Chapter 24: a perfectly imperfect weekend

When Ginny woke up the next morning, it was to an empty bed. She sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. 'How did I get in here', she wondered out loud to herself. She looked around the empty room, trying to remember when she came to bed the night before. In fact, she was so exhausted last night, she didn't even remember Harry coming home. Harry. 'Where is he?', she mumbled to herself as she rolled out of bed to get dressed for the day.

'Morning sleepy head', came a voice from behind her. Ginny turned to find Harry standing in the doorway of the bedroom, casually leaning against the wall with an apron on. 'I hope you're hungry. I made breakfast', he said.

'Starving', said Ginny, smiling. She walked over and wrapped her arms around his waist. 'I like the apron by the way', she said. He leaned down and gave her a kiss.

'Thanks', he said, smiling down at her. 'Your mum gave it to me when I moved in here.'

Ginny laughed. 'Is this the first time you've used it?', she asked.

'Yup', he said, taking her hand and leading her into the small dining room.

'Wow', said Ginny. Harry had out done himself. On the table were plates of bacon, eggs, and pancakes along with a bowl of fresh strawberries and a jug of pumpkin juice. She sat down at the table as Harry dashed back into the kitchen. He returned a moment later with a pot of tea and two cups.

'Tea?', he asked.

'Yes please', she said. He handed her a cup and took his seat across from her at the table. They sat and ate in companionable silence.

'What do you want to do today?', asked Harry.

'Anything but quidditch', said Ginny. Harry laughed.

'I thought you loved to play quidditch'

'I do. I just need a break. I didn't realize it was going to be this tiring', said Ginny.

'I was thinking we could stay in and watch a muggle movie', said Harry. 'Then maybe go have lunch in the park up the street.'

'Sounds great. Mum wants us to come to dinner tomorrow night. The whole family will be there', said Ginny.

'Of course', said Harry. He stood from the table and flicked his wand, sending the dishes to the sink to wash themselves. He took Ginny by the hand and led her into the sitting room.

'What movie do you want to watch?', he asked, holding up two movies.

'Hmmm', said Ginny. She took the two boxes from Harry and examined them closely. 'I think this one', she said.

'The Princess Bride', said Harry.

'Have you seen it?', asked Ginny.

'No. But the guy at the movie store said you might like it', he said. He walked over and popped the movie in before settling on the sofa next to Ginny.

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'That was great', said Ginny as she stood up to stretch. Harry reached up and grabbed her hand, pulling her down onto his lap.

'The guy at the movie store said it was a chick flick. I guess I understand what he meant now', said Harry.

'You didn't like it?'

'Eh, it was all right', said Harry.

'Well I thought it was brilliant', said Ginny. 'What do you want to do now?', she asked.

'Whatever you want to do.'

Ginny sat and thought for a minute. She had been looking forward to this weekend and been mentally making plans all week but now that the weekend was here all she really wanted to do was stay at home with Harry. 'I think I just want to stay in', said Ginny, wrapping her arms around his neck.

'Are you sure? We could go out to lunch or something', said Harry.

'I'm sure', she said. She brought her lips down to meet his. After a moment, the kiss intensified and Ginny shifted so she was straddling him. Harry's hands moved up her sides, bunching her shirt. Ginny broke the kiss momentarily and reached down to removed her shirt, tossing it to the floor. Harry reached up and cupped her face in his hand and brought his lips to meet hers as Ginny started unbuttoning his shirt. They worked their way out of their remaining clothes and Harry shifted them so he was now above Ginny. 'I love you', he murmured against her lips before their two bodies became one.

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They lay for sometime, their naked bodies intertwined. Harry had summoned a blanket and draped it over them. A whooshing sound from the fireplace startled them both. Harry turned to see Ron's head poking out of the fireplace, a stunned look on his face. Ginny shrieked and sat up, pulling the blanket up to cover herself. Harry fumbled for a moment looking for his abandoned boxers. He found them across the room, out of reach.

