Chapter 14: surprises and frustration

Harry and Ron landed in the back garden of the Burrow, stumbling.

'Sorry about that mate', said Ron. 'I've never side-alonged anyone before.'

'I never would have guessed', said Harry sarcastically when he found his footing. The two of them walked through the back garden toward the house. When they entered the kitchen, Ginny was seated at the table with Hermione. When she noticed Harry in the doorway, she stood up and flung herself in his arms.

'I passed!', she exclaimed loudly.

Although he knew he shouldn't do it, he gathered her up in his arms and spun her around. Sitting her back on the floor he cupped her face in his hands and brought his lips down to touch hers. They only broke apart at the sound of Ron clearing his throat.

'This is great, Gin. I told you that you would pass', said Harry, grinning down at her.

Ginny smiled and bounded back over to where she had been sitting with Hermione. 'I leave next week to start training', she said excitedly. 'I'm sharing a flat in Holyhead with another member of the team until the season starts.'

Harry's face fell. If Ginny was going to be staying in Holyhead and he in London, he had a feeling he wouldn't be seeing much of her for a while. And with the brutal practices he knew the Harpies' were famous for, Ginny was sure to be exhausted. He forced a smile on his face while Ginny continued to chatter excitedly.

Later that evening before dinner, Harry pulled Ginny aside in the sitting room. 'I wanted to talk to you', he said.

'Sure Harry', she said, allowing him to lead her up to Bill's old bedroom. When the door was closed behind them, Harry sat down on the bed, pulling her down next to him.

'What's up Harry?', she asked.

'I'm going to miss you', he said, taking her hand.

'I'm going to miss you too', said Ginny. 'I didn't think about how little I'm going to see you when I first signed up.'

Harry looked down at his lap. 'Maybe you could come stay the night with me at my flat before you leave', he said. Ginny blushed.

'I'd like that, Harry', she said. 'I can come stay with you on the weekends too. Except for when we have games of course.'

'And I'll come to all your games', said Harry. 'Maybe even a few practices.'

'Promise me that you'll tell me if you have to go on another assignment', said Ginny.

'I promise. But I won't be able to tell you where I am', said Harry. 'Or even what I'm doing. I could only tell you the specifics of the last one because you were involved.'

'I know, Harry', she said. 'I can't promise you that I won't worry.'

Harry sighed. 'I don't want you to worry about me Ginny', he said.

'I can't help it, Harry', said Ginny. 'It's going to take me a while to get used to the thought of you out there Merlin knows where tracking down all kinds of dark wizards. Although, you would think I would be used to it after what you, Ron and Hermione did last year.'

Harry laughed. 'You would think', he said. 'Since I have to tell you about my assignments, you need to promise me something', he added.

'And what would that be?', asked Ginny with a sly grin.

'Just promise me you won't leave me for some big, famous quidditch star', he said. Ginny smacked his arm playfully.

'Wouldn't dream of it', she said. 'Besides, who needs a quidditch star when they have the savior of the wizarding world waiting for you at home', she added playfully.

Harry reached over and pulled her onto his lap, pressing his lips to hers. She gently pushed him down so that he lay on his back, straddling him. Harry looked up at her in surprise. 'Ginny, what . . . '

'Shhhh', she said, pressing her lips to his. Harry rested his hands on her hips as the kiss deepened. Slowly he moved his hands up her sides, bunching her shirt.

'Harry, dinner's ready', came Mrs. Weasley's voice from outside the door. Harry and Ginny broke apart with a gasp.

'Uh, I'll be right down', he shouted through the door, slightly breathless. Once he heard Mrs. Weasley walk back down the stairs, he sat up, gently removing Ginny from his lap. He watched as she stood up from the bed, attempted to smooth her shirt and tame her hair. He grabbed a pillow from the bed and placed it in his lap.

'You coming?', asked Ginny, holding out her hand to help him up.

'Uh . . . you go ahead. I'll be down in a bit', he said. Ginny looked down at him in concern.

'Are you feeling all right, Harry? I didn't hurt you, did I?', she asked.

Harry shook his head and looked down at the pillow in his lap.

'Then what's . . . OH!', she said, starting to laugh. 'Well, uh, I'll just . . . I'll just let everyone know you'll be down in a few minutes then', she added, backing out of the room.

'It's not funny, Gin', said Harry with a crooked grin, grabbing another pillow from the bed and playfully throwing it at her. She caught it before it hit her and tossed it back at him still laughing. 'See you at dinner', she said teasingly, backing out of the room and closing the door behind her. When she left, Harry fell back on the bed and sighed in frustration.

When he made it down to dinner a few moments later, Hermione looked up from her plate and gave him a knowing look. Harry avoided her gaze and took his seat between Ron and Ginny. He glanced over at Ginny out of the corner of his eye. She was concentrating on her dinner in an attempt to keep from laughing. Luckily, Mrs. Weasley did not seem to notice a thing.

After dinner, Hermione and Harry were in the sitting room while Ginny was helping her mum clean up. 'So, what were you and Ginny doing?', she asked with a sly grin. Harry's face turned red.

'I don't know what you're talking about', he said.

Hermione let out an exasperated breath and smiled at him. 'Just be careful', she said. 'Oh, don't give me that look', she added. Harry was trying his best to keep his expression blank.

'Nothing happened', he said. 'We were just talking.'

Hermione gave him a skeptical look. 'Sure', she said just as Ron entered the room. Harry gave her a significant look. He knew Ron was OK with him dating his baby sister, he just didn't think Ron's approval would extend to what he and Ginny were doing earlier. Desperate the change the subject he turned his attention to Ron, who had just sat down on the sofa next to Hermione.

'Did you talk to George about the shop in Hogsmeade yet?', he asked.

'Not yet', said Ron, wrapping his arm around Hermione's shoulder. 'I've been kind of waiting for the right moment. With the shop just reopening and you in the hospital, I haven't really had the chance.'

'Do you think he will go for it?', asked Harry.

'I really don't know. He's still kind of down', said Ron. 'He almost seems a bit lost when he's at the shop.'

'Maybe we should talk to him', said Hermione.

'Yea, maybe', said Ron.

'Is he still staying at the flat above the shop?', asked Harry.

'Yea', said Ron. 'Maybe I'll go and talk to him tomorrow. When are you going to go talk to Kingsley about Snape?', he asked Harry.

'I was thinking about going in tomorrow', he said. 'Unless you want me to talk to George with you.'

'Nah. I'll be fine', said Ron. The three of them looked up as Ginny entered the room and took a seat next to Harry.

'What are you three talking about?', she asked.

'Ron's going to talk to George tomorrow about opening another shop in Hogsmeade. You know, where Zonko's used to be?', said Harry.

'Oh, yea. It was still all boarded up when we were there the other day', said Ginny. 'I could go with you Ron.'

Ron hesitated. He wasn't sure how George would react to his idea, but Ginny could be very persuasive. 'You know . . . I think that's a good idea. You've always had him wrapped around your finger. You can help me convince him', he said.

'What are you going to do tomorrow, Harry?', she asked.

'I'm going to go into the Ministry and talk to Kingsley', he said. 'I want to see if anything can be done about Snape.'

'Do you really think you'll be able to convince them?', asked Hermione skeptically.

'I don't know, but I have to try. He saved my life', said Harry.

Later that night, as Harry was lying in bed, his mind kept drifting back to what he saw in pensieve the night of the battle. He may not have always seen eye to eye with his old potions master, but he deserved to have his name cleared once and for all. As he drifted to sleep, he vowed to himself to make that happen.