Wow, thanks so much to everyone who's responded to this fic! Especially big thankyous to Twilight-HarryPotterlover1994, You Know Who, Lunaclaw14, merdarkandtwisty, hoeoverbros and Sinisister Ginny for the lovely reviews.
Okay, chapter four, in which Mrs Weasley makes an appearance.
4. Guilt
Tuesday
"Harry, dear!"
"Come in, Molly," says Harry, opening the door. Mrs Weasley smiles fondly at him.
"I brought some biscuits," she says, depositing them on the table. "I thought you could use some home cooking."
"Wow, thanks Molly." Harry wonders if she's been talking to Ginny. "I heard about Arthur's new position, it sounds fantastic."
"Doesn't it? Kingsley really relies on Arthur these days. There aren't too many with his experience anymore."
"Yeah, I know." Rebuilding the Ministry has been hard, with so many decent workers killed or disillusioned by the war. Nowadays, nearly everyone is as green as Harry.
"Oh, hi Mum!" Ginny appears from the bedroom.
Mrs Weasley seems taken aback. "Ginny. What are you doing here?"
"I usually come here after training and have dinner." Ginny keeps her voice casual. "Oh, wow, biscuits!"
Mrs Weasley looks suspicious, glancing from Ginny to Harry's bedroom. Harry hastily breaks in.
"You know, Ginny, you've had a hard day at training. Why don't we go and have dinner at your place? We could get takeaway."
"Nonsense," says Mrs Weasley briskly. "What you need is a nice home cooked meal. Here, I'll knock something up for you."
Ginny gives Harry a grateful smile while her mother busies herself in the kitchen. Somehow she always feels guilty when she sees her mother these days, no matter how many times she refuses to move in with Harry. Mrs Weasley's views on pre-marital cohabitation might be old-fashioned, but Ginny knows she could never defy them.
If anyone is confused, Mrs Weasley knows that Harry and Ginny are going out, but disapproves of them living together, which is one of the reasons that Ginny doesn't want to move in.
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