Chapter 3Dinner
I spent the rest of my morning lying in that spot. Harry's essence hung in the air. I turned my head to see the spot where he slept and found strands of his shaggy hair remaining. I rolled over onto the pillow and remained there, my head facing down. I Breathed in deeply and allowed his smell to engulf me. Whatever shampoo he uses, it worked wonders.
I'm interrupted by a knock on the door. I turn back over and see Nicole standing there with a mug full of steaming hot something.
"Come on Gin, It's almost noon. You need to talk to your mother!" she scolded.
"My head still hurts." I complained, feeling like I digressed back to my school days. I remember when Hermione would try to get me out of bed and I would throw excuse after excuse at her. It never worked but always worth a try.
"I thought you might say that. I made you this." Nicole came forward and handed me the mug. For a second I think it's coffee but I take a whiff and almost fall out of my bed.
"What the hell is this? It smells like boiled onions and parsley!" I exclaim, holding the mug as far from me as I can.
"It's a morning hangover potion. It's supposed to help with hangovers." Nicole said as she sat at the end of my med. "I found the recipe in Daily Witch and always kept it for days like this. Now, drink it!" Nicole urged me.
"Fine," I sigh in return, I plugged my nose and brought the mug to my mouth, taking the tiniest of sips. I felt the hot liquid wash down my throat and send a warm sensation through my arms. It actually doesn't taste that bad. I remove my fingers from my nose and get the full taste of the potion.
"Geez Nic! It tastes like horse piss." I say, almost spilling the potion on the floor.
"And how would you know what horse piss tastes like?" she retorted, "Just drink it and when your done you are calling your mother." and with that Nicole walks out of the room. I continue to sip the foul tasting and smelling drink, though I did "accidentally" spill some of it in a near by plant. Reluctantly, I drag myself out of bed with my comforter wrapped around me. As soon as I take a step out of the room, I'm blinded with a bright flash of light. Once the spots in front of my eyes had died down, I saw Nicole had a camera in her hand.
"There, that should be a nice reminder never to get drunk again." Nicole said as she put the camera down.
"Remind me to smack you later. Right now there's two of you and I'm not sure which one is the real you." I say as I make my way to the couch. As soon as I plop down, Nicole throws the floo powder bag in my lap.
"Now." She insisted.
"How do I look?" I ask with concern. Even though I slept with the man my mother has considered a 7th for numerous years, I don't have to look the part.
"Nothing a brush can fix" She says as she tosses a brush beside me. After a few strokes, my hair is as tamed as it was going to get. With a deep breath, I kneel in front of our small fireplace and sprinkle some of the Floo Powder in the flames. In a moment, the fire had turned into an emerald green. I closed my eyes and prepared myself for my mother's reaction. I knew she was upset when I first upped and left but her letters always sounded happy. They sounded like she glad I was making it on my own and being successful in such a competitive city. Could it have been a façade my mother created to fool me?
Well, I was going to find out. With another deep breath, I stuck my head inside the emerald green flames and yelled "The Burrow." The flames swirled around me and for a moment I thought I really was going to be sick. I closed my eyes and felt the swirling slow down. I opened my eyes and saw the living room of The Burrow.
Nothing has changed. The couches were in the same potion and still had the same homemade covers my mum knitted. I loved it. The home still looked like a wizard family still in habited it.
"Mum?" I yell into the large house but no one answered. "Hello? Anybody there?"
"Hello?" came a voice from the kitchen. Soon I see a much older Fred Weasley walk into the room. He still had shaggy red hair and freckles covering every inch of his face. He did not gain nor loose any weight, he still looked the same. "Gin?"
"Fred! I'm back in town! Where's mum?" I ask enthusiastically. Fred kneels in front of the fire and I can see more closely now. He looked tired and warn out. I wonder what's wrong with him briefly until his face breaks out into a toothy grin.
"She went to Diagon Alley to go get some things. Her and dad having a dinner party tonight; Harry has some news to tell us. Where the hell are you? I don't hear from you anymore!" he asked, looking at me up and down.
