Chapter 34: worries and planning

Ginny sighed. She was currently cuddled up in a blanket on the sofa at her and Harry's flat, flipping idly through one of the muggle bridal magazines Hermione had dropped off for her earlier that day. It had been almost two weeks since Harry had proposed and about three days since he was called on his latest mission at work. Unlike the last mission he went on, Ginny didn't know where he was or what he was doing there. She knew when Harry had accepted the Auror position that there would be times when he wouldn't be able to share certain information with her. But not knowing if her fiancé was safe was killing her.

She continued to peruse through the magazine, her eyes not focused on the pages in front of her. Her mind kept wandering far away, to where Harry was at the moment. She kept imagining him hurt . . . or worse. Giving it up as a bad job, she closed the magazine and tossed it to the floor with a definite thud and wrapped the blanket she had draped across her shoulders more securely around her.

"Ginny," came Hermione's voice from across the room, startling her.

"Oh, hi Hermione," said Ginny. She stood from the sofa and made her way to the fireplace where Hermione's head was sticking out of the emerald flames.

"Have you heard from Harry yet?" asked Hermione.

"No. Nothing yet. But it's only been a few days. Harry did say that it could take a week or so before he would be able to contact anyone," said Ginny. She had tried to keep the fear out of her voice, but Hermione wasn't fooled.

"I'm coming over. It's not good for you to sit in that empty flat all day," she said.

"Hermione . . . that's not necessary . . . I'm fine, really . . . ," said Ginny in a attempt to wave off her best friends concerns. Everyday since Harry had left, various members of her family kept dropping in or flooing over to check on her.

"No. I'm coming over. Besides, we have a lot of wedding planning to do," said Hermione. Before Ginny had time to protest further, Hermione's head disappeared from the fireplace and a moment later she stumbled out of the grate, brushing soot from her jeans.

"So," began Hermione, "have you decided where you want to have the wedding?"

Ginny smiled at her best friend and shook her head. She knew what Hermione was trying to do. "Not yet," she said. "I was thinking the Burrow but I wanted to check with Harry first."

"Have you set a date yet?"

"We were thinking sometime late spring," said Ginny. "Tea?"

Hermione nodded and Ginny flicked her wand at the kettle on the stove to heat the water and levitated a tray with two cups into the sitting room.

"That would be beautiful," said Hermione. "We have to start shopping for your dress."

Ginny gave a strained smile. She knew Hermione was trying to get her mind off Harry's mission by immersing her in wedding plans, but she just couldn't bring herself to plan any aspect of the wedding without Harry.

"Hermione, I can't do this right now," she said as she stirred milk and sugar in her tea. "It doesn't feel right without Harry being here."

"He's going to be fine Ginny. This mission is nothing like the last one," said Hermione, stirring sugar into her own cup of tea.

Ginny picked up her cup and cradled it in her hands, trying to drawl comfort from the heat and stared blankly into its contents. The two sat in silence for a moment before Ginny looked up and said, "How do you know? How do you know nothing's going to happen?"

Hermione took a deep breath and let it out slowly, sitting her tea on the table and looking across at Ginny. "I don't," she said simply. "But I have trust in Harry's abilities."

"I do too. But look what happened last time!" said Ginny.

"It's not always going to be like that. That particular Death Eater was hell bent on killing Harry from what I heard. Although, why he didn't just use the killing curse is a mystery," said Hermione. "My point is, not all of his missions are going to end the same way. He's had more training since then and he knows what he's doing."

"I guess you're right," sighed Ginny. "I just can't help but worry."

"That's normal. I worry about Ron every time he goes into the shop with George," said Hermione.

Ginny looked up from her tea and gave her a questioning look.

"You never know what those two will cook up!" said Hermione with a laugh causing Ginny to choke on her tea.

"Come on," said Ginny, standing up from the small kitchen table. "We have a wedding to plan."

*****

Harry stumbled sleepily from the fireplace in the Auror department. It had been a long couple of days and he couldn't wait until he could just go home, shower and fall into bed with Ginny. His latest mission had him in South America where it was rumored that a few of the remaining Death Eaters not captured during the was were hiding and trying to recruit new followers.

Harry glanced down at his battered watch as he flopped down in one of the chairs in the conference room. It was just after 2 a.m. Harry scrubbed his face with his hands and leaned back in the chair. This mission had been decidedly easier then the first he had gone on as an Auror. The Death Eaters in question weren't very smart and they had no problem tracking them down and apprehending them. A sudden whooshing sound startled him and he turned to see Peters stumble out of the emerald flames, much as he did. He nodded at Harry in way of greeting and flicked his wand at the coffee machine at the far end of the room to brew a fresh pot.

"Good idea," mumbled Harry.

"I figured we'll be here for a while going over everything before we get to leave," said Peters with a shrug as he sank down in the chair across from Harry.

When the coffee was ready, Harry flicked his wand and summoned to cups to the table and slid one across to Peters. He never really liked the stuff but it seemed to be the only thing that kept him going these past few days.

"Did you recognize any of those Death Eaters, Potter?" asked Peters.

"Nah. Valentine said they participated in the final battle at Hogwarts, but I don't remember seeing them there. I don't think they were in Voldemort's inner circle."

Peters nodded sleepily and took a sip from his cup. "How much longer do you think they'll be?" he asked.

"No idea. Valentine had to go with the MLE to Azkaban. Might be a while," said Harry. He glanced at his watch again. It was almost three in the morning.

