True or False

Chapter 2: Pushing Forward



After a month of planning, Ginny, Hermione, and Molly had decided when to have the wedding (August 2), who to invite (all of Ginny's relatives, their friends from Hogwarts, Sirius and Remus, and most of the Hogwarts teachers), where to hold the reception (Hogwarts), and what catering service to use (Dilbert's Delectable Delicacies). Harry, Ron, Fred, and George, had gotten fitted for new dress robes, along with Dean, Neville, Seamus. Harry's would be black, and the others would be a deep navy. Ginny and Hermione had composed and written the invitations and Harry and Ron had used at least fifty owls to mail them. Next week Ginny, Hermione, Lavender, Parvati, Ginny's cousin Eve, Mara, and Leslie, Ginny's two friends from Hogwarts, would go get fitted for dress robes. Ginny's robe would be white, and the bridesmaid's robes would be a soft sky blue color.



Even thought a lot had been accomplished, Harry still felt that there was much to do before the wedding date, only three months away. Every time he thought about the wedding, how heavenly Ginny would look, how happy he would be when he said "I do," when he kissed her, when he would call her "Mrs. Harry Potter," he got a wonderful warm, rushing feeling inside him.



The thing that made the wonderful even more wonderful was Ron's support. Harry was terrified that Ron would be furious at him for taking his little sister away. He had always dreaded that Ron would doubt Harry's true feelings for Ginny; that he would refuse to speak with Harry; refuse to attend the wedding; refuse to be a fun, loving uncle; refuse to be Harry's best friend which he had been since the train ride at Hogwarts more than ten years ago. But all that dread, all those nightmares had disappeared from Harry's mind the second Ron had patted him on the back and congratulated him and agreed to be his best man.



"Mr. Potter?" The high, squeaky voice of the house elf halted his thoughts.



"Yes?" Harry asked, turning to look at the house elf, dressed horrendously in worker boots, a faux leather skirt, and a torn rocker T-shirt.



"I'm here."

As soon as he heard that voice Harry got a sick feeling in his stomach. What would she be here for? What does she want? I'm getting married, for God's sake, does she still think I love her?



"Hope you don't mind that I showed myself in, Sexy." Cho said, sauntering toward him in a waaaay-too-short black leather skirt, knee high black boots, and a top so tight, Harry wondered how she fit into it.



"Cho." Harry greeted her coldly.



"What's the matter, baby? Tense about the Big Day?" Cho slurred. "I can fix that."



"I'm just fine, Cho. But very busy. I have work to do." Harry turned his chair toward his desk, away from her.



"Don't kid yourself, Sexy. You're not fine." She spun the chair around so Harry was facing her again. "But you will be." She whispered, climbing into his lap.



The strong perfume momentarily paralyzed Harry, Cho getting closer and closer. He could smell the alchol on her breath.



"Cho, you've been drinking. I'll just apparate you home, so you can get into bed-"



"I'll only get in the bed if you're in it."



"Well, that's not going to happen." Harry said, abruptly standing up, making Cho topple to the floor. Harry pulled out his wand, pointed it at Cho, and with a small pop, she was gone.



"Whew!" Harry sighed, sinking into a large maroon arm chair. "Blenny!" Harry called to a house elf.



"Yes, sir?"



"I'm going to Ms. Weasley's house. If Ms. Chang comes back, call Percy Weasley, have him come pick her up."



"Yes, sir."

iiii

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed, greeting him with a kiss at her apartment door.



"And what are you going?" Harry inquired, looking at her frayed bell-bottom jeans, ripped Chudley Cannons shirt, and the matching orange bandana around her hair.



Ginny laughed. "I had no idea you would be coming!" She apologized, looking down at her clothing. "I was cleaning."



"Well, you look more beautiful when you're cleaning than most people do after hours of preparation." Harry said, drawing her into his arms.



"You're just saying that!"



"You're right, I am." Harry said, letting go of her. "But I mean it." He continued, drawing her close again and kissing her softly on the lips.



"You are," Ginny said, in between kisses. "The most," she went on, leading him into the family room. "wonderful," she sat down on the couch, pulling him with her. "person in the world." She let her fingers run through his hair and down to his back, pulling him closer and closer.



"As much as I love this," Harry said, lifting his head up. "It's not why I came here."



Ginny raised her eyebrows.



"Well, it is why I came here." Harry said hastily. "But-"



"I know what you mean." Ginny laughed, sitting up.



"Well...Cho-"



"Please, don't get me started up on her! I was having a perfectly good day until you brought her up!"



"Fine, I won't tell you!" Harry said, putting his hands up in defense.



"I'm sorry, Jamsie." She apologized, using her nickname for him.



"I thought you should know, Cho came by the house."



"She what!?"



"Dressed in a skirt five inches long and a top that must have taken her four hours to fit into. I apparated her home."



"What is her problem? I'm going to kill her! We're engaged and she is still trying to seduce you!" Ginny ranted, pacing the floor. "And dating Percy, too! Poor Percy! Falling for that hoe! He's going to be heartbroken when he finds out!"



"Look, Gin, she was drunk, so maybe she wasn't in her right mind. Maybe she's over me and really loves Percy. I wouldn't tell him right away."



"Are you defending her?!"



"No!" Harry said, standing up. "But people do insane things when they're drunk. Or even mad! You're furious and you're assuming that I am defending her. I'm trying to protect Percy."



"Oh, Harry, I'm sorry." Ginny said, sitting back on the couch. "I just, after all she's done, I just can't believe..."



