Chapter 14! I'm hoping to finish this up soon. Thanks for sticking with me this far!
Ginny awoke early, the blinding rays of the sun streaming through the gap in the curtains and directly into her face. She groaned, rolled over and stretched her arm out for the body that always lay beside her… but she touched nothing but the sheets.
She sat up a little and looked at the empty space beside her. She was used to this. Most mornings he would rise very early and go for a run before work. But it was a Saturday, and there was no need for him to be missing.
She got up, pulled on one of his massive work shirts over her naked upper torso and padded out of the room, rubbing her eyes. Ginny crossed the threshold into the main living area and stopped short.
Well, she had found him at any rate. Harry was sitting at the table, still dressed in his pajamas and a cup of coffee in front of him. His hair was very messy and his eyes were still red with fatigue. But that's not what had made her stare in shock.
Tonks was sitting at the table as well. Her hair was short and pink today (a typical trademark) and she was dressed not in her work robes, but in a simple shirt and jeans.
Both of them looked around at Ginny and smiled. "Hey Gin." Said Harry happily.
But Ginny wasn't looking at him. "Whatever it is, I didn't do it." She said, looking at Tonks as if she were about to take her off into custody.
Tonks laughed. "Don't look so worried. This is strictly a social visit Ginny, unless you really have done something wrong that I am yet to know about." She added, giving Ginny a look.
Ginny swallowed, but Harry laughed and got up from the table to kiss Ginny good morning. "Don't listen to her. She's stirring… and quite unnecessarily I might add." He said, giving Tonks a look.
Tonks laughed and kicked her boots off, relaxing into the chair. "Don't sweat it chicken, the big bad boss is not in possession of my body at the moment."
Feeling a little better, Ginny smiled and sat herself down at the table as Harry went to make her some breakfast. "So, what brings you over then if you're not here to clap me in irons?"
"Well little Miss everything-is-about-me, I actually found myself with nothing and wanted to spend the morning with one of my good friends." Said Tonks, jerking a thumb at Harry over her shoulder.
Ginny raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"And what? Are you suggesting I have arterial motives Weasley?"
Ginny snorted. "You heard Charlie was back in town, didn't you?"
Harry smiled and put Ginny's breakfast in front of her as Tonks let out an indignant splutter, going beet red. And for a moment, you would forget she was one of the top Aurors in the ministry with the way she was acting.
"Well… yes. I had heard he was back. I would like to see him… but not for the reason you are thinking!" added Tonks hurriedly at Ginny's smirk.
"Sure, I believe you." Said Ginny, her tone suggesting completely the opposite.
Tonks frowned and reached for the salt shaker, and as a result knocked it to the floor. She let out a small cry of frustration and bent under the table to retrieve it. While she did, Ginny grabbed Harry's wand, waved it around and two smoke figures of people floated out of it. Harry stuck a knuckle in his mouth to stifle his laughter, as the two figures of Charlie and Tonks began kissing each other.
"Sorry. I can be graceful when the pressure's on but take me out of the work place and what are you doing?"
Ginny laughed as Tonks slammed the salt shaker down on the table and waved her hands dismissively at the figures making them dissolve.
"Oh come on, I lived with the man for nearly five years… I know who he's got feelings for and who he doesn't." said Ginny.
"I do not need love advice from a girl seven years my junior." Said Tonks.
"Hey, you come here you must be prepared for the consequences."
Tonks smiled, taking a good look at the couple in front of her for a moment. Ginny was digging into her breakfast, while Harry had his arm around her and was looking at Tonks, waiting for her next witty comment in her own defense.
"Look at you two, all cozy." She said, putting her elbows on the table and resting her head in the heel of her hand. "Any chance of another wedding anytime soon?"
Harry snorted. "Why is everyone saying that? Why can't we just be together without the pressure of possible nuptials?"
Tonks smiled. "Molly been in your ears has she?"
"She doesn't need to. Everyone's looking at us as if they're just expecting us to announce our engagement at any moment." Said Ginny. "I know that it's rather tradition for couples to get married young in our world, but I'm rather accustomed to the muggle way of thinking. They wait."
"And that's what you two are going to do?"
Harry and Ginny nodded.
Tonks frowned. "But… why? Are you not planning on being together for very long?"
