Title: A Place to Call Home
Author: RuthErin
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters, places, names, etc. associated with the Harry Potter series.
Summary: The war is over. Harry leaves the Dursley's to spend one last summer at the Burrow, but things get off to a rocky start, as secrets are revealed and old grudges are brought to light. Time is running out for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny: they must ultimately decide what to do now that school is finished, where they will spend their futures-and who they will spend them with.
Author's Notes: I promised it would be ready by the beginning of the week, didn't I? Here's a little candy for some of our R/H fans, and some appetizers for my fellow H/G-ers out there. This chapter is one example of how characters have lives of their own. . . I never intended for things to go quite as they did, but I guess I just didn't have a choice.
A Place to Call Home, Chapter Six- That Thing Called 'Love'
~*~
It was almost August, Mrs. Weasley mused. She smiled to herself as she bustled around the empty Burrow. The children had taken to spending the bulk of their afternoons down by the lake or playing quidditch now that all their conflict had been resolved.
It was abnormally quiet inside, but she did not mind one bit. If everything was to go as planned, the last thing she needed was nosy children around; after all that they had learned first-hand in the war, she had no doubts that they would find out what she was up to.
A nearby pop made her direct her attention to the nearby fireplace where Remus' head now floated amidst the flames.
"You wanted to speak to me, Molly?"
"Remus! How delightful! Of course I did! Let me explain."
As she talked, his eyes lit up and a smile began to spread across his face.
"Of course! I'll spread the word. See you soon then!" And with another pop, his head disappeared.
Molly nodded with satisfaction. This was going to be such fun!
~*~
Harry was sitting alone, a far off look in his eyes. He did not seem to notice the others splashing and racing the length of the lake. He did not seem to care when Ginny shrieked too loud or Ron's cannon-ball left drops of water on the lenses of his glasses.
"Harry! Oi! C'mon mate! These girls look innocent enough but together they're as lethal as a pair of dragons!"
Ron frowned. His cries had not got Harry's attention in the slightest. He swam over to Ginny and Hermione and nodded towards the shore. They both followed his gaze and noticed, for the first time, that Harry seemed to be anything but happy at that moment.
Ginny signaled for them to stay put and swam across the lake. Ron and Hermione climbed out of the water and settled down to dry off in the warm sun. When Ginny reached the other side she tickled Harry's feet so that he jumped out of his reverie. She smiled tentatively, questioningly, at him and he gestured to the dry towel beside him.
She held out her small hand and he grasped it firmly in his own, pulling her from the water. He handed her the towel and she dried her hair and face, then wrapped it modestly around her shapely frame. Harry's eyes never left her face.
Ron watched as she sat down beside Harry and whispered something into his ear. Harry grinned and looked away, a little self-consciously. Even from his far vantage point, Ron saw the difference in Harry's demeanor. Ginny's presence alone made him light up with genuine happiness.
"Wow." He whispered the word reverently, forgetting the person sitting only inches from him.
Hermione looked at him, mildly surprised.
"What is it, Ron?"
He jolted at the sound of her voice, but turned towards her and said very seriously, "I never just watched him before. Did you see how he got all. all happy when Ginny went over? Has she always done that to him?"
Hermione almost laughed, but she stopped herself just in time and ran a hand through his hair before replying.
"It's called love, Ron."
He heard the tenderness in her voice and locked eyes with her. For a brief moment the world seemed to spin and he knew her thoughts as though they were his own. He forgot all about Harry and Ginny as he pulled her gently to him, pressing his lips to hers and allowing the kiss to deepen as he hadn't before.
This was more than just physical. This one really meant something. Hermione pulled back, gasping for air, her cheeks flushed pink and lovely. Ron intertwined her hands in his.
"Hermione. sometimes you drive me mad and I wonder why we even bother. But one smile from you is all it takes to remind me why. You balance me out. You make me whole. You complete me. I don't know much about books, and I'll probably never read Hogwarts: A History, but what I do know is-is I love you. I love you and I want to marry you."
