Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter, not me.
Oh - also, I am going to start putting "L" when I am transitioning times.
Ginny towelled off her still wet hair quickly. She turned around and slipped into the dress.
It was a gorgeous dress. It was a beautiful, flowy, light dress. It was made of smooth, yellow silk and had a simple pink ribbon tied across the slim waist. It was a strapless dress and went to her knees. Flowers decorated the bottom half of the dress and they opened and closed with a pink hue inside. It was simply beautiful. Ginny closed her eyes and tied her ginger hair up in a plait, slipping in a peach pink flower clip.
Finally, she slipped her pearl necklace her father had given her over her pale neck, lightly powdered with make up. And Ginny opened her eyes.
Blush powdered her face and one brush of eye shadow could literally do magic. For the finishing touch, she had applied autumn colored lipstick that she knew would match the suit that Harry had bought.
"Woah." Ginny whispered and twirled for the effect. She sighed in pleasure and pressed her ear against the door. Nothing. Slipping out of the bathroom, she ran to the bedroom and closed the door.
"Damn Ginny." Hermione murmured as Ginny swung around, giddy with excitement. Hermione was speechless with admiration. "Ginny." Ginny laughed.
James was with Fleur, Bill, and Victoire until tomorrow morning. Hermione and Ron had came over, insisting to get them ready. It was with a lot of convincing that Hermione would not stay in the same room as Ginny dressed. But Hermione knew how to do makeup, so she took a shower and then Hermione did her thing.
"Ginny?" A slightly muffled voice came from outside the bedroom. Hermione squealed and lunged for Ginny, tackling her in a hug.
"We will meet you there!" Hermione yelled happily and Ron laughed. She grabbed Ginny's hand and they apparated there, leaving Ginny in a whirl wind. She laughed. So this was the surprise spot.
It was an old Muggle theater, next to a fancy restaurant. An old light up sign advertised "Cinderella". Ginny had heard of the old Muggle movie. Hermione nodded with a small grin on her face, only a fraction of her excitement. Ginny was breathless. There was a snap. The two witches turned.
Harry gasped and instantly felt dizzy. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and for a second, he couldn't think. Hermione ran to Ron and kissed him slowly after whispering 'good job'. Ginny looked down, suddenly shy. He was very handsome, looking smart. His hair still stuck up and the wizard reached to push it down. But Ginny just didn't care and loved that hair. So she ran to him, and tangled her hands in his still-wet hair and just kissed him because she could. There was a pop and the couple was alone. They kissed for what felt like eternity until Harry pulled apart, breathless.
"You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." Harry murmured into her gorgeous chocolate eyes that no amount of makeup could change. Ginny blushed and allowed herself to be led to the restaurant. They grasped hands.
"Party for two. Under the name Potter." Harry told the waitress. She nodded.
"This way, Mrs. and Mr. Potter." Ginny blushed again, but didn't correct her. She led them, not to a normal booth, but to a velvet booth in a private room, only lit by candles.
"Thank you." Harry whispered in a rough voice and Ginny felt her heart leap. He pulled out the chair for her. They ordered their food and started eating. Ginny felt someone staring at her, but the waitress left. She looked up. Harry's glowing emerald eyes sat staring at her.
"What?" She whispered, taking a bite of the spaghetti which was delicious.
"Tell me about James and yourself." Ginny swallowed her bite too quickly and felt a lump in her throat that had nothing to do with the spaghetti.
"Okay. James. I remember the first time he kicked." A tear slid down Harry's cheek unintentionally. "I was sitting at home, alone. Eating dinner. It wasn't good. I am a dreadful cook." Ginny laughed sadly. "And I was sitting there, and I felt it. I didn't think it was real at first. And then he kicked again. And I freaked out and dropped my coffee mug. I still have that stain - or had that stain on the carpet. And then I just waited for hours. And the best part was that I was going to go back to you guys. But I fell asleep. And when I woke, I couldn't." It became too painful for Ginny to continue, so she shoved some spaghetti in her mouth.
