CHAPTER 15
I'M KISSING YOU
"Congratulations.'' Remus exclaimed happily as the happy couple stood before him, both wearing exactly the same smiles. Destiny was holding out her hand while Tonks inspected the ring that fit perfectly.
"Wow, this is like real gold." Tonks said with a gasp. "Wow Sirius, you've got style.''
"Shut up you.'' Sirius said, the laughter till in his voice, he'd done nothing but smile since Destiny had agreed to marry him the previous night, it was all he could do to stop himself from kissing her right there and then. He couldn't believe how things had turned around for him over the past few years. He was happier than he'd been for a very long time, he had a beautiful fiancée and nothing was going to stop him marrying her and being even happier.
"Does Harry know?'' Remus said, he was truly happy for his friend, he had known since Hogwarts that Destiny was the only woman that Sirius would end up with, there was no question about it. They had always been very intense about each other, even at school.
"Of course he does, we went to his house first thing this morning.'' Destiny said with a grin, she was just pleased that Harry was happy for them.
"Well not first thing.'' Sirius said winking at Remus, who simply rolled his eyes in response.
"What did Harry say about this then?'' Tonks asked as she slipped back next to Remus, she smiled slightly when she felt his grip lightly on her waist.
"He was ecstatic. He really was.'' Sirius said happily. "Of course I'm sure that Ron, Hermione and even Ginny know by now, and I only spoke to him an hour ago.'' Sirius said, he was grinning madly.
"You know something's never change.'' Remus said thoughtfully, looking at the couple before him and thinking how much they looked like their old selves, now more than ever. The young couple that used to meet secretly in the astronomy tower, the couple who dressed up as McGonagall and Dumbledore for the dance, the couple who swore that they'd love each other forever. Remus smiled to himself as he thought how true those words had been.
Sirius and Destiny said their goodbyes, after staying to chat for a while, they had many more people to visit to spread the happy news. Throughout the whole time he was there Remus never once saw the smile leave Sirius's face, not once. He was the happiest Remus had seen him in a long time.
"Looked like he was going to burst.'' Tonks said, snapping Remus out of his reverie.
"I'm sorry what love?''
"Sirius, he looked like he was going to burst he was smiling that much.'' Tonks said fondly. Sirius had always been her favourite cousin, even though he was a pain in the backside more often than not.
"I'm pleased for them.'' Remus replied, "No-one deserves a bit of happiness more than those two. What with everything they've been through.''
"I'm happy for them too. I can't wait for the wedding. Imagine that?''
"I can imagine, and I'll tell you this, it won't be a quiet affair, not with those two. No it'll probably be fancy dress or something knowing Sirius."
"Oh, speaking of fancy dress it's Hermione's party tonight.'' Tonks said gleefully, she loved a good party. "Have you got your costume yet?''
"Oh no I totally forgot. Oh well I'll just have to wear my usual clothes.'' Remus said.
"Ha, you're not getting out of it that easily Remus dear. I have kindly made you a costume, so it looks as though you'll be able to dress up after all.'' Tonks said smiling wickedly.
"Oh great. I mean thanks, you're so kind.'' Remus said with a grimace as Tonks held forward a pair of floppy ears. "Thank you.'' He muttered under his breath. "Who's stupid idea was this anyway?''
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Harry.'' An agitated shout interrupted Harry from his daydream, about a girl, a girl with hair like fire and eyes that he wanted to lose himself in forever.
"Sorry Dragon.'' Harry said sheepishly, looking over to the old auror. "I was miles away."
"You know you can't afford to be in this job. You're lucky that nothings happening here anytime soon."
"I know I know.'' Harry said, he knew he shouldn't daydream, he knew he shouldn't ever take his mind off a mission, never let his mind wander form the task at hand, but this mission was so boring, they had spend almost a week now, on and off monitoring an old rundown castle where they suspected that some illegal dark magic was being performed but in the week that they had been there they had seen nothing.
