Finally the holidays had arrived! Ginny had said goodbye to Hermione, Neville, Dean (although she wasn't really talking to him) and Seamus the previous evening. She was now playing a game of chess with Harry beside the fire at the Burrow and he was proving quite poor at the game in comparison to her. She was winning by about a mile and he was losing dismally. He shook his head and grumbled, "The day I beat a Weasley at chess will be the day! I swear it runs in the family!" Ginny giggled and leant forward to kiss him over the board before Fred walked in and coughed loudly, "Now now, little sis, just because we approve in your choice of boyfriend, does not mean you can go snogging him whenever you so please." Ginny rolled her eyes. They'd been teasing her about being with Harry relentlessly and she asked, "Don't you have something better to do?" He shook his head and sat down beside their game, "Nope. Clearly not. Working up my little sis has always been a priority."
Harry chuckled and Fred said, "Harry, if you move that knight there, she is going to snatch it with her King, I hope you know that!" Harry had his finger on the tip of his knight, and groaned, "Damnit! Thank you Fred, I wouldn't have seen that if you hadn't said anything!" Ginny mock-punched her brother and said jokingly, "Hey, who are you rooting for here?!" Fred grinned, "The losing team, obviously. You and Ron are both too good for your own benefit!"
Ginny heard her mum calling her, "Gin! Won't you come and help me with the vegetables please?" Ginny got up and sighed, "I better go and help. You guys play another round so long! And Harry, give him hell!" Harry chuckled and nodded, "I will do!" She left the boys to play the game and she went to the kitchen. However, she found the vegetables done and she frowned, "Mum, you wanted help with the vegetables, but they're done?" Her mum turned to her and smiled, "I know, hun. I actually want to talk to you about Harry." Ginny tensed and said, "If this is a lecture, I really need to tell you already that nothing majorly…uh…physical is happening between us, so you don't need to worry about it just yet!" Her mother smiled a little and she shrugged, "Well that was one of things but there's something else too. Please sit down." Ginny frowned. She didn't like how serious this conversation was getting. It was so unlike her mum.
Ginny asked quickly, "Okay mum, what's going on?" Her mum smiled and sat down at the long table, so Ginny followed her. She sat down cautiously and her mum said, "Gin, I'm really happy for you and Harry. I truly am. I think everyone can see he's a much happier person with you around." Ginny blushed and shrugged, "Thanks mum. I don't know about that though. Her mum frowned and asked, "Why, Gin? It's obvious he's happy. I haven't seen him this happy in a long, long time." Ginny grimaced and replied, "Because…uh….well I just worry that sometimes I'm still thinking like my twelve year old self. I'm worried that my love for him will wear off or fade and that it was only ever infatuation to begin with." This worry stemmed from her fear of not being good enough for Harry, which Riddle had made sure he'd instill in her at a young age. She wasn't about to expose that though.
Her mum frowned and said, "Gin, you've changed a lot since then my dear. You've matured in every way possible. I think that's obvious. Ask yourself: would you put Harry through all of this, even if you knew the way you felt about him wasn't real?" Ginny knew the answer immediately, "No! That's something Romilda Vane would do!" Her mum smiled knowingly at her, "Exactly. And I'm sure Harry would see through it in an instant. You love him, Gin. I can see it whenever you look at him. And love is not something to be taken for granted."
Ginny blushed furiously and replied, "But I'm scared. I'm scared that he will be reckless. I'm scared that he will choose saving the world over me." Her mother sighed and shook her head, "I'm scared too, Gin. I'm scared of what he will have to face. I don't want him to have to face anything. He's been through enough as it is." Ginny nodded in agreement and her mum said, "But I'm sure, that no matter what he does or where he goes, he will always love you."
Ginny glanced up then and she couldn't help but smile, "Thanks mum. That actually made me feel a lot better about it." Her mum chuckled, "Good. Can you round up the gang please, dear? Tell them dinner is served!" She nodded and found Harry, in the middle of an intense game with Fred, Ron and George watching fixatedly. Ginny laughed, "Guys, mum says dinner is ready." No-one responded because George seemed to be trying to mime to Harry behind Fred what his next move should be. Ginny yelled, "Guys, dinner is ready. Now! Mum's not gonna wait for all of you!" They groaned and Harry was the first to get up and he grinned at her cheekily, "Common, Gin. Can't you give us extra time?" She folded her arms playfully and said, "'Arry! In ze kitchen now!" and she pointed to the kitchen in mockery of Fleur. They all laughed as George said, "That's a really good imitation of Fleur, Gin! You should be an actress." She bowed and then they followed her into the kitchen.
Dinner consisted of pork, potatoe bake and roasted vegetables. Bill and Fleur arrived a little late, and he greeted them all cheerily none the less. Bill said to their dad, "Gringotts is working overtime. People are all trying to grab as much of their money as they can when they're in there, just in case You-Know-Who has plans on stealing from their accounts." Her dad rolled his eyes and replied, "That's preposterous! I mean really! I doubt You-Know-Who needs to rob a bank. He can just walk into a room and people would scatter in fear."
