Birthday Surprises Chapter 52

Usual disclaimer: Not mine, don't sue. Please. Wish it were mine though. Ah, if only. Lolly, xxx.

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Dobby, Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way out to the Quidditch pitch, shortly followed by Ginny and Reilly. Harry had tried to smuggle the three mini brooms out, but was caught by Ginny, who confiscated them. So Harry took them up on his broom one at a time, making sure that they were securely strapped to the broom, and that they wouldn't fall. Each of the triplets loved it, and giggled gleefully as Harry dipped the nose of the broom slightly as they descended. Ginny rolled her eyes, wishing that he would keep them out of the air until they were at least six months old. No such luck, though. Besides, the triplets loved it, and she couldn't help but grin as they came back down gurgling and smiling.

Harry had just finished flying with the triplets when someone else arrived, even from his position fifty feet in the air, there was no mistaking who it was - Cho Chang. Again. Harry rolled his eyes as she waved to him, and landed slowly, taking as long as he could.

"Harry, there you are! I've been looking for you. You weren't in the Great Hall."

"No - I haven't been for breakfast yet." Harry said. "What are you doing here?"

"I stayed the night. I'm heading home after lunch."

"Oh. That's nice." Harry said, looking to Ginny, Reilly and Hermione to help.

"Umm...can you come for a walk?"

"I don't know..."

"Go on Harry, I'm sure that between the five of us, we can look after the triplets." Ginny said. Harry shot her a venomous look before handing her his Firebolt.

"I won't be long." He said, walking away with Cho.

***

"What on Earth did you do that for?" Reilly and Hermione exclaimed at once as they watched Cho take hold of Harry's hand.

"She looked desperate." Ginny shrugged, grinning.

"So? Do you know that she asked him out again last night?"

"Yeah, he told me that. How did you know?"

"Oh, I...umm..."

"You were spying on them." Ginny said accusingly.

"Yeah, and I bet you wish you had done too." Hermione retorted. "Anyway, he came up with this really lame excuse, and she said that maybe they should get together when he leaves."

"She said that?"

"Yeah, she did."

"What did Harry say?"

"Nothing, be he looked as if he didn't know whether to laugh or vomit."

"I thought he liked Cho - they went out for a while, didn't they?"

"Yeah, but I guess he got over her. Not a surprise, really." Ginny said, remembering the two percent compatibility.

"Oh no - she's kissing him!" Hermione said, looking at Ginny for her reaction.

"Uh...well, I never saw that coming." Ginny said, her eyes narrowed as she stared at them.

"No, me neither." Reilly said, looking shocked.

"Go Harry!" Ron called from his broom.

***

Harry had never wanted to vanish quite as much as he did at that moment - he didn't want to kiss Cho, but he didn't want to hurt her feelings either. He pulled away from her gently, watching as she frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't like you in that way." Harry said.

"You don't?" Harry sighed as Cho's eyes welled up with tears.

"No, I don't. I'm sorry, but I don't."

"You used to."

"Yeah, I used to. That was then. This is now."

"I still like you in that way." Cho said, as the tears escaped her eyes.

"I'm sorry." Harry shrugged. He didn't know what else to say to her.

"Well...I guess I should go."

"Hmm." Harry said.

"Goodbye."

"Bye." Harry stuck his hands in his pockets as she left, shaking his head in confusion.

***

Ginny, Reilly and Hermione watched as Cho walked to the gates, her shoulders shaking slightly. Ginny felt slightly sorry for her, but then remembered that she had just snogged Harry. She watched as Harry made his way back, summoning his broom from her hands and jumping on it as it flew towards him.

"That can't be safe." Hermione muttered as Harry soared up into the air. When he plummeted the next moment, Hermione and Reilly squealed. Harry looked as if he was going to fly right into the ground. Not only was he dropping like a stone, he was dropping quickly. He rolled suddenly, pulling the broom up again. Hermione shook her head, looking faintly green.

"I'm never going to get used to that."

"He's really good - I wonder if any of the triplets have his flying skills?"

"Probably - his dad was supposedly quite good too. Seeker as well."

"Cool." Reilly said. "I'm hopeless at flying - mum says that girls aren't supposed to be on brooms anyway."

"I prefer having both feet on the ground, myself." Hermione said. Ginny shook her head, watching Harry as he flew a few tight loops.

"Nah - flying is brilliant." She said.

"You're just biased, Miss Top-Gryffindor-Chaser!"

"I suppose."

"What are you going to do when Harry leaves?" Reilly asked. Ginny thought for a moment - Reilly meant when he graduated, of course, but she couldn't help but wonder what she'd do when he went to face Voldemort.

"Dunno." Ginny said, her eyes following Harry.

"Does he still want to be an Auror?"

"Yeah." Ginny murmured.

"God, I hope he's careful." Reilly shuddered. Ginny gulped, knowing that Harry would meet with Voldemort sooner or later, and one of them would die...

"Hey, Ginny, I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry." Reilly said, as a tear slipped down Ginny's face.

"No, it's ok. I'm just...scared." Ginny said.

"Me too - but Harry knows what he has to do." Hermione said, putting her arm around Ginny's shoulders.

"That's what's scaring me." Ginny muttered, looking at her three perfect children.

***

Harry and the others trooped back to the common room after a little while, talking excitedly about the upcoming Gryffindor-Slytherin match. Harry was saying to Ron that Malfoy, as captain of his team, would likely make it the dirtiest game ever seen at Hogwarts. Ginny replied that she hoped not, for all of their sakes.