"What? Of course we are!" laughed Harry, exchanging a look with Ginny. "We've already decided that. Well, no, 'decided' is a bad adjective. We already know that there won't be anyone else. I was done with dating ages ago and Ginny…" he trailed off, looking at his girlfriend.
Ginny smiled. "Yeah, I cottoned on a little later. I know now that there won't be anyone else for me." She said, giving Harry a warm smile.
"And you both love each other with everything you possess?" asked Tonks.
Harry and Ginny exchanged another look. "Well, yes. Of course." Said Ginny.
Tonks smiled and sat back in her seat. "Then you're already married anyway." She said simply. "You know, marriage isn't defined by the rings you wear, or the paper you sign or the church you say your vows in…its defined by the love you share. Its not stereotypical, it's fragile and real. Marriage is proclaiming your love for one person, and only them for the rest of your life. You walk down a road together, growing in what you're trying to build with each other. You love that other person so much that you'd do anything for them… even die. You don't need to have a ceremony to have a marriage; you just need that one other person that fills you up completely. The one that makes you smile just at the thought of their face, or the sound of their name."
Harry and Ginny stared at Tonks in amazement.
Tonks, realizing that they were looking at her completely stunned, blushed and shrugged. "Well, that's what my mum says anyway."
Harry blinked, feeling very stupefied by all this information. It was true; signing some peace of paper didn't make you married... not really. What really counted was that they were to be there for each other through everything. For better or worse…
Tonks sighed and looked at her watch. "Well, sorry to deliver such a smashing monologue and then dash, but I have family to see. Have a good weekend newlyweds."
Ginny smiled as Tonks got up and disappeared seconds later. She laughed at the silence and looked at Harry, who was looking as dazed as she felt.
"Wow." She breathed finally. "I never thought of it like that."
"Me neither." Laughed Harry, ruffling his hair. He looked at her. "I don't know why I was so reluctant to make it official. I mean, if what Tonks said was right – and I really think it is – then we basically really are already married." He said.
"What was holding you back?" she asked.
"Well, what was holding you back?"
Ginny ran a hand through her hair and blew air out through her lips. "I guess… well, I had an image in my head of what married couples looked like. A very real, scary image."
Harry smiled, getting the point. "Your parents aren't that bad."
"I know that. But, I don't want to be like my parents Harry." She said. "I grew up with those ideals, only exposed to that sort of marriage. And then I got out into the world and saw the fun people could have without being married… and I kind of liked it.
"But with you Harry, it's so much better than just casual dating. This isn't what my parent's marriage was like and I guess…"she trailed off and sighed. "I'm not making any sense."
Harry laughed. "You didn't want our relationship to be like theirs. You wanted it to be our own, something we could do together without the pressure of actually being married." He said.
"Yeah, something like that. Its not that I think my parents have a bad relationship, because I think they have a wonderful marriage! But I'm not my mother – as much as she wants me to be – and I want different things for myself."
Harry smiled. "Like me?"
"I already have you sweetheart." She giggled. "I don't want to sound mean, but I want you to understand how I feel. I'm happy with the freedom we have. I was rather under the impression that settling down would mean we would have to… well…"
"Settle down?" laughed Harry.
"Yes!"
"It would make us a pair of old, fuddy duddies with nothing to do but host dinner parties, do housework and have kids to 'make our lives complete'?"
"Yes!"
Harry laughed. "Wow, that's what I was thinking. I mean really, I haven't had all that much to look up to when relationships are concerned. Only Ron and Hermione, and I'd rather not be like them." He added. "I just… want it to be us. Not like anyone else's marriage or whatever. I don't want to have our fun ruined."
Ginny shrugged. "Well, if what Tonks said is true… that's not going to happen now is it? Nothing would really change."
Harry nodded and put his elbows on the table. "No, I guess not."
The both fell into a comfortable silence for a moment, each of them looking at the table in thought. Had they been scared for no good reason? It certainly seemed so. Maybe everyone else had gotten this point a lot sooner then they had.
Harry blew air out through his lips and looked at Ginny. She was twirling a few stray strands of hair around her finger, staring absentmindedly off into space.
"So, you wanna get married then?" he asked.
Ginny blinked and looked at him. "Yeah, alright. Why not?"
Harry frowned as the building before them loomed slowly like an inescapable doom. Why was it they always seemed to be announcing things at the Burrow? It seemed a little predictable really.
He sighed. "Must we do this?"
