Chapter 18
Kings Cross
"So Ginny, Mick leaves today, your staying to go to Ron and Hermione's wedding this summer, and then taking off immediately?" Harry was puzzled by her plan.
"Yes Harry, its not that difficult, " Ginny said as she pushed shut a drawer. "I'm putting in my two weeks notice in a couple of days."
Harry's face fell, "So your just leaving, you clearly don't like being my partner anymore huh?"
"Harry, you know that there is no reason to have a huge staff of Aurors anymore. Theres no place for me here."
"You could always do what I'm doing..." Harry suggested.
"What are you going to do anyway, you said their putting you on the reserve league, but come on now, are you returning to Quiditch or something?"
"Nope, you'll just have to wait and see when the times comes, oh, but wait, I forgot, your leaving! So I guess you'll never know!" Harry laughed as he jumped up from his desk.
"Your not funny Potter!" Ginny exclaimed as she rushed forward to jokingly punch Harry, which he caught her and twisted her arms behind her back.
"Neither are you Weasley!" Harry was laughing as she strained to untangle herself. "Unfortunately I'll have more time here to be unfunny in Britain than you!"
Ginny grew limp, "Harry this isn't funny anymore. You know I'll visit."
Harry let go of her, "It still won't be the same."
Ginny had nothing left to say, she opened the door just in time to watch Ron and Hermione burst in with splashes.
Splashes?
Step, a cup of water appeared, another step, and another cup of water appeared. The prank had worked.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! UNDO WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" Hermione was so angry her face was even blotchy , spit was flying out of her mouth with each word she enunciated. She took and menacing step forward and a cup magically appeared around the area where her foot had been.
"When did you get the time to do this mate?" Ron didn't look angry, in fact he was a little impressed.
"You should be asking when did I get the imagination."
"OK, when did you get that?" Ron really just wanted to know.
"Oh, about the time I realized it was you and Hermione who set Ginny and I up in the tabloids, about us getting married, and then all that other jazz."
Hermione laughed, "If that's why you did this then I do not apologize. Maybe my plan didn't work out quite as it should have, but it made you two at least think about getting together."
Ginny laughed, "Why would Harry and I get together, we're just friends. Right Harry?"
Ron and Hermione froze and looked at each other.
"Yeah Gin, we're just friends." Harry muttered as he grabbed his green dragon leather coat and walked calmly out of the office. "I gotta go check something out guys. Ron rolled his eyes and followed his best friend.
"Was it something I said?" Ginny asked puzzled.
Hermione stepped forward and knocked a glass of water over. "You two are so annoying, I'll explain to you when you lift this curse off of me. Ginny flicked her wand and Hermione began to say something, then she stopped herself.
"Hermione, please, what's bothering Harry?" Ginny pleaded.
"It's not for me to say, just that I really hope you think about what your doing before you take off to America."
Ginny nodded, "I wouldn't do it unless it felt right to Hermione, and Mick does."
"All right then Ginny." Hermione was looking for a change of topic, "My dress is finished!"
Ginny's face brightened. "Oh Hermione! That's so wonderful, I just wish Mick was staying to meet all of my family!"
The girls continued to chat about the wedding while Ron chased Harry down the street. "Harry, slow down, please, we need to talk."
"I have nothing to say! Ron, I'm so sick of all of this! She's making a huge mistake! Massive mistake." Harry muttered as he slowed down to a brisk walk.
"Yeah, would you mind 'uncursing' me so I don't have water sloshing all around me when I chase you?"
Harry stopped and turned around. He laughed as he noticed that the entire street was covered in cups of water. Everyone was watching Ron as he ran. With a flick of his wand the hex was off.
"Thanks man, now, what's bothering you?"
"Nothing, you know? Besides your sister, she's making a huge mistake!" Harry fumed.
"I know man, I know! But really, we've got to just deal with it, or you need to stop her."
Harr stopped in front of the Leaky Cauldron. He hadn't realized he had ran so far, how much of Muggle London was covered in cups of water? Oh well. "Hey Ron? You wanna go drinking?"
Ron realized that Harry was trying very hard to calm down and act like nothing was the matter, who was he to stop him?
"Yeah, let's go in."
A week had passed, the wedding was in one day. Mick had left for America six days earlier and had left a very depressed Ginny. Harry had stopped talking to her. There was no need to talk to her, just to have him be hurt all again.
True to form, Hermione had planned and listed everything down to the very last detail. Everything was going to be perfect, even if it killed them.
Harry had done just as the invitation had instructed, meet at Kings Cross Station at 12:00 noon on Saturday. He had crossed over Platform 9 and three quarters, he noticed that he had a bit more luggage than the other guests, but then again, he was staying just a tad bit longer than everyone else.