'What are you doing here?', screamed Ginny.

'I . . . Er . . .', stuttered Ron.

Harry summoned his boxers with his wand and hastily slid them on, still under the blanket.

'Ron. I . . . Er . . . it's not what it looks like', said Harry, his face paling.

'I think it's exactly what it looks like', said Ron. Harry could see his face getting red in anger even through the fireplace.

'Well . . . uh . . . ', began Harry.

'Ronald. How dare you just barge in here!', screamed Ginny. 'You're lucky I can't hex you through that fireplace.'

Ron just ignored her and glared at Harry. 'How dare you? My baby sister!', he exclaimed.

'Don't be such a hypocrite, Ron. I know for a fact that you have done the same thing with Hermione', said Ginny. Harry glanced at her and saw that her face was flaming red and she was shaking in anger at her older brother. 'What did you want anyway?', she asked. 'Why was it that you had interrupt me and Harry?'

'How did you know about Hermione and me?', asked Ron.

'Never you mind', said Ginny. 'Answer my question', she demanded.

'I . . . uh . . . Mum sent me to find out if you were coming for dinner tomorrow', said Ron. His anger was starting to subside and he was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable.

'Of course we are. I already told Mum that', said Ginny. 'Now go', she screamed.

'Uh . . . yea . . . bye', said Ron and in a flash his head disappeared from the fireplace. Harry sighed and leaned back on the sofa. 'Your brothers are going to kill me', he groaned.

'No, they're not', said Ginny as she stood from the sofa to gather up her clothes.

'Yes they are. They're going to kill me for defiling their baby sister', he said.

'No. They're not', repeated Ginny calmly.

'How can you say that? Of course they are.'

'Ron's not going to tell them. If he does, I'll tell Mum what he's been sneaking into Hermione's room at night when she stays at the Burrow', said Ginny.

'How do you know that?', asked Harry.

'Girls do talk, you know', she said. She pulled on Harry's discarded shirt, too tired to track down her missing clothes and sat down on the sofa next to Harry.

'What have you told Hermione?', asked Harry, his face paling.

'Not everything', said Ginny. 'She came to me for advice and I gave her some.'

'I still think your brothers are going to kill me', said Harry.

'Don't worry. They'll have to go through me', she said.

Harry groaned. 'I can kill Voldemort but facing your brother's scares me to death.'

Ginny laughed and leaned her head on his bare shoulder. 'It'll be fine', she said.

Harry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. 'I guess we'll see tomorrow.'

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'Come on Harry. We're going to be late', said Ginny. She was sitting in the sitting room waiting for Harry to get dressed and ready for dinner. He had been procrastinating for the past hour, finding ways to delay their departure to the Burrow.

'Are you sure we have to go', called Harry down the hall.

'Yes Harry. We have to go', she said, exasperated. 'And if you don't hurry up, I'm going to hex you', she added.

'Ok, ok', said Harry as he emerged from the bedroom looking just a bit green.

'Why are you so worried? I told you Ron won't tell anyone.'

'I just don't see how you can be so sure', said Harry.

'I'm sure', she said. 'Now come on. We're going to be late.' She handed Harry the pot of floo powder after she had scooped up a handful and threw it into the fireplace. She stepped in the emerald flames, shouted 'the Burrow', and disappeared. Harry took a deep breath and followed behind her, stumbling out of the fireplace at the Burrow a moment later.

'Oh, Harry dear', exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, pulling him into one of her famous bone crushing hugs.

'Mrs. Weasley, great to see you', said Harry, avoiding looking her in the eye.

'You can go into the sitting room, Harry', said Mrs. Weasley. 'Ginny, could you help me finish dinner?', she asked, turning to her daughter.

'Sure Mum', said Ginny. Harry glanced back at Ginny before entering the sitting room. She gave him an encouraging nod so he pushed the door open and walked into the room where all the Weasley men were waiting.