"I'm back in England, I got a job transfer over here." I told him. I could easily feel Nicole's watching me as I talked with my brother. "Listen, what time does the party start?"
"6 on the dot, why?" Fred inquired.
"Ok, don't tell mum I rang. I'll make a surprise appearance tonight. See you then." I reply.
"Wait, Gin. You should kno-"but it was too late, I had already pulled my head out of the fire. Suddenly, I felt excitement ring through me about tonight. Though I dreaded it, I really loved my family and I wanted to see them. Though seeing Harry after what happened last night is doing to be slightly, well, awkward. I'll deal with it; I just want to spend a night at home with my family.
"So, what's going on?" Nicole asked, unpeeling a banana while sitting on the couch. "Was your mom not home?"
"Nope, went to Diagon Alley." I say as I stand up and sit next to her. "She's having a dinner with Harry at 6 and guess who is going."
"Congratulations, I could never do that." Nicole said taking a bite out of her banana.
"Do what? Go see my parents?" I chuckle as I grab my comforter and head back to my room.
"No, seeing the guy you just had sex with while totally pissed the night before." Nicole said bluntly. That's what I love about her; she would never hold back anything. So blunt and ... well, blunt.
"Well, if you put it that way." I say as I lean against my doorway, "Harry and I are adults. We can handle this in a complete adult manner." Nicole sighs in return and smiles. Well, at least, I hope I can handle it in a complete adult manner.
- - -
"Nic! Stop fidgeting! You look fine." I whisper at Nicole as we walk up the front lawn to my mother's front door. I continued to watch as Nicole tugged on a t-shirt I lent her. "Stop it or you'll wrinkle it."
"I can't help it," she said as she continued to struggle, "this shirt is incredibly uncomfortable. What's it made of?"
"Wool I reckon. Mum made it for me a couple years back. Trust me, she'll like it." I say as I knock on the front. My hands begin to shake as I bring it back down. Why am I so nervous? They're my parents for crying out loud! So what if I hadn't seen them in, what, 5 years. 5 years is nothing.
Please, let it be nothing.
I hear the door unlock and my mother's face appeared in the doorway. The look of joy and surprise was apparent on her face as she swung the door completely open. "Virginia? Virginia Weasley is that you?"
"Hi mum." I say in a weak voice. She nearly bowls me over as she swings her arms around my neck, tangling me in a rib-breaking hug. I feel the wind escape me as I look inside the house and see my father in his usual chair by the fire. I wave casually at him. "Hey dad."
"Ginny," my mother sobs into my shirt, "Ginny, we've missed you so much." She takes a step back and I'm finally able to breath. "Look at you, look at my little witch all grown up. Oh Arthur, she's so beautiful." I watch as my dad takes a couple strides towards me and gathers me in his arm, not as tight as my mother's but just as warm.
"Yes, she is beautiful." My dad says taking a step back and I detect a small glimmer of a tear in the corner of his eye.
"Who's your friend, Gin?" my mother inquires, smoothing out the wrinkles in her housecoat.
"Oh this is my flat mate, Nicole. Nicole these are my parents, Molly and Arthur Weasley." I say as I step out of the way.
"Nice to meet you." Nicole replied sweetly. She held out her hand but instead of a handshake, she received another rib-crushing hug, complimentary of my mother.
"Nice to meet you, dear. Welcome to the family." Mum squealed while holding Nicole. My dad had to pry her away once he noticed the color from Nicole's face fading. "Excuse me dear. I'm a bit excited. Oh! Where are my manners? Come in, come in." Mum said hurriedly. Tossing her knitting things into a near by basket. I love this house. It was so country, so un-manufactured. Not even Louis Vuitton could duplicate my mother's couch covers or Martha Stewart's meatloaf can match my mum's. With a little fire crackling and the smell of dinner drifting through the air, the feeling of finally being home set in.
"Arthur, will you get two more plates out." Mum asked my dad and he went out of the room.
"So mom, why are you having dinner with Harry? Is it a special occasion or something?" I inquired as Nicole and I sat down.
