Well, yesterday I was in San Francisco all day helping my cousin pack up her apartment. She's moving to Virginia; I'm so sad. Oh and I got sun burnt for the first time the other day and now my shoulders are peeling. Gross.
Well, I'm so glad the last chapter was well received; you have no idea how exciting it is to go online and find that there have been 20 new reviews since the morning. You guys rock! =). Anyway, I have serious misgivings about this chapter- it just didn't flow like the others. But oh well, I can't think of how to rewrite it, so it'll just have to do.
Oh spiffy reviewers, I bow to you!
Thank you very much to Nightwing 509, Jlatmil1, Tru Lys, Hippie-Banana, Chantal J, Padfoot Is ALIVE, the Vampire Story Hunter and sweethoneyno1! Please continue reviewing!
Alexandrea- Aww, you're the sweetest! =) And yes, snogging is making out, in England or something like that. Thanks for reviewing, and I'm incredibly flattered that you've become dependent on this fic!
BrownPryde- Yes, poor, poor Harry, the recipient of Hermione and Ron's affections. Anway, here is the next chapter, hope you like it! P.I.D.- Thank you for supporting me! And why yes, that IS worth a reply! =D
Kingmaker- Goodness your review was long! =) I had fun reading that! I know what you mean about muggle teenagers not wanting to have a significant other unless their friends have one- isn't conformity ridiculous? Anyway, thanks for the LONG review; it made my day! And apparently you have something against rabid fangirls? Haha, hope you don't see me as one. Well, please continue reading my fic and of course, review!
JamieBell- Your reviews totally rocked! Wow, I'm so incredibly excited by your approval of my fic, after all, your writing is absolutely amazing. Hey, how about you update your story? =D
Sabrina- Thanks! I'm trying to add more humor, but we'll see how this goes!
Ronnies Gurl- Aww, you're so sweet! Thanks so much for your support; you're so darn spiffy!
Iloveharry- Gee, I'm so flattered! I'm glad you like my story and think it's funny; please continue reading it!
Crookshanksx- Aaah, thank you! A new reviewer, how exciting! Well thank you so much for taking time to read my fic; you rock!
Teknocat- Oh your hard life of reading fanfiction... Lol. Well here's a bit more hardship coming your way; you better read it! =D
Leoking- Ack, you're totally flattering me! Thanks for the super long review; it made my day! Wait, where are you from in Europe? I'm absolutely fascinated! Actually, the weather this week's been pretty nice, not too humid yet. And ironically enough, though tons of people comment on this, I do not have any older brothers that I based George and Fred on. But I do have older cousins! Over a dozen older male cousins to be exact, and they're quite funny when they get protective. =D SN means my screen name for AOL instant messenger. And about my heritage? It all started out with French colonization of Vietnam (sometime way back when), and they also converted many of the Vietnamese people. Apparently my family was one of those, so that's why I'm catholic! Yup! Well here's the next chapter; have fun with it! Oh and for the record, you're certainly my favorite South- Western European! Haha...
Lightprincess- LOL. I can only wish that I had older brothers to be overprotective, haha. Poor you, I'm the oldest child =P. Well anyway, thanks for reviewing!
IDunnoXx- Thanks! No offense taken; I promise =P. I'm extremely flattered that you even compared my writing to J.K. Rowling's... you rock.
Okay now read this chapter!
Mrs. Weasley eventually came home, and was pleasantly surprised to see that Fred and George were actually taking care of Ron and Hermione. In fact, throughout dinner, they sat by the two and chatted away with them. Of course, what she didn't see was the fact that Ron and Hermione were magically bound to their chairs, or that Fred and George kicked them every time they began to look longingly up the stairs and open their mouths to say something suspicious about Harry, which they often came dangerously close to doing, especially Ron, who demanded, "I want some Harry!"
Thankfully the twins swiftly kicked him in the shin and smiled, telling their Mum that Ron had actually asked for some gravy. Needless to say, the four teenagers were quite tense throughout the meal.