Everyone looked up as he entered. Harry scanned the room, carefully examining the expression on everyone's face. To his surprise, everyone welcomed him warmly. Bill, Charlie and Percy even stood to shake his hand. He glanced over at Ron once he sat down on the sofa next to George. Ron had not yet acknowledged Harry was in the room. He was sitting across the room in an overstuffed armchair, arms folded across his chest.

It seemed like Ginny was right. Ron had not told anyone else what he saw. But he was obviously still upset.

'Dinner's ready', announced Mrs. Weasley from the doorway. Everyone stood at once and went into the kitchen. Everyone but Ron and Harry. Harry stood up and walked over to the chair that Ron still sat in. Harry knew he was upset if he didn't jump at the mention of food.

'Ron. Can we talk?', asked Harry tentatively. Ron stood, and without saying a word, walked past Harry and into the kitchen. Harry sighed. 'This is going to be harder then I thought', he mumbled to himself before joining the rest of the family in the kitchen.

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After dinner, Mrs. Weasley assigned Ron kitchen duty. Everyone retired to the sitting room to relax, but Harry volunteered to stay and help. Ron still had not said a single word to Harry. He was standing with his back to him, washing the dishes the muggle way. Without saying anything, Harry walked over to the sink, grabbed a towel off the counter, and started to dry the dishes Ron washed. After a few moments, Ron finally turned to Harry.

'I'm sorry mate', he said.

'No worries, mate', said Harry.

'No, I over reacted.'

'I can understand why', said Harry.

'It's just . . . she's my baby sister. I don't want to see her get hurt. And I especially don't want to see her . . . well . . . you know', said Ron, concentrating on the plate in his hands and avoiding Harry's gaze.

'I'm sorry', said Harry.

'You don't need to apologize to me', said Ron. 'I'll send an owl next time.'

Harry grinned. 'You know, I really thought you were going to tell everyone else what you saw', he said.

'Still haven't ruled it out', said Ron seriously.

'Ron . . . I . . . ', began Harry. He looked up at Ron pleadingly.

'I'm only kidding Harry', said Ron, laughing and clapping him on the back. 'Do you really think I want to be on the receiving end of Ginny's bat-bogey hex?'

'You got a point there', said Harry.

'What's taking you guys so long?', asked Ginny from the doorway.

'Nothing', said Harry and Ron in unison.

'We'll be there in a moment', said Harry.

'Okay', said Ginny slowly before disappearing back into the sitting room.

'I guess we could just finish this up using magic', said Ron. He pulled out his wand and sent the rest of the dishes to the sink to wash themselves and cleared the rest of the table. 'Come on mate', he said. 'I haven't beat you in wizard chess in a while.'

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'I can't believe the weekend's over', said Ginny. Her and Harry were cuddled up on the sofa back at their flat.

'The trials start this week', said Harry. He had been trying not to think about the coming week all weekend. Now that the weekend was almost over, he was getting a sinking feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach.

'Why didn't you tell me?', asked Ginny as she sat up.

'Honestly, I didn't want to think about it', said Harry. 'Umbridge is first thing tomorrow morning. I'm testifying at most of them.'

'I wish I could be there for that one', said Ginny. 'I'd love to see her locked away in Azkaban.'

'You and me both', said Harry through a yawn. 'I'm exhausted.'

'Dealing with my dear brother will do that to you', said Ginny. 'I take it he's alright now?'

'Yeah. You were right. He didn't tell anyone. He was scared of you', said Harry, smiling at her.

'As he should be', said Ginny laughing.

'Let's just make sure we go to the bedroom next time', said Harry. 'I don't want a repeat of what happened.'

'In that case, are you ready for bed?', asked Ginny, winking at him.

Harry jumped up off the sofa and pulled Ginny to her feet, making her laugh. 'You bet I am!'

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A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update. It's been a busy week at work. Let me know what you think! REVIEW!!! :)