Chapter 5: CAUGHT IN THE ACT
"My, my! What do we have here?" Fred said calmly.
"Exactly the people we were looking for, brother. Though they seem not too much pleased to see us here."
"True. I think a change of location is in order. Let's go!"
Neither of the four sitting moved.
"NOW!" George stated firmly. "Madame Rosmerta would you add the butterbeers on our tab."
"Sure boys, what are you up to?"
"We have some – family - business to attend to." Fred answered smiling at Ginny. Her eyes grew wide. 'What were they really up to?'
They made a gloomy group heading through Hogsmeade until stopping in front of shut down Zonko's. George took his wand to open the door.
"Eh, I don't think .... I mean I think we can't ..... It's closed for a while now." Colin stammered uneasy.
"That's why we came here." Fred said.
"It's a little bit more private." George added looking pointedly from Ginny to Harry. Both swallowed hard.
"Come in!"
It was dark inside. The curtains at the huge display windows were closed. Harry grew more and more jittery. 'There he was. Having faced Voldemorte once or twice and now becoming uneasy about the Weasley twins. Well still, they are Weasleys.' He sighed heavily when he felt Ginny's soft small fingers intertwine with his. This was better.
"Let's get over with. George, Fred I..." Harry had enough.
"Now, now young friend not so hasty!" Fred and George rummaged behind the counter. The light went on and George triumphantly waved what looked like a Champagne bottle in his hand.
"That's it?!" Harry asked baffled. "You're going to kill me with a bottle?"
"If you want to" Fred answered. "But we'd rather drink it to celebrate this occasion."
"Celebrate! What? Apart from this is alcohol, students are not allowed to..."
"Look, who's talking. Mr. Perfect Professor, who's snogging one of his students" George smirked. "Brother I think we have to set an example."
When George started to open the bottle Harry grabbed his wand tightly. Due to the shaking beforehand the cork popped out at high speed aiming at Harry who escaped by ducking just out of pure luck.
George poured six classes and Fred handed them to the others. Then they looked expectantly at the worried looking couple.
"What, little sis! Do you think we are going to poison you?"
Ginny nodded warily.
An evil smile spread across the twins' faces. "To all the pranksters ever to attend Hogwarts. Drink up!"
With shaking hands Ginny and Harry took a sip, while the others waited expectantly. Nothing happened.
Slowly the twins began to giggle and finally burst into fits of laughter. Colin and Luna looked back and forth from the hysteric twins to the ghostly white couple.
"WHAT?!" Ginny shrieked indigently stomping her foot.
Fred tried to sober wiping some tears out of his eyes. Holding his aching side he choked out "Do you really think we would poison you two?"
"Well, maybe Harry" George stammered in between giggles.
In one swift motion Harry poured the content of his glass on the floor. What caused finally all the others to break down laughing. Harry just sat back on an empty box.
"Oh, come on" Fred teased "Let's celebrate! We came her for our new shop, to provide all the students properly and then we find out that our followers have some really good stuff up their sleeves themselves."
"Yeah Gin. Such a show off - a teacher. Not bad. We were thinking about seducing McGonagall." George continued.
"Eiwww!" apart from the twins everyone shrieked.
George continued untouched "But you know her. Quite a frosty tart." He smirked, the others groaned. "A student-teacher relationship – the ultimate undermination of school rules" George sighed in awe.
"Yes! And the endless opportunities: faked detentions, blackmail, added housepoints, grades, cover ups for pranks. It's unlimited!"
"Sorry mate!" George addressed Harry "You're not to blame. We know she's quite a cutie, not easy not to fall for her, but you forget her evil side."
"Though Ginny! We had to interrupt. It's a little bit tough to do this to a friend, don't you think?"
Realisation finally setting in Ginny hopped on Harry's lap and kissed him lovingly. He hugged her possessively.
Now it was time for the twins to be dumbfounded. They sobered up in a split second. Harry sensing the change in mood raised quickly, one arm still around Ginny's waist he drew her close. The other hand pointed his wand at the twins.
"What would I give for popcorn now" Colin stated
Luna and he had made themselves comfortable on some boxes watching the scene. Luna looked at him quizzically.
