Title: You're My Bertie Botts
Summary: It's the fifth summer holiday for the trio and spending it with a troubled Ginny at The Burrow leaves Harry wondering about the littlest Red Head and Hermione about the next oldest. A light fluffy HG RH
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters, otherwise I would be married with children, have blonde hair, and be pretty darn rich!
Chapter Seven: Red Meet Luna
Author Notes: Thank you so much for your reviews and I can't thank you enough for not giving up on me yet! It means a lot. Well here's the next chapter, updated quite quickly considering! Hope this maybe meets up to expectations! Keep r&ring! Cheers!
...As Hermione slipped her hand into Ron's, her concentration was elsewhere and was completely unaware of the excited pair behind a nearby tree giving each other an enthusiastic high-five! ...
Harry and Ginny quickly made a silent agreement not to disturb the newly formed couple; they were worried that if Ron's face got any redder, it may actually explode! So moving as quietly as they could, the pair tiptoed out of the gardens, through the parlour and out onto the busy streets of Diagon Alley.
"So where d'you want to go?" said Harry, lifting his head and letting the sun hit his face. Ginny gazed at him, her light eyes deep in thought. Harry, noticing her out of the corner of his eye, turned to look at her. "What?" he asked. Ginny just shrugged, taking her eyes off him and smiled slowly. She opened her mouth to reply but her words were caught in her throat and her jaw dropped slightly. "What?" Harry asked, this time in concern. He followed her shocked expression and his eyes locked on a young couple, only a year younger than him. He recognised them but couldn't put a name to the face.
"Michael..." Ginny whispered, her face was pale and she looked like she was ready to faint. Harry propped a hand on her back and she leant into him. They watched the couple who were giggling over a cone of chips. Ginny's ex took a chip from the cone the girl was holding and placed it flirtatiously in her mouth. The girl swallowed the chip and kissed him passionately. Ginny gripped the bottom of Harry's jumper so hard her knuckles turned white. Harry stroked her back with his thumb in an attempt to calm her down, she shivered slightly but her eyes never left Michael Corner. The empty cone was dropped on the floor as the girl flung her arms around Michael's neck, pulling him closer, her lips never leaving his.
As they broke away Michael looked up, his hands placed below the girls waist, and spotted Ginny. He smiled seductively and his lips formed a small pout. He nudged his girlfriend, who Harry suddenly recognised as Luna Lovegood, and they both stared at him and Ginny. The couple started to walk towards them and Ginny winced slightly, her eyes brimming and she moved the grasp on Harry's jumper to his hand. Luna eyed Ginny dirtily, her eyes rolling up and down the red head's petite body. Ginny's grip on Harry's hand tightened and she bit her lip nervously.
"Hey Red." Michael cooed, his arm slung over Luna's shoulder.
"Don't call me that." Ginny murmured to her feet.
"Aw sorry," Michael mocked. "Does it bring back memories of the good times we had? And the good times you'll never have again?"
"We had no good times," Ginny stated spitefully, her ears tinged pink.
Michael let out a small chuckle, "Ha, you didn't say that at the time! If it was me saying that, fair enough, because I really didn't enjoy our time together. I was way too good for you; you were just a stubborn little cow."
Ginny's face glowed crimson and she struggled to reply. Harry, seeing the pain in her face, strode forwards. "Don't you dare talk about Ginny like that, she didn't deserve you and you know that! She's an amazing person and I don't know how you could see otherwise."
"Harry please don't." Ginny stuttered, pulling him back by his hand.
Harry turned to her, leaning forwards, his face only inches from hers. "Don't listen to him, Gin. He's just angry that he let you go."
"Whatever Potter!" Michael laughed. "Angry that I let that frigid red head go? You've got to be kidding me?"
Unaware that he was doing so, Harry flung out his wand and pressed it against Michael's chest, Luna let out a scream and several people around them stopped dead in their tracks. "You better shut your fat mouth now or I'm gonna make you wish you were dead!"
"Harry!" Ginny squealed, casting Expelliarmus, forcing his wand to shoot out of his hand.
Michael continued to laugh, "Nothing to see here," he waved off the small crowd surrounding them. "You be careful what you're saying Potter, and who you're sticking up for!"
"Leave Harry alone!" Ginny spoke up, her voice was strong and Harry could tell she was on the edge of a Weasley temper. "This has nothing to do with him, it's between me and you."
"Fine then Red," Michael growled, "But I don't want to have to prise you off me when you come rushing back for more because you're so lonely without me!"
"I'm doing fine without you Michael," Ginny snarled, "In fact I'm better than ever! I'm moving on perfectly!"
"Perfectly until you realise you've got nobody." Said Michael, starting to turn away.
Even Harry felt hurt by Michael's words and before he could stop himself, an idea rushed through his head and he called out, "Who said she had nobody?"
Michael span back round, Luna stopped fiddling with her hair and Ginny looked Harry directly in the eye, trying to figure him out. "What do you mean?" Michael sneered.
Harry slipped an arm round Ginny's waist and drew her into his chest. Ginny quickly tagged onto his plan and buried her head into his neck, still glaring at Michael, who stood stunned for a few seconds, then frowned. "I don't believe you, you're just trying to 'make me jealous', like that'll work." Luna laughed and Michael smirked, but there was worry in his expression, as if he didn't want to believe it.
Frustrated that it wasn't working, Harry smiled sarcastically at Michael before placing his other hand on Ginny's other hip, bringing her to face him. He breathed deeply and thought of all the risks involved in what he was about to do, but they were all risks he was willing to take. Ginny raised his eyebrows at Harry, oblivious to what he was thinking. Harry flicked his eyes from her tear sparkling eyes to her mouth, eyes, mouth, before leaning in.
As his lips bumped Ginny's he felt a spark, not the 'oh-my-god-what-am-I-doing' spark he had with Cho, but the 'why-haven't-I-done-this-before' spark. Ginny didn't react at first, her arms by her side; she stood there while Harry gently kissed her mouth. Then, her four years worth of crushes came flooding back and she traced her hands up Harry's chest and onto his face. Harry pulled her next to him, closing the gap between their bodies and smiled as Ginny started to kiss him back. He was desperate to see Michael and Luna's reactions, but as his lips melted into Ginny's he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes.
Michael made a disgruntled noise and Harry could here him storming off, calling Luna behind him. Harry laughed softly into Ginny's mouth; she suddenly froze and pulled her face away from his.
"Harry wait..." she whispered, moving a hand down to the top of his chest. Harry shushed her and leant forwards, pressing his lips against hers once more. Ginny tried to move away but Harry held her so tight she couldn't, she sobbed lightly, pushing him. A yell from behind them startled Harry and he broke away, he glanced quickly at Ginny who broke into tears, but before he could become confused, a hard tug at Harry's jumper sent him falling to the floor.