Ginny smiled beside him and linked her arm through his. "Getting a feeling of déjà vu are we?"
"Cant we just keep this to ourselves for now?"
"Uh huh. Of course though when you say 'ourselves' you really mean me, you, Ron and Hermione."
Harry laughed. "You know me so well."
"Come on, we'll have to tell them eventually. Better now than later." Said Ginny, taking his hand as well as the lead. "Believe me, I more than anyone would like to just run away with you and do it right now."
"Hmm, no girl's ever said that to me before." Muttered Harry thoughtfully.
"You know what I mean. Randy sod."
Harry sighed as she dragged him right up to the front door without any room for argument. It still, after all these years, made him feel like he was being rather rude by simply entering the house without knocking, but Ginny simply pushed the door open and pulled him inside after her.
"Mum? Dad?" called Ginny, looking around with a frown.
The house was very quiet, something not seen very often in the Weasley household. Normally, Mrs. Weasley would always be doing something around the house, making a huge racket without even noticing. But there wasn't a sound in the entire house, and her sudden absence was a little peculiar.
Harry looked through into the kitchen, just as Ginny led him toward the living room. He jumped and almost slammed into her as she suddenly stopped.
"Shh, you hear that?" she whispered.
"Hear what?"
"That! That noise. Like… some sort of animal." She whispered again, looking around in suspicion. "Something's not right."
Harry's pricked up, his instincts telling him that Ginny had a very good point. Indeed, now that he listened, he could hear a soft moaning. As if someone was in pain. The house wasn't in a mess, indicating there was no struggle, but if Mrs. Weasley was hurt somewhere in the house, perhaps unconscious…"
Harry nudged Ginny to grab her attention. He nodded once, pulled his wand out and looked at her hip with a quick glance of his eyes. Ginny nodded, understanding what he wanted. She too pulled her wand out.
Harry pointed towards the living room and they began to move slowly. Gradually they moved into the room, stepping over creaky floorboards to make their presence unknown. Ginny was in the lead, something Harry wasn't all together comfortable with, but didn't voice his opinion.
Ginny frowned as she moved fully into the living room, the moaning becoming louder. She wanted to call out for her mother, but didn't want to alert any potential intruders. Her mind was in a panic over the possible state of her mother. What if she was hurt?
Suddenly, something caught her eye on the sofa with its back to her. She moved around to check it out, and…
"Oh my god!" she cried, dropping her wand and clapping a hand over her eyes.
"Ginny!" someone cried in shock, followed by another cry and a THUMP.
Harry hurried over at the sudden commotion, wondering why on earth Ginny had acted the way she had. But once he spotted what Ginny had spotted, he totally understood why.
They had found the source of the moaning. Mrs. Weasley had been lying on the sofa, half her shirt undone with Mr. Weasley lying on top of her, kissing her rather heatedly with hands in places Harry didn't even want to think about her owning, let alone seeing. The moment Ginny had cried out, Mrs. Weasley had kicked her husband off him, sending him crashing to the ground.
Ginny laughed in utter shock, her hand still over her eyes. "Oh my… I can't believe… oh my god…"
"Harry!" cried Mrs. Weasley, spotting Harry finally.
Harry cleared his throat and looked at his feet, blushing furiously as Mr. Weasley picked himself up off the floor beside him. "Er, sorry." He muttered.
"Mum!" laughed Ginny, peeking at her mother through her fingers. "What on earth…"
Mrs. Weasley, blushing furiously, sat up and buttoned up her blouse, looking simply horrified with herself. "What do you expect, barging in without announcing yourselves?" she snapped. But Harry could tell she was only acting short tempered to hide her embarrassment.
Mr. Weasley cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck, turning away slightly and not looking any of them in the eye. "Well, good to see you two kids." He said, putting on a very deep voice.
Ginny was still spluttering incoherently, but had finally taken her hand away from her eyes. "Okay, and there adds another ten years to therapy."
"Oh honestly Ginerva, how do you think we made seven children? With clay mould?" huffed Mrs. Weasley.
"Mother!"
"Anyway…" cried Mr. Weasley, trying to move them along. "What brings you two over?" he said, looking at Harry.
"Well, er…" stuttered Harry, trying desperately to get the image of the two Weasley's making out on the sofa out of his head. "Um, Ginny? Why don't you tell them." He said.
