Title: Countdown
Disclamer: Don't own. Only play.
Summary: In which Ginny grabs Hermione's boyfriend from another place so Hermione can get some on New Year's Day.
Notes: Written for my friend Erica. I don't generally care for the pairing, but as it's for her, I'll do – or write anything – for friends. It's cute, a fluff piece.
A streak of red hair was the only warning Hermione had before it landed in her lap. Exasperated, she looked at the owner, before finally laughing. "Ginny, what in the world are you doing?"
"Getting ready for the countdown." Munching on some buttered-flavored popcorn, she grinned at the other girl.
"Of course, whatever was I thinking of?" She took the chance to check to see if Ginny's boyfriend was around. "Malfoy?"
"Oh, off doing some dreary Malfoy task. Probably hosting that boring ball he has every New Year's Eve. Dreadful. Dead boring. Last year's exposure was enough. I'd prefer to be with friends. And speaking of boys…"
"Don't ask. Just don't ask." Her own boyfriend had left two hours earlier for one drink for old time's sake at The Three Broomsticks and still hadn't arrived back.
"Hmph." Standing, Ginny grinned. "Back in a moment."
"Ginny –" Before the sentence could be finished, she was left alone to drum her fingers on the couch. Impulsive behavior must have been a Weasley trait. Thankfully it wasn't a Granger one, or she might have been led into even more misadventures than she already had been.
"Back!"
The sudden voice startled Hermione, causing three new people in the room to chuckle. Red-faced from embarrassment, she glared. "That simply wasn't necessary."
"I'm sorry, Hermione." Another red-haired imp, but taller, apologized with a grin.
Heart rate back to normal, she sighed. "Oh, I know, Ronald. I've known you for ten years. It's how you simply are."
"I'm really, really sorry." Arms wrapped around her, voice tickling her ear, creating shivers along her spine.
That person she couldn't stay angry at. That did not however mean she couldn't gain something for her moment of embarrassment. "For?"
"Laughing at you?" Light kisses from earlobe to jaw and back up again. Prat, he knew her weaknesses.
Turning in his arms, she smiled back up at him. "I suppose it would be a good example to forgive you, so you could see how it's done. Being kind, I mean."
"Oh, of course. And I promise to never sneak from behind or laugh at you again." Grinning, they both knew that was a lie. He'd promised it nearly every time it happened since they were sixteen.
"Liar." Lining herself along him, she used him for a prop before giving an exaggerated yawning.
Her boyfriend quirked an eyebrow at her rather uncharacteristic bold move. "Not even eleven, and already prepared for bed."
"Ron, dear. I think that's our friend's way of telling us to go home. Let's go back to your flat, and we'll celebrate there. I think Hermione wants to get some tonight –" the gasp from Hermione egged Ginny on "—and we are hindering that."
"You know, sister dear, I do believe you're right." Smirking, the pair of siblings said Happy New Year to the couple and left.
"We've some strange friends." Giggling when he simply lifted off her feet and carried to the bedroom, she calculated that an hour was enough time for some fun before they rang in the new year.
When the clock struck midnight, she kissed his bare shoulder. "Happy New Year's, Harry."
Harry twirled a strand of her bushy hair around his finger. "Happy New Year's, love."
Notes cont'd: This is the first in a series, so each chapter is really just a short to go with it, since they all match. Midnight Kisses is Ginny's story, and Old Acquaintances is Ron's.