A/n The past intro lyrics are from the song 'Words that we couldn't say.' I found it doing a search for cowboy bebop songs.
"It hurts, don't it?
Fools on parade
Taint it, own it, chase it away
We couldn't make them,
So we had to break them,
Words that we couldn't say!"
The arrived at the Burrow and Harry got the warm welcome he was so used to. He wouldn't want it any other way. Hermione had come over to visit when she heard he would be there for the summer. Harry was excited to tell them about his new job offer. "Hey guys, guess what!" he said to Ron and Hermione and smiled at Ginny.
"What? You and Ginny finally together?" Ron asked with a smile on his face. This brought a blush to both Harry and Ginny's face.
"Well no, not yet, but what I wanted to tell you is, I have a job," he smiled. Ginny was shocked at his statement not because of the news, but because he said 'not yet.' She looked at Harry and then slightly blushed and looked back to see Ron and Hermione's response.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other and then at Harry. "Where at?" Ron asked.
"Well, I'm not sure if you have ever heard of this place," he smiled at Ginny, "but I was offered a job at some school called 'Hogwarts.'" He smiled at their reactions. "Yeah, I'm going to be their Defense against the dark arts teacher."
"Well, I guess you are sort of well prepared for the class," Ron smiled at him. "So they really want you as a teacher there huh?"
Harry shrugged, "I guess so." Hermione was sort of shocked, but then came up to Harry and hugged him.
"I'm so glad for you Harry," she told him. He nodded and hugged her a bit back. "So, you getting your class material ready?"
He shrugged, "I probably should be. But first I just want to relax. I've been through a lot and I don't think anyone is going to hold it against me." He smiled. "I'm also sure that Ginny will want to be resting some too." He smiled at her, and she blushed. "So, where are you guys going to be doing with your lives?" He smiled at them.
Ron spoke up, "Well, I was planning on seeing if I couldn't find a job at the Ministry." He shrugged.
It was better then what Hermione told him. "Well, I'm not exactly sure as to what I'm going to be." They looked at her in shock.
"Hermione is...unprepared?" Harry asked shocked. He looked at her in shock. "I wasn't even expecting to survive this, and I've already landed a job!" He smiled at her.
"Oh you guys are terrible." She shook her head at them; not believing this was going on. She sighed. She looked at Harry and Ginny sitting there. "Ginny, could I talk to you a bit, alone." Ginny raised her eyebrow up but nodded. Hermione and Ginny stood up and walked up stairs to Ginny's room.
Ron looked at Harry. "Want to play some chess?" Harry shrugged and went over to the chessboard. They talked briefly between themselves about what they were planning on doing with their lives.
"So, Ron, you and Hermione gonna get married anytime soon?" He smiled at his friend as he was trying to pick a spot.
This startled Ron out of concentration and he made a bad move. "Err, I don't know, what about you and Ginny?" he tried to throw him off as well.
It didn't work, he captured his queen. "Oh, I don't know, I was planning on maybe after she graduated or something."
This threw Ron off again, and he made another bad move. "You aren't serious are you?" he asked. He had joked with Harry for awhile about it, but didn't expect anything like this to happen.
Harry took his rook. "I might, if everything goes ok."
"Oh." Ron looks at the board. He made a move. "Check"
Harry moved to counter, and said, "check" he looked at the board closely, "and mate."
Ron blinked and looked at the board. "Either you have gotten good or I've gotten bad."
Harry smiled and shrugged. "Maybe both, but you looked pretty distracted for a bit."
"I hope we haven't kept you waiting for too long," a voice came from the stairs as Ginny and Hermione came in the room.
"You won't believe what just happened," Ron started, "Harry just beat me at chess." The looked at each other and then at the boys startled.
"You're joking, right?" Hermione asked. After Ron shook his head, and seeing the look on Harry's face, she smiled. "About time someone beat you. Though I'm sure he didn't use any underhanded moves, now did you Harry?"
"Chess moves? No, none of those. Though I think I threw him off with our conversation a bit." He smiled at the ladies.
"Oh, and what would that be?" Ginny asked.
"Our futures and who we might end up with," Ron said looking at Harry. He said it was his conversation, and he wanted to know how he was planning on getting out of it.
"Oh really? And who would these people be that you end up with?" Ginny asked.
Harry looked up with a smile. "Ginny, would you like to go on a picnic with me today?"
This threw her off guard, and smiled at him, "Okay, you guys want to join?" she asked Ron and Hermione.
"Sounds like fun," Ron said as Hermione nodded. "Harry, you and me can get the food ready, while the ladies go and get something to sit on, okay?" Ron asked. Harry smiled and went out to get everything ready. Ginny and Hermione went up whispering to each other to get a blanket. They meet the boys down stairs. Harry offered his arm to Ginny, who took it, and Ron also offered his arm to Hermione who took it.
