Crash And Burn
Author's Note: Once again I apologize for the wait. I had to be out of town for a couple of days. This chapter is promising. It gets kinda interesting. I'm hoping for a good cliffhanger at the end. Anywho, on with the chapter and hugs for all my reviewers! And I'm really really sorry about the wait! *begs forgiveness* And this chapter's a bit short cause I was writing it and didn't like where it went. So after all this babbling, on with the fic already!
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Ginny's face froze in a mask of horror and Harry went as red as her hair. He stood up quickly, helping her stand up. The two of them stared into the faces of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Stardust stood up and looked at everyone before nosing Ginny to see what was going on. She pet his nose, telling him it was okay before turning back to her parents, holding on to Harry's hand for support. "Hello mum and dad. How was the trip here," she asked, a nervous wavering in her voice.
Harry stepped forward, extending his hand towards Mr. Weasley. "Hello sir. How are you today," he asked.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley just stared at the two of them before bursting into laughter. Harry and Ginny looked at each other confused as they watched her parents in a laughing fit. Finally Mrs. Weasley stopped laughing, wiping the tears from her eyes. "Harry dear, we're not here to flatten you or barrage you with questions about your intentions and how you will take care of our daughter. We already know you have the will and the means for all this. We just wanted to meet with the two of you and have dinner. A nice, quiet dinner with just the four of us."
"Yes. You two looked so worried! And Harry, being so formal? Please, we're to be family in a year or two. Call me Arthur," said Mr. Weasley, hugging him. "If it would be anyone for our daughter I'm proud to make you a permanent part of our family."
Harry was slowly turning redder and redder, the compliments embarrassing him yet also making him feel more relaxed. "Thank you very much Mr. and Mrs. We—I mean, Arthur and Molly. Come on. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore has a table for us already."
"First things first, though. Ginny, may I see the ring," asked Molly, a grin spreading across her face.
Ginny giggled as she turned to Harry and kissed his cheek before giving her mom her hand that held the ring. Harry slipped his arm around her waist, allowing her to rest her head against his shoulder and Molly examined the ring further.
"Harry, where did you get this ring," she asked, the realization apparent on her face. Arthur's face held just as much of a shocked look as Molly's did.
"Well, you remember that box Ginny asked you to send her, the one my mother sent you?" Molly nodded her head in recognition. "Well, inside, among other things including the deed to the land where we'll build our house, there was a set of rings, this ring and a golden band. My parents' wedding rings. My mother wrote in her note that she wanted my fiancée to have her ring. It was her gift to Ginny."
Molly and Arthur stared at him for a while before turning. "Well then. Shall we head up for dinner? I'm sure everyone else is waiting." They began the trek up to the school. Soon they were in the Entrance Hall. What greeted them was a sight they would never have imagined.
There was a banner that had been strung across the whole of the back wall that read, in big scripted letters that changed color, "Congratulations Harry and Ginny!" There was a false shower of snow and thousands of candles dancing around. Up towards the teachers' table a small table with a setting for four, set with beautiful dishes and a bouquet of white roses in the middle, was near. Molly, Arthur, Ginny, and Harry headed to that table, Harry and Ginny getting applause from the whole of Hogwarts, even from Slytherin, though unenthusiastic they were about it. As the four sat down, Dumbledore rose and picked up his goblet. "Let us all raise our goblets in a toast to the future Mr. and Mrs. Potter!" Calls of "Here here" and "Way to go" rang through the hall as goblets were raised and clinked together. Everyone sat back down and began eating as the feast appeared in front of them.
Harry and Ginny sat close to each other, whispering in each other's ear and laughing at whatever was passing between them. Molly and Arthur watched them, smiles on their faces. They knew they were serious.
"Arthur, do you remember when we were like that," said Molly, whispering Mr. Weasley's ear.
"Of course my dear. Kinda like we're doing now," he said, whispering back to her. The two of them laughed at this.
Soon the dinner was through with, the conversation mainly about planning the wedding and where it would be held, who would come, things like that. After most everyone else had left the four headed up to Gryffindor Tower, to the common room. Ginny was eager to show her mother her new dress robes.
