Liza recognized the song in the first four beats. She smiled to herself as she approached Ron, just as Harry was leaving him to dance with Ginny. "Hey," she said.
He looked at her, almost scornfully. "Hey."
She grabbed his hand, "C'mon, let's dance!"
"Don't you want to dance with Seamus?"
"He's already dancing with Veronica."
"Who?"
"Ginny's friend. C'mon, let's dance!"
Ron rolled his eyes and begrudgingly let Liza lead him out into the middle of the room. She placed his hands on her waist and let her own rest behind his neck, bringing them close together.
"Now, I know you like that," she said, leaning up to kiss him.
He pulled his head away, looking out over the room. Liza looked up at him, hurt and puzzled.
"What's wrong with you?" she said.
He spoke quietly, still looking away. "Sorry, I don't like being a consolation prize."
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, since you couldn't dance with Seamus…"
"No Ron, I wanted to dance this song with you--!"
He plowed ahead, not listening, "I guess you've only been with me these last few weeks cause there was no one else around."
"Ron! What are you talking about? You have to know that's not true!"
"How would I know that?"
"Because I'm telling you! Do I really seem like the type to be with a guy just because he's there?"
He shrugged.
"Trust me Ron. If I didn't want to be with you, I wouldn't."
He looked down at her finally, wanting to believe her… He sighed.
"Then what were you doing with Seamus?"
"We were just dancing! Having fun, not a big deal! Even people who're in love need a little break from each other sometimes!"
"In love…?"
Liza shrugged, looking away uncomfortably.
A grin spread over Ron's face. He put his fingers to her chin, causing her to look at him and kissed her lips gently, serenely, with care and passion all at once.
She rest her head on his chest, sighing a bit and letting herself be completely engulfed in his embrace.
As the night progressed, people began filtering out and going home.
"I'll owl you, Liz," said Seamus as he was leaving.
"It's Liza," she said, feeling Ron's arm snake around her waist. "Only he calls me Liz," she tilted her head towards Ron, who grinned.
"Oh, sorry," said Seamus, who grinned as well. "Well, I'll owl you anyway, Liza." He leaned over and kissed her cheek. Ron let out a low growl. Liza giggled. "I think Ron's jelous," she said.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" said Seamus, "I should have realized, here, Ron, you get one too." And he kissed Ron's cheek. Ron's eyes buldged and he glared at Seamus, who was laughing, as was Liza.
"See ou guys in September!" called Seamus, starting across the lawn, "Happy birthday Harry!"
When everyone had left, Ron slouched into the nearest arm chair. Harry, coming back from saying goodbye to the last guests, plopped onto the couch. Ginny sat next to him and he put his arm around her. Liza let herself drop across Ron's lap and giggled at his "oof."
"The night's not over yet!" she said, apparently not as tired as her friends. "Harry, you haven't opened your presents yet!"
"I'm so tired though! Can't we leave them till tomorrow?"
Liza shrugged. "Well, I guess if you want to be boring like that." Harry rolled his eyes. "Just make sure I'm there when you open them, I want to make sure you got good stuff." She hopped up "Well, I think I'll go to bed," she paused to look expectantly down at Ron. "You coming?"
He blinked up at her for a moment, then stood up also, clearing his throat a bit. "Well, yeah, uh, it's been fun, happy birthday Harry," he said quickly, following Liza up the stairs.
"Good night!" she called over her shoulder.
"Yeah, good night!" said Ron.
Harry laughed a bit and Ginny rolled her eyes. She snuggled into his chest, her brown eyes closing. Harry kissed the top of her head.
"Harry," she murmured against the softness of his shirt, "Liza said we could sleep in the guest room…"
Harry nodded, that seemed like a Liza thing to do. "Are you sure you want to…?" he asked quietly. A little smile spread across her lips. She nodded. He smiled softly and lifted her off the couch and carried her up the stairs.
***
Ron closed the door behind him as quietly as he could. He started walking down the hall, but the guest room door opened just as he was about to pass it. Ginny stepped out, her hair still mussed and Harry's shirt hanging open over her pajama top and, to Ron's immense horror, Harry's green checked boxers. Ron gaped; Ginny flushed.
"'Morning," she murmured.
He sputtered. "What?"
"What?" She started down the stairs.
"Why--?"
"Why what?"
"Boxers. Harry's boxers. Ginny. Harry's--Harry's boxers."
She blushed bright crimson. "Oh…that…"
"Yes. Yes, that. Why?"
"Good morning Micheal," said Ginny as they passed him, sipping his coffee and reading a paper at the kitchen table, still in his navy terry-cloth robe. He nodded. "Morning."
Ron nodded to him as well, "Morning."
Ginny took down two cups from the cupboard and poured coffee, milk and sugar into both.
"One of those for Harry?" said Ron, looking pale. Ginny nodded, not looking up from stirring the coffees.
Ron pulled another tow cups down and poured coffee into one, boiling water into the other. He plopped a tea-bag into the water.
Ginny picked up her two cups and started to walk past Ron.
"There's some pastries and stuff if you guys want," Michael said, gesturing to a platter on the table.
Ginny smiled a little. "Thanks," she said, taking a plate from a shelf and filling it with Danishes.
"You'll want a tray," said Michael, barely looking up from his paper, "there're some on the bottom shelf." Ginny smiled in thanks.
"How was the party?"
"Oh, it was really nice," said Ginny enthusiastically.
"Yeah, thanks for letting us have it here!" said Ron.
"I think Harry was really pleased," Ginny continued. Ron glanced at her.
"Yeah. Really pleased," he said. "I think he'll be even more pleased this morning--you know, when the full effect sinks in."
Ginny glared at him. Michael hid a smile behind his paper.
"Liza's still asleep?" asked Michael.
Ginny looked towards Ron, who blushed.
"Yeah," he said, "Well sort of. In any case I wouldn't try to get her out of bed yet."
Michael nodded. "Doesn't really matter. Just when she can think coherently you could tell her that I'd be willing to drive you guys to the movies later."
Ginny looked excited. "Thanks!" she said, "We'll make sure we tell her!"
Michael nodded and went back to his paper.
"Maybe we can see that one Liza was telling us about--about the boy and girl from different families that were feuding… with that blond boy from Titanic…"
Ron nodded vaguely as he followed her up the stairs.
"Ron. What?"
He didn't say anything.
"Are you alluding to the fact that you can't say anything to me because you did it too?"
"Ginny, I'm older than you…"
"By a year! And Liza only by a few months! And it's not like this was her first time."
Ron looked rather dejected. "Ginny…"
"Give it up Ron. You're not going to win."
They were standing in front of the guest room door, Ginny's hand on the door-knob.
"I know…it's just, well difficult, I guess."
"I know, Ron."
Just then Liza's bedroom door cracked open and Liza stuck her head out.
"Ooo! Danishes!" she exclaimed brightly, "Morning Gin!"
Ginny smiled at her. "You seem chipper this morning."
"You say that like it's such an odd thing. God, the way you talk you'd think I was a grouch or something in the morning."
"Well…"
"Yes dear, shh. Ron?" She pouted a little. He straightened up and gave Ginny a reproaching glance, then grinned at her and ruffled her hair before turning and going back to Liza's room. Ginny rolled her eyes and went back to the guest room.
YES. It is FINISHED!!!! Or at least I think so. It certainly needs some revising, but otherwise, do you think it's pretty complete? Or does it need more? I'm not sure yet…