"More." Harry begged with quiet eyes. Ginny grinned and they sat that way for the rest of dinner, exchanged stories.
L
It was half past seven by the time they finished.
"The bill?" Harry asked, but the waitress shook her head.
"Please, we never get people like you any more. On the house." And she grinned happily, proud of herself before leaving. Harry smiled and grabbed Ginny's hand. They ran, laughing out of the restaurant. The movie was going to start in two minutes, so they quickly ran in, giggling with delight. The movie started immediately. It was an old Muggle movie, but Ginny fell in love with it. It was called Cinderella. Harry glanced at Ginny, whose wide eyes were glued to the screen. But his eyes were glued to the only thing truly glowing in the room, Ginny. And as the movie ended with a kiss, Harry just grabbed her head gently and kissed her. Ginny was hesitant at first, but soon she kissed back. They walked out of the theater and ran to the beach nearby. Ginny slipped off her flats with a laugh and Harry rolled up his pants. Splashing into the cold water, they stood there. The moonlight lit up their faces perfectly. Harry waded to her and instead of kissing her, just grabbed her hand. They stayed like that for a while, lost in each other's eyes.
L
Ginny had crashed in her bed as soon as they got home. Harry slipped out of his suit and into some pajama bottoms. Ginny, in only a nightgown, lay tucked under the covers, a cascade of ginger hair surrounding her. He sighed in longing, but knew that it was not the right time to join her. So he just laid down on the couch, and for the first time in years, fell asleep happy.
L
"Awww. That is so cute." Fleur crooned. Harry rubbed his eyes blearily and opened them. Some burning smell came from the kitchen and Harry bolted upright.
"Dis is Mummy's woom. And dis is da kitchen." James giggled and ran to his mom. He was showing Victoire around the flat. Ginny was cooking was looked like eggs or pancakes with Bill peering over her shoulder.
"Hey Fleur." Harry rubbed his eyes slowly.
" 'Arry! Good morning! James is so cute." Fleur sighed happily as she watched James and Victoire take turns playing with his stuffed animal stag at Ginny's feet.
"Breakfast!" Ginny turned around. She was wearing a simply cloud blue dress underneath an apron that was splattered with batter. Even in the simplest of clothes, Ginny looked gorgeous. Unaware of Harry's wandering eyes, Ginny set a plate full of pancakes on the table. "Fresh squeezed oranges, pancakes, and cut up apples - oh! Harry, you are awake… " Ginny blurted, blushed, and ran back into the kitchen to grab something even though everything was already on the table. Bill shrugged and grabbed Victoire. Giggling, she scrambled away from the chair, but Bill forced her into it. She squirmed in the high chair. Harry lifted up James who became upset at being torn away from his game.
"No Daddy!" Harry stared enviously at Bill who was masterfully feeding Victoire.
"Yes James." Harry said softly, not wanting to show that he was still a new dad. James beat his little fists against Harry's bare chest. He froze, not wanting to upset James even more, who was wailing and screaming. Now he had everyone's attention. Harry felt warm and soft hands lift James off of him. Ginny grinned and Harry sighed. Longing for something Harry, himself, didn't even understand, Harry ran into the bathroom. James' cries came from the other room and Harry rested his head in his hands. Guilt settled in his stomach.
"Damn Harry. Now you get what being a parent is like." Bill told an upset Harry. He sighed, his words having no effect on the poor man. "Harry, it was never easy. Fleur always had to handle her. Victoire wouldn't even look at me, and when she did, she started crying. Because it took time. Which is exactly what James needs. And maybe Ginny, but I see the way you are with her. And maybe my other brothers don't see, but I think there is no one better than you.
"Bill - how I am supposed to give James time when I don't have any? When will I get to be the dad I have always wanted to be? When will I be part of a family?" Harry felt the lump in his throat grow.
