Hmmmf. I bet Ginny could make me forget about that. If
those dunderheads she's related to would let her get within
twenty feet of me. They won't. Must have heard
us say we'd kiss her senseless if she did get that close.
Harry was not in a good mood. Over the next two days since he'd
confronted her brothers, the three of them hadn't let Ginny
so much get within throwing distance of Harry. The minute she
even looked like she might just be going to sit next to Harry, or
talk to Harry, or look sideways at Harry, one of them would immediately
recall something they just had to tell her, or show her,
anything to get Little Red Riding Hood from the Big Bad Wolf.
The final nail in the coffin, however, was that each time, Ginny looked
about ready to commit murder. This was either because
she actually wanted to spend time with Harry (which Harry fervently
prayed this was so) or because she realized what her
brothers were up to and wanted to tweak their noses a bit (which could
be very likely since the main characteristic of a
Weasley, besides the hair and freckles, is the instinct to annoy their
siblings).
That instinct must have been running rampant in Ginny tonight.
Harry was sitting on the sofa, brooding about Ginny and her
hardheaded brothers, when she came in through the portrait hole.
She stopped for a second, brown eyes scanning the room for
her brothers. Only Ron was in the room, and Hermione had him
well occupied. Fred and George were both serving detention
for Snape. Harry secretly hoped they rotted down there in the
dungeon, but immediately took the thought back since they
would be out of the running for the House Quidditch Cup.
Harry watched her as she spotted Ron at the table across the room, a
devious glint appearing in her eyes as she smiled slyly and
bit her lip.
Harry swallowed as when he noticed her biting her lip, then swallowed
again, this time a bit apprehensive at that mischievous
look she was wearing, knowing that something was definitely going to
happen. I love it when she bites her lip like that. Pay
attention, she's coming over here.
It was true, Ginny was making a beeline for the sofa and Harry, that smile still firmly in place on her lips.
"Hi, Harry." She sat down right next to him, hardly an inch separating them.
Oh, God! I'm going to die! "Hi, Ginny. What are you
up to?" Shouldn't we be kissing her senseless by now? Shh,
this
might be more fun. What could be more fun that kissing
her senseless? I could name a few more things, but Ron would
definitely kill me and Ginny might be a bit shocked. Besides, I have
a good feeling about this. She's up to something.
Ginny turned her head over to the direction of her brother. "What
do you want to bet, Ron suddenly remembers to tell me
something in the next three minutes?" She grinned.
Harry grinned back. "More like two minutes if you ask me."
"Where are the twins?" she asked, turning back to him.
"In detention with Snape." I'm amazed how long we've been able to hold this conversation. Me too.
"Good," she smiled devilishly, "I hope they rot down there." I love you.
She looked at Harry, cocking her head to the side. "We're good friends right?"
"Yes," Harry replied. As long as your brothers have anything to say about it.
"Good," Ginny said, "Just play along with me." Then she did something
that made the air whoosh out of Harry's lungs and send
shivers down his spine. She plopped herself right onto his lap
and threw her arms around his neck.
"Are you ok? You just turned really pale," she whispered in his ear craning her head back to view her brother around Harry.
"I'm fine," Harry heard himself squeak. I'm going to die! I'm
going to die! When Ron sees this, that is a definite
possibility.
"You really have to admire Hermione. She could be an excellent
underwater swimmer. They haven't come up for air since I've
got here," she giggled.
Oh. My. God. She's not doing this is she? I'm dreaming.
You are wide awake and Ginny is wriggling in your lap
whispering in your ear. And quit smelling her hair!
It's
a bit hard not too when it's practically wrapped around my
face, isn't it? It's like spun silk, it is. Just stop looking
like you are enjoying this. I am enjoying this!
Watch
those hands of yours, we don't want a repeat of the other day. They
are just resting on her back. The middle of her back.
Just make sure they stay there.
"Oh! We've been spotted!" Ginny said excitedly, her lips very close to his ear. "I won, its been nearly three minutes."
"I'm going to die," Harry moaned almost silently.
"Nonsense. Ron's practically useless in a fight. It's George
who you have to watch for. Has the nastiest right hook you've
ever seen."
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Ginny?" Ron almost squeaked. "What are you doing?" Ron
was standing right over them, face extremely red, fists clenched
at his sides. Hermione was next to him, most likely preparing
to keep the damage to a minimum. She was trying very hard not
to smile.
"Oh, hello big brother." Ginny said, acting like she just noticed him.
"I'm talking to my good friend Harry," she announced,
acting like this wasn't the most obvious thing in the world.
"How are you doing Harry?" she turned to him, eyes dancing with
humor.
"I'm fine," Harry beamed. Never been better. I love you.
Ron looked apoplectic. His eyes were bulging, making him look
like he was going to spontaneously combust any moment.
"Ginny," he said very slowly, enunciating every syllable, "Why don't
you get up, now? I really need to talk to you."
"Actually, Ron, I'm really very comfortable right where I'm at, thank
you very much," Ginny told him. "Aren't you comfortable,
Harry?"
"Very comfortable," Harry repeated wanting to howl with laughter at
the look on Ron's face. You think you could say more
than just two words at a time? We're lucky I'm
just able to speak coherently. Period.
"Ginny." It was amazing how Ron could speak from clenched teeth and still be heard. "Get off of Harry. I need to talk to him."
Ginny's arms wrapped tighter around Harry's neck. "I don't think
I will. You don't want me to leave do you, Harry?" She
should win an Oscar for her look of complete innocence.
"No." Not even if my life depended on it. I'm sure Ron will get to that.
