Chapter 3: Blind Date.
When Harry walked into Ron and Hermione's house, he found it very strange that Claudia wasn't in her playpen as usual. "Is Claudia upstairs taking a nap? How come she's not down here?" Harry asked.
"She's at the Burrow with her Gran and Gramps," answered Hermione.
"Why? The whole point of me coming here was to watch her? Right?" Harry was extremely confused. If he wasn't here to watch Claudia, then why did Ron and Hermione insist he come over? "Harry, you're coming out with us tonight!" Ron said.
"What? You don't want a third wheel tagging along, do you?"
"You're not going to be a third wheel. We're going to the Three Broomsticks, and everyone's going to be there. They all want to see you. Fred and George told us last night that they hadn't seen you in at least three months," said Hermione.
"This is just your clever plan of getting me to meet someone, isn't it?"
"Harry, we just want you to go out, hang out with some old friends, have a few drinks, and have a fun time. For once in your life, let us treat you to a night. We definitely owe you for all those nights watching Claudia," Ron said.
"You know I don't mind watching her at all. I love being with her--"
"We know, Harry. But come on, you derserve a night out. You need one," Hermione pleaded.
"I don't know about this..." said Harry, unsurely.
"Come on, mate. You and I are going to have a few firewhiskeys, and forget about all the worries in the world tonight!" Ron said. Harry gave up, knowing his friends were not going to let him get away with hiding out from the world.
He couldn't remember the last time he had been to the Three Broomsticks. Whenever he went out, it was either to go to work, or visit friends. He obviously saw Ron and Hermione the most, but once in awhile he'd drop in and say hello to Molly and Aurther at the Burrow. He also paid Remus Lupin a visit every now and then. Lupin was like a second godfather to Harry, as he had lost his real godfather during his 5th year at Hogwarts. He loved the people in his life, but he wouldn't allow himself to go out to bars or give himself a chance of meeting anyone new, because he just didn't know how he could take getting hurt for yet another time in his life. Anyone he had ever known as true family, by blood or named godfather left him somehow. His parents were murdered when he was only a baby, so he was left never knowing them, and stuck with his Aunt Petunia, the only blood family he had left, who treated him like scum. He had one glimmer of hope when Sirius Black came into his life, Harry's godfather, but when he died, Harry felt he had nothing left. When he met Kaylie the following year, he felt a little hope again in his heart. Harry was convinced he found the girl. He wanted to marry her and have a family of his own. It was the only chance he felt at having the family he always wanted. If he couldn't have his parents back, then he wanted to have a wife and children he could love just as much. But when Kaylie broke his heart, he gave up trying to find someone to love. It seemed that no matter how hard he tried to love someone, they would never stay in his life for long.
Harry, Ron and Hermione apparated to the front door of the Three Broomsticks, which was pretty busy--not surprising for a Saturday night. They walked inside only to find Fred and George at the bar, egging on their friend Lee Jordan to do another shot with them. Surprisingly, Bill was also there with his wife Cassandra. The two of them looked very relaxed at one of the tables, Bill's arm around his wife, both sipping butterbeers. Harry figured it must have been "grandchildren night" at the Burrow. The three of them walked over to bar to order their drinks. Hermione got herself a butterbeer. Harry was about to do the same when Ron stopped him. "Hey Rosmerta! Get me and my mate a couple shots of firewhiskey!" Ron said. Madme Rosmerta did a double take when she saw Harry. "Harry Potter! Why, I haven't seen you in years! How have you been?" asked Madame Rosmerta.
"I've been working," answered Harry. "I work for the Ministry--Law Enforcement. I'm in Misuse of Magic right now, but I'm hoping to become an Auror."
"Oh, well that's wonderful. It's so good to see you again!" she said, placing the two shots on the bar. Fred and George immediately ordered some Firewhiskey, so they could join in. "Where ya been, Potter?" Fred asked.
"You been hiding in a cave or something?" asked George, lightly punching Harry in the arm. Harry shrugged. "Yep, that's it. I've been in a cave for all this time," he said to the twins sarcastically. "Alright, enough talking, let's drink!" Fred said as their firewhiskeys joined the other two that were already on the bar. The four of them each grabbed a glass and took their shot. Fred and George both pounded their fists on the bar. They were getting an early start, as usual. "This is going to be hilarious!" said Harry to Ron, looking over at the already drunk twins. Fred and George were the life of every party, and it only got better when they were drunk. Unfortunately, since they were usually up to no good when they were sober, it only got worse once they were drinking.
During the evening, Harry was thoroughly amused by Fred and George the drunker they got. Fred spent most of his time trying to hit on all of the ladies, spouting out pathetic pick up lines such as "Are you good at charms? Well you've sure charmed me!" and "Wanna go for a ride on my broomstick?" George played drinking games with Bill, Ron, and Harry most of the night, and once he was too sloshed to play another round, he climbed up on top of the bar and did what he called "The Drunken Weasley Dance." Madme Rosmerta did not seem surprised at all by their antics, but she didn't look very pleased, either. She calmly told George to get off of the bar before she had to kick him and his brother out.
Harry was on his third firewhiskey when another friend had decided to join the group. Fred and George were completely hammered, Ron had a strong buzz going, and even Hermione was beginning to get a little tipsy. Everyone was having a good time, even Harry. The front doors of the Three Broomsticks swung open, only to reveal a beautiful girl in a tight pair of jeans, black tank top covered with a leather jacket to match, and heeled boots on her feet. Her hair was flaming red, long and flowing. Harry noticed it was a lot longer than the last time he had seen it. He felt his body tingle all over. This girl was gorgeous! Breath-taking. The flaming red hair could belong to none other than a Weasley.
