Ron was frozen at the portrait hole entrance. He had a look of utter horror and
shock on his face. Hermione, who was at his arm, looked happily surprised.
Harry and Ginny stopped kissing, and they both blushed, but didn't pull away
entirely. Harry still had his arm around Ginny, and Ginny was still very close
to Harry.
Ron's mouth was open, and it
looked like he was trying to say something, but no sound was coming out.
Finally, he managed to sputter out, almost whispering, "My baby sister…and my
best friend?!" He stood there another moment, and then the realization of
everything hit him with a pang. His face got redder and redder by the second,
until his whole face was the same shade as his freckles.
"WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU
DOING WITH MY SISTER?!" Ron turned to Ginny. "WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING
WITH HIM!?" Harry was mumbling something about his head, but Ginny stood up,
her face starting to get red too. The muscles in her face started to tense up,
and anger started to enter her eyes, making them spark.
"Ron Weasley, it is none of your business what I am doing with Harry. I shall
do as I please." She tried to say this calmly, but there was an increasing
touch of iciness on each word. And then she turned to Harry and kissed him again.
Harry was caught by surprise, and Ginny put her hands on his face to cover the
look from Ron. Ginny pulled away very slowly. Harry had a very glazed
look about him, and there was a little lopsided smile forming on his face as he
straightened his glasses.
Ron pointed at the two. "You….you…you just…" Ron couldn't seem to finish his
sentence.
"Yes," Ginny said, a little
more calmly. "And you'll just have to get used to it, because nothing is going
to change." Ron clenched his fists, making his knuckles white.
Now more Gryffindors were starting to trickle in, many with bottles of
butterbeer. Everyone was cheering and laughing, and someone had hung a banner
up that read "CONGRATULATIONS TO THE GREAT GRYFFINDORS!" The banner would then
flash replays of great plays from the match. Ron was still standing at the
portrait hole, and he looked steaming mad, but knowing Ginny's temper kept his
mouth shut. He stomped over and sat in the far corner of the room.
The festivities were getting into full swing now. There were toasts and
clinking bottles all over the place. People were constantly coming up to Harry,
patting him on the back, congratulating him, asking him about his head, and
handing him buttbeers. He must have told a million people that he was fine,
that it was just a scratch. Ginny stayed by his side, though she didn't say
much, just taking the occasional sip of butterbeer.
After a few bottles of
butterbeer, everyone seemed to be in better spirits. Even Ron. Now when he shot
glances at Harry and Ginny, they weren't so cold. They looked almost psychotic
because his eyes would glare but he would try to smile a little.
Later, when everyone started to head up to their dormitories, and after Harry
and Ginny had both gone upstairs, Hermione went back over to Ron to try to
comfort him.
"Ron, they're in love. Can't
you see the way they look at each other?"
Ron mumbled, "It's just how
we are." Hermione smiled, and kissed Ron on the forehead. Ron smiled a little
too, but it was far away and looked forced. He was still piping mad that Harry
had been kissing Ginny, but decided to give it a rest.
Ron wouldn't talk to either Ginny or Harry for the next couple of days. He
would avoid them in the halls, and wouldn't even acknowledge Harry's presence
during class.
Finally one day, Harry got sick of Ron ignoring him and after Charms he pulled
him aside. "Let's talk." Ron nodded and they went over into the nearest
classroom, the DADA room, and checked for Miss Delacour. They both just sat
there, waiting for the other one to start.
"Ron, I am in love with your
sister." That was all Harry could think to say.
"I know," Ron said weakly.
Harry was surprised to see that Ron wasn't in the least bit mad. "It's just
hard to get used to, you know?" Ron looked up at Harry and he nodded. There was
silence.
"It's
okay with me. But if you break her heart, or hurt her, or…" Ron looked at Harry
seriously.
"I would never hurt her."
Harry's face was totally solemn.
"Promise?"
"Promise." And with that
Harry and Ron hugged, and then quickly pulled away, making sure that no one had
seen it.
"I missed you man!" Ron said
as he wiped away a fake tear. Harry chuckled and they walked out of the
classroom into the corridor, both smiling.
*+*
Harry waited for Ginny to come down out of the girls' dormitories. Most
everyone had gone down to the Great Hall already, and just as Harry was going
to send Ron and Hermione down, he heard footsteps coming down the stairs.
Harry's stomach went into a knot as he turned to the stairway. Harry gaped.
