Ta for all your lovely reviews! A special mention to Scarlet White whose ideas I will be using. They may not be exactly how you said them but along the same lines. A huge help thank-you!

The Marriage of Harry and Katie

As Harry made his way down to the Quidditch pitch, he spotted someone already flying around over it. He prayed that it wouldn't be anyone unreasonable. He wasn't in the mood for explaining that he had booked the pitch for the Gryffindors only. Well if they were difficult he would just hex them. Serve them right for flying when it wasn't their designated time. All the while he was walking towards the pitch, his anger mounting, he thought only about Ginny. What on earth had happened between the two of them? Never, in the six years he had known her and the five in which they had been friends had they ever quarrelled, not even over what they were having for dinner. It was strange, not to talk to her everyday, even if it was just a quick 'Gin, you do know your label is sticking out.' Harry couldn't fathom his feelings at all. He loved Ginny like she was his sister. He only wanted the best for her and he would protect her from anything harmful. But he couldn't shield her from Draco. To do that he would have to renounce his feelings for Katie and that wasn't possible nor fair. He really respected Katie. She was so honest and down-to-earth it was impossible not to. She didn't hold grudges either. Never, not even once had she said that it was unfair that Harry was the Quidditch captain and she wasn't, though she was older and more experienced.

As Harry reached the edge of the pitch he saw, to his relief that the person flying around was Katie. Upon spotting him she flew over and gracefully landed at his side. Panting slightly because of the exertion, she planted a kiss on his lips. 'I didn't think you would be coming. You said half two and it's gone four. Still better late than never.' She stopped and studied the expression upon his face. 'What's up?'

'Ginny.' Harry watched how Katie's expression clouded over. He imagined that she was the only black cloud in their relationship from Katie's point of view.

'Well, spill, what's she done now?'

'She's engaged to Malfoy. They are going to marry as soon as this school year finishes.' Harry stopped and looked at Katie. He was expecting one of two reactions. She would either get annoyed and say it was all a plot to get him back, or she would say it was a lie and that he, Harry was as gullible as they come to have believed it.

'Well I say good luck to them. It's just a shame that they feel they need to get married so quickly to display how much they care for each other. Not like us, who bump along quite happily.'

'Oh. Yes of course you're quite right. I hadn't thought of it like that.' Harry liked this new way of approaching Ginny's engagement. It took the responsibility off him. He looked around. 'So are you the only person who even bothered to turn up to training?'

'Not quite. Ron was here for about half and hour but then had to go and see Cho, Paul was here for a while but there really wasn't any need of him, Ron's going to be fine for this match and Faye and Joshua, the beaters only left about ten minutes ago.'

'So it was just me and Samuel who didn't show' replied Harry.

'And Ginny' answered Katie quietly.

'I'm going to have to talk to her and Samuel. What's the point of booking the pitch when no-one bothers to use it? And to only have one chaser practising, the more advanced one at that. It's not on, continue like this and they will be off the team.'

'Oh Harry you are getting quite worked up over nothing. We've got the official practise tomorrow and you can mention then that if you book the pitch you expect everyone to at least show for fifteen minutes.' She sat there, stroking his hair and Harry could almost feel his annoyance at everything melt away. Katie began whispering in his ear 'You know when I'm angry, I always feel better after a good time flying. Just whizzing around and around. Think you should?'

'Only if you will join me.' Harry rose and prepared to mount his broom. He turned in surprise as he saw Katie getting on first. 'Katie. What are you doing?'

'You said to join you, so I am.' She smiled mischievously.

'Do you think the broom can take both our weights?' He looked nervously at the thin piece of wood.

'Well there is only one way to find out.' Katie smiled and Harry clambered on. Cautiously he manoeuvred the broom and, slowly at first, but picking up speed they rose into the air. It was wonderful, thought Harry. Zooming around the pitch with Katie holding onto his waist. Harry felt that, whatever else he did have to contend with, Ginny's marriage to Malfoy did not concern him at all.

'Harry, Harry wake up I've had a real brainwave.' Harry could feel himself being pulled from his slumber very reluctantly. 'Oh Harry buck up and listen to me, it's the most ingenious idea I've ever had.' Ron was impatiently tugging at the bed covers.

'What about?' yawned Harry, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

'About Ginny and Malfoy.'

'Ginny is allowed to do whatever she wants, I'm not going to stop her' replied Harry coldly. 'I'm not interested.'

'Yes, yes you are because my plan doesn't involve any hard work on our behalves but it will ensure that Ginny and Malfoy are finished forever.'

'Look Ron you're not listening to me. Ginny can do whatever the hell she feels like; it is of no concern to me.'

'Suit yourself. It's just that Hermione thinks it is remarkable and fool-proof idea too and is willing to participate. Katie also mentioned that it could be a lot worse.' At the mention of Katie's name, Harry became more awake and interested. If she was concerning herself then the least he could do was listen.

'I was thinking' continued Ron, noticing he now had Harry's attention 'that we should tell my mum about this. After all I don't think Ginny will have bothered to have told her of the plans for the summer and she has every right to know.'

'Ron, that is quite underhand even for you!'

'Not really. I didn't discover what was happening until yesterday did I and as Ginny's elder brother I have every right to be agitated. Look, if I tell mum then she will go mad and demand the engagement be broken. That way Ginny is saved from a life with the Malfoy clan and we are saved from a future of being related to Malfoy and having to spend every Christmas and birthday entertaining him.'

