Chapter Twenty-Five: Embarrassment and Awkwardness.

The next morning when the post owls flew in to the great hall Harry noticed Hedwig winging her way towards him. She landed neatly on the table in front of her master, beside his plate of scrambled eggs. He took the scroll off her leg, gave her some of his toast and a drink of his juice before she flew back to the owlery. The letter was from Sirius.

Dear Harry,

Yes it is all right to write my name now. I've been cleared of all charges and I tell you what it's great to be able to walk down the street without worrying any one will see me. Don't worry about the death eaters coming after me, I'm in no more danger than anyone else is these days and if I do get attacked I'm sure I can defend myself.

It's great that Ron and Hermione have asked you to be the Godparents. All you have to do is stand at the front with them at the christening at first. You be there and support the parents mainly when the baby is little, but as it gets older be there for the child, be a role model and help it out when it needs it. It is sort of surreal about Ron and Hermione but she's got what one or two months to go yet? I for one can't wait though, I haven't been around a baby since you and I plan to visit them often.

I'm still staying at Remus's at the moment, it's a bit lonely with him away doing who knows what but people come and visit me and at least it's somewhere safe. Oh yeah, I start working after Easter, I'll be working with Arthur, well actually he'll be my boss, it'll be great to be doing something. I will come and see you in the holidays; you'll be at the Burrow in a week won't you? Yeah you will, ok I'll see you then.

Sirius.

'He's fine' Harry said 'glad to be able to walk down the street. He'll come and see us in the holidays.'

'That's good then' Ginny replied.

They all worked hard in the week leading up to Easter so they'd have free time in the holidays. It payed off, by the time they were on the train back to the Burrow for two weeks holiday Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny had absolutely no homework.

At Kings Cross Mr and Mrs Weasley, Fred, George, Charlie, Bill and Fleur greeted them.

'Look at you Hermione, you look as big as a house' Fred said.

She glared at him.

'You look radiant dear. Don't listen to them,' Mrs Weasley, said, 'Harry, Sirius will be visiting in two days,' she added to Harry.

'Thanks Mrs Weasley' He said.

Mrs Weasley was to busy fussing over Hermione to hear him. Ginny took his hand as they were walking out 'when are we going to ask mum and dad?' She said leaning in to his ear.

'When she stops fussing over Hermione and Ron' Harry answered.

But they didn't need to ask. On discovering that Ginny now had a double bed occupying her room she went to talk to Mr and Mrs Weasley, Harry was with her.

'Mum, dad why do I have a double bed in my room?' Ginny asked.

'Well we thought, since you're engaged, you'd like to share…' Mrs Weasley started.

'Yeah… But we're not… You know' Ginny replied.

'That doesn't matter, I don't think it would bother us if you were, provided…'

'Mum!' Ginny said reddening, Harry also blushed.

'Sorry, if you're uncomfortable with it… we just thought' Mrs Weasley said.

'We're not complaining and it's great that you trust us and everything. We just wanted to make sure you hadn't made a mistake or forgotten to tell us something,' Ginny said.

'No, not a mistake dear. Just remember if you…'

'Mum! Don't worry we know' Ginny was as red as a ripe tomato.

'Well actually, we have a proposition for the two of you. Harry what are you planning on doing after you finish school and… everything' Mrs Weasley asked.

Harry knew 'everything' meant killing Voldemort 'well actually, we wanted to talk to you about that' he said indicating Ginny who was still very red.

'Well that can wait. If you have nowhere else to go we'd like you to come and stay with us for as long as you want' Mrs Weasley replied.

'Really?' Harry and Ginny said together.

'Yes, but we'll understand if you don't want to' Mrs Weasley replied.

'That's what we were going to ask you, it'd just be until we found somewhere of our own' Ginny said.

'You're not going anywhere, you're still at school young lady sorry' Mrs Weasley said.

'Well I might not want to go back for seventh year then. I want to go and be on my own, be independent' Ginny replied.

'We want you to finish your final year Ginny' Mr Weasley finally spoke.

'Well I want to live with Harry, on our own' Ginny replied starting to get angry 'and if leaving school will allow me to do that I'll leave school, we are engaged for goodness sake'

'Ginny, sweetheart settle down, it's all right,' Harry said rubbing her back.

She settled.

'Ginny, what if your father and I think about it? There's a while to go yet,' Mrs Weasley said.

She nodded 'ok then' she said.

'So for now, will you be coming to stay here then Harry?' Mrs Weasley asked.

'If you really don't mind. I mean with Ron and Hermione and the baby here and all' He said.

'We have plenty of room now dear, what with all the others out on their own now' She said.

'Ok, I will thank you' Harry said.

'Very good' Mrs Weasley said.

Harry and Ginny left to go and find Ron and Hermione.

That night at bed time Harry and Ginny stood on opposite sides of the bed in their pyjamas looking at each other awkwardly.

'Well shall we get in?' Ginny said, looking down at the bed.

'Yeah I guess' Harry said.

'Together then?' Ginny asked.

Harry nodded, they each grabbed a corner of the comforter and pulled, they climbed in pulling up the comforter together, each laying flat on their backs with their arms beside their sides, not touching.

'Why is this so weird?' Ginny asked turning her head to look at Harry.

'I don't know' He replied turning his head to look back at Ginny.

'Maybe because we haven't…' She said.

'Maybe, do you think we should?' Harry asked.

'I don't know… do you want…' Ginny said.

Harry nodded holding his breath. Ginny moved closer to him and they kissed… there was a creak on the stair, they sprang apart, no one came in, they both lay there, hearts beating hard and fast against their rib cages. Why was this so weird for them?

Ginny reached over and took Harry's hand in hers 'we should give it some time, goodnight' she said to him.

Harry nodded, they kissed quickly and each rolled over, their backs facing the others. It was not the best nights sleep neither Harry nor Ginny had ever had, they woke up the next day after five or six hours sleep between them.

'You two are up early,' Mrs Weasley, said serving them their breakfast 'actually it might be good that you're up early Ginny, I have an idea' she added to her daughter.

'What's that mum?' Ginny asked unenthusiastically putting a spoonful of porridge in to her mouth.

'What if we throw Hermione a surprise baby shower?' Mrs Weasley replied.

Ginny was suddenly alert and listening 'go on then' she said swallowing her porridge.

'Well we could have it the day after Easter, decoration, games, and the whole lot' Mrs Weasley replied.

'Yeah that'd be great mum. We could have pink and blue decorations, since they don't know what it is' Ginny said.

Harry went to have a shower and left Ginny and Mrs Weasley to talk about the baby shower, thinking to him self that he hoped that he would not have to attend. He didn't think he could stand a group of women talking about babies the whole day.

Once he was done in the shower most of the other people in the house were awake. He was glad when Ron, Fred, George, Bill and Charlie asked him to play three asides Quidditch with them so that he could stop thinking about how weird bedtime had been for him and Ginny the previous night. That night was no different when they went to bed but they did both get a good night sleep at least.

The next day Harry thought that he and Ginny should go somewhere together and talk alone but when he asked her she said that she had to help her mother plan the shower, Harry nodded and walked away from her feeling thoroughly rejected. He went up to the attic thinking that at least Sirius would be there the next day; he could talk to his Godfather about this.