A/N: thank you to everyone who reviewed!
Stressygirl: thanks! You're my first reviewer…your review was soo nice!
Semi-CrazyWithaLittleWeirdness: haha I like your name! Thanks!
SuperGirl0026: umm I don't think Harry's jealous per say; he barely knows how he feels himself, all he knows is that something wrong…but thanks for your review!
Luckycharms445: you're right, Harry hasn't seen Ginny for a while, it'll be explained more later on…like in this chapter…
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Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize except the plot, Steven, and Warrick Ellers...J.K. Rowling owns everything else.
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"Harry, can you pass the potatoes?" Ron called over from across the table, his mouth full of chicken.
Harry reached over, soundlessly, and passed the food over. His mind was spinning. Ginny was here, at the Burrow, after nearly three years! Where had she been and why was she back now, were just a few of the questions Harry could barely keep to himself. Since the Weaslys and Hermione were just going on with dinner as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, Harry felt it would be wrong to ask outright.
Harry involuntarily glanced down the tabletowards the only daughter of Mr. And Mrs. Weasly. She was happily helping herself to some chicken while chatting with Steven.
Steven.
Even the name sounded so awkward in his mind. Steven was an obviously good-looking guy, with blonde hair, which wasstraighter and more elegant looking than Harry knew his own would ever be. Steven's aqua eyes held more happiness and innocence than Harry's. Steven was all-together the exact opposite of everything Harry was. And he was the one who looked perfect beside Ginny.
"Harry!" Harry felt an urgent whisper bring him back to reality.
"What?" Harry said looking around bewildered. He finally found the source of the voice to be Hermione, who was looking at him concerned.
"You okay?" she whispered.
"Yeah, why?" Harry asked slightly annoyed at Hermione's inquiry.
"Nothing," Hermione said quickly, "You just seem out of it. You're barely eating!"
Harry turned back to his plate and shoveled some food into his mouth. "Happy now?"
Hermione nodded still looking extremely unconvinced.
"So, Ron," Ginny asked suddenly, causing the entire room to look up. "When're you going to get a real job?"
Everyone laughed while Ron turned red and mumbled something that sounded like, "Bloody sisters".
Ginny caught Harry's eyes and smirked mischievously. Harry felt his insides, which had been twisted and pulled into so many ways, unwind a little. He grinned a little at Ron. This simple joke had relaxed the entire room in a matter of minutes. It was one of the many things Harry loved about Ginny-she could diffuse the tension.
Dinner was over soon enough, as were the three types of delicious deserts Mrs. Weasly had made. Everyone waddled into the living room to have some hot cocoa and chat before time for bed.
It was just as everyone was comfortable that Harry felt himself being pulled aside.
"Harry, dear, may I ask you a favor?" Mrs. Weasly asked. When Harry nodded Mrs. Weasly continued, "Can Steven sleep in your room? I mean if you don't mind..."
Harry was taken aback. He hesitated for a second before reassuring Mrs. Weasly, "Of course! Yeah, I'll just crash with Ron."
"Thank you, Harry," Mrs. Weasly replied smiling.
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"So," Ron said as he got ready for bed, "What do you think?"
Harry, who was making a makeshift bed on the floor next to Ron, stopped before replying to Ron. "Think of what?"
"Steven!" Ron hissed.
"He's an okay bloke…dunno…don't know him well enough to say anything now do we?" Harry said confidently, proud that he could muster up such an unbiased answer.
Ron snorted, "Since when were you so un-opinionated about someone?"
"Since "un-opinionated" became a word apparently," Hermione said coming into their room.
"MIONE!" Ron yelled.
"What, Ronald?" Hermione gave an exasperated sigh.
"You should've at least knocked! We could've been changing y'know!" Ron choked out.
Harry grinned and Hermione rolled her eyes, "Oh stop, Ron. Grow up will you? We're twenty-two, NOT thirteen…although at the moment it seems as if you were much more mature then!"
Harry snickered but found himself being hounded again, now by two people, "So Harry, what do you think of Steven?"
"WHY does it matter what I think of him? Shouldn't you ask Ginny?" Harry said. "But anyway, I already told you. Now excuse me, I'm off to bed."
Hermione and Ron exchanged looks, and the last thing Harry remembered before falling asleep was Ron and Hermione talking in hushed tones while looking at him.
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It was early summer. Harry could make out the Burrow, glowing in the sunset, and he suddenly felt someone tug on his arm.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Harry?" Ginny's voice was soft and filled with so much sadness.
"Yes, Gin," Harry heard himself say, "I have to. It's the only way to stop him."
He saw tears spring up in Ginny's eyes. "B-but…"
"No, Ginny," he said pulling her into a hug, "I can't not go. What will happen to all those families of people he's killed?"
"But what about YOU? Don't you realize what will happen if you get killed?" Ginny cried.
"I won't die," Harry said to Ginny, pulling her closer, "I promise."
That was seventh year. Harry had set out to finish the war, and had succeeded, but had lost the one thing that he had been fighting the war for. Ginny.
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Harry woke up suddenly. He cringed. That was one of the worst memories he had; worse than any dementor memory. Harry reached for his watch. Only 4:30. Realizing that he would never be able to get back to sleep, Harry crept out of bed and made his way to the kitchen.
As he neared the kitchen he was surprised to see the light still on. He entered it and stopped. There was Ginny, looking wide awake, sitting around with a mug of steaming hot chocolate. Harry was about to turn around and go back when he felt Ginny look at him.
"Hey Harry," Ginny called out, "Couldn't sleep?"
Harry faced Ginny, "Um...yea."
Ginny sighed a bit, "Me neither. Want some hot chocolate?"
Harry nodded, realizing how awkward this scene was and at the same time, how normal it was.
"Aren't you going to ask me?" Ginny asked, her back to Harry as she got out another mug.
Harry was startled, "Ask you what?"
Ginny smiled as she turned around and handed Harry the hot chocolate, "About Steve…?"
Harry forced a smile and took a sip before answering, "What should I ask about him? He looks like a good kid."
Ginny's expectant face crumbled a bit but she smiled again after a moment, "I'm glad you approve."
She took her mug over to the sink and put it in gently.
"Good night, Harry," She called as she exited the room.
Harry sighed. What had just happened?
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Harry awoke the next morning to the smell of bacon.
"It's time for food already?" he heard a groggy voice next to him. Harry smiled; his best friend never stopped thinking about food.
Harry climbed out of bed and started to get ready.
"Ron! Harry! Get down here for breakfast!" the strong voice of Mrs. Weasly rang out. Harry and Ron grinned at each other and ran downstairs.
Everyone was seated soon as Mrs. Weasly eagerly served breakfast. Steven, who hadn't talked much the previous night, was deep in conversation with Mr. Weasly and Hermione about inflation in the muggle world versus the magical world. It turned out that Steven was half and half so he could help Mr. Weasly out in understanding the muggle ways. Ron was eagerly talking to Mrs. Weasly. Harry looked around the room only to find Ginny looking right at him.
It startled him. Having Ginny look at him like that. There was a peculiar appearance about her. Like as if she was dying to ask something but something else was holding her back. Harry watched her shoot a look towards Steven and then look back over at Harry. What the heck was going on?
Suddenly an owl flew through the window. It was Hedwig, holding a letter from Hogwarts. Harry, Hermione, and Ron all frowned. Ginny looked up curiously and Steven didn't actually notice.
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A/N: Sorry this took so long to update…I wrote this chapter months ago but couldn't figure out what to do with it or if it was good enough. Umm you tell me? Aka REVIEW PLEASE!