Chapter Four: Discussions Over Dinner
Harry gave one last glance in the mirror at his appearance. His hair was, as usual, a mess, but he hoped it was stylishly messy. Jeans, a button-down shirt and his black lather jacket. His wizard robes hung in his closet; he hadn't worn them since the day his holiday began.
He gave his teeth and breath a final once-over, polished his glasses, and left. It was only a short walk to Ginny's flat. From there they were going to Abercrombie's, a restaurant another few blocks away.
The night air was a bit cool but this was welcome to Harry-the days had been a bit too hot for his comfort. He strolled down the softly-lit streets, noticing how quiet it was. Ron was visiting with Hermione and her parents; Fred and George had taken the weekend to go to Edinburgh with Lee Jordan. Harry guessed the relative quiet was due to a lot of other people taking leave of the city.
He came to Ginny's door and pressed the doorbell. "Who is it?" a female voice called.
"It's Harry!" Harry called back.
"It's open, come on in," said Ginny. Harry pushed the door open and climbed up a small staircase to find himself in Ginny's living room.
"I'll be down in a second," she called. Harry looked around the living room. It was entirely neat and tidy and had obvious feminine touches, like little bud vases with a single tiny blossom in them, and elegantly framed photographs. He liked it, though-feminine, but enticingly so. Then again, most anything that reminded Harry of women these days was enticing to him.
He heard Ginny's footsteps on the stairs and turned to see her coming down. His jaw fell open.
She looked gorgeous. She wore a simple black dress, with thin straps, a deliciously low cut bodice and a slightly swingy skirt that landed above her knees. The dress told Harry that Ginny must indeed have freckles all over, but this only made her look more delectable. His eyes strayed to her shoulders, her collarbone, her cleavage.
"Are you finished?" Ginny asked archly. Her hair was pulled off her face in a clip but the back hung free and long over her shoulders.
"You look amazing," said Harry, blushing a bit at having been caught staring.
"You'll need to learn not to do that," said Ginny gently. "Stare."
Harry looked up at her impatiently. "Oh, come on. How can I not look when you look this fantastic?"
"Thanks," she said, blushing just a little herself. "Shall we go then? I just need to fetch my jacket."
She breezed past him and Harry caught the intoxicating scent of gardenias. His eyes traveled lower to her firm backside and then down over her legs.
"Cut that out," said Ginny, her back to him as she picked up her jacket. But she was laughing.
"Sorry," said Harry.
"So what's the big deal with Cho, anyway?" Ginny asked over their main courses at Abercrombie's. "I mean, yes, I know she's gorgeous and what, but what is it about her you like so much?"
Harry finished chewing his steak and considered for a moment. "I dunno, honestly. I mean, it's a bit stupid, really. I've been mad about her since I was thirteen. You know how things went between us a few years after that. I honestly thought I'd forgotten about her, you know. I mean, part of me DOES forget about her-she disappears to Egypt or wherever the hell she goes for work, stops writing and I think, all right. I'm done with that. But then she writes me again and, I dunno, everything just sort of comes back. Maybe.maybe I just want things to go right between us for once. I mean, we FINALLY don't have all this baggage anymore, you know?"
"Timing is everything," said Ginny dryly, sipping her glass of wine. "If you want my opinion, Cho and you probably shouldn't have even tried to hook up that year. I mean, Cedric had just died. You were both a bit of a mess. Especially you. You were a right prat that year, some of the time."
"Yeah, I was," Harry admitted, taking a sip from his own wine glass. "I'm glad you didn't take any of my rubbish."
"Never," said Ginny, smiling. "SOMEBODY has to keep you in line."
Harry smiled back at her. He was having a very good time, he realized. Ginny was a great friend, really. He liked that she was tough, that she challenged him a bit, that she didn't let him get away with anything. It was easy to talk to her, too, about his insecurities. He had never really been able to delve into that stuff with Ron and Hermione, especially now that they were a couple.
"So what about you?" Harry asked, cutting another piece of steak. "Any boyfriends after Colin the Toe Freak?"
Ginny laughed. "You remember that?"
"I remember pretty much everything about that night," said Harry, grinning.
Ginny blushed, just a little. She was very pretty when she blushed, perhaps because blushing didn't seem like the sort of thing a sensible girl like her did very often.
"After Colin," said Ginny. "To be honest, I haven't had a boyfriend since Colin. I dunno, Harry, I think I've written men off."
Harry swallowed his food. "Why?"
"Okay, so I haven't written men off, but I've definitely written off relationships," said Ginny. "They're just way too complicated. And, well.I got my heart broken a few too many times, you know? Dean, that was horrible. You know why he dumped me? Because I wouldn't have sex with him."
"Dean dumped you?" said Harry, stunned. "For that? But.I thought you and he."
