January 2nd
Ron Weasley enjoyed days off. He got to sleep late and do whatever the hell he wanted that day. Unless his fiancee had the day off too. Then he did what she wanted them to do that day. She was currently going wedding planning crazy, with lists and notes and appointments booked for this, that and the other. Ron quickly learned, from his dad and brothers, the power of "Yes, dear," and "No, dear."
Hermione didn't have to go into the office that day either so, while they hadn't exactly slept late, they'd certainly stayed in bed late. But she'd only allow them to linger for so long, despite their love making. Ron was preparing to make breakfast while she was in the shower, when there was a knock at their door.
Ron frowned, wondering who it could be. Their family and close friends all had access to their Floo. It was still quite early, too, not even nine in the morning.
The knock sounded again, louder and more forceful. Ron made sure he had his wand in his dressing gown as he went down the hall.
"Ron, are you getting that?" called Hermione from the bathroom.
"Yes, dear," called Ron, opening the door.
His jaw dropped as he saw who his early morning visitor was. "H-Harry?"
Harry nodded, standing uncertainly on the front step.
"Come in, come in," ushered Ron, still shocked. "Merlin, I can't believe it's actually you." He stood aside to allow Harry entry. Ron wanted to hug his best friend, but Harry had a 'hands off' attitude happening. He led the way down the hall to the eat in kitchen, gesturing for Harry to take a seat. He poured him a drink and placed it in front of Harry.
"I'm glad you found us, we bought this place about a year ago," said Ron, still unable to believe Harry was sitting in his kitchen.
"Ron, who was at the door?" called Hermione, from their bedroom.
"You'll never believe me," said Ron, grinning at Harry. Harry, however, remained stoic, taking a sip of his pumpkin juice.
"Was it Mrs Fincham from next door? If she complains about how loud we are when we make love one more time, I'll hex her. My Silencing spells are-"
"Ah, Hermione, love, it wasn't Mrs Fincham. I really think you need to come out and see for yourself," said Ron, his face flushed in embarrassment.
"Is it Ginny and Marcus? Oh, did he propose?" called Hermione, excitedly.
Harry's glass shattered, making Ron jump. Pumpkin juice was all over the table and already dripping down onto the floor.
"Who is Marcus?"' asked Harry, in a deceptively calm voice.
Ron rushed over to the table, a dishcloth in his hand. "Just let me clean this mess up before Hermione gets here, she-"
Harry banged his fist on the table. "Who the fuck is Marcus, Ron?" he yelled.
"Ron? Is that...it sounded like Harry," said Hermione, coming closer. She came to the door and gasped. "Harry!" She raced to him and hugged him tight. When she pulled away, her eyes were bright with tears. However, as she looked up at Harry's face, she realised he was still looking at Ron. Angrily.
"What is it?" she asked both of them.
Harry looked at her. "Where's Ginny?" he asked her.
Hermione shrugged. "Wales, probably. The Harpies recruited her-"
"I know all that," interupted Harry, dismissively.
"She had a week off for Christmas, but returned to Wales yesterday. They started training again today, so she'll probably be at the Holyhead grounds. Wait, Harry, where are you going?" called Hermione, as Harry walked down the hall.
"Wales," was his only reply.
"But-but you won't get in. They don't allow anyone to watch their training mate, not even family," yelled Ron.
Harry stopped at the front door. Ron sighed in relief.
"They won't stop me," said Harry, simply. He opened the door and walked out.
Ron raced down the hall and looked out, just in time to see Harry Apparate away. He walked slowly back the kitchen.
"What the hell was that?" asked Hermione, wiping her eyes.
"Trouble," said Ron grimly. "I think we better let someone at Holyhead know he's on his way there."
"Never mind the Harpies, we need to let Ginny know he's on the way. Why has he come home now?" asked Hermione, going into Ron's arms. "Did he say anything else?"
Ron shook his head. "Just asked who Marcus was-shit, Marcus! Do you think we need to let him know, too?"
"No, I don't think so, not yet anyway. Right now, we need to contact Ginny," said Hermione.
"You use the fireplace in the lounge. I think I'll fire-call my brothers, in case we need to make an emergency trip to Wales," said Ron, grimly.
They separated to make their respective calls. For someone who had been in their home less than ten minutes, Harry had certainly made his presence felt.
HGHGHG
Ginny sighed in relief as Gwenog Jones, the Harpies legendary player and current coach, blew her whistle. She'd been running up and down stairs for the last fifteen minutes and she was exhausted. It was a good exhaustion though. She loved pushing her body harder, and getting fitter.
"Okay, hit the showers and get rub downs then we're up in the air. We'll break for lunch then have a strategy meeting," ordered Gwenog.
