A/N: If you want to know when I update, just leave your email address in the reviews or email me at mione2003@hotmail.com. I just want to warn people now, that this chapter gets kind of fluffy. But I had to do it. I don't always like too much fluff but I thought it was kind of necessary. Anyway, enjoy Chapter seven!
Chapter Seven The next couple weeks were spent practising for the upcoming two week tour around the world. The first game in the six game stretch was against the US team which would take place on November 20th. The Cannons were currently fourth place and if they beat the US, they would go up a spot. So training was becoming increasingly difficult. Harry was really straining himself like he never had before, and not just with practice.
A week and a half after he had turned up at Ron and Hermione's; he went to the press saying that he was back and unharmed. The media was now looking out for Harry all the time because he still refused to give them interviews. They were all wanting the same thing: for him to speak about Voldemort. Whenever he went out as Harry, he made sure that he had a couple people with him so that he could fend the reporters off. He decided to keep his public appearance as Harry minimal. People were suspecting that something was up between him and James Newark. That was partly what was making him so stressed out and tired.
The only person able to help him to lessen his stress was Ginny. Every time he saw her, a big weight would lift off of him and his heart seemed to float; and a big goofy grin would spread across his face. Ginny began calling him Cheshire because he looked like the Cheshire Cat when he grinned at her.
On the morning of November 12th, Harry woke up, rolled over and embraced Ginny in a hug. She was still sleeping peacefully but doing this was fast becoming one of his favourite things to do. He started kissing her all over her face and then kissed her underneath her ear.
"Harry, it's too early to be up and it's especially too early to be kissing me." Ginny said sleepily.
"It's nine! And it's never too early to kiss you. Admit it, you like being woken up this way."
"I never said I didn't enjoy it. I just said it's too early. We were kind of up late last night if you have forgotten already."
"How could I? That's not something I could forget. Of course, any kind of sex with you is not easily forgotten."
"OK, Mr. Lewd. When did you become so sex driven?" He gave her his Cheshire cat grin.
"I don't know. Probably back in Hogwarts when I thought I couldn't have you. In my 6th year, I think it was. When I saw you at the Burrow before term started. I don't mean to sound vulgar but I almost came in my pants."
"Oh stop! You did not."
"I didn't, I said almost." he grinned.
"So that's when you became sex driven, Cheshire?"
"Well, not immediately then. It was when I realised that you weren't shy around me anymore. I thought that you had gotten over your crush on me."
"I still don't understand how that has to do with me."
"Well, I guess...I was trying to get off some energy. And I started spending a lot of time with Parvati and some other girls, and of course the occasional cold shower. Oh man, I've said too much. Now you'll think I'm a some sort of freak and want to break up with me."
"Don't be stupid. I love you. I just wish I would have known you liked me then. And Parvati Patil? You can't be serious!"
"Yeah, she was my first in 6th year. I only told Ron about it. It happened after the Yule Ball that year."
"Oh yeah, I remember that Ball. You two were all over each other. Of course I would have known. I was watching you, hoping my glare would petrify Parvati."
"Oh well, no need bringing up that. I've got you now and I'm never letting you go." He rolled on top of her and kissed her full on the lips. A loud knock came at the door. "Damn it." muttered Harry.
"Sorry to bother you, but Ron and Hermione are going to be coming here in a little while. They told me to tell you."
"Thanks Brian." Harry yelled through the door. "I forgot they wanted to do something with me today. Damn." He lazily kissed her neck. "You'll be the death of me woman. Mark my words. I'm so in love with you."
"Good, because I'm so in love with you." Harry kissed her one last time and disentangled himself from her and the blankets. He stood up and stretched in his full naked glory.
"Mmm...I could take in that view all day." Ginny said lazily.
"I wish I could let you, but I am in desperate need of a shower before Ron and 'Mione get here. I should have been up earlier."
"I should have reminded you because I remembered. Oh well, you have time. And don't forget that Harry's christening is on Sunday."
"How could I? For one, you keep reminding me and for another, I'm going to be the godfather. Kind of hard to forget a thing like that." He wrapped a bath robe around himself and walked to the bathroom to take a shower. He returned twenty minutes later, sporting his 'Harry' hair, his green eyes with glasses and of course his scar.
"I like your green eyes much better." Ginny said as she walked past him to the bathroom.
"I know, you tell me every day." After Harry changed into his favourite dark green robes, he went to the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee. Greg and Brian walked in a moment later.
