Disclaimer: I give all credit to J.K Rowling, I own nothing and she, along with the publishers of this magnificent book own everything and the plot is the only thing remotely close to being mine! Maybe not even, I also want to give credit to all other authors whose stories I've had a chance to read! To all my wonderful reviewers….thanks….and to all m wonderful readers who don't review…..thanks to you too. =)Flowers of the Moon, Yakko, mrbubblesandme, dracoroxmysox, Natalie, loserlady, jenn48, Me, the infamous, Anne, Mysty, miss ray317, colombiancutie, pril, lunaneville, claire(),moonlightandroses, MPPSexxySiriusJamesRemus,
Dinner and So Much More II
Ginny lay in bed that night with a big smile. The events of the night still fresh in her mind. She never could have thought the night would turn out the way it did. The unexpected, but oh so blessed thunderstorm made it all possible. She and Harry had a wonderful time. Laughing and reminiscing about old times and the best part was the process of trying to cook. Harry was a very skilled man when it came to fighting evil, or flying a broom, but give him a spatula instead and it's like watching a broom crash. Easily said, it was a dangerous thing to cook spaghetti with Harry, actually, it was dangerous to see Harry cook anything, but all those things still made him more endearing to Ginny. To see the oh so great Harry Potter trying to dodge a speeding garlic bread that he had enchanted to cheese itself was enough to make Ginny laugh hysterically. And that she did, earning a few scowls from Harry, but he too saw the amusement in the situation and gave himself a shake in the head.
With Ginny's help, they managed to get through cooking the sauce that was boiling with fevered spirit, boiling pasta and catching the runaway cheese breads that had started to fly around Ginny's kitchen. She still wondered what Harry did to the bread but they were to busy laughing and ducking that she forgot to ask. She was actually thisclose to calling the great Molly Weasley for help but Harry talked her out of it saying something about how she'll be disgraced at Harry that he can't even properly cook sauce and he wanted to proved to Ginny that he didn't need anybody's help boiling pasta or something like that. But what got Ginny was that he didn't show any protest when she started helping him, which put a smile to her face and got them through cooking and with a few correcting charms they were ready to eat.
They talked about everything they could possibly think of. Once they were settled she noticed that it was Harry who was initiating the conversation flow, she didn't mind that he was so interested in her life, or she'd like to think at least. Although things got a big awkward when Ginny started talking about her upcoming project, the project that involved Ryan West. She saw his discomfort, or was it jealously? ('yeah right') she thought and managed to change the subject about his own work. He couldn't talk much about Auror business, which she understood, but Harry told her about his would be duties and his delight at finishing training and finally becoming an Auror. He explained that Dumbledore is coming back from his trip meaning he's going to have to finish up bits of other business he needed to fix before he became a full fledge Auror for the Ministry.
Time went by so quickly that they didn't realize that it was pushing midnight. Ginny could've talked to him for the rest of the night, but since she had work tomorrow, she had to say goodbye and so the night ended with a very bashful Harry, profusely saying his apologies that he had kept her that late knowing she had work tomorrow and Ginny reassuring him that it was ok and that it was worth to stay up that late with an old friend.
Ginny tossed in bed at her last thought. The night was so wonderful and she was letting herself get carried away with her feelings and with Harry that she said that more as a reminder for herself than anything. It was the flicker of something that Ginny saw in Harry's eyes when she said it that got her thinking. What was it? Or was it even anything? She turned again burying her face in her pillow and letting out a frustrated scream muffled by the thickness of her pillow. She shouldn't fret about the small things that could be nothing. She should just be happy about what did happen and leave it as that. She should sleep anyway, it's late and she had work tomorrow, if she wanted to be on time, she should rest and sleep. And with a lingering thought that brought on many wonderful dreams of Harry that night, Ginny Weasley slept.
Ginny sat behind her desk, munching on pie that her Mum had sent her earlier that day buried with sorting papers for their upcoming issue. Pictures of Quidditch players zooming left and right in the pages littered her desk as she spotted the one she was looking for. A picture of a very handsome seeker looked up at her while he held a fluttering snitch in his palms. Ryan West looked windswept after he had just caught the snitch that had won them the Quidditch Euro Cup last year. Ginny couldn't help but be captivated every time she looked at his picture.
'Captivated'? She thought, she could kick herself.
She was shaking her head, at herself with a mouthful of pie that she didn't notice the flesh and blood of the picture materialize at her door.
"I know" Ryan said, "Its not a very good picture" he said almost embarrassingly.