Ginny jogged back to the stadium with Genna, who groaned. "I really wish I hadn't indulged at Christmas. Those extra helpings of Chrissy pudding are sitting right here," she said, patting her stomach.
Ginny laughed. "I know what you mean. My Mum's the best cook I know, and it was hard to say no to any of her delicious food."
As they jogged into the change rooms they passed several security guards, who seemed agitated. "Wonder what's up with them?" asked Genna.
Ginny shrugged. "If you want to stay and find out, fine by me. There's a shower with my name on it, and my muscles really need it. Those steps are a bitch," she moaned.
They both went into the locker room. "I'm sure they'll let us know if there's a problem," said Genna, stripping off her training shirt and bra. She wriggled out of her pants and knickers, walking naked to the showers. An elf, wearing the Holyhead Harpies colours, picked up the dirty clothes to launder.
Ginny did the same, stripping down. She kicked her dirty clothes into a pile, then followed Genna to the showers. Most of her team mates were already there.
"What took you so long, Weasley," they teased. "You're the last."
"You bitches better have saved me some hot water," shot back Ginny, laughing.
The Harpies healer poked her head in. "Wilson, Parker, I want you on my massage table in two minutes. Macintosh, Stephens, you're up after them, five minutes, tops. Robbins, Hartford, eight minutes. Weasley, lucky last, ten minutes. Don't keep me waiting, ladies," she warned.
One by one, the other players drifted out. "See ya out there, Gin," called Demelza Robbins, a friend from Hogwarts days, as well as a fellow Harpy.
"Mmmm," moaned Ginny in acknowledgement. She was simply turning this way and that, letting the hot water run over her aching body. She knew it was nearly time to get out, so she turned and nearly jumped out of her skin.
A figure with green eyes and messy black hair stood directly outside her shower door. Green eyes that were burning as they met her confused brown eyes through the muted shower door.
Ginny gasped. "Harry?" She turned the water off and opened the door to the shower stall, but there was no-one there. She quickly stepped out and wrapped a towel around herself, hurrying into the locker room. "Harry?"
The Harpy's elf looked up. "Pardon, Miss Ginny?"
"Was there a man just here? Black hair, green eyes," said Ginny, her heart racing.
The elf looked shocked. "A man? No man is allowed in here, Miss Ginny. Healer Humphries is waiting for you." She handed Ginny her freshly laundered clothes.
"Thanks, oh wait, my bra and knickers aren't here," said Ginny, looking through the pile.
The elf blushed. "There were no under garments to launder, Miss Ginny," she said.
"What? That's strange. Oh well, I keep spare clothes in my locker. Will you let the healer know I've been delayed, please Amra," said Ginny.
"Yes, Miss Ginny," said Amra, and disappeared.
Ginny dried herself with a second towel, and did a drying charm on her hair. She opened her locker, still wondering about her lost lingerie, when she spotted it.
An orange rose. Orange, meaning desire and passion.
She slammed her locker shut and spun around, wand out in front of herself. "Harry, show yourself," she demanded.
There was silence.
Demelza popped her head in, frowning when she saw Ginny wasn't dressed yet. "You better hurry up; Gwenog's spitting chips. I don't know who or what's got her wand in a knot, but she's not happy. Come on, get dressed already!"
"Fine, I'm coming, I'm coming," said Ginny, looking around the locker room. When she was satisfied there was no-one there, she dropped the towel and quickly dressed. She bundled her hair up in a pony tail as she left to go find her team mates.
Harry waited to make sure he was completely alone before he removed his invisibility cloak. He pocketed the dirty bra and knickers and prepared to leave.
She knew he was here.
It was just a matter of time.
She'd flown terribly after her rub down, her mind on anything but Quidditch. She'd noticed more security people down below, and wondered what was going on. All the team was unsettled, so Gwenog called them in and sent them off to an early lunch.
"Not you, Weasley," she called out as Ginny prepared to walk off with her team. "You have visitors."
Harry!' was Ginny's first thought. 'Maybe with Ron and Hermione?' She hurried to the visitor's room.
It was just her brothers and Hermione. "Hey, what's going on? Is Mum and Dad all right?" she asked quickly, looking at all of them.
"They're fine, Gin, they don't know we're here," said Charlie, home from Romania for the holidays.
"Well, what's so important you came to interrupt my training? Gwenog is not a happy Harpy," quipped Ginny. No-one laughed.
"It's Harry," said Ron.
Ginny's heart beat faster. "What about him?"
"He's back. He came to our place this morning, asked where you were," said Hermione, coming to stand by her side.