"I only said we broke up mutually so Ron wouldn't break his legs," said Ginny, taking a mouthful of asparagus. She chewed it thoughtfully for a moment and then continued.
"So, you and Dean didn't.I mean, I always sort of figured." said Harry slowly.
"Harry, I was only fifteen when I was with Dean," said Ginny, rolling her eyes a bit. She took another sip of wine. "I mean, I know I had this reputation as being a bit of a tart in school but honestly, I didn't lose my virginity until sixth year, with Colin."
"Then how.how did you seem to.know so much?" said Harry slowly, feeling a bit guilty over his assumptions about her. "And for the record I never thought you were a tart. Just.intimidating."
She smiled. "Thanks. You were one of the few, though. But as to how I learned, you know, sex stuff. A lot from books-Hermione's got quite a collection. Colin, of course, was into some really weird shit-it was cool at first but you know the whole story behind that. Oh, and plenty of masturbation, naturally."
Harry choked on his wine but thankfully didn't spray it everywhere.
"What?" he croaked.
"Masturbation," Ginny said in a low voice. "Don't tell me you haven't done it."
"Yeah.well.sure," Harry admitted, blushing very red. "A little."
Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Okay, a lot," said Harry.
"Nothing wrong with it, you know," said Ginny. "It's the best way to get to know your own body, isn't it? Figure out what turns you on and what doesn't?"
Harry started to say something but then stopped. In all honesty he hadn't thought of it that way. To him, spanking it was all about relief; he hadn't really taken the time to give any thought to WHAT he was doing, so long as it resulted in an orgasm and the end of an uncomfortable erection.
Ginny regarded him and smiled. "Then again, maybe you've never thought about it that way." Harry nodded, thinking it was uncanny how easily she could read him, without him saying a word. It was comforting and unnerving at the same time.
"So, uh, nobody since Colin, then?" said Harry, trying to steer the conversation back to her.
"Oh, there've been a few blokes," said Ginny, "but nothing serious. I mean, I got sick of getting my heart stomped on so I decided, to hell with relationships, I'll just have sex for the fun of it. Only I haven't had much luck with that, either. Maybe I'm, like you said, too intimidating or something ridiculous. Which is just silly. I mean, most girls I know don't freak out if a man's been round the block a few times."
Harry nodded, realizing this was true. It was an unfair double standard, really, and he was ashamed of himself for having bought into it, even if it were only just a little.
They continued their meal in quiet companionship, talking about everything and nothing. Harry was enjoying himself again, though he felt his stomach clench in knots when he thought about what was in store for him later. His trousers pinched his tender parts and he thought about dead kittens again, and it helped, but then Ginny would smile at him and his trousers would pinch again. When had she become so beautiful?
They finished their meal, paid the bill and left. Harry began to feel distinctly apprehensive. They walked back slowly to Ginny's flat; she had taken his hand, but he didn't mind so much. He had always liked holding a girl's hand, and holding Ginny's felt comfortable, familiar somehow.
They entered her darkened flat. She had said nothing to him since leaving the restaurant, and he had not found the courage to talk. He allowed her to lead him up the dimly lit stairs to her bedroom. By now he felt half-ready to burst from his trousers as he watched the gentle swaying of her hips, the way her dress floated back and forth and clung to her ripe backside. The smell of gardenias and something else, something wholly erotic, assaulted his nostrils.
They reached her bedroom; she opened the door and pulled him inside. The room was lit by moonlight. She peeled off her jacket slowly-Harry closed his eyes for a moment, trying to think of dead kittens again-and then removed her wand from her pocket. She gave it a wave and suddenly the dozen or so candles were flickering, giving the room, and Ginny's skin, a golden glow.
"Sit," she ordered, pointing to her chair. Harry vaguely noticed that she had tidied up her room. He sat down.
Ginny took a few steps back. Harry swallowed.
"Uh, so, what's the.the agenda.for tonight?" he said, or rather, croaked.
"A simple anatomy lesson," said Ginny, her voice a bit husky. She drew her curtains shut, closing off the moonlight and leaving only the light of the flickering candles behind. Then, without a word, she reached up and started to peel off her dress.
Harry's eyes turned to saucers as she lowered the thin straps of her dress. The straps came lower, lower, lower, and the dress began to slide down her body. Harry swallowed again and shifted in his seat. A small smile curled Ginny's lips, but he only saw it out of the corner of his eye; he was too busy gawking at the very sexy black strapless bra she wore.
The dress slid further, revealing the belly button ring, then a pair of devastating black lace knickers. Harry's mouth fell open as the dress dropped to the floor. He stared at her for a good few minutes before finally dragging his eyes up to her face. She was spectacular.
"Wow," he choked.
