Chapter 6: Love is in the air
He listened to her breath becoming even and deeper until he was sure that she was sound asleep. He nearly slept himself. As hard as it was he had to get up. He took one last glance at the map and left for his rooms quietly. In the end sleeping wasn't so easy this night.
The next morning Ginny had nearly finished breakfast when Harry sat down opposite her. He helped himself to some eggs, but instead of eating just poked at them dully.
"Morning, Professor!" Luna said pointedly.
"Don't you think you're making things too obvious coming here for breakfast?" Colin inquired.
"No. We are friends. It's Saturday and there's hardly anybody left in the great hall. In fact Prof. McGonagall asked me to come here. She was just about to leave. I would have been the only one left at the teachers table. So she said I should go and sit with my friends. And good morning to you Luna" Harry forced a polite answer. "Did you have a good night?"
"Well, I did, but seeing the dark circles around your eyes, I guess you didn't."
"Gone to bed late?" Ginny teased.
"No, just didn't sleep too well."
"Did somebody steel your blanket?" Colin asked with an innocent look.
"And if?!" Harry snarled
Colin and Luna looked at Ginny expectantly.
"Oh, come on guys. Get your minds out of the gutter. Nothing happened." Ginny sighed.
"Sure" Luna said disappointed.
"What is it with you today?" Harry hissed. "Are you on a mission to make me feel bad?"
"Seems, you've already done a good job by yourself. Not much left for us to do." Ginny said dryly.
"Fine, I'm going to see Hagrid."
"I think our mission is not finished yet." Luna stated and the three of them headed after Harry.
They caught up with him in the entrance hall.
"So, are you going to tell me what's up or do I have to guess" Ginny asked.
Harry grumbled something unintelligible.
"Guessing it is then. Let's see. Snape confessed his undying love for you."
Harry looked at her appalled.
"No? Ok. Then you're still in shock because Trelawny finally predicted that you're going to live a long and happy life."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"You found out Mrs. Norris had a bunch of ugly kittens, one more sneaky than the other" Colin assisted.
Harry shook his head in disbelief but the corners of his mouth started to twitch dangerously.
"Or" Luna went on "You finally found out that Ron and Hermione are in love with each other."
The other three looked at her with some confusion, but Luna kept walking with a stern face. It was indeterminable how she meant that statement, as always. Harry knew that Luna knew that he knew that they were in love and at that even before they knew. Harry's mind felt dizzy of all the knowing. Never try to understand her.
Harry grinned, but one look at Ginny told him that he wasn't out of harms way yet. He wanted to put an arm around her and tell with a squeeze that everything was fine. And exactly this want made him angry. When he caught her glancing cautiously at him, he snapped.
"What! Am I not allowed to be in a bad mood?" he shouted.
"Sure thing, just go ahead" she answered huffily, her voice getting louder with every word.
"Then why are you looking all gloomy?"
"Why, you are allowed and I'm not!" Ginny shouted back.
"Fine, you wanna know, what's going on. I had a bad night. I turned and turned and something was missing. No someone. I missed you. All the time I had to think about falling asleep beside you. In the morning I woke up exhausted and knew I wouldn't be able to touch you, hold you, kiss you when I wanted and I was." Harry ran out of air, breathing heavily out of anger and constant rambling.
"Ha! And you think you're the only one! I woke with a start today and needed ages to collect myself. I was literally shocked to be alone and had to convince myself that this was the normal way, that I would see you later. And guess what! The prospect of seeing you made me happy not angry! It cost me a lot not to scramble down to your room in my pyjamas and scrabble under the blanket beside you!"
Both stared at each other and suddenly found the grass at their feet much more interesting.
Colin was the first to recover. Uneasy he looked back to the castle. They were half way between the entrance and Hagrid's hut. No one was to be seen. He sighed in relief. "Good, now that that's settled. I hope you can hold yourselves at bay. Because otherwise you don't have to worry about this anymore. Harry will loose his job. Ginny will be expelled. And you can marry immediately and make as many redheaded, little Potters as like and whenever you choose." Now it was Colin's turn to take a deep breath.
