A Game of Quidditch

"Ron, I think you need some lucky potion again." Ginny teased him.

"Ha ha. Very funny. Shouldn't you be inside packing right now?" Ron asked her wishing she would just leave them.

It was the afternoon after Hermione had left and George, Harry, Ginny, and Ron were playing Quidditch in the Weasley's garden. It was the Ron and Ginny facing the George and Harry.

Even though nobody had said a word about it, they were all thinking the same thing. If only Fred had been here with them. He was one of the people who died during the fight. Devastation had hit the Weasleys' hard but they were trying to make the best of it. Even Harry to whom he had been a great friend, an older brother. From time to time, Mrs. Weasley would get tears in her eyes which she would quickly wipe away for the sake of the others. But everyone was finally accepting it and realizing that Fred would have wanted everyone to always be happy and live life to the fullest even though they would miss him. Of course he wasn't the only loss in the battle. Ted, Remus, Tonks, Dobby, Snape –" If anyone had asked Harry about Severus Snape's death, last year, he would have probably rejoiced. But he realized, this was perhaps one of the bravest men he ever knew. Even after enough convincing, Harry sometimes still believed that maybe, just maybe, if he had given himself up from the beginning, he would never have had to see the still faces of the people he loved. Harry knew that no one would let him live with that thought. He came back to reality after what seemed like a few hours, only minutes had passed.

"Unlike some people, most of us don't prepare for something on the last night of something" Ginny indignantly replied. She was going to leave tomorrow to return to Hogwarts for her final year despite her refusal and loads of protesting which Mr. and Mrs. Weasley would not hear of. Her return meant staying away from Harry, something that she really wished of not doing – again. Last year when Voldemort had taken possession of Hogwarts and had staged his fight, everyone had joined in. they had fought once and for all to remove Voldemort from the world in which they succeeded. Everyone had fought. Everyone – except Ginny as everyone at the time had considered her to be too young, a child. Ginny still had bitter feelings about that past and Harry had yet to make amends.

"Hey Ginny, I think Ron misses her again. He misses his daily shouts of 'Won-won'" said George as he mimicked the last part in a girl's voice they all knew only too well.

"'Won-won, you know I love you. Muah, give me a kiss now won-won!" mimicked Ginny in an almost believable style as that of Lavender Brown's; a fellow Gryffindor and Ron's ex-girlfriend.

Harry laughed as he flew past Ginny and scored one in his absence at listening to the joke.

Ron was momentarily at a loss of anything to say. As the rest of them looked towards him, they saw that he was sort of in a daze; he was staring off into something. Harry had a feeling what he was thinking at this moment. He was about to help him out when, Ginny threw a bludger really close to to Ron's face, almost making him fall of his broom.

He turned so quickly that yet again, he almost fell and yelled, "Oi! What was that for?" and looked from Ginny to George, not sure whose doing it was.

"Why don't you tell us? You have been out of it Ron. Is it the fact that you can't get the courage up your sleeve to –"

Harry realized it was time to jump in and cut Ginny off mid-sentence.

"I think we are all really tired now. Think we should head back?" he started lowering himself toward the ground in hopes that the others would follow. He passed a look to Ron to indicate it and automatically, he followed.

Behind them, Ginny and George started a conversation on his return to his and his brother's shop down in Diagon Alley, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Everyone knew how much George would miss his brother. They were like two halves of a whole. Always with each other. But George knew how much it would hurt his brother to see them like that. He was quick to recover, though he always missed Fred in his heart. When everyone thought they would be the ones helping him, the idea was reciprocal.

Harry noticed Ron's sulky and quiet gait. He knew what this was about. This was about Hermione. The fact that she had gone and perhaps the fact that he hadn't done anything about it. The thought almost got Harry mad that Ron had failed to understand anything he had told him. Then he stopped short. He realized it was perfectly normal for Ron to behave this way. After all, hadn't Harry himself taken atleast a year before he told Cho about him? He sighed; nevertheless, Harry was going to have to help him out. Just then, they left their broom sticks and the twins and Ginny left the shed to go to the house. Harry was right behind them when Ron spoke up, "Can we talk? I just need to think and…" he looked at Harry pleadingly. Harry nodded and they head outdoors.