When he arrived he was jostled into a horse-less carriage. It felt strange, riding along this road without Ron and Hermione. Harry looked across from him, there sat Ginny, he hadn't talked to her in days. He looked directly into her eyes, she looked out the window. So Harry turned to the other two occupants in the carriage. He laughed aloud. "Well, Luna Lovegood, its been too long."
She still had that dreamy look in her eyes, "Hmm... Oh my! Harry, I wasn't even paying attention to where I was, I still manage to do that from time to time. How has life been treating you?"
"Oh, not to bad, I'm being ignored right now by a good friend though." Harry winked at her at he pointed to a still vigilant Ginny, who was staring out the window, refusing to make eye contact.
"Oh, you two aren't married?" Luna winked back at Harry, for all her faults, she always could pick up on a joke.
Ginny snapped however, "For your information, I'm to be married, in America, to a gorgeous, rich man who loves me!"
"That's marvelous Ginny dear," Luna muttered as she fumbled with something in her purse, "Would you like to see my pet rock?"
Harry grinned, "Sure I would," and Harry pretended to be interested for the next 15 minutes.
They pulled up to the castle, and Harry was immediately glad to be there, he was home.
Ginny hoped out and ran up the stairs. When all of the guests were assembled in the Entrance Hall, Hermione, with Ron in tow, took charge. "Everyone? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Tonight dinner will be served at 6:00 in the Great Hall. All of the students are on summer holiday so there is no need to worry about disrupting classes. You may, of course, explore the castle in order to remember to old days from when you where a student. You will be staying in your old houses tonight. Anyone who didn't go to school here, may follow Blink the house elf, he will lead you to where you will be sleeping. However, that all being said, you are more than welcome to visit any of the houses. The passwords are for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin are as follows: JuneBUG, Wedding, tomorrow, and panic!"
Neville's voice was instantly recognizable, "Oh no, I won't be able to remember all those!"
"Tonight there will be a 'fun' Quiditch match for everyone, as it is now 6, lets go dine, and then your baggage will be brought up to your rooms in the duration."
Harry glanced over at Ginny, she was looking at him, he knew it. Harry quickly met up with Hermione and Ron and walked into the Great Hall with them, they may be getting married, but they were still his oldest and dearest friends.
Sorry, but this seems like a good place to end right now. Will update again soon. Thanks for reading, review!
Kings Cross
"So Ginny, Mick leaves today, your staying to go to Ron and Hermione's wedding this summer, and then taking off immediately?" Harry was puzzled by her plan.
"Yes Harry, its not that difficult, " Ginny said as she pushed shut a drawer. "I'm putting in my two weeks notice in a couple of days."
Harry's face fell, "So your just leaving, you clearly don't like being my partner anymore huh?"
"Harry, you know that there is no reason to have a huge staff of Aurors anymore. Theres no place for me here."
"You could always do what I'm doing..." Harry suggested.
"What are you going to do anyway, you said their putting you on the reserve league, but come on now, are you returning to Quiditch or something?"
"Nope, you'll just have to wait and see when the times comes, oh, but wait, I forgot, your leaving! So I guess you'll never know!" Harry laughed as he jumped up from his desk.
"Your not funny Potter!" Ginny exclaimed as she rushed forward to jokingly punch Harry, which he caught her and twisted her arms behind her back.
"Neither are you Weasley!" Harry was laughing as she strained to untangle herself. "Unfortunately I'll have more time here to be unfunny in Britain than you!"
Ginny grew limp, "Harry this isn't funny anymore. You know I'll visit."
Harry let go of her, "It still won't be the same."
Ginny had nothing left to say, she opened the door just in time to watch Ron and Hermione burst in with splashes.
Splashes?
Step, a cup of water appeared, another step, and another cup of water appeared. The prank had worked.
"HARRY JAMES POTTER! UNDO WHAT YOU'VE DONE!" Hermione was so angry her face was even blotchy , spit was flying out of her mouth with each word she enunciated. She took and menacing step forward and a cup magically appeared around the area where her foot had been.
"When did you get the time to do this mate?" Ron didn't look angry, in fact he was a little impressed.
"You should be asking when did I get the imagination."
"OK, when did you get that?" Ron really just wanted to know.
"Oh, about the time I realized it was you and Hermione who set Ginny and I up in the tabloids, about us getting married, and then all that other jazz."
Hermione laughed, "If that's why you did this then I do not apologize. Maybe my plan didn't work out quite as it should have, but it made you two at least think about getting together."
Ginny laughed, "Why would Harry and I get together, we're just friends. Right Harry?"
Ron and Hermione froze and looked at each other.
"Yeah Gin, we're just friends." Harry muttered as he grabbed his green dragon leather coat and walked calmly out of the office. "I gotta go check something out guys. Ron rolled his eyes and followed his best friend.