"Hey guys. Why didn't you two have a lie in as well?"
"We forgot that you don't have practice today."
"Nice."
"There's someone waiting at the door for you. I think it's a reporter."
"Was she asking for Harry or James?"
"James."
"Damn." He waved his hand over his hair to make it short again and then enchanted his eyes blue, leaving his glasses on. He started walking to the door when Brian pulled him back.
"What?"
"Your scar."
"Oh yeah, thanks. That wouldn't have been good. And maybe you should come with me in case she turns out to be a raving lunatic." Harry opened the door with Brian behind him to see a woman with light brown hair and blue eyes grinning at him.
"May I help you with something?" he asked politely.
"Mr. Newark..."
"Call me James."
"OK, James. I'm Rebecca Wendling, reporter for Witch Weekly. I was wondering if I could get a few words with you."
"Oh well, I uh...interviews are usually scheduled in advance."
"Yes, I understand that but you're harder to get an interview with than Harry Potter. And you two are the most asked about wizards. Our readers are constantly requesting articles about you and Mr. Potter."
"Well...I guess I do have a bit of time right now to answer some questions. Come in, would you like some coffee?"
"Yes, thank you so much. This is helping me out tremendously. Everybody says how sweet you are and now I know it's true," she blushed profusely.
"Oh well, thank you." He led her to the kitchen and put on some more coffee. Just as he set some coffee down for Rebecca and himself, Ginny walked into the kitchen.
"Hey, Ha..." Harry opened his eyes wide and shook his head. Luckily Rebecca was looking at Ginny.
"Gin, this is Rebecca Wendling from Witch Weekly. Rebecca this is my girlfriend, Ginny Weasley."
"Nice to meet you, Ginny."
"Likewise, James, I didn't know you had an interview scheduled today."
"I didn't. It was sudden but I'm going to answer her a couple questions."
"OK, but Ron and Hermione just got here."
"Oh well bring them something to drink while they are waiting, could you, Gin?"
"Sure."
"I'll come see them in a bit." Ginny took some cups with her and retreated to the living room.
"I do hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"No, don't be ridiculous. My friends can see me any time they want."
"OK, shall we get started then?"
"Ask away." Harry leaned back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. The reporter took out a Quick-Quotes Quill, sucked on the end and placed it on her paper. Harry cringed. His experience with those kind of quills was not pleasant.
"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but could we not use that quill. I have never had a good experience with them and I have a feeling that I never will."
"Oh, sure. I'll just use a normal quill then." she put the Quick-Quotes Quill back into her purse and extracted another one.
"Thanks."
"No problem. OK well, my first question was going to be if you're single but I got that answer so, how long have you two been dating?"
"Since the middle of August."
"Do you two have plans for marriage at a near point in the future?"
"Well, we haven't spoken about it but I've certainly been thinking about buying her an engagement ring. I just haven't had time to look lately."
"So, no other witches would stand a chance with you?"
"Afraid not, no." She laughed.
"Our readers will be disappointed. They've been constantly asking if it was true about your relationship with Ginny....Let's see, there were some rumours a couple weeks ago that you disappeared or rather was kidnapped by the same people who captured Harry Potter. Are they true?" Harry smiled at her.
"Of course not. I find it highly amusing that people would jump to those conclusions just because I went back to America for a week. Honestly, if Harry and I would have been in the same place, I would have helped him out. Not leave him for dead. He was lucky to even make it back."
"Have you ever met him?"
"Yes, a couple times. Two of his best friends are also friends of mine. Ginny is also one of his old friends."
"There were also rumours about you and Harry possibly being relatives." Harry smiled. What would she do if I were to tell her that we are related. Yeah he's me.
"We're not. I assure you. We hardly know each other."
"Harry! Harry! Where the hell are you? I need to talk to you!" Harry froze in his seat as Steve came flying into the kitchen. "Harry, I can't believe the nerve of you!" The reporter had a bewildered look on her face while Harry was staring at Steve with wide eyes and the blood rushing to his face.
"You gave me this shit and when I ate it, I turned into a canary! Right in front of my date. I had no idea what to say after I moulted. Of course she bolted. Hey Potter! Are you going to speak or are you going to sit there like an idiot?"
