and kissed her.
And everything was well.
A/N. Okay, I don't really know if I liked that chapter. I think there are a few
things that need to be cleared up, so I might do one more part. Tell me if you
want one in your reviews. I own nothing, by the way. And sorry for the format.