AN: Hey everybody! Here's chapter five. So, I'm just going to say right now that I started this story before HBP, and I'm not going to work-in the whole deal that happened in HBP… so just slap Pre-HBP on it… I'm continuing it like I started it…
Disclaimer: I'm not JKR.
AN2: so, apparently I was a bit spacy earlier... posted a really old chapter of a completely different story! It's not even fanfic, LOL! So, anyway, this is the right one, and I appologize who anyone who read that earlier and had to suffer thru it.
AN3: I just cant seem to get it right today, can I? I finally get the right story up and I put in a disclaimer that spoils part of HBP… I'm truly sorry, I thought it was vague enough that it wouldn't mean anything to those who hadn't read the book yet. I'm SO sorry to anyone who had something spoiled for them. I was obviously mistaken.
Ginny looked up just as Harry emerged from the house. He was squinting from the sun, so Ginny couldn't see if his emerald orbs were directed at her or something else. Either way, she felt her cheeks start to heat.
Ginny had been fully expecting him to come over and confront her about, well, everything. So she was caught off guard when he turned and walked away from the party, looking rather lost. Ginny turned to Hermione with a 'What now?' expression.
"Go talk to him," Hermione said firmly, tipping her head in Harry's direction.
Ginny nodded, then mustering up all her courage, rose from her chair. If she hadn't been so focused on putting one foot in front of the other, she would have noticed the noise of the party die down to near silence in the next few seconds.
As she grew closer, every step took even more willpower. But Ginny forced herself to keep going. Ten steps… nine… eight… seven six…
Suddenly, Harry turned around, saying, "Why is everyone so… quiet.." he let his sentence drop as he spotted Ginny not eight feet away. He looked at her expectantly, his heart filled with hurt, confusion, and a desire for answers, but most of all a desire to have things the way they used to be.
Ginny pointedly avoided his gaze, and cursed herself as she felt a blush start. "Hi, Harry," she said shyly.
His immediate desire was to tell her everything he was feeling and had felt for the last eleven years. He wanted to tell her just how much it had hurt him when she had left. Instead, he replied softly, "Hi, Ginny."
"How've you been?" Ginny asked, finding the tiniest bit of Gryffindor courage she still had. She still refused to meet his eyes.
"Okay." Missing you every day since you left. It's been hell.
"That's good."
There was an awkward silence, both avoiding the other's eyes. In the background, the noise of the party was starting up again, the partygoers realizing that this conversation wasn't going to be quite as exciting as anticipated.
"So, how about you?" Harry asked, finally breaking the silence.
"Hmm?" Ginny asked, her daydreaming interrupted.
"How're things going for you?" Do you miss me, too?
"Oh, okay, you know." More than you could know.
"What are you doing for a living?"
Ginny's face lit up. "Oh, I just opened up my own clothing shop in muggle London." She loved her funky little shop in Soho. "How about you? Playing quidditch?
Harry gave a chuckle, a sound that caused Ginny's heart to skip a beat. Down girl she chastised herself.
"Nah, no quidditch in my life these days, unless it's to help the Gryffindor team during practices. Other than that, I'm still teaching DADA at Hogwarts."
"Really? I-" surprised, she'd met his gaze. They'd made her breath catch in her throat. Time seemed to pause momentarily.
"Ginny?" Harry asked, knocking her out of her reverie.
"Hm?" She broke off the eye contact.
"What were you saying?"
"Oh, just that I though the teaching thing had been a temporary gig. I always thought you wanted to go into pro quidditch. You were always talking about it."
"Well, I was a wreck after the Final Battle-"
After I left Ginny added mentally. She felt a pang of guilt in her heart.
Harry's tone grew more distant. "-and I kind of took solace in my teaching. It was the only thing that kept me going. And I guess after that year, I just couldn't picture doing anything else for a living."
Another awkward silence spread between them. "Uh, I should probably go. I'll talk to you later, Harry," Ginny said self-consciously.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, okay, are you going to be here all week?"
Ginny nodded. "That seems to be the plan."
