The Draught of Living Death

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers, copyright 2000. Some portions of this fan-fiction are taken directly from the novel.

A/N: My new favorite part of making Author's Notes! Questions! Only two questions got asked and they bother pertain to the same topic, so I'll go ahead and do that one.

Foxfire: I haven't named the runt yet, probably will in this chapter. I hadn't come up with a name yet, thanks for reminding me that I need to. He will most likely play a very important role, even if we don't see very much of him for a few chapters.

Agent FAB: Honestly, I'm flattered. Carpe Diem is one of my favorite stories. I couldn't ever imagine writing at that level.

Grandma: Glad to see I have a convert! I try to keep time between updates short. I left off of this story for a while, and still have no clue why I did so, but I'm back at it now. Hopefully it will only be a few days between each update.

Phoenix: Thanks! There will probably be more sweet moments in the future, but I'm still trying to figure out whether or not I'm capable of writing a Hermione/Ron relationship! Any suggestions?

Bucky: Again, thanks! Same as before, will go for more touchy/sweet moments in the future and same insecurities as well.

Lady Lightning: Don't worry, I have every intention of continuing to the best of my ability.

Thanks everyone for reviewing. The next chapter shouldn't take too much longer than this one did. Thanks for all the encouragement!

Chapter Eight: Disasters and other Distressing Events

"Ginny!" Harry shouted.

Ginny spun away from the stove for the third time in five minutes. "What's wrong now, Harry?"

"Your waters boiling over! Turn down the heat!"

Ginny grumbled under her breath as she did as he instructed. "Why don't you just do it, Harry? I obviously have no home making skills."

"No thanks, Ginny," Harry said as he tried to relax. "I spent the first eleven years of my life cooking three meals a day for an unappreciative family. It's nice to watch someone else do it… though I thought it might be more relaxing than this." Harry jumped from his seat in time to throw some baking soda on a fire that had just started below the pasta that was at a full boil.

Ginny grabbed the oven mitts and hurried to pull the pasta off the heat.

Harry bit his lip and tried not to say anything.

"Can I strain it now?" she asked, trying to relax.

"Is it tender?" Harry asked.

"Tender?" Ginny raised her eyebrows and crossed her arms. Harry reached into the pot and carefully selected a small string of the angel hair pasta. He placed it in his mouth and chewed at it.

"It's ready he said. If it's too tough it won't be as good, but if it's too soft, it takes away from the flavor."

Ginny nodded. "Harry, I just want to say one thing."

Harry fidgeted nervously.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you. If I stay around you, I'll never have to cook again."

Harry laughed softly. "I have a feeling that would be best."

Ginny grabbed the pot and jumped back as she burned her hands.

Harry stopped laughing and came forwards to look at her hands. They were just a little red, not badly burned.

"Always use oven mitts," he told her, handing her the gloves. She reached out to take them from him, brushing her fingertips against his. Harry leaned forwards and brushed her lips with his gently before turning away and heading back to his seat.

Ginny fought down a blush as she hurried over to the sink and dumped the pasta into the strainer.

Ron stormed in the door moments later. "It's over," he shouted throwing his ball cap towards the table and landing it in the floor on the other side.

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked as she bounced the strainer a couple times to get the remaining water out of it.

"I dumped Audrey."

"Really?" Ginny asked, not looking at him. "Why are you so angry?"

"Because I'm going to kill Cody!"

"Wait," Harry said, "I'm confused. What does your breaking up with Audrey have to do with Cody?"

"Her and Cody started owling each other from the second we left Diagon Alley." Ron collapsed in a chair and settled his head into his hands.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Ron," Ginny said as she poured the pasta back into the pot. "But why are you going to kill Cody, as you so bluntly put it? Isn't it Audrey's fault too?"

"No one hurts Hermione," Ron seethed. "She owled me right after she found out. She had been crying, I could see the tear stains on the parchment."

Ron stood up again. "I'm going outside to wait for Pig."

"You already owled her back."

Ron gave a short nod. "Any friend would. She needed comfort." Ron snatched his hat off the floor and shoved it back on his head before he headed back outside.

"Tornado Ron," Ginny muttered.