"Do you never pay attention in muggle studies. Cinema, movies, popcorn!"
"Ah, yes. You're right. Quite entertaining this is." Luna replied.
"Would you two cut it out" Fred snapped.
Ginny turned with her back to Harry, one hand resting on his embracing arm the other forcing down his wand. "Boys! I know how uncomfortable you are with me having a boyfriend, but you cannot possibly think I would make a joke out of this."
The twins looked at each other and then glared back at her.
"By Merlin! You do? How crazy can two people be!"
"We take this as a compliment."
"Look, we're in love. That's the point. Live with it." Harry said grimly. Ginny snuggled up to him smiling contently.
"When did that happen?" Fred turned to George.
"Don't ask me, brother. We haven't been around much lately."
"First I thought we would have to cheer the boy up."
"And now we have to break all his bones. I see the problem."
"On the other hand. I don't want to be the one to break this special news to Bill or anybody else."
"Me either."
They nodded and turned back to the couple.
"When do you announce the engagement to the family?"
"WHAT?" Ginny shrieked.
"Just to know at what time we are not around."
"Engagement?" Harry asked.
"Yeah you know. Wedding, rings, babies and so on."
Ginny and Harry gaped.
"HA! Gotcha!" the twins grinned. Luna and Colin snickered.
"So that's it?" Harry asked in disbelieve.
"Hey! Who are we to argue with the boy-who-lived?"
"Yeah, proofed to be much more fun to be on your side!"
Ginny ran to her brothers and hugged them. Then she turned around to Harry. "Two out of seven. Not bad for the first encounter with the Weasley red alert" she grinned.
Harry wasn't sure if he could stand a second "encounter", when Ginny launched herself at him and kissed his breath away. 'Well' he thought 'He would do it anyway. He'd do everything.' Then his mind went blank or better filled with her – Ginny.
~~~~~~~~
Harry needed some time to recover. Nothing bad had happened. On the contrary the twins had taken the news quite well and quickly for that. Still his nerves were shaken. He loved the Weasley – not like Ginny – but he loved them and didn't want to make them angry.
Well, he needn't worry about that right now, not until Christmas holidays. There were more pleasant tasks at hand. He drew his invisibility cloak tighter around him and took a quick glance at the Marauders map. The path was clear. He knocked at the door in front of him carefully.
Nothing.
He knocked again louder. After what seemed like ages a tousled haired Ginny in an oversized t-shirt opened the door. She blinked in the empty corridor.
"Stupid!" she murmured and closed the door.
"Ouch!"
Something pushed her into the room and the door clicked shut. Ginny smiled. "Taking a midnight walk" she asked when arms appeared out of nowhere and drew her close.
"Just making sure you're alright." The cloak slipped down to the floor.
"I was sleeping quite nicely having a wonderful dream."
"Of me?" he asked whispering in her ear, then kissing down her neck.
"No" she sighed tilting back her head.
"To bad" he murmured in between soft kisses.
He had wrapped himself around her, but still needed to be closer – impossible without crushing the petite figure. He knew her strength, but she felt so fragile. Through the thin layer of the too often worn t-shirt he could nearly feel her skin, soft like her bare arms around his neck. She started shivering and he drew back
"Sorry, sweetie. You must be cold."
"No, I..." She protested weakly, but he had already swept her from her feet and carried her over to the four poster bed. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her body when she scrambled her white slim legs under the cover. Quickly he tugged her in, to save her from the cold and his own stare.
She smiled up at him. "Afraid, I might go away?" she struggled to loosen the covers a little.
"No. Afraid I can't go away."
"So why did you come?"
"To kiss you goodnight."
She raised her eyebrows.
"And give you this." He fetched the cloak and the marauders map and put it on her bed.
"But that's your:..."
"I want you to be safe on your excursions in the castle. I'm a Professor I don't need them."
"Who said I want to do excursions?"
"Just a guess and maybe you drop by my quarters now and then."
"Aren't they near Professor Snapes?" Ginny asked all too innocently.
"What?!"
She took his hand tearing him down beside her and snuggled as close as the covers would allow.