"Well, Harry and Kate were coming over to make some type of announcement. No worries, dear, you know there's always room for more company." She said as she waved her hand in the air. An announcement? Announcements were never a good thing, especially when it dealt like telling two adult figures alone. Possibilities began to float through my mind as I stared as the fire.
"Oh. Well, er ..." I hear myself say, wanting to keep away from the uncomfortable silence. "So, mum, how are all the others?"
"As fine as they can be. Fred and Angelina are about to celebrate their 2- year wedding anniversary. They are such a lovely couple, still waiting for my grandchildren from them. Him and George is continuing to run that Joke shop in Diagon Alley, they're about to open up a branch in America. Bill is still single, well with that dreadful long hair I'm not surprised. Let's see, Charlie and Grace are still living in Egypt. Never seen a couple like them, did you know dear," turning to Nicole, "that on their honeymoon they went to Germany on a expedition to study a rare breed of Dragon. It's love, I tell you. Ron and Hermione are still dating, been off and on for 3 years. Such a smart couple." Mrs. Weasley beamed with pride
"I thought Ginny said she had 6 brothers?" Nicole asked and Ginny bit her lip. She had never revealed that Percy died her 7th year. It was never a huge story because of the Daily Prophet's cover up of the gruesome details. Voldemort's assistant, Peter Pettigrew, captured Percy one cold night in December. Because of Percy's high position in the Ministry of Magic as assistant to the Minister of Magic, Peter thought he could torture crucial details out of him but Percy resisted. He was kidnapped and taken to Voldemort's hide out in downtown London. Though, most of the details my family was informed were vague. It took Voldemort three days to kill Percy without gaining a single word out of him. Since the beginning of my fourth year, Percy never reconciled with my parents but that didn't mean they didn't hold his memory with pride.
Before my mother could answer, there was a loud crack outside her door and a knock. "Oh that must be Harry and Kate, excuse me dears. If you'd like, you can make yourself comfortable in the dining room." I nodded quickly, grabbed Nicole's hand and took her quickly into the closed off dining room area.
"An announcement?" I whispered urgently as soon as the door closed. "What kind of announcement?"
"Why do you think I know? I'm just as stumped as you."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked but as Nicole opened her mouth, my dad came in with two glasses of red wine.
"Drinks anyone?" He offered to us.
"Thanks dad. Harry and his, erm, girlfriend are in the living room. They just arrived if you want to go greet them." He nodded and headed straight out of the room. I could hear Harry's voice through the door. I closed my eyes and prepared myself to come face to face with Harry, thinking about the previous night's events.
"Gin, it's OK. It's not a big deal unless you make it one." I heard Nicole's voice reassure me and I opened my eyes. She had already taken a seat at the table with her wine glass in her hand. "It's like you said, its just sex." The next moment, Harry, Kate, My mum and dad walked into the dining room.
"Oh, Hello Ginny." Harry greeted me with a weak smile. I could tell that he was honestly taken back by my presence, my gaze left him and I saw Kate. A scowl was evident on her face.
"Hello Kate." I greeted her with the best smile I could fake. I felt color reach my cheeks and I sipped my drink.
"Ginny." She replied. My gaze fell to the floor as I hear my mother clear her throat.
"Well, Dinner must be done so everyone make themselves comfortable. Arthur, help me bring the food out." My mum said and left the room with my father.
"Ginny, I must thank you for letting Harry sleep on your couch. I can understand how he gets when has too much to drink." Kate said as she took a seat across from Nicole. Nicole looked at me, then at Harry, and took a deep swig of her drink.
"Yes, er, not a problem." I replied cooly and took a deep swig of my drink. "So, I hear you have an announcement to make." I said as I took my seat next to Nicole. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Harry take a seat across from me.
"Oh yes, yes we do." Kate replied with a smile, I glanced over at Harry who looked paler than usually but Kate took no notice. "We've been waiting for a week to announce it, actually. Waiting for the right time, huh Harry?" Kate said, searching through her purse as Harry nodded. He glanced up at me and then down at the ground as I did the same. Nicole saw this and jumped in.