"Don't worry about it. I shouldn't have told you and gotten you all worked up."



"I still have to finish unpacking." Ginny said, looking around. Boxes were stacked in the corner, piles of laundry were heaped in chairs, still left over from her move six months ago.



"And why, after six months are you just now getting the urge to finish?"



"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Mr. Evans and his wife, along with my new boss are coming for dinner. In a week." Ginny worked as personal assistant to the Minister of Representation of Aruors.



"New boss?"



"Yeah, Mr. Evans retired. I don't know who my new boss is. Nobody does, really. It's supposed to be a huge secret until after he's officially appointed. I'm lucky, getting to know three weeks early."



"So, I guess I'll help you clean up." Harry volunteered.



"I'd love that." Ginny said, kissing him.



"We could just shove everything in your room. They won't go in there." Harry suggested.



Ginny gave him a Look.



"What?" Harry asked innocently.

iiii

"Whew!" Ginny said, five hours later, laying on the couch.



"Ditto." Harry said, squeezing in beside her.



"Tomorrow, you can come over to help me redecorate."



"Umm..." Harry hesitated. "I think I'm-"



Ginny silenced him with a kiss.



"Going to come over." He finished.



"I love you."



"I love you, too."



Silence. But it was comfortable silence. Not tense, angry silence. Peaceful silence.



"Let's go to the beach." Harry said suddenly. "Me, you, Ron, and Hermione. We'll have a picnic."



"Let me go get changed." Ginny said, standing up and heading toward her room.



"Wear something skimpy!" Harry called after her. Ginny just rolled her eyes.



iiii





"This," Ron said, taking a bite of the fried chicken they had packed. "Was a great idea. It's a picnic, with great food, plus we get to see the girls in bikinis."



Hermione threw a sea shell at him.



"It was a great idea, Jamesie." Ginny said, from beside him on the blanket, playing with his hair.



"Thank you, Sweetie."



"Who want's to go swimming?" Ron asked.



"Not me." Ginny said.



"The water's too cold." Hermione agreed.



Ron and Harry made eye contact. Slowly, a grin spread across their faces.



"No! Put me down!" Ginny shrieked as Harry picked her up and carried her towards the freezing water.



"Ronald Harrison Weasley, put me down this instant!" Hermione demanded, as Ron also carried her to the water.



"Harry!"



"Ron!"



"Eeeeeeee!" Both girls wailed in unison as they were thrown into the water.



They emerged from the water, Ginny's hair hanging over her face, and Hermione wiping the water from her eyes.



"Harry!" Ginny yelled, while Hermione screamed Ron's name.



"Uh-oh."



Hermione and Ginny lunged at Ron and Harry, who stepped back so that both girls fell again in the water. Ginny managed to grab Harry around the waist and pull him down, while Hermione lifted both Ron's legs out from under him.



"That was cruel." Ginny said, wrapped up in blankets, after all four of them had been throughly soaked in the chilly water.



"Yes, it was." Agreed Hermione.



"We may have to punish them."



"We may."



"Ginny." Harry whined. "I loooove you."



"Hmmph."



"Will you forgive me?" Harry pleaded, kissing her softly on the lips.



"I suppose." Ginny said smiling.



"Good." Harry kissed her.



"I love you." Ginny said, rolling on top of him.



"See? Look how easy it was for Harry." Ron said to Hermione.



"How do you know I'm not as forgiving as Ginny?"



"I love you." Ron whispered in her ear.



"Good, cause I love you." Hermione said, giving him one of her blankets and kissing him.



iiii



"Hey, where were you guys last night?" Charlie asked, who was having lunch with Harry the next day.



"We, um, went to the beach." Harry said.





"Were you there all night?" Charlie inquired, looking very fatherly.



"Until two or three." Harry smiled sheepishly.



"A.M.?"



"Yeah." Harry admitted.



"Oh." Charlie said, looking down at his cup of coffee.



"Look, Charlie. I haven't been sleeping with your sister, if that's what you want to know."



"No, that's not what I meant." Charlie said, but he looked relieved.



"Can I take your order?" Asked the waitress who appeared at their table.



"I'll have the cream of potato soup and the steak. Medium well." Charlie told the waitress.



"I'll have the same, but medium rare." Harry said.



"O.K." said the waitress, writing down their orders.



"Charlie, Harry!"



Harry turned and groaned inwardly. It was Percy with Cho.



"What are you doing here, Percy?" Harry greeted him, standing up and shaking his hand. After knowing Percy for more than ten years, he was the only Weasley boy he still greeted like a business associate.



"I'm on my lunch break, and I thought I'd meet Cho here. It's been a while since I've been in a Muggle restaurant." Percy explained.



"I just want to say congratulations, Harry." Cho said, stepping forward to give him a hug. In doing so, she managed to slip him a scrap of parchment.



iiii



After lunch with Charlie, Harry had been dying to get home and read the piece of parchment Cho had slipped to him at lunch. He had rushed home right after lunch, but had been interrupted constantly. First, Oliver Wood, his head coach on the professional Quidditch team, the Chuddley Channons, popped into his study. Harry had to listen to an hour's worth of new play ideas that he would have to listen to again at his next practice anyway, before Wood left. Then, Neo Bagman, Head of International Department of Sports, interrupted him when he poked his head through the fire, and asked Harry if he would make a speech at some meeting. Finally, two hours later, Harry was able to sit down and open the letter.



Slowly, he unfolded it. MEET ME AT THE THREE BROOMSTICKS AT 10PM. WE HAVE TO TALK-CHO.