"Anyway its time to be getting back now.'' Dragon said, raising to his feet from the cold wet floor cautiously, always looking out for anything out of the ordinary. "Didn't you say you had somewhere to be?'' Dragon asked Harry.
"Yeah there's a party I'm meant to be at, its for my best friends, she's just got a job at the ministry.''
"Well we'd better get going then.'' He said pulling his wand and apperating back to the base. Harry smiled to himself as he watched the man disappear. He was glad he'd been assigned with Dragon for this mission. He too pulled his wand and apperated back to headquarters, and then he'd go home and shower quickly, get his costume on and head over to the Burrow.
He arrived back at base a few seconds later and walked through the door of auror headquarters only to find Sirius waiting for him with a stack of paper work.
"What the hell is all that?'' Harry asked his eyes widening. "I hope that's not for me.''
"Sorry, it has to be done, we're wasting to many resources watching that castle, we're abandoning the mission. I need you and Dragon to fill out these reports to justify the decision to abort the mission. If they don't get done we'll have to have someone up there constantly and to be perfectly honest as we both know it's a complete waste of time, but we have to follow up any reports of suspected dark magic."
"But Sirius the party is tonight." Harry protested.
"It's out of my hands Harry. I have to stay behind too, so it looks like we'll both be arriving fashionably late." Sirius said trying to inject a bit of humour into the conversation.
"This is typical, absolutely typical. I don't know why I bother.'' Harry said throwing himself down into one of the small chairs and pulling a piece of parchment in front of him and started scribbling furiously.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ginny rushed around the Burrow, everything needed to be perfect. The banners were hung; the table was laden with, as many snacks as you could think of, there were huge bowls of punch, pitchers of lemonade and a few bottles of Fire whiskey floating around. She looked around and smiled it was perfect, she flicked her wand and music filled the house, all she had to do now was get changed into her costume, she grinned to herself when she pictured everyone's face when they saw her costume.
After a final check around she started to head upstairs to get changed, the first of the guests would be arriving shortly. As she turned towards the stairs she saw her mother and father descending the stairs, both with huge floppy ears, and raggedy clothes on, her mother had even made a fake house elf nose and had strapped it around her face. She was laughing happily as Arthur's 'ears' waggled as he walked down the stairs.
"You two look great" Ginny said smiling as they reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Thank you.'' Arthur said with a grin that was so like Ron's.
"Where's your costume dear?'' Molly said smiling; she had helped Ginny make it for a specific purpose. She winked at her daughter slyly.
"Oh I'm just going up to change now.''
"You're leaving it a bit late aren't you?'' Arthur said as the doorbell announced the arrival of the first guests.
"It won't take me a minute to change.'' Ginny said as she rushed off upstairs as Arthur let the first guests in. It had been her mothers idea for her to get ready last minute, by then her father would hopefully be too distracted to say too much about her costume.
When she stepped through the door of her old bedroom Ginny grinned wickedly, this costume was fantastic, she had had so much fun making it with her mother, gossiping and catching up. It was just like it was when she was younger. She hurriedly started to apply her make up, she had showered and washed her hair earlier, it now hung in loose waves, framing her porcelain face.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Oh Fred" Mrs Weasley groaned "What are you wearing?''
"A tea towel mum.'' Fred said, glad that there was laughter in her eyes as George stepped up beside him also wearing a tea towel adorned with the logo from Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.
"Well I hope you have something on underneath.''
"Do house elves wear anything underneath George?'' Fred asked his brother with a wicked grin.
"No Fred I don't think that they do.'' George answered with an identical grin.
"Oh that's ok then I thought we'd got it wrong for a minute there''
"Well Merlin help us all.'' Molly said laughing as she watched her two sons head towards the buffet table, greeting that large crowd that had already assembled in the living room of the Burrow.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ginny stood at the top of the stairs and looked around downstairs, Hermione and Ron hadn't arrived yet she knew that much, all through the living room was a mass of floppy ears and dirty clothes. She looked at herself in the mirror on the landing. She had made a pair of cute ears and attached them to a hair band. She was wearing to dress that her mother had made with her, it looked like a toga, with little rips and slashes in it, and it was very short, and she wasn't wearing any shoes, she smiled to herself, she knew that this dress would get her a little attention form a certain Mr Potter.