Ron and Hermione were sitting in the common room, the rest of Gryffindor out on the lawn enjoying the rest of the day. Ginny grabbed Hermione, whispering in her ear what she wanted to do as they ran up the stairs to their room. Harry, Ron, Molly, and Arthur sat in the chairs around fireplace, talking and laughing about different times they'd had, hearing stories of Gryffindors from when Molly and Arthur had been in Hogwarts still.
Hermione came down the stairs, clearing her throat. "Ahem," she said. "Ginny is ready now." Harry got up and stood at the bottom of the stairs as Ginny emerged. Everyone gasped as they saw how she looked.
The perfectly fitting bodice with the Celtic symbols accented her curves, the skirt long and flowing, the cape with the fur trimming drifting out behind her, cascading around her as she walked down the stairs, the hood lain back to reveal her hair which had been done up, loose tendrils of curls framing her face. She had the headband on, the symbol sitting perfectly centered on her forehead, the necklace with the horses accenting everything beautifully. The glass slippers formed to her feet, making a soft click as she came down the stairs.
Harry offered his hand to her as she reached the bottom of the stairs. She turned to face her parents, smiling. "These are my new dress robes."
"How on earth……dear gods, is that the dress the elves made this year," said Mrs. Weasley, heading over and admiring the craftsmanship.
"The very one," said Harry, beaming proudly at Ginny. Ginny turned and went over to Harry, throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him into a kiss. The two were like that for a while, the rest of them forgotten until they finally remembered that her parents were there, along with Hermione and Ron. They turned back to Molly and Arthur, Ginny's arm around Harry's waist, Harry's around hers, her head leaning on his shoulder and his head leaning on hers. "Well Molly," said Harry, "do you approve?"
"Do I approve? Do you even need to ask? Welcome to the family Harry," she exclaimed, scooping both Harry and Ginny up into a big hug, the tears beginning to fall. Mr. Weasley came up behind her, prying her away from Harry and Ginny. He hugged each one of them individually before turning back to his wife. "Molly, we should be getting back. I have to work tomorrow and you have the whole day to relax."
"Oh Arthur, they're just so cute together! But you're right. We really should be getting back." She turned back to Ginny, giving her a final hug. "Be sure to write me. I want to be kept updated on this. We have so much to do and so little time!" Then she went to Harry, giving him a good hug. "Harry, congratulations and please take care of my little girl."
Harry turned to Ginny and smiled, saying "I'll always be there to take care of her."
Molly and Arthur nodded, heading out of the portrait hole while Ginny ran upstairs to change into her pajamas. She came down a few minutes later, heading over to the couch where Harry was laying, laying down next to him and pulling the blanket over them, shivering a bit.
"You cold hun," asked Harry. Ginny nodded a little, scooting closer to him and curling up a little more into a ball. "Here," he said, pointing his hand and using a heating spell. "Now the blanket will keep you warmer." The two of them cuddled underneath the blanket, pressed against one another to keep warm. Ron and Hermione had lay down on the other couch together, already curled up together.
"So Hermione," asked Ginny, albeit a bit sleepy, "I was wondering, would you want to be my maid of honor at the wedding," she asked.
Hermione's head shot up and whipped around to face Ginny. "Really? You really mean it?!?! That would be so wonderful," she exclaimed, still a bit reluctant to move from where she was. Ron pulled her back toward him, the two readjusting to how they were before.
"Hey Ron, you do know that you'll be best man, right," said Harry.
"Sure mate," he said, not even moving from where he was. The four of them sat there in companionable silence. Soon they were asleep. Nobody entering the common room dared wake them up. Despite the fact that such displays of affection were frowned upon, who would want to wake a Weasley?
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Colin was sitting in a darkened corner of the sixth year boys' dorm, a silencing charm placed around him as he pulled his knees to his chest, his forehead resting on his knees as he cried out everything that was bothering him. Ginny was engaged to Harry. It was confirmed. The Weasleys had made an appearance at dinner today. That could only mean that they approved of the proposal and the wedding was imminent. He would have to continue on acting as though he didn't care, continue on being her friend. He'd have to apologize to the two of them about his outburst. He picked up his head as he suddenly thought of something. A cruel smile crept across his face. He would make them understand.