Ginny had come down to dinner and announced, much to the disappointment of Ron and Hermione (who sighed and began whining- that is until George and Fred quickly pinched them) that Harry was feeling a bit ill. She volunteered to go eat with him, and of course, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley happily complied, sending her back upstairs staggering under the weight of food piled onto a tray.
"Hey Harry," she chirped as she pushed into the room. She stumbled, trying to keep the tray up. "Oof..."
Harry, who had been lounging on Fred's bed and idly flipping through a joke shop catalogue immediately jumped up to help her. Taking the tray from her, he placed in on the ground where they both sat cross-legged. "Wow Ginny, this looks great!" He exclaimed enthusiastically, looking at the heavy tray of food.
"Mmhmm," replied Ginny as she munched through a pastry. They ate in silence, both concentrating on the food. In almost no time, the tray was nearly empty and Ginny and Harry were leaning against the bed, sighing in contentment.
"That was good," Harry remarked, chuckling. "Better than anything Aunt Petunia ever made, anyway."
"Mm..." Ginny smiled, rubbing her stomach. "I'm getting fat, Harry!" she joked.
"Oh the horrors," he replied dryly. "Now you're almost as heavy as that girl at the playground, Lila." She smacked his arm, giggling as he yelped in protest.
"Hey, at least evenly divide your assaults between the two arms! Don't just bruise me on one..."
She stuck out her tongue at him in reply. "So what shall we do about Ron and Hermione?"
He idly nibbled on a cookie thoughtfully. "Well after they're done chasing after me-"
Ginny snorted in amusement.
"I suppose they'll just go back to getting us together."
"Mmhmm," she nodded in agreement. "Well we'll just have to wait and see what they try to do to us, won't we?"
He nodded in reply and they sat for a moment thoughtfully. From downstairs, they could hear the clinking of silverware against plates as the family ate.
"So what are we supposed to do?" Ginny shifted, scooting backwards so that she was now leaning against a bed.
Harry shrugged. "You'll keep my company, right?" he confirmed. "I mean," he glanced nervously at the shut door. "I wouldn't want to go downstairs with Ron and Hermione, err, like that."
Ginny nodded in reply, crawling over to sit by him. "So," she started off. "How was it, you know, having Ron confess his love to you?"
He shuddered, closing his eyes in horror. "Oh god," he laughed shakily. "I've got to admit- he can be articulate when he wants to be. I only wish he said things like that to Hermione instead of me."
Ginny laughed, imitating Ron. "Oh Harry! You're not just my best mate; I've loved you forever! Ever since that first day on the Hogwart's Express I've been pining after you! Please tell me you'll be mine!"
"Argh!" Harry threw a pillow at her, grimacing. "I don't want to hear that!"
She caught the pillow easily, turning to smirk at him as she held it threateningly. Quickly, Harry reached on the bed behind him to grab one as well, and they stood facing each other, armed with pillows. In seconds they were beating each other with the fluffy pillows, Ginny shrieking every time she was hit as Harry laughed.
"Ack!"
"I'm going to get you!"
"Oh yeah?" Harry advanced on her, bringing the pillow down over her head.
"Oof!" She yelled, eyes sparkling. "You're going to pay for that!" She hopped after him, brandishing the pillow wildly over her head.
Harry jumped over the beds nimbly, avoiding her attacks.
"Hey no fair!" she pouted as she scrambled over the beds. "You've got longer legs!"
He turned around, sticking his tongue out at her childishly. Giggling madly, she launched herself at him from the bed, landing on top of him with a loud thump as they both hit the ground.
"Owww," Harry moaned as he opened his eyes, rubbing at the back of his head.
"Sorry there Harry," Ginny looked down at him, concerned.
"You alright?" "Fine," Harry mumbled. "Errm," he flushed. "Would you mind getting off of me?"
"Oh!" Ginny blushed, flustered as she stared at him for a moment, wide- eyed.
At that moment, the door opened.
"Oh my god!" Fred exclaimed, staring in horror.
"What?" George looked in over his shoulder to find his little sister on the floor and on top of Harry. "WHAT'S GOING ON?!"
