IWSC Summer Camp Round 8

Cabin: Weasley

WC:1279

Task: Beach Party

Molly Weasley frowned.

"Please, mum," Ginny pleaded. "Besides, Remus and Tonks have already agreed to stay out there with us."

"And it will be just the six of us, Mrs. Weasley," Hermione added.

"And you'll have more room to put all Fleur's family in," Ron tried.

"I don't know," Molly grumbled, uncertainly. "Ginny's not of age and…"

"Five of us are," Harry put in. "Plus, Tonks is an Auror. Remus was one of my parents' best friends, and he was one of our professors. He would never let anything happen to any of us."

"Oh, alright," Molly relented, in exasperation.

Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione shared a smile as they each hugged Molly before running up the stairs to gather their sleeping gear.

Two hours later, the teens sat on the beach overlooking the pond behind the Burrow. The half-moon reflected off the calm water giving the air a peaceful grace. Tomorrow, the chaos would begin. Tomorrow, Bill was getting married to Fleur and most of her family was staying at the Burrow for the wedding. Space for sleeping was limited, so the girls had come up with a solution that would ease the cramped confines of the house and still have fun. They were camping on the beach, and having a little private party.

Harry was sitting four feet away from Ginny as they had agreed but on the same side of the fire. Ron and Hermione were sitting on Ginny's left. Remus was holding Tonks on Harry's right. They were laughing as Remus and Tonks told the teens about their days at Hogwarts. Several times, Harry and Ginny had exchanged looks, both tender, and longing. Ginny could tell Harry was loving hearing about his parents and Sirius, but at the same time it was tearing him up inside. She wanted to hug him, give him comfort. To let him know she would always be there for him.

Remus had just finished another story about the Marauders when Hermione looked over at Harry and Ginny with a huff.

"Alright, you two, out with it!" Hermione demanded.

"What are you on about, Hermione?" Ginny asked, innocently.

"Oh, don't give us that," Ron frowned. "We were locked in that room with you, ya know."

"We plainly heard you call each other 'love', and we saw you holding hands the entire walk to and back from the village," Hermione went on.

"Slytherin snot," Harry hung his head. He looked back up at Ginny. She nodded at him. "Fine. We got back together." Harry held out his hand, Ginny immediately took it. She moved over to sit between Harry's legs with his arms around her.

"This is much better," Ginny sighed. "Back where I belong."

"Back exactly where I want you," Harry whispered in her ear as he smelled her hair.

"You two aren't as sneaky as you thought," Hermione grinned smugly at them. "Even Ron noticed."

"Actually, I think the whole family has had a suspicion since Harry's party," Ron admitted.

"Let them suspect," Ginny challenged. "It's not going to change how we feel."

"Nothing ever will," Harry added before placing a kiss on Ginny's head. She smiled as she leaned back into him.

"One question, though," Hermione looked hesitant. "What about our mission?"

Harry sighed. He looked around at them for a minute, coming to a decision. "We need to change our plans."

"You mean, we need a better plan, mate," Ron spoke up.

"You were thinking about it, too, I take it?" Harry asked. Ron nodded.

"We can't do this alone. We need more help, Harry," Ron stated.

"I'm afraid I agree," Hermione sighed. She looked at Ginny and then Remus and Tonks. "Present company and maybe…"

"Who?" asked Harry.

"Bill and Fleur," she answered. Harry considered for a minute before nodding.

"We need a line of support, too," Ron nodded. "But they don't have to know everything like them," he pointed to Remus, Tonks, and Ginny.

"You thinking Fred and George?" Harry asked. Ron nodded. "Alright."

"What are you three talking about?" Tonks blurted.

"Dumbledore left me a mission," Harry sighed. "But we can't do this alone. But we also have to keep security tight about everything."

"It has to do with stopping Tom, doesn't it, love?" Ginny asked as she turned to look at him. Harry closed his eyes with a nod. Harry opened his eyes when he felt Ginny place a hand on his cheek. He looked deep into her eyes as they took on the blazing look that he so loved to see in them. "I have my own score to settle with him. I'm in, whether mum and dad like it or not!"

"I thought you would be," Harry grinned. "That's part of the reason Hermione suggested this little party."

"And so I could get you two to talk," Hermione pointed to them smugly again.

Harry and Ginny rolled their eyes. They both knew Hermione would never let anything go or escape her notice for long. Tonks giggled, drawing their attention.

"Have you told them yet, Auntie?" Harry asked with an impish grin.

"Told us what?" Ginny looked at Tonks with a raised eyebrow.

"You're gonna be…" Tonks fought not to smile, "an auntie, too!"

"You're…" Ginny sat up quickly, breaking into a huge grin. She jumped up, hugging Tonks tightly.

"What?" Ron asked. "How is Ginny going to be an auntie?"

Hermione reached over, slapping the back of Ron's head.

"Tonks sees Ginny as a little sister," Hermione told him. Ron stared at her, still rubbing his head, looking confused. "Oh, Merlin's sake! She's pregnant, Ronald!"

"Oh," Ron nodded slowly. His eyes bulged as the realization hit him. "OH!"

"Which is why, my next offer is to you, Remus," Harry spoke up. "Ginny is going to be safest with us. But we need training and help getting ready to take NEWTs when this is all over."

"What are you asking, cub?" Remus looked at him shrewdly.

"We need a tutor," Harry answered simply. "Plus, with you and Tonks doing that, Ginny's parents can't argue that she won't be in school."

Remus sat thoughtfully for a minute. "I accept, Harry."

"That gives all of us more incentive to get this over with sooner rather than later," Harry commented.

"What about the trace?" Ginny asked as she sat down with Harry again.

"Well…" Harry trailed off.

"Harry," Ginny looked at him sternly.

"There's two ways around it that I've found," Harry swallowed.

"I'm listening," Ginny prompted him.

"We either sign a…formal…betrothal contract or…" Harry gulped.

"Or?" Ginny asked barely breathing.

"We…um…get married," Harry answered.

Ginny sat stunned, staring at him with wide eyes.

"I love you, Gin," Harry took her hand. "But it's your choice."

Ginny broke into a big grin. "Either way, you're stuck with me, Potter!" Ginny grabbed Harry's neck, kissing him deeply. "I love you, Harry, but mum and dad will never sign the consent form for marriage yet. The betrothal? Leave it to me. I'll talk mum into it."

Harry smiled as he leaned his forehead on hers. "You are all the incentive I need to win this, Gin. And I can't wait until you're Mrs. Ginevra Molly Potter."

"Neither can I," Ginny smiled. She kissed him again.

"Oi! There are other people here," Ron complained.

"And, Ronald?" Ginny turned to look at him. "I can't give my fiancée a kiss?"

"Never mind," Ron frowned as the others laughed.