Harry gave one last glance in the mirror at his appearance. His hair was, as usual, a mess, but he hoped it was stylishly messy. Jeans, a button-down shirt and his black lather jacket. His wizard robes hung in his closet; he hadn't worn them since the day his holiday began.
He gave his teeth and breath a final once-over, polished his glasses, and left. It was only a short walk to Ginny's flat. From there they were going to Abercrombie's, a restaurant another few blocks away.
The night air was a bit cool but this was welcome to Harry-the days had been a bit too hot for his comfort. He strolled down the softly-lit streets, noticing how quiet it was. Ron was visiting with Hermione and her parents; Fred and George had taken the weekend to go to Edinburgh with Lee Jordan. Harry guessed the relative quiet was due to a lot of other people taking leave of the city.
He came to Ginny's door and pressed the doorbell. "Who is it?" a female voice called.
"It's Harry!" Harry called back.
"It's open, come on in," said Ginny. Harry pushed the door open and climbed up a small staircase to find himself in Ginny's living room.
"I'll be down in a second," she called. Harry looked around the living room. It was entirely neat and tidy and had obvious feminine touches, like little bud vases with a single tiny blossom in them, and elegantly framed photographs. He liked it, though-feminine, but enticingly so. Then again, most anything that reminded Harry of women these days was enticing to him.
He heard Ginny's footsteps on the stairs and turned to see her coming down. His jaw fell open.
She looked gorgeous. She wore a simple black dress, with thin straps, a deliciously low cut bodice and a slightly swingy skirt that landed above her knees. The dress told Harry that Ginny must indeed have freckles all over, but this only made her look more delectable. His eyes strayed to her shoulders, her collarbone, her cleavage.
"Are you finished?" Ginny asked archly. Her hair was pulled off her face in a clip but the back hung free and long over her shoulders.
"You look amazing," said Harry, blushing a bit at having been caught staring.
"You'll need to learn not to do that," said Ginny gently. "Stare."
Harry looked up at her impatiently. "Oh, come on. How can I not look when you look this fantastic?"
"Thanks," she said, blushing just a little herself. "Shall we go then? I just need to fetch my jacket."
She breezed past him and Harry caught the intoxicating scent of gardenias. His eyes traveled lower to her firm backside and then down over her legs.
"Cut that out," said Ginny, her back to him as she picked up her jacket. But she was laughing.
"Sorry," said Harry.
"So what's the big deal with Cho, anyway?" Ginny asked over their main courses at Abercrombie's. "I mean, yes, I know she's gorgeous and what, but what is it about her you like so much?"
Harry finished chewing his steak and considered for a moment. "I dunno, honestly. I mean, it's a bit stupid, really. I've been mad about her since I was thirteen. You know how things went between us a few years after that. I honestly thought I'd forgotten about her, you know. I mean, part of me DOES forget about her-she disappears to Egypt or wherever the hell she goes for work, stops writing and I think, all right. I'm done with that. But then she writes me again and, I dunno, everything just sort of comes back. Maybe.maybe I just want things to go right between us for once. I mean, we FINALLY don't have all this baggage anymore, you know?"
"Timing is everything," said Ginny dryly, sipping her glass of wine. "If you want my opinion, Cho and you probably shouldn't have even tried to hook up that year. I mean, Cedric had just died. You were both a bit of a mess. Especially you. You were a right prat that year, some of the time."
"Yeah, I was," Harry admitted, taking a sip from his own wine glass. "I'm glad you didn't take any of my rubbish."
"Never," said Ginny, smiling. "SOMEBODY has to keep you in line."
Harry smiled back at her. He was having a very good time, he realized. Ginny was a great friend, really. He liked that she was tough, that she challenged him a bit, that she didn't let him get away with anything. It was easy to talk to her, too, about his insecurities. He had never really been able to delve into that stuff with Ron and Hermione, especially now that they were a couple.
"So what about you?" Harry asked, cutting another piece of steak. "Any boyfriends after Colin the Toe Freak?"
Ginny laughed. "You remember that?"
"I remember pretty much everything about that night," said Harry, grinning.
Ginny blushed, just a little. She was very pretty when she blushed, perhaps because blushing didn't seem like the sort of thing a sensible girl like her did very often.
"After Colin," said Ginny. "To be honest, I haven't had a boyfriend since Colin. I dunno, Harry, I think I've written men off."
Harry swallowed his food. "Why?"
"Okay, so I haven't written men off, but I've definitely written off relationships," said Ginny. "They're just way too complicated. And, well.I got my heart broken a few too many times, you know? Dean, that was horrible. You know why he dumped me? Because I wouldn't have sex with him."
"Dean dumped you?" said Harry, stunned. "For that? But.I thought you and he."