"Kate, that's an absolutely beautiful purse. What kind is it?" Nicole asked with mock interest. Allowing Harry and I to breath.
"Oh, I saw it in Cosmo Witch magazine and had to have it." Kate beamed with pride. Pride over a purse, I tell you.
Well, it was rather a nice purse if I don't say so myself. Oh fuck! I'm supposed to hate her! Stop it Ginny!
"Cosmo Witch? Gin and I write for that magazine. She's current events and I'm fashion." Nicole beamed with pride in return, taking a satisfying sip of her wine.
"Really, that's interesting. Harry, do you remember if we locked the door on our way out?" Kate asked Harry, as she re-glossed her already over glossed lips. Nicole scowled in return. Before Harry could answer, my parents brought in the dinner dishes. My mother had cooked her famous chicken curry.
"Before we start, let us have a toast." My mum said as, as she re-filled Nicole's glass. Everyone in unison raised their glasses, "To Ginny and her friend, Nicole. Welcome back to England."
Everyone clinked glasses but I carefully avoided making contact with Kate's glass.
"To Kate and Harry, may their relationship continue to blossom."
Everyone clinked glasses, I raised mine slightly and took a deep swig.
"And to our Baby." Kate added in with a huge grin on her face. I choked on my wine and quickly spit it back in my glass.
"Oh my goodness! Congratulations! I knew it, I told you Arthur. She was glowing." My mother jumped out of her seat and nearly mauled Kate who was grinning like an idiot.
"That's not all." I cursed under my breath as Kate said these words. "We're getting married." The color faded from my face as I looked at Harry, he positively looked like he wanted to die at that moment. I slept with a man who was engaged.
AND WAS GOING TO HAVE A BABY!
"A wedding? Oh my!" She said, hugging Kate tighter before moving over Harry.
"We want it in three months though, we want to move in and settle before the baby comes. I'm only a month pregnant."
"Of course dear, of course." My mother ringed with pleasure.
"Congratulations, old boy." My father said, leaning over the table and shaking Harry's hand.
"T-Thanks." Harry muttered, taking a drink of his water. From the looks of it, he wished he could drown in it.
"Well," Nicole piped in. She looked half as calm as I wanted to be. "I'll drink to that." She lifted her glass, and downed the rest of her wine and I did the same.
We arrived home much later that night. As we entered the door, I threw my purse on a near by chair and fell onto the couch.
"I can't believe he's going to get married." I said as my words became muffled into the pillow. I could hear Nicole sigh heavily and sit on a chair near by.
"I didn't see this coming." I hear her simply saying.
"Perfect timing huh?" I turn my head and watch the slowly dying amber's in the fireplace. I found myself wishing I could die along with them. "I'm such a fucking idiot."
"Don't blame yourself, Gin. It's Harry's fault, he should've controlled his acti-"
"But we were both plastered last night. It's both of our faults for drinking so much." I state and we lapse into silence. As I was about to get up and go to bed, I hear a soft tapping on a near by window. I look over the back of a couch and see an aged Hedwig sitting on the window ceil.
"Wow, what a beautiful Owl." Nicole said getting up and opening the window. Hedwig soared past her and fluttered onto of my knee.
"It's Harry's owl, Hedwig." I say as I untied a scroll attached to her leg. She affectionately nipped at my fingers before soaring out the window once more. I opened the letter and read it to myself.
Ginny,
We need to talk. Meet me at the Three Broomsticks tomorrow at 3.
-Harry
"What does he want?" Nicole asked as a yawn escaped her mouth.
"He wants to meet me tomorrow, says we need to talk." I say putting the letter down on the coffee table. I got up and stretched my arms; trying to ignore the inquiring look Nicole was sending me.
"Well?" She asked with curiosity.
"Well what?"
"Are you going to meet him?"
"Nic, he's one of my oldest friends." I say as I walk over to my bedroom door. "Of course I'm going to go." I stood in the doorway and watched Nicole smirk.
"You're a brave girl, Ginny Weasley." She told me with a smile.
"Yeah, sometimes I like to think so. Night Nicole." I said and closed the door.