"Nevermind."
"My, my! What do we have here?" Fred said calmly.
"Exactly the people we were looking for, brother. Though they seem not too much pleased to see us here."
"True. I think a change of location is in order. Let's go!"
Neither of the four sitting moved.
"NOW!" George stated firmly. "Madame Rosmerta would you add the butterbeers on our tab."
"Sure boys, what are you up to?"
"We have some – family - business to attend to." Fred answered smiling at Ginny. Her eyes grew wide. 'What were they really up to?'
They made a gloomy group heading through Hogsmeade until stopping in front of shut down Zonko's. George took his wand to open the door.
"Eh, I don't think .... I mean I think we can't ..... It's closed for a while now." Colin stammered uneasy.
"That's why we came here." Fred said.
"It's a little bit more private." George added looking pointedly from Ginny to Harry. Both swallowed hard.
"Come in!"
It was dark inside. The curtains at the huge display windows were closed. Harry grew more and more jittery. 'There he was. Having faced Voldemorte once or twice and now becoming uneasy about the Weasley twins. Well still, they are Weasleys.' He sighed heavily when he felt Ginny's soft small fingers intertwine with his. This was better.
"Let's get over with. George, Fred I..." Harry had enough.
"Now, now young friend not so hasty!" Fred and George rummaged behind the counter. The light went on and George triumphantly waved what looked like a Champagne bottle in his hand.
"That's it?!" Harry asked baffled. "You're going to kill me with a bottle?"
"If you want to" Fred answered. "But we'd rather drink it to celebrate this occasion."
"Celebrate! What? Apart from this is alcohol, students are not allowed to..."
"Look, who's talking. Mr. Perfect Professor, who's snogging one of his students" George smirked. "Brother I think we have to set an example."
When George started to open the bottle Harry grabbed his wand tightly. Due to the shaking beforehand the cork popped out at high speed aiming at Harry who escaped by ducking just out of pure luck.
George poured six classes and Fred handed them to the others. Then they looked expectantly at the worried looking couple.
"What, little sis! Do you think we are going to poison you?"
Ginny nodded warily.
An evil smile spread across the twins' faces. "To all the pranksters ever to attend Hogwarts. Drink up!"
With shaking hands Ginny and Harry took a sip, while the others waited expectantly. Nothing happened.
Slowly the twins began to giggle and finally burst into fits of laughter. Colin and Luna looked back and forth from the hysteric twins to the ghostly white couple.
"WHAT?!" Ginny shrieked indigently stomping her foot.
Fred tried to sober wiping some tears out of his eyes. Holding his aching side he choked out "Do you really think we would poison you two?"
"Well, maybe Harry" George stammered in between giggles.
In one swift motion Harry poured the content of his glass on the floor. What caused finally all the others to break down laughing. Harry just sat back on an empty box.
"Oh, come on" Fred teased "Let's celebrate! We came her for our new shop, to provide all the students properly and then we find out that our followers have some really good stuff up their sleeves themselves."
"Yeah Gin. Such a show off - a teacher. Not bad. We were thinking about seducing McGonagall." George continued.
"Eiwww!" apart from the twins everyone shrieked.
George continued untouched "But you know her. Quite a frosty tart." He smirked, the others groaned. "A student-teacher relationship – the ultimate undermination of school rules" George sighed in awe.
"Yes! And the endless opportunities: faked detentions, blackmail, added housepoints, grades, cover ups for pranks. It's unlimited!"
"Sorry mate!" George addressed Harry "You're not to blame. We know she's quite a cutie, not easy not to fall for her, but you forget her evil side."
"Though Ginny! We had to interrupt. It's a little bit tough to do this to a friend, don't you think?"
Realisation finally setting in Ginny hopped on Harry's lap and kissed him lovingly. He hugged her possessively.
Now it was time for the twins to be dumbfounded. They sobered up in a split second. Harry sensing the change in mood raised quickly, one arm still around Ginny's waist he drew her close. The other hand pointed his wand at the twins.
"What would I give for popcorn now" Colin stated
Luna and he had made themselves comfortable on some boxes watching the scene. Luna looked at him quizzically.
"Do you never pay attention in muggle studies. Cinema, movies, popcorn!"
"Ah, yes. You're right. Quite entertaining this is." Luna replied.
"Would you two cut it out" Fred snapped.
Ginny turned with her back to Harry, one hand resting on his embracing arm the other forcing down his wand. "Boys! I know how uncomfortable you are with me having a boyfriend, but you cannot possibly think I would make a joke out of this."
The twins looked at each other and then glared back at her.
"By Merlin! You do? How crazy can two people be!"
"We take this as a compliment."
"Look, we're in love. That's the point. Live with it." Harry said grimly. Ginny snuggled up to him smiling contently.
"When did that happen?" Fred turned to George.
"Don't ask me, brother. We haven't been around much lately."
"First I thought we would have to cheer the boy up."
"And now we have to break all his bones. I see the problem."
"On the other hand. I don't want to be the one to break this special news to Bill or anybody else."
"Me either."
They nodded and turned back to the couple.
"When do you announce the engagement to the family?"
"WHAT?" Ginny shrieked.
"Just to know at what time we are not around."
"Engagement?" Harry asked.
"Yeah you know. Wedding, rings, babies and so on."
Ginny and Harry gaped.
"HA! Gotcha!" the twins grinned. Luna and Colin snickered.
"So that's it?" Harry asked in disbelieve.
"Hey! Who are we to argue with the boy-who-lived?"
"Yeah, proofed to be much more fun to be on your side!"
Ginny ran to her brothers and hugged them. Then she turned around to Harry. "Two out of seven. Not bad for the first encounter with the Weasley red alert" she grinned.
Harry wasn't sure if he could stand a second "encounter", when Ginny launched herself at him and kissed his breath away. 'Well' he thought 'He would do it anyway. He'd do everything.' Then his mind went blank or better filled with her – Ginny.
~~~~~~~~
Harry needed some time to recover. Nothing bad had happened. On the contrary the twins had taken the news quite well and quickly for that. Still his nerves were shaken. He loved the Weasley – not like Ginny – but he loved them and didn't want to make them angry.
Well, he needn't worry about that right now, not until Christmas holidays. There were more pleasant tasks at hand. He drew his invisibility cloak tighter around him and took a quick glance at the Marauders map. The path was clear. He knocked at the door in front of him carefully.
Nothing.
He knocked again louder. After what seemed like ages a tousled haired Ginny in an oversized t-shirt opened the door. She blinked in the empty corridor.
"Stupid!" she murmured and closed the door.
"Ouch!"
Something pushed her into the room and the door clicked shut. Ginny smiled. "Taking a midnight walk" she asked when arms appeared out of nowhere and drew her close.
"Just making sure you're alright." The cloak slipped down to the floor.
"I was sleeping quite nicely having a wonderful dream."
"Of me?" he asked whispering in her ear, then kissing down her neck.
"No" she sighed tilting back her head.
"To bad" he murmured in between soft kisses.
He had wrapped himself around her, but still needed to be closer – impossible without crushing the petite figure. He knew her strength, but she felt so fragile. Through the thin layer of the too often worn t-shirt he could nearly feel her skin, soft like her bare arms around his neck. She started shivering and he drew back
"Sorry, sweetie. You must be cold."
"No, I..." She protested weakly, but he had already swept her from her feet and carried her over to the four poster bed. He couldn't tear his eyes away from her body when she scrambled her white slim legs under the cover. Quickly he tugged her in, to save her from the cold and his own stare.
She smiled up at him. "Afraid, I might go away?" she struggled to loosen the covers a little.
"No. Afraid I can't go away."
"So why did you come?"
"To kiss you goodnight."
She raised her eyebrows.
"And give you this." He fetched the cloak and the marauders map and put it on her bed.
"But that's your:..."
"I want you to be safe on your excursions in the castle. I'm a Professor I don't need them."
"Who said I want to do excursions?"
"Just a guess and maybe you drop by my quarters now and then."
"Aren't they near Professor Snapes?" Ginny asked all too innocently.
"What?!"
She took his hand tearing him down beside her and snuggled as close as the covers would allow.
"Nevermind."