Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related names and places are the legal property of J.K. Rowling, Bloomsbury, and AOL Time Warner, and various others… and have been used without permission. No copyright infringement is intended.
Ginny sat on her bed, smiling to herself, as she watched Hermione running around the room looking for her trainers.
"I swear I put them right here this morning!"
"Hermione, if you don't shut up you're going to wake Mum and Dad up. Then it won't matter whether or not you find your shoes."
"Well, if I don't find my shoes I won't be going anywhere anyway! AHA!" She clapped a hand to her mouth as she pulled her shoes from under a pile of discarded dresses. Sitting on her bed, she started pulling them on. "Ginny, what is that smug little smile for?"
"Nothing, I just can't believe proper little Hermione keeps sneaking out to meet her boyfriend in the middle of the night. What would Professor McGonagall say if she knew her Head Girl was blatantly disobeying the adults around her?"
"First of all, I'm not Head Girl…"Hermione started.
"Yet." Ginny finished.
Hermione scowled at her, but the blush creeping up her face gave her away. "Secondly, Ron and I are of age and quite within our rights to see each other. Besides, with all the wards up, I seriously doubt we're in danger. We always have our wands and are perfectly capable of defending ourselves."
"Yes, but that doesn't change the fact you're completely disobeying Mum by sneaking out together."
"Oh, shut up." Hermione turned and pulled the large blanket from her trunk. "Hmm, I'll need to wash this soon. It's got grass all over it."
Ginny shook her head and turned away from her friend. Ron and Hermione had been sneaking out to see each other ever since they had been forbidden against nighttime wanderings. They had devised the plan early on and kept sneaking off during their long hours of helping with the wards to find ways to climb down from their windows. Their bedrooms were on the same side of the house and vines covered the outer walls. With a few Permanent Sticking charms and some Strengthening ones, they had made the vines perfect for climbing down on.
They didn't have a set day or time that they would sneak out; they decided keeping it random meant a less chance of getting caught. They would decide earlier in the day to meet, and then wait until they were sure the adults were fast asleep, climb out their window and down the vines. Ginny had no idea where they went or what they did (she wasn't sure she wanted to). In the beginning, the nights they snuck out were the only ones that Hermione didn't have nightmares.
Hermione had gathered everything she needed and was waiting for Ron's signal. She looked at Ginny. "You know you seem happier than I've seen you in months. Did you really enjoy the wedding that much?"
Ginny bit her lip and smiled. She was about to burst to tell someone. "Alright, I'll tell you but you have to promise to not tell Ron."
Hermione flew over to her bed and threw herself down on it. "I swear! Tell me!"
Feeling the happiness bubbling up inside her, the words tumbled out of her mouth. "I kissed him!"
"You kissed who?"
Ginny pinched Hermione. "Lockhart…who do you think?"
Hermione gave a squeak. "When? Where?"
"Down by the pond, after we had the cake. He had wandered off and I went looking for him. He was sitting by the tree, so I sat next to him and we started to talk. I knew I wanted to; I've wanted to since yesterday, but it never seemed like the right time. This morning I decided to just do it; you know, walk up to him and plant one on him. Then everything just sort of fell into place and…" She sighed.
"Oh, Ginny! I can't believe you and Harry finally kissed!"
"That wasn't actually the first time."
"You mean you've done it before?"
"Yeah, I sort of just attacked him outside King's Cross the day we came home. I don't know what came over me, but I just ran after him and kissed him in front of his relatives. I don't think he even realized what I'd done until after I'd gone. He just stood there looking at me."
"Well," started Hermione, "That time doesn't count. It has to be a two-sided kiss to count. So, what now?"
Ginny shrugged. "I don't know. Does this mean we're dating or we're just friends that kissed or…"
"Ginny, stop. If you start analyzing everything and trying to figure it all out, you'll go crazy. Just let things be for now. It will all come together in the end." She looked at her watch and crossed to the window. Pushing the window open, she stuck her head out and looked up.
Ginny heard Ron's voice from outside. "Harry, quit worrying. We do this all the time. Come on Hermione, I'll meet you on the ground."