"Look Ron, why don't you and Hermione go back over there and finish….talking,"
Ginny said diplomatically. "I haven't seen
Harry in two days, and I really want to talk to him," she explained
patiently.
"You two have talked enough for this evening," Ron snapped.
"I don't think we have. You three dunderheads made sure of that."
Ginny's eyes had narrowed with each word she took.
They were now slits of spitting garnet fire. It was a wonder that Ron
was still standing.
This is starting to turn ugly. Nonsense, just as long as Ginny doesn't move, this will be fine. What have you to complain about anyway? There's a redheaded hot-blooded girl in your lap. I wasn't complaining, not at all. No, indeed! Just stating a fact.
Whatever Ron was going to say was cut off when Fred and George walked
in the room. This is getting better all the time.
Can't get no worse.
"What's going on here?" Fred asked, eyes roving over Ginny and Harry.
Harry discretely moved a bit to get away from
George's right.
"Harry and I are just talking, as I've already explained to this idiot,"
she nodded at Ron. "You two don't have a problem with
that do you?" Ginny's narrowed eyes were now aimed at both George
and Fred, who swallowed nervously.
In the time spent with the Weasley Family, Harry had observed on more
than one occasion that they all had tempers. He had
often heard, however, that Ginny's was the worse. Harry had never
seen any proof of this and had just chalked it up to her
brother's teasing. But as Harry watched the three Weasleys suddenly
fidget nervously as they watched their sister, he thought
that perchance it might just be true, since only something dreadful
would make three fully grown men appear to be afraid of a
girl a third of their size.
"But, Ginny," George said. "You're sitting on his lap."
"I like it here."
"I like it here too," Harry heard himself say, winking at Ginny. What
are we, suicidal now? Probably, but this is really
really fun. It is, isn't it?
Ginny gazed at him for a second, almost in wonder. She shook her
head as if to clear it. "Yes, well. You see? Since Harry and
I are both very comfortable, there's no reason I see that we should
move."
"Ginny—" George began.
"George," she interrupted, her voice lowering, "I'm starting to get very angry."
All three Weasley's flinched. "I….I don't care," George stuttered,
but it was evident he did care. Fred and Ron gawked at
him in amazement, Ginny herself seemed surprised at his outburst.
"Very angry," she repeated menacingly.
"Look, Gin," Fred started to explain reasonably, "You just can't go sitting in boys' laps. Especially his lap."
"What's wrong with his lap? It's very comfortable," she shifted as if
to prove her point. Harry instantly paled, and scooted her
back a bit away where she wasn't too much against him. She's
going to kill me before her brothers will the chance.
Harry wanted to roar with laughter at the shocked look on her brothers'
faces, but thought better of it. He settled for a snicker,
which he tried to hide by burying his face in her sweetly scented hair.
Hermione, seeing this, couldn't contain her laughter, and
had to hold onto Ron, she was laughing so hard.
"This isn't funny!" Ron hissed. "You've all gone nutters!"
It was a good thing that they were the only ones left in the common room, Ginny's temper was on a short leash.
"Listen up all of you!" Ginny shouted, to make herself be heard over
Hermione's laughter. "Harry and I are just friends, ok?
You all have been acting crazy these past few days and I not putting
up with it any longer!" Harry's face fell at her words.
I knew this was too good to be true! She was just trying to
annoy those buggers and get them off her back. You don't
know that for sure. Where were you when she just said
we were friends? I was right here, thank you. This isn't
over
though.
Fred, George and Ron frowned down at her. "So…?"
"Go to bed! All of you!!" Ginny roared. This was a Weasley
temper at its best. Or worst, depending on your point of view.
She was radiating heat, her face bright red, her eyes were wild and
sparking. I don't think I've ever seen her look more
beautiful.
The three men jumped as if they had been burned. They each gave
Harry and Ginny appraising looks, but they must have
decided not to test her temper anymore, since they just frowned and
left, at least the twins did, both looking over their shoulder
as they ascended the stairs. Ron, however, stayed put.
"Don't think this is over," he said, pointing a finger at them.
"Come on Ron," Hermione said, pulling him away. Ginny stared them
down, making sure they were indeed leaving. Harry was
frozen, amazed that such a voice could come out of such a small package.
"Well, now," she said brightly, her expression instantly turning back
to that of the adorable, mischievous imp. "That went rather
well, didn't it? Stupid idiot brothers! Why couldn't I have been an
only child?"
"Uh, Ginny…." was all Harry could think of saying.
"My goodness, look at the time! We both should be getting to bed," she said rather hurriedly.
"Ginny—"
"Goodnight Harry." And for the second time that evening, Harry
was rendered speechless. Speech wasn't an option at this
point, since Ginny had tightened her arms around him and planted her
lips on his. A mixture of total shock, desire, and utter
disbelief spiraled through Harry. Pure instinct made him clutch
her too him, wanting to never, never, never let her leave as her
soft, warm, lips pressed against his. Just as quickly as it happened,
the kiss ended. Ginny stood up abruptly, her eyes dreamy.
Harry was sure he was wearing the same expression, but wasn't too sure
as he couldn't see her too clearly with his glasses
fogged up as they were. He might have imagined that she was sort
of wobbly, because she swiftly dashed off up the stairs,
calling out breathlessly over her shoulder, "See you tomorrow!"
So much for kissing her senseless. She just did that to you. Oh. My. God. Harry didn't move for several more minutes as he tried to catch his breath and get his mind back together.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Well, Harry's certainly in a fix now isn't he? Doesn't
know what to make of 'poor Ginny'. Oh, spot the hidden Beatles lyric if
you can... Thanks for all the reviews! : )