Ron suddenly stuck his head back in the door. "Ginny…" he said hesitantly, "you're not cooking, are you?"

"Yes, I am, Ron. Problem with that?"

Ron gulped. "None at all." He quickly disappeared.

Ginny grinned. "I should have warned you, Harry."

"About?"

"The only thing that scares my family more than my temper," she said pouring cheese sauce and Parmesan over the noodles, "Is my cooking."

Harry laughed as Ginny pulled the baked chicken from the oven and set it on the stove.

* ~ *

The Weasley family sat around the table eating their dinner quickly. Ron was eating a little more slowly, eyeing Ginny ever few seconds.

"This is very good, Harry," Percy complimented.

Ginny coughed and threw an amused glance at Harry.

"Thank you, Percy," Harry managed.

"Yes," Molly said, "I must say, excellent choice. I wasn't aware we even had anything to cook. Thank you for coming up with something, though I might point out, you are a guest here."

"I know," Harry said. He decided to throw in the clincher. "That's why Ginny cooked it."

Percy and Molly both gagged and discretely spit their chicken in their napkins. Mr. Weasley stopped half way to his mouth with a bit of pasta and decided to set it down to stare at his plate. The twins were more obvious. The openly gagged and spit the food back on their plate. Ron continued picking at his food, making sure it was still safe.

Ginny tried to look hurt, but ruined it with a small giggle. "Don't worry," she said. "Harry made sure I didn't do anything wrong. He came up with the recipe, too."

The family still seemed disinterested in their food. Percy muttered something about paperwork, Mr. Weasley claimed he needed a short nap, the twins ran off to their rooms to "read", Ron actually decided to finish homework, and Molly found herself without any excuse. She looked anxiously at Harry and Ginny's plates, hoping they were almost done.

Ginny did have some sense of decorum in her. "I'm stuffed," she said. "I think I'll go and get some studying done."

"I'll do dishes," Mrs. Weasley said anxiously. "You two can do whatever you need to."

"But Ginny," Harry said with a grin, "you hardly touched your pasta."

Ginny grabbed Harry by the arm. "Come on, you can help me."

Harry tried not to laugh as Ginny practically dragged him to her room.

* ~ *

As soon as the door of Ginny's room was shut behind them, Ginny began to giggle hysterically. Harry managed to suppress his mirth to a smile.

"I didn't realize you were being serious when you said they were afraid of your cooking," Harry told her. "I thought Ron was just trying to pester you."

"No," Ginny said as she collapsed on the bed. "They really are genuinely afraid of it. They still remember the time I tried to make a bowl of pudding."

"How can you mess up pudding? There are no flames involved, all you do is pour mix and milk into a bowl."

"Don't ask," Ginny answered. "You're talking to the person who can screw up boiling water."

Harry hesitantly sat on the bed beside her, taking care not to sit too closely to her outstretched body.

"So, what homework do you have left for school?"

"I knew there was a bit of Hermione in you somewhere," Ginny said with a sigh. She turned onto her side and rested her head in her palm to face him. "Unlike my dear brother, I have a tendency to complete assignments in a timely manner."

"Do Fred, George and Ron know you're ruining their reputations?"

"If they cared what I did in school, they might realize."

"I think they care," Harry told her seriously. "After all, they spend most of their time there keeping an eye on you."

Ginny groaned and rolled her eyes. "Don't remind me. If a boy even looks at me the wrong way, he has the chance of being out of commission for a few weeks."

"You know, this communication we have bears a definite improvement on the blushing and squealing I'm used to."

Ginny failed to stop herself from blushing.

"Darn," Harry said, "Spoke too soon."

"I'm sorry, I can't help it. At this point I'm more embarrassed about the way I used to act around you. I guess I never realized you were just as human as the rest of us."

Harry frowned. "Is that a compliment or an insult?"

Ginny smiled. "Neither, it's just a fact. I know my brothers asked you to hang out with me."

Harry glanced at her with a guilty expression.

"Don't worry, I don't hold you responsible." Ginny sat up and crossed her hands on her lap. "I knew from the moment Ron set up that 'triple date' that something was up. Then I heard Fred and George talking about it this morning. They think the plan is working."