Ginny jumped. "Oh hi." She almost choked.
"Oh no, I wasn't…, it's a very nice picture, really" she said swallowing the last bit of pie that she had in her mouth and trying to suppress the rising red from her cheeks.
"Ryan I—"
"Its ok Ginny, I was just joking." He said breaking a smile that could rival Harry's.
Now Ginny understood why women go gaga over this guy. He's simply, dashing.
'Dashing?!?' She thought once again. It wasn't her fault though. Her mind couldn't help but think of these words when he's near, real or picture form.
Ginny let out a breath at being joked on. She thanked her cards that he didn't think any of her 'head shake', but she must look like a picture with a mouthful of pie. She actually could kick herself for being caught looking at his picture. Although she did have a liable reason, she was doing an article on him.
"Please sit down." Ginny offered the man buy the door and with a wave of her wand, the pictures stacked themselves neatly on the side of her desk.
Ryan walked to Ginny's desk and sat down. Ginny's heart was going a mile a minute and she had no other reason but the one sitting in front of her. She offered him a smile and he returned it, she was buying time and she knew it.
'Get a grip Ginny!' she scolded herself. She took a deep breath and shifted a few papers and finally said…
"So…how are you?" God this was awkward.
Ryan nodded and said, " I'm fine, yourself?"
"I'm well thanks." Ginny answered back a bit too enthusiastically. Gods it was like being back in Hogwarts.
"Listen…"
"You must think…"
They both started. "You first." Ryan said
Ginny gave an apologetic smile
"You must think I'm really weird." She started. " I'm really not, I mean, apart from my terrible taste in pie. You just caught me in a stuffing my face moment. I was hungry, I didn't eat this morning and my mum had sent it so I thought I'd have a bite before you got here." She said in one long breath.
"Pie?" She added
"No thanks, really, you don't have to explain, I should be the one apologizing, I'm the one who burst in on you and your pie." He said "I mean, everyone should be able to eat pie in peace, whenever they want where ever they want."
Ginny gave him an inquisitive look. 'Can he hear himself?' He really did look remorseful, whether for walking in or interrupting snack time, Ginny didn't know.
"You do realize that we're talking about pie?" She said with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess we are." Realization dawning on his face.
And then something unusual happened. As if the air in Ginny's office lightened and both were relived somehow. And Ryan said something that Ginny was not expecting.
He shifted in his seat and ran his hand down his face. Ginny could see a smile on his face, and he gave Ginny another one of his smirks and said…
"Listen…forgive me, I don't know why I'm so nervous. I mean, I've had tons of interviews before but…this one's…. I don't know" he trailed shaking his head.
Seeing the look on Ginny's face, he added " Oh no, its nothing bad Ginny, actually, it's really… good. It's nice."
Ginny wondered if her mouth was still attached to her head for she's sure it would've broken off from the force of it hanging from her head. Did she hear right? She thought. Ryan West was nervous to be with her? Well, maybe not exactly, but something like that.
Ginny smiled inwardly to herself and finally broke the silence.
"It's ok, lets just start over shall we?" She asked
"I'd like that" he said nodding.
And with that, Ginny and Ryan spent the whole afternoon doing the interview, rather, talking was more like it. With Ginny asking her questions and Ryan answering them, they even finished the pie. It went very smooth, unlike earlier. They seemed like old friends just talking about life. They were amazingly not interrupted, but that, Ginny thought, was probably due to Matilda going to and fro Ginny's office as if to stand guard for any intruders that might have wanted to disrupt the meeting that was going on with her most favorite writer and her most favorite seeker. She didn't know how Matilda and Ryan knew each other so well, and she didn't know why Matilda was hell bent on getting them alone every time they were in the same room together, she just knew that her editor was up to something, but whatever it was, it'll have to wait. She was having way too much fun right now to question her motive.
A gale of laughter could be heard from Ginny's office later in the afternoon, followed of course with Ryan's own.
"So you mean my brother lost the bet and he ha….ha…had…. to dress up as wo..maaan…?" Ginny said in between laughs.
"Yes, that's what he had to do" Ryan answered marveling at the laughing Ginny.
"Oh my god! It makes so much more sense now! So that's why he had to borrow Hermione's dress and my shoes! He said it was for one of his teammates' sister." She said eagerly.
"When I got those shoes back they were like boats. I had to shrink them!"
Ryan was almost doubled up with laughter.
"Ginny, you can't tell him I told you. He'd kill me."
