Surprisingly enough, I was able to sneak off while my relatives were over to write- ta da- a fair lengthed chapter that I'm pretty happy about. =) Still no confessions of love (Sigh I know, it's sad), but I hope you'll like the playground scene, because I sure did. Actually, I was playing at the playground with my mom's second grade class today, and it completely inspired me. God I love swing sets. Anyway, YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME. Reaching 100 reviews?! I never would've thought it possible, but you guys rock! =) You made me incredibly happy- one of the reasons why I was actually able to finish this chapter early. Keep it up.
So thank you thank you thank you!
WhyDoYouCare36- Hehe, I've updated! Now you can review. =)
Kingmaker- Okay, I apologize to ALL for the Snape thing in the last chapter. I understand that I should've put a warning up as to prevent the many psychologically harmed individuals who read that chapter. I am very sorry. Okay? And please don't lynch me- then I wouldn't be able to update. Oh, and no frightening images in this chapter. I promise.
JamieBell- Yeah, well the playground was written for you! Because you told me to be more detailed. Spiffy what an influence you have over me, huh? Well thanks for reviewing; you rock.
Leoking- Why thank you for reviewing my chapter and reading my bio! You're such an awesome reviewer =). Anyway, hope you like this next chapter. Ginny and Harry are getting more comfortable with each other- awww... Thanks for reviewing again- I always look forward to your reviews.
VoicezWithin- Yeah they got caught! But here's what happens next- Yay Harry and Ginny! =)
Ronnies Gurl- Glad you thought that last chapter was funny... Hehe, a lot of people actually found the Snape thing disturbing. Oh well, thanks for reviewing, and hey! More Harry and Ginny- This is going to be fun.
Nightwing 509- Here's more! Glad you're enjoying the story- Please continue reviewing!
BrownPryde- Here's the next chapter! Now let's have you be the judge of how good of an excuse Harry and Ginny came up with. Hope you like it, and keep up the reviews. =)
Chantal J- Yay, here it is, the new chapter. Hope you like it. =)
Alexandrea- No of course the story isn't ending! Oh my goodness, that would kill me. I'm still lovin' this storyline, and hopefully continuing it for some time- at least a few more chapters. Well, when I say "a few", you know I mean like 5 or something. But still, glad you like the chapter! And here's more!
Lightprincess- Thanks! My cousins are cool... so it isn't too bad. It's the three hour graduation ceremonies that suck. Anyways, I'm NOT evil because I did come back to update early. Haha, hope you like this chapter. Lookie, it's not too short =P.
Sabrina- Glad you're liking the story! You're a new reviewer right? Well, here's the new chapter, and thanks for taking the time to read and review my story. You rock. =)
Well, go off and read the new chapter now, guys. There may not be another for a couple days... But read and review!
"... So that's why we did it."
Harry and Ginny sat apprehensively, waiting for Hermione and Ron's reactions. Of course in their very awkward explanation, they had skimmed over a few details, but they both reasoned that it wasn't really lying. It just wasn't telling the complete truth. Like, for instance, telling Hermione and Ron that they had pretended to date so that the two would learn to get along and stop fighting- that had all been part of their plan. It just wasn't the whole plan.
"Wow," Ron finally muttered. "I never knew our arguing bothered you so much."
"Yeah," Hermione sighed, looking a bit guilty. "If it bothered you enough so that you would fake a relationship just in order to get us to stop, well, we must have driven you mad!"
Ginny and Harry nodded, looking for all the world like the poor, suffering friends that they had made themselves out to be.
"Yes," Harry sighed rather dramatically, running a hand through his hair as he cast disappointed glances at Ron and Hermione. "We were so desperate, you know."
"All that bickering!" Ginny, who happened to be a much better actor than Harry, added. She buried her face in her hands, her voice breaking as she stammered out, "We didn't know what else to do! I mean, you're both so dear to us!"
Harry reached over and patted her on the back awkwardly. Even if this was all for show, her broken voice still made him want to comfort her. "It's alright Ginny," he said, looking upwards and sighing again, making himself look like the martyr here. The key, he decided, was to make sure that he and Ginny looked like the victims, not the other way around.