"No Steve, I'm going to beat the shit out of you. I'm kind of in the middle of an interview here and if you don't stop calling me Harry Potter; you don't even want to know what'll happen to you. Your face will be unrecognisable. You will never have to worry about another date running away from you because you turned into a canary because you will NEVER have a date ever again." Steve cottoning on, turned a deep shade of red.
"Oh yeah, sorry James. You know how I like to give you shit about that. I won't do it anymore." he ran out of the kitchen. Harry turned and smiled at the reporter.
"Obliviate!" Her eyes turned lazy and then refocused on Harry.
"Now where were we?"
"You were just going to ask me something about Quidditch."
"Oh yeah," she replied lazily. Harry looked up and saw Hermione putting her wand away. He mouthed thanks before she returned to the living room. Twenty minutes later, Harry was showing the reporter out the door. After he closed the door, he let out a sigh of relief and then ran for the living room.
"Steve! If you ever do that again!" he yelled.
"I know, I know. Hermione already lectured me. It was dumb, I'm sorry."
"Who was that reporter writing for Harry?" asked Hermione.
"Er-Witch Weekly Apparently, I've been nominated as most Handsome Wizard, Best Quidditch Player and Best Smile." he replied while turning a deep crimson red. Ron and Steve started laughing while Harry glared at them. "Shut it. I'm not enjoying this you know. And to make matters worse, I have to go for a photo shoot with them next week. What a complete nightmare."
"Oh yes. I can see how millions of girl fawning over you would be a complete nightmare. And thousands more kids looking up to you and idolising you. Must be real tough!" Ron said sarcastically.
"Shut up. You know I hate fame. It just happens. And I don't need the attention from girls when I've got the only one I want with me."
"Don't make me vomit, Harry. That's my sister you're talking about. Let's go before our baby-sitter fee is through the roof."
~*~*~
The next Saturday was the game against the US team in LA. Immediately after the game, the team would be leaving to Brazil, then India, Germany, Italy, and then the last game would be played at home against the Wimbourne Wasps.
The stadium in the US that they would be playing at was located at the park where Harry had shown Dan Smalls his flying skills. Nearly everybody who knew who James really was, was attending the game. Sirius, Remus, Ron, Hermione, Harry Jr., Ginny, and Steve, who was especially excited since he had never seen a Quidditch game before.
As the Cannons were introduced, Harry flew out onto the field to tumultuous applause from both the US supporters and the Cannons supporters. He couldn't help but smile as he took the warm up laps around the field. He spotted his group of friends and waved like mad to them and blew Ginny a kiss and then laughed madly at the look on her face. Like she was going to kill him for causing every girl around her to scowl in her direction.
"And here are the Stars! Carter, Anderson, Nicholas, Greening, Little, Walters, aannnd Merrill!" Applause and screams filled the air as the US Stars (A/N: I know, pretty lame but I couldn't come up with anything else!) were introduced to the audience. After a couple more laps around the stadium, the players were called into place. Across from Harry, was the US seeker, Merrill and he was looking particularly murderous at him. Harry quickly looked down from his gaze and saw the Captains, Carter and Connoly shaking hands with one another. A moment later the quaffle, bludgers, and snitch were released into the air. Harry and the US seeker, Merrill, rose up above the rest of the game and began their search for the snitch. Harry listened to the commentary as he scanned the area.
"And Malfoy takes immediate possession of the quaffle, to Connoly, Malfoy, Chang; close one there! Chang almost gets hit by a bludger, hit by Greening, she drops the quaffle into Malfoy's hands. He fakes Walters out and puts it through the left hoop! 10-0 to the Cannons!
"Carter takes possession, he tears down the field, passes to Nicholas, to Anderson, back to Carter. He takes the shot, blocked by Cannons keeper Bregg! Chang takes the quaffle, passes to Connoly, Malfoy, Chang, back to Connoly. Oh! He's hit in the shoulder by a bludger, hit by the Stars beater, Little. The quaffle is dropped into Anderson's hands. Connoly looks all right, he's right back in the game. Anderson takes the quaffle up the field, passes to Nicholas, she shoots for the middle hoop, and it goes in! 10-10 to the Stars!"
After another half an hour, the score was 60-50, the Stars lead. Neither one of the seekers had seen the snitch. It was eluding Harry and he was starting to get impatient. He was looking forward to after the game when he could go out with Ginny, Steve, Sirius, Remus and Ron. Harry watched as Malfoy flew down the field with the quaffle in his hands and put the quaffle through the middle hoop. The score was now 60-60. He desperately searched for the snitch.