I spent the rest of my morning lying in that spot. Harry's essence hung in the air. I turned my head to see the spot where he slept and found strands of his shaggy hair remaining. I rolled over onto the pillow and remained there, my head facing down. I Breathed in deeply and allowed his smell to engulf me. Whatever shampoo he uses, it worked wonders.
I'm interrupted by a knock on the door. I turn back over and see Nicole standing there with a mug full of steaming hot something.
"Come on Gin, It's almost noon. You need to talk to your mother!" she scolded.
"My head still hurts." I complained, feeling like I digressed back to my school days. I remember when Hermione would try to get me out of bed and I would throw excuse after excuse at her. It never worked but always worth a try.
"I thought you might say that. I made you this." Nicole came forward and handed me the mug. For a second I think it's coffee but I take a whiff and almost fall out of my bed.
"What the hell is this? It smells like boiled onions and parsley!" I exclaim, holding the mug as far from me as I can.
"It's a morning hangover potion. It's supposed to help with hangovers." Nicole said as she sat at the end of my med. "I found the recipe in Daily Witch and always kept it for days like this. Now, drink it!" Nicole urged me.
"Fine," I sigh in return, I plugged my nose and brought the mug to my mouth, taking the tiniest of sips. I felt the hot liquid wash down my throat and send a warm sensation through my arms. It actually doesn't taste that bad. I remove my fingers from my nose and get the full taste of the potion.
"Geez Nic! It tastes like horse piss." I say, almost spilling the potion on the floor.
"And how would you know what horse piss tastes like?" she retorted, "Just drink it and when your done you are calling your mother." and with that Nicole walks out of the room. I continue to sip the foul tasting and smelling drink, though I did "accidentally" spill some of it in a near by plant. Reluctantly, I drag myself out of bed with my comforter wrapped around me. As soon as I take a step out of the room, I'm blinded with a bright flash of light. Once the spots in front of my eyes had died down, I saw Nicole had a camera in her hand.
"There, that should be a nice reminder never to get drunk again." Nicole said as she put the camera down.
"Remind me to smack you later. Right now there's two of you and I'm not sure which one is the real you." I say as I make my way to the couch. As soon as I plop down, Nicole throws the floo powder bag in my lap.
"Now." She insisted.
"How do I look?" I ask with concern. Even though I slept with the man my mother has considered a 7th for numerous years, I don't have to look the part.
"Nothing a brush can fix" She says as she tosses a brush beside me. After a few strokes, my hair is as tamed as it was going to get. With a deep breath, I kneel in front of our small fireplace and sprinkle some of the Floo Powder in the flames. In a moment, the fire had turned into an emerald green. I closed my eyes and prepared myself for my mother's reaction. I knew she was upset when I first upped and left but her letters always sounded happy. They sounded like she glad I was making it on my own and being successful in such a competitive city. Could it have been a façade my mother created to fool me?
Well, I was going to find out. With another deep breath, I stuck my head inside the emerald green flames and yelled "The Burrow." The flames swirled around me and for a moment I thought I really was going to be sick. I closed my eyes and felt the swirling slow down. I opened my eyes and saw the living room of The Burrow.
Nothing has changed. The couches were in the same potion and still had the same homemade covers my mum knitted. I loved it. The home still looked like a wizard family still in habited it.
"Mum?" I yell into the large house but no one answered. "Hello? Anybody there?"
"Hello?" came a voice from the kitchen. Soon I see a much older Fred Weasley walk into the room. He still had shaggy red hair and freckles covering every inch of his face. He did not gain nor loose any weight, he still looked the same. "Gin?"
"Fred! I'm back in town! Where's mum?" I ask enthusiastically. Fred kneels in front of the fire and I can see more closely now. He looked tired and warn out. I wonder what's wrong with him briefly until his face breaks out into a toothy grin.
"She went to Diagon Alley to go get some things. Her and dad having a dinner party tonight; Harry has some news to tell us. Where the hell are you? I don't hear from you anymore!" he asked, looking at me up and down.
