Coming Home

Part 2 – Devious Little Plan

By SnakeEyesHannah

Harry straightened the front of his white button-down shirt again. Why was he so nervous? It was killing him, and yet it was only a small gathering. A small gathering, meaning the entire Weasley clan came around – eating good food, catching up with everyone and just generally having fun.

"Impossible, mate", his reflection told him as he absentmindedly brought his hand up to his hair, trying to flatten it. Harry sighed, cast one last look in the mirror, deciding he was looking the best he could before walking out the door and down the flights to the living room.

At first he only saw red. There were redheads all over the place, children running around and adults mingling. But after another glance he spotted her standing by the window, talking to Bill, laughing at something her brother just said. A stitch of jealousy ran through his body before Harry quickly scolded himself. 'She's just talking to her brother, not getting married to Malfoy', he calmed himself.

"Harry, you got to help me!"

Harry tore his gaze off Ginny and raised an eyebrow at Ron. "What? Why? What did you do?" Harry asked quickly.

"I just need your help. I didn't do anything, but I want something", he whispered.

"Why are you whispering?" Harry whispered back.

"I don't know", came the whispering answer. Ron cleared his throat, straightened his back and looked Harry square in the eye. "Look, mate. I know you probably don't want to do this, but please do this for me", he pleaded.

Harry narrowed his emerald eyes behind the squareish, silver-rimmed glasses. "What is it?" he asked his friend suspiciously. Ron looked way too innocent for Harry's liking.

"It's Ginny", he began. Harry looked at him, silently telling him to continue. "She's bored." Harry looked at his best friend expectantly, waiting for the rest. When it didn't come Harry tried his very best not to burst out laughing.

"It looks like she's having fun", Harry said, nodding towards the window where she and Bill were still standing, obviously enjoying each other's company very much. After all, Harry mused, it wasn't very often the whole Weasley family got together…

"Not like that, mate", Ron protested.

"Like what then?"

"Like she's bored with her love life", Ron said, a pink tone on his cheeks. Even now when they were older and more experienced in said department, Ron seemed to be every bit as awkward talking about 'adult business'.

"So what can I do about it?" Harry asked, wondering what his friend was playing at. But he couldn't help the slight tingling feeling in his stomach – did Ron think he was good enough for his baby sister?

"You can set her up", Ron said. Harry felt his heart sink to the soles of his shoes. "Or you could date her yourself", the redhead finished, taking a sip from the mug of coffee in his hand. Harry's eyes widened slightly, glancing quickly at Ginny before turning back to face Ron.

"Wh-… She… I'm…"

"She still fancies you, you know", Ron said, reading Harry's mind. "It's kind of sad, really. Sweet, but rather sad. I reckon she never got over you, mate", he finished before patting him once on the arm and heading over to Charlie.

Could it really be true? Was it really so that Ginny still liked him? The thought brought a smile onto Harry's lips, a warming sensation running through him. He took a second to watch her – see if he could see if Ron was right. The smile widened fondly as he watched the last rays of the autumn sun filter through the glass, sparkling in her hair. Sure, almost everyone in the room - save him, Hermione and one or two kids - had red hair, but there was just something about Ginny's particular shade of red that made her stand out in the sea of red.

He couldn't tell if Ron was really right, but he knew for sure he'd definitely think about what he had just heard. Getting a chance with Ginny… Maybe that was exactly what he had been missing.

Obviously he had been staring just a bit too long, Ginny turned her head towards him, feeling his eyes on her. She flashed him a dazzling smile before turning back to whatever Bill was saying. Harry could feel his cheeks heat up. He thanked god he wasn't a Weasley at that moment – he'd been scarlet instead of the pinkish tone his cheeks showed.

Ginny fought the urge to blush deeply as she returned her gaze to her oldest brother. She had felt Harry's burning eyes on her and turned to look at him. With the courage and strength she didn't know she could muster she had smiled at him – praying the smile hadn't been too cheeky or shy.

She only half listened to what Bill was saying about Fleur and her attempts to learn English properly, mumbling an occasional 'mm' or 'really?' when she thought it suited. Sensing his sister wasn't really there, Bill changed topics completely.