Just one little shimmer of gold. The flutter of wings.
And then he saw it. It was in the middle of the pitch, hovering a couple feet off of the ground. He pointed his broom down and was going down so sharply that he was almost vertical to the ground. Again the sound shut off. The only sound he could hear was the fluttering of the wings. And the only thing in his vision was the little golden ball. Everything else around him seemed to be a blur.
Three feet from the ground, he pulled his broom straight and tore towards the snitch. He stretched out his left arm to catch it, but just as he was a couple feet away from it; it flew a little further to his left. He stretched his arm so far away from his broom that he was upside down on his broom. His legs were wrapped around the broom and his right hand was holding his upper body up. But just as he swivelled upside down, his hand had wrapped around the snitch. Harry hadn't even realised that he caught it until his team-mates flew down and helped him to sit upright on his broom and started slapping him on the back. The final score was 210-60. Harry took the victory lap around the stadium with his team-mates and then made their way down to the locker rooms to shower and deal with the press and fans.
~*~*~
"Hermione, come down the locker rooms with me."
"Hold on, Ginny. I'll give Harry to Ron first and then we'll go." It was a half an hour after the match and Harry's group of friends were still sitting in the stands waiting for Harry to get done. Sirius and Remus had already gone down to the locker room to speak with Harry. Ginny was looking down at the entrance to the locker rooms and saw the press finally starting to filter out and decided to go down and meet Harry. Once Hermione and Ginny were in the entrance, they were stopped by Seamus Finnigan.
"Some game James played, huh?" he asked them jovially.
"Yeah, he did really well today. Of course he always does well," said Ginny.
"You're just biased because he's your boyfriend," Hermione joked.
"Maybe I am." She walked pass Seamus. "Talk to you later Seamus. Coming Hermione?"
"I'll just wait here for a bit. I haven't spoken to Seamus in a while. Go ahead."
"Oh Seamus, are the players alone in there? Or are there fans and reporters still?" asked Ginny.
"No fans aren't allowed back, so no. The reporters were just rushed out because some of them walked in on the players taking showers. Luckily nobody with cameras."
"OK, thanks." Ginny continued down the long hallway and turned the corner. She stopped dead in her tracks and stared at the scene playing out before her. A fire started burning in her eyes and she felt her pulse quicken. Standing outside the entrance to the locker room, was Harry and a girl with long brown hair. Harry had his hands on the girls shoulders and they were kissing. The girl had her arms completely wrapped around his middle. Ginny could hear Harry making sounds that she had never heard him make while they had been kissing. Tears cascaded down her face and she pulled out her wand to hex him, but couldn't think of anything to do to him that would cause him the same amount of pain that she was going through at that moment. She pocketed her wand and turned on her heel. She wiped the tears from her face as she walked back down the hallway towards Hermione and Seamus.
"Ginny, where's James? I thought you were going for him?"
"He told me to wait. I'm going to go back up into the stands," she said in a choked voice.
"What happened? Are you OK?"
"Nothing happened. And yes of course, I'm fine." She again, turned on her heel and left for her seat. Hermione and Seamus watched her go with confusion on their faces.
~*~*~
"Thanks for helping me out there, Sirius. You're a life saver."
"No problem, Harry."
"Where is everybody?"
"They are still up in the stands waiting for you," replied Remus. The three started up the stairs to where Ron, Steve, Hermione, Harry Jr. and Ginny were sitting. Harry walked up behind Ginny and put his arms around her and kissed her neck.
"Hello, beautiful." He felt her tense up and she pushed him off of her. "What's wrong, Gin?"
"You really are stupid, aren't you?"
"Um, excuse me? Did I miss something here?" Ginny scowled at him.
"I'm afraid that I'm not going to be coming out with you boys tonight. I'll be staying with Hermione to take care of the baby."
"So....that's why you just called me stupid and won't let me touch you?"
"Honestly, Harry, you should know perfectly well why I won't let you touch me. Quit playing dumb; you know perfectly well what you did. Come on, Hermione. Let's go use the fireplace in that Muggle gym." She kissed Ron on the cheek and started down the stairs. Harry looked at Hermione.
"Do you know what I did?"
"No idea. She's been acting strangely ever since you told her to wait for you."
"But, I never told her to wait. When did she say this?"