"I'm back in England, I got a job transfer over here." I told him. I could easily feel Nicole's watching me as I talked with my brother. "Listen, what time does the party start?"
"6 on the dot, why?" Fred inquired.
"Ok, don't tell mum I rang. I'll make a surprise appearance tonight. See you then." I reply.
"Wait, Gin. You should kno-"but it was too late, I had already pulled my head out of the fire. Suddenly, I felt excitement ring through me about tonight. Though I dreaded it, I really loved my family and I wanted to see them. Though seeing Harry after what happened last night is doing to be slightly, well, awkward. I'll deal with it; I just want to spend a night at home with my family.
"So, what's going on?" Nicole asked, unpeeling a banana while sitting on the couch. "Was your mom not home?"
"Nope, went to Diagon Alley." I say as I stand up and sit next to her. "She's having a dinner with Harry at 6 and guess who is going."
"Congratulations, I could never do that." Nicole said taking a bite out of her banana.
"Do what? Go see my parents?" I chuckle as I grab my comforter and head back to my room.
"No, seeing the guy you just had sex with while totally pissed the night before." Nicole said bluntly. That's what I love about her; she would never hold back anything. So blunt and ... well, blunt.
"Well, if you put it that way." I say as I lean against my doorway, "Harry and I are adults. We can handle this in a complete adult manner." Nicole sighs in return and smiles. Well, at least, I hope I can handle it in a complete adult manner.
- - -
"Nic! Stop fidgeting! You look fine." I whisper at Nicole as we walk up the front lawn to my mother's front door. I continued to watch as Nicole tugged on a t-shirt I lent her. "Stop it or you'll wrinkle it."
"I can't help it," she said as she continued to struggle, "this shirt is incredibly uncomfortable. What's it made of?"
"Wool I reckon. Mum made it for me a couple years back. Trust me, she'll like it." I say as I knock on the front. My hands begin to shake as I bring it back down. Why am I so nervous? They're my parents for crying out loud! So what if I hadn't seen them in, what, 5 years. 5 years is nothing.
Please, let it be nothing.
I hear the door unlock and my mother's face appeared in the doorway. The look of joy and surprise was apparent on her face as she swung the door completely open. "Virginia? Virginia Weasley is that you?"
"Hi mum." I say in a weak voice. She nearly bowls me over as she swings her arms around my neck, tangling me in a rib-breaking hug. I feel the wind escape me as I look inside the house and see my father in his usual chair by the fire. I wave casually at him. "Hey dad."
"Ginny," my mother sobs into my shirt, "Ginny, we've missed you so much." She takes a step back and I'm finally able to breath. "Look at you, look at my little witch all grown up. Oh Arthur, she's so beautiful." I watch as my dad takes a couple strides towards me and gathers me in his arm, not as tight as my mother's but just as warm.
"Yes, she is beautiful." My dad says taking a step back and I detect a small glimmer of a tear in the corner of his eye.
"Who's your friend, Gin?" my mother inquires, smoothing out the wrinkles in her housecoat.
"Oh this is my flat mate, Nicole. Nicole these are my parents, Molly and Arthur Weasley." I say as I step out of the way.
"Nice to meet you." Nicole replied sweetly. She held out her hand but instead of a handshake, she received another rib-crushing hug, complimentary of my mother.
"Nice to meet you, dear. Welcome to the family." Mum squealed while holding Nicole. My dad had to pry her away once he noticed the color from Nicole's face fading. "Excuse me dear. I'm a bit excited. Oh! Where are my manners? Come in, come in." Mum said hurriedly. Tossing her knitting things into a near by basket. I love this house. It was so country, so un-manufactured. Not even Louis Vuitton could duplicate my mother's couch covers or Martha Stewart's meatloaf can match my mum's. With a little fire crackling and the smell of dinner drifting through the air, the feeling of finally being home set in.
"Arthur, will you get two more plates out." Mum asked my dad and he went out of the room.
"So mom, why are you having dinner with Harry? Is it a special occasion or something?" I inquired as Nicole and I sat down.