Ginny drew in a sharp breath and closed her eyes. It had been Harry this morning, perving on her in the shower.
"Sis, are you all right?" asked George. Hermione placed an arm around her waist.
Ginny opened her eyes. "I'm fine. So he asked about me, no biggie."
"He said he was coming here. Gin, he knows about Marcus, and he wasn't happy," said Ron.
Merlin, this was a mess. "How did he know?" she whispered.
Hermione looked embarrassed. "I sort of told him, unintentionally. Ron said there was a surprise in the kitchen, and I yelled out if it was you and Marcus and if he'd proposed," she admitted.
"I didn't realise you and Marcus were that committed to each other, Ginevra," said Percy.
"We're not," said Ginny, waving her hand in annoyance. "It's complicated."
"Never mind that, Harry shattered a bloody glass with his bare hands when he asked me who Marcus was," said Ron.
"Gin, Gwenog's given you permission to leave training for the day. We're going to your apartment and putting up new wards, all of us," said Bill. "They'll be stronger if we all add our layers to it."
"Wards against Harry? Why? He would never hurt me," gasped Ginny.
"Gin, he's changed. He's colder, he's harder, he's...gods, help me out, Hermione," pleaded Ron.
"He's stronger, in body and magic, I can feel it," said Hermione. "His shoulders are like, out here. I don't know what he's been doing, but he looks good. Damn good," she said.
The Weasley men looked at her, most in amusement.
"Down, girl," grinned George.
"You saw him for, like, two minutes," said Ron, shocked.
"I had my arms around him for most of that," said Hermione.
"Come on, let's go. I've got to pick Tori up from the Burrow soon," said Bill. He moved to link arms with his sister.
"Side-Apparition? Are you kidding?" asked Ginny. "Did I suddenly become five again?"
"Ha, we wish. You were less trouble," grinned Charlie. He nodded in Bill's direction. "Humour the eldest one."
Ginny sighed and linked her arm with Bill. She closed her eyes as she headed for her apartment.
HGHGHG
"This really isn't necessary," Ginny protested for the twentieth time. "I told you, Harry would never hurt me." She'd changed into track pants and a WWW t-shirt and was bare foot.
"It's just a precaution, Gin, and it's not just for Harry. This will only allow Weasleys and Hermione to get through your wards. Anyone else, you'll need to write the address on some paper, or tell them yourself," said Bill.
"Like a Fidelias? You've put me under a bloody Fidelias? You realise I'll need to let Gwenog know, and I'll probably tell Neville and Luna," she said, hands on hips.
Charlie grimaced. "It's a lesser kind of a Fidelias. Gwenog, Neville and Luna are fine," he said.
"But Harry's not? Since when is Harry the enemy?" she asked.
"You didn't see him this morning, Gin," protested Ron. "He was so bloody intense."
"I haven't seen him at all," lied Ginny, "but if he's home and wants to talk to me, I won't turn him away."
"We're not turning him away, Ginny. We'd love to sit down and talk with Harry, too. Ron wants to ask him to be his best man in our wedding," said Hermione.
"I think our work here is done, chaps. I don't know about you, but I need to get back to work," said Percy.
"Me too," said George.
"We've got invitations to look at, and a cake testing," said Hermione, nodding at Ron.
"Wait, so you lot get to go back to work, but I can't go back to training? Why?" asked Ginny.
"They're adding some extra protection at the stadium," said Bill, almost apologetically.
'Too late, Harry's already been there', she thought. "Fine," she said grimly. "I'll sit home and twiddle my thumbs, shall I?"
"You really need to learn how to relax, Gin," said Ron, patting her shoulder.
"Piss off. The lot of you, piss off," said Ginny, waving them away. She plopped down on her comfy sofa and flicked through a magazine.
"You're welcome," sang Bill, as he shepherded them all out of her apartment.
"Owl us if you here from Harry," called Hermione.
"Why, do you want to cop another feel," yelled back Ginny.
She heard her brothers laugh and tease Hermione, who spluttered an explanation. Their voices got fainter as they moved away. Soon Ginny heard several pops of Apparition, and sighed in relief.
"I agree, I thought they'd never leave," said Harry.
Ginny almost fell of the sofa in her hurry to get up. She stubbed her toe on the coffee table. "Ow, fuck, fuck," she moaned, hopping on one foot.
Harry came to her side. "Sit down, Miss Potty-mouth," he teased. He knelt down and took her foot in his rough hands. He gently rubbed her toe. He looked up at her and grinned. "I think you'll live."
"Harry, what are you doing here? Like, here!" she asked, gesturing to her apartment.
Harry stood and helped her to stand. His eyes burned into her. "I'm here for you, Ginny. Only you."