"Ginny?" Harry asked himself under his breath. His eyes looked like they would pop out of his head. Ron looked over at him wanting to laugh. "Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you--Ginny's back from France," he said.
"Done with school already?"
"Well, she finished school a few months ago, but she wanted to stay there for awhile. She finally got a place up here though."
"Oh... I see..." Harry was completely lost for words, and Ron knew it. He had wanted to set up Harry and Ginny for ages, so this was going to be quite fun. Ginny walked over to the table where Ron and Harry were sitting, sipping on butterbeers. "Ron! Harry!" she said running over to them. Ginny hugged her brother, and then she went to hug Harry. He was surprised, but it felt nice to be in the arms of a woman again, even if only for a couple of seconds. "How have you been?" asked Harry.
"Well, I just finished Healing school a couple of months ago. Stayed in France for awhile to admire some of the sights before I finally left for back here. What have you been up to?"
"Well, I'm working for Magical Law Enforcement. I'm in Misuse of Magic, waiting for an opening in the Auror department."
"I bet that's been fun! How about you, Ron? Having fun in Magical Games?"
"You better believe it! I get paid to watch Quidditch! I couldn't ask for a better job!"
"How's Claudia doing? Is she talking yet?"
"She can say a few words, but she's not making sentences yet. She's walking around everywhere though. We've got to keep a good eye on her, now!"
"I can't wait to see my little niece! Well, I'm gonna go see how Hermione's been." Ginny walked over to the bar and gave Hermione a hug, then ordered herself a Sparkling Twist, one of the drink specials that night. "When did Ginny look like that?" Harry asked Ron.
"Since her 6th year, only you were too busy to notice."
"I guess so! Man, she looks great."
"Is this coming from the same man who said he'd never date again?"
"I never said I wanted to date her."
"This is Ginny we're talking about, not just any girl. You've known her for a long time."
"I think I need another Firewhiskey..."
Most of the night, it almost seemed as if Ginny were teasing Harry. At one point of the night, she caught his eye, and took off her jacket while he was looking, reavealing her beautifully trimmed body in her black tank top. Ginny, Hermione, and Bill's wife Cassandra were all on the dance floor. All of the guys stayed at the bar, as they were never much for dancing. Harry found it hard to keep his eyes off of her. He threw back his seventh Firewhiskey of the night, and he was feeling quite lightheaded. When a slow song came on, Hermione and Cassandra came rushing to the bar to grab their husbands. Bill was happy to dance with his wife, but Ron groaned as Hermione dragged him onto the dance floor. A couple of blondes went up to the Weasley twins and asked them to dance with them. They were sloshed and hungry for women, so they accepted without question. Ginny slowly walked up to Harry, gently putting a hand on his shoulder. "Dance with me? We're the only two not out there..." Harry was speechless. All he could do was nod his head. She took his hand and lead him onto the dance floor. Ginny wrapped her arms around his neck. Harry's hands held her waist. Ginny pulled Harry closer to her as they danced, so that their bodies were touching each other as they swayed back and forth. Harry breathed in the smell of Ginny's perfume. His heart was beating. It was a feeling he hadn't felt in the longest time.
Harry and Ginny were sitting at a table together. Ginny cut Harry off from the Firewhiskeys, because he didn't need to be any drunker than he already was. She had a good buzz going though, and she sipped on a cocktail as the two of them chatted. "You know, I miss our days at Hogwarts! We used to have such a good time!" said Ginny.
"They were crazy times, that's for sure!" Harry commented.
"Oh my God, remember back when I couldn't speak two words to you? What a crush I had!" she laughed.
"I was just too stupid to realize it."
"But you knew I had a crush on you. It was obvious!"
"Well, yeah, I knew that part... I just didn't see then... how beautiful you were." Ginny blushed and took a huge gulp of her cocktail. She laughed it off, pretending it was only a joke. "Well at least I wasn't dumb enough not to notice how hot you were!" she joked.
"Okay, saying I'm hot is a bit out there!"
"Well... you are. Look at you, you're all buffed up now!"
"Well, I guess I've been training myself a little for the Aurors..." He cheeks went pink at the compliment. Ginny took another sip out of her drink and then slowly looked back up at Harry. "So..." she said. "Where's your girlfriend tonight?"
"Girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend."
"You mean Ron was right? You still haven't dated since Hogwarts?" Harry nodded his head. "So... you haven't been kissed by a woman for five years now?" He shrugged and blushed. Ginny seductively leaned over across the table, giving him a good shot of cleavage. "I guess we'll have to change that, huh?" she smirked. She put her hand on the back of his head, pulling his lips to hers. Harry missed that feeling all too much, and being drunk only made him want it more. When they parted lips, he pulled Ginny closer to him and kept kissing her. He didn't want the feeling to end. The two eventually found themselves a dark corner, where they continued to snog for the rest of the night. Hermione caught a glimpse of them before they left. A shit-eating grin plastered across her face and she ran over to Ron to tell him what she saw. "He's kissing her, Ron! Can you believe it?! They're snogging over there in the corner!!" Hermione told Ron excitedly. Fred and George were also within earshot, so the three Weasley brothers quickly turned around to see Harry and Ginny locking lips at a dark, corner table. They all yelled in excitement. Fred got Madme Rosmerta's attention. "Hey sweetie, could you get us six shots of firewhiskey? Thanks!" Madme Rosmerta poured out the shots while Fred got the attenion of his brother Bill, his wife and Hermione. The shots were laid out on the bar in front of all six of the group. They all raised their glasses and Fred spoke. "This is for Harry and Ginny in hopes they get laid tonight!" They all threw down their shots in celebration of Harry finally allowing himself to fall for a woman again.