"That is, if Harry survives the Weasley tempest. And thank you Colin for this vivid picture. Another night of nightmare." Luna turned from Colin to the still silent couple. "And would you please stop to look as you could eat each other alive, that doesn't make things easier for me. I need to get away. I'll meet you later at Hagrid's. I'm going to see the Thestrals."
As she walked away they heard her mumble to herself. "Ha! Nothing happened of course not! Who do they think they're fooling soft-hearted, always-true Hufflepuff.
"Wait for me!" Colin cried a little bit frantically and followed her.
Harry and Ginny grinned and made the rest of the way in comfortable silence.
Hagrid already awaited them putting a huge teapot and four bowl-sized mugs on the table.
"He'ya! Where're the other two? I saw four of you coming" he asked, while he ruffled Harry's hair as he had done since Harry's first year at Hogwarts.
"Gone to see the Thestrals" Ginny answered.
"Oh really, that's nice." Hagrid said, but sounded a little uneasy.
"Hagrid! Will they be ok?" Harry asked alarmed, knowing his friends regard for sometimes a little – let's say – unpredictable creatures.
Mistaking Harry's concern Hagrid said "Sure, my beautifuls are just fine. Well, it's only, well it's the time when they choose their mates. They tend to get a lil' anxious and easily irritated during that period. Better go and have a look."
"We'll come with you." Ginny and Harry shouted at once.
"No, no. You stay put. Too many people. Back in no time." Whistling Hagrid left the hut.
"Nothing rather than that" Harry smiled and sank down in own of the armchairs pulling Ginny on his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder and let her legs dangle over the armrest. He held her like a little baby.
"Did he whistle 'Love is in the air'?" Ginny asked in an irritated whisper.
"I wouldn't know." Harry answered.
Ginny put an arm around his neck and nestled closer sighing contently.
"Harry"
"Mmhm" he kept on stroking through her long hair.
"Harry"
"Yeah?" he asked still rather lazily.
"Harry"
"Yeah Gin. What is it?"
"Nothing. I just liked the sound. I like saying your name while being all cuddled by you."
"You crazy little thing" Harry laughed.
Ginny drew back and looked at him in mock offence. "Me crazy, that from the boy with the most crackpot history at this school. Not to mention your interesting circle of friends."
Harry raised a questioning eyebrow and asked grinning "And who would that be?"
"Where to begin, probably here in this hut. Home of a half-giant. Who's somewhere outside with Loony Luna Lovegod and Mr. I-want-a-camera-for-an- eye-implant Creevy. Then there's a werewolf, plant lover Neville Longbottom and book crazy Hermione Granger. What does it help being the brightest witch of your age when you choose Ronald Bilius W. for a boyfriend. And at that we are at the end of a line from plug collecting dad over havoc causing Weasley twins. Do I have to say more?" She looked like thinking it over. "Oh, yes! And I love everyone of them" she stated and sank back on his shoulder nuzzling at the crook of his neck.
"So do I. Right down to the very end of this Weasley line." One hand under her chin he turned her face upwards and kissed her softly. Ginny smiled into the kiss and pulled him closer. While her hands were tangled in his hair, his roamed her back. Her clothes became quite ruffled and her t-shirt hitched upwards. Just a little, but enough for him feel the bare skin. As Ginny leaned into his caress, they heard the barking laughter of Hagrid and jumped hurriedly apart.
Ginny dropped to the floor beside Fang. Harry sat up straight showing flushed cheeks.
"Gin, how often do I have to tell you?" he teased her.
"What?"
"Your hair! Just so dishelleved."
She ran her fingers through it. "Hey, that's all your doing."
"I know, but who am I to blame. It's just so red and soft. I have to touch it" he smirked.
Ginny responded in the only adequate way and stuck out her tongue, when Hagrid with Luna and Colin in tow entered.
Luna and Colin showed rather smug looks upon seeing the secret couple rather flushed and flustered. And when Hagrid, while heating the water once more, started whistling his tune again both joined in humming with so much enthusiasm that even Harry got the theme this time.