"You are right. I was stupid and foolish and a git. Everything you said was true. About me, about Hermione, about…well everything" Ron said. Harry didn't say anything. He just nodded. He waited for Ron to continue. Moments passed but Ron said nothing. Rather, he was making a twig from the ground hover and make patterns in the mud.

"Well what now? What are you going to do?" Harry asked him.

"I guess I wait. Hermione is right though. I ruin everything." He sighed and Harry knew he was referring to their fourth year, during the Yule ball.

"No Ron, you are just –"Harry tried looking for a word to describe him. When he failed, a minute later, Ron spoke up, "thick? Yeah. I know."

They looked at each other and laughed. Ron seemed to be accepting his situation. Harry felt himself relax automatically. And just as Harry was about to add something, Ron interrupted,

"And don't worry, this time I will tell her. Thanks mate" Ron smiled at Harry briefly and which Harry returned.

Just then, Ginny stepped out of the house. Both Harry and Ron looked up as she walked towards them. Ron started to get up.

"I think I should leave now. But Harry, just because you're my best mate, doesn't –"but before he could continue, Ginny spoke up.

"You two should come inside now. Mum was getting edgy." She looked stonily from one to the other and turned and started walking back. Ron looked at Harry as if to say, What's with her? and then beckoned his head sideways towards her and, do something he mouthed to Harry.

Harry got up and followed Ginny, grabbing her by her elbow right before she entered the house.

"Ginny, please. Can we talk?" Harry was looking pleadingly at her. Ginny almost gave in to him. No, you have to wait. He must realize his mistake. But another voice was telling her, but he didn't do anything wrong!

Ginny hardened her face and said, "What's there to talk about?"

"About you. Me. Us. Won't you even give me a chance to explain?"

But before she could reply, Mrs. Weasley called her from the kitchen wondering about the boys. Harry sighed loudly, let go of her elbow and let himself in, calling "We are right here!"

Ginny had of course left by then and Harry followed Ron upstairs to their shared bedroom.

Ron sat down rather loudly on his bed and asked, "No luck with her ehh?"

Harry avoided his face and just shook his head. He had no idea why Ginny was behaving this way. He knew however that this had something to do with the night of Voldemort's defeat. But what? Harry thought he was missing something obvious here, something he just couldn't quite place his finger on. It couldn't be…? Harry had never laid eyes on anyone else since their sixth year together. He almost laughed to himself. No, Ginny was smarter, unlike so many of the girls Harry knew. Just the thought of her made him smile. Smart, funny and of course beautiful as she was, anyone would be lucky to have her. Suddenly, he realized she was leaving for a whole six months as she had to finish her N.E.W.T examinations in June. He will talk to her tomorrow. No matter what, he can't let her leave. Not after he came so close, so close to losing her. He won't let it happen again. He promised himself.

Ron spoke up after a while, perhaps to remove the awkward silence that they were in.

"Well… its better in a way. Atleast I don't have to see my best friend snogging in corners with my little sister." Ron looked at Harry and smiled.

For a moment, Harry forgot his worries. He picked up a spare pillow and threw it at him laughing along.

"Of course, that would have been your biggest concern. So, we are off to Ministry of Magic tomorrow with your Dad. Nervous?"

"Yeah, bit. You? Well for a person who killed off you-know-who –" Harry broke him off in mid-sentence extremely exasperated at Ron's use of terminology.

"Will you please just call him Voldemort now?"

"Voldemort then. It just gives me creeps. Like I am digging up the past. Like I am calling his attention now. You know?"

"HE is GONE. You want me to spell it out for you? Perhaps say it in another language?"

"That's not necessary." He replied crossly. "You reckon we might see Malfoy?"

"Unless he is lurking outside the court room waiting to be questioned, I don't think so."

"That git. I swear I would have killed you then if we had, had to die for him." Ron was obviously referring to that night again when they saved Draco from the fire in the Room of Requirement.

"Ron, you can't kill anyone once you are dead."

"Shut up. I still feel like ripping that guy's head off for all those times he insulted Hermione, you and me. That would definitely teach him something."

Harry laughed and murmured a good night as he knew it was only a matter of time that he would soundly be asleep. It had after all, been a long day.

And sure enough, minutes later, the only sounds that could be heard outside the boys' room were that of their breathing.

Harry woke with a sudden jolt. Ron was shaking him. It truly was a wonder that he was up before Harry.