"Harry, I don't know if you, Ginny, and James are a family. I mean, you sure look like one. But even if you think you have no family, we are your family." And with that, Bill got up and left.
L
Harry slammed the door, fuming.
"Potter!" Taylor called furiously, and burst through the closed door. "That is no way to talk to your commanding officer!"
"It is not fair that Frank gets to look into our case and I have to be deported for a mission. That is not fair!" Harry argued, his face red.
"Harry - nothing is fair! Is it fair that I don't even have a child even more?" Harry paused - this was true. Taylor lost his child due to some Death Eaters three months before the Battle of Hogwarts. The poor girl was only three. Harry sighed. "Potter. You will work on this because all in all, it will help you, James, and Ginny. So don't play the family card on me." And with that, Taylor slammed the door, leaving Harry to his paperwork. Harry sighed in obvious distress. Now he had to tell Ginny about his mission. Mission could last anywhere from an hour to five months (that was the longest one). It was entirely unpredictable. Yet, Harry was often chosen to do longer missions because unlike mostly everyone else at the Ministry, he didn't have anyone that he would look forward to coming home to. He did love the Weasley family, but most of the time, they were preoccupied with something or the other. And things had became more and more awkward when Harry always caught his two best friends kissing. So he didn't mind going away. He knew tonight was not going to be good. It was his first mission with Ginny home.
Harry sighed and sat down it get started on his paperwork, but his mind always wandered back to Ginny. Maybe he could promise her another date… With that promise in his head, he got started on his work before his mission tomorrow.
L
Harry sat back, feeling satisfied as he stared at the mound of complete paperwork. He got his coat and got ready to leave when a memo whizzed in, hitting him on the head. Rubbing his head where a small bruise was already forming, he read it.
Harry -
We leave tomorrow at five. Bring nothing expect your Invisibility Cloak and your wand. We can't risk the extra clothes this time.
Taylor
Harry sighed and sent off his paperwork. Usually they could bring suitcases, but sometimes, they went without them. Those were usually the longer missions. They had prepared clothes for them there.
There was nothing Harry could do, so he picked up his cloak and apparated home.
L
The first thing that hit Harry was the smell. The warm draft a delicious meal wafted into the room. Harry sighed pleasantly and dropped his suitcase and cloak off on the chair and practically skipped into the kitchen. What met him was a beautiful sight.
Ginny was standing tip-toed on a tottering stool, searching for spices. James was mixing something in a pot, also standing on a stool.
"Hey!" Harry called over the dishes washing themselves and James ramblings to himself. Ginny turned in surprise and nearly fell off if Harry hadn't caught her. Inside, Ginny swooned. Harry carefully set her down and Ginny grasped the spice triumphantly and ran over to the pot.
"Harry - sit down. James, set the table." James nodded, proud that he was helping his mum. Ginny grinned at him. Harry ran to the kitchen, and just in time as James stumbled in, carrying forks and plates, balanced precariously on one another. Harry leapt up to help him and soon the table was set. Ginny brought in the pot - full of pasta with beautifully seasoned vegetables. The flavor exploded as soon as Harry put it in his mouth. He moaned softly, savoring the meal. Ginny blushed a bright red and bent down to retrieve nothing so Harry would not see.
"So, Harry, er… What's up at the Ministry?" Ginny asked curiously, for lack of anything better to say. Harry swallowed suddenly.
"Welcome to my missions."
Hey guys! Sorry that I have not posted in awhile. Three whole weeks! I had a huge event that happened, but for safety reasons, I cannot tell you all. I have been busy for the past two weeks or so. Anyways, I started a new fanfiction, so there was that. But I think I will continue with this. I will post, again, about a week, but life is busy, so I will try to make it consistent, but I can't promise anything. Thanks!
Also, if you want me to publish these quicker, do you know what helps? Motivation and motivation comes in the form of reviews. So review! No pressure. (;