Hey Guys. First things I'd like to apologise for keeping you waiting for so long but what with Christmas and me being ill with the lurgy (!!) I haven't had a chance to update. Sorry guys. . And once again I would like to make it clear that I don't own Harry Potter or any other related names. J.K Rowling does (lucky cow!) and believe it or not this is not actually J.K speaking to you secretly writing a new book!!!
Love you guys!!
Magic XxX
Chapter 3
The Announcement
Harry, Ginny and Teddy sat on the pavement lining the side of the street. The sky was black and sprinkled with millions of tiny stars. Under the light of the moon Ginny lay her head on Harry's cloaked shoulder.
"I was terrified you might get hurt," Ginny said softly looking at Teddy.
"You have no idea how much I missed you. When we went to see Luna's dad we could see The Burrow and it was like I was fighting…. fighting something I couldn't see. I knew I couldn't come to get you because Vol… You Know Who… would find out and he would use you. He knew that I love you and you mean the world to me", Harry said lifting Ginny's face with his long pale hands and kissing her gently on the lips.
"And to tell you the truth," Harry continued "We lost too many people to him. I wasn't about to loose you to."
Harry's monologue was broken by the only member of the trio who couldn't speak. Teddy squealed and gurgled as from the dark abyss of the night shy flakes of snow began to fall and landed all around them and settled on noses and rested in hair.
"Come on, we better go back or Teddy is going to be freezing," Ginny said, always the voice of reason. She stood up and wrapped her hand in Harry's'.
They walked back down the cobbled street towards the graveyard where under a tree Ron and Hermione stood wrapped in each others arms kissing passionately.
As they were walking Harry and Ginny had seen Ron and Hermione and began to walk more and more quietly. They started to walk along the grassy verge towards the imposing oak.
They continued to walk, saying nothing, until they could almost touch the backs of the couple.
Ginny put on her best Mrs Weasley impression and said in her mother's angriest voice "Ronald Weasley, what do you think you're doing?"
Ron and Hermione screamed and upon seeing Harry and Ginny standing beside them instead of a very angry Mrs Weasley began to laugh uncontrollably at their reactions and Ron punched Harry gently in the arm.
Together the quartet walked back towards the graveyard where Bill battle scarred and forlorn looked just like Ron and Ginny, as thought the shock of their brother's departure from life had not yet sunk in.
"Harry, can I take Teddy for a while?" Bill asked in his soft melodic voice.
Why? Was the though that popped immediately into Harrys' mind but, just as he was about to say it Ginny's voice swamped his thoughts.
"Why?" she said.
"Fleur needs something to cheer her up. She never does well at funerals." Bill replied.
"All right, but I'm warning you now," Harry said "He's getting pretty grumpy."
"Bill, is Fleur ok? She seems a bit emotional lately." Hermione asked her voice full of concern.
"Yeah… it's just the battle… it hit her pretty hard. It got to her I suppose. She's never had to fight anyone before,"
"But…" Ron interjected
"I mean fight to kill, Ron," Bill snapped.
He strode off, Teddy in his arms, over to Fleur who was sitting on the grass looking sombre. He flopped down next to her and handed the small child to her arms.
The group continued to pace into the graveyard where, as they reached the edge of the crowd of witches and wizards who were beginning to leave the graveyard, Mrs Weasley swooped down on them. She had obviously been crying so Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione didn't say anything as she gave them a woebegone smile.
"We're about to go back to The Burrow so come with me and don't wander off." She said softly.
Mrs Weasley walked over to Mr Weasley, George, Charlie, Percy (who was crying hysterically) and Bill, Fleur and Teddy with Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione in tow.
"Right are we all ready to go then dear?" Mr Weasley asked his wife solemnly.
"Yes, We've got everyone we need."
"Come on then."
The group of twelve all apparated to outside the dilapidated gate of The Burrow and walked through, Teddy sleeping contently in Fleurs' arms.
Mr Weasley collapsed into his battered armchair and Harry, Ron, Ginny and Hermione made for the twisted stairs.
"Before you all go wandering off Fleur and I have some news." Bill said to the table in front of him.
The group on the stairs turned and leant against the wall. All attention was focused on Bill and Fleur (who was sitting in a soft raspberry coloured chair by the fire).
Bill looked at Fleur and then began to speak;
"This might not be the best time to say this but, Fleurs going to have a baby." He stammered.
"Oh Bill", Mrs Weasley squealed. She ran towards her eldest son and flung her arms around his neck.
Hermione and Ginny ran over to Fleur, who was smiling proudly, and they began talking excitedly. Mr Weasley, Harry, Ron and Charlie by this point had walked over and was laughing and chatting with Bill and Mrs Weasley had launched herself at Fleur and had embraced her in a back breaking hug.
"Hey, the new baby can be a playmate for Teddy instead if me!" Ron said nodding at the baby with turquoise hair who was asleep in his cot.
"Yeah..." Harry began to say but was interrupted by Percy standing up and clearing his throat.
"This needs a celebration", he said pompously as if addressing a large dinner party. He waved his wand and 11 ruby champagne flutes appeared suspended in the air. Charlie had disappeared down a set of worn stone steps concealed behind the Weasley family clock. He returned, not moments later with two worn bottles.
"Goblin made wine," he explained seeing Harry's puzzled face. "Left over from when Ginny was born. It doesn't age, mind, and its great for expecting mothers because it doesn't have a spot of alcohol but still gets you just as drunk."
Harry stopped and tried to sort the logic behind what Charlie had just said.
All of the Weasley's, Harry and Hermione sat around the scrubbed wooden table. Though the talk was light and the tone cheery the empty chair next to George and the dismal emptiness of Fred's absence stopped the smiling face of a happy mood appearing on the faces of the assembled.
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny after one glass of Goblin wine, edged further and further towards the kitchens wooden door. They slipped away through the door and up to Ron's blindingly orange bedroom.
"I'm fed up of having to try to be happy. I just want Fred back." Ron said collapsing onto his Chuddley Cannons bed sheets. Hermione seeing Ron's upset figure clambered onto the rickety bed beside him and lay down next to him with an arm over his narrow shoulders.
Ginny stood up and walked out of Ron's room. Ron and Hermione didn't stir so Harry followed Ginny into the darkened landing.
Ginny walked around the corner, auburn hair swishing out behind her. Harry followed her down the stairs and into Ginny's small box room. He knocked softly on the door and went into the little room.
Sorry guys that this has taken so long and the next chapter will be updated hopefully pretty quickly!!!
Magic!!