"So I hear you're looking for a boyfriend", he said calmly.

"Mm", Ginny replied vaguely.

"You know, I really think Harry fancies you."

"Fascinating", came the dull answer.

"But then again, who knows with Harry? Maybe he's off snogging Cho in between matches…"

Just then Ginny seemed to snap out of her dream-like state and blinked at her brother. "What did you just say?"

Bill chuckled. "I thought the name would bring you back", he mused. Ginny looked questioning at him. "You spaced out", he informed her. Ginny blushed, hiding her face in her hands, shaking her head. She let out small, embarrassed laughs.

"I'm really pathetic, aren't I?"

"Not overly", Bill replied with a smirk. "But if you space out too much whenever he's around, someone else is going to catch on." Glancing around discreetly, he found that Harry was stealing glances their way in his conversation with Charlie and Ron. He returned his gaze to his little sister and put his big hand on her shoulder. "It looks like said Seeker has either noticed or been informed", he told her.

Ginny's head snapped up, the blush gone. She blinked at her brother again, not entirely sure she just heard those words come out of his mouth. Was he saying Harry was watching her? No, it couldn't be, she reasoned with herself.

Bill smiled down at her and did a small jerk with his head in the general direction of the kitchen. "Carefully", he said as Ginny tried to look after Harry while trying to look her very best like she was just surveying the room in general. "With Ron and Charlie", Bill informed her. "Just by the clock." And he was right. Sweet Merlin, Ginny caught Harry sneak a glance her way before quickly snapping his head back at Charlie again when he knew he was spotted.

"He did!" Ginny quietly squealed. Bill's grin widened.

"Told you so."

"So… You don't happen to know if he's…?" Ginny didn't finish the sentence, hoping her brother would catch on.

"He is single", Bill confirmed. "But if he fancies you? Who knows?" he said, shrugging. Ginny wrinkled her forehead in thought. "Ron does", Bill offered, nudging her to go talk to her youngest brother.

"Are you playing match maker?" Ginny inquired. Bill put on a mask of innocence but winked at her just before strolling off to the nearest group of people.

Why was it so bloody hard to just walk up there and ask Ron? Ginny cursed herself. Of course she already knew the answer to that. Harry was there. Just walk up – no, better, stroll – and in a normal conversional tone ask Ron to walk with me outside. Yes, that's a good plan! Ginny patted herself mentally. I'm doomed, she immediately thought frustrated. She knew she was acting crazy, but just seeing Harry now… It was like being eleven years old again. Stupid crush. Stupid blush. Stupid fun, witty, sensitive, drop-dead gorgeous Harry!

With a deep breath Ginny walked over to her two brothers and Harry. She flashed them all a smile, praying, to any higher power that was currently tuning in, it didn't look embarrassed.

"Hi", she said. Her brothers nodded in acknowledgement and Harry looked away. Feeling rather put out by the cold greeting Ginny cleared her throat. "Why thank-you, Ron, I'd love to go outside with you", she continued her one-sided conversation, taking her youngest brother by the arm and practically hauling him away.

"Who does he like?" she asked bluntly as they were outside, out of hearing range of Harry.

"Who?"

"Harry, moron", Ginny snapped, knowing perfectly well her brother was only trying to embarrass her further.

"You."

"Come on, te-… What?" Ginny's eyes widened. She had been prepared to drag the whole thing out of Ron, as he usually was very secretive. Ron grinned and patted Ginny on the head before walking inside without further explanation, leaving Ginny staring unseeingly at the spot her brother had stood.

Harry likes me! a voice squealed jubilantly in her mind. Maybe he doesn't, maybe Ron just made that up to make me feel good. Or maybe he made it up just to get me to tell Harry and make a complete fool of myself!

Insecurity grabbed hold of Ginny before she even had time to blink. It had been natural back in school; then she'd thought about him more or less every day, every hour, every minute and back then it had been her way of keeping sane and down on earth. But now… It was different now. Wasn't it? They were adults. Things could have changed. Things had changed. But had they changed enough for Harry to like her?

She cursed under her breath when she realized there was only one way to find out. She had to ask him.