"Wake up! She's leaving soon. Wake up! Wake up!" Ron left him and headed towards the bathroom. Harry turned to the table and picked up his glasses. He knew he had minutes to get dressed. He ran for the bathroom as soon as Ron was out.

After showering, he took put on his glasses, stuffed his wand in his back pocket, and headed downstairs. Everyone was having breakfast.

"Morning dear. Here have some breakfast. We are leaving in about half-hour. Will you be coming with us or –" Ron thankfully answered for him.

"Of course Mum. And then we have to go to the Ministry. We start training today, remember?"

"OH my! Oh my, you boys have grown up to fast. Too fast!" she gave Harry a tight hug and went to Ron who was sitting right beside Ginny.

Harry found a spot right in front of her and sat down. He scarfed down everything he could in less than ten minutes. He looked up to see Ginny pick up her plate and leave. Ron kicked him slightly with his foot and beckoned Harry to follow her.

Harry waited for nothing more. He was right behind her as she walked out to the garden.

"Ginny, I really need to talk to you. And you need to listen. Please." He had grabbed her hand lightly and turned her so she was facing him. She looked beautiful as ever and he knew he had seconds before she would leave again. He waited for the protest. Nothing came.

She finally said, "Go on." Her expression was unreadable but he knew this was the best chance he had. So he started.

"I maybe wrong but you are mad. You are mad because we all agreed it was unsafe for you to fight in the battle. And I know how hard it was to watch others leave and you being left behind. Believe me, I know." "He briefly sighed and then continued, "I lost everyone I ever loved in my life. I lost both of my parents before I even knew them and Sirius? Well I rarely even got to know him. I could not have lived to lose someone else that I loved so much again. That would have ripped me apart. When Voldemort's death eaters couldn't kill me that would have. And I could not have lived with myself like that. Imagining what could have been whenever I would see Ron and Hermione. I love you so much that I – " Harry paused, realizing that he had no words to describe the feelings he felt for her.

Before he could continue however, Ginny's lips were on his. She kissed him. And everything in that moment was perfect.

"I love you too. Always have. But it's not just that" she explained. They intertwined their fingers and walked along the edge of the garden. She stopped in front of him, her hand still in his.

"Harry, I have grown up ever since the day I was born to be the youngest child of the family. It was always 'my baby' and my 'baby sister'. Everyone treated me like I was a baby. Then and sometimes even now. I always grew up being everyone's baby. Nobody seemed to accept the fact that I was mature now. I was almost an adult. And when you looked at me that night," she looked away and continued, "I thought that's what you still saw in me. Your best friend's little sister. Too immature to be part of anything." She stopped tears swimming at the corner of her eyes.

Harry lifted her chin with one hand so she was facing him. He put the other hand around her waist and pulled her towards him until her body was against his. He stroked her hair for a moment before replying.

"Ginny" Harry almost laughed this time, not because he found it comical but rather, at how a smart girl like her could have concluded this. He explained, "You were never just any ordinary girl to me Ginny. You were and are smart, funny, and beautiful and still the girl I am crazy about. You were never just my best friend's mate." Ginny looked up at him and he looked down so he could see her face clearly. Her tender features were now relaxed and a small smile played on her lips.

Ginny broke apart and punched him lightly on his hand. Neither of them had realized the time when Ron called out, "Oi, if you two are done, we need to leave." Harry and Ginny looked towards Ron but he had already disappeared.

"Promise you will write me?" Ginny asked Harry as they walked back together to the house.

"As much as I can." And he kissed the temple of her head.

By now they had reached the front door but Ginny stopped. She turned to Harry and said, "I love you" and her lips were on his again, her hands around his neck. He lifted her off the ground and then after what seemed like awhile, broke apart. They entered the living room.

"We will be disapparating directly to the stations since now all of you are of age. We will have to walk a bit to get out of the Fidelius Charm. Come along everyone." said Mr. Weasley.

Harry, Ginny, Ron, George, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley walked a few minutes after the front gate and stopped into the middle of the path.

"Now on the count of three everyone, one…two…three…Appareo!" There was a collective shout and then, they all had disappeared.

Sorry its been a while since I have updated and I know the storyline is still a bit ..meh but keep reading and I promise it will get better!

Reviews are very welcome so please, REVIEW! and... Happy Holidays everyone!

thanks, tia (;