They walked out to the lake and set the blanket down. Harry and Ginny sat next to one another, and Ron and Hermione sat across from them. They got the food out and started to eat it.
The sat their and talked about everything and nothing at all. Harry leaned back and stared up into the blue sky. "It's so nice, to think that we don't need to worry about the next moment. To be constantly afraid of what was going to happen, if I was to be found. It's so peaceful." Harry sighed and smiled. Ginny smiled and lay back by Harry, hands behind her head. He smiled at her. She blushed but smiled back. Ron and Hermione leaned back as well. Harry put his arm under his head and his other arm on his stomach. He closed his eyes, and enjoyed the piece.
After a while he noticed that it darkened all of a sudden and he opened his eyes to see Ginny staring down at him. He smiled at him sweetly and she blushed a bit. "It's almost time to go in Harry." She smiled at him, her freckles showing a bit more because of the tan she had started from staying out so long.
"Thanks Ginny," he said. She stood up and offered him a hand, and he took it. After getting up, he didn't feel her really let go of his hand. He smiled at her and she blushed a bit and let go of his hand. They walked back to the house together. Harry walked in the kitchen, and got a whiff of something that smelled really good. "Hmm, smells good." He said.
"Well thank you Harry," Molly's reply came. She was busy getting dinner ready for everyone. She smiled at Harry and Ginny as they left the room.
"Hey, Harry, want to have a rematch against me?" Ron challenged him. Harry smiled and shook his head no.
"That's alright, I won once today, and I'll just keep my record at that." Ron shook his head. Harry was the only one that would play against him, and with the girls around, he wouldn't do what he did earlier that day. "What about exploding snap?" Harry suggested. He was sort of good at that. Earlier that morning where he mated Ron was a pure fluke.
"Okay." Ron got the game set up, and the girls watched. Ginny sat next to Harry and Hermione next to Ron, and they talked and if they wanted to whisper, they could without being heard. After dinner, they sat around and watched the fire in the fireplace for awhile. Ginny was starting to get tired and put her head down on Harry's shoulder. Ron was about to complain when Hermione put her head down on his shoulder. He decided that was probably a sign from Hermione not to do anything, so he stopped. After watching the fire for a bit, they decided it was time to go to bed. Harry and Ron tried to wake up Ginny and Hermione, but found they couldn't because they were fast asleep. So, instead Harry and Ron carried the girls upstairs, and put them in their beds, and covered them up. Then they went up to Ron's room and got ready for bed themselves.
The next morning, Harry got up, and got changed and went downstairs to the smell of fried eggs and bacon. He saw that only him and Hermione were up and eating, Molly had gone out to work in her garden for a bit. Ginny and Ron tend to sleep in, so he decided to enjoy breakfast with Hermione. They talked for a bit about how they would be spending their summer.
Hermione said she would be heading home soon, but was planning on trying to get back to visit with them for awhile, but her mom and dad would want to talk to her. Harry understood. He had the option not to go back to the Dursley, and he had already sent some mail to tell them so. He could imagine their reactions, they were happy, he was sure. He was happy too. He got to spend his summer with his best friend and Ginny. Hermione looked at him. "Harry, would you mind me asking you something?"
He looked at Hermione. "Well, you just did, but I think I can answer another one too." He smiled.
She looked at him seriously, "Are you planning on asking Gin out anytime soon?" He looked at her shocked.
He cleared his throat. "I was thinking about doing it maybe sometime during the summer, but I'm not sure."
Hermione nodded. "It's nice to know you want to take this slowly, but I want to stress to you this, she won't wait forever. You know that."
He nodded. "Yes, I know, and after dying once, I think I'm more willing to 'seize the day' to coin a phrase," he smiled at Hermione.
"Okay, just make sure you aren't out on the street selling newspapers for too much longer or she might just get over you. She loves you, you know that, right?" He nodded.
"Hermione, I have a question for you." She looked at him in a way that told him that she would answer the question. She picked up her glass to drink some. "Do you love Ron?" She sputtered in her drink.
She looked at him. "Harry, do you love Ginny?" she asked.
"You're not 100% sure if it is real either then, huh?" he asked. She nodded. "Just a little more time with one another will prove it one way or another. That's the only way we can find out. Just promise me this, that you will give him a chance." Ron had talked to him last night. He wanted to ask her out today before she left. She nodded her head.
They quickly changed subject to something lighter. After a bit, Ginny came down and joined them. Soon after, Ron came down as well. He looked at Harry who just smiled at him. "Hey Gin, can I speak to you in private?" Harry asked Ron's little sister. She looked up at him, nodded and stood up and followed him out.
Ron watched them leave. 'Thanks Harry, next time I see you I will either kill you or hug you to death,' he thought. He looked over at Hermione and sat down next to her. He started to eat some of the food.
"So, what plans do you have today?" she asked.