"Oh no, you don't! You can't tell me something like that and expect me to keep it a secret!" She said surprised
"Ginny please, if you care for me at all, you won't tell anyone, at least not until I'm in my deathbed." Ryan said
It took him a fraction of a second to realize what he had said and said in return…
"I mean, not that you would care, I just meant, you know, if you like me at all, I mean, you know, if—"
"Fine." Ginny interrupted, she was smiling sheepishly, seeing Ryan West blush was a good break for her to see, seeing that she was usually the one to tries hard to conceal the blushes. But she wasn't cruel, so she decided to give him a break.
Ginny saw him exhale, and once again, he smiled. Ginny wondered if his jaw was starting to hurt as much as hers from smiling. That's all they seem to be doing. But not that Ginny was complaining, she could look at his smile for a very long time.
"Thank you." He said.
"You're welcome, but this is a big secret that I'm going to have to keep from my brothers who would give me anything I want for something on Ron, you know." She said as a mater-of-factly.
Ryan's eye flickered and he smirked at Ginny.
"So what do you say if I make it up to you then, dinner?" Ryan asked looking so bloody handsome that Ginny was once again, taken aback.
It took her a moment to digest what he had said and all she could think of saying was…
"What… but…aren't you and—"
Ryan, knowing where Ginny was going said
"Here's another piece of information you should put in your article. I am not dating and or seeing Cameron Bray. " He said once and for all.
Ginny didn't push the matter, it wasn't any of her business, but she was relieved that it was him that brought up the subject, it was the last question she had for him, actually, it was originally her third question but she couldn't get herself to ask for some unknown reason that it kept being pushed for last, or if worst came to worst, she wouldn't have asked and there would've have been many a mad readers that wouldn't get the piece of info they so wanted from the most good looking seeker in Europe.
"So what do you say?" Ryan asked again.
It took Ginny a second to recuperate from the info that was just given. She felt satisfied and happy for some reason. She didn't want to believe it, but she felt relieved that Ryan West was single. She was sure that all women would have felt the same. But she shouldn't care about that right?
'I mean, this is Ryan West, it's a lost cause to even get my hopes up.'
But, up her hopes went. I mean, she is a girl.
'But he did ask me out.' Her head said in defence.
'Shoot!' she thought
Ginny realizing she still hadn't answered the man in front of her, gave a nod and finally said.
"Dinner sounds great."
"He what?!?!" Devon screamed.
"Shhhh". Ginny held her finger to her own mouth as to have her friend follow and be quiet.
"Sure tell everyone in my building." She said opening the door to her flat.
"I'm sorry, it's just…WOW!!!!" Devon said jumping up and down like a little girl who just received a puppy for Christmas.
"This is precisely why I waited to tell you outside of Witch Weekly. Other wise, I would've been getting death glares from everyone there."
"Well, ever since the whole 'I'm old friends with Harry Potter thing" and the 'I get to work one-on-one with Ryan West bit' they already give them to you when you're not looking." Devon said jokingly as she sat her self down at the kitchen table.
"Thanks Dev." Ginny said
"What are friends for? So… what are you waiting for? Tell me everything!"
Truth be told, Ginny finished her interview with Ryan that day. She had only to revise it when she got home and she did that in a jiff, even with Devon there trying to read what she had. She was surprised that they got through so much in just one sitting; Matilda gave them a week to get their articles done because it was getting close to deadline. Ginny was a wee bit disappointed that they got done so fast, which meant that they wouldn't get to see each other as much as she had anticipated.
But the next day would be a surprise for Ginny for Ryan dropped by to say Hello and much to her delight he ended up staying for coffee, under Matilda's request, though once settled, she had to leave due to an urgent note that she claimed to receive when they weren't looking. Ron dropped by later on because he had his own article to finish and they ended up staying and talking for a bit. Ryan and Ginny shared a few meaningful glances owing to the fact that Ginny was finding it very hard to look at her brother, and Ryan, wanting to keep his life for a bit longer in fear that Ginny would break her promise kept coming up with weird things to talk about, which was not helping Ginny's state. She was already very hyper from coffee and this was not helping. Fortunately Ron was none the wiser, bless him, and no one was hurt.
The next day would be Friday, and Friday meant her date with Ryan West. She was in the right state that afternoon. Their plan was Ryan was to pick her up at the office so he didn't have to go far, he was going to be around the area anyways and it would just be easier to apparate from the office to Two Towers instead of her flat. All this meant she'd have to change and get ready there. In the rush of making plans to go out, she did not think of the repercussions of having the whole building see her leaving with Ryan West. Devon had to ensure her that it would be ok and that if worst came to worst, she knew a few deflective spells to ward of bad curses that are thrown her way.