Harry fidgeted nervously and looked away.

"Would you mind enlightening me?" Ginny asked. "I want to know exactly what they're tremendous plan is."

Harry looked at her again and tried to smile. "I want you to understand something first."

Ginny nodded slowly.

Harry continued. "I originally started spending time with you because of their tremendous scheme. I didn't know anything about you, but they were convinced we get along famously if I tried. I told them I'd give it a shot, but that I couldn't make any promises about doing anything subtly."

Ginny's face looked a little disappointed.

"Don't give up on me yet," Harry said, grasping her hand and giving it a small squeeze. "The plan of getting to know you for their reasons only lasted about the first fifteen minutes of our trip to Diagon Alley. Then you started talking and suddenly I didn't have to try to get along with you. I just did. You talked about interesting things, you were yourself, and the fact that you knew about owls was definitely a perk. Then you gave me an unspoken understanding when I wanted that runt. No one else would have understood. Ron would have told me I was making a mistake. Hermione would have given me statistics on how many runts ever actually prove useful. Your mum would have given me placating smiles and patted me on the head, never really seeing what I was trying to do. You were different."

Ginny gave Harry a curious look. "How was I different?"

"You didn't understand, and you didn't pretend like you did. You knew he was important to me, so you didn't discourage me. Then you waited until I was ready to talk about it. When I was, you listened and asked questions until you did understand. Then you offered advice and comfort and the promise to try to understand what I was doing. That was important to me. From there… well, from there everything just kind of fell into place."

Ginny smiled. "You needed understanding. Have you named him yet?"

"I was trying to think of something appropriate, but nothing seemed to work. I was hoping, since you saw him first, that you would help me decide. We can even figure out a name for yours, if you haven't already."

"I haven't decided yet either," Ginny said glancing at the cage. "Usually owls are named in the same fashion that most people name dogs. You know, experts think it's better if you give an animal a name with at least two syllables, since most commands are only one syllable. It helps them realize the different between a command and a friendly call."

"Okay," Harry said, releasing her hand to fold his on his lap. "So we're looking for names with more than one syllable… Socrates?"

"Who?"

"A Philosopher and poet that the muggles study."

"I'm not sure… it sounds very distinguished, and yet, I'm not sure that we want distinguished. How about Merlin?"

"Hmm," Harry thought, "That's a good one for your owl if you like it. Then we could name mine Arthur."

"That would be cute," Ginny said with a smile. "Since they're brothers, it would give them something in common, since Merlin and Arthur were related in the older stories too."

Harry nodded. "I think you're right. It's perfect. Merlin and Arthur." Harry leaned back on his elbows, attempting to make himself comfortable, but no entirely sure how to do so without making Ginny uneasy.

"You never elaborated, Harry."

Harry cleared his throat nervously. "You changed the subject."

"You looked uncomfortable. I wanted to give you a break."

"I guess you deserve the whole truth, then." Harry took a deep breath. "They thought if we spent enough time together you'd come to realize that I wasn't boyfriend material and get over your crush on me."

Ginny blushed furiously. "That was a long time ago, Harry. I don't think the issue is really all that serious anymore."

Harry nodded. "I think you're right, but they also think they're looking out for you." Harry let his gaze stray to the back of her head as he chin dipped towards the floor in embarrassment. "Don't," he said softly.

Ginny looked back at him and tried to smile. "Don't what, Harry?"

"Don't lower your face to anyone, especially not me. You're far too pretty to hide."

Ginny's face registered shock. "You think I'm pretty?"

"Yes," he admitted, blushing a bit himself. "I think you're beautiful."

Ginny's lower lip dropped open a bit and she quickly shut her mouth and blinked to hide the surprise. She turned away from him quickly. "Whatever happened to you and Cho?" She asked rubbing her arm. "How did you get over that crush?"

Harry smiled again. "I never really did," he admitted, "but that doesn't mean I still want to date her." Harry sat up again and pulled his feet up into a cross-legged position beside her. He looked at curiously and took her face in his hands and turned it towards him. "I think, however, that I'm starting to get over it," he smiled. "I'm starting to get a crush on this one girl." Harry stared directly into her eyes, waiting for a response.