"So how's everything going?" Charlie asked as soon as Ron joined his brothers. All male Weasleys huddled closer together, grinning at each other.

"Ginny's doomed", Ron smiled evilly.

"So doomed", Bill backed up, grinning just as evilly. The twins looked like Christmas had come early. They rubbed their hands, smirking. It had been their idea to begin with. Fixing Harry and Ginny up – piece of cake.

"What about Harry?" Percy interrupted. He got a sideway glare from Fred, or was it George?, and instantly feel silent.

"Brother, you are absolutely right; how's Harry coming along?" Bill asked, smoothly saving said brother's butt. The twins had been the only ones who hadn't fully accepted Percy back when he came, tail between his legs, after the Dark Lord's downfall.

"Is he warming up to the thought about dating our precious sister?" Charlie continued, looking expectantly at Ron.

"Oh he's more than warming up", Ron grinned. "He, my dear brothers, is burning up."

Harry sat up in his bed, stretching. He blinked several times, trying to get the blurriness out of his eyes. He made a noise in the back of his throat when he remembered he didn't have his contacts with him and took his glasses from the bedside table. Sleepily he flung his legs over the edge of the bed. He shivered slightly from the cold but got up. A nice, hot shower was what he needed now.

Clad only in his boxers and with a towel over his shoulder Harry headed for the bathroom a stair down. It was early and it was only Mrs. Weasley who was the morning person in the house.

Harry turned the knob and stepped inside the bathroom, a smile tracing his lips as he realized the bathroom was so much warmer than the rest of the house. Just when he heard the 'click' of the door as it closed he heard a shriek behind him. Harry slapped himself mentally; why couldn't he have listened and heard the shower running?!

"Harry! What are you doing? Get out, get out, GET OUT!" Ginny's upset voice demanded of him. Harry wished nothing more and turned the knob again. He groaned inwards when the door didn't budge once inch. It had locked itself.

"Good morning, sunshine", Harry said in a calm voice, turning around. The forced smile faded quickly as he realized Ginny was dripping wet, only wearing a towel around her. Harry gulped - this was bad. Very bad.

Just my bloody luck! Ginny thought miserably. She was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, opposite Harry. It could only be me who gets stuck inside a bathroom with the world sexiest man… Suddenly, the situation didn't seem too bad. Ginny had to bite her lip not to grin. She could definitely have some fun with this.

I'm inside the bathroom. The door is locked and I can't get out. I'm stuck here with Harry Potter, the world most eligible bachelor, sexiest man alive. And he's only dressed in boxers! What can a girl do?

She looked at Harry under her lashes. He was so hot! Quidditch was really working for him. Those muscular arms, that stomach… Ginny knew she shouldn't be having these thoughts about him; he was practically her seventh brother. But yet she couldn't help it, she was extremely attracted to him.

"Say, Harry?"

Harry looked up at Ginny for a short second before snapping his head back down to the floor, blushing. Ginny bit back the laugh.

"You up for some 20 questions?" she asked. Whoa! Where did that come from?

"I don't know, Gin. I just want to get out of here", Harry replied, his eyes still on his feet. Ginny's smile faded slightly. Was she that unattractive that he wanted to get away from her as soon as possible?

"Come on, don't be such a Voldie", she teased him. Harry's head snapped quickly up at her, his eyes wide. She grinned. "You heard me; don't be such a Voldie!"

"V-Voldie?" Harry repeated.

"Uh-huh. Coward." A smile brushed Harry's lips before he turned his head towards the door. "No-one's going to know we're missing until breakfast in like an hour", Ginny said. Harry sighed, but nodded.

"Fine. 20 questions. You or me first?"

"I'll go", Ginny responded quickly, straightening her towel. "The truth only", she added with a warning finger in the air. Harry nodded. "How's life?"

"Good", he replied quickly. "Can't complain." Ginny looked at him doubtfully. "Fine. I'm bored to death. Quidditch is the only thing that keeps me going."

"I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault", Harry protested automatically. It almost didn't matter what had been said before, once you started apologizing Harry cut you off, saying it wasn't your fault. Half the time he was being modest or just not in the mood to listen.

"Fine. How many girls have you slept with?"