"Oh, you know, the normal. Stuff like beat Harry at chess," 'as long as the girls are near by', "plan a surprise party for you, Oh wait, you weren't suppose to know about that, were you?" he smiled at her.
"If you want, I can still act surprised when it happens." She smiled back. He had been nicer recently, and they haven't had too many arguments between themselves.
"Thanks." Hermione noticed Ron get nervous. "Hey, Hermione?" She smiled at him. 'Okay Ron, you had this whole thing planned out, now you just need to do it.' "I was wondering.... If you weren't, you know, going.... Out with someone, if you might possibly want to...oh drat, Hermione, go out with me, please?" Ron let the whole of it come out.
She was slightly shocked by his request. She smiled at him. "Well since I haven't gotten any better offers, I guess that you will do." Her eyes smiled, though she tried to act serious.
He looked at her shocked, but then he realized she was joking about getting any better offers. He smiled. Hermione thought to herself, 'So that's what Harry was trying to warn me about.' He nervously took her hand. She tightened her fingers around his, and gave him a reassuring squeeze. 'So Harry, I full filled my part of the deal, you full fill yours,' Ron thought. The night before, Ron and Harry had agreed to ask the girls out before the end of summer.
Ginny looked at Harry. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked.
"Well, I wanted to talk to you for a bit alone, but I mainly wanted to get Ron and Hermione together alone before he lost his nerve." He smiled at Ginny.
"You mean that he is going to ask her out? It's about time." she smiled at him.
Harry nodded. They sat there talking about Ginny's next year at school, him teaching one of her classes. After awhile, Ron and Hermione came out of the kitchen holding hands and Ron smiled at Harry. That was all of the info Harry or Ginny needed. She beamed up at her brother for finally asking her. Ginny got an idea. "Hey, who feels like going swimming today?" Everyone seemed to like the idea because they all nodded their heads. She smiled.
"Hey, how about we make it a day long thing? See if we can take some food out and the blanket again, and after swimming for a bit, we can go and eat and rest for awhile and then head back out again after words?" Harry asked. They decided too, so the guys got some more food and told Molly what they were going to do. Then they ran up and quickly got changed into some trunks. They went down to find the girls in their bathing suits, and they took the food and the blanket and went out to the pond.
Hermione was wearing a once piece bathing suit, while Ginny wore a two piece. Both of them were modest bathing suits. Hermione and Ron went off into the water together, and swam away giving Harry and Ginny awhile together. Harry and Ginny swam around for awhile.
Harry decided it was time to have some fun with Ginny, so he ducked down under water, and started to swim for where Ginny was. She hadn't noticed Harry going underwater, and so when she didn't see him, she started to worry. Not for his safety, she knew he could handle himself in most situations, but for her own. She felt something grab her leg, and pull her under. She took in a deep breath just in time to get pulled under, and when she was underwater, she turned too see Harry smiling at her, going up for some breath. She wasn't going to let him do that just yet. She grabbed a hold of him, and held him down. He looked at her in shock. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him to hold him down. He looked at her and smiled. She looked at him, wondering what he had planned, but quickly found out when he started to tickle her. She squirmed, but tried to keep a hold of him, but found she couldn't. He started to kick up to the surface, taking his chance. She reached out, and grabbed a hold of his leg, as he swam off. This shocked him, but he still got up to the surface. He took a deep breath of fresh air, and smiled as Ginny appeared next to him. "You nearly de-pantsed me, did you know that?" He asked her.
She looked up at him in surprise and blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean too." She blushed at the thought that she might have seen him without his pants on.
"Yeah, I'm sure you didn't want too see me without any trunks on." He smiled at her, seeing her squirm a bit. He laughed and pulled her into a hug. She was slightly surprised and forgot to keep above the water. She started to sink down, but then remembered, and started to move back up. "What time is it?" Harry asked her.
She smiled at him. "Oh, about time to go get some food." He smiled, not necessarily at her, but just smiled. She felt good in his arms. "You gonna let go of me anytime soon, or will I have to learn to get used to staying like this?" She didn't mind which one he chose, actually preferring staying like in his arms.
"Hmm, while I don't mind this, my stomach is saying that it needs some food, so lets go get some food, okay?" He let go of her, and went back underwater swimming for the small beach. She shook her head and followed. On the beach, they tried to dry themselves off, to some success, and then they sat down on the blanket for the picnic.
"Think Ron and Hermione will come around for some food?" Harry asked with a smile. She shrugged.
"Maybe we should just start without them." He nodded, and got into their basket, and got out some food. They sat next to one another, and ate their food in relative silence. After eating, he lay down and rested his head in his hands. Ginny stood up, and looked at Harry. "I'm going to be right back, okay Harry?" she smiled at him. He nodded and she walked off to the house.
Ron and Hermione came up to see Harry lying down alone. "Hey Harry, where's Ginny?" Ron asked him.