Hermione stared at him, shocked, for perhaps a millisecond, before throwing herself into his arms.
"Oh, Ron! Are you serious??" she pulled back to stare into his face, and seeing his answer, she stroked his cheek and fell against him again. "Of course I will!" she sniffled. Ron didn't even blush.
~*~
Harry and Ginny were sweetly oblivious to all that was happening across the lake. As soon as Ginny settled next to Harry she was aware of the tension in the air around him. It was so thick she could feel it like the static before a storm. She winked at him.
"You wear that lake water really well;" She whispered into his ear.
Harry grinned and looked away. Ginny could make him self-conscious like no other. But she also made him happy like nobody else could; the happiness he was feeling at that moment was definitely able to out-weigh the self- consciousness.
"What were you thinking about?" She asked, as she unsuccessfully pushed wet strands of her lovely hair from her eyes.
Harry considered her question as he watched her fight with her hair. He had been thinking about Bill, but this was the last thing he wanted to admit to her-especially after all that had gone on with him and Ron.
Harry reached over and lightly pushed the stray hairs back from her face, his thumb remaining on her cheek a moment longer than perhaps necessary.
"It was nothing; I was just thinking about general things."
Ginny smiled sweetly before wrapping a wet arm around his shoulders.
"Do you expect me to believe that?"
Harry cocked his head and wiggled his eyebrows mysteriously.
"It all depends. what are the consequences if you don't?"
Ginny considered. Then she tackled him.
Harry laughed out loud as she knocked him down and tried to pin him there, but he was stronger than she, and his reflexes were superior, after years as a quidditch Seeker. One roll had him out of the way, and laughing even harder as she fell beside him.
He lay down next to her, his arm barely touching hers, and it was quiet between them as they watched the clouds over head. Ginny felt Harry stir, and then she smiled softly as she felt him he entwine his fingers with hers.
A warm breeze stirred the waters of the lake, and all they could hear was nature's white noise of the wind and the birds, and the dancing branches of nearby trees. And the afternoon settled around them as placidly and as soft as a light blanket of summer.
Author: RuthErin
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters, places, names, etc. associated with the Harry Potter series.
Summary: The war is over. Harry leaves the Dursley's to spend one last summer at the Burrow, but things get off to a rocky start, as secrets are revealed and old grudges are brought to light. Time is running out for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny: they must ultimately decide what to do now that school is finished, where they will spend their futures-and who they will spend them with.
Author's Notes: I promised it would be ready by the beginning of the week, didn't I? Here's a little candy for some of our R/H fans, and some appetizers for my fellow H/G-ers out there. This chapter is one example of how characters have lives of their own. . . I never intended for things to go quite as they did, but I guess I just didn't have a choice.
A Place to Call Home, Chapter Six- That Thing Called 'Love'
~*~
It was almost August, Mrs. Weasley mused. She smiled to herself as she bustled around the empty Burrow. The children had taken to spending the bulk of their afternoons down by the lake or playing quidditch now that all their conflict had been resolved.
It was abnormally quiet inside, but she did not mind one bit. If everything was to go as planned, the last thing she needed was nosy children around; after all that they had learned first-hand in the war, she had no doubts that they would find out what she was up to.
A nearby pop made her direct her attention to the nearby fireplace where Remus' head now floated amidst the flames.
"You wanted to speak to me, Molly?"
"Remus! How delightful! Of course I did! Let me explain."
As she talked, his eyes lit up and a smile began to spread across his face.
"Of course! I'll spread the word. See you soon then!" And with another pop, his head disappeared.
Molly nodded with satisfaction. This was going to be such fun!
~*~
Harry was sitting alone, a far off look in his eyes. He did not seem to notice the others splashing and racing the length of the lake. He did not seem to care when Ginny shrieked too loud or Ron's cannon-ball left drops of water on the lenses of his glasses.
"Harry! Oi! C'mon mate! These girls look innocent enough but together they're as lethal as a pair of dragons!"