"Girls can be ruddy mean." Devon said handing Ginny a green silk scarf to adorn her matching red dress.
"But I'm not doing anything!" Ginny said waving her wand for a quick hair fix and putting the scarf around her neck.
"Gin, you're doing the biggest thing." Devon said as to give her another once over.
"If you're re—"
"Hhrrrrmm Hrrmm" Both ladies turned around to the figure by the door and what met their eyes where enough to make them both weak in the knees.
"Hi" he said simply.
"Hello" Ginny answered back. They all stood there until Devon cleared her throat oh so gently that only Ginny could hear.
"Ryan, this is my friend Devon Grier, she's lead at the accessories department. Devon, this is Ryan West." Ginny motioned
Ryan strode on to where Devon stood and held out his hand.
"Nice to meet you Devon" He said
It took Devon a few seconds to snap back to wherever she was and she said her "Hello" offering her hand in return.
"You look really…beautiful." Ryan said finally resting his gaze back to Ginny.
Ginny looked positively glowing. She had on her vibrant red robes that made her look radiant. Red anything on red hair was not to be taken lightly, but she pulled it off with a fevered grace that took Ryan's breath away.
"Thank you." Ginny said, letting a blush creep to her face.
"Well, you two better be off" Devon finally said.
"Yeah, we better go. Nice to finally meet you Devon."
"Same here."
Ginny and Ryan exited her office and made their way to the lifts. Ginny chanced a look back at her friend and Devon gave her a wink. She then mouthed, "I have your back" as the lift doors closed.
Harry's Flat.
"Hey there" He greeted his owl. After a long day at the Ministry and endless meetings he seemed to have had since Dumbledore got back, which was a whole two days, he seems to be more appreciative of his flat and his soft comfortable bed. Paper work and last bit things before he is sworn in to service to become an Auror seems to be harder than the actual training he's been doing for the past several years. But that's of course because Harry has never liked homework, or anything related that involved paperwork. He noticed that Hedwig was carrying a piece of parchment and he hurried to the owl to free him from his burden.
"What is that?"
"WHOO" the owl answered back.
Harry untied the parchment that Hedwig held on her claws. Harry gave the owl a treat and unrolled the letter that was no doubt from his old professor and very close confidant Remus Lupin. He read the letter and a smile broke from his face. He got up from the window and made his way to his room followed by his owl.
Ginny and Ryan apparated in a place just behind the Two Towers that was reserved for apparating wizards and witches. They were in muggle London now but the restaurant was only open for wizards and witches. So muggles couldn't see Two Towers, all they saw was an old fire station with broken windows and a very discouraging old smell and an even more dangerous warning sign that read…
"DEATH WILL COME TO ANY TRESSPASSERS not because the owners of this building will kill you, but because there is a very deadly gas that rest dormant in this building, and if interrupted, will turn any living flesh into rotting tissue. HAVE A NICE DAY"
A man stationed to receive apparating guest waited on the door. Ginny could smell the fragrance of many cooking spices that made her aware of her growing hungriness. The Two Towers were one of the poshest restaurants in London. She's only been there once, when her family had celebrated her Dad's new position as Minister for Magic, a job he so rightly deserves. When they were finally received, and after the cloakroom they were led inside in what Ginny could only describe as the exact opposite of what muggles saw from their point of view, times one hundred.
The place was lit with heavy and expensive chandeliers that looked like it rose to the sky but shone as brightly as a star. The smell of food permeated her senses more strongly as ever now that she was inside. Ginny was so busy taking in her surroundings that she had only noticed that Ryan was holding her hand as the waiter led them to their table. She looked down and smiled to herself. She could see a few peoples stare in the closer tables following them. She being the person she was straightened up and walked more steadily just behind Ryan. When they finally reached their table, just before she sat, she realized that the scarf Devon had given her had fallen somewhere on the way to their table.
"Oh no." she said stopping just before her table her hand lingering at her bare neck. "I lost my scarf, I'll be right back." Ginny said to Ryan turning around so fast that she almost bumped into a figure that stood right in front of her.
The figure was holding her scarf, she looked up and saw something that made her insides fall.
"Harry" she said in bated breath.
Harry's expression was unreadable, it showed nothing and it was that that made Ginny feel sick to her stomach. He looked at her and she saw that his jaw tightened.
"Hello Ginny."
To be continued…..Please read and review!! =)
Thanks to all my reviewers, you seriously ROCK!!