"Oh, she went off to the house for a bit, why? You guys finally gonna join us?" He smiled at his friends.
"Wait, she went to the house alone?" Ron asked Harry. He had a bad feeling about this. "Harry, when we get back, double check your sock collection too see if you have them all."
Harry looked at his friend. "My socks? Why?"
"Well, Ginny has a thing about socks, and she tends to steal them, though she only does it to her brothers, I would just suggest you check them."
Harry was surprised. "Ginny steals socks? I find that slightly hard to believe." Ron just shrugged. Ginny came walking back from the house, after Ron told him not to say anything. She looked rather smug, and came over and sat down right next to Harry. He removed a hand from behind his head, and before realizing what he was doing started to rub Ginny's back. When she felt his hand on her back, her back stiffened a bit, but then started to relax. Ron looked at Ginny and Harry, and smiled a bit. He lay back, and had Hermione lay her head on his stomach. Ginny laid back captured Harry's arm under her back.
She started to smile when she realized he wasn't trying to pull it out. Harry had stopped the backrub awhile ago because he was half-asleep. Now, he barely noticed her lying on his hand. Harry fell asleep from all of the food and warmth. After awhile, they were all out, but before Ginny fell asleep, she rolled over onto her side facing Harry, freeing his hand from under her back, but keeping his arm under her. Harry woke after awhile, to find his arm asleep, but Ginny lying right next to him. She was lying on his arm, and she was snuggled up to him. He looked over at her sleeping face and smiled. She looked so cute like this. She started to stir from her sleep. Her eyes opened and saw that Harry was watching her. He blushed when he noticed she was awake and watching him.
"Good evening Harry, how did you sleep?" she asked smiling.
"Pretty good, except my arm is asleep." She raised her eyebrow looking at him, and then realizing what was wrong sat up and let him pull out his limp arm. He smiled at her as he tried to get the blood working back through it. "Feel like swimming some more?"
"Oh, I think I would be pretty contempt to just stay right here." She smiled. He laughed.
"You can stay here if you want to, but I'm planning on getting some more swimming in." Ginny sighed as Harry got up, and went to the lake. Ginny got up reluctantly, and looked over at his brother, with Hermione's head on his stomach, his hand resting on her own stomach, in her hand. She sighed. She hoped that would be her and Harry soon. She could get used to spending her afternoons in Harry's arms. She got up and walked over to the lake. She looked around for Harry, and locating him, went over to him. He was floating in the water, face down. She dunked underwater away from him, flipped over, and swam underwater to where he was. She looked straight up at him and smiled. He blinked in surprise, but smiled back and leaned up so he was upright. Ginny came up as well. "I'm glad you decided to join me," he smiled at her.
"Oh, and is there a certain reason why you are glad?" she asked him sweetly.
"Just to spend some time with you." He smiled at her. He had so many feelings for her, and he didn't want to drag her into something unless he was certain about it himself.
She blushed slightly at his comment. She gave him a look that made him slightly blush as well. He sighed. He dropped out of sigh underwater, and just sank for awhile. He needed sometime to think alone. How he felt about her, what was it? He wanted the best for her; she had been there for everything, even giving up her own life for him. Now that the danger was over, he didn't have to worry about what would happen to the people he loved. He could love someone. Was Ginny the one he wanted to love?
The answer was simple. Yes. The problem came about how to ask her. He was certain she would say yes, but there was still that fear. He had to do it; he wanted to know what she thought. He also needed to get to the surface because he was starting to run out of breath. He started to swim upwards, and broke the surface. He looked around and located Ginny and swam over to her. She was looking away, so he sneaked up, and wrapped her in a hug. She gave a start and looked at who had grabbed her, and noticing it was Harry relaxed in his grip. "Yes, I could get used to this," Harry thought. "Hey, Gin? I was wanting to ask you something," he let his voice trail off.
"What is it Harry?" she asked.
"Gin, would you," he paused, "want to," again a pause, "bemygirlfriend?" It wasn't nearly as smooth as he was hoping it would be.
Ginny's eyes widened. She smiled at him. "Okay Harry. I accept." She smiled at him. He was very happy, and squeezed her close in a hug. He loosened his arms around her, and she turned around and smiled at him. He leaned his head forward until their foreheads where touching. He leaned in, and kissed her softly, gently. He quickly moved away and she was smiling at him. They spent the rest of the afternoon splashing around in the water, and having fun. Ginny wasn't blushing at all, even when he said something that used to make her blush. He liked the change. Before the sun started to set, they decided to go in. Harry dried himself off with a towel that was left for him, and wrapped it around his waist. Ginny dried off and they went off to the house together, hand in hand.
"Ron's going to be alone in there, isn't he?" Harry asked.
Ginny looked up at him, "Yes, probably. How do you think he will take it? You know, us being together and all?"
Harry smiled, "I have a feeling he will take it very well. Very well indeed."