She started down the stairs slowly, her eyes searching the room for a sign of the black messy hair that belonged to him. She couldn't see it, her eyes searched frantically but it was no where to be seen, she heard a faint knocking on the door and her heart skipped a beat, she rushed to answer it before anyone else could, but it wasn't him.
"Hiya Dest" Ginny said with a smile, trying to hide her disappointment. "Come in."
"Thanks Ginny, Have Remus and Tonks arrived yet.''
"Yeah they're over by the table talking to mum and dad." Ginny said looking over. "Well Remus is, I can't see Tonks anymore.''
"There she is.'' Destiny said pointing and smiling. "Dancing with one of your brothers, oh no wait, dancing with both of your brothers.'' Destiny said laughing.
Ginny laughed with her, Tonks always knew how to have a good time. "You look great Dest.'' Ginny said admiring Destiny's costume, she had put a lot of effort into it.
"Wow, so do you, someone's dressed to impress." Destiny said with a knowing wink.
Ginny smiled, blushing. "So where's Sirius then?''
"I don't know all he said was that he'd be late.''
"Oh right.'' Ginny said. "Well come in and enjoy yourself while you can then.'' Ginny said smiling, she had heard earlier that day about their engagement and knew that Destiny would only start having fun the minute Sirius walked through that door.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"And then I said to him, 'No you bloody well cannot.' And he walked out.'' Fred's voice carried across the room clearly even with the loud music and chatter of other people. Ginny listened half-heartedly; all the time her eyes scanning the room, he still hadn't showed up. It had been almost an hour now. She looked across the room and saw her mother gazing out of the window, waiting and watching. Hermione and Ron would be arriving any minute now.
"Shhhhhhh!" Molly called across the room, five minutes after Ginny's gaze had once again been averted. "They're coming, someone turn off the lights.'' Ginny raised her wand with a flick, briefly catching Colin's eye before the room was plunged into darkness, total silence engulfed them, only the sound of hushed breathing could be heard. They waited and listened for what seemed like hours, they listened to the sound of two pairs of feet crunching up the driveway, heard Ron's voice and Hermione's laugh. Heard the key turn in the doorknob. Every breath in the room was held, waiting to hear the sound of the light being switched on.
Ron reached his hand up and flipped the switch and before the flickering light even turned on, everyone in the room jumped up shouting surprise. The congratulations banners swung into view and the balloons filled the air once again.
"Oh my goodness." Hermione shouted, smiling at everyone in the room, a look of pure disbelief written all over her face. "What's all this for?''
"You, you idiot.'' Fred shouted form across the room. "You're the only one I know working for the Department of Mysteries.''
"Did you know about this?'' Hermione said turning on Ron grinning.
"Nope, this was nothing to do with me.'' He said smiling at his beautiful girlfriend.
"Oh my god look at you all, your house elves.'' She said clapping her hands to her mouth. Her eyes wandered around the room, taking in everyone's costumes, even Professor Lupin was dressed up. "You know you shouldn't really make fun of them.'' Hermione started.
"Oh do be quiet.'' Ginny said rushing forward to her brother and Hermione and pushing a bag into each of their hands. "No go upstairs and get changed so that we can get this party started properly." Ginny said ushering them both towards the stairs, ignoring Ron's complaints.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"I can't believe they did this for me Ron. It's amazing.'' Hermione said, as she looked at herself in the mirror, she hated to admit it but the costume looked pretty nice.
"I can't believe I have to dress as a bloody house elf.'' Ron said looking at himself in the mirror.
"Oh well at least you're not the only one.'' Hermione said grinning. "Are you ready to go down?''
"Almost.'' Ron said crossing the room and kissing Hermione hard and passionately on the lips. "There, now I'm ready.''
"What was that for?'' Hermione asked grinning.