Ginny started sniffling, her face still covered.
"Oh look what we've done now!" Hermione cried guiltily as she rushed over to comfort Ginny. "Oh Ginny, Harry, I'm so sorry. I promise I won't yell at Ron so much anymore."
"Yeah," Ron sat, fidgeting nervously. "I'm, I'm sorry too. We won't argue anymore, honest Ginny," he said soothingly. "We'll try very hard."
"Yes we will," Hermione whispered to Ginny. "Oh don't cry!"
"I can't," Ginny gasped, shuddering. "I'm sorry," she finally looked up, her face, amazingly enough, slightly damp from tears, her eyes shining. "I just get," she closed her eyes, a single tear escaping. "I just get very emotional."
By this time, Ron and Hermione looked absolutely frantic with worry, and were pleading and bribing Ginny with everything they could think of. Harry had to admit- her performance was quite impressive. He himself felt his heart ache slightly for her supposed misery, until he reminded himself that she was merely acting, of course. Still though, he found himself slightly off to the side, watching her nervously with his fingers stuffed into his pockets, biting his lower lip in apprehension.
Ginny resisted the urge to giggle, concentrating on sighing deeply and letting the occasional tear fall. She looked up at Ron and Hermione, their worried faces hovering about her. Glancing over to the side, she saw Harry, looking a bit anxious himself. Quickly, while the other two weren't looking, she winked at him reassuringly, then buried her face in her hands again, letting out a soft sob.
"Oy Harry, come help!" Ron called out to him, crouched helplessly by his little sister. "She just won't stop crying!"
Harry tried to wipe the grin off his face- Ginny Weasley had winked at him! Not in a suggestive manner, but hey, a guy could dream. He walked over and sat down by Ginny, a bit unsure of how to 'comfort' her. "Hey," he spoke softly, trying not to laugh as she continued to whimper. "It's okay Gin." Surprising himself, he awkwardly pulled her into a hug, ignoring the curious stares from Ron and Hermione as he blushed profusely.
Immediately, Ginny's whimpers subsided, and she curled into his embrace. Warm. Harry. Yum. She looked up shyly, smiling softly.
Ron and Hermione were immediately at ease, chuckling.
"Well," Hermione commented. "That definitely calmed her down."
Harry and Ginny looked at each other for a moment, speechless, then scrambled away from each other, blushing and stuttering.
"Sorry-" Harry muttered, staring at the grass.
"Oh no, I'm sorry-" Ginny did likewise, her eyes fixated on the fresh green blades of grass which were suddenly an oh-so-popular focal point.
Ron snickered.
Hermione giggled, covering her hand with her mouth.
"So I guess you two aren't together!" Ron advanced on Harry with a slightly menacing smile. "Then what was all that you told me last night, hmm, mate?!" He poked Harry.
"Err..." Harry looked around wildly for an escape route. Yes! He thought. I will go hijack a toy broom from one of the children playing over on the other side of the park and zoom off. There's no way anything could go wrong!
"Huh Harry, huh?!" Ron poked him again, this time harder. He grinned maniacally, apparently relishing abusing this newfound power that he possessed.
Oh who am I kidding. I'm doomed.
Hermione on the other hand, was attacking Ginny. "Enjoy your 'date' yesterday, Ginny?" Ginny blushed, unintentionally copying Harry as she too gazed about desperately, avoiding eye contact with well, anyone.
"Um..." she bit her lip, stalling.
"Well?" Hermione asked, puffing up as she stood, hands on hips, tapping one foot impatiently with a superior smirk on her face.
Goodness but that girl could be frightening, Ginny thought frantically. Intimidating! Downright scary!
She ventured a glance in Harry's direction and saw that he too had the look of a trapped animal on his face. Suddenly he turned towards her, both blushing as they made eye contact.
"-Said something about really fancying Ginny..." Ron continued with his torture.
"Buying each other gifts- this setup was just an excuse to disappear together..." Hermione ranted.