To be continued
"It hurts, don't it?
Fools on parade
Taint it, own it, chase it away
We couldn't make them,
So we had to break them,
Words that we couldn't say!"
The arrived at the Burrow and Harry got the warm welcome he was so used to. He wouldn't want it any other way. Hermione had come over to visit when she heard he would be there for the summer. Harry was excited to tell them about his new job offer. "Hey guys, guess what!" he said to Ron and Hermione and smiled at Ginny.
"What? You and Ginny finally together?" Ron asked with a smile on his face. This brought a blush to both Harry and Ginny's face.
"Well no, not yet, but what I wanted to tell you is, I have a job," he smiled. Ginny was shocked at his statement not because of the news, but because he said 'not yet.' She looked at Harry and then slightly blushed and looked back to see Ron and Hermione's response.
Ron and Hermione looked at each other and then at Harry. "Where at?" Ron asked.
"Well, I'm not sure if you have ever heard of this place," he smiled at Ginny, "but I was offered a job at some school called 'Hogwarts.'" He smiled at their reactions. "Yeah, I'm going to be their Defense against the dark arts teacher."
"Well, I guess you are sort of well prepared for the class," Ron smiled at him. "So they really want you as a teacher there huh?"
Harry shrugged, "I guess so." Hermione was sort of shocked, but then came up to Harry and hugged him.
"I'm so glad for you Harry," she told him. He nodded and hugged her a bit back. "So, you getting your class material ready?"
He shrugged, "I probably should be. But first I just want to relax. I've been through a lot and I don't think anyone is going to hold it against me." He smiled. "I'm also sure that Ginny will want to be resting some too." He smiled at her, and she blushed. "So, where are you guys going to be doing with your lives?" He smiled at them.
Ron spoke up, "Well, I was planning on seeing if I couldn't find a job at the Ministry." He shrugged.
It was better then what Hermione told him. "Well, I'm not exactly sure as to what I'm going to be." They looked at her in shock.
"Hermione is...unprepared?" Harry asked shocked. He looked at her in shock. "I wasn't even expecting to survive this, and I've already landed a job!" He smiled at her.
"Oh you guys are terrible." She shook her head at them; not believing this was going on. She sighed. She looked at Harry and Ginny sitting there. "Ginny, could I talk to you a bit, alone." Ginny raised her eyebrow up but nodded. Hermione and Ginny stood up and walked up stairs to Ginny's room.
Ron looked at Harry. "Want to play some chess?" Harry shrugged and went over to the chessboard. They talked briefly between themselves about what they were planning on doing with their lives.
"So, Ron, you and Hermione gonna get married anytime soon?" He smiled at his friend as he was trying to pick a spot.
This startled Ron out of concentration and he made a bad move. "Err, I don't know, what about you and Ginny?" he tried to throw him off as well.
It didn't work, he captured his queen. "Oh, I don't know, I was planning on maybe after she graduated or something."
This threw Ron off again, and he made another bad move. "You aren't serious are you?" he asked. He had joked with Harry for awhile about it, but didn't expect anything like this to happen.
Harry took his rook. "I might, if everything goes ok."
"Oh." Ron looks at the board. He made a move. "Check"
Harry moved to counter, and said, "check" he looked at the board closely, "and mate."
Ron blinked and looked at the board. "Either you have gotten good or I've gotten bad."
Harry smiled and shrugged. "Maybe both, but you looked pretty distracted for a bit."
"I hope we haven't kept you waiting for too long," a voice came from the stairs as Ginny and Hermione came in the room.
"You won't believe what just happened," Ron started, "Harry just beat me at chess." The looked at each other and then at the boys startled.
"You're joking, right?" Hermione asked. After Ron shook his head, and seeing the look on Harry's face, she smiled. "About time someone beat you. Though I'm sure he didn't use any underhanded moves, now did you Harry?"
"Chess moves? No, none of those. Though I think I threw him off with our conversation a bit." He smiled at the ladies.
"Oh, and what would that be?" Ginny asked.
"Our futures and who we might end up with," Ron said looking at Harry. He said it was his conversation, and he wanted to know how he was planning on getting out of it.
"Oh really? And who would these people be that you end up with?" Ginny asked.
Harry looked up with a smile. "Ginny, would you like to go on a picnic with me today?"
This threw her off guard, and smiled at him, "Okay, you guys want to join?" she asked Ron and Hermione.
"Sounds like fun," Ron said as Hermione nodded. "Harry, you and me can get the food ready, while the ladies go and get something to sit on, okay?" Ron asked. Harry smiled and went out to get everything ready. Ginny and Hermione went up whispering to each other to get a blanket. They meet the boys down stairs. Harry offered his arm to Ginny, who took it, and Ron also offered his arm to Hermione who took it.
They walked out to the lake and set the blanket down. Harry and Ginny sat next to one another, and Ron and Hermione sat across from them. They got the food out and started to eat it.