"Okay, well, maybe sometime we can talk. You know, really talk. About old times."
Ginny wanted to run home screaming at the prospect, but she knew she couldn't do that. And deep down, she knew that on the list of people who deserved answers, he was right at the top of the list. So grudgingly, she nodded. "I'll see you around."
Without waiting for a response, she walked off towards the party. Her heart was beating like mad and she wanted desperately to do nothing more than go home, curl up in a ball, and cry.
"Andrew, Kara, wait up!" Jessica called running out of the house, "Where are you going?"
Andrew and Kara paused mid-step and turned around. "To go bug Fred and George!" Andrew yelled as Jessica ran towards them, "Done with our 'research' so soon?"
Jessica took a moment to catch her breath. "No, Dad said I have to wait until after the party to rummage through his old school stuff," she replied in an annoyed tone, "Totally unreasonable."
"Yeah, because it's not like it's our party or anything," Andrew said sarcastically.
Jessica just rolled her eyes. "So, did I miss anything?"
Kara nodded, "Yeah, Mum went over and talked to Harry," Kara said.
"Really? What happened?" All of the sudden, Jessica was excited.
Kara told her the basic gist of the conversation. Jessica nodded enthusiastically at every word.
"They were really awkward, you said, right?" Jessica asked at the end.
Kara nodded.
"Incredibly," Andrew agreed.
Jessica grinned. "Oh, this is good. Or, well, it could mean something good. I just, have to check a few-"
"-Andrew! Jessica! Time to blow out the candles. Come over here!" Hermione called across the lawn.
"C'mon!" Andrew yelled at Jessica and Kara, already running across the grass.
The girls ran after him at full speed.
Two hours later, candles had been extinguished, presents unwrapped, and the party was winding down. People were helping Ron and Hermione clean up the dishes and put away the tables while the youngest of the children were falling asleep where they stood.
"Where are you staying, Gin?" Hermione asked, levitating a stack of dishes.
"Oh, umm, I really hadn't thought about it," Ginny said, a worried look crossing her face.
"Don't worry about it. I'm sure Molly'd love to have you at the Burrow. I'd invite you to stay here, of course, but I'm full up! Both Bill's and Charlie's families are staying here. Well, minus the kids. All of them from about eight—Charlie's daughter, Shelby—and up stay over in the family room at the Burrow. They make it like a big party. Lots of cocoa, I hear. Kara should have fun with them.
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, okay, that sounds good. I'll go talk to Mum."
Hermione waved her away.
Ginny found Mrs. Weasley sitting on the steps of the porch. "Hey, Mum?" Ginny questioned, talking a seat next to her.
"Yes, Ginny dear?" Molly answered.
"Um, well, I kind of promised Mione that I'd stay for Weasley Week or whatever-" Molly chuckled at this "-but I didn't realized that you all stayed here and at the Burrow, so I was wondering if Kara and I-"
"-could stay at the Burrow? Of course, dear, you're more than welcome."
Ginny gave her mother a hug. "Thanks. I'm so in over my head here, Mum."
"Well that's to be expected, running off like you did."
"Well, I know, but I just didn't think it would be this hard."
"You'll come through with flying colors, Gin, you always have." Molly grabbed Ginny in a bone crushing embrace.
"Mum, about tonight, don't expect Kara and I immediately; we have to go home and get some clothes and things. We weren't exactly prepared for this." Ginny gave a tired smile.
"That's fine. Arthur and I were just about to head home. I think that Charlie's oldest, Julie, just went over there with Bill's daughter, Shelby and Percy's son, James. They'll be setting up the kids' room, moving furniture and such. Just come on over when you're ready. You'll be staying in your old room."
"Thanks Mum."
"Molly, are you ready to go?" Arthur said, popping his head out the door.
"Yes, yes, coming dear," Molly said, pushing herself off the steps, "I'll see you in a bit, Ginny."
Ginny smiled and waved. When they'd shut the door again, Ginny set off to find Hermione again.