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The next day dawned bright and clear, the four still sleeping on the couches. It was the day of the Halloween Ball, and many were not wasting time. Boys could be seen running up and down their staircase, clothes flying into and out of doors, shouts of which spell to use for what coming from every direction. Girls were shrieking with happiness, running up and down stairs, spells flying in and out of doors like mad, make up spells being fixed to their faces, clothing being transfigured. And in the midst of all this chaos slept Ginny, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, sleeping peacefully as they ever had.
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Ginny saw a beautiful home, two stories with a simple face to it, a lovely garden out front. She went out back, her hands supporting her strained back as she went slowly to the stable out back that she used to house her magical creatures and muggle horses. Her belly swelled with the promise of twins as she carefully made her way up the path, the sun beginning to rise in the east and setting a glow over the whole of the land. Wild herds of unicorn grazed peacefully towards the back pasture, centaurs wandering as they pleased, staring up at the sky and having their discussions of what the star patterns meant. She heard a rustling in the tall grasses next to her and turned, smiling as a young girl ran up to her, stopping short of grabbing her leg.
"Momma," she said, jumping up and down, "the kashya were playing with me today! They let me play!"
Ginny laughed at the little girl's excitement. "That's wonderful Lily. Would you like to help me with the horses and unicorns today? The Ministry is sending over a baby unicorn today that needs our help. If you're good you can have him as your own."
Lily ran for the barn then, her little legs carrying her faster than she was made to. "I'll get the food for them!"
Ginny watched her go, laughing lightly at her exuberance when she felt a pair of strong arms slip around her, rubbing her swollen belly as the mouth belonging to them kissed her neck gently.
"Hello sweetheart. How's my lovely mama today?"
"About ready to magic herself to the barn. Thank God Lily loves the animals as much as me. These twins are getting heavier and heavier each day Harry," she said, rubbing her belly as well.
"How much longer," he asked, knowing she had went to the mediwitch the day before for a check.
"According to him, only another month but I swear they'll pop out tomorrow."
Harry chuckled a bit as he kissed her neck again, holding her and watching the sun rise with her. "I have to head off to work now Gin. Promise me that you'll contact me if anything happens alright," he said.
"Believe me, you'll be the first to know."
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Ginny smiled in her sleep, chuckling a little when she chuckled in her dream. She scooted closer to Harry, sighing as she subconsciously felt his arms tighten around her.
Harry had been awake for a few minutes, watching her sleep. He was glad to see her smiling. He knew then that no frightening visions or dreams of the past were keeping her from a peaceful sleep. He also knew she should sleep as long as she wanted, avoiding much of the crush upstairs. As Ginny and Hermione shared a room, they had their own bathroom, or so he assumed, so they wouldn't have to worry anyway. He didn't want to wake her though. He sat for another hour just watching her sleeping form before he felt her stir and look up at him, smiling with her sleepy eyes still half closed.
"Hey babe," she said, yawning before rolling over to face him. She lay her head back down on his chest. "What time is it," she asked, wondering what all the strange clattering was about.
"Today's the day of the Halloween Dance, remember hun," he said, bracing himself.
Ginny jumped up, scrambling to keep her balance as she headed over to where Hermione and Ron lay. "Hermione! Hermione wake up! The dance starts in 3 hours and we haven't started to dress yet!"
Hermione slowly opened her eyes, Ginny's statement slowly sinking in. Suddenly she too jumped up and, grabbing Ginny's hand ran up the stairs, shouting behind them for Harry to get Ron up.
Harry laughed as he watched Ron go to squeeze Hermione and missed, hugging air. He opened his eyes and saw that she was gone then looked to Harry. "What's going on?"
"Halloween Dance."
Ron shook his head as he stood up. "Girls. And you know the sad part of all this?"
Harry smirked. "That we'll still be waiting for them after we're done when it takes us about half hour to get ready?"
Ron nodded and grumbled as he headed up the stairs, conjuring a cup of coffee. "You know, I think my dear sister had the right idea about this coffee thing muggles drink. It's way better than tea in the morning."
Harry chuckled to himself as they headed up the stairs, his whole body quivering in excitement as he anticipated the evening ahead. Little did he know what awaited them.