The sat their and talked about everything and nothing at all. Harry leaned back and stared up into the blue sky. "It's so nice, to think that we don't need to worry about the next moment. To be constantly afraid of what was going to happen, if I was to be found. It's so peaceful." Harry sighed and smiled. Ginny smiled and lay back by Harry, hands behind her head. He smiled at her. She blushed but smiled back. Ron and Hermione leaned back as well. Harry put his arm under his head and his other arm on his stomach. He closed his eyes, and enjoyed the piece.
After a while he noticed that it darkened all of a sudden and he opened his eyes to see Ginny staring down at him. He smiled at him sweetly and she blushed a bit. "It's almost time to go in Harry." She smiled at him, her freckles showing a bit more because of the tan she had started from staying out so long.
"Thanks Ginny," he said. She stood up and offered him a hand, and he took it. After getting up, he didn't feel her really let go of his hand. He smiled at her and she blushed a bit and let go of his hand. They walked back to the house together. Harry walked in the kitchen, and got a whiff of something that smelled really good. "Hmm, smells good." He said.
"Well thank you Harry," Molly's reply came. She was busy getting dinner ready for everyone. She smiled at Harry and Ginny as they left the room.
"Hey, Harry, want to have a rematch against me?" Ron challenged him. Harry smiled and shook his head no.
"That's alright, I won once today, and I'll just keep my record at that." Ron shook his head. Harry was the only one that would play against him, and with the girls around, he wouldn't do what he did earlier that day. "What about exploding snap?" Harry suggested. He was sort of good at that. Earlier that morning where he mated Ron was a pure fluke.
"Okay." Ron got the game set up, and the girls watched. Ginny sat next to Harry and Hermione next to Ron, and they talked and if they wanted to whisper, they could without being heard. After dinner, they sat around and watched the fire in the fireplace for awhile. Ginny was starting to get tired and put her head down on Harry's shoulder. Ron was about to complain when Hermione put her head down on his shoulder. He decided that was probably a sign from Hermione not to do anything, so he stopped. After watching the fire for a bit, they decided it was time to go to bed. Harry and Ron tried to wake up Ginny and Hermione, but found they couldn't because they were fast asleep. So, instead Harry and Ron carried the girls upstairs, and put them in their beds, and covered them up. Then they went up to Ron's room and got ready for bed themselves.
The next morning, Harry got up, and got changed and went downstairs to the smell of fried eggs and bacon. He saw that only him and Hermione were up and eating, Molly had gone out to work in her garden for a bit. Ginny and Ron tend to sleep in, so he decided to enjoy breakfast with Hermione. They talked for a bit about how they would be spending their summer.
Hermione said she would be heading home soon, but was planning on trying to get back to visit with them for awhile, but her mom and dad would want to talk to her. Harry understood. He had the option not to go back to the Dursley, and he had already sent some mail to tell them so. He could imagine their reactions, they were happy, he was sure. He was happy too. He got to spend his summer with his best friend and Ginny. Hermione looked at him. "Harry, would you mind me asking you something?"
He looked at Hermione. "Well, you just did, but I think I can answer another one too." He smiled.
She looked at him seriously, "Are you planning on asking Gin out anytime soon?" He looked at her shocked.
He cleared his throat. "I was thinking about doing it maybe sometime during the summer, but I'm not sure."
Hermione nodded. "It's nice to know you want to take this slowly, but I want to stress to you this, she won't wait forever. You know that."
He nodded. "Yes, I know, and after dying once, I think I'm more willing to 'seize the day' to coin a phrase," he smiled at Hermione.
"Okay, just make sure you aren't out on the street selling newspapers for too much longer or she might just get over you. She loves you, you know that, right?" He nodded.
"Hermione, I have a question for you." She looked at him in a way that told him that she would answer the question. She picked up her glass to drink some. "Do you love Ron?" She sputtered in her drink.
She looked at him. "Harry, do you love Ginny?" she asked.
"You're not 100% sure if it is real either then, huh?" he asked. She nodded. "Just a little more time with one another will prove it one way or another. That's the only way we can find out. Just promise me this, that you will give him a chance." Ron had talked to him last night. He wanted to ask her out today before she left. She nodded her head.
They quickly changed subject to something lighter. After a bit, Ginny came down and joined them. Soon after, Ron came down as well. He looked at Harry who just smiled at him. "Hey Gin, can I speak to you in private?" Harry asked Ron's little sister. She looked up at him, nodded and stood up and followed him out.
Ron watched them leave. 'Thanks Harry, next time I see you I will either kill you or hug you to death,' he thought. He looked over at Hermione and sat down next to her. He started to eat some of the food.
"So, what plans do you have today?" she asked.
"Oh, you know, the normal. Stuff like beat Harry at chess," 'as long as the girls are near by', "plan a surprise party for you, Oh wait, you weren't suppose to know about that, were you?" he smiled at her.