"I only said we broke up mutually so Ron wouldn't break his legs," said Ginny, taking a mouthful of asparagus. She chewed it thoughtfully for a moment and then continued.
"So, you and Dean didn't.I mean, I always sort of figured." said Harry slowly.
"Harry, I was only fifteen when I was with Dean," said Ginny, rolling her eyes a bit. She took another sip of wine. "I mean, I know I had this reputation as being a bit of a tart in school but honestly, I didn't lose my virginity until sixth year, with Colin."
"Then how.how did you seem to.know so much?" said Harry slowly, feeling a bit guilty over his assumptions about her. "And for the record I never thought you were a tart. Just.intimidating."
She smiled. "Thanks. You were one of the few, though. But as to how I learned, you know, sex stuff. A lot from books-Hermione's got quite a collection. Colin, of course, was into some really weird shit-it was cool at first but you know the whole story behind that. Oh, and plenty of masturbation, naturally."
Harry choked on his wine but thankfully didn't spray it everywhere.
"What?" he croaked.
"Masturbation," Ginny said in a low voice. "Don't tell me you haven't done it."
"Yeah.well.sure," Harry admitted, blushing very red. "A little."
Ginny raised her eyebrows. "Okay, a lot," said Harry.
"Nothing wrong with it, you know," said Ginny. "It's the best way to get to know your own body, isn't it? Figure out what turns you on and what doesn't?"
Harry started to say something but then stopped. In all honesty he hadn't thought of it that way. To him, spanking it was all about relief; he hadn't really taken the time to give any thought to WHAT he was doing, so long as it resulted in an orgasm and the end of an uncomfortable erection.
Ginny regarded him and smiled. "Then again, maybe you've never thought about it that way." Harry nodded, thinking it was uncanny how easily she could read him, without him saying a word. It was comforting and unnerving at the same time.
"So, uh, nobody since Colin, then?" said Harry, trying to steer the conversation back to her.
"Oh, there've been a few blokes," said Ginny, "but nothing serious. I mean, I got sick of getting my heart stomped on so I decided, to hell with relationships, I'll just have sex for the fun of it. Only I haven't had much luck with that, either. Maybe I'm, like you said, too intimidating or something ridiculous. Which is just silly. I mean, most girls I know don't freak out if a man's been round the block a few times."
Harry nodded, realizing this was true. It was an unfair double standard, really, and he was ashamed of himself for having bought into it, even if it were only just a little.
They continued their meal in quiet companionship, talking about everything and nothing. Harry was enjoying himself again, though he felt his stomach clench in knots when he thought about what was in store for him later. His trousers pinched his tender parts and he thought about dead kittens again, and it helped, but then Ginny would smile at him and his trousers would pinch again. When had she become so beautiful?
They finished their meal, paid the bill and left. Harry began to feel distinctly apprehensive. They walked back slowly to Ginny's flat; she had taken his hand, but he didn't mind so much. He had always liked holding a girl's hand, and holding Ginny's felt comfortable, familiar somehow.
They entered her darkened flat. She had said nothing to him since leaving the restaurant, and he had not found the courage to talk. He allowed her to lead him up the dimly lit stairs to her bedroom. By now he felt half-ready to burst from his trousers as he watched the gentle swaying of her hips, the way her dress floated back and forth and clung to her ripe backside. The smell of gardenias and something else, something wholly erotic, assaulted his nostrils.
They reached her bedroom; she opened the door and pulled him inside. The room was lit by moonlight. She peeled off her jacket slowly-Harry closed his eyes for a moment, trying to think of dead kittens again-and then removed her wand from her pocket. She gave it a wave and suddenly the dozen or so candles were flickering, giving the room, and Ginny's skin, a golden glow.
"Sit," she ordered, pointing to her chair. Harry vaguely noticed that she had tidied up her room. He sat down.
Ginny took a few steps back. Harry swallowed.
"Uh, so, what's the.the agenda.for tonight?" he said, or rather, croaked.
"A simple anatomy lesson," said Ginny, her voice a bit husky. She drew her curtains shut, closing off the moonlight and leaving only the light of the flickering candles behind. Then, without a word, she reached up and started to peel off her dress.
Harry's eyes turned to saucers as she lowered the thin straps of her dress. The straps came lower, lower, lower, and the dress began to slide down her body. Harry swallowed again and shifted in his seat. A small smile curled Ginny's lips, but he only saw it out of the corner of his eye; he was too busy gawking at the very sexy black strapless bra she wore.
The dress slid further, revealing the belly button ring, then a pair of devastating black lace knickers. Harry's mouth fell open as the dress dropped to the floor. He stared at her for a good few minutes before finally dragging his eyes up to her face. She was spectacular.
"Wow," he choked.