'I think your plan is deceitful and underhand Ron and I have no wish to be involved in any part of it.'

'No, go on it will be fine. We send a letter from the three of us and that's that. Our part is finished and mum will take over.'

'No, I refuse to support your idea. I've already made a pact with myself not to become involved in Ginny's love life and I'm sticking to it.'

'Ok then if that's what you want. But you must swear not to breathe a word to Ginny. I'm only doing this to look out for her, like I expected you to be doing.'

'Ron, where Ginny and myself are concerned, everything has changed.' Harry sighed. 'I promise I won't tell her what you're doing, but when she finds out, I want you to support me in saying that I wanted no part to play in it and I disagreed from the word go. Deal?'

'Fine, fine it's a deal.'

'Malfoy, a word if I may.'

'Oh what's this? Potter condescending to talk to me. I think I might just keel over and die.'

'Look I haven't got time for niceties. Are you coming or not.'

'Well I want to say 'not' but judging by your face it's in my interests to listen for once.' Without waiting for another word, Harry took off down the corridor and up the nearest flight of stairs. Malfoy followed for a few minutes before becoming annoyed. 'Potter, I don't mean to interrupt this mystery tour of yours but I do have a potions class that is at the opposite end of the school.' Still Harry kept going. Eventually he reached his destination, the Owlery. 'And may I ask what are we doing here?' enquired Malfoy.

'I think you may want to send an owl.'

'To whom? And why?'

'Because, this morning, Ron sent an owl to his mum and dad, telling them of your engagement to Ginny.'

'So. What's the big deal?'

'He reckons that Ginny hadn't informed her mother of the situation and that the consequences will be fireworks.'

'Why are you telling me this Potter?'

'If I know Mrs Weasley, the first thing she will do is march over here and demand an explanation from you and Ginny herself. If that's to happen it's only fair for you to have parental support as well in my opinion.'

'I'm pretty sure I can deal with one manic woman by myself, Potter, I am coping with the daughter.'

'Careful what you say Malfoy, I'm not in a good mood. Well, you don't have to do a thing but Mrs Weasley is hardly going to let the engagement continue until she is satisfied with the conditions and for that she will involve Dumbledore.' That worked. Harry watched as Malfoy's face went as pale as it could go.

'You think so?'

'Without a doubt. If that's to happen, you might want your dad here to fight your corner so to speak. An engagement of two people so young is going to need at least one adult supporting it.'

'For once Potter, I think you're right.' Malfoy grabbed a piece of parchment from his bag and hurriedly began scrawling a note. He looked over at Harry. 'Thanks, I owe you one, remember that.'

'You did WHAT!' cried Katie. 'Oh that is brilliant Harry, simply brilliant. Right here in this very school, we are going to witness the most ferocious fight that ever took place. You must really hate Ginny to have done that. It's ingenious.'

'So you're not cross with me?'

'Why would I be cross Harry, it's got nothing to do with me. I have no part to play in this whole game except that I'm the woman of the man she wanted.'

'Do you think it was the right decision?'

'I really have no idea. From Ginny's perspective- no, not at all. Now she will have her mother bellowing the odds at her and then the Malfoy's will arrive and aggravate Mrs Weasley more. From Malfoy's point- yes because now he has his father to back him up, who, from what you told me about Christmas when Ginny was with them, he concocted the whole plan.'

'So basically we wait and see.'

'Yes' laughed Katie as she pulled Harry into a bear hug.

'Pssst, Harry. In here.'

'Hermione what in the devils name are you doing?'

'Will you be quiet and get in here.'

'Ok. Ok. Right before you start interrogating me I'll tell you. I told Malfoy that Ginny's parents had been written to about the engagement and he went and wrote to his dad. Is that alright?'

'Yes that's wonderful Harry, exactly what I hopped you do.'

'That's fine then but I still don't get why.'

'If I tell you something Harry will you promise, on Hedwig's life not to breathe a word?'

'I promise.' Quickly, Hermione told Harry what she had been told by Ginny the previous day. When she had finished Harry looked stunned. 'God, she must be really miserable. But what I don't get is how it will help. Surely if only Mrs Weasley was here then the engagement would be ended quickly. Bringing the Malfoy's in- well, I'm sure they encouraged Draco so their presence will only snarl up the procedure.'

'No. Mrs Weasley is under the illusion that Ginny wants to get married because that's what Ron thinks. We know differently. If only Mrs Weasley was here then she would shout at Ginny and Malfoy and probably drive Ginny even more into the arms of Malfoy. But- if Lucius turns up then he will really antagonise Mrs Weasley because he was involved in the proceedings and she will react even more fiercely. She might forbid Ginny or involve Dumbledore or something. I'm not quite sure what to expect but if both sets of parents are involved there is more of a chance that Ginny won't be able to marry Draco. She might even pull out herself if she sees all the fuss it's creating.'

'Ok I will take your word for it. Good job I interpreted your sign correctly.'

'Well I was hopping that you would notice that Ron's plan was a thoroughly stupid idea and that take note that I had actively encouraged it.'

'All the same, it was a very vague hint, can I have a more obvious one next time. I didn't know if I was doing the right thing even.'

'Oh Harry, there is one thing you should never doubt. Whatever you do that concerns Ginny is never the wrong thing.'