"After she went to see you in the locker room. She came back all huffy and looking ready to cry and she told me that you had told her to wait for you." Harry Jr. started to cry in her arms. "I've gotta go. It's time for his feeding. I'll see you in a couple weeks." She kissed Harry on the cheek and then Ron and told them to have fun. Harry had gone a pale colour and looked up at Sirius and Remus who were looking just as guilty. He dropped down in a seat and put his head in his hands.
"How am I going to have fun now that Ginny thinks I've cheated on her?"
"WHAT?" Ron yelled. "You cheated on my little sister?"
"No, Ron, he didn't," Sirius said wearily.
"Then what in the world would give her that idea?"
"A fan somehow got into the locker rooms and Harry was showing her out the door and she slammed the door shut behind them and put a locking charm on it. It took Remus and I a couple minutes to figure out which one she put on. When we got it open, Harry was trying to push the girl off of him. She had a death grip around him. I could hardly get the girl off; luckily Remus was there. He was able to get her off only because werewolves have super human strength." Sirius shook his head. "It would almost be funny if this wouldn't have happened. Ginny must have seen just before we got out there."
"I can't go out with you guys tonight now. I have to go and talk to her. Not that she'll believe me, but I can't wait until I get back from this damn tour. She'll be even angrier then."
"Don't worry too much, Harry. We'll help you explain what happened. She's gotta believe us. We know what happened," Remus said. Harry smiled at them.
"Thanks guys. You should go out and have fun. Steve can show you guys around since he knows what he's doing in LA. I have a long night ahead of me. It's a good thing the game isn't tomorrow. See you later guys." With that he Apparated to Ron and Hermione's house where Hermione and Ginny were. He appeared in their Apparition area in their back yard and went and knocked on the back door. Hermione answered with a dark expression.
"Harry, I can't believe you would do that to Ginny. I never would have thought it of you."
"Hermione, I didn't. That girl attacked me. If Ginny would have stayed, she would have seen Sirius and Remus wrestling that girl off of me. She somehow got into the locker room and as I was showing her out the door, she pulled me out, put a locking charm on the door so that nobody could get out to help me. She had a death grip on me, Sirius couldn't even get her off. Remus could only because he's a werewolf. Please, just let me in to speak with her. I can't go on this tour until I do. I don't want to live without her and I'm afraid if I don't speak with her right now, she will never speak to me again. Please, Mione."
"Fine but I didn't let you in, you pushed past me. She'll kill me." Harry smiled and gave her a hug.
"Thank you." He walked into the house and into the kitchen where Ginny was sitting, drinking tea with tears pouring down her face. "Ginny," he said softly. She looked up and glared.
"Get out of here. I don't want to speak to you. You've done enough tonight."
"No, Ginny, you don't understand what happened..."
"I understand perfectly well what happened! You were kissing that girl outside of the locker room. How long have you been with her? The whole time we've been dating?"
"Ginny, listen to me. That girl attacked me. I swear, I've never seen that girl before in my life. You can ask Sirius and Remus about it. They helped wrestle the girl off of me. Well more Remus than Sirius."
"I did NOT see those two there. That's the most pathetic story I have ever heard."
"That's because the girl put a locking charm on the door and they didn't get out of the locker room for a minute or so. You probably saw right before they came out. Ginny, you've got to believe me. I swear, I would never cheat on you. I love you too much. Gin, I was going to propose tonight when we were alone." He pulled out a box and opened it up to reveal a diamond engagement ring. She looked at it and more tears ran down her face.
"Well, the next time you propose to someone, you want to make sure that you don't cheat on them before hand. Then maybe you'll get the chance to do it. Please leave." He knelt down in front of her and wiped her tears away just as some ran down his face.
"Please, Ginny. Believe me, I love you and I would never hurt you. You're everything to me. I don't know if I can go on if you leave me. Please believe me, I didn't cheat on you." He laid a trail of kisses from her cheek to her mouth. She willingly kissed him back for a few moments before she pulled away.
"No, Harry! You can't just expect me to forgive you by kissing me. Just leave, now."
"Fine, but I'm not giving up. I won't give up until I know it's over. I love you." He turned and went back out the door and Apparated to his hotel room in LA.
Every day for the next two weeks, he sent lilies and stuffed bears to Ginny's flat. He tried fire talking to her but she wouldn't hear any of it. Sirius and Remus had talked to her every day, as well as Ron and Hermione. Nobody ever told Harry the results of those conversations. He figured the worse. The only time he never thought about it was when he was playing Quidditch. Although every once in a while, he would catch a red head in the crowd and do a double take.
