Chapter Twenty Nine
As the Hogwarts Express began to slow and pull into the station, Hermione took out her wand and tapped the compartment window blinds, they fell gently over the windows, blocking the compartment from view from those on the platform trying to look in for their loved ones. Ginny and Cho understood, they grabbed their things and Hermione said,
"You two go ahead, I just need a moment,"
"Of course," said Ginny, squeezing Hermione's hand.
Cho dragged her trunk out for the compartment, she turned back to help Ginny with hers, and together they carried Hermione's out and stacked it by their own.
Ginny saw Mrs Weasley waving in the distance, "Ginny, Ginny, here, over here,"
Ginny waved and made her way over to greet her mother. Cho's mother was less expressive but no less loving, "Cho, I am so proud of you, how was your journey?"
"Hi mum, my last Hogwarts Express journey, it's the end of an era," They embraced tightly.
Ginny was finally released by her mother, and Ginny dragged her back toward Cho and Mrs Chang, they all greeted each other politely and then Ginny and Cho turned to search the end of the platform. As students and their families began to clear the platform, the two saw the vision they had wanted to see; Harry Potter was waiting nervously, scanning the heads of all the students who had departed the train. No one else was coming off the train, had he missed her? Had she thought he was not coming and dashed off in distress?
Finally Hermione made her way to the door of the carriage, she looked out across the sea of moving heads and saw the one head, in the distance, standing apart from all the others, right at the back. He was standing side on to her, she could see he was searching for her through the crowds, her heart lurched. He was here. Harry Potter was here, here for her. He loved her. She sort of crumpled in the doorway, a mixture of relief and euphoria.
Harry was just beginning to accept that he had missed her, he was just considering running through the crowd for any chance of seeing her or Mr and Mrs Granger, when he happened to turn back to the train. Then he saw her, framed in the carriage doorway, her bushy brown hair, her brown eyes, his heart leapt! He moved in her direction, no idea that two other highly interested persons were watching their every move.
Harry reached up both arms to lift her from the top step, Hermione allowed him to take her in his arms, he held her tightly, spun her around two or three times and when he stopped, he kissed her. A word had still not passed between them. Mrs Chang and Mrs Weasley had finally got a glimpse of what it was that the girls had become so preoccupied with.
"Take note, Cho, that's how it's done!" said Ginny, digging her elbow into her girlfriend's ribs.
"Is that, is that Hermione Granger and Harry Potter?!" demanded Mrs Weasley loudly, her thoughts went directly to her son Ron.
"Shhh, mum, please," pleaded Ginny, "Ron was absolutely horrible to Hermione, mum, besides they have been broken up for two years!"
"Well, that's hardly - " began Mrs Weasley, but halted when Ginny gave her her best pleading eyes,
"Come on," said Cho, assisting Ginny manage the awkward situation, "Shall we have lunch?"
"Oh yes, I'm starving," said Ginny, who was not at all hungry after eating all that food on the train, but she was more than willing to get her mother moving before the woman's high pitched and defiant arguments made themselves known to the lovers.
The moment the foursome turned and gaining momentum, Ginny turned back, she dashed across the now less populated station and wrapped her arms around the still huggin pair, they looked up in surprise, "Cho and I are both very very happy for you," she pointed back and as the two looked in that direction, they saw Cho waving and grinning, but she turned quickly, to keep the mothers moving.
Harry looked completely confused and a little uncomfortable, in the very moment in which he had just gained a new girlfriend, his two previous girlfriends were suddenly in close proximity,
"Hermione will explain it to you," said Ginny, grinning to Harry, "Write," she said to Hermione, and left them as suddenly as she had arrived, dashing back to her companions.
They were finally settled in a nearby cafe, the four of them, two mother and two daughters, once the menus had been consulted and the orders placed with the waitperson, the four of them sat all looking at each other, noting the inevitable uncomfortability of such a grouping.
"Cho's final year at school was highly successful, wasn't it? Quidditch and her end of year results," began Ginny.
"Exam results aren't known yet," Cho reminded her.
"I suppose Hermione will be named dux of the year?" asked Mrs Weasley, with a note of impatience in her voice.
"I expect so," said Cho.
"And you will be a close second," urged Ginny.
"Cho has always been a good student," Mrs Chang offered and Cho ducked her head at the praise.
"So, you will be playing for Tutshill? Ron and George are very impressed, but I don't know much about Quidditch - amazing considering I have six sons and a daughter who is obsessed with it!"
Mrs Chang's eyes opened wide, "Seven children - I just can't imagine!"
"Oh but you met them all, except for Charlie. Oh and Fred died, you didn't meet him," Mrs Weasley's voice broke but she soldiered on bravely, Ginny wrapped her arm around her mother.
"Oh Mum," she said gently, but Mrs Weasley raised her chin, she would not cry.
"He was very brave," Mrs Chang said, with sympathy.
"I hope Ron and George aren't counting on Cho coming up with free Quidditch tickets," said Ginny, she won't be able to accommodate so many demanding brothers!"
Three women laughed at the attempted joke, Mrs Chang looked somewhat confused, she was wondering why Cho might be expected to provide tickets, she didn't understand it was a feeble joke.
Three salads arrived at the table and a plate of meat and potatoes was placed before Mrs Weasley, they all smiled politely and picked up their cutlery.
"I think Ginny has a very good chance of being named Head Girl for next year," attempted Cho.
"Oh, do you think so?" asked Mrs Weasley, hopefully.
Mrs Chang looked on with an half approving, half appraising look, as she looked over the young friend of her daughter. Girlfriend, she mentally corrected herself. She didn't really understand what that meant exactly, but unwilling to disrespect her daughter, even privately in her mind, if this is Cho's choice, if this young woman was Cho's choice, then Mrs Chang would do her utmost to accept it.
Mrs Chang would have to get to know this curious young lady, she was quite pretty, despite the red hair, but that could not be helped as her eyes skimmed Mrs Weasley's own red hair, sprinkled with grey at the temple. She had only heard good things about the youngest Weasley, indeed her whole family were held in high esteem - especially post war.
She knew Arthur Weasley, not well, but they had passed each other over the years, both having worked in the Ministry of Magic, albeit in departments which rarely communicated. Having said that, Mrs Chang had received orders to organise private cars for the Weasley's who were providing protection for an underage Harry Potter.
The Weasley's were an old and well known wizarding family, known for their many children, their red hair, their comparative poverty, but that's not all - they were known for their friendly nature, their honest character. Pre war they were looked on as sort of irregular but harmless, as the war ramped up their willingness to befriend those outside of the pureblood classes which made people dislike and distrust them.
But they had been on the right side of the war from the beginning and after war they were seen in a new light. The family had been repositioned as a family of honour, of dignity, of authority, people were grateful to them - it was only through their long term sacrifice that the war was finally won. Oh yes, Harry Potter as well, but they had practically raised the boy, providing protection until he was of age and able to take on Voldemort himself.
Cho had made a number of auspicious choices in the last year or so, and if Ginny Weasly was one of those choices was Ginny, well that was good enough for Mrs Chang. Turning to Mrs Weasley she said, "I know your husband, Mrs Weasley, from the Ministry."
"Oh you do? Call me Molly, please, yes Arthur has worked in the Ministry for years," Mrs Weasley said, tinged pink with pride,
"Molly." said Mrs Chang, "My name is Li Na, yes I have been in the Department of Magical Transportation for many years now, I organised private cars for your family years ago."
"Oh did you, Li Na?" And they were off, Cho, took Ginny's hand under the table and Ginny squeezed back.