Chapter XXXII - The Last Few Days of Happiness
AN: I do not own the lyrics to the Drunk Scotsman!
As each member of the different groups prepared slowly for the final battle, Harry almost felt a wave of relief wash over him as he realized that everyone was ready for the fight. He'd been catching up on his homework and he quickly found himself at a loss for what to do when he realized that he was ahead of everyone else in his homework. That had to be a first. Hermione was even shocked when she realized Harry was farther ahead then she was. She had quickly ignored Ron for hours and worked like a maniac to keep up. Harry had simply helped Ginny with her homework when he got tired of working ahead; though she usually tended to make him go away as he distracted her from her work with little kisses and nibbles that sent desire into her system.
Lavender and Seamus were together all the time now, and Harry thought it was interesting that everyone was in their last year at Hogwarts and all had managed to find their mate. Lavender and Seamus were perfect for each other and Harry was glad to finally see them together. They were always kissing and whispering secrets to each other as they cuddled somewhere around the common room.
Neville and Luna were also really good together, but Harry felt bad for Neville because while everyone got to snog happily together, Neville only had Luna during the times they could catch before curfew, since she was a Ravenclaw. Harry and Ginny of course were always together and Harry was thrilled to think that one day, maybe even soon, they would be getting married. Ron and Hermione of course were still going strong; Harry found them the most amusing as they would argue like crazy over everything, and then just as quickly they would be wrapped in each other's arms, trying to come up for air.
Dean was the story of the year. He had completely changed into a real prick. But now that he was dating Parvati, the girl that he had wanted so badly that he had cheated on both Ginny and Lavender with, he seemed to be more like his old self. Harry wondered if he was happy now as he watched Dean kiss Parvati over in the corner. He seemed to be a lot better off with her; he was nicer to everyone, no more cheating, no more rumours … Harry just hoped that he had changed. He missed the old Dean. The Dean that was his friend, the one obsessed with West Ham football, the one who could draw and make people laugh. It made Harry smile to see a glimpse of that Dean when he was with Parvati. At least that was a good sign. Though he did wonder from time to time what had possessed Parvati to be the other woman with two of Dean's ex-girlfriends.
Harry sat back and he just watched everyone around him, analyzing what was happening and wondering what their lives would be like after Hogwarts. He also wondered how many of them would survive the war. He closed his eyes at the thought and he felt Ginny curl into his lap.
"I thought you were doing homework."
"Harry, whatever happens to the people that help you fight … it's a war; they know that, and they're willing to risk that." Ginny said softly.
Harry smiled down at her. "How do you always know what I'm thinking? Can you read my mind or something?"
Ginny laughed and shook her head. "No, and it's your eyes. They tell me your emotions, and I can usually figure out where the thoughts are going from there."
"I see." He glanced around the room. "I was also thinking how good it is that all of us seem to have found someone special. You and me; Ron and Hermione; Lavender and Seamus; Neville and Luna; and Dean and Parvati; all of us, I guess I was just wondering how many of them would all stay together."
"All of them."
Harry laughed. "All of them?"
Ginny nodded. "Yeah, all of them, I'm optimistic, besides … they all are perfect for each other."
"You're perfect, and I love you."
"I'm hardly perfect. I love you too, Harry, now come on keep your mind focused on something happier. Like our wedding."
Harry grinned. "I'll try."
He leaned down to kiss her softly and he sighed; she was the only happiness that he saw in the world, at least in his own future and present life. And with the final battle looming forward … she was all he hoped for.
Harry stayed tightly within the limits of his studies and the training of the D.A., which had really simply become practice for everyone. He didn't let his attention dawdle too much on the looming battle ahead. He wanted to be ready and he didn't want to let his mind cover all of the "what ifs" that could possibly happen. To help keep his mind off of it and to make sure that he slept dreamlessly, Harry began to use his old outlet, Quidditch. He had practices going strong almost every night of the week and if they couldn't get the pitch, then he would bring them over near the lake and play tactics there. He went to bed every night exhausted and he was better for it.