There was an angel standing on the steps. Ron was even gaping. He hadn't
realized how pretty Ginny had become. Ginny blushed a little.
Hermione winked at Ginny and
Harry and said, "C'mon Ron, let's go. We'll meet you two down there."
Ron nodded and then added,
"If you two are up here too long I will send Peeves up to see what you two are
doing." Harry and Ginny grimaced to even think about Peeves catching them. They
both nodded as Hermione and Ron walked out the portrait hole, smiling, arm in
arm.
Harry turned back to Ginny. She looked absolutely astounding. Her dress robes
were a light, pastel green. It was a satiny material that played off the
lights. Her hair looked beautiful too. There were two pieces pulled and twisted
around to the back of her head. They were held together at the back with a
small barrette that shimmered silver. Her face had a etheral glow to it
that made her cheeks shimmer and sparkle. She had on a small silver necklace
and a few small silver bracelets around her wrists. Harry's mouth was still
hanging open and Ginny closed it with a kiss. She smiled at him.
"Ready?" Harry smiled and
nodded and they left the common room.
When he got downstairs, Harry started to fidget. Dancing had never had been his
favorite thing. During the quidditch season, Kari Thomas, who was quite
flirtatious, had tried to teach him,
without much progress
Ginny pulled him out on to
the dance floor. This year Hogwarts had managed to book the Dragon Brothers,
who were already playing. Harry was real stiff at first, but everything felt so
perfect with Ginny in his arms, and he soon relaxed. Dancing wasn't so bad if
it was like this.
"See, you aren't bad at all.
You just need to relax," Ginny whispered. Harry smiled into her hair.
After dancing for a while,
Harry and Ginny went and sat down with Ron and Hermione. Hermione had tried to
teach Ron to dance, but hadn't had as much luck as Ginny. They were already eating.
After looking at the menu, Harry decided on the chicken. He said it into his
plate and it appeared.
When everyone was finished
with dinner, they all headed out to the dance floor again. Harry was a lot more
comfortable dancing with Ginny now. Ron was still frustrated. Harry chuckled to
himself. He remembered a few years ago, when Ron had frilly maroon robes. Ron
had gotten new dress robes-with no frillies in sight. His were a dark navy blue
and Hormone's were a very light pink.
"Let's go outside…I need some fresh air," Ginny said. Harry nodded and they
started to walk off.
"Don't forget…I'll send
Peeves after you two!" Ron said to them as they walked by, holding up a fist
pretending to look mad and smiling. Ginny winked mischievously at him and Ron
stopped smiling, looking suspicious.
Outside, Harry threw his cloak over both of them, holding her closer than he
had to. Ginny had her head nuzzled on Harry's chest. Harry was looking at the
stars. He wanted to be with Ginny forever.
"Ginny?" She looked up. "I
love you so much." Ginny smiled.
"I love you too, Harry."
They stood looking at the lake, which was reflecting the stars off its surface.
Neither of them wanted that moment to end. They wanted to hold it forever.
In the end, the chill got the best of them, and the moment ended. They headed
back towards the castle. Ginny was shivering and Harry's teeth were chattering
a little bit. Harry rubbed her arm to try and warm her up a bit. When they got
back into the Great Hall, Ginny pulled the cloak off, shaking it. Harry brushed
the snowflakes out of Ginny's hair, jumping at the chance to get his fingers
into her locks. They went into a deserted room off the side of the Great
Hall, and sat in a loveseat by the
fire. After a while, Ginny turned and looked at Harry.
"You're very good at color coordination Mr. Potter." Harry looked puzzled.
"It's not every man that can match his robe to his bruises." Harry chuckled. He
still had a nasty bruise from the beater stick, and his robes were a dark gray
that were almost the same color.
"And you my dear are so…"
Harry was at a loss of words at her beauty.
"I see…," Ginny said,
putting on a look of fake sadness.
"Gin, no….that's not what I
meant-" Ginny smiled.
"Shhhh…I was joking," she
whispered. Harry shivered as her breath hit his ear. "Are you cold? Let me warm
you up a bit…" Ginny turned to Harry and enveloped him in a kiss.
They sat there peacefully for a very long time. Ginny laid down and put her head
in his lap. Harry started to rub Ginny's forehead and her hair. The firelight
was bouncing and flickering and dancing off of Ginny's hair. She looked so
peaceful as she slept. Harry smiled to himself. His blinks kept getting longer
and longer until…he fell asleep.