Harry looked taken aback by the question but quickly hid his surprise. He was good at hiding emotions. "No more easy questions, eh?" he joked. "A handful", he replied truthfully. Ginny raised an eyebrow at him, she had been sure he'd slept with pretty much different women every night.

"Brunettes, blondes or redheads?" That was an interesting question, Ginny mused. She had always wanted to know what Harry thought was more of a turn-on.

"Redheads", he replied without hesitating. Things are looking up, Ginny smiled.

"What do you see first in a woman?"

"Her eyes", he responded. Ginny fought hard not to smile. Harry was both lying his cute butt off and doing a great job at it, or he really was the perfect image of a gentleman.

"Legs, boobs or butt?"

Harry raised an eyebrow at her. She grinned innocently at him and he chuckled softly. "Legs."

"My, Harry, you sure know the right answers", Ginny joked.

"I didn't know there were any right answers."

"How should Mrs. Potter be?" Now that was one question she had wanted the answer to for ages. Since she was ten, actually.

"Herself", Harry said. He is definitely the best guy to play 20 questions with, Ginny thought with a smirk. He was truthful and knew exactly how to answer.

Harry grinned, leaning back against the wall. This whole '20 questions'-thing turned out better than he expected. Sure, some of the questions were a bit head on, but he really didn't mind much. And the fact that Ginny was the one asking the questions, seductively clad in a towel that reached half her thigh, was not making the situation worse.

The questions got more and more personal as they reached and passed eleven. Having answered questions about his love life in more or less detail was not overly awkward anymore. His eyes tend to linger at Ginny's lips as she spoke and he usually found himself having to force his gaze away to sooth certain nerves.

"Do you fancy someone at the moment?"

Harry's breath stuck in his throat. He had avoided this question pretty well by answering around them before, but now – he couldn't. "Yes", he replied. "Which question are we on anyway?" he quickly asked before she had time to think about another.

"19", she replied with a wave of her hand. "Who's the girl you fancy?"

Harry gulped. This was bad. Soooo bad. Did he really have to reply to that? He shook his head in defeat, he knew he had to. But could he really tell her?

"Harry!" Ginny repeated. "Who is the girl?" He mumbled something she couldn't make out. "Sorry, what was that?"

Harry took a deep breath and looked Ginny straight in the eye. "You." Ginny's eyes widened in surprise. Never in a million years had she seen this coming. Sure, Bill and Ron had both suggested something like this, but she never really took them seriously.

Harry ran his hand through his hair self-consciously. "Didn't mean to freak you out, Gin", he began apologizing.

"Harry, shut up", Ginny replied before leaning over to him, kissing him fully on the lips. Harry quickly caught on and began kissing her back. One of his hands found its way to her head, pulling her closer to him. They only pulled back just when they thought they were going to pass out due to lack of oxygen.

Suddenly the two heard a soft knock on the bathroom door. Harry's emerald eyes widened as he snapped his head toward the sound. Here he was, sitting in the bathroom of the Burrow, with Ginny straddling him, none of them properly dressed. He was so dead!

"Harry?" Ron's sleepy voice came through the door. "Gin?"

Ginny's eyes widened. Ron knew they were both in here? Suddenly it all clicked and she smacked her forehead. Of course! Ron had set them up. And the rest of her brothers were probably in on it too.

She heard Harry begin to mumble excuses and trying to push her off himself. She turned her head back to him and stared him square in the eye. "Harry", Ginny addressed him seriously. He immediately stopped moving and looked at her. "If you don't stop apologizing for everything you do or say I will curse you to oblivion", she told him. A lopsided grin appeared on his face and she smiled back at him. "And now you and I will go out there and tell mum and dad about us, right after we've got proper clothes on and punched the lights out of my dear brothers", she informed him with a low chuckle.

"But I like you just as you are", Harry pouted in a childish voice, eyeing her with a smirk on his face. Ginny narrowed her eyes at him, but couldn't fight the smile from creeping over her lips.

"You'll get to see more of this", she said, motioning toward herself, "later. Right now we have bigger fish to fry!"

Author's note: Er… Yeah… I know the last part have been done to death before, but I just had to write it…

Disclaimer: Characters belong to JK Rowling.