"Well, Harry and Kate were coming over to make some type of announcement. No worries, dear, you know there's always room for more company." She said as she waved her hand in the air. An announcement? Announcements were never a good thing, especially when it dealt like telling two adult figures alone. Possibilities began to float through my mind as I stared as the fire.
"Oh. Well, er ..." I hear myself say, wanting to keep away from the uncomfortable silence. "So, mum, how are all the others?"
"As fine as they can be. Fred and Angelina are about to celebrate their 2- year wedding anniversary. They are such a lovely couple, still waiting for my grandchildren from them. Him and George is continuing to run that Joke shop in Diagon Alley, they're about to open up a branch in America. Bill is still single, well with that dreadful long hair I'm not surprised. Let's see, Charlie and Grace are still living in Egypt. Never seen a couple like them, did you know dear," turning to Nicole, "that on their honeymoon they went to Germany on a expedition to study a rare breed of Dragon. It's love, I tell you. Ron and Hermione are still dating, been off and on for 3 years. Such a smart couple." Mrs. Weasley beamed with pride
"I thought Ginny said she had 6 brothers?" Nicole asked and Ginny bit her lip. She had never revealed that Percy died her 7th year. It was never a huge story because of the Daily Prophet's cover up of the gruesome details. Voldemort's assistant, Peter Pettigrew, captured Percy one cold night in December. Because of Percy's high position in the Ministry of Magic as assistant to the Minister of Magic, Peter thought he could torture crucial details out of him but Percy resisted. He was kidnapped and taken to Voldemort's hide out in downtown London. Though, most of the details my family was informed were vague. It took Voldemort three days to kill Percy without gaining a single word out of him. Since the beginning of my fourth year, Percy never reconciled with my parents but that didn't mean they didn't hold his memory with pride.
Before my mother could answer, there was a loud crack outside her door and a knock. "Oh that must be Harry and Kate, excuse me dears. If you'd like, you can make yourself comfortable in the dining room." I nodded quickly, grabbed Nicole's hand and took her quickly into the closed off dining room area.
"An announcement?" I whispered urgently as soon as the door closed. "What kind of announcement?"
"Why do you think I know? I'm just as stumped as you."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I asked but as Nicole opened her mouth, my dad came in with two glasses of red wine.
"Drinks anyone?" He offered to us.
"Thanks dad. Harry and his, erm, girlfriend are in the living room. They just arrived if you want to go greet them." He nodded and headed straight out of the room. I could hear Harry's voice through the door. I closed my eyes and prepared myself to come face to face with Harry, thinking about the previous night's events.
"Gin, it's OK. It's not a big deal unless you make it one." I heard Nicole's voice reassure me and I opened my eyes. She had already taken a seat at the table with her wine glass in her hand. "It's like you said, its just sex." The next moment, Harry, Kate, My mum and dad walked into the dining room.
"Oh, Hello Ginny." Harry greeted me with a weak smile. I could tell that he was honestly taken back by my presence, my gaze left him and I saw Kate. A scowl was evident on her face.
"Hello Kate." I greeted her with the best smile I could fake. I felt color reach my cheeks and I sipped my drink.
"Ginny." She replied. My gaze fell to the floor as I hear my mother clear her throat.
"Well, Dinner must be done so everyone make themselves comfortable. Arthur, help me bring the food out." My mum said and left the room with my father.
"Ginny, I must thank you for letting Harry sleep on your couch. I can understand how he gets when has too much to drink." Kate said as she took a seat across from Nicole. Nicole looked at me, then at Harry, and took a deep swig of her drink.
"Yes, er, not a problem." I replied cooly and took a deep swig of my drink. "So, I hear you have an announcement to make." I said as I took my seat next to Nicole. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Harry take a seat across from me.
"Oh yes, yes we do." Kate replied with a smile, I glanced over at Harry who looked paler than usually but Kate took no notice. "We've been waiting for a week to announce it, actually. Waiting for the right time, huh Harry?" Kate said, searching through her purse as Harry nodded. He glanced up at me and then down at the ground as I did the same. Nicole saw this and jumped in.