Ginny squeaked, turning red, and quickly scrambled off of Harry.
Harry quickly sat up, staring at the twins in horror. "I, we..." he stammered. "We weren't doing anything."
"Yeah," Ginny nodded, mortified.
"What were you doing then?" Fred yelled. "Having dinner on top of each other?"
George simply stood there speechless, looking aghast.
"I," Ginny jumped to her feet, still beet-red. "We were just having a pillow fight," she explained earnestly. "Really, that's it."
She pointed at Fred's bed. "I was on there, you see, and I jumped off to attack Harry, and that's when you came in."
The twins looked gravely at their little sister, who was standing in front of them with pleading eyes. They then turned to glare at Harry who was sitting on the ground, mouth partially open in mortified shock. "GET OUT!" they both yelled simultaneously, pointing at the open doorway.
Harry opened his mouth to defend himself, but on seeing the expressions on their faces, thought better of it and simply scrambled out of the room as fast as he could, locking himself in the bathroom for fear of both the twins and Ron and Hermione, who were stalking around downstairs, obviously searching for him.
"Now," Fred began, closing the door behind him. "Tell us the truth Ginny."
George looked at her expectantly.
"I did!" she shrieked in frustration, still flushed. "I did, and you didn't believe me! You never believe me! And you don't trust me with anyone! You know Harry's nice- you like Harry! Why can't you ever just listen to me?!" She ranted, getting louder by the second. "And you know what? I PROMISED THAT I WOULDN'T SNOG HIM. Remember? I gave you my word! Doesn't that mean anything to you at all?! And besides, you know what?! Harry and I aren't even together-"
She took note of their shocked expressions.
"-Yeah that's right! We never were! We just pretended to be so that we could get Ron and Hermione together! And all this time I've had to deal with Ron and Hermione making fun of me, and you two making it so much HARDER too with all your interrogations and everything!"
As she stopped to take a breath, Fred grabbed hold of her, clamping a hand over her mouth.
"Okay Gin," George said soothingly, looking a bit shocked. "Now just calm down, alright?"
"Yeah," Fred struggled to keep her still. "God, I've never seen you this worked up!"
Ginny narrowed her eyes.
"Now," Fred looked relieved as her scratching and muffled screams subsided. "If I let you go, you'll sit and listen to us, won't you?'
She nodded her head, strands of red hair falling messily across her face.
"So," Fred let go of her cautiously, looking a bit apprehensive as she scooted away from him, sitting on the floor looking extremely rumpled as she pouted. "You and Potter aren't together?"
"What?" she retorted scathingly. "You don't believe that either?"
"No," George sighed. "Of course we believe you Gin! It's just hard you know?" he looked at her imploringly. "We're your big brothers and all. It's our job to look after you."
She turned away, refusing to reply.
"So nothing happened?" George asked softly.
"Nothing at all," she grumbled. "Like I told you before, nothing at all."
"You're absolutely certain?" Fred pressed.
"Nothing happened!"
"Oh," the twins grinned at her sheepishly.
She glared at them, crossing her arms huffily.
"Oh come on Gin," Fred wheedled. "We're sorry. Just trying to look out for you, you know."
"Yeah," George added. "We just don't want to see you getting hurt, that's all."
"I suppose," Fred continued. "That we were wrong all along. Harry's a good fellow, Gin, but I am glad you're not dating him."
George nodded in agreement. "Come on Ginny, now that you've told us that, we'll leave him alone. We really will."
"You will?" she looked at them warily.
Fred chuckled. "Look who's distrustful now! Of course we will," he winked. "Nothing to worry about if you two don't want to snog each other, eh?"
Ginny glared at him, but with much less malice than before. "Well, go apologize to him then!" she demanded.
The twins looked at each other for a moment, then opened the door and walked out. "Where'd he go, you reckon?" Fred mused.
"Harry! Oy Harry!" George called out, cringing when he heard Ron and Hermione's excited shrieks of delight. "Harry come on out. We won't hurt you, promise."
Slowly, the door to the nearest bathroom cracked open.