With that, Ginny watched as Hermione threw the blanket out of the window and hoisted herself over the windowsill. She watched as the pair climbed down, gathered up the blanket and hurried off to their own private place. Ginny looked up to see Harry shaking his head at them.
"How long have they been doing that?"
"Since Mum told them they couldn't. It's not like they can't sneak off during the day." Ginny had a sudden idea. She went back inside, slipped on her shoes, and pulled a jumper on over her pajamas. Climbing out of the window, she called up to Harry's window in barely a whisper. "Come on, Potter, how about we have an adventure of our own?"
She had already dropped to the ground before she convinced Harry to join her. Ginny led Harry around the pond and up a steep hill. They stood looking over the water in silence for a few moments.
"The boys all used to play up here when they were younger. See that rope hanging from the branch? They used to swing from it and jump off into the water." Ginny stretched out her hand and grabbed the rope. "They never let me do it; they said that girls weren't allowed to do that sort of thing. So one day when I was about six, I got the idea to sneak out and just try it. Mum was busy chasing the twins down and Dad wasn't home, so I just ran up here before anyone could catch me. I grabbed onto the rope and started swinging, just like I'd seen the boys do, and then let go."
Harry laughed. "What happened?"
Ginny smiled at him and let go of the rope, sinking down onto the ground. "I let go too early and ended up rolling down the hill. See that rock there? I hit it before I managed to roll all the way to the lake. It sliced my knee open all the way across; see?" She rolled up the leg of her pajama bottoms showing a large scar across her knee. "It bled something awful. I knew I'd be in trouble when Mum saw it, so I tried to sneak back to the house. Mum was chasing Fred around the front yard, so I snuck in the back and up the stairs. I made it to the bathroom before Ron caught me."
"He told on you didn't he?"
"No, he just crossed his arms and gave me this look. Then he went and stole Mum's medicine kit and bandaged me up. He never said a word about it to anyone." Ginny reached down a plucked a yellow flower from the grass. "It was weird, because until then it had been Bill who took care of me. Ron always just pushed me around."
"So, what was it like growing up around here?"
Ginny smiled at how Harry tried to sound uninterested in his own question. "It was…hectic. I imagine at one time it was peaceful, but by the time I came along there was a houseful. Dad always left for work early, leaving Mum with six of us. Summer wasn't too bad, but after Bill and Charlie went to school, it was horrible. Fred and George took up all Mum's time. Ron and I were miserable without our keepers, and Percy just stayed locked up in his room."
"Wait, did you say your 'keepers'?"
"Yeah, that's what Bill and Charlie called themselves. Once I was born, the boys realized Mum was going to go nuts. So they assigned themselves a younger sibling. Fred and George had each other to keep occupied; Percy was too stuck up to actually play with us, so Bill and Charlie decided to take pity on us. Bill was my keeper and Charlie was Ron's. No matter how much we annoyed them, they always took care of us. They took us for walks to the village, played stupid games, read us stories, and tucked us in. I loved it; Bill always called me "Buttercup". He never let the others push me around; he didn't make me feel bad for being the only girl. Bill was the one who suggested I sneak the brooms out and teach myself to play Quidditch. Charlie taught Ron to fly and everything you could want to know about dragons." Ginny broke off; she suddenly felt a sadness come over her. "I miss it. All of us being around here I mean. It just doesn't seem right."
"I would have loved to have grown up like that; all the noise and chaos, it sounds wonderful." Harry said, thoughtfully.
"What was it like at your aunt and uncles? Was it as bad as everyone says?"
"Worse. I was always in trouble. No matter what happened, I always ended up being blamed. Of course, now I realize I actually did cause most of the weird things that happened. Still, it was a bit depressing having a cupboard as a bedroom."
"God, I thought Ron was lying about that! You really lived in a cupboard?"
"Yeah, until my Hogwarts letter's started coming. They got scared and moved me up to Dudley's spare bedroom."
Harry spent the next half hour telling Ginny about life at the Dursleys'. "I guess it could have been worse, though."
