Just Old Friends
Chapter 22: Ginny's place
Harry looked at the door in front of him, it was plain just a brown door among so many other doors. Ginny's place was already different to Hermione and Ron's. Firstly, she lived on her own and in a flat in London itself, close to the entrance to Diagon Alley.
Before he could knock the door one behind him opened and he heard a small gasp. Turning around he bit his mouth as his eyes bulged at what he saw.
"What you doing here?"
"Visiting a friend, is that a crime?"
"You've never been here before."
"I was in a coma for two years otherwise I would have been here."
"A coma."
"Yes. Anyway what are you doing here?"
"Live here."
Harry nodded his head, as did Dudley before he turned and left out of the building.
"Oh, Potter?"
"Yeah?"
"Mum died last year."
Mixed emotions flowed through his body, some of sorrow and pity but surprisingly he found he wasn't really bothered by the news.
"I'm sorry for you Dudley. She loved you a lot."
"Yeah, I'll tell dad that you send your sympathy."
With that Dudley was gone and Harry knocked the door in front of him. Ginny answered with a smile on her face, which quickly turned sour.
"What's wrong Harry?"
"Dudley lives opposite you."
"I knew I had heard of him before, couldn't figure out where though. Come in you don't need to stand on the doorstep."
Looking around inside it was simply decorated the walls were a fresh cream, the floor wooden and the seats a brown leather. Harry sat on the sofa and smiled at her.
"Nice place, very homely."
"I like it, its weird because its so quiet but…"
"But its home."
She smiled at her friend as she placed two glasses on the small table.
"I hope you don't mind white wine but I think you've had enough Firewhisky the last two days."
"I think I'm gonna have to go back to hospital to have detox my liver can't be liking all this drink."
Ginny laughed as she lowered herself into the seat next to Harry and took her wine in hand.
"So, how you coping?"
"Alright."
"Liar!"
Harry rolled his eyes and looked at the floor. Ginny was good at this; Hermione had picked up on it, but nobody else seemed to notice or just pretended that they hadn't noticed it.
"Come on Harry, look a lot has changed but its not all that bad."
"I wish that Fred had woken up and that I was still in the coma. I wish that I hadn't woken up and that I had died."
Ginny's gasp brought his eyes to her and he saw the stunned look on her face.
"Oh come on Gin, you're telling me that sometimes you wish that you didn't have to live like this, that maybe you hadn't have made it through."
"Yes. Okay I feel that way sometimes but then I remember how many people gave their lives for me to live and then I'm thankful to still be alive. To know what its like to live in a world where we don't fear Voldemort that's got to be better."
Harry nodded as he took a mouthful of wine.
"Do you sometimes wish that the final battle hadn't come so soon, that maybe we could have had another few days just so that we could stay with those that we loved. So that we could have hugged them one more time, given them a kiss and told them that we loved them."
"They knew that we loved them Harry. Luna knew that, mum did, so did dad and Fred and George. Sometimes I do wish that I could have that time back again. That I had been able to sit in the Burrow one last time with them, that I could taste mums cooking once more but I have the memories I know that they're sacrifice was made for the greater good for everyone, for their grandchildren so that in a hundred years time somebody can say, Fred Weasley he's my great Uncle and he fought and helped free us."
Harry nodded and sighed.
"I never thought of it that way before. Think Ron and Hermione's grandchildren will study about us all in History of Magic and they can say that they're grandparents were there, that they're aunts and uncles helped fight and maybe even they'll appreciate us even more."
Ginny smiled and got up as the doorbell rang. When she came back in she had Chinese food with her.
"I hope you don't mind but I didn't feel like cooking."
They ate in silence and when they had finished Harry remembered a question he wanted to ask.
"Ginny what happened to you in the battle, people keep hinting something bad happened but nobody will tell me."
Ginny sighed and met Harry's gaze.
"Harry it was bad, you see what happened was…"
And there ends another chapter, so for the long wait you've all had but Christmas and new year has been hectic what with work and my lovely beta going away.
The first thing you might notice about this chapter is that Dudley is there. Originally it was one of those nosey old neighbours who looks out her blinds every time somebody goes to Ginny's door but I thought I'd add Dudley for some later fun, and Petunia dying was just one of those things.
Now I'm guessing my reviews are going to go along the line of you can't leave off there and all that but I think it's time I left you with a cliffy and before you all ask I'll try to update soon but exams start a week tomorrow so it might be two weeks before the next chapter.
But to answer all your last reviews
Brilliant-author16 yes I liked the wedding planner, I wanted something fun to show why Harry was leaving and I was originally going to have Hermione walk in and tell him to hurry up because they were planning downstairs and she wanted his view but I liked the wedding planner instead. As for more Ginny and Harry the next lot of chapters are now going to show them getting close, although there will be a brief stop while Tonks has the baby!
Harryp123 thank you for the review hope you like this chapter
Chica91 oh now I'm jealous I'd love to go to America but my mother doesn't want to go to America its never interested to her, but crossing my fingers I might get to go to Egypt next year!
Emma Lizzy Black yeah I like the idea of Ron trying to help but being useless and then Harry just skiving so he won't get in Hermione's way because he's got some idea of the way she'll react
Maiden of Hope oh thank you for the Merry Christmas in the other languages and the orange tux well it just made me laugh I can just see Ron wanting one.
Annie yes he's got ginger hair so orange is a big no no but I think it's Ron's personality that makes him want to try to help after all its his wedding too but the fact is he likes orange
Potter4prez yes him and orange tuxes its always got to be fun
Well I better go not well and the room is starting to spin
Kris