"Harry mate," Fred approached the door, grinning at Harry's frightened yelp despite Ginny's glare. "We're sorry, Harry. Ginny here told us everything."
"Harry," George too approached the bathroom door, which was still only cracked open about half an inch. "We'll stop interrogating you. And I think we can work together, you know," he lowered his voice to a whisper. "To get Ron and Hermione together."
"You promise you won't hurt me?" Harry asked, his voice shaking slightly.
"Promise," the twins replied solemnly.
"You really can come out of there now," George said cheerily, trying to push open the door.
Unfortunately, Harry took this as a threat and locked himself inside once again, calling out, "I promise I wasn't doing anything! I promise!"
"Oh look what you've done!" Ginny pushed past the twins, glowering as they tried to hide their grins. "Harry?" she knocked on the bathroom door. "Harry, they're telling the truth. You can come out."
Slowly the bathroom door opened, and a very frightened Harry emerged, looking warily at the twins.
He smiled weakly at Ginny, but yelled in alarm and jumped away when she made a move to touch his arm. "I didn't touch your sister in any inappropriate ways- I swear!" he defended himself while looking frantically at the twins, who were snickering so hard they had turned red.
"Oh Harry," Ginny snapped, grabbing his hand and ignoring his cringing and terrified look. "Ignore them. You're coming with me to get something to drink." She took a look at his sweaty forehead. "Goodness Harry, they really frightened you, didn't they?"
He nodded, blushing slightly in embarrassment. "Come on now," she guided him downstairs.
Unfortunately, she had completely forgotten about Ron and Hermione, and was quite surprised when they reached the bottom of the stairs and were spotted by the two.
Hermione's head snapped towards them. "There he is!" she cried out breathily.
Ron looked towards them as well. "Ginny!" he called out menacingly. "What are you doing touching MY Harry?"
Ginny burst into laughter, laughing harder as she saw the jealous look on her brother's face.
Harry, looking absolutely horrified, still holding Ginny's hand darted into the nearest room with a door, which was, unluckily, a very small broom cupboard. Harry rushed into the broom cupboard with Ginny, slamming the door shut quickly.
From outside, Hermione and Ron shouted, apparently trying to get him to come out.
"Come on Harry, you don't have to make a huge commitment," Ron persuaded. "Just test the waters, you know? See how we'd do as more than friends."
"Harry," Hermione pleaded. "I think you are, quite possibly, the most wonderful person in the world. Please," she whimpered. "I've loved you since I first saw that messily rumpled unbelievably sexy hairdo of yours."
Inside the dark, small, broom cupboard, Harry shook in terror while Ginny continued laughing hysterically. If there had been lights, Harry would've seen that she was doubled over, laughing so hard that tears were coming out. But of course, they were in the dark, so he could only hear her giggles of amusement.
"It's really not funny, Ginny," he hissed resentfully, sighing in relief as Hermione and Ron gave up and walked away.
She hiccupped. "Oh god..." she giggled madly. "Did you hear what Ron said?" she gasped out. "Or Hermione! Talking about your... unbelievably sexy hairdo!"
Silence.
"Harry?" she couldn't help but giggle.
"I'm not going to even reply to that," he responded, sounding a bit traumatized.
"Oh poor Harry," Ginny continued laughing, scooting over to the wall so that he would have more room to sit. "This has been quite a day for you, huh?"
He shifted uncomfortably in the small space. "And it's all Fred and George's fault," he remarked sullenly.
"Ick. Do you think we can come out of here yet?"
"No," Harry sighed in resignation. "They're probably outside, waiting to attack me as I come out."
"Oh don't worry Harry," Ginny soothed. "The twins said they'd be alright by tonight, right? So it shouldn't be much longer than an hour."
Harry shifted again. "But it's uncomfortable in here!"
She groaned, moving slightly as well. "I know what you mean."
Silence.
"Harry?" Ginny asked tentatively. Thank god there's no light, or else I'd be blushing like mad, she thought. "I'm in the worst position ever here- I'm about rolled up into a ball with my back pressed against a corner. Do you think," she hesitated. "I could maybe, ermm..." she mumbled out quickly, "Sit on your lap perhaps?"