"I don't see how you work that out. Growing up in a house like that, it's a wonder you aren't some mad, raving lunatic."
"Don't you get the paper? I am a mad, raving lunatic!" They both laughed at this. Harry stood and looked up at the sky. "I suppose we should head back, now. I'm getting tired."
Ginny yawned widely, and smiled up at him. "I guess I am, too."
They walked back towards the house, hand in hand. "So, does this mean that we're…" Harry asked, trying not to look at Ginny.
"I guess it does."
Before climbing back to their respective rooms, they kissed (which Harry was sure rivaled the one earlier in the evening). Ginny climbed back through her window, and fell into bed. Soon Hermione was climbing in the window and heading to bed. Ginny closed her eyes, pretended to be asleep, and thought back on the day. It really was a good day altogether.
The next day, Mrs. Weasley threw a party for Harry's birthday. Remus and Tonks had stopped by just before the cake was cut, even Moody stopped by to drop off a gift before setting out to patrol the ward perimeter. That evening everyone sat around talking and laughing.
Somehow the subject had come around to Ron's unexpected birth. Mr. Weasley was laughing so hard, tears were running down his cheeks. "I swear to you after the first four times you would think that Arthur would have learned where St. Mungo's was!" Mrs. Weasley finished, laughing fit to burst.
Harry, laughing, pointed at Ron. "You were nearly born in the car shed!"
Remus looked at Harry. "I wouldn't laugh if I were you. Up until the moment you were born your name was Anne and you slept in a pink nursery for two weeks!"
The entire room exploded with laughter. Harry sputtered indignantly. "Wh…wh…what?"
"From the moment they found out they were having you, your parents argued. James swore he was going to have a son, but Lily told him plainly that you would be a girl. Nothing anyone said could change her mind. She went straight home, painted the spare bedroom pink, and started buying everything for a girl. The closer the time came, the surer she became. James kept insisting she was wrong, but nothing stopped her. Finally, the day came. We were all waiting outside in the corridor, when James comes running out laughing like a madman. You could hear Lily yelling at him to stop being a prat simply because he was right. Naturally, Lily had to concede the name Anne, and chose Harry instead. Of course, your Dad wouldn't let her forget the whole matter. He flatly refused to repaint the nursery for at least two weeks after you went home."
Ginny and Ron had fallen over on each other laughing; Hermione was doubled over, clutching her stomach. Harry, face red, couldn't help laughing either. Tonks leaned forward. "Can I call you 'Annie'?" she asked, causing the room to erupt again.
Eventually, the festivities ended and people began to leave. Remus and Tonks were the last to say goodbye and walked together to the designated apparition point.
"I'm so glad to see the two of them happy, it should have happened sooner," Harry overheard Hermione telling Ginny.
"What do you mean?" he asked her.
"Couldn't you tell? They've fallen for each other."
"Are you sure?" Harry asked.
"Of course, I'm sure. Oh, they try to hide it, but it's so obvious." Hermione said.
Ron looked puzzled. "Why would they hide it though? I mean, they're certainly old enough to make their own decisions."
Ginny was gathering up plates and cups form the table. "Well, I guess it's because they aren't exactly 'normal' are they? Tonks is an Auror and Lupin is a werewolf. I highly doubt the ministry would look very favorable on that situation. Plus, they're in the Order."
"What's being in the Order got to do with anything?" Ron asked.
Harry answered, "It would be too easy for someone to use them against one another. If something happened to her, he might do anything to get her back; even compromise everyone else's safety. Maybe he thinks they're safer this way."
"Maybe she doesn't think that way. She may think that they're stronger together; that she's stronger with him. And even if the whole world crumbled around them, they would at least have each other even if it's for only a little while." Ginny watched Harry for a few seconds waiting for a response. When he didn't say anything, she gathered up the dishes and walked towards the kitchen.
"This is just a guess, but I don't think we're talking about Tonks and Lupin anymore." Ron said, following Ginny into the kitchen.
