Chapter 6
A few weeks after the disastrous meeting with Cho Chang, Harry was back at playing Quidditch for the Chuddley Cannons. He was still feeling very miserable, even more so now that Sirius, his Godfather had said he wouldn't be coming to see him that week. Apparently he was still on holiday with his friend, Remus Lupin. Harry thought that a holiday might have done him some good but he had no one to go with him. Ron, his best friend, obviously had a lot to do, as he was now a father and that he couldn't be there for Harry as much as he usually was. And the thing was: they weren't children anymore.
But an absolution came in the form of a surprise that afternoon while he was practising his moves on the pitch. The face was slightly tanned and looked very happy to see Harry again.
"Draco! What are you doing here? Not on official business, I hope!" laughed Harry as he rushed over to meet his quite new friend, Draco Malfoy.
"Well, no, not exactly. It's you that I'm concerned with." Seeing the look on Harry's face, he added, "No, Death Eaters are not after you again. I just heard you've been really down lately and I've come to cheer you up."
"Draco, I'm fine, I don't know what you've heard but I'm Ok, really!" said Harry, not wanting to sound rude.
"Don't lie, Harry. I know all about Cho and what happened and I think you need some support; it's not good for you to be in that house all alone. I know how it feels to be unhappy, so please let me help you. Come down the pub after practise and we'll have a chat, yeah?"
"But, Draco…" protested Harry but to no avail.
"No arguments, you need a friend- you're still so proud, it's unbelievable- I'll meet you at the gate after you've finished here and then we'll go to our local, alright?" said Draco and grinned at Harry. Harry grinned back, feeling a little better and jogged back to his team-mates.
His heart felt lighter, like it had when he'd got to tell Sirius about his problems in fourth year at Hogwarts. He wanted to see more of his other friends, but all of them seemed so busy. They were all either married or engaged, their wives/ husbands whom they had met at Hogwarts, it seemed like Harry was the last one to have found anyone. Not that it bothered him too much, but he was a bit lonely, he had to admit and having Draco there made everything seem worth it again.
Everyone seemed surprised of Harry's friendship with Draco Malfoy, whose father had been a Death Eater but none more so than Harry himself. He felt lucky and proud that he had perhaps had a hand in turning one wizard away from the Dark Arts, and now with Voldemort gone, Dark Wizards seemed less and less active those past years. Draco seemed genuine and Harry couldn't think of a reason to doubt him.
After practise, Harry got changed and Apparated back to Godric's Hollow and found Draco in the pub, to his surprise with Ron and Hermione. Harry walked up to the table and cleared his throat.
"Harry! Great to see you, mate. Pull up a chair, we were just talking about you." Said Ron, cheerfully and gestured for Harry to sit down with them.
"What is this- "Lets cheer up Harry Day" or something?" said Harry. "What are you doing here, Hermione, who's looking after baby James?"
"Well," sighed Hermione. "It was about time I had a break, so my mum came over to look after him with my dad. So I have a baby free afternoon and evening. I do miss him, though, Ron." She said anxiously but Ron told her not to worry.
"Your mums' quite capable, she had you didn't she?" said Ron.
"Yeah, anyway, Harry. We just thought we'd help Draco cheer you up, because we know we've been neglecting you a bit. So we thought we'd take you out for dinner and then back to Draco's place for some drinks. There's a surprise for you too, but that's not till later." Hermione said, with a mad glint in her eye and she had a look of the girl she had been in 7th yeah.
Harry's mind was suddenly looking at a 17 year old Hermione. She had grabbed Ron and kissed him full on the lips in the middle of dinner. She had got so fed up of Ron not being able to say how he felt; she had just took matters into her own hands. Harry chuckled at the memory and then this brought his mind back to Cho and he pushed the thought away. She was not going to ruin his afternoon or evening.
After having a few drinks at the pub, the party Apparated to Diagon Alley and found a small but lively restaurant to have their meal in. Harry had an interesting pizza while the others had chicken and a variety of vegetables, which squeaked when speared on a fork. Harry hadn't had a night out like that in months and Hermione reminded him that the best was yet to come. Harry couldn't guess what it was but was distracted by Ron, who was getting drunker by the second. He started singing loudly and eventually the man who ran the restaurant came over to their table.
"Sir, I hope you have enjoyed your meal here but could I remind you that this establishment does not allow drunken wizards to remain inside it. Please leave now." Said the man and pointed his wand towards the exit.
"Eh, come on now, chef!" said Ron and his words sounded slurred. "Do you see who's with me? Yeah that's right." Ron said as the Manager looked at Harry.
"Harry Potter! And I'm just having a night out with my mates and my wife. Is that a crime or is the Ministry going to arrest me for it?" he snorted and raised his glass to the Manager.
"Cheers m'dears!" he shouted.