"-Mad about each other..."
"-Blushing every moment..."
"-Daydreaming..."
Ginny and Harry made eye contact again, both nodding quickly as they silently agreed. One... Two... Three... RUN!
They shot up, running as fast as their legs would carry them, ignoring Hermione and Ron's surprised yelps. Ginny ran, the breeze rushing through her hair as she struggled to keep up with Harry's long strides. She could hear Hermione and Ron yelling faintly now- and she pushed herself forward.
Finally, Harry stopped at the playground and settled down behind the little cottage. Panting, he patted the space next to him. She sat down, finding comfort in being far away from Ron and Hermione, not to mention out of sight.
"That was-" Harry panted, his face red- from running or embarrassment, she wasn't sure. "Horrible."
"Yes," she agreed, burying her face in her hands. "Oh god. Horrible."
They sat there for several minutes in mortified silence, which was finally broken by Harry's low chuckle.
"Well," he looked over at Ginny, whose head shot up the moment he said it, her eyes looking into his inquisitively.
"I think that Hermione and Ron were more embarrassed than we were- I mean, at least we didn't have George and Fred attack us."
She giggled, the blush disappearing from her face as she fell into easy conversation with him. "Yeah, they're pros at humiliation," she shook her head, laughing. "I guess it's only fair that we get our share too."
Harry stood up, brushing himself off, then extended a hand to her, smiling. "Well now that we're here," he waved at the playground, filled with little witches and wizards half their size. "We might as well play."
Putting her hand in his, Ginny giggled at Harry as he pulled her up. "Yes I suppose," she replied, swatting his arm playfully in a way that Harry, for some strange reason, found absolutely charming. He gulped as she placed a hand on his shoulder, smiling up at him. "Harry..." she whispered softly.
He stood, hands jammed in his pockets as he stared wide-eyed at her.
"-Tag, you're it!" She ran off, giggling madly.
"Hey, no fair!" Harry protested, running after her, trying not to blush. What was I hoping for?
She shrieked as he caught up to her, lithely climbing up the ladder of one of the play structures.
"No!" she grabbed one of the play wands from the wall, aiming it at Harry. "Get back or I'll hex you!"
"Really?" Harry gasped, pretending to be afraid. "How so?"
He ran towards her again, and she flicked the wand from it, both of them bursting into laughter as a burst of sparkly confetti hit him squarely in the chest.
"Absolutely horrifying," he commented dryly, wiping the confetti from his shirt.
"I know," she grinned, still pointing the wand at him. "I'm just such a talented witch like that! I do hope," she asked with mock concern. "That I didn't hurt you too much?"
"Oh I'm severely wounded, I'm sure."
She giggled, letting the wand drop momentarily, and he took advantage of this. Lunging at her, he grabbed the wand and tossed it back at the wall, where it magically reattached itself.
"Hah!" he cried out triumphantly, grabbing her and spinning her around. She squealed delightedly, beating him with her fists half-heartedly as she whirled about in the air.
"Harry Potter!" she cried out, trying to sound angry but failing miserably. "You put me down right now!"
"No!" he replied stubbornly, finally setting her down to sit on the railing, his hands still on her waist. "I'm not letting go without a fight."
She gently shoved him away from her, giggling as he pretended to stumble backwards and fall on his back. "See?" she declared, hopping down from the railing and standing over him haughtily. "You completely underestimated me."
"I suppose," he sighed in resignation, propping himself up on his elbows. "That I lost."
"Yes you did," she answered, settling down on the ground next to him. "But," she smiled, extending her hand towards him. "I'm still willing to be friends with a loser like you."
"Oh and for that I'm eternally grateful," he answered sarcastically, shaking her hand.
"As you very well should be," she leaned on him, sighing.
"Tired?" he grinned.
"Of course not!" she replied stubbornly, glaring at him. Then she grinned back, resting her head on his shoulder again. "Well... maybe a little."
Harry smiled, finding her dependence on him rather... endearing. They sat for some time in a comfortable silence; watching the people in the park walk back and forth, and in some instances, fly back and forth.