"If you want, I can still act surprised when it happens." She smiled back. He had been nicer recently, and they haven't had too many arguments between themselves.
"Thanks." Hermione noticed Ron get nervous. "Hey, Hermione?" She smiled at him. 'Okay Ron, you had this whole thing planned out, now you just need to do it.' "I was wondering.... If you weren't, you know, going.... Out with someone, if you might possibly want to...oh drat, Hermione, go out with me, please?" Ron let the whole of it come out.
She was slightly shocked by his request. She smiled at him. "Well since I haven't gotten any better offers, I guess that you will do." Her eyes smiled, though she tried to act serious.
He looked at her shocked, but then he realized she was joking about getting any better offers. He smiled. Hermione thought to herself, 'So that's what Harry was trying to warn me about.' He nervously took her hand. She tightened her fingers around his, and gave him a reassuring squeeze. 'So Harry, I full filled my part of the deal, you full fill yours,' Ron thought. The night before, Ron and Harry had agreed to ask the girls out before the end of summer.
Ginny looked at Harry. "What did you want to talk about?" she asked.
"Well, I wanted to talk to you for a bit alone, but I mainly wanted to get Ron and Hermione together alone before he lost his nerve." He smiled at Ginny.
"You mean that he is going to ask her out? It's about time." she smiled at him.
Harry nodded. They sat there talking about Ginny's next year at school, him teaching one of her classes. After awhile, Ron and Hermione came out of the kitchen holding hands and Ron smiled at Harry. That was all of the info Harry or Ginny needed. She beamed up at her brother for finally asking her. Ginny got an idea. "Hey, who feels like going swimming today?" Everyone seemed to like the idea because they all nodded their heads. She smiled.
"Hey, how about we make it a day long thing? See if we can take some food out and the blanket again, and after swimming for a bit, we can go and eat and rest for awhile and then head back out again after words?" Harry asked. They decided too, so the guys got some more food and told Molly what they were going to do. Then they ran up and quickly got changed into some trunks. They went down to find the girls in their bathing suits, and they took the food and the blanket and went out to the pond.
Hermione was wearing a once piece bathing suit, while Ginny wore a two piece. Both of them were modest bathing suits. Hermione and Ron went off into the water together, and swam away giving Harry and Ginny awhile together. Harry and Ginny swam around for awhile.
Harry decided it was time to have some fun with Ginny, so he ducked down under water, and started to swim for where Ginny was. She hadn't noticed Harry going underwater, and so when she didn't see him, she started to worry. Not for his safety, she knew he could handle himself in most situations, but for her own. She felt something grab her leg, and pull her under. She took in a deep breath just in time to get pulled under, and when she was underwater, she turned too see Harry smiling at her, going up for some breath. She wasn't going to let him do that just yet. She grabbed a hold of him, and held him down. He looked at her in shock. She smiled and wrapped her arms around him to hold him down. He looked at her and smiled. She looked at him, wondering what he had planned, but quickly found out when he started to tickle her. She squirmed, but tried to keep a hold of him, but found she couldn't. He started to kick up to the surface, taking his chance. She reached out, and grabbed a hold of his leg, as he swam off. This shocked him, but he still got up to the surface. He took a deep breath of fresh air, and smiled as Ginny appeared next to him. "You nearly de-pantsed me, did you know that?" He asked her.
She looked up at him in surprise and blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean too." She blushed at the thought that she might have seen him without his pants on.
"Yeah, I'm sure you didn't want too see me without any trunks on." He smiled at her, seeing her squirm a bit. He laughed and pulled her into a hug. She was slightly surprised and forgot to keep above the water. She started to sink down, but then remembered, and started to move back up. "What time is it?" Harry asked her.
She smiled at him. "Oh, about time to go get some food." He smiled, not necessarily at her, but just smiled. She felt good in his arms. "You gonna let go of me anytime soon, or will I have to learn to get used to staying like this?" She didn't mind which one he chose, actually preferring staying like in his arms.
"Hmm, while I don't mind this, my stomach is saying that it needs some food, so lets go get some food, okay?" He let go of her, and went back underwater swimming for the small beach. She shook her head and followed. On the beach, they tried to dry themselves off, to some success, and then they sat down on the blanket for the picnic.
"Think Ron and Hermione will come around for some food?" Harry asked with a smile. She shrugged.
"Maybe we should just start without them." He nodded, and got into their basket, and got out some food. They sat next to one another, and ate their food in relative silence. After eating, he lay down and rested his head in his hands. Ginny stood up, and looked at Harry. "I'm going to be right back, okay Harry?" she smiled at him. He nodded and she walked off to the house.
Ron and Hermione came up to see Harry lying down alone. "Hey Harry, where's Ginny?" Ron asked him.