Ginny was sitting next to Harry, who was touching his leg against hers. It made it hard to concentrate on the conversation when he did that. She threw a cheeky look at him and he smirked right back at her. She intertwined her foot with his, essentially bringing herself to sitting right next to him, and he widened his eyes, looking pointedly at Ron who was sitting on the other side of him. Ginny mouthed, 'You started it!' Ron still didn't like their intimacy and preferred to pretend like they weren't dating at all. He'd somewhat warmed up to Ginny since they had gotten home, because he couldn't go on ignoring her forever. But he was still angry with Hermione. And getting irritated with Lavender. This meant that his mood swings were often somewhat unpredictable and it was better to not test the dragon.
Bill had asked her a question and she glanced up from her food, "Hmm? What was that, sorry Bill? I wasn't listening." Fred chuckled, "Happily in love there, hey Gin?" She growled, "Watch it, Fred." Bill rolled his eyes, "I was asking how your O.W.L's are going?" Ginny shrugged, "Okay I guess. It's just difficult to juggle with Quidditch." Bill grinned, "Oh yes! Congrats on winning the match you guys! Also, you're so lucky to have met Gwenog Jones! How was she?" Ginny grinned and replied, "She was fantastic! Really nice, and really encouraging. She wants to see me play sometime!" He brother were all seriously envious over this news. Particularly Ron. She didn't like to bring it up though and rub it in their faces, unless someone else bought it up then she thought it was okay to talk about it.
The dinner went perfectly smoothly, except that Fleur was watching Harry a lot of the time and it made Ginny feel uncomfortable. She wondered if Harry noticed the constant staring, but she wasn't going to bring it up. When dinner finished, Harry said, "Let's go for a walk?" She nodded and then took a hold of his hand. Before she went out though, Fleur put a hand on her shoulder and asked, "Ginny, can I talk to you please? In private?" She frowned, but nodded all the same. Ginny said to Harry, "I'll come and get you when we're finished talking." He nodded and went back inside.
Fleur walked outside with her and stood in front of her, "I'm sorry for staring at 'Arry during dinner. I just noticed how 'appy he iz. He's changed since he 'as been wiz you." Ginny raised her eyebrows and said, "Oh. Thank you, Fleur." Fleur nodded her pretty face and said, "I'm just saying zat because my little sister, Gabrielle, you remember her?" Ginny nodded and grimaced, not liking where this was going as Fleur continued, "She 'as liked 'Arry ever since he saved her in ze Triwizard Tournament. She wanted me to suss out ze situation wiz ze two of you because it 'as been widely publicized in ze media recently." Ginny nodded in agreement, "It has. And so?" Fleur shrugged her shoulders, "I'm glad to see zat you are making him 'appy, zat iz all. And I will tell zat to Gabrielle." Ginny found herself smiling, "Thanks, Fleur, for your concern. She nodded and said, "I won't get in ze way of your happiness. Just zought I would tell you."
Fleur turned and walked back inside and then Ginny fetched Harry. They told her mum where they were going and they walked along the outskirts of the forest. The property was protected by shielding charms until the end of the main road so they had loads of space to walk freely. Harry asked immediately, "What was that all about?" Ginny shrugged and said, "Apparently, Gabrielle likes you. A lot." Harry rolled his eyes, "Yeah, but apparently, Romilda Vane likes me, a lot." She nudged his shoulder, "Fleur told me that Gabrielle wanted her to "suss out" the situation between us. She said that you seem really happy, which is why she won't interfere on her sisters behalf." Harry laughed, "Well, that's awfully nice of her I must say!"
Ginny couldn't help but grin and she nodded in agreement, "I still don't particularly like her though. The way she flirted with you when she bought your breakfast to you at the beginning of the term was too much to watch." Harry chuckled and raised an eyebrow at her, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous, Gin." Ginny rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Please? Jealous?! I felt like gagging at her fakeness and her arrogance, that's all." Harry smirked and continued, "You were so jealous!"
Ginny changed the subject quickly, "Whatever. I don't know who's worse. Her or Romilda Vane. Did I ever tell you that Romilda threatened me after we had that very public kiss display in front of the whole school?" Harry chuckled in surprise, "No! You never mentioned that!" Ginny shrugged and said distastefully, "Yeah. It was in front of the whole common room! So super embarrassing."
Harry caught her waist mid-walk. They were at the edge of the forest by name, a while away from the house and he grinned mischievously, "I think I need to kiss you like that again." Ginny rolled her eyes and blushed, even though there was no-one there to hear. She smiled shyly and said, "Don't do that in public Harry! You know how wrong it is to kiss people in public!" He pulled her closer and smirked, "Ron isn't here to watch." She replied playfully, "I know, but Romilda Vane might creep out of the bushes and punch me in the face for trying to kiss you. It's not like you're my boyfriend or anything." He laughed happily and pulled her closer still until her body was fully touching his own, "I don't care about Romilda Vane," he said forcefully. Ginny giggled and she felt a smile spread across her face as he pressed his lips to her own.
Author's Note: Hey guys! I feel really bad for not posting in so low! It's just been a really horrible week and I haven't been feeling too good emotionally so I needed a bit of a break from writing. I've also needed the time to myself to think about what was upsetting me. However, now I finally forced myself to sit down and finish a decent-ish (I hope) chapter!
I also have been trying to finish reading Paper Towns. I needed to finish that by today so I could start reading an English book for College, but that still hasn't happened yet, which is why I've been putting reading as more of a priority than writing in the last week. Anyway, I've got ten pages left of Paper Towns, and I'm really looking forward to the last little bit, so please don't say anything, anyone! Thanks!
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and once again thank you for your endless patience and understanding! Also thanks to my amazing reviewers! You guys are too kind!