Suddenly, a little witch, no older than four, obstructed their view. She stood, hands on her hips, tapping one tiny foot in a way that was frighteningly similar to Hermione. Harry and Ginny started, looking up in surprise.
"You're too old to play here," she announced rather huffily, shaking her bangs from her face.
"Err..." Harry stared, not sure of what to say. "We're sorry?"
"You shouldn't be sitting there; you're in the way."
They scooted back, pressing themselves against the wall as they stared wide- eyed at the little girl. Harry ran a hand through his hair, chuckling nervously.
The girl critically examined Harry, her eyes flickering to his forehead. "You're Harry Pottah," she remarked, nodding at his scar.
"Yes, I am," Harry stared at her quizzically, still wondering whether he should be amused or frightened of the little girl. He glanced at Ginny, who was sitting, her eyes wide and her lips parted in shock.
The little girl held out a small, pudgy hand. "I'm Li-la," she enunciated. "Pleased to meet you. My mommy says that you, um..." she thought for a moment. "You hurted You-Know-Who and that's why you're famous."
He coughed. "That's... nice of her."
Lila noticed Ginny and turned towards her, asking accusingly, "Who are you?"
Ginny opened her mouth, then finally managed to utter, "I'm Ginny."
"Oh," Lila nodded. "Hi."
"Hi," Ginny replied, looking a bit dazed.
"Are you-" Lila glanced at both Harry and Ginny. "Harry Pottah's wife?"
Harry coughed again.
Ginny stared, her mouth opening and closing silently in horror.
Taking her silence as a yes, Lila nodded, commenting, "I thought so," and then sauntered off, calling over her shoulder loudly, "Goodbye Harry Pottah and his wife... um... Jenny!"
Harry and Ginny looked at each other for a moment, blushing, and then burst into laughter.
"Did you see how aggressive that girl was?" Harry chuckled.
"I think," Ginny giggled, "That in the humiliation department, that little girl might just outdo George and Fred."
"They'll be so disappointed," Harry leaned back against the wall, running a hand through his unruly hair.
"Yes I know- Imagine, being outdone by a preschooler." Ginny settled down, leaning against Harry again. This is comfortable. "So, what are we going to do about Ron and Hermione?"
He pulled back from her, grinning as he winked. "Well you know, now that they've joined in a common cause- to get us together that is, they should soon realize their undying love for each other."
She brushed a few strands of hair out of her eyes, pouting as she pulled him back towards her, then leaned on him again. "The things we do for them," she sighed. "Seriously, we'll probably have to endure tons of embarrassing matchmaking attempts now."
"The things I do for you!" Harry returned, pointing at his side. "What am I, your human pillow?"
She nodded, giving him a disapproving glare. "Well naturally," she elbowed him to prove her point. "And don't you ever forget it."
"We better be getting back to them," he stood up, smiling as she yelped, losing her balance. He pulled her up, grinning. "Ron and Hermione are going to... erm..." he lowered his voice. "Wonder what we've been up to."
Just as he had anticipated, Ginny blushed, and then smacked his arm a bit harder than usual. "No!" she cried, looking horrified.
He chuckled, rubbing his arm. "Well we wouldn't want that to happen."
"Yes," she replied, prancing ahead of him off of the play structure. She jumped, landing gracefully on the soft grass, then turned back to look at him, eyes twinkling. "I mean, currently, we're not together, right? And that's supposed to work to our advantage."
"Right," he replied, jumping down after her.
They walked across the expansive grass field that earlier, they had run across to escape torture by Hermione and Ron. The afternoon heat bore down on them, but dressed in her airy robe, Ginny was quite comfortable. She glanced sideways at Harry, who looked back, smiling at her.
"You know," he remarked, his green eyes sparkling. "I think our 'breakup' went well."
She snorted, rolling her eyes. "If you can call it that. But yes," she stopped for a moment, smiling up at him. "I had fun today."
Harry whistled softly, chuckling. "You know, Ginny," he grinned. "I think our 'relationship' might be the most complex I've ever heard of."