Disclaimer: I own nothing except for the plot, which makes me sad, but happy that someone came up with this series so that I can keep myself entertained by making stories with the characters. Anyways, here's chapter three.
Chapter 3: Don't Do Anything Stupid
Christmas had come and gone. Personally, Ginny thought that even though this Christmas wasn't as good as the ones with the past loved ones, it was still enjoyable without the stress of Voldemort lurking around.
Mostly everybody loved their gifts (Ron was expecting the new Chudley Cannons bathrobe, because apparently, it would "Boost his spirits in the morning." He got a scarf hand knitted by Mrs. Weasley). Ginny really liked her haul from her family and Harry this year.
From Bill, she got a custom made fang tooth earring like his, except this one had Ginny's name engraved on both. When she opened the box she was absolutely astonished by how neat and precise it was. She hugged Bill tightly and moved onto the next present.
The next was from Charlie. He got her a necklace with different dragon scales on it, and each of them had a letter on it that spelled out "WEASLEY." Ginny examined it and saw that all the scales were really shiny and had a unique color to them. She hugged Charlie and whispered, "This is awesome," in his ear and moved onto the next brother's present.
Percy was after Charlie. At first, Ginny was expecting him to give her a book about how the Ministry was the place to go, or how to study patiently, something like that.
However, Percy gave her nothing Ministry-related. Instead, he gave her brand new chaser gloves with the words "#1 Weasley Quidditch Player," on it.
At first, Ginny could not help but gape at the gift. After all, Percy hadn't given her anything non-Ministry in about 5 years. While she gave him an awkward hug, Ron, Charlie, and George pouted in the background.
Moving on, she came to George's gift. Of course, now that the shop was running, she got a huge haul from their new products. She didn't bother to read the names, but decided to test them out later on Ron. Ginny hugged George and whispered in his ear, "We're totally gonna prank Ron later, right?" Her response was a nod when nobody was looking.
After George was Ron. Being Ron, he wasn't the greatest at giving girls gifts. But this year, he must have had a change in brain gears or something, because when she saw the necklace Ron gave Hermione, which was a diamond heart with a gold outline, she was very curious to see what he got her.
When she opened the small box (already assuming it was jewelry), Ginny gasped. Ron had gotten her a beautiful charm bracelet that was customized just for her. One charm had the Holyhead Harpies logo on it, another had a quaffle, and another had the words "Weasley" on it. She hugged her youngest older brother and moved on to her parents' gift.
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were experts at what to give their children each year. And this year, since Ginny was studying for her N.E.W.T.s, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley got her a quill that was charmed to circle any mistakes after she was done writing an essay or study notes. She hugged her parents gratefully and told them that the quill could literally save her life.
Hermione's gift was books. Of course, because she was Hermione Granger. Ginny smiled at her and shook her head as Hermione rolled her eyes and smiled back.
Ginny had given Harry a gift that she had charmed herself. She gave him a necklace with a circular locket at the end that had pictures of both of them together. It took a few weeks of preparation, but she managed to get it done before the magical holiday.
In return, Harry also got her a gift, which, in her opinion, was the best. When she opened the box, sitting there was a beautiful pair of emerald earrings. They shined a brilliant green in the sunlight. Ginny gaped at them and turned to Harry. He was currently focused on his gift from Hermione, which, by the shape, looked like a series of books.
She tackled him amongst the landscape of wrapping paper, hugging him tight. "I love them! I love them so so much!" she had gushed. Ginny was then pulled in by Harry as her lips attached to his. When Harry pulled back, he whispered, "They were my mother's. I hope you like them. But apparently you already proved you did by tackling m-" and was stopped by Ginny's lips then pressed on his.
"Oh, no no no no no, NO PDA with my sister on Christmas, Potter!" Ron hollered jokingly as he threw a wad of wrapping paper at Harry's head.
In Ginny's opinion, it had been one of the best Christmases yet.
A few months later
Before anyone knew it, it was nearing the end of March. In like a lion, out like a lamb, went the quote, and Ginny could see why. In March's final weeks the weather had been very delightful, but in the previous weeks she had been stuck in the library studying with Hermione because of the harsh rains and winds. Studying with Hermione wasn't the best thing ever, so Ginny was glad that she was let out and could go outside for some fresh air.