Ginny was also helping him keep his mind on other things. She was always near him, hugging him, kissing him, whispering suggestions that made his blood boil … anything to make him think of something else. He also noticed that she seemed to be having an increase in her lessons with Madam Pomfrey and she was working harder on things outside of school. Every time he asked her about it, she would just smile and say that it was a surprise. Harry didn't mind, as long as she was happy then he was happy.
As they prepared for the next Quidditch match of the season, Harry found that between his two favourite things – Ginny and Quidditch – his mind was perfectly not focused on the looming battle. As Harry followed his team out into the middle of the pitch for the game, his mind was only focused on winning. It was either the last or the second last game of the season, depending on whether or not they won. They were playing Hufflepuff and if they won they would go on to play the winner of the Ravenclaw/Slytherin game for the Quidditch Cup. Harry hoped that they could make it, because at the moment, his nerves were shot and he wasn't feeling too confident.
He grinned when he saw Luna up in the box again; she really made the game interesting up there. He flew up into position as Madam Hooch stepped out onto the field to begin the game. He heard Luna's dreamy voice float over the crowd.
"Madam Hooch makes her anxiously awaited appearance in the middle of the Quidditch pitch to begin the game. She makes Gryffindor Captain Harry Potter shake hands with Hufflepuff Captain Kevin Whiteby. As they move away from each other she lets the bludgers out followed by the golden snitch. The snitch is worth one hundred and fifty points for the team whose seeker manages to catch it. But I'm sure you already knew that. Now the quaffle is released and the game has started so please watch, cheer, and enjoy." Luna replied calmly with barely a change in her voice.
Harry grinned as he began to fly around looking for the snitch, making sure to keep an eye on Summerby, the Hufflepuff seeker as well as the score. He couldn't catch the snitch until they were at least two hundred points up. They needed the points to get into the final match. Or at least to get a good start in. He glanced around at the other players on his team quickly before he began to look for the snitch again while paying close attention to Luna.
"Justin Finch-Fletchley scores a goal for Hufflepuff as Ginny Weasley takes possession of the quaffle, making the score ten to ten. Ginny rushes towards the Hufflepuff goal posts and rushes the quaffle past keeper Rose Zeller. What a shame for Hufflepuff as Gryffindor takes another lead making the score twenty to ten."
Harry laughed, Luna really was hilarious when she commemorated, it was almost as if she barely knew what she was talking about, or she was talking to really stupid people. He watched Summerby closely as he watched around for the snitch; he had to make sure that he didn't get it before Gryffindor managed to get ahead.
"The Hufflepuff beater, those are the ones with the bats, Eleanor Branstone has just hit a bludger in the direction of Gryffindor Chaser Seamus Finnigan, who is currently dating Lavender Brown. They make such a sweet couple together. Did you know he punched his best friend Dean Thomas for treating her badly? It was a terrible shame, but now they are happy together. Professor McGonagall is telling me to get on with the game so Seamus, very handsome boy by the way, was hit by a bludger but he seems to be doing okay as he has just managed to score another goal for Gryffindor."
Harry shook his head; he knew that Luna and Neville were perfect for each other, but sometimes he wondered how Neville handled her. He sighed; at least they were happy. He saw the snitch above Ginny's head so he quickly glanced over at Summerby, who was too busy staring at Demelza Robins to notice anything. Harry decided it was better safe than sorry and then he dived in the opposite direction hoping to distract Summerby from the real snitch.
"Harry Potter has dived down; he must have seen the golden snitch. Summerby seems to have noticed and is right on his tail. Hopefully they grab it soon or their going to hit the ground with a crash and Harry's pulling out of it, I don't believe it he was faking the whole time. Oh and look what we've missed in the commotion, Gryffindor has made the score sixty to ten. Summerby is giving Harry a very dirty look, and I do believe that he might be saying some very inappropriate words, so let's ignore the seekers and get back to the game."
Harry laughed at Luna while at the same time, paying closer attention to Summerby. Harry knew that since he had faked seeing the snitch that the Hufflepuff seeker would be paying more attention to the game. He gave a private cheer as Gryffindor scored another goal. The game continued for almost another hour and Harry had yet to catch another glimpse of the snitch. If he saw it now, he would catch it because Gryffindor was doing spectacular. The score was now two hundred fifty to fifty and Ron was doing his best to keep the Hufflepuff's at fifty. Harry had watched him save the last eight goals with a grin. Ron's goal-keeping abilities had improved drastically. It made him grin as he watched Ginny score another goal past Rose Zeller. He began to look for the snitch again, keeping an eye on Summerby as he listened with half an ear to Luna's much more enthusiastic commemorating.