"Oh, she went off to the house for a bit, why? You guys finally gonna join us?" He smiled at his friends.
"Wait, she went to the house alone?" Ron asked Harry. He had a bad feeling about this. "Harry, when we get back, double check your sock collection too see if you have them all."
Harry looked at his friend. "My socks? Why?"
"Well, Ginny has a thing about socks, and she tends to steal them, though she only does it to her brothers, I would just suggest you check them."
Harry was surprised. "Ginny steals socks? I find that slightly hard to believe." Ron just shrugged. Ginny came walking back from the house, after Ron told him not to say anything. She looked rather smug, and came over and sat down right next to Harry. He removed a hand from behind his head, and before realizing what he was doing started to rub Ginny's back. When she felt his hand on her back, her back stiffened a bit, but then started to relax. Ron looked at Ginny and Harry, and smiled a bit. He lay back, and had Hermione lay her head on his stomach. Ginny laid back captured Harry's arm under her back.
She started to smile when she realized he wasn't trying to pull it out. Harry had stopped the backrub awhile ago because he was half-asleep. Now, he barely noticed her lying on his hand. Harry fell asleep from all of the food and warmth. After awhile, they were all out, but before Ginny fell asleep, she rolled over onto her side facing Harry, freeing his hand from under her back, but keeping his arm under her. Harry woke after awhile, to find his arm asleep, but Ginny lying right next to him. She was lying on his arm, and she was snuggled up to him. He looked over at her sleeping face and smiled. She looked so cute like this. She started to stir from her sleep. Her eyes opened and saw that Harry was watching her. He blushed when he noticed she was awake and watching him.
"Good evening Harry, how did you sleep?" she asked smiling.
"Pretty good, except my arm is asleep." She raised her eyebrow looking at him, and then realizing what was wrong sat up and let him pull out his limp arm. He smiled at her as he tried to get the blood working back through it. "Feel like swimming some more?"
"Oh, I think I would be pretty contempt to just stay right here." She smiled. He laughed.
"You can stay here if you want to, but I'm planning on getting some more swimming in." Ginny sighed as Harry got up, and went to the lake. Ginny got up reluctantly, and looked over at his brother, with Hermione's head on his stomach, his hand resting on her own stomach, in her hand. She sighed. She hoped that would be her and Harry soon. She could get used to spending her afternoons in Harry's arms. She got up and walked over to the lake. She looked around for Harry, and locating him, went over to him. He was floating in the water, face down. She dunked underwater away from him, flipped over, and swam underwater to where he was. She looked straight up at him and smiled. He blinked in surprise, but smiled back and leaned up so he was upright. Ginny came up as well. "I'm glad you decided to join me," he smiled at her.
"Oh, and is there a certain reason why you are glad?" she asked him sweetly.
"Just to spend some time with you." He smiled at her. He had so many feelings for her, and he didn't want to drag her into something unless he was certain about it himself.
She blushed slightly at his comment. She gave him a look that made him slightly blush as well. He sighed. He dropped out of sigh underwater, and just sank for awhile. He needed sometime to think alone. How he felt about her, what was it? He wanted the best for her; she had been there for everything, even giving up her own life for him. Now that the danger was over, he didn't have to worry about what would happen to the people he loved. He could love someone. Was Ginny the one he wanted to love?
The answer was simple. Yes. The problem came about how to ask her. He was certain she would say yes, but there was still that fear. He had to do it; he wanted to know what she thought. He also needed to get to the surface because he was starting to run out of breath. He started to swim upwards, and broke the surface. He looked around and located Ginny and swam over to her. She was looking away, so he sneaked up, and wrapped her in a hug. She gave a start and looked at who had grabbed her, and noticing it was Harry relaxed in his grip. "Yes, I could get used to this," Harry thought. "Hey, Gin? I was wanting to ask you something," he let his voice trail off.
"What is it Harry?" she asked.
"Gin, would you," he paused, "want to," again a pause, "bemygirlfriend?" It wasn't nearly as smooth as he was hoping it would be.
Ginny's eyes widened. She smiled at him. "Okay Harry. I accept." She smiled at him. He was very happy, and squeezed her close in a hug. He loosened his arms around her, and she turned around and smiled at him. He leaned his head forward until their foreheads where touching. He leaned in, and kissed her softly, gently. He quickly moved away and she was smiling at him. They spent the rest of the afternoon splashing around in the water, and having fun. Ginny wasn't blushing at all, even when he said something that used to make her blush. He liked the change. Before the sun started to set, they decided to go in. Harry dried himself off with a towel that was left for him, and wrapped it around his waist. Ginny dried off and they went off to the house together, hand in hand.
"Ron's going to be alone in there, isn't he?" Harry asked.
Ginny looked up at him, "Yes, probably. How do you think he will take it? You know, us being together and all?"
Harry smiled, "I have a feeling he will take it very well. Very well indeed."
To be continued