Ginny glared at him. "You want to tell them now? After what we just… and they… oh my god." She said, clamping her eyes shut again.
"Ginny, stop it. What's all this about Harry?" asked Mrs. Weasley, putting her hair back into place.
"Well, we actually had something we wanted to tell the both of you. But, you look a little busy. Maybe we should come back or something. You know, at a more convenient time…" Harry trailed off, taking Ginny's hand, ready to run.
"No, no!" laughed Mr. Weasley, exchanging a look with his wife. "We were just, er… well, we're done." He muttered.
"For now." Added Mrs. Weasley quietly, giving her husband a smile.
"There goes another five years!" laughed Ginny, rolling her eyes. "Look, we really should just come back and let you get back to… er… yeah." She muttered, blushing again.
"For heavens sake, just tell us!" cried Mrs. Weasley, throwing her hands up in the air.
Harry sighed and took Ginny's hand. "Well, see it's like this… Ginny and I have decided we're going to take the next step in our relationship." He said with a smile.
Mr. Weasley frowned. "But, you've already moved in together."
"Not that you dolt!" laughed Mrs. Weasley, whacking her husband over the back of the head. She laughed and beamed at Harry and Ginny. "They're getting married! Oh Ginny…"
Ginny grunted as her mother threw her arms around her. "Mum, get a grip!"
"Well, this is smashing news!" boomed Mr. Weasley, grabbing Harry's hand and shaking it firmly. "Well done old boy, congratulations!" He smiled.
Harry laughed. "Thank you sir."
"Sir? Nonsense, all formalities no longer exist Harry!" laughed Mr. Weasley clapping his now future son-in-law on the back.
"When did all this happen then?" asked Mrs. Weasley, looking beside herself with happiness.
"Well, only this morning actually." Laughed Ginny, exchanging a smile. "He was quite the romantic too in asking me." She giggled.
Harry snorted. "Oh yeah, quite the prepared speech it was." He said sarcastically.
"So who knows?" asked Mr. Weasley, embracing his daughter.
"Well, just you at the moment. We only wanted to drop by to tell you the news, so we'd better get going." Said Ginny.
"Get going? Nonsense, stay and celebrate!" said Mrs. Weasley, already heading to the kitchen.
"No, mum, we really just want to get around and tell everyone. Then we can celebrate as a group. You know, do it properly – give you a chance to splash out if you so desire."
"Oh yes, alright. Go on, break the word to everyone." Said Mrs. Weasley, rushing forward again and throwing her arms around Harry, making him grunt. "Oh my babies, getting married…"
"Molly, let the boy breathe!" laughed Mr. Weasley, prying his wife from Harry.
"Well, we'd best be off. Many people to see, much to say." Said Harry, taking Mrs. Weasley's hand and kissing it.
"Enough of that! Come on." Said Ginny, grabbing Harry and dragging him towards the door.
"Bye bye!" he called, waving.
Ginny did not let go of him until they were completely out of the house and were walking along the road toward the village, the warmth of the day suddenly making everything suddenly ten times funnier.
Harry sniggered and put an arm around Ginny. "Oh yeah, you were so right. It really was a good idea to see them first."
"Shut up!" cried Ginny, slapping him in the chest. "Oh my god, I've never been so horrified in my entire life!"
"Don't kids normally bust their parents doing naughty things when they're younger?"
"What? Well, sure, I suppose. But not when we're adults, Harry! Good grief, they're too old to be doing that sort of stuff."
Harry laughed. "So, when we're their age you won't find me attractive anymore?" he asked. He took her hand, twirled her around and kissed her. "Because I know I'll always find you beautiful."
Ginny smiled, blushing. "They took the news rather well. Mum didn't wet her pants at any rate."
"Hmm, at least not in the way you're talking about."
"Harry!"
He snorted and they resumed walking. "Take deep breaths Ginny, we're getting married. And I can't have you having anxiety attacks at the alter."
Ginny let out a sigh and put an arm around him. "We're really doing this." She said, testing out the theory once more. It still seemed a little surreal. She was really going to be his wife!
"Yeah we are." He said with a smile. But his smile dropped instantly as a thought popped into his head. "Oh bollocks."
"What? What's wrong now?"
Harry smiled weakly. "Charlie's gonna kill me."
A/N – Not very long, but hopefully still good!
Please review!