"The game gets more intense as Stebbins; the Hufflepuff beater blasts a bludger towards Colin Creevey, who simply smacks it back with such force that Stebbins is knocked off his broom! What a hit, Colin! So back to the progress, for those of you who may be just joining us, Gryffindor is up two hundred seventy to fifty. Hufflepuff needs to catch up if they want to win this game. And look a bludger has hit Summerby as Harry dives, I think this time he may have actually seen the snitch! He goes and he goes and yes! Harry Potter has caught the golden snitch earning his team an extra one hundred and fifty points. Gryffindor wins four hundred twenty to fifty. What a loss for Hufflepuff, this defeat has crushed them greatly … but we all know how great the Hufflepuff's are, and they'll cheer Gryffindor on in the final match. Congratulations Gryffindor." Luna exclaimed loudly over the mass cheering coming from the stands.
Harry grinned as he held the snitch in his hand, landing into a mass of Gryffindors who were all hugging him and yelling his name. He managed to pull Ginny into his arms as he heard Dean yell. "Party in the common room! Let's go!"
Ginny laughed and tipped her head up to kiss Harry softly. "Great game, Captain."
Harry grinned down at her. "Same goes; you scored, what, over a hundred points worth of those goals?"
"Maybe. Come on, let's go get out of these clothes and go celebrate our victory."
Harry grinned wickedly and nibbled at her ear. "Good idea, the Room of Requirement works for me."
Ginny slapped her hand against Harry's chest, laughing. "That's not what I meant. But maybe later, if we can sneak away." She kissed him again and then took his hand in hers, pulling him through the crowd and into the dressing room, the rest of the team following behind.
The celebrations lasted most of the evening. Someone had snuck into the kitchens to steal food and drinks, taking the place of Fred and George as everyone ate and celebrated the victory. Talk centered mostly on who was going to win the next match and who they would most likely be playing in the final. Most people figured it was going to be Slytherin because it was always them. However, quite a few people believed that Ravenclaw was going to get the chance. After all, Slytherin's team was pretty crappy this year with so many of its key players off being Death Eaters. But Harry figured either way, Slytherin was going to get up there because they always managed to.
Someone had managed to sneak some fire whiskey into the punch bowl and Hermione was furious. She was going around yelling at people for their lack of maturity as many Gryffindors stumbled through the common room quite drunk. Harry was glad that he hadn't tried any of the punch just so that Hermione wouldn't yell at him too.
Ron on the other hand was … well, quite pissed. So were Seamus and Dean for that matter. In fact, the three of them had actually managed to climb up onto a table and had begun to sing. Harry almost killed himself laughing when he had heard in a drunken slur these words coming from his three friends. He knew instantly that Seamus had taught them the song. He was big on old Irish songs:
Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar one evening fair,
And one could tell by how he walked that he'd drunk more than his share.
He fumbled 'round until he could no longer keep his feet,
And he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street.
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street.
About that time two young and lovely girls just happened by,
One says to the other with a twinkle in her eye,
"See yon sleeping Scotsman, so strong and handsome build,
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt?"
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt?
They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman, quiet as could be,
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see.
And there, behold, for them to view beneath his Scottish shirt,
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth.
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth.
They marvelled for a moment than one said,
"We must be gone,
Let's leave a present for our friend before we move along."
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon tied into a bow,
Around the bonny-star that the Scot's kilt did lift and show.
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
Around the bonny-star that the Scot's kilt did lift and show.
Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled towards a tree,
Behind the bush he lifts his kilt and gawks at what he sees.
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes,
"Lad I don't know where ya been but I see you've won first prize."
Ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o Ring-da-diddly-ai-o
Lad I don't know where ya been but I see you won first prize.