"Because I love you my gorgeous little house elf.'' Ron said kissing her on the cheek and heading down the stairs, Hermione close behind him.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ginny stood in the middle of the room; she had all but given up on Harry ever showing up. She picked up a drink from the table and sipped at it while swaying to the music, not noticing the stares that she was receiving from half of the men in the room. Her father however noticed every single stare and returned each one with a snarl. She felt someone tap her on the shoulder and whirled around to see Hermione standing there beaming. She was just about to say something when she was enveloped into a huge hug.
"Oh my god Ginny, you're mum told me that you did this, thank you so much Ginny. Thank you so much.'' Hermione said finally letting go and letting Ginny breath again.
"It's no problem Hermione, absolutely no problem at all.'' Ginny said beaming at her best friend.
"I can't believe that you planned all of this on your own.''
"You haven't been taking all the credit for this have you?'' a voice said from behind Ginny, dangerously close to her ear, sending shivers up and down her spine. He was here.
"Harry you helped too.'' Hermione said, embracing Harry with a squeal. "Oh my God you guys are the best.'' Ginny watched as Harry and Hermione chatted, unable to forget the sound of his voice in her ear. She saw Hermione heading of across the room but realised that Harry was still standing before her.
"You look gorgeous Ginny.'' Harry said, his voice almost a whisper.
"Thank you Harry, you look ridiculous.'' Ginny replied, reaching up and flicking one of his floppy ears. "Where have you been?''
"He kept me late after work.'' Harry said pointing over at Sirius who was now fully absorbed in Destiny. "I wanted to be here Ginny, I got here as fast as I could, I'm sorry.''
"No its ok don't worry Harry.'' Ginny said. "Do you want to dance?'' She asked shyly.
"Um sure why not.'' Harry said nervously, they walked over to the small patch of floor that her brothers had cleared earlier to become a temporary dance floor, and they danced together for a few minutes. Harry smiled happily, loving the feel of Ginny against him, but the upbeat song ended and a slow song followed, he looked awkwardly at Ginny, she stood there, her cheeks were tinged pink and her long shiny hair hung tantalisingly around her pretty face, Harry couldn't resist her. He pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms gently around her waist, relishing the feel of her slim waist in his hands.
Ginny sighed contently as she buried her face into Harry's chest, her arms snaking up around his neck, suddenly she didn't care who was watching her, she didn't care that her mother and father were probably in the corner watching with big smiles on their faces, all she cared about was the feel of Harry against her, the warmth of his body and the smell of his skin.
They stayed this way for what felt like an eternity, swaying back and forth in time with the music, acknowledging nothing but each other, Harry sighed deeply, this was all he had wanted, all he had ever wanted and now there was nothing in his way, nothing stopping him, nothing to keep them apart. No war, no nothing. He kissed the top of her head lightly, the feel of her silky hair against his lips filled him with memories, he had yearned for her for too long, he desperately needed her, it was all he could do to stay standing when the fell of her pressed against him made his knees weak. She looked up at him, hers brows slightly furrowed in confusion, he started at her lips, her soft pink lips, that seemed as though they were crying out for him. Before he knew what he was doing he was leaning forward, his lips desperately seeking hers, she leant upwards their lips coming together softly and sweetly, he kissed her gently savouring the taste of her soft lips, wanting nothing more than to stay this way forever. She pulled away from him slowly and it was though he had lost a piece of his soul.
"I'm sorry.'' He said hastily, "I didn't think. I'm so sorry Ginny.'' Harry blurted out. He was now fully aware that all eyes in the room were on them both. She reached her slender finger up to his lips and he stopped talking, she leaned forward again and this time she kissed him, savouring his lips against hers, she didn't know if this was a good idea, at the moment she didn't care. She was kissing Harry Potter.
(A.N Thanks for being so patient guys I realise its been forever since I've updated I hope this was worth the wait. I'll try and take less to write up the next chapter. It's not over yet, not by a long shot. Please leave a review Thanks xxxxx)