"Kate, that's an absolutely beautiful purse. What kind is it?" Nicole asked with mock interest. Allowing Harry and I to breath.
"Oh, I saw it in Cosmo Witch magazine and had to have it." Kate beamed with pride. Pride over a purse, I tell you.
Well, it was rather a nice purse if I don't say so myself. Oh fuck! I'm supposed to hate her! Stop it Ginny!
"Cosmo Witch? Gin and I write for that magazine. She's current events and I'm fashion." Nicole beamed with pride in return, taking a satisfying sip of her wine.
"Really, that's interesting. Harry, do you remember if we locked the door on our way out?" Kate asked Harry, as she re-glossed her already over glossed lips. Nicole scowled in return. Before Harry could answer, my parents brought in the dinner dishes. My mother had cooked her famous chicken curry.
"Before we start, let us have a toast." My mum said as, as she re-filled Nicole's glass. Everyone in unison raised their glasses, "To Ginny and her friend, Nicole. Welcome back to England."
Everyone clinked glasses but I carefully avoided making contact with Kate's glass.
"To Kate and Harry, may their relationship continue to blossom."
Everyone clinked glasses, I raised mine slightly and took a deep swig.
"And to our Baby." Kate added in with a huge grin on her face. I choked on my wine and quickly spit it back in my glass.
"Oh my goodness! Congratulations! I knew it, I told you Arthur. She was glowing." My mother jumped out of her seat and nearly mauled Kate who was grinning like an idiot.
"That's not all." I cursed under my breath as Kate said these words. "We're getting married." The color faded from my face as I looked at Harry, he positively looked like he wanted to die at that moment. I slept with a man who was engaged.
AND WAS GOING TO HAVE A BABY!
"A wedding? Oh my!" She said, hugging Kate tighter before moving over Harry.
"We want it in three months though, we want to move in and settle before the baby comes. I'm only a month pregnant."
"Of course dear, of course." My mother ringed with pleasure.
"Congratulations, old boy." My father said, leaning over the table and shaking Harry's hand.
"T-Thanks." Harry muttered, taking a drink of his water. From the looks of it, he wished he could drown in it.
"Well," Nicole piped in. She looked half as calm as I wanted to be. "I'll drink to that." She lifted her glass, and downed the rest of her wine and I did the same.
We arrived home much later that night. As we entered the door, I threw my purse on a near by chair and fell onto the couch.
"I can't believe he's going to get married." I said as my words became muffled into the pillow. I could hear Nicole sigh heavily and sit on a chair near by.
"I didn't see this coming." I hear her simply saying.
"Perfect timing huh?" I turn my head and watch the slowly dying amber's in the fireplace. I found myself wishing I could die along with them. "I'm such a fucking idiot."
"Don't blame yourself, Gin. It's Harry's fault, he should've controlled his acti-"
"But we were both plastered last night. It's both of our faults for drinking so much." I state and we lapse into silence. As I was about to get up and go to bed, I hear a soft tapping on a near by window. I look over the back of a couch and see an aged Hedwig sitting on the window ceil.
"Wow, what a beautiful Owl." Nicole said getting up and opening the window. Hedwig soared past her and fluttered onto of my knee.
"It's Harry's owl, Hedwig." I say as I untied a scroll attached to her leg. She affectionately nipped at my fingers before soaring out the window once more. I opened the letter and read it to myself.
Ginny,
We need to talk. Meet me at the Three Broomsticks tomorrow at 3.
-Harry
"What does he want?" Nicole asked as a yawn escaped her mouth.
"He wants to meet me tomorrow, says we need to talk." I say putting the letter down on the coffee table. I got up and stretched my arms; trying to ignore the inquiring look Nicole was sending me.
"Well?" She asked with curiosity.
"Well what?"
"Are you going to meet him?"
"Nic, he's one of my oldest friends." I say as I walk over to my bedroom door. "Of course I'm going to go." I stood in the doorway and watched Nicole smirk.
"You're a brave girl, Ginny Weasley." She told me with a smile.
"Yeah, sometimes I like to think so. Night Nicole." I said and closed the door.