He listened to her breath becoming even and deeper until he was sure that she was sound asleep. He nearly slept himself. As hard as it was he had to get up. He took one last glance at the map and left for his rooms quietly. In the end sleeping wasn't so easy this night.
The next morning Ginny had nearly finished breakfast when Harry sat down opposite her. He helped himself to some eggs, but instead of eating just poked at them dully.
"Morning, Professor!" Luna said pointedly.
"Don't you think you're making things too obvious coming here for breakfast?" Colin inquired.
"No. We are friends. It's Saturday and there's hardly anybody left in the great hall. In fact Prof. McGonagall asked me to come here. She was just about to leave. I would have been the only one left at the teachers table. So she said I should go and sit with my friends. And good morning to you Luna" Harry forced a polite answer. "Did you have a good night?"
"Well, I did, but seeing the dark circles around your eyes, I guess you didn't."
"Gone to bed late?" Ginny teased.
"No, just didn't sleep too well."
"Did somebody steel your blanket?" Colin asked with an innocent look.
"And if?!" Harry snarled
Colin and Luna looked at Ginny expectantly.
"Oh, come on guys. Get your minds out of the gutter. Nothing happened." Ginny sighed.
"Sure" Luna said disappointed.
"What is it with you today?" Harry hissed. "Are you on a mission to make me feel bad?"
"Seems, you've already done a good job by yourself. Not much left for us to do." Ginny said dryly.
"Fine, I'm going to see Hagrid."
"I think our mission is not finished yet." Luna stated and the three of them headed after Harry.
They caught up with him in the entrance hall.
"So, are you going to tell me what's up or do I have to guess" Ginny asked.
Harry grumbled something unintelligible.
"Guessing it is then. Let's see. Snape confessed his undying love for you."
Harry looked at her appalled.
"No? Ok. Then you're still in shock because Trelawny finally predicted that you're going to live a long and happy life."
Harry rolled his eyes.
"You found out Mrs. Norris had a bunch of ugly kittens, one more sneaky than the other" Colin assisted.
Harry shook his head in disbelief but the corners of his mouth started to twitch dangerously.
"Or" Luna went on "You finally found out that Ron and Hermione are in love with each other."
The other three looked at her with some confusion, but Luna kept walking with a stern face. It was indeterminable how she meant that statement, as always. Harry knew that Luna knew that he knew that they were in love and at that even before they knew. Harry's mind felt dizzy of all the knowing. Never try to understand her.
Harry grinned, but one look at Ginny told him that he wasn't out of harms way yet. He wanted to put an arm around her and tell with a squeeze that everything was fine. And exactly this want made him angry. When he caught her glancing cautiously at him, he snapped.
"What! Am I not allowed to be in a bad mood?" he shouted.
"Sure thing, just go ahead" she answered huffily, her voice getting louder with every word.
"Then why are you looking all gloomy?"
"Why, you are allowed and I'm not!" Ginny shouted back.
"Fine, you wanna know, what's going on. I had a bad night. I turned and turned and something was missing. No someone. I missed you. All the time I had to think about falling asleep beside you. In the morning I woke up exhausted and knew I wouldn't be able to touch you, hold you, kiss you when I wanted and I was." Harry ran out of air, breathing heavily out of anger and constant rambling.
"Ha! And you think you're the only one! I woke with a start today and needed ages to collect myself. I was literally shocked to be alone and had to convince myself that this was the normal way, that I would see you later. And guess what! The prospect of seeing you made me happy not angry! It cost me a lot not to scramble down to your room in my pyjamas and scrabble under the blanket beside you!"
Both stared at each other and suddenly found the grass at their feet much more interesting.
Colin was the first to recover. Uneasy he looked back to the castle. They were half way between the entrance and Hagrid's hut. No one was to be seen. He sighed in relief. "Good, now that that's settled. I hope you can hold yourselves at bay. Because otherwise you don't have to worry about this anymore. Harry will loose his job. Ginny will be expelled. And you can marry immediately and make as many redheaded, little Potters as like and whenever you choose." Now it was Colin's turn to take a deep breath.