The hot summer days stretched out before Ginny, Hermione, Harry, and Ron. Their days were filled with Quidditch practice (Hermione still flatly refused to play), Apparition practice (Ginny scowled because she couldn't practice also), and simply lying about doing nothing. Sometimes the four would stick together, but mostly each couple paired off to their own private areas. Ron loved the time he spent secluded with Hermione. They would steal away to the large shade tree by the car shed; Hermione reading a book and Ron lying with his head in her lap. There was something always nagging at the back of his mind, however. Something he knew he would have to talk about with her eventually. It was something he had thought about in general for years, but now it was all different. Sitting out here in the middle of the night with her had really brought the thoughts on, but it was in the day time that he suffered the most. How could he think about anything else when there she was wearing those sundresses? He could barely control himself when there was nothing between them except a thin layer of fabric. Looking up at her, he had to take a deep breath; this was one of those days. Her dress was a pale lavender color with narrow straps going over her shoulders. Her skin was perfectly tanned; not a trace of a freckle. Her hair was pulled back at the base of her neck, but a few curls at her temples had escaped in the heat of the day. As if she had read his thoughts, she reached up and pushed the offending hair back out of her face.
Turning his head, he looked towards her legs. They stretched out in front of her, long and tanned, crossed at the ankles. Small flat sandals covered her feet and he grinned to himself when he saw that her toenails were painted pink.
Secretly, he dreaded returning to school. He wouldn't be able to see her like this anymore. Dull gray uniforms would cover this all up, but at least he still had nearly a month to memorize it all. Perhaps that would carry him on until the next summer. Surely though, he would be able to see more than just her shoulders and legs over the next year. And then, he was back to his original problem.
They had never even brought up the subject of sex. They'd been together since June and neither one of them had mentioned it. Was it too soon, perhaps? Maybe people waited a long time, a year maybe. God, he didn't think he could last another week, let alone an entire year. Maybe he could ask Bill or Charlie; there was no way he was going to the twins with this one. Maybe he should just ask her, but not now; not when thing were so peaceful.
"Ron?"
"Hmmm?"
"I wanted to ask you something."
"Okay, ask me then." He looked up at her. She was still intently concentrating on her book.
"What would you say if I asked what you thought about us having sex?"
Ron sat up so quickly he smashed his forehead into her book. "WH…ouch, damn!"
Hermione giggled. "Well, that wasn't quite the reaction I was looking for."
Rubbing his forehead, Ron scowled. "Well, you can't ask a question like that and expect me to just yawn and roll over."
"I'm sorry, but well I'm guessing it's been on your mind."
"And just how do you know that?
"Ron, please, I'm not completely ignorant. You're a boy, I'm a girl, and we have been dating for awhile now." Then she looked down and smiled at him. "Plus, lately you've been staring at me like a starving man who's just sat down to the start of term feast."
Ron was completely dumbfounded. He couldn't believe that Hermione was actually sitting here talking about this. "But, this means she's been thinking about it too," he thought. "Well, alright, I suppose I have been thinking about it. Like you said, I am a boy and you are a girl. What are you saying though? Just that you know I'm thinking about it or are you saying you're thinking about it too?"
Hermione thoughtfully chewed her lip before answering. "Both, actually. We're of age and it's a perfectly natural stage in every relationship. Plus," she smiled at him and placed her hands on either side of his face, "I love you very much." She leaned in and kissed him.
"Good, because I love you too. Well, now that we've both admitted we've thought about it; what do we do?" Ron was perfectly ready to explore the idea right at that very moment, but didn't want her to know that.
"Well," began Hermione in her bossy tone, "now that we've agreed we are both ready we should discuss how to go about it."
Ron couldn't help laughing; she sounded like she was planning some sort of study session. He reached over and pulled her against him. Brushing his mouth against her ear, he whispered, "Why don't we just let it happen on its own? Planning it would take all the fun out of it."
Hermione said nothing, but smiled back at him and nodded her head.
Author's note: Well, I'm baaaaaacccccckkkkk!! I had every intention to give up my writing since the last book was published, but the story kept nagging at the back of my head. I've done about seven different re-writes, but I keep coming back to the original plot line. This wasn't a very good chapter to stage my come back with, but it's a start anyway. Let me know what you think!!