About a half an hour later, when everyone who was assigned to the case were gathered in the conference room, Valentine came stumbling out of the fireplace and the meeting got underway. When they were finally dismissed about five hours later, Harry sleepily made his way to the atrium. Some Ministry workers were starting to arrive for their days work. Too tired to apparate home, Harry scooped up a handful of floo powder and disappeared in a whirl of emerald flames.

*****

Ginny was in the kitchen, trying to whip up a quick breakfast before she was to meet her mother and Hermione to go dress shopping when she heard the sound of someone coming out of the fireplace.

"I thought we were meeting in Diagon Alley," she called over her shoulder.

"I leave for a few days and already you're meeting some bloke?"

Ginny spun around to find Harry leaning casually against the doorframe in the kitchen, a lopsided grin on his face. She immediately dropped what she was doing and flung herself into his arms. Harry smiled and breathed in her familiar scent, lifting her momentarily off the floor.

"Did you just get back?" asked Ginny, smiling up at him.

"Earlier this morning," said Harry, trying to stifle a yawn. "Where are you headed?"

"Dress shopping with mum and Hermione," said Ginny. She stood on her tip toes and brought her lips to meet his for a lingering kiss. "I missed you," she said.

"I missed you too."

"You look exhausted," said Ginny. She had just noticed the shadows under his eyes.

"I am," he said. "I've been up for almost 48 hours straight."

"Go to bed," said Ginny. "Maybe when I get back from shopping we can grab some dinner or something."

Harry nodded through a yawn and shuffled back to the bedroom. He had just enough energy to strip down to his boxers before collapsing onto the bed. Ginny stood in the doorway and breathed a sigh of relief before apparating to Diagon Alley.

*****

Molly and Hermione were standing outside of Madam Malkin's admiring the robes displayed in the window when Ginny found them.

"Sorry I'm late," said Ginny. She couldn't help the huge smile that was plastered on her face since the moment Harry came home.

"That's okay dear," said Molly. "Why are you so happy?"

"Harry's home. That's why I'm late."

"I told you not to worry," said Hermione.

"I know, I know," said Ginny, shaking her head.

"What's Harry getting into today?" asked Molly.

"Sleep. He was exhausted. I didn't think he was going to make it to the bedroom. Said he had been up for the last two days."

"Poor dear," said Molly. "Are you ready Ginny. I figured we could start here. They've got a lovely selection of robes."

Ginny groaned. "Mum, I told you I wasn't wearing wizard robes," she said. "There's this great little dress shop out in muggle London that I wanted to check out."

"Oh, but Ginny . . . ,"

"Actually, Molly. I think robes would be too hot for a late spring wedding," said Hermione.

"Oh, alright," said Molly, glancing once more into the shop. Ginny shot Hermione a grateful look and mouthed 'thank you' before the three women made their way toward the Leaky Cauldron and out into the streets of muggle London.

*****

After hours of shopping, Ginny still hadn't found the perfect dress. The three woman went from store to store and Ginny had lost count of the number of dresses that she had tried on.

"We'll find it dear. It's out there somewhere," said Molly as they made their way back to the Leaky Cauldron.

"I guess I could always go down the aisle in my knickers," said Ginny in frustration.

"We'll find the dress, Ginny. There's loads of stores we didn't get to yet," said Hermione. "Look on the bright side, you did find that awesome pair of boots today," she added in an attempt to cheer her up.

"I guess," sighed Ginny.

"We can try again this weekend," said Molly. They reached the Leaky Cauldron and the three women stepped inside the pub. "I better get home. I forgot to leave dinner out for your father and he's rubbish at cooking."

"Ok mum," said Ginny, giving her mum a hug. "Maybe we'll stop over at the Burrow tomorrow to go over some wedding details."

"Ok dear. Give Harry my love," said Molly. She wrapped Hermione in a quick hug before flooing home.

"Do you want to grab a quick bite to eat?" asked Hermione. Ginny glanced around the half empty pub and nodded.

"I'm sure Harry's still sleeping anyway. I can get him something and take it home. I don't think I'm up for cooking anyway."

The two of them made their way to the back of the pub and slid into a booth. After ordering their dinner, Ginny turned to Hermione.

"I wanted to ask you something," she said.

"Sure," said Hermione, taking a swig of her butterbeer.

"Well . . . I was wondering if you'd like to be my maid of honor."

Shock flitted across Hermione's face. "Ginny . . . I . . . I'd love to!" she said.

Ginny smiled. "I know we've never been as close as you, Ron and Harry are, but you're like a sister to me," she said.

"I've always felt the same way," said Hermione, grinning. "Any idea who you'll have as your bridesmaids?"

"I was thinking about asking Luna and Fleur," said Ginny. "But other then that, I have no idea. I wasn't particularly close to anyone from school."

"How about Harry?"

"He hasn't said anything yet, but I'm pretty positive that Ron will be his best man."

Hermione nodded. "I'd be shocked if he wasn't."

After they ate and Tom brought Ginny the food she had ordered for Harry, the two of them made their way to the floo. The pub was almost completely empty, except for a wizard at the end of the bar who appeared to have passed out.

"I'll meet you at the Burrow tomorrow," said Hermione as she gave Ginny a hug. She scooped up a handful of floo powder and tossed it in the flames. Ginny watched her go and sighed in relief. She had been nervous about asking Hermione to be her maid of honor and was thrilled that she had accepted. After everything that happened during her first year at Hogwarts, she had a difficult time making friends with the other girls in her year. And although she did end of making some friends, she always felt closer to Hermione.

Now I just need to find a dress, she thought to herself before flooing home.

*****

A/N: Sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Busy times! Right now I'm sick and have nothing else to do but sit around all day with my laptop!

Oh, by the way . . . don't forget to review. They make me happy!!! :)