"Was it something I said?" Ginny asked puzzled.
Hermione stepped forward and knocked a glass of water over. "You two are so annoying, I'll explain to you when you lift this curse off of me. Ginny flicked her wand and Hermione began to say something, then she stopped herself.
"Hermione, please, what's bothering Harry?" Ginny pleaded.
"It's not for me to say, just that I really hope you think about what your doing before you take off to America."
Ginny nodded, "I wouldn't do it unless it felt right to Hermione, and Mick does."
"All right then Ginny." Hermione was looking for a change of topic, "My dress is finished!"
Ginny's face brightened. "Oh Hermione! That's so wonderful, I just wish Mick was staying to meet all of my family!"
The girls continued to chat about the wedding while Ron chased Harry down the street. "Harry, slow down, please, we need to talk."
"I have nothing to say! Ron, I'm so sick of all of this! She's making a huge mistake! Massive mistake." Harry muttered as he slowed down to a brisk walk.
"Yeah, would you mind 'uncursing' me so I don't have water sloshing all around me when I chase you?"
Harry stopped and turned around. He laughed as he noticed that the entire street was covered in cups of water. Everyone was watching Ron as he ran. With a flick of his wand the hex was off.
"Thanks man, now, what's bothering you?"
"Nothing, you know? Besides your sister, she's making a huge mistake!" Harry fumed.
"I know man, I know! But really, we've got to just deal with it, or you need to stop her."
Harr stopped in front of the Leaky Cauldron. He hadn't realized he had ran so far, how much of Muggle London was covered in cups of water? Oh well. "Hey Ron? You wanna go drinking?"
Ron realized that Harry was trying very hard to calm down and act like nothing was the matter, who was he to stop him?
"Yeah, let's go in."
A week had passed, the wedding was in one day. Mick had left for America six days earlier and had left a very depressed Ginny. Harry had stopped talking to her. There was no need to talk to her, just to have him be hurt all again.
True to form, Hermione had planned and listed everything down to the very last detail. Everything was going to be perfect, even if it killed them.
Harry had done just as the invitation had instructed, meet at Kings Cross Station at 12:00 noon on Saturday. He had crossed over Platform 9 and three quarters, he noticed that he had a bit more luggage than the other guests, but then again, he was staying just a tad bit longer than everyone else.
When he arrived he was jostled into a horse-less carriage. It felt strange, riding along this road without Ron and Hermione. Harry looked across from him, there sat Ginny, he hadn't talked to her in days. He looked directly into her eyes, she looked out the window. So Harry turned to the other two occupants in the carriage. He laughed aloud. "Well, Luna Lovegood, its been too long."
She still had that dreamy look in her eyes, "Hmm... Oh my! Harry, I wasn't even paying attention to where I was, I still manage to do that from time to time. How has life been treating you?"
"Oh, not to bad, I'm being ignored right now by a good friend though." Harry winked at her at he pointed to a still vigilant Ginny, who was staring out the window, refusing to make eye contact.
"Oh, you two aren't married?" Luna winked back at Harry, for all her faults, she always could pick up on a joke.
Ginny snapped however, "For your information, I'm to be married, in America, to a gorgeous, rich man who loves me!"
"That's marvelous Ginny dear," Luna muttered as she fumbled with something in her purse, "Would you like to see my pet rock?"
Harry grinned, "Sure I would," and Harry pretended to be interested for the next 15 minutes.
They pulled up to the castle, and Harry was immediately glad to be there, he was home.
Ginny hoped out and ran up the stairs. When all of the guests were assembled in the Entrance Hall, Hermione, with Ron in tow, took charge. "Everyone? Can you all hear me? Excellent! Tonight dinner will be served at 6:00 in the Great Hall. All of the students are on summer holiday so there is no need to worry about disrupting classes. You may, of course, explore the castle in order to remember to old days from when you where a student. You will be staying in your old houses tonight. Anyone who didn't go to school here, may follow Blink the house elf, he will lead you to where you will be sleeping. However, that all being said, you are more than welcome to visit any of the houses. The passwords are for Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin are as follows: JuneBUG, Wedding, tomorrow, and panic!"
Neville's voice was instantly recognizable, "Oh no, I won't be able to remember all those!"
"Tonight there will be a 'fun' Quiditch match for everyone, as it is now 6, lets go dine, and then your baggage will be brought up to your rooms in the duration."
Harry glanced over at Ginny, she was looking at him, he knew it. Harry quickly met up with Hermione and Ron and walked into the Great Hall with them, they may be getting married, but they were still his oldest and dearest friends.
Sorry, but this seems like a good place to end right now. Will update again soon. Thanks for reading, review!