"That is, if Harry survives the Weasley tempest. And thank you Colin for this vivid picture. Another night of nightmare." Luna turned from Colin to the still silent couple. "And would you please stop to look as you could eat each other alive, that doesn't make things easier for me. I need to get away. I'll meet you later at Hagrid's. I'm going to see the Thestrals."
As she walked away they heard her mumble to herself. "Ha! Nothing happened of course not! Who do they think they're fooling soft-hearted, always-true Hufflepuff.
"Wait for me!" Colin cried a little bit frantically and followed her.
Harry and Ginny grinned and made the rest of the way in comfortable silence.
Hagrid already awaited them putting a huge teapot and four bowl-sized mugs on the table.
"He'ya! Where're the other two? I saw four of you coming" he asked, while he ruffled Harry's hair as he had done since Harry's first year at Hogwarts.
"Gone to see the Thestrals" Ginny answered.
"Oh really, that's nice." Hagrid said, but sounded a little uneasy.
"Hagrid! Will they be ok?" Harry asked alarmed, knowing his friends regard for sometimes a little – let's say – unpredictable creatures.
Mistaking Harry's concern Hagrid said "Sure, my beautifuls are just fine. Well, it's only, well it's the time when they choose their mates. They tend to get a lil' anxious and easily irritated during that period. Better go and have a look."
"We'll come with you." Ginny and Harry shouted at once.
"No, no. You stay put. Too many people. Back in no time." Whistling Hagrid left the hut.
"Nothing rather than that" Harry smiled and sank down in own of the armchairs pulling Ginny on his lap. She laid her head on his shoulder and let her legs dangle over the armrest. He held her like a little baby.
"Did he whistle 'Love is in the air'?" Ginny asked in an irritated whisper.
"I wouldn't know." Harry answered.
Ginny put an arm around his neck and nestled closer sighing contently.
"Harry"
"Mmhm" he kept on stroking through her long hair.
"Harry"
"Yeah?" he asked still rather lazily.
"Harry"
"Yeah Gin. What is it?"
"Nothing. I just liked the sound. I like saying your name while being all cuddled by you."
"You crazy little thing" Harry laughed.
Ginny drew back and looked at him in mock offence. "Me crazy, that from the boy with the most crackpot history at this school. Not to mention your interesting circle of friends."
Harry raised a questioning eyebrow and asked grinning "And who would that be?"
"Where to begin, probably here in this hut. Home of a half-giant. Who's somewhere outside with Loony Luna Lovegod and Mr. I-want-a-camera-for-an- eye-implant Creevy. Then there's a werewolf, plant lover Neville Longbottom and book crazy Hermione Granger. What does it help being the brightest witch of your age when you choose Ronald Bilius W. for a boyfriend. And at that we are at the end of a line from plug collecting dad over havoc causing Weasley twins. Do I have to say more?" She looked like thinking it over. "Oh, yes! And I love everyone of them" she stated and sank back on his shoulder nuzzling at the crook of his neck.
"So do I. Right down to the very end of this Weasley line." One hand under her chin he turned her face upwards and kissed her softly. Ginny smiled into the kiss and pulled him closer. While her hands were tangled in his hair, his roamed her back. Her clothes became quite ruffled and her t-shirt hitched upwards. Just a little, but enough for him feel the bare skin. As Ginny leaned into his caress, they heard the barking laughter of Hagrid and jumped hurriedly apart.
Ginny dropped to the floor beside Fang. Harry sat up straight showing flushed cheeks.
"Gin, how often do I have to tell you?" he teased her.
"What?"
"Your hair! Just so dishelleved."
She ran her fingers through it. "Hey, that's all your doing."
"I know, but who am I to blame. It's just so red and soft. I have to touch it" he smirked.
Ginny responded in the only adequate way and stuck out her tongue, when Hagrid with Luna and Colin in tow entered.
Luna and Colin showed rather smug looks upon seeing the secret couple rather flushed and flustered. And when Hagrid, while heating the water once more, started whistling his tune again both joined in humming with so much enthusiasm that even Harry got the theme this time.