"She's absolutely gorgeous, beautiful hair, very long."

Ginny's eyes began to tear up.

"She has a great smile when she's happy, but she's just as pretty when she's sad. She has a horrible temper,"

Ginny's eyes lit up and a tear dripped down her face.

Harry wiped the tear away with his thumb. "I think the temper can be pretty cute," he admitted. "I've never seen her go full blast, but I'm waiting for that moment, because I know she'll be even prettier then."

Ginny blushed.

"She can't cook."

Ginny laughed lightly.

"But I cook well enough to make up for that." Harry moved a strand of hair from her face. "She's kind and understanding, she knows when I need someone to talk to. She sees when I'm lonely, and feels when I'm sad. She's good at charms, which I unfortunately suck at, so that's a bonus."

Ginny shook her head and smiled.

"It's adorable when she runs away from her older brothers," Harry grinned. "I don't usually know what to do when that's happening except give evil glares and hide her."

Taking a deep breath, Ginny moved her hands up to cover Harry's wrists.

"Best of all," Harry said, moving one hand down to her shoulder and leaving the other at her cheek, "She has the most amazing body."

Ginny gasped and smacked him playfully on the shoulder. "Pig!" she accused.

Harry laughed and covered his face in defense.

Ginny grabbed a pillow and began to hit him unmercifully with it.

"I give!" Harry shouted. "Stop! I give up!" Harry moved quickly, using his Quidditch skills to get a hold of her arms before she knew what was happening. He moved over her and pushed her down, laying her on the bed.

Ginny twisted around, still fighting him. She managed to flip him over, sending both of them into the floor with a loud thud.

Harry groaned as he turned at the last minute to take the harder part of the fall. He coughed and sucked in a deep breath of air, having had the wind knocked out of him.

"Woman, you're about to be the death of me, you're heavier than I thought you'd be."

She pulled her wrists out of his arms and shoved his shoulder onto the ground. "That wasn't very nice, Harry."

"Okay, okay, fine, I'm sorry," Harry ruined the scene, however, when he tipped his head back and erupted into laughter. "That was fun," he admitted. "We'll have to do that again."

Ginny grinned and began to laugh with him, letting go and falling on top of him, still pinning his legs beneath her.

Harry reached up and touched her face lightly. "I knew I was falling for you, I just didn't expect it to involve a hard wood floor."

Ginny raised her head as she managed to stop laughing, moving a hand to cover the one he held to her face. She leaned down slowly, and covered his lips with an experimental kiss. Harry's hand moved slowly around her neck, his other arm twining around her waist.

Ginny wasn't sure what to do with her hands, so she let them lay flat against the ground above his head.

The kiss was soft and slow, neither sure what exactly they were doing. Harry held her neck easily, letting his fingers run up into her hair.

Ginny touched his face, pulling his glasses off in a singular motion.

After a few moments, they separated, their faces showing disbelieving stares.

That was about the same time the door flew open and Harry tossed Ginny off of him, with a grunt of disappointment.

"Is everyone all right?" a familiar voice asked. "We heard someone hit the ground."

Harry looked up to see Percy standing in the doorway with a concerned look on his face.

"Yeah, Percy, just fine," Harry said with a grunt as he stood and helped Ginny to her feet. "Just a little…" Harry glanced at Ginny.

"Argument," she finished.

Percy looked like he was about to ask more questions but decided against it. "All right then," he said, his eyes going back and forth between the two of them. "Do try to be more careful," he suggested as he finally left the room.

As soon as the door shut, Harry and Ginny erupted into laughter again.

"I think I better get to bed before Ron comes looking for me," Harry told her after a few seconds.

"I think you're right." Ginny walked with him towards the door. "And Harry," Ginny said. "Do try not to throw me next time someone comes in," she said in her best imitation of Percy's formal tones.

Harry shook his head with a chuckle and leaned down to kiss her one more time as he left the room. Three more weeks until Hogwarts, he thought.

"God," he said out loud. "I hope we both live through it in this house." Harry took a deep breath and headed up the stairs, never realizing that Ginny still had his glasses in her bedroom.