The fact that the Cannons had won every game they played so far, was helping him deal also. The only game where he didn't catch the snitch, they still won because they had such a commanding lead. They won 220-170. That was against Germany. Exactly two weeks after the game in LA, the game against the Wimbourne Wasps took place. The Cannons won 320-110. Harry denied Draco Malfoy the request to help him celebrate the end of the tour and all their wins. He just felt like returning home and going to bed for the next week since they had it off from practice and games. When Harry walked into the door, he saw his house crowded with all the lilies and bears that he had sent to Ginny.
"Bugger."
"What are all these from?" asked Brian who had walked in after Harry.
"I sent them to Ginny while we've been gone. She must have brought them all back here. Sirius and Remus walked in from the living room.
"Hello! It's about time you get home! That was a great game you just played today."
"Oh you were there?"
"Yes, we came here directly afterwards; figured we'd wait for you to get here."
"Well, I'm guessing Ginny sent all of these back here. That's just great. My life is over. I can't believe she won't believe me. Actually I can't believe that she would think that I would purposely kiss another girl behind her back. I would have told her about that girl but she never really gave me the chance to."
"Harry, calm down. She'll come around." Sirius smiled mischievously. Harry cocked an eyebrow at him.
"Well, I hope you're right. I hope you don't mind, I'm going to bed. I'm completely exhausted."
"Go right ahead. It's your house. Goodnight. Have a good nights sleep!" said Sirius jovially.
"OK, what's up with you?"
"Nothing, just happy to see my godson. That's all."
"All right then. Goodnight." Harry walked up to his room shaking his head. He would never understand that man. He opened up his bedroom door and walked across the darkened room to his walk-in closet and turned the light on in there. He dumped his clothes into a dirty clothes basket and stripped down to his boxers and walked to his bed. He stopped dead when he noticed a body sprawled across it. He lit a couple candles with a flick of his wand and saw that it was Ginny, sleeping with her hair laid out all over her face and pillow. He sat on the edge of the bed and wiped her hair away from her face.
"Ginny?" he whispered. He noticed that her face was all blotchy like she had been crying. Since she was sleeping, he decided to take her shoes off and then he eased her robes off so that she would just be in her shirt and pants. He kissed her face all the way to her ear.
"I love you," he whispered. A blanket was sitting at the end of the bed so he pulled it up over her and took another blanket and his pillow and laid on the plush couch that was in front of the window. Harry wasn't sure where they stood in their relationship so he decided that he wouldn't take the chance of her getting angry with him if she woke up with him next to her. He wanted to play everything safe so things didn't get worse. The moonlight streamed in through the window onto Ginny's face. He watched her sleep until sleep overtook him and he fell asleep to dreams of Ginny forgiving him.
Harry awoke to sun streaming in on his face and a warm weight on top of him and something tickling his chest. He looked down and saw Ginny lying on top of him, her face buried in his neck. Her hair was the thing that was tickling him. What the hell? Don't complain. She's probably forgiven your sorry ass. He wrapped his arms around her body and kissed her head. She lifted her head and looked at him.
"Good, you're up. I have been waiting for an hour now." She kissed him softly on the lips, and Harry opened his mouth to her when he felt her tongue against his lips. She moved down and started kissing his neck and chest.
"Er...Gin, not that I mind what you're doing to me right now. But I thought you were angry with me."
"Well, I was. But everybody has been explaining to me what happened and I couldn't not believe Sirius and Remus. Their story matches up with yours. Sirius actually begged me to think about it rationally. I don't think I've ever seen him beg before. And plus, I don't think I could live without you." Harry sighed with relief.
"That doesn't explain why the flowers and bears I sent you are downstairs though."
"Oh, I sent those ones back a couple days ago before I started to believe what happened. I have three vases of flowers at home and one bear. How many bears do you think I need?" she asked playfully.
"As many as I sent you, so that would be fourteen for every day that I was gone. That's not too many."
"Harry, I'm sorry I didn't believe you. I should have known that you would never cheat on me. I'm such an idiot."
"It's OK. Don't think about it anymore. It's in the past." He kissed her nose. "I love you so much, Gin."
"I love you too. Oh, I almost forgot! You left this on the kitchen table at Hermione's." She jumped up and ran to the bed and brought back the engagement ring. "I almost threw it away but I figured that you would get really mad at me."