One day, Ginny was reading a book on Chaser Quidditch strategies, sitting down, her back against a tree. It was Saturday, the sun was shining, the lake was sparkling from the sunlight, and everybody was chatting, which made the atmosphere very lively. Even though she knew that she should be studying, as Hermione would have scolded her if she was there (luckily, Hermione decided to study in the common room, as it was less crowded inside than outside).
She was skimming a page on different ways to grip the Quaffle with different gloves when someone came from behind and covered her eyes.
"Guess who?"
Even though Ginny knew his voice by heart, and she was super ecstatic to see him after a few month's time, she decided to play along.
"Hmm, well, I'm not sure. Maybe it's Hermione, who deepened her voice and is now going to go tell me to study harder, as if I had not already worn myself out," she replied, closing her book.
Ginny heard Harry laugh as he uncovered her eyes.
"Why, hello there, beautiful," Harry said as he picked Ginny up by the waist and kissed her. She heard several people murmuring and giggling, but she didn't care, as she kissed back. They broke apart and Harry sat down and placed Ginny between his legs. He stroked her hair and said, "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too. Do you know how hard it is to study with Hermione?"
"Yes. I tried to study with her for our O.W.L.s in fifth year and nearly got a broken nose when she got frustrated at me and threw a book."
"Maybe she isn't as soft with boys as with girls, 'cause when we're studying, she'll simply breathe out real deep, close her eyes, open them again and tell me, 'Try again Ginny, we got this.'"
"No fair," Harry pouted.
Ginny giggled and snuggled up against him. He wrapped his arms around her lovingly and sighed.
They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, until Harry broke the silence saying, "I've got something to tell you, love."
"Hmm? What is it?" Ginny mumbled lazily, too distracted by the coziness Harry provided.
"Well, to start, me and Ron got our official Auror titles."
Ginny gasped. "Harry, that's so awesome!" she said, spinning around to kiss her boyfriend in congratulatory. Again, she could hear whispers and giggles, but she still didn't care. Ginny pulled apart as Harry grinned at her. She settled back down in Harry's arms and said to him, "Continue."
Harry laughed. "Unfortunately, since we both did work our arses off and did save the Wizarding World, they allowed us to go on our first mission early, which we normally would have had to wait three weeks to start, because they would have had us in a class teaching us the basic standards of the Auror missions. But since your brother and I did leave for nine months to destroy Voldy, we were allowed to start before the lessons," he finished.
Ginny pondered about this for a while. Harry began to get nervous about what she would think until she said, "When's the mission?"
"It starts in a week. I came here to tell you in-person because just sending you a letter about all this new would have seemed rude," he replied, playing with her long red locks.
"To right, it would," she said, staring up at the sky. "I mean, I won't say I don't trust you, because I do. Just please, please don't do anything stupid."
"Trust me Gin, I won't," he murmured into her hair.
They spent the rest of the day walking around Hogwarts hand-in-hand, having conversations on what they both had been doing while separated from each other. Several people stared at them as they walked by, and the couple caught the one and only Romilda Vane eyeing them as they strolled down the Charms corridor.
Eventually, they ended up behind a tapestry. Harry immediately knew what was going to end up happening behind there. Ginny saw him smile slightly as he said, "I used to dream about this in my sixth year. You and me behind this tapestry, having a lovely snogging session."
"Well, I guess that dream of yours is about to come true," she whispered, then dived in for the first kiss.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
One week later
Professor McGonagall had allowed Ginny and Hermione to Floo back home to the Burrow to say goodbye to both Harry and Ron before they departed for their mission. Ginny was both nervous and sad to see Harry go.
Before Ginny was swept away in the flames, the Headmistress called out to her.
"Miss Weasley, please don't let Potter get himself into trouble," she had said, while writing on some parchment at her desk.
"I'm sorry, Professor, no promises," she grinned, then hollered, "The Burrow!"
With a whirlwind of green, Ginny arrived in the Burrow's grate. She stepped out, swiping soot off of her school robes. She looked up at the scene before her.