"Hey, can I give you a hand with that?" Ginny asked, spotting Hermione dangerously balancing three large stacks of plates in her arms. Hermione grinned thankfully and handed Ginny one of the stacks.
"Thanks, Gin," Hermione said as they started inside, "So, everything all set for you to stay at the Burrow?"
Ginny nodded. "Yep, Mum said it was no problem. It might be crazy with all those kids, though," she said, a tiny bit of nervousness creeping into her voice.
Hermione laughed and nodded. "Crazy, but fun."
Ginny grabbed the door for Hermione and the scene that presented itself looked like a disaster area. Dishes were piled on the table, tilting precariously to this way and that. There were more dishes piled in the sink, and leftover food on the kitchen counters. All around, children were bidding their parents good night, and there was a steady stream of people disappearing into the emerald flames of the fireplace. Hermione let out an exhausted sigh as she set her piles of dishes next to the sink.
Ginny did the same. "Do you want me to stay and help clean up?" she offered genuinely.
Hermione smiled and shook her head. "Nah, that's what husbands are for," she said with a wink.
"Huh?" Ron said from across the crowded room.
"Nothing, babe," Hermione yelled back.
"Mum?" Jessica asked suddenly. Ginny hadn't even noticed when she walked up.
"Yes, honey?" Hermione asked sweetly.
"Do I feel like I have a fever?"
Hermione's brow furrowed as she felt her daughter's forehead. "You don't feel like it. Do you feel sick?"
Jessica put on her sweetest pity-me face. "My stomach really hurts." Ginny could see right through the girl's act, but only because she'd had years of practice. This girl had talent.
"Oh, maybe you ate too much cake."
"Yeah, that's probably it. It'll probably get better once I get over to Grandma and Grandpa's house." Jessica turned as though to walk toward the fireplace.
"Oh no you don't. If you're not feeling well, a late night of sweets isn't going to do anything to help. I'm afraid you'll just have to sleep here."
Jessica's face fell. "Oh, but Mum, I can't miss a night of Weasley Week! I'll miss all the fun!"
"I'm sorry, dear, I really am, but I can't have you getting sick. No arguments."
"Fine." Jessica turned on her heal and stormed into the living room, but Ginny saw satisfied smile as she turned the corner.
"Oh, I do hope she's not getting ill," Hermione said worriedly in the way only a mother can.
Ginny cracked a smile, "Oh, I'm sure she'll be feeling just great by morning."
"What was the point of that?" Andrew demanded as Jessica turned the corner, "You'll miss all the fun!"
"Oh that's what you think," Jessica said dismissively, "You know Mum and Dad, they'll put magic to work cleaning up this mess and head for bed. I'll have just enough time to do find what I need for research from Mum and Dad's old trunks and then as soon as everyone's in bed, I'll leave a note saying something to the effect of that I woke up very early and decided to head on over to the Burrow and to look for me there, then I'll pull out some of Fred and George's wonderful floo powder and pop on over to the Burrow. They'll never know."
"Genius, couldn't have done better myself."
"Well, of course not."
Andrew glared at his sister.
"Kara, we need to get home and grab some clothes!" came a yell from Ginny from the other room.
"I'd better go, guys. I'll see you at the Burrow." Just saying the words made Kara excited. She couldn't wait. Andrew and Jessica had told her all about all the fun they had and it sounded like a blast, "I'm coming, Mum!"
"Yeah, and I'd better head on over to the Burrow before anyone gets suspicious," Andrew said.
"All right, see you in a bit."
"Feel better, Jessica!" Kara yelled as she rounded the corner to the kitchen.
"Yeah, Jess, I'll see you in the morning!" Andrew yelled.
Ginny was waiting by the fireplace. As Kara was walking up she grabbed some floo powder and through it in the fireplace. "Ginny Weasley's Apartment!" she said loudly, disappearing into the fireplace.
"See ya, Andrew," Kara said, before following the same steps as her mother.
Well, there it is… I haven't actually started on chapter 6 yet, because I just got home and then there was HBP that I just couldn't pass up. I'll get working on it this evening. Pleez review!