Ron frowned. His cries had not got Harry's attention in the slightest. He swam over to Ginny and Hermione and nodded towards the shore. They both followed his gaze and noticed, for the first time, that Harry seemed to be anything but happy at that moment.
Ginny signaled for them to stay put and swam across the lake. Ron and Hermione climbed out of the water and settled down to dry off in the warm sun. When Ginny reached the other side she tickled Harry's feet so that he jumped out of his reverie. She smiled tentatively, questioningly, at him and he gestured to the dry towel beside him.
She held out her small hand and he grasped it firmly in his own, pulling her from the water. He handed her the towel and she dried her hair and face, then wrapped it modestly around her shapely frame. Harry's eyes never left her face.
Ron watched as she sat down beside Harry and whispered something into his ear. Harry grinned and looked away, a little self-consciously. Even from his far vantage point, Ron saw the difference in Harry's demeanor. Ginny's presence alone made him light up with genuine happiness.
"Wow." He whispered the word reverently, forgetting the person sitting only inches from him.
Hermione looked at him, mildly surprised.
"What is it, Ron?"
He jolted at the sound of her voice, but turned towards her and said very seriously, "I never just watched him before. Did you see how he got all. all happy when Ginny went over? Has she always done that to him?"
Hermione almost laughed, but she stopped herself just in time and ran a hand through his hair before replying.
"It's called love, Ron."
He heard the tenderness in her voice and locked eyes with her. For a brief moment the world seemed to spin and he knew her thoughts as though they were his own. He forgot all about Harry and Ginny as he pulled her gently to him, pressing his lips to hers and allowing the kiss to deepen as he hadn't before.
This was more than just physical. This one really meant something. Hermione pulled back, gasping for air, her cheeks flushed pink and lovely. Ron intertwined her hands in his.
"Hermione. sometimes you drive me mad and I wonder why we even bother. But one smile from you is all it takes to remind me why. You balance me out. You make me whole. You complete me. I don't know much about books, and I'll probably never read Hogwarts: A History, but what I do know is-is I love you. I love you and I want to marry you."
Hermione stared at him, shocked, for perhaps a millisecond, before throwing herself into his arms.
"Oh, Ron! Are you serious??" she pulled back to stare into his face, and seeing his answer, she stroked his cheek and fell against him again. "Of course I will!" she sniffled. Ron didn't even blush.
~*~
Harry and Ginny were sweetly oblivious to all that was happening across the lake. As soon as Ginny settled next to Harry she was aware of the tension in the air around him. It was so thick she could feel it like the static before a storm. She winked at him.
"You wear that lake water really well;" She whispered into his ear.
Harry grinned and looked away. Ginny could make him self-conscious like no other. But she also made him happy like nobody else could; the happiness he was feeling at that moment was definitely able to out-weigh the self- consciousness.
"What were you thinking about?" She asked, as she unsuccessfully pushed wet strands of her lovely hair from her eyes.
Harry considered her question as he watched her fight with her hair. He had been thinking about Bill, but this was the last thing he wanted to admit to her-especially after all that had gone on with him and Ron.
Harry reached over and lightly pushed the stray hairs back from her face, his thumb remaining on her cheek a moment longer than perhaps necessary.
"It was nothing; I was just thinking about general things."
Ginny smiled sweetly before wrapping a wet arm around his shoulders.
"Do you expect me to believe that?"
Harry cocked his head and wiggled his eyebrows mysteriously.
"It all depends. what are the consequences if you don't?"
Ginny considered. Then she tackled him.
Harry laughed out loud as she knocked him down and tried to pin him there, but he was stronger than she, and his reflexes were superior, after years as a quidditch Seeker. One roll had him out of the way, and laughing even harder as she fell beside him.
He lay down next to her, his arm barely touching hers, and it was quiet between them as they watched the clouds over head. Ginny felt Harry stir, and then she smiled softly as she felt him he entwine his fingers with hers.
A warm breeze stirred the waters of the lake, and all they could hear was nature's white noise of the wind and the birds, and the dancing branches of nearby trees. And the afternoon settled around them as placidly and as soft as a light blanket of summer.