Hermione looked very embarrassed but was also trying not to laugh at the same time. Harry could see that the Manager was getting angry and about to use his wand. So he nudged Draco and they both grabbed Ron by the arms and pulled him out of him seat. Hermione paid the bill and they got out of the restaurant, laughing their heads off till they're throats were sore. They walked down Diagon Alley for a while, talking and laughing with Ron looking livelier than ever. Then they Apparated back to Draco's house for Harry's surprise.
Harry was exhausted when he sat down on Draco's new sofa. Apparating that far was still a chore to him. He almost felt sleepy and could've nodded off right there but Draco's voice shook him awake.
"Harry no time for sleep, time for party!" he yelled and with a wave of his wand the music started.
As the night went on, more and more wizards and witches came to the party and everyone was having a brilliant time. Harry was feeling great and had completely forgotten about the "surprise" for him.
He danced with loads of woman, all very pretty and even asked for a few numbers! Harry also felt the evening couldn't get any better than how it had been so far and kept on enjoying himself.
Meanwhile Ginny Weasley was getting ready for the party at Draco Malfoy's house. Ginny hoped Draco was as nice as Ron said he was and that also Harry was there. How long Ginny had liked Harry for was well, too long, she thought and pulled on her coat. It had been since Hogwarts but Ginny never had the courage to tell the famous Harry Potter how she felt. But that didn't matter, as the woman she shared her house with, kept saying.
"Ginny!" said Elise, the house sharer. "We're going to be late, mate. And I know you want to see Harry before he's too drunk."
"Ha ha, very funny, Elise. I'm ready now, my hair got knotted, I've fixed it now." Said Ginny "Let's go!"
They Apparated to the party and arrived outside the house, where music was playing loudly and sparks were coming out of the chimney. Elise turned to Ginny and asked
"Ready, mate?" and Ginny nodded and they walked arm in arm up to the front door.
"GINNY!" shouted Ron from the living room. "Welcome to the mad house where we all get smashed on LeccieBeer!" Ginny frowned and looked to Elise, who was laughing. Ginny joined in and they went into the crowded sitting room. Hermione came over to meet them.
"Oh here's my favourite Sister in Law!" she said and hugged Ginny. "How's it going?" she said.
"Oh fine. It's great! Ron seems a bit drunk, though. How's my nephew doing?" Ginny asked. Baby James was her favourite nephew and she liked him more as Ron was her favourite brother, they were close
"Oh he's fine. He's with my mum and dad. He's so cute. Want a drink?" asked Hermione and got her a LeccieBeer. "Even better than ButterBeer," she said and Ginny took a swig and nodded.
At that moment Harry was dancing with an old friend from Hogwarts, Alicia Spinnet and they were having a great chat about the sort of careers they were in. Alicia was a Chaser for the Wingbourne Wasps but was hoping for a transfer to Harry's club, the Chuddley Cannons. Over her shoulder, he could see Hermione talking to a girl with red hair, which was very pretty. He didn't recognise her to be Ginny, but kept staring at her all the same. She was wearing a pale green dress with straps and pastel green shoes to match. She was far more beautiful than any girl he had seen before, even Cho. Harry was dazed as Hermione and the girl were walking over to him. Alicia thanked Harry for the dance and left him to dance with Draco.
Harry felt the sound of the room disappear and all he could hear was the muffled footsteps on the floor. Harry couldn't place her face but he knew her. He was thinking about her when the volume in his head was turned up.
"Harry?" said a voice and his vision started to get back into focus and he stammered back.
"Ginny?" he said and looked into her face. She was so pretty now and he couldn't understand how he hadn't realised. "Ron didn't say you were coming. How are you? I haven't seen you for ages." He said and the words sounded strange as he stared at her.
"I'm fine, thanks. I heard about those Death Eaters, Harry. I'm really sorry." she said and looked concerned.
"Thanks, Ginny. Well these things happen. Can I get you a drink?" the last bit was blurted out by Harry and he took himself by surprise.
"Sure, yeah. Thanks, Harry." She said and then as he turned to go to the kitchen, she said "Harry? It's really good to see you again." Then she blushed and turned away.
"It's great to see you too, and by the way, you look gorgeous tonight." He said without being able to shut his mouth. "Green really suits you." And then he left to get more drinks, and also to find Ron.
He found Ron in the conservatory at the back of Draco's house, playing cards with non other than Hagrid
"Harry, my old mate, how are ya!" boomed the giant "Ron said you were around but I never saw yeh."
"Hey Hagrid. I'm all right, you? Oh yeah, I'm here, surprised Ron still is though," chuckled Harry and joined them at the table. He turned to Ron.
"Why didn't you tell me she was going to be here?" he said.
"What? Who?" said Ron and put a card on the table.
"Ginny, you idiot!" said Harry.
"Oh her, er yeah well, these things happen for a reason…" sniggered Ron.
Hagrid and Harry chatted about old times for a while as Ron finally, after far too many beers, slumped back in his wicker chair and started snoring.