Harry sat in the dark, trying to register what she had just said. Sit on his lap? "Well," he replied, blushing furiously while thanking God that it was dark in the cupboard. "It would make it much easier for both of us." He reached over and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. "I... Is it...erm..." he stammered out. "Better?"
"Yeah," she sat stiffly, nervously biting her lip as she struggled to sound normal. "Thanks."
They sat like that for some time, both trying to stop blushing nervously.
"So..." Harry trailed off, trying desperately to break the awkward silence. "How've you been, Ginny?"
She giggled. "Well," she laughed. "Considering you've been around me for the past two weeks, there's actually not that much to say."
She cautiously leaned back, blushing as the back of her head rested on his shoulder.
He gulped as she leaned back, her body coming into contact with his. Well, he thought, a bit nervously. This is interesting. "Oh well," he tried to make more conversation. "How's school been?" He mentally slapped himself for his lame questions. God, couldn't I think of anything better?
"It's been alright," Ginny replied uneasily as she ran a hand through her hair. "You're well aware of what it's like, I'm sure. You know, good times with friends, evil professors like Snape, lots and lots of homework that nobody seems to finish on time- well with the exception of Hermione that is."
Harry chuckled, relaxing as she continued.
"Hermione's so brilliant... I don't know why Malfoy has to be such a bloody git and call her a mudblood all the time," she remarked. "She's so much more brilliant than he is..."
"Yeah," Harry added, wrapping both arms around her comfortably as she sighed contentedly. "That's why Ron fancies her, you know," he snickered mischievously.
She giggled. "Yeah, now all we have to do is get him to realize it."
He groaned in reply. "Easier said than done, especially with those two."
"They're so against being together- I mean, they obviously are mad about each other."
"I know," Harry sighed. "But it's a bit hard for Ron to tell her how he feels, you know?"
"Yeah, I can't imagine Ron professing his love to anyone," she snickered playfully. "Except to you of course."
"Eww," he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "That was absolutely disgusting."
"I know. That's why I just had to bring it up." Oh dark. Warm. Harry. Ginny thought. She blinked, feeling herself become a bit drowsy. Must stay awake. "It's getting late, Harry," she yawned, snuggling into his chest.
"Mm..." he mumbled in reply.
"Do you think they're gone by now?"
"Hopefully," he shrugged, sitting in silence for a few minutes. Finally, he called out loudly, "Oy Ron! Hermione! It's me, Harry!" to hear their reactions.
Silence.
"Splendid, I think they're gone," he yawned, exhausted. "Ginny?" he shook her gently, but she only rolled over, mumbling something incoherent.
He stood up carefully, setting Ginny down on the floor gently as he opened the door warily. Thankfully, Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen. He sighed in relief, leaning down to shake Ginny. "Gin?"
Apparently, he thought. She's quite a sound sleeper. Fearful of provoking the wrath of the twins, he leaned over, silently, picking her up.
Getting her up the stairs was quite a difficult affair, as he nearly slipped and fell to his (and probably hers too) death several times. Finally though, he made it upstairs. A bit nervously, he made his way to Hermione's room and knocked hesitantly.
He held his breath in terror, stepping back when she opened the door.
"Harry?" she mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes. "Goodness, I just had the most ridiculous dream in which I was chasing after you, asking you to marry me."
Harry laughed nervously, shifting from one foot to another. "Yeah, ridiculous," he nodded. "Look, Ginny fell asleep, and I thought I'd bring her up for you."
"Oh," Hermione nodded. "Alright then." She opened the door all the way and showed him in, motioning towards Ginny's bed. "Set her down over there."
Harry gingerly placed Ginny on the bed and then turned to Hermione.
"Thanks Hermione," he yawned. "I'm off to bed now."
"Alright."
He was halfway down the hallway when she suddenly poked her head out of the door, yelling after him. "Wait? Why did Ginny fall asleep with you anyway?!"
He quickened his pace, pretending he hadn't heard as he felt himself redden.