"Probably, that was my mums. Sirius gave it to me when I told him that I was going to propose. He took my parents wedding rings from their hands when he went to Godric's Hollow the night they died and kept them in his Gringott's vault until I decided to get married." Her eyes went really wide.
"Oh my goodness. I'm so glad that I didn't toss it. I would have been so angry with myself." Harry pulled her into his lap.
"I've missed you so much. I never want to be away from you for that long ever again. Oh hey, listen, you didn't tell your parents that I cheated on you did you?"
"No, why?"
"Well, because I didn't want them thinking that I was the absolute scum of the earth."
"No you don't have to worry about it. Nobody could ever think that about you. I couldn't even think that when I thought you had cheated on me. It took all of my willpower to stay mad at you." She smiled brightly at him and kissed him. They stayed on the couch for a while until Harry decided that he needed a shower. Twenty minutes later, he was showered and fully clothed in dark maroon robes.
"Oh you're going out as James today?" asked Ginny.
"Well, I have to with you. People would think that you're cheating on me with Harry. We can't let that happen."
"I guess you're right. I just like seeing your green eyes better."
"You'll see them when we come back. Now go take a shower so we can go." They had decided to go out for the day in Diagon Alley to have lunch, and do some early Christmas shopping and to Flourish and Blotts to get some new books. A long thirty minutes later, Ginny came back into Harry's bedroom with her hair dried and some dark purple robes on. Harry took her into his arms.
"You look absolutely beautiful today." He kissed her on the nose.
"Thank you, you don't look so bad yourself." Harry looked into her eyes for a few moments. "What? Do have I have something on my face or something?" He began to fidget.
"No, your face is clean. I was just thinking about what my life would be like if I were to lose you. I never want that to happen. I love you so much."
"I love you too. You don't need to worry about ever losing me."
"Good, that makes me feel less nervous about this."
"About wh..." She stopped talking because Harry had gone down on one knee. She took a deep breath and tears rolled down her face.
"Ginny, nothing in this world has ever made me happier than when I have been with you. You're everything that is important to me. You're my entire life. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Ginny, will you marry me?" He held the ring out to her. She burst into tears.
"Yes, I'll marry you." He smiled and put the ring on her finger. She dropped down on her knees and hugged and kissed him. "I love you, Harry. I knew it was coming sometime soon but I'm still falling apart right now." She started laughing. "I can't wait to tell Hermione, and the rest of my family....Oh, Harry, are you going to tell them who you are? They don't know."
"Yes, we'll tell them soon enough. Let's go to Diagon Alley now. We can have a private celebration lunch."
"All right, let's go." They walked downstairs to find Greg and Brian. They were sitting in the kitchen reading the paper.
"Hey guys, we're going to Diagon Alley now." Before they could even say anything, Ginny started squealing.
"We're getting married!" Harry smiled at her as she hugged Greg and Brian. They shook Harry's hands and offered congratulations. A couple minutes later, they had used Floo powder to get into the Leaky Cauldron. They had a nice private lunch in one of the parlours and then went out into the Alley to start shopping. The first store that they went into after Gringott's was Flourish and Blotts. Harry walked out with three new books under his arm. Just as they stepped out of the shop, a loud explosion came to the right of him and he flew backwards. When he opened his eyes, there was dust and smoke hovering all around him and a little way in the distance, he could see a fire burning. He immediately started to panic.
"Ginny! Ginny! Where are you?" He carefully got up just in case he was injured and groped his way in the mess before his eyes. He could hardly see a foot in front of him. He saw Ginny just in time to stop himself from stepping on her. She was sprawled on the ground with her hair all over the place. When he knelt down beside her, he picked up her upper half and saw that there was blood on the ground where her head had been.
"Ginny? Ginny, please wake up," he said desperately. He gently shook her and kept saying her name. He got no response.
A/N: Uh oh. I love the cliff hangers. Please review! That would be awesome! Thanks to everybody who has already reviewed. Keep them coming, it gives me incentive to keep writing. I can't believe I finally got this done! I started writing it tonight and I couldn't stop! I just wrote over 4,000 words. Wow! In case you're wondering, I've had a major case of writers block and I am just now getting over it. Hopefully. I'd give you a preview of what's going to happen in the next chapter like I normally do, but I honestly don't know yet. Sorry! Don't forget to review!!