Harry busted a gut laughing as his three friends swayed drunkenly, singing more than completely off tune and obviously quite pleased with themselves. Hermione's face was the most precious. She looked horrified and kept muttering about rude and inappropriate lyrics while at the same time she looked like she wanted to bust out laughing. She seemed to finally get her act together when Seamus climbed up onto a higher table, his drink clutched tightly in his hand.
"Now if we had ourselves some Guinness boys, we can sing another round. The Drunk Scotsman, the song brings a tear to me eye." Seamus exclaimed with a good impression of a heavy Scottish accent, much stronger then his own Irish one, of course, before he started another round of "ring-ding-diddle-iddle-adi-o", as Hermione pulled him down and with Lavender's help got him upstairs and into bed as Parvati struggled with Dean.
Ron was completely oblivious to the fact that his friends were leaving and he just kept right on singing. Finally Harry managed to contain his laughter enough to take pity on his best friend and he helped him into his bedroom, where he almost instantly passed out, snoring loudly. Harry laughed as he closed the door behind him.
Ginny was still laughing under her breath as Harry's arms slipped around her waist. "Wow, I never thought that I would so honestly enjoy Ron in a drunken stupor. Who knew that he could sing so loudly and so off key?"
Harry laughed and kissed her softly. "It was interesting. Are you disappointed that I wasn't up there, drunk and singing as well?"
Ginny smiled. "No, I'd much rather have you sober." She glanced around at the now almost empty room. "Go get your invisibility cloak and the map," she reached up to kiss him softly, sliding her hands up the front of his chest. "I want you … now."
Harry felt all the heat go into his loins and he nodded, kissing her softly before hurrying up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. They waited another ten minutes for the last people to leave before they slipped under the cloak and headed to the Room of Requirement.
After Harry had safely blocked the door, he turned to her, taking her into his arms for a long deep kiss. He had missed this; just being alone with her in his arms … among other things of course. She had been driving him crazy for weeks and now she was here in his arms. He pulled her closer; nibbling along her jaw and down her throat as he quickly undressed her. It was all heat; both of them were too needy to worry about finesse. Ginny ripped open his shirt and they fell to the bed kissing and tearing at each other's clothes in their race to get them off. Ginny giggled as Harry fought with the front clasp of her bra and then the thoughts vanished from her mind as his hands and his lips were everywhere at once.
She moaned and clung to him as they shed the rest of their clothes, the heat building between them like a furnace. Her stomach was tied in knots of desire as she rained kisses over his shoulders and his chest, running her lips over his lean tight muscles and enjoying the feel of his damp skin against hers. She gasped when he grabbed her, pulling her mouth back to hers. Harry groaned. Her touch was driving him mad and she knew exactly what she was doing. She was wild and enjoying every minute of it. He lost himself in her taste and his hands in her hair as he stroked and built the heat between them, bringing her up over and over again. Finally, when neither of them could wait no longer, he brought his lips to hers and together they became one.
Harry felt something crawling on his stomach. This wasn't exactly the best way to wake up in his opinion after he had just awoken from his quick nap of recovery from the mind-blowing sex that he had just experienced with the love of his life. The thought of Ginny made him want again so he opened his eyes, surprised to find a beautiful white cat sitting on his chest, purring in contentment. He ran his hand down her back.
"Hey beautiful, where did you come from?" He looked over at the bed next to him, surprised to find Ginny gone, then on a sudden inspiration he looked at the cat again and saw her gorgeous chocolate brown eyes. "Brilliant! I knew you were hiding something." He grinned when she transformed back, lying naked and content on his body.
"Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall have been helping me. And guess what? I can do two." Then before Harry could comment she had turned herself into a beautiful swan.
Harry grinned. "Wow." When she turned back into herself, he pulled her close to him, rolling over so that she was pinned under him. "You're amazing."
Ginny grinned. "I know … but I do love to be told so. I'm working on trying to turn into a fox next."
"Very few people can do an animagus let alone more than one. If you can already do two then I have no doubt you will manage a fox as well. You're very powerful, love."
Ginny smiled. "I try."
She grinned at Harry, her eyes glowing with her intention as she ran a finger down the centre of his chest. "How powerful are you, Mr. Potter?"
Harry grinned. "Powerful enough."
Then he captured her mouth with his.