Mrs. Weasley was already close to tears. She was always sad to see any of her children go for an indefinite time, even at Hogwarts, when she knew she would see them again.
Her brothers that had escaped from work to say goodbye, which wasn't much, were currently slapping Harry and Ron on their backs, saying things like "Stay safe," and "You're gonna crush 'em." The red heads that were at the Burrow were George and Bill.
Ginny swiped her long red hair out of her face and heard a rush of wind behind her, signaling that Hermione had arrived. She stepped out of the way to let Hermione walk the path to Ron.
While Hermione flung her arms around Ron, Ginny had then spotted Harry, hands deep in his pockets, waiting for her arrival.
Ginny slowly walked to Harry until she was against him. She felt his arms wrap around her in a loving manner as he whispered in her ear.
"I won't be long, Gin. I'll be back before you know it," she heard from his voice in her ear. "It's only a few Death Eaters, and there's a whole team of us. I won't do anything stupid, as you requested."
Ginny lifted her head. She knew she had unshed tears in her bright brown eyes, blinking fast to try and fend them off, but one escaped. Harry gently wiped it off with his thumb and kissed her deeply. He pressed his forehead to hers.
"I love you," he whispered reassuringly.
Ginny was surprised by this. Even after a year and a half of dating, the words "I love you," had never slipped out of her mouth nor Harry's. She just never felt that it was the right time to say it, and apparently Harry was thinking the same thing. But today was that moment where the long waiting of those words was broken.
"I love you too," she whispered back, and kissed him once more.
She stepped back as Harry and Ron walked towards the Weasley fireplace.
"Well, this is it, mate," said Ron, stepping into the grate first. With a handful of Floo powder, he smiled reassuringly at them all, and with one last grin at Hermione, he shouted, "Ministry of Magic, Auror Department!"
One down, one to go, Ginny thought to herself as Harry slowly stepped into the grate second. With the green dust in his hands, he looked around at the red-headed family. His eyes sparkling, he finally asked, "Any advice on living with Ron in a tent for an indefinite period of time?"
"He snores. Loud. Real loud, so beware of that," stated Bill after some thought.
Harry grinned. "Alright, then. Don't you worry, I'll make sure Ron is in safe hands."
The Weasley family smiled at them as Harry gave them one last thumbs up with his free hand. Then after it was a holler of, "Ministry of Magic, Auror Department!"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Hermione! Please! Just give me a break!"
"Unfortunately, Ginny, you can't 'have a break' because your first N.E.W.T. test is in one week, as well as mine, so we have to study this material!"
Ginny and Hermione had been arguing about taking a break for the last ten minutes that they technically were taking a break. Several other students that were in the library had scooted slowly away from the bickering friends, or had retreated elsewhere to study for exams.
It had been about 2 months after Harry and Ron left. Even though both of them had sent letters to Ginny and Hermione saying they were fine, Ginny always felt a pang that something could go wrong. But she soon got distracted by Hermione's studying encouragement.
"'Mione, we have to lower our voices or else Madam Pince will kick us out!"
"Fine!" Hermione huffed, her voice settling at a lower level. "But still, Ginny, you have to understand this material by next week, or els-"
"Miss Weasley! Miss Granger!"
Their argument was stopped by Professor McGonagall hurrying towards them, looking frantic.
"What is it, Professor?" Ginny asked calmly. "Is there something wrong?"
"In fact, there is something wrong, Miss Weasley, so come and follow me, hurry," McGonagall replied sharply, motioning them out the door.
"But what about our stuf-"
"You can retrieve your items later, Miss Granger," McGonagall said, walking faster than Ginny or Hermione had ever seen her. "This is urgent."
"What happened?" asked Hermione, almost afraid to know the answer.
"It is about Potter, that's what happened."
Immediately, Ginny went pale, but still kept her pace up. But all she was thinking was:
God, he did the one thing I told him not to do. He did something stupid.
A/N: It's two in the morning and I have to get up at 8, but I usually get my best ideas at night. Anyways, if you have any feedback, review if you'd like, and have an awesome